Do you know that the Jehovah's Witnesses was started by a Charles Taze Russell in 1870?
And if you know this, is it logical to believe that people have only known the truth since 1870? and is it logical to believe that all the years before that people were just in the dark?
2007-05-20 16:55:41 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Most Witnesses recognize that Russell was a central figure in the modern history of Jehovah's Witnesses.
But Jehovah's Witnesses have never pretended to be followers of Charles Russell any more than they pretended to be followers of Paul or Apollos or Cephas or of ANYONE but Christ Jesus. When seven million Jehovah's Witnesses preach from door to door each month, they work to preach the "good news about the Christ".
(1 Corinthians 1:12-17) What I mean is this, that each one of you says: “I belong to Paul,” “But I to Apollos,” “But I to Cephas,” ...Paul was not impaled for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? ...Christ dispatched me, not to go baptizing, but to go declaring the good news
(Philippians 1:26,27) That your exultation may overflow in Christ Jesus... Only behave in a manner worthy of the good news about the Christ
Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/20030815/
http://watchtower.org/e/jt/index.htm?article=article_02.htm
2007-05-22 03:06:09 · answer #1 · answered by achtung_heiss 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Jehovah's Witnesses have been around as long as humans have been here. (Isaiah 43:10-12; Hebrews 11:4 --12:1)
Charles Taze Russell founded the Watchtower Bible & Tract Society, which is the legal and publishing entity used by Jehovah's Witnesses in the dissemination of the good news of the kingdom, spoken of in Matthew 24:14. (Matthew 28:19, 20)
2007-05-21 08:45:44 · answer #2 · answered by Abdijah 7 · 5⤊ 1⤋
People are still in the dark.
Trinitarians had been killing those who denied the trinity for centuries.
Scholars readily admit that the trinity isn't taught in the bible, yet people continue to reject the proof.
rs p. 405 pars. 1-2 Trinity ***
The New Encyclopædia Britannica says: “Neither the word Trinity, nor the explicit doctrine as such, appears in the New Testament, nor did Jesus and his followers intend to contradict the Shema in the Old Testament: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord’ (Deut. 6:4). . . . The doctrine developed gradually over several centuries and through many controversies. . . . By the end of the 4th century . . . the doctrine of the Trinity took substantially the form it has maintained ever since.”—(1976), Micropædia, Vol. X, p. 126.
The New Catholic Encyclopedia states: “The formulation ‘one God in three Persons’ was not solidly established, certainly not fully assimilated into Christian life and its profession of faith, prior to the end of the 4th century. But it is precisely this formulation that has first claim to the title the Trinitarian dogma. Among the Apostolic Fathers, there had been nothing even remotely approaching such a mentality or perspective.”—(1967), Vol. XIV, p. 299.
*** rs p. 406 par. 1 Trinity ***
In The Encyclopedia Americana we read: “Christianity derived from Judaism and Judaism was strictly Unitarian [believing that God is one person]. The road which led from Jerusalem to Nicea was scarcely a straight one. Fourth century Trinitarianism did not reflect accurately early Christian teaching regarding the nature of God; it was, on the contrary, a deviation from this teaching.”—(1956), Vol. XXVII, p. 294L.
(Romans 15:3-6) . . .” 4 For all the things that were written aforetime were written for our instruction, that through our endurance and through the comfort from the Scriptures we might have hope. 5 Now may the God who supplies endurance and comfort grant YOU to have among yourselves the same mental attitude that Christ Jesus had, 6 that with one accord YOU may with one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
John said the anti-christ was alive in his day.
Paul said the end wouldn't come until the great apostacy came.
This happened in the 4th century when people rejected Jesus' clear and easy to understand teachings and adopted pagan and greek philosophy.
The trinity is a teaching of Plato, and not Christ. John 3:16.
2007-05-21 12:15:28 · answer #3 · answered by TeeM 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Russell owned the publishing company which took over publishing The Watchtower (and its various taglines, such as: "...and Herald of Christ's Presence" or "Announcing Jehovah's Kingdom" etc.) When Russell died, in defiance of his last will and testament leaving his company to a committee to run, it was taken over by Joseph "Judge" Rutherford, in what would be called today a hostile corporate takeover.
