N.H. Knorr’s Generation

This interpretation of “generation”was followed for 24 years. Then, in 1951, under the tutelage of Nathan Homer Knorr, the third President of the Watchtower society, “this generation” was redefined. It no longer started with the baptism of Jesus Christ. Nor did it start in 1878. No, a new date for when “this generation” began was set and how long the period would be:

Though the statement pertaining to the time of trouble is brief, we should not understand that to indicate it is a very short time. For we are bound to take into account the many other prophecies in the book of Daniel, and elsewhere, in order to grasp how much is involved. Christ Jesus groups many such prophecies and enlarges on them when explaining to his disciples some of the things which must come to pass in the last days. (See Matthew 24.) 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, NWT) The actual meaning of these words is, beyond question, that which takes a “generation” in the ordinary sense, as at So he sighed deeply in his spirit and said: 'Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly I say, no sign will be given to this generation.'Mark 8:12 and David, on the one hand, rendered service to God in his own generation, fell asleep in death, was laid with his forefathers, and did see corruption.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. (Truly I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.Matthew 23:36) This therefore means that from 1914 a generation shall not pass till all is fulfilled, and amidst a great time of trouble.
The Watchtower, July 1, 1951, “Vision of the Time of the End”, pp.403 – 404, para 11.

Interestingly, Nathan H Knorr’s Watchtower society reverted to interpreting a “generation” in a secular context: “those who are living at the given period” and they quote So the spirits pleaded with him: 'Send us into the swine, so that we may enter into them.'Mark 5:12 and David, on the one hand, rendered service to God in his own generation, fell asleep in death, was laid with his forefathers, and did see corruption.Acts 13:36 to reinforce this interpretation. Therefore, if “this generation” began in 1914, and a “generation” lasts between 30-40 years, then maybe Knorr and company expected Armageddon to occur imminently. However, 1951 passed without incident. So what would the next interpretation be for the Watchtower society?

N.H. Knorr’s Revised Generation

In Questions from Readers, this question was answered by the Watchtower Society that was not consistent with every other inconsistent interpretation they have provided:

Your publications point out that the battle of Armageddon will come in this generation, and that this generation began A.D. 1914. Scripturally, how long is a generation?—G. P., Liberia.

Webster’s unabridged dictionary gives, in part, this definition of generation: “The average lifetime of man, or the ordinary period of time at which one rank follows another, or father is succeeded by child; an age. A generation is usually taken to be about 33 years.” But the Bible is not so specific. It gives no number of years for a generation. And in Truly I say to you that this generation will by no means pass away until all these things happen.Matthew 24:34Truly I say to you that this generation will by no means pass away until all these things happen.Mark 13:30 and Truly I say to you that this generation will by no means pass away until all things happen.Luke 21:32, the texts mentioning the generation the question refers to, we are not to take generation as meaning the average time for one generation to be succeeded by the next, as Webster’s does in its 33-year approximation; but rather more like Webster’s first-quoted definition, “the average lifetime of man.” Three or even four generations may be living at the same time, their lives overlapping. (We will not hide from their sons; We will relate to the generation to com The praiseworthy deeds of Jehovah and his strength, The wonderful things he has done.Psalms 78:4; Generation after generation will praise your works; They will tell about your mighty acts.Psalms 145:4) Before the Noachian flood the life span was hundreds of years. Down through the centuries since, it has varied, and even now is different in different countries. 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.—The span of our life is 70 years, Or 80 if one is especially strong. But they are filled with trouble and sorrow; They quickly pass by, and away we fly.Psalms 90:10.

Even if it did, we could not calculate from such a figure the date of Armageddon, for the texts here under discussion do not say God’s battle comes right at the end of this generation, but before its end. To try to say how many years before its end would be speculative. The texts merely set a limit that is sufficiently definite for all present practical purposes. 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.
The Watchtower, Sep 1 1952 Questions from Readers, pp.542 – 543.

Did you notice how The Watchtower simply plucked part of a dictionary definition for “generation” and then, using biblical scriptures, formulated a new definition for “generation”. They then dismiss this formula as being non-biblical. However, they brazenly hold onto this non-biblical interpretation so that they can say “some persons living A.D. 1914 when the series of foretold events began will also be living when the series ends with Armageddon”?

It’s cleverly dishonest.

The average reader wouldn’t even have noticed that the Watchtower dismissed their own interpretation! It’s this dishonest interpretation that is still held by many Jehovah’s Witnesses today. But worse, this interpretation incorporates a blatant lie. How? Those persons living A.D. 1914 are now all dead. They are no longer alive to see “when the series ends with Armageddon”.

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