What is today's teaching on the Generation?
Thanks a lot
SIrona
Currently the teaching is that "generation = bunch of wicked people" - has been since 1995. Until the new light is switched on. Someone please correct me or confirm this please.
Quick Q re: "This Generation"
by Sirona 23 Replies latest jw friends
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AlphaOmega
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tijkmo
confirm
confirm..
previous understanding was this...the folk around to witness world war 1 - start of the end - would still be around to see the end of the end.this was applied along with the biblical lifespan of 70-80 years to mean that the end had to come sometime last century (1994 at the latest) which it didn't.(initially it was said you had to be old enough to be able to understand what was happening in 1914 to qualify - meaning about 13/14 and thus 1975 was the average year for end to come - but this also got ammended as time went by)
so the whole meaning of the word generation got revised.
the current understanding of generation applying to people rather than dates could be explained this way.....if you speak about world war 2 say, then you refer to it as happening to your mothers generation (assuming dawn your ma is similar ages with mine-but if not you get the point)..you weren't alive so it wasn't your generation...so when the end - armageddon - comes? then it will be said to happen during the generation of the people alive when it happens. thus millions of years in the future perfect people will look at armageddon survivors and say they were part of the generation that was alive to see the end of the world. this serves to take away any attempt to narrow it down to a date.
now it is being further revised - possibly because there is no time span attached to it therefore taking away any urgency. now evidently it applies to the anointed. this will make most jws think well it must be soon then because most of the anointed will not last much longer..however the ammended understanding of the completion of the 144000 (whether or not this is still a literal number) and the fact that younger and younger men are being made members of the gb means that time wise it could go on indefinately.
most jws will not make that connection.
hope this helps
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oompa
Sirona:
* They NOW say that the number (144000) was not sealed in 1935 and that new ones could be called to be anointed (not as replacements)
The result of this is that they will prolong the years left before Armageddon. Anointed Ones will be alive for many years to come, since some younger people could now be called to fill Jehovah's requirement of 144000.
I remember being pretty pissed of in 1995 about the change and told many that the next thing you know more anointed were going to be needed since the average age of the GB was 107!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!....I did not know I had HOLY SPIRIT upon me....I did not know I was a PROPHET OF GOD..........Now I realize that I was just part of THE SLAVE............oompa
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dawg
Seroina, I have no informaiton, but like you, I'm waiting with baited breath for this.....
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Sirona
bttt
?
Sirona
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shopaholic
I remember being pretty pissed of in 1995 about the change
So was I, especially since I had it all figured out. Based on my calculations as a kid, witness kids born before 1980 had time to go to college, so I never fully understood why any of them listened to the "don't to college" nonsense. And then they announced the "generation" change and that tossed my calculation out the window but it meant everyone had time to go college. So the generation, in a nutshell, is any group of people alive at any given time that exhibit ungodly behavior. So as long as there are "worldly" people on this planet there will always be a "generation".
The "new light" is in the new mag?! Oh boy, I can't wait for them to study it. I may just attend the KH to hear it for myself. I think someone scanned a copy so I'm going to go find it and read it since I'll be visiting my family next month.
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uninformed
The best new explanantion that I have seen is in the report on the "Annual Meeting" by QUANDRY. (SEE TODAYS NEW POSTS)
Here is what quandry reported:
2007 ANNUAL MEETING NOTES
Saturday October 06, 2007
Year text for 2008: Exodus 14:13 "Stand Firm and See the Salvation of Jehovah."
The opening talk by Brother Gerrit Lösch (GB) gave a brief bit of history of early organization and point emphasized was that Jesus Christ trusted the Faithful and Discreet Slave to carry on the dispensing of Bible truths and so should we.
Point made that charter of WTB&TS of Pennsylvania was to disseminate Bible truths. Faithful and Discreet Slave are not inspired so they are going to err. John 16:12 Jesus said process would be gradual. The first of Faithful and Discreet Slave did not know how many would make up the group until 96 CE. Work being done well without knowing that. Adjustments will be necessary but that does not mean that slave is not the means Jehovah is using. We are in a time of greater increasing of light the unveiling of which is gradual.
Country reports and invitation work experiences.
Geoff Jackson gave the talk on the year text. He asked “Are you ready for Jehovah’s Day?” He said this year’s text from Zechariah got us focused on fact we are living in the final part of the last days. This time is different in three ways.
Scope Jeremiah 25:31& 33.
Intensity Daniel 12:1.
