Generation Links

by UnDisfellowshipped 2 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  UnDisfellowshipped

  Links to ALL of the MAJOR Threads about the New "Overlapping" Generation of 1914:

  Today is the "BIG DAY" when all JW's will be "Studying" the "Clarified Understanding" of the 1914 Generation, so for everyone's reading pleasure, below is a list of all of the other major "New Generation" Threads that I am aware of.

  (Also, anyone who went to the Watchtower Study meeting today at the Kingdom Hall, please post your stories!)

  This is what the actual new Watchtower Study Article says about the New Generation. This will be "studied" at the Sunday Meeting today worldwide:

  The Watchtower (Study Edition), April 15th, 2010 Issue, Pages 27-29:
  
  "This magazine has long been used by “the faithful and discreet slave” as the primary channel for dispensing increased light. ... 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."

  * NEW GENERATION DEFINED: http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/bible/187399/1/NEW-GENERATION-DEFINED-April-15-2010-Watchtower
  
  * A Generation Comes and a Generation Goes: http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/bible/193983/1/A-Generation-Comes-and-a-Generation-Goes
  
  * "Generation" talk from 2010 DC from Tucson, Arizona:http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/bible/194017/1/Generation-talk-from-2010-DC-from-Tucson-Arizona

  * I Just Got Back From the Kingdom Hall: http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/members/private/194667/1/I-just-got-back-from-the-KH

  * Blondie's Comments You Will Not Hear at the Generation Watchtower Study: http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/jw/friends/194657/1/Blondies-Comments-You-Will-Not-Hear-at-the-06-13-10-WT-Study-HOLY-SPIRIT

  * FREE MINDS Web Page on The Overlapping Generation: http://www.freeminds.org/doctrine/chronology/this-generation-teaching-changes-for-6th-time-in-april-15-2010-watchtower.html
  
  * New understanding of the Generation??: http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/jw/friends/183607/1/New-understanding-of-the-Generation
  
  * CO visit reviews new "Generation" change today: http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/beliefs/193617/1/CO-visit-reviews-new-Generation-change-today
  
  * New Generation -- NO Thinking Allowed!: http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/beliefs/194032/1/New-Generation-NO-Thinking-Allowed
  
  * The Reason Why the Society Changed the Meaning of "Generation"...again: http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/beliefs/193717/2/The-Reason-Why-the-Society-Changed-the-Meaning-of-Generation-again
  
  * New light: Generation: http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/beliefs/186841/1/New-light-Generation
  
  * New generation definition....has the Society "jumped the shark"?: http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/jw/friends/187644/1/New-generation-definition-has-the-Society-jumped-the-shark
  
  * Timeline of Watchtower Quotes on the Generation of 1914: http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/jw/friends/37040/1/GENERATION-OF-1914-TIMELINE-OF-QUOTES
  
  * Will The Governing Body Enforce the New Generation Understanding and Muzzle Open Criticism Among the Rank and File?: http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/beliefs/193949/1/Will-The-Governing-Body-Enforce-the-New-Generation-Understanding-and-Muzzle-Open-Criticism-Among-the-Rank-and-File
  
  * Generation & "Even when you don't understand/feel uncomfortable with it...": http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/beliefs/193474/1/Generation-Even-when-you-dont-understand-feel-uncomfortable-with-it
  
  * CO visit provides preview of April generation change!: http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/jw/friends/191033/1/CO-visit-provides-preview-of-April-generation-change
  
  * Generation teaching. What is it about witnesses that they don't see this for what it is?: http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/beliefs/193954/1/Generation-teaching-What-is-it-about-witnesses-that-they-dont-see-this-for-what-it-is
  
  * What's the new light on Generations?: http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/jw/experiences/194497/1/Whats-the-new-light-on-Generations
  
  * "This Generation" New Light:" A Death Sentence For 40-50-Something JWs: http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/social/current/193926/1/This-Generation-New-Light-A-Death-Sentence-For-40-50-Something-JWs
  
  * Generation Change: http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/jw/friends/182945/1/Generation-Change
• 

  Heaven

  Very helpful. Thanks, UnDF'd.
• 

  Vanderhoven7

  Mark Jones writes:

  Re: Watchtower Magazine, dated May 15, 1984. Take a look at the title:

  I cannot stress to you enough how a big a deal this statement was. You see, when Charles Taze Russell first founded the Bible Student movement in 1881 (which would later spawn into different splinter groups, one being the Jehovah’s Witnesses) he taught that Armageddon would end in the year 1914.

