What the Bible actually says?

The great day of Jehovah began in 1874 and will continue 40 years and end with the expiry of the times of the Gentiles in the dethronement of the worldly and satanic rule on earth and full investiture of Emmanuel Jesus Christ and the saints .. . The times of the Gentiles will end definitively in 1914 y. .. at that time will be demolished and the Kingdom of Christ will be fully established.

(Studies in the Scriptures, pp. 170 and 250).

The Bible refers to the time we live as “The Last Days” or “end times” (2 Tim. 3, 1, Dan 11, 40). Reality shows that this is a limited time you have a definite beginning and a definite end. It began in 1914 when Jesus Christ was enthroned as king in heaven. It will end when God destroys the wicked system of things … Is it much for that? God’s own Son, Jesus Christ, gives the answer. After drawing attention to the many things that make detiempo the period from 1914 onwards as the “end times” Jesus said: “By no means will this generation until these things happen” (Mt 24, 33). Persons born fifty years ago (This book is the 1968) could not see “all these things.” They came to the scene after the predicted events had already begun. But people still living who were alive in 1914 and saw what was happening and that age have enough time, still remember those events. This generation is getting older now. A lot of people in this generation has already died. However, Jesus said directly, “No way will this generation until all these things happen.” Some of these people still be alive when you come to this iniquitous system and see it. This means that only very little time left before the end comes. So now is the time to take urgent action if you do not want to be swept away with this unjust system.

(The Truth that Leads to Everlasting Life, pp. 94-95).

Why is the beginning of that limited time is the year 1914? What was the enthronement of Jesus in 1914?

Those born in 1914 have already served or are to meet the seventy-five, in this year of 1989 [to take this issue on line those people have already served or are for his eightieth, three ... and counting!]

The Bible offers the fact that some of the world will end, but the circumstances of “when” and “how” is hidden at the time of this event.

Two key passages address the issue directly:

“The eschatological discourse of Jesus (Mt 24 = Mark 13 and Luke 21).

“Letters of Paul to the Thessalonians.

1. Eschatological discourse

It’s called “eschatological” because it speaks of the end of Jerusalem and the world, also called “synoptic apocalypse.

In his address two issues are intertwined: the destruction of Jerusalem and the end of the world. At the beginning of discourse (Mt 24, l-3), Jesus speaks of building the temple and its coming destruction.

The disciples asked, “When is all this and what is the sign of thy coming and the consummation of the world?”.

There will be many misfortunes precursor. But this is not yet the end.

The destruction of Jerusalem becomes a type or figure of the end of the world. It is hard to group the phrases that refer to one thing or another. Even the great cosmic upheaval spoken of “the sun will be darkened, moon not give its light, stars fall from heaven” is not really have to refer to the end of the world. This is apocalyptic images taken from the prophets who speak of the fall of empires:

-Is 13, 9-10: fall of Babylon;

Jer-4, 23-26, invasion of Judah by the kingdoms of the North-Ez 32, 7-8: destruction of Egypt;

-Am 8, 9: mysterious punishment that does not materialize.

When Jesus says “this generation shall not pass until this happens” refers to the destruction of Jerusalem, which occurred in 70, which was a symbol of world destruction.

2. Letters to the Thessalonians

In both letters to the Thessalonians are frequent allusions to the “coming of Christ.” The expression leads us to think of the last glorious coming of Christ to the end of time. But these phrases seem to refer not all so clear and unanimous in the final coming, but sometimes speak of the coming of Christ, of meeting him at the time of death of each. Can be understood in this sense:

Tes-l 1, 10, 2, 19, 3, 13, 5, 23.

The same meaning is expressed in St. Paul:

-2 Cor 5: 1-10; Phil 1, 20-26, 2 Tim 4,6-8.

For this personal encounter with Christ in death of each, we must prepare. In this sense we must understand the call for vigilance with which Matthew ends 24. It is really imminent end of our mortal course. Then we will account to God for our deeds.

Other texts speak of the manifestation of Christ against the Holocaust, which will end with the destruction of Jerusalem has not yet occurred when Paul-back in the ’50s – he wrote these letters to the Thessalonians. Paul has been precisely this Jewish persecution in Thessalonica with particular virulence (Acts 16 and 17). Here:

-2 Thes 1, 1-1; 2 2, 1-12.

This latter text is the darkest and difficult to interpret.

Among the fundamental truths of Christianity, Paul lists, with faith and baptism, “the resurrection of the dead and the final trial. “Christ will come to judge the living and the dead” (2 Tim 4, l). This formula expresses the universality of doom. It is clear in this respect the text of 1 Thessalonians 4, 13-18:

Brothers, we are not lucky enough to be ignorant of the dead, not to grieve as men without hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, just as those who have died in Jesus, God will take him.

This is what we say as word of the Lord: we who live and look for his coming, no advantage to the dead. For himself, the Lord, the voice of the archangel and the sound of the trumpet of God, descend from heaven and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we who are still living will be caught with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. And so shall we ever be with the Lord. Comfort ye, therefore, another with these words.

The Thessalonians were concerned about the fate of the dead. They thought they could not go to meet Christ at his coming. Paul consoles them saying that those who have died in the Lord shall rise first to receive the prize deserved. Pablo is placed hypothetically between those living in the Lord’s coming. This led to think that Paul expected the imminent coming of Christ. It is merely a literary device: Paul, to dialogue with its partners, spoke in first person, the same thing repeatedly found in the following chapter:

-not belong to the night (v 5);

-not sleep as others (v 6);

-belong to the day (v 8);

-awake or asleep we might live with him (v 10).

3. When did all this happen?

At all times, and St. Augustine alludes to this, “he wanted to indicate in detail specific dates imminent doomsday. All predictions have failed to be released. Just read the following texts:

Mt 24, 36:

From that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

Mt 24,42-44:

Watch therefore, for ye know what day your Lord is coming. Entendedlo well: if the homeowner had known at what time of night the thief was coming, I would be awake and not let it break through the house. Therefore be ye also ready, because when you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.

l Thess 5, 1-3:

In regard to time and time brethren, ye have no need to write to you. You yourselves know perfectly that the Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. When they say “peace and security” then it suddenly comes upon them to ruin, as labor pains which pregnant woman, and not escape.

These texts would be enough just to point to the conclusion that any attempt to proclaim the end is totally against the Gospel and St. Paul, which say explicitly that this date is not revealed.