“As the clock ticks away to Armageddon, the Jehovah’s Witnesses are stepping up their activities to get as many of us as possible saved from that dreaded destruction.”—Editorial by Ian Boyne in “The Sunday Gleaner,” March 15, 1987, Kingston, Jamaica.

The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. January 1, 1988 p. 5

THE editorial writer quoted above is correct. Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that Armageddon, when God will destroy the wicked, is near and that mankind is living in a time of divine judgment. (Revelation 14:6, 7)

The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. January 1, 1988 p. 5

But all today who show that spirit and refuse to accept Jehovah’s appointed King will be forced to recognize him when he comes to destroy the nations at Armageddon.—Revelation 19:11-16, 19-21.

The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. January 1, 1988 p. 18

Similarly, as we face up to the tests that precede the final war of Armageddon, let us have in mind that our personal salvation is secondary to the sanctifying of Jehovah’s name. As our Sovereign Lord declared some 60 times by his prophet Ezekiel: “They will have to know that I am Jehovah.”—Ezekiel 38:23.

The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. January 15, 1988 p. 17, 18

10. (a) What did Hezekiah’s prayer reveal about his main concern? (b) How can we be like

Hezekiah as we face up to the tests just before Armageddon?
The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. January 15, 1988 p. 17

12. (a) How does Isaiah 26:21 describe the accounting that will take place at Armageddon? (b) Who are the “killed ones” that will be avenged even before Armageddon, and how so?

The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. January 15, 1988

This was one of the decisive battles fought at Megiddo, which leads to its being used as a symbol of God’s decisive final battle against rebellious human nations at Har–Magedon, or Armageddon.—Revelation 16:16.

The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. February 1, 1988 p. 27

Then, taking me completely by surprise, Brother Rutherford inquired: “How would you like to serve at the London Bethel as branch servant?” “My, that’s a big assignment!” I commented. “Furthermore, this means a one-way ticket, agreeing to stay there until after Armageddon. So I will give you three days to decide,” he continued.

The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. March 1, 1988 p. 12, 13

8. Why does Christendom believe that it is beyond Armageddon’s reach?

The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. April 1, 1988 p. 17

They think they are beyond the reach of God’s Armageddon judgment.—Jeremiah 6:14; 23:17; 1 Corinthians 1:10; Revelation 16:14, 16.
The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. April 1, 1988 p. 18

Then an imminent judgment was implied: “All these elements that go to make up the visible part of Satan’s organization are being gathered together and assembled for the great battle of Armageddon.”—Revelation 16:14-16.

The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. April 1, 1988 p. 23

In a similar way, while Jehovah’s Witnesses are announcing the imminent “great tribulation,” with God’s Armageddon judgment, they are also proclaiming the blessings of the “new heavens and a new earth” that will result in the restoration of justice and Paradise to this planet, along with everlasting life.

The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. April 1, 1988 p. 26

A highlight of the morning was the concluding talk by the Watch Tower Society’s 94-year-old president, F. W. Franz. In a voice still firm and strong, Franz reviewed the history of Gilead. During the second world war, the Governing Body came to discern that ‘World War II would not lead to Armageddon.

The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. June 1, 1988 p. 23

So, as the storm of Armageddon draws near, the warning message must be declared as often as possible to save lives.’
The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. July 15, 1988 p. 19

For example, they came to realize that the sheep of Jesus’ parable were, even before Armageddon, being separated from the goats. (Matthew 25:31-46)

The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. October 15, 1988 p. 19

What will this lead to? To the war that really is a “war to end wars”: the battle of Armageddon, called in the Bible “the war of the great day of God the Almighty.”
The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. November 1, 1988 p. 6

Even as Jehovah taught the proud monarchs Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar lessons about his sovereignty and saving power, so at Armageddon God will make all earth’s rulers know that he is the Supreme Ruler, the almighty Universal Sovereign.

The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. December 1, 1988 p. 14

In the new booklet Face the Facts, Akashi dwelt on one point that would adversely influence the Korean brothers. The booklet encouraged young couples to wait a “few years,” until after Armageddon, before marrying. He interpreted this to mean just two or three years, instead of an indefinite time period. Thus, the Korean brothers believed that they had just a few months left to preach, then they would suffer arrest, and while imprisoned, Armageddon would strike.

1988 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses.  1987.  p. 149

The brothers were interrogated time and again as the authorities sought ways to prosecute them. They were asked: “Is it true that all nations are under the influence of the Devil? Is our great Imperial Japan included? Are you an American spy? When will Armageddon come?” The brothers answered the last question by saying: “After the preaching work is done.” Next the authorities would charge: “By your preaching you are actually urging Armageddon’s coming, which means you are urging our Imperial Japan’s destruction.

