YOU WANNA SEE SOMETHING FUNNY??? (page 3)

Mary

Mary; I don't see a change because the article does say that Jesus deciples saw a limited fulfillment in para 14. Para 16 does seem to link 1914 with 9 decades passing since Christ was installed as king and proving "ourselves ready...soon he will come to destroy his enemies". In para 15 mention is made of the modern day generation of contemporaries but consisting solely of anointed ones.

I think this is a case where they've injected so many different hypothesis into one study article, that the average Witness comes away vastly confused and not quite sure what the change is.

On one hand, the February 15, 2008 article says:

Many different things, including "the last days" of this wicked system of things, the gathering of the chosen ones, and their resurrection to heavenly life, occur during this presence of Jesus. (2 Tim. 3:1; 1 Cor. 15:23; 1 Thess. 4:15-17; 2Thess. 2:1) It could be said that the period constituting "the conclusion of the system of things" (syn-te'lei-a) corresponds to or runs parallel with the period called Christ's presence (pa-rou-si'a). * The time period during which "this generation" lives seems to correspond to the period covered by the first vision in the book of Revelation. (Rev. 1:10-3:22) This feature of the Lord's day extends from 1914 until the last of the faithful anointed ones dies and is resurrected.—See Revelation—Its Grand Climax At Hand! page 24, paragraph 4.

But then in the very same article they say:

Since Jesus did not use negative qualifiers when speaking to them about "this generation," the apostles would no doubt have understood that they and their fellow disciples were to be part of the "generation" that would not pass away "until all these things [would] occur."

So on one hand, they're claiming that "the last days" only occur "during the presence of Jesus" (1914), but on the other hand they claim that the apostles from 2,000 years ago were part of the "generation" that would not "pass away until all these things occur".

The main problem with such a claim is that the only function of "this generation" that Jesus spoke of, was that they would see both the beginning of the 'last days' and it's end:

Luke 21:28: "....But as these things start to occur [the signs of the Last Days], raise yourselves erect and lift YOUR heads up, because YOUR deliverance is getting near."

Logically then, if "this generation" began with his disciples 2,000 years ago (as is confirmed in par 13 & 14), then that means the disciples were alive when "these things start[ed] to occur"----namely, the Last Days.*----there simply is no other function of "this generation", other than to witness all the signs Jesus gave.

So the comparison between what they changed in the February 15, 2008 WT and the December 1, 1984 WT article more or less shows that the "New Light" about "this generation" is apparently based on 'apostate thinking' from 1984. Or at least that's what I'm getting out of it.

garybuss said: If the "generation" started with the Apostles, the "last days" would have had to start then too. If the last days didn't start with the generation, then they are not related. :-)

That's my thought too. If the 'last days' don't run parallel with "this generation", then the whole thing is moot.

Quandry

I may be confused though

I lived in a state of confusion when I was "in" because the explanations were so varied and vague and changeable, and they seemed to contradict each other (which they indeed did). Of course, at the time, I thought it was because I was not enough of a "spiritual person" to understand.

When I think about the many times I would read the WT paragraphs over and over and try to make myself understand.....

sacolton

Wow! Talk about keeping people in "spiritual darkness". What a mess!

ozziepost

"....Have apostates who claim that "the last days" began at Pentecost and cover the entire Christian Era promoted Christian alertness? Have they not, rather, induced spiritual sleepiness?...."

Yep, it's true, they have become sleepy!

minimus

This is great BUT who the hell (as a JW) is ever going to see the contradiction? Ah, it's just new light. Or it's so illogical, the average JW wouldn't want to work their brains that much.

Homerovah the Almighty

They trip over themselves in their self proficient propaganda constantly , its very humorous in a way..........thanks Mary

quietlyleaving

mary

I think this is a case where they've injected so many different hypothesis into one study article, that the average Witness comes away vastly confused and not quite sure what the change is.

i agree

was reading leo's summary of the article - no wonder jws need to stay close to the fds - after all these are deep spiritual truths

oompa

luv it.....oompa

james_woods

I once read a bible apologist who said that the "generation will not pass away until all these things are fulfilled" was the single most embarrassing scripture in the new testament (for people who want to hold onto a literal interpretation of the bible).

Warlock

December 1, 1984 Watchtower:
".... Have apostates who claim that "the last days" began at Pentecost and cover the entire Christian Era promoted Christian alertness? Have they not, rather, induced spiritual sleepiness?...."

Remember, there are some who claim 'the last days' had their total fulfillment in the first century. This may be the thought they had in mind when they made this statement.

February 15, 2008 Watchtower:
"..... Since Jesus did not use negative qualifiers when speaking to them about "this generation," the apostles would no doubt have understood that they and their fellow disciples were to be part of the "generation" that would not pass away "until all these things [would] occur....."
Remember, we were taught that 'the last days' of the first century were a minor fulfillment of Jesus prophecy, so then the apostles would see 'the end' in their time. Those who are alive during the 1914 generation would see the major fulfillment, namely the great tribulation leading to Armeggedon. That may be their thought here.
Whew, that was way too many words for me. I'm tired now.
Warlock

YOU WANNA SEE SOMETHING FUNNY???

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