Pastor Russell Not the Founder of Jehovah's Witnesses
Contrary to some publicity made
concerning "Jehovah's Witnesses," Pastor Charles Taze Russell is not the founder
of this religious group. He was never associated with them, nor did he ever claim the
name. Pastor Russell died in 1916, while the "Jehovah's Witnesses" did not come
into existence until 1931. Linking Pastor Russell with "Jehovah's Witnesses"
leaves the decidedly mistaken view that their teachings and beliefs are alike. Such is not
the case.
Pastor Russell founded what has been
called "The Bible Student's Association." This movement had its beginning in the
1860's in Allegheny, Pa. when earnest Christians formed a Bible class for advanced Bible
study to meet the then rising wave of infidelity. In 1879, Zion's Watch Tower Society was
formed, later knows as The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. This Society did not
become the central authority for the Bible Students, for all cooperating congregations of
Bible Students held strictly to congregational self-government. The Society only served to
coordinate the activities of the various congregations.
After the death of Pastor Russell in
1916 the purpose of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society changed completely. The
teachings of the six volumes of "Studies In The Scriptures" were discarded. The
congregations in harmony with the Society relinquished congregational rule. The Society
became the central head and authority over all congregations willing to yield their
sovereignty. Basic doctrines of the Society seriously digressed from the teachings of
Pastor Russell, and before long Judge Rutherford declared that those associated with the
Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society were "Jehovah's Witnesses" on this earth.
Here is where the name emerged -- certainly not in Pastor Russell's time.
After Pastor Russell's death, The
Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society began to rise as a hierarchy over the once independent
congregations. Many refused to surrender their Christian liberty and here started the work
of separation. As early as 1917 this exodus from the Society began, and those who
appreciated the wonderful harmony of the Bible as taught by Pastor Russell are today known
as "Associated Bible Students."
The following doctrines are an
example as to how Bible Students still retain the basic teachings of Pastor Russell in
contrast with "Jehovah's Witnesses," who do not.
BIBLE STUDENTS: Pastor Russell
was led to believe in a future probation because millions have died and continue to die
without hearing the Gospel. Of those that do hear, uncertainty and confusion exists in
their minds because Christianity of today is burdened with contradictory beliefs and
teachings.
JW'S: "Jehovah's
Witnesses" see no further probation for any of the present generation who do not
subscribe to their teachings - which means that a large percentage of the world's
population is to perish eternally in Armageddon. In this respect their views are less
generous than most established Churches. They not only see no hope for those who live
today, who do not subscribe to their teachings, but they entertain no hope for a large
percentage of the millions who have gone into the grave since the creation of man. For
example, JW'S believe that the people of Sodom and Gomorrah, etc. have perished eternally,
with no hope for a resurrection.
BIBLE STUDENTS: Pastor Russell
pointed to the Scriptures, such as Ezek. 16:55, where it declares that these are all going
to return to their "former estate." And our Lord, in Matt. 10:15, confirms this
thought when he said, "It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah
in the day of judgment than for that city"- (speaking of the Jews). Thus our Lord
pointed forward to a day of judgment for those people who died centuries ago. And again it
says, in Acts 17:31 that, "He hath appointed a day in which He will judge the world
in righteousness."
JW'S: "Jehovah's
Witnesses" deny that Adam will ever have a resurrection, while the Scriptures plainly
state that Jesus Christ tasted death "for every man." Heb. 2:9; 1 Tim. 2:5,6.
BIBLE STUDENTS: Pastor Russell
pointed to these scriptures and many others such as 1 Cor. 15:22 - "As in Adam all
die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." Also Hosea 13:14 - "I will
ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be
they plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction."
Pastor Russell taught, according to
the Scriptures, that now is "the day of salvation" for those who are to be the
Bride of Christ, the Little Flock; and that another day - a day of salvation is awaiting
mankind in general, in the Millennial Age - "the times of restitution of all things
which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began."
One of the main teachings of Pastor
Russell was that all would be enlightened with a knowledge of God's Truth before they are
placed on trial and judged for their final destiny. For the majority of mankind this would
be when they are raised from the dead at the time of the general resurrection. Their final
judgment would be based on their conduct while enlightened, not while in ignorance. This
teaching separated Bible Students from all other religious groups. Now it separates them
from "Jehovah's Witnesses" as well. This view broke with the concept of
salvation current in his day. At that time nearly all evangelists taught a literal hell of
torment for those who did not accept Christ in this life. They felt hell-fire threats were
necessary to restrain evil and, if need be, to bring salvation by fear. Many theologians
have since broadened their concept of salvation beyond this life, but "Jehovah's
Witnesses" hold strongly to the position that those who reject their message are
rejecting salvation.
Contrary to our Lord's Word, every
"Jehovah's Witness" becomes a missionary of life or death, using the fear of
eternal destruction or second death as their final appeal.
The Jewish People: Israel, and the
Jewish people, present another major difference between Pastor Russell and the JW's. After
applying the Scripture, "Ye are my witnesses saith Jehovah" (Isa. 43:12) to
themselves, "Jehovah's Witnesses" declare that the Jewish people have no special
role in the Divine Plan since the death of Jesus. On the contrary, Pastor Russell taught
that the Jewish people and nation have a leading role in the Divine Plan for man, and
accordingly during the year 1910 he spoke to vast Jewish audiences, comforting them
according to the Scripture, Isa. 40:2 - "Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry
unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned; for she hath
received of the Lord's hand double for all her sins." He encouraged them not to join
the various churches of today but to wait for the fulfillment of the many Old Testament
promises that they would be blessed as a nation.
While they were yet a scattered and
dispersed people, he said, upon the basis of these promises, that they would be regathered
to Palestine and established as an independent nation. Time has proven this to be so.
Although denied by "Jehovah's Witnesses," Bible Students today teach that the
new state of Israel emerged in Divine Providence and is a precursor to the fulfillment of
God's promise to that nation that, - "Lo the days come, saith the Lord, that I will
bring again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, saith the Lord: and I will cause
them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it."
(Jer. 30:3)
And again, Jer.24:6, 7, says, -
"I will set mine eyes upon them for good, and I will bring them again to this land:
and I will build them and not pull them down; and I will plant them and not pluck them up.
And I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord: and they shall be my people,
and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart."
And a further promise in Jer.
31:27-34 was that, - "Like as I have watched over them to pluck up, and to destroy
and to afflict; so will I watch over them to build and to plant, saith the Lord... and I
will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah; not
according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in that day that I took them by
the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they break... but this
shall be the covenant that I will make... I will put my Law in their inward parts and
write it in their hearts... and they shall be my people... I will forgive their iniquity
and I will remember their sin no more."
From these facts it can be seen that
Pastor Charles T. Russell was neither in principle nor in spirit, the founder of
"Jehovah's Witnesses."