1988 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses.  1987.  p. 153, 154

The Korean brothers were disturbed, though, because they had believed his inaccurate explanation of the “few years” left before Armageddon.

1988 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses.  1987.  p. 154

How did the door to true worship swing open again? Sister Park Ock-hi explains:

“After liberation from the Japanese in 1945, although several sisters insisted it was time to wait for Armageddon in a ‘secret place,’ we did continue to hold some meetings in my house.

1988 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses.  1987.  p. 155

“To our amazement, forty brethren and people of good will attended. We conveyed the greetings of the brethren in the United States, talked of God’s organization at this time and then answered many of their questions. The brethren in many respects have a deep understanding and are certainly anxious to do what is to be done. Only two or three have wrong ideas, being bitter because the ‘few years’ till Armageddon mentioned in the Face the Facts booklet has stretched out this long.”

1988 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses.  1987.  p. 157

He was asked why he was avoiding the People’s Volunteer Army. “I can serve only God’s Kingdom,” he replied. “At Armageddon both sides in this political struggle will be destroyed by God, and I do not wish to be on either side. I cannot violate God’s law for any man-made law contrary to his. I am not afraid to die because I believe in the resurrection.”

1988 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses.  1987.  p. 164

Publication title: Around 1944 when the branch office was being established in San José, a follower of the Roman Catholic faith in San Carlos received through the mail the booklet Armageddon and passed it on to Naftalí Salazar, an Evangelical.

1988 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses.  1987.  p. 219, 220

Joshua Steelman, visiting as a special representative of the Society, asked Silbert: “When do you plan to go pioneering, when Armageddon is knocking at the door?” Silbert saw the urgency of the times. He and Valmina started pioneering November 1948.

1988 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses.  1987.  p. 225

For many years the people of Cartago had adopted a similar attitude toward the warning about the approaching war of Armageddon.

1988 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses.  1987.  p. 236

In view of their proved effectiveness, a special effort will be made to increase tract distribution during the next few months. Kingdom News No. 30 (Is Planet Earth Near the Brink?) will be used in January. In February we will concentrate on the tract Are We Nearing Armageddon?

Our Kingdom Ministry.  January 1987 p. 7

Feb. 14 Bible reading: Isaiah 38 to 40

Song No. 113

No. 1: Esther 6:1 to 10:3 (si pp. 93-4, pars. 12-15)

No. 2: Isaiah 40:12-31

No. 3: “Apostolic Successors” Not True Christians (rs pp. 42-4)

No. 4: Where Will Armageddon Be Fought? (rs pp. 44-6, first subheading)

Our Kingdom Ministry.  October 1987 p. 4 T

Feb. 14 Bible reading: Isaiah 38 to 40

Song No. 113

No. 1: Esther 6:1 to 10:3 (si pp. 93-4, pars. 12-15)

No. 2: Isaiah 40:12-31

No. 3: “Apostolic Successors” Not True Christians (rs pp. 42-4)

No. 4: Where Will Armageddon Be Fought? (rs pp. 44-6, first subheading)

Feb. 21 Bible reading: Isaiah 41 to 43

Song No. 34

No. 1: Job: Facts Regarding It (si pp. 95-6, pars. 1-6)

No. 2: Isaiah 43:1-17

No. 3: What Is the Devil Doing? (pe chap. 2, pars. 13-25)

No. 4: Who and What Will Be Destroyed at Armageddon? (rs pp. 46-7, first subheading)

Feb. 28 Written Review. Complete Isaiah 14 to 43

Song No. 33

Mar. 6 Bible reading: Isaiah 44 to 46

Song No. 45

No. 1: Job 1:1 to 2:13 (si p. 96, pars. 7-10)

No. 2: Isaiah 46

No. 3: Who Will Survive Armageddon? (rs p. 47)

No. 4: Armageddon—No Violation of God’s Love (rs p. 48, first subheading)

Mar. 13 Bible reading: Isaiah 47 to 49

Song No. 146

No. 1: Job 3:1 to 14:22 (si pp. 96-7, pars. 11-17)

No. 2: Isaiah 48:1-19

No. 3: Religion That Is Not Good (pe chap. 3, pars. 1-10)

No. 4: No Neutral Position Possible at Armageddon (rs p. 48, second subheading)

Mar. 20 Bible reading: Isaiah 50 to 53

Song No. 3

No. 1: Job 15:1 to 25:6 (si pp. 97-8, pars. 18-26)

No. 2: Isaiah 52

No. 3: Whose Influence Is Pushing Nations Toward the Armageddon Situation? (rs pp. 48-9)

Our Kingdom Ministry.  October 1987 p. 4