Tuesday, June 16th - Wrong expectations

[Watchman]

Keep on the watch and pray continually, so that you may not enter into temptation.—Matt. 26:41.

“The spirit, of course, is eager, but the flesh is weak.” (Matt. 26:41b) With those words, Jesus showed that he understood our imperfect condition. But his words also included a warning: Beware of overconfidence. Earlier that very night, the disciples had confidently expressed their determination to stick by their Master. (Matt. 26:35) Their motives were good. Still, they did not realize how quickly they could weaken under pressure. Thus, Jesus cautioned them with the words found in today’s text. Sadly, the disciples failed to keep on the watch. When Jesus was arrested, did they stick by him or did they give in to the temptation to flee? Caught off guard, the disciples did exactly what they said that they would never do—they abandoned Jesus.—Matt. 26:56. w24.07 14 ¶1-2

A few days before he was arrested and executed, Jesus told his apostles several parables and stressed the importance of being watchful, since they did not know on what day their Lord would come. But in the Garden of Gethsemane, they did not expect Jesus to be taken. Even though Jesus told them he was going to be handed over and killed and then rise, they could not understand. They had wrong expectations.

Jehovah's Witnesses are in the same predicament. The Watchtower has instilled wrong expectations. It is not the first time. As I have pointed out many times before, 1914 was a disaster. Most of the Bible Students were stumbled because of wrong expectations. 1975, the same thing —wrong expectations. And here we are, 2026.

The inspired Christian prophet and apostle has expanded on Jesus' illustration that he would come like a thief in the night. Paul explained: "For you yourselves know very well that Jehovah’s day is coming exactly as a thief in the night. Whenever it is that they are saying, “Peace and security!” then sudden destruction is to be instantly on them, just like birth pains on a pregnant woman, and they will by no means escape."

In an answer to a supposed question from a reader in the February 2026 Watchtower, the Governing Body confesses to not knowing when they might say peace and security. They even speculate it may occur after the tribulation. This is quite ironic, tragically comic even, since Donald Trump is on a mission to bring peace to the world. He even used the phrase as recorded in the NWT, saying that ending the war in Iran may bring "peace and security" to the entire Middle East. And now Trump has moved on to ending NATO's war against Russia. The Governing Body is right about one thing:

Put simply, we do not know for sure the timing of the future proclamation of “peace and security.” If we knew all the details, we would not need to stay alert and watchful.

And in their case, even being watchful isn't working very well. In that sense, they are like the apostles in the Garden.

But it appears to me that Jehovah has set it up so that we will have to choose whether we believe God's word when it is fulfilled or wait for the GB to tell us what to believe. Sudden destruction will be hard to ignore, especially when it takes the form of global war and financial collapse, but apparently, JWs have been mentally conditioned to expect to receive life-saving directions from the Watchtower even when it is demonstrated beyond all dispute that all of their prophetic interpretations lead to wrong expectations.

Chapter 9 - PEACE & SECURITY - Jehovah Has Become King

Read Chapter 9 of the updated edition of Jehovah Has Become King. Brace for the sudden destruction of the Anglo-American system and the true day of the Lord.

jehovah-is-king.com

 

[SusanB]

A few days before he was arrested and executed, Jesus told his apostles several parables and stressed the importance of being watchful, since they did not know on what day their Lord would come. But in the Garden of Gethsemane, they did not expect Jesus to be taken. Even though Jesus told them he was going to be handed over and killed and then rise, they could not understand. They had wrong expectations.

Jehovah's Witnesses are in the same predicament. The Watchtower has instilled wrong expectations. It is not the first time. As I have pointed out many times before, 1914 was a disaster. Most of the Bible Students were stumbled because of wrong expectations. 1975, the same thing —wrong expectations. And here we are, 2026.

The inspired Christian prophet and apostle has expanded on Jesus' illustration that he would come like a thief in the night. Paul explained: "For you yourselves know very well that Jehovah’s day is coming exactly as a thief in the night. Whenever it is that they are saying, “Peace and security!” then sudden destruction is to be instantly on them, just like birth pains on a pregnant woman, and they will by no means escape."

In an answer to a supposed question from a reader in the February 2026 Watchtower, the Governing Body confesses to not knowing when they might say peace and security. They even speculate it may occur after the tribulation. This is quite ironic, tragically comic even, since Donald Trump is on a mission to bring peace to the world. He even used the phrase as recorded in the NWT, saying that ending the war in Iran may bring "peace and security" to the entire Middle East. And now Trump has moved on to ending NATO's war against Russia. The Governing Body is right about one thing:

And in their case, even being watchful isn't working very well. In that sense, they are like the apostles in the Garden.

But it appears to me that Jehovah has set it up so that we will have to choose whether we believe God's word when it is fulfilled or wait for the GB to tell us what to believe. Sudden destruction will be hard to ignore, especially when it takes the form of global war and financial collapse, but apparently, JWs have been mentally conditioned to expect to receive life-saving directions from the Watchtower even when it is demonstrated beyond all dispute that all of their prophetic interpretations lead to wrong expectations.

