IMHO, it appears that the reason for this Mt. 24:14 declaration is to provide an excuse or a cop-out
for the dismal single digit increase (and in many countries a decrease) the rank and file see when they read the Service Report™ for the end of year 2006.
http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/125492/1.ashx
This New Light™ accomplishes at least two purposes:
1. The members in the Borg don’t start to question the lack of “increase which indicates Jehovah’s blessing.”
2. The anticipation of the next big “prophesy to be fulfilled” serves as a scare tactic to keep the active rank and file too scared to “drift away or become inactive.
It sounds like an attempt at damage control by placating the ranck and file with an explanation for the lack of increase, thus keeping them from interpreting the lack of growth as a sign the WBT$ does NOT have Jah’s backing.
YC