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Predictions and dates · Claim record

The generation was redefined again in 2008 (the anointed who see the sign), 2010 (two groups of anointed whose lives 'overlap') and 2014 (the second group must have been anointed while the first, 1914-era group was still alive); in 2015 a Governing Body member illustrated this with a chart anchored on F. W. Franz (1893-1992).

Claim ID claim-predictions-2008-2010-2014-overlapping-generationConcerns 15 April 2010Later reinterpretation
Later reinterpretation · 15 April 2010 Verified

The generation was redefined again in 2008 (the anointed who see the sign), 2010 (two groups of anointed whose lives 'overlap') and 2014 (the second group must have been anointed while the first, 1914-era group was still alive); in 2015 a Governing Body member illustrated this with a chart anchored on F. W. Franz (1893-1992). The Watchtower (Study Edition), 15 February 2008The Watchtower (Study Edition), 15 April 2010The Watchtower (Study Edition), 15 January 2014JW Broadcasting (tv.jw.org), monthly programme, September 2015, September 2015

The organisation’s position or later explanation: The 2010 article frames the change as 'holy spirit... bringing Bible truths to light. (Prov. 4:18)'.

Show the evidence (4 sources)
Primary JW publication Verified

The Watchtower (Study Edition), “Christ's Presence—What Does It Mean to You?”

15 February 2008 · pp.23-24 · pars. 10-14 · Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York

“Previously, this journal has explained that ... 'this generation' mentioned at Matthew 24:34 meant 'the contemporaneous generation of unbelieving Jews.' ... So Jesus must have been referring to his disciples when he made the statement”

Second redefinition: the generation is the anointed who see the sign.

Official source

Provenance and verification note

Confidence note. Opened on wol; page markers 23 and 24.

Corroborated by. src-w-2010-0415-p10-overlap

Accessed. 19 September 2026 · Source ID. src-w-2008-0215-p23-24-generation

Primary JW publication Verified

The Watchtower (Study Edition), “Holy Spirit's Role in the Outworking of Jehovah's Purpose”

15 April 2010 · p.10 · par. 14 · Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York

“He evidently meant that the lives of the anointed who were on hand when the sign began to become evident in 1914 would overlap with the lives of other anointed ones who would see the start of the great tribulation.”

Introduces the 'overlapping generation'; also stated in the 15 June 2010 annual-meeting report (doc 2010446, p. 5).

Official source

Provenance and verification note

Confidence note. Opened on wol; page marker 10.

Corroborated by. src-w-2014-0115-p30-31-two-groups

Accessed. 19 September 2026 · Source ID. src-w-2010-0415-p10-overlap

Primary JW publication Verified

The Watchtower (Study Edition), “'Let Your Kingdom Come'—But When?”

15 January 2014 · pp.30-31 · pars. 15-16 · Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York

“We understand that in mentioning 'this generation,' Jesus was referring to two groups of anointed Christians. The first group was on hand in 1914 ... The second group ... were anointed with holy spirit during the time that those of the first group were still on earth. ... at least some of 'this generation will by no means pass away' before seeing the start of the great tribulation.”

Current published position (as of 2026).

Official source

Provenance and verification note

Confidence note. Opened on wol; page marker 31 for the quoted paragraphs.

Corroborated by. src-w-2010-0415-p10-overlap

Accessed. 19 September 2026 · Source ID. src-w-2014-0115-p30-31-two-groups

Primary JW publication Supported

JW Broadcasting (tv.jw.org), monthly programme, September 2015, “Segment by Governing Body member David Splane explaining 'this generation' with a chart (F. W. Franz, 1893-1992, as anchor of the first group)”

September 2015 · David Splane · Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York

Reported to present the overlapping-generation teaching graphically and to say the second group must have been anointed before Franz died in 1992.

Official source Link not auto-checkable

Provenance and verification note

Confidence note. The jw.org video page is a JavaScript app and the mediator API returned no media for the 2015 key, so the programme could not be opened; described consistently by three discovery sources (JW Survey/JW Watch, AvoidJW, JWfacts). Note the task's 'annual meeting 2015' framing: sources place the chart in the September 2015 monthly programme.

Corroborated by. src-w-2014-0115-p30-31-two-groups

Notes. Do not quote wording; describe only, and mark as supported.

Accessed. 19 September 2026 · Source ID. src-jwb-2015-09-splane-generation

Claim page

A direct link to this claim is https://jwtruth.org/evidence/claim-predictions-2008-2010-2014-overlapping-generation/. Every source above opens the original document or the best available copy. If you believe the wording, date or context is wrong, report an error.