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FACTS ABOUT JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES

 

Changes to the Generation Teaching


The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life p.95


The generation teaching has changed ceaslessly, in regards to both the timeframe and who it has been applied to. From inception, a key factor to the growth of the Watchtower Society has been the promise that this system's end will occur at any moment. The shorter the expected time left, the higher the growth; so immediately prior to 1914, 1925 and 1975 (dates Armageddon was specifically expected) growth increased to as high as 20% per year. At other times the concept that the "generation will by no means pass away" has been used to stimulate urgency. Looking retrospectively, it is remarkable to see the number of changes to the 'generation' teaching, in order to make each decade in the 1900's appear to be the decade that the end would come.

That Jesus' heavenly rulership commenced 1914 is key to Watchtower theology, the foundation for many other teachings. Unseen and hence unproven, Witnesses expect proof in their own lifetime by means of the arrival of Armageddon - based on the generation teaching that some people born prior to 1914 would never die.
    "The countdown that has proceeded for some six millenniums now nears its zero hour. So close is it that people who were alive in 1914, and who are now well along in years, will not all pass off the scene before the thrilling events marking the vindication of Jehovah's sovereignty come to pass"… The early members of this group are now in their 60's or 70's or older. Jehovah did not allow the ingathering of this group to begin too soon. The "great crowd," including many of the earliest members thereof, will survive into the "new earth." Survival into a New Earth (1984) p.184-185

    "Prophetic information in the Bible about our day details the following: ...The survival of at least some of the generation that saw the beginning of "the conclusion of the system of things." True Peace And Security (1986) p.70
When this was changed in 1995 with an article explaining that a generation could extend for multiple lifetimes, many Witnesses saw this as indication the Governing Body had lost faith, no longer confident that Armageddon is close at hand. Since 1995, the growth rate of Jehovah's Witnesses has fallen dramatically.

Generation teachings

In order to keep Witnesses thinking that the end was "just about" to occur, the explanation of "a generation" constantly changed. This has included changing the year when the "generation" started, the youngest age of a person that can be considered part of the generation, who the generation refers to, and how many years a generation can continue for. Calculations for the length of a generation included:
  • 100 -120 years based on the maximum life expectancy of mankind, such as the life of Moses Deuteronomy 34:7
  • 70 to 80 years based on Psalms 90:10
  • 40 years based on Numbers 32:13, "So Jehovah's anger blazed against Israel and he made them wander about in the wilderness forty years, until all the generation that was doing evil in the eyes of Jehovah came to their end."
  • 36 ˝ years, being the length of time from the death of Jesus to the fall of Jerusalem, and the average of human life in the 1800's
  • 33 years based on quotes such as in Webster's unabridged dictionary; "The average lifetime of man, or the ordinary period of time at which one rank follows another, or father is succeeded by child; an age. A generation is usually taken to be about 33 years."
  • an unspecified length of time
As outlined through quotes below, this has allowed the end of the generation to shift constantly.
  • To end in 1914 - 36 1/2 year generation from 1878
  • To end by 1950 - 30-40 year generation from 1914
  • To end 1975 - 70-80 year life expectancy of 15 year old in 1914
  • To end early 80's - 70-80 year life expectancy of 10 year old in 1914
  • To end by 1989 - 75 year life expectancy of baby in 1914
  • To end early 2000's - maximum lifespan of baby in 1914
  • To end 'soon' - length of generation unspecified

