For those who subscribe to the beliefs of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, being told the world as we know it is coming to an end sooner than later isn’t a surprise.

Those who have questions pertaining to this apocalyptic prediction are invited to the Interior Savings Centre (ISC) for the annual Jehovah’s Witnesses convention.

Admission for the convention, which will take place over the next three weekends, is free and no collections will be taken.

The physical world itself, according to the religious group’s convictions, will remain intact, however Jesus Christ, the creator of the earth, will return to rule the world, all evil will be defeated and humanity will experience life on earth as Adam and Eve once did thousands of years ago.

The theme of this year’s convention is “Keep on the Watch.”

“What happens is you get lulled into a spiritual sleep and you don’t really see or pay attention to what’s happening in the world around you,” said Neil Monsen, convention media liaison.

“According to the Bible, which is what we base our teachings on, we’re living in a period of time when the creator is going to take over and rule the world.”

“There is no date ever given [for the apocalypse], but everything in scripture tells us that we are living in the last days.”

In 1914, according to the religion’s dogma, Christ banished Satan and all his demons to earth, where they are still confined today.

Their existence on earth has led — as the Witnesses believe is predicted in the scriptures — to war, sickness and natural disasters more devastating than anything witnessed prior to the Great War.

“He [Jesus] mentioned things like war, things like disease and floods and he mentioned earthquakes,” Monsen said.

“When you see these things, keep awake because the end of this system of things is coming.

“And the scriptures even say that there will come a time when people will say, ‘Well, it’s always been like this. We’ve always had war, we’ve always had famine, we’ve always had earthquakes and floods.’

“And that’s true but, in the last 100 years, it’s all on an unprecedented scale.”

It’s a harsh reality for Jehovah’s Witnesses; that is, what happens to those who have yet to gain the approval of Jehovah come judgment day.

Monsen refused to sugar-coat what he believes to be true.

“That’s what’s noted in the scripture as being armageddon. It’s a time when such people will be judged by the creator adversely.”

But it’s not about the doom and gloom, Monsen said, noting the Kamloops convention will focus more on the positive aspects that will result from living in a perfect world.

“We are looking at a time in history where the creator, Jehovah, will rule over the earth. Think of all the good things that we would have. It’s good to have a positive view of at scripture and world events and to look into the future with a real bright outlook.”