I was born in to the JW's and have studied off an on for years. I finally left the fold for good when I realized after much thought and research that how the JW's arrived at 1914 had nothing to do with "truth". Once you take that date away, there really is no foundation or reason for believing anything else about the faith.
I would like to ask DOT, and others that are trying to help DOT to stop thinking, searching and focusing so hard on the "generation" changes and instead let's talk about why Jesus could not have been referring to the generation of 1914 in the first place, ovelapping or otherwise.
Point 1: The 1914 date as it was taught by Russell was originally arrived at by using Numerology, {the custom of manipulating numbers to discover hidden meanings} and Pyramidlogy {the belief that the pyramids held great hidden knowledge and revelation of future events}. Russel learned and or first heard of this when he was a follower of Williams Miller {whose followers started the Second Adventist and Seventh-day Adventist Movements}.
Point 2. William Miller later decided to base his end time predictions on the book of Daniel and of course Russell followed suite. The book of Daniel was used to come up with many failed end time dates before it was realized that the math just didn't work out.
Point 3. The current thought or teaching that uses the book of Daniel and the 607 BC is also based on falsehood. With Revelation aside there is nothing found in Scripture that conveys a model for applying "seven times" to the WTS equation beginning at 607 B.C. that brings us to 1914. In WTS fashion they made a model of their own but it does not match with Daniel 4. The WTS says that God { the subject} cut his own rule in 607 B.C. { a reflective action} and started it again in 1914. In Daniel 4 God {the subject} cuts down {simple action} Nebuchadnezzar {definite object}. The major problem is a lacking of harmony between both models, with the WTS's model lacking the major component of a definite object.
If 1914 is a false teaching what can be "true" about the "truth"?
DOT I ask that you consider researching the following:
William Miller
Pastor Russell
The WTS and 1914/607 BC.
And you'll possibly find the answers you are seeking.