Effectiveness 2Peter 3:10 & 12 and 1John 2:17.
Earth is mankind alienated from God
Heat is Jehovah’s anger
Hissing noises indicates speed, a rapid passing.
Jesus made comparison between Faithful and Discreet Slave and evil slave.
Apostates complain we are too eager. Glad we are eager for Jehovah’s rule even if we are wrong once in awhile. We are not sure of all the details but we know Jehovah is with us. Used illustration of the Israelites leaving Egypt. Went right to edge of promised land and Jah made them back track and camp. They seemed trapped at the Red Sea. From a human standpoint there was no way out. That is when He totally brought Pharaoh to his knees. At the time it made no sense to Israel but Jehovah knew exactly what he was doing.
We have Jehovah’s Day right ahead of us which teaches us four lessons.
Jehovah ready for any trial and problem.
Must obey regardless what is asked of us. We are so limited in perspective. Jah knows the whole picture. We can have total confidence.
Brother John Barr (GB) spoke on the illustrations Jesus used regarding the Kingdom (mustard grain, dragnet, etc.) Very detailed. We are to be busy in the work sowing our seed and we are to get the sense of Jesus illustrations.
Theodore Jarcz (GB) spoke Christ’s Presence and End of System
He used the illustration of a talk. The conclusion covers a period of time. The speaker sums up or draws audience to a decision or the like. Takes time. The end is when he walks off the platform.
Jesus presence includes taking power in 1914, dealing with opposers; all the features of the last days
including the ingathering of the chosen ones their deaths and resurrection. This means an extended period of time. Up to and including fulfillment of Revelation. Spiritual discernment necessary to be bright and clear to us which it is. Those without spiritual knowledge do not see the significance. WE DO! Some anointed will be alive when the tribulation begins. First vision in Revelation. 1914 until last of anointed dies and is resurrected.
Be resolved to be more urgent to keep on the watch. Prove ourselves ready for Jehovah, Jesus and our own welfare.
The "generation" is all the anointed as a class from 33 CE to the end of the world. In the context of Matt. 24:34 was Jesus talking to his followers. Other instances of generation often had clarifiers, such as "wicked generation", etc.
Bro. Barr stopped and said, "By the way, you'll be happy to know that there will be anointed on earth at the time of Armageddon".
DRAGNET: ALL the fish were thrown on the shore. Don't get excited about the large numbers at the Memorial. Maybe these are not all good fish.
MUSTARD SEED: Sows seed and then goes to bed. Remember, we sow the seed, Jehovah looks after it. Our role is to be regular in the service and to sow that seed.
LEAVEN hid in the dough. What made it rise? Jehovah did it.
At the beginning Brother Losch said, "We of the Governing body have not always had the right understanding. The Gov. Body is not inspired and neither are the publications. It is the Holy Spirit that helps us to find the correct understanding".
Starting February 2008 elders will be invited to attend The School for Congregation Elders. It will be a five day course and they will start with the Presiding Overseers first then work through the others. Will start with the English field.
Total in attendance at NY Bethels, Canada Bethel and New Jersey Assembly Hall was 14,937. I have outlined the answer to your question in yellow. Finally, an explanation of what the generation is. 12 years!!!!! after the change. Brant -
shopaholic
The "generation" is all the anointed as a class from 33 CE to the end of the world. In the context of Matt. 24:34 was Jesus talking to his followers. Other instances of generation often had clarifiers, such as "wicked generation", etc.
Uninformed, are you friggin' kidding me?! So that means that they changed the understanding of "generation" again. That also means that all the young folks that were partaking at the memorial over the past few years were not off their rocker after all...LOL...not that any of the JW traditions/teachings are true anyway. This "new light" makes me very happy for some reason.
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wha happened?
it's the spin on times again. it's not as close as we think/it's very close don't go to college. I actually look forward to this latest light because I want to see the look on distraught witnesses who realize that they are in for the long haul in life. Perhaps even dying of old age. I was recently trying to encourage a buddy who is still active to get his retirement in order. He argued that it wasn't necessary due to the time we're in. perhaps this latest light will saw him.
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Sirona
Not a breakthrough.
JW mum got herself a copy of this new article and read it. She tried saying there was no change in doctrine. After some discussion she admitted they'd changed doctrine and that the anointed were still being "called", but that "it is a good thing"
They are so indoctrinated they can't see that this is just a ploy for the society to make armageddon even further away.
Sirona