Who today is being told that great tribulation will come upon Christians any day now?

Question

I heard that the March Kingdom Ministry suggested to JWs that this mid April could be their last time to remember the death of Jesus. It did not say it would be, more, What if...?
And for some time JWs have been told to have a Go To Bag ready for sudden flight.

Not that this is new stuff. I read this in a new book about what it was like being brought up as a JW in the 1970s:
[quote] We were always told that just before Armageddon, persecution would befall us. My Dad bought clothes of different sizes, all too big for us children at the time, and boxes and boxes of food. He stored them in the loft. I was told that if my parents were taken away to be killed near the end, before Armageddon, I would be able to feed myself and my brothers...
I was told that if my parents were taken away, people would come hunting us children. I would probably be raped. I was not to resist. It would not be worth the struggle. It was all for Jehovah, so give in and let it happen. The attacker may be a neighbour or teacher or even the police. (I now realise that those instructions bordered on mental child abuse). [unquote, Now a True Witness for Jehovah by E.W. Young, p28, John Ritchie Ltd, 2013]

Apart from the JWs, are there any other religious groups being primed to expect horrible persecution any day now?

Baseball Player · Accepted Answer

Billy Gram told people we were living in the last days. 
Pat Robertson
Lester Frank Sumrall, Pentecostal pastor and evangelist.
Neal Chase
Nostradamus
Jerry Falwell
A ton of others...A host of preachers of many different domination on TV say it. Where you been?

Edit.  Nostradamus did, and most do say it was his writing.  stating the "King of Terror" (he meant Christ as the reference he made in other writings of his to this title)  would come from the sky in "1999 and seven months" led to fears of the end.

So now your saying if their dead it don't count? But I have seen you use dead ones against others in  posts or in agreement with others on matters. Does it matter or not?  You can't use it one way than reject the other--thats showing hypocrisy

Billy Graham made quite a fuss at one time of the end coming and gave a date. Anyone can look that up.  He toned it down when it didn't happen. But still declared it was soon. So are you saying he was a false prophet and not a godly man?

Many in all groups/denominations talk about the signs going on in the East counties today as biblical signs of the end. That's a Hugh topic on TV.  Hugh and they use scriptures to back what they believe it. And with it becoming a nation it took headlines in many media outlets.

No offense meant just stating fact.

Of course many prefer the light hand of money grabbers and grand lifestyles like Joel Osteen and the likes who rarely if ever talk of such things. They can give Nice talks but they prefer not to talk about such hard biblical facts as it doesn't bring in the cash. And it's not what people want to hear--true.  Many people cannot handle the truth. They don't want to hear it or think about it. That's also a fact.

What actions are you talking about? I hear quite a few say prepare yourself in all different ways. Some are opening places/shelters to defend themselves in times of the ends they think it's that close and will be that bad. Arming themselves even, stocking food and other items they may need. etc.  It's not just  Davidians who were and are doing that.  Ten x  Ten Thousands of people.  Not just one faith are in these things doing that. There just not crazy as he was so it's not big news but it's not a secret neither many are doing that. Who is telling them to prepare? All these preachers in their faiths. They are not being denounced for their org. for telling the flock this idea.-Or the idea that time is that close.  Many are top Leaders involved in this. So you see it's not just them--in fact you might say the JW are more sensible than many others in their views. They know there will be no place you can hide when the Lord's day comes.

Anonymous · Answer

I don't know about this being the last time for the memorial. The bible says that we cannot predict the hour nor the day. For all we know it could start tomorrow or 5 years from now or even today, no one knows. (Matthew 24:36-42) Concerning the "go to bag" it's something everyone really should have in their homes anyone. It's an emergency bag with first aid kits, emergency food packets, etc.

Today in the world, many people are being taught about some form of tribulation. Whether it is the same thing being preached by Witnesses is a different discussion all the together.

