Are Jehovah's Witnesses Attempting to Preach a Gospel Already Completed 2000 Years Ago?

Many critics have questioned why Jehovah's Witnesses continue to preach the message of the Kingdom of God, despite the many centuries that have passed since the initial preaching of Jesus and his apostles. However, this ongoing work is deeply rooted in a belief that the prophecy found in Matthew 24:14 remains valid. According to this prophecy, the good news of the Kingdom will be proclaimed in all nations as a witness before the end of the age. This has significant implications for understanding the current mission of Jehovah's Witnesses.

Understanding the Prophecy

Matthew 24:14 of the New International Version (NIV) states:

14 And this good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

This verse suggests that the good news of the Kingdom would not just happen once, but rather it would be continuously proclaimed and preached until the end of the age. For Jehovah's Witnesses, this means that the preaching work was not just for the disciples or early Christians, but an ongoing mission commissioned by Jesus Christ to proclaim His Kingdom message.

The Ongoing Nature of the Kingdom Preaching

The Bible describes the goal of this preaching work as preparing the world for the end times, which includes the advent of the Kingdom of God. Jehovah's Witnesses believe that this message is essential for all nations, which is why they continue to preach in over 240 lands and distribute literature in over 1000 languages. Their belief is that this preaching work is crucial to the fulfillment of God's plan for the earth.

Proof by Scripture and Historical Verification

Since 1922, the Jehovah's Witness organization has been actively engaging in this mission. Currently, over 8,700,000 Witnesses are involved in proclaiming the message in various nations. According to them, there is not a single place on earth, in any of the over 900 languages, that has not heard the Gospel and what it means for them.

The importance of this cannot be overstated. Jehovah's Witnesses maintain that their work is consistent with the prophecy in Revelation 6:1–8 and other passages, which speak of significant events preceding the end times including wars, epidemics, food shortages, and earthquakes. They take these prophecies seriously, attributing the ongoing work to preparing the world for a transformed earth where everyone can hear the good news of the Kingdom.

The Notion of the Kingdom Being Here Already

Skeptics often ask if the kingdom is already here, with the dead being resurrected and a world without war, sickness, or death. Jehovah's Witnesses believe the kingdom is not yet fully realized but is coming in stages. This means that while some aspects of the kingdom have begun, such as the fact that the dead can now hear and respond to the good news due to technological advancements, the full realization of the kingdom is still awaited.

With this in mind, Jehovah's Witnesses continue their preaching work, not because they believe the mission is unnecessary, but because they believe it is a fundamental part of God's plan. Their belief is that the preaching of the Kingdom message will continue until the end of the age, as prophesied in Scripture.

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

While the arguments for and against the ongoing preaching work of Jehovah's Witnesses are complex, one cannot deny the historical and scriptural basis for their mission. For Jehovah's Witnesses, the continuous preaching of the Kingdom message as outlined in prophecy is a crucial component of their faith. This ongoing labor reflects their deep commitment to their understanding of God's plan for the earth and the necessity of sharing this message with all nations.

For those interested in understanding more about this belief, it is important to consider the Bible passages and supporting historical evidence. The ongoing preaching of Jehovah's Witnesses is a matter of belief and mission, not just a matter of personal choice.