Their explanation for the increase is no explanation at all.
The number of partakers includes those who mistakenly think that they are anointed.
There has always been opportunity for persons to mistakenly think that they're anointed - even when the numbers were decreasing in the past. So why has there lately been an increase in those mistakenly thinking they're anointed?
Others may have mental or emotional problems that lead them to believe that they will rule with Christ in heaven.
There has always been opportunity for persons to have mental or emotional problems leading them to mistakenly think that they're anointed - even when the numbers were decreasing in the past. So why has there lately been an increase in those with such problems leading to them mistakenly thinking they're anointed?
What's the trigger that started the upward trend in the number of anointed? That's the real issue that they're not addressing. Why aren't they saying?
The true reason for the increase is a change in Watchtower doctrine. During the time of decline in partakers, they used to teach that the heavenly hope closed around 1935 and any new anointed ones were simply replacements for past anointed who were unfaithful. Then about a decade ago they revised this claim with new light saying they can't give a date for the end of the heavenly calling. I believe this revision in doctrine emboldened more JWs to claim to be anointed. This, however, would be embarrassing to Watchtower as it would clearly imply that JWs' acceptance of their heavenly calling was being hampered/compromised by Watchtower doctrine. It puts the organization in a bad light as being so controlling as to dissuade JWs from accepting their heavenly calling and only when the organization changed a teaching did more JWs feel comfortable enough to accept the calling.
Another way of looking at it is that the trend demonstrates that JW anointing is not an anointing by God but an anointing by men based on doctrine, that's why a change in doctrine radically changes the number of anointed. This is the very embarrassing and inconvenient truth that they're afraid to admit.