“Eager to see the end of this evil system, Jehovah’s people have at times speculated about the time when the “great tribulation” would break out, even tying this to calculations of what is the lifetime of a generation since 1914. However we “bring a heart of wisdom in.” Not by speculating about how many days or years make up a generation, but by thinking about how we “count our days” in bringing joyful praise to Jehovah. (Psalm 90:12)
Rather than provide a rule for measuring time, the term “generation” as used by Jesus refers principally to contemporary people of a certain historic period, with their identifying characteristics”“Is anything to be gained, then, by looking for dates or by speculating about the literal lifetime of a “generation”? Far from it! Therefore, in the final fulfilment of Jesus’ prophecy today, “this generation” apparently refers to the people of the earth who see the sign of Christ’s presence but fail to mend their ways. Does our more precise viewpoint on “this Generation” mean that Armageddon is further away than we had thought? Not at all.” (Watchtower – 1 November 1995 - Pages 17,19,20)
Did you notice that the Society did not say – We have at times speculated, but “Jehovah’s people have at times speculated.” The blame for a lifetime of misinterpreting the scriptures and making false prophecies in God’s name is shared with the membership. These are the same members that were threatened with excommunication if they ever dared to challenge the pronouncements coming from the Society, who claim to be “God’s mouthpiece.”
Having spent the last hundred years warning their members and millions of non-members that the world as we know it is about to end, the Society eventually admits that the single verse of scripture that they have based this prediction on is now to be understood differently. Surely this means that Armageddon is further away than they had thought? According to the Watchtower Society “Not at all!”
Is this an honest way to deal with such a fundamental shift of belief?
Many of the membership had built their lives around the time-scale dictated to them by the Society. Some had not planned for retirement having been categorically assured that they would never reach old age. Others had sacrificed their careers and family life to give greater service. What now?
The Society are fond of assuring its members that God will one day reward them for the sacrifices they have made. They quote from the Bible “for he is not unrighteous so as to forget the love that you showed for his name.” But is it showing love for someone’s name to spread false promises in their name and make it an object of ridicule?
Taken from the book - Opening the Door to Jehovah's Witnesses - by Trevor Willis
