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Predictions and dates · Claim record

The Watchtower cover article of 15 May 1984, '1914—The Generation That Will Not Pass Away', applied the generation to people alive in 1914 ('the babies of that generation are now 70 years old or older') and said Jehovah 'will bring about the fulfillment of his Son's words in a relatively short time'; Reasoning From the Scriptures (1985) likewise said all the things foretold would occur 'before the last members of the generation that was alive in 1914 will have passed off the scene'.

Claim ID claim-predictions-1984-generation-babies-70Concerns 15 May 1984Explicit statement
Explicit statement · 15 May 1984 Verified

The Watchtower cover article of 15 May 1984, '1914—The Generation That Will Not Pass Away', applied the generation to people alive in 1914 ('the babies of that generation are now 70 years old or older') and said Jehovah 'will bring about the fulfillment of his Son's words in a relatively short time'; Reasoning From the Scriptures (1985) likewise said all the things foretold would occur 'before the last members of the generation that was alive in 1914 will have passed off the scene'. The Watchtower, 15 May 1984Reasoning From the Scriptures (1985; 1989 revision on wol), 1985

The organisation’s position or later explanation: The Watchtower 1 Nov 1995 p.17 reframes such calculations as 'Jehovah's people have at times speculated'.

Show the evidence (2 sources)
Primary JW publication Verified

The Watchtower, “1914—The Generation That Will Not Pass Away”

15 May 1984 · pp.4-7 · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society

“If Jesus used 'generation' in that sense and we apply it to 1914, then the babies of that generation are now 70 years old or older. ... Jehovah's prophetic word through Christ Jesus is: 'This generation [of 1914] will by no means pass away until all things occur.' (Luke 21:32) And Jehovah ... will bring about the fulfillment of his Son's words in a relatively short time.”

Cover-feature article; states the prophecies 'will be fulfilled within the life span of the generation of 1914'.

Official source

Provenance and verification note

Confidence note. Opened on wol; page markers 5 and 7 confirmed for the quoted sentences.

Corroborated by. src-rs-1989-00-p97-generation

Accessed. 19 September 2026 · Source ID. src-w-1984-0515-p4-7-generation

Primary JW publication Verified

Reasoning From the Scriptures (1985; 1989 revision on wol), “Dates”

1985 · p.97 · Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York

“Before the last members of the generation that was alive in 1914 will have passed off the scene, all the things foretold will occur, including the 'great tribulation' in which the present wicked world will end.”

Under the question 'Then why is there still so much wickedness on earth?'; also glosses Matt. 24:34 as 'this generation [that was alive when "the sign" of "the last days" began its fulfillment]'.

Official source

Provenance and verification note

Confidence note. Opened on wol (1989 edition text); page marker 97.

Corroborated by. src-w-1984-0515-p4-7-generation

Notes. The task's 'Which generation...' wording is not in this entry; the entry is 'Dates', pp. 93-98.

Accessed. 19 September 2026 · Source ID. src-rs-1989-00-p97-generation

Claim page

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