Anonymous · Answer

As far as I am aware, only Jehovah's Witnesses are expecting persecution and the start of the Great Tribulation any day now.  This is what the March Kingdom Ministry says on page 2, paragraph 4:

"Will this Memorial be our last? (1 Corinthians 11:26)  We do not know.  But we do know that once it passes, gone will be a unique opportunity to show gratitude.  Will you seize it?"

Why should this year’s Memorial be more unique than any other year if not for the fact that October 2014 marks 100 years since Jesus is supposed to have started ruling invisibly from heaven?

Put this alongside the 15 February Study Watchtower which talks about the anointed remnant being taken up to heaven at the start of the Great Tribulation and a picture begins to emerge.  The Society is gearing everyone up for the impending Great Tribulation and a time of persecution.  That's why they're being told to obey the elders, even if what the elders tell them to do doesn't seem reasonable.

Seems to me like the Society is expecting the anointed remnant to be taken up to heaven some time between the 2014 Memorial and October 2014.

P.S. To Jehovah's Witnesses who like to think they are the only Christians being persecuted, you need to open your eyes to the fact the Catholics and Protestants in Muslim countries are being falsely accused, imprisoned, tortured and killed because of their faith in Christ Jesus.  Their churches are being targeted by suicide bombers.  They have been killed for their faith.  Who do you think you are to claim you are the only true Christians?

LM

Big Guy 360 · Answer

That is a sad way to be brought up and I am sure that everything that you say is true.  
Tthis would fit the 1975 end of times JW propaganda.  This kind of propaganda has been around since the very beginnings of this organization.  Their doom and gloom sells magazines and boosts membership.  The 1975 incedent was the last time they set a date.  They are very careful not to do their old "date setting" propaganda, even in 1975 they were careful not to set a date but without a doubt the illusion of 1975 was clear.  But I think they have learned their lesson and push and get their membership hyped up with little cues that point to the end times is "Eminent".  The 1914 date is going to be a hundred years old this October and I'll bet this is one birthday they will celebrate and make use of to increase the "Urgency" to act.  To get out there in numbers and grow the membership.  Save the lives of others, if not in their organization they will be destroyed.  They have been doing this since 1876 and the end still does not come.  Let me put it this way.  When "we", Christians are caught up in the clouds with Jesus, I will  Guarantee you that sometime inbetween 3 and 4 years after that, there will be several JW's that will find out that they missed the boat, big time...

Tiger · Answer

My father and mother lived for 5 years in a German occupied Norway.  They knew how it was to have lack of certain foods.  Luckily they both grew up on farms so they were much self-sufficient.  Later the area was made into an industrial area so the farming stopped.  Still I never can remember they talked about storing up food.  Some older people had "food grief" (?if that is the right word) but that mostly came out in eating to much, not storing up.

Whenever I hear about "storing up" my mind always goes to the man in the Bible that wanted to build bigger barns  (Luke 12:16-21).  The motives may differ, but the lack of trust in God still is there.  Matthew 6:34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

This does not mean we do not plan anything, or save up money for a sudden need, either for the church or our self.  Either to help a brother in need or for a much needed new car.  We just do not save/store up, to save our self from unexpected trouble that might or might not come.  To kind of cover our self in case God does not help out.  We do not presume on God, but we do trust in God.  We trust what He say is true.

Eschatology is not so difficult as many will have it to be.  Pre-tribulational (dispensational) Premillennialism would be the right view.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Millennial_views.svg  History goes like this

Innocence
of Edenic and the fall.  Genesis 1-3

Conscience
and Antediluvian  Genesis 3-8

Civil Government  Genesis 9-11

Patriarchal
and Promise  Genesis 12 - Exodus 19

Mosaic
and Law  Exodus 20 - Christ

Church age 
until rapture  The Gospel - ?

Tribulation  Revelation 4 - 18  Note that the word "Church" is not mention during the Tribulation.  Its function stopped in chapter 3.

