Jehovah's
Witnesses
Brief History
The organizer of this movement was Charles Taze Russell (1854-1916).
He embraced the Adventism early in life, but at the age of 20 abandoned
it primarily due to his opinion that the date fixed by William 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. II, 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" (Mar. 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 million of Russell's
Studies in the Scriptures (Vols. 1-6) have been circulated. These
laid the foundation for the new sect known before 1931 as Millenial
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 (I, p.27).
It is the old story of an ambitious man claiming that the Bible truths
are hidden "from all except the consecreated" (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 Millenial 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 "Millenial 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 Isa. 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 - Isa. 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!"
(Sept. 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.
Belief System
Russellism 1 - ' Jehovah's
Witnesses' used as a name since 1931 (Theocracy, p.34).
Word of God 1 - Never
used as a name (1 Pet. 4:16).
Russellism 2 - Have
earthly headquarters in N.Y. with president, etc..etc.. (Not disputed.
See Ch. 4, 30 Yrs. Watchtower Slave).
Word of God 2 - God
praised through the church only (Eph. 3:10, 21).
Russellism 3 - Charles
T. Russell, founder, received revelation of truths heretofore unknown
(Scripture Studies, Vol. 1, pp.20 & 28).
Word of God 3 - Apostles
guided into ALL truth (Joh. 16:13; 2 Joh. 9-11).
Russellism 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). "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).
Word of God 4 - 2 Tim.
3:16-17; Eph. 1:3; 2 Pet. 1:3.
Russellism 5 - No man
has or possesses a soul (Reconciliation, p.293).
Word of God 5 - Luk.
21:19; 1 Thes. 5:23; Jam. 1:21.
Russellism 6 - Wicked
will not be raised with the righteous (Children, p.361).
Word of God 6 - In
the same hour all will come forth from the tombs (Joh. 5:28-29).
Russellism 7 - Christ's
2nd coming 'invisible' and only to a few persons (Studies in the Scriptures,
II, p. 153).
Word of God 7 - All,
every eye shall see Him (Rev. 1:7).
Russellism 8 - Jesus
was the first creature (Make Sure of all Things, p.207).
Word of God 8 - Never
called a creature, but He is Creator of all things (Joh. 1:1; Col.
1:16; Rom. 1:25).
Russellism 9 - Jesus
not divine while in the flesh but only human (Studies in the Scriptures,
I, p.179; Reconciliation, p. 111). "In truth, when Jesus was
on earth He was a perfect man, nothing more and nothing less".
Word of God 9 - Jesus
repeatedly accepted worship as God during earthly ministry, but good
men did not (Mat. 8:2; 1:23; Joh. 1:14; Act. 14).
Russellism 10 - Jesus'
body not raised but preserved somewhere or dissolved into gases (Deliverance,
p.170: The Time Is At Hand, p.129).
Word of God 10 - Mat.
28:5-6; Luk. 24:39; Act. 2:31-32. God raised the same Jesus.
Russellism 11 - Jesus
no longer a man after the resurrection, but a spirit creature (Reconciliation,
p.298; Studies in the Scriptures, V, p.362).
Word of God 11 - The
man Christ Jesus is today our mediator (1 Tim. 2:5).
Russellism 12 - Holy
Spirit is not a person, but the active force of God (Make Sure of
All Things, p.364; Reconciliation, p.115, 116).
Word of God 12 - He
is a person: speaks, hears, resists, comforts, wills, and guides (Joh.
16:13; Rom. 8:26; Is God, Act. 5:3-4. Cf. Rom. 15:19, power and Spirit
are distinct).
Russellism 13 - There
is no godhead consisting or composed of three persons (Reconciliation,
p.100, 101).
Word of God 13 - Col.
2:9; Mat. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14.
Russellism 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;
Studies of the Scriptures, I, p.73).
Word of God 14 - Mar.
9:1; Col. 1:13. The church is the kingdom. (Heb. 12:23-28; Mat. 16:18-19).
Russellism 15 - The
earth will never be destroyed (Make Sure of All Things, p.108).
Word of God 15 - Mat.
24:35; 2 Pet. 3:10 - Earth AND works therein to burn up, dissolve,
pass away.
Russellism 16 - Instruments
of music used in worship (Not Disputed).
Word of God 16 - Not
authorized (Mat. 15:7-9. Singing only, Eph. 5:19, etc).
Russellism 17 - Lord's
Supper only once a year (Not Disputed).
Word of God 17 - Weekly,
the first day of the week (Act. 20:7).
Russellism 18 - Baptism
called a 'dedication' 66 times in the Watchtower, July 1, 1955; baptism
has nothing to do with the remission of sins (Make Sure of All Things,
p.30).
Word of God 18 - Act.
2:38; 22:16; 1 Pet. 3:21. It is never called a 'dedication'; it is
'for the remission of sins'.
Russellism 19 - Baptism
does not put one into Christ, His body, the church (Watchtower, July
1, 1955, p.402, 1st Column).
Word of God 19 - Gal.
3:27; Rom. 6:3-4.
Russellism 20 - The
wicked will not suffer eternal punishment in hell (Make Sure of All
Things, p.162; Enemies, p.127-8).
Word of God 20 - Mat.
25:46; 10:28.
Russellism 21 - There
is no consciousness after physical death (Creation p.204).
Word of God 21 - 1
Sam. 28:7-19; Luk. 16:19ff; Mat. 17:3 - not a fable, 2 Pet. 1:16-18.
Russellism 22 - 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).
Word of God 22 - Luk.
16:19ff; Act. 1:25; Joh. 8:21-24; Rev. 22:11; Act. 17:30.
Russellism 23 - Hell
is only the grave (Reconciliation, p.28; Let God Be True, p.91).
Word of God 23 - Mar.
9:43; Psa. 9:17. Then only the wicked are to be buried?!
Russellism 24 - The
church is to have exactly 144,000, no more; already filled (Harp of
God, p.191).
Word of God 24 - All
the saved are added to the church of Christ (Act. 2:47; Eph. 5:23).
God still saves all who believe and obey Christ (mar. 16:15-16; Heb.
5:8-9, until the end.
Russellism 25 - Hope
to live on earth (Make Sure of All Things, p.108f).
Word of God 25 - Heavenly
hope, 1 Pet. 1:3-4; Col. 3:1-2; 1 Joh. 2:15. Only ONE hope according
to Eph. 4:4.
Russellism 26 - No
collections on first day of week (Not Disputed).
Word of God 26 - 1
Cor. 16:1-2.
Russellism 27 - 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 of these).
Word of God 27 - Col.
1:6, 23, every creature heard.
Russellism 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 (Studies of the Scriptures, II, p.139; VI, p.633).
Word of God 28 - All
false prophets condemned (Deu. 18:21-22; Rev. 20:10, tormented day
and night forever and ever.
Russellism 29 - 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 Scriptures,
I, p.iii, says certain thought "formerly immaturely seen"
was "changed" in later edition of his book. Article in Firm
Foundation tells of the court trial where Mr. Franz admitted the changes
in dates. Studies in the Scriptures, II, p.240. See also The Harp
of God, p.237, 244).
Word of God 29 - The
Watchtower contradicts itself as well as the Bible. Mr. F. W. Franz,
their Vice President, admitted this anachronism in 1954 in the courts
of Scotland.