The mythology of those early witness days was molded more by Rutherford than anyone else. Those who disagreed with him were called "evil slave" who left the association of the "Bible students" that had gathered around Russell.
Rutherford used the mysticism surrounding Russell as a foundation but took off and ran with it. When Russell's predictions and numerology (the pyramid math) didn't come true, Rutherford used the great "invisible" explanation that others had used before. It's not that the thing didn't happen, he had them saying.... it was that their expectation of the details was wrong and just needed a little adjusting.
It was Rutherford who came up with the name "Jehovah's witnesses" in order to make the religion stand out from other Christian denominations. And it was he who came up with the business structure for the religion that he used as his free distribution system.
This stuff is documented in books, on the net, and in court records. But even today, the witnesses try to spin it. Every one of their publications that mentions Russell and/or Rutherford talks about how they were part of the outworking of God's intention to gather Christians together in these last days.
Today, they don't have a bridge for sale... just a lot of property they're selling in view of the Brooklyn Bridge.
2007-05-22 20:01:52 · answer #4 · answered by Suzanne 5 · 2⤊ 2⤋
You guys have almost ALL stated that Charles Taze Russell started the Watchtower Publications, not Jehovah's Witnesses.
That statement verifies the following fact:
*The Watchtower is a business, not a religion, that is in business for itself. It makes money off its publications. It's marketing pitch is the promise of eternal life. The baptized JWs are part of a multilevel pyramid scheme (go figure) of recruiters that are called "publishers". They then go out and get other people to become "publishers". There is a clear agenda in Brooklyn. MONEY.
Have you guys ever researched the things that go on at Bethel? It seems that living there makes you want to leave the "truth" rather than grow stronger in your faith....
PS- He started the magazine based on occult practices.... why would true Children of God want anything to do with that? I mean this is surely much much worse in the eyes of God than celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior at Christmas.
2007-05-22 15:31:09 · answer #5 · answered by ~♥Anna♥~ 5 · 3⤊ 2⤋
No C.T.Russell did not 'start Jehovah's Witnesses'.
He did found the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society.
There is no reason to believe that others prior to Russell's time were not reaching out for understanding.
2007-05-21 14:44:06 · answer #6 · answered by NMB 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Never heard of Charles Taze Russell...but I'm not a witness.
2007-05-20 23:58:12 · answer #7 · answered by Dorothy 5 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Oh ,thanks, Never would have guessed that one.
Now let me tell you something.
Jehovah's Witnesses were not started by Charles Taze Russell. He only started the Watchtower magazine and corporation. The truth started with Jesus, it died off after the apostles death then it was revived at the time of the end.
2007-05-21 09:02:38 · answer #8 · answered by sklemetti 3 · 5⤊ 2⤋
God started Jehovah's Witnesses.
He said, " You will be "witnesses" of me to the most distant parts of the earth".
He was disappointed when the Jews killed Jesus and said he was going to take out of the nations "a people for his name". His name is "Jehovah"
It doesn't matter if you believe this or not. God's people love one another and speak in unison. They study the bible, many finding the truth through the King James Bible. And as per God's instructions to Jesus and Jesus to us they take the good news to the world that God is bringing the wickedness to an end. He will establish God fearing people on a cleansed earth.
Charles Russel was a bible student that had love for his fellow man. He and other men studied the scriptures and found the truths of the Bible that were always there. The light gets brighter the closer we get to the end. God reveals his truths to humble humans like Moses, Lot, Noah, Job, etc.
Be of good cheer for God still has the way open for any who wish to serve him. Pray to Jehovah through Jesus and ask God to open your heart and mind and let you see the truth.
2007-05-21 00:26:14 · answer #9 · answered by debbie2243 7 · 8⤊ 3⤋
What's your point in this ???. Most all other religions, except Catholic was started in the 1800's, and it was started about 350 to 400 years after Jesus was put to death.
2007-05-21 00:18:40 · answer #10 · answered by BJ 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