Conclusion of:When Did God's Kingdom Begin Ruling? -Part 2-SEVEN TIMES END-THE Last Days Begin

Cameron: Consider what Jesus said, as recorded here at Matthew 24:7. Concerning the time when he would start ruling in heaven, Jesus said:  "Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be food shortages and earthquakes in one place after another." Notice that Jesus foretold food shortages and earthquakes during that time period. Our world has certainly seen a lot of that kind of trouble in the past century, hasn't it?

Jon: True.

Cameron: In this verse, Jesus also foretold warfare during his presence as King of God's Kingdom. And the Bible book of Revelation foretold not just  local warfare but wars that would affect the whole earth during the time of the end."  Do you recall when the first world war broke out?  

Jon: That was in 1914, the same year that you're saying Jesus began ruling!  I never connected that before. 

Cameron: When we put all these pieces together-the prophecy about the seven times as well as other Bible prophecies concerning the time of the end-it really makes sense. Jehovah's Witnesses are convinced that Jesus began ruling as King of God's Kingdom in 1914 and that the last days began in that same year.

Jon: I'm still trying to wrap my mind around all of this.

Cameron: That's perfectly understandable. As I mentioned before, it took me awhile to grasp it fully too. But at the very least, I hope our discussion has helped you to see that even though the year 1914 isn't specifically  mentioned in the Bible, Jehovah's Witnesses do have their beliefs about that year on the Scriptures.

Jon: Yes, I've always been impressed with this about you-no matter what you say, you back it up with a scripture. It's never just your opinion. I guess *I'm wondering, though, why this is so complicated. Why didn't God just tell us in the Bible that 1914 would be the year that Jesus would be ruling in heaven? 

Cameron: That's and excellent question, Jon.  In fact, there are many things that are not explicitly spelled out in the Scriptures. So why did God have the Bible written in a way that would require effort for people to understand? Maybe we can talk about that on another visit.

Jon: I would like that. 

Next time: IMITATE THEIR FAITH'/JOSEPH-"How Could I Commit This Great Badness?" 

From the Watchtower magazine, 2014