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From The April 15, 2010 Watchtower.

13 Third, holy spirit is at work in bringing Bible truths to light. (Prov. 4:18) This magazine has long been used by “the faithful and discreet slave” as the primary channel for dispensing increased light. (Matt. 24:45) For example, consider our understanding of those who make up “this generation” mentioned by Jesus. (Read Matthew 24:32-34.) To what generation did Jesus refer? The article “Christ’s Presence—What Does It Mean to You?” explained that Jesus was referring, not to the wicked, but to his disciples, who were soon to be anointed with holy spirit. Jesus’ anointed followers, both in the first century and in our day, would be the ones who would not only see the sign but also discern its meaning—that Jesus “is near at the doors.”

14 What does this explanation mean to us? Although we cannot measure the exact length of “this generation,” we do well to keep in mind several things about the word “generation”: It usually refers to people of varying ages whose lives overlap during a particular time period; it is not excessively long; and it has an end. (Ex. 1:6) How, then, are we to understand Jesus’ words about “this generation”? He evidently meant that the lives of the anointed who were on hand when the sign began to become evident in 1914 would overlap with the lives of other anointed ones who would see the start of the great tribulation. That generation had a beginning, and it surely will have an end. The fulfillment of the various features of the sign clearly indicate that the tribulation
must be near. By maintaining your sense of urgency and keeping on the watch, you show that you are keeping up with advancing light and following the leadings of holy spirit.—Mark 13:37.

Warm Christian Love
Bangalore

How strange that they cant work out that a biblical generation is forty years.

How convenient that they manufactured this thought,
” we do well to keep in mind several things about the word “generation”: It usually refers to people of varying ages whose lives overlap during a particular time period; "

with that they can go back to 1914 as the beginning of "this generation"

and notice too, That only the "anointed" would discern the sign of the end, "Jesus’ anointed followers, both in the first century and in our day, would be the ones who would not only see the sign but also discern its meaning"

I honestly don't even understand how they are coming to this conclusion.

"He evidently meant that the lives of the anointed who were on hand when the sign began to become evident in 1914 would overlap with the lives of other anointed ones who would see the start of the great tribulation."

Evidently? Why is that evident at all? Where did Jesus make the slightest mention of any overlapping? If he meant some overlapping, then where and when does he say the overlapping would stop? The anointed have been overlapping each other's lifetimes ever since Jesus said those words 2000 years ago.

Makes.NO.Sense.

If this wasn't so pathetic, it would be laughable. Instead, I find myself feeling anger I haven't for quite some time.

Just thinking about how they now claim "generation" is defined. It's not enough to twist scripture but now they're twisting the meaning of plain English words!

I find it chilling that like drones so many will read this and then sit in the audience at the Watchtower study and actually swallow this. I'm not even talking about leaving over it but just questioning it. How can you possibly not? I have never read a new light change that had so little explanation and absolutely no support behind it before. Usually there is at least an attempt to offer a rational explanation.

What does God think of this drivel linked to him?

Re: "Jesus’ anointed followers, both in the first century and in our day, would be the ones who would not only see the sign but also discern its meaning—that Jesus “is near at the doors.”

How did first century anointed followers not only see the sign and also discern its meaning?

What was the sign and its meaning in the first century?

How do anointed followers in our day not only see the sign and also discern its meaning?

What is the sign and its meaning in our day?


Re: "...the anointed who were on hand when the sign began to become evident in 1914..."

The (so called) anointed in 1914 taught Jesus arrived (invisibly) in 1874. That continued to be presented as the truth until around 1930's.

So what was the sign that began to become evident in 1914?

:whistle:

You hit it right on the head, "Dad"!!! :thumbsup:

The Holy men of the Watchtower can do no wrong...because this is the truth! :crybaby:

One day, the drama will be over....oh, what a day! :thumbsup:

Notice this is from an article about how the Holy Spirit operates? :thinking: This is just an 'increase'/'advancement' of light, not history revisionism again because they're proven wrong again - *gasp*... surely not. :readthis:

Overlapping generations - that's nuts! So, a person born today would evidently be of the same generation as someone old enough to 'discern' what 1914 was all about - lol, yeah Gogh - that would mean someone from the 1930's actually. So they're really not so far off, hehe.The longer the tribulation is put off the more they'll have to revise this tidbit. They should have to say: "Evidently we didn't - and evidently we still don't - know what the heck we're talking about!" :thumbup:

:peace:

Greetings Friends,

And, we were wondering how they would justify the recent inclusion of younger men in the governing body?


They don't say these "newer" anointed would have to see the beginning of the "pangs of distress"; only their lives would overlap the lives of the "older" anointed.

So, anointed person #1 is born in 1913, and lives 80 years.

Anointed person #2 is born in 1958, and is now 52ish.

Nevermind that their lives in reality "overlaped" for 45 years and ended in 1993, it seems that according to the WT's fuzzy logic that the "generation" extends beyond that date.

Notice the distinction they make; the first bunch was "on hand when the sign began to become evident in 1914", the second bunch "would see the start of the great tribulation".

The first bunch could die off, and the "generation" would continue to exist because the second bunch was still alive and the start of the great tribulation had not yet occured.

So, if anointed person #2 lives 80 years, the end could occur sometime between now and 2038.

Unless, anointed person #2 dies without seeing the start of the great tribulation.

