"Truly I say to you that this generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur."
Matthew 24:34

The Watchtower has promoted six different and contradictory explanations of what this
generation refers to. Many Witnesses based their life choices
on the generation doctrine that
Armageddon would arrive before
all those born prior to 1914 had died. Can an organization that
makes such critical errors
rightfully claim they alone are directed by God?

At the 2010 annual meeting, John Barr presented the latest
understanding of the generation. 97 year old Barr was an apt
choice to deliver this talk, being the last of the Governing Body
born before 1914. He explained
the generation is now to include 2 groups whose lives "overlap"
since 1914:

"John Barr ... twice read the comment: "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 the 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
There is no Scriptural reason to believe a generation referred to
two overlapping groups, other than wishful thinking and a need
to prop up the 1914 teaching as still relevant. Can any credence be
given to this explanation? The following review of the history of
contradictory generation
teachings shows there can be no doubt that these teachings are
neither directed by holy spirit nor Scripturally sound.
The Watchtower understanding of "this generation" has changed
constantly through the entirety of Watchtower history; both regarding who it has been
applied to and the timeframe. It is a classic example of the
Watchtower's Eisegesis approach to interpretation - forcing a
meaning that does not exist. With four different contradictory and sometimes regressive
teachings between 1995 and 2010, this subject nullifies any reason to believe the Watchtower excuse for changes
as their light getting brighter A key factor to the growth of the
Watchtower Society is the
promise that this system will end at any moment. The shorter the expected time left, the higher the
growth. (Immediately prior to dates the end was specifically
expected, such as 1914, 1925 and 1975, growth increased to as high as 20 %.) When there has
been no specific date set, the concept that "this generation will by no means pass away" has
been used to stimulate urgency.
Looking retrospectively, it is remarkable to see the number of changes to the "generation" teaching, in order to make each
decade in the 1900's appear to be the decade Armageddon would come.
The commencement of Jesus' heavenly rulership in 1914 is key to Watchtower theology, the foundation for many other teachings. Unseen and hence unproven, Witnesses expected
proof in their own lifetime by means of the arrival of Armageddon - based on the generation teaching that some
people born prior to 1914 would never die.

"The countdown that has
proceeded for some six
millenniums now nears its zero hour. So close is it that people who were alive in 1914, and
who are now well along in years, will not all pass off the scene before the thrilling events marking the vindication of
Jehovah's sovereignty come to pass" The early members of this
group are now in their 60's or 70's or older. Jehovah did not
allow the ingathering of this group to begin too soon. The "great crowd," including many of
the earliest members thereof, will survive into the "new earth."
Survival into a New Earth (1984)p.184-185

"Prophetic information in the Bible about our day details the following: ...The survival of at
least some of the generation that
saw the beginning of "the
conclusion of the system of things." True Peace And Security (1986) p.70

"Some who saw the events of 1914 will also see the complete
destruction of the present
wicked world." Reasoning from the Scriptures (1989) p.200
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When this was changed in 1995 with an article explaining that a
generation could extend for multiple lifetimes, many Witnesses saw this as indication the Governing Body had lost
faith, no longer confident that Armageddon is close at hand. Since 1995, the growth rate of Jehovah's Witnesses has fallen
dramatically. In 2010 the
teaching changed back to say that it will be within 2 overlapping lifetimes, so it will be interesting to see if this can be used to try to turn around the
declining growth rates.

Who the Generation Applies to

The Watchtower has swung between whether generation has a positive connotation that
applies to the Anointed, or has a negative connotation applying to
worldly contemporaries. It has also varied on whether the period was over an unspecified
time frame or was a fixed period. In brief, the changes have been
as follows:

1897 -– A group of
contemporary people

"“Other uses of this Greek word (genea) prove that it is not used with the significance of race, but
in reference to people living contemporaneously.... In other words, the signs mentioned will
occur within a generation -epoch in the close of the age.”" –
Studies in the Scriptures Vol 4 pp.602,603

1927 –- The anointed

“"The irresistible conclusion therefore is that Jesus referred to
the new creation [the anointed] when he said: “This generation
shall not pass until all these things be fulfilled.” This then would be a strong indication that
some members of the new creation will be on the earth at the time of Armageddon.”"
Watchtower 1927 Feb 15 p.62

1951 -– A fixed period of time from 1914 applied to worldly
people

"The actual meaning of these words is, beyond question, that which takes a “generation” in
the ordinary sense, as at Mark 8:12 and Acts 13:36, or for those who are living at the given
period. So it was on “this
generation” that the
accumulated judgments were to fall . (Matt. 23:36) This therefore means that from 1914 a generation shall not pass till all is
fulfilled, and amidst a great time of trouble." Watchtower 1951 Jul
1 p.404

1995 -– A group of
contemporary worldly people

"Jesus was not departing from his established use of the term “this generation,” which he
consistently applied to the contemporary masses with their “blind guides” who together made up the Jewish nation. ... Jesus refers principally
to contemporary people of a certain historical period, with
their identifying characteristics."”
Watchtower 1995 Nov 1
pp.14,20

2008 –- The anointed

"As a class, these anointed ones make up the modern-day "generation" of contemporaries
that will not pass away "until all these things occur." This suggests that some who are
Christ's anointed brothers will still be alive on earth when the foretold great tribulation begins."
Watchtower 2008 Feb 15 p.24

2010 –- A fixed period from 1914 applied to the anointed

"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

In what follows, each of these explanations is presented in more detail.

