Tuesday, April 5

The Failed Predictions Of The Jehovah Witness - 1

Charles Taze Russell grave and memorial
I know someone who is a Jehovah Witness and she often sends people to see us. If I'm in the mood, and have time, I'll happily chat to them. I question them about predictions their organisation has made but they don't seem to have any answers, beyond what they have been taught. So I thought I'd look for some of the answers myself.

The guy who many call their founder is Charles Taze Russell. He was born in 1852 and worked in Pittsburgh. He seemed to have got involved with Adventism meetings and in particular with William Miller.

Miller predicted that the world would end in 1843 - it didn't, as you probably realise, but this must have had an impact on Russell as he went on to do a bit of doom and gloom forecasting himself. He thought Miller's calculations were wrong so had a go himself - by now he was calling himself Pastor Russell. 1914 was stated as the new date when the world would end.

Again the world didn't end so he adjusted his thinking and now claimed that Jesus had returned to Earth but, er, the problem was he was invisible.

The official Jehovah's Witness Watch Tower website does actually accept that they got 1914 wrong: "Not all that was expected to happen in 1914 did happen, but it did mark the end of the Gentile Times and was a year of special significance. Many historians and commentators agree that 1914 was a turning point in human history.

Pastor Russell died in 1916 and was succeeded by Judge Joseph R. Rutherford - though he wasn't actually a real judge.

First though, they had to bury Charles Taze Russell. I'd better mention this as his grave and nearby pyramid shaped memorial at Rosemont has caused some discussion, because of it's alleged links to the Freemasons. There are also suggestions that Russell had links with the Masons. Russell denied this (while still alive).

Knights Templar symbol cross and crownIn 1913, during a speaking tour he is quoted as saying, "Although I have never been a Mason something I do seems to be the same as Masons do, I don't know what it is; but they often give me all kinds of grips and I give them back, then I tell them I don't know anything about it except just a few grips that have come to me naturally".

The only evidence, of sorts, of Russell being a Mason is Lady Queenborough's book Occult Theocracy. On page 737 it records C.T. Russell's Masonic membership.

Why do some insist he had ties with the Freemasons? It's partly down to his memorial, which is a short distance from his grave - see photo at the top of this post which shows the pyramid memorial with his grave in the background.

It's the symbol of the cross and crown at the top of the pyramid that causes so much debate. This has links to Freemasonry, the Illuminati and the likes of the Knights Templar (image above right shows a Knights Templar seal)

But there's more. The early Watchtower magazines also included this cross and crown symbol, as can be seen below.

Old Watch Tower magazine showing Freemason symbol
To be fair though, the cross and crown symbol has also been used within some forms of Christianity.

Before I move on to further details on the Jehovah's Witnesses a little more about Charles Taze Russell.

On March 13, 1879, Russell married Maria Frances Ackley but they separated in 1897. Maria filed for divorce in June 1903 on grounds of mental cruelty.

During the divorce proceedings Mrs. Russell's attorney alleged that in 1894 Mr. Russell had engaged in 'improper intimacy' with Rose Ball a 25-year old woman. Mrs. Russell also alleged that Rose had told her that Charles Russell was an 'amorous jellyfish floating around' to different women until someone responded to his advances. The newspapers at the time mentioned the amorous jellyfish quote - as they probably would today.

Russell divorced, which is probably wrong according to the Bible, and there were a couple of other often mentioned disputes. As I understand it, Jehovah's Witnesses can divorce as long as there is no third party involved.

He is known to have promoted a 'Miracle Wheat' and sold this for $60 per bushel. It was expensive but Russell claimed it would grow five times quicker than your bog standard wheat. Problem was this was a bit of a porky pie. It was no better than ordinary wheat so he was sued.

He was also involved with a Millennial Bean to cure cancer. Unfortunately another fake.

There we have the beginnings of this religion. The Jehovah's Witness story is continued on The Failed Predictions Of The Jehovah Witness Part 2, starting with Joseph R. Rutherford's reign.

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18 comments:

  1. often wondered about the jw and their story. to be honest they get up my nose a bit with the end of the world story which unsettles some people. especially as they appear to get things wrong. i must read tomorrows post 2.

