In view of the current circumstances in the world at present, Jehovah's Witnesses believe that we have been living in "the time of the end" since 1914 when the First World War broke out....and that its days are now numbered. But "no one knows the day or hour" of Jesus' return. (Matthew 24:42-44; 36)
Here is a detailed explanation of why we believe as we do....
"Prophetic information in the Bible about our day details the following: (1) The specific year when God would give “the kingdom of mankind” to “the one whom he wants to.” (2) Significant events that would take place during the period known as “the conclusion of the system of things.” (3) Noteworthy religious developments at that time. (4) The survival of at least some of the generation that saw the beginning of “the conclusion of the system of things.” (5) A striking development in world affairs as a final signal that world destruction is imminent.
(1) The Marked Year—1914 C.E.
As far back as 1876, Jehovah’s Witnesses realized that Bible prophecy marked the year 1914 C.E. as a time when major events would take place that would have far-reaching effects on human affairs. They gave the reason for this fact wide publicity.
If you open your Bible to Daniel chapter 4, you will find a prophecy that reveals God’s purpose with regard to sovereignty over the earth. The purpose behind that prophecy’s fulfillment is stated to be “that people living may know that the Most High is Ruler in the kingdom of mankind and that to the one whom he wants to, he gives it.” (Daniel 4 Verses 2, 3, 17) This “one” to whom the Most High gives “the kingdom” is Christ Jesus. And the last book of the Bible tells of the time when “the kingdom of the world” is given to him as heavenly King. (Revelation 11:15; 12:10) This means, then, that Daniel’s prophecy deals with the time when God would intervene in human affairs by giving “the kingdom of the world” to Jesus Christ. When does the prophecy indicate that would be?
The prophetic dream in Daniel describes a huge tree that was chopped down and banded with iron and copper until “seven times” passed over it. During that time, “the heart of a beast” would be given to it. (Daniel 4:10-16) What did this mean? God caused Daniel to explain: Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, would lose his sanity and be removed from his throne and driven from among men to live as a beast. After seven years the king’s sanity would return. This actually happened to the king, and he was restored to his throne as one who acknowledged the superiority of God’s rulership. (Daniel 4:20-37) All of this had a greater meaning, however, and for that reason it is recorded in the Bible.
The greater meaning relates to a mightier rulership that would benefit all living things on earth. From it, the prophecy says, there would be “food for all” and protection for even animals and birds. (Daniel 4:12) The only rulership that can truly provide these benefits is the Kingdom of God. This government’s righteous principles were demonstrated by the history of Judah, with its kings in Jerusalem. But because of unfaithfulness, Jehovah let Judah be conquered by Babylon in 607 B.C.E. It was as if the tree in the dream had been cut down and bands of restraint put around the stump. Without divine interference, national governments have exercised world domination since then. Since these national kingdoms are represented in the Bible as “beasts,” it was as if an angel from heaven had announced: “Let the heart of a beast be given to it, and let seven times pass over it.” (Daniel 4:16; 8:1-8, 20-22) But eventually, those “seven times” of rulership by beastlike governments would expire. Then the ‘bands’ would be removed, and the “tree” would again grow as world domination began to be exercised by the one to whom Jehovah would give “the kingdom of the world.”
How long were those “seven times”? Far more than seven years, because centuries later Jesus Christ indicated that these “appointed times of the nations” were still continuing. They had held world domination since Babylon’s conquest of Jerusalem in 607 B.C.E. and would continue to do so for some time yet.—Luke 21:24.
Notice for yourself how the Bible refers to prophetic “times.” Revelation 11:2, 3 shows that 1,260 days comprise 42 months, or three and a half years. Revelation 12:6, 14 mentions the same number of days (1,260) but refers to them as “a time [1] and times [2] and half a time,” or three and a half “times.” Each of those “times” is 360 days (3 1/2 × 360 = 1,260). Each day of these prophetic “times” stands for a whole year according to the principle, “a day for a year.” (Numbers 14:34; Ezekiel 4:6) Thus the “seven times” equals 2,520 years (7 × 360). Counting from the autumn of 607 B.C.E., when God’s typical kingdom in Judah was brought low by Babylon, 2,520 years bring us to the autumn of 1914 C.E. (606 1/4 + 1913 3/4 = 2,520) That is the year when “the kingdom of the world” was due to be entrusted to Jesus Christ.
