In 1886, The Divine Plan of the
Ages, the first volume of the series Studies in the Scriptures was released, in
later years five more volumes would be released, some fifteen million copies were
distributed during the authors lifetime.
Shortly after the death of C.T.
Russell, his books were replaced with the writings of J.F. Rutherford. Rutherford's books
were eventually replaced with books by succeeding leaders. Why were Russell's books
replaced? According to the book "God's Kingdom of a Thousand Years Has
Approached" [WtBTS, 1973, p. 347] Russell's books were promoting creature worship. Thus the
Watchtower Society stated "... in the year 1927 any remaining stocks of the six
volumes of Studies in the Scriptures by Russell ... were disposed of among the
public" [ibid, p. 347]
Is this true? Were Russell's writings
discarded in the year 1927? According to the Watch Tower the Studies in the Scriptures
were still being offered to the public as late as November 1929.
"The Society has decided to
designate the week beginning November 10 as a special drive week for the sale of
Studies in the Scriptures" [Watchtower 11/01/29, p. 322]
The fact that the Society
"decided to designate" the sale of the Scripture Studies shows that the
remaining stock was not disposed of in 1927. Some may say, the Society made a mistake,
they were off by two years, the remaining stock was disposed of in 1929, not 1927.
Again, let us look at the facts ...
in the paper "Bulletin for Jehovah's witnesses" published in December
1932, it stated that some 1,646,316 bound books were placed in the hands of the public,
and that "... during 1931 over 100,000 Studies in the Scriptures were
included in the total ...".
Again, this is 1932, a year after the
Watchtower changed the name of their followers to "Jehovah's witnesses", the
fact that the Society would sell Russell's books, books which they were no longer in
agreement with is a story in itself, but here we are a five year gap between 1927 and
1932, were the researchers of "God Kingdom" simply careless in their research?
What do the facts tell us?
In the "Watchtower Cost List"
of February 1, 1962, on page 12, under "Other Items" there is listed, the set of
Studies in the Scriptures. 35 years after 1927, as late as 1976 in the Society's
"Kingdom Ministry" there is an announcement that "The Battle of
Armageddon" Volume 4 of Studies in the Scriptures, was now out of stock.
So, were the researchers of the "God's Kingdom" book, careless or were they
trying to hide the truth? No one can know for sure, but there have been other
discrepancies in the Society's history.
The Bible Students continue to offer
the set of Studies in the Scriptures for those interested in learning about God's
Plans and purposes. Why not order your set today?
The six volumes will be sent anywhere
in the USA, a complimentary copy of The Divine Plan of the Ages, will be sent to
anyone in the world.
