The Generation of the Great Crowd

by UnDisfellowshipped 8 Replies latest jw friends

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  UnDisfellowshipped

  "This Generation of the Great Crowd will not pass away......"

  By [email protected]

  We all know about the infamous "Generation of 1914", and all the lies and deception associated with it, right?

  But, did you know about the Generation of the early original Great Crowd Members that was not supposed to pass away before Armageddon comes?

  Neither did I, until I found the following Quotes:

  Survival Book (1984), Pages 184-185, Chapter 24 (The Countdown Nears Its Zero Hour!):

  5 The countdown that has proceeded for some six millenniums now nears its zero hour. So close is it that people who were alive in 1914, and who are now well along in years, will not all pass off the scene before the thrilling events marking the vindication of Jehovah's sovereignty come to pass.--Mark 13:30.

  6 Other loyal servants of God, too, will be on hand to witness the events of that great day. Especially beginning in 1935, when the identity of the "great multitude," or "great crowd," was clearly understood, large numbers of these began to manifest themselves. At first there were hundreds, then thousands, later hundreds of thousands, and now there are millions spread around the globe. God's infallible Word depicts this group as 'coming out of the great tribulation,' being survivors of it, living right on into God's New Order without ever having to die. (Revelation 7:9, 10, 14; John 11:26) The early members of this group are now in their 60's or 70's or older. Jehovah did not allow the ingathering of this group to begin too soon. The "great crowd," including many of the earliest members thereof, will survive into the "new earth."

  7 The hope of the "great crowd" will not be thwarted by any nuclear holocaust that would destroy all mankind. With good reason they are optimistic and courageous. As the events of the "last days" have unfolded, they have watched them with keen anticipation, applying to themselves Jesus' counsel: "Raise yourselves erect and lift your heads up, because your deliverance is getting near." (Luke 21:28) But during the remaining time before that deliverance, further events of world-shaking significance are to occur.
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  The Watchtower, March 1, 1985 Issue, Page 14:

  12 These flashes of prophetic light prepared the ground for the historic discourse on "The Great Multitude," given May 31, 1935, by the president of the Watch Tower Society, J. F. Rutherford, at the Washington, D.C., convention of Jehovah's Witnesses. What a revelation of divine truth that was! Presented at that time was conclusive proof identifying the "great crowd" of Revelation 7:9 with the Lord's "other sheep" of John 10:16, with the Jehonadab class, with those marked in the forehead for survival, with the millions now living who will never die, and with "the sheep" that are separated from "the goats" and will inherit everlasting life in the earthly realm of God's Kingdom. All of this was covered in The Watchtower, August 1 and 15, 1935.
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  The Watchtower, September 1, 1983 Issue, Page 12:

  Well, on May 31, 1935, at the Washington, D.C., convention, Brother Rutherford spoke on this very subject. I was sitting in the balcony looking down over the crowd, and what a thrill it was as his talk unfolded! The great multitude was clearly identified Scripturally to be those who survive Armageddon with the prospect of living forever on earth. Yes, here was further information on 'the millions now living who will never die.'
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  The Watchtower, February 15, 1995 Issue, Page 8:

  2 Despite the latest advances of medical science, death still rules as king even today. While this is no surprise, some may have been somewhat disappointed when they finally came face-to-face with this longtime enemy. Why? Well, back in the 1920's, the Watch Tower Society proclaimed the message "Millions now living will never die." Who would these millions be? The "sheep" spoken of in Jesus' remarks about the sheep and the goats. (Matthew 25:31-46) These sheeplike ones were prophesied to appear during the time of the end, and their hope would be everlasting life on a paradise earth. As time went by, God's people gained a better understanding of the position of these "sheep" in Jehovah's purposes. It was realized that these obedient ones were to be distinguished from the stubborn "goats," and after the destruction of the latter ones, the sheep would inherit the earthly realm of the Kingdom that had been prepared for them.
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  I'd love to hear everyone's comments.
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  Noumenon

  A very good point, which is well taken. It's very similar to the 'generation of 1914' isn't it. To think that a newborn baby that was in that audience in 1935 is now nearly 70 years old. It's a classic example of presumptousness by the bible student leaders back then. Instead of 'millions now living will never die' it's more like 'a few thousand living back then are still alive, the rest snuffed it ages ago'.
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  kls

  I have read jw book's to my jw husband stating just that.His reply is always the same ,"They were just learning at that time.Jehovah keeps shinning his light at the proper " B---S---
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  TD

  Good observation and research.

