How do Jehovah’s Witnesses explain the “Overlapping Generation”?

Definition of “This Generation” of Matthew 24:34:   Jehovah’s Witnesses explained the “overlapping generation” as a single, but distinct two-group, 2010-refined doctrine to define the “generation” of Matthew 24: 34 that sees the 1914 start of the last days.  (Two groups that form “one generation”).

Group 1 is anointed, living in 1914.

Group 2 is anointed individuals whose lives overlap in time with the first group, thereby supposedly extending the timeline until the great tribulation.

Purpose:  This refined understanding, introduced around 2010, was designed to explain why the end did not come before the generation that witnessed 1914 passed away, as previously interpreted and allows for a longer period before “the end”.

Key Aspects of the overlapping Overlapping Generation Doctrine:

The problem: The original interpretation -that the generation alive in 1914 would see the end (Armageddon) -became problematic as that generation died out.

The solution 2010: The Governing Body taught that “this generation” consists of two overlapping groups of “anointed” (those with heavenly hope).

Group 1:  Individuals anointed the Holy Spirit before 1914 who were alive and witnessed the events of 1914.

Group 2: Anointed contemporaries of the first group -individuals who were alive and anointed while members of Group One were still on earth.

The interpretation: Rather than a strict 80 to 90 year lifespan, the generation is extended because the lives of these two anointed groups overlap, allowing for a longer period of time before the end.

Biblical Application: The teaching relies on interpreting Matthew 24: 34 to mean that the “anointed” class present when the last days began will not have entirely passed away before the Great Tribulation starts.

Outside of the organisation, this doctrine is often described as a “Definition of Convenience” created to try and extend the deadline and address failed 1914 prophecy predictions.

The Watchtower and JW’s regard it as a deeper understanding of Bible Prophecy –“New Light”.

Matthew 1 tells us how long a generation is, it’s much simpler than David Splaine’s explanation. Also Psalm 90 1, 10 “O Jehovah, you yourself have proved to be a real dwelling for us during generation after generation …In themselves the days of our years are seventy ears. And if, by reason of strengths, they are eighty years”.

Some will try and fudge it and explain it away as a generation in Psalms means a lifespan -not a generation, and that a generation could be four different family generations within the lifespan of one person (Great Grandparent, Grandparent, Parent, Child).

When asked to explain Watchtower doctrines such as the Overlapping Generation they will often struggle to explain it. Some will default to the classic “don’t question God’s will/it’s not for us to know” line. They can be so mesmerised by the promise of a future paradise, the resurrection of loved ones, hugging pet tigers that they don’t try hard enough to unravel the ‘deep’ things.

They criticise other religions for not being able to explain their doctrines, but can’t explain all of their own.

NB. It has also been postulated by mainstream Christian teachers that generation that Christ refers to is a people group rather than a lifespan.