The cult's calculation of the generation which "saw all these things" was once worded as being any Bible Student/JW (not worldly person!)) who was old enough and spiritually aware of the significance of that year, as is seen in the first reference below. The other references confirm the "truth" which the faithful slave fed to J.W.'s
This would imply that a Bible Student (soon to be a JW) would have to have been at least 12-14 years old to be cognizant of the events unfolding in 1914 - making their year of birth 1900-1902. There are not that many 116-118 year old JW's living near me.
***
w78 10/1 p. 31 Questions From Readers - Jesus said “this generation
will by no means pass away until all these things occur.” Which
generation is this, and how long is it?
“Based
on the Bible and its fulfillment in history, Jehovah’s
Witnesses (not the Bible!)
have often pointed out that Christ’s prophecy was to have two
applications: First, between 33 C.E. and the destruction of Jerusalem
in 70 C.E.; second, a larger fulfillment in this “time of the end”
since 1914 C.E.......Thus, when it comes to the application in
our time, the “generation” logically would not apply to babies
born during World War I. It applies to Christ’s followers and
others who were able to observe that war and the other
things that have occurred in fulfillment of Jesus’ composite
“sign.”
w51
6/1 p. 335 par. 10 - “Bible chronology told us that these
events were due to start A.D. 1914. The Watchtower has
repeatedly published this date with proof of its Scripturalness, the
first time being in 1880, thirty-four years in advance. Hence our
generation is the generation that will see the start and finish of
these things, including Armageddon.”
w53
2/15 p. 124 par. 35 - “The
generation that began to see these things in 1914 will
witness the final accumulated judgments of Jehovah God, though some
individuals who are part of this generation may die before the end of
this world’s system of things takes place.”
w62
3/1 p. 132 - “This
generation of mankind that is hearing the good news of God’s
kingdom and that saw the beginning of world sorrows in
1914 would also see the end of those sorrows in this world’s
destruction.”
w69
2/15 p. 101 - “However, there are people still living who were
alive in 1914 and saw what was happening then and who
were old enough that they still remember
those events.”
ml
p. 24 par. 35 - “At Job 24:1 we read: “The day of reckoning
is no secret to the Almighty, though those who know him have no
hint of its date.” (The
New English Bible)
