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Watch Tower new light puts
Armageddon on hold.
THE END HAS COME -
for the generation that saw the events of 1914.
Not the foretold end of the world though, but
the end of yet another of the Watch Tower Society's definitions of
what constitutes "this generation" in Matthew 24:34.
Rather than the arrival of the new world we have the arrival
of a new explanation.
Most people familiar with Watch Tower literature
will be aware of the masthead statement on page four of every Awake!
magazine, which says;
"Most importantly 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 passes
away."
But as of the 8th November 1995 issue, this statement
reads;
"Most importantly 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."
So, end time events formerly anchored to the society's
pivotal 1914 date have systematically been detached from that date
mooring and relocated to a "date-free" tribulation period
somewhere in the future.
The latest Watch Tower new light/excuse is contained in the
Watchtower Magazine of November 1, 1995, and is the most significant of a number
of eschatological changes made by the WT Society in recent times.
Let us look further at the latest Watch Tower Houdini-style
escape.
A TWISTED AND CROOKED GENERATION
EIGHTY-ONE years after 1914 the Watch Tower Society has finally
realised that the generation which "will by no means pass away",
before Armageddon occurs, probably did a long time ago.
But, just what is the WT explanation for these changes?
After years of seemingly painting themselves into a corner,
what Scriptural evidence has the society produced to support this sudden change
in doctrine?
Of course, the answer, as always is absolutely nothing.
Instead we have a stream of statements brought forth straight
from the Brooklyn "think-tank" in an attempt to avoid a lot of red
faces.
What we need to realise is that the former statement printed
on page four of the Awake! magazine is anchored to 1914, while the new statement
is date free and craftily worded so as not to give the impression that the Society
is hedging or backing off from Armageddon nearness (which will always be just
around the corner).
The society's new position is stated in the Watchtower magazine
of November 1st 1995, on page 19;
"Therefore, in the final fulfilment...this
generation apparently refers to people of earth who see the sign
of Christ's presence."
And, in answer to a conveniently staged readers
question, on page 31, it states;
"In the second, larger fulfilment this
generation would logically also be the contemporaneous people."
In English, what this means is that "this generation" now
refers to anyone living during Christ's presence since 1914 and is
no longer limited to people living during that year.
In other words, it refers to contemporary peoples of the "parousia" rather
than the contemporaries of 1914 persé.
In an attempt to explain the changes and smooth over the cracks,
the Society, on page 17, says;
"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."
Isn't it any wonder why the governing body now says;
"However, we bring a heart of wisdom
in not speculating about how many years or days make up a generation."
(page 17)
The most terrible upshot of the admitted speculation
is that it has been sounded forth not as speculation, but as "God's
promise" in the masthead of every Awake magazine since 1982.
The hallmark of a false prophet is to claim divine backing
for what is nothing more than human speculation and guesswork.
This cap perfectly fits the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society.
THE STORY SO FAR....
IN order for us to fully understand the latest change in the WT
explanation of "this generation", we need to view it in
its historical and evolutionary context.
Doing so will, unmistakably, reveal its sheer man made nature
and carefully contrived error (Eph. 4:14).
The following documented statements are just a few in a long
list of bold pronouncements by the Watch Tower Society in the past.
- "Before the 1914 generation completely dies out, God's judgement
must be executed." WT 1/5/85
- "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...Jesus' words will come true, 'this generation will not pass
away until all things have happened.'" Awake! 8/4/88
This isn't the first time the WT Society has tried
to brush the 1914 generation under the carpet.
In 1987 the society removed the 1914 clause from the Awake!
masthead, but had to later restore it again in order to appease the enquiries
made by many concerned JWs in the rank and file.
The society has since learned to make big changes more slowly.
Gradually feeding the changes in the JW mental diet, so as to lessen the chance
of rejection.
As born-again believers we deplore such tactics which at best
are humanly devised and, at worst, demon inspired.
We need to feel a moral responsibility to present these facts
lovingly, but firmly, to our JW friends.
What further changes the JW leadership will make remains to
be seen. Our prayer is that many more JWs will get saved from the Watch Tower's
twisted and crooked generation, as Christians draw public attention to this issue.
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