  "But bear in mind that the end of 1914 is not the date for the beginning, but for the end of the time of trouble. Zion's Watch Tower 1894 Jul 15 p.226

  As you can imagine, some people back then were interested in what Mr Russell had to say and why he thought this. For an explanation of how he came to this date see Facts about 607 B.C.E. and whether Jesus started ruling in 1914

  So he and his followers went around preaching this. Of course, 1914 came and went without any sort of Armageddon. Jehovah’s Witnesses cling to the idea that “hey, WWI started in 1914, so he was right in that something happened.” Watchtower were then quick to deny that they ever taught that Armageddon would come in 1914, instead they claim that they predicted that “something” would happen.

  "Jehovah's witnesses pointed to the year 1914, decades in advance, as marking the start of "the conclusion of the system of things." Awake! 1973 Jan 22 p.8

  "Jehovah's Witnesses have consistently shown from the Scriptures that the year 1914 marked the beginning of this world's time of the end and that "the day of judgment and of destruction of the ungodly men" has drawn near." Watchtower 1993 Aug 15 p.9

  So, here’s were a doctrine change came in… in 1935 they changed their doctrine and taught that ONLY 144,000 anointed Jehovah’s Witnesses would get to go to heaven. And not only that, but that:

  1. The 144,000 were chosen from those who were alive in 1914
  2. Had witnessed WWI
  3. Understood that it signified the start of the end
     [1]

  So, EVERY Jehovah’s Witness was taught, and believed, that Armageddon would come BEFORE the 1914 generation of Witnesses would die off. Hence the title of the Watchtower “The Generation That Will Not Pass Away”.

  But then, something unexpected happened… they all died.

  

  They all died and still no Armageddon as propheciesed by the Watchtower society. Bear in mind, that many people became Jehovah’s Witnesses (and still do) because they’re taught that Armageddon is “just around the corner” and that only those associated with the Watchtower society will survive.

  "Only Jehovah's Witnesses, those of the anointed remnant and the "great crowd," as a united organization under the protection of the Supreme Organizer, have any Scriptural hope of surviving the impending end of this doomed system dominated by Satan the Devil." Watchtower 1989 Sep 1 p.19

  Also, speaking as an ex-Jehovah’s Witness myself, the main reason we believed we had “the truth” was precisely because no one else was teaching about 1914 and Armageddon. We felt like we were privy to special knowledge that other churches hadn't been clever enough to understand.

  So what would the Watchtower society do now after another failed prediction? Prepare to put your common sense and intelligence on hold now…

  I was sat in the Kingdom Hall during the Thursday study, I turned the page in the book we were studying called Gods Kingdom Rules and I saw this:

  The Watchtower society redefined the word generation. Whereas everyone knows that the word generation means:

  noun

  noun: generation; plural noun: generations

  1. 1. all of the people born and living at about the same time, regarded collectively.

  The Watchtower society, however, were actually trying to convince their followers that when Jesus said “this generation will by no means pass away…” that he actually meant TWO generations. One that would be chosen in 1914, and another generation that would be born during their lifetime who’s lives would overlap. And that it was this second generation that will not pass away.

  They even had to have one of their Governing Body members explain this bizarre new doctrine in a JW Broadcasting video.

  [2]

  

  This is a major doctrinal change. It turns the whole religion on its head. It doesn't make sense and it required the believer to put their critical thinking and common sense on hold in order to believe it.

  I’d estimate that 99.99% of Jehovah’s Witnesses can't even explain this teaching, and it wouldn't surprise me if more than half don't believe it. Because if you claim the Governing Body are wrong you’re liable to be disfellowshipped and shunned.

  Footnotes

  [1]

  Last Days - Watchtower ONLINE LIBRARY

  [2]

  Jehovah's Witnesses Crazy "Overlapping Generation" Teaching