Contra a defesa de que “a luz vai ficando mais brilhante” (Provérbios 4:18): A Sentinela de 1.º de dezembro de 1981 reconheceu que as explicações “têm mostrado ajustes, aparentemente em relação a pontos de vista anteriores”, insistiu que “na verdade não foi esse o caso”, comparou o processo a “bordejar” e disse que isso “tem servido muitas vezes de teste de lealdade”. Uma reversão que mais tarde se reverte de novo (a geração: o entendimento do tempo de vida, em 1951/1984; os contemporâneos iníquos, em 1995; os ungidos, em 2008; os ungidos sobrepostos, em 2010) não é um caminho reto de luz crescente.

“At times explanations given by Jehovah's visible organization have shown adjustments, seemingly to previous points of view. But this has not actually been the case. This might be compared to what is known in navigational circles as 'tacking.'”

“Jehovah's people have at times speculated about the time when the 'great tribulation' would break out, even tying this to calculations of what is the lifetime of a generation since 1914. ... Rather than provide a rule for measuring time, the term 'generation' as used by Jesus refers principally to contemporary people of a certain historical period, with their identifying characteristics.”

“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”

“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.”