Year 1925 and “the generation of 1914”
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While the year 1925 was closely tied to the teaching of “millions who will not die,” the teaching of “the generation of 1914” was associated with the words “this generation” of Matthew 24:34 (interpretation introduced in 1926). Withdrawing two teachings, the Watchtower Society has, however, left some pieces of them for many years, even for now. There are similarities but also significant differences there (“the generation of 1914” teaching was withdrawn in November 1995).
The year 1925 and its reference to the exact date was dropped as time moved on, but the slogan itself of “millions who will not die” was maintained.
On the other hand, in the case of the second teaching, the term “generation of 1914” was rejected, but the date (i.e. 1914) was concluded as the beginning of the end times.
Such partial withdrawal from a previous interpretation secures the Watchtower Society a certain evolutionary continuity, but also the doctrine’s flexibility, which allows them to refer to something that was already taught in their history. The other thing is that the changed teachings received a totally different meaning.
Few Jehovah’s Witnesses have an opportunity to compare changes in the doctrine, majority stick to what is being told at the given point of time, without any effort to recall previous teaching. For them, the most important thing is that the earlier teaching has similar wording in its terminology like the present doctrine.
Both scenarios (for 1925 and for 1914) were a bit different. However, both interpretations ended with the announcement of a happy “Millennium”. Here are the characteristic sentences that illustrate this:
The year 1925 also held expectations for Jehovah’s servants. It was thought that a cycle of 70 typical Jubilees (70 × 50 years) from the time Israel entered the Promised Land would end in 1925 and mark the beginning of the great antitypical Jubilee, the Millennial Reign of Christ Jesus. It did not turn out that way. (The Watchtower February 15, 1984 pp. 23-24).
(...) and Christ would rule in the midst of his enemies for a period not exceeding one generation. The complete end of wickedness would come by means of a “great tribulation,” culminating in the war at Har–Magedon and followed by Christ’s Thousand Year Reign of peace. (Jehovah’s Witnesses in the Twentieth Century 1989 p. 15).
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