“Truly I say to you that this generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur.”
(Matthew 24:34)
Difficult for a Jehovah’s witness to admit reality: The WT Society is not guided by God.
I understood this when the new version of
the word generation came out: during tens of years, there were people who had been witnesses of events in 1914 and were to also see
the “end of this world”.
The logical conclusion of all the JW was similar to that evoked in Awake! 11/8/86 p.8:
Samuel, 15 years,
French as well, also believes in a radical change:
“The world in the year 2000, I see it transformed into a pretty paradise! I think
that the current world and its leaders will not succeed in reaching this period (...). We are living the last times of the system
of things.”
Since the “generation” of 1914 is now well advanced in age, we must not doubt that the promise of God relates to current
youth.
When those who belong to the “generation of 1914” are almost all passed, miracle! “a new light” appears: “apparently “this
generation” designates the people of the earth who see the sign of Christ’s presence but do not rectify their ways… Watchtower 1995
1/11 p.16-21 D
An additional proof that this organization is not directed by God, the first interpretation at least was supported
by the Bible (Psalm 90:10), the second is only one vulgar correction.
It is understood why the new lights on the generation of 1914
did not convince all the JWs. Many are bitterly disappointed and to say that some among them had already taken the blow in 1975!
I
think that this obvious Watchtower failure of prophecies (not to be confused with God or the Bible) mainly explains the current withdrawal
in the ranks of the growing JWs and the difficulty of making proselytes. By seeing the results obtained by the prophetic WT matter,
this quotation of the governing body is a real gem.
“It is true that in the past some predicted the “end of the world” and even fixed
an exact date to this event …] And yet, [the end] did not arrive. Nothing occurred. These people were false prophets. They missed
something. Indeed, they missed some of the elements that the realization of biblical prophecies requires. These people did not understand
biblical prophecy and did not have the proof that God guided them and made use of them. “-Awake! April 8th, 1969, p. 23.
Proof of
the governing body hesitation in keeping with the generation of 1914: the successive changes concerning the goal of Awake! that one
finds on the first page of the magazine:
THE GOAL OF AWAKE! mentions the generation of 1914 until December 22nd, 1986:
AWAKE! addresses
itself to each family member. It shows how to face the problems our time. It informs, speaks about the specific uses of various people
and religious and scientific subjects. But it doesn’t stop there. It gets to the bottom of things and releases the real direction
of events while keeping political neutrality and its racial impartiality. Over all, this magazine gives solid reasons to believe that
the Creator will carry out his promises while establishing, before the end of the generation that saw the events of 1914, a new system
where peace and true safety will reign.
January 8th, 1987 the GOAL OF AWAKE! disappears.
Page 31, the WT mentions that AWAKE spreads
the good news and that the Kingdom of God directed by Jesus Christ was established in the heavens and will soon intervene in the earth’s
business …
March 8th, 1988 the GOAL OF AWAKE! resurfaces in the same form as in 1986:
Over all, this magazine gives solid reasons
to believe that the Creator will carry out his promises while establishing, before the end of the generation that saw the events of
1914, a new system where peace and true safety will reign.
October 22nd, 1995 the GOAL OF AWAKE! definitively makes the concept of
generation disappear: Over all, this magazine gives solid reasons to believe that the Creator will carry out his promises while establishing,
VERY SOON a new world of peace and Safety WHICH WILL REPLACE the CURRENT MALICIOUS SYSTEM AND WITHOUT LAW.
These hesitations prove
the WT’s difficulty for making the brave JW men swallow this enormous pill with who struggled to preach the good news in all haste
before Armageddon broke out!
The solution found by the governing body to leave the rut?
To proceed by homeopathic doses and to make
the light of “Truth” flicker discreetly!
The governing body must have known before 1986 that the generation of 1914 would see neither
the 'end of the world” nor the new system of things promised. Moreover, according to the testimony of Raymond Franz, this question
was so sensitive that it partly justified its exclusion of the organization in May 1980.
The governing body of the Jehovah’s Witnesses
has used this explanation to encourage millions of people to join the organization before “the end of the world”. Some gave up their
jobs to become pioneers or to serve in the bethels. Once trapped, these people would have the hardest of times to understand that
they were misled.
In fact, in most cases it takes several years for the doubt to settle in after the continual changes of Watchtower
interpretation and finally they become aware of the trickery.
One better understands the importance of these teachings by reviewing
the many Matthew 24:34 quotations in the publications released during 30 years by the Jehovah’s Witnesses, also brings the question
of “mental handling” or “degree of mental subjection” implemented by the sect to control its followers.
THE WATCHTOWER AND THE GENERATION
OF 1914.
From the April 15, 2010 Watchtower article:
Holy Spirit’s Role in the Outworking of Jehovah’s Purpose
13 Third, holy spirit
is at work in bringing Bible truths to light. (Prov. 4:18) This magazine has long been used by “the faithful and discreet slave” as
the primary channel for dispensing increased light. (Matt. 24:45) For example, consider our understanding of those who make up “this
generation” mentioned by Jesus. (Read Matthew 24:32- 34.) To what generation did Jesus refer? The article “Christ’s Presence—What
Does It Mean to You?” explained that Jesus was referring, not to the wicked, but to his disciples, who were soon to be anointed with
holy spirit. Jesus’ anointed followers, both in the first century and in our day, would be the ones who would not only see the sign
but also discern its meaning—that Jesus “is near at the doors.”