Then it would fall to anointed person #3 who was born in 1992; still well within the "overlap" permitted by this latest flash of new light, since anointed person #1 died in 1993.

If that one lives 80 years also, then the end will surely come before 2072.

Personally, I hope anointed #3 is able to live 3 years longer and the end comes at that time.

Then, the Society can celebrate the 100 year anniversary of the end that occured in 1975. :D


an overlaping "two lepta"

Love to All,
John

OR, if we go with the simple "overlap" method, the "generation" that Jesus spoke of may have actually began in 1992 with the birth of anointed person#2.

So, as long as anointed that were alive in 1914 are still living, and "newer" anointed persons are still being born before all of the 1914er's die...

Where that "generation" really begins and ends is anyone's guess.

The WT could possibly keep the faithful corralled for a few more decades, with this one.


"two" more

LTA,
John

The Omni Generation: :coffeeread:
As long as there are overlapping lives between the start and end of a "time period", that time period is "a generation".

Translation for the weak minded:
A generation can last indefinitely as long as there are people alive during that time period whose lives overlaped. :funnyface:

Particularly since the Bible tells us that throughout, including the New Testament scriptures in Hebrews.

Weird blindness!

"Although we cannot measure the exact length of “this generation,” we do well to keep in mind several things about the word “generation”: It usually refers to people of varying ages whose lives overlap during a particular time period; it is not excessively long; and it has an end."

The biggest problem with this (besides the fact that the whole 1914 creed is false) is that it totally ignores the first century example, the first century "generation". This should be the first port of call for determing what the "generation" means in any latter-day fulfillment. The Watchtower Society has always said that we should let the scriptures do the interpreting for us, but on this matter they have gone well beyond that now. They do not offer any scriptures to back up their new definition and cannot even be bothered in this article to provide any secular sources for their criteria of what a "generation" means.

Let's follow this through logically using their own criteria:

What is the "particular time period" they refer to in this article and when did it start? If the modern-day "generation" has an end then when did it start? Well, the Watchtower Society is saying it started in 1914. That's pretty obvious.

What then was the "particular period of time" for the 1st century "generation" and when did that particular period of time end? Whatever happened in the first century should logically be a pattern for any second fulfillment in modern times.

Well, the start of the first century "particular period of time" must have been either of only three dates: Jesus birth at 0 or 1 BC; when Jesus was baptized at age 30 AD; or when Jesus died at 33 AD. There are no other possible start dates for the "particular period of time" of the first century "generation".

So when did the first century "particular period of time" end? Apparently 70 AD/CE, when Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans and the destruction of the temple. It was the "generation" that ended in 70 AD that witnessed the events of Jerusalem's destruction, that Jesus had foretold would not "pass away" before all his prophecies regarding Jerusalem would be fulfilled.

Therefore, the first century "particular period of time" or "generation" was a duration of either 70/71 years maximum (70/71 years from Jesus birth to Jerusalem's destruction in 70 AD) or 37-40 years (from Jesus baptism or death in 30-33 AD to Jerusalem's destruction).

Three possibilities only for the length of the "particular period of time" that the "generation" could be, based on the first century example: 37-40 years or 70/71 years.

Therefore, the first century "generation" had a "particular time period" of 70/71 years MAXIMUM!

It is now way past 70/71 years if the modern-day "generation" began in 1914. It is now 96 years and counting from 1914; this is clearly an "excessively long" period of time for any reasonable and more importantly, scriptural, definition of what "generation" means. By their own criteria as defined in this study article, the generation is now "excessively long" and could not possibly have started in 1914.

This should be quite disturbing for JW's who are noble-minded like the Boreans and who are prepared to put those in apostle-like authority to the "test" in the spirit of Revelation 2:2. The Watchtower Society is on a downward spiral of taking ever more liberties with Jesus words and ignoring the scriptural precedents. They even have the audacity in this article to pronounce such twisted interpretations as "new light" coming from the Holy Spirit. What little fear of Christ they had in the first place seems to be totally gone now. The agenda is clearly to artificially manipulate and contort Jesus plain words as much as possible to fit around their 1914 creed.

With this generation thing the WTBTS has been proven false in a very blatant way.

The were also proven false when they helped all Jehovah's Witnesses to believe that the "due time had approached" and the end would come in 1975.

Also they have blatant artciles explaining that it is Jesus Christ who is instructing them.

They have done all this prophecy in the name of Jesus Christ.

Here is a scripture which does not need "new light" to understand:

Luke 21
8 He said: “Look out that YOU are not misled; for many will come on the basis of my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The due time has approached.’ Do not go after them.

There is a commandment from Jesus Christ:

Do not go after them.

Which part of "do not go after them" do Jehovah's Witnesses not understand?

It's not rocket science!

All these false and missed prophecies have condemned them.

Although they may not say it openly they are at the very least now obligated to say in their hearts; "My master is delaying".

What else can they say?

Matthew 24
48 “But if ever that evil slave should say in his heart, ‘My master is delaying,’ 49 and should start to beat his fellow slaves and should eat and drink with the confirmed drunkards, 50 the master of that slave will come on a day that he does not expect and in an hour that he does not know, 51 and will punish him with the greatest severity and will assign him his part with the hypocrites. There is where [his] weeping and the gnashing of [his] teeth will be.


No amount of "new light" can free them from these scriptures which fully expose them!

They condemned themselves a long time ago.



In Christ

abe