In writings of the WTB&TS much is predicated on scriptures such as 2 Tim 3:1-5 as being the “last days†of this time period we live in (today). They also predict [from the same Latin word praedicāre] that 1914 was the beginning of those/these “last daysâ€. Here is my question. Were those “last days†spoken of by Paul, in his letter to Timothy, about the days of their time? Or, were they speaking of a future time period? (of the last day of this present age, the day Christ will return from heaven, raise the dead, hold the final judgment, and perfect his kingdom.) Strong’s Definition 3.

If the WTB&TS and Paul were speaking of a future time, then what time period was the prophet Zephaniah speaking of? (Zep 1:2-3, 14) Zephaniah also mentioned them as being associated with His “day of angerâ€, and “The great day of Jehovah is near!†(1:14) Is this the same time period? These are rhetorical questions.

Zephaniah—Outline of Contents (from WTB&TS http://www.jw.org/en/publications/bible/nwt/books/zephaniah/)
1
Jehovah’s day of judgment is near (1-18)
Jehovah’s day is hurrying rapidly (14)
Silver and gold cannot save (18)
2
Seek Jehovah before his day of anger (1-3)
Seek righteousness and meekness (3)
“Probably you will be concealed†(3)
Judgment on surrounding nations (4-15)
3
Jerusalem, a rebellious and corrupt city (1-7)
Judgment and restoration (8-20)
A change to a pure language (9)
A humble and lowly people to be saved (12)
Jehovah will exult over Zion (17)

Are the items mentioned in this outline provided by the WTB&TS to apply to “todayâ€, or some future time period?

There was another “last days†spoken of/prophesied by Zephaniah. The time period of his prophesy was somewhere between 630 B.C., and 622 B.C., according to some scholars. This would have been 15 to 23 years before the Babylonian destruction of the temple in Jerusalem if it did occur in 607 B.C.

II. ZEPHANIAH son, of Cushi, and grandson of Gedaliah, was of the tribe of Simeon, according to Epiphanius, and of mount Sarabata, a place not mentioned in Scripture. The Jews are of opinion, that the ancestors of Zephaniah, recited at the beginning of his prophecy, were prophets. Some have supposed, without foundation, that he was of an illustrious family. We have no exact knowledge, either of his actions, or the time of his death. He lived under Josiah, who began to reign A. M. 3363. The description that Zephaniah gives of the disorders of Judah, leads Calmet to judge, that he prophesied before the eighteenth year of Josiah; that is, before this prince had reformed the abuses and corruptions of his dominions, 2 Kings xxii. Besides, he foretells the destruction of Nineveh, (chap. iii 13.) which could not fall out before the sixteenth year of Josiah, by allowing, with Berosus, 21 years to the reign of Nabopolassar over the Chaldeans. Therefore we must necessarily place the beginning of Zephaniah's prophecy early in the reign of Josiah. His first chapter is a general threatening against all the people whom the Lord had appointed to slaughter; against Judah; against those who leap over the threshold, i. e. the Philistines, 1 Sam. v. 5. In the second chapter he inveighs against Moab, Ammon, Cush, the Phoenicians, and the Assyrians, and foretells the fall of Nineveh, which happened A. M. 3378. The third chapter contains invectives and threatenings against Jerusalem, but afterwards gives comfortable assurance of a return from the captivity, and of a flourishing condition. (Calmet’s Dictionary of the Bible)

ZEPHANIAH 4. A prophet, whose descent is traced through four degrees to Hezekiah (Zeph. i.1). This ancestor is probably the king, from the fact that so remote a descent is traced and because the time suits. The prophet himself lived and labored in the reign of Josiah (ibid.). The book of Zephaniah is the ninth among the minor prophets. The date given in its title (i. 1) is confirmed by the omission of Gath in the enumeration of Philistine cities (ii. 4), by Nineveh being still in existence (13), and by the absence of allusion to the Chaldeans. The basis of the prophecy is the great doctrine of God's universal judgment.
1. A universal judgment, like the deluge in destructiveness (i. 2, 3). Idolatry will be overthrown in Jerusalem (4-6), and the sinners of Judah visited with judgment, as though Jehovah conducted a great sacrifice (7-13); and it will be a day of wrath upon men because of their wickedness (14-18).
2. A call to repentance as the only possible means of escape (ii. 1, 2), especially summons to the humble and God-fearing to seek Jehovah and perhaps obtain deliverance (3); enforced by the certainty that God will punish other nations for their wickedness (4-15), and Jerusalem shall not escape, for it does not repent and the Lord in the midst of her is righteous (iii. 1-8). 2. The blessed result of the judgment. The nations shall turn to the Lord (9, 10), the remnant of Israel shall trust in the Lord and be holy (11-13), and the Lord shall reign gloriously and beneficently as king in the midst of his people (13-18) who shall be gathered from captivity and be a praise in the earth (19, 20).
Perhaps the prophecy was delivered before the religious reformation inaugurated by Josiah in 622 B. C. (2 Kin. xxii. 3; 2 Chron. xxxiv. 8-xxxv. 19). But a later date is possible, during the years of sin just before the advent of Nebuchadnezzar (Jer. xxv. 3; 1-6, 12, 13, 20; 2 Kin. xxiii. 32,37). (Dictionary of the Bible John Davis)

ZEPHANIAH 3. The prophet, son of Cushi, who prophesied against Judah and Jerusalem in the days of King Josiah (Zeph. 1:1), B. C. about 630. (Dictionary of the Bible C.R. Barnes)

According to the timetable given by the WTB&TS, the 12 tribe Northern Kingdom of Israel; 770 B.C. Assyria conquers Samaria, subjugates Israel; northern ten-tribe kingdom of Israel comes to its end. That is 133 years before the Southern Kingdom of Judah was taken captive to Babylon, and the temple in Jerusalem was destroyed. “qarowb gadowl jehovahs yowm qarowb maher mehode maherâ€. “The great day of Jehovah is near! It is near and it is approaching very quickly!†(Zeph 1:14 NWT) Do you think that the residents of Judah thought that Zephaniah was wrong; a false prophet?

Supposedly, the WTB&TS announced the approach of Jehovah’s day 100 years ago. According to the pattern of Jehovah’s word, that would leave 33 more years until the end. Or, would it? Another rhetorical question. Just think about it and gain more understanding. This is to prevent disenchantment. Jehovah's word always proves to be true. It is always accomplished no matter what we think. (Isa. 55:11) To Jehovah (proven by Einstein), time is relative. (2 Pet 3:8)