JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES
BRIEF HISTORY:
The organizer of this movement was Charles Taze Russell (1844-1916). He embraced Adventism early in life, but at the age of 20 abandoned it primarily due to his opinion that the date fixed by Wm. Miller for the second coming of Christ was erroneous. The insisted that the date of the second advent was 1874, the same year he began to preach (Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. II, p. 240). In our opinion, it seemed no to mater to him that Jesus had said that neither the Son nor the angels knew, but “the Father only” (Mark 13:32).
“Pastor” Russell formally organized his followers in Pittsburgh in 1872, with himself as President. Headquarters were moved to Brooklyn, New York, in 1909. It is reported that about 13,000,000 of Russell’s Studies in the Scriptures (Volumes 1-6) have been circulated. These laid the foundation for the new sect known before 1931 as Millennial Dawniss, International Bible Students and Russellites.
In his six volumes (he prophesied he would write seven, but death overtook him before the task was finished) he maintained that the plan of God was unfolded and made knows through him “as never before”, and added that the “opening of the books of divine revelation will soon be completed” (Vol. 2, p. 189). In addition to this claim of “divine revelation,” Russell maintained that probably never before had anyone (this would include the apostles!) “understood any part” of the book of Revelation (I, p. 27).
It is the old story of an ambitious man claiming that the Bible truths are hidden “from all except the consecrated” (Finished Mystery, p. 65), and saying “Lo! Here is my writing, the long-awaited true explanation.”
Charles Taze Russell’s first book was published in 1886 which he entitled Millennial Dawn. The name was changed to Studies in the Scriptures in 1916, but the disciples of Russell “Millennial Dawnists,” “Russellites,” or “International Bible Students.”
After ‘Pastor’ Russell’s death in 1916, his adherents were slowly culled out and pushed out of the newer organization now headed by Judge Rutherford. Russell’s old Watchtower Society passed into oblivion by federal court order in 1918. Finally, with all
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of Russell partisans out of the way it was evident to all of Rutherford’s adherents that a new name would have to be selected. This new name was given at a convention held at Columbus, Ohio, October, 1931 (Theocracy, p. 34). The new name, Jehovah’s Witnesses, identified the new sect headed by Rutherford.
In an effort to cover up the newness of the name, it was contended that Jehovah had witnesses from the time of Abel, and that Isaiah 62:2 prophesied the giving of the new name in 1931. Each issue of the Watchtower magazine carries these words on the cover: “You are my witnesses, says Jehovah – Isaiah 43:12.”
Without the Watchtower hierarchy, the slaves would pass into oblivion as sheep without a shepherd . . . and this is precisely what the Watchtower said would happen to a man who lays Russell’s books down and reads the Bible only! “Within two years he goes into darkness!” (September 10, 1910, p. 298).
Today, the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society with main headquarters in Brooklyn, N.Y., prints over 100 million copies of their material in some 80 languages each year.
Russellism Tradition
Word of God
• ‘Jehovah’s Witnesses’ used a name since 1931. (Theocracy, page 34 - one of their books)
• Never used as a name. 1 Peter 4:16
• Have earthly headquarters in New York with president, etc. etc. (Not disputed. See ch. 4, 30 Yrs. Watchtower Slave.)
• God praise through the church only. Ephesians 3:10, 21.
• Charles T. Russell , founder, received revelation of truths heretofore unknown. Scriptures Studies, Vol. I, pp. 20 & 28. (Studies in the Scriptures I, 20, 28)
• Apostles guided into ALL truth. John 16:13; 2 John 9-11.
• ‘Cannot see the divine plan in studying the Bible itself’; without books Russell wrote a person goes into darkness within two years. (Watchtower, September 15, 1910, p. 298)
• 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Ephesians 1:3; 2 Peter 1:3.
