“This generation will by no means pass away.” (page 3)

sloppyjoe2

I don't believe that this generations applies to 1914 at all. I once did of course like many here, but then I decided to learn why we witnesses kept saying how close the end was and it never was. I do anticipate that the Watchtower will change the significance of 1914 some day in the future and make it the "beginning of the pangs of distress". That way the "last days" could be moved again and be a future time.

waton

I don't believe that this generations applies to 1914 at all.

I second that. It is contradictory that Satan would be confined on the solid Earth, while since 1914, the whole world ( "that lies in the power of the wicked one" cited again at this week's meeting) is becoming more and more adapt at committing levitation, our sensing devices even having left the solar system.

If the deity ever shuts down the global destruction, i'll mark that date.

Beth Sarim

Oh. I dont know. But as the Borg gets more and more authoritative,,,I am getting really concerned for friends & relatives in the Borg..

As the Borg seems to get more insular and sinister,,,I think they may get the sheeple to do something rash. Maybe I just overthink things,,,,,but the mindset is there. When you always hear about "following instructions whether they seem strategic from a human standpoint or not".

Something rash may never happen. But you never know. When it's always drummed into the sheeples heads about Armageddon, New World,,Governing Body praise,,,obey,,obey,,obey,,,,blah blah blah...

It's just the 'mindset' is set-up for this scenario though. Kinda scarey.

TonusOH

Actually Russell predicted 1914 would bring on Armageddon or the end of human government.

Yes, and the WTS rewrote its history to make it seem as if he'd made one prediction and it had been right on the money. That is what I referred to in my second paragraph. They also whitewashed much of Rutherford's missteps, either relegating them to the memory hole or changing them so that they seemed much more relevant and accurate. I just think that they can revise a lot of their history to suit their purposes, but 1914 is the one they just can't let go.

Sea Breeze

I just think that they can revise a lot of their history to suit their purposes, but 1914 is the one they just can't let go.

Yep. The reason is because if they abandon 1914, they also abandon:

1. The Gentile Times ending in 1914

2. The establishment of the Millennium Kingdom in 1914

These are the two main rationales for rejecting the New Covenant at the Memorial.

If the Gentile Times are still going on and if Jesus hasn't begun ruling as King, then the New Covenant is still available to "whosoever".

The sole purpose for the existence of the WT is to get people to willingly reject this covenant "for the forgiveness of sins" (Mt. 26: 27-28).

Getting rid of 1914 would put their purpose in jeopardy. They will never abandon 1914 because they will NEVER open up the New Covenant to everyone.

joey jojo

Everyone that was alive when an event occurred. If you weren't alive to witness it, you are not part of that generation.

It's a really simple concept.

Vanderhoven7

The youngest, i.e., babies born in 1914, are 107 today. When Jesus said that surely this generation would not pass away, he was obviously talking about a thriving generation; not a decrepit few barely hanging onto life.

TonusOH

This is where having access to their written claims makes such a difference. You can see how their explanation changes, to keep the expectation fresh by implying that time has almost run out. Prior to the 1950s, the explanation was that people who were alive and could comprehend the day's events were the generation, meaning that by the 50s and 60s they would be entering their 70s and 80s. Then they explained that children as young as ten could fit that description. Then it was infants. Then it was anyone born by 1914.

Finally it was anyone who knew anyone who was born by 1914, which is where I think it went off the rails. They should have stuck with their 1995 decision to change the wording and emphasize it less, but without the sense of urgency they have a difficult time recruiting. 'Come join the religion that is awaiting the end... AGAIN' just doesn't have the same draw.

Vanderhoven7

"Finally it was anyone who knew anyone who was born by 1914, which is where I think it went off the rails."

How anyone could believe this was not a desperation move by the Faithful Slave to salvage their 1914 dogma is beyond me.

neat blue dog

Bottom line:

Jesus said the end would come in that generation, Jerusalem was destroyed less than 40 years later, and he said it would never happen again.

End of story.

“This generation will by no means pass away.”

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