  Within the framework of Witness theology, identification of the great crowd is impossible without a finite concept of the length of a generation. No one could have been a member of the great crowd in the year 1860 for example.

  In other words, if the "end" will not definitely occur within your lifetime, then you cannot even be a prospective member of the great crowd for the simple reason that in order to survive it, you must first live to see it. This is the whole reason why Witnesses teach that there was only one hope, the heavenly one, from the 1st century clear up to the early 20th century. The 20th century was different because of the supposed proximity of the "end."

  In light of this, the generation change of 1995 further illustrates what Roger Crompton and others have observed: Witness leaders and policy makers today do not even understand the basic precepts under which earlier doctrines were developed and taught.

  Tom
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  JT

  for lurkers - just something to think about-

  you see the wt would be OK in MY book IF AND I MEAN IF they had stuck with bible commentary , this way they can change views like you change drawers and it would be ok, since all readers would fully understand that what is written within thier publication is -------------- THE OPINION OF THE EDITORIAL WRITERS --------

  BUT o no that would be too much like right, instead wt claims god is the one who told them what to write and just take a look at this REPOST and see how GOOFY THEY LOOK

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  Investigating all bold statements made in the Watchtower literature, must and indeed should be a source of extreme embarrassment for the Watchtower Society. And since the Watchtower Society claim to be appointed by Jesus as his only representative on earth today, this must be equally embarrassing to him. Going through the Watchtower CD-ROM reveals more than 20 A4 pages with totally unfounded claims. Claims, which time alone, have made null and void. Claims that are now are proved to be lies and fantasy. This is of course no surprise to those who have made even the shallowest investigation of the history of the Watchtower organization. Of course all the current claims that is made in the Watchtower are just as insane and nonsensical. But let us look at some of the outrageous claims made on behalf of God, Jesus and the Bible. Look at these quotes. The Watchtower must indeed be on very intimate terms with Jesus because they repeatedly tell us what Jesus MEANT: “** w53 124 - What does all this mean? Jesus' words, at the conclusion of telling his disciples of all these things, give us the answer. He says: "Truly I say to you that this generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur." (Matt. 24:34, NW) He meant what he said. The generation that began to see these things in 1914 will witness the final accumulated judgments of Jehovah God, though some individuals who are part of this generation may die before the end of this world's system of things takes place.” “** w59 158 - The separating of earth's inhabitants by the good news of the Kingdom has been in progress for many years, but it will not continue beyond the lifetime of those who were living when it began shortly after 1914. Jesus made that clear when he said. "Truly I say to you that this generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur." (Matt. 24:34) He meant the generation living when the world events that he foretold as marking the last days would be taking place.” “*** w61 4/15 236 The Sacred Bible and Our Problem of Survival *** 31 The foretold events having begun A.D. 1914, the generation of mankind that is still alive from that year is the generation meant by Jesus Christ.” ** w66 325 - To what generation was Jesus referring? Not to the one living in his day but, rather, to the one that would experience the things he foretold, which, we have seen, began in 1914. They will come to a climax, Jesus tells us, in the "great tribulation such as has not occurred since the world's beginning until now, no, nor will occur again."-Matt. 24:21. ** w84 3/1 18 - And Jesus has told us to rejoice at seeing the dark storm clouds of Armageddon gathering since that time. He has told us that the "generation" of 1914- the year that the sign began to be fulfilled-"will by no means pass away until all these things occur." (Matthew 24:34) Some of that "generation" could survive until the end of the century. But there are many indications that "the end" is much closer than that! ** w84 5/1 6 - However, that distress would not last forever. Jesus showed?, in fact, that it would last for only a short time. He foretold concerning those living in 1914 who would see the fulfillment of the 'sign of his presence': "Truly I say to you that this generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur." (Matthew 24:34) Among the things due to occur in the lifetime of this generation is the fulfillment of a prophecy from an older part of the Bible. Again we see the claim that Jesus “said” that the 1914 generation would “see all things occur” And that the Jehovah's Witnesses should have joy because they “knew”. Well they didn’t know squat, still don’t: ** w62 132 - So while this doomed world is in spasms