Who the Generation Applied to

The Watchtower has swung between whether generation applied to the Anointed, or has a negative connotation applying to worldly contemporaries. It has also varied on whether the period was over an unspecified time frame or was a fixed period.
1897 – A group of contemporary people
“Other uses of this Greek word (genea) prove that it is not used with the significance of race, but in reference to people living contemporaneously.... In other words, the signs mentioned will occur within a generation - epoch in the close of the age.” – Studies in the Scriptures Vol. 4, p. 602-03,
1927 – The anointed
“The irresistible conclusion therefore is that Jesus referred to the new creation [the anointed] when he said: “This generation shall not pass until all these things be fulfilled.” This then would be a strong indication that some members of the new creation will be on the earth at the time of Armageddon.” Watchtower 1927 Feb 15 p.62
1951 – A fixed period of time from 1914
"The actual meaning of these words is, beyond question, that which takes a “generation” in the ordinary sense, as at Mark 8:12 and Acts 13:36, or for those who are living at the given period. So it was on “this generation” that the accumulated judgments were to fall. (Matt. 23:36) This therefore means that from 1914 a generation shall not pass till all is fulfilled, and amidst a great time of trouble." Watchtower 1951 Jul 1 p.404
1995 – A group of contemporary people
“…Jesus was not departing from his established use of the term “this generation,” which he consistently applied to the contemporary masses with their “blind guides” who together made up the Jewish nation. ... Jesus refers principally to contemporary people of a certain historical period, with their identifying characteristics.” Watchtower 1995 Nov 1 pp.14,20
2008 – The anointed
"As a class, these anointed ones make up the modern-day "generation" of contemporaries that will not pass away "until all these things occur." This suggests that some who are Christ's anointed brothers will still be alive on earth when the foretold great tribulation begins." Watchtower 2008 Feb 15 p.24

The Generation to end 1914

Russell had a two way bet, explaining that the start year for the generation may have been 1780, extending for a period of 100 years to 1880, with the fulfilling of all the signs. He then went on to say it also may refer to a 36 ˝ years from 1878 to 1914.
    "A "generation" might be reckoned as equivalent to a century (practically the present limit) or one hundred and twenty years, Moses' lifetime and the Scripture limit. (Gen. 6:3.) Reckoning a hundred years from 1780, the date of the first sign, the limit would reach to 1880… Or, since the Master said, "When ye shall see all these things," and since "the sign of the Son of Man in heaven," and the budding fig tree, and the gathering of "the elect" are counted among the signs, it would not be inconsistent to reckon the "generation" from 1878 to 1914--36 1/2 years-- about the average of human life today." Studies in the Scriptures Series IV -The Day of Vengeance 1897 ed. pp.604, 605
When Armageddon did not arrive in 1914 the doctrine on Christ's presence was reengineered, and overtime 1914 became the start of the generation, rather than the end of the generation.

It started to be said that the end of the generation would definitely arrive whilst some people born prior to 1914 were still alive. This concept continued until 1995.

To end by 1951: 37 year generation

In the early 1950's a generation was once again explained to be around 36 ˝ years (37 years). With the start date moved to 1914 the end was to arrive 1951.
    "By keeping the people ignorant they led them into having Jesus killed on a torture stake at Calvary. Thirty-seven years later this willfully cultivated ignorance led to its fatal consequences, the destruction of the city of Jerusalem with an enormous loss of human lives, just as Jesus had predicted, and the breaking up of the Jewish nation till this day. And now in this "time of the end" the revived nation of Israel with capital at the modern city of Jerusalem chooses to go on in the steps of its forefathers . . ." Watchtower 1950 September 1 p.277

    "The length of time is indicated by him when he said, "Truly I say to you that this generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur." (Matt. 24:34) The actual meaning of these words is, beyond question, that which takes a "generation" in the ordinary sense, as at Mark 8:12 and Acts 13:36, or for those who are living at the given period." Watchtower 1951 July 1 p.404

    "Counting from the end of the "appointed times of the nations" in 1914, we are 37 years into the "time of the end" of this world. (Luke 21:24, Dan. 12:4) During these crucial years Jehovah's witnesses have sought shelter and strength in him, and they can confess for themselves that he is a "well-proved help in trouble". If it were not for this, they would not be here today nor increasing in numbers. But we are entering the most serious and trialsome years of this "time of the end". The final conflict of Armageddon draws near." Watchtower 1951 February 15 p.179
After 1951 drew to a close without incidence a generation was extended, possibly up 70 or 80 years.
    "The Bible does speak of a man's days as being threescore and ten or fourscore years; but it assigns no specific number of years to a generation.-Ps. 90:10. … Some persons living A.D. 1914 when the series of foretold events began will also be living when the series ends with Armageddon. All the events will come within the span of a generation. There are hundreds of millions of persons living now that were living in 1914, and many millions of these persons could yet live a score or more years. Just when the lives of the majority of them will be cut short by Armageddon we cannot say." Watchtower 1952 September 1 pp.542-543