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Russellism Tradition
Word of God
“But we see, also that if anyone lays the Scripture Studies aside (Russell’s books) even after he has read them for ten years – if he lays them aside and ignores them and goes to the Bible alone, thought he has understood the Bible for ten years, our experience shows that within two years he goes into darkness.” Watchtower Sept. 15, 1910
• No man has or possesses a soul. (Reconciliation, p. 293).
• Luke 21:19; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; James 1:21.
• Wicked will not be raised with the righteous. (Children, p. 361).
• In the same hour all will come forth from the tombs. John 5:28-29
• Christ’s 2nd coming ‘invisible’ and only to a few persons. (Studies in the Scriptures II, p. 153).
• All, every eye shall see Him. Revelation 1:7
• Jesus was the first creature. (Make Sure of all Things, p. 207).
• Never called creature, but He is Creator of all things. John 1:1; Colossians 1:16; Romans 1:25.
• Jesus not divine while in the flesh but only human. Studies in the Scriptures I, p. 179
“In truth, when Jesus was on earth He was perfect man, nothing more and nothing less.” (Reconciliation, page 111).
• Jesus repeatedly accepted worship as God during earthly ministry, but good men did not. Matthew 8:2; Matthew 1:23; John 1:14: Acts 14.
• Jesus’ body not raised but preserved somewhere or dissolved into gases. (Deliverance, p. 170: The Time Is At Hand, p. 129)
“Somewhere Jehovah miraculously preserved that body.” (Deliverance, page 170. This is another of Rutherford’s books.).
• Matthew 28:5-6; Luke 24:39; Acts 2:31-32. God raised up the same Jesus.
• Jesus no longer a man after the resurrection, but a spirit creature. (Reconciliation, p. 298; Studies in Scriptures, V, p. 362).
• The man Christ Jesus is today our Mediator. 1 Timothy 2:5.
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Russellism Tradition
Word of God
• Holy Spirit is not a person, but the active force of God. (Make Sure of All Things, p. 364; Reconciliation, p. 115, 116)
• He is a person: speaks, hears, resists, comforts, wills, guides. John 16:13; Romans 8:26; Is God, Acts 5:3-4. Cf. Romans 15:19, power and Spirit are distinct.
• There is no godhead consisting or composed of three persons. (Reconciliation, p. 100, 101)
• Colossians 2:9; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14
• Christ’s kingdom not fully established in AD 33. The church is not the kingdom. (Make Sure of All things, p. 234; the Truth Shall Make You Free, p. 240)
• Mark 9:1; Colossians 1:13. The church is the kingdom. Hebrews 12:23-28; Matthew 16:18-19.
• The earth will never be destroyed. (Make Sure of All Things, p. 108)
• Matthew 24:35; 2 Peter 3:10 – Earth AND works therein to burn up, dissolve, pass away.
• Instruments of music used in worship. (Not disputed).
• Not authorized, Matthew 15:7-9. Singing only, Ephesians 5:19, etc.
• Lord’s Supper only once a year. (Announcements in various issues of the Watchtower; not disputed)
• Weekly, first day of the week. Acts 20:7
• Baptism called a ‘dedication’ 66 times in Watchtower, July 1, 55; baptism has nothing to do with the remission of sins. (Make Sure, p. 30)
• Acts 2:38; 22:16; 1 Peter 3:21. It is never called a dedication; is ‘for remission of sins.’
• Baptism does not put one into Christ, His body, the church. (Watchtower, July 1, 1955, p. 402, 1st column)
• Galatians 3:27; Romans 6:3-4
• The wicked will not suffer eternal punishment in hell. (Make Sure, p. 162; Enemies, p. 127-8).
• Matthew 25:46; 10:28
• There is no consciousness after physical death. (Creation, p. 204).
• 1 Samuel 28:7-19; Luke 16:19ff; Matthew 17:3 – not a fable, 2 Peter 1:16-18
• A second chance to hear the gospel after this life is over. (Divine Plan of the Ages, p. 305; Make Sure of All Things, p. 322, 323)
• Luke 16:19ff; Acts 1:25; John 8:21-24; Revelation 22:11; Acts 17:30.