Millennial Kingdom  Revelation 20:4-6

Final  Revelation 20-22

The tribulation is a future seven-year period of time when God will finish His discipline of Israel and finalize His judgment of the unbelieving world. The church, made up of all who have trusted in the person and work of the Lord Jesus to save them from being punished for sin, will not be present during the tribulation. The church will be removed from the earth in an event known as the rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:51-53). The church is saved from the wrath to come (1 Thessalonians 5:9). Throughout Scripture, the tribulation is referred to by other names such as the Day of the Lord (Isaiah 2:12; 13:6-9; Joel 1:15; 2:1-31; 3:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:2); trouble or tribulation (Deuteronomy 4:30; Zephaniah 1:1); the great tribulation, which refers to the more intense second half of the seven-year period (Matthew 24:21); time or day of trouble (Daniel 12:1; Zephaniah 1:15); time of Jacob's trouble (Jeremiah 30:7).

For detailed information

One short article first and then several sermons from different scriptures on the subject.

Here is from a short Q&A  http://www.gty.org/resources/bible-qna/BQ3911/the-church-the-tribulation-and-the-rapture-

The Future Tribulation
Mark 13:14-23  March 27, 2011
http://www.gty.org/resources/sermons/41-67/the-future-tribulation

The Great Tribulation
Daniel 12:1-3 November 30, 1980 Part 1
http://www.gty.org/resources/sermons/27-30/the-great-tribulation-part-1

The Great Tribulation 
Daniel 12:4-13 December 07, 1980 Part 2
http://www.gty.org/resources/sermons/27-31/the-great-tribulation-part-2

Will the church go through the Tribulation? Part 1
July 08, 1973
http://www.gty.org/resources/sermons/1324/will-the-church-go-through-the-tribulation-part-1

Will the church go through the Tribulation? Part 2
July 15, 1973
http://www.gty.org/resources/sermons/1325/will-the-church-go-through-the-tribulation-part-2

Will the church go through the Tribulation? Part 3
July 22, 1973
http://www.gty.org/resources/sermons/1326/will-the-church-go-through-the-tribulation-part-3

Tribulation Saints Part 1
Revelation 7:9-12 January 03, 1993
http://www.gty.org/resources/sermons/66-29

Tribulation Saints Part 2
Revelation 7:13-17  January 10, 1993
http://www.gty.org/resources/sermons/66-30

MIMI

Rick · Answer

I think that it is important to understand that at this time in more than 60% of the countries on the face of the earth, persecution of Christians happens on a daily basis. Though I do not put any credence in the JW "prophecies" I do note that there is an increase in the anti-Christian sentiment around the world and certainly and increase persecution particularly in Islamic states.

Please check out the following links:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyO5ch2PiGY

http://barnabasfund.org/AU/News/Archives/Editorial...

http://www.opendoors.org.au/persecutedchristians/c...

Please check out the following links:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyO5ch2PiGY

http://barnabasfund.org/AU/News/Archives/Editorial-Prince-Charles-and-politicians-take-stand-for-persecuted-Christians.html?quicksearch=Editorial%3A+Prince+Charles+and+politicians&p=all

http://www.opendoors.org.au/persecutedchristians/countryprofiles/

Liz · Answer

I was there too. My mom started studying in 1967 when I was 5. I got baptized in 1978 11 years later.
Odd thing about that is I wasn't nearly as traumatized and told these things.

I guess it's all in the parents and the child's perception, it made me trust Jehovah more
not become vengeful and  dare I say so traumatized I had to write a "Mommy dearest"
novel.

Funny thing about those authors wanting to sell their stories.
Got to make it interesting.

Here is the deal though, one thing to one child might be quite another to another.
This tells me this child was quite the sensitive child. I don't remember all
the details, but I remember feeling confident in Jehovah's saving power and
remember thinking, and listening to others say,.....all the signs aren't there,
unless they all fall now.

Here's another thing I have noticed in the 30+ years following this,
If Jehovah's day is like a thief in the night, and to expect it when it is least expected
I can't imagine what it was like in that family.

Here's another thing if one thousand years is like a day to Jehovah,
and truth is the most educated minds in science say this universe
is 13.8 billion years old, we get on a far grander scale what that means.

