The elusive “Brother Some” and the Watchtower Society.
In Brooklyn , they have for years been bothered by a shady and very mystical brother. They usually call him SOME. We receive constant reassurances from the Watchtower that what is printed in the literature is the “truth”. We are assured that they “know” things that no one else knows, because God’s spirit keep them informed. Still this brother “Some” seem to be able to get his totally wrong ideas printed in the Watchtower literature all the time. It remains quite a mystery how this can happen, time after time. Before we investigate some of the strange and mysterious thing’s brother SOME has done, take a look at this:
w50 419.
"The thirty-six intervening years since 1914, instead of postponing Armageddon, have only made it nearer than most people think. Do not forget: "This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled." (Matt. 24:34) Consequently, the important question is: What is the most profitable way in which to use the remaining time? If you are wise you will not dodge or side-step the answer. Eccl. 8:5."
Let us take a look at some really extensive dodging and sidestepping executed by real artists.
Very central in this process is our old friend Brother Some. We can take a look at some of the dastardly deeds of the despicable character, brother SOME, which no self-respecting Jehovah's Witness would be found dead in a ditch with.
Here is an example of what Brother "SOME" can do:
w80 10/15 3.
"What, then, is the "generation" that "will by no means pass away until all these things occur"? It does not refer to a period of time, which SOME have tried to interpret as 30, 40, 70 or even 120 years, but, rather, it refers to people, the people living at the "beginning of pangs of distress" for this condemned world system. It is the generation of people who saw the catastrophic events that broke forth in connection with World War I from 1914 onward."
As we can see this naughty brother SOME have been speculating about how long the 1914 generation are. How terrible, no faithful JW in good standing would ever do that! And of course the GB has NEVER done that. In this next quote where all faithful Witnesses can clearly see for themselves that there has never been any speculation whatsoever about the length of the generation. But if some evil apostate should claim that there is, it got to be Brother SOME. The question is why is this mysterious Brother SOME permitted to write for the Watchtower all the time?
w68 715
Besides, did not Jesus say that this generation will not pass away until all things are fulfilled? A generation, according to Psalm 90:10, is from seventy to eighty years. The generation that witnessed the end of the Gentile Times in 1914 does not have many more years left.-Luke 21:24, 32-36."
Wonder why the fact that the people who was old enough to understand what was happening in 1914, was approaching 70 years of age should have any significance? Could this be a speculation about the life span of a generation? Naah, of course not!
w69 395.
"Do you not recall that Jesus, in prophesying of this period of the last days which commenced in 1914, also said: "Truly I say to you, This generation will by no means pass away until all things occur"? (Luke 21:32) People who were only just old enough to understand what was happening to the world in 1914 are now approaching seventy years of age. Yes, the numbers of that generation are dwindling fast, but before they all pass away this system must meet its end in the war of Armageddon. Surely this highlights what a very short time now remains to return to Jehovah."
And this next quote? No speculations about the length of the generation here either, right?
If you have no idea about how long a generation are, how can you say that the people belonging to it are "no longer young?" That it: "no longer has many years to run? That "many of its members have died?"
w67 5/1 262 "Where Are We According to God's Timetable?
According to Bible chronology, we are already over fifty-two years into the wicked system of things’ “time of the end.” That time began in the autumn of 1914 C.E., at the termination of the “appointed times of the nations,” and it is already far advanced. Jesus said that “this generation” that saw the beginning of this time period in 1914 would also see its end. The generation that was old enough to view those events with understanding in 1914 is no longer young. It no longer has many years to run. Already many of its members have died. But Jesus showed that there would still be members of “this generation” alive at the time of the passing away of this wicked system of things in both heaven and earth."
Again, how could the Watchtower know that the generation was near to "passing away" if they didn't have a clue to how long a generation was? Could it be that this obvious self confidence was due to the fact that in was only 1 year left to Armageddon in 1975?
*** w74 6/15 359 The Horsemen of the Apocalypse-Their Effect on Our Lives ***
Jesus stated, as recorded at Matthew 24:34: “Truly I say to you that this generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur.” The generation that saw the beginning of “these things” in 1914 is now well up in years and, in fact, is near to ‘passing away.’ Therefore, the time must be close for the “great tribulation” and the ‘day of wrath’ of God and Jesus Christ.
Of course after 1975, it became imperative to assure the "faithful" that the generation which "many of its members have died" in 1967, and which was near to "passing away" in 1974, was alive and well. So now it was time for the Watchtower to "resurrect" this almost perished generation again
w84 5/15 5.
"There are still many millions of that generation alive. Some of them "will by no means pass away until all things occur."-Luke 21:32."