To coincide with 1975

In 1968 it was said that a person as young as 15 could 'discern' the beginning of the time of the end. Add 70 or 80 years to a person born in 1899 and the generation was to end in the mid 1970's.
    "Some of the generation that discerned the beginning of the time of the end in 1914 will still be alive on earth to witness the end of this present wicked system of things at the battle of Armageddon.-Rev. 16:14, 16." Watchtower 1968 May 1 p.272 (also December 1 p.715)

    "Jesus was obviously speaking about those who were old enough to witness with understanding what took place when the 'last days' began. ... Even if we presume that youngsters 15 years of age would be perceptive enough to realize the import of what happened in 1914, it would still make the youngest of 'this generation' nearly 70 years old today." Awake! 1968 October 8 p.13

    The Awake! 1968 October 8 also made the following assertions;



To the Early 1980's

By revising the age of discernment down to 10, but excluding babies, the Watchtower led a reader to the realisation that in the early 1980's those of the generation were between "70 or 80 years old". (Ps 80:10)
    "Thus, when it comes to the application in our time, the "generation" logically would not apply to babies born during World War I. It applies to Christ's followers and others who were able to observe that war and the other things that have occurred in fulfillment of Jesus' composite "sign."" Watchtower 1978 October 1 p.31

    "As indicated by an article on page 56 of U.S. News & World Report of January 14, 1980, "If you assume that 10 is the age at which an event creates a lasting impression on a person's memory," then there are today more than 13 million Americans who have a "recollection of World War I." And if the wicked system of this world survived until the turn of the century, which is highly improbable in view of world trends and the fulfillment of Bible prophecy, there would still be survivors of the World War I generation. However, the fact that their number is dwindling is one more indication that "the conclusion of the system of things" is moving fast toward its end." Watchtower 1980 October 15 p.31

    "In Jesus' day, some of the disciples who heard his words, and others of his contemporaries, survived to live through the final "tribulation" on the Jewish system of things. They were the "generation" of Jesus' time. At this writing, in the United States alone there are more than 10,000,000 persons still living who were old enough to observe "a beginning of pangs of distress" in 1914-1918. Some of these may still survive quite a number of years. Yet Jesus assures us that, before "this generation" passes away, he will come as "Son of man" to execute judgment on Satan's system of things. (Matthew 24:8, 21, 37-39)" "Let Your Kingdom Come" (1981) p.140

The late 1980's

In 1984 discernment was no longer a criteria and babies started to be included in the generation, meaning that the generation were once again between 70 and 80.


    "If Jesus used "generation" in that sense and we apply it to 1914, then the babies of that generation are now 70 years old or older. And others alive in 1914 are in their 80's or 90's, a few even having reached a hundred. There are still many millions of that generation alive." Watchtower 1984 May 15 p.5
In 1988 an expert was used to prove a generation is 75 years. A baby born in 1914 would be 75 in 1989, leading the reader to the conclusion that the end was imminent.
    "J. A. Bengel states in his New Testament Word Studies: "The Hebrews . . . reckon seventy-five years as one generation, and the words, shall not pass away, intimate that the greater part of that generation [of Jesus' day] indeed, but not the whole of it, should have passed away before all should be fulfilled." This became true by the year 70 C.E. when Jerusalem was destroyed. Likewise today, most of the generation of 1914 has passed away. However, there are still millions on earth who were born in that year or prior to it. And although their numbers are dwindling, Jesus' words will come true, "this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened." This is yet another reason for believing that Jehovah's thieflike day is imminent." Watchtower 1988 April 8 p.14

Within the lifespan of baby born in 1914

Eventually the generation was given no age limit, the only proviso was that some people born in 1914 would still be alive at Armageddon.
    "Remember, Jesus said of those living through the last days, starting in 1914: "Truly I say to you that this generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur." (Matthew 24:34) Yes, peace will really come within this generation but not through the nations' efforts." Watchtower 1991 April 15 p.7

