THIS WAS THEN:
"How can we be sure we are living in the period of time called the 'last days'? Aside from chronology, what definite proof is there that this era began in the year 1914? How long a time is covered by it? When will it end? ... This time period has a definite beginning and a definite end. It is similar to the last day of a week, which has a definite beginning at midnight and a definite end twenty-four hours later ... The events that Jesus, the apostle Paul and other Bible writers bring to our attention were all to take place within the same generation [italics theirs]. (Matt. 24:34) These events would identify which generations's lifetime would embrace the 'last days,' much as your fingerprint identifies you. Your fingerprint contains a patter of marks, or lines, different from what any other person has. Likewise, the 'last days' contain their own pattern of marks, or events, that all come together to form a 'fingerprint' that cannot possibly belong to any other generation. Remember, however, that it is not just one of these events by itself that is crucial, although each is highly significant. All of them must come together in the same generation [italics their's] ... So do not misread the evidence. It is all there, and it is positively overwhelming, particularly so because the evidence has continued in force for more than half a century now! [italics theirs] ... Is there any indication in God's timetable as to how much time there is left before this system of things comes to its end? ... The fact that fifty-four years of the period called the 'last days' have already gone by is highly significant. It means that only a few years, at most, remain before the corrupt system of things dominating the earth is destroyed by God? How can we be so certain of this? ... Jesus was obviously speaking about those who were old enough to witness with understanding [italics theirs] what took place when the 'last days' began. Jesus was saying that some of the persons who were alive at the appearance of the 'sign of the last days' would still be alive when God brought this system to its end. Even if we presume that youngsters 15 years of age would be perceptive enough to realize the import of what happened in 1914, it would still make the youngest of 'this generation' nearly 70 years old today. So the great majority of the generation to which Jesus was referring has already passed away in death. The remaining ones are approaching old age. And remember, Jesus said that the end of this wicked world would come before [italics their's] that generation passed away in death. This, of itself, tells us that the years left before the foretold end comes cannot be many ... True, there have been those in times past who predicted an 'end to the world,' even announcing a specific date. Some have gathered groups of people with them and fled to the hills or withdrawn into their homes waiting for the end. Yet, nothing happened. The 'end' did not come. They were guilty of false prophesying. Why? What was missing? Missing was the full measure of evidence required in fulfillment of Bible prophecy. Missing from such people were God's truths and the evidence that he was guiding and using them. But what about today? Today we have the evidence required, all of it [italics theirs]. And it is overwhelming! All the many, many parts of the great sign of the 'last days' are here, together with the verifying Bible chronology ... Would you still doubt if someone told you that winter was coming very soon? Would you say he was just guessing or merely expressing his own idea? Or would you acknowledge, on the basis of solid evidence, that he knew the facts and was telling you the truth? ... We today have all [italics their's] the many parts of the sign, nearly forty of them, being fulfilled within the same generation, and we have God's timetable, his 'calendar,' showing that the time has nearly run out for the present unrighteous system of things. This is very different indeed from the situation with theose who proclaimed an 'end to the world' in earlier generations ... The time remaining for a decision is short. The opportunity is still before you, like the open door of the ark built by Noah before the Flood, and like the open gates of Jerusalem when Rome's armies temporarily withdrew. But that door of opportunity will soon close for all time. Prompt action is vital if you would be among the happy survivors of this present system's destruction" (8 October 1968 Awake!, p. 7, 13-14, 23-24, 26).
"If you are a young person, you also need to face the fact that you will never grow old in this present system of things. Why not? Because all the evidence in fulfillment of Bible prophecy indicates that this corrupt system of things is due to end in a few years. Of the generation that observed the beginning of the 'last days' in 1914, Jesus foretold: 'This generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur.'-- Matt. 24:34. Therefore, as a young person, you will never fulfill any career that this system offers. If you are in high school and thinking about a college education, it means at least four, perhaps even six or eight more years to graduate into a specialized career. But where will this system of things be by that time? It will be well on the way toward its finish, if not actually gone!" (22 May 1969 Awake!, p. 15).
THIS IS NOW:
"Is anything to be gained, then, by looking for dates or by speculating about the literal lifetime of a "generation"? Far from it!" (1 November 1995 Watchtower, p. 19)
"So the recent information in The Watchtower about 'this generation' did not change our understanding of what occurred in 1914. But it did give us a clearer grasp of Jesus’ use of the term 'generation,' helping us to see that his usage was no basis for calculating -- counting from 1914 -- how close to the end we are" (1 June 1997 Watchtower, p. 28).
The phrase "this generation" or references to Matthew 24:34 have no longer appeared in their literature since May 1999 (see the 2005 CD-ROM).