Q: After reviewing Mathew 24 I have a question regarding vs 34, the societies nemesis. When considering Math 24 Jesus gave as the sign to look for regarding the nearness of the kingdom, wars, famines, etc, etc. Considering vs 34 it would be drawing a long bow to claim WW1, WW2, Spanish flu, etc as being part of the sign because this generation of 1914 has long gone. Your insight on the generation would be appreciated.
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A:
Did
the generation that Jesus spoke of at Matthew 24:34 begin in 1914, thus marking
the beginning of the "time of the end"? Although the Society has
abandoned their previously long held belief that the generation of 1914 would not pass away until all things have
occurred―running out of
time for that in the mid 1990s, and having since then replaced it with two
overlapping generations of anointed―yet they still hold to
the belief that in 1914 the "time of the end" began because in that year World
War 1 broke out, which was followed by many of the other prominent signs Jesus
gave, including a second World War, plus many lesser wars; also pestilence;
famine, earthquakes; increase in lawlessness; persecution; etc.
What is the "time of the end" and the "generation" that Jesus spoke of?
If we no longer believe that it began in
1914, which would by now add up to over 100 years, then what or when do they
apply?
According to the apostle Paul, the things that occurred in times past in
connection with God's people have
meaning for us today. (Rom. 15:4;
1 Cor. 10:11) One thing that we can know for
sure is that according to previous
examples, Jehovah has never executed his judgment upon his people without
first giving them warning, calling them to repentance, and giving them specific
instructions on what they needed to do in order to escape and survive. And although they had been
rebellious and disobedient up until then, their survival would now depend on
acting on his directions. Obedience now became the issue! Anyone
failing to listen, well, his blood would be upon his own head. (Ezek. 33:7-11;
2 Chron. 36:15-17)
The "time of the end" for God's people began for those previous generations from the
day Jehovah sent his prophets with the specific warning and call for
repentance. And
although he forewarned them, yet he never gave them a date
so that they could mark it on their calendars. Interestingly, in both instances,
first in Jeremiah's day when the Babylonians came against Jerusalem; and again
in the first century when in 70 CE the Romans destroyed the city with the temple
(and over 1,100,000 Jews perished), the time involved for God's prophets who preached the
warning amounted to a period of about forty years; which was that
generation. In the first century the "last days" began for that
"generation" when John the Baptist started preaching repentance, and Jesus added
urgency to the warning, giving specific instructions on how to survive. (Psalms 95:10; Matt. 3:1-10; Luke 11:50-51; 19:41-44; 21:20-24) That same message was
not preached to the people in the previous generation who would not have seen the fulfillment.
We should include one other important factor, that is, Jehovah not only called
his people to
repentance, but at the same time he also clearly exposed all their
sins and rebelliousness from which they needed to repent, so that it left no
doubt what they had done and the seriousness of their situation. What do we
learn from all this? That we can be sure that in our time also, it is the
generation that sees and hears the warning sounded, including the laying bare of
our sins, errors and wickedness, that will experience the coming
destruction upon the wicked within God's household. It is as the apostle Peter
says: "But the end of all things has drawn close. Be sound in mind,
therefore, and be vigilant with a view to prayers. Above all things, have
intense love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins...
For it is the appointed time for the judgment to start with the house of God.
Now if it starts first with us, what will the end be of those who are not
obedient to the good news of God? “And if the righteous [man] is being
saved with difficulty, where will the ungodly [man] and the sinner make a
showing?” (1 Peter 4:7-8, 17-18)
According to all the evidence, which is discernable to God's people (but to
which the world is ignorant), it seems that "this generation"
entered its "time of the end" when the committee of capable brothers, including
Raymond Franz, which had been assigned by the Society to do research for their
one volume "Aid to Bible Understanding" encyclopaedic Book, presented their
mountain of research that revealed many errors and contradictions in the
Society's teachings, including chronology, and the necessity to make corrections
in order to bring it into harmony with God's word of truth. (John 4:24; 17:17) As one of the brothers involved later wrote,
prominent members of the governing body (not Raymond Franz) at that time did not deny that the
corrections were in order, but they were afraid of how the changes would impact
the organization and the credibility of those taking the lead, notably, the
governing body. They suggested that they would introduce the changes gradually, over
a period of several
decades. When the brothers pressed the matter, since also the blood transfusion
issue was involved, and they feared that lives might unnecessarily be lost in
the meantime, these earnest brothers
were accused of apostatizing, not against Jehovah but against the organization. Some of
these brothers left on their own, while others were expelled, disfellowshiped. Many are familiar with
the details as it has received wide publicity on the internet, including by some who were
personally
involved; and also the books that Raymond Franz, a former member of the
governing body, published in exposing the condition of the Society and its
leaders, providing evidence to which he had access at the time.
