Not All Anointed Ones Alive Today Are Part Of 'This generation'

by OwnAccord 52 Replies latest watchtower bible

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  Listener

  Thanks for posting ownaccord, many of us here can't join jwtalk.

  I can't help but laught every time I hear the interpretation.
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  konceptual99

  The point of restricting the overlap to 1 crossover is to restrict the overall length of the generation. The GB can imply a short time (e.g. using phrases such as those in the 2nd group being "advancing in years") without committing to specifics and leave the door open for yet more changes as time progresses.

  The 3rd group comes about since, using their "logic", there must be ones that who became annointed after the overlap time period completed.

  I wouldn't be too sure about those following this on jwtalk becoming apostates. They seem to be lapping it up. Given there are no scriptures to back this up it's bizarre but then again I did the same for years.
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  baldeagle

  WT January 15, 2014 "Let Your Kingdom Come"—But When? Pg. 30-31

  THIS GENERATION WILL NOT PASS AWAY

  14-16. What is a third reason for believing that God’s Kingdom will "come" soon?

  14 There is yet a third reason for confidence. What has developed among God’s people points to the nearness of the end. For example, prior to the establishment of God’s Kingdom in heaven, a group of faithful anointed ones were actively serving God. When some of their expectations about what would happen in 1914 did not come about, what did they do? Most of them proved their integrity under trials and persecution and kept right on serving Jehovah. Over the years, most—if not all—of those anointed ones have faithfully completed their earthly course.

  15 In his detailed prophecy about the conclusion of this system of things, Jesus said: "This generation will by no means pass away until all these things happen." (Read Matthew 24:33-35.) We understand that in mentioning "this generation," Jesus was referring to two groups of anointed Christians. The first group was on hand in 1914, and they readily discerned the sign of Christ’s presence in that year. Those who made up this group were not merely alive in 1914, but they were spirit-anointed as sons of God in or before that year. Rom. 8:14-17.

  16 The second group included in "this generation" are anointed contemporaries of the first group. They were not simply alive during the lifetime of those in the first group, but they were anointed with holy spirit during the time that those of the first group were still on earth. Thus, not every anointed person today is included in "this generation" of whom Jesus spoke. Today, those in this second group are themselves advancing in years.

  Yet, Jesus’ words at Matthew 24:34 give us confidence that at least some of "this generation will by no means pass away" before seeing the start of the great tribulation. This should add to our conviction that little time remains before the King of God’s Kingdom acts to destroy the wicked and usher in a righteous new world. 2 Pet. 3:13.

  Scenario: Fred Franz (1st group) was born in 1893. He was baptized in 1913 and therefore anointed at the age of 20 before 1914. He lived to be 99 and died in 1992. Bro. Barr (2nd group) was born in 1913. At the age of 21 in 1934, he too was baptized and also one of the anointed. Bro. Barr now overlaps with Bro. Franz. Bro. Barr lives to be 97 and he dies in 2010.

  This scenario explains how, "the overlapping generation" has to involve "two groups of anointed Christians." These two groups must be "anointed contemporaries" of each other. Also understood is those, "in this second group are themselves advancing in years."

  The WTS is trying to emphasize that the second group are quite elderly “advanced in years” in so doing; this should stress the nearness of Armageddon. They have basically gone back to their original idea that these anointed ones are very old, and will not “pass away before seeing the start of the great tribulation.” This should instill a sense of urgency for JW’s that “little time remains.” It’s the same old doctrine just incorporating another generation in order to sell it or make it work. It’s all made-up, designed to keep JW’s on the edge believing that the end is “just around the corner again.”
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  sir82

  Funny how Jesus never mentioned "3 groups of anointed in the time of the end".

  Must have slipped his mind.
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  cultBgone

  Just trying to imagine the meeting where this idea got approved...

  Well, crap, we have to do something soon. Every one of those old brothers will be dead before our retirement palaces get finished. How are we going to keep the cash flowing in?

  Yeah, whose idea was that Generation stretch before? Now we've gotta dig out of that whole mess.

  Ooh, ooh, I know, I know...we can just add another Generation like we did before. It worked once, we know these saps will buy it again, it's golden!

  Alright, Brother Z, you go with brother X and write something up and we'll meet again in two days to see if it sticks when we fling it against the wall.

  Cool, it'll be our own version of the trinity...three generations in one!
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  designs

  How different is this belief than that of Christians who acknowledge Jerusalem fell in 70CE yet expect a future Second Coming and Great Tribulation.

  Other Eastern Orthodox groups rely on Apostolic Succession (their specific overlaping generations doctrine) to mark the Second Coming.
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  Viva la Vida

  "The brother said, a perfect example would be Brother Fred Franz"

  According to the requirement of being baptized before October 1, 1914, Fred Franz was the only one of the first group to serve in the GB... All the rest including Knorr were part of the second group...

  All current GB members were appointed to the position after Franz's death so... Are they all part of third group? Is all the second group gone?
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  Splash

  Anyone who was anointed prior to Franz death in 1992, and are still alive, make up the second group.
  The second group is therefore far from gone.

  This is the overlap - those who were anointed and saw 1914, and those anointed who overlap with them but did not see 1914.

  In fact the Gt. Trib is only possible before the second group is gone.

  Splash
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  Vidiot

  Reading that explanation in the OP gave me a headache.
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  Ultimate Axiom

  I don’t know where all the confusion is coming from, it’s all really very simple. Just as in the old understanding, not everyone of the Great Crowd was part of ‘this generation’ (because they were born after 1914) so not all the anointed are of ‘this generation’ because some were anointed after the first group were all dead – logically therefore there must be three Groups of anointed. As Group 1 are all dead, and Group 2 are advancing in years, the end must be very close, for as Jesus clearly said, Group 2 will not pass away until all these things occur. And if you believe that lot, you’ll believe anything.