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    1. Hello Tom!

      Just read these verses below, they usually take care of the false doctrine against Christ's return:
      1 Corinthians 15:20-28, 50-55
      1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
      1 Peter 3:10
      John 5:28-29

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  2. Anonymous14:49

    "The dead are conscious of nothing at all." Ecclesiastes 9v5. If you don't follow this will be what happens.

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  3. Anonymous14:57

    Informative post, Mike. Over the years, we've had a number of these people come to our door. They're always scrupulously polite. I don't have the patience to engage them in conversation. I just tell them I'm a pagan and thank them.

    The anonymous comment: I'm not sure I understand what the person is saying. The comment seems to imply that if you follow the religion, you will be conscious after death.

    Trish

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    1. That's not necessarily true. Only the anointed 144,000 will keep living right after death in heaven with god as co rulers or helpers who have had human experiences and can relate to us easily. The rest of the faithful people will be in a sleep like state unaware until they are resurrected in paradise after armageddon.

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    2. That's not necessarily true. Only the anointed 144,000 will keep living right after death in heaven with god as co rulers or helpers who have had human experiences and can relate to us easily. The rest of the faithful people will be in a sleep like state unaware until they are resurrected in paradise after armageddon.

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    3. How is that true, that 144k will keep living right after death? The Bible doesn't teach that! When Christ return, all things will be burned up. That's God's words. Just read what God said in 2 Peter 3:10:
      10) But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up
      2 Peter 3:10 (NKJV)

      God also tells us what will happen at Jesus' return with the living & the dead in 1 Thess 4:13-17:
      13) But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.
      14) For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
      15) For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.
      16) For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
      17) Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
      1 Thess 4:13-17 (NKJV)

      At His return JESUS said there will be a resurrection for the Good & the Evil ones in the gospel of John:
      28) Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice
      29) and come forth--those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.
      John 5:28-29 (NKJV)

      In Revelation 14:4 it says that the (144k) are "Ones who are not be defiled with women and that they are Virgins." So, these can only be virgin men.
      If what you say is true then why are there women JWs when they aren't going to be saved?? You never said what would happen to the disobedient folks, nor prove with scripture that the other faithful folks will be in a sleep mode until they are resurrected. In fact John 5:28-29 shows that there is going to be 1 (one) resurrection simultaneously.

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    4. The 144,000 are Jewish converts not WT coporate excutives who have worked their way to heaven. Each tribe is represented and they sing the song of Moses.What you claim is unbibical and a different gospel then the Gospel of CHRIST.

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  4. Very informative post and quite a good read. I have always wondered about this religion myself.

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  5. I don't believe in what the JWs preach but at least they have the guts to go out on the streets and talk about their faith. More than the other churches seem to do. What I didn't like was how they kept on bothering my grandmother after my grandad died.

    Good post Mike, will be back tomorrow!

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  6. Vicki Joiner00:53

    tony i have researched this subject for 2 days all i ask of you is to do the same he[c taze russell] was a mason and the cross and the crown were placed on a pyramid built by his grave they believe he was murdered haoween by the illumanti you know who they are he started out with 7th day adventists see catholic church on illumanti he was divorced as he had a roving eye scammed at least 2 people 1 [cancer] forgot other on baptism it is a sin to not baptise anyone who wishes to be as you are told by GOD to do this i am not saying anything wrong re ;jw's but please look it up mum

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  7. Anonymous20:43

    The following webpage is the internet's BEST resource for information about Charles Taze Russell, the WatchTower Society, and Jehovah's Witnesses. This webpage contains the internet's BEST History Summary of the WatchTower Society and JWs, PLUS the internet's FIRST and ONLY "FINANCIAL BIOGRAPHY OF CHARLES TAZE RUSSELL". Both histories contain new info not found elsewhere on the internet:

    http://jwdivorces.bravehost.com/jwinfo.html

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  8. Anonymous22:28

    I have been studying JW. for over 25 yrs. Not baptized, but working on it. I have to say..In my search for the truth and God, and I made many stops; This is the truth I longed for. Not mans laws, but obey God's law. No tickling of my ear, just a plain truth. I also truly believe we are in the last days of this system. According to Revelation, there will be an unveiling of the truth, then all will no use name is Jehovah, that He is the Alpha and Omega. And just what this unveiling will expose is yet to be seen. But the truth will set you free.

