So im stirring the pot on JWTalk regarding the overlapping generation teaching, hoping to get the Jdubs thinking. I basically said that I avoid talking about the overlapping generation because I dont understand it, cant explain it and it's likely to turn off new bible studies. I went as far as saying that I dont beleive it and Im "waiting on Jehovah" for more light.
The majority of members are defending the teaching, but surprisingly at least two members agreed with me.
I don't see what is difficult.
A generation is a group of people who live or serve together during a specific time or event. In this case we are talking about the anointed who lived or served together during the Last Days up to the Great Tribulation and Armageddon.Depends on the "specific time or event"
You and your grandfather are part of the generation of people who witnessed the Apollo rocket program.
Now, your grandfather may have died prior to the last Apollo mission in 1972. Regardless, you and he are still part of the group of people alive between 1966 and 1972.
You and your father are part of the generation that witnessed the space shuttle program.
Same as above. Everyone alive between 1981 and 2011 are the generation of people who saw the space shuttle operate even some of those people died before 2011
People alive during the same moment in time or same event.- Shawnster
Perhaps it may be best to drop the word "overlapping" for you to personally understand what "this generation" means. As Shawn said, its merely people of varying ages living during a certain period. Nothing more, nothing less.
At some point, all the "millennials" will be dead, and the "millennial" generation will cease to exist. So if we sub in "millennials" to Jesus words, hes saying "the millennial generation will not pass away until all these things happen".
The word "overlap" is appropriate, however. When two people are born during the same time period or "generation", but on different days, their lives "overlap" if one doesn't die before the other one is born.
That's exactly what is meant by the term.Its really simple.
- Bob (remember "Bobby" the JW who was on here a while ago?)
I am so embarrassed to admit that this is what makes it confusing to me. Their lives overlap, but what about when the younger one is say fifty or sixty years old and the life of another youngster begins to "overlap" his life? It appears to me that there needs to be some date to start (1914), and some date to end(?????).
I am pretty old now, so maybe it is the effects of "Cannot teach an old dog new tricks" syndrome" kicking in đ but it seemed to me much easier to understand the older explanation of "generation". I sometimes wonder, if as another member mentioned, that there will be brighter light adjusting the understanding and clarifying it even more? I know in a conversation with another brother locally we both wondered if perhaps an adjustment incorporating some of the explanation of who have a heavenly hope from very early in the societies modern day existence would come out, similar to how the explanation of who the Superior Authorities in Romans 13 were understood to be was clarified again in the early sixties.
I must say I hesitate to even mention my embarrassed confusion lest people who do not know me jump to wrong conclusions about me.
We'll just have to wait on Jehovah and see. ï»ż- Chuck
I mean no disrespect, but why do we have to âwait on Jehovahâ?
Perhaps we did, and this is his way for us. I donât think we need to wait on Jehovah if there is no unresolved inaccuracies, or scriptural ambiguity that have become obvious.- Bob (again)
The thought quoted above has also crossed my mind, so I understand your sentiment Brian. I remember when I was younger how we used to mention the generation teaching often to highlight the fact that the end was extremely near, back then we thought the term referred to those alive in 1914. Don't hear nearly as much of the latest "overlapping" understanding, perhaps because the slave no longer wants to focus on chronology as much as it did a few decades ago, a good thing if you ask me.
- Jessie
Yes I understand your frustration on this matter. My mum found it a bit difficult to understand as well and it was bit hard explaining it to her. But at the end of the day we know this to be the truth. Reminds me of the context of John 6:68 âLord whom shall we go away toâ. People did not undeï»żrstand JesĂșs as he said you must drink my blood and eat my flesh and neither did the apostles as well. But the apostles had humility and patience and as well knew him to be the Christ and realised where else is there to go (there is no truth anywhere else). So even if we personally donât understand something we just have to keep goingï»ż in the truth knowing we will get a better understanding of it ourselves in due time. ï»ż
- Godskingdomrules
I received the following email from (im guessing a wannabe elder) moderator:
Dear XXXXWelcome to jwtalk.net. We hope you enjoy our community.
We understand you are new here and maybe haven't found your balance yet. We are concerned a little with your comment about the overlapping generation teaching. This comment is opposite what the Bible and the FDS indicates.
The Bible is clear in context that there is only ONE generation made up of two groups who's lives overlap.
Your comment is suggesting that the bible is inaccurate about the generation overlap and this is not in harmony with our beliefs.Please be mindful we will not allow blatant contradictions to be posted here and such can result in warnings and eventual dismissal.
Please familiarize yourself with our terms of use, sit back and enjoy your time here. We strive to make this a safe on line haven.
I guess freeness of speech only works one way on JWTalk!