Yep, you gave em ideas...
can see it now:
Watchtower Oct 1 2014
They did not pass away.
2 Many opposers of Jehovah's mighty nation have been pointing to the year 2014 and previous statements made by the faithful and discreet slave through the pages of the Watchtower and claiming that false prohecies were uttered. While it is true that the majority of those who accepted jehovah's invitation to be his worshipers from the early part of the 20th century had fallen asleep in death during the 1980s, it is not true to say they "passed away'' for they are yet very much alive in the heavens. The greek word ?πνο περ?οδο often rendered as 'sleep period' or death state' can also be translated as 'in a blink of an eye' when we are able to apply it to those in jehovahs favour at the time of their last earthly breath.
Evidently, this translation better fits the facts surrounding the glorious transformation from one state of existance [human] to another [spirit] in that it occured in the 'blink of an eye'. So we can confidently say that those old time servants of the most high God did not pass away at all and that you faithful servants of Jehovah can confidently defend any accusations.
It is indeed further evidence of the ever unfolding light of truth from the Governing Body that they are able, with the Nethinim class, to dig deeper into long hidden meanings in the ancient greek texts and shine light in the last days of the last days.
OZ