Face à la défense selon laquelle 'la lumière devient plus brillante' (Proverbes 4:18) : La Tour de Garde du 1er décembre 1981 reconnaissait que les explications 'have shown adjustments, seemingly to previous points of view', affirmait que 'this has not actually been the case', comparait le processus à 'tacking' (louvoyer), et disait qu'il 'has often served as a test of loyalty'. Un revirement qui se renverse ensuite à nouveau (la génération : durée de vie selon les explications de 1951 et 1984 ; contemporains méchants en 1995 ; oints en 2008 ; oints aux vies qui se chevauchent en 2010) n'est pas un chemin rectiligne de lumière croissante.

“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.”