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This site does not endorse the following Watchtower quotes. They are simply presented to show what the Watchtower teaches regarding the following topic.

Recommendations against Marriage and Child Bearing

Jehovah's Witnesses are not against marriage or children and work hard to have happy families. For instance, the Watchtower 2011 October 15 states on page 13, "Individual Christians today also have the right to decide for themselves whether to get married or to stay single. Others should not pressure them to take one course or another." However, particularly during times of heightened expectation of Armageddon, Watchtower has encouraged marriage and child bearing be postponed till after Armageddon; reasoning it detracts from the work of spreading their message in these "last days." Those that followed such advice have missed one of life's greatest joys, having their own family.

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Watchtower 2020 Aug Study ed. p.2 study article 31
"Many brothers and sisters have chosen to remain single. Married couples have postponed having children. Families have kept their lives simple. All have made these decisions for one important reason-they want to serve Jehovah as fully as possible. They are content and trust that Jehovah will provide all the things they truly need. Will they be disappointed? No!"

Watchtower 2016 Apr Study ed. p.9
"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. Others set aside personal matters to share in service campaigns during the Memorial season. 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?"

Watchtower 2008 Apr 15 p.19 Single and childless for a Noble purpose.
"... numerous couples have decided to remain childless ... to remain free to serve Jehovah ... putting Kingdom interests above some of the privileges that go with marriage ... Jehovah will not forget their work, and the love they show for his name... There will be a great tribulation ... it will be difficult time for us adults and children alike ..."

Watchtower 2000 August 1 p.21 Why Do They Have No Children?
"Although Noah's three sons were all married, none fathered children until after the Deluge. While this does not imply that it is wrong to have children today, many Christian couples decline to have children so as to become more fully involved in the urgent work that Jehovah has given his people to do. Some couples have waited for a time before having children; others have decided to remain childless and consider the possibility of bearing children in Jehovah's righteous new world."

Watchtower 1988 March 1 p. 19 Childbearing Among God's People
"If the expansion of Christianity was to come about mainly by childbearing, Jesus would not have encouraged his disciples to "make room" for singleness "on account of the kingdom of the heavens." (Matthew 19:10-12)
How should Christians view marriage and childbearing today, in this "time of the end"? (Daniel 12:4) It is truer than ever that "the scene of this world is changing," or, as another translation puts it, "the present scheme of things is rapidly passing away."-1 Corinthians 7:31, Phillips. Now, as never before, "the time left is reduced." Yes, only a limited time remains for Jehovah's people to finish the work he has given them to do, namely: "This good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come." (Matthew 24:14) That work must be accomplished before the end comes. It is, therefore, appropriate for Christians to ask themselves how getting married or, if married, having children will affect their share in that vital work.
During all this pre-Flood period, Noah's sons and their wives had no children."

Awake! 1974 November 8 p.11
"Today there is a great crowd of people who are confident that a destruction of even greater magnitude is now imminent. The evidence is that Jesus' prophecy will shortly have a major fulfilment, upon this entire system of things. This has been a major factor in influencing many couples to decide not to have children at this time. They have chosen to remain childless so that they would be less encumbered to carry out the instructions of Jesus Christ to preach the good news of God's kingdom earth wide before the end of this system comes. -Matt.24:14."

Children (1941) 3,000,000 ed. pp.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 chose to do so, but the admonition or advice of the scriptures appears to be against it.

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..."

Watchtower 1938 November 1 p.324
"...mark the words of Jesus, which definitely seem to discourage the bearing of children immediately before or during Armageddon

Golden Age 1937 January 27 edition "That Delusion Called Love"
"God's consecrated people do well to refrain from marriage unless they find themselves continually tormented with desire for sexual intercourse, in which case they should marry. For those of the younger or older who have need to marry on this score, let them dispose of the matter in candor and honesty shunning the blight, the delusions and illusions of "love" so called and courtship, which bring reproach on the holy name of Jehovah."