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  9. Anonymous00:03

    Well everyone's entitled to their own opinion in any matter, however every opinion or comments that we are going to say must have concrete evidences and background.

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  10. Been a witness, though not currently associated with a congregation, for over 20 years. They are, for the most part good people. and they are only human. They make mistakes just like everyone else, and most of them try to own up to it and correct their mistakes. Yes, divorce is allowed, abuse and infidelity are the only reasons, as a rule. The wronged person has the option of staying in the marriage and showing Christian forgiveness to the other person, but they aren't made to. Oh, and the reason I am not in a congregation is my own choice, it's my problem to work out.

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  11. Did Pastor Russel ever preach at county fairs from a hot air balloon? I have heard this from several differnent people but never found anything on the internet or in writing. Seems like a really interesting fellow.
    Nice Blog

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  12. Anonymous17:45

    What Jw's believe, but won't initially tell people when they knock on doors and ask if they think the world would be better off without war, suffering, sickness and child abuse:

    If you become a JW and then leave them because of their false teachings, you will be literally shunned. You family that remain in the organization will not be permitted to even talk to you!
    The Watchtower Society is the only source of truth on earth today and your soul will be destroyed if you refuse their organization.
    The Watchtower Society and its followers are all prophets of God today and the Governing Body is directed by angels from God.
    The Watchtower and Awake magazines originate with and are treated as equal to the Bible.
    They deny the that God consists of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
    They deny the deity of Christ (Arian view) Jesus is a created being also called Michael the archangel, and was the first and only direct creation of God.
    Jesus was not the Christ (Messiah) until age 30, even though their own bible says in Luke 2:11, "because there was born to you today a savior, who is Christ the Lord."
    They deny the bodily resurrection. After Jesus was buried in the tomb, Jehovah dissolved his body into gases and it disappeared forever.
    Jesus rose invisibly in three days, so Jehovah had to "materialize" a fake body for him complete with fake nail prints so His disciples would believe it was really Jesus risen.
    They deny the personality of the Holy Spirit (viewed by the Watchtower organization as "God's active force", similar to radio waves)
    They deny man consciously survives death.
    They teach the eternal punishment of the lost is annihilation.
    They deny the bodily, visible return of Christ (Christ's "return" was only His "turning his attention" invisibly toward earth in 1914, and there was an invisible "rapture" of the dead members of the 144,000 in 1918.)
    The cross is a pagan symbol of sex worship, and that all buildings or persons displaying the cross are likewise pagan. Jehovah's Witnesses deny that Jesus died on a cross but a stake. However, recent "new light" in the Watchtower now admits they are not certain about the cross, but will continue to deny it anyway. Further, the watchtower originally claimed it was a cross.
    No one goes to heaven but 144,000 Jehovah's Witnesses.
    They teach Christ is the mediator for only the 144,000, not the average Jw.
    Teach only the 144,000 must be "born again", not the average Jw.
    Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob etc. were to be back on earth as perfect humans in 1925. The Society built a palatial home called "Beth Sarim" for them BUT when the patriarchs failed to show up, the President of the Society moved in.
    Their light gets "brighter and brighter", allowing for many changes and "about faces" on their doctrines. Yesterday's error is today's "truth". Often the "light" bounces back and forth from old to new views and back again! (Might we call this discarded truth... "black Light"?)
    Blood transfusions are rejected and if a Witness receives one willingly, it results in his eternal death. However, the society allows Hemopheliacs to consume blood for medical purposes to save their life.
    To salute the flag is an act of idolatry.
    Participation in any civil holidays, mothers day, birthdays brings condemnation of God.
    Only persons who use the true name of God, Jehovah, will have their prayers heard by God. No salvation is possible without using the name "Jehovah."

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  13. Anonymous03:18

    This "article" and most of the comments are generic anti-Jehovah's Witness propaganda and rhetoric. Some factual evidence is being misrepresented, misconstrued, and flat out lied about. If you really want to know about Jehovah's Witnesses, ask one. Just please don't take this ignorance at face value.

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