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Citing Matthew 24:7 and Luke 21:11, paragraphs 6-9 (pp. 88-90) of Chapter 9 of “Bible Teach” list four developments which it claims are happening now and prove that we are in the last days:

• Wars between nations and nations, kingdoms and kingdoms
• Food shortages
• Great earthquakes
• Pestilences

People tend to think that the problems they face are worse than ever before. That these things are happening isn’t in dispute. That it’s happening in unprecedented degrees now can be challenged by studying history.

You can also point out to the Witnesses that the book fails to disclose a number of other things set out in Luke 21, including the personal return of Jesus (which the Watchtower reinterprets to mean visible manifestations of his invisible presence in heaven):

Luke 21:8-9: “Look out that you are not misled, for many will come on the basis of my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The due time is near.’ Do not go after them. Furthermore, when you hear of wars and disturbances, do not be terrified. For these things must take place first, but the end will not occur immediately.”

Luke 21:25-28: “Also, there will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth anguish of nations not knowing the way out because of the roaring of the sea and its agitation. People will become faint out of fear and expectation of the things coming upon the inhabited earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. But as these things start to occur, stand up straight and lift up your heads, because your deliverance is getting near.”

Referring to 2 Timothy 3:1-5, paragraph 10 (pp. 90-91) states that the Bible foretells “a change in human society” in the last days, characterized by people being:

• Lovers of themselves
• Lovers of money
• Disobedient to parents
• Disloyal
• Having no natural affection
• Without self-control
• Fierce
• Lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God
• Having a form of godly devotion but proving false to its power

Point out that nowhere does the Bible say this will be “a change in human society.” When haven’t these things characterized sinful human beings?

You might also cite to the Witnesses John’s statement made in the first century. 1 John 2:18: “Young children, it is the last hour, and just as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared, from which fact we know that it is the last hour.”

Of this verse, Warren Wiersbe comments, “’The last hour’ began back in John’s day and has been growing in intensity ever since… ‘The last hour’ or ‘the last times’ are phrases that describe a kind of time, not a duration of time… In other words, Christians have always been living in ‘the last time’—in crisis days. It is therefore important that you know what you believe and why you believe it.”[i] (emphasis original)

Next week, we will cover the final two topics of “Bible Teach,” Chapter 9:

• Significance of and praise for the work Jehovah’s Witnesses are doing
• The urgency for you to become an active and faithful Jehovah’s Witness

[i] Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, New Testament, Volume 2 (Colorado Springs: Victor, 1989, 2001 printing), p. 498