Thanks again, for sharing. Just for those who still believe, of course, the JIOR has the correct understanding so are not in the least concerned about the "generation" issue.
The correct understanding of the "generation" is that it is a simple 40 years from the first sign until the last; from a world war until the "sign of the son of man appears, in the period of 1914 to 1954. Witnesses are confused additionally because they think the END of the "system of things" is a reference to Armageddon. But the "system of things" for the Jews at that time was their being under gentile rule. The "system of things" was the current state of political affairs for them. The END of that "system of things" under the gentiles had an "appointed time" so the Jews knew it would end and on the heels of the gentile times ending would come the messiah. That's what they were asking about. So obviously between 1914-1954 the END of the "system of things" of the gentile times did indeed occur in 1947. So the "generation" comment wasn't even in regard to Armageddon.
As far as the point about how it was said that Satan, having been cast out of heaven and only having a "short time" I think is a relevant observation. The second coming fulfills "1335 days" which is 45 years after the Jews are restored to Israel and thus 45 years after 1947. That means the second coming per the Bible occurred in 1992. Question is, would we still consider the time as having elapsed still within the concept of "a short time"? Is 20 years a considerably "short time"? It's half a generation of 40 years. 20 years will expire in 2012.. If Armageddon thus came by 2012 I wouldn't see a strategic contradiction in the "short time" reference, not that I'm limiting "a short time." But that is certainly less than a generation of 40 years and way, way less than the period that will be 100 years in 2014!! We are less than 10 years from a century past 1914. Clearly the WTS fulfills that slave who thinks the master is delaying. The master has not delayed, they just have the wrong dates and the wrong understanding as to what to look for.
Sad, really. But it's nice to have the true understanding too. Clearly there is a lot more wrong than just the "generation" interperation as far as what JWs expect. The "END of the system of things" is the same as the 'END of the gentile times" which ended in 1947.
JC