FOUNDER
CHARLES TAZE RUSSELL – born 1852, Pittsburgh; became a pastor (uneducated)
said all other churches wrong, only he was right, all other churches ‘anti-Christ’ (egotist)
1879 started Watchtower (wrote 7 books)
guilty of fraud, perjury, etc.
NAME
“Russellites” at first, changed to Jehovah’s Witness’ to be more acceptable
Jehovah’s Witnesses = see under View of God
AUTHORITY
WATCHTOWER PUBLICATIONS, including own translation of the Bible (1961)
“Studies in the Scriptures” by Russell, claims inspiration
Bible – use own translation, say it is their authority but twist it badly, can’t understand it without Russell
“People cannot see the divine plan by studying to Bible itself, need Russells writings.”
“Better to leave the Bible unread and read his books, than read the Bible and neglect his books”
VIEW of GOD
Unrevealed and unknown
Jehovah only God (sovereign, not omnipresent, limited to heaven but His power reaches everywhere)
VIEW of the TRINITY
Doctrine of Trinity not of God but of Satan, not believed by Jesus or early Christians
Complicated, freakish-looking three-headed god
VIEW of CHRIST
“Michael” come to earth in the flesh
No virgin birth, just human like us
Not God, merely a man (God’s first creation) – John 1:1 “Word was A God.”
No resurrection – man Jesus dead forever (annihilated, cease to exist) spirit materialized in different body during the 40 days (recreated)
VIEW of the HOLY SPIRIT
Invisible, inactive force of nature; not a person, more like a radar beam (never capitalize ‘spirit’)
VIEW of SIN
Inherited can be removed, willful can’t be removed
World so evil must withdraw, not try to influence (don’t even vote, just ignore world)
Sin paid for by annihilation
Jesus to earth for selfish reasons, to vindicate His name (prove He is sovereign), not provide salvation
VIEW of SALVATION
Christ died only as a man, for sins done in ignorance (no redemption from willful, known sin)
Works (proclaiming Jehovah’s sovereignty – why JW go on so many visits) may earn salvation
past: trying to be one of the 144,000 (Body of Christ); others who make it in ‘Paradise’
No assurance of salvation, don’t know until they die
VIEW of HEAVEN & HELL
No such thing as hell; annihilation after death (body & soul cease to exist)
1874 was to be Second Coming, didn’t happen, so said came to ‘Heavenly Tabernacle’)
Second chance after Armageddon, dead recreated (easier to make it then than now)