• Hell is only the grave. Reconciliation, p. 28; Let God Be True, p. 91.
• Mark 9:43-48; Psalms 9:17. Then only the wicked are to be buried!
• The church is to have exactly 144,000, no more; already filled. (Harp of God, p. 191).
• All the saved are added to the church of Christ, Acts 2:47; Ephesians 5:23. God still saves all who believe and obey Christ,
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Russellism Tradition
Word of God
Mark 16:15-16; Hebrews 5:8-9, until the end
• Hope to live on earth. (Make Sure, p. 108f)
• Heavenly hope, 1 Peter 1:3-4; Colossians 3:1-2; 1 John 2:15. Only ONE hope according to Ephesians 4:4.
• No collections on first day of the week. (Not disputed)
• 1 Corinthians 16:1-2.
• Gospel has never been preached to the whole world. (The Kingdom Is At Hand, p. 316, 344; This Means Everlasting Life, p. 214; Let God Be True, p. 141. Inferred in all these.
• Colossians 1:6, 23, every creature heard.
• Russell prophesied that after 1941 there would be no Odd Fellowship, Free Masonry, trade unions, guilds, trusts ‘and societies secular and ecclesiastical,’ nor navies and armies. (Studies in the Scripture, II, p. 139; VI, p. 633)
• All false prophets condemned, Deuteronomy 18:21-22; Revelation 20:10, tormented day and night for ever and ever.
• Russell once taught that Christ returned to earth in 1874, but now the date has been changed to 1914.
(Russell’s book, Studies in the Scripture, I, p. iii, says certain thought “formerly immaturely seen” was “changed” in later edition of his book. Article in Firm Foundation tell of the court trial where Mr. Franz admitted the change in dates. Studies in Scripture, II, p. 240. See also The Harp of God, p. 237, 244)
• The Watchtower contradicts itself as well as the Bible. Mr. F. W. Franz, their V. Pres., admitted this anachronism in 1954 in the courts of Scotland.
BRIEF HISTORY:
The organizer of this movement was Charles Taze Russell (1844-1916). He embraced Adventism early in life, but at the age of 20 abandoned it primarily due to his opinion that the date fixed by Wm. Miller for the second coming of Christ was erroneous. The insisted that the date of the second advent was 1874, the same year he began to preach (Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. II, p. 240). In our opinion, it seemed no to mater to him that Jesus had said that neither the Son nor the angels knew, but “the Father only” (Mark 13:32).
“Pastor” Russell formally organized his followers in Pittsburgh in 1872, with himself as President. Headquarters were moved to Brooklyn, New York, in 1909. It is reported that about 13,000,000 of Russell’s Studies in the Scriptures (Volumes 1-6) have been circulated. These laid the foundation for the new sect known before 1931 as Millennial Dawniss, International Bible Students and Russellites.
In his six volumes (he prophesied he would write seven, but death overtook him before the task was finished) he maintained that the plan of God was unfolded and made knows through him “as never before”, and added that the “opening of the books of divine revelation will soon be completed” (Vol. 2, p. 189). In addition to this claim of “divine revelation,” Russell maintained that probably never before had anyone (this would include the apostles!) “understood any part” of the book of Revelation (I, p. 27).
It is the old story of an ambitious man claiming that the Bible truths are hidden “from all except the consecrated” (Finished Mystery, p. 65), and saying “Lo! Here is my writing, the long-awaited true explanation.”
Charles Taze Russell’s first book was published in 1886 which he entitled Millennial Dawn. The name was changed to Studies in the Scriptures in 1916, but the disciples of Russell “Millennial Dawnists,” “Russellites,” or “International Bible Students.”
After ‘Pastor’ Russell’s death in 1916, his adherents were slowly culled out and pushed out of the newer organization now headed by Judge Rutherford. Russell’s old Watchtower Society passed into oblivion by federal court order in 1918. Finally, with all
51 | P a g e
of Russell partisans out of the way it was evident to all of Rutherford’s adherents that a new name would have to be selected. This new name was given at a convention held at Columbus, Ohio, October, 1931 (Theocracy, p. 34). The new name, Jehovah’s Witnesses, identified the new sect headed by Rutherford.
