Guide To Understanding the Jehovah’s Witness Generation Teaching

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

“But the path of the righteous ones is like the bright light that is getting lighter and lighter until the day is firmly established.” (Proverbs 4:18)

1897

Other uses of this Greek word (genea) prove that its 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, p. 603

1927

“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.”
- WT Feb 15, 1927 p. 62

1951

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.
- WT July 1, 1951 p. 404

1952

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.
- WT September 1, 1952 p. 543

1958

Many are the people alive since 1914 who will still be living when it is time for Armageddon to begin.
- From Paradise Lost To Paradise Regained, 1958, p. 205

1962

Was Jesus using the word ‘genertation’ in a symbolic way? No, we should not say that the word ‘generation’ here has a symbolic meaning... The ‘generation’ of Matthew 24:34 includes persons alive at the time that the war in heaven began in 1914... Members of that generation will see the end of this world.
- Awake! September 22, 1962 p. 27

1968

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 that happened in 1914...”
- Awake! October 8, 1968 p. 13

1971

Our generation will see the end of the present pressure-ridden order. In fact, there is even good reason to hope that a new order of God’s making may begin within the present decade... The generation living in 1914 when ‘these things started to occur’ has now grown old... That means that the due times for their full occurence must be near at hand, very close.
- Awake! October 6, 1971 p. 26

1978

Thus, when it comes to the application in our time, the ‘generation’ logically would not apply to babies born during World War I.
- WT October 1, 1978, p. 31

1980

It is the generation of people who saw the catastrophic events that broke forth in connection with World War I from 1914 onward... If you assume that 10 is the age at which an event creates a lasting impression...
- WT October 15, 1980, p. 31

1984

If Jesus used ‘generation’ in that sense and we apply it to 1914, then the babies of that generation are now 70 years old or older... Some of them will “by no means pass away until all things occur”
- WT May 15, 1984 p. 5

1988

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 these things have happened.
- Awake! April 8, 1988 p. 14

1991

Remember, Jesus said of those living through the last days starting in 1914:”Truly I say to you that this generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur.” Yes, peace will really come within this generation but not through the nations’ efforts.
- WT April 15, 1991 p. 7

1995

Therefore,in the final fulfillment of Jesus’ prophecy today, “this generation” apparently refers to the peoples of earth who see the sign of Christ’s presence but fail to mend their ways.
- WT November 1, 1995. p. 19

2008

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.
- WT February 15, 2008. p. 24

2010

To what generation did Jesus refer? 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.” 14 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.
- WT April 15, 2010 p. 10

Awake Masthead
Oct 95

Why Awake! Is Published ... Most important, this magazine builds confidence in the Creator’s promise of a peaceful and secure world before the generation that saw the events of 1914 passes away.

Awake Masthead
Nov 95

Why Awake! Is Published ... Most important, this magazine builds confidence in the Creator’s promise of a peaceful and secure world that is about to replace the present wicked, lawless system of things.