Here in the next quotes we can also notice the naughty brother SOME in action, speculating about the length of the generation again. Shame on brother SOME. It is stated that babies born in 1914 couldn't logically be counted into the generation. Very true, but desperation and dishonesty can defy any logic, so when the circumstances demanded it, logic can be booted out the door:
w78 10/1 31 "Questions from Readers
Thus, when it comes to the application in our time, the “generation” logically would not apply to babies born during World War I. It applies to Christ’s followers and others who were able to observe that war and the other things that have occurred in fulfillment of Jesus’ composite “sign.” Some of such persons “will by no means pass away until” all of what Christ prophesied occurs, including the end of the present wicked system. Jesus did not encourage his followers to try to calculate the exact length of this “generation.” (Ps. 90:10) Instead of trying to figure how many more years, at the maximum, there may be until the end, Christians should remember Jesus’ warning: “Keep on the watch . . . because at an hour that you do not think to be it, the Son of man is coming.”—Matt. 24:42-44."w84 5/15 5.
"If Jesus used "generation" in that sense and we apply it to 1914, then the babies of that generation are now 70 years old or older. And others alive in 1914 are in there 80's or 90's, a few even having reached a hundred."
Obviously the passing of time renders Jesus logic when he didn't include the babies born in 33 C.E and 1914, null and void. Why? Because, when the word of the Bible doesn't fit the GB's purpose it is of no use. So now in order to squeeze the generation for all its worth the people who was born in 1914 can be included in the generation. Conveniently forgotten is the reasoning from 1978, which sounded like this:
w78 10/1 31 Questions from Readers
"Also, it is evident that by the word “generation” Jesus did not mean just the Jewish children born in 33 C.E. Luke relates that after being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom was coming, Jesus told his disciples: “[The Son of man] must undergo many sufferings and be rejected by this generation.” (Luke 17:20-25) That rejection certainly was not by newborn babies. Likewise, the way things worked out shows that the “generation” he spoke of in Matthew 24:34 included his listeners and others who could discern the fulfillment of his words from 33 C.E. onward until Jerusalem’s destruction."
The passing of time seems to bring forever-new insight and understanding to the GB. Take a look at the next quote, now the “generation of 1914” obviously could include those born that year.
g88 4/8 14 "The Last Days-What's Next?
Likewise today, most of the generation of 1914 has passed away. However, there are still millions on earth who were born in that year or prior to it. And although their numbers are dwindling, Jesus’ words will come true, “this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened."
In the next quote we can see the last desperate attempt to squeeze the 1914 generation dry.
It was in August, the last month in the "service year" where everybody is driven out to get up the average number of publishers in the World report.
g94 11/8 10 "The Real Significance of 1914
This time of the end is, however, to be a relatively short period—stretching over one generation. (Luke 21:31, 32) The fact that we are now 80 years beyond 1914 indicates that we can soon expect the deliverance that God’s Kingdom will bring. This means that we will see “the lowliest one of mankind”— Jesus Christ — take complete control of “the kingdom of mankind” and bring about a peaceful and just new world. — Daniel 4:17.
The rest we know. Again we got the lame excuses, the song and dance about eagerness to see the end. Instead of using the infamous brother SOME, they conjure up the even more elusive mystical entity: "Jehovah's People". I have 26 pages of strong worded quotes from the Watchtower and other Society literature, assuring us that the Bible, Jehovah and Jesus has guaranteed and promised that Armageddon would come before the 1914 generation perished.
w85 5/1 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."-Revelation 17:11; Mark 13:30."
Many of us, including me was DF'd because we called this bluff years ago. I still haven't received any apologies for having been branded evil, apostate, etc, because of telling them the truth. If there is one thing the GB isn’t concerned with, it is truth.
w95 11/1 17.
"Eager to see the end of this evil system, Jehovah’s people have at times speculated about the time when the “great tribulation” would break out, even tying this to calculations of what is the lifetime of a generation since 1914. However, we “bring a heart of wisdom in,” not by speculating about how many years or days make up a generation, but by thinking about how we “count our days” in bringing joyful praise to Jehovah. (Psalm 90:12) Rather than provide a rule for measuring time, the term “generation” as used by Jesus refers principally to contemporary people of a certain historical period, with their identifying characteristics."
We have got a clear demonstration of how much Jehovah's and Jesus promises are worth, when announced by the Watchtower Society. Many of us remember what happened to the Creators promise in the Awake! Masterhead:
g94 11/8 10.
The Real Significance of 1914
AS INDICATED on page 4, “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.” No doubt many of our readers find that statement surprising."
Sure. Some might find it even more surprising that the Creator suddenly changed his promise in 1995, when the 1914 generation finally was allowed to die. Or has it?
For some reason the Watchtower find it important to tell us that 83 years has passed since 1914. So what does that matter? Why bring that up now? What is so significant with the fact that it is 83 years since 1914? Is it brother SOME who raises his ugly head again, or is it just the mystical and elusive "Jehovah's people" who are too eager again?
Norm.