Q: After reviewing Math 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. 

________________________
 

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 while others were disfellowshiped. Many are familiar with the details as it has received much publicity on the internet by some who were 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 still 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 continually 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 clearly evident to that "generation" that would also see 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 plainly visible, the young branch of the fig tree has already grown tender and is putting forth leaves. We are witnessing at the present time the fulfillment of prophecies in connection with God's people. This includes Jesus' prophecy regarding the removal of the wicked from among the righteous within God's kingdom, which takes place in the time of the "harvest," which according to Jesus is a "conclusion of a system of things." The harvest, or "conclusion" of the system of things, does not refer to the end of the world in the primary fulfillment. The disciples did not inquire about the end of the world but rather about the destruction of the temple and Jesus' presence. That has to do with God's people, who are the temple of God under the new covenant, and the identification and removal of all the wicked ones within it at his presence. (Luke 21:5-9, 16-19, 22; 1 Cor. 6:19,20; 2 Cor. 6:16-18; 2 Thess. 2:3,4, 8) Jesus illustrated this point with a symbolic dragnet which gathered in all sorts of fish, and when the harvest arrived the good fish were kept and put in vessels while the unsuitable fish were thrown away. He summed up the meaning by saying: "That is how it will be in the conclusion of the system of things: the angels will go out and separate the wicked from among the righteous and will cast them into the fiery furnace. There is where their weeping and the gnashing of their teeth will be." (Matt. 13:39-42, 47-50; 7:21-23)

Jehovah is cleansing his people. (Titus 2:12-14; Mal. 3:2-5) He is clearly identifying all 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 former system of things that will conclude, terminate, go out of existence. The prophet Malachi foretold:

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. 17 “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. 18 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.” 4 “For, look! the day is coming that is burning like the furnace, and all the presumptuous ones and all those doing wickedness must become as stubble. And the day that is coming will certainly devour them,” Jehovah of armies has said, “so that it will not leave to them either root or bough. 2 And to you who are in fear of my name the sun of righteousness will certainly shine forth, with healing in its wings; and you will actually go forth and paw the ground like fattened calves. (Malachi 3:16-4:2; Dan. 12:1, 3, 9-10)

Since the judgment starts with the house of God, it starts in connection with God's people (that is obvious), who are the generation that Jesus spoke of. The means by which God will accomplish this is explained by Paul in 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12. The fulfillment of this 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 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 those who rejected God's only begotten Son Christ Jesus. (Matt. 5:11,12; Luke 11:49-52) The difference compared to that of former days will become 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 recognize the reason behind these things, therefore it is reason for us to rejoice. (Luke 21:28) The apostle Paul tells us: "But you brothers, you are not in darkness, so that that day should overtake you as it would thieves, for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We belong neither to night nor to darkness. So, then, let us not sleep on as the rest do, but let us stay awake and keep our senses." (1 Thess. 5:4-6)

http://www.perimeno.ca/Index_A.htm