In an effort to cover up the newness of the name, it was contended that Jehovah had witnesses from the time of Abel, and that Isaiah 62:2 prophesied the giving of the new name in 1931. Each issue of the Watchtower magazine carries these words on the cover: “You are my witnesses, says Jehovah – Isaiah 43:12.”
Without the Watchtower hierarchy, the slaves would pass into oblivion as sheep without a shepherd . . . and this is precisely what the Watchtower said would happen to a man who lays Russell’s books down and reads the Bible only! “Within two years he goes into darkness!” (September 10, 1910, p. 298).
Today, the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society with main headquarters in Brooklyn, N.Y., prints over 100 million copies of their material in some 80 languages each year.
Russellism Tradition
Word of God
• ‘Jehovah’s Witnesses’ used a name since 1931. (Theocracy, page 34 - one of their books)
• Never used as a name. 1 Peter 4:16
• Have earthly headquarters in New York with president, etc. etc. (Not disputed. See ch. 4, 30 Yrs. Watchtower Slave.)
• God praise through the church only. Ephesians 3:10, 21.
• Charles T. Russell , founder, received revelation of truths heretofore unknown. Scriptures Studies, Vol. I, pp. 20 & 28. (Studies in the Scriptures I, 20, 28)
• Apostles guided into ALL truth. John 16:13; 2 John 9-11.
• ‘Cannot see the divine plan in studying the Bible itself’; without books Russell wrote a person goes into darkness within two years. (Watchtower, September 15, 1910, p. 298)
• 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Ephesians 1:3; 2 Peter 1:3.
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Russellism Tradition
Word of God
“But we see, also that if anyone lays the Scripture Studies aside (Russell’s books) even after he has read them for ten years – if he lays them aside and ignores them and goes to the Bible alone, thought he has understood the Bible for ten years, our experience shows that within two years he goes into darkness.” Watchtower Sept. 15, 1910
• No man has or possesses a soul. (Reconciliation, p. 293).
• Luke 21:19; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; James 1:21.
• Wicked will not be raised with the righteous. (Children, p. 361).
• In the same hour all will come forth from the tombs. John 5:28-29
• Christ’s 2nd coming ‘invisible’ and only to a few persons. (Studies in the Scriptures II, p. 153).
• All, every eye shall see Him. Revelation 1:7
• Jesus was the first creature. (Make Sure of all Things, p. 207).
• Never called creature, but He is Creator of all things. John 1:1; Colossians 1:16; Romans 1:25.
• Jesus not divine while in the flesh but only human. Studies in the Scriptures I, p. 179
“In truth, when Jesus was on earth He was perfect man, nothing more and nothing less.” (Reconciliation, page 111).
• Jesus repeatedly accepted worship as God during earthly ministry, but good men did not. Matthew 8:2; Matthew 1:23; John 1:14: Acts 14.
• Jesus’ body not raised but preserved somewhere or dissolved into gases. (Deliverance, p. 170: The Time Is At Hand, p. 129)
“Somewhere Jehovah miraculously preserved that body.” (Deliverance, page 170. This is another of Rutherford’s books.).
• Matthew 28:5-6; Luke 24:39; Acts 2:31-32. God raised up the same Jesus.
• Jesus no longer a man after the resurrection, but a spirit creature. (Reconciliation, p. 298; Studies in Scriptures, V, p. 362).
• The man Christ Jesus is today our Mediator. 1 Timothy 2:5.
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Russellism Tradition
Word of God
• Holy Spirit is not a person, but the active force of God. (Make Sure of All Things, p. 364; Reconciliation, p. 115, 116)
• He is a person: speaks, hears, resists, comforts, wills, guides. John 16:13; Romans 8:26; Is God, Acts 5:3-4. Cf. Romans 15:19, power and Spirit are distinct.
