Hi notsurewheretogo,
I understand the point you are making and perhaps I should have clarified myself.
What I meant was, he did not use a scripture that clearly states or explains Overlapping Generations. What he actually used was an obscure explanation of a scripture from the old testament to explain a point made by Jesus in the new testament. 1 Cor 14:33 says "For God is not a God of disorder but of peace--as in all the congregations of the Lord's people".
Now if that scripture is correct and the explanation from Splane is correct, then why is there so much confusion among JW's?
Why then would God create so much confusion if we are truly deep into the time of the end?
Surely the light would become brighter, not dimmer.
Why then would God create so much confusion at this time if he truly does not desire people to be destroyed?
It should be as clear as day, but it is not, and that is because Jesus did not mean Overlapping Generations, otherwise he would have said so.
If he was going to use the scripture that Splane used, would he have not done so?
The reality is Jesus used no chart, no scripture (New or Old Testament), no vague or obscure meaning, there is no record that I am aware of, that the Disciples felt that they had to explain what Jesus said in a different way many years later. What Jesus said, is what he meant, and the reality is, that is what the Org believed until very recently.
So why the change?
They panicked, the Anointed that witnessed 1914 are gone, or nearly gone if any are still alive, everything they believed and preached was nailed to the cross of 1914 so to speak. If they allowed this corner stone to be removed, then the whole house of cards will collapse and nothing can stop it! Therefore, they had to shore up this doctrine, for without it they have nothing!
Of course there is another aspect to this, if they are wrong about this what else are they wrong about?
In 30 years of being in the truth, I cannot remember a single occasion when they have ever admitted to error or even apologised for anything!
They are like the Pope, infallible, and there you have the crux of the matter, it is all about image and control!