Advice against marriage and children has been delivered preceding times of heightened expectation of Armageddon. This occurred prior to 2000.
Watchtower 1988 March 1 p. 19 Childbearing Among God’s People
“If the expansion of Christianity was to come about mainly by childbearing, Jesus would not have encouraged his disciples to “make room” for singleness “on account of the kingdom of the heavens.” (Matthew 19:10-12) …
How should Christians view marriage and childbearing today, in this “time of the end”? (Daniel 12:4) It is truer than ever that “the scene of this world is changing,” or, as another translation puts it, “the present scheme of things is rapidly passing away.”—1 Corinthians 7:31, Phillips. Now, as never before, “the time left is reduced.” Yes, only a limited time remains for Jehovah’s people to finish the work he has given them to do, namely: “This good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24:14) That work must be accomplished before the end comes. It is, therefore, appropriate for Christians to ask themselves how getting married or, if married, having children will affect their share in that vital work. …
During all this pre-Flood period, Noah’s sons and their wives had no children.”
In the lead up to 1975 this same reasoning was expounded.
Awake 1974 November 8 p.11
"Today there is a great crowd of people who are confident that a destruction of even greater magnitude is now imminent. The evidence is that Jesus' prophecy will shortly have a major fulfilment, upon this entire system of things. This has been a major factor in influencing many couples to decide not to have children at this time. They have chosen to remain childless so that they would be less encumbered to carry out the instructions of Jesus Christ to preach the good news of God's kingdom earth wide before the end of this system comes. -Matt.24:14."
In 1941 the Watchtower said that the followers were in the remaining months before Armageddon." (w41 9/15 p.288) The lead up to this period specifically warned it would be inappropriate to have children.
Face the Facts (1938) pp.46, 47, 50
"Would it be Scripturally proper for them to now marry and to begin to rear children? No, is the answer, which is supported by the Scripture…. Those Jonadabs who now contemplate marriage, it would seem, would do better if they wait a few years, until the fiery storm of Armageddon is gone..."
Watchtower 1938 November 1 p.324
"...mark the words of Jesus, which definitely seem to discourage the bearing of children immediately before or during Armageddon
Children (1941) 3,000,000 ed. pp.312-313
"Should men and women, both of whom are Jonadabs or "other sheep" of the Lord, now marry before Armageddon and bring forth children? They may chose to do so, but the admonition or advice of the scriptures appears to be against it.
Many that adhered to this advice in the 1930’s have since passed away without experiencing the joy of children and grandchildren.
