130 years after first being told not to, JW’s are still being cautioned against having children.
IS IT ADVISABLE TO HAVE CHILDREN?
NO – w1887 Feb. Vol VIII R901 pg.3
The time is short; so that they [of us] who have wives should be as if they had none. The establishing of an earthly home and the rearing of an earthly family, which is generally regarded as the principal business of life, should not be the ambition of the saints…
NO – w1938 Nov. 1, p. 324
“…mark the words of Jesus, which definitely seem to discourage the bearing of children immediately before or during Armageddon….It would therefore appear that there is no reasonable or scriptural injunction to bring children into the world immediately before Armageddon, where we now are.”
NO – Face the Facts (1938) pp.46,50
“Would it be Scripturally proper for them to now marry and to begin to rear children? No, is the answer, which is supported by the Scripture. Those Jonadabs who now contemplate marriage, it would seem, would do better if they wait a few years, until the fiery storm of Armageddon is gone”
NO – Children (1941) p. 312-313
“Should men and women, both of whom are Jonadabs or “other sheep” of the Lord now marry before Armageddon and bring forth children? They may choose to do so but the admonition or advice of the scriptures appears to be against it… That would appear to indicate it would be proper that those who will form the “great multitude” should wait until after Armageddon to bring children into the world.”
YES – w50 10/15 p. 383 “Be Fruitful, Multiply, Fill the Earth”
Since the carrying out of the command to “be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth” waits until after Armageddon, does that mean that those who now marry and rear children are violating God’s laws? No, for the Scriptures show that “marriage is honourable in all”
YES – w51 6/15 p. 362 On Service Tour in New Zealand
From the Scriptures it was shown that it is proper for Christians to marry and the purpose of marriage is the rearing of children.
NO – w71 4/1 p. 214 Preach God’s Kingdom with the Right Viewpoint
In modern times, among the many examples that might be cited is that of the young American couple that had settled down in a fine home and were planning to raise a family. Then one day the husband came home and said to his wife: ‘Just what difference is there between us and the people of Christendom? We are contenting ourselves with mere token service when there is nothing to keep us from being in the fulltime ministry. Let’s quit our secular jobs, sell our home and enter the full-time pioneer ministry.’ His wife gulped, for she had been looking forward to the joys of motherhood, to bearing and rearing a number of children. But she went to Jehovah in prayer and asked his help. And he did help her. So they entered the pioneer ministry and in a few years were invited to attend the Gilead missionary school.
NO – w88 3/1 pp. 21-22 par. 17 Childbearing Among God’s People
Interestingly, during all this pre-Flood period, Noah’s sons and their wives had no children. The apostle Peter specifically states that ‘eight souls were carried safely through the water,’ that is, four married couples but no children. (1 Peter 3:20) The sons’ remaining childless was possibly for two reasons. First… they had a divinely appointed job to do that required their undivided attention. Second, they doubtless felt disinclined to bring children into… a world “full of violence.” This is not to say that the course of action taken by Noah’s sons and their wives before the Deluge was meant to set the rule for married couples living today. Nevertheless, since Jesus compared Noah’s day to the period in which we are now living, their example can provide food for thought.
IT’S YOUR CHOICE – w88 3/1 p. 26 par. 14 Responsible Childbearing in This Time of the End
So the matter of childbearing in this time of the end is a personal one that each couple must decide for itself. However, since “the time left is reduced,” married couples would do well to weigh carefully and prayerfully the pros and cons of childbearing in these times.
NO – Jeremiah book (2010 – Studied 2013) chap 8 p.94-95 par. 7 Will You “Keep Living,” as Did Jeremiah?
6 What relevance is there in God’s command that Jeremiah not marry or have children? Today, some loyal Christians are unmarried or have no children. Consider first that Jeremiah was to remain childless. Jesus did not command his followers to abstain from having children. Yet, it is noteworthy that he pronounced “woe” on pregnant women or those nursing a baby when tribulation came on Jerusalem in 6670 C.E. That time would be especially difficult for them, given their situation. We now face a greater tribulation. This should add a dimension for Christian couples who are deciding whether to have children. While each couple must decide if they will have children, Jeremiah’s case is worth considering.
Note: If JW’s aren’t meant to have children, where did Caleb and Sophia come from?
NO – w2016/4 p.9 Par.17 Being Faithful Leads To Gods’ Approval
17 (b) How do the words at Hebrews 6:10-12 encourage you to be self sacrificing?
Thousands of young Christian men and women are willingly sacrificing marriage or are not having children—at least for now—in order to serve Jehovah to the full. Older ones too may be sacrificing the time they could otherwise spend with their children and grandchildren in order to work on theocratic construction projects or to attend the School for Kingdom Evangelizers and to serve in areas where the need for Kingdom publishers is greater… Such wholehearted service brings deep joy to Jehovah, who will never forget their work and the love shown for him. (Read Hebrews 6:10-12) Would it be possible for you to make additional sacrifices to serve Jehovah more fully?
Besides, in the new system there will be no children…
Golden Age 1930, April 2. Page 446 Bible Questions and Answers
“The Scriptures do not reveal what the relationship of men and women will be after the resurrection is completed. The most that we know is that there will be no children born during the last 100 years of the Millennium (Isa. 65: 20), nor any born after that, because men and women do not have children after they reach the age of 100 years.”