After going on record that the Bible pointed to 1914, Jehovah’s Witnesses had to wait for several decades before they saw the outcome. Early in 1914 the peacefulness of the world made it appear to many that nothing was going to happen. But before the summer was over, the Witnesses’ confidence was justified when the world plunged into a war that was without precedent. In a review of the book 1914, historian A. L. Rowse wrote: “If ever there was a year that marked the end of an era and the beginning of another, it was 1914. That year brought to an end the old world with its sense of security and began the modern age, characteristic of which is the insecurity that is our daily portion.”44 A report about British statesman Winston Churchill noted: “The shot which was fired on June 28, 1914, in Sarajevo, had shattered the world of security and creative reason . . . The world has never been the same place since. . . . It was a turning point, and the wonderful, calm, attractive world of yesterday had vanished, never again to appear.”45 That year, marked by Bible prophecy centuries earlier, indeed proved to be a turning point in history.
It may at first seem strange that the enthronement of Christ would be marked by unprecedented war on earth. But do not forget that “the ruler of the world” is Satan the Devil. (John 14:30) He did not want to see God’s Kingdom in control of earth’s affairs. To divert attention from the Kingdom, he maneuvered men into a war to uphold their own claims to sovereignty. Furthermore, the Bible shows that Satan and his demons endeavored to devour the Kingdom government at its birth. With what result? “War broke out in heaven . . . Down the great dragon was hurled, the original serpent, the one called Devil and Satan, who is misleading the entire inhabited earth; he was hurled down to the earth, and his angels were hurled down with him.” Since only “a short period of time” remained for Satan, his anger was great. (Revelation 12:3-12) Nineteen centuries in advance the Bible provided an accurate description of the result.
Here is a detailed explanation of why we believe as we do....
"Prophetic information in the Bible about our day details the following: (1) The specific year when God would give “the kingdom of mankind” to “the one whom he wants to.” (2) Significant events that would take place during the period known as “the conclusion of the system of things.” (3) Noteworthy religious developments at that time. (4) The survival of at least some of the generation that saw the beginning of “the conclusion of the system of things.” (5) A striking development in world affairs as a final signal that world destruction is imminent.
(1) The Marked Year—1914 C.E.
As far back as 1876, Jehovah’s Witnesses realized that Bible prophecy marked the year 1914 C.E. as a time when major events would take place that would have far-reaching effects on human affairs. They gave the reason for this fact wide publicity.
If you open your Bible to Daniel chapter 4, you will find a prophecy that reveals God’s purpose with regard to sovereignty over the earth. The purpose behind that prophecy’s fulfillment is stated to be “that people living may know that the Most High is Ruler in the kingdom of mankind and that to the one whom he wants to, he gives it.” (Daniel 4 Verses 2, 3, 17) This “one” to whom the Most High gives “the kingdom” is Christ Jesus. And the last book of the Bible tells of the time when “the kingdom of the world” is given to him as heavenly King. (Revelation 11:15; 12:10) This means, then, that Daniel’s prophecy deals with the time when God would intervene in human affairs by giving “the kingdom of the world” to Jesus Christ. When does the prophecy indicate that would be?
The prophetic dream in Daniel describes a huge tree that was chopped down and banded with iron and copper until “seven times” passed over it. During that time, “the heart of a beast” would be given to it. (Daniel 4:10-16) What did this mean? God caused Daniel to explain: Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, would lose his sanity and be removed from his throne and driven from among men to live as a beast. After seven years the king’s sanity would return. This actually happened to the king, and he was restored to his throne as one who acknowledged the superiority of God’s rulership. (Daniel 4:20-37) All of this had a greater meaning, however, and for that reason it is recorded in the Bible.