1995 Generation Teaching

In 1993, while at Bethel, I started to wonder what would happen if the end did not come before the generation had all died. I had begun to have the inkling that the Watchtower Society was not directed by God. Here was an Organization in control of billions of dollars. Would it be given back to the members once the truth had been proven untrue? No, that could not happen. The alternative would be to adjust the teachings. Maybe Jesus invisible presence would be changed to have started at the end of the 6,000 years, in 1975. Or maybe the meaning of the generation could be changed. These were vague ideas as there seemed no need for changes for at least another decade. Other people were having similar ideas. Since 607 is an incorrect date the Watchtower could use 587 B.C.E. and start the generation at 1934. Maybe a generation would include that last person to die at the age of 130. Maybe the generation started in 1957 when the last sign, the space race, started. The problem with all these ideas is that sooner or later a time would pass when they could once again be proved wrong.

In 1995 a significant change occurred to the generation teaching that allowed "this generation" to extend for an unlimited period of time. The change was a result of necessity, and has led to a large fall in growth rate of Jehovah's Witnesses.

Needless to say, despite expecting it, I was deeply affected when the teaching of a generation was changed in 1995. The Faithful and Discreet Slave had clearly seen it necessary to introduce this new teaching to prevent a mass exodus of members if the end did not appear by the early 2000's. It was at that point that I knew that Watchtower teachings are not directed by Holy Spirit.

The 1995 generation change had significant consequences. The latest teaching is simple to understand, but was presented in unspecific terms to hide the controversy. Put simply, the end may arrive after every person born in 1914 has died out. The people born in 1914 form a collective generation and with those born in following generations. Sometime in the future this ongoing generation will see the end. This could be tomorrow but it could also be in 200 years time. Clearly this teaching has been introduced to protect the organization from the very specific, wrong teaching of the last hundred years.
    "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 years or days 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 historical period, with their identifying characteristics. In line with the above, professor of history Robert Wohl wrote in his book The Generation of 1914: "A historical generation is not defined by its chronological limits . . . It is not a zone of dates."…Therefore, in the final fulfillment of Jesus' prophecy today, "this generation" apparently refers to the peoples of earth who see the sign of Christ's presence but fail to mend their ways…Is anything to be gained, then, by looking for dates or by speculating about the literal lifetime of a "generation"?... Does our more precise viewpoint on "this generation" mean that Armageddon is further away than we had thought? Not at all! Though we at no time have known the "day and hour," Jehovah God has always known it, and he does not change. (Malachi 3:6) Obviously, the world is sinking further and further toward terminal ruination. The need to keep awake is more critical than it has ever been. Jehovah has revealed to us "the things that must shortly take place," and we should respond with an absorbing sense of urgency." Watchtower 1995 November 1 p.20

    "In the final fulfillment of Jesus' prophecy at Matthew 24:34-39, to what does the expression "this generation" refer? Jesus apparently refers to the peoples on earth who see the sign of Christ's presence but fail to mend their ways." Watchtower 1995 December 15 p.30
Rather than saying that Jehovah's Organization or the Governing Body incorrectly promoted a wrong teaching the 1995 Watchtower states 'people' made the false assumption. This allows the reader to assume that the followers misunderstood or wrongly speculated, shifting blame from the leaders that promoted the teaching. Also the term 'speculated' is an understatement, a more honest term would be 'strongly emphasised' that 'millions now living will never die". A third incorrect statement is that it is a 'more precise viewpoint'. It was the opposite. It had been precisely stated that people born before 1914 would never die, now it is vaguely implied that this generation could last even hundreds of years.

Even the masthead of the Awake! has been changed with this new teaching. Prior to 1995 it said "This magazine builds confidence in the Creator's promise of a peaceful and secure new world before the generation that saw the events of 1914 pass away." This was changed to "This magazine builds confidence in the Creator's promise of a peaceful and secure new world that is about to replace the present wicked, lawless system of things."

