Jehovahs witnesses and the generation of 1914?

Question

When I was younger, I think it was in the 1980's, I remember going to the Jehovah's Witnesses book study with my aunt and they where studying the book of revelations and they where saying that the generation that witnessed WW1 will see the end.

We are now in the year 2007, those people that witnessed WW1 are mostly dead now.

Now JW's say that it was not a generation of 1914, but a generation of acts and occurrences since 1914? so WW1, WW2, etc.

Is this all BS?

Who is to say that the end will come in our life time anyway?

There has been hardships in human history non-stop.

Slavery trade in Africa, Europe and American continent druing the 16,17 and 18th centuries. That must have been a horrific experience for black people.

There has been wars between nations and kingdoms in Europe and Africa for thousands of years. Those could have been considered World wars. Or Napoleon and the World War of 1813?

I mean really...is the bible and the God of the bible just a myth?

achtung_heiss, Thanks for answering my question. I hate talking bad about the bible and JW's. I know that if God exists you guys are the only ones that truly follow The God.

But I can't help having doubts about God existance because I don't understand why he permits such suffering in our life. A life we did not ask for. I wish God would have tought us to live instead of just throwing us in the middle of this chaotic and Godless reality we call daily life.

Maybe im a apostate for reasoning like this?

sklemetti, I don't want to spend my entire life worshiping a thing that does not exist. Going to meetings and making sacrifices in my life for a things that is nonexistant. That would be a sad waste of my life.

Answer 1

Why does this questioner pretend that Jehovah's Witnesses NOW say this?

Jehovah's Witnesses recognized and admitted that they were mistaken on this matter about TWENTY YEARS AGO.

http://watchtower.co.uk/e/20000622/

Answer 2

Jesus gave signs that would mark the last days:

Pestilence: Luke 21:11

Right after World War 1 more people died of the Spanish flu than had died of any disease epidemic in the history of mankind.

Famine: Mt. 24:7

Following World War I came the greatest famine in all history.

Wars: Mt.24:7

World War I was much greater than all the major wars fought during the 2,400 years before 1914.


Jesus DID say concerning the sign of his coming that "This generation will not pass away till all these things take place." Mt. 24:34

Considering the above, should it really be regarded as a massive stretch of the imagination for someone to think that the generation that saw the signs foretold in Mt. 24 would not "pass away"? Obviously we know now that either Jesus was not talking about a literal generation or the time frame was inaccurate. But should everything that someone says be regarded as baseless due to just this non-essential misunderstanding? After all, didn't the basic reasoning behind it seem straightforward, factual and biblical?

Jehovah's Witnesses, do not, and never have claimed to be INSPIRED prophets. Like the apostles of Jesus Christ, they have at times had some wrong expectations.-Luke 19:11; Acts 1:6.But when they do realize that they have made mistakes, they admit to them and correct them.

Really, what should be more important here? Matters on which corrections of veiwpoint have been needed have been relatively minor when compared with the vital Bible truths that they have discerned and publicized.

Answer 3

Hindesight is always 20/20. Before or during an event...not so much.

We do know since 1914, things have been expotentially worse on a global scale. Wars and desease especially.

You mention black slavery. Every group has been slaves of somebody at some point in history. Black slavery is the USA burden. Since 1914, slavery still exists in other parts of the world. Massacres seem to have replaced most of slavery. I have no conception of which is worse.

No even Jesus knows exactly when Jehovah will tell him to get going to clean up the earth. Jesus did know how to warn us the time was near. Just remember, the concept of time is vastly different between God and man. 2Peter 3:8-9 says a1,000 years is as one day. Jehovah is not slow as soom consider slowness, but is patient with mankind, desiring all to live.

Jehovah provided the Bible to show humans primarily why they should worship Him deservedly but also, how humans could live their "best lives" (OK! So I quoted Oprah.) How we should conduct ourselves personally and family and community to have the best relationships and clear consciences.

Answer 4

JWs and the predecessor to the JWs have a long track record of prediction.

This started long before they called their selves JWs.

1874 The end of the world according to the Jehovah's Witnesses. This was to become the first in a long string of failed doomsday prophecies by members of this group. (Gould p.50, Kyle p.93)
The Parousia according to the newly formed Seventh Day Adventists, a group founded by former Millerites. (Abanes p.339)

1878 The end of the world according to the Jehovah's Witnesses. (Kyle p.93)
1880 Thomas Rawson Birks in his book First Elements of Sacred Prophecy determined that the end of the world would be in 1880 by employing the time-honored Great Week theory. (McIver #371)

Below you can look these up and read for yourself.

The JWs have many things correct but time and time again they put a time on it. Still today The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society gives the signs of what will happen in the end times. http://www.watchtower.org/e/20051001/article_02.htm

Is this to frighten people? No. But it certainly explains why the JWs have redoubled their effort to bring people to God. JWs want people to have life and more abundantly as Jesus stated.