Jehovah made the earth in one day. Jehovah made the earth 13.8 billion years ago.

What a scale. What hindsight to see what "Jehovah's day" really means.
What a wise way to find out how people view you or trust you, or what
their terrified minds do to them. We aren't suppose to fear. Sounds
like terror and torture to her.

What made her terrified and me.......feel safe?
What makes her think we were gullible and me feel educated while I still watched?

Makes you wonder.  Just makes you wonder how she REALLY felt about Jehovah.
No trust, no faith, all fear .... All the things the bible said NOT to be, she
magnifies and publishes.

The human mind is so fascinating. There is a song that came out what about
I don't know about 6-8 years ago I think about a woman who thinks her
boyfriend is at a bar getting a tramp drunk so he can get "lucky" wrap your brain
around that one..... and she is singing about how she vandalizes his car (breaks the law)

Now I can't figure out why someone would brag about violence against property
whilst singing about how a bleach blond tramp at a bar is her boyfriends choice over
her.... Why in the world would you admit all that let alone sing about it, yet it was
a popular song, they played it everywhere.

You got to wonder sometimes.

angelmusic · Answer

Here is a quotation - NOT from a Witness - from a magazine in 1984 - no not from the 70's, but a good ways back. Thinking (and policy) had not changed from the 70's to the 80's.

For the victim to be considered guilty of fornication there would need to be proof of willing consent. Apparently the requirement of Deuteronomy 22:25-27 for the woman to resist by screaming would clear her from any suspicion of such consent on her part. The value of resisting was emphasized by University of Illinois sociologist Pauline Bart who made a study of women who foiled rapes. In her studies, as reported in “The Edmonton Journal” of Canada (November 10, 1983), she states: “By fighting back, a woman significantly increases her chance of avoiding rape . . . Not resisting is no guarantee of humane treatment.” She further stated: “Raped women who used physical strategies were less likely to be depressed than raped women who did not physically resist their assailants.” As to showing respect for the potential rapist, it is not that he deserves it, but treating him civilly might help to elicit a considerate response and serve as a means for the potential victim to get out of a very dangerous situation.—ED.

So I do NOT think that this person had a grip on what was expected of her - or her parents either - because it went CONTRARY to what we WERE AND ARE taught.

As for storing up food? Any person in their right mind would have a couple weeks to a month's groceries in their home. Weather, sickness, or even natural disaster can create that necessity.

To go bag? Do you listen to the Weather Channel? They even have on their website a LIST of what should be included. We could be foolish and think nothing will ever interrupt our life. But about ten years ago, we had an ice storm that came through our city and left us without electricity for 8 days. We ate from cans, because there was a ban on driving unless you were an emergency vehicle or on the way to the hospital yourself and you had to prove it by being taken there, or pay a $100 fine. They wanted NO ONE on the roads because they were killers.

Anonymous · Answer

I'm a JW for 50+ yrs .

Yes you re right the March KM uses manipulative dishonest doomsday 
language to take advantage of the deluded JWs .

Its just a cunning way for the self anointed human leaders of the JWs 
to make a prophecy without saying its a prophecy.

It also injects a false urgency into the JW  cult sales force.

http://jwsurvey.org/cedars-blog/will-this-memorial-be-our-last-watchtower-teases-witnesses-over-2014

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GX9kHmWw5w

cragar6040 · Answer

Throughout the world abuses are being heaped upon Jehovahs Witnesses (as well as other minority faiths)....some being killed for their beliefs. For those that die...whether it be by the hands of others or accident....is it not their "end days"?
 Open your eyes...just because it isn't happening to you doesn't mean it isn't happening. In fact...you very well could be of the same "faith" the perpetrators belong!
  (Which would explain much of your attitude.....yes. so called "christians" have been the WORST persecuters historically )
 In fact...The very attitude you and your kind display makes very clear to me Pauls words to the congregation at Thessalonica about those crying out  "Peace and security!" (1 Thessalonians 5:3)

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Who today is being told that great tribulation will come upon Christians any day now?

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