Further clarification appeared in 1997.
    "In that statement, Peter was clearly not being precise as to any fixed age or length of time, nor was he tying the "generation" to any certain date. He did not say that people should get saved from the generation that was born in the same year Jesus was or the generation that was born in 29 C.E. Peter was speaking about the unbelieving Jews of that period-some perhaps being rather young, others being older-who had been exposed to Jesus' teaching, had seen or heard of his miracles, and had not accepted him as Messiah. …

    It must be acknowledged that we have not always taken Jesus' words in that sense. There is a tendency for imperfect humans to want to be specific about the date when the end will come. Recall that even the apostles sought more specifics, asking: "Lord, are you restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?"-Acts 1:6. …

    So the recent information in The Watchtower about "this generation" did not change our understanding of what occurred in 1914. But it did give us a clearer grasp of Jesus' use of the term "generation," helping us to see that his usage was no basis for calculating-counting from 1914-how close to the end we are." Watchtower 1997 Jun 1 p.28
This latest concept is senseless as it removes any meaning from Matthew 24:34. If 'generation' refers to people of an ongoing period of time there was no point saying "this generation will by no means pass away".

This was the first change of consequence for many Witnesses active in 1995. It prompted some to question the ability and right for the Organization to dogmatically direct their steps, concluding that these changes signify Watchtower teachings do not result from God's direction. For many years prior to 1995 the global growth rate of publishers was around 6%. Within the next 3 years it had dropped to 2% per annum. The growth rate of educated countries has been even more deeply affected. In 2004 22 countries had zero or negative growth, in 2005 this had risen to over 50 countries. Whereas 30 years ago every 1,500 hours of witnessing resulted in one extra publisher by 2000 it took over 5,000 hours. (See Watchtower Statistics)

Generation Change 2007

For over 70 years, the Watchtower has claimed that all 144,000 Anointed rulers were chosen prior to 1935, at which time the calling was closed.
    "Logically, the calling of the little flock would draw to a close when the number was nearing completion, and the evidence is that the general gathering of these specially blessed ones ended in 1935." Watchtower 1995 February 15 p.19

    "Hence especially after 1966 it was believed that the heavenly calling ceased in 1935. … Thereafter, any called to the heavenly hope were believed to be replacements for anointed Christians who had proved unfaithful." Watchtower 2007 May 1 pp.30-31
In 2007, the 1935 teaching was changed with a simple admission:
    "Thus it appears that we can not set a specific date for when the calling of Christians to the heavenly hope ends." Watchtower 2007 May 1 p.31
Subtle as it may appear, this is of significance, as it was to pave the way for yet another generation doctrinal change.
    "Previously, this journal has explained that in the first century, "this generation" mentioned at Matthew 24:34 meant "the contemporaneous generation of unbelieving Jews."* That explanation seemed reasonable because all other recorded uses that Jesus made of the term "generation" had a negative connotation, and in most cases, Jesus used a negative adjective, such as "wicked," to describe the generation. (Matt. 12:39; 17: 17; Mark 8:38) Thus, it was felt that in the modern-day fulfillment, Jesus was referring to the wicked "generation" of unbelievers who would see both the features that would characterize "the conclusion of the system of things" (syn-te'lei-a) and the system's end (te'/os).
    It is true that when Jesus used the word "generation" negatively, he was speaking to or about the wicked people of his day. But was that necessarily true of his statement recorded at Matthew 24:34? Recall that four of Jesus' disciples had approached him "privately." (Matt. 24:3) Since Jesus did not use negative qualifiers when speaking to them about "this generation," the apostles would no doubt have understood that they and their fellow disciples were to be part of the "generation" that would not pass away "until all these things [would] occur."
    …
    On the other hand, Christ's faithful anointed brothers, the modern-day John class, have recognized this sign as if it were a flash of lightning and have understood its true meaning. As a class, these anointed ones make up the modern-day "generation" of contemporaries that will not pass away "until all these things occur."* This suggests that some who are Christ's anointed brothers will still be alive on earth when the foretold great tribulation begins." Watchtower 2008 February 15 pp.23-24
The generation is no longer said to refer to the unbelievers, but to Anointed believers. However, this does not bring Armageddon any closer. Because it is now said that the calling of heavenly ones may not have closed, and with no suggestion for when this may occur, there is no limit to when "this generation" will die out.

