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JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES
Brief History:
The
organizer of this movement was Charles Taze
Russell (1854‑1916). 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. He insisted that
the date of the second advent was 1874, the same year he began to preach
(Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. 11, p. 240). In our opinion, it seemed not
to matter 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 Millennia Dawnists, 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 known 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 (1, 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 came to be known in the
early ‑stages of the movement as "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 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. THE WORD OF GOD.
1. 'Jehovah's Witnesses' used as a name since 1931. 1.
Theocracy, page 34 (one of their books)
1. Never used as a name. 1 Peter 4:16.
2. Have earthly headquarters in New York with president, etc., etc. 2.
Not disputed. See ch. 4, 30 Yrs. Watchtower Slave.
2. God praised through the church only. Ephesians 3: 10,21.
3. Charles T. Russell, founder, received revelation of
truths heretofore unknown. Scripture Studies, Vol. 1, pp. 20 & 28. 3.
Studies in the Scriptures, 1, 20, 28.
3. Apostles guided into ALL truth. John 16:13; 2 John 9‑11.
4. 'Cannot see the divine plan in studying the Bible
itself'; without books Russell wrote a person goes into darkness within two
years. Watchtower, Sept. 15, 1910, p. 298. 4. Watchtower, September 15,1910, p. 298. "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, though he has understood the
Bible for ten years, our experience shows that within two years he goes
into darkness." Watchtower Sept. 15, 1910.
4. 2 Timothy 3:16‑17; Ephesians 1 :3; 2 Peter 1 :3.
5. No man has or possesses a Soul. 5. Reconciliation,
p. 293.
5. Luke 21:19; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; James 1:21.
6. Wicked will not be raised with the righteous. 6.
Children, p. 361.
6. In the same hour all will come forth from the tombs. John 5:28‑29.
7. Christ's 2nd coming 'invisible' and only to a 7.
Studies in the Scriptures, II, p. 153. few persons. SS, I L, p. 153.
7. All, every eye shall see Him. Revelation 1:7.
8. Jesus was the first creature. 8. Make Sure of all
Things~ p. 207.
8. Never called creature, but He is Creator of
all things. John 11; Colossians 1:16; Romans 1:25.
9. Jesus not divine while in the flesh but only human.
SS, 1, p. 179. 9. also Reconciliation, P. 111.
"In
truth, when Jesus was on earth He was a perfect man, nothing more and
nothing less." (Reconciliation, page 111).
9. 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.
10. Jesus' body not raised but preserved somewhere or
dissolved into gases. (Deliverance, p. 170: The Time Is At Hand, p. 129).
10. Deliverance, p. 170; also The Time Is At Hand, p. 129.
"Somewhere
Jehovah miraculously preserved that body." (Deliverance, page 170.
This is another of Rutherford's books.).
10. Matthew 28:5‑6; Luke 24:39; Acts 2:31‑32.
God raised up the same Jesus.
11. Jesus no longer a man after the resurrection, but a
spirit creature. 11. Reconciliation. p. 298; St in Sure, V, p. 362.
11. The man Christ Jesus is today our Mediator. I Timothy 2:5.
12. Holy Spirit is not a person, but the active force of
God." 12.Make Sure of All Things, p. 364; Reconciliation, p. 115,116.
12. 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.
13. There is no godhead consisting or composed of three
persons. 13. Reconciliation, p. 100, 101.
13. Colossians 2:9; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians
13:14.
14. Christ's kingdom not fully established in AD 33. The
church is not the kingdom. 14. Make Sure of All Things, p. 234; The
Truth Shall Make You Free, p. 240 1 in the Scrip., I p. 73
14. Mark 9:11; Colossians 1:13. The church is the kingdom. Hebrews
12:2328; Matthew 11.61849.
15. The earth will never be destroyed. 15. Make Sure
of All Things, p. 108.
15. Matthew 24:35; 2 Peter 3:10‑Earth AND
works therein to burn up, dissolve, pass away.
16. Instruments of music used in worship. 16. Not
disputed.
16. Not authorized. Matthew 15:7‑9. Singing
only, Ephesians 5:19, etc.
17. Lord's Supper on I y once a year. 17.
Announcements in various issues of the Watchtower; not disputed.
17. Weekly, first day of week. Acts 20:7.
18. Baptism called a 'dedication' 66 times in
Watchtower, July 1, '55; baptism has nothing to do with
the remission of sins. 18. Make Sure, P. 30.
18. Acts 2:38; 22:16; 1 Peter 3:21. It is never
called a dedication; is 'for remission of sins.'
19. Baptism does not put one into Christ, His body, the
church. 19. Watchtower, July 1, 1955, p. 402, 1st column.
19. Galatians 3 : 27; Romans 6:34.
20. The wicked will not suffer eternal punishment in
hell. 20. Make Sure, p. 162; Enemies, p. 127‑8.
20. Matthew 25:46; 10:28.
21. There is no consciousness after physical death. 21.
Creation, P. 204.
21.1 Samuel 28:7‑19; 21 Luke 16:19ff;
Matthew 17: 3‑not a fable, 2
Peter 1: 16 18.
22. A second chance to hear the gospel after this life is over. 22.
Devine Plan of the Ages, p. 305; Make Sure of AD Things, p. 322, 323.
22. Luke 16:19ff; Acts 1:
25;‑
John 8:21‑24; Revelation 22:11; Acts 17:30.
23. Hell is only the grave. 23. Reconciliation, p. 28; Let God Be True,
p. 91.
23. Mark 9:43‑48: Psalms 9: 17. Then only
the wicked are to be buried!
24. The church
is to have exactly 144,000, no more; already filled 24. Harp of God, p.
19 L.
24. 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, Mark 16:15‑16; Hebrews 5:8‑9, until the end.
25. Hope to live on earth. 25. Make Sure, P. 108f.
25. Heavenly hope, 1 Peter 1:3‑4;
Colossians 3:1‑2; 1 John 2:15. Only ONE hope according to
Ephesians 4:4.
26. No collections on first day of the week.
26. Not disputed.
26. 1 Corinthians 16:1‑2.
27. Gospel has
never been preached to the whole world. 27. The Kingdom Is At Hand, p. 316,
344; This Means Everlasting Life, p. 214 Lat God Be True. p. 14 1. Inferred
in all these.
27. Colossians 1:6, 23, every creature heard.
28. Russell
prophesied that after 1914 there would be no Odd Fellowship, Free Masonry,
trade unions, guilds, trusts 'and societies secular and ecclesiastical,'
nor navies and armies. SS, 11, 139; VI, 633. 28. St. in Scrip., 11, p. 139; V1, p.
633.
28. All false prophets condemned, Deuteronomy 18:
21‑22; Revelation 20:10, tormented day and night forever and ever.
29. Russell
once taught that Christ returned to earth in 1874, but now the date has
been changed to 1914 29.
Russell's book, St. in the Scrip., 1, p. Hi, says certain thought
"formerly immaturely seen" was "changed" in later
edition of his book Article in Firm Foundation tags of the court trial
where Mr. Franz admitted die change in dates. St. in Scrip., 14 p. 240. See also
The Harp of God, p. 237, 244.
29. 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.
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