I know there are several threads already on this "new light", but I didn't see one that covered this particular angle.
Since the GB seem to have an ulterior motive for everything they do, well beyond their publicly stated reasons, I began to wonder why they would be concerned with pushing back the closing of the window of Jesus' judgement. This is especially puzzling because the doctrine of the start of great tribulation being the final cutoff was one that the GB seemed to especially revel in for so long. They could hang it over everyone's heads as a looming threat.'Believe us or die! If you wait for any real evidence it's already going to be too late!'
I have 2 theories.
1) Since it's still possible to repent after the great tribulation begins, there's nothing stopping the GB from declaring that the great tribulation has already begun, whenever they see fit. Likewise, there's nothing stopping the GB from declaring the time to change to a message of judgement. Otherwise, they couldn't make this change and still get new members. No one would join a religion that teaches it's already too late to be saved. Why even bother? This change in doctrine gives them even more power and flexibility to mobilize troops in their spiritual war.
2) At this point, Bethel must be bombarded with letters from even faithful JWs questioning how this could be "the final part of the final part of the last days" when somewhere around half, if not more, of all the world's population have never been preached to or even heard of Jehovah's Witnesses. It was a staple interpretation of JWs to take Jesus words that "this good news will be preached in all the inhabited earth" to mean that everyone would have heard the message before it was too late. This would be a contradiction- the end can't be all too close if that prophecy is no where near being fulfilled. But now, they can continue claim that the end is coming any time at all because there are no more prophesies that absolutely must be fulfilled before the great tribulation starts.
Thoughts?