the topic of generation. who according is "this generation"? maybe they better reclass it again because in the bible states: mark 8:12 "..why do this generation seek after a sign? verily I say to you, there shall be no sign given unto this generation. And he left them..." yiur insights please.
clarification on a topic please.
by bite me 4 Replies latest watchtower bible
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DNCall
This scripture was used to support the 1995 explanation that the generation consisted of the wicked as opposed to the current explanation that the generation consists of the anointed.
Focusing on the group indicated by Jesus words at Matthew 24:34 rather than on the time-sensitivity of his prophecy creates the kind of problem you identify in your post.
Whether or not the first century fulfillment of Jesus' prophecy has a greater fulfillment or not, it was demonstrated that his prophecy was fulfilled within the lifetime of those to whom Jesus preached.
DNCall
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tfjw
From Watchtower magazine June 1, 1997:
"...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."
The November 1, 1995 issue of the Wt magazine covered the change in their "understanding" on the topic as mentioned by DNCall.
From the November issue:
“This Generation” Identified
What, then, is the “generation” so frequently referred to by Jesus in the presence of his disciples? What did they understand by his words: “This generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur”? Surely, Jesus was not departing from his established use of the term “this generation,” which he consistently applied to the contemporary masses with their “blind guides” who together made up the Jewish nation. (Matthew 15:14) “This generation” experienced all the distress foretold by Jesus and then passed away in an unequaled “great tribulation” on Jerusalem.—Matthew 24:21, 34.
In the first century, Jehovah was judging the Jewish people. Repentant ones, who came to exercise faith in Jehovah’s merciful provision through Christ, were saved out of that “great tribulation.” True to Jesus’ words, all things prophesied occurred, and then the “heaven and earth” of the Jewish system of things—the entire nation, with its religious leaders and wicked society of people—passed away. Jehovah had executed judgment!—Matthew 24:35; compare 2 Peter 3:7.
Those Jews who had paid attention to Jesus’ prophetic words realized that their salvation depended, not on trying to calculate the length of a “generation” or of some dated “times or seasons,” but on keeping separate from the evil contemporary generation and zealously doing God’s will. Though the final words of Jesus’ prophecy apply to the major fulfillment in our day, first-century Jewish Christians also had to heed the admonition: “Keep awake, then, all the time making supplication that you may succeed in escaping all these things that are destined to occur, and in standing before the Son of man.”—Luke 21:32-36; Acts 1:6-8.
Today, “the great day of Jehovah . . . is near, and there is a hurrying of it very much.” (Zephaniah 1:14-18; Isaiah 13:9, 13) Suddenly, at Jehovah’s own predetermined “day and hour,” his fury will be unleashed upon the world’s religious, political, and commercial elements, together with the wayward people who make up this contemporary “wicked and adulterous generation.” (Matthew 12:39; 24:36; Revelation 7:1-3, 9, 14) How may you get saved out of “the great tribulation”? Our next article will answer and tell of the grand hope for the future. -
Narkissos
I do think that the 1995/7 explanation of "this generation" was scripturally sounder (as far as the 70 AD context is concerned, of course). Maybe that's why they dropped it.
Ironically the (relatively) strong demonstration about "this generation" being a negative phrase in the Gospel context must still linger in the minds of some JWs as they now apply it to "the anointed".
Now the biggest problem for the WT interpretation lies here imo:
For positing a second "generation" JWs often argue that "all these things" were not fulfilled in 70 AD.
But they must also posit that the first "generation" did "pass," while "all these things" had not been fulfilled, in direct contradiction to "Jesus"' statement.
This problem remains whether the "generation" is interpreted as "good" or "bad".
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JCanon
First of all, you do well to actually quote the scriptures when making these detailed comparisons:
MARK 8:12
11 Here the Pharisees came out and started disputing with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven, to put him to the test. 12 So he groaned deeply with his spirit, and said: “Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly I say, No sign will be given to this generation.”
So Jesus was specifically talking about the generation of the pharisees during his day and not the specific generation who would see the signs of the second coming.
Apparently, clearly not related.
Thus "this generation" will also be dependent upon the context in which the statement is made. In the case of Matthew it was in the context of those who would see the final signs at the second coming, a generation of 40 years from 1914-1954 or an 80-year generation from 1914-1994. Mark 8:12 was a reference to those living during the time of Christ who wanted a sign.
JC