Were the Jehovah's Witnesses God's only true organization when Charles Taze Russell was president?

Question

I ask because clearly Russell taught things that were not true when he was president (such as Christ returned in 1874)—but was he or was he not speaking on behalf of God's only true organization at the time? Please, a simple yes or no answer.

lamb: Sorry! It was sorta a multi-part question. (I'm just trying to avoid the usual runaround (question dodging) by some answerers.)

achtung_heiss: Thanks for that—I didn't realize that prior to 1914 there was some gray area. That said, why do you believe Russell after he changed his teaching on Christ's return? First it was 1874, then later he said 1914. Would God really choose a false teacher to start his one and only true religion?

Answer 1

Don't be fooled by Achtung....the Watchtower claimed even BEFORE 1914 that the Watchtower was the faithful slave giving out food at the proper time. The only question was, should they say it was the Watchtower magazine, or the editor of the Watchtower magazine, Pastor Russell? (July 15, 1906 Watchtower)

Their claim to 'dispensing food at the right time' was based on their belief that it was the 'proper time' to be announcing that Jesus parousia had begun in 1874. Obviously, Jesus wouldn't have agreed that it was the 'proper time'.

However, it was Russell's successor, Judge Rutherford, who originated the idea that association with the Watchtower organization was essential for salvation.

Answer 2

Jehovah's Witnesses were not even in existance when Russell was around. They were called the International Bible Students. And NO Russell never told the truth as his religion was based on Freemasonry which is Witchcraft.

It is a very clever 'smoke and mirrors' religion and unfortunately I was a part of it for 50 years.

Answer 3

Of course not! that would imply that the Holy Spirit was asleep between the time of Pentecost and the formation of the JW's.

Answer 4

Jehovah's Witnesses themselves teach that their religion attained its truly unique position ('to give spiritual food at the proper time') only after Christ sat on the Messianic throne after 1914 ("master on arriving"). Interestingly, Jehovah's Witnesses themselves believed that baptism by a religion of Christendom before 1914 was possibly valid if the Christian himself understood his dedication at the time (that is, infant baptism was not valid).

(Matthew 24:44-47) At an hour that you do not think to be it, the Son of man is coming. “Who really is the faithful and discreet slave whom his master appointed over his domestics, to give them their food at the proper time? Happy is that slave if his master on arriving finds him doing so. Truly I say to you, He will appoint him over all his belongings.

Learn more:
http://watchtower.co.uk/e/jt/index.htm?article=article_02.htm

Answer 5

Question confused me...so you get a longer answer....No the JW's are not Gods orgainization...do they believe that they are...Yes....did Russell teach that they are... Yes