Jehovah’s Witnesses – “The Last of the Last Days”?
In recent times, the expression, “The Last of the Last Days,” has been used by a certain group. This can be seen from their website, www.jw.org. Since such an expression id not used in the Bible, where does it come from?
“Sin is not ended by multiplying words” (Proverbs 10:19 NIV)
“At the beginning their words are folly; at the end they are wicked madness—and fools multiply words” (Ecclesiastes 10:13,14 NIV)
Back in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s Jehovah’s Witnesses were predicting that the year 1914 would be the end of the world, in direct contradiction to Jesus warning that no one knows the date of the end of the world (Matthew 24;36). Rather than repent of their false prophesy, they changed their story. However, “God’s firm foundation stands” (2 Timothy 2:19 ESV).
“When a prophet speaks in the name of Yahweh and the thing does not happen and the word is not fulfilled, then it has not been said by Yahweh. The prophet has spoken presumptuously, You have nothing to fear from him”—Deuteronomy 18:22 NJB
The Bible principle expressed above, helps us to identify false prophets. After their prediction failed, they began to claim that they had actually accurately foretold some things about 1914, since the first World War started that year. Twenty-nine years later, in 1943, they began to assert that: (1) Jesus had invisibly “returned” by assuming full power as the king of God’s kingdom, and (2) that the “last days” of this world also started in 1914, and (3) “the great tribulation” (Matthew 24:21,22) began, and (4) the generation that was alive in 1914 will not completely die off until the end comes (Matthew 24:34). Jehovah’s Witnesses have held to the first two of these four claims, but have changed the 3rd and 4th claims. To refute the charges of prophesying falsely, the Jehovah’s Witnesses have asserted that they were not actually prophesying, but only “interpreting” Bible prophecies, which fits the mold of:
“I am not a prophet”—Zechariah 13:5 NIV
All we have to do is a little math to see that 109 years have now elapsed since 1914. The Jehovah’s Witnesses have dug themselves in even deeper by holding onto these unscriptural assertions, rather than admit they have been completely wrong about their 1914 date. To make matters even worse, Jehovah’s Witnesses, in their main publication, the October 2019 Watchtower study article, have an article entitled “Keep Busy During These Last of the Last Days”. The idea of “The Last of the Last Days” has been used by Jehovah’s Witnesses for some years now as a patch over their failed 1914 date that they have held onto so tenaciously. But to enshrine it further now in a main study article, rather than letting the entire concept go as being unscriptural, seems insane.
Contrary to Jehovah’s Witnesses’ false doctrines of “The Last Days of the Jewish System”, running from 33 CE to 70 CE, and “The Last Days of This World”, running from 1914 to Armageddon, the Bible itself clearly indicates the “Last Days” started at Pentecost, the 50th day after Jesus’ resurrection:
“Let me explain this to you . . . this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: ‘In the last days, God says . . . ‘” (Acts 2:17 NIV). Peter, the apostles spokesman at the time, explains that the miraculous speaking in foreign languages was a fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy, taking place right then and there “In the last days”.
Three decades later, when Paul wrote his final letter, he warned about “terrible times in the last days”, and urged: “Have nothing to do with such people” (2 Timothy 3:1,5 NIV), so it is very obvious that “the last days” were happening then! Jehovah’s Witnesses often use 2 Timothy 3:1-5 when discussing “the last days”, while asserting that “the last days” began in 1914.
About the year 61 CE, Christians are told that “in these last days [God] has spoken to us by his Son” (Hebrews 1:1,2 NIV), that God had already been speaking to them through Jesus, and did not have to wait until 1914.
About a year or two later, James scolded rich Christians who had “hoarded wealth in the last days” (James 5:4 NIV). Clearly these “last days had been going on for some time!
Jehovah’s Witnesses have obviously painted themselves into a corner with their 1914 date, and their stubborn refusal to abandon it. Now they publicly spout out such unscriptural terms as, “We’re now in the Last of the Last Days”. Such a term is not only noticeably absent from the Bible, it contradicts the Bible.Why does it contradict the Bible? Because Jesus warned, not the world, but his disciples:
“Keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come”—Matthew 24:42 NIV
“You must be ready the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him”—Matthew 24:44 NIV
According to Jesus, his own disciples will not be figure out when the end is coming. What about knowing “the times or dates”? Jehovah’s Witnesses have always, since their beginning in the 1870’s, claimed to “know” them. However, Jesus said, “It is not for you to know” them (Acts 1:7 NIV). In fact, Jesus warned us to avoid anyone who claimed they knew “the times and dates.” Notice:
“Watch out that are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, . . . ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them”—Luke 21:8 NIV
2 thoughts on “Jehovah’s Witnesses – “The Last of the Last Days”?”
It is strange for this to be posted on your Site. Debunking the Trinity but railing against things that may or may not have happened well over a century ago is defeating. The JWs are in agreement with you on the Trinity. Why are you not showing us all the failed predictions of Christians just in the last two or three decades? The Y2K Crisis comes to mind when many Christian preachers were preparing for the return of Christ. I was with two congregations who were certain about that in the late 1990’s.
there is Hal Lindsey too and his book about that.
about the JW (predictions)of last century. They have no effect on me. I was not born, nor was my grandfather effected by them. Just want to know are you a hater of jws? I do have family who are witnessess and they are so kind and relly know the Bible.
Thank you and have a great day
This site is dedicated to proving that God’s Word, the Bible is authentic, genuine and true. The Trinity doctrine is widely preached and believed as though it is in the Bible, therefore this site exposes it. “Command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer” (1 Timothy 1:3 NIV). This site has published a number of articles that debunk unscriptural teachings claiming that certain Christians have figured out when the end will be (Matthew 24:36; Mark 13:33-37; Luke 21:8; Acts 1:6-8). This expose’ has not been limited to Jehovah’s Witnesses. However, Jehovah’s Witnesses have been fairly prominent in being guilty of predicting several dates, which proved false once those dates came and went, with their prophecies unfulfilled. According to the scriptures, this qualifies them as false prophets (Deuteronomy 18:20-22). Christians are told to: “Have nothing to do with deeds of darkness, but rather expose them” (Ephesians 5:11 NIV). Exposing false prophets and false prophecies does not equate to hatred, but rather it is in humble obedience to God’s direction (2 Timothy 4:2-5). Even though JW’s false predictions may not have had any effect upon you personally, others have been taken “captive” by their false teachings (Colossians 2:8 NIV). Yes, most JW’s are very nice people, and they do know their Bibles, or at least their slant on it, better than the average Church-goer. There is a lot of good about JW’s and much of their teachings. However, “a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough” (1 Corinthians 5:6 NIV). Most Mormons and Seventh Day Adventists are very nice people also, who know some scriptures fairly well.