JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES
OVERLAPPING GENERATION

Matthew 24:34
App 40
January 2020

Main Index

This work is completely independent of any existing religions denomination, church, organisation or group, a voice from a wilderness.





Many Jehovah's Witness brothers and sisters are somewhat unsure of the new linking generation concept, so just what is this new information?   At the 2010 annual meeting, Brother John Barr presented the latest understanding of  the "generation".   He was an apt choice to  deliver this talk, being the last of the  JW's  Governing Body born before 1914.

Brother John Barr
explained;


"Jesus evidently meant that the lives of the anointed ones who were on hand when the sign began to be evident in 1914 would overlap with the lives of the other anointed ones who would see the start of the great tribulation."  We do not know the exact length of "this generation," but it includes these two groups whose lives overlap.  Even though the anointed vary in age, those in the two groups constituting the generation are contemporaries during part of the last days.  How comforting it is to know that the younger anointed contemporaries of those older anointed ones who discerned the sign when it became evident beginning in 1914 will not die off before the great tribulation starts!" Watchtower 2010 June 15 p.5


So s
ince 1914 the 'generation'  now includes two groups of anointed ones whose lives "overlap" :
2010, April 15th Watchtower
  p.10 Holy Spirit’s Role in the Outworking of Jehovah’'s Purpose.

"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".”


"
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 fulfilment 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."


 2010 District Convention.

"Correspondingly, the “generation” referred to at Matthew 24:34 comprises of two groups of anointed Christians. The first group was on hand in 1914 when “the sign” of Christ’s presence began to be observed (Mt 24:3) The second group, made up of those who were anointed later, are for a time contemporaries of the older group; …”



2014 Watchtower,


“We understand that in mentioning “this generation,” Jesus was referring to two groups of anointed Christians. … They were anointed with holy spirit during the time that those of the first group were still on earth. ... Today, those in this second group are themselves advancing in years. Yet, Jesus’ words at Matthew 24:34 give us confidence that at least some of “this generation will by no means pass away” before seeing the start of the great tribulation.”
Watchtower 2014 Jan 15 p.31



2014 book God's Kingdom Rules!

"The generation consists of two overlapping groups of anointed ones - the first is made up of anointed ones who saw the beginning of the fulfilment of the sign in 1914 and the second, anointed ones who for a time were contemporaries of the first group.  At least some of those in the second group will live to see the beginning of the coming tribulation.  The two groups form one generation because their lives as anointed Christians overlapped for a time.

FOOTNOTE
"Anyone who was anointed after the death of the last of the anointed ones in the first group-that is, after those who witnessed the "beginning of pangs of distress" in 1914-would not be part of "this generation."-Matt.24:8."



overlapping
            generation
God's Kingdom Rules! (2014) pp.11-12




September 2015 JW Broadcast on tv.jw.org explained that the generation included any anointed that
met brother Franz, as he was born baptised and anointed prior to 1914.


genertion chart



Using the example of brother Franz born in 1893 who saw the beginning of the fulfilment of the sign in 1914 and died in 1992. Other anointed ones who for a time were alive when he was, some will live to see the beginning of the coming tribulation. The two groups form one generation because their lives as anointed Christians overlapped for a time. Any who become anointed after the death of brother Franz will not be part of  "this generation".

If an anointed who was say 20 years old, met brother Franz in 1987 five years before he died, then went on to live until he was 90 years old dying in 2057 could extend the "generation" for another possible 39 odd years to circa 2057.

Some understandably have been uneasy about this change in the use of Jesus word "generation". I
t presents many with conundrums as there seems to be no scriptural precedent for this extension of a ‘generation’.  Jesus saying “by no means end” seems to emphasises its containment within one generation.  Our general definition of generation is “contemporary people all living during one definitive period of time”.  It is in this sense that it seems to be used in the word of God?

For example Jesus reference to the last Jewish generation in the first century. Matthew 23:35-36 "come upon you all the righteous blood spilled on earth,   from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar.  Truly I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation"It is generally accepted this generation ran from 30 to 70, a 40 year period, within which all the events occurred.


A further example at Numbers 32:13  "Jehovah’s anger blazed against Israel and he made them wander about in the wilderness for 40 years, until all the generation that was doing evil in the eyes of Jehovah came to its end".  We are told Jehovah calculated this particular generation from the age of 20 up to
60, a 40 year generation (Numbers 14:29-33).   These scriptural references seem to support the simple logic that a contemporary bible generation lasts 40 years.

Now the 1914 generation has stretched 106 years from 1914 to 2020, we can hardly reasonably apply to it Jesus emphasis that "this generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur".   Applying scripture examples of generation as 40 years to the 1914 generation we should have seen it completed before 1954 we did not.


We seem now to be left with 3 alternatives.
 
1. Do nothing and allow the generation to evolve into an undefined era or age.
 
2. Extend the generation period by linking overlapping generations. 

3. Recalculate  C T Russell's 1914 date on which the generation is hung, is this date safe?

For breaking news on Jehovah's Kingdom timetable recently revealed go to:-


REVEALING THE SONS OF GOD

KINGDOM TIMETABLE.


_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


RETURN TO MAIN INDEX

www.bibletimeprophecies.info/index.html

  info@bibletimeprophecies.info