JW's begun from home bible Study
JW's begun from home bible Study
Allegheny, Pennsylvania in early 1870's. Shows possible danger of home bible study. Known as Bible Students. RFTS Page 203.
Charles Taze Russell
Founder and first leader. Channel/Instrument of God. Read WTF page 53 and WT, March 1, 1923 page 68. repudiating him meant repudiating the Lord. Read WTF page 37 and WT May 1, 1922, page 132.
Claim to have restored 1st century Christianity
RFTS page 203. According to Matthew 16:18 the Gates of hades/hell will not prevail against the church. This of course implies there was a time when the "gates of hades/hell" did prevail against the Church.
Jesus to return in 1874
The Battle of Armageddon, Studies in the Scriptures, Series IV, 1897, page 621 and WT Sept 15, 1922, page 278. WT Jan. 1, 1924, page 5.
Jesus to return in 1914
When Jesus didn't show, it was stated return was invisible, to head up the WTBTS.
Joseph (Judge) Rutherford
Took over on Jan. 6, 1917. Died on Jan. 8, 1942. Claimed "mouth piece of Jehovah" for this age. (Why Serve Jehovah. page 62). He had complete control of what went into their magazines.
Patriarchs to return in 1925
Judge Rutherford purchased a mansion in San Diego, called Beth Sarim. Read Beth-Sarim tract.
1931 changed name to Jehovah's Witnesses
Jehovah's Witnesses in the Divine Purpose, Pages 125-126.1
1934 had 144,000 membersSo they had to come up with a way to accept more members.
1942 Nathan Homer Knorr
1977 Frederick Franz
Elected June 11, 1977. Died December 22, 1992 at the age of 99.
1993 Milton D. Henschel
A governing board, now has all final say