14 What does this explanation mean to us? Although we cannot measure
the exact length of “this generation,” we do well to keep in mind several things about the word “generation”: It usually refers to
people of varying ages whose lives overlap during a particular time period; it is not excessively long; and it has an end. (Ex. 1:6)
How, then, are we to understand Jesus’ words about “this generation”? He evidently meant that the lives of the anointed who were on
hand when the sign began to become evident in 1914 would overlap with the lives of other anointed ones who would see the start of
the great tribulation. That generation had a beginning, and it surely will have an end. The fulfillment of the various features of
the sign clearly indicate that the tribulation must be near. By maintaining your sense of urgency and keeping on the watch, you show
that you are keeping up with advancing light and following the leadings of holy spirit.—Mark 13:37.
Well, this change should buy out
another 60 years or so before Armageddon may come! Such brilliant leaders of the Watchtower.
Watchtower of 5/1 1992 p.7 :
Before the
1914 generation passes away, the Kingdom-preaching work will have accomplished its purpose. “Then,” foretold Jesus, “there will be
great tribulation such as has not occurred since the world’s beginning until now, no, nor will occur again.
Watchtower of 4/15 1991
p.7 :
Yes, peace will really come within this generation but not through the nations’ efforts.
Watchtower of 9/1 1991 p.5-6 :
Jesus
indicated that Jehovah’s day, when sudden destruction will come upon the wicked, will arrive while members of the generation of people
who witnessed the beginning of this time are still alive.
Watchtower of 6/1 1990 p.7 :
Jesus further said that the generation that
was associated with these foretold events would “by no means pass away until all these things occur.” Does this mean, then, that Christ’s
Millennial Rule will coincide with the third millennium?
Watchtower of 10/15 1990 p.20 :
And as the generation that heard Christ’s
judgment message lived to experience the destruction he foretold, so the present generation since 1914 “will by no means pass away”
before the foretold “great tribulation” comes.
Watchtower of 8/15 1989 p.14 :
For over seven decades now, the people of this 20th-century
generation living since 1914 have experienced the fulfillment of events listed in Jesus’ prophecy found in Matthew chapter 24. Therefore,
this period of time is nearing its end, with the restoration of Paradise on earth close at hand.
Watchtower of 8/1 1987 p.21 :
So
I belong to a unique and highly privileged generation—old enough to have seen the beginning of the sign of Christ’s presence in 1914
and yet possibly still young enough to live to see its completion at Armageddon.
Watchtower of 2/15 1986 p. 5 :
Yes, as this magazine
has drawn to the attention of its readers over the years, the evidence points to the 1914 generation as the generation spoken of by
Jesus. Thus, “this generation will by no means pass away until all these things [including the apocalypse] occur.”
Tour de Garde de
1986 15/10 p. 7 :
Having started in 1914, “the time of the end” is now well advanced. Jesus said that the generation that saw the
beginning of that time would also see its end.
Watchtower of 11/1 1986 p. 7 :
So today, in 1986, this means that we are already 72
years into “the time of the end.” Jesus promised that some members of the generation of people old enough to witness its beginning
would still be alive when the great tribulation brought it to its completion.
Watchtower of 3/15 1985 p.26 (french version)
Lastly,
the representatives of the “generation” of 1914, who shouldn’t pass before all that Jesus announced for our time is carried out, are
less and less numerous. This also clearly states that the end of this system is close.
Watchtower 5/1 1985 p.4
Thus before the 1914
generation completely dies out, God’s judgment must be executed. This generation still exists in goodly numbers. For example, in 1980
there were still 1,597,700 persons alive in the Federal Republic of Germany who were born in 1900 or before.
Watchtower5/1 1985 p.6-7
:
We also know that the 1914 generation is well into the evening of its existence, thus allowing only little time for this prophecy
yet to be fulfilled. But we also know—for this we have Jesus’ own promise—that “this generation will by no means pass away until all
these things happen.”
Watchtower 10/1 1985 p.18 :
Jesus said: “When you see all these things, know that he is near at the doors. Truly
I say to you that this generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur.” (Matthew 24:33, 34) Hence, the “great
tribulation” must be very close.
Watchtower 6/1 1984 p.17 :
Since the eventful year of 1914 we have observed the fulfillment of many
prophecies regarding the time of the end. (Matthew, chapters 24, 25; Revelation 6:1-8; 2 Timothy 3:1-5) These prophesied events began
to take place some 70 years ago. Yet Jesus said that they would all happen during the lifetime of one generation. (Matthew 24:32-34)
Obviously, we are a long way into that generation!
Watchtower 7/15 1984 p.16 :
True, the “generation” contemporaneous with the Kingdom’s
establishment in 1914 is moving along in years. But Jesus’ words indicate that it “will by no means pass away” before the “great tribulation”
has brought an end to this world of unrighteous human society “lying in the power of the wicked one,” Satan the Devil. How soon will
that occur? Surely before long, for this is the 70th year of Kingdom rule!
Watchtower 8/15 1984 p.6-7 :(french version)
Humanly speaking,
one could have a hard time believing that all these events will have time to proceed before the generation of 1914 dies out. However,
the realization of prophecies concerning this generation does not depend on the rather slow actions of the men altogether.
Watchtower
9/1 1984 p.17: (french version)
The predicted events started to occur approximately 70 years ago. However, Jesus affirmed that they
would take place only for one generation. No doubt, we are now quite beyond this marked time.
Watchtower 10/15 1984 p.16: (french
version)
Admittedly, the “generation” that lived during the introduction of the Kingdom in 1914 is aging. However, as Jesus showed,
it “will not pass” before the “great tribulation” which will put an end to the current world, at this unjust human society which “lies
with the malicious power”, Satan.
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