Answer 5

The scripture at Proverbs 4:18, tells us that the "light keeps getting brighter and brighter until the end draws near" Yes, Jehovah's witnesses have had to adjust their teachings throughout the years, this is commendable because all the other religions persist in their wrong teachings. In 1995, the teaching regarding the generation of 1914 did change, but the fact is "noone knows the day nor the hour" and the sign that Jesus gave, at matthew 24 applies on a worlwide scale. And we are experiencing all these events concurrently. The question you asked at the end of your statement is quite interesting because their is a scripture in the bible that tells us that different people will have that opinion.(2Peter 3:5-13).

Answer 6

PEOPLE REALLY DO NOT CARE ABOUT BIBLE TIME

"Millions now living [ in 1918 ], will never die." There is one truth here, this is not scripture.
The next truth is that bible time must be correct beyond a shadow of a doubt.
1Thes.5:1-9,21; Jesus does not come as a thief in the night to children of the light of times and seasons. Only God knows the day and hour, all else is given.
So if Satan has 6130 years from Eden to Rev.20:1-6; no Satan 1000 years,
only God will know the day and hour.
Suffering in this life is due to the imperfections of sin and alienation from God, Jesus is the savior to bring us back to God Rev.21:1-5; All made new,
by the time day seven is age 7000 years [ not wiped out, but saved ],
If Michael of Jude 9; in Dan.12:1-13; end time at Rev.12:3,4,6-11,12; cast Satan down to footstool earth 2520 years after Babylon Empire #3 ended Judah kings to end world Empire #7, Satan has a short time, Rev.9:1-5 [ 5x 30 = ] 150 the pit is open for Satan, THE SEALED OF GOD ARE THERE.
Dan.12:12 [ 2x 1335 = ] 2670 after Babylon world Empire #3, less 2520 is 150 years after Empire #7 ends, so is this the short time for Satan?

Time now is 2613 years after Babylon Empire #3 ended Judah kings, THERE WILL BE NO KING UNTIL JESUS AT HIS SECOND COMING.
Rev.17:10-14; Jesus second coming is in the 8th that is of the seven. Jesus coming end the world Satan has been in from Eden. Rev.13:1-10; WW1 and Rev.13:11-18 is WW2.
Satan down 2520 after Empire #3 ended Judah kings was 93 years ago.

ARE THERE TWO RELIGIONS THAT HAVE THE SAME TIME FROM ADAM TO DANIEL AT THE END OF JUDAH KINGS? WHAT TWO IS IT?

3460 to Daniel's prophecy at 2520 and 93 years ago is 6073 and if Satan has 6130 years, his time is getting shorter all the time.

Answer 7

What is your point?

We are not the only religion that has or had a take on Jesus' statement in Matt 24:34. Oh, did you leave that part out in your question? Was that intentional or just ignorance?

We believed that Jesus' statement had a particular meaning, but that meaning didn't pan out.

Life goes on.

But your ignorance is plentiful here. Is the God of the Bible a myth? What difference does it make? Should your or anyone's life change if it is or not? Are you going to be more selfish if it is a myth?

Answer 8

Here is the only scripture that relates to a time.

32 ¶ Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:
33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
Matthew 24: 32-36

This makes sense if you understand that throughout prophetic scripture Israel is referred to as the fig tree.

So, when you see the fig tree beginning to grow new leaves, you will know that the time is near.

Israel was accepted as a nation by the U.N. in 1948. That is when it began to grow new leaves. Jews from all over the world began to migrate back to Israel.

Jesus says those who see this event happen will not pass away before these things take place. What things does he refer to.

Jesus tells them these things.
29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Matthew 24:29-31

This shows Jesus coming on the clouds of heaven, a trumpet blows, and His angels will gather together His elect from one end of heaven to the other. How did the elect wind up in heaven? When the trumpet blows the elect will be transformed with a new body, and will begin to ascend into the heavens. His angels will gather them together and escort them to the place where Jesus stands.

How do we know this? Because Paul tells us exactly what Jesus was talking about.

51 ¶ Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
1Corinthians 15:51-53

This is the event that Christians call the rapture. This is the resurrection of the saints.

Hope this helps.

Both the JWs and SDAs have predicted exact days and have always been wrong, but the day will come.

grace2u

Answer 9

The JW's constantly changing beliefs proves that they are not right or backed by God. God never changes what is the truth, but they always do. The founder of the JW's taught that 1914 would bring Armageddon. They have constantly had to change what they say about it since then. They call it adjusting false expectations...in reality it is proclaiming lies and ruining peoples lives because of them. Read Deut. 18: 20-22. We don't need to be afraid of false prophets...ones who say God said something and then it proves false.
God permits suffering to prove that we cannot live in a world apart from Him. Man cannot rule themselves. When we do, this is the result. He'll step in before we completely destroy ourselves.

Answer 10

This is just one of the documented instances of (new light) False prophecy...That the WBTS (spokesman for GOD on earth)...Is guilty of.



Why would you be apostate for asking a prefectly logical and sound question...The bible tells you to keep proving thay you are worshiping in truth...what do you think God means when he tells you that........KEEP ASKING!