Originally - Fixed period, applied to worldly people - to end 1914

Russell applied the generation to mankind in general - "people
living contemporaneously" (Studies Vol IV p.602) He had a two way bet,
explaining that the start year for the generation may have been 1780, extending for a period of
100 years to 1880, with the fulfilling of all the signs. He then
went on to say it may instead refer to the 36 ½ year period from 1878 to 1914.
"A "generation" might be
reckoned as equivalent to a century (practically the present limit) or one hundred and twenty
years, Moses' lifetime and the Scripture limit. (Gen. 6:3.)
Reckoning a hundred years from 1780, the date of the first sign, the limit would reach to 1880 Or,
since the Master said, "When ye shall see all these things," and
since "the sign of the Son of Man in heaven," and the budding fig
tree, and the gathering of "the elect" are counted among the signs, it would not be inconsistent to reckon the "generation" from 1878 to 1914-- 36 1/2 years-- about the
average of human life today."
Studies in the Scriptures - The Day of Vengeance 1897 ed. pp.604, 605

The world did not end as
expected in 1914 so Russell's concept of the generation proved false. For more than a
decade Watchtower publications
were silent as to whom the generation applied

1927 - The Anointed over Last 1900 Years

In 1927, Rutherford changed the application of the generation
from mankind in general to the Anointed. Rather than a short period of time, it incorporated
the entire period from the time of Jesus till Armageddon, in
excess of 1900 years.

"The irresistible conclusion therefore is that Jesus referred to
the new creation [the anointed] when he said: “This generation
shall not pass until all these things be fulfilled.” This then would be a strong indication that
some members of the new creation will be on the earth at the time of Armageddon."”
Watchtower 1927 Feb 15 p.62
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1951 - Fixed Period, applied to worldly people, within lifetime of
1914

In 1951, during the time of Knorr, application of the generation reverted from the anointed back to worldly people
upon whom judgement would fall. The starting point of the generation now became 1914.

"He shows the beginning of this time and how the troubles increase, and mentions some of
the sorrows to fall on the world, during the time of trouble. The length of time is indicated by him
when he said, "Truly I say to you that this generation will by no
means pass away until all these things occur." (Matt. 24:34) The actual meaning of these words
is, beyond question, that which takes a "generation" in the
ordinary sense, as at Mark 8:12 and Acts 13:36, or for those who are living at the given period. So
it was on “this generation” that
the accumulated judgments were
to fall. (Matt. 23:36) This
therefore means that from 1914 a generation shall not pass till all
is fulfilled, and amidst a great time of trouble." Watchtower 1951 Jul 1 p.404

The most important aspect of this change was that Armageddon must come within the lifetime of people alive in 1914. From 1951 to 1995 the
number of years that a
generation can constitute
changed numerous times in an effort to make the end imminent at the time of writing. One thing
remained constant; some people born prior to 1914 would live through Armageddon, never to
die.

To end around 1951: 37 year generation

In order to make it appear that in 1951 Armageddon was about to occur, the length of time for a generation was said to be 36 ½ years (37 years). With 1914 as
the start date this indicated the
end was due in 1951, the time of writing of the new generation concept.

"By keeping the people ignorant they led them into having Jesus
killed on a torture stake at Calvary. Thirty-seven years later this willfully cultivated ignorance
led to its fatal consequences, the
destruction of the city of
Jerusalem with an enormous loss
of human lives, just as Jesus had predicted, and the breaking up
of the Jewish nation till this day.
And now in this "time of the end" the revived nation of Israel with
capital at the modern city of Jerusalem chooses to go on in the steps of its forefathers …"
Watchtower 1950 Sep 1 p.277

"Counting from the end of the "appointed times of the nations" in 1914, we are 37 years into the
"time of the end" of this world.(Luke 21:24, Dan. 12:4) During
these crucial years Jehovah's witnesses have sought shelter and strength in him, and they
can confess for themselves that
he is a "well-proved help in trouble". If it were not for this, they would not be here today nor increasing in numbers. But we are entering the most serious and trialsome years of this "time of the end". The final conflict of
Armageddon draws near."
Watchtower 1951 Feb 15 p.179

To end 1960's - 70 Year Generation

After 1951 drew to a close without incidence a generation was extended to be possibly up to 70 or 80 years.

"The Bible does speak of a man's days as being threescore and ten
or fourscore years; but it assigns no specific number of years to a
generation.-Ps. 90:10. Some persons living A.D. 1914 when the series of foretold events began will also be living when
the series ends with
Armageddon. All the events will come within the span of a generation. There are hundreds
of millions of persons living now that were living in 1914, and
many millions of these persons could yet live a score or more years . Just when the lives of the
majority of them will be cut short by Armageddon we cannot say."
Watchtower 1952 Sep 1
pp.542-543

To coincide with 1975
In 1968 it was said that a person as young as 15 could "discern"
the beginning of the time of the end. Add 70 or 80 years to a person born in 1899 and the generation was to end in the mid
1970's.

"Some of the generation that discerned the beginning of the
time of the end in 1914 will still be alive on earth to witness the end of this present wicked
system of things at the battle of Armageddon.-Rev. 16:14, 16."
Watchtower 1968 May 1 p.272(also Dec 1 p.715)

"Jesus was obviously speaking about those who were old
enough to witness with
understanding what took place when the 'last days' began. ...
Even if we presume that
youngsters 15 years of age would be perceptive enough to realize the import of what
happened in 1914, it would still make the youngest of 'this
generation' nearly 70 years old today." Awake! 1968 Oct 8 p.13

The Awake! 1968 October 8 also made the following assertions;

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