Generation Teaching prior to 1995

"Before the last members of the generation that was alive in 1914 will have passed off the scene, all the things foretold will occur, including the “great tribulation” in which the present wicked world will end." Reasoning from the Scriptures p.97

Latest Generation Teaching

"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." Watchtower 2010 April 15 p.10

If it is truth that a generation includes an "overlap" with those born in 1914, why did Jehovah allow the Watchtower to teach for decades that a generation would end within the lifetime of a person born prior to 1914? Why allow it to introduce several new and contradictory teachings since 1995? Surely this proves Watchtower teachings are not directed by God.

How Long is a Generation?

In order to keep Witnesses thinking that the end was "just about" to occur, the explanation of "a generation" constantly changes. 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. As outlined through quotes below, 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 ½ 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."

Unspecified length of time.

An Overlapping lifetime. Up to two full lifetimes can be a generation.



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 1960's - 70 year generation

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

To end within two overlapping lifetimes - Sometime before the year 2114. Of course the same reasoning could be used to extend this to 3 overlapping life times.

Watchtower generation teachings are like that illusive pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. As soon as the end of the generation arrives, Watchtower moves the definition out by a few more years.


Jwfacts.