Eagerness for the End to Come

Jesus' disciples wanted to know when the end would come, so they asked him: "What will be the sign of your presence and of the conclusion of the system of things?" They evidently were asking about when the Jewish system would end, but Jesus' answer focused primarily on when the present "heavens and earth would suffer destruction.  Jesus foretold such things as great wars, food shortages, earthquakes, disease, and crime.  (Matthew 24:-14; Luke 21:5-36) Since 1914, we have seen the sign being fulfilled that Jesus gave for "the conclusion of the system of things" as well as the things the apostle Paul mentioned would identify "the last days." (2 Timothy 3:1-5) Truly, the evidence is overwhelming that we are living in the time of the end of this system of things!  Note: Keep in mind that Jehovah's idea of time is a lot different from our idea of time) 

Jehovah's Witnesses have been eager to know when the day of Jehovah will occur. In their eagerness they have at times made attempts to estimate when it might come.  But by so doing, they have failed, as did Jesus' early disciples, to heed their Master's caution that we "do not know when the appointed time is." (Mark 13:32, 33) Ridiculers have mocked faithful Christians for their premature expectations.  (2 Peter  3:3, 4) Nevertheless, Jehovah's day will come, Peter affirms, according to His timetable. 

Next time: Need to Have Jehovah's View

From the Watchtower magazine, 1997