Chapter 9 - PEACE & SECURITY - Jehovah Has Become King

Read Chapter 9 of the updated edition of Jehovah Has Become King. Brace for the sudden destruction of the Anglo-American system and the true day of the Lord.

jehovah-is-king.com

Love this parallel. Judas wasn’t even there trying to stay awake and on the watch. He’d already gone off to betray Christ. It’s interesting that all 12 were weak but 11 were forgiven. Judas betrayal was very deliberate and although he certainly was a weak man, his sin was plotted out and not a case of succumbing to human weakness. It even seems to me that his sin was the result of unchecked selfish desires and resentment (possibly envy) of Jesus. No doubt it will be the same with the anointed and isn’t that what Jehovah has recorded for us at Luke 12:47-48: “Then that slave who understood the will of his master but did not get ready or do what he asked will be beaten with many strokes. But the one who did not understand and yet did things deserving of strokes will be beaten with few. Indeed, everyone to whom much was given, much will be demanded of him, and the one who was put in charge of much will have more than usual demanded of him.”?

 

[Spoilmerotten]

The biblical narrative establishes Judas greed and theft as long-standing character traits.He was the keeper of the money bag and had been stealing from the treasury. Simply put, he was a thief! This left a door wide open for Satan to take possession of him to put him under demon influence.

 

[SusanB]

The biblical narrative establishes Judas greed and theft as long-standing character traits.He was the keeper of the money bag and had been stealing from the treasury. Simply put, he was a thief! This left a door wide open for Satan to take possession of him to put him under demon influence.

I think it was more than him being a thief. He could have continued as a thief without betraying Jesus. But he chose to betray him for the price of a slave. Jesus even described Judas as a slanderer. So I think the betrayal was about more than money.

John 6:70-71: “Jesus answered them: ‘I chose you twelve, did I not? Yet one of you is a slanderer.’ He was, in fact, speaking of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for this one was going to betray him, although he was one of the Twelve.”

 

[Spoilmerotten]

I think it was more than him being a thief. He could have continued as a thief without betraying Jesus. But he chose to betray him for the price of a slave. Jesus even described Judas as a slanderer. So I think the betrayal was about more than money.

John 6:70-71: “Jesus answered them: ‘I chose you twelve, did I not? Yet one of you is a slanderer.’ He was, in fact, speaking of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for this one was going to betray him, although he was one of the Twelve.”

Or “Devil” “Slanderer.” Jesus knew from the beginning who was going to betray him. (John 6:64) Judas wasn’t a true believer. Just like when Judas opposed of Mary anointing Jesus feet with the costly perfume, he had ulterior motives because he was handling the money box. That’s money he could have stolen. He had no love in him for Jesus, God or spiritual things at that point. We can all learn from this. One of the reasons Jehovah will be refining us with the lye of a laundryman is because we have to be fully repentant, cleansed, purged of every single defilement before entering Jesus Christ Kingdom weather we’re on earth or in heaven. We will be facing ourselves as Jehovah sees us. And whatever sinful traits we have, they will be burned up with fire during the time of test provided we are faithful. But instead of Judas being faithful, he was given over to Satan to do the works of the devil.

 

[lflynn22]

A few days before he was arrested and executed, Jesus told his apostles several parables and stressed the importance of being watchful, since they did not know on what day their Lord would come. But in the Garden of Gethsemane, they did not expect Jesus to be taken. Even though Jesus told them he was going to be handed over and killed and then rise, they could not understand. They had wrong expectations.

Jehovah's Witnesses are in the same predicament. The Watchtower has instilled wrong expectations. It is not the first time. As I have pointed out many times before, 1914 was a disaster. Most of the Bible Students were stumbled because of wrong expectations. 1975, the same thing —wrong expectations. And here we are, 2026.

The inspired Christian prophet and apostle has expanded on Jesus' illustration that he would come like a thief in the night. Paul explained: "For you yourselves know very well that Jehovah’s day is coming exactly as a thief in the night. Whenever it is that they are saying, “Peace and security!” then sudden destruction is to be instantly on them, just like birth pains on a pregnant woman, and they will by no means escape."

In an answer to a supposed question from a reader in the February 2026 Watchtower, the Governing Body confesses to not knowing when they might say peace and security. They even speculate it may occur after the tribulation. This is quite ironic, tragically comic even, since Donald Trump is on a mission to bring peace to the world. He even used the phrase as recorded in the NWT, saying that ending the war in Iran may bring "peace and security" to the entire Middle East. And now Trump has moved on to ending NATO's war against Russia. The Governing Body is right about one thing:

And in their case, even being watchful isn't working very well. In that sense, they are like the apostles in the Garden.

But it appears to me that Jehovah has set it up so that we will have to choose whether we believe God's word when it is fulfilled or wait for the GB to tell us what to believe. Sudden destruction will be hard to ignore, especially when it takes the form of global war and financial collapse, but apparently, JWs have been mentally conditioned to expect to receive life-saving directions from the Watchtower even when it is demonstrated beyond all dispute that all of their prophetic interpretations lead to wrong expectations.

Chapter 9 - PEACE & SECURITY - Jehovah Has Become King

Read Chapter 9 of the updated edition of Jehovah Has Become King. Brace for the sudden destruction of the Anglo-American system and the true day of the Lord.

jehovah-is-king.com

​

Job 34:16​

So if you have understanding, pay attention to this; Listen carefully to what I say.

Romans 8:25​

But if we hope for what we do not see, we keep eagerly waiting for it with endurance.

Zephaniah 3:8​

‘So keep yourselves in expectation of me,’ declares Jehovah, ‘Until the day when I rise up to take plunder, For my judicial decision is to gather nations, to assemble kingdoms, To pour out on them my indignation, all my burning anger; For by the fire of my zeal the whole earth will be consumed.

Romans 12:12​

Rejoice in the hope. Endure under tribulation. Persevere in prayer.

Mark 13:37​

But what I say to you, I say to all: Keep on the watch.”