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.