Next World instead of New System

Spudinator

Heard at a recent Circuit Assembly:

The D.O. repeatedly mentioned the "Next World" instead of the "New World" or "New Order." He used the term once talking about a brother that was awaiting intensive surgery to correct a life threatening condition. All in all, the term was used several other times as well referring to what used to be called the "New World."

Why the change in terminology?

Nosferatu

Perhaps it's because the "New World" is an old teaching.

Spudinator

Perhaps, but somehow I don't think so. It is annoying when new terminology is introduced without any explanation though. "Next World" has a kind of spooky, occult connotation to most JW's, and yet no one was observed to question this term. When asking about it, all I could raise were shrugs as replies.

Narkissos

I thought "new world" was not "up-to-date" since the 70's, when it was officially replaced by "new system (of things)". It remained very popular among JWs though, and the title New World Translation was maintained.

Spudinator

Guess I am showing my age. You are correct, of course, "New System" is more currently used. My question is, why the change now? Is it because a lot of JW folks are visibly dying off and the "New System" has to be pushed into the background by switching to "Next World?"

Markfromcali

Heh, well I'll tell ya the verbiage does bring some things to mind.. Something can only be "new" once you have it, the "next" thing would be speaking of it from the position of the old one since it's not here yet, which perhaps indicates not expecting it anytime soon. Regardless of how far one puts it in the future, it never deals with the here and now.

Spudinator

Mark,
I had similar thoughts. It could signify a change from "urgency" of the imminent "New System" or "New World" in JW thought-ology to the more staid "Next World" that is commonly spoken of in the world at large. That would go against the breathless pace that heretofore has been the norm for the WTBTS. So this scenario is more than probably wrong.

But, since this came from a District Overseer, it probably means more than his own private speculation. But what? Any other thoughts?

Markfromcali

That would go against the breathless pace that heretofore has been the norm for the WTBTS. So this scenario is more than probably wrong.

You think so? I don't know the environment and the mindset since I haven't step foot in a KH in a long time, but perhaps somewhere near the top they get that people are not going to buy this generation crap, so they better slip it in subtly..?

drwtsn32

Next World...hmm...I wonder if this is official "Next Light" from the governing body. lol

blondie

Until "next world" appears in a WT publication as a synonym for new world or new system, I will just chalk it up to a personal thing or a slip of the tongue.

So far, "next world" has been used by the WTS in its publications to mean an afterlife location, heaven, etc.

I'll keep looking at the publications to see if it changes but I doubt it because the general public would be confused by the meaning.

Unless the JWs are being prepared for a ride on a comet.

Blondie

Next World instead of New System

Share this