Posted by Bibleman [Bibleman] on October 30, 1999 at 09:25:37 {G0PnT/qYmkMRXA6xmpscslyACFuF8c}:
In Reply to: 12-8-99 a Joke? posted by 1 on October 29, 1999 at 19:49:05:
Hi l,
Technically, in this case, since the reference is to the preaching work, this work leading up to the Messiah's Second Coming would be completed before that generation ran out in 1994. The Bible says the "good news must be preached first. Then the END will come."
The only problem is many people and especially the witnesses pay no attention that the mention of the "end" is related to a specific "system of things" or "era" and is NOT the end of the political system. The END spoken of is specificall the END of the gentile times which is when Christ takes up kingdom power in heaven, kicks Satan down to the earth, but then is followed by a period where Satan is still manipulating things on the earth while Christ judges the world and gatheres his anointed ones.
Thus the END of the work does actually occur within the 20th century, and frankly, the END of the gentile times occurred in 1992. So they got this technically correct. Though it was purely accidental.
As far as us going into the 21st century, just a reminder that 2520 years from 529BCE which was the actual date Jerusalem fell before chronology revisions, just ended in 1992. And the grand jubilee period often focussed on in the late 1800's, that is the 2520 years (49x50, 490x5) just ended in 1996 when dated from the first 490-year temple building period which occurred in 455BCE.
Also of note, as we believe Jesus was born around the time of the Festival of Booths in 2BCE, two days of 1000 years each, that is 2000 years, just ended on October 9, 1999.
So we shouldn't get the idea that we are too far off schedule as far as Biblical events are concerned. A generation from 1914 ended in 1994 just 5 years ago, and an implied 7 year period of paying the workers in the vineyard (based upon each hour being 7 years) also are just ending in the spring of this year. That is from Passover of 1915+84 years ended Spring of 1999.
So basically, not that Jehovah couldn't speed things up, we are just now coming out of the "scheduled" events implied in the Bible this year.
So it is not "hunker down for the long haul time" but heightened awareness time.
Cheers,
Bibleman