For any J.W. on this site.....do you think the teachings of Charles Russell?

Question

go against what the Bible says? Who gave him authority to change things? Before answering, please view this sight.

http://www.soulright.com/origin.html

Answer 1

I am very familiar with the teachings of Charles Russell so felt no need to view the website you cited.

You pose an interesting question for Jehovah's Witnesses because their whole religious system was started by and based on the teachings of Charles Russell. It is therefore incumbent upon them to view him as a true prophet; otherwise, they would admit to following a false prophet. Russell himself wrote of how God directed him to understandings of time prophecies by saying "These prophetic time-proofs were largely God's means of drawing the attention of the writer (meaning himself, Charles Russell) to other features of the Divine Plan."

His most important time-proof was his belief that Jesus had returned invisibly to the earth in 1874 and after a harvest that would last 40 years, God's Kingdom would take full control of the earth and cancel the lease of the Gentile nations on earth, thus ending the "times of the Gentiles". Many people believed this to be the "truth" and because it was dispensed by Pastor Russell, they looked to him for more truth. Obviously, it wasn't the truth but by the time it became obvious that Russell's ideas were wrong, his followers were so firmly committed in their belief that the Lord was using him that they continued to follow anyone who "filled his shoes".

The Watchtower magazine was originally named by Russell, "The Watchtower and HERALD OF CHRIST'S PRESENCE". The main purpose of the WT was to herald the "truth" that Jesus had returned (invisibly) to earth in 1874 and was "present". Do Jehovah's Witnesses believe that today? No.
One might ask: If he actually was a true prophet, why do Jehovah's Witnesses today not believe what he said?

In view of the JW concern about the origins of most everything, one also wonders how they can conscienciously distribute a magazine that originated for the very purpose of spreading a false doctrine, namely the return of Christ in 1874.

Answer 2

Many did not believe Jesus either, in fact his own people wanted him put to death and upon their insistance , he was. Russell was not perfect but thanks to him, we are now free from Babylon the Great, the world empire of false religion. The person who has that website is surely an apostate--one who once was a true servant of Jehovah, but was disfellowshipped for doing something that God condemns and now in resentment, make up lies about the same people he once called "brother and sister" There are many apostate websites that bring false charges against God's faithful servants. Thanks to brother Russell, we do not involve oursellves in politics, or go to war because we can not take anyones life. We love our enemies and pray for them and we are no part of the world. We are the only ones who are preaching the good news of God's Kingdom to all the inhabited earth before the end comes, thereby fulfilling Bible prophecy.As far as authority goes--who gave Emperor Constantine authority to start Christendom? Brother Russell had a sincere desire to worship God in the way he approves. Constantine was a pagan sun worshipper, so I truly believe Mr Russell had divine backing. It was God's time to bring true christianity back to life, the way it was in Jesus' day.

Answer 3

Why pick on JW's, you could ask that ??? to all of your religions, they were started by a man or women, just a branch off the Catholic church, which JW's are not.

Has your minister, priest or religious leader mentioned this wonderful hope to you? Of course they have not, most clergymen say nothing about it. In fact, many do not even believe the Bible. This is an important reason why Jehovah’s witnesses call at the homes of people of other religions.

The efforts of Jehovah’s witnesses to approach people in public and at their homes are rooted in the Word of God. Jesus himself went directly to the people, and he instructed his apostles and disciples to do likewise.

The Witnesses’ beliefs, based entirely on God’s Word, the Bible, prevent them from falling into the trap of becoming a sect or a cult. They take a kindly interest in all other people, of whatever religious persuasion. No, they do not try to force these people to change their viewpoint. They endeavor to imitate their Leader, Christ Jesus, by presenting Scriptural evidence of the trouble-free Paradise that will soon be established on earth.—Matthew 28:19, 20; 1 Peter 2:21.

Answer 4

I can tell that in the judgement, you won't stand a chance