• There is no godhead consisting or composed of three persons. (Reconciliation, p. 100, 101)
• Colossians 2:9; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14
• Christ’s kingdom not fully established in AD 33. The church is not the kingdom. (Make Sure of All things, p. 234; the Truth Shall Make You Free, p. 240)
• Mark 9:1; Colossians 1:13. The church is the kingdom. Hebrews 12:23-28; Matthew 16:18-19.
• The earth will never be destroyed. (Make Sure of All Things, p. 108)
• Matthew 24:35; 2 Peter 3:10 – Earth AND works therein to burn up, dissolve, pass away.
• Instruments of music used in worship. (Not disputed).
• Not authorized, Matthew 15:7-9. Singing only, Ephesians 5:19, etc.
• Lord’s Supper only once a year. (Announcements in various issues of the Watchtower; not disputed)
• Weekly, first day of the week. Acts 20:7
• Baptism called a ‘dedication’ 66 times in Watchtower, July 1, 55; baptism has nothing to do with the remission of sins. (Make Sure, p. 30)
• Acts 2:38; 22:16; 1 Peter 3:21. It is never called a dedication; is ‘for remission of sins.’
• Baptism does not put one into Christ, His body, the church. (Watchtower, July 1, 1955, p. 402, 1st column)
• Galatians 3:27; Romans 6:3-4
• The wicked will not suffer eternal punishment in hell. (Make Sure, p. 162; Enemies, p. 127-8).
• Matthew 25:46; 10:28
• There is no consciousness after physical death. (Creation, p. 204).
• 1 Samuel 28:7-19; Luke 16:19ff; Matthew 17:3 – not a fable, 2 Peter 1:16-18
• A second chance to hear the gospel after this life is over. (Divine Plan of the Ages, p. 305; Make Sure of All Things, p. 322, 323)
• Luke 16:19ff; Acts 1:25; John 8:21-24; Revelation 22:11; Acts 17:30.
• Hell is only the grave. Reconciliation, p. 28; Let God Be True, p. 91.
• Mark 9:43-48; Psalms 9:17. Then only the wicked are to be buried!
• The church is to have exactly 144,000, no more; already filled. (Harp of God, p. 191).
• All the saved are added to the church of Christ, Acts 2:47; Ephesians 5:23. God still saves all who believe and obey Christ,
54 | P a g e
Russellism Tradition
Word of God
Mark 16:15-16; Hebrews 5:8-9, until the end
• Hope to live on earth. (Make Sure, p. 108f)
• Heavenly hope, 1 Peter 1:3-4; Colossians 3:1-2; 1 John 2:15. Only ONE hope according to Ephesians 4:4.
• No collections on first day of the week. (Not disputed)
• 1 Corinthians 16:1-2.
• Gospel has never been preached to the whole world. (The Kingdom Is At Hand, p. 316, 344; This Means Everlasting Life, p. 214; Let God Be True, p. 141. Inferred in all these.
• Colossians 1:6, 23, every creature heard.
• Russell prophesied that after 1941 there would be no Odd Fellowship, Free Masonry, trade unions, guilds, trusts ‘and societies secular and ecclesiastical,’ nor navies and armies. (Studies in the Scripture, II, p. 139; VI, p. 633)
• All false prophets condemned, Deuteronomy 18:21-22; Revelation 20:10, tormented day and night for ever and ever.
• Russell once taught that Christ returned to earth in 1874, but now the date has been changed to 1914.
(Russell’s book, Studies in the Scripture, I, p. iii, says certain thought “formerly immaturely seen” was “changed” in later edition of his book. Article in Firm Foundation tell of the court trial where Mr. Franz admitted the change in dates. Studies in Scripture, II, p. 240. See also The Harp of God, p. 237, 244)
• The Watchtower contradicts itself as well as the Bible. Mr. F. W. Franz, their V. Pres., admitted this anachronism in 1954 in the courts of Scotland.