Ok. There are a couple of ways that this could play out in my opinion. Keep in mind that this is just my opinion. If they don't appoint some new GB members then all they have left is to fall back on the " Jonadab " class, you following me? No one is going to hang on every word of the Jonadabs for another " generation ", unless they time it perfectly. Anyone who knows any real history at all will have to die out, or be Df'd for apostasy, then the new member being comprised of the " born-ins " and immigrants won't know any better. So they might follow the Jonadabs for years. As long as you are ignorant enough, they can say the " new light " is that the 144,000 will be dead for an unknown amount of time before the " end ", so faithfully follow the Jonadabs. These will conveniently be indoctrinated " operation of error" types who take over the biz.
The other scenario is to appoint a couple newbies who have proven their worth by years of faithful service. Let's face it, real spirituality is not a pre-requisite for moving up the corporate ladder. If you follow the rules and know the procedures and don't ask questions you rise to the top, just like the military. Anyone with real integrity doesn't live long enough to get promoted. The appointment will have to be a careful, careful process. As has been pointed out, the power balance cannot be upset, especially now with the Empire in a precarious state ( Just read Shogun ). The new golden boy will have to be carefully groomed for the role, meaning an individual of some renown, otherwise any claim of anointing will be taken for mental imbalance. Anointed and " spiritual " aka, procedure follower = genuine anointed. Anointed and an PTS, to borrow a scientology term = mentally and emotionally disturbed and needing God's forgiveness, and most likely to be Df'd.
As for the initials I dropped, they are real. The information is from an idividual who has spent years at Bethel, and is on the forefront of the Foreign language field. They feel strongly that the aforementioned person is in the running for GB. It could very well happen. I know the person he is speaking of because he is in my circuit. He is a genuninely likeable person and well known. I can't see anyone that I know blinking an eye if he was put into that position. I guess it all depends on what the next couple of years bring. Will they go with the Jonadab route? I can't see that happening because the waters are drying up as it is. In my own Congregation we have not had an appointment to servant or Elder in over three years. No one qualifies, or wants to. It has to be similar in other parts of the world. With that being the case, who is going to follow some Jonadab around? They have to appoint someone to take the reigns, even if the are only a figurehead, ( again read Shogun ). What they need now is the proper " instrument " of an individual to raise up for the rank-and-file, because let's face it..it aint Jesus. Those are my two cents, take it or leave it. I don't claim infallibility, only pragmatism. I will pass along what I can, always ready to take my cianide pill disguised as a Miracle Wheat cufflink if neccessary.