Brief History:
The organizer of this movement was Charles Taze Russell. 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 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. VERSES THE WORD OF GOD.
1. 'Jehovah's Witnesses' used as a name since 1931. 1. Theocracy, page 34 (one of their books)
2. Have earthly headquarters in New York with president, etc., etc. 2. Not disputed. See ch. 4, 30 Yrs. Watchtower Slave.
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.
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.
5. No man has or possesses a Soul. 5. Reconciliation, p. 293.
6. Wicked will not be raised with the righteous. 6. Children, p. 361.
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.
8. Jesus was the first creature. 8. Make Sure of all Things~ p. 207.
9. Jesus not divine while in the flesh but only human. SS, 1, p. 179. 9. also Reconciliation, P. 111.
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.).
11. The earth will never be destroyed. 15. Make Sure of All Things, p. 108.
12. The wicked will not suffer eternal punishment in hell. 20. Make Sure, p. 162; Enemies, p. 127‑8.
13. There is no consciousness after physical death. 21. Creation, P. 204.
14. 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.
15. Hell is only the grave. 23. Reconciliation, p. 28; Let God Be True, p. 91.
16. The church is to have exactly 144,000, no more; already filled 24. Harp of God, p. 19 L.
The entire context of Revelation is allegorical; if the 144,000 is a literal number, they must be literal VIRGINS as well.
17. 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.
Romans 16:25,26 NASB: "Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past, but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith;"
18. 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.
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.
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