The greater meaning relates to a mightier rulership that would benefit all living things on earth. From it, the prophecy says, there would be “food for all” and protection for even animals and birds. (Daniel 4:12) The only rulership that can truly provide these benefits is the Kingdom of God. This government’s righteous principles were demonstrated by the history of Judah, with its kings in Jerusalem. But because of unfaithfulness, Jehovah let Judah be conquered by Babylon in 607 B.C.E. It was as if the tree in the dream had been cut down and bands of restraint put around the stump. Without divine interference, national governments have exercised world domination since then. Since these national kingdoms are represented in the Bible as “beasts,” it was as if an angel from heaven had announced: “Let the heart of a beast be given to it, and let seven times pass over it.” (Daniel 4:16; 8:1-8, 20-22) But eventually, those “seven times” of rulership by beastlike governments would expire. Then the ‘bands’ would be removed, and the “tree” would again grow as world domination began to be exercised by the one to whom Jehovah would give “the kingdom of the world.”
How long were those “seven times”? Far more than seven years, because centuries later Jesus Christ indicated that these “appointed times of the nations” were still continuing. They had held world domination since Babylon’s conquest of Jerusalem in 607 B.C.E. and would continue to do so for some time yet.—Luke 21:24.
Notice for yourself how the Bible refers to prophetic “times.” Revelation 11:2, 3 shows that 1,260 days comprise 42 months, or three and a half years. Revelation 12:6, 14 mentions the same number of days (1,260) but refers to them as “a time [1] and times [2] and half a time,” or three and a half “times.” Each of those “times” is 360 days (3 1/2 × 360 = 1,260). Each day of these prophetic “times” stands for a whole year according to the principle, “a day for a year.” (Numbers 14:34; Ezekiel 4:6) Thus the “seven times” equals 2,520 years (7 × 360). Counting from the autumn of 607 B.C.E., when God’s typical kingdom in Judah was brought low by Babylon, 2,520 years bring us to the autumn of 1914 C.E. (606 1/4 + 1913 3/4 = 2,520) That is the year when “the kingdom of the world” was due to be entrusted to Jesus Christ.
After going on record that the Bible pointed to 1914, Jehovah’s Witnesses had to wait for several decades before they saw the outcome. Early in 1914 the peacefulness of the world made it appear to many that nothing was going to happen. But before the summer was over, the Witnesses’ confidence was justified when the world plunged into a war that was without precedent. In a review of the book 1914, historian A. L. Rowse wrote: “If ever there was a year that marked the end of an era and the beginning of another, it was 1914. That year brought to an end the old world with its sense of security and began the modern age, characteristic of which is the insecurity that is our daily portion.”44 A report about British statesman Winston Churchill noted: “The shot which was fired on June 28, 1914, in Sarajevo, had shattered the world of security and creative reason . . . The world has never been the same place since. . . . It was a turning point, and the wonderful, calm, attractive world of yesterday had vanished, never again to appear.”45 That year, marked by Bible prophecy centuries earlier, indeed proved to be a turning point in history.
It may at first seem strange that the enthronement of Christ would be marked by unprecedented war on earth. But do not forget that “the ruler of the world” is Satan the Devil. (John 14:30) He did not want to see God’s Kingdom in control of earth’s affairs. To divert attention from the Kingdom, he maneuvered men into a war to uphold their own claims to sovereignty. Furthermore, the Bible shows that Satan and his demons endeavored to devour the Kingdom government at its birth. With what result? “War broke out in heaven . . . Down the great dragon was hurled, the original serpent, the one called Devil and Satan, who is misleading the entire inhabited earth; he was hurled down to the earth, and his angels were hurled down with him.” Since only “a short period of time” remained for Satan, his anger was great. (Revelation 12:3-12) Nineteen centuries in advance the Bible provided an accurate description of the result.