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! 1986 11/8 p.7-8:
Samuel, a 15-year-old
youth from the same country, also believes in a complete change: “For the year 2000, I visualize a world transformed into a beautiful
paradise! But I don’t think that either the present world or its rulers will live to see that day. . . . We are living in
the last days of the system of things.”
Since the “generation” of 1914 is now well advanced in years, God’s promise is really up-to-date
news for young people today.
When those who belong to the “generation of
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 :
"True, there have been those in times past who predicted an "end" to the world, even announcing a specific date. Yet nothing happened. The 'end' did not come. They were guilty of false prophesying. Why? What was missing? Missing from such people were God's truths and the evidence that He was using and guiding them.'' (Awake, Oct. 8, 1968)
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:
Why AWAKE! is Published 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
January 8th, 1987 the Why AWAKE!
is Published disappears.
Page 31, the WT mentions that AWAKE spreads the good news and that
March 8th, 1988 the Why AWAKE! is Published resurfaces
in the same form as in 1986:
Most important, this magazine builds confidence in the Creator's promise of a peaceful and secure new world before the generation that saw the events of 1914 passes away.
October 22nd, 1995 the Why AWAKE! is Published definitively makes the concept of generation disappear: Most important, this magazine builds confidence in the Creator's promise of a peaceful and secure new world that is about to replace the present wicked lawless system of things.
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 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 4/15 1991 p.7
:
Yes, peace will really come within this generation but not through the nations’ efforts.
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 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?
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 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 10/15 1986 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 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.”
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 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.
Watchtower 5/1 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 of 11/15 1984 p.23 :
Then, too, there has been a dwindling in the number of those of “this generation” of 1914, which is not to pass away before the fulfillment of all that Jesus foretold for our time. This is another clear indication that this system’s end is near.
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
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 5/15 1984 p.6-7 :
From a purely human viewpoint, it could appear that these developments could
hardly take place before the generation of 1914 disappears from the scene. But fulfillment of all the foretold events affecting the
generation of 1914 does not depend on comparatively slow human action.