I share little portions from the book Im writing from time to time. So once again, here you go. Enjoy. CHAPTER 3 1975 I began to learn more as I grew a bit older. I had read in the bible that only God knew the appointed time. Jesus and the angels didnt know. Humans certainly didnt know. Appointed time for what, you might be thinking? When Jesus would return and wipe the wicked out, letting Jehovahs people go about restoring the world into a paradise. But for some reason, the Jehovahs Witnesses were saying that 1975 would be when Armageddon would come. How could they possibly know this? Jehovah was telling them through the holy spirit about everything else they were teaching us. And we were supposed to follow this guidance without question. 1975 was approaching fast, and the advice we were receiving made it clear that it was going to happen. Dont go to college, dont pursue that higher paying job, dont have children, dont get married, dont waste time studying with those that were lagging behind. They wouldnt have enough time to make it inside the gate. Everyone was telling me I was never going to have to deal with grown-up problems. Meeting after meeting, talk after talk, and several articles later, the message became even more urgent. The first time I had ever heard about the tragic voyage of the Titanic was at a sunday meeting, when it was compared to this wicked system of things. The ship was sinking, and there were very few life boats available. Make sure you get on one now. Dont wait, or you will go down with the ship. There were many in the congregation that had quit their jobs and pioneered a few months prior to the fall of 1975. They were praised for their efforts. The fall was almost here, and with it, Armageddon. 1975 came and went. Nothing changed. How could this be? Wasnt Jehovah guiding us? Eager anticipation soon turned into frustration as many began asking those questions. The ones that had quit their jobs suddenly found themselves struggling financially. People began to second guess about the things we were told not to do. The elders waited for instructions from the Governing Body. They received no response. What happened next angered many into leaving the religion. We never said it was going to happen. What? Yes you did. Then they blamed it on overzealous members that spread false rumors and got everyone thinking that the end was supposed to come. Even at a young age, I knew something was not right. But I was told to keep quiet. Stop asking questions about the brothers decision making. Later, we were told that perhaps God delayed Armageddon in order to save more people. But I think the damage was done to those who were members at that time. The years that followed involved a lot of soul searching. The word Faith was used heavily. The members that remained were praised for staying the course in the face of adversity, and Satan played a role in causing so many to leave. My young mind was racing, trying to understand what had happened. The meetings were numb for awhile. But eventually, 1975 would drift away, and things would return to normal. Instead of saying a particular time, they changed the message to it could happen anytime soon. We are definitely living in the last days. What is sad about this is that current members of Jehovahs Witnesses are saying that this never happened. I wonder if they are being told this? I was there. I know what really happened. If God is guiding this organization, why would He attempt to cover over the past? Even more emphatic, why would His people lay claim to a false date and then later deny it? Years later, they would admit this mistake, but only partially. It was obvious damage control, but again, I was too young to understand what had happened.
Posted on: Wed, 01 Oct 2014 00:07:34 +0000
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