The abandonment of "This Generation"

by Nosferatu 8 Replies latest watchtower bible

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  Nosferatu

  I really wanted to find out if the WTS had referred to Matthew 24:34 after the article in the Nov 1, 1995 Watchtower. Here's all I found:

  June 1, 1997 Watchtower, Page 28

  Questions from Readers

  That evidently is how Peter understood Jesus' use of "generation" when he and three other apostles were with Jesus on the Mount of Olives. According to Jesus' prophetic statement, Jews of that period-basically, Jesus' contemporaries-were going to experience or hear of wars, earthquakes, famines, and other evidences that the end of the Jewish system was near. In fact, that generation did not pass before the end came in 70 C.E.-Matthew 24:3-14, 34.

  Then again, the blame was put on the Rank & File in this article for coming up with the previous understanding of this scripture:

  With similar sincere intentions, God's servants in modern times have tried to derive from what Jesus said about "generation" some clear time element calculated from 1914. For instance, one line of reasoning has been that a generation can be 70 or 80 years, made up of people old enough to grasp the significance of the first world war and other developments; thus we can calculate more or less how near the end is.

  I love the last paragraph:

  So the recent information in The Watchtower about "this generation" did not change our understanding of what occurred in 1914. But it did give us a clearer grasp of Jesus' use of the term "generation," helping us to see that his usage was no basis for calculating-counting from 1914-how close to the end we are.

  The WTS just shot themselves in the foot. What scriptures are supposed to be used as a basis for calculation? How can we be sure that the scriptures used to come up with the year 1914 WERE basis for calculation?

  Other than this mention in "Questions from Readers" in 1997, Matthew 24:34 hasn't been used in any WT publications (up until 2001 anyway). The scripture has been abandoned, since it no longer has any modern-day meaning.
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  outnfree

  I find this fascinating, Nos.

  The Society adopts a pretty-much faith-shaking new understanding of "generation" and then refuses to speak any more about it?!!!!

  I guess they are hoping that the mistake they made in attaching Jesus' prophecy to 1914 will fade in the minds of the many who remember Fred Franz' "line of reasoning" that "a generation can be 70 or 80 years, made up of people old enough to grasp the significance of the first world war and other developments" would be present at the start of Armageddon. And that they are hoping it never comes up in the minds of new converts, who won't search past publications, eh?

  outnfree
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  garybuss

  
  
  True, at present we see some aspects of God?s purpose ?in hazy outline.?
  (The Watchtower - March 15, 2000 p. 14)
  
  
  
  
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  XQsThaiPoes

  The 1995 and 1997 article turned among otherm things turned JW docterine into total lunacy. If Jesus is not Judging anyone now and won't until the end of the world, and the only crime punishible by death is attacking the anointed, and the anointed is all born again christians. Also there must be only 144k of them, and the holy spirit is picking them the only way to get more is if they commit some sin to disquaillify themselves. Then why is the holy spirit picking so many loosers that can't make it a few seconds with giving up their spot to the next guy?
  

  You see how stupid this is? Even if it if exactly like the watchtower says, and it is happening then God does not care about 99% of jws nor 99% of the world. I see no reason for them preach that everyone outside the annointed live clean unreproachable lives. It makes no sense when they have outlined the only way for a "normie" to get nuked is treat the anointed crappy.
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  TD

  Unfortuately for the leaders and policy makers of JW's, the doctine of the Great Crowd is joined like a siamese twin to the old understanding of the generation.

  The Great Crowd come out of the Great Tribulation. John's perspective in the vision leaves no room for wriggling on this point If a JW doesn't at least live to see the Great Tribulation, there is no possible way they can be a member of the Great Crowd. Ergo, the Great Crowd is the final generation before the end.

  If a final generation before the end cannot be identified, than neither can the Great Crowd be identified.

  They should have thought things through a little better before publishing those articles IMHO.
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  peacefulpete

  The illogic is stunning, "the first century Christians understood "generation" to mean the lifespan of the listeners and they were right but JWs (not us)mistakenly believed that the word "generation" meant lifespan."
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  zen nudist

  there are like nine times in the gospels where Jesus uses THIS GENERATION and it seems from a read of them all that he only means ONE thing.... those alive who saw him ailve....

  when he spoke to the apostles, JWs and others conveniently forget he was looking right at them and telling THEM that THIS GENERATION will not pass away... not the generation who sees signs A B or C, but he was addressing THEM...and the historical evidence such as it is, seems to indicate that that is what they understood....

  Paul said the time is short

  John said we KNOW this is the last hour...etc.

  basically they were all WRONG, but to admit that would mean to admit that christianity is a sham and hoax and that is just too difficult for believers to accept, so they have to find alternative interpretations and mythological allogories, etc... Jesus made no distinction among all signs that THIS GENERATION would see....capping it off with his grand finale return.... didn't happen then, did not happen now, nor is it likely to ever happen as written, since what was written was mythology not history.
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  Undaunted Danny

  I haven't seen the Watchtower preface caption( on inside cover bottom) for about 10 years.I've used it as a field service presentation verbatim,thousands of times over the years.

  Lets see if my memory holds.Here goes the pitch: ""This Watchtower magazine builds up confidence in the Creators PROMISE of a peaceful and secure new world BEFORE the generation that WITNESSED THE EVENTS OF 1914 PASSES AWAY.""

  So,in point of fact I spent countless Saturday Mornings and Sunday afternoons of my prime time making uninvited door to door visitations on the homes of strangers....

  ..... And it was all a lie?? Will I go to hell for this?
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  xjw_b12

  Undaunted Danny. Actually I think it was the Awake mag. that carried that masthead.

  The Jan 8 1982 Awake is the first one to use the phrase ?the Creator?s promise of a peaceful and secure new order before the generation that saw the events of 1914 C.E. passes away.?

  The November 8 1995 Awake is the first one to change the phrase to read ?the Creator?s promise of a peaceful and secure new world that is about to replace the present wicked, lawless system of things.?