Reflecting on the developments within the organization for the past few decades, it definitely
appears that our "time of the end" began for this "generation" with the exposing of the
corruption within God's household. For several decades now Jehovah has been
drawing to his people's attention that his foretold judgment is at hand, during
which time he has also been revealing the existence of the "man of lawlessness"
within his temple, whose "presence is according to the operation of Satan" while
he exercises authority over God's people. The apostle Paul explains this in his
second letter to the Thessalonians, showing how God will judge his people in
connection with the revealing of this "lawless one," and although the Watchtower
may refer to it in a study article once in a while, they refuse to make the
application to themselves, pointing instead to the churches of Christendom, with
their clergy. (2 Thess. 2:3-12)
When Jesus gave the signs that would identify the last days, he was
addressing his disciples who had asked the question, since much of what he said
concerns them. That is why he often stressed that they should stay awake
and keep on the watch. (Matt. 24:42, 44; 25:13) Jesus did not mention just one
single outstanding sign, such as a World War, as proof that the time of the end
had now begun; but he did say that the many signs he gave would be clear
evidence to that "generation" that would experience the conclusion of the system of
things. In other words,
when the "time of the end begins," these things would already be
plainly seen by all. Jesus explains it this way―by means of an
illustration―when he says: "Now learn from the fig tree as an illustration
this point: Just as soon as its young branch grows tender and it puts forth
leaves, you know that summer is near. Likewise also you, when you see all
these things, know that he is near at the doors. Truly I say to you that
this generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur."
(Matt. 24:32-34; Luke 21:29-32)
According to the evidence that is
discernable to God's people, the young branch of the fig
tree has already grown tender and is putting forth leaves. We are now witnessing
important fulfillment of prophecies in connection with God's household.
Jesus said that in
the "harvest," which is a "conclusion of a system of
things," he will send forth his angels to collect out of his kingdom "all
things that cause stumbling and persons who are doing lawlessness." The apostle
Peter likewise foretold that God's judgment will start with his own house,
posing the question, "Now if it starts first with us, what will the end be of
those who are not obedient to the good news of God? And if the righteous is
being saved with difficulty, where will the ungodly and the sinner make a
showing?" (1 Peter 4:17-18) Jesus illustrated the point that God's house will be
cleansed prior to the end of this system of things, with the parable of the dragnet
which gathered in all sorts of fish, and when it was full the unsuitable fish
were discarded while the good ones were put in vessels. (Matt. 13:39-42, 47-50; 7:21-23)
Jehovah is cleansing his
temple, his people. (Titus 2:12-14; Mal. 3:2-5) By the time the great tribulation begins, he will have
clearly identified all those who belong to him. (2 Tim. 2:19) Our present system of worship, under the
control and
direction of the Watchtower Society, will soon be a thing of the past. The prophet Malachi foretold:
"At present we are pronouncing presumptuous people happy. Also, the doers of wickedness have been built up. Also, they have tested God out and keep getting away. At that time those in fear of Jehovah spoke with one another, each one with his companion, and Jehovah kept paying attention and listening. And a book of remembrance began to be written up before him for those in fear of Jehovah and for those thinking upon his name. 'And they will certainly become mine,' Jehovah of armies has said, 'at the day when I am producing a special property. And I will show compassion upon them, just as a man shows compassion upon his son who is serving him. And you people will again certainly see [the distinction] between a righteous one and a wicked one, between one serving God and one who has not served him.'” (Malachi 3:15-18; 4:1-2; Dan. 12:1, 3, 9-10)
Since the judgment starts with the house of God,
the ones who will experience it is the generation that Jesus
spoke of.
How this will develop is also explained by Paul in 2
Thessalonians 2:9-12, regarding the revealing of "the man of lawlessness" within
God's house. The fulfillment of this revealing of the "lawless one" is already well under way, as can
be observed by
anyone in the congregation who is staying awake. (Rev. 3:3, 19-20)
Jesus' words, where he says that "at that time the righteous ones will shine as
brightly as the sun in the kingdom of their Father" is also becoming clear. And just as significant
is the fact that within God's house at that time "the wicked ones will
certainly act wickedly, and no wicked ones at all will understand; but
the ones having insight will understand." (Matt. 13:41-43; Dan. 12:10)
What "generation" is Jesus referring to at Matthew 24:34 that "will by
no means pass away until all these things occur"? It is the generation to whom
Jehovah is proclaiming their rebelliousness, and who therefore will also
experience his sudden judgment upon them. Jesus said that "all these things will
come upon this generation"; which proved true in the first century, and will also
be true in our day. (Matt. 23:36) Once the revealing begins, we should expect a
difference in our
congregation's spirit and atmosphere, as the former peace of God's people will
be replaced by turmoil, hostility, and a lack of faith and love. This will be especially
true of the leaders who will fight against the
revealing, not acknowledging that it is from God. Thus they make themselves like
the opposers who fought against God's prophets in Jeremiah's day; and also the
majority
who rejected God's only begotten Son Christ Jesus, although he came to his own
people. (Matt. 5:11-12; Luke 11:49-52; John 1:11-12)
The difference of the spirit
within the congregations today compared to that a few decades ago is especially
noticeable to the older ones who
have been associating with the congregation all their lives. (Matt. 24:10-13;
2 Tim. 3:1-7; Gal. 5:22-23) We understand that the developments that
are happening within our congregations at the present time are in fulfillment of
the prophecies regarding God's people in the time of the end; and for that
reason we rejoice, because our "deliverance is getting near." (Luke 21:28)
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