of fear and perplexity, Jesus' true followers lift up their heads with joy, knowing that this generation that is still alive from A.D. 1914 is the generation Jesus said would see "all things occur," including this world's end. Deliverance for Jesus' true followers into God's new world is due within this generation The outrageous claims grow bolder and bolder. Here the Watchtower actually state Jesus “true meaning” and “true interpretation”, about the 1914 generation, which as usual failed miserably. ** w62 621 - Jesus provided the true meaning, the true interpretation, for the events of our generation since 1914. His interpretation is that he became present in his promised heavenly kingdom in 1914, the year when this worldly system of things entered into its time of the end. Here the Watchtower even claim that Jesus “assures us” that within the 1914 generation a “righteous rule” would be reality on earth: ** w60 158 - Fulfillment of Bible prophecy shows that God's kingdom has been ruling in the midst of its enemies since 1914. Shortly now, within this generation Jesus assures us, God's kingdom will make an end of all opposition, both invisible and visible, and establish a righteous rule upon earth. It is therefore extremely urgent that all men of good will toward God be informed about His perfect government so that they can become reconciled to it before it is too late, before that perfect government destroys all enemies of God at Armageddon. In this next quote the Watchtower it was Jesus who said that the 1914 generation wouldn’t “pass away”. Perhaps the “mature” Watchtower apologist You Know, could show us from the Bible where Jesus said this?: ** w56 616 This cannot be very far off, for Jesus said that the generation that saw 1914 "will by no means pass away until all these things occur."-Matt. 24:34, NW. In this quote we are told that “God’s Word has foretold the 1914 generation. Maybe You Know can show us where in the Bible this is to be found: ** w57 568 - It is on its deathbed and the prophecies of God's Word foretell its end within the generation of men that has been living since 1914. (Matt. 24:33, 34) Feast your eyes on this quote from the end of the 50s. It talk about “evidence” and use the expression “We Know” which is of course totally meaningless: ** w58 240 - 25 During our watch we have seen all the evidences that Jesus foretold to mark the time of the end of this world since 1914. We know that ours is the generation that began to see many of these predicted things come to pass. Ours is therefore the generation that must see all of them take place in fulfillment of Jesus' word. Hence it is the generation that will see the end of this old world, just as it was the case in the days of Noah. But don’t worry, it gets worse in this next quote. Here they actually call printing this incredible tripe and drivel, “enlightening people”. So serving insane speculations, pretending to know what Jesus meant, and actually saying that “Jesus” talked about the 1914 generation, is called “enlightening”. Well, this kind of “enlightening” is just about as needed as an extra hole in the head: ** w61 631 - Ever since 1914 these anointed footstep followers of Jesus, using the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society as their legal and publishing instrument, have continued to enlighten people to the meaning of the momentous happenings of this generation. They show how these events have fulfilled Bible prophecy and that, therefore, Jesus did begin ruling in the heavens in 1914, and soon, within this generation, he will resume the tribulation on Satan's organization, completely destroying it in the war of Armageddon.-Rev. 16:14-16. To those of you faithful Brooklyn apologists who now no doubt will try the old song and dance about us horrible apostates scorning Jesus and Jehovah, try for once to THINK a little and ask yourself this simple questions: Do you really believe that Jesus or Jehovah was behind all the above quoted claims? If you do, who is responsible for the scorn? Well, I know this was probably to complicated for you, but at least we can have some laughs.

  copyright 20
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  garybuss

  *** w95 2/15 16 Saved Alive Through the Great Tribulation ***
  It is exciting to contemplate survival of the end of this system of things and the possibility of never having to die.

  
  *** w95 2/15 9 There Will Be a Resurrection of the Righteous ***Many who had hoped to be among the "millions"
  who would never die have indeed died.
  (The Watchtower, Feb. 15, 1995, p.9)
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  Blueblades

  Correct me if I'm wrong.Recently the WT. QFR.Identified the Great Crowd as being not on earth ,but,in the sanctuary,in heaven,not on earth.
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  czarofmischief

  I'm sure I would have heard about such an insane leap of dogma from my parents, blueblades. Sorry, don't think so. I mean, it makes SENSE, and that can't be the WT's stance, then, eh?

  Millions now living will never learn.

  CZAR
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  Blueblades

  Czar,Go to the Feb.1st,1998 page 21"The other sheep and the new covenant"New Light"on where the GREAT CROWD is serving.

  Blueblades