Interestingly, in Crisis of Conscience, Raymond Franz showed that in the 1970's Schroeder had proposed applying the generation solely to the Anointed.
    The leadership had made numerous adjustments and now had few remaining options. There was the 1957 starting date for "this generation" proposed by members Schroeder, Klein and Suiter, but that seemed an unlikely choice. There was Albert Schroeder's idea of applying the phrase to the ''anointed'' class (an idea that had been floating around the organization for many, many years) which offered certain advantages-there are always additional persons (some fairly young) who each year decide for the first time that they are of the "anointed" class. So this would offer an almost… p.265
With the current Watchtower doctrine, "generation" can no longer be used as a limiting word; it can extend infinitum; applied to the overlapping lives of contemporaries. There are a number of reasons why the new view is of dubious merit.
  • The New Testament applies the word generation consistently to evildoers in a negative connotation, yet the Watchtower applies this term on this specific occasion to the righteous anointed.
  • Jesus statement that the generation would "by no means pass away" applied to a group that saw both his ministry and the destruction of Jerusalem. The term generation and statement that they will "by no means pass away" have becomes all but meaningless with current Watchtower doctrine.
  • When Jesus made this statement there were no Anointed, as the Holy Spirit was not poured out until after his death at Pentecost 33A.D. Jesus is claimed to be applying the term "this generation" to a class that at the time of the statement did not even exist.
This new understanding will no doubt result in further changes. It was already illogical to claim that between 33 A.D, and 1935 there have only been 144,000 true Christians (76 a year), especially when considering there were over 50,000 memorial takers in 1935 alone. As the terminology referring to the 144,000 at Revelation 7:1-8 and 14:1-5 is almost entirely figurative, at some point in time it is likely the Watchtower will be forced to concede the 144,000 is not a literal number.

In similar vein, the concept that the Great Crowd started to be gathered from 1935 becomes equally irrelevant. The Great Crowd are specifically described in Watchtower theology as people that survive Armageddon (as compared to Other Sheep that include those worshippers that die prior to Armageddon).
    "Jehovah did not allow the ingathering of this group to begin too soon. The "great crowd," including many of the earliest members thereof, will survive into the "new earth"." Survival into a New Earth p.185
It will not be long before the last one baptised in 1935 will have passed away, meaning that no one baptised in 1935 will be able to be considered part of the Great Crowd.

Conclusion

"If you are a young person, you also need to face the fact that you will never grow old in this present system of things. Why not? Because all the evidence in fulfillment of Bible prophecy indicates that this corrupt system is due to end in a few years. Of the generation that observed the beginning of the "last days" in 1914, Jesus foretold: "This generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur." - Awake! 1969 May 22 p.15 - Click here for scan

I was born in 1969 and during my life as a Witness was led to believe that I would never die. The generation teaching proved that I was unlikely to ever leave school and it was impossible that I would grow old. During primary school I prayed that the end would be fulfilled so that I would not have to go to high school. Later in my teens, I would sun bake with my cousins smeared in Johnson's Baby Oil, laughing that we didn't have to worry about skin cancer, we would never get that old.

For over 100 years Witnesses have been discouraged from having children, getting married and going to University. I was condemned by a number of Jehovah's Witnesses for doing a university accounting degree in the late 1980's, because "the end is so close and in the new system we will need builders, not accountants." A Witness has been encouraged to keep a short term focus "because the end is so close". The Watchtower 1938 November 1 p.324 advised not to have children because the end was so near. Most of these followers have since passed away without the joy of rearing children and grandchildren. This short-sightedness has been encouraged by changing the generation and end teachings in the late 1800's, the early 1900's, the 1920's, the 1940's, the 1950's, the 1960's, the 1970's and the 1980's.

The Governing Body has alleviated proof its generation doctrine is wrong, by removing any fixed time frame. With the year 1914 quickly fading into obscure irrelevance, one must wonder when this core doctrine too will be discarded.