While Russell’s beliefs and efforts were what formed the Bible Students, it would be fair to say the group now known as Jehovah’s Witnesses is more distinguished by the contributions of Joseph Rutherford than of Charles Taze Russell. Sincere or not, Charles Taze Russell was a false prophet and a teacher of “another gospel” (see Galatians 1:8–9). At no point did Russell demonstrate any signs of special insight or ability beyond the charisma needed to attract like-minded people. Not long after, Russell made a drastic change in his approach to eschatology and issued a failed prophecy. Within two years, that same teenager was presumed to be able to interpret the Bible more accurately than any existing church. As a teenager, he knew little enough about Scripture to answer a skeptical friend’s challenges. Controversy over that volume, combined with disillusionment over 1914’s debacle, led to a schism, resulting in Rutherford leading a group later renamed Jehovah’s Witnesses.Ī look at Russell’s spiritual history shows immediate reasons for concern. In fact, the book was written by associates of Russell and heavily edited by Rutherford. Around that time, a seventh book-claimed to be written by Russell-was published. The much-hyped year of 1914 has been the subject of increasingly convoluted explanations by Jehovah’s Witnesses ever since. Of course, 1914 came and went without anything remotely resembling the second coming of Christ. ![]() Russell wrote six volumes on spirituality prior to his death, collectively known as Studies in the Scriptures. Successors such as Joseph Rutherford later took on that title for themselves, and it eventually became part of Watchtower’s claim to unassailable spiritual authority. While Russell did not overtly assert this, neither did he deny it. Students of Russell began claiming he was a prophetic, end-times fulfillment of Matthew 24:45, which speaks of a “faithful and wise servant” awaiting the return of his master. He would later claim that Christ had returned-spiritually-in 1874 and that the end of the world would occur in 1914. Russell initiated the Watchtower Tract Society in 1881. This group was most commonly known as the “Bible Students.” The failure of that prediction led to a split with Barbour, but there was little doubt among Russell’s more loyal followers. He sold all his business interests in preparation for the second coming. By 1876, he became convinced that Christ would return in 1878. That changed rapidly after speaking with Adventist author Nelson Barbour. Initially, Charles Taze Russell dismissed attempts to give a prophetic prediction of Christ’s return.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |