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Jehovah's Witnesses
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society (world headquarters).jpg
International headquarters in Brooklyn, New York
 
Classification
Nontrinitarian, Restorationist
Structure
Hierarchical[1]
Region
Worldwide
Founder
Charles Taze Russell
Origin
1870s
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US
Branched from
Bible Student movement
Congregations
115,416
Members
8.2 million
Official websitewww.jw.org
Statistics from 2015 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses[2]
Jehovah's Witnesses is a millenarian restorationist Christian denomination with nontrinitarian beliefs distinct from mainstream Christianity.[3] According to August 2014 organizational statistics published in the 2015 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses, worldwide membership exceeded 8.2 million adherents involved in evangelism,[4] convention attendance exceeded 15 million, and annual Memorial attendance exceeded 19.9 million.[5] Jehovah's Witnesses are directed by the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses, a group of elders in Brooklyn, New York, which establishes all doctrines[6] based on its interpretations of the Bible;[7] they prefer to use their own translation, the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures.[8] They believe that the destruction of the present world system at Armageddon is imminent, and that the establishment of God's kingdom over the earth is the only solution for all problems faced by humanity.[9]
The group emerged from the Bible Student movement, founded in the late 1870s by Charles Taze Russell with the formation of Zion's Watch Tower Tract Society, with significant organizational and doctrinal changes under the leadership of Joseph Franklin Rutherford.[10][11] The name Jehovah's witnesses[12] was adopted in 1931 to distinguish themselves from other Bible Student groups and symbolize a break with the legacy of Russell's traditions.
Jehovah's Witnesses are best known for their door-to-door preaching, distributing literature such as The Watchtower and Awake!, and refusing military service and blood transfusions. They consider use of the name Jehovah vital for proper worship. They reject Trinitarianism, inherent immortality of the soul, and hellfire, which they consider to be unscriptural doctrines. They do not observe Christmas, Easter, birthdays, or other holidays and customs they consider to have pagan origins incompatible with Christianity.[13] Adherents commonly refer to their body of beliefs as "the truth" and consider themselves to be "in the truth".[14] They consider secular society to be morally corrupt and under the influence of Satan, and most limit their social interaction with non-Witnesses.[15] Congregational disciplinary actions include disfellowshipping, their term for formal expulsion and shunning.[16] Baptized individuals who formally leave are considered disassociated and are also shunned. Disfellowshipped and disassociated individuals may eventually be reinstated if deemed repentant.
The religion's position regarding conscientious objection to military service and refusal to salute national flags has brought it into conflict with some governments. Consequently, some Jehovah's Witnesses have been persecuted and their activities are banned or restricted in some countries. Persistent legal challenges by Jehovah's Witnesses have influenced legislation related to civil rights in several countries.[17]
The organization has attracted criticism over issues surrounding biblical translation, doctrines, handling of sexual abuse cases, and alleged coercion of its members. The claims are rejected by adherents, and some have been disputed by courts and religious scholars.


Contents  [hide]
1 History 1.1 Background (1870–1916)
1.2 Reorganization (1917–1942)
1.3 Continued development (1942–present)
2 Organization 2.1 Funding
3 Beliefs 3.1 Sources of doctrine
3.2 Jehovah and Jesus Christ
3.3 Satan
3.4 Life after death
3.5 God's kingdom
3.6 Eschatology
4 Practices 4.1 Worship
4.2 Evangelism
4.3 Ethics and morality
4.4 Disciplinary action
4.5 Separateness
4.6 Rejection of blood transfusions
5 Demographics
6 Sociological analysis
7 Opposition 7.1 Persecution
7.2 Legal challenges
8 Criticism 8.1 Free speech and thought
8.2 New World Translation
8.3 Failed predictions
8.4 Handling of sexual abuse cases
9 References
10 Further reading
11 External links

History[edit]
Part of a series on
Jehovah's Witnesses

Overview

Organizational structure
Governing Body
Watch Tower Bible
 and Tract Society
Corporations
 
History
Bible Student movement
Leadership dispute
Splinter groups
Doctrinal development
Unfulfilled predictions
 
Demographics
By country
 

Beliefs ·
 Practices
 
Salvation ·
 Eschatology

The 144,000
Faithful and discreet slave
Hymns ·
 God's name
 
Blood ·
 Discipline

 
Literature

The Watchtower ·
 Awake!

New World Translation
List of publications
Bibliography
 
Teaching programs

Kingdom Hall ·
 Gilead School

 
People

Watch Tower presidents

W. H. Conley ·
 C. T. Russell
 
J. F. Rutherford ·
 N. H. Knorr
 
F. W. Franz ·
 M. G. Henschel

D. A. Adams
 
Formative influences

William Miller ·
 Henry Grew
 
George Storrs ·
 N. H. Barbour
 
John Nelson Darby

 
Notable former members

Raymond Franz ·
 Olin Moyle

 
Opposition

Criticism ·
 Persecution
 
Supreme Court cases
 by country

v ·
 t ·
 e
   
Main article: History of Jehovah's Witnesses
Background (1870–1916)[edit]

 

Charles Taze Russell (1852–1916)
In 1870, Charles Taze Russell and others formed a group in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to study the Bible.[18] During the course of his ministry, Russell disputed many beliefs of mainstream Christianity including immortality of the soul, hellfire, predestination, the fleshly return of Jesus Christ, the Trinity, and the burning up of the world.[19] In 1876, Russell met Nelson H. Barbour; later that year they jointly produced the book Three Worlds, which combined restitutionist views with end time prophecy. The book taught that God's dealings with humanity were divided dispensationally, each ending with a "harvest," that Christ had returned as an invisible spirit being in 1874[19] inaugurating the "harvest of the Gospel age," and that 1914 would mark the end of a 2520-year period called "the Gentile Times,"[20] at which time world society would be replaced by the full establishment of God's kingdom on earth.[21][22][23] Beginning in 1878 Russell and Barbour jointly edited a religious journal, Herald of the Morning.[24] In June 1879 the two split over doctrinal differences, and in July, Russell began publishing the magazine Zion's Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence,[25] stating that its purpose was to demonstrate that the world was in "the last days," and that a new age of earthly and human restitution under the reign of Christ was imminent.[26]
From 1879, Watch Tower supporters gathered as autonomous congregations to study the Bible topically. Thirty congregations were founded, and during 1879 and 1880, Russell visited each to provide the format he recommended for conducting meetings.[27] As congregations continued to form during Russell's ministry, they each remained self-administrative, functioning under the congregationalist style of church governance.[28][29] In 1881, Zion's Watch Tower Tract Society was presided over by William Henry Conley, and in 1884, Charles Taze Russell incorporated the society as a non-profit business to distribute tracts and Bibles.[30][31][32] By about 1900, Russell had organized thousands of part- and full-time colporteurs,[25] and was appointing foreign missionaries and establishing branch offices. By the 1910s, Russell's organization maintained nearly a hundred "pilgrims," or traveling preachers.[33] Russell engaged in significant global publishing efforts during his ministry,[34][35][36] and by 1912, he was the most distributed Christian author in the United States.[35][37]
Russell moved the Watch Tower Society's headquarters to Brooklyn, New York, in 1909, combining printing and corporate offices with a house of worship; volunteers were housed in a nearby residence he named Bethel. He identified the religious movement as "Bible Students," and more formally as the International Bible Students Association.[38] By 1910, about 50,000 people worldwide were associated with the movement[39] and congregations re-elected him annually as their "pastor."[40] Russell died October 31, 1916, at the age of 64 while returning from a ministerial speaking tour.[41]
Reorganization (1917–1942)[edit]

 

Joseph F. Rutherford (1869–1942)
In January 1917, the Watch Tower Society's legal representative, Joseph Franklin Rutherford, was elected as its next president. His election was disputed, and members of the Board of Directors accused him of acting in an autocratic and secretive manner.[42][43] The divisions between his supporters and opponents triggered a major turnover of members over the next decade.[44][45] In June 1917, he released The Finished Mystery as a seventh volume of Russell's Studies in the Scriptures series. The book, published as the posthumous work of Russell, was a compilation of his commentaries on the Bible books of Ezekiel and Revelation, plus numerous additions by Bible Students Clayton Woodworth and George Fisher.[46][47][48][49] It strongly criticized Catholic and Protestant clergy and Christian involvement in the Great War.[50] As a result, Watch Tower Society directors were jailed for sedition under the Espionage Act in 1918 and members were subjected to mob violence; charges against the directors were dropped in 1920.[51]
Rutherford centralized organizational control of the Watch Tower Society. In 1919, he instituted the appointment of a director in each congregation, and a year later all members were instructed to report their weekly preaching activity to the Brooklyn headquarters.[52] At an international convention held at Cedar Point, Ohio, in September 1922, a new emphasis was made on house-to-house preaching.[53] Significant changes in doctrine and administration were regularly introduced during Rutherford's twenty-five years as president, including the 1920 announcement that the Jewish patriarchs (such as Abraham and Isaac) would be resurrected in 1925, marking the beginning of Christ's thousand-year Kingdom.[54][55][56] Disappointed by the changes, tens of thousands of defections occurred during the first half of Rutherford's tenure, leading to the formation of several Bible Student organizations independent of the Watch Tower Society,[57][58] most of which still exist.[59] By mid-1919, as many as one in seven of Russell-era Bible Students had ceased their association with the Society, and as many as two-thirds by the end of the 1920s.[60][61][62][63][64]
On July 26, 1931, at a convention in Columbus, Ohio, Rutherford introduced the new name—Jehovah's witnesses—based on Isaiah 43:10: "Ye are my witnesses, saith Jehovah, and my servant whom I have chosen"—which was adopted by resolution. The name was chosen to distinguish his group of Bible Students from other independent groups that had severed ties with the Society, as well as symbolize the instigation of new outlooks and the promotion of fresh evangelizing methods.[65][66][67] In 1932, Rutherford eliminated the system of locally elected elders and in 1938, introduced what he called a "theocratic" (literally, God-ruled) organizational system, under which appointments in congregations worldwide were made from the Brooklyn headquarters.[52]
From 1932, it was taught that the "little flock" of 144,000 would not be the only people to survive Armageddon. Rutherford explained that in addition to the 144,000 "anointed" who would be resurrected—or transferred at death—to live in heaven to rule over earth with Christ, a separate class of members, the "great multitude," would live in a paradise restored on earth; from 1935, new converts to the movement were considered part of that class.[68][69] By the mid-1930s, the timing of the beginning of Christ's presence (Greek: parousía), his enthronement as king, and the start of the "last days" were each moved to 1914.[70]
As their interpretations of the Bible developed, Witness publications decreed that saluting national flags is a form of idolatry, which led to a new outbreak of mob violence and government opposition in the United States, Canada, Germany, and other countries.[71][72]
Worldwide membership of Jehovah's Witnesses reached 113,624 in 5,323 congregations by the time of Rutherford's death in January 1942.[73][74]
Continued development (1942–present)[edit]
See also: Development of Jehovah's Witnesses doctrine and Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses

 

 Nathan H. Knorr (1905-1977)
Nathan Knorr was appointed as third president of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society in 1942. Knorr commissioned a new translation of the Bible, the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures, the full version of which was released in 1961. He organized large international assemblies, instituted new training programs for members, and expanded missionary activity and branch offices throughout the world.[75] Knorr's presidency was also marked by an increasing use of explicit instructions guiding Witnesses in their lifestyle and conduct, and a greater use of congregational judicial procedures to enforce a strict moral code.[76][77]
From 1966, Witness publications and convention talks built anticipation of the possibility that Christ's thousand-year reign might begin in late 1975[78][79] or shortly thereafter.[80][81][82][83] The number of baptisms increased significantly, from about 59,000 in 1966 to more than 297,000 in 1974. By 1975, the number of active members exceeded two million. Membership declined during the late 1970s after expectations for 1975 were proved wrong.[84][85][86][87] Watch Tower Society literature did not state dogmatically that 1975 would definitely mark the end,[80] but in 1980 the Watch Tower Society admitted its responsibility in building up hope regarding that year.[88][89]
The offices of elder and ministerial servant were restored to Witness congregations in 1972, with appointments made from headquarters[90] (and later, also by branch committees). It has been announced that starting in September 2014, appointments will be made by traveling overseers. In a major organizational overhaul in 1976, the power of the Watch Tower Society president was diminished, with authority for doctrinal and organizational decisions passed to the Governing Body.[91] Since Knorr's death in 1977, the position of president has been occupied by Frederick Franz (1977–1992) and Milton Henschel (1992–2000), both members of the Governing Body, and since 2000 by Don A. Adams, not a member of the Governing Body. In 1995, Jehovah's Witnesses abandoned the idea that Armageddon must occur during the lives of the generation that was alive in 1914 and in 2013 changed their teaching on the "generation".[92][93][94][95]
Organization[edit]
Main article: Organizational structure of Jehovah's Witnesses
Jehovah's Witnesses are organized hierarchically, in what the leadership calls a "theocratic organization", reflecting their belief that it is God's "visible organization" on earth.[96][97][98] The organization is led by the Governing Body—an all-male group that varies in size, but since early 2014 has comprised seven members,[note 1] all of whom profess to be of the "anointed" class with a hope of heavenly life—based in the Watch Tower Society's Brooklyn headquarters.[99][100] There is no election for membership; new members are selected by the existing body.[101] Until late 2012, the Governing Body described itself as the representative[102][103] and "spokesman" for God's "faithful and discreet slave class" (approximately 10,000 self-professed "anointed" Jehovah's Witnesses).[104][105] At the 2012 Annual Meeting of the Watch Tower Society, the "faithful and discreet slave" was defined as referring to the Governing Body only.[106] The Governing Body directs several committees that are responsible for administrative functions, including publishing, assembly programs and evangelizing activities.[98] It appoints all branch committee members and traveling overseers, after they have been recommended by local branches, with traveling overseers supervising circuits of congregations within their jurisdictions. Traveling overseers appoint local elders and ministerial servants, and while branch offices may appoint regional committees for matters such as Kingdom Hall construction or disaster relief.[107]
Each congregation has a body of appointed unpaid male elders and ministerial servants. Elders maintain general responsibility for congregational governance, setting meeting times, selecting speakers and conducting meetings, directing the public preaching work, and creating "judicial committees" to investigate and decide disciplinary action for cases involving sexual misconduct or doctrinal breaches.[108] New elders are appointed by a traveling overseer after recommendation by the existing body of elders. Ministerial servants—appointed in a similar manner to elders—fulfill clerical and attendant duties, but may also teach and conduct meetings.[98] Witnesses do not use elder as a title to signify a formal clergy-laity division,[109] though elders may employ ecclesiastical privilege such as confession of sins.[110]
Baptism is a requirement for being considered a member of Jehovah's Witnesses. Jehovah's Witnesses do not practice infant baptism,[111] and previous baptisms performed by other denominations are not considered valid.[112] Individuals undergoing baptism must affirm publicly that dedication and baptism identify them "as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses in association with God's spirit-directed organization,"[112] though Witness publications say baptism symbolizes personal dedication to God and not "to a man, work or organization."[113][114] Watch Tower Society publications emphasize the need for members to be obedient and loyal to Jehovah and to "his organization,"[115][116][note 2] stating that individuals must remain part of it to receive God's favor and to survive Armageddon.[117][118][119]
Funding[edit]
Much of their funding is provided by donations, primarily from members. There is no tithing or collection.[88] In 2001 Newsday listed the Watch Tower Society as one of New York's forty richest corporations, with revenues exceeding $950 million.[120][121] The organization reported for the same year that it "spent over 70.9 million dollars in caring for special pioneers, missionaries, and traveling overseers in their field service assignments."[122][note 3]
Beliefs[edit]
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Main article: Jehovah's Witnesses beliefs
Sources of doctrine[edit]
Jehovah's Witnesses believe their religion is a restoration of first-century Christianity.[123] Doctrines of Jehovah's Witnesses are established by the Governing Body, which assumes responsibility for interpreting and applying scripture.[45][124][125] The Watch Tower Society does not issue any single, comprehensive "statement of faith", but prefers to express its doctrinal position in a variety of ways in its publications.[126] Its publications teach that doctrinal changes and refinements result from a process of progressive revelation, in which God gradually reveals his will and purpose,[127][128][129][130] and that such enlightenment results from the application of reason and study,[131] the guidance of the holy spirit, and direction from Jesus Christ and angels.[132] The Society also teaches that members of the Governing Body are helped by the holy spirit to discern "deep truths", which are then considered by the entire Governing Body before it makes doctrinal decisions.[133] The religion's leadership, while disclaiming divine inspiration and infallibility,[134] is said to provide "divine guidance"[135] through its teachings described as "based on God's Word thus ... not from men, but from Jehovah."[136][137]
The entire Protestant canon of scripture is considered the inspired, inerrant word of God.[138] Jehovah's Witnesses consider the Bible to be scientifically and historically accurate and reliable[139] and interpret much of it literally, but accept parts of it as symbolic.[140] They consider the Bible to be the final authority for all their beliefs,[141] although sociologist Andrew Holden's ethnographic study of the religion concluded that pronouncements of the Governing Body, through Watch Tower Society publications, carry almost as much weight as the Bible.[142] Regular personal Bible reading is frequently recommended; Witnesses are discouraged from formulating doctrines and "private ideas" reached through Bible research independent of Watch Tower Society publications, and are cautioned against reading other religious literature.[143][144][145] Adherents are told to have "complete confidence" in the leadership, avoid skepticism about what is taught in the Watch Tower Society's literature, and "not advocate or insist on personal opinions or harbor private ideas when it comes to Bible understanding."[146][147][148][149] The religion makes no provision for members to criticize or contribute to official teachings[150] and all Witnesses must abide by its doctrines and organizational requirements.[151]
Jehovah and Jesus Christ[edit]
Jehovah's Witnesses emphasize the use of what they consider to be God's name, represented in the Old Testament by the Tetragrammaton.[152][153] In English they prefer to use the name Jehovah.[154] They believe that Jehovah is the only true God, the creator of all things, and the "Universal Sovereign". They believe that all worship should be directed toward him, and that he is not part of a Trinity;[155] consequently, the religion places more emphasis on God than on Christ.[156][157] They believe that the holy spirit is God's applied power or "active force", rather than a person.[158][159]

 

 The Tetragrammaton
Jehovah's Witnesses believe that Jesus is God's only direct creation, that everything else was created by means of Christ, and that the initial unassisted act of creation uniquely identifies Jesus as God's "only-begotten Son".[160] Jesus served as a redeemer and a ransom sacrifice to pay for the sins of humanity.[161] They believe Jesus died on a single upright post rather than the traditional cross.[162] They believe that references in the Bible to the Archangel Michael, Abaddon (Apollyon), and the Word all refer to Jesus.[163] Jesus is considered to be the only intercessor and high priest between God and humanity, and appointed by God as the king and judge of his kingdom.[164] His role as a mediator (referred to in 1 Timothy 2:5) is applied to the 'anointed' class, though the 'other sheep' are said to also benefit from the arrangement.[165]

Satan[edit]
Jehovah's Witnesses believe that Satan was originally a perfect angel who developed feelings of self-importance and craved worship. Satan influenced Adam and Eve to disobey God, and humanity subsequently became participants in a challenge involving the competing claims of Jehovah and Satan to universal sovereignty.[166] Other angels who sided with Satan became demons.
Jehovah's Witnesses teach that Satan and his demons were cast down to earth from heaven after October 1, 1914,[167] at which point the end times began. Witnesses believe that Satan is the ruler of the current world order,[166] that human society is influenced and misled by Satan and his demons, and that they are a cause of human suffering. They believe that human governments are controlled by Satan,[168] but that he does not directly control each human ruler.[169]
Life after death[edit]
Main article: Jehovah's Witnesses and salvation
Jehovah's Witnesses believe death is a state of non-existence with no consciousness. There is no Hell of fiery torment; Hades and Sheol are understood to refer to the condition of death, termed the common grave.[170] Jehovah's Witnesses consider the soul to be a life or a living body that can die.[171] Watch Tower Society publications teach that humanity is in a sinful state,[171] from which release is only possible by means of Jesus' shed blood as a ransom, or atonement, for the sins of humankind.[172]
Witnesses believe that a "little flock" go to heaven, but that the hope for life after death for the majority of "other sheep" involves being resurrected by God to a cleansed earth after Armageddon. They interpret Revelation 14:1–5 to mean that the number of Christians going to heaven is limited to exactly 144,000, who will rule with Jesus as kings and priests over earth.[173] Jehovah's Witnesses teach that only they meet scriptural requirements for surviving Armageddon, but that God is the final judge.[174][175][176] During Christ's millennial reign, most people who died prior to Armageddon will be resurrected with the prospect of living forever; they will be taught the proper way to worship God to prepare them for their final test at the end of the millennium.[177][178]
God's kingdom[edit]
Watch Tower Society publications teach that God's kingdom is a literal government in heaven, ruled by Jesus Christ and 144,000 Christians drawn from the earth.[179] The kingdom is viewed as the means by which God will accomplish his original purpose for the earth, transforming it into a paradise without sickness or death.[180] It is said to have been the focal point of Jesus' ministry on earth.[181] They believe the kingdom was established in heaven in 1914,[182] and that Jehovah's Witnesses serve as representatives of the kingdom on earth.[183][184]
Eschatology[edit]
Main article: Eschatology of Jehovah's Witnesses
A central teaching of Jehovah's Witnesses is that the current world era, or "system of things", entered the "last days" in 1914 and faces imminent destruction through intervention by God and Jesus Christ, leading to deliverance for those who worship God acceptably.[185] They consider all other present-day religions to be false, identifying them with "Babylon the Great", or the "harlot", of Revelation 17,[186] and believe that they will soon be destroyed by the United Nations, which they believe is represented in scripture by the scarlet-colored wild beast of Revelation chapter 17. This development will mark the beginning of the "great tribulation".[187] Satan will subsequently attack Jehovah's Witnesses, an action that will prompt God to begin the war of Armageddon, during which all forms of government and all people not counted as Christ's "sheep", or true followers, will be destroyed. After Armageddon, God will extend his heavenly kingdom to include earth, which will be transformed into a paradise similar to the Garden of Eden.[188] After Armageddon, most of those who had died before God's intervention will gradually be resurrected during "judgment day" lasting for one thousand years. This judgment will be based on their actions after resurrection rather than past deeds. At the end of the thousand years, a final test will take place when Satan is released to mislead perfect mankind. Those who fail will be destroyed, along with Satan and his demons. The end result will be a fully tested, glorified human race. Christ will then hand all authority back to God.[189]
Watch Tower Society publications teach that Jesus Christ began to rule in heaven as king of God's kingdom in October 1914, and that Satan was subsequently ousted from heaven to the earth, resulting in "woe" to humanity. They believe that Jesus rules invisibly, from heaven, perceived only as a series of "signs". They base this belief on a rendering of the Greek word parousia—usually translated as "coming" when referring to Christ—as "presence". They believe Jesus' presence includes an unknown period beginning with his inauguration as king in heaven in 1914, and ending when he comes to bring a final judgment against humans on earth. They thus depart from the mainstream Christian belief that the "second coming" of Matthew 24 refers to a single moment of arrival on earth to judge humans.[190][191]
Practices[edit]
Main article: Jehovah's Witnesses practices
Worship[edit]

 

 Worship at a Kingdom Hall.
Meetings for worship and study are held at Kingdom Halls, which are typically functional in character, and do not contain religious symbols.[192] Witnesses are assigned to a congregation in whose "territory" they usually reside and attend weekly services they refer to as "meetings" as scheduled by congregation elders. The meetings are largely devoted to study of Watch Tower Society literature and the Bible. The format of the meetings is established by the religion's headquarters, and the subject matter for most meetings is the same worldwide.[192] Congregations meet for two sessions each week comprising five distinct meetings that total about three-and-a-half hours, typically gathering mid-week (three meetings) and on the weekend (two meetings). Prior to 2009, congregations met three times each week; these meetings were condensed, with the intention that members dedicate an evening for "family worship".[193][194] Gatherings are opened and closed with kingdom songs (hymns) and brief prayers. Twice each year, Witnesses from a number of congregations that form a "circuit" gather for a one-day assembly. Larger groups of congregations meet once a year for a three-day "regional convention", usually at rented stadiums or auditoriums. Their most important and solemn event is the commemoration of the "Lord's Evening Meal", or "Memorial of Christ's Death" on the date of the Jewish Passover.[195]
Evangelism[edit]

 

 Jehovah's Witnesses are known for their preaching from house to house.
See also: Jehovah's Witnesses publications
Jehovah's Witnesses are perhaps best known for their efforts to spread their beliefs, most notably by visiting people from house to house,[196][197][198] distributing literature published by the Watch Tower Society in 700 languages.[199] The objective is to start a regular "Bible study" with any person who is not already a member,[200] with the intention that the student be baptized as a member of the group;[201][202] if the student does not show an interest in becoming a member, the study is terminated.[203][204] Witnesses are told they are under a biblical command to engage in public preaching.[205][206] They are instructed to devote as much time as possible to their ministry and are required to submit an individual monthly "Field Service Report".[207][208] Baptized members who fail to submit a report every month are termed "irregular" and may be counseled by elders;[209][210] those who do not submit a report for six consecutive months are termed "inactive".[211]
Ethics and morality[edit]
All sexual relations outside of marriage are grounds for expulsion if the individual is not deemed repentant;[212][213] homosexual activity is considered a serious sin, and same-sex marriages are forbidden. Abortion is considered murder.[214] Suicide is considered to be "self-inflicted murder" and a sin against God.[215] Modesty in dress and grooming is frequently emphasized. Gambling, drunkenness, illegal drugs, and tobacco use are forbidden.[216] Drinking of alcoholic beverages is permitted in moderation.[214]
The family structure is patriarchal. The husband is considered to have authority on family decisions, but is encouraged to solicit his wife's thoughts and feelings, as well as those of his children. Marriages are required to be monogamous and legally registered.[217][218] Marrying a non-believer, or endorsing such a union, is strongly discouraged and carries religious sanctions.[219][220] Divorce is discouraged, and remarriage is forbidden unless a divorce is obtained on the grounds of adultery, which they refer to as "a scriptural divorce".[221]
If a divorce is obtained for any other reason, remarriage is considered adulterous unless the prior spouse has died or is since considered to have committed sexual immorality.[222] Extreme physical abuse, willful non-support of one's family, and what the religion terms "absolute endangerment of spirituality" are considered grounds for legal separation.[223][224]
Disciplinary action[edit]
Main article: Jehovah's Witnesses and congregational discipline
Formal discipline is administered by congregation elders. When a baptized member is accused of committing a serious sin—usually cases of sexual misconduct[108][225] or charges of apostasy for disputing the Watch Tower Society's doctrines[226][227]—a judicial committee is formed to determine guilt, provide help and possibly administer discipline. Disfellowshipping, a form of shunning, is the strongest form of discipline, administered to an offender deemed unrepentant.[228] Contact with disfellowshipped individuals is limited to direct family members living in the same home, and with congregation elders who may invite disfellowshipped persons to apply for reinstatement;[229] formal business dealings may continue if contractually or financially obliged.[230] Witnesses are taught that avoiding social and spiritual interaction with disfellowshipped individuals keeps the congregation free from immoral influence and that "losing precious fellowship with loved ones may help [the shunned individual] to come 'to his senses,' see the seriousness of his wrong, and take steps to return to Jehovah."[231] The practice of shunning may also serve to deter other members from dissident behavior.[232] Members who disassociate (formally resign) are described in Watch Tower Society literature as wicked and are also shunned.[233][234][235] Expelled individuals may eventually be reinstated to the congregation if deemed repentant by elders in the congregation in which the disfellowshipping was enforced.[236] Reproof is a lesser form of discipline given formally by a judicial committee to a baptized Witness who is considered repentant of serious sin; the reproved person temporarily loses conspicuous privileges of service, but suffers no restriction of social or spiritual fellowship.[237] Marking, a curtailing of social but not spiritual fellowship, is practiced if a baptized member persists in a course of action regarded as a violation of Bible principles but not a serious sin.[note 4]
Separateness[edit]
Main article: Jehovah's Witnesses and governments
Jehovah's Witnesses believe that the Bible condemns the mixing of religions, on the basis that there can only be one truth from God, and therefore reject interfaith and ecumenical movements.[238][239][240] They believe that only their religion represents true Christianity, and that other religions fail to meet all the requirements set by God and will soon be destroyed.[241] Jehovah's Witnesses are taught that it is vital to remain "separate from the world." Watch Tower Society publications define the "world" as "the mass of mankind apart from Jehovah's approved servants" and teach that it is morally contaminated and ruled by Satan.[242][243][244] Witnesses are taught that association with "worldly" people presents a "danger" to their faith,[245] and are instructed to minimize social contact with non-members to better maintain their own standards of morality.[246][247][248][249]
Jehovah's Witnesses believe their highest allegiance belongs to God's kingdom, which is viewed as an actual government in heaven, with Christ as king. They remain politically neutral, do not seek public office, and are discouraged from voting, though individual members may participate in uncontroversial community improvement issues.[250][251] Although they do not take part in politics, they respect the authority of the governments under which they live.[252] They do not celebrate religious holidays such as Christmas and Easter, nor do they observe birthdays, nationalistic holidays, or other celebrations they consider to honor people other than Jesus. They feel that these and many other customs have pagan origins or reflect a nationalistic or political spirit. Their position is that these traditional holidays reflect Satan's control over the world.[253][254][255] Witnesses are told that spontaneous giving at other times can help their children to not feel deprived of birthdays or other celebrations.[256]
They do not work in industries associated with the military, do not serve in the armed services,[257] and refuse national military service, which in some countries may result in their arrest and imprisonment.[258] They do not salute or pledge allegiance to flags or sing national anthems or patriotic songs.[259] Jehovah's Witnesses see themselves as a worldwide brotherhood that transcends national boundaries and ethnic loyalties.[260] Sociologist Ronald Lawson has suggested the religion's intellectual and organizational isolation, coupled with the intense indoctrination of adherents, rigid internal discipline and considerable persecution, has contributed to the consistency of its sense of urgency in its apocalyptic message.[261]
Rejection of blood transfusions[edit]
Main article: Jehovah's Witnesses and blood transfusions
Jehovah's Witnesses refuse blood transfusions, which they consider a violation of God's law based on their interpretation of Acts 15:28, 29 and other scriptures.[262][263][264] Since 1961 the willing acceptance of a blood transfusion by an unrepentant member has been grounds for expulsion from the religion.[265][266] Watch Tower Society literature directs Witnesses to refuse blood transfusions, even in "a life-or-death situation".[267][268][269] Jehovah's Witnesses accept non-blood alternatives and other medical procedures in lieu of blood transfusions, and the Watch Tower Society provides information about current non-blood medical procedures.[270]
Though Jehovah's Witnesses do not accept blood transfusions of whole blood, they may accept some blood plasma fractions at their own discretion.[271][272][273] The Watch Tower Society provides pre-formatted Durable Power of Attorney documents prohibiting major blood components, in which members can specify which allowable fractions and treatments they will personally accept.[274][275] Jehovah's Witnesses have established Hospital Liaison Committees as a cooperative arrangement between individual Jehovah's Witnesses and medical professionals and hospitals.[276][277]
Demographics[edit]
Main article: Demographics of Jehovah's Witnesses
JWStats1931-2010.png
Jehovah's Witnesses have an active presence in most countries, but do not form a large part of the population of any country.
As of August 2014, Jehovah's Witnesses report an average of 8.2 million publishers—the term they use for members actively involved in preaching—in 115,416 congregations.[2] In 2014, these reports indicated over 1.94 billion hours spent in preaching and "Bible study" activity. Since the mid-1990s, the number of peak publishers has increased from 4.5 million to 8.2 million.[278] In the same year, they conducted "Bible studies" with over 9.2 million individuals, including those conducted by Witness parents with their children.[4][279][280] Jehovah's Witnesses estimate their current worldwide growth rate to be 2.2% per year.[2]
The official published membership statistics, such as those mentioned above, include only those who submit reports for their personal ministry; official statistics do not include inactive and disfellowshipped individuals or others who might attend their meetings. As a result, only about half of those who self-identified as Jehovah's Witnesses in independent demographic studies are considered active by the faith itself.[281][282] The 2008 US Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life survey found a low retention rate among members of the religion: about 37% of people raised in the religion continued to identify themselves as Jehovah's Witnesses.[283][284]
Sociological analysis[edit]
See also: Sociological classifications of religious movements
Sociologist James A. Beckford, in his 1975 study of Jehovah's Witnesses, classified the religion's organizational structure as Totalizing, characterized by an assertive leadership, specific and narrow objectives, control over competing demands on members' time and energy, and control over the quality of new members. Other characteristics of the classification include likelihood of friction with secular authorities, reluctance to co-operate with other religious organizations, a high rate of membership turnover, a low rate of doctrinal change, and strict uniformity of beliefs among members.[285] Beckford identified the religion's chief characteristics as historicism (identifying historical events as relating to the outworking of God's purpose), absolutism (conviction that the Watch Tower Society dispenses absolute truth), activism (capacity to motivate members to perform missionary tasks), rationalism (conviction that Witness doctrines have a rational basis devoid of mystery), authoritarianism (rigid presentation of regulations without the opportunity for criticism) and world indifference (rejection of certain secular requirements and medical treatments).[286]
Sociologist Bryan R. Wilson, in his consideration of five religions including Jehovah's Witnesses, noted that each of the religions:[287]
1."exists in a state of tension with the wider society;"
2."imposes tests of merit on would-be members;"
3."exercises stern discipline, regulating the declared beliefs and the life habits of members and prescribing and operating sanctions for those who deviate, including the possibility of expulsion;"
4."demands sustained and total commitment from its members, and the subordination, and perhaps even the exclusion of all other interests."
A sociological comparative study by the Pew Research Center found that Jehovah's Witnesses in the United States ranked highest in statistics for getting no further than high school graduation, belief in God, importance of religion in one's life, frequency of religious attendance, frequency of prayers, frequency of Bible reading outside of religious services, belief their prayers are answered, belief that their religion can only be interpreted one way, belief that theirs is the only one true faith leading to eternal life, opposition to abortion, and opposition to homosexuality. In the study, Jehovah's Witnesses ranked lowest in statistics for having earned a graduate degree and interest in politics.[288]
Opposition[edit]
Controversy surrounding various beliefs, doctrines and practices of Jehovah's Witnesses has led to opposition from local governments, communities, and religious groups. Religious commentator Ken Jubber wrote that "Viewed globally, this persecution has been so persistent and of such intensity that it would not be inaccurate to regard Jehovah's Witnesses as the most persecuted group of Christians of the twentieth century."[289]
Persecution[edit]
Main article: Persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses
See also: Persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses in Nazi Germany

 

 Jehovah's Witness prisoners were identified by purple triangle badges in Nazi concentration camps.
Political and religious animosity against Jehovah's Witnesses has at times led to mob action and government oppression in various countries. Their doctrine of political neutrality and their refusal to serve in the military has led to imprisonment of members who refused conscription during World War II and at other times where national service has been compulsory. In 1933, there were approximately 20,000 Jehovah's Witnesses in Germany,[290] of whom about 10,000 were imprisoned. Of those, 2000 were sent to Nazi concentration camps, where they were identified by purple triangles; as many as 1200 died, including 250 who were executed.[291][292][293][294] In Canada, Jehovah's Witnesses were interned in camps[295] along with political dissidents and people of Chinese and Japanese descent.[296] In the former Soviet Union, about 9,300 Jehovah's Witnesses were deported to Siberia as part of Operation North in April 1951.[297] Their religious activities are currently banned or restricted in some countries, including China, Vietnam and some Islamic states.[298][299]
Authors including William Whalen, Shawn Francis Peters and former Witnesses Barbara Grizzuti Harrison, Alan Rogerson and William Schnell, have claimed the religion incited opposition to pursue a course of martyrdom under Rutherford's leadership during the 1930s, in a bid to attract dispossessed members of society, and to convince members that persecution from the outside world was evidence of the truth of their struggle to serve God.[300] Watch Tower Society literature of the period directed Witnesses to "avoid unnecessary opposition or prejudice", stating that their purpose is not to get arrested.[301]
Legal challenges[edit]
Main article: Supreme Court cases involving Jehovah's Witnesses by country
Several cases involving Jehovah's Witnesses have been heard by Supreme Courts throughout the world.[302] The cases generally relate to their right to practice their religion, displays of patriotism and military service, and blood transfusions.[303]
In the United States, their persistent legal challenges prompted a series of state and federal court rulings that reinforced judicial protections for civil liberties.[304] Among the rights strengthened by Witness court victories in the United States are the protection of religious conduct from federal and state interference, the right to abstain from patriotic rituals and military service, the right of patients to refuse medical treatment, and the right to engage in public discourse.[305] Similar cases in their favor have been heard in Canada.[306]
Criticism[edit]
Main article: Criticism of Jehovah's Witnesses
Jehovah's Witnesses have attracted criticism over issues surrounding their Bible translation, doctrines, their handling of sexual abuse cases, and alleged coercion of members. Many of the claims are denied by Jehovah's Witnesses and some have also been disputed by religious scholars.
Free speech and thought[edit]
Doctrines of Jehovah's Witnesses are established by the Governing Body, without consultation with other members.[307] The religion does not tolerate dissidence about doctrines and practices;[137][308][309][310] members who openly disagree with the religion's teachings are shunned.[227] Watch Tower Society publications strongly discourage followers from questioning its doctrines and counsel, reasoning that the Society is to be trusted as "God's organization".[310][311][312][313] It also warns members to "avoid independent thinking", claiming such thinking "was introduced by Satan the Devil"[314][315] and would "cause division".[316] Those who openly disagree with official teachings are condemned as "apostates" who are "mentally diseased".[317][318][319]
Former members Heather and Gary Botting compare the cultural paradigms of the religion to George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-four,[320] and Alan Rogerson describes the religion's leadership as totalitarian.[321] Other critics charge that by disparaging individual decision-making, the Watch Tower Society cultivates a system of unquestioning obedience[143][322] in which Witnesses abrogate all responsibility and rights over their personal lives.[323][324] Critics also accuse the Watch Tower Society of exercising "intellectual dominance" over Witnesses,[325] controlling information[227][326][327] and creating "mental isolation",[328] which former Governing Body member Raymond Franz argued were all elements of mind control.[328]
Watch Tower Society publications state that consensus of faith aids unity,[329] and deny that unity restricts individuality or imagination.[329] Historian James Irvin Lichti has rejected the description of the religion as "totalitarian".[330]
Sociologist Rodney Stark states that while Jehovah's Witness leaders are "not always very democratic" and members are expected to conform to "rather strict standards," enforcement tends to be informal, sustained by close bonds of friendship and that Jehovah's Witnesses see themselves as "part of the power structure rather than subject to it."[86] Sociologist Andrew Holden states that most members who join millenarian movements such as Jehovah's Witnesses have made an informed choice.[331] However, he also states that defectors "are seldom allowed a dignified exit",[317] and describes the administration as autocratic.[332]
New World Translation[edit]
Main article: New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures
Some Bible scholars including Bruce M. Metzger, former Professor and Bible editor at Princeton Theological Seminary, have said that the translation of certain texts in its New World Translation of the Bible is biased in favor of Witness practices and doctrines.[333][334][335][336][337] The Bible editor Harold H. Rowley criticized the pre-release edition of the first volume (Genesis to Ruth) published in 1953 as "a shining example of how the Bible should not be translated."[338]
On the other hand, in his study on nine of "the Bibles most widely in use in the English-speaking world", Bible scholar Jason BeDuhn, Professor of Religious Studies at the Northern Arizona University, wrote: “The NW [New World Translation] emerges as the most accurate of the translations compared.” Although the general public and many Bible scholars assume that the differences in the New World Translation are the result of religious bias on the part of its translators, BeDuhn stated: “Most of the differences are due to the greater accuracy of the NW as a literal, conservative translation of the original expressions of the New Testament writers.” He added however that the insertion of the name Jehovah in the New Testament "violate[s] accuracy in favor of denominationally preferred expressions for God".[339]
Failed predictions[edit]
Main article: Watch Tower Society unfulfilled predictions
Watch Tower Society publications have claimed that God has used Jehovah's Witnesses (and formerly, the International Bible Students) to declare his will[340][341] and has provided advance knowledge about Armageddon and the establishment of God's kingdom.[342][343][344] Some publications also claimed that God has used Jehovah's Witnesses and the International Bible Students as a modern-day prophet.[note 5] Jehovah's Witnesses' publications have made various predictions about world events they believe were prophesied in the Bible.[345][346] Failed predictions have led to the alteration or abandonment of some doctrines.[347][348] Some failed predictions that the Watch Tower Society had claimed were presented as "beyond doubt" or "approved by God".[349]
The Watch Tower Society rejects accusations that it is a false prophet,[350] stating that its teachings are not inspired or infallible,[351][352][353] and that it has not claimed its predictions were "the words of Jehovah."[350] George D. Chryssides has suggested that with the exception of statements about 1914, 1925 and 1975, the changing views and dates of the Jehovah's Witnesses are largely attributable to changed understandings of biblical chronology than to failed predictions.[78] Chryssides further states, "it is therefore simplistic and naïve to view the Witnesses as a group that continues to set a single end-date that fails and then devise a new one, as many counter-cultists do."[354] However, sociologist Andrew Holden states that since the foundation of the movement around 140 years ago, "Witnesses have maintained that we are living on the precipice of the end of time."[355]
Handling of sexual abuse cases[edit]
Main article: Jehovah's Witnesses' handling of child sex abuse
Critics have accused Jehovah's Witnesses of employing organizational policies that make the reporting of sexual abuse difficult for members. Some victims of sexual abuse have asserted that they were ordered by certain local elders to maintain silence so as to avoid embarrassment to both the accused and the organization.[356][357][358][359] Jehovah's Witnesses maintain that they have no policy of silence, and that elders are directed to report abuse to authorities when there is evidence of abuse, and when required to by law. In 1997, Jehovah's Witnesses' Office of Public Information published their policy[360] for elders to report allegations of child abuse to the authorities where required by law to do so, even if there was only one witness.[361][362] An individual known to have sexually abused a child is generally prohibited from holding any position of responsibility inside the organization.[363] Unless considered by the congregation elders to have demonstrated repentance, such a person is typically disfellowshipped.[213]
In California in June 2012, Alameda County Superior Court ordered the Watch Tower Society to pay $21 million in punitive damages, in addition to compensatory damages, after finding that the Society's policy to not disclose the child abuse history of a member to parents in the congregation or to report abuse to authorities contributed to the sexual abuse of a nine-year-old girl.[364][365] The Watchtower Society appealed the ruling, and in April 2015 the court of appeal concluded that the Watchtower Society was negligent in preventing child abuse committed by a member while engaged in organization-sponsored preaching. The appeal court upheld the trial court's verdict regarding compensatory damages, awarding $7 million to the plaintiff, of which the Watchtower Society and the congregation were ordered to pay $2.8 million, but found that the Watchtower Society had no legal duty to warn the parents or members in the congregation about the child abuse history of other members. [366][367]
References[edit]
Explanatory notes
1.Jump up ^ Twelve members as of September 2005 (See The Watchtower, March 15, 2006, page 26)
 Schroeder died March 8, 2006. (See The Watchtower, September 15, 2006, page 31)
 Sydlik died April 18, 2006. (See The Watchtower, January 1, 2007, page 8)
 Barber died April 8, 2007. (See The Watchtower, October 15, 2007, page 31)
 Jaracz died June 9, 2010. (See The Watchtower, November 15, 2010, page 23)
 Barr died December 4, 2010. (See The Watchtower, May 15, 2011, page 6)
 Sanderson appointed September 1, 2012. (See The Watchtower, July 15, 2013, page 26)
 Pierce died March 20, 2014. (See the announcement on jw.org)
2.Jump up ^ Raymond Franz (In Search of Christian Freedom, 2007, p.449) cites various Watch Tower Society publications that stress loyalty and obedience to the organization, including: "Following Faithful Shepherds with Life in View", The Watchtower, October 1, 1967, page 591, "Make haste to identify the visible theocratic organization of God that represents his king, Jesus Christ. It is essential for life. Doing so, be complete in accepting its every aspect."; The Watchtower, September 1, 2006, pg 15, "Have we formed a loyal attachment to the organization that Jehovah is using today?"; "Your Reminders Are What I Am Fond Of", The Watchtower, June 15, 2006, pg 26, "We too should remain faithful to Jehovah and to his organization regardless of injustices we suffer and regardless of what others do."; "Are You Prepared for Survival?", The Watchtower, May 15, 2006, pg 22, "Just as Noah and his God-fearing family were preserved in the ark, survival of individuals today depends on their faith and their loyal association with the earthly part of Jehovah’s universal organization."; Worship The Only True God (Watch Tower Society, 2002), pg 134, "Jehovah is guiding us today by means of his visible organization under Christ. Our attitude toward this arrangement demonstrates how we feel about the issue of sovereignty ... By being loyal to Jehovah’s organization, we show that Jehovah is our God and that we are united in worship of him."
3.Jump up ^ 2013 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses. p. 178. "During the 2012 service year, Jehovah’s Witnesses spent over $184 million in caring for special pioneers, missionaries, and traveling overseers in their field service assignments."
4.Jump up ^ A common example given is a baptized Witness who dates a non-Witness; see The Watchtower, July 15, 1999, p. 30.
5.Jump up ^ Raymond Franz cites numerous examples. In Crisis of Conscience, 2002, pg. 173, he quotes from "They Shall Know That a Prophet Was Among Them", (The Watchtower, April 1, 1972,) which states that God had raised Jehovah's Witnesses as a prophet "to warn (people) of dangers and declare things to come" He also cites "Identifying the Right Kind of Messenger" (The Watchtower, May 1, 1997, page 8) which identifies the Witnesses as his "true messengers ... by making the messages he delivers through them come true", in contrast to "false messengers", whose predictions fail. In In Search of Christian Freedom, 2007, he quotes The Nations Shall Know That I Am Jehovah—How? (1971, pg 70, 292) which describes Witnesses as the modern Ezekiel class, "a genuine prophet within our generation". The Watch Tower book noted: "Concerning the message faithfully delivered by the Ezekiel class, Jehovah positively states that it 'must come true' ... those who wait undecided until it does 'come true' will also have to know that a prophet himself had proved to be in the midst of them." He also cites "Execution of the Great Harlot Nears", (The Watchtower, October 15, 1980, pg 17) which claims God gives the Witnesses "special knowledge that others do not have ... advance knowledge about this system's end".
Citations
1.Jump up ^ "Court Trial Testimony Redwood City" (PDF). Superior Court of the State of California. February 22, 2012. "I am general counsel for the National Organization of Jehovah's Witnesses out of Brooklyn, New York. ... We are a hierarchical religion structured just like the Catholic Church."
2.^ Jump up to: a b c 2015 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses. Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. 2014. pp. 185–186.
3.Jump up ^ Sources for descriptors:
• Millenarian: Beckford, James A. (1975). The Trumpet of Prophecy: A Sociological Study of Jehovah's Witnesses. Oxford: Basil Blackwell. pp. 118–119, 151, 200–201. ISBN 0-631-16310-7.
• Restorationist: Stark; Iannaccone, Laurence et al. (1997). "Why Jehovah's Witnesses Grow So Rapidly: A Theoretical Application". Journal of Contemporary Religion 12 (2): 133–157. doi:10.1080/13537909708580796.
• Christian: "Religious Tolerance.org". "Statistics on Religion".
• Denomination: "Jehovah's Witnesses at a Glance"."The American Heritage Dictionary"."Memorial and Museum AUSCHWITZ-BIRKENAU".
4.^ Jump up to: a b "Jehovah's Witnesses Official Media Web Site: Our History and Organization: Membership". Office of Public Information of Jehovah's Witnesses. "While other religious groups count their membership by occasional or annual attendance, this figure reflects only those who are actively involved in the public Bible educational work [of Jehovah's Witnesses]."
5.Jump up ^ "Guided by God's Spirit". Awake!: 32. June 2008. Retrieved 2012-06-16.
6.Jump up ^ Beckford, James A. (1975). The Trumpet of Prophecy: A Sociological Study of Jehovah's Witnesses. Oxford: Basil Blackwell. p. 221. ISBN 0-631-16310-7. "Doctrine has always emanated from the Society's elite in Brooklyn and has never emerged from discussion among, or suggestion from, rank-and-file Witnesses."
7.Jump up ^ "Jehovah's Witnesses". The Columbia Encyclopedia. Columbia University Press. 2011. ISBN 978-0-7876-5015-5. "The Witnesses base their teaching on the Bible."
8.Jump up ^ Edwards, Linda (2001). A Brief Guide to Beliefs. Louisville, Kentucky: Westminster John Knox Press. p. 438. ISBN 0-664-22259-5. "The Jehovah's Witnesses' interpretation of Christianity and their rejection of orthodoxy influenced them to produce their own translation of the Bible, The New World Translation."
9.Jump up ^ "Jehovah's Witness". Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. 2007. ISBN 978-1-59339-293-2.
10.Jump up ^ Michael Hill, ed. (1972). "The Embryonic State of a Religious Sect's Development: The Jehovah's Witnesses". Sociological Yearbook of Religion in Britain (5): 11–12. "Joseph Franklin Rutherford succeeded to Russell's position as President of Zion's Watch Tower Tract Society, but only at the expense of antagonizing a large proportion of the Watch Towers subscribers. Nevertheless, he persisted in moulding the Society to suit his own programme of activist evangelism under systematic central control, and he succeeded in creating the administrative structure of the present-day sect of Jehovah's Witnesses."
11.Jump up ^ Leo P. Chall (1978). "Sociological Abstracts". Sociology of Religion 26 (1–3): 193. "Rutherford, through the Watch Tower Society, succeeded in changing all aspects of the sect from 1919 to 1932 and created Jehovah's Witnesses—a charismatic offshoot of the Bible student community."
12.Jump up ^ Based on Isaiah 43:10–12 - Isaiah 43:10-12
13.Jump up ^ Franz, Raymond (2007). In Search of Christian Freedom. Commentary Press. pp. 274–5. ISBN 0-914675-16-8.
14.Jump up ^ Singelenberg, Richard (1989). "It Separated the Wheat From the Chaff: The 1975 Prophecy and its Impact Among Dutch Jehovah's Witnesses". Sociological Analysis 50 (Spring 1989): 23–40, footnote 8. doi:10.2307/3710916. "'The Truth' is Witnesses' jargon, meaning the Society's belief system."
15.Jump up ^ Penton, M.J. (1997). Apocalypse Delayed: The Story of Jehovah's Witnesses. University of Toronto Press. pp. 280–283. ISBN 0-8020-7973-3. "Most Witnesses tend to think of society outside their own community as decadent and corrupt ... This in turn means to Jehovah's Witnesses that they must keep themselves apart from Satan's "doomed system of things." Thus most tend to socialize largely, although not totally, within the Witness community."
16.Jump up ^ Chryssides, George D. (1999). Exploring New Religions. London: Continuum. p. 5. ISBN 0-8264-5959-5. "The Jehovah's Witnesses are well known for their practice of 'disfellowshipping' wayward members."
17.Jump up ^ Gary Botting, Fundamental Freedoms and Jehovah's Witnesses (Calgary: University of Calgary Press, 1993), pg 1–13.
18.Jump up ^ Rogerson, Alan (1969). Millions Now Living Will Never Die: A Study of Jehovah's Witnesses. Constable & Co, London. p. 6. ISBN 978-0094559400.
19.^ Jump up to: a b Beckford 1975, p. 2
20.Jump up ^ Crompton, Robert (1996). Counting the Days to Armageddon. Cambridge: James Clarke & Co. pp. 37–39. ISBN 0-227-67939-3.
21.Jump up ^ Bible Examiner October, 1876 "Gentile Times: When Do They End?" pp 27–8: "The seven times will end in A.D. 1914; when Jerusalem shall be delivered forever ... when Gentile Governments shall have been dashed to pieces; when God shall have poured out of his fury upon the nations and they acknowledge him King of Kings and Lord of Lords."
22.Jump up ^ Studies in the Scriptures volume 4, "The Battle of Armageddon", 1897, pg xii
23.Jump up ^ C. T. Russell, The Time is at Hand, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1889, page 101.
24.Jump up ^ Heather and Gary Botting, The Orwellian World of Jehovah's Witnesses (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1984, p. 36.
25.^ Jump up to: a b Holden & 2002 Portrait, p. 18
26.Jump up ^ Zion's Watch Tower, July 1, 1879, pg 1: "This is the first number of the first volume of "Zion's Watch Tower," and it may not be amiss to state the object of its publication. That we are living "in the last days"—"the day of the Lord"—"the end" of the Gospel age, and consequently, in the dawn of a "new" age."
27.Jump up ^ 1975 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses, Watch Tower, pages 38–39
28.Jump up ^ Zion's Watch Tower, September 1884, pp. 7–8
29.Jump up ^ Studies in the Scriptures volume 6 "The New Creation" pp. 195–272
30.Jump up ^ C.T. Russell, "A Conspiracy Exposed", Zion's Watch Tower Extra edition, April 25, 1894, page 55–60, "This is a business association merely ... it has no creed or confession ... it is merely a business convenience in disseminating the truth."]
31.Jump up ^ Historical Dictionary of Jehovah's Witnesses by George D. Chryssides, Scarecrow Press, 2008, page xxxiv, "Russell wanted to consolidate the movement he had started. ...In 1880, Bible House, a four-story building in Allegheny, was completed, with printing facilities and meeting accommodation, and it became the organization's headquarters. The next stage of institutionalization was legal incorporation. In 1884, Russell formed the Zion's Watch Tower Tract Society, which was incorporated in Pennsylvania... Russell was concerned that his supporters should feel part of a unified movement."
32.Jump up ^ Religion in the Twentieth Century by Vergilius Ture Anselm Ferm, Philosophical Library, 1948, page 383, "As the [unincorporated Watch Tower] Society expanded, it became necessary to incorporate it and build a more definite organization. In 1884, a charter was granted recognizing the Society as a religious, non-profit corporation."
33.Jump up ^ Holden & 2002 Portrait, p. 19
34.Jump up ^ A Chronology and Glossary of Propaganda in the United States Greenwood Press: 1996. pg. 35: "Russell is naturally media literate, and the amount of literature he circulates proves staggering. Books, booklets, and tracts are distributed by the hundreds of millions. This is supplemented by well-publicized speaking tours and a masterful press relations effort, which gives him widespread access to general audiences."
35.^ Jump up to: a b The Overland Monthly, January 1910 pg. 130
36.Jump up ^ Penton 1997, p. 26–29
37.Jump up ^ W.T. Ellis, The Continent, McCormick Publishing Company, vol. 43, no. 40, October 3, 1912 pg. 1354
38.Jump up ^ Religious Diversity and American Religious History by Walter H. Conser, Sumner B. Twiss, University of Georgia Press, 1997, page 136, "The Jehovah's Witnesses...has maintained a very different attitude toward history. Established initially in the 1870s by Charles Taze Russell under the title International Bible Students Association, this organization has proclaimed..."
39.Jump up ^ The New Schaff–Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, 1910, vol 7, pg 374
40.Jump up ^ Penton 1997, p. 26
41.Jump up ^ Rogerson, Alan (1969). Millions Now Living Will Never Die: A Study of Jehovah's Witnesses. Constable & Co, London. p. 31. ISBN 978-0094559400.
42.Jump up ^ Penton 1997, p. 53
43.Jump up ^ A.N. Pierson et al, Light After Darkness, 1917, page 4.
44.Jump up ^ Crompton, Robert (1996). Counting the Days to Armageddon. Cambridge: James Clarke & Co. p. 101. ISBN 0-227-67939-3.
45.^ Jump up to: a b Penton 1997, pp. 58, 61–62
46.Jump up ^ The Bible Students Monthly, vol. 9 no. 9, pp 1, 4: "The following article is extracted mainly from Pastor Russell's posthumous volume entitled "THE FINISHED MYSTERY," the 7th in the series of his STUDIES IN THE SCRIPTURES and published subsequent to his death."
47.Jump up ^ Lawson, John D., American State Trials, vol 13, Thomas Law Book Company, 1921, pg viii: "After his death and after we were in the war they issued a seventh volume of this series, entitled "The Finished Mystery," which, under the guise of being a posthumous work of Pastor Russell, included an attack on the war and an attack on patriotism, which were not written by Pastor Russell and could not have possibly been written by him."
48.Jump up ^ Crompton, Robert (1996). Counting the Days to Armageddon. Cambridge: James Clarke & Co. pp. 84–85. ISBN 0-227-67939-3. "One of Rutherford's first actions as president ... was, without reference either to his fellow directors or to the editorial committee which Russell had nominated in his will, to commission a seventh volume of Studies in the Scriptures. Responsibility for preparing this volume was given to two of Russell's close associates, George H. Fisher and Clayton J. Woodworth. On the face of it, their brief was to edit for publication the notes left by Russell ... and to draw upon his published writings ... It is obvious ... that it was not in any straightforward sense the result of editing Russell's papers, rather it was in large measure the original work of Woodworth and Fisher at the behest of the new president."
49.Jump up ^ "Publisher's Preface". The Finished Mystery. "But the fact is, he did write it. This book may properly be said to be a posthumous publication of Pastor Russell. Why?... This book is chiefly a compilation of things which he wrote and which have been brought together in harmonious style by properly applying the symbols which he explained to the Church."
50.Jump up ^ Penton 1997, p. 55
51.Jump up ^ Rogerson, Alan (1969). Millions Now Living Will Never Die: A Study of Jehovah's Witnesses. Constable & Co, London. p. 44. ISBN 978-0094559400.
52.^ Jump up to: a b Franz, Raymond (2007). "Chapter 4". In Search of Christian Freedom. Commentary Press. ISBN 0-914675-16-8.
53.Jump up ^ Jehovah's Witnesses—Proclaimers of God's Kingdom. Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society. 1993. pp. 72–77.
54.Jump up ^ Chryssides, George D. (2010). "How Prophecy Succeeds: The Jehovah’s Witnesses and Prophetic Expectations". International Journal for the Study of New Religions 1 (1): 39. doi:10.1558/ijsnr.v1i1.27. ISSN 2041-952X.
55.Jump up ^ Franz, Raymond (2007). In Search of Christian Freedom. p. 144. ISBN 0-914675-16-8.
56.Jump up ^ Salvation, Watch Tower Society, 1939, as cited in Jehovah's Witnesses—Proclaimers of God's Kingdom, page 76
57.Jump up ^ Rogerson, Alan (1969). Millions Now Living Will Never Die: A Study of Jehovah's Witnesses. Constable & Co, London. pp. 39, 52. ISBN 978-0094559400.
58.Jump up ^ Herbert H. Stroup, The Jehovah's Witnesses, Colombia University Press, New York, 1945, pg 14,15: "Following his election the existence of the movement was threatened as never before. Many of those who remembered wistfully the halcyon days of Mr Russell's leadership found that the new incumbent did not fulfill their expectations of a saintly leader. Various elements split off from the parent body, and such fission continued throughout Rutherford's leadership."
59.Jump up ^ Reed, David, Whither the Watchtower? Christian Research Journal, Summer 1993, pg 27: "By gradually replacing locally elected elders with his own appointees, he managed to transform a loose collection of semi-autonomous, democratically run congregations into a tight-knit organizational machine controlled from his office. Some local congregations broke away, forming such groups as the Chicago Bible Students, the Dawn Bible Students, and the Laymen's Home Missionary Movement, all of which continue to this day."
60.Jump up ^ Thirty Years a Watchtower Slave, William J. Schnell, Baker, Grand Rapids, 1956, as cited by Rogerson, page 52. Rogerson notes that it is not clear exactly how many Bible Students left, but quotes Rutherford (Jehovah, 1934, page 277) as saying "only a few" who left other religions were then "in God's organization".
61.Jump up ^ The Present Truth and Herald of Christ's Epiphany, P.S.L. Johnson (April 1927, pg 66). Johnson stated that between late 1923 and early 1927, "20,000 to 30,000 Truth people the world over have left the Society."
62.Jump up ^ Tony Wills (A People For His Name, pg. 167) cites The Watch Tower (December 1, 1927, pg 355) in which Rutherford states that "the larger percentage" of original Bible Students had by then departed.
63.Jump up ^ Penton 1997, p. 50
64.Jump up ^ Rogerson 1969, p. 37
65.Jump up ^ Rogerson, Alan (1969). Millions Now Living Will Never Die: A Study of Jehovah's Witnesses. London: Constable. p. 55. "In 1931, came an important milestone in the history of the organisation. For many years Rutherford's followers had been called a variety of names: 'International Bible Students', 'Russellites', or 'Millennial Dawners'. In order to distinguish clearly his followers from the other groups who had separated in 1918 Rutherford proposed that they adopt an entirely new name—Jehovah's witnesses."
66.Jump up ^ James A. Beckford, The Trumpet of Prophecy, 1975, page 30, "The new title symbolized a break with the legacy of Russell's traditions, the instigation of new outlooks and the promotion of fresh methods of administering evangelism."
67.Jump up ^ "A New Name". The Watch Tower: 291. October 1, 1931. "Since the death of Charles T. Russell there have arisen numerous companies formed out of those who once walked with him, each of these companies claiming to teach the truth, and each calling themselves by some name, such as "Followers of Pastor Russell", "those who stand by the truth as expounded by Pastor Russell," "Associated Bible Students," and some by the names of their local leaders. All of this tends to confusion and hinders those of good will who are not better informed from obtaining a knowledge of the truth."
68.Jump up ^ Beckford 1975, p. 31
69.Jump up ^ Penton 1997, pp. 71–72
70.Jump up ^ Crompton, Robert (1996). Counting the Days to Armageddon. Cambridge: James Clarke & Co. pp. 109–110. ISBN 0-227-67939-3.
71.Jump up ^ Beckford 1975, p. 35
72.Jump up ^ Garbe, Detlef (2008). Between Resistance and Martyrdom: Jehovah's Witnesses in the Third Reich. Madison, Wisconsin: University of Wisconsin Press. p. 145. ISBN 0-299-20794-3.
73.Jump up ^ 1943 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses. Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society. 1942. pp. 221–222.
74.Jump up ^ Jehovah's Witnesses in the Divine Purpose. Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society. 1959. pp. 312–313.
75.Jump up ^ Beckford 1975, pp. 47–52
76.Jump up ^ Beckford 1975, pp. 52–55
77.Jump up ^ Penton 1997, pp. 89–90
78.^ Jump up to: a b George Chryssides, They Keep Changing the Dates, A paper presented at the CESNUR 2010 conference in Torino.
79.Jump up ^ Chryssides, George D. (2008). Historical Dictionary of Jehovah's Witnesses. Scarecrow Press. p. 19. ISBN 0-8108-6074-0.
80.^ Jump up to: a b Penton 1997, p. 95
81.Jump up ^ Botting, Heather; Gary Botting (1984). The Orwellian World of Jehovah's Witnesses. University of Toronto Press. p. 46. ISBN 0-8020-6545-7.
82.Jump up ^ "Awake!". Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society. October 8, 1968. p. 14. "Does this mean that the above evidence positively points to 1975 as the complete end of this system of things? Since the Bible does not specifically state this, no man can say... If the 1970s should see intervention by Jehovah God to bring an end to a corrupt world drifting toward ultimate disintegration, that should surely not surprise us."
83.Jump up ^ "How Are You Using Your Life?". Our Kingdom Ministry: 63. May 1974. "Reports are heard of brothers selling their homes and property and planning to finish out the rest of their days in this old system in the pioneer service. Certainly, this is a fine way to spend the short time remaining before the wicked world's end."
84.Jump up ^ Franz, Raymond. "1975—The Appropriate Time for God to Act". Crisis of Conscience (PDF). pp. 237–253. ISBN 0-914675-23-0. Retrieved 2006-07-27.
85.Jump up ^ Singelenberg, Richard (1989). "The '1975'-prophecy and its impact among Dutch Jehovah's Witnesses". Sociological Analysis 50 (1): 23–40. doi:10.2307/3710916. JSTOR 3710916. Notes a nine percent drop in total publishers (door-to-door preachers) and a 38 per cent drop in pioneers (full-time preachers) in the Netherlands.
86.^ Jump up to: a b Stark and Iannoccone (1997). "Why the Jehovah's Witnesses Grow So Rapidly: A Theoretical Application" (PDF). Journal of Contemporary Religion: 142–143. Retrieved 2013-07-16.
87.Jump up ^ Dart, John (January 30, 1982). "Defectors Feel 'Witness' Wrath: Critics say Baptism Rise Gives False Picture of Growth". Los Angeles Times. p. B4. Cited statistics showing a net increase of publishers worldwide from 1971 to 1981 of 737,241, while baptisms totaled 1.71 million for the same period.
88.^ Jump up to: a b Hesse, Hans (2001). Persecution and Resistance of Jehovah's Witnesses During the Nazi-Regime. Chicago: Edition Temmen c/o. pp. 296, 298. ISBN 3-861-08750-2.
89.Jump up ^ "The Watchtower". March 15, 1980. pp. 17–18. "With the appearance of the book Life Everlasting—in Freedom of the Sons of God, ... considerable expectation was aroused regarding the year 1975. ... there were other statements published that implied that such realization of hopes by that year was more of a probability than a mere possibility. It is to be regretted that these latter statements apparently overshadowed the cautionary ones and contributed to a buildup of the expectation already initiated. ... persons having to do with the publication of the information ... contributed to the buildup of hopes centered on that date."
90.Jump up ^ Chryssides Historical Dictionary of Jehovah's Witnesses, pp. 32,112
91.Jump up ^ Chryssides Historical Dictionary of Jehovah's Witnesses, p. 64
92.Jump up ^ Joel P. Engardio (December 18, 1995), "Apocalypse Later", Newsweek
93.Jump up ^ Penton 1997, p. 317
94.Jump up ^ John Dart, "Jehovah's Witnesses Abandon Key Tenet", Los Angeles Times, November 4, 1995.
95.Jump up ^ THE WATCHTOWER (STUDY EDITION) JANUARY 2014: http://www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/w20140115/let-your-kingdom-come/
96.Jump up ^ "Overseers and Ministerial Servants Theocratically Appointed". The Watchtower: 16. 15 January 2001. "Theocratic appointments come from Jehovah through his Son and God’s visible earthly channel, “the faithful and discreet slave” and its Governing Body."
97.Jump up ^ The Watchtower, October 1, 1967 pg 591–92: "Make haste to identify the visible theocratic organization of God that represents his king, Jesus Christ. It is essential for life. Doing so, be complete in accepting its every aspect. We cannot claim to love God, yet deny his Word and channel of communication. Therefore, in submitting to Jehovah's visible theocratic organization, we must be in full and complete agreement with every feature of its apostolic procedure and requirements."
98.^ Jump up to: a b c Penton 1997, pp. 211–252
99.Jump up ^ Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. 2007 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses. pp. 4, 6.
100.Jump up ^ Botting, Heather & Gary (1984). The Orwellian World of Jehovah's Witnesses. University of Toronto Press. ISBN 0-8020-6545-7.
101.Jump up ^ Franz, Raymond (2007). In Search of Christian Freedom. Commentary Press. p. 123. ISBN 0-914675-17-6.
102.Jump up ^ The Watchtower, May 15, 2008, page 29
103.Jump up ^ "Seek God's guidance in all things", The Watchtower, April 15, 2008, page 11.
104.Jump up ^ Franz, Raymond (2007). In Search of Christian Freedom. Commentary Press. p. 153. ISBN 0-914675-17-6.
105.Jump up ^ Yearbook, Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, 2010.
106.Jump up ^ "Annual Meeting Report".
107.Jump up ^ Penton 1997, p. 101, 233–235
108.^ Jump up to: a b Gallagher, Eugene V.; Ashcraft, W. Michael (2006), Introduction to New and Alternative Religions in America 2, Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press, p. 69, ISBN 0-275-98712-4
109.Jump up ^ Taylor, Elizabeth J. (2012). Religion: A Clinical Guide for Nurses. Springer Publishing Company. p. 163. ISBN 0-8261-0860-1.
110.Jump up ^ DuShane, Tony (2012). Confessions of a Teenage Jesus Jerk. ReadHowYouWant. p. 126. ISBN 1-4587-8357-X.
111.Jump up ^ Hoekema, Anthony A. (1963). The Four Major Cults. Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans. p. 291. ISBN 0-8028-3117-6.
112.^ Jump up to: a b Franz, Raymond (2007). In Search of Christian Freedom. Commentary Press. pp. 116–120. ISBN 0-914675-16-8.
113.Jump up ^ Chryssides Historical Dictionary of Jehovah's Witnesses, p. 14
114.Jump up ^ What Does the Bible Really Teach. Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. p. 182. "Going beneath the water symbolizes that you have died to your former life course. Being raised up out of the water indicates that you are now alive to do the will of God. Remember, too, that you have made a dedication to Jehovah God himself, not to a work, a cause, other humans, or an organization."
115.Jump up ^ Franz, Raymond (2007). In Search of Christian Freedom. Commentary Press. pp. 449–464. ISBN 0-914675-16-8.
116.Jump up ^ Holden & 2002 Portrait, p. 32, "The structure of the movement and the intense loyalty demanded of each individual at every level demonstrates the characteristics of totalitarianism."
117.Jump up ^ You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth, Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, 1989, page 255, "It is simply not true that all religions lead to the same goal. (Matthew 7:21–23; 24:21) You must be part of Jehovah's organization, doing God's will, in order to receive his blessing of everlasting life."
118.Jump up ^ "You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth—But How?", The Watchtower, February 15, 1983, page 12, "Jehovah is using only one organization today to accomplish his will. To receive everlasting life in the earthly Paradise we must identify that organization and serve God as part of it."
119.Jump up ^ "Serving Jehovah Loyally", The Watchtower, November 15, 1992, page 21, "I determined to stay by the faithful organization. How else can one get Jehovah's favor and blessing?" There is nowhere else to go for divine favor and life eternal."
120.Jump up ^ "Jehovah’s Witnesses — Publishing Titans".
121.Jump up ^ "AT THE TOP / NYC COMPANY PROFILES / NYC 40".
122.Jump up ^ Yearbook 2002, Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, p. 31, 2002
123.Jump up ^ Van Voorst,Robert E. (2012). RELG: World (with Religion CourseMate with eBook Printed Access Card). Cengage Learning. p. 288. ISBN 1-1117-2620-5.
124.Jump up ^ Organized to Do Jehovah's Will, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 2005, pages 17–18.
125.Jump up ^ "Cooperating With the Governing Body Today,", The Watchtower, March 15, 1990, page 19.
126.Jump up ^ Beckford 1975, p. 119
127.Jump up ^ "Focus on the Goodness of Jehovah's Organization". The Watchtower: 22. 15 July 2006.
128.Jump up ^ "Impart God's Progressive Revelation to Mankind", The Watchtower, March 1, 1965, pp. 158–159
129.Jump up ^ Penton 1997, pp. 165–171
130.Jump up ^ "Flashes of Light—Great and Small", The Watchtower, May 15, 1995, page 15.
131.Jump up ^ Penton 1997, p. 165
132.Jump up ^ J. F. Rutherford, Preparation, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1933, page 64, 67, "Enlightenment proceeds from Jehovah by and through Christ Jesus and is given to the faithful anointed on earth at the temple, and brings great peace and consolation to them. Again Zechariah talked with the angel of the Lord, which shows that the remnant are instructed by the angels of the Lord. The remnant do not hear audible sounds, because such is not necessary. Jehovah has provided his own good way to convey thoughts to the minds of his anointed ones ... Those of the remnant, being honest and true, must say, We do not know; and the Lord enlightens them, sending his angels for that very purpose."
133.Jump up ^ "The Spirit Searches into the Deep Things of God", The Watchtower, July 15, 2010, page 23, "When the time comes to clarify a spiritual matter in our day, holy spirit helps responsible representatives of 'the faithful and discreet slave' at world headquarters to discern deep truths that were not previously understood. The Governing Body as a whole considers adjusted explanations. What they learn, they publish for the benefit of all."
134.Jump up ^ "Do We Need Help to Understand the Bible?". The Watchtower: 19. February 15, 1981. "True, the brothers preparing these publications are not infallible. Their writings are not inspired as are those of Paul and the other Bible writers. (2 Tim. 3:16) And so, at times, it has been necessary, as understanding became clearer, to correct views. (Prov. 4:18)"
135.Jump up ^ "Do You See the Evidence of God's Guidance?", The Watchtower, April 15, 2011, pages 3–5, "How, then, do we react when we receive divine direction? Do we try to apply it “right afterward”? Or do we continue doing things just as we have been accustomed to doing them? Are we familiar with up-to-date directions, such as those regarding conducting home Bible studies, preaching to foreign speaking people, regularly sharing in family worship, cooperating with Hospital Liaison Committees, and conducting ourselves properly at conventions? ... Do you clearly discern the evidence of divine guidance? Jehovah uses his organization to guide us, his people, through “the wilderness” during these last days of Satan’s wicked world."
136.Jump up ^ "Unity Identifies True Worship", The Watchtower, September 15, 2010, page 13 par.8 "This spiritual food is based on God’s Word. Thus, what is taught is not from men but from Jehovah."
137.^ Jump up to: a b "Overseers of Jehovah’s People", The Watchtower, June 15, 1957, "Let us now unmistakably identify Jehovah’s channel of communication for our day, that we may continue in his favor ... It is vital that we appreciate this fact and respond to the directions of the “slave” as we would to the voice of God, because it is His provision."
138.Jump up ^ Penton 1997, p. 172
139.Jump up ^ All Scripture is Inspired of God, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1990, page 336.
140.Jump up ^ All Scripture is Inspired of God, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1990, page 9.
141.Jump up ^ Reasoning From The Scriptures | pp. 199–208 Jehovah's Witnesses
142.Jump up ^ Holden & 2002 Portrait, p. 67, "Materials such as The Watchtower are almost as significant to the Witnesses as the Bible, since the information is presented as the inspired work of theologians, and they are, therefore, believed to contain as much truth as biblical texts."
143.^ Jump up to: a b James A. Beverley, Crisis of Allegiance, Welch Publishing Company, Burlington, Ontario, 1986, ISBN 0-920413-37-4, pages 25–26, 101, "For every passage in Society literature that urges members to be bold and courageous in critical pursuits, there are many others that warn about independent thinking and the peril of questioning the organization ... Fear of disobedience to the Governing Body keeps Jehovah's Witnesses from carefully checking into biblical doctrine or allegations concerning false prophecy, faulty scholarship, and injustice. Witnesses are told not to read books like this one."
144.Jump up ^ "Keep Clear of False Worship!", The Watchtower, 15 March 2006, "True Christians keep clear of false worship, rejecting false religious teachings. This means that we avoid exposure to religious programs on radio and television as well as religious literature that promotes lies about God and his Word."
145.Jump up ^ "Questions From Readers—Why do Jehovah’s Witnesses decline to exchange their Bible study aids for the religious literature of people they meet". The Watchtower: 31. May 1, 1984. "So it would be foolhardy, as well as a waste of valuable time, for Jehovah’s Witnesses to accept and expose themselves to false religious literature that is designed to deceive."
146.Jump up ^ Question Box, Our Kingdom Ministry, September 2007, "Throughout the earth, Jehovah’s people are receiving ample spiritual instruction and encouragement at congregation meetings, assemblies, and conventions, as well as through the publications of Jehovah’s organization. Under the guidance of his holy spirit and on the basis of his Word of truth, Jehovah provides what is needed so that all of God’s people may be fitly united in the same mind and in the same line of thought and remain stabilized in the faith. Surely we are grateful for Jehovah’s spiritual provisions in these last days. Thus, the faithful and discreet slave does not endorse any literature, meetings, or Web sites that are not produced or organized under its oversight."
147.Jump up ^ "Make Your Advancement Manifest", The Watchtower, August 1, 2001, page 14, "Since oneness is to be observed, a mature Christian must be in unity and full harmony with fellow believers as far as faith and knowledge are concerned. He does not advocate or insist on personal opinions or harbor private ideas when it comes to Bible understanding. Rather, he has complete confidence in the truth as it is revealed by Jehovah God through his Son, Jesus Christ, and the faithful and discreet slave."
148.Jump up ^ Testimony by Fred Franz, Transcript, Lord Strachan vs. Douglas Walsh, 1954. page 123, Q: "Did you imply that the individual member has the right of reading the books and the Bible and forming his own view as to the proper interpretation of Holy Writ? A:" .... No....The Scripture is there given in support of the statement, and therefore the individual when he looks up the Scripture and thereby verifies the statement,...search[es] the Scripture to see whether these things were so."
149.Jump up ^ "Do We Need Help to Understand the Bible?", The Watchtower, February 15, 1981, page 19, "Jesus’ disciples wrote many letters to Christian congregations, to persons who were already in the way of the truth. But nowhere do we read that those brothers first, in a skeptical frame of mind, checked the Scriptures to make certain that those letters had Scriptural backing, that the writers really knew what they were talking about. We can benefit from this consideration. If we have once established what instrument God is using as his 'slave' to dispense spiritual food to his people, surely Jehovah is not pleased if we receive that food as though it might contain something harmful. We should have confidence in the channel God is using."
150.Jump up ^ Beckford 1975, pp. 84, 89, 92, 119–120
151.Jump up ^ "Questions From Readers", The Watchtower April 1, 1986 pp. 30–31.
152.Jump up ^ Holden, Andrew (2002). Jehovah's Witnesses: Portrait of a Contemporary Religious Movement. Routledge. p. 24. ISBN 0-415-26609-2.
153.Jump up ^ Ringnes, Hege Kristin; Helje Kringlebotn Sødal (ed.) (2009). Jehovas vitner—en flerfaglig studie (in Norwegian). Oslo: Universitetsforlaget. p. 27.
154.Jump up ^ Holden, A. (2002). Cavorting With the Devil: Jehovah's Witnesses Who Abandon Their Faith (PDF). Department of Sociology, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YL, UK. p. Endnote [i]. Retrieved 2009-06-21.
155.Jump up ^ Alan Rogerson (1969). Millions Now Living Will Never Die. Constable. p. 87.
156.Jump up ^ Beckford 1975, p. 105
157.Jump up ^ Revelation Its Grand Climax, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1988, pg 36, "In the songbook produced by Jehovah’s people in 1905, there were twice as many songs praising Jesus as there were songs praising Jehovah God. In their 1928 songbook, the number of songs extolling Jesus was about the same as the number extolling Jehovah. But in the latest songbook of 1984, Jehovah is honored by four times as many songs as is Jesus. This is in harmony with Jesus’ own words: 'The Father is greater than I am.' Love for Jehovah must be preeminent, accompanied by deep love for Jesus and appreciation of his precious sacrifice and office as God’s High Priest and King."
158.Jump up ^ Alan Rogerson (1969). Millions Now Living Will Never Die. Constable. p. 90.
159.Jump up ^ "What is the Holy Spirit?". The Watchtower: 5. October 1, 2009. "There is a close connection between the holy spirit and the power of God. The holy spirit is the means by which Jehovah exerts his power. Put simply, the holy spirit is God’s applied power, or his active force."
160.Jump up ^ Hoekema 1963, p. 262
161.Jump up ^ Hoekema 1963, pp. 276–277
162.Jump up ^ Penton 1997, p. 372
163.Jump up ^ Hoekema 1963, p. 270
164.Jump up ^ "Stay in the “City of Refuge” and Live!", The Watchtower, November 15, 1995, page 19
165.Jump up ^ Penton 1997, pp. 188–189
166.^ Jump up to: a b Penton 1997, pp. 188–190
167.Jump up ^ Hoekema 1963, pp. 298–299
168.Jump up ^ Holden & 2002 Portrait, p. 25
169.Jump up ^ "Identifying the Wild Beast and Its Mark". The Watchtower: 5. 1 April 2004. "This does not mean, however, that every human ruler is a direct tool of Satan."
170.Jump up ^ Hoekema 1963, pp. 322–324
171.^ Jump up to: a b Hoekema 1963, pp. 265–269
172.Jump up ^ Penton 1997, p. 186
173.Jump up ^ Penton 1997, p. 193–194
174.Jump up ^ "Remaining Organized for Survival Into the Millennium", The Watchtower, September 1, 1989, page 19, "Only Jehovah's Witnesses, those of the anointed remnant and the 'great crowd,'as a united organization under the protection of the Supreme Organizer, have any Scriptural hope of surviving the impending end of this doomed system dominated by Satan the Devil."
175.Jump up ^ You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth,, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1989, pg 255, "Do not conclude that there are different roads, or ways, that you can follow to gain life in God's new system. There is only one ... there will be only one organization—God's visible organization—that will survive the fast-approaching 'great tribulation.' It is simply not true that all religions lead to the same goal. You must be part of Jehovah's organization, doing God's will, in order to receive his blessing of everlasting life."
176.Jump up ^ "Our Readers Ask: Do Jehovah's Witnesses Believe That They Are the Only Ones Who Will Be Saved?", The Watchtower, November 1, 2008, page 28, "Jehovah's Witnesses hope to be saved. However, they also believe that it is not their job to judge who will be saved. Ultimately, God is the Judge. He decides."
177.Jump up ^ Hoekema 1963, pp. 315–319
178.Jump up ^ Insight on the Scriptures Volume 1 p. 606 "Declare Righteous"
179.Jump up ^ Hoekema 1963, pp. 295–296
180.Jump up ^ Alan Rogerson (1969). Millions Now Living Will Never Die. Constable. p. 106.
181.Jump up ^ "God's Kingdom—Earth's New Rulership", The Watchtower, October 15, 2000, page 10.
182.Jump up ^ Hoekema 1963, p. 298
183.Jump up ^ Alan Rogerson (1969). Millions Now Living Will Never Die. Constable. p. 105.
184.Jump up ^ The Watchtower, November 1, 1993, pages 8–9, "In 1914 the appointed times of the nations ended, and the time of the end for this world began. The Davidic Kingdom was restored, not in earthly Jerusalem, but invisibly in “the clouds of the heavens.” ... Who would represent on earth the restored Davidic Kingdom? ... Without any doubt at all, it was the small body of anointed brothers of Jesus who in 1914 were known as the Bible Students but since 1931 have been identified as Jehovah’s Witnesses."
185.Jump up ^ Hoekema 1963, p. 297
186.Jump up ^ Hoekema 1963, pp. 286
187.Jump up ^ "Apocalypse—When?", The Watchtower, February 15, 1986, page 6.
188.Jump up ^ Penton 1997, p. 180
189.Jump up ^ Hoekema 1963, pp. 307–321
190.Jump up ^ Penton 1997, p. 17–19
191.Jump up ^ The Watchtower 10/1/92 p. 16 par. 6 "The Messiah’s Presence and His Rule"
192.^ Jump up to: a b Holden & 2002 Portrait, p. 64–69
193.Jump up ^ 2010 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses: p. 6 Highlights of the Past Year "UPBUILDING AND ENJOYABLE FAMILY WORSHIP"
194.Jump up ^ The Watchtower 5/15 2011 p. 14 par 13 Christian Families—“Keep Ready” Maintain a Family Worship Evening
195.Jump up ^ Hoekema 1963, p. 292
196.Jump up ^ Crompton, Robert (1996). Counting the Days to Armageddon. Cambridge: James Clarke & Co. p. 5. ISBN 0-227-67939-3.
197.Jump up ^ Rogerson, Alan (1969). Millions Now Living Will Never Die: A Study of Jehovah's Witnesses. Constable & Co, London. p. 1. ISBN 978-0094559400.
198.Jump up ^ Whalen, William J. (1962). Armageddon Around the Corner: A Report on Jehovah's Witnesses. New York: John Day Company. p. 15,18.
199.Jump up ^ "Global Printing—Helping People to Learn About God", online, jw.org
200.Jump up ^ Ringnes, Hege Kristin; Helje Kringlebotn Sødal (ed.) (2009). Jehovas vitner—en flerfaglig studie (in Norwegian). Oslo: Universitetsforlaget. p. 43.
201.Jump up ^ Our Kingdom Ministry: 5. April 2001. "Your goal is to help the student achieve greater insight into the truth, qualify as an unbaptized publisher, and become a dedicated and baptized Witness of Jehovah" Missing or empty |title= (help)
202.Jump up ^ "18—Baptism and Your Relationship With God". What Does the Bible Really Teach?. pp. 174–183.
203.Jump up ^ "Question Box: How long should a formal Bible study be conducted with an individual in the Knowledge book?". Our Kingdom Ministry. October 1996. "We want people to receive a basic knowledge of the truth. Yet it is expected that within a relatively short period of time, an effective teacher will be able to assist a sincere average student to acquire sufficient knowledge to make an intelligent decision to serve Jehovah... (if there is no) clear evidence of his desire to serve Jehovah ... it may be advisable to discontinue the study."
204.Jump up ^ Botting, Heather; Gary Botting (1984). The Orwellian World of Jehovah's Witnesses. University of Toronto Press. p. 77. ISBN 0-8020-6545-7. "The society states explicitly that all Bible studies should quickly show signs of 'real progress' to be deemed worthy of pursuit ... unless the potential converts are willing to give clear indication that they accept both the doctrines and the consequent responsibilities of attending meetings and going from door to door themselves, the study should be discontinued."
205.Jump up ^ Bearing Thorough Witness About God's Kingdom, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 2009, page 63, "Do you obey the command to bear thorough witness, even if the assignment causes you some apprehension?"
206.Jump up ^ "Determined to bear thorough witness," The Watchtower, December 15, 2008, page 19, "When the resurrected Jesus spoke to disciples gathered in Galilee, likely 500 of them, he commanded: 'Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you.' That command applies to all true Christians today."
207.Jump up ^ Botting, Heather; Gary Botting (1984). The Orwellian World of Jehovah's Witnesses. University of Toronto Press. p. 52. ISBN 0-8020-6545-7.
208.Jump up ^ "Do You Contribute to an Accurate Report?", Our Kingdom Ministry, December 2002, page 8, "Jehovah’s organization today instructs us to report our field service activity each month ... At the end of the month, the book study overseer makes sure that all in the group have followed through on their responsibility to report their activity."
209.Jump up ^ "Regularity in Service Brings Blessings", Our Kingdom Ministry, May 1984, page 7.
210.Jump up ^ "Helping Irregular Publishers". Our Kingdom Ministry: 7. December 1987.
211.Jump up ^ "Keep the Word of Jehovah Moving Speedily". Our Kingdom Ministry: 1. October 1982.
212.Jump up ^ Chryssides, G.D. (1999). Exploring New Religions. Continuum International Publishing Group. p. 103. ISBN 0-304-33651-3.
213.^ Jump up to: a b "Imitate Jehovah—Exercise Justice and Righteousness", The Watchtower, August 1, 1998, page 16.
214.^ Jump up to: a b Holden & 2002 Portrait, pp. 26–27, 173
215.Jump up ^ "Questions From Readers". The Watchtower: 30, 31. June 15, 2002.
216.Jump up ^ Penton 1997, pp. 152, 180
217.Jump up ^ "The Bible's Viewpoint What Does It Mean to Be the Head of the House?". Awake!: 26. July 8, 2004.
218.Jump up ^ "Christian Weddings That Bring Joy". The Watchtower: 11. 15 April 1984.
219.Jump up ^ Shepherd the Flock of God. pp. 37–38, 124–125.[unreliable source?]
220.Jump up ^ "How should individual Christians and the congregation as a whole view the Bible advice to marry "only in the Lord"?". The Watchtower: 31. 15 March 1982.
221.Jump up ^ Penton 1997, pp. 110–112
222.Jump up ^ "Adultery". Insight on the Scriptures 1. p. 53.
223.Jump up ^ "Marriage—Why Many Walk Out", Awake!, July 8, 1993, page 6, "A legal divorce or a legal separation may provide a measure of protection from extreme abuse or willful nonsupport."
224.Jump up ^ "When Marital Peace Is Threatened". The Watchtower: 22. 1 November 1988.
225.Jump up ^ Beckford 1975, pp. 54–55
226.Jump up ^ Penton 1997, pp. 106–108
227.^ Jump up to: a b c Osamu Muramoto (August 1998). "Bioethics of the refusal of blood by Jehovah's Witnesses: Part 1. Should bioethical deliberation consider dissidents' views?". Journal of Medical Ethics 24 (4): 223–230. doi:10.1136/jme.24.4.223. PMC 1377670. PMID 9752623.
228.Jump up ^ The Watchtower April 15, 1988.
229.Jump up ^ "Display Christian Loyalty When a Relative Is Disfellowshipped". Our Kingdom Ministry: 3–4. August 2002.
230.Jump up ^ "Disfellowshipping-How to View It". The Watchtower: 24. 15 September 1981.
231.Jump up ^ "Appendix: How to Treat a Disfellowshipped person". Keep Yourselves in God's Love. Jehovah's Witnesses. 2008. pp. 207–209.
232.Jump up ^ Holden & 2002 Portrait, p. 163
233.Jump up ^ "Disfellowshiping—How to View It", The Watchtower, September 15, 1981, page 23.
234.Jump up ^ "Do You Hate Lawlessness?", The Watchtower, February 15, 2011, page 31.
235.Jump up ^ Franz, Raymond. Crisis of Conscience. p. 358.
236.Jump up ^ Shepherd the Flock of God. Watch Tower Society. p. 119.[unreliable source?]
237.Jump up ^ "Questions From Readers", The Watchtower, January 1, 1983 pp. 30–31.
238.Jump up ^ "Should the Religions Unite?". The Watchtower: 741–742. 15 December 1953.
239.Jump up ^ "Is Interfaith God's Way?". The Watchtower: 69. 1 February 1952.
240.Jump up ^ Beckford 1975, p. 202, "The ideological argument states that, since absolute truth is unitary and exclusive of all relativisation, there can only 'logically' be one human organization to represent it. Consequently, all other religious organizations are in error and are to be strictly avoided. The absolutist view of truth further implies that, since anything less than absolute truth can only corrupt and destroy it, there can be no justification for Jehovah's witnesses having any kind of association with other religionists, however sincere the motivation might be."
241.Jump up ^ "15 Worship That God Approves". What Does The Bible Really Teach?. p. 145.
242.Jump up ^ Reasoning From the Scriptures, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1989, pages 435–436.
243.Jump up ^ "Live a Balanced, Simple Life", The Watchtower, July 15, 1989, page 11.
244.Jump up ^ Holden & 2002 Portrait, p. 12
245.Jump up ^ "Keep Your Distance When Danger Threatens". The Watchtower: 23. February 15, 1994. "Steering Clear of Danger ... We must also be on guard against extended association with worldly people. Perhaps it is a neighbor, a school friend, a workmate, or a business associate. ... What are some of the dangers of such a friendship? We could begin to minimize the urgency of the times we live in or take a growing interest in material rather than spiritual things. Perhaps, because of a fear of displeasing our worldly friend, we would even desire to be accepted by the world."
246.Jump up ^ Holden & 2002 Portrait, pp. 109–112
247.Jump up ^ Franz, Raymond (2007). In Search of Christian Freedom. Commentary Press. p. 409. ISBN 0-914675-17-6.
248.Jump up ^ ""Each One Will Carry His Own Load", The Watchtower, March 15, 2006, page 23.
249.Jump up ^ Bryan R. Wilson, "The Persistence of Sects", Diskus, Journal of the British Association for the Study of Religions, Vol 1, No. 2, 1993, "They have extensive contact with the wider public, [in Britain in 1989, 108,000 publishers undertook 23 million hours of house-calls]. Yet, they remain little affected by that exposure—they confine their contacts to their single-minded purpose and avoid all other occasions for association."
250.Jump up ^ Questions From Readers, The Watchtower, November 1, 1999, p. 28,"As to whether they will personally vote for someone running in an election, each one of Jehovah's Witnesses makes a decision based on his Bible-trained conscience and an understanding of his responsibility to God and to the State."
251.Jump up ^ Questions From Readers, The Watchtower, March 1, 1983, p. 30
252.Jump up ^ http://www.jw.org/en/jehovahs-witnesses/faq/political-neutrality/
253.Jump up ^ Reasoning From The Scriptures p. 178 Holidays
254.Jump up ^ The Watchtower 8/15/09 p. 22 par. 20 “Keep Yourselves in God’s Love”
255.Jump up ^ The Watchtower 9/15/68 p. 573 par 6 "The Seriousness of It"
256.Jump up ^ The Watchtower 10/15/92 p. 18 par. 21 "Work to Preserve Your Family Into God’s New World"
257.Jump up ^ Worship the Only True God, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 2002, p. 159.
258.Jump up ^ Korea government promises to adopt alternative service system for conscientious objectors
259.Jump up ^ Education, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 2002, pp. 20–23
260.Jump up ^ Owens, Gene (September 1997). "Trials of a Jehovah's Witness.(The Faith of Journalists)". Nieman Reports.
261.Jump up ^ Ronald Lawson, "Sect-state relations: Accounting for the differing trajectories of Seventh-Day Adventists and Jehovah's Witnesses", Sociology of Religion, Winter 1995, "The urgency of the Witness's apocalyptic has changed very little over time. The intellectual isolation of the Witness leaders has allowed them to retain their traditional position, and it is they who continue to be the chief purveyors of the radical eschataology ....This commitment (to principle) was bolstered by their organizational isolation, intense indoctrination of adherents, rigid internal discipline, and considerable persecution."
262.Jump up ^ Penton 1997, p. i
263.Jump up ^ Reasoning From the Scriptures, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1989, pages 70–75.
264.Jump up ^ Holden & 2002 Portrait, p. 91
265.Jump up ^ Muramoto, O. (January 6, 2001). "Bioethical aspects of the recent changes in the policy of refusal of blood by Jehovah's Witnesses". BMJ 322 (7277): 37–39. doi:10.1136/bmj.322.7277.37. PMC 1119307. PMID 11141155.
266.Jump up ^ Jehovah's Witnesses—Proclaimers of God's Kingdom, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1993, page 183.
267.Jump up ^ United in Worship of the Only True God, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1983, pages 156–160.
268.Jump up ^ Bowman, R. M.; Beisner, E. C.; Ehrenborg, T. (1995). Jehovah's Witnesses. Zondervan. p. 13. ISBN 0-310-70411-1.
269.Jump up ^ Botting, Heather; Gary Botting (1984). The Orwellian World of Jehovah's Witnesses. University of Toronto Press. pp. 29–30. ISBN 0-8020-6545-7.
270.Jump up ^ How Blood Can Save Your Life, Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, pages 13–17
271.Jump up ^ "Questions From Readers—Do Jehovah's Witnesses accept any medical products derived from blood?". The Watchtower: 30. June 15, 2000.
272.Jump up ^ Sniesinski; Chen, EP; Levy, JH; Szlam, F; Tanaka, KA et al. (April 2007). "Coagulopathy After Cardiopulmonary Bypass in Jehovah's Witness Patients: Management of Two Cases Using Fractionated Components and Factor VIIa" (PDF). Anesthesia & Analgesia 104 (4): 763–5. doi:10.1213/01.ane.0000250913.45299.f3. PMID 17377078. Retrieved 2008-12-30.
273.Jump up ^ "The Real Value of Blood". Awake!: 11. August 2006.
274.Jump up ^ Durable Power of Attorney form. Watch Tower Society. January 2001. p. 1. Examples of permitted fractions are: Interferon, Immune Serum Globulins and Factor VIII; preparations made from Hemoglobin such as PolyHeme and Hemopure. Examples of permitted procedures involving the medical use of one's own blood include: cell salvage, hemodilution, heart lung machine, dialysis, epidural blood patch, plasmapheresis, blood labeling or tagging and platelet gel (autologous)
275.Jump up ^ "Our Kingdom Ministry" (PDF). November 2006. pp. 5–6. Retrieved 2009-06-21.
276.Jump up ^ "Jehovah's Witnesses and Medical Profession Cooperate". Awake!. November 22, 1993.
277.Jump up ^ Kim Archer, "Jehovah's Witness liaisons help surgeons adapt", Tulsa World, May 15, 2007.
278.Jump up ^ Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses. Watch Tower Society. 1996–2015.
279.Jump up ^ "Question Box–Should a family Bible study be reported to the congregation?". Our Kingdom Ministry (Watch Tower Society): 3. November 2003.
280.Jump up ^ "Question Box—May both parents report the time used for the regular family study?". Our Kingdom Ministry: 3. September 2008.
281.Jump up ^ "U.S. Religious Landscape Survey Religious Affiliation: Diverse and Dynamic". Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life. February 2008. pp. 9, 30.
282.Jump up ^ The Association of Religion Data Archives
283.Jump up ^ David Van Biema, "America's Unfaithful Faithful," Time magazine, February 25, 2008.
284.Jump up ^ PEW Forum on Religion and Public Life. U.S. Religious Landscape Survey: Religious Affiliation: Diverse and Dynamic. The next lowest retention rates, excluding those raised unaffiliated with any church, were Buddhism at 50% and Catholicism at 68%.
285.Jump up ^ Beckford 1975, pp. 92, 98–100
286.Jump up ^ Beckford 1975, pp. 196–207
287.Jump up ^ Bryan R. Wilson, "The Persistence of Sects", Diskus, Journal of the British Association for the Study of Religions, Vol 1, No. 2, 1993
288.Jump up ^ "Comparisons". U.S. Religious Landscape Survey. Pew Research Center. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
289.Jump up ^ Jubber, Ken (1977). "The Persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses in Southern Africa". Social Compass, 24 (1): 121,. doi:10.1177/003776867702400108.
290.Jump up ^ Penton, James (2004). Jehovah's witnesses and the third reich. University of Toronto Press. p. 376. ISBN 0802086780.
291.Jump up ^ Garbe, Detlef (2008). Between Resistance and Martyrdom: Jehovah's Witnesses in the Third Reich. Madison, Wisconsin: University of Wisconsin Press. p. 484. ISBN 0-299-20794-3.
292.Jump up ^ Shulman, William L. A State of Terror: Germany 1933–1939. Bayside, New York: Holocaust Resource Center and Archives.
293.Jump up ^ Holocaust Education Foundation website.
294.Jump up ^ Hesse, Hans (2001). Persecution and Resistance of Jehovah's Witnesses During the Nazi Regime. Edition Temmen. p. 12. ISBN 3-86108-750-2.
295.Jump up ^ Kaplan, William (1989). State and Salvation. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.
296.Jump up ^ Yaffee, Barbara (1984-09-09). "Witnesses Seek Apology for Wartime Persecution". The Globe and Mail. p. 4.
297.Jump up ^ Валерий Пасат ."Трудные страницы истории Молдовы (1940–1950)". Москва: Изд. Terra, 1994 (Russian)
298.Jump up ^ Jehovah's Witnesses—Proclaimers of God's Kingdom, chapter 22, p. 490
299.Jump up ^ Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses 1991, p. 222.
300.Jump up ^ Claims that Jehovah's Witnesses chose a deliberate course of martyrdom are contained in:
Peters, Shawn Francis (2000). Judging Jehovah's Witnesses: Religious Persecution and the Dawn of the Rights Revolution. University Press of Kansas. pp. 82, 116–9. ISBN 0-7006-1008-1.
 Barbara Grizzuti Harrison, Visions of Glory, 1978, chapter 6.
Whalen, William J. (1962). Armageddon Around the Corner: A Report on Jehovah's Witnesses. New York: John Day Company. p. 190.
Schnell, William (1971). 30 Years a Watchtower Slave. Baker Book House, Grand Rapids. pp. 104–106. ISBN 0-8010-6384-1.
301.Jump up ^ Advice for Kingdom Publishers(1939), Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, Brooklyn, NY
302.Jump up ^ Gary Botting, Fundamental Freedoms and Jehovah's Witnesses (Calgary: University of Calgary Press, 1993)
303.Jump up ^ Jehovah’s Witnesses—Proclaimers of God’s Kingdom, Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, 1993, pp. 679–701.
304.Jump up ^ Botting, Fundamental Freedoms and Jehovah's Witnesses, pp. 1–14; Shawn Francis Peters, Judging Jehovah's Witnesses, University Press of Kansas: 2000, pages 12–16.
305.Jump up ^ "Jehovah's Witnesses and civil rights". Knocking.org. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
306.Jump up ^ Botting, Fundamental Freedoms..., pp. 15–201
307.Jump up ^ Holden & 2002 Portrait, p. 22
308.Jump up ^ "Following Faithful Shepherds with Life in View", The Watchtower, October 1, 1967, page 591, "Make haste to identify the visible theocratic organization of God that represents his king, Jesus Christ. It is essential for life. Doing so, be complete in accepting its every aspect ... in submitting to Jehovah's visible theocratic organization, we must be in full and complete agreement with every feature of its apostolic procedure and requirements."
309.Jump up ^ "Loyal to Christ and His Faithful Slave", The Watchtower, April 1, 2007, page 24, "When we loyally submit to the direction of the faithful slave and its Governing Body, we are submitting to Christ, the slave's Master."
310.^ Jump up to: a b Beckford 1975, pp. 89, 95, 103, 120, 204, 221
311.Jump up ^ "Exposing the Devil's Subtle Designs" and "Armed for the Fight Against Wicked Spirits", The Watchtower, January 15, 1983
312.Jump up ^ "Serving Jehovah Shoulder to Shoulder", The Watchtower, August 15, 1981, page 28.
313.Jump up ^ "Jehovah's Theocratic Organization Today",The Watchtower, February 1, 1952, pages 79–81.
314.Jump up ^ "Avoid Independent Thinking". The Watchtower: 27. 15 January 1983. "From the very outset of his rebellion Satan called into question God's way of doing things. He promoted independent thinking. ... How is such independent thinking manifested? A common way is by questioning the counsel that is provided by God's visible organization."
315.Jump up ^ "Avoid Independent Thinking". The Watchtower: 20. February 15, 1979. "In a world where people are tossed about by confusing winds of religious doctrine, Jehovah's people need to be stable, full-grown Christians. (Eph. 4:13, 14) Their position must be steadfast, not shifting quickly because of independent thinking or emotional pressures."
316.Jump up ^ The Watchtower: 277–278. May 1, 1964. "It is through the columns of The Watchtower that Jehovah provides direction and constant Scriptural counsel to his people, and it requires careful study and attention to details in order to apply this information, to get a full understanding of the principles involved, and to assure ourselves of right thinking on these matters. It is in this way that we "are thoroughly able to grasp mentally with all the holy ones" the fullness of our commission and of the preaching responsibility that Jehovah has placed on all Christians as footstep followers of his Son. Any other course would produce independent thinking and cause division." Missing or empty |title= (help)
317.^ Jump up to: a b Holden & 2002 Portrait, p. 163
318.Jump up ^ See also Raymond Franz, In Search of Christian Freedom, pg. 358.
319.Jump up ^ "Will You Heed Jehovah’s Clear Warnings?", The Watchtower, July 15, 2011, page 15, "apostates are 'mentally diseased,' and they seek to infect others with their disloyal teachings. (1 Tim. 6:3, 4)."
320.Jump up ^ The Orwellian World of Jehovah's Witnesses, Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1984, passim.
321.Jump up ^ Alan Rogerson, Millions Now Living Will Never Die, Constable, 1969, page 50.
322.Jump up ^ Beckford 1975, pp. 204, 221, The habit of questioning or qualifying Watch Tower doctrine is not only under-developed among the Witnesses: it is strenuously combated at all organizational levels
323.Jump up ^ Botting, Heather; Gary Botting (1984). The Orwellian World of Jehovah's Witnesses. University of Toronto Press. p. 90. ISBN 0-8020-6545-7. "Most Witnesses, although capable of intelligent, reasonable thought, have as part of the payment for paradise delegated authority to the organization for directing their lives ... and finally abrogate all responsibility and rights over their personal lives—in effect, allowing the society to do their thinking for them."
324.Jump up ^ Alan Rogerson, Millions Now Living Will Never Die, Constable, 1969, page 178, "The newly converted Witness must conform immediately to the doctrines of the Watchtower Society, thus whatever individuality of mind he possessed before conversion is liable to be eradicated if he stays in the movement.".
325.Jump up ^ James A. Beverley, Crisis of Allegiance, Welch Publishing Company, Burlington, Ontario, 1986, ISBN 0-920413-37-4, pages 25–26, 101.
326.Jump up ^ Holden & 2002 Portrait, p. 153
327.Jump up ^ Alan Rogerson, Millions Now Living Will Never Die, Constable, 1969, page 2, "In addition to the prevalent ignorance outside the Witness movement, there is much ignorance within it. It will soon become obvious to the reader that the Witnesses are an indoctrinated people whose beliefs and thoughts are shaped by the Watchtower Society."
328.^ Jump up to: a b R. Franz, "In Search of Christian Freedom", chapter 12
329.^ Jump up to: a b The Watchtower (8/15). August 1988. Missing or empty |title= (help)
330.Jump up ^ The Routledge History of the Holocaust, Routledge, 2010, "Labeling the Jehovah's Witnesses as totalitarian trivializes the term totalitarian and defames the Jehovah's Witnesses."
331.Jump up ^ Holden & 2002 Portrait, pp. x, 7
332.Jump up ^ Holden, Andrew (2002). Jehovah's Witnesses: Portrait of a Contemporary Religious Movement. Routledge. p. 22. ISBN 0-415-26609-2.
333.Jump up ^ Penton 1997, p. 174–176
334.Jump up ^ Haas, Samuel; Hauptmann, O. H. (December 1955). "Escorial Bible I.j.4: Vol. I; the Pentateuch". Journal of Biblical Literature (Society of Biblical Literature) 74 (4): 283. doi:10.2307/3261682. "This work indicates a great deal of effort and thought as well as considerable scholarship, it is to be regretted that religious bias was allowed to colour many passages"
335.Jump up ^ See Ankerberg, John and John Weldon, 2003, The New World Translation of the Jehovah's Witnesses, accessible online
336.Jump up ^ Rhodes R, The Challenge of the Cults and New Religions, The Essential Guide to Their History, Their Doctrine, and Our Response, Zondervan, 2001, p. 94
337.Jump up ^ Bruce M Metzger, "Jehovah's Witnesses and Jesus Christ," Theology Today, (April 1953 p. 74); see also Metzger, "The New World Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures," The Bible Translator (July 1964)
338.Jump up ^ H.H. Rowley, "How Not To Translate the Bible", The Expository Times, 1953; 65; 41.
339.Jump up ^ Jason BeDuhn (2003). Truth in Translation pages 163, 165. University Press of America. ISBN 0-7618-2556-8.
340.Jump up ^ "Messengers of Godly Peace Pronounced Happy", The Watchtower, May 1, 1997, page 21
341.Jump up ^ Jehovah's Witnesses—Proclaimers of God's Kingdom, Watch Tower Society, 1993, page 708.
342.Jump up ^ "Execution of the "Great Harlot" Nears", The Watchtower, October 15, 1980, page 17.
343.Jump up ^ "What Jehovah’s Day Will Reveal", The Watchtower, July 15, 2010, page 5.
344.Jump up ^ The Watchtower, July 15, 1960, page 444, "In 1942 the faithful and discreet slave guided by Jehovah's unerring spirit made known that the democracies would win World War II and that there would be a United Nations organization set up ... Once again the faithful and discreet slave has been tipped off ahead of time for the guidance of all lovers of God." (Footnote cites the booklet Peace—Can It Last, 1942, pages 21,22.)
345.Jump up ^ The Watchtower, Jan. 15, 1959, pp. 39–41
346.Jump up ^ Crompton, Robert (1996). Counting the Days to Armageddon. Cambridge: James Clarke & Co. pp. 9, 115. ISBN 0-227-67939-3.
347.Jump up ^ Jehovah's Witnesses—Proclaimers of God's Kingdom, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1993, pages 78, 632.
348.Jump up ^ Beckford 1975, pp. 219–221
349.Jump up ^ James A. Beverley, Crisis of Allegiance, Welch Publishing Company, Burlington, Ontario, 1986, ISBN 0-920413-37-4, page 86–91.
350.^ Jump up to: a b "Why So Many False Alarms?", Awake!, March 22, 1993, pages 3–4, footnote.
351.Jump up ^ Revelation—Its Grand Climax, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1988, page 9.
352.Jump up ^ "False Prophets—Have not Jehovah's Witnesses made errors in their teachings?". Reasoning From the Scriptures. Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. p. 137.
353.Jump up ^ "To Whom Shall We Go but Jesus Christ?". Watchtower: 23. March 1, 1979. "the “faithful and discreet slave” has alerted all of God’s people to the sign of the times indicating the nearness of God’s Kingdom rule. In this regard, however, it must be observed that this “faithful and discreet slave” was never inspired, never perfect. Those writings by certain members of the “slave” class that came to form the Christian part of God’s Word were inspired and infallible [the bible], but that is not true of other writings since."
354.Jump up ^ George D. Chryssides (2008). Historical Dictionary of Jehovah's Witnesses. p. xiv.
355.Jump up ^ Holden & 2002 Portrait, p. 7
356.Jump up ^ "Another Church Sex Scandal" (April 29, 2003). CBS News.
357.Jump up ^ Cutrer, Corrie (March 5, 2001). "Witness Leaders Accused of Shielding Molesters", Christianity Today.
358.Jump up ^ Channel 9 Sunday, November 2005.
359.Jump up ^ "Secret database protects paedophiles", BBC Panorama, 2003.
360.Jump up ^ "Jehovah's Witnesses and Child Protection". Jehovah's Witnesses Official Media Web Site. Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. 1997. Retrieved 2010-03-13. See to confirm date.
361.Jump up ^ "To all Bodies of Elders in the United States". WTBS. 1995-08-01. Retrieved 2010-03-13.[dead link][unreliable source?]
362.Jump up ^ Pay Attention to Yourselves and to All the Flock. Brooklyn, New York: Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. 1977. p. 138.[unreliable source?]
363.Jump up ^ "Let Us ABHOR What Is Wicked". The Watchtower: 27–29. 1997-01-01.
364.Jump up ^ Jehovah’s Witnesses Told to Pay in Abuse Case
365.Jump up ^ Woman molested by Jehovah's Witnesses member at age NINE wins $28million in America's BIGGEST religious sex abuse payout
366.Jump up ^ "CANDACE CONTI v. WATCHTOWER BIBLE & TRACT SOCIETY OF NEW YORK, INC. et al." (PDF). California Courts of Appeal for first district. 2015. Retrieved 2015-04-14.
367.Jump up ^ "California court guts child abuse ruling against Jehovah’s Witnesses". Reveal. April 14, 2015.
Further reading[edit]
For more details on this topic, see Bibliography of Jehovah's Witnesses.
##Botting, Gary (1993). Fundamental Freedoms and Jehovah's Witnesses. University of Calgary Press. ISBN 1-895176-06-9.
##Botting, Heather and Gary (1984). The Orwellian World of Jehovah's Witnesses. University of Toronto Press. ISBN 0-8020-6545-7.
##Chryssides, George D. (2008). Historical Dictionary of Jehovah's Witnesses. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 0-8108-6074-0.
##Crompton, Robert. Counting the Days to Armageddon. James Clarke & Co, Cambridge, 1996. ISBN 0-227-67939-3 ##A detailed examination of the development of Jehovah's Witnesses' eschatology.
##Holden, Andrew (2002). Jehovah's Witnesses: Portrait of a Contemporary Religious Movement. Routledge. ISBN 0-415-26609-2. ##An academic study on the sociological aspects of Jehovah's Witnesses phenomenon.
##Kaplan, William. State and Salvation Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1989. ISBN 0-8020-5842-6 ##Documents the Witnesses' fight for civil rights in Canada and the US amid political persecution during World War II.
##Penton, M. James (1997). Apocalypse Delayed: The Story of Jehovah's Witnesses. University of Toronto Press. ISBN 0-8020-7973-3. ##Penton, professor emeritus of history at University of Lethbridge and a former member of the religion, examines the history of Jehovah's Witnesses, and their doctrines.
##Rogerson, Alan. Millions Now Living Will Never Die. London: Constable & Co, 1969. ISBN 978-0094559400 ##Detailed history of the Watch Tower movement, particularly its early years, a summary of Witness doctrines and the organizational and personal framework in which Witnesses conduct their lives.
##Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. Jehovah's Witnesses—Proclaimers of God's Kingdom (1993) ##Official history of Jehovah's Witnesses.
##Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. Faith In Action (2-DVD series), (2010–2011) ##Official history of Jehovah's Witnesses.

External links[edit]
 Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jehovah's Witnesses.
##Official website
##JW Broadcasting—Official video streaming site
##Knocking—A documentary about Jehovah's Witnesses
##BBC - Religion: Jehovah's Witnesses


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Jehovah's Witnesses

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Jehovah's Witnesses
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society (world headquarters).jpg
International headquarters in Brooklyn, New York
 
Classification
Nontrinitarian, Restorationist
Structure
Hierarchical[1]
Region
Worldwide
Founder
Charles Taze Russell
Origin
1870s
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US
Branched from
Bible Student movement
Congregations
115,416
Members
8.2 million
Official websitewww.jw.org
Statistics from 2015 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses[2]
Jehovah's Witnesses is a millenarian restorationist Christian denomination with nontrinitarian beliefs distinct from mainstream Christianity.[3] According to August 2014 organizational statistics published in the 2015 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses, worldwide membership exceeded 8.2 million adherents involved in evangelism,[4] convention attendance exceeded 15 million, and annual Memorial attendance exceeded 19.9 million.[5] Jehovah's Witnesses are directed by the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses, a group of elders in Brooklyn, New York, which establishes all doctrines[6] based on its interpretations of the Bible;[7] they prefer to use their own translation, the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures.[8] They believe that the destruction of the present world system at Armageddon is imminent, and that the establishment of God's kingdom over the earth is the only solution for all problems faced by humanity.[9]
The group emerged from the Bible Student movement, founded in the late 1870s by Charles Taze Russell with the formation of Zion's Watch Tower Tract Society, with significant organizational and doctrinal changes under the leadership of Joseph Franklin Rutherford.[10][11] The name Jehovah's witnesses[12] was adopted in 1931 to distinguish themselves from other Bible Student groups and symbolize a break with the legacy of Russell's traditions.
Jehovah's Witnesses are best known for their door-to-door preaching, distributing literature such as The Watchtower and Awake!, and refusing military service and blood transfusions. They consider use of the name Jehovah vital for proper worship. They reject Trinitarianism, inherent immortality of the soul, and hellfire, which they consider to be unscriptural doctrines. They do not observe Christmas, Easter, birthdays, or other holidays and customs they consider to have pagan origins incompatible with Christianity.[13] Adherents commonly refer to their body of beliefs as "the truth" and consider themselves to be "in the truth".[14] They consider secular society to be morally corrupt and under the influence of Satan, and most limit their social interaction with non-Witnesses.[15] Congregational disciplinary actions include disfellowshipping, their term for formal expulsion and shunning.[16] Baptized individuals who formally leave are considered disassociated and are also shunned. Disfellowshipped and disassociated individuals may eventually be reinstated if deemed repentant.
The religion's position regarding conscientious objection to military service and refusal to salute national flags has brought it into conflict with some governments. Consequently, some Jehovah's Witnesses have been persecuted and their activities are banned or restricted in some countries. Persistent legal challenges by Jehovah's Witnesses have influenced legislation related to civil rights in several countries.[17]
The organization has attracted criticism over issues surrounding biblical translation, doctrines, handling of sexual abuse cases, and alleged coercion of its members. The claims are rejected by adherents, and some have been disputed by courts and religious scholars.


Contents  [hide]
1 History 1.1 Background (1870–1916)
1.2 Reorganization (1917–1942)
1.3 Continued development (1942–present)
2 Organization 2.1 Funding
3 Beliefs 3.1 Sources of doctrine
3.2 Jehovah and Jesus Christ
3.3 Satan
3.4 Life after death
3.5 God's kingdom
3.6 Eschatology
4 Practices 4.1 Worship
4.2 Evangelism
4.3 Ethics and morality
4.4 Disciplinary action
4.5 Separateness
4.6 Rejection of blood transfusions
5 Demographics
6 Sociological analysis
7 Opposition 7.1 Persecution
7.2 Legal challenges
8 Criticism 8.1 Free speech and thought
8.2 New World Translation
8.3 Failed predictions
8.4 Handling of sexual abuse cases
9 References
10 Further reading
11 External links

History[edit]
Part of a series on
Jehovah's Witnesses

Overview

Organizational structure
Governing Body
Watch Tower Bible
 and Tract Society
Corporations
 
History
Bible Student movement
Leadership dispute
Splinter groups
Doctrinal development
Unfulfilled predictions
 
Demographics
By country
 

Beliefs ·
 Practices
 
Salvation ·
 Eschatology

The 144,000
Faithful and discreet slave
Hymns ·
 God's name
 
Blood ·
 Discipline

 
Literature

The Watchtower ·
 Awake!

New World Translation
List of publications
Bibliography
 
Teaching programs

Kingdom Hall ·
 Gilead School

 
People

Watch Tower presidents

W. H. Conley ·
 C. T. Russell
 
J. F. Rutherford ·
 N. H. Knorr
 
F. W. Franz ·
 M. G. Henschel

D. A. Adams
 
Formative influences

William Miller ·
 Henry Grew
 
George Storrs ·
 N. H. Barbour
 
John Nelson Darby

 
Notable former members

Raymond Franz ·
 Olin Moyle

 
Opposition

Criticism ·
 Persecution
 
Supreme Court cases
 by country

v ·
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 e
   
Main article: History of Jehovah's Witnesses
Background (1870–1916)[edit]

 

Charles Taze Russell (1852–1916)
In 1870, Charles Taze Russell and others formed a group in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to study the Bible.[18] During the course of his ministry, Russell disputed many beliefs of mainstream Christianity including immortality of the soul, hellfire, predestination, the fleshly return of Jesus Christ, the Trinity, and the burning up of the world.[19] In 1876, Russell met Nelson H. Barbour; later that year they jointly produced the book Three Worlds, which combined restitutionist views with end time prophecy. The book taught that God's dealings with humanity were divided dispensationally, each ending with a "harvest," that Christ had returned as an invisible spirit being in 1874[19] inaugurating the "harvest of the Gospel age," and that 1914 would mark the end of a 2520-year period called "the Gentile Times,"[20] at which time world society would be replaced by the full establishment of God's kingdom on earth.[21][22][23] Beginning in 1878 Russell and Barbour jointly edited a religious journal, Herald of the Morning.[24] In June 1879 the two split over doctrinal differences, and in July, Russell began publishing the magazine Zion's Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence,[25] stating that its purpose was to demonstrate that the world was in "the last days," and that a new age of earthly and human restitution under the reign of Christ was imminent.[26]
From 1879, Watch Tower supporters gathered as autonomous congregations to study the Bible topically. Thirty congregations were founded, and during 1879 and 1880, Russell visited each to provide the format he recommended for conducting meetings.[27] As congregations continued to form during Russell's ministry, they each remained self-administrative, functioning under the congregationalist style of church governance.[28][29] In 1881, Zion's Watch Tower Tract Society was presided over by William Henry Conley, and in 1884, Charles Taze Russell incorporated the society as a non-profit business to distribute tracts and Bibles.[30][31][32] By about 1900, Russell had organized thousands of part- and full-time colporteurs,[25] and was appointing foreign missionaries and establishing branch offices. By the 1910s, Russell's organization maintained nearly a hundred "pilgrims," or traveling preachers.[33] Russell engaged in significant global publishing efforts during his ministry,[34][35][36] and by 1912, he was the most distributed Christian author in the United States.[35][37]
Russell moved the Watch Tower Society's headquarters to Brooklyn, New York, in 1909, combining printing and corporate offices with a house of worship; volunteers were housed in a nearby residence he named Bethel. He identified the religious movement as "Bible Students," and more formally as the International Bible Students Association.[38] By 1910, about 50,000 people worldwide were associated with the movement[39] and congregations re-elected him annually as their "pastor."[40] Russell died October 31, 1916, at the age of 64 while returning from a ministerial speaking tour.[41]
Reorganization (1917–1942)[edit]

 

Joseph F. Rutherford (1869–1942)
In January 1917, the Watch Tower Society's legal representative, Joseph Franklin Rutherford, was elected as its next president. His election was disputed, and members of the Board of Directors accused him of acting in an autocratic and secretive manner.[42][43] The divisions between his supporters and opponents triggered a major turnover of members over the next decade.[44][45] In June 1917, he released The Finished Mystery as a seventh volume of Russell's Studies in the Scriptures series. The book, published as the posthumous work of Russell, was a compilation of his commentaries on the Bible books of Ezekiel and Revelation, plus numerous additions by Bible Students Clayton Woodworth and George Fisher.[46][47][48][49] It strongly criticized Catholic and Protestant clergy and Christian involvement in the Great War.[50] As a result, Watch Tower Society directors were jailed for sedition under the Espionage Act in 1918 and members were subjected to mob violence; charges against the directors were dropped in 1920.[51]
Rutherford centralized organizational control of the Watch Tower Society. In 1919, he instituted the appointment of a director in each congregation, and a year later all members were instructed to report their weekly preaching activity to the Brooklyn headquarters.[52] At an international convention held at Cedar Point, Ohio, in September 1922, a new emphasis was made on house-to-house preaching.[53] Significant changes in doctrine and administration were regularly introduced during Rutherford's twenty-five years as president, including the 1920 announcement that the Jewish patriarchs (such as Abraham and Isaac) would be resurrected in 1925, marking the beginning of Christ's thousand-year Kingdom.[54][55][56] Disappointed by the changes, tens of thousands of defections occurred during the first half of Rutherford's tenure, leading to the formation of several Bible Student organizations independent of the Watch Tower Society,[57][58] most of which still exist.[59] By mid-1919, as many as one in seven of Russell-era Bible Students had ceased their association with the Society, and as many as two-thirds by the end of the 1920s.[60][61][62][63][64]
On July 26, 1931, at a convention in Columbus, Ohio, Rutherford introduced the new name—Jehovah's witnesses—based on Isaiah 43:10: "Ye are my witnesses, saith Jehovah, and my servant whom I have chosen"—which was adopted by resolution. The name was chosen to distinguish his group of Bible Students from other independent groups that had severed ties with the Society, as well as symbolize the instigation of new outlooks and the promotion of fresh evangelizing methods.[65][66][67] In 1932, Rutherford eliminated the system of locally elected elders and in 1938, introduced what he called a "theocratic" (literally, God-ruled) organizational system, under which appointments in congregations worldwide were made from the Brooklyn headquarters.[52]
From 1932, it was taught that the "little flock" of 144,000 would not be the only people to survive Armageddon. Rutherford explained that in addition to the 144,000 "anointed" who would be resurrected—or transferred at death—to live in heaven to rule over earth with Christ, a separate class of members, the "great multitude," would live in a paradise restored on earth; from 1935, new converts to the movement were considered part of that class.[68][69] By the mid-1930s, the timing of the beginning of Christ's presence (Greek: parousía), his enthronement as king, and the start of the "last days" were each moved to 1914.[70]
As their interpretations of the Bible developed, Witness publications decreed that saluting national flags is a form of idolatry, which led to a new outbreak of mob violence and government opposition in the United States, Canada, Germany, and other countries.[71][72]
Worldwide membership of Jehovah's Witnesses reached 113,624 in 5,323 congregations by the time of Rutherford's death in January 1942.[73][74]
Continued development (1942–present)[edit]
See also: Development of Jehovah's Witnesses doctrine and Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses

 

 Nathan H. Knorr (1905-1977)
Nathan Knorr was appointed as third president of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society in 1942. Knorr commissioned a new translation of the Bible, the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures, the full version of which was released in 1961. He organized large international assemblies, instituted new training programs for members, and expanded missionary activity and branch offices throughout the world.[75] Knorr's presidency was also marked by an increasing use of explicit instructions guiding Witnesses in their lifestyle and conduct, and a greater use of congregational judicial procedures to enforce a strict moral code.[76][77]
From 1966, Witness publications and convention talks built anticipation of the possibility that Christ's thousand-year reign might begin in late 1975[78][79] or shortly thereafter.[80][81][82][83] The number of baptisms increased significantly, from about 59,000 in 1966 to more than 297,000 in 1974. By 1975, the number of active members exceeded two million. Membership declined during the late 1970s after expectations for 1975 were proved wrong.[84][85][86][87] Watch Tower Society literature did not state dogmatically that 1975 would definitely mark the end,[80] but in 1980 the Watch Tower Society admitted its responsibility in building up hope regarding that year.[88][89]
The offices of elder and ministerial servant were restored to Witness congregations in 1972, with appointments made from headquarters[90] (and later, also by branch committees). It has been announced that starting in September 2014, appointments will be made by traveling overseers. In a major organizational overhaul in 1976, the power of the Watch Tower Society president was diminished, with authority for doctrinal and organizational decisions passed to the Governing Body.[91] Since Knorr's death in 1977, the position of president has been occupied by Frederick Franz (1977–1992) and Milton Henschel (1992–2000), both members of the Governing Body, and since 2000 by Don A. Adams, not a member of the Governing Body. In 1995, Jehovah's Witnesses abandoned the idea that Armageddon must occur during the lives of the generation that was alive in 1914 and in 2013 changed their teaching on the "generation".[92][93][94][95]
Organization[edit]
Main article: Organizational structure of Jehovah's Witnesses
Jehovah's Witnesses are organized hierarchically, in what the leadership calls a "theocratic organization", reflecting their belief that it is God's "visible organization" on earth.[96][97][98] The organization is led by the Governing Body—an all-male group that varies in size, but since early 2014 has comprised seven members,[note 1] all of whom profess to be of the "anointed" class with a hope of heavenly life—based in the Watch Tower Society's Brooklyn headquarters.[99][100] There is no election for membership; new members are selected by the existing body.[101] Until late 2012, the Governing Body described itself as the representative[102][103] and "spokesman" for God's "faithful and discreet slave class" (approximately 10,000 self-professed "anointed" Jehovah's Witnesses).[104][105] At the 2012 Annual Meeting of the Watch Tower Society, the "faithful and discreet slave" was defined as referring to the Governing Body only.[106] The Governing Body directs several committees that are responsible for administrative functions, including publishing, assembly programs and evangelizing activities.[98] It appoints all branch committee members and traveling overseers, after they have been recommended by local branches, with traveling overseers supervising circuits of congregations within their jurisdictions. Traveling overseers appoint local elders and ministerial servants, and while branch offices may appoint regional committees for matters such as Kingdom Hall construction or disaster relief.[107]
Each congregation has a body of appointed unpaid male elders and ministerial servants. Elders maintain general responsibility for congregational governance, setting meeting times, selecting speakers and conducting meetings, directing the public preaching work, and creating "judicial committees" to investigate and decide disciplinary action for cases involving sexual misconduct or doctrinal breaches.[108] New elders are appointed by a traveling overseer after recommendation by the existing body of elders. Ministerial servants—appointed in a similar manner to elders—fulfill clerical and attendant duties, but may also teach and conduct meetings.[98] Witnesses do not use elder as a title to signify a formal clergy-laity division,[109] though elders may employ ecclesiastical privilege such as confession of sins.[110]
Baptism is a requirement for being considered a member of Jehovah's Witnesses. Jehovah's Witnesses do not practice infant baptism,[111] and previous baptisms performed by other denominations are not considered valid.[112] Individuals undergoing baptism must affirm publicly that dedication and baptism identify them "as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses in association with God's spirit-directed organization,"[112] though Witness publications say baptism symbolizes personal dedication to God and not "to a man, work or organization."[113][114] Watch Tower Society publications emphasize the need for members to be obedient and loyal to Jehovah and to "his organization,"[115][116][note 2] stating that individuals must remain part of it to receive God's favor and to survive Armageddon.[117][118][119]
Funding[edit]
Much of their funding is provided by donations, primarily from members. There is no tithing or collection.[88] In 2001 Newsday listed the Watch Tower Society as one of New York's forty richest corporations, with revenues exceeding $950 million.[120][121] The organization reported for the same year that it "spent over 70.9 million dollars in caring for special pioneers, missionaries, and traveling overseers in their field service assignments."[122][note 3]
Beliefs[edit]
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Main article: Jehovah's Witnesses beliefs
Sources of doctrine[edit]
Jehovah's Witnesses believe their religion is a restoration of first-century Christianity.[123] Doctrines of Jehovah's Witnesses are established by the Governing Body, which assumes responsibility for interpreting and applying scripture.[45][124][125] The Watch Tower Society does not issue any single, comprehensive "statement of faith", but prefers to express its doctrinal position in a variety of ways in its publications.[126] Its publications teach that doctrinal changes and refinements result from a process of progressive revelation, in which God gradually reveals his will and purpose,[127][128][129][130] and that such enlightenment results from the application of reason and study,[131] the guidance of the holy spirit, and direction from Jesus Christ and angels.[132] The Society also teaches that members of the Governing Body are helped by the holy spirit to discern "deep truths", which are then considered by the entire Governing Body before it makes doctrinal decisions.[133] The religion's leadership, while disclaiming divine inspiration and infallibility,[134] is said to provide "divine guidance"[135] through its teachings described as "based on God's Word thus ... not from men, but from Jehovah."[136][137]
The entire Protestant canon of scripture is considered the inspired, inerrant word of God.[138] Jehovah's Witnesses consider the Bible to be scientifically and historically accurate and reliable[139] and interpret much of it literally, but accept parts of it as symbolic.[140] They consider the Bible to be the final authority for all their beliefs,[141] although sociologist Andrew Holden's ethnographic study of the religion concluded that pronouncements of the Governing Body, through Watch Tower Society publications, carry almost as much weight as the Bible.[142] Regular personal Bible reading is frequently recommended; Witnesses are discouraged from formulating doctrines and "private ideas" reached through Bible research independent of Watch Tower Society publications, and are cautioned against reading other religious literature.[143][144][145] Adherents are told to have "complete confidence" in the leadership, avoid skepticism about what is taught in the Watch Tower Society's literature, and "not advocate or insist on personal opinions or harbor private ideas when it comes to Bible understanding."[146][147][148][149] The religion makes no provision for members to criticize or contribute to official teachings[150] and all Witnesses must abide by its doctrines and organizational requirements.[151]
Jehovah and Jesus Christ[edit]
Jehovah's Witnesses emphasize the use of what they consider to be God's name, represented in the Old Testament by the Tetragrammaton.[152][153] In English they prefer to use the name Jehovah.[154] They believe that Jehovah is the only true God, the creator of all things, and the "Universal Sovereign". They believe that all worship should be directed toward him, and that he is not part of a Trinity;[155] consequently, the religion places more emphasis on God than on Christ.[156][157] They believe that the holy spirit is God's applied power or "active force", rather than a person.[158][159]

 

 The Tetragrammaton
Jehovah's Witnesses believe that Jesus is God's only direct creation, that everything else was created by means of Christ, and that the initial unassisted act of creation uniquely identifies Jesus as God's "only-begotten Son".[160] Jesus served as a redeemer and a ransom sacrifice to pay for the sins of humanity.[161] They believe Jesus died on a single upright post rather than the traditional cross.[162] They believe that references in the Bible to the Archangel Michael, Abaddon (Apollyon), and the Word all refer to Jesus.[163] Jesus is considered to be the only intercessor and high priest between God and humanity, and appointed by God as the king and judge of his kingdom.[164] His role as a mediator (referred to in 1 Timothy 2:5) is applied to the 'anointed' class, though the 'other sheep' are said to also benefit from the arrangement.[165]

Satan[edit]
Jehovah's Witnesses believe that Satan was originally a perfect angel who developed feelings of self-importance and craved worship. Satan influenced Adam and Eve to disobey God, and humanity subsequently became participants in a challenge involving the competing claims of Jehovah and Satan to universal sovereignty.[166] Other angels who sided with Satan became demons.
Jehovah's Witnesses teach that Satan and his demons were cast down to earth from heaven after October 1, 1914,[167] at which point the end times began. Witnesses believe that Satan is the ruler of the current world order,[166] that human society is influenced and misled by Satan and his demons, and that they are a cause of human suffering. They believe that human governments are controlled by Satan,[168] but that he does not directly control each human ruler.[169]
Life after death[edit]
Main article: Jehovah's Witnesses and salvation
Jehovah's Witnesses believe death is a state of non-existence with no consciousness. There is no Hell of fiery torment; Hades and Sheol are understood to refer to the condition of death, termed the common grave.[170] Jehovah's Witnesses consider the soul to be a life or a living body that can die.[171] Watch Tower Society publications teach that humanity is in a sinful state,[171] from which release is only possible by means of Jesus' shed blood as a ransom, or atonement, for the sins of humankind.[172]
Witnesses believe that a "little flock" go to heaven, but that the hope for life after death for the majority of "other sheep" involves being resurrected by God to a cleansed earth after Armageddon. They interpret Revelation 14:1–5 to mean that the number of Christians going to heaven is limited to exactly 144,000, who will rule with Jesus as kings and priests over earth.[173] Jehovah's Witnesses teach that only they meet scriptural requirements for surviving Armageddon, but that God is the final judge.[174][175][176] During Christ's millennial reign, most people who died prior to Armageddon will be resurrected with the prospect of living forever; they will be taught the proper way to worship God to prepare them for their final test at the end of the millennium.[177][178]
God's kingdom[edit]
Watch Tower Society publications teach that God's kingdom is a literal government in heaven, ruled by Jesus Christ and 144,000 Christians drawn from the earth.[179] The kingdom is viewed as the means by which God will accomplish his original purpose for the earth, transforming it into a paradise without sickness or death.[180] It is said to have been the focal point of Jesus' ministry on earth.[181] They believe the kingdom was established in heaven in 1914,[182] and that Jehovah's Witnesses serve as representatives of the kingdom on earth.[183][184]
Eschatology[edit]
Main article: Eschatology of Jehovah's Witnesses
A central teaching of Jehovah's Witnesses is that the current world era, or "system of things", entered the "last days" in 1914 and faces imminent destruction through intervention by God and Jesus Christ, leading to deliverance for those who worship God acceptably.[185] They consider all other present-day religions to be false, identifying them with "Babylon the Great", or the "harlot", of Revelation 17,[186] and believe that they will soon be destroyed by the United Nations, which they believe is represented in scripture by the scarlet-colored wild beast of Revelation chapter 17. This development will mark the beginning of the "great tribulation".[187] Satan will subsequently attack Jehovah's Witnesses, an action that will prompt God to begin the war of Armageddon, during which all forms of government and all people not counted as Christ's "sheep", or true followers, will be destroyed. After Armageddon, God will extend his heavenly kingdom to include earth, which will be transformed into a paradise similar to the Garden of Eden.[188] After Armageddon, most of those who had died before God's intervention will gradually be resurrected during "judgment day" lasting for one thousand years. This judgment will be based on their actions after resurrection rather than past deeds. At the end of the thousand years, a final test will take place when Satan is released to mislead perfect mankind. Those who fail will be destroyed, along with Satan and his demons. The end result will be a fully tested, glorified human race. Christ will then hand all authority back to God.[189]
Watch Tower Society publications teach that Jesus Christ began to rule in heaven as king of God's kingdom in October 1914, and that Satan was subsequently ousted from heaven to the earth, resulting in "woe" to humanity. They believe that Jesus rules invisibly, from heaven, perceived only as a series of "signs". They base this belief on a rendering of the Greek word parousia—usually translated as "coming" when referring to Christ—as "presence". They believe Jesus' presence includes an unknown period beginning with his inauguration as king in heaven in 1914, and ending when he comes to bring a final judgment against humans on earth. They thus depart from the mainstream Christian belief that the "second coming" of Matthew 24 refers to a single moment of arrival on earth to judge humans.[190][191]
Practices[edit]
Main article: Jehovah's Witnesses practices
Worship[edit]

 

 Worship at a Kingdom Hall.
Meetings for worship and study are held at Kingdom Halls, which are typically functional in character, and do not contain religious symbols.[192] Witnesses are assigned to a congregation in whose "territory" they usually reside and attend weekly services they refer to as "meetings" as scheduled by congregation elders. The meetings are largely devoted to study of Watch Tower Society literature and the Bible. The format of the meetings is established by the religion's headquarters, and the subject matter for most meetings is the same worldwide.[192] Congregations meet for two sessions each week comprising five distinct meetings that total about three-and-a-half hours, typically gathering mid-week (three meetings) and on the weekend (two meetings). Prior to 2009, congregations met three times each week; these meetings were condensed, with the intention that members dedicate an evening for "family worship".[193][194] Gatherings are opened and closed with kingdom songs (hymns) and brief prayers. Twice each year, Witnesses from a number of congregations that form a "circuit" gather for a one-day assembly. Larger groups of congregations meet once a year for a three-day "regional convention", usually at rented stadiums or auditoriums. Their most important and solemn event is the commemoration of the "Lord's Evening Meal", or "Memorial of Christ's Death" on the date of the Jewish Passover.[195]
Evangelism[edit]

 

 Jehovah's Witnesses are known for their preaching from house to house.
See also: Jehovah's Witnesses publications
Jehovah's Witnesses are perhaps best known for their efforts to spread their beliefs, most notably by visiting people from house to house,[196][197][198] distributing literature published by the Watch Tower Society in 700 languages.[199] The objective is to start a regular "Bible study" with any person who is not already a member,[200] with the intention that the student be baptized as a member of the group;[201][202] if the student does not show an interest in becoming a member, the study is terminated.[203][204] Witnesses are told they are under a biblical command to engage in public preaching.[205][206] They are instructed to devote as much time as possible to their ministry and are required to submit an individual monthly "Field Service Report".[207][208] Baptized members who fail to submit a report every month are termed "irregular" and may be counseled by elders;[209][210] those who do not submit a report for six consecutive months are termed "inactive".[211]
Ethics and morality[edit]
All sexual relations outside of marriage are grounds for expulsion if the individual is not deemed repentant;[212][213] homosexual activity is considered a serious sin, and same-sex marriages are forbidden. Abortion is considered murder.[214] Suicide is considered to be "self-inflicted murder" and a sin against God.[215] Modesty in dress and grooming is frequently emphasized. Gambling, drunkenness, illegal drugs, and tobacco use are forbidden.[216] Drinking of alcoholic beverages is permitted in moderation.[214]
The family structure is patriarchal. The husband is considered to have authority on family decisions, but is encouraged to solicit his wife's thoughts and feelings, as well as those of his children. Marriages are required to be monogamous and legally registered.[217][218] Marrying a non-believer, or endorsing such a union, is strongly discouraged and carries religious sanctions.[219][220] Divorce is discouraged, and remarriage is forbidden unless a divorce is obtained on the grounds of adultery, which they refer to as "a scriptural divorce".[221]
If a divorce is obtained for any other reason, remarriage is considered adulterous unless the prior spouse has died or is since considered to have committed sexual immorality.[222] Extreme physical abuse, willful non-support of one's family, and what the religion terms "absolute endangerment of spirituality" are considered grounds for legal separation.[223][224]
Disciplinary action[edit]
Main article: Jehovah's Witnesses and congregational discipline
Formal discipline is administered by congregation elders. When a baptized member is accused of committing a serious sin—usually cases of sexual misconduct[108][225] or charges of apostasy for disputing the Watch Tower Society's doctrines[226][227]—a judicial committee is formed to determine guilt, provide help and possibly administer discipline. Disfellowshipping, a form of shunning, is the strongest form of discipline, administered to an offender deemed unrepentant.[228] Contact with disfellowshipped individuals is limited to direct family members living in the same home, and with congregation elders who may invite disfellowshipped persons to apply for reinstatement;[229] formal business dealings may continue if contractually or financially obliged.[230] Witnesses are taught that avoiding social and spiritual interaction with disfellowshipped individuals keeps the congregation free from immoral influence and that "losing precious fellowship with loved ones may help [the shunned individual] to come 'to his senses,' see the seriousness of his wrong, and take steps to return to Jehovah."[231] The practice of shunning may also serve to deter other members from dissident behavior.[232] Members who disassociate (formally resign) are described in Watch Tower Society literature as wicked and are also shunned.[233][234][235] Expelled individuals may eventually be reinstated to the congregation if deemed repentant by elders in the congregation in which the disfellowshipping was enforced.[236] Reproof is a lesser form of discipline given formally by a judicial committee to a baptized Witness who is considered repentant of serious sin; the reproved person temporarily loses conspicuous privileges of service, but suffers no restriction of social or spiritual fellowship.[237] Marking, a curtailing of social but not spiritual fellowship, is practiced if a baptized member persists in a course of action regarded as a violation of Bible principles but not a serious sin.[note 4]
Separateness[edit]
Main article: Jehovah's Witnesses and governments
Jehovah's Witnesses believe that the Bible condemns the mixing of religions, on the basis that there can only be one truth from God, and therefore reject interfaith and ecumenical movements.[238][239][240] They believe that only their religion represents true Christianity, and that other religions fail to meet all the requirements set by God and will soon be destroyed.[241] Jehovah's Witnesses are taught that it is vital to remain "separate from the world." Watch Tower Society publications define the "world" as "the mass of mankind apart from Jehovah's approved servants" and teach that it is morally contaminated and ruled by Satan.[242][243][244] Witnesses are taught that association with "worldly" people presents a "danger" to their faith,[245] and are instructed to minimize social contact with non-members to better maintain their own standards of morality.[246][247][248][249]
Jehovah's Witnesses believe their highest allegiance belongs to God's kingdom, which is viewed as an actual government in heaven, with Christ as king. They remain politically neutral, do not seek public office, and are discouraged from voting, though individual members may participate in uncontroversial community improvement issues.[250][251] Although they do not take part in politics, they respect the authority of the governments under which they live.[252] They do not celebrate religious holidays such as Christmas and Easter, nor do they observe birthdays, nationalistic holidays, or other celebrations they consider to honor people other than Jesus. They feel that these and many other customs have pagan origins or reflect a nationalistic or political spirit. Their position is that these traditional holidays reflect Satan's control over the world.[253][254][255] Witnesses are told that spontaneous giving at other times can help their children to not feel deprived of birthdays or other celebrations.[256]
They do not work in industries associated with the military, do not serve in the armed services,[257] and refuse national military service, which in some countries may result in their arrest and imprisonment.[258] They do not salute or pledge allegiance to flags or sing national anthems or patriotic songs.[259] Jehovah's Witnesses see themselves as a worldwide brotherhood that transcends national boundaries and ethnic loyalties.[260] Sociologist Ronald Lawson has suggested the religion's intellectual and organizational isolation, coupled with the intense indoctrination of adherents, rigid internal discipline and considerable persecution, has contributed to the consistency of its sense of urgency in its apocalyptic message.[261]
Rejection of blood transfusions[edit]
Main article: Jehovah's Witnesses and blood transfusions
Jehovah's Witnesses refuse blood transfusions, which they consider a violation of God's law based on their interpretation of Acts 15:28, 29 and other scriptures.[262][263][264] Since 1961 the willing acceptance of a blood transfusion by an unrepentant member has been grounds for expulsion from the religion.[265][266] Watch Tower Society literature directs Witnesses to refuse blood transfusions, even in "a life-or-death situation".[267][268][269] Jehovah's Witnesses accept non-blood alternatives and other medical procedures in lieu of blood transfusions, and the Watch Tower Society provides information about current non-blood medical procedures.[270]
Though Jehovah's Witnesses do not accept blood transfusions of whole blood, they may accept some blood plasma fractions at their own discretion.[271][272][273] The Watch Tower Society provides pre-formatted Durable Power of Attorney documents prohibiting major blood components, in which members can specify which allowable fractions and treatments they will personally accept.[274][275] Jehovah's Witnesses have established Hospital Liaison Committees as a cooperative arrangement between individual Jehovah's Witnesses and medical professionals and hospitals.[276][277]
Demographics[edit]
Main article: Demographics of Jehovah's Witnesses
JWStats1931-2010.png
Jehovah's Witnesses have an active presence in most countries, but do not form a large part of the population of any country.
As of August 2014, Jehovah's Witnesses report an average of 8.2 million publishers—the term they use for members actively involved in preaching—in 115,416 congregations.[2] In 2014, these reports indicated over 1.94 billion hours spent in preaching and "Bible study" activity. Since the mid-1990s, the number of peak publishers has increased from 4.5 million to 8.2 million.[278] In the same year, they conducted "Bible studies" with over 9.2 million individuals, including those conducted by Witness parents with their children.[4][279][280] Jehovah's Witnesses estimate their current worldwide growth rate to be 2.2% per year.[2]
The official published membership statistics, such as those mentioned above, include only those who submit reports for their personal ministry; official statistics do not include inactive and disfellowshipped individuals or others who might attend their meetings. As a result, only about half of those who self-identified as Jehovah's Witnesses in independent demographic studies are considered active by the faith itself.[281][282] The 2008 US Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life survey found a low retention rate among members of the religion: about 37% of people raised in the religion continued to identify themselves as Jehovah's Witnesses.[283][284]
Sociological analysis[edit]
See also: Sociological classifications of religious movements
Sociologist James A. Beckford, in his 1975 study of Jehovah's Witnesses, classified the religion's organizational structure as Totalizing, characterized by an assertive leadership, specific and narrow objectives, control over competing demands on members' time and energy, and control over the quality of new members. Other characteristics of the classification include likelihood of friction with secular authorities, reluctance to co-operate with other religious organizations, a high rate of membership turnover, a low rate of doctrinal change, and strict uniformity of beliefs among members.[285] Beckford identified the religion's chief characteristics as historicism (identifying historical events as relating to the outworking of God's purpose), absolutism (conviction that the Watch Tower Society dispenses absolute truth), activism (capacity to motivate members to perform missionary tasks), rationalism (conviction that Witness doctrines have a rational basis devoid of mystery), authoritarianism (rigid presentation of regulations without the opportunity for criticism) and world indifference (rejection of certain secular requirements and medical treatments).[286]
Sociologist Bryan R. Wilson, in his consideration of five religions including Jehovah's Witnesses, noted that each of the religions:[287]
1."exists in a state of tension with the wider society;"
2."imposes tests of merit on would-be members;"
3."exercises stern discipline, regulating the declared beliefs and the life habits of members and prescribing and operating sanctions for those who deviate, including the possibility of expulsion;"
4."demands sustained and total commitment from its members, and the subordination, and perhaps even the exclusion of all other interests."
A sociological comparative study by the Pew Research Center found that Jehovah's Witnesses in the United States ranked highest in statistics for getting no further than high school graduation, belief in God, importance of religion in one's life, frequency of religious attendance, frequency of prayers, frequency of Bible reading outside of religious services, belief their prayers are answered, belief that their religion can only be interpreted one way, belief that theirs is the only one true faith leading to eternal life, opposition to abortion, and opposition to homosexuality. In the study, Jehovah's Witnesses ranked lowest in statistics for having earned a graduate degree and interest in politics.[288]
Opposition[edit]
Controversy surrounding various beliefs, doctrines and practices of Jehovah's Witnesses has led to opposition from local governments, communities, and religious groups. Religious commentator Ken Jubber wrote that "Viewed globally, this persecution has been so persistent and of such intensity that it would not be inaccurate to regard Jehovah's Witnesses as the most persecuted group of Christians of the twentieth century."[289]
Persecution[edit]
Main article: Persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses
See also: Persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses in Nazi Germany

 

 Jehovah's Witness prisoners were identified by purple triangle badges in Nazi concentration camps.
Political and religious animosity against Jehovah's Witnesses has at times led to mob action and government oppression in various countries. Their doctrine of political neutrality and their refusal to serve in the military has led to imprisonment of members who refused conscription during World War II and at other times where national service has been compulsory. In 1933, there were approximately 20,000 Jehovah's Witnesses in Germany,[290] of whom about 10,000 were imprisoned. Of those, 2000 were sent to Nazi concentration camps, where they were identified by purple triangles; as many as 1200 died, including 250 who were executed.[291][292][293][294] In Canada, Jehovah's Witnesses were interned in camps[295] along with political dissidents and people of Chinese and Japanese descent.[296] In the former Soviet Union, about 9,300 Jehovah's Witnesses were deported to Siberia as part of Operation North in April 1951.[297] Their religious activities are currently banned or restricted in some countries, including China, Vietnam and some Islamic states.[298][299]
Authors including William Whalen, Shawn Francis Peters and former Witnesses Barbara Grizzuti Harrison, Alan Rogerson and William Schnell, have claimed the religion incited opposition to pursue a course of martyrdom under Rutherford's leadership during the 1930s, in a bid to attract dispossessed members of society, and to convince members that persecution from the outside world was evidence of the truth of their struggle to serve God.[300] Watch Tower Society literature of the period directed Witnesses to "avoid unnecessary opposition or prejudice", stating that their purpose is not to get arrested.[301]
Legal challenges[edit]
Main article: Supreme Court cases involving Jehovah's Witnesses by country
Several cases involving Jehovah's Witnesses have been heard by Supreme Courts throughout the world.[302] The cases generally relate to their right to practice their religion, displays of patriotism and military service, and blood transfusions.[303]
In the United States, their persistent legal challenges prompted a series of state and federal court rulings that reinforced judicial protections for civil liberties.[304] Among the rights strengthened by Witness court victories in the United States are the protection of religious conduct from federal and state interference, the right to abstain from patriotic rituals and military service, the right of patients to refuse medical treatment, and the right to engage in public discourse.[305] Similar cases in their favor have been heard in Canada.[306]
Criticism[edit]
Main article: Criticism of Jehovah's Witnesses
Jehovah's Witnesses have attracted criticism over issues surrounding their Bible translation, doctrines, their handling of sexual abuse cases, and alleged coercion of members. Many of the claims are denied by Jehovah's Witnesses and some have also been disputed by religious scholars.
Free speech and thought[edit]
Doctrines of Jehovah's Witnesses are established by the Governing Body, without consultation with other members.[307] The religion does not tolerate dissidence about doctrines and practices;[137][308][309][310] members who openly disagree with the religion's teachings are shunned.[227] Watch Tower Society publications strongly discourage followers from questioning its doctrines and counsel, reasoning that the Society is to be trusted as "God's organization".[310][311][312][313] It also warns members to "avoid independent thinking", claiming such thinking "was introduced by Satan the Devil"[314][315] and would "cause division".[316] Those who openly disagree with official teachings are condemned as "apostates" who are "mentally diseased".[317][318][319]
Former members Heather and Gary Botting compare the cultural paradigms of the religion to George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-four,[320] and Alan Rogerson describes the religion's leadership as totalitarian.[321] Other critics charge that by disparaging individual decision-making, the Watch Tower Society cultivates a system of unquestioning obedience[143][322] in which Witnesses abrogate all responsibility and rights over their personal lives.[323][324] Critics also accuse the Watch Tower Society of exercising "intellectual dominance" over Witnesses,[325] controlling information[227][326][327] and creating "mental isolation",[328] which former Governing Body member Raymond Franz argued were all elements of mind control.[328]
Watch Tower Society publications state that consensus of faith aids unity,[329] and deny that unity restricts individuality or imagination.[329] Historian James Irvin Lichti has rejected the description of the religion as "totalitarian".[330]
Sociologist Rodney Stark states that while Jehovah's Witness leaders are "not always very democratic" and members are expected to conform to "rather strict standards," enforcement tends to be informal, sustained by close bonds of friendship and that Jehovah's Witnesses see themselves as "part of the power structure rather than subject to it."[86] Sociologist Andrew Holden states that most members who join millenarian movements such as Jehovah's Witnesses have made an informed choice.[331] However, he also states that defectors "are seldom allowed a dignified exit",[317] and describes the administration as autocratic.[332]
New World Translation[edit]
Main article: New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures
Some Bible scholars including Bruce M. Metzger, former Professor and Bible editor at Princeton Theological Seminary, have said that the translation of certain texts in its New World Translation of the Bible is biased in favor of Witness practices and doctrines.[333][334][335][336][337] The Bible editor Harold H. Rowley criticized the pre-release edition of the first volume (Genesis to Ruth) published in 1953 as "a shining example of how the Bible should not be translated."[338]
On the other hand, in his study on nine of "the Bibles most widely in use in the English-speaking world", Bible scholar Jason BeDuhn, Professor of Religious Studies at the Northern Arizona University, wrote: “The NW [New World Translation] emerges as the most accurate of the translations compared.” Although the general public and many Bible scholars assume that the differences in the New World Translation are the result of religious bias on the part of its translators, BeDuhn stated: “Most of the differences are due to the greater accuracy of the NW as a literal, conservative translation of the original expressions of the New Testament writers.” He added however that the insertion of the name Jehovah in the New Testament "violate[s] accuracy in favor of denominationally preferred expressions for God".[339]
Failed predictions[edit]
Main article: Watch Tower Society unfulfilled predictions
Watch Tower Society publications have claimed that God has used Jehovah's Witnesses (and formerly, the International Bible Students) to declare his will[340][341] and has provided advance knowledge about Armageddon and the establishment of God's kingdom.[342][343][344] Some publications also claimed that God has used Jehovah's Witnesses and the International Bible Students as a modern-day prophet.[note 5] Jehovah's Witnesses' publications have made various predictions about world events they believe were prophesied in the Bible.[345][346] Failed predictions have led to the alteration or abandonment of some doctrines.[347][348] Some failed predictions that the Watch Tower Society had claimed were presented as "beyond doubt" or "approved by God".[349]
The Watch Tower Society rejects accusations that it is a false prophet,[350] stating that its teachings are not inspired or infallible,[351][352][353] and that it has not claimed its predictions were "the words of Jehovah."[350] George D. Chryssides has suggested that with the exception of statements about 1914, 1925 and 1975, the changing views and dates of the Jehovah's Witnesses are largely attributable to changed understandings of biblical chronology than to failed predictions.[78] Chryssides further states, "it is therefore simplistic and naïve to view the Witnesses as a group that continues to set a single end-date that fails and then devise a new one, as many counter-cultists do."[354] However, sociologist Andrew Holden states that since the foundation of the movement around 140 years ago, "Witnesses have maintained that we are living on the precipice of the end of time."[355]
Handling of sexual abuse cases[edit]
Main article: Jehovah's Witnesses' handling of child sex abuse
Critics have accused Jehovah's Witnesses of employing organizational policies that make the reporting of sexual abuse difficult for members. Some victims of sexual abuse have asserted that they were ordered by certain local elders to maintain silence so as to avoid embarrassment to both the accused and the organization.[356][357][358][359] Jehovah's Witnesses maintain that they have no policy of silence, and that elders are directed to report abuse to authorities when there is evidence of abuse, and when required to by law. In 1997, Jehovah's Witnesses' Office of Public Information published their policy[360] for elders to report allegations of child abuse to the authorities where required by law to do so, even if there was only one witness.[361][362] An individual known to have sexually abused a child is generally prohibited from holding any position of responsibility inside the organization.[363] Unless considered by the congregation elders to have demonstrated repentance, such a person is typically disfellowshipped.[213]
In California in June 2012, Alameda County Superior Court ordered the Watch Tower Society to pay $21 million in punitive damages, in addition to compensatory damages, after finding that the Society's policy to not disclose the child abuse history of a member to parents in the congregation or to report abuse to authorities contributed to the sexual abuse of a nine-year-old girl.[364][365] The Watchtower Society appealed the ruling, and in April 2015 the court of appeal concluded that the Watchtower Society was negligent in preventing child abuse committed by a member while engaged in organization-sponsored preaching. The appeal court upheld the trial court's verdict regarding compensatory damages, awarding $7 million to the plaintiff, of which the Watchtower Society and the congregation were ordered to pay $2.8 million, but found that the Watchtower Society had no legal duty to warn the parents or members in the congregation about the child abuse history of other members. [366][367]
References[edit]
Explanatory notes
1.Jump up ^ Twelve members as of September 2005 (See The Watchtower, March 15, 2006, page 26)
 Schroeder died March 8, 2006. (See The Watchtower, September 15, 2006, page 31)
 Sydlik died April 18, 2006. (See The Watchtower, January 1, 2007, page 8)
 Barber died April 8, 2007. (See The Watchtower, October 15, 2007, page 31)
 Jaracz died June 9, 2010. (See The Watchtower, November 15, 2010, page 23)
 Barr died December 4, 2010. (See The Watchtower, May 15, 2011, page 6)
 Sanderson appointed September 1, 2012. (See The Watchtower, July 15, 2013, page 26)
 Pierce died March 20, 2014. (See the announcement on jw.org)
2.Jump up ^ Raymond Franz (In Search of Christian Freedom, 2007, p.449) cites various Watch Tower Society publications that stress loyalty and obedience to the organization, including: "Following Faithful Shepherds with Life in View", The Watchtower, October 1, 1967, page 591, "Make haste to identify the visible theocratic organization of God that represents his king, Jesus Christ. It is essential for life. Doing so, be complete in accepting its every aspect."; The Watchtower, September 1, 2006, pg 15, "Have we formed a loyal attachment to the organization that Jehovah is using today?"; "Your Reminders Are What I Am Fond Of", The Watchtower, June 15, 2006, pg 26, "We too should remain faithful to Jehovah and to his organization regardless of injustices we suffer and regardless of what others do."; "Are You Prepared for Survival?", The Watchtower, May 15, 2006, pg 22, "Just as Noah and his God-fearing family were preserved in the ark, survival of individuals today depends on their faith and their loyal association with the earthly part of Jehovah’s universal organization."; Worship The Only True God (Watch Tower Society, 2002), pg 134, "Jehovah is guiding us today by means of his visible organization under Christ. Our attitude toward this arrangement demonstrates how we feel about the issue of sovereignty ... By being loyal to Jehovah’s organization, we show that Jehovah is our God and that we are united in worship of him."
3.Jump up ^ 2013 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses. p. 178. "During the 2012 service year, Jehovah’s Witnesses spent over $184 million in caring for special pioneers, missionaries, and traveling overseers in their field service assignments."
4.Jump up ^ A common example given is a baptized Witness who dates a non-Witness; see The Watchtower, July 15, 1999, p. 30.
5.Jump up ^ Raymond Franz cites numerous examples. In Crisis of Conscience, 2002, pg. 173, he quotes from "They Shall Know That a Prophet Was Among Them", (The Watchtower, April 1, 1972,) which states that God had raised Jehovah's Witnesses as a prophet "to warn (people) of dangers and declare things to come" He also cites "Identifying the Right Kind of Messenger" (The Watchtower, May 1, 1997, page 8) which identifies the Witnesses as his "true messengers ... by making the messages he delivers through them come true", in contrast to "false messengers", whose predictions fail. In In Search of Christian Freedom, 2007, he quotes The Nations Shall Know That I Am Jehovah—How? (1971, pg 70, 292) which describes Witnesses as the modern Ezekiel class, "a genuine prophet within our generation". The Watch Tower book noted: "Concerning the message faithfully delivered by the Ezekiel class, Jehovah positively states that it 'must come true' ... those who wait undecided until it does 'come true' will also have to know that a prophet himself had proved to be in the midst of them." He also cites "Execution of the Great Harlot Nears", (The Watchtower, October 15, 1980, pg 17) which claims God gives the Witnesses "special knowledge that others do not have ... advance knowledge about this system's end".
Citations
1.Jump up ^ "Court Trial Testimony Redwood City" (PDF). Superior Court of the State of California. February 22, 2012. "I am general counsel for the National Organization of Jehovah's Witnesses out of Brooklyn, New York. ... We are a hierarchical religion structured just like the Catholic Church."
2.^ Jump up to: a b c 2015 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses. Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. 2014. pp. 185–186.
3.Jump up ^ Sources for descriptors:
• Millenarian: Beckford, James A. (1975). The Trumpet of Prophecy: A Sociological Study of Jehovah's Witnesses. Oxford: Basil Blackwell. pp. 118–119, 151, 200–201. ISBN 0-631-16310-7.
• Restorationist: Stark; Iannaccone, Laurence et al. (1997). "Why Jehovah's Witnesses Grow So Rapidly: A Theoretical Application". Journal of Contemporary Religion 12 (2): 133–157. doi:10.1080/13537909708580796.
• Christian: "Religious Tolerance.org". "Statistics on Religion".
• Denomination: "Jehovah's Witnesses at a Glance"."The American Heritage Dictionary"."Memorial and Museum AUSCHWITZ-BIRKENAU".
4.^ Jump up to: a b "Jehovah's Witnesses Official Media Web Site: Our History and Organization: Membership". Office of Public Information of Jehovah's Witnesses. "While other religious groups count their membership by occasional or annual attendance, this figure reflects only those who are actively involved in the public Bible educational work [of Jehovah's Witnesses]."
5.Jump up ^ "Guided by God's Spirit". Awake!: 32. June 2008. Retrieved 2012-06-16.
6.Jump up ^ Beckford, James A. (1975). The Trumpet of Prophecy: A Sociological Study of Jehovah's Witnesses. Oxford: Basil Blackwell. p. 221. ISBN 0-631-16310-7. "Doctrine has always emanated from the Society's elite in Brooklyn and has never emerged from discussion among, or suggestion from, rank-and-file Witnesses."
7.Jump up ^ "Jehovah's Witnesses". The Columbia Encyclopedia. Columbia University Press. 2011. ISBN 978-0-7876-5015-5. "The Witnesses base their teaching on the Bible."
8.Jump up ^ Edwards, Linda (2001). A Brief Guide to Beliefs. Louisville, Kentucky: Westminster John Knox Press. p. 438. ISBN 0-664-22259-5. "The Jehovah's Witnesses' interpretation of Christianity and their rejection of orthodoxy influenced them to produce their own translation of the Bible, The New World Translation."
9.Jump up ^ "Jehovah's Witness". Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. 2007. ISBN 978-1-59339-293-2.
10.Jump up ^ Michael Hill, ed. (1972). "The Embryonic State of a Religious Sect's Development: The Jehovah's Witnesses". Sociological Yearbook of Religion in Britain (5): 11–12. "Joseph Franklin Rutherford succeeded to Russell's position as President of Zion's Watch Tower Tract Society, but only at the expense of antagonizing a large proportion of the Watch Towers subscribers. Nevertheless, he persisted in moulding the Society to suit his own programme of activist evangelism under systematic central control, and he succeeded in creating the administrative structure of the present-day sect of Jehovah's Witnesses."
11.Jump up ^ Leo P. Chall (1978). "Sociological Abstracts". Sociology of Religion 26 (1–3): 193. "Rutherford, through the Watch Tower Society, succeeded in changing all aspects of the sect from 1919 to 1932 and created Jehovah's Witnesses—a charismatic offshoot of the Bible student community."
12.Jump up ^ Based on Isaiah 43:10–12 - Isaiah 43:10-12
13.Jump up ^ Franz, Raymond (2007). In Search of Christian Freedom. Commentary Press. pp. 274–5. ISBN 0-914675-16-8.
14.Jump up ^ Singelenberg, Richard (1989). "It Separated the Wheat From the Chaff: The 1975 Prophecy and its Impact Among Dutch Jehovah's Witnesses". Sociological Analysis 50 (Spring 1989): 23–40, footnote 8. doi:10.2307/3710916. "'The Truth' is Witnesses' jargon, meaning the Society's belief system."
15.Jump up ^ Penton, M.J. (1997). Apocalypse Delayed: The Story of Jehovah's Witnesses. University of Toronto Press. pp. 280–283. ISBN 0-8020-7973-3. "Most Witnesses tend to think of society outside their own community as decadent and corrupt ... This in turn means to Jehovah's Witnesses that they must keep themselves apart from Satan's "doomed system of things." Thus most tend to socialize largely, although not totally, within the Witness community."
16.Jump up ^ Chryssides, George D. (1999). Exploring New Religions. London: Continuum. p. 5. ISBN 0-8264-5959-5. "The Jehovah's Witnesses are well known for their practice of 'disfellowshipping' wayward members."
17.Jump up ^ Gary Botting, Fundamental Freedoms and Jehovah's Witnesses (Calgary: University of Calgary Press, 1993), pg 1–13.
18.Jump up ^ Rogerson, Alan (1969). Millions Now Living Will Never Die: A Study of Jehovah's Witnesses. Constable & Co, London. p. 6. ISBN 978-0094559400.
19.^ Jump up to: a b Beckford 1975, p. 2
20.Jump up ^ Crompton, Robert (1996). Counting the Days to Armageddon. Cambridge: James Clarke & Co. pp. 37–39. ISBN 0-227-67939-3.
21.Jump up ^ Bible Examiner October, 1876 "Gentile Times: When Do They End?" pp 27–8: "The seven times will end in A.D. 1914; when Jerusalem shall be delivered forever ... when Gentile Governments shall have been dashed to pieces; when God shall have poured out of his fury upon the nations and they acknowledge him King of Kings and Lord of Lords."
22.Jump up ^ Studies in the Scriptures volume 4, "The Battle of Armageddon", 1897, pg xii
23.Jump up ^ C. T. Russell, The Time is at Hand, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1889, page 101.
24.Jump up ^ Heather and Gary Botting, The Orwellian World of Jehovah's Witnesses (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1984, p. 36.
25.^ Jump up to: a b Holden & 2002 Portrait, p. 18
26.Jump up ^ Zion's Watch Tower, July 1, 1879, pg 1: "This is the first number of the first volume of "Zion's Watch Tower," and it may not be amiss to state the object of its publication. That we are living "in the last days"—"the day of the Lord"—"the end" of the Gospel age, and consequently, in the dawn of a "new" age."
27.Jump up ^ 1975 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses, Watch Tower, pages 38–39
28.Jump up ^ Zion's Watch Tower, September 1884, pp. 7–8
29.Jump up ^ Studies in the Scriptures volume 6 "The New Creation" pp. 195–272
30.Jump up ^ C.T. Russell, "A Conspiracy Exposed", Zion's Watch Tower Extra edition, April 25, 1894, page 55–60, "This is a business association merely ... it has no creed or confession ... it is merely a business convenience in disseminating the truth."]
31.Jump up ^ Historical Dictionary of Jehovah's Witnesses by George D. Chryssides, Scarecrow Press, 2008, page xxxiv, "Russell wanted to consolidate the movement he had started. ...In 1880, Bible House, a four-story building in Allegheny, was completed, with printing facilities and meeting accommodation, and it became the organization's headquarters. The next stage of institutionalization was legal incorporation. In 1884, Russell formed the Zion's Watch Tower Tract Society, which was incorporated in Pennsylvania... Russell was concerned that his supporters should feel part of a unified movement."
32.Jump up ^ Religion in the Twentieth Century by Vergilius Ture Anselm Ferm, Philosophical Library, 1948, page 383, "As the [unincorporated Watch Tower] Society expanded, it became necessary to incorporate it and build a more definite organization. In 1884, a charter was granted recognizing the Society as a religious, non-profit corporation."
33.Jump up ^ Holden & 2002 Portrait, p. 19
34.Jump up ^ A Chronology and Glossary of Propaganda in the United States Greenwood Press: 1996. pg. 35: "Russell is naturally media literate, and the amount of literature he circulates proves staggering. Books, booklets, and tracts are distributed by the hundreds of millions. This is supplemented by well-publicized speaking tours and a masterful press relations effort, which gives him widespread access to general audiences."
35.^ Jump up to: a b The Overland Monthly, January 1910 pg. 130
36.Jump up ^ Penton 1997, p. 26–29
37.Jump up ^ W.T. Ellis, The Continent, McCormick Publishing Company, vol. 43, no. 40, October 3, 1912 pg. 1354
38.Jump up ^ Religious Diversity and American Religious History by Walter H. Conser, Sumner B. Twiss, University of Georgia Press, 1997, page 136, "The Jehovah's Witnesses...has maintained a very different attitude toward history. Established initially in the 1870s by Charles Taze Russell under the title International Bible Students Association, this organization has proclaimed..."
39.Jump up ^ The New Schaff–Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, 1910, vol 7, pg 374
40.Jump up ^ Penton 1997, p. 26
41.Jump up ^ Rogerson, Alan (1969). Millions Now Living Will Never Die: A Study of Jehovah's Witnesses. Constable & Co, London. p. 31. ISBN 978-0094559400.
42.Jump up ^ Penton 1997, p. 53
43.Jump up ^ A.N. Pierson et al, Light After Darkness, 1917, page 4.
44.Jump up ^ Crompton, Robert (1996). Counting the Days to Armageddon. Cambridge: James Clarke & Co. p. 101. ISBN 0-227-67939-3.
45.^ Jump up to: a b Penton 1997, pp. 58, 61–62
46.Jump up ^ The Bible Students Monthly, vol. 9 no. 9, pp 1, 4: "The following article is extracted mainly from Pastor Russell's posthumous volume entitled "THE FINISHED MYSTERY," the 7th in the series of his STUDIES IN THE SCRIPTURES and published subsequent to his death."
47.Jump up ^ Lawson, John D., American State Trials, vol 13, Thomas Law Book Company, 1921, pg viii: "After his death and after we were in the war they issued a seventh volume of this series, entitled "The Finished Mystery," which, under the guise of being a posthumous work of Pastor Russell, included an attack on the war and an attack on patriotism, which were not written by Pastor Russell and could not have possibly been written by him."
48.Jump up ^ Crompton, Robert (1996). Counting the Days to Armageddon. Cambridge: James Clarke & Co. pp. 84–85. ISBN 0-227-67939-3. "One of Rutherford's first actions as president ... was, without reference either to his fellow directors or to the editorial committee which Russell had nominated in his will, to commission a seventh volume of Studies in the Scriptures. Responsibility for preparing this volume was given to two of Russell's close associates, George H. Fisher and Clayton J. Woodworth. On the face of it, their brief was to edit for publication the notes left by Russell ... and to draw upon his published writings ... It is obvious ... that it was not in any straightforward sense the result of editing Russell's papers, rather it was in large measure the original work of Woodworth and Fisher at the behest of the new president."
49.Jump up ^ "Publisher's Preface". The Finished Mystery. "But the fact is, he did write it. This book may properly be said to be a posthumous publication of Pastor Russell. Why?... This book is chiefly a compilation of things which he wrote and which have been brought together in harmonious style by properly applying the symbols which he explained to the Church."
50.Jump up ^ Penton 1997, p. 55
51.Jump up ^ Rogerson, Alan (1969). Millions Now Living Will Never Die: A Study of Jehovah's Witnesses. Constable & Co, London. p. 44. ISBN 978-0094559400.
52.^ Jump up to: a b Franz, Raymond (2007). "Chapter 4". In Search of Christian Freedom. Commentary Press. ISBN 0-914675-16-8.
53.Jump up ^ Jehovah's Witnesses—Proclaimers of God's Kingdom. Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society. 1993. pp. 72–77.
54.Jump up ^ Chryssides, George D. (2010). "How Prophecy Succeeds: The Jehovah’s Witnesses and Prophetic Expectations". International Journal for the Study of New Religions 1 (1): 39. doi:10.1558/ijsnr.v1i1.27. ISSN 2041-952X.
55.Jump up ^ Franz, Raymond (2007). In Search of Christian Freedom. p. 144. ISBN 0-914675-16-8.
56.Jump up ^ Salvation, Watch Tower Society, 1939, as cited in Jehovah's Witnesses—Proclaimers of God's Kingdom, page 76
57.Jump up ^ Rogerson, Alan (1969). Millions Now Living Will Never Die: A Study of Jehovah's Witnesses. Constable & Co, London. pp. 39, 52. ISBN 978-0094559400.
58.Jump up ^ Herbert H. Stroup, The Jehovah's Witnesses, Colombia University Press, New York, 1945, pg 14,15: "Following his election the existence of the movement was threatened as never before. Many of those who remembered wistfully the halcyon days of Mr Russell's leadership found that the new incumbent did not fulfill their expectations of a saintly leader. Various elements split off from the parent body, and such fission continued throughout Rutherford's leadership."
59.Jump up ^ Reed, David, Whither the Watchtower? Christian Research Journal, Summer 1993, pg 27: "By gradually replacing locally elected elders with his own appointees, he managed to transform a loose collection of semi-autonomous, democratically run congregations into a tight-knit organizational machine controlled from his office. Some local congregations broke away, forming such groups as the Chicago Bible Students, the Dawn Bible Students, and the Laymen's Home Missionary Movement, all of which continue to this day."
60.Jump up ^ Thirty Years a Watchtower Slave, William J. Schnell, Baker, Grand Rapids, 1956, as cited by Rogerson, page 52. Rogerson notes that it is not clear exactly how many Bible Students left, but quotes Rutherford (Jehovah, 1934, page 277) as saying "only a few" who left other religions were then "in God's organization".
61.Jump up ^ The Present Truth and Herald of Christ's Epiphany, P.S.L. Johnson (April 1927, pg 66). Johnson stated that between late 1923 and early 1927, "20,000 to 30,000 Truth people the world over have left the Society."
62.Jump up ^ Tony Wills (A People For His Name, pg. 167) cites The Watch Tower (December 1, 1927, pg 355) in which Rutherford states that "the larger percentage" of original Bible Students had by then departed.
63.Jump up ^ Penton 1997, p. 50
64.Jump up ^ Rogerson 1969, p. 37
65.Jump up ^ Rogerson, Alan (1969). Millions Now Living Will Never Die: A Study of Jehovah's Witnesses. London: Constable. p. 55. "In 1931, came an important milestone in the history of the organisation. For many years Rutherford's followers had been called a variety of names: 'International Bible Students', 'Russellites', or 'Millennial Dawners'. In order to distinguish clearly his followers from the other groups who had separated in 1918 Rutherford proposed that they adopt an entirely new name—Jehovah's witnesses."
66.Jump up ^ James A. Beckford, The Trumpet of Prophecy, 1975, page 30, "The new title symbolized a break with the legacy of Russell's traditions, the instigation of new outlooks and the promotion of fresh methods of administering evangelism."
67.Jump up ^ "A New Name". The Watch Tower: 291. October 1, 1931. "Since the death of Charles T. Russell there have arisen numerous companies formed out of those who once walked with him, each of these companies claiming to teach the truth, and each calling themselves by some name, such as "Followers of Pastor Russell", "those who stand by the truth as expounded by Pastor Russell," "Associated Bible Students," and some by the names of their local leaders. All of this tends to confusion and hinders those of good will who are not better informed from obtaining a knowledge of the truth."
68.Jump up ^ Beckford 1975, p. 31
69.Jump up ^ Penton 1997, pp. 71–72
70.Jump up ^ Crompton, Robert (1996). Counting the Days to Armageddon. Cambridge: James Clarke & Co. pp. 109–110. ISBN 0-227-67939-3.
71.Jump up ^ Beckford 1975, p. 35
72.Jump up ^ Garbe, Detlef (2008). Between Resistance and Martyrdom: Jehovah's Witnesses in the Third Reich. Madison, Wisconsin: University of Wisconsin Press. p. 145. ISBN 0-299-20794-3.
73.Jump up ^ 1943 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses. Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society. 1942. pp. 221–222.
74.Jump up ^ Jehovah's Witnesses in the Divine Purpose. Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society. 1959. pp. 312–313.
75.Jump up ^ Beckford 1975, pp. 47–52
76.Jump up ^ Beckford 1975, pp. 52–55
77.Jump up ^ Penton 1997, pp. 89–90
78.^ Jump up to: a b George Chryssides, They Keep Changing the Dates, A paper presented at the CESNUR 2010 conference in Torino.
79.Jump up ^ Chryssides, George D. (2008). Historical Dictionary of Jehovah's Witnesses. Scarecrow Press. p. 19. ISBN 0-8108-6074-0.
80.^ Jump up to: a b Penton 1997, p. 95
81.Jump up ^ Botting, Heather; Gary Botting (1984). The Orwellian World of Jehovah's Witnesses. University of Toronto Press. p. 46. ISBN 0-8020-6545-7.
82.Jump up ^ "Awake!". Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society. October 8, 1968. p. 14. "Does this mean that the above evidence positively points to 1975 as the complete end of this system of things? Since the Bible does not specifically state this, no man can say... If the 1970s should see intervention by Jehovah God to bring an end to a corrupt world drifting toward ultimate disintegration, that should surely not surprise us."
83.Jump up ^ "How Are You Using Your Life?". Our Kingdom Ministry: 63. May 1974. "Reports are heard of brothers selling their homes and property and planning to finish out the rest of their days in this old system in the pioneer service. Certainly, this is a fine way to spend the short time remaining before the wicked world's end."
84.Jump up ^ Franz, Raymond. "1975—The Appropriate Time for God to Act". Crisis of Conscience (PDF). pp. 237–253. ISBN 0-914675-23-0. Retrieved 2006-07-27.
85.Jump up ^ Singelenberg, Richard (1989). "The '1975'-prophecy and its impact among Dutch Jehovah's Witnesses". Sociological Analysis 50 (1): 23–40. doi:10.2307/3710916. JSTOR 3710916. Notes a nine percent drop in total publishers (door-to-door preachers) and a 38 per cent drop in pioneers (full-time preachers) in the Netherlands.
86.^ Jump up to: a b Stark and Iannoccone (1997). "Why the Jehovah's Witnesses Grow So Rapidly: A Theoretical Application" (PDF). Journal of Contemporary Religion: 142–143. Retrieved 2013-07-16.
87.Jump up ^ Dart, John (January 30, 1982). "Defectors Feel 'Witness' Wrath: Critics say Baptism Rise Gives False Picture of Growth". Los Angeles Times. p. B4. Cited statistics showing a net increase of publishers worldwide from 1971 to 1981 of 737,241, while baptisms totaled 1.71 million for the same period.
88.^ Jump up to: a b Hesse, Hans (2001). Persecution and Resistance of Jehovah's Witnesses During the Nazi-Regime. Chicago: Edition Temmen c/o. pp. 296, 298. ISBN 3-861-08750-2.
89.Jump up ^ "The Watchtower". March 15, 1980. pp. 17–18. "With the appearance of the book Life Everlasting—in Freedom of the Sons of God, ... considerable expectation was aroused regarding the year 1975. ... there were other statements published that implied that such realization of hopes by that year was more of a probability than a mere possibility. It is to be regretted that these latter statements apparently overshadowed the cautionary ones and contributed to a buildup of the expectation already initiated. ... persons having to do with the publication of the information ... contributed to the buildup of hopes centered on that date."
90.Jump up ^ Chryssides Historical Dictionary of Jehovah's Witnesses, pp. 32,112
91.Jump up ^ Chryssides Historical Dictionary of Jehovah's Witnesses, p. 64
92.Jump up ^ Joel P. Engardio (December 18, 1995), "Apocalypse Later", Newsweek
93.Jump up ^ Penton 1997, p. 317
94.Jump up ^ John Dart, "Jehovah's Witnesses Abandon Key Tenet", Los Angeles Times, November 4, 1995.
95.Jump up ^ THE WATCHTOWER (STUDY EDITION) JANUARY 2014: http://www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/w20140115/let-your-kingdom-come/
96.Jump up ^ "Overseers and Ministerial Servants Theocratically Appointed". The Watchtower: 16. 15 January 2001. "Theocratic appointments come from Jehovah through his Son and God’s visible earthly channel, “the faithful and discreet slave” and its Governing Body."
97.Jump up ^ The Watchtower, October 1, 1967 pg 591–92: "Make haste to identify the visible theocratic organization of God that represents his king, Jesus Christ. It is essential for life. Doing so, be complete in accepting its every aspect. We cannot claim to love God, yet deny his Word and channel of communication. Therefore, in submitting to Jehovah's visible theocratic organization, we must be in full and complete agreement with every feature of its apostolic procedure and requirements."
98.^ Jump up to: a b c Penton 1997, pp. 211–252
99.Jump up ^ Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. 2007 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses. pp. 4, 6.
100.Jump up ^ Botting, Heather & Gary (1984). The Orwellian World of Jehovah's Witnesses. University of Toronto Press. ISBN 0-8020-6545-7.
101.Jump up ^ Franz, Raymond (2007). In Search of Christian Freedom. Commentary Press. p. 123. ISBN 0-914675-17-6.
102.Jump up ^ The Watchtower, May 15, 2008, page 29
103.Jump up ^ "Seek God's guidance in all things", The Watchtower, April 15, 2008, page 11.
104.Jump up ^ Franz, Raymond (2007). In Search of Christian Freedom. Commentary Press. p. 153. ISBN 0-914675-17-6.
105.Jump up ^ Yearbook, Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, 2010.
106.Jump up ^ "Annual Meeting Report".
107.Jump up ^ Penton 1997, p. 101, 233–235
108.^ Jump up to: a b Gallagher, Eugene V.; Ashcraft, W. Michael (2006), Introduction to New and Alternative Religions in America 2, Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press, p. 69, ISBN 0-275-98712-4
109.Jump up ^ Taylor, Elizabeth J. (2012). Religion: A Clinical Guide for Nurses. Springer Publishing Company. p. 163. ISBN 0-8261-0860-1.
110.Jump up ^ DuShane, Tony (2012). Confessions of a Teenage Jesus Jerk. ReadHowYouWant. p. 126. ISBN 1-4587-8357-X.
111.Jump up ^ Hoekema, Anthony A. (1963). The Four Major Cults. Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans. p. 291. ISBN 0-8028-3117-6.
112.^ Jump up to: a b Franz, Raymond (2007). In Search of Christian Freedom. Commentary Press. pp. 116–120. ISBN 0-914675-16-8.
113.Jump up ^ Chryssides Historical Dictionary of Jehovah's Witnesses, p. 14
114.Jump up ^ What Does the Bible Really Teach. Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. p. 182. "Going beneath the water symbolizes that you have died to your former life course. Being raised up out of the water indicates that you are now alive to do the will of God. Remember, too, that you have made a dedication to Jehovah God himself, not to a work, a cause, other humans, or an organization."
115.Jump up ^ Franz, Raymond (2007). In Search of Christian Freedom. Commentary Press. pp. 449–464. ISBN 0-914675-16-8.
116.Jump up ^ Holden & 2002 Portrait, p. 32, "The structure of the movement and the intense loyalty demanded of each individual at every level demonstrates the characteristics of totalitarianism."
117.Jump up ^ You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth, Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, 1989, page 255, "It is simply not true that all religions lead to the same goal. (Matthew 7:21–23; 24:21) You must be part of Jehovah's organization, doing God's will, in order to receive his blessing of everlasting life."
118.Jump up ^ "You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth—But How?", The Watchtower, February 15, 1983, page 12, "Jehovah is using only one organization today to accomplish his will. To receive everlasting life in the earthly Paradise we must identify that organization and serve God as part of it."
119.Jump up ^ "Serving Jehovah Loyally", The Watchtower, November 15, 1992, page 21, "I determined to stay by the faithful organization. How else can one get Jehovah's favor and blessing?" There is nowhere else to go for divine favor and life eternal."
120.Jump up ^ "Jehovah’s Witnesses — Publishing Titans".
121.Jump up ^ "AT THE TOP / NYC COMPANY PROFILES / NYC 40".
122.Jump up ^ Yearbook 2002, Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, p. 31, 2002
123.Jump up ^ Van Voorst,Robert E. (2012). RELG: World (with Religion CourseMate with eBook Printed Access Card). Cengage Learning. p. 288. ISBN 1-1117-2620-5.
124.Jump up ^ Organized to Do Jehovah's Will, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 2005, pages 17–18.
125.Jump up ^ "Cooperating With the Governing Body Today,", The Watchtower, March 15, 1990, page 19.
126.Jump up ^ Beckford 1975, p. 119
127.Jump up ^ "Focus on the Goodness of Jehovah's Organization". The Watchtower: 22. 15 July 2006.
128.Jump up ^ "Impart God's Progressive Revelation to Mankind", The Watchtower, March 1, 1965, pp. 158–159
129.Jump up ^ Penton 1997, pp. 165–171
130.Jump up ^ "Flashes of Light—Great and Small", The Watchtower, May 15, 1995, page 15.
131.Jump up ^ Penton 1997, p. 165
132.Jump up ^ J. F. Rutherford, Preparation, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1933, page 64, 67, "Enlightenment proceeds from Jehovah by and through Christ Jesus and is given to the faithful anointed on earth at the temple, and brings great peace and consolation to them. Again Zechariah talked with the angel of the Lord, which shows that the remnant are instructed by the angels of the Lord. The remnant do not hear audible sounds, because such is not necessary. Jehovah has provided his own good way to convey thoughts to the minds of his anointed ones ... Those of the remnant, being honest and true, must say, We do not know; and the Lord enlightens them, sending his angels for that very purpose."
133.Jump up ^ "The Spirit Searches into the Deep Things of God", The Watchtower, July 15, 2010, page 23, "When the time comes to clarify a spiritual matter in our day, holy spirit helps responsible representatives of 'the faithful and discreet slave' at world headquarters to discern deep truths that were not previously understood. The Governing Body as a whole considers adjusted explanations. What they learn, they publish for the benefit of all."
134.Jump up ^ "Do We Need Help to Understand the Bible?". The Watchtower: 19. February 15, 1981. "True, the brothers preparing these publications are not infallible. Their writings are not inspired as are those of Paul and the other Bible writers. (2 Tim. 3:16) And so, at times, it has been necessary, as understanding became clearer, to correct views. (Prov. 4:18)"
135.Jump up ^ "Do You See the Evidence of God's Guidance?", The Watchtower, April 15, 2011, pages 3–5, "How, then, do we react when we receive divine direction? Do we try to apply it “right afterward”? Or do we continue doing things just as we have been accustomed to doing them? Are we familiar with up-to-date directions, such as those regarding conducting home Bible studies, preaching to foreign speaking people, regularly sharing in family worship, cooperating with Hospital Liaison Committees, and conducting ourselves properly at conventions? ... Do you clearly discern the evidence of divine guidance? Jehovah uses his organization to guide us, his people, through “the wilderness” during these last days of Satan’s wicked world."
136.Jump up ^ "Unity Identifies True Worship", The Watchtower, September 15, 2010, page 13 par.8 "This spiritual food is based on God’s Word. Thus, what is taught is not from men but from Jehovah."
137.^ Jump up to: a b "Overseers of Jehovah’s People", The Watchtower, June 15, 1957, "Let us now unmistakably identify Jehovah’s channel of communication for our day, that we may continue in his favor ... It is vital that we appreciate this fact and respond to the directions of the “slave” as we would to the voice of God, because it is His provision."
138.Jump up ^ Penton 1997, p. 172
139.Jump up ^ All Scripture is Inspired of God, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1990, page 336.
140.Jump up ^ All Scripture is Inspired of God, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1990, page 9.
141.Jump up ^ Reasoning From The Scriptures | pp. 199–208 Jehovah's Witnesses
142.Jump up ^ Holden & 2002 Portrait, p. 67, "Materials such as The Watchtower are almost as significant to the Witnesses as the Bible, since the information is presented as the inspired work of theologians, and they are, therefore, believed to contain as much truth as biblical texts."
143.^ Jump up to: a b James A. Beverley, Crisis of Allegiance, Welch Publishing Company, Burlington, Ontario, 1986, ISBN 0-920413-37-4, pages 25–26, 101, "For every passage in Society literature that urges members to be bold and courageous in critical pursuits, there are many others that warn about independent thinking and the peril of questioning the organization ... Fear of disobedience to the Governing Body keeps Jehovah's Witnesses from carefully checking into biblical doctrine or allegations concerning false prophecy, faulty scholarship, and injustice. Witnesses are told not to read books like this one."
144.Jump up ^ "Keep Clear of False Worship!", The Watchtower, 15 March 2006, "True Christians keep clear of false worship, rejecting false religious teachings. This means that we avoid exposure to religious programs on radio and television as well as religious literature that promotes lies about God and his Word."
145.Jump up ^ "Questions From Readers—Why do Jehovah’s Witnesses decline to exchange their Bible study aids for the religious literature of people they meet". The Watchtower: 31. May 1, 1984. "So it would be foolhardy, as well as a waste of valuable time, for Jehovah’s Witnesses to accept and expose themselves to false religious literature that is designed to deceive."
146.Jump up ^ Question Box, Our Kingdom Ministry, September 2007, "Throughout the earth, Jehovah’s people are receiving ample spiritual instruction and encouragement at congregation meetings, assemblies, and conventions, as well as through the publications of Jehovah’s organization. Under the guidance of his holy spirit and on the basis of his Word of truth, Jehovah provides what is needed so that all of God’s people may be fitly united in the same mind and in the same line of thought and remain stabilized in the faith. Surely we are grateful for Jehovah’s spiritual provisions in these last days. Thus, the faithful and discreet slave does not endorse any literature, meetings, or Web sites that are not produced or organized under its oversight."
147.Jump up ^ "Make Your Advancement Manifest", The Watchtower, August 1, 2001, page 14, "Since oneness is to be observed, a mature Christian must be in unity and full harmony with fellow believers as far as faith and knowledge are concerned. He does not advocate or insist on personal opinions or harbor private ideas when it comes to Bible understanding. Rather, he has complete confidence in the truth as it is revealed by Jehovah God through his Son, Jesus Christ, and the faithful and discreet slave."
148.Jump up ^ Testimony by Fred Franz, Transcript, Lord Strachan vs. Douglas Walsh, 1954. page 123, Q: "Did you imply that the individual member has the right of reading the books and the Bible and forming his own view as to the proper interpretation of Holy Writ? A:" .... No....The Scripture is there given in support of the statement, and therefore the individual when he looks up the Scripture and thereby verifies the statement,...search[es] the Scripture to see whether these things were so."
149.Jump up ^ "Do We Need Help to Understand the Bible?", The Watchtower, February 15, 1981, page 19, "Jesus’ disciples wrote many letters to Christian congregations, to persons who were already in the way of the truth. But nowhere do we read that those brothers first, in a skeptical frame of mind, checked the Scriptures to make certain that those letters had Scriptural backing, that the writers really knew what they were talking about. We can benefit from this consideration. If we have once established what instrument God is using as his 'slave' to dispense spiritual food to his people, surely Jehovah is not pleased if we receive that food as though it might contain something harmful. We should have confidence in the channel God is using."
150.Jump up ^ Beckford 1975, pp. 84, 89, 92, 119–120
151.Jump up ^ "Questions From Readers", The Watchtower April 1, 1986 pp. 30–31.
152.Jump up ^ Holden, Andrew (2002). Jehovah's Witnesses: Portrait of a Contemporary Religious Movement. Routledge. p. 24. ISBN 0-415-26609-2.
153.Jump up ^ Ringnes, Hege Kristin; Helje Kringlebotn Sødal (ed.) (2009). Jehovas vitner—en flerfaglig studie (in Norwegian). Oslo: Universitetsforlaget. p. 27.
154.Jump up ^ Holden, A. (2002). Cavorting With the Devil: Jehovah's Witnesses Who Abandon Their Faith (PDF). Department of Sociology, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YL, UK. p. Endnote [i]. Retrieved 2009-06-21.
155.Jump up ^ Alan Rogerson (1969). Millions Now Living Will Never Die. Constable. p. 87.
156.Jump up ^ Beckford 1975, p. 105
157.Jump up ^ Revelation Its Grand Climax, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1988, pg 36, "In the songbook produced by Jehovah’s people in 1905, there were twice as many songs praising Jesus as there were songs praising Jehovah God. In their 1928 songbook, the number of songs extolling Jesus was about the same as the number extolling Jehovah. But in the latest songbook of 1984, Jehovah is honored by four times as many songs as is Jesus. This is in harmony with Jesus’ own words: 'The Father is greater than I am.' Love for Jehovah must be preeminent, accompanied by deep love for Jesus and appreciation of his precious sacrifice and office as God’s High Priest and King."
158.Jump up ^ Alan Rogerson (1969). Millions Now Living Will Never Die. Constable. p. 90.
159.Jump up ^ "What is the Holy Spirit?". The Watchtower: 5. October 1, 2009. "There is a close connection between the holy spirit and the power of God. The holy spirit is the means by which Jehovah exerts his power. Put simply, the holy spirit is God’s applied power, or his active force."
160.Jump up ^ Hoekema 1963, p. 262
161.Jump up ^ Hoekema 1963, pp. 276–277
162.Jump up ^ Penton 1997, p. 372
163.Jump up ^ Hoekema 1963, p. 270
164.Jump up ^ "Stay in the “City of Refuge” and Live!", The Watchtower, November 15, 1995, page 19
165.Jump up ^ Penton 1997, pp. 188–189
166.^ Jump up to: a b Penton 1997, pp. 188–190
167.Jump up ^ Hoekema 1963, pp. 298–299
168.Jump up ^ Holden & 2002 Portrait, p. 25
169.Jump up ^ "Identifying the Wild Beast and Its Mark". The Watchtower: 5. 1 April 2004. "This does not mean, however, that every human ruler is a direct tool of Satan."
170.Jump up ^ Hoekema 1963, pp. 322–324
171.^ Jump up to: a b Hoekema 1963, pp. 265–269
172.Jump up ^ Penton 1997, p. 186
173.Jump up ^ Penton 1997, p. 193–194
174.Jump up ^ "Remaining Organized for Survival Into the Millennium", The Watchtower, September 1, 1989, page 19, "Only Jehovah's Witnesses, those of the anointed remnant and the 'great crowd,'as a united organization under the protection of the Supreme Organizer, have any Scriptural hope of surviving the impending end of this doomed system dominated by Satan the Devil."
175.Jump up ^ You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth,, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1989, pg 255, "Do not conclude that there are different roads, or ways, that you can follow to gain life in God's new system. There is only one ... there will be only one organization—God's visible organization—that will survive the fast-approaching 'great tribulation.' It is simply not true that all religions lead to the same goal. You must be part of Jehovah's organization, doing God's will, in order to receive his blessing of everlasting life."
176.Jump up ^ "Our Readers Ask: Do Jehovah's Witnesses Believe That They Are the Only Ones Who Will Be Saved?", The Watchtower, November 1, 2008, page 28, "Jehovah's Witnesses hope to be saved. However, they also believe that it is not their job to judge who will be saved. Ultimately, God is the Judge. He decides."
177.Jump up ^ Hoekema 1963, pp. 315–319
178.Jump up ^ Insight on the Scriptures Volume 1 p. 606 "Declare Righteous"
179.Jump up ^ Hoekema 1963, pp. 295–296
180.Jump up ^ Alan Rogerson (1969). Millions Now Living Will Never Die. Constable. p. 106.
181.Jump up ^ "God's Kingdom—Earth's New Rulership", The Watchtower, October 15, 2000, page 10.
182.Jump up ^ Hoekema 1963, p. 298
183.Jump up ^ Alan Rogerson (1969). Millions Now Living Will Never Die. Constable. p. 105.
184.Jump up ^ The Watchtower, November 1, 1993, pages 8–9, "In 1914 the appointed times of the nations ended, and the time of the end for this world began. The Davidic Kingdom was restored, not in earthly Jerusalem, but invisibly in “the clouds of the heavens.” ... Who would represent on earth the restored Davidic Kingdom? ... Without any doubt at all, it was the small body of anointed brothers of Jesus who in 1914 were known as the Bible Students but since 1931 have been identified as Jehovah’s Witnesses."
185.Jump up ^ Hoekema 1963, p. 297
186.Jump up ^ Hoekema 1963, pp. 286
187.Jump up ^ "Apocalypse—When?", The Watchtower, February 15, 1986, page 6.
188.Jump up ^ Penton 1997, p. 180
189.Jump up ^ Hoekema 1963, pp. 307–321
190.Jump up ^ Penton 1997, p. 17–19
191.Jump up ^ The Watchtower 10/1/92 p. 16 par. 6 "The Messiah’s Presence and His Rule"
192.^ Jump up to: a b Holden & 2002 Portrait, p. 64–69
193.Jump up ^ 2010 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses: p. 6 Highlights of the Past Year "UPBUILDING AND ENJOYABLE FAMILY WORSHIP"
194.Jump up ^ The Watchtower 5/15 2011 p. 14 par 13 Christian Families—“Keep Ready” Maintain a Family Worship Evening
195.Jump up ^ Hoekema 1963, p. 292
196.Jump up ^ Crompton, Robert (1996). Counting the Days to Armageddon. Cambridge: James Clarke & Co. p. 5. ISBN 0-227-67939-3.
197.Jump up ^ Rogerson, Alan (1969). Millions Now Living Will Never Die: A Study of Jehovah's Witnesses. Constable & Co, London. p. 1. ISBN 978-0094559400.
198.Jump up ^ Whalen, William J. (1962). Armageddon Around the Corner: A Report on Jehovah's Witnesses. New York: John Day Company. p. 15,18.
199.Jump up ^ "Global Printing—Helping People to Learn About God", online, jw.org
200.Jump up ^ Ringnes, Hege Kristin; Helje Kringlebotn Sødal (ed.) (2009). Jehovas vitner—en flerfaglig studie (in Norwegian). Oslo: Universitetsforlaget. p. 43.
201.Jump up ^ Our Kingdom Ministry: 5. April 2001. "Your goal is to help the student achieve greater insight into the truth, qualify as an unbaptized publisher, and become a dedicated and baptized Witness of Jehovah" Missing or empty |title= (help)
202.Jump up ^ "18—Baptism and Your Relationship With God". What Does the Bible Really Teach?. pp. 174–183.
203.Jump up ^ "Question Box: How long should a formal Bible study be conducted with an individual in the Knowledge book?". Our Kingdom Ministry. October 1996. "We want people to receive a basic knowledge of the truth. Yet it is expected that within a relatively short period of time, an effective teacher will be able to assist a sincere average student to acquire sufficient knowledge to make an intelligent decision to serve Jehovah... (if there is no) clear evidence of his desire to serve Jehovah ... it may be advisable to discontinue the study."
204.Jump up ^ Botting, Heather; Gary Botting (1984). The Orwellian World of Jehovah's Witnesses. University of Toronto Press. p. 77. ISBN 0-8020-6545-7. "The society states explicitly that all Bible studies should quickly show signs of 'real progress' to be deemed worthy of pursuit ... unless the potential converts are willing to give clear indication that they accept both the doctrines and the consequent responsibilities of attending meetings and going from door to door themselves, the study should be discontinued."
205.Jump up ^ Bearing Thorough Witness About God's Kingdom, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 2009, page 63, "Do you obey the command to bear thorough witness, even if the assignment causes you some apprehension?"
206.Jump up ^ "Determined to bear thorough witness," The Watchtower, December 15, 2008, page 19, "When the resurrected Jesus spoke to disciples gathered in Galilee, likely 500 of them, he commanded: 'Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you.' That command applies to all true Christians today."
207.Jump up ^ Botting, Heather; Gary Botting (1984). The Orwellian World of Jehovah's Witnesses. University of Toronto Press. p. 52. ISBN 0-8020-6545-7.
208.Jump up ^ "Do You Contribute to an Accurate Report?", Our Kingdom Ministry, December 2002, page 8, "Jehovah’s organization today instructs us to report our field service activity each month ... At the end of the month, the book study overseer makes sure that all in the group have followed through on their responsibility to report their activity."
209.Jump up ^ "Regularity in Service Brings Blessings", Our Kingdom Ministry, May 1984, page 7.
210.Jump up ^ "Helping Irregular Publishers". Our Kingdom Ministry: 7. December 1987.
211.Jump up ^ "Keep the Word of Jehovah Moving Speedily". Our Kingdom Ministry: 1. October 1982.
212.Jump up ^ Chryssides, G.D. (1999). Exploring New Religions. Continuum International Publishing Group. p. 103. ISBN 0-304-33651-3.
213.^ Jump up to: a b "Imitate Jehovah—Exercise Justice and Righteousness", The Watchtower, August 1, 1998, page 16.
214.^ Jump up to: a b Holden & 2002 Portrait, pp. 26–27, 173
215.Jump up ^ "Questions From Readers". The Watchtower: 30, 31. June 15, 2002.
216.Jump up ^ Penton 1997, pp. 152, 180
217.Jump up ^ "The Bible's Viewpoint What Does It Mean to Be the Head of the House?". Awake!: 26. July 8, 2004.
218.Jump up ^ "Christian Weddings That Bring Joy". The Watchtower: 11. 15 April 1984.
219.Jump up ^ Shepherd the Flock of God. pp. 37–38, 124–125.[unreliable source?]
220.Jump up ^ "How should individual Christians and the congregation as a whole view the Bible advice to marry "only in the Lord"?". The Watchtower: 31. 15 March 1982.
221.Jump up ^ Penton 1997, pp. 110–112
222.Jump up ^ "Adultery". Insight on the Scriptures 1. p. 53.
223.Jump up ^ "Marriage—Why Many Walk Out", Awake!, July 8, 1993, page 6, "A legal divorce or a legal separation may provide a measure of protection from extreme abuse or willful nonsupport."
224.Jump up ^ "When Marital Peace Is Threatened". The Watchtower: 22. 1 November 1988.
225.Jump up ^ Beckford 1975, pp. 54–55
226.Jump up ^ Penton 1997, pp. 106–108
227.^ Jump up to: a b c Osamu Muramoto (August 1998). "Bioethics of the refusal of blood by Jehovah's Witnesses: Part 1. Should bioethical deliberation consider dissidents' views?". Journal of Medical Ethics 24 (4): 223–230. doi:10.1136/jme.24.4.223. PMC 1377670. PMID 9752623.
228.Jump up ^ The Watchtower April 15, 1988.
229.Jump up ^ "Display Christian Loyalty When a Relative Is Disfellowshipped". Our Kingdom Ministry: 3–4. August 2002.
230.Jump up ^ "Disfellowshipping-How to View It". The Watchtower: 24. 15 September 1981.
231.Jump up ^ "Appendix: How to Treat a Disfellowshipped person". Keep Yourselves in God's Love. Jehovah's Witnesses. 2008. pp. 207–209.
232.Jump up ^ Holden & 2002 Portrait, p. 163
233.Jump up ^ "Disfellowshiping—How to View It", The Watchtower, September 15, 1981, page 23.
234.Jump up ^ "Do You Hate Lawlessness?", The Watchtower, February 15, 2011, page 31.
235.Jump up ^ Franz, Raymond. Crisis of Conscience. p. 358.
236.Jump up ^ Shepherd the Flock of God. Watch Tower Society. p. 119.[unreliable source?]
237.Jump up ^ "Questions From Readers", The Watchtower, January 1, 1983 pp. 30–31.
238.Jump up ^ "Should the Religions Unite?". The Watchtower: 741–742. 15 December 1953.
239.Jump up ^ "Is Interfaith God's Way?". The Watchtower: 69. 1 February 1952.
240.Jump up ^ Beckford 1975, p. 202, "The ideological argument states that, since absolute truth is unitary and exclusive of all relativisation, there can only 'logically' be one human organization to represent it. Consequently, all other religious organizations are in error and are to be strictly avoided. The absolutist view of truth further implies that, since anything less than absolute truth can only corrupt and destroy it, there can be no justification for Jehovah's witnesses having any kind of association with other religionists, however sincere the motivation might be."
241.Jump up ^ "15 Worship That God Approves". What Does The Bible Really Teach?. p. 145.
242.Jump up ^ Reasoning From the Scriptures, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1989, pages 435–436.
243.Jump up ^ "Live a Balanced, Simple Life", The Watchtower, July 15, 1989, page 11.
244.Jump up ^ Holden & 2002 Portrait, p. 12
245.Jump up ^ "Keep Your Distance When Danger Threatens". The Watchtower: 23. February 15, 1994. "Steering Clear of Danger ... We must also be on guard against extended association with worldly people. Perhaps it is a neighbor, a school friend, a workmate, or a business associate. ... What are some of the dangers of such a friendship? We could begin to minimize the urgency of the times we live in or take a growing interest in material rather than spiritual things. Perhaps, because of a fear of displeasing our worldly friend, we would even desire to be accepted by the world."
246.Jump up ^ Holden & 2002 Portrait, pp. 109–112
247.Jump up ^ Franz, Raymond (2007). In Search of Christian Freedom. Commentary Press. p. 409. ISBN 0-914675-17-6.
248.Jump up ^ ""Each One Will Carry His Own Load", The Watchtower, March 15, 2006, page 23.
249.Jump up ^ Bryan R. Wilson, "The Persistence of Sects", Diskus, Journal of the British Association for the Study of Religions, Vol 1, No. 2, 1993, "They have extensive contact with the wider public, [in Britain in 1989, 108,000 publishers undertook 23 million hours of house-calls]. Yet, they remain little affected by that exposure—they confine their contacts to their single-minded purpose and avoid all other occasions for association."
250.Jump up ^ Questions From Readers, The Watchtower, November 1, 1999, p. 28,"As to whether they will personally vote for someone running in an election, each one of Jehovah's Witnesses makes a decision based on his Bible-trained conscience and an understanding of his responsibility to God and to the State."
251.Jump up ^ Questions From Readers, The Watchtower, March 1, 1983, p. 30
252.Jump up ^ http://www.jw.org/en/jehovahs-witnesses/faq/political-neutrality/
253.Jump up ^ Reasoning From The Scriptures p. 178 Holidays
254.Jump up ^ The Watchtower 8/15/09 p. 22 par. 20 “Keep Yourselves in God’s Love”
255.Jump up ^ The Watchtower 9/15/68 p. 573 par 6 "The Seriousness of It"
256.Jump up ^ The Watchtower 10/15/92 p. 18 par. 21 "Work to Preserve Your Family Into God’s New World"
257.Jump up ^ Worship the Only True God, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 2002, p. 159.
258.Jump up ^ Korea government promises to adopt alternative service system for conscientious objectors
259.Jump up ^ Education, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 2002, pp. 20–23
260.Jump up ^ Owens, Gene (September 1997). "Trials of a Jehovah's Witness.(The Faith of Journalists)". Nieman Reports.
261.Jump up ^ Ronald Lawson, "Sect-state relations: Accounting for the differing trajectories of Seventh-Day Adventists and Jehovah's Witnesses", Sociology of Religion, Winter 1995, "The urgency of the Witness's apocalyptic has changed very little over time. The intellectual isolation of the Witness leaders has allowed them to retain their traditional position, and it is they who continue to be the chief purveyors of the radical eschataology ....This commitment (to principle) was bolstered by their organizational isolation, intense indoctrination of adherents, rigid internal discipline, and considerable persecution."
262.Jump up ^ Penton 1997, p. i
263.Jump up ^ Reasoning From the Scriptures, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1989, pages 70–75.
264.Jump up ^ Holden & 2002 Portrait, p. 91
265.Jump up ^ Muramoto, O. (January 6, 2001). "Bioethical aspects of the recent changes in the policy of refusal of blood by Jehovah's Witnesses". BMJ 322 (7277): 37–39. doi:10.1136/bmj.322.7277.37. PMC 1119307. PMID 11141155.
266.Jump up ^ Jehovah's Witnesses—Proclaimers of God's Kingdom, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1993, page 183.
267.Jump up ^ United in Worship of the Only True God, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1983, pages 156–160.
268.Jump up ^ Bowman, R. M.; Beisner, E. C.; Ehrenborg, T. (1995). Jehovah's Witnesses. Zondervan. p. 13. ISBN 0-310-70411-1.
269.Jump up ^ Botting, Heather; Gary Botting (1984). The Orwellian World of Jehovah's Witnesses. University of Toronto Press. pp. 29–30. ISBN 0-8020-6545-7.
270.Jump up ^ How Blood Can Save Your Life, Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, pages 13–17
271.Jump up ^ "Questions From Readers—Do Jehovah's Witnesses accept any medical products derived from blood?". The Watchtower: 30. June 15, 2000.
272.Jump up ^ Sniesinski; Chen, EP; Levy, JH; Szlam, F; Tanaka, KA et al. (April 2007). "Coagulopathy After Cardiopulmonary Bypass in Jehovah's Witness Patients: Management of Two Cases Using Fractionated Components and Factor VIIa" (PDF). Anesthesia & Analgesia 104 (4): 763–5. doi:10.1213/01.ane.0000250913.45299.f3. PMID 17377078. Retrieved 2008-12-30.
273.Jump up ^ "The Real Value of Blood". Awake!: 11. August 2006.
274.Jump up ^ Durable Power of Attorney form. Watch Tower Society. January 2001. p. 1. Examples of permitted fractions are: Interferon, Immune Serum Globulins and Factor VIII; preparations made from Hemoglobin such as PolyHeme and Hemopure. Examples of permitted procedures involving the medical use of one's own blood include: cell salvage, hemodilution, heart lung machine, dialysis, epidural blood patch, plasmapheresis, blood labeling or tagging and platelet gel (autologous)
275.Jump up ^ "Our Kingdom Ministry" (PDF). November 2006. pp. 5–6. Retrieved 2009-06-21.
276.Jump up ^ "Jehovah's Witnesses and Medical Profession Cooperate". Awake!. November 22, 1993.
277.Jump up ^ Kim Archer, "Jehovah's Witness liaisons help surgeons adapt", Tulsa World, May 15, 2007.
278.Jump up ^ Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses. Watch Tower Society. 1996–2015.
279.Jump up ^ "Question Box–Should a family Bible study be reported to the congregation?". Our Kingdom Ministry (Watch Tower Society): 3. November 2003.
280.Jump up ^ "Question Box—May both parents report the time used for the regular family study?". Our Kingdom Ministry: 3. September 2008.
281.Jump up ^ "U.S. Religious Landscape Survey Religious Affiliation: Diverse and Dynamic". Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life. February 2008. pp. 9, 30.
282.Jump up ^ The Association of Religion Data Archives
283.Jump up ^ David Van Biema, "America's Unfaithful Faithful," Time magazine, February 25, 2008.
284.Jump up ^ PEW Forum on Religion and Public Life. U.S. Religious Landscape Survey: Religious Affiliation: Diverse and Dynamic. The next lowest retention rates, excluding those raised unaffiliated with any church, were Buddhism at 50% and Catholicism at 68%.
285.Jump up ^ Beckford 1975, pp. 92, 98–100
286.Jump up ^ Beckford 1975, pp. 196–207
287.Jump up ^ Bryan R. Wilson, "The Persistence of Sects", Diskus, Journal of the British Association for the Study of Religions, Vol 1, No. 2, 1993
288.Jump up ^ "Comparisons". U.S. Religious Landscape Survey. Pew Research Center. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
289.Jump up ^ Jubber, Ken (1977). "The Persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses in Southern Africa". Social Compass, 24 (1): 121,. doi:10.1177/003776867702400108.
290.Jump up ^ Penton, James (2004). Jehovah's witnesses and the third reich. University of Toronto Press. p. 376. ISBN 0802086780.
291.Jump up ^ Garbe, Detlef (2008). Between Resistance and Martyrdom: Jehovah's Witnesses in the Third Reich. Madison, Wisconsin: University of Wisconsin Press. p. 484. ISBN 0-299-20794-3.
292.Jump up ^ Shulman, William L. A State of Terror: Germany 1933–1939. Bayside, New York: Holocaust Resource Center and Archives.
293.Jump up ^ Holocaust Education Foundation website.
294.Jump up ^ Hesse, Hans (2001). Persecution and Resistance of Jehovah's Witnesses During the Nazi Regime. Edition Temmen. p. 12. ISBN 3-86108-750-2.
295.Jump up ^ Kaplan, William (1989). State and Salvation. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.
296.Jump up ^ Yaffee, Barbara (1984-09-09). "Witnesses Seek Apology for Wartime Persecution". The Globe and Mail. p. 4.
297.Jump up ^ Валерий Пасат ."Трудные страницы истории Молдовы (1940–1950)". Москва: Изд. Terra, 1994 (Russian)
298.Jump up ^ Jehovah's Witnesses—Proclaimers of God's Kingdom, chapter 22, p. 490
299.Jump up ^ Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses 1991, p. 222.
300.Jump up ^ Claims that Jehovah's Witnesses chose a deliberate course of martyrdom are contained in:
Peters, Shawn Francis (2000). Judging Jehovah's Witnesses: Religious Persecution and the Dawn of the Rights Revolution. University Press of Kansas. pp. 82, 116–9. ISBN 0-7006-1008-1.
 Barbara Grizzuti Harrison, Visions of Glory, 1978, chapter 6.
Whalen, William J. (1962). Armageddon Around the Corner: A Report on Jehovah's Witnesses. New York: John Day Company. p. 190.
Schnell, William (1971). 30 Years a Watchtower Slave. Baker Book House, Grand Rapids. pp. 104–106. ISBN 0-8010-6384-1.
301.Jump up ^ Advice for Kingdom Publishers(1939), Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, Brooklyn, NY
302.Jump up ^ Gary Botting, Fundamental Freedoms and Jehovah's Witnesses (Calgary: University of Calgary Press, 1993)
303.Jump up ^ Jehovah’s Witnesses—Proclaimers of God’s Kingdom, Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, 1993, pp. 679–701.
304.Jump up ^ Botting, Fundamental Freedoms and Jehovah's Witnesses, pp. 1–14; Shawn Francis Peters, Judging Jehovah's Witnesses, University Press of Kansas: 2000, pages 12–16.
305.Jump up ^ "Jehovah's Witnesses and civil rights". Knocking.org. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
306.Jump up ^ Botting, Fundamental Freedoms..., pp. 15–201
307.Jump up ^ Holden & 2002 Portrait, p. 22
308.Jump up ^ "Following Faithful Shepherds with Life in View", The Watchtower, October 1, 1967, page 591, "Make haste to identify the visible theocratic organization of God that represents his king, Jesus Christ. It is essential for life. Doing so, be complete in accepting its every aspect ... in submitting to Jehovah's visible theocratic organization, we must be in full and complete agreement with every feature of its apostolic procedure and requirements."
309.Jump up ^ "Loyal to Christ and His Faithful Slave", The Watchtower, April 1, 2007, page 24, "When we loyally submit to the direction of the faithful slave and its Governing Body, we are submitting to Christ, the slave's Master."
310.^ Jump up to: a b Beckford 1975, pp. 89, 95, 103, 120, 204, 221
311.Jump up ^ "Exposing the Devil's Subtle Designs" and "Armed for the Fight Against Wicked Spirits", The Watchtower, January 15, 1983
312.Jump up ^ "Serving Jehovah Shoulder to Shoulder", The Watchtower, August 15, 1981, page 28.
313.Jump up ^ "Jehovah's Theocratic Organization Today",The Watchtower, February 1, 1952, pages 79–81.
314.Jump up ^ "Avoid Independent Thinking". The Watchtower: 27. 15 January 1983. "From the very outset of his rebellion Satan called into question God's way of doing things. He promoted independent thinking. ... How is such independent thinking manifested? A common way is by questioning the counsel that is provided by God's visible organization."
315.Jump up ^ "Avoid Independent Thinking". The Watchtower: 20. February 15, 1979. "In a world where people are tossed about by confusing winds of religious doctrine, Jehovah's people need to be stable, full-grown Christians. (Eph. 4:13, 14) Their position must be steadfast, not shifting quickly because of independent thinking or emotional pressures."
316.Jump up ^ The Watchtower: 277–278. May 1, 1964. "It is through the columns of The Watchtower that Jehovah provides direction and constant Scriptural counsel to his people, and it requires careful study and attention to details in order to apply this information, to get a full understanding of the principles involved, and to assure ourselves of right thinking on these matters. It is in this way that we "are thoroughly able to grasp mentally with all the holy ones" the fullness of our commission and of the preaching responsibility that Jehovah has placed on all Christians as footstep followers of his Son. Any other course would produce independent thinking and cause division." Missing or empty |title= (help)
317.^ Jump up to: a b Holden & 2002 Portrait, p. 163
318.Jump up ^ See also Raymond Franz, In Search of Christian Freedom, pg. 358.
319.Jump up ^ "Will You Heed Jehovah’s Clear Warnings?", The Watchtower, July 15, 2011, page 15, "apostates are 'mentally diseased,' and they seek to infect others with their disloyal teachings. (1 Tim. 6:3, 4)."
320.Jump up ^ The Orwellian World of Jehovah's Witnesses, Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1984, passim.
321.Jump up ^ Alan Rogerson, Millions Now Living Will Never Die, Constable, 1969, page 50.
322.Jump up ^ Beckford 1975, pp. 204, 221, The habit of questioning or qualifying Watch Tower doctrine is not only under-developed among the Witnesses: it is strenuously combated at all organizational levels
323.Jump up ^ Botting, Heather; Gary Botting (1984). The Orwellian World of Jehovah's Witnesses. University of Toronto Press. p. 90. ISBN 0-8020-6545-7. "Most Witnesses, although capable of intelligent, reasonable thought, have as part of the payment for paradise delegated authority to the organization for directing their lives ... and finally abrogate all responsibility and rights over their personal lives—in effect, allowing the society to do their thinking for them."
324.Jump up ^ Alan Rogerson, Millions Now Living Will Never Die, Constable, 1969, page 178, "The newly converted Witness must conform immediately to the doctrines of the Watchtower Society, thus whatever individuality of mind he possessed before conversion is liable to be eradicated if he stays in the movement.".
325.Jump up ^ James A. Beverley, Crisis of Allegiance, Welch Publishing Company, Burlington, Ontario, 1986, ISBN 0-920413-37-4, pages 25–26, 101.
326.Jump up ^ Holden & 2002 Portrait, p. 153
327.Jump up ^ Alan Rogerson, Millions Now Living Will Never Die, Constable, 1969, page 2, "In addition to the prevalent ignorance outside the Witness movement, there is much ignorance within it. It will soon become obvious to the reader that the Witnesses are an indoctrinated people whose beliefs and thoughts are shaped by the Watchtower Society."
328.^ Jump up to: a b R. Franz, "In Search of Christian Freedom", chapter 12
329.^ Jump up to: a b The Watchtower (8/15). August 1988. Missing or empty |title= (help)
330.Jump up ^ The Routledge History of the Holocaust, Routledge, 2010, "Labeling the Jehovah's Witnesses as totalitarian trivializes the term totalitarian and defames the Jehovah's Witnesses."
331.Jump up ^ Holden & 2002 Portrait, pp. x, 7
332.Jump up ^ Holden, Andrew (2002). Jehovah's Witnesses: Portrait of a Contemporary Religious Movement. Routledge. p. 22. ISBN 0-415-26609-2.
333.Jump up ^ Penton 1997, p. 174–176
334.Jump up ^ Haas, Samuel; Hauptmann, O. H. (December 1955). "Escorial Bible I.j.4: Vol. I; the Pentateuch". Journal of Biblical Literature (Society of Biblical Literature) 74 (4): 283. doi:10.2307/3261682. "This work indicates a great deal of effort and thought as well as considerable scholarship, it is to be regretted that religious bias was allowed to colour many passages"
335.Jump up ^ See Ankerberg, John and John Weldon, 2003, The New World Translation of the Jehovah's Witnesses, accessible online
336.Jump up ^ Rhodes R, The Challenge of the Cults and New Religions, The Essential Guide to Their History, Their Doctrine, and Our Response, Zondervan, 2001, p. 94
337.Jump up ^ Bruce M Metzger, "Jehovah's Witnesses and Jesus Christ," Theology Today, (April 1953 p. 74); see also Metzger, "The New World Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures," The Bible Translator (July 1964)
338.Jump up ^ H.H. Rowley, "How Not To Translate the Bible", The Expository Times, 1953; 65; 41.
339.Jump up ^ Jason BeDuhn (2003). Truth in Translation pages 163, 165. University Press of America. ISBN 0-7618-2556-8.
340.Jump up ^ "Messengers of Godly Peace Pronounced Happy", The Watchtower, May 1, 1997, page 21
341.Jump up ^ Jehovah's Witnesses—Proclaimers of God's Kingdom, Watch Tower Society, 1993, page 708.
342.Jump up ^ "Execution of the "Great Harlot" Nears", The Watchtower, October 15, 1980, page 17.
343.Jump up ^ "What Jehovah’s Day Will Reveal", The Watchtower, July 15, 2010, page 5.
344.Jump up ^ The Watchtower, July 15, 1960, page 444, "In 1942 the faithful and discreet slave guided by Jehovah's unerring spirit made known that the democracies would win World War II and that there would be a United Nations organization set up ... Once again the faithful and discreet slave has been tipped off ahead of time for the guidance of all lovers of God." (Footnote cites the booklet Peace—Can It Last, 1942, pages 21,22.)
345.Jump up ^ The Watchtower, Jan. 15, 1959, pp. 39–41
346.Jump up ^ Crompton, Robert (1996). Counting the Days to Armageddon. Cambridge: James Clarke & Co. pp. 9, 115. ISBN 0-227-67939-3.
347.Jump up ^ Jehovah's Witnesses—Proclaimers of God's Kingdom, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1993, pages 78, 632.
348.Jump up ^ Beckford 1975, pp. 219–221
349.Jump up ^ James A. Beverley, Crisis of Allegiance, Welch Publishing Company, Burlington, Ontario, 1986, ISBN 0-920413-37-4, page 86–91.
350.^ Jump up to: a b "Why So Many False Alarms?", Awake!, March 22, 1993, pages 3–4, footnote.
351.Jump up ^ Revelation—Its Grand Climax, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1988, page 9.
352.Jump up ^ "False Prophets—Have not Jehovah's Witnesses made errors in their teachings?". Reasoning From the Scriptures. Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. p. 137.
353.Jump up ^ "To Whom Shall We Go but Jesus Christ?". Watchtower: 23. March 1, 1979. "the “faithful and discreet slave” has alerted all of God’s people to the sign of the times indicating the nearness of God’s Kingdom rule. In this regard, however, it must be observed that this “faithful and discreet slave” was never inspired, never perfect. Those writings by certain members of the “slave” class that came to form the Christian part of God’s Word were inspired and infallible [the bible], but that is not true of other writings since."
354.Jump up ^ George D. Chryssides (2008). Historical Dictionary of Jehovah's Witnesses. p. xiv.
355.Jump up ^ Holden & 2002 Portrait, p. 7
356.Jump up ^ "Another Church Sex Scandal" (April 29, 2003). CBS News.
357.Jump up ^ Cutrer, Corrie (March 5, 2001). "Witness Leaders Accused of Shielding Molesters", Christianity Today.
358.Jump up ^ Channel 9 Sunday, November 2005.
359.Jump up ^ "Secret database protects paedophiles", BBC Panorama, 2003.
360.Jump up ^ "Jehovah's Witnesses and Child Protection". Jehovah's Witnesses Official Media Web Site. Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. 1997. Retrieved 2010-03-13. See to confirm date.
361.Jump up ^ "To all Bodies of Elders in the United States". WTBS. 1995-08-01. Retrieved 2010-03-13.[dead link][unreliable source?]
362.Jump up ^ Pay Attention to Yourselves and to All the Flock. Brooklyn, New York: Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. 1977. p. 138.[unreliable source?]
363.Jump up ^ "Let Us ABHOR What Is Wicked". The Watchtower: 27–29. 1997-01-01.
364.Jump up ^ Jehovah’s Witnesses Told to Pay in Abuse Case
365.Jump up ^ Woman molested by Jehovah's Witnesses member at age NINE wins $28million in America's BIGGEST religious sex abuse payout
366.Jump up ^ "CANDACE CONTI v. WATCHTOWER BIBLE & TRACT SOCIETY OF NEW YORK, INC. et al." (PDF). California Courts of Appeal for first district. 2015. Retrieved 2015-04-14.
367.Jump up ^ "California court guts child abuse ruling against Jehovah’s Witnesses". Reveal. April 14, 2015.
Further reading[edit]
For more details on this topic, see Bibliography of Jehovah's Witnesses.
##Botting, Gary (1993). Fundamental Freedoms and Jehovah's Witnesses. University of Calgary Press. ISBN 1-895176-06-9.
##Botting, Heather and Gary (1984). The Orwellian World of Jehovah's Witnesses. University of Toronto Press. ISBN 0-8020-6545-7.
##Chryssides, George D. (2008). Historical Dictionary of Jehovah's Witnesses. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 0-8108-6074-0.
##Crompton, Robert. Counting the Days to Armageddon. James Clarke & Co, Cambridge, 1996. ISBN 0-227-67939-3 ##A detailed examination of the development of Jehovah's Witnesses' eschatology.
##Holden, Andrew (2002). Jehovah's Witnesses: Portrait of a Contemporary Religious Movement. Routledge. ISBN 0-415-26609-2. ##An academic study on the sociological aspects of Jehovah's Witnesses phenomenon.
##Kaplan, William. State and Salvation Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1989. ISBN 0-8020-5842-6 ##Documents the Witnesses' fight for civil rights in Canada and the US amid political persecution during World War II.
##Penton, M. James (1997). Apocalypse Delayed: The Story of Jehovah's Witnesses. University of Toronto Press. ISBN 0-8020-7973-3. ##Penton, professor emeritus of history at University of Lethbridge and a former member of the religion, examines the history of Jehovah's Witnesses, and their doctrines.
##Rogerson, Alan. Millions Now Living Will Never Die. London: Constable & Co, 1969. ISBN 978-0094559400 ##Detailed history of the Watch Tower movement, particularly its early years, a summary of Witness doctrines and the organizational and personal framework in which Witnesses conduct their lives.
##Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. Jehovah's Witnesses—Proclaimers of God's Kingdom (1993) ##Official history of Jehovah's Witnesses.
##Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. Faith In Action (2-DVD series), (2010–2011) ##Official history of Jehovah's Witnesses.

External links[edit]
 Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jehovah's Witnesses.
##Official website
##JW Broadcasting—Official video streaming site
##Knocking—A documentary about Jehovah's Witnesses
##BBC - Religion: Jehovah's Witnesses


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History of Jehovah's Witnesses

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 A simplified chart of historical developments of major groups within Bible Students
Part of a series on
Jehovah's Witnesses

Overview

Organizational structure
Governing Body
Watch Tower Bible
 and Tract Society
Corporations
 
History
Bible Student movement
Leadership dispute
Splinter groups
Doctrinal development
Unfulfilled predictions
 
Demographics
By country
 

Beliefs ·
 Practices
 
Salvation ·
 Eschatology

The 144,000
Faithful and discreet slave
Hymns ·
 God's name
 
Blood ·
 Discipline

 
Literature

The Watchtower ·
 Awake!

New World Translation
List of publications
Bibliography
 
Teaching programs

Kingdom Hall ·
 Gilead School

 
People

Watch Tower presidents

W. H. Conley ·
 C. T. Russell
 
J. F. Rutherford ·
 N. H. Knorr
 
F. W. Franz ·
 M. G. Henschel

D. A. Adams
 
Formative influences

William Miller ·
 Henry Grew
 
George Storrs ·
 N. H. Barbour
 
John Nelson Darby

 
Notable former members

Raymond Franz ·
 Olin Moyle

 
Opposition

Criticism ·
 Persecution
 
Supreme Court cases
 by country

v ·
 t ·
 e
   
Jehovah's Witnesses had its origins in the Bible Student movement, which developed in the United States in the 1870s among followers of Christian Restorationist minister Charles Taze Russell. Bible Student missionaries were sent to England in 1881 and the first overseas branch was opened in London in 1900. The group took on the name International Bible Students Association and by 1914 it was also active in Canada, Germany, Australia and other countries.[1] The movement split into several rival organizations after Russell's death in 1916, with one—led by Russell's successor, Joseph "Judge" Rutherford—retaining control of both his magazine, The Watch Tower, and his legal and publishing corporation, the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania.
Under Rutherford's direction, the International Bible Students Association introduced significant doctrinal changes. The group lost most of its original members between 1916 and 1928 but regrew rapidly from the mid-1930s[2] with the introduction of new preaching methods.[3] In 1931, the name Jehovah's witnesses was adopted,[4] further cutting ties with Russell's earlier followers.[5] Substantial organizational changes continued as congregations and teaching programs worldwide came under centralized control. Further refinements of its doctrines led to the prohibition of blood transfusions by members, abandonment of the cross in worship, rejection of Christmas and birthday celebrations and the view of the biblical Armageddon as a global war by God that will destroy the wicked and restore peace on earth.[6] In 1945 the Watch Tower Society, which Russell had founded as a publishing house, amended its charter to state that its purposes included preaching about God's Kingdom, acting as a servant and governing agency of Jehovah's Witnesses and sending out missionaries and teachers for the public worship of God and Jesus Christ.
The religion was banned in Canada in World War I, and in Germany, the Soviet Union, Canada and Australia during World War II; members suffered widespread persecution and mob violence in some of those countries and in the United States. The religion initiated dozens of high-profile legal actions in the United States and Canada between 1938 and 1955 to establish the right of members to sell literature from door to door, abstain from flag salute ceremonies and gain legal recognition as wartime conscientious objectors. Members of the religion suffered persecution in some African countries in the 1960s and 1970s; since 2004 the religion has suffered a series of official bans in Russia.[7]


Contents  [hide]
1 1869–1916 1.1 Adventist influences
1.2 Watch Tower Society
1.3 Congregations
1.4 Preaching
1.5 Organizational expansion
1.6 Doctrinal development
2 1917–1942 2.1 Organizational developments
2.2 Doctrinal changes
2.3 Persecution and opposition
3 1942–1975 3.1 Predictions for 1975
4 1976–present
5 See also
6 References
7 Further reading 7.1 Books by members
7.2 Books by non-members
8 External links

1869–1916[edit]
Adventist influences[edit]
About 1869[8] Russell attended a meeting in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania of a group he called "Second Adventists" and heard Advent Christian[9] preacher Jonas Wendell expound his views on Bible prophecy.[10][11][12] Wendell, influenced by the teachings of William Miller, rejected traditional Christian beliefs of the "immortal soul" and a literal hell[13] and interpreted scriptures in the books of Daniel and Revelation to predict that Christ would return in 1873.[14] Russell became convinced that God would reveal his purpose in the last days of the "Gospel age" and formed an independent Bible study group in Pittsburgh. He rejected Adventist teachings that the purpose of Christ's return was to destroy the earth[12] and instead formed the view that Christ had died to pay a "ransom price" to atone for sinful humans, intending to restore humans to Edenic perfection with the prospect of living forever.[12] Like Wendell, he rejected the concept of "hellfire" and the immortal soul.[15] In the mid-1870s, he published 50,000 copies of a pamphlet, The Object and Manner of Our Lord's Return[16] explaining his views and his belief that Christ would return invisibly before the battle of Armageddon. He later acknowledged the influence of Adventist ministers George Storrs (who had earlier predicted Christ's return in 1844)[11] and George Stetson in the formation of his doctrines;[12] author James Penton claims he also strongly reflected the teachings of Philadelphia Lutheran pastor Joseph Seiss.[11]
In January 1876 Russell read an issue of Herald of the Morning, a periodical edited by Adventist preacher Nelson H. Barbour of Rochester, New York, but which had almost ceased publication because of dwindling subscriptions.[12] Barbour, like other Adventists, had earlier applied the biblical time prophecies of Miller and Wendell to calculate that Christ would return in 1874 to bring a "bonfire";[17] when this failed to eventuate he and co-writer J.H. Paton had concluded that though their calculations of the timing of Christ's return were correct, they had erred about its manner. They subsequently decided that Christ's return, or parousia, was invisible, and that Christ had therefore been present since 1874.[12][18][19] Russell "rejoiced" to find that others had reached the same conclusion on the parousia and decided their application of Adventist time prophecies — which he said he had "so long despised" — merited further examination. He met Barbour, accepted his detailed and complex arguments on prophetic chronology[20] and provided him with funds to write a book that combined their views.[12]

Timeline—1870–1916
1877 Russell and Barbour publish Three Worlds
1879 Russell begins publishing Watch Tower
1881 Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society is founded
1909 First schism
Letters of protest
1914 Photo-Drama of Creation released
1916 Russell dies
The book, Three Worlds and the Harvest of This World,[21] was published in early 1877.[22] It articulated ideas that remained the teachings of Russell's associates for the next 40 years, many of which are still embraced by Jehovah's Witnesses: it identified a 2520-year-long era called "the Gentile Times", which would end in 1914, and broke from Adventist teachings by advancing Russell's concept of "restitution" — that all humankind since Adam would be resurrected to the earth and given the opportunity for eternal perfect human life. Russell claimed it was the first book to combine biblical end-time prophecies with the concept of restitution. It discussed the concept of parallel dispensations, which held that there were prophetic parallels between the Jewish and Gospel ages, and suggested the "new creation" would begin 6000 years after Adam's creation, a point in time he believed had been reached in 1872.[23] It also revealed the authors' belief that Christ had left heaven in 1874 to return to earth[24] and their expectation that God's "harvest" of the "saints" would end in early 1878, when they would all be taken to heaven.[11][17][25] Russell, Barbour and Paton began traveling to hold public meetings to discuss their beliefs. For Russell, it was not enough: "Noticing how quickly people seemed to forget what they had heard, it soon became evident that while the meetings were useful in awakening interest, a monthly journal was needed to hold that interest and develop it."[12] He provided Barbour with additional funds to resurrect The Herald of the Morning. Russell severed his relationship with the magazine in July, 1879 after Barbour publicly disputed the concept of the ransom.[12][26] He began publishing his own monthly magazine, Zion's Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence[27][28] (now known as The Watchtower), which he sent to all the subscribers of the Herald, disputing Barbour's teaching.[11][17]
Watch Tower Society[edit]
In 1881, Zion's Watch Tower Tract Society was formed as an unincorporated administrative agency for the purpose of disseminating tracts, papers, doctrinal treatises and Bibles, with "Pastor" Russell, as he was by then called, as secretary and W.H. Conley as president.[28] Three years later, on December 15, 1884, Russell became the president of the society when it was legally incorporated in Pennsylvania.[29] He said the corporation was "not a 'religious society' in the ordinary meaning of this term,"[30] explaining: "This is a business association merely ... a business convenience in disseminating the truth."[31] Russell began to write a stream of articles, books, pamphlets and sermons, which by his death totaled 50,000 printed pages, with almost 20 million copies of his books printed and distributed around the world.[11] In 1886, he wrote The Divine Plan of the Ages, a 424-page book that was the first of what became a six-volume series called "Millennial Dawn," later renamed "Studies in the Scriptures,"[32] which established his fundamental doctrines. (As a consequence, the Bible Students were sometimes called "Millennial Dawnists".)
Congregations[edit]

 

Russell's tombstone in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
The first study groups or congregations were established in 1879, and within a year more than 30 of them were meeting for six-hour study sessions under Russell's direction, to examine the Bible and his writings.[11] The groups were autonomous ecclesia, an organizational structure Russell regarded as a return to "primitive simplicity".[33] In an 1882 Watch Tower article he said his nationwide community of study groups was "strictly unsectarian and consequently recognize no sectarian name ... we have no creed (fence) to bind us together or to keep others out of our company. The Bible is our only standard, and its teachings our only creed." He added: "We are in fellowship with all Christians in whom we can recognize the Spirit of Christ."[34] Two years later he said the only appropriate names for his group would be "Church of Christ", "Church of God" or "Christians". He concluded: "By whatsoever names men may call us, it matters not to us; we acknowledge none other name than 'the only name given under heaven and among men' — Jesus Christ. We call ourselves simply Christians."[35] In 1895, discussing the best form of meeting to study his writings, Russell warned: "Beware of organization. It is wholly unnecessary. The Bible rules will be the only rules you will need. Do not seek to bind others' consciences, and do not permit others to bind yours."[36]
Elders and deacons were elected by congregations and Russell tolerated a great latitude of belief among members. He discouraged formal disciplinary procedures by congregation elders, claiming this was beyond their authority,[37] instead recommending that an individual who continued in a wrong course be judged by the entire ecclesia, or congregation, which could ultimately "withdraw from him its fellowship".[38] Disfellowshipping did not mean the wrongdoer was shunned in all social circumstances or by all Bible Students.[39]
In 1894 Russell introduced the role of "pilgrim" workers, men chosen for their maturity, meekness and Bible knowledge, who would visit congregations for up to three days when requested, giving talks. The pilgrims, who initially served part-time but later became full-time workers, also delivered talks at conventions.[40]
From 1895, he recommended that congregations study his "Studies in the Scriptures" paragraph-by-paragraph to learn the "truth" he had discovered, and in 1905 he recommended replacing verse-by-verse Bible studies with what he called "Berean Studies" of topics he chose.[11]
Preaching[edit]
Russell advertised for 1000 preachers in 1881,[41] and encouraged all who were members of "the body of Christ" to go forth as "colporteurs" or evangelizers and preach to their neighbors in order to gather the remainder of the "little flock" of saints before they were called to heaven.[11] Colporteurs (renamed "pioneers" in the 1930s) left householders with a copy of Russell's 130-page booklet Food For Thinking Christians and a sample copy of Zion's Watch Tower and returned days later to retrieve the book or accept a payment for it. The workers received a commission on the sale, but Russell warned them to concentrate less on the money than on the task of spreading the truth.[42]
When a Pittsburgh newspaper's publication of the full text of Russell's 1903 debates with Methodist minister Dr E. L. Eaton resulted in a huge demand for copies, several newspapers began printing weekly sermons by Russell. By 1907 21 million copies of his sermons were being printed a year in 11 U.S. newspapers. Russell entered a contract with a newspaper syndicate to give his sermons wider coverage and by December 1909 they were appearing in 400 papers to a weekly readership of 2.5 million. By 1910 his sermons were supplied to more than 1000 newspapers, some of which billed him as "the people's favorite preacher", and a peak of 2024 papers in the U.S., Canada, Britain, South Africa and Australia was reached in 1913.[43] The publicity, including press coverage of annual overseas tours between 1908 and 1913, gave Russell a measure of international celebrity, prompting letters of concern by Bible Students over his supposed ostentatiousness, which in turn led Russell to defend his mode of transport and accommodation.[43][44]
In 1914 Russell released an eight-hour-long film, The Photo-Drama of Creation, that attempted to portray chronologically the history of the world from creation to the millennial reign of Christ.[45] The film, accompanied by a gramophone soundtrack, was screened for free in two four-hour sittings around the world, attracting more than 1.2 million patrons in Britain in 1914 alone. The cost of the production and screenings was so high it created financial difficulties for the society, but by Russell's death it was reported that the film had been seen by more than nine million people.[46]
Organizational expansion[edit]
Two missionaries were sent to England in 1881[11] and overseas branches were opened in London (1900),[47] Germany (1903) and Australia and Switzerland (1904).[48] The Watch Tower Society's headquarters were transferred to Brooklyn, New York in 1908.[49] In 1910 Russell introduced the name International Bible Students Association as a means of identifying his worldwide community of Bible study groups. The name was also used when advertising and conducting conventions of Russell's followers.[50]
The first foreign-language edition of Zion's Watch Tower was published in 1883 when Russell produced a sample copy in Swedish and in 1885 the magazine was also translated into German for German-speaking Pennsylvanians.[51]
Doctrinal development[edit]
By 1904, Russell's doctrinal development was almost complete. His sixth and final part of "Studies in the Scriptures", The New Creation, established that Revelation 7 spoke of two heavenly classes of Christians — 144,000 who would serve as a royal priesthood with Christ and a Great Company who would be brought to perfection on a lesser plane, similar to that of angels, serving the 144,000.[52] He believed that 1878 marked the "fall of Babylon", when God officially judged that Christendom had proven unfaithful.[53][54] He believed the "time of the end" in Daniel 12 ran from 1799 to 1914, that Christ had returned to earth in 1874, began his reign in 1878 and that from that date the anointed had been resurrected to heaven at their death. He initially taught that Armageddon had begun in 1874, which would culminate in worldwide anarchy and the overthrow of all political rulership in 1914 at the conclusion of the "times of the Gentiles", but by 1897 began to teach that Armageddon would instead begin in 1914.[55][56] The earthly part of God's kingdom would be administered from Jerusalem in a re-established nation of Israel and under the control of the resurrected ancient Jewish prophets. All of mankind would over time be resurrected to earth in reverse order of death, Adam and Eve being the last, and be given the instruction and guidance necessary to prove themselves obedient to God in order to attain eternal life. Early in the resurrection, "ancient worthies" including Abraham, Isaac and Jacob would be raised to occupy positions of overseers and representatives of the invisible heavenly government ruling from Jerusalem.[57] The Millennial Age, which he believed had begun in 1874, would run to 2874 or 2914 AD, when a test of earth's inhabitants would decide their ultimate destinies, to life or everlasting death.[58][59][60]
In 1905 Paul S. L. Johnson, one of the traveling "Pilgrim" speakers and a former Lutheran minister, pointed out to Russell that his doctrines on the New Covenant had undergone a complete reversal: until 1880 he had taught that the New Covenant would be inaugurated only after the last of the 144,000 anointed Christians had been taken to heaven,[61] but since 1881 he had written that it was already in force.[62][63] Russell reconsidered the question and in January 1907 wrote several Watch Tower articles reaffirming his 1880 position—that "the new covenant belongs exclusively to the coming age"[64]—adding that the church had no mediator, but that Christ was the "advocate". He also taught that Christians making up the 144,000 would join Christ as a "joint heir" and assistant mediator during the millennium.[65]
On October 24, 1909 former Watch Tower Society secretary-treasurer E.C. Henninges, who was by then the Australian branch manager based in Melbourne, wrote Russell an open letter of protest trying to persuade him to abandon the teaching, and calling on Bible Students to examine its legitimacy. When Russell refused, Henninges and most of the Melbourne congregation left Russell's movement to form the New Covenant Fellowship. Hundreds of the estimated 10,000 U.S. Bible Students also left, including pilgrim M. L. McPhail, a member of the Chicago Bible Students, and A. E. Williamson of Brooklyn, forming the New Covenant Believers.[63][66]
Russell died on October 31, 1916, in Pampa, Texas during a cross-country preaching trip. For the next 10 years, the Watch Tower Society continued to teach the view that he had fulfilled the roles of the "Laodicean Messenger" of Revelation 3:14–22[67] and the "Faithful and Wise Servant" of Matthew 24:45.[68]
1917–1942[edit]
Timeline—1916–1942
1917 Rutherford elected president of Watch Tower
1917 Second schism
Control of the headquarters
1919 Publication of Golden Age begins
1920 Rutherford publishes Millions Now Living Never Die, setting 1925 as date for return of Old Testament "Princes"
1929 Rutherford builds Beth Sarim to hold resurrected Bible personages
1931 Third schism
The name changes to Jehovah's witnesses
1942 Rutherford dies
Organizational developments[edit]
At the corporation's annual general meeting on January 6, 1917, Joseph Franklin Rutherford, the Society's legal counsel, was elected as Russell's successor, with new by-laws passed to strengthen the president's authority.[69] Within months, four of the Society's seven directors claimed he was acting without consulting the board and described him as "dogmatic, authoritarian and secretive".[70][71][72][73] A directors' meeting in June proposed returning control of the Society to the board,[74] but at a stormy five-hour meeting on July 17, 1917, Rutherford announced he had appointed four new directors to replace the four who had opposed him, claiming they had no legal status on the board because of conflict with Pennsylvania law.[75][76] At the same meeting Rutherford surprised the headquarters staff and most of the directors[77] by announcing the release of the book The Finished Mystery,[78] dealing with the prophecies of the books of Revelation and Ezekiel and based on Russell's writings.[79] The book, written by Bible Students Clayton J. Woodworth and George H. Fisher,[80][81] was described as the "posthumous work of Russell" and the seventh volume of Studies in the Scriptures. It was an immediate best-seller and was translated into six languages.[82]
Rutherford and the ousted directors published a number of newsletters through 1917 and 1918 attacking each other and some congregations split into opposing groups of those loyal either to the president or those he had expelled.[83][84] Rutherford staged a purge within the Brooklyn headquarters to force out those not wholeheartedly on his side and required those who remained to sign an oath of allegiance to him.[85] He was re-elected as president in 1918 with a big majority, but by mid-1919 about one in seven Bible Students had left,[86] forming such groups as The Stand Fast Bible Students Association, Laymen's Home Missionary Movement, Dawn Bible Students Association, Pastoral Bible Institute, Elijah Voice Movement and Eagle Society.[87] Subscriptions to The Watch Tower also fell from 45,000 to fewer than 3000 between 1914 and 1918.[88]

 

Joseph Franklin Rutherford (1869–1942)
Rutherford introduced a vast advertising campaign to expose the "unrighteousness" of religions and their alliances with "beastly" governments, expanding on claims in The Finished Mystery that patriotism was akin to murder.[89][90] The campaign provoked anger among the clergy and governments in North America and Europe, where Bible Students began to be arrested, mobbed and tarred and feathered.[70][91] On February 12, 1918 The Finished Mystery was banned by the Canadian government for what a Winnipeg newspaper described as "seditious and antiwar statements".[92] On February 24 in Los Angeles Rutherford gave the first of his talk series "Millions Now Living May Never Die" (the title of the talk was changed five weeks later to "Millions Now Living Will Never Die")[93][94] in which he attacked the clergy, describing them as "the most reprehensible men on earth for the great war that is now afflicting mankind".[92] Three days later the Army Intelligence Bureau seized the Society's Los Angeles offices and on March 4 the US government ordered the removal of seven pages of The Finished Mystery if distribution was to continue.[95] In early May 1918 US Attorney General Thomas Watt Gregory condemned the book as dangerous propaganda[96] and days later warrants were issued for the arrest of Rutherford and seven other Watch Tower directors and officers on charges of sedition under the Espionage Act amid claims they were conspiring to cause disloyalty and encouraging the refusal of military duty. On June 21 seven of them, including Rutherford, were sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment. They were released on bail in March 1919 after an appeals court ruled they had been wrongly convicted and in May 1920 the government announced all charges had been dropped.[97]

 

 Watch Tower Board of Directors jailed in 1918 for violation of the Espionage Act
On his release from prison, Rutherford began a major reorganization of Bible Student activities. The Watch Tower Society set up its own printing establishment[98] and in 1919 Rutherford founded the magazine The Golden Age (now Awake!), which the Bible Students began distributing publicly[99] in response to an increasing emphasis by the Brooklyn headquarters on door-to-door preaching.[100] Brooklyn appointed a "director" in each congregation in 1919, and a year later directed all congregation members who participated in the preaching work to report weekly on their witnessing activity.[101] As the Bible Students' preaching work expanded, Rutherford moved to take greater control over their message in a bid to unify the message and become the spokesman for the organization.[102]
Major annual conventions were organized from 1922 and 1928, which were as much publicity events as spiritual gatherings.[103] At an eight-day assembly at Cedar Point, Ohio in 1922 he launched a series of international conventions under the theme "Advertise the King and Kingdom", attracting crowds of up to 20,000,[104] who were urged to "herald the message far and wide". "Behold the King!" Rutherford told conventioners. "You are his publicity agents."[105] He stressed that the prime purpose of all Bible Students was to preach publicly in fulfillment of Matthew 24:14, especially in the form of door-to-door evangelism with the Society's publications, rather than prayer, meditation or Bible study.[106][107] The traditional Bible Student prayer and testimony meetings were divided into two parts with one becoming a "service meeting", devoted to promoting public preaching.[108] In 1924 he expanded his means of spreading the Watch Tower message with the start of 15-minute radio broadcasts, initially from WBBR, based on Staten Island, and eventually via a network of as many as 480 radio stations.[109][110] A 1931 talk was broadcast throughout North America, Australia and France, but the virulence of his attacks on the clergy was strong enough to result in both the NBC and BBC radio networks banning him from the airwaves.[111] Later still, in the late 1930s, he advocated the use of "sound cars" and portable phonographs with which talks by Rutherford were played to passersby and householders.[112]
The new preaching methods brought an influx of members through the early 1920s, but attendance at the Bible Students' yearly Memorial fell sharply again, dropping from 90,434 in 1925[113] to 17,380 in 1928.[114][115][116][117] Rutherford dismissed their defection as the Lord "shaking out" the unfaithful.[118] Author Tony Wills, who analyzed attendance and "field worker" statistics, suggests it was the "more dedicated" Bible Students who quit through the 1920s, to be replaced by newcomers in larger numbers,[119] creating what author Robert Crompton described as one of the most significant of the movement's breaks with its early history.[5]
At a convention at Columbus, Ohio on July 26, 1931, Rutherford made a psychological break with the large number of disaffected Bible Students[120] by proposing the adoption of the name Jehovah's witnesses, based on the scripture at Isaiah 43:10, "Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord". The Watch Tower said the new, distinctive name was designed to exalt God's name and end public confusion caused by the proliferation of groups carrying the name "Bible Students". It explained: "It will be a name that could not be used by another, and such as none other will want to use."[121][122]
In 1932, he eliminated the system of congregations electing bodies of elders, claiming the office of elder was unscriptural;[123] in 1938, he replaced the earlier system of congregational self-government with a "theocratic" or "God-ruled" organizational system in which the Brooklyn headquarters would make all appointments in congregations worldwide.[101][124] Consolation magazine explained: "The Theocracy is at present administered by the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, of which Judge Rutherford is the president and general manager."[125] Rutherford, who had shown an earlier interest in politics, applied terms to the organization that were more common in politics and business: "organization" replaced "congregation" when referring to the worldwide community of believers, while "companies" denoted individual congregations. He pushed for more "field service" and "campaigns" of kingdom "advertising" in "territories", with "publishers" working under the direction of a field service "captain".[98]
Under Rutherford, Jehovah's Witnesses grew from about 44,000 in 1928 to about 115,000 at the time of his death on January 8, 1942.
Doctrinal changes[edit]

 

 J.F. Rutherford at Beth Sarim
Rutherford's term as president was marked by a succession of changes to doctrines, with many of Russell's teachings altered or abandoned and many new teachings introduced. The Finished Mystery declared that God would destroy churches "wholesale" and church members by the millions in 1918,[126] and that all earthly governments would be destroyed in 1920, resulting in anarchy.[127] Expectations remained strong that the change of the "saints" and completion of the "body of Christ" in heaven was imminent. A Watch Tower report on the 1918 Brooklyn convention said there was good reason to believe the gathering "might be the last in this vicinity, before the great convention beyond the veil".[128] Disregarding Russell's rejection of 1925 as a year of importance,[129] Rutherford announced in 1920 that Christ's thousand-year reign would begin in that year, bringing the restoration of an earthly paradise and the resurrection to earth of the ancient Jewish prophets referred to as "the ancient worthies"[130] (such as Abraham and Isaac).[131][132] Jerusalem would become the world capital, and the "princes" would communicate with all humankind by radio.[133] The pronouncements prompted many Bible Students to give up their businesses and jobs and sell their homes, while Bible Student farmers in Canada and the US refused to seed their spring crops in 1925 and mocked members of their religion who did.[134] Rutherford had a luxury villa, Beth Sarim, built in San Diego, California, in 1930 to house the biblical "princes" who were expected to be resurrected before Armageddon.[135][136] Watch Tower publications made no admission of error over the predictions for 1925, but Rutherford gave apologies at IBSA conventions.[134][137]

History of Eschatological Doctrine

Last Days begin
Start of Christ's Presence
Christ made King
Resurrection of 144,000
Judgment of Religion
Separating Sheep & Goats
Great Tribulation
1879–1920 1799 1874 1878 during Millenium 1914, 1915, 1918, 1920
1920–1923 1925
1923–1925 during Christ's presence
1925–1927 1914 1878 1878 within generation of 1914
1927–1930 1918
1930–1933 1919
1933–1966 1914
1966–1975 1975?
1975–1995 within generation of 1914
1995–present during Great Tribulation imminent
Armageddon was redefined in 1925 as a battle between God and Satan, resulting in the overthrow of human governments and false religion[138] and a 1926 Watchtower article introduced a new emphasis on the importance of the name "Jehovah".[139] From 1926 publications began discrediting earlier teachings on the importance of Christian "character development" or personal "sanctification"[106][140][141] and a year later they discarded the teaching that Russell had been the "faithful and wise servant" of Matthew 24:45–47.[106][142] By then the Watch Tower Society had rejected the belief that Russell alone had been the sole channel of scriptural enlightenment.[143] In 1927 the Society disposed of remaining copies of Russell's Studies in the Scriptures and The Finished Mystery and ceased printing the books.[5] A year later Russell's teaching that the natural Jews would be restored to Palestine and hold a prominent place in the earthly part of God's kingdom was dropped.[144][145] Christmas celebrations ceased in 1928 after a radio broadcast and Golden Age articles on their pagan origins.[146]
In 1929 Rutherford announced that the vindication of God's name—which would ultimately occur when millions of unbelievers were destroyed at Armageddon—was the primary doctrine of Christianity and more important that God's display of goodness or grace towards humans.[147][148][149][150] By 1933, the timing of Christ's parousia and the start of the "last days" had been moved from 1874 to 1914[151] with the principles of parallel dispensations retained to place Christ's enthronement 3½ years later in 1918.[152] In 1935 a new interpretation of the "great company" of Revelation 7 placed them on earth as survivors of Armageddon rather than in heaven[153] and from that point converts to the movement were generally identified as those who, if worthy, would qualify for life on a paradise earth.[154] The same year, Witnesses were told they should refuse to salute the flag, stand for the national anthem, or accept alternative service provided for those who had conscientous objection to military service. Reference to the cross and crucifixion in Watch Tower publications ceased in 1936 when it was asserted that Christ had actually died on a tree.[146] By 1939 Watch Tower publications explained that only those who were part of God's "organization" would be spared at Armageddon.[155]
Persecution and opposition[edit]
Main article: Persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses
From 1927 Bible Students were urged to extend their door-to-door preaching to include Sundays. The move quickly attracted opposition from the clergy and the following year Bible Students began to be arrested in the U.S. for breaching local by-laws on Sabbath observance.[156] Rutherford challenged the laws in courts, ultimately fighting hundreds of cases in New Jersey alone as he insisted the preachers were not selling literature, but distributing it for a contribution to Society funds.[157]
In 1935, Witnesses were told they should refuse to salute national flags, stand for national anthems, or accept alternative service provided for those who had conscientious objection to military service. In late 1936 U.S. schools began expelling Witness children who refused to salute the flag. When the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed the right of schools to expel non-conforming children in June 1940, many states began passing laws requiring compulsory flag salute and similarly expelling children. The Supreme Court decision prompted a wave of violence against U.S. Witnesses, mostly in small towns and rural areas, where they were beaten, castrated, tarred and feathered and in some cases killed. More than 2500 cases were reported from 1940 to 1944 and hundreds of Witnesses were arrested and charged with crimes including sedition. The Witnesses responded with campaigns of mass witnessing, descending on hostile towns in their hundreds, and organizing "information marches", some 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) long, in which members wore sandwich boards and held placards and banners.[158][159][160]
In Germany, preaching activity was banned and the Watch Tower Society headquarters seized and closed. Thousands of Witnesses were arrested on peddling charges from 1922; in 1933, following the rise to power of Adolf Hitler, government restrictions were tightened, prompting the public distribution of more than two million copies of a Declaration of Facts in which the Witnesses protested at their treatment and requested the right to preach. It had little effect: Witnesses were fired from their jobs and about 2000 were imprisoned in concentration camps.[161][162] Jehovah's Witnesses were the first Christian denomination to be banned and the most extensively persecuted Christian group during the Nazi era.[163]
Witnesses in Japan were imprisoned and tortured,[164] while members in the U.S., Canada, Australia and Britain were also imprisoned as conscientious objectors. The Witnesses were banned in Germany in 1936, Canada in July 1940[165] and Australia in January 1941.[166][167] Under Rutherford's leadership, a legal staff was developed to establish their right to preach and their right to refrain from nationalistic ceremonies. Between 1938 and 1955 the Watch Tower Society won 36 out of 45 religion-related court cases.[168] These legal battles resulted in significant expansions in freedom of speech and religion in both countries.[169]
Writers including American essayist Barbara Grizzuti Harrison, William Whalen, Alan Rogerson and William Schnell have claimed the religion was complicit in its own victimisation, often goading authorities with cartoons and books that ridiculed and denigrated church and state and provocative mass assemblies in which the Witnesses flooded towns with preachers. They claim a deliberate course of martyrdom served to attract society’s dispossessed and oppressed members and also provided apparent validation of the "truth" of the Watchtower cause as evidenced by the level of opposition from the outside world as they struggled to serve God.[170][171][172][173]
1942–1975[edit]

 

 New York headquarters of Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society
Timeline—1942–1975
1942 Knorr elected president of Watch Tower Society
1950 New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures started (completed 1961)
1966 The year 1975 suggested as possible date for Armageddon
Rutherford was succeeded by Nathan Homer Knorr. Knorr's tenure as president was notable for the transfer from individual to corporate leadership. None of the Society's publications after 1942 acknowledged authorship, and were instead attributed to an anonymous Writing Committee.[174] From about 1944, the term "governing body" began to be used with a measure of frequency, with the term initially applied to the Watch Tower Society's seven-man Board of Directors.[175] Knorr began a campaign of real estate acquisition in Brooklyn to expand the organisation's world headquarters, expanded printing production throughout the world, and organized a series of international assemblies that dwarfed those of Rutherford in the 1920s. In 1958, more than 253,000 Witnesses gathered at two New York venues, Yankee Stadium and the Polo Grounds, for an eight-day convention where more than 7000 were baptized.[176] Other large conventions were held in the US, Canada and Germany.
He instituted major training programs, including the Watch Tower Bible School of Gilead to train missionaries, and the Theocratic Ministry School to give instruction in preaching and public speaking at the congregational level. He commissioned a new translation of the Bible, which was released progressively from 1950, before being published as the complete New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures in 1961. Also produced were a Greek-English New Testament interlinear (The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures) and a Bible encyclopedia (Aid to Bible Understanding). The offices of elder and ministerial servant (deacon) were restored to Witness congregations in 1972, with appointments being made from headquarters.[177]
Knorr's vice-president, Frederick William Franz, became the leading theologian for the religion[178] and the pace of doctrinal change slowed. Blood transfusions were prohibited for Witnesses from 1945 and in 1961 the eating of blood in meat was also proscribed, The Watchtower instructing Witnesses to check with their butcher whether the animals and fowl he sold had been properly drained of their blood.[179][180] Birthday celebrations were described as "objectionable" in 1951 because of their pagan origins[181] and other explicit rules regarding acceptable conduct among members were introduced, with a greater emphasis placed on disfellowshipping as a disciplinary measure.[182]
Adult male Witnesses in the US, Britain, and some European countries were jailed for refusal of military service in the post-war years, with particularly harsh treatment meted out in Spain, Greece, East Germany and Romania. Wide-scale persecution of Witnesses in several African nations was launched between 1967 and 1975, with as many as 21,000 fleeing Malawi to refugee camps in Zambia after a series of murders and beatings in 1972, and 7000 Mozambiquean members of the religion were arrested in 1975 to be sent to communist re-education camps.[183]
During Knorr's presidency, membership of Jehovah's Witnesses grew from 108,000 to more than two million.[178]
Predictions for 1975[edit]
From 1966, Witness publications heightened anticipation of Christ's thousand-year millennial reign beginning in late 1975.[184][185][186][187] Repeating the 1925 cycle of excitement, anticipation and then disappointment, Witness publications and convention talks intensified focus on 1975 as the "appropriate" time for God to act,[188] with statements that "the immediate future is certain to be filled with climactic events ... within a few years at most the final parts of the Bible prophecy relative to these 'last days' will undergo fulfillment".[189] The September 15, 1971 issue of The Watchtower warned that "all worldly careers are soon to come to an end", and advised youths that they should not "get interested in ‘higher education’ for a future that will never eventuate."[190] A chart in a 1971 Awake! indicated the "thrilling hope" of a "grand Sabbath of rest and relief" in the mid-1970s at the close of 6000 years of human history.[191] Some Witnesses sold businesses and homes, gave up jobs, deferred medical procedures and set aside plans to start a family in anticipation of Armageddon's arrival.[192][193] The May 1974 issue of the Watch Tower Society's newsletter, Our Kingdom Ministry, commended Witnesses who had sold homes and property to devote themselves to preaching in the "short time" remaining.[194]
Watch Tower literature did not state dogmatically that 1975 would definitely mark the end,[195] and the buildup was tempered with cautions that there was no certainty that Armageddon would arrive in 1975, but magazines warned that "time is running out rapidly"[196] and that "only a few years, at most" remained before Armageddon.[197] Circuit assemblies in 1970 held a public talk entitled "Who will conquer the world in the 1970s?"[198] and in a speech in Australia in 1975 the society's vice-president Frederick Franz went so far as to name a precise date—September 5, 1975—as the "end of the present wicked system".[199] Witnesses were also urged that they should not be "toying with the words of Jesus that 'concerning that day and hour nobody knows' ... to the contrary, one should be keenly aware that the end of this system of things is rapidly coming to its violent end."[200] The number of baptisms soared from about 59,000 in 1966, to more than 297,000 in 1974, but membership declined after expectations for the year failed.[192][201] In 1976 The Watchtower advised those who had been "disappointed" by the failure of the predictions for 1975 to adjust their viewpoint because their understanding had been "based on wrong premises",[202] but four years later, after several proposals by Governing Body members to apologize to Witnesses were voted down,[203] the Watch Tower Society admitted its responsibility in building up hope regarding 1975.[204]
1976–present[edit]

Timeline—1976–2015
1976 Governing Body takes control
1980 Purge of senior Brooklyn headquarters staff
1995 Teaching that generation of 1914 will see Armageddon is abandoned
2008 Definition of generation changed to 'remnant of anointed'
2010 Definition of generation changed to 'living anointed whose lives overlap 1914 anointed'
The leadership structure of Jehovah's Witnesses was reorganized from January 1, 1976, with the power of the presidency passed to the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses and the establishment of six committees to oversee tasks such as writing, teaching, publishing and evangelizing work.[205] At this time, Watch Tower Society publications began using the capitalized name, Jehovah's Witnesses. Subsequent presidents of the Watch Tower Society after Knorr's death in 1977 have been Frederick William Franz, Milton George Henschel and Don A. Adams.
A purge of senior Brooklyn headquarters staff was carried out in April and May 1980 after it was discovered some at the highest ranks of the hierarchy dissented with core Watch Tower Society doctrines, particularly surrounding the significance of 1914, and wished to propose adjustments as "new understandings" to continue the century-long tradition of changes in doctrines.[206][207] Unease at the chronology doctrines had in fact surfaced within the Governing Body earlier that year. In February, three Governing Body members – aware that those who had been alive in 1914 were rapidly dwindling in number despite the teaching that their generation would be alive to see Armageddon—had proposed a radical change in Watch Tower doctrines to require that the "generation" that would see the arrival of Armageddon had been alive only since 1957, the year of the launch of the Russian space satellite Sputnik. The proposal, which would have extended the deadline for Armageddon by 43 years, failed to gain a majority vote.[208][209] Internal dissatisfaction with official doctrines continued to grow, however, leading to a series of secret investigations and judicial hearings. Among those expelled from the Witnesses was former Governing Body member Raymond Franz. Many of those expelled were labelled by Governing Body members as "spiritual fornicators", "mentally diseased" and "insane".[206] The purge resulted in a number of schisms in the religion in Canada, Britain, and northern Europe, and prompted the formation of loose groups of disaffected former Witnesses. The Watch Tower Society responded to the crisis with a new, hardened attitude towards the treatment of defectors and expelled Witnesses.[206][207][210][211]
In 1995, changes regarding their understanding of Jesus' comments regarding "this generation" (from Matthew 24:34) were published.[212] Throughout the previous four decades, Jehovah's Witnesses had taught that the generation that saw the events of 1914 would not die out before Armageddon came.[213] The understanding of the "generation" was again adjusted in 2008, to refer to the remnant of the anointed.[214] In 2010, the definition of the generation was changed again, wherein the lives of anointed individuals living in 1914 overlap with a second group alive in the present day. Jehovah's Witnesses continue to teach that Armageddon is imminent.[215]
See also[edit]
##Development of Jehovah's Witnesses doctrine
##Eschatology of Jehovah's Witnesses
##Watch Tower Society unfulfilled predictions
##Persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses
##Watch Tower Society presidency dispute (1917)
References[edit]
1.Jump up ^ Jehovah's Witnesses in the Divine Purpose, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1959, page 32, 33.
2.Jump up ^ Wills, Tony (2006). A People For His Name. Lulu Enterprises. pp. 191, 192. ISBN 978-1-4303-0100-4.
3.Jump up ^ Rogerson, Alan (1969). Millions Now Living Will Never Die: A Study of Jehovah's Witnesses. Constable & Co, London. p. 5. ISBN 0-0945-5940-6.
4.Jump up ^ "Walking in the Path of Increasing Light". The Watchtower: 26–29. 15 February 2006. "the resolution stated: “... we desire to be known as and called by the name, to wit, Jehovah’s witnesses.”"
5.^ Jump up to: a b c Crompton, Robert (1996). Counting the Days to Armageddon. Cambridge: James Clarke & Co. p. 101. ISBN 0-227-67939-3.
6.Jump up ^ Draw Close to Jehovah, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 2002, page 157.
7.Jump up ^ "Russia Supreme Court bans Jehovah's Witness congregation", Jurist Legal News and Research, University of Pittsburgh School of Law, December 10, 2009.
8.Jump up ^ Zion's Watch Tower, July 1879, page 1, states the date of Russell's encounter with Wendell as "about 1869". Rogerson (p.6), Crompton (p.30) and The Watchtower (January 1, 1955) claim it was in 1870, Wills (p.4) states it was 1868; Penton and Jehovah's Witnesses, Proclaimers of God's Kingdom (p. 43) say it was 1869. Russell's later recounting of his story in Zion's Watch Tower, July 15, 1906, leaves the actual date unclear.
9.Jump up ^ Jehovah's Witnesses—Proclaimers of God's Kingdom, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1993, p. 43. According to Alan Rogerson, Russell used the collective term "Second Adventists" to refer to a number of sects prophesying the imminent Second Advent of Jesus.
10.Jump up ^ Crompton, Robert (1996). Counting the Days to Armageddon. Cambridge: James Clarke & Co. p. 30. ISBN 0-227-67939-3.
11.^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j Penton, M. James (1997). Apocalypse Delayed: The Story of Jehovah's Witnesses (2nd ed.). University of Toronto Press. pp. 13–46. ISBN 0-8020-7973-3.
12.^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i "A sketch of the development of present truth", Zion's Watch Tower, July 15, 1906.
13.Jump up ^ Wills, Tony (2006). A People For His Name. Lulu Enterprises. p. 4. ISBN 978-1-4303-0100-4.
14.Jump up ^ 1873 reprint of The Present Truth or Meat in Due Season, Jonas Wendell, 1870, with additional essay.
15.Jump up ^ *Wills, Tony (2006). A People For His Name. Lulu Enterprises. pp. 5, 6. ISBN 978-1-4303-0100-4.
16.Jump up ^ The pamphlet was published in 1873, according to the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, while James Penton argues that it was as late as 1877.
17.^ Jump up to: a b c Zion's Watch Tower, July 1879, page 1.
18.Jump up ^ http://www.heraldmag.org/olb/contents/history/barbour%20midnight%20cry.htm N.H. Barbour, Evidences for the Coming of the Lord in 1873: or the Midnight Cry, 1871.
19.Jump up ^ The Midnight Cry and Herald of the Morning, March 1874. See Section under "Our Faith."
20.Jump up ^ Wills, Tony (2006). A People For His Name. Lulu Enterprises. p. 8. ISBN 978-1-4303-0100-4.
21.Jump up ^ N.H. Barbour and C.T. Russell. Three Worlds and The Harvest of This World, 1877. Accessed March 15, 2006.
22.Jump up ^ Though the book bore the names of both men as authors, Russell (Watch Tower, July 15, 1906) noted it was "mostly written by Mr Barbour". James Penton (Apocalypse Delayed) points out that in early issues of the Watch Tower, Russell repeatedly referred to Barbour as its author.
23.Jump up ^ N.H. Barbour & C. T. Russell, Three Worlds, 1977, page 67.
24.Jump up ^ N.H. Barbour, C. T. Russell, Three Worlds, 1877, page 104.
25.Jump up ^ N. H. Barbour, C. T. Russell, Three Worlds, 1877, pp. 124, 143
26.Jump up ^ Wills, Tony (2006). A People For His Name. Lulu Enterprises. p. 9. ISBN 978-1-4303-0100-4.
27.Jump up ^ Issues of the Watch Tower from 1879-1916 are available at http://www.mostholyfaith.com/bible/Reprints/index.asp or by article at: http://www.agsconsulting.com/htdbv5/links.htm. The text was taken from the seven-volume Reprints printed in 1919 and compared with the original issues up to December 15, 1916 to remove transcription errors and add articles that had been excluded.
28.^ Jump up to: a b "Modern History of Jehovah’s Witnesses", Watchtower, January 15, 1955, page 14.
29.Jump up ^ Holden, A. (2002) Jehovah's Witnesses: Portrait of a Contemporary Religious Movement. (p.18)
30.Jump up ^ Zion's Watch Tower, October 1894, page 330.
31.Jump up ^ C.T. Russell, "A Conspiracy Exposed", Zion's Watch Tower Extra edition, April 25, 1894, page 55–60.
32.Jump up ^ Yearbook 1975, Watch Tower Society, 1975.
33.Jump up ^ "The Ekklesia", Zion's Watch Tower, October 1881.
34.Jump up ^ "Questions and answers", Zion's Watch Tower, April 1882.
35.Jump up ^ "Our name", Zion's Watch Tower, February 1884.
36.Jump up ^ "Concerning profitable meetings", Zion's Watch Tower, September 15, 1895.
37.Jump up ^ What Pastor Russell Said, Leslie W. Jones, 1917, pg 346, as cited by Penton, 1997, pg 31, "The Lord's word does not authorize any court of Elders, or anyone else, to become busybodies. This would be going back to the practices of the Dark Ages during the Inquisition and we would be showing the same spirit as did the inquisitors."
38.Jump up ^ Russell directed that an unrepentant person be judged by the entire ecclesia, rather than the elders. He directed that the ecclesia not make the wrongdoer's faults public. See The New Creation Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1904, pages 289–290
39.Jump up ^ Apocalypse Delayed, James Penton, page 31.
40.Jump up ^ Wills, Tony (2006). A People For His Name. Lulu Enterprises. p. 21. ISBN 978-1-4303-0100-4.
41.Jump up ^ "Wanted: 1000 Preachers", Zion's Watch Tower, April 1881.
42.Jump up ^ Wills, Tony (2006). A People For His Name. Lulu Enterprises. pp. 12, 14. ISBN 978-1-4303-0100-4.
43.^ Jump up to: a b Wills, Tony (2006). A People For His Name. Lulu Enterprises. p. 24. ISBN 978-1-4303-0100-4.
44.Jump up ^ "The Newspaper Syndicate's Idea, The Watch Tower, January 15, 1912.
45.Jump up ^ Jehovah's Witnesses—Proclaimers of God's Kingdom, Watch Tower Society, p. 422
46.Jump up ^ "Biography", The Watch Tower, December 15, 1916.
47.Jump up ^ Jehovah's Witnesses in the Divine Purpose, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1959, page 32.
48.Jump up ^ "The First One a Hundred Years Ago", Awake, December 22, 2000.
49.Jump up ^ "Organized Testimony to the New World", Watchtower, July 15, 1950, page 215.
50.Jump up ^ Watchtower, April 1910.
51.Jump up ^ Wills, Tony (2006). A People For His Name. Lulu Enterprises. p. 12. ISBN 978-1-4303-0100-4.
52.Jump up ^ C. T. Russell, The New Creation, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1904, pages 120–121, 127–129.
53.Jump up ^ Thy Kingdom Come (1890), Volume 3 of Studies in the Scriptures, pp. 305–308.
54.Jump up ^ "This spuing out, or casting off, of the nominal church as an organization in 1878, we then understood, and still proclaim, to be the date of the commencement of Babylon's fall..."—"The Consummation of Our Hope" in Zion's Watch Tower, April 1883. Reprints pp. 474–5.
55.Jump up ^ C. T. Russell, The Time of the End, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1889, page 101.
56.Jump up ^ "Things to Come—And The Present European Situation" in The Watch Tower, January 15, 1892, Reprints, p. 1355
57.Jump up ^ Wills, Tony (2006). A People For His Name. Lulu Enterprises. p. 43. ISBN 978-1-4303-0100-4.
58.Jump up ^ Wills, Tony (2006). A People For His Name. Lulu Enterprises. pp. 38, 50. ISBN 978-1-4303-0100-4.
59.Jump up ^ "The Day of the Lord", Zion's Watch Tower, October–November 1882, reprints page 410.
60.Jump up ^ Crompton, Robert (1996). Counting the Days to Armageddon. Cambridge: James Clarke & Co. pp. 38, 39. ISBN 0-227-67939-3.
61.Jump up ^ "The Three Great Covenants", Zion's Watch Tower, March 1880.
62.Jump up ^ "The New Covenant vs the Law Covenant", Zion's Watch Tower, September 1887.
63.^ Jump up to: a b Wills, Tony (2006). A People For His Name. Lulu Enterprises. pp. 63–68. ISBN 978-1-4303-0100-4.
64.Jump up ^ "The Mediator of the New Covernant", Zion's Watch Tower, January 1, 1907, pages 9, 10.
65.Jump up ^ "The Word Mediator Used Differently,", Watch Tower, January 1909.
66.Jump up ^ Penton 1997, pp. 42
67.Jump up ^ See chart "The Seven Messengers to the Church" from The Finished Mystery (1917), page 66.
68.Jump up ^ The Finished Mystery, page 5
69.Jump up ^ Apocalypse Delayed, M.J. Penton, p. 51. Rutherford, as chief legal counsel for the Watch Tower Society, had written the new by-laws. (See Harvest Siftings II, written by J.F. Rutherford.)
70.^ Jump up to: a b M James Penton, "Apocalypse Delayed: The Story of Jehovah's Witnesses", University of Toronto Press, 1997, ISBN 0-8020-7973-3
71.Jump up ^ Raymond Franz, Crisis of Conscience, Commentary Press, 2002, chapter 3.
72.Jump up ^ Rutherford published his version of the dispute in Harvest Siftings
73.Jump up ^ Harvest Siftings II
74.Jump up ^ See Rutherford's Harvest Siftings under subheading "Seeds Begin to Bring Forth."
75.Jump up ^ Rutherford, J.F. (August 1, 1917). "Harvest Siftings" (PDF). Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society. Retrieved July 19, 2009.
76.Jump up ^ See Faith on the March, p. 80. The ousted directors disagreed: "...if the directors were not legally elected, neither were the Society's three officers: Rutherford, Pierson, and Van Amburgh. In order to have been chosen officers in January 1917, they would have had to have been legally elected directors. Yet, they had not been, and hence, by Rutherford's own logic, did not hold office legally."--Apocalypse Delayed, M. James Penton, p. 52
77.Jump up ^ Jehovah's Witnesses in the Divine Purpose. Watchtower. 1959. p. 70.
78.Jump up ^ PDF version of The Finished Mystery
79.Jump up ^ Wills, Tony (2006). A People For His Name. Lulu Enterprises. p. 97. ISBN 978-1-4303-0100-4.
80.Jump up ^ Crompton, Robert (1996). Counting the Days to Armageddon. Cambridge: James Clarke & Co. p. 84. ISBN 0-227-67939-3.
81.Jump up ^ Raymond Franz, Crisis of Conscience, Commentary Press, 2007, page 61.
82.Jump up ^ Rogerson, Alan (1969). Millions Now Living Will Never Die: A Study of Jehovah's Witnesses. Constable & Co, London. p. 40. ISBN 0-0945-5940-6.
83.Jump up ^ Jehovah's Witnesses, Proclaimers of God's Kingdom, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1993, pg 68.
84.Jump up ^ Watch Tower publications since 1917 have vilified those who opposed Rutherford and make no attempt to convey their version of events. In its account of the events of 1917, the 1993 Proclaimers of God's Kingdom book refers to the opposing camps as "those loyal to the Society and those who were easy prey to the smooth talk of the opposers" (pg. 68). The 1975 Yearbook (pg. 87) dismisses the four ousted directors as "rebellious individuals who claimed to be board members" (pg. 92) and men who "ambitiously sought to gain administrative control of the Society". The 1959 history book Jehovah's Witnesses in the Divine Purpose also incorrectly claims the legal advice given to the ousted directors confirmed that given to Rutherford. Their own journal, Light After Darkness, makes it plain their legal advice disagreed with Rutherford's.
85.Jump up ^ Rogerson, Alan (1969). Millions Now Living Will Never Die: A Study of Jehovah's Witnesses. Constable & Co, London. p. 37. ISBN 0-0945-5940-6.
86.Jump up ^ Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society (1975). 1975 Yearbook. Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society. pp. 93–94.
87.Jump up ^ Rogerson, Alan (1969). Millions Now Living Will Never Die. Constable, London. p. 39. ISBN 0-0945-5940-6.
88.Jump up ^ Crompton, Robert (1996). Counting the Days to Armageddon. Cambridge: James Clarke & Co. p. 95. ISBN 0-227-67939-3.
89.Jump up ^ Wills, Tony (2006). A People For His Name. Lulu Enterprises. p. 100. ISBN 978-1-4303-0100-4.
90.Jump up ^ Rogerson, Alan (1969). Millions Now Living Will Never Die: A Study of Jehovah's Witnesses. Constable & Co, London. p. 41. ISBN 0-0945-5940-6.
91.Jump up ^ "Distress of Nations: Cause, Warning, Remedy" (PDF). The Golden Age: 712–718. September 29, 1920.
92.^ Jump up to: a b *Macmillan, A.H. (1957). Faith on the March. Prentice-Hall. p. 85.
93.Jump up ^ The initial delivery was entitled "The World Has Ended—Millions Now Living May Never Die". See:
 "Noteworthy Events in the Modern-day History of Jehovah’s Witnesses", Jehovah's Witnesses—Proclaimers of God's Kingdom", 1993 Watch Tower, page 719, "1918 The discourse “The World Has Ended—Millions Now Living May Never Die” is first delivered, on February 24, in Los Angeles, California. On March 31, in Boston, Massachusetts, the talk is entitled “The World Has Ended—Millions Now Living Will Never Die” [emphasis added]
94.Jump up ^ Los Angeles Morning Tribune, February 25, 1918, as recorded in Faith on the March by A. H. Macmillan, 1957, page 86
95.Jump up ^ Wills, Tony (2006). A People For His Name. Lulu Enterprises. p. 100. ISBN 978-1-4303-0100-4.
96.Jump up ^ Macmillan, A.H. (1957). Faith on the March. Prentice-Hall. p. 89.
97.Jump up ^ Rogerson, Alan (1969). Millions Now Living Will Never Die: A Study of Jehovah's Witnesses. Constable & Co, London. p. 44. ISBN 0-0945-5940-6.
98.^ Jump up to: a b Raymond Franz, In Search of Christian Freedom, Commentary Press, 2007. Chapter 6.
99.Jump up ^ Edited by C.J. Woodworth, The Golden Age was intended as a general news magazine to proclaim the incoming "golden age."
100.Jump up ^ Jehovah's Witnesses—Proclaimers of God's Kingdom, pp. 259–260
101.^ Jump up to: a b Raymond Franz, In Search of Christian Freedom, Commentary Press, 2007. Chapter 4.
102.Jump up ^ A.H. Macmillan, Faith on the March, 1957, page 152, "Rutherford wanted to unify the preaching work and, instead of having each individual give his own opinion ... gradually Rutherford himself began to be the main spokesman for the organization.".
103.Jump up ^ M. James Penton, Apocalypse Delayed, University of Toronto Press, 1997, page 59.
104.Jump up ^ Rogerson, Alan (1969). Millions Now Living Will Never Die: A Study of Jehovah's Witnesses. Constable & Co, London. p. 54. ISBN 0-0945-5940-6.
105.Jump up ^ *Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society (1975). 1975 Yearbook. Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society. p. 131.
106.^ Jump up to: a b c M. James Penton. Apocalypse Delayed — The Story of Jehovah's Witnesses. p. 60.
107.Jump up ^ Rogerson, Alan (1969). Millions Now Living Will Never Die: A Study of Jehovah's Witnesses. Constable & Co, London. p. 51. ISBN 0-0945-5940-6.
108.Jump up ^ M. James Penton, Apocalypse Delayed, University of Toronto Press, 1997, page 63.
109.Jump up ^ Rogerson, Alan (1969). Millions Now Living Will Never Die: A Study of Jehovah's Witnesses. Constable & Co, London. p. 55. ISBN 0-0945-5940-6.
110.Jump up ^ "How Great a Witness?", The Watchtower, January 1, 1968, page 14.
111.Jump up ^ Wills, Tony (2006). A People For His Name. Lulu Enterprises. pp. 149–151. ISBN 978-1-4303-0100-4.
112.Jump up ^ Rogerson, Alan (1969). Millions Now Living Will Never Die: A Study of Jehovah's Witnesses. Constable & Co, London. p. 57. ISBN 0-0945-5940-6.
113.Jump up ^ Your Will Be Done on Earth. Watchtower. 1958. p. 337.
114.Jump up ^ Jehovah's Witnesses in the Divine Purpose. Watchtower. 1959. p. 313.
115.Jump up ^ M. James Penton. Apocalypse Delayed—The Story of Jehovah's Witnesses. p. 61.
116.Jump up ^ When Pastor Russell Died (PDF). Dawn Bible Students Association. 1946. pp. 6–16. Attendance at the annual Memorial (statistics were published each year in the Watch Tower) shows the growth in the period before 1925. 1919: 17,961, 1922: 32,661, 1923: 42,000, 1924: 62,696, 1925: 90,434. 1926 marked the first decrease: 89,278. There are no published statistics from 1929–1934. In 1935, Memorial attendance was 63,146."Watchtower". August 15, 1996. p. 31.
117.Jump up ^ Penton, M.J. (1997). Apocalypse Delayed. University of Toronto Press. p. 62. ISBN 978-0-8020-7973-2.
118.Jump up ^ 1931 Yearbook, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, pg 57.
119.Jump up ^ Wills, Tony (2006). A People For His Name. Lulu Enterprises. pp. 142, 146, 157–159. ISBN 978-1-4303-0100-4.
120.Jump up ^ M. James Penton, Apocalypse Delayed, page 62.
121.Jump up ^ "A New Name", The Watch Tower, October 1, 1931, page 296–297.
122.Jump up ^ "Riches of the Full Assurance of Our Understanding", The Watchtower, October 15, 1950, page 387.
123.Jump up ^ M. James Penton, Apocalypse Delayed, page 64.
124.Jump up ^ "Modern History of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Restoration of Theocratic Organization", The Watchtower, June 1, 1955, "The final change-over to a theocratic organization of Jehovah’s witnesses occurred in 1938 ... Similarly today the power of appointment of all servants in congregations rightfully rests with the governing body of the 'faithful and discreet slave' class, which is under the direct supervision of Christ Jesus at the temple. These powers do not rest democratically with the congregations."
125.Jump up ^ Consolation, 4 September 1940, pg 25, as cited by Penton, pg. 61.
126.Jump up ^ "The Finished Mystery 1917, p. 485, "In the year 1918, when God destroys the churches wholesale and the church members by the millions, it shall be that any that escape shall come to the works of Pastor Russell to learn the meaning of the downfall of 'Christianity.'" (Later editions read differently)
127.Jump up ^ The Finished Mystery, 1917 edition, p. 258, "And the mountains were not found. Even the republics will disappear in the fall of 1920. And the mountains were not found. Every kingdom of earth will pass away, be swallowed up in anarchy." (This date was changed in later editions.)
128.Jump up ^ "Brooklyn convention and memorial", The Watch Tower, April 1, 1918, page 6233, Reprints.
129.Jump up ^ Watch Tower April 15, 1916 pg 126, "We cannot help it that many of our dear friends continue to tell what The Watch Tower believes, and to misrepresent its teachings ... we are not looking forward to 1925, nor to any other date. As expressly stated in The Watch Tower, we are simply going on, our last date or appointment having been passed more than a year ago... The last place to which he [Elijah] was sent was Jordan, which, we believe, corresponds to October, 1914. ... We have no different time in mind from the Scriptures on the subject and do not expect to have any."
130.Jump up ^ Jehovah's Witnesses—Proclaimers of God's Kingdom, chap. 10 p. 138
131.Jump up ^ Crompton, Robert (1996). Counting the Days to Armageddon. Cambridge: James Clarke & Co. p. 96. ISBN 0-227-67939-3.
132.Jump up ^ Edmond C. Gross, Jehovah's Witnesses: Their Claims, Doctrinal Changes, and Prophetic Speculation. What Does the Record Show?, Xulon Press, 2001, ISBN 1-931232-30-X, chapter 24.
133.Jump up ^ The Way to Paradise, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1924, pg 225, as cited by Raymond Franz, Crisis of Conscience, page 230.
134.^ Jump up to: a b M. James Penton, Apocalypse Delayed, University of Toronto Press, 1997, page 58.
135.Jump up ^ Raymond Franz, Crisis of Conscience, Commentary Press, 2007, page 235.
136.Jump up ^ See March 31, 1930 Time magazine, p. 60.
137.Jump up ^ Vindication, Vol. 1, by J.F. Rutherford, (1931), p.338–339, "There was a measure of disappointment on the part of Jehovah’s faithful ones on earth concerning the years 1914, 1918, and 1925, which disappointment lasted for a time. Later the faithful learned that these dates were definitely fixed in the Scriptures; and they also learned to quit fixing dates for the future and predicting what would come to pass on a certain date, but to rely (and they do rely) upon the Word of God as to the events that must come to pass."
138.Jump up ^ "Work for the Anointed", The Watch Tower, January 1, 1925, pages 4,5. "The Remnant", The Watch Tower, July 15, 1925, pages 215–216.
139.Jump up ^ Jehovah's Witnesses—Proclaimers of God's Kingdom. Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society. 1993. p. 124.
140.Jump up ^ Wills, Tony (2006). A People For His Name. Lulu Enterprises. p. 143. ISBN 978-1-4303-0100-4.
141.Jump up ^ "Character or Covenant—Which?", The Watchtower, May 1, 1926, "The expression 'character development' and like expressions repeatedly made from the pulpit and platform, have resulted in much confusion. Christians have been led to believe that they must develop, while in the flesh on earth, a character that is perfect before they can have an entrance into heaven ... the above excerpts or quotations ... are here cited in order that the issue may be clearly drawn. If any of us have relied upon such expressions and have been misled thereby, then it becomes our duty to get them out of our minds that we might see more clearly God's provisions and rejoice. Many have thought ... that this personal development of a character must be brought to perfection before they can enter into eternal life. This wrong conception of the matter has led many to believe that they can reach perfection in the flesh. Questions: (1) What has been the belief of many Christians concerning "character development'? To what absurdities and fatal consequences have some been misled thereby?"
142.Jump up ^ Watchtower, January 1, 1927, pg 7.
143.Jump up ^ Jehovah's Witnesses in the Divine Purpose, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1959, pages 91, 95.
144.Jump up ^ J. F. Rutherford, Favored People, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, as cited by Wills, 2007, pg 129.
145.Jump up ^ Rogerson, Alan (1969). Millions Now Living Will Never Die: A Study of Jehovah's Witnesses. Constable & Co, London. p. 46. ISBN 0-0945-5940-6.
146.^ Jump up to: a b Yearbook, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1975, page 147.
147.Jump up ^ Wills, Tony (2006). A People For His Name. Lulu Enterprises. pp. 181, 182. ISBN 978-1-4303-0100-4.
148.Jump up ^ M. James Penton. Apocalypse Delayed—The Story of Jehovah's Witnesses. p. 69.
149.Jump up ^ J.F. Rutherford, Prophecy, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1929, pg 319, 328–333
150.Jump up ^ J.F. Rutherford, Vindication, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1931, pg 9–14, 65–68, 135.
151.Jump up ^ Rutherford, Joseph Franklin (1921). The Harp of God. pp. 231–236. affirms that "the Lord's second presence dates from 1874." "Watchtower". Watchtower. March 1, 1922. p. 71. and Prophecy. 1930. pp. 65–66. reiterated this position. The eschatological changes during this period are documented in Thomas Daniels. Historical Idealism and Jehovah's Witnesses (PDF). pp. 3–37. Retrieved 2006-02-01.
152.Jump up ^ Rogerson, Alan (1969). Millions Now Living Will Never Die: A Study of Jehovah's Witnesses. Constable & Co, London. p. 49. ISBN 0-0945-5940-6.
153.Jump up ^ Jehovah's Witnesses in the Divine Purpose, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1959, page 140.
154.Jump up ^ Jehovah's Witnesses—Proclaimers of God's Kingdom. Watchtower. 1993. pp. 84–85.
155.Jump up ^ J. F. Rutherford, Salvation, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1939, pages 25-28, 59, 337.
156.Jump up ^ A. H. Macmillan, Faith on the March, 1959, page 152.
157.Jump up ^ Rogerson, Alan (1969). Millions Now Living Will Never Die: A Study of Jehovah's Witnesses. Constable & Co, London. p. 56. ISBN 0-0945-5940-6.
158.Jump up ^ Kaplan, William (1989). State and Salvation: The Jehovah's Witnesses and their Fight for Civil Rights. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. p. 55. ISBN 0-8020-5842-6.
159.Jump up ^ Rogerson, Alan (1969). Millions Now Living Will Never Die: A Study of Jehovah's Witnesses. Constable & Co, London. pp. 62–63. ISBN 0-0945-5940-6.
160.Jump up ^ M. James Penton. Apocalypse Delayed — The Story of Jehovah's Witnesses. pp. 71, 129.
161.Jump up ^ "United States Holocaust Memorial Museum". Retrieved February 22, 2005.
162.Jump up ^ Hans Hesse (2001). Persecution and Resistance of Jehovah's Witnesses During the Nazi Regime. p. 10. ISBN 978-3-86108-750-2.
163.Jump up ^ Garbe, Detlef (2008). Between Resistance and Martyrdom: Jehovah's Witnesses in the Third Reich. Madison, Wisconsin: University of Wisconsin Press. p. 102. ISBN 0-299-20794-3.
164.Jump up ^ Rogerson, Alan (1969). Millions Now Living Will Never Die: A Study of Jehovah's Witnesses. Constable & Co, London. pp. 59, 62–63. ISBN 0-0945-5940-6.
165.Jump up ^ Kaplan, William (1989). State and Salvation: The Jehovah's Witnesses and their Fight for Civil Rights. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. p. 65. ISBN 0-8020-5842-6.
166.Jump up ^ Kaplan, William (1989). State and Salvation: The Jehovah's Witnesses and their Fight for Civil Rights. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. p. 109. ISBN 0-8020-5842-6.
167.Jump up ^ American Civil Liberties Union (1941). The Persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses (PDF). pp. 1–24. Barbara Grizzuti Harrison (1978). Visions of Glory. pp. 185, 281. Jayne Persian (December 2005). "The Banning of Jehovah's Witnesses in Australia in 1941" (PDF). Adelaide Company of Jehovah's Witnesses, Inc. v. The Commonwealth of Australia
168.Jump up ^ M. James Penton, Apocalypse Delayed, University of Toronto Press, 1997, page 89.
169.Jump up ^ See, e.g., Cantwell v. State of Connecticut, Chaplinsky v. New Hampshire, West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette.
170.Jump up ^ Barbara Grizzuti Harrison, Visions of Glory, 1978, chapter 6.
171.Jump up ^ Whalen, William J. (1962). Armageddon Around the Corner: A Report on Jehovah's Witnesses. New York: John Day Company. p. 190.
172.Jump up ^ Rogerson, Alan (1969). Millions Now Living Will Never Die: A Study of Jehovah's Witnesses. Constable & Co, London. pp. 59, 61. ISBN 0-0945-5940-6.
173.Jump up ^ Schnell, William (1971). 30 Years a Watchtower Slave. Baker Book House, Grand Rapids. pp. 104–106. ISBN 0-8010-6384-1.
174.Jump up ^ Heather and Gary Botting, The Orwellian World of Jehovah's Witnesses, University of Toronto Press, 1984, page 41.
175.Jump up ^ Raymond Franz, Crisis of Conscience, Commentary Press, 2007, page 74.
176.Jump up ^ M. James Penton, Apocalypse Delayed, University of Toronto Press, 1997, page 86.
177.Jump up ^ Jehovah's Witnesses—Proclaimers of God's Kingdom, p. 106
178.^ Jump up to: a b Raymond Franz, Crisis of Conscience, Commentary Press, 2007, page 72.
179.Jump up ^ Whalen, William J. (1962). Armageddon Around the Corner: A Report on Jehovah's Witnesses. New York: John Day Company. p. 198.
180.Jump up ^ "Questions from readers", The Watchtower, November 1, 1961, pages 669–670.
181.Jump up ^ "Questions From Readers," The Watchtower,, October 1, 1951, page 607.
182.Jump up ^ Raymond Franz, In Search of Christian Freedom, Commentary Press, 2007, chapter 8.
183.Jump up ^ M. James Penton, Apocalypse Delayed, University of Toronto Press, 1997, pages 145-146.
184.Jump up ^ Life Everlasting in Freedom of the Sons of God (PDF). Watch Tower Society. 1966. pp. 29–35. as cited by Raymond Franz, Crisis of Conscience, chapter 9.
185.Jump up ^ Sniecinski, Roman M.; Chen, Edward P.; Levy, Jerrold H.; Szlam, Fania; Tanaka, Kenichi A. (October 8, 1966). "How Much Longer Will It Be?". Awake! 104 (4): 17–20. doi:10.1213/01.ane.0000250913.45299.f3. PMID 17377078.
186.Jump up ^ See 1975: 'THE APPROPRIATE TIME FOR GOD TO ACT'. Page 14 of the October 8, 1968 Awake! demonstrates the disclaimer that was made at the time: "Does this mean that the above evidence positively points to 1975 as the complete end of this system of things? Since the Bible does not specifically state this, no man can say...If the 1970s should see intervention by Jehovah God to bring an end to a corrupt world drifting toward ultimate disintegration, that should surely not surprise us."
187.Jump up ^ See "Witnessing the End" in the July 18, 1969 Time magazine. Scan available online at: http://www.dannyhaszard.com/time1975.jpg accessed February 14, 2006
188.Jump up ^ Life Everlasting in Freedom of the Sons of God (PDF). Watch Tower Society. 1966. pp. 29–35..
189.Jump up ^ Watchtower, May 1, 1968, as cited by Raymond Franz, Crisis of Conscience, chapter 9.
190.Jump up ^ The Watchtower, 15 September 1971, page 563
191.Jump up ^ "Time of Rest and Refreshment at Hand", Awake!", October 8, 1971, page 27.
192.^ Jump up to: a b Raymond Franz. "1975—The Appropriate Time for God to Act". Crisis of Conscience (PDF). pp. 237–253. Retrieved 2006-07-27.
193.Jump up ^ Holden, Andrew (2002). Jehovah's Witnesses: Portrait of a Contemporary Religious Movement. Routledge. pp. 151–4. ISBN 0-415-26610-6.
194.Jump up ^ Kingdom Ministry, May 1974, page 3, "Reports are heard of brothers selling their homes and property and planning to finish out the rest of their days in this old system in the pioneer service. Certainly this is a fine way to spend the short time remaining before the wicked world’s end."
195.Jump up ^ Penton, M. J. (1997). Apocalypse Delayed (2nd ed.). University of Toronto Press. p. 95.
196.Jump up ^ Awake!, May 1, 1968, pages 272,273.
197.Jump up ^ Awake!, October 8, 1968, page 13.
198.Jump up ^ "Announcements", Our Kingdom Ministry, July 1970
199.Jump up ^ George D. Chryssides, Historical Dictionary of Jehovah's Witnesses, Scarecrow Press, 2008, pg lx.
200.Jump up ^ "Why Are You Looking Forward to 1975?", The Watchtower, August 15, 1968, page 501.
201.Jump up ^ This drop in membership has been variously analyzed. Richard Singelenberg ("The '1975'-prophecy and its impact among Dutch Jehovah's Witnesses") in Sociological Analysis 50(1)1989, pp 23–40 notes a nine per cent drop in total publishers (door-to-door preachers) and a 38 per cent drop in pioneers (full-time preachers) in the Netherlands. Stark and Iannoccone have analyzed the impact on US Witnesses. "The Journal of Contemporary Religion" (PDF). 1997. pp. 142–143. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2004-12-05. |chapter= ignored (help) The January 30, 1982 Los Angeles Times ("Defectors Feel 'Witness' Wrath: Critics say Baptism Rise Gives False Picture of Growth" by John Dart, p. B4) cited statistics showing a net increase of publishers worldwide from 1971–1981 of 737,241, while baptisms totaled 1.71 million for the same period.
202.Jump up ^ "A Solid Basis for Confidence", Watchtower, July 15, 1976, page 441.
203.Jump up ^ According to Raymond Franz, proposals were put to the Governing Body in 1976, 1977 and 1979 to acknowledge the error, but Milton Henschel and others recommended they ignore the matter and hope Witnesses would eventually forget about it. Crisis of Conscience, page 250.
204.Jump up ^ The Watchtower, March 15, 1980, p.17 "With the appearance of the book Life Everlasting—in Freedom of the Sons of God, ... considerable expectation was aroused regarding the year 1975. ... there were other statements published that implied that such realization of hopes by that year was more of a probability than a mere possibility. It is to be regretted that these latter statements apparently overshadowed the cautionary ones and contributed to a buildup of the expectation already initiated. ... persons having to do with the publication of the information ... contributed to the buildup of hopes centered on that date."
205.Jump up ^ 1977 Yearbook, Watch Tower Society, as cited b M. James Penton, Apocalypse Delayed, University of Toronto Press, page 220.
206.^ Jump up to: a b c M. James Penton, Apocalypse Delayed, University of Toronto Press, 1977, pages 117–123.
207.^ Jump up to: a b Heather and Gary Botting, The Orwellian World of Jehovah's Witnesses, University of Toronto Press, 1984, pages 158–165.
208.Jump up ^ M. James Penton, Apocalypse Delayed, University of Toronto Press, 1997. Page 218.
209.Jump up ^ Copy of proposal as presented to Governing Body reproduced in Raymond Franz, Crisis of Conscience, 1997, page 262.
210.Jump up ^ Raymond Franz, Crisis of Conscience, Commentary Press, 2007, chapters 11–12.
211.Jump up ^ John Dart, "Defectors Feel Witnsses' Wrath", Los Angeles Times, January 30, 1982, Part II, page 4, "The Sept. 15 Watchtower magazine told members that anyone who has written a letter of resignation should be shunned as if he had been 'disfellowshipped', or expelled ... 'This is a hardening, a tightening, of our policy,' confirmed William Van De Wall, a headquarters spokesman for the Watchtower Society. Denying any great membership losses, Van De Wall said the new directive was to counteract 'disgruntled' ex-members."
212.Jump up ^ See ”1914 and ‘This Generation’”, pp. 254–272 in Crisis of Conscience by Raymond Franz. Available online at: http://web.archive.org/web/20060208160353/http://users.volja.net/izobcenec4/coc/10.pdf accessed February 12, 2006
213.Jump up ^ "He shows the beginning of this time and how the troubles increase, and mentions some of the sorrows to fall on the world, during the time of trouble. The length of time is indicated by him when he said, 'Truly I say to you that this generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur.' (Matt. 24:34, NW) The actual meaning of these words is, beyond question, that which takes a 'generation' in the ordinary sense, as at Mark 8:12 and Acts 13:36, or for those who are living at the given period. So it was on 'this generation' that the accumulated judgments were to fall. (Matt. 23:36) This therefore means that from 1914 a generation shall not pass till all is fulfilled, and amidst a great time of trouble. Vision of the 'Time of the End', The Watchtower, July 1951, p. 404
214.Jump up ^ The Watchtower, February 15, 2008, page 24 paragraph 15: "As a group, those anointed comprise the present "generation" of contemporaries who won't pass away "until all the things come to pass."
215.Jump up ^ "A Time To Keep Awake", The Watchtower (November 1, 1995), p. 19 par. 12, and p. 20 par. 15.
Further reading[edit]
Three official histories of Jehovah's Witnesses have been published by the Watch Tower Society. The first two are out of print. The most recent one is available in many public libraries and on the Watchtower Library CD-ROM.
##Qualified To Be Ministers, pages 297–345 (1955)
##Jehovah's Witnesses in the Divine Purpose (1959)
##Jehovah's Witnesses—Proclaimers of God's Kingdom (1993)
Books by members[edit]
##Jehovah's Witnesses: The New World Society by Marley Cole. This book received a positive review in the August 15, 1955 Watchtower: "Much of the material was gathered by personal interviews with witnesses, some of them being officials of the Society. Frequently in the news is something about the religion of President Eisenhower's parents. This book gives the facts often overlooked or concealed, with documentary proof that they were Jehovah's witnesses for many years." Cole was an active Witness and wrote the book in collaboration with Witness leaders. It was also distributed by the Watch Tower Society. 229 pages. Publisher: The Vantage Press, 1955.
##Faith on the March by A. H. Macmillan. Macmillan provides a first-person account of the early history of Jehovah's Witnesses from his meeting of Charles Taze Russell in 1900 to the time of the writing of the book (1957). He served with three of the Presidents of Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society: Russell, Rutherford, and Knorr (who wrote the book's introduction). Publisher: Prentice-Hall, Inc. Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 57-8528 (Englewood Cliffs, N.J. 1957)
##A People for His Name: A History of Jehovah's Witnesses and an Evaluation by Tony Wills, (2006) 2nd edition. (The first edition was published under the pseudonym Timothy White.) The author, a lifelong Witness, presents an in-depth look at the Bible Student/Jehovah's Witness movement. He explores its doctrinal growth and shifts and notes schisms from the main body. 300 pages. ISBN 978-1-4303-0100-4.
##Armed with the Constitution: Jehovah's Witnesses in Alabama and the U.S Supreme Court, 1939-1946 by Merlin Newton. Newton researches the contributions of two Jehovah's Witnesses—a black man and a white woman—in expanding the meaning of the First Amendment in 1940s Alabama. She examines two key U.S. Supreme Court decisions, as well as court records, memoirs, letters, and interviews of Jehovah's Witnesses. Publisher: University Alabama Press; Religion and American Culture Series, Reprint edition (June 28, 2002). Paperback: 240 pages. ISBN 0-8173-1228-5
##O'er the Ramparts They Watched by Victor Blackwell.
Books by non-members[edit]
##Millions Now Living Will Never Die: A Study of Jehovah's Witnesses by Alan Rogerson. Constable. 1969
##Jehovah's Witnesses in Canada: Champions of freedom of speech and worship by M. James Penton. Penton, who is a professor emeritus of history at University of Lethbridge (a former member of the Jehovah's Witnesses), examines the history of legal activities that led to expansion of religious freedoms in Canada. Referenced in the January 1, 1977 Watchtower, page 11 and the 1979 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses, page 94. Publisher: Macmillan of Canada. ISBN 0-7705-1340-9 (Canada, 1976)
##Apocalypse Delayed: The Story of Jehovah's Witnesses by M. James Penton. Penton, who is a professor emeritus of history at University of Lethbridge, examines the history of Jehovah's Witnesses, and their doctrines. Read selections from: Google Book Search Publisher: University of Toronto Press. ISBN 0-8020-7973-3 (Canada, 1998)
External links[edit]
##Official website of Jehovah's Witnesses
##Pastor-Russell.com
  


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Jehovah's Witnesses




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History of Jehovah's Witnesses

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 A simplified chart of historical developments of major groups within Bible Students
Part of a series on
Jehovah's Witnesses

Overview

Organizational structure
Governing Body
Watch Tower Bible
 and Tract Society
Corporations
 
History
Bible Student movement
Leadership dispute
Splinter groups
Doctrinal development
Unfulfilled predictions
 
Demographics
By country
 

Beliefs ·
 Practices
 
Salvation ·
 Eschatology

The 144,000
Faithful and discreet slave
Hymns ·
 God's name
 
Blood ·
 Discipline

 
Literature

The Watchtower ·
 Awake!

New World Translation
List of publications
Bibliography
 
Teaching programs

Kingdom Hall ·
 Gilead School

 
People

Watch Tower presidents

W. H. Conley ·
 C. T. Russell
 
J. F. Rutherford ·
 N. H. Knorr
 
F. W. Franz ·
 M. G. Henschel

D. A. Adams
 
Formative influences

William Miller ·
 Henry Grew
 
George Storrs ·
 N. H. Barbour
 
John Nelson Darby

 
Notable former members

Raymond Franz ·
 Olin Moyle

 
Opposition

Criticism ·
 Persecution
 
Supreme Court cases
 by country

v ·
 t ·
 e
   
Jehovah's Witnesses had its origins in the Bible Student movement, which developed in the United States in the 1870s among followers of Christian Restorationist minister Charles Taze Russell. Bible Student missionaries were sent to England in 1881 and the first overseas branch was opened in London in 1900. The group took on the name International Bible Students Association and by 1914 it was also active in Canada, Germany, Australia and other countries.[1] The movement split into several rival organizations after Russell's death in 1916, with one—led by Russell's successor, Joseph "Judge" Rutherford—retaining control of both his magazine, The Watch Tower, and his legal and publishing corporation, the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania.
Under Rutherford's direction, the International Bible Students Association introduced significant doctrinal changes. The group lost most of its original members between 1916 and 1928 but regrew rapidly from the mid-1930s[2] with the introduction of new preaching methods.[3] In 1931, the name Jehovah's witnesses was adopted,[4] further cutting ties with Russell's earlier followers.[5] Substantial organizational changes continued as congregations and teaching programs worldwide came under centralized control. Further refinements of its doctrines led to the prohibition of blood transfusions by members, abandonment of the cross in worship, rejection of Christmas and birthday celebrations and the view of the biblical Armageddon as a global war by God that will destroy the wicked and restore peace on earth.[6] In 1945 the Watch Tower Society, which Russell had founded as a publishing house, amended its charter to state that its purposes included preaching about God's Kingdom, acting as a servant and governing agency of Jehovah's Witnesses and sending out missionaries and teachers for the public worship of God and Jesus Christ.
The religion was banned in Canada in World War I, and in Germany, the Soviet Union, Canada and Australia during World War II; members suffered widespread persecution and mob violence in some of those countries and in the United States. The religion initiated dozens of high-profile legal actions in the United States and Canada between 1938 and 1955 to establish the right of members to sell literature from door to door, abstain from flag salute ceremonies and gain legal recognition as wartime conscientious objectors. Members of the religion suffered persecution in some African countries in the 1960s and 1970s; since 2004 the religion has suffered a series of official bans in Russia.[7]


Contents  [hide]
1 1869–1916 1.1 Adventist influences
1.2 Watch Tower Society
1.3 Congregations
1.4 Preaching
1.5 Organizational expansion
1.6 Doctrinal development
2 1917–1942 2.1 Organizational developments
2.2 Doctrinal changes
2.3 Persecution and opposition
3 1942–1975 3.1 Predictions for 1975
4 1976–present
5 See also
6 References
7 Further reading 7.1 Books by members
7.2 Books by non-members
8 External links

1869–1916[edit]
Adventist influences[edit]
About 1869[8] Russell attended a meeting in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania of a group he called "Second Adventists" and heard Advent Christian[9] preacher Jonas Wendell expound his views on Bible prophecy.[10][11][12] Wendell, influenced by the teachings of William Miller, rejected traditional Christian beliefs of the "immortal soul" and a literal hell[13] and interpreted scriptures in the books of Daniel and Revelation to predict that Christ would return in 1873.[14] Russell became convinced that God would reveal his purpose in the last days of the "Gospel age" and formed an independent Bible study group in Pittsburgh. He rejected Adventist teachings that the purpose of Christ's return was to destroy the earth[12] and instead formed the view that Christ had died to pay a "ransom price" to atone for sinful humans, intending to restore humans to Edenic perfection with the prospect of living forever.[12] Like Wendell, he rejected the concept of "hellfire" and the immortal soul.[15] In the mid-1870s, he published 50,000 copies of a pamphlet, The Object and Manner of Our Lord's Return[16] explaining his views and his belief that Christ would return invisibly before the battle of Armageddon. He later acknowledged the influence of Adventist ministers George Storrs (who had earlier predicted Christ's return in 1844)[11] and George Stetson in the formation of his doctrines;[12] author James Penton claims he also strongly reflected the teachings of Philadelphia Lutheran pastor Joseph Seiss.[11]
In January 1876 Russell read an issue of Herald of the Morning, a periodical edited by Adventist preacher Nelson H. Barbour of Rochester, New York, but which had almost ceased publication because of dwindling subscriptions.[12] Barbour, like other Adventists, had earlier applied the biblical time prophecies of Miller and Wendell to calculate that Christ would return in 1874 to bring a "bonfire";[17] when this failed to eventuate he and co-writer J.H. Paton had concluded that though their calculations of the timing of Christ's return were correct, they had erred about its manner. They subsequently decided that Christ's return, or parousia, was invisible, and that Christ had therefore been present since 1874.[12][18][19] Russell "rejoiced" to find that others had reached the same conclusion on the parousia and decided their application of Adventist time prophecies — which he said he had "so long despised" — merited further examination. He met Barbour, accepted his detailed and complex arguments on prophetic chronology[20] and provided him with funds to write a book that combined their views.[12]

Timeline—1870–1916
1877 Russell and Barbour publish Three Worlds
1879 Russell begins publishing Watch Tower
1881 Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society is founded
1909 First schism
Letters of protest
1914 Photo-Drama of Creation released
1916 Russell dies
The book, Three Worlds and the Harvest of This World,[21] was published in early 1877.[22] It articulated ideas that remained the teachings of Russell's associates for the next 40 years, many of which are still embraced by Jehovah's Witnesses: it identified a 2520-year-long era called "the Gentile Times", which would end in 1914, and broke from Adventist teachings by advancing Russell's concept of "restitution" — that all humankind since Adam would be resurrected to the earth and given the opportunity for eternal perfect human life. Russell claimed it was the first book to combine biblical end-time prophecies with the concept of restitution. It discussed the concept of parallel dispensations, which held that there were prophetic parallels between the Jewish and Gospel ages, and suggested the "new creation" would begin 6000 years after Adam's creation, a point in time he believed had been reached in 1872.[23] It also revealed the authors' belief that Christ had left heaven in 1874 to return to earth[24] and their expectation that God's "harvest" of the "saints" would end in early 1878, when they would all be taken to heaven.[11][17][25] Russell, Barbour and Paton began traveling to hold public meetings to discuss their beliefs. For Russell, it was not enough: "Noticing how quickly people seemed to forget what they had heard, it soon became evident that while the meetings were useful in awakening interest, a monthly journal was needed to hold that interest and develop it."[12] He provided Barbour with additional funds to resurrect The Herald of the Morning. Russell severed his relationship with the magazine in July, 1879 after Barbour publicly disputed the concept of the ransom.[12][26] He began publishing his own monthly magazine, Zion's Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence[27][28] (now known as The Watchtower), which he sent to all the subscribers of the Herald, disputing Barbour's teaching.[11][17]
Watch Tower Society[edit]
In 1881, Zion's Watch Tower Tract Society was formed as an unincorporated administrative agency for the purpose of disseminating tracts, papers, doctrinal treatises and Bibles, with "Pastor" Russell, as he was by then called, as secretary and W.H. Conley as president.[28] Three years later, on December 15, 1884, Russell became the president of the society when it was legally incorporated in Pennsylvania.[29] He said the corporation was "not a 'religious society' in the ordinary meaning of this term,"[30] explaining: "This is a business association merely ... a business convenience in disseminating the truth."[31] Russell began to write a stream of articles, books, pamphlets and sermons, which by his death totaled 50,000 printed pages, with almost 20 million copies of his books printed and distributed around the world.[11] In 1886, he wrote The Divine Plan of the Ages, a 424-page book that was the first of what became a six-volume series called "Millennial Dawn," later renamed "Studies in the Scriptures,"[32] which established his fundamental doctrines. (As a consequence, the Bible Students were sometimes called "Millennial Dawnists".)
Congregations[edit]

 

Russell's tombstone in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
The first study groups or congregations were established in 1879, and within a year more than 30 of them were meeting for six-hour study sessions under Russell's direction, to examine the Bible and his writings.[11] The groups were autonomous ecclesia, an organizational structure Russell regarded as a return to "primitive simplicity".[33] In an 1882 Watch Tower article he said his nationwide community of study groups was "strictly unsectarian and consequently recognize no sectarian name ... we have no creed (fence) to bind us together or to keep others out of our company. The Bible is our only standard, and its teachings our only creed." He added: "We are in fellowship with all Christians in whom we can recognize the Spirit of Christ."[34] Two years later he said the only appropriate names for his group would be "Church of Christ", "Church of God" or "Christians". He concluded: "By whatsoever names men may call us, it matters not to us; we acknowledge none other name than 'the only name given under heaven and among men' — Jesus Christ. We call ourselves simply Christians."[35] In 1895, discussing the best form of meeting to study his writings, Russell warned: "Beware of organization. It is wholly unnecessary. The Bible rules will be the only rules you will need. Do not seek to bind others' consciences, and do not permit others to bind yours."[36]
Elders and deacons were elected by congregations and Russell tolerated a great latitude of belief among members. He discouraged formal disciplinary procedures by congregation elders, claiming this was beyond their authority,[37] instead recommending that an individual who continued in a wrong course be judged by the entire ecclesia, or congregation, which could ultimately "withdraw from him its fellowship".[38] Disfellowshipping did not mean the wrongdoer was shunned in all social circumstances or by all Bible Students.[39]
In 1894 Russell introduced the role of "pilgrim" workers, men chosen for their maturity, meekness and Bible knowledge, who would visit congregations for up to three days when requested, giving talks. The pilgrims, who initially served part-time but later became full-time workers, also delivered talks at conventions.[40]
From 1895, he recommended that congregations study his "Studies in the Scriptures" paragraph-by-paragraph to learn the "truth" he had discovered, and in 1905 he recommended replacing verse-by-verse Bible studies with what he called "Berean Studies" of topics he chose.[11]
Preaching[edit]
Russell advertised for 1000 preachers in 1881,[41] and encouraged all who were members of "the body of Christ" to go forth as "colporteurs" or evangelizers and preach to their neighbors in order to gather the remainder of the "little flock" of saints before they were called to heaven.[11] Colporteurs (renamed "pioneers" in the 1930s) left householders with a copy of Russell's 130-page booklet Food For Thinking Christians and a sample copy of Zion's Watch Tower and returned days later to retrieve the book or accept a payment for it. The workers received a commission on the sale, but Russell warned them to concentrate less on the money than on the task of spreading the truth.[42]
When a Pittsburgh newspaper's publication of the full text of Russell's 1903 debates with Methodist minister Dr E. L. Eaton resulted in a huge demand for copies, several newspapers began printing weekly sermons by Russell. By 1907 21 million copies of his sermons were being printed a year in 11 U.S. newspapers. Russell entered a contract with a newspaper syndicate to give his sermons wider coverage and by December 1909 they were appearing in 400 papers to a weekly readership of 2.5 million. By 1910 his sermons were supplied to more than 1000 newspapers, some of which billed him as "the people's favorite preacher", and a peak of 2024 papers in the U.S., Canada, Britain, South Africa and Australia was reached in 1913.[43] The publicity, including press coverage of annual overseas tours between 1908 and 1913, gave Russell a measure of international celebrity, prompting letters of concern by Bible Students over his supposed ostentatiousness, which in turn led Russell to defend his mode of transport and accommodation.[43][44]
In 1914 Russell released an eight-hour-long film, The Photo-Drama of Creation, that attempted to portray chronologically the history of the world from creation to the millennial reign of Christ.[45] The film, accompanied by a gramophone soundtrack, was screened for free in two four-hour sittings around the world, attracting more than 1.2 million patrons in Britain in 1914 alone. The cost of the production and screenings was so high it created financial difficulties for the society, but by Russell's death it was reported that the film had been seen by more than nine million people.[46]
Organizational expansion[edit]
Two missionaries were sent to England in 1881[11] and overseas branches were opened in London (1900),[47] Germany (1903) and Australia and Switzerland (1904).[48] The Watch Tower Society's headquarters were transferred to Brooklyn, New York in 1908.[49] In 1910 Russell introduced the name International Bible Students Association as a means of identifying his worldwide community of Bible study groups. The name was also used when advertising and conducting conventions of Russell's followers.[50]
The first foreign-language edition of Zion's Watch Tower was published in 1883 when Russell produced a sample copy in Swedish and in 1885 the magazine was also translated into German for German-speaking Pennsylvanians.[51]
Doctrinal development[edit]
By 1904, Russell's doctrinal development was almost complete. His sixth and final part of "Studies in the Scriptures", The New Creation, established that Revelation 7 spoke of two heavenly classes of Christians — 144,000 who would serve as a royal priesthood with Christ and a Great Company who would be brought to perfection on a lesser plane, similar to that of angels, serving the 144,000.[52] He believed that 1878 marked the "fall of Babylon", when God officially judged that Christendom had proven unfaithful.[53][54] He believed the "time of the end" in Daniel 12 ran from 1799 to 1914, that Christ had returned to earth in 1874, began his reign in 1878 and that from that date the anointed had been resurrected to heaven at their death. He initially taught that Armageddon had begun in 1874, which would culminate in worldwide anarchy and the overthrow of all political rulership in 1914 at the conclusion of the "times of the Gentiles", but by 1897 began to teach that Armageddon would instead begin in 1914.[55][56] The earthly part of God's kingdom would be administered from Jerusalem in a re-established nation of Israel and under the control of the resurrected ancient Jewish prophets. All of mankind would over time be resurrected to earth in reverse order of death, Adam and Eve being the last, and be given the instruction and guidance necessary to prove themselves obedient to God in order to attain eternal life. Early in the resurrection, "ancient worthies" including Abraham, Isaac and Jacob would be raised to occupy positions of overseers and representatives of the invisible heavenly government ruling from Jerusalem.[57] The Millennial Age, which he believed had begun in 1874, would run to 2874 or 2914 AD, when a test of earth's inhabitants would decide their ultimate destinies, to life or everlasting death.[58][59][60]
In 1905 Paul S. L. Johnson, one of the traveling "Pilgrim" speakers and a former Lutheran minister, pointed out to Russell that his doctrines on the New Covenant had undergone a complete reversal: until 1880 he had taught that the New Covenant would be inaugurated only after the last of the 144,000 anointed Christians had been taken to heaven,[61] but since 1881 he had written that it was already in force.[62][63] Russell reconsidered the question and in January 1907 wrote several Watch Tower articles reaffirming his 1880 position—that "the new covenant belongs exclusively to the coming age"[64]—adding that the church had no mediator, but that Christ was the "advocate". He also taught that Christians making up the 144,000 would join Christ as a "joint heir" and assistant mediator during the millennium.[65]
On October 24, 1909 former Watch Tower Society secretary-treasurer E.C. Henninges, who was by then the Australian branch manager based in Melbourne, wrote Russell an open letter of protest trying to persuade him to abandon the teaching, and calling on Bible Students to examine its legitimacy. When Russell refused, Henninges and most of the Melbourne congregation left Russell's movement to form the New Covenant Fellowship. Hundreds of the estimated 10,000 U.S. Bible Students also left, including pilgrim M. L. McPhail, a member of the Chicago Bible Students, and A. E. Williamson of Brooklyn, forming the New Covenant Believers.[63][66]
Russell died on October 31, 1916, in Pampa, Texas during a cross-country preaching trip. For the next 10 years, the Watch Tower Society continued to teach the view that he had fulfilled the roles of the "Laodicean Messenger" of Revelation 3:14–22[67] and the "Faithful and Wise Servant" of Matthew 24:45.[68]
1917–1942[edit]
Timeline—1916–1942
1917 Rutherford elected president of Watch Tower
1917 Second schism
Control of the headquarters
1919 Publication of Golden Age begins
1920 Rutherford publishes Millions Now Living Never Die, setting 1925 as date for return of Old Testament "Princes"
1929 Rutherford builds Beth Sarim to hold resurrected Bible personages
1931 Third schism
The name changes to Jehovah's witnesses
1942 Rutherford dies
Organizational developments[edit]
At the corporation's annual general meeting on January 6, 1917, Joseph Franklin Rutherford, the Society's legal counsel, was elected as Russell's successor, with new by-laws passed to strengthen the president's authority.[69] Within months, four of the Society's seven directors claimed he was acting without consulting the board and described him as "dogmatic, authoritarian and secretive".[70][71][72][73] A directors' meeting in June proposed returning control of the Society to the board,[74] but at a stormy five-hour meeting on July 17, 1917, Rutherford announced he had appointed four new directors to replace the four who had opposed him, claiming they had no legal status on the board because of conflict with Pennsylvania law.[75][76] At the same meeting Rutherford surprised the headquarters staff and most of the directors[77] by announcing the release of the book The Finished Mystery,[78] dealing with the prophecies of the books of Revelation and Ezekiel and based on Russell's writings.[79] The book, written by Bible Students Clayton J. Woodworth and George H. Fisher,[80][81] was described as the "posthumous work of Russell" and the seventh volume of Studies in the Scriptures. It was an immediate best-seller and was translated into six languages.[82]
Rutherford and the ousted directors published a number of newsletters through 1917 and 1918 attacking each other and some congregations split into opposing groups of those loyal either to the president or those he had expelled.[83][84] Rutherford staged a purge within the Brooklyn headquarters to force out those not wholeheartedly on his side and required those who remained to sign an oath of allegiance to him.[85] He was re-elected as president in 1918 with a big majority, but by mid-1919 about one in seven Bible Students had left,[86] forming such groups as The Stand Fast Bible Students Association, Laymen's Home Missionary Movement, Dawn Bible Students Association, Pastoral Bible Institute, Elijah Voice Movement and Eagle Society.[87] Subscriptions to The Watch Tower also fell from 45,000 to fewer than 3000 between 1914 and 1918.[88]

 

Joseph Franklin Rutherford (1869–1942)
Rutherford introduced a vast advertising campaign to expose the "unrighteousness" of religions and their alliances with "beastly" governments, expanding on claims in The Finished Mystery that patriotism was akin to murder.[89][90] The campaign provoked anger among the clergy and governments in North America and Europe, where Bible Students began to be arrested, mobbed and tarred and feathered.[70][91] On February 12, 1918 The Finished Mystery was banned by the Canadian government for what a Winnipeg newspaper described as "seditious and antiwar statements".[92] On February 24 in Los Angeles Rutherford gave the first of his talk series "Millions Now Living May Never Die" (the title of the talk was changed five weeks later to "Millions Now Living Will Never Die")[93][94] in which he attacked the clergy, describing them as "the most reprehensible men on earth for the great war that is now afflicting mankind".[92] Three days later the Army Intelligence Bureau seized the Society's Los Angeles offices and on March 4 the US government ordered the removal of seven pages of The Finished Mystery if distribution was to continue.[95] In early May 1918 US Attorney General Thomas Watt Gregory condemned the book as dangerous propaganda[96] and days later warrants were issued for the arrest of Rutherford and seven other Watch Tower directors and officers on charges of sedition under the Espionage Act amid claims they were conspiring to cause disloyalty and encouraging the refusal of military duty. On June 21 seven of them, including Rutherford, were sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment. They were released on bail in March 1919 after an appeals court ruled they had been wrongly convicted and in May 1920 the government announced all charges had been dropped.[97]

 

 Watch Tower Board of Directors jailed in 1918 for violation of the Espionage Act
On his release from prison, Rutherford began a major reorganization of Bible Student activities. The Watch Tower Society set up its own printing establishment[98] and in 1919 Rutherford founded the magazine The Golden Age (now Awake!), which the Bible Students began distributing publicly[99] in response to an increasing emphasis by the Brooklyn headquarters on door-to-door preaching.[100] Brooklyn appointed a "director" in each congregation in 1919, and a year later directed all congregation members who participated in the preaching work to report weekly on their witnessing activity.[101] As the Bible Students' preaching work expanded, Rutherford moved to take greater control over their message in a bid to unify the message and become the spokesman for the organization.[102]
Major annual conventions were organized from 1922 and 1928, which were as much publicity events as spiritual gatherings.[103] At an eight-day assembly at Cedar Point, Ohio in 1922 he launched a series of international conventions under the theme "Advertise the King and Kingdom", attracting crowds of up to 20,000,[104] who were urged to "herald the message far and wide". "Behold the King!" Rutherford told conventioners. "You are his publicity agents."[105] He stressed that the prime purpose of all Bible Students was to preach publicly in fulfillment of Matthew 24:14, especially in the form of door-to-door evangelism with the Society's publications, rather than prayer, meditation or Bible study.[106][107] The traditional Bible Student prayer and testimony meetings were divided into two parts with one becoming a "service meeting", devoted to promoting public preaching.[108] In 1924 he expanded his means of spreading the Watch Tower message with the start of 15-minute radio broadcasts, initially from WBBR, based on Staten Island, and eventually via a network of as many as 480 radio stations.[109][110] A 1931 talk was broadcast throughout North America, Australia and France, but the virulence of his attacks on the clergy was strong enough to result in both the NBC and BBC radio networks banning him from the airwaves.[111] Later still, in the late 1930s, he advocated the use of "sound cars" and portable phonographs with which talks by Rutherford were played to passersby and householders.[112]
The new preaching methods brought an influx of members through the early 1920s, but attendance at the Bible Students' yearly Memorial fell sharply again, dropping from 90,434 in 1925[113] to 17,380 in 1928.[114][115][116][117] Rutherford dismissed their defection as the Lord "shaking out" the unfaithful.[118] Author Tony Wills, who analyzed attendance and "field worker" statistics, suggests it was the "more dedicated" Bible Students who quit through the 1920s, to be replaced by newcomers in larger numbers,[119] creating what author Robert Crompton described as one of the most significant of the movement's breaks with its early history.[5]
At a convention at Columbus, Ohio on July 26, 1931, Rutherford made a psychological break with the large number of disaffected Bible Students[120] by proposing the adoption of the name Jehovah's witnesses, based on the scripture at Isaiah 43:10, "Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord". The Watch Tower said the new, distinctive name was designed to exalt God's name and end public confusion caused by the proliferation of groups carrying the name "Bible Students". It explained: "It will be a name that could not be used by another, and such as none other will want to use."[121][122]
In 1932, he eliminated the system of congregations electing bodies of elders, claiming the office of elder was unscriptural;[123] in 1938, he replaced the earlier system of congregational self-government with a "theocratic" or "God-ruled" organizational system in which the Brooklyn headquarters would make all appointments in congregations worldwide.[101][124] Consolation magazine explained: "The Theocracy is at present administered by the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, of which Judge Rutherford is the president and general manager."[125] Rutherford, who had shown an earlier interest in politics, applied terms to the organization that were more common in politics and business: "organization" replaced "congregation" when referring to the worldwide community of believers, while "companies" denoted individual congregations. He pushed for more "field service" and "campaigns" of kingdom "advertising" in "territories", with "publishers" working under the direction of a field service "captain".[98]
Under Rutherford, Jehovah's Witnesses grew from about 44,000 in 1928 to about 115,000 at the time of his death on January 8, 1942.
Doctrinal changes[edit]

 

 J.F. Rutherford at Beth Sarim
Rutherford's term as president was marked by a succession of changes to doctrines, with many of Russell's teachings altered or abandoned and many new teachings introduced. The Finished Mystery declared that God would destroy churches "wholesale" and church members by the millions in 1918,[126] and that all earthly governments would be destroyed in 1920, resulting in anarchy.[127] Expectations remained strong that the change of the "saints" and completion of the "body of Christ" in heaven was imminent. A Watch Tower report on the 1918 Brooklyn convention said there was good reason to believe the gathering "might be the last in this vicinity, before the great convention beyond the veil".[128] Disregarding Russell's rejection of 1925 as a year of importance,[129] Rutherford announced in 1920 that Christ's thousand-year reign would begin in that year, bringing the restoration of an earthly paradise and the resurrection to earth of the ancient Jewish prophets referred to as "the ancient worthies"[130] (such as Abraham and Isaac).[131][132] Jerusalem would become the world capital, and the "princes" would communicate with all humankind by radio.[133] The pronouncements prompted many Bible Students to give up their businesses and jobs and sell their homes, while Bible Student farmers in Canada and the US refused to seed their spring crops in 1925 and mocked members of their religion who did.[134] Rutherford had a luxury villa, Beth Sarim, built in San Diego, California, in 1930 to house the biblical "princes" who were expected to be resurrected before Armageddon.[135][136] Watch Tower publications made no admission of error over the predictions for 1925, but Rutherford gave apologies at IBSA conventions.[134][137]

History of Eschatological Doctrine

Last Days begin
Start of Christ's Presence
Christ made King
Resurrection of 144,000
Judgment of Religion
Separating Sheep & Goats
Great Tribulation
1879–1920 1799 1874 1878 during Millenium 1914, 1915, 1918, 1920
1920–1923 1925
1923–1925 during Christ's presence
1925–1927 1914 1878 1878 within generation of 1914
1927–1930 1918
1930–1933 1919
1933–1966 1914
1966–1975 1975?
1975–1995 within generation of 1914
1995–present during Great Tribulation imminent
Armageddon was redefined in 1925 as a battle between God and Satan, resulting in the overthrow of human governments and false religion[138] and a 1926 Watchtower article introduced a new emphasis on the importance of the name "Jehovah".[139] From 1926 publications began discrediting earlier teachings on the importance of Christian "character development" or personal "sanctification"[106][140][141] and a year later they discarded the teaching that Russell had been the "faithful and wise servant" of Matthew 24:45–47.[106][142] By then the Watch Tower Society had rejected the belief that Russell alone had been the sole channel of scriptural enlightenment.[143] In 1927 the Society disposed of remaining copies of Russell's Studies in the Scriptures and The Finished Mystery and ceased printing the books.[5] A year later Russell's teaching that the natural Jews would be restored to Palestine and hold a prominent place in the earthly part of God's kingdom was dropped.[144][145] Christmas celebrations ceased in 1928 after a radio broadcast and Golden Age articles on their pagan origins.[146]
In 1929 Rutherford announced that the vindication of God's name—which would ultimately occur when millions of unbelievers were destroyed at Armageddon—was the primary doctrine of Christianity and more important that God's display of goodness or grace towards humans.[147][148][149][150] By 1933, the timing of Christ's parousia and the start of the "last days" had been moved from 1874 to 1914[151] with the principles of parallel dispensations retained to place Christ's enthronement 3½ years later in 1918.[152] In 1935 a new interpretation of the "great company" of Revelation 7 placed them on earth as survivors of Armageddon rather than in heaven[153] and from that point converts to the movement were generally identified as those who, if worthy, would qualify for life on a paradise earth.[154] The same year, Witnesses were told they should refuse to salute the flag, stand for the national anthem, or accept alternative service provided for those who had conscientous objection to military service. Reference to the cross and crucifixion in Watch Tower publications ceased in 1936 when it was asserted that Christ had actually died on a tree.[146] By 1939 Watch Tower publications explained that only those who were part of God's "organization" would be spared at Armageddon.[155]
Persecution and opposition[edit]
Main article: Persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses
From 1927 Bible Students were urged to extend their door-to-door preaching to include Sundays. The move quickly attracted opposition from the clergy and the following year Bible Students began to be arrested in the U.S. for breaching local by-laws on Sabbath observance.[156] Rutherford challenged the laws in courts, ultimately fighting hundreds of cases in New Jersey alone as he insisted the preachers were not selling literature, but distributing it for a contribution to Society funds.[157]
In 1935, Witnesses were told they should refuse to salute national flags, stand for national anthems, or accept alternative service provided for those who had conscientious objection to military service. In late 1936 U.S. schools began expelling Witness children who refused to salute the flag. When the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed the right of schools to expel non-conforming children in June 1940, many states began passing laws requiring compulsory flag salute and similarly expelling children. The Supreme Court decision prompted a wave of violence against U.S. Witnesses, mostly in small towns and rural areas, where they were beaten, castrated, tarred and feathered and in some cases killed. More than 2500 cases were reported from 1940 to 1944 and hundreds of Witnesses were arrested and charged with crimes including sedition. The Witnesses responded with campaigns of mass witnessing, descending on hostile towns in their hundreds, and organizing "information marches", some 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) long, in which members wore sandwich boards and held placards and banners.[158][159][160]
In Germany, preaching activity was banned and the Watch Tower Society headquarters seized and closed. Thousands of Witnesses were arrested on peddling charges from 1922; in 1933, following the rise to power of Adolf Hitler, government restrictions were tightened, prompting the public distribution of more than two million copies of a Declaration of Facts in which the Witnesses protested at their treatment and requested the right to preach. It had little effect: Witnesses were fired from their jobs and about 2000 were imprisoned in concentration camps.[161][162] Jehovah's Witnesses were the first Christian denomination to be banned and the most extensively persecuted Christian group during the Nazi era.[163]
Witnesses in Japan were imprisoned and tortured,[164] while members in the U.S., Canada, Australia and Britain were also imprisoned as conscientious objectors. The Witnesses were banned in Germany in 1936, Canada in July 1940[165] and Australia in January 1941.[166][167] Under Rutherford's leadership, a legal staff was developed to establish their right to preach and their right to refrain from nationalistic ceremonies. Between 1938 and 1955 the Watch Tower Society won 36 out of 45 religion-related court cases.[168] These legal battles resulted in significant expansions in freedom of speech and religion in both countries.[169]
Writers including American essayist Barbara Grizzuti Harrison, William Whalen, Alan Rogerson and William Schnell have claimed the religion was complicit in its own victimisation, often goading authorities with cartoons and books that ridiculed and denigrated church and state and provocative mass assemblies in which the Witnesses flooded towns with preachers. They claim a deliberate course of martyrdom served to attract society’s dispossessed and oppressed members and also provided apparent validation of the "truth" of the Watchtower cause as evidenced by the level of opposition from the outside world as they struggled to serve God.[170][171][172][173]
1942–1975[edit]

 

 New York headquarters of Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society
Timeline—1942–1975
1942 Knorr elected president of Watch Tower Society
1950 New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures started (completed 1961)
1966 The year 1975 suggested as possible date for Armageddon
Rutherford was succeeded by Nathan Homer Knorr. Knorr's tenure as president was notable for the transfer from individual to corporate leadership. None of the Society's publications after 1942 acknowledged authorship, and were instead attributed to an anonymous Writing Committee.[174] From about 1944, the term "governing body" began to be used with a measure of frequency, with the term initially applied to the Watch Tower Society's seven-man Board of Directors.[175] Knorr began a campaign of real estate acquisition in Brooklyn to expand the organisation's world headquarters, expanded printing production throughout the world, and organized a series of international assemblies that dwarfed those of Rutherford in the 1920s. In 1958, more than 253,000 Witnesses gathered at two New York venues, Yankee Stadium and the Polo Grounds, for an eight-day convention where more than 7000 were baptized.[176] Other large conventions were held in the US, Canada and Germany.
He instituted major training programs, including the Watch Tower Bible School of Gilead to train missionaries, and the Theocratic Ministry School to give instruction in preaching and public speaking at the congregational level. He commissioned a new translation of the Bible, which was released progressively from 1950, before being published as the complete New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures in 1961. Also produced were a Greek-English New Testament interlinear (The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures) and a Bible encyclopedia (Aid to Bible Understanding). The offices of elder and ministerial servant (deacon) were restored to Witness congregations in 1972, with appointments being made from headquarters.[177]
Knorr's vice-president, Frederick William Franz, became the leading theologian for the religion[178] and the pace of doctrinal change slowed. Blood transfusions were prohibited for Witnesses from 1945 and in 1961 the eating of blood in meat was also proscribed, The Watchtower instructing Witnesses to check with their butcher whether the animals and fowl he sold had been properly drained of their blood.[179][180] Birthday celebrations were described as "objectionable" in 1951 because of their pagan origins[181] and other explicit rules regarding acceptable conduct among members were introduced, with a greater emphasis placed on disfellowshipping as a disciplinary measure.[182]
Adult male Witnesses in the US, Britain, and some European countries were jailed for refusal of military service in the post-war years, with particularly harsh treatment meted out in Spain, Greece, East Germany and Romania. Wide-scale persecution of Witnesses in several African nations was launched between 1967 and 1975, with as many as 21,000 fleeing Malawi to refugee camps in Zambia after a series of murders and beatings in 1972, and 7000 Mozambiquean members of the religion were arrested in 1975 to be sent to communist re-education camps.[183]
During Knorr's presidency, membership of Jehovah's Witnesses grew from 108,000 to more than two million.[178]
Predictions for 1975[edit]
From 1966, Witness publications heightened anticipation of Christ's thousand-year millennial reign beginning in late 1975.[184][185][186][187] Repeating the 1925 cycle of excitement, anticipation and then disappointment, Witness publications and convention talks intensified focus on 1975 as the "appropriate" time for God to act,[188] with statements that "the immediate future is certain to be filled with climactic events ... within a few years at most the final parts of the Bible prophecy relative to these 'last days' will undergo fulfillment".[189] The September 15, 1971 issue of The Watchtower warned that "all worldly careers are soon to come to an end", and advised youths that they should not "get interested in ‘higher education’ for a future that will never eventuate."[190] A chart in a 1971 Awake! indicated the "thrilling hope" of a "grand Sabbath of rest and relief" in the mid-1970s at the close of 6000 years of human history.[191] Some Witnesses sold businesses and homes, gave up jobs, deferred medical procedures and set aside plans to start a family in anticipation of Armageddon's arrival.[192][193] The May 1974 issue of the Watch Tower Society's newsletter, Our Kingdom Ministry, commended Witnesses who had sold homes and property to devote themselves to preaching in the "short time" remaining.[194]
Watch Tower literature did not state dogmatically that 1975 would definitely mark the end,[195] and the buildup was tempered with cautions that there was no certainty that Armageddon would arrive in 1975, but magazines warned that "time is running out rapidly"[196] and that "only a few years, at most" remained before Armageddon.[197] Circuit assemblies in 1970 held a public talk entitled "Who will conquer the world in the 1970s?"[198] and in a speech in Australia in 1975 the society's vice-president Frederick Franz went so far as to name a precise date—September 5, 1975—as the "end of the present wicked system".[199] Witnesses were also urged that they should not be "toying with the words of Jesus that 'concerning that day and hour nobody knows' ... to the contrary, one should be keenly aware that the end of this system of things is rapidly coming to its violent end."[200] The number of baptisms soared from about 59,000 in 1966, to more than 297,000 in 1974, but membership declined after expectations for the year failed.[192][201] In 1976 The Watchtower advised those who had been "disappointed" by the failure of the predictions for 1975 to adjust their viewpoint because their understanding had been "based on wrong premises",[202] but four years later, after several proposals by Governing Body members to apologize to Witnesses were voted down,[203] the Watch Tower Society admitted its responsibility in building up hope regarding 1975.[204]
1976–present[edit]

Timeline—1976–2015
1976 Governing Body takes control
1980 Purge of senior Brooklyn headquarters staff
1995 Teaching that generation of 1914 will see Armageddon is abandoned
2008 Definition of generation changed to 'remnant of anointed'
2010 Definition of generation changed to 'living anointed whose lives overlap 1914 anointed'
The leadership structure of Jehovah's Witnesses was reorganized from January 1, 1976, with the power of the presidency passed to the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses and the establishment of six committees to oversee tasks such as writing, teaching, publishing and evangelizing work.[205] At this time, Watch Tower Society publications began using the capitalized name, Jehovah's Witnesses. Subsequent presidents of the Watch Tower Society after Knorr's death in 1977 have been Frederick William Franz, Milton George Henschel and Don A. Adams.
A purge of senior Brooklyn headquarters staff was carried out in April and May 1980 after it was discovered some at the highest ranks of the hierarchy dissented with core Watch Tower Society doctrines, particularly surrounding the significance of 1914, and wished to propose adjustments as "new understandings" to continue the century-long tradition of changes in doctrines.[206][207] Unease at the chronology doctrines had in fact surfaced within the Governing Body earlier that year. In February, three Governing Body members – aware that those who had been alive in 1914 were rapidly dwindling in number despite the teaching that their generation would be alive to see Armageddon—had proposed a radical change in Watch Tower doctrines to require that the "generation" that would see the arrival of Armageddon had been alive only since 1957, the year of the launch of the Russian space satellite Sputnik. The proposal, which would have extended the deadline for Armageddon by 43 years, failed to gain a majority vote.[208][209] Internal dissatisfaction with official doctrines continued to grow, however, leading to a series of secret investigations and judicial hearings. Among those expelled from the Witnesses was former Governing Body member Raymond Franz. Many of those expelled were labelled by Governing Body members as "spiritual fornicators", "mentally diseased" and "insane".[206] The purge resulted in a number of schisms in the religion in Canada, Britain, and northern Europe, and prompted the formation of loose groups of disaffected former Witnesses. The Watch Tower Society responded to the crisis with a new, hardened attitude towards the treatment of defectors and expelled Witnesses.[206][207][210][211]
In 1995, changes regarding their understanding of Jesus' comments regarding "this generation" (from Matthew 24:34) were published.[212] Throughout the previous four decades, Jehovah's Witnesses had taught that the generation that saw the events of 1914 would not die out before Armageddon came.[213] The understanding of the "generation" was again adjusted in 2008, to refer to the remnant of the anointed.[214] In 2010, the definition of the generation was changed again, wherein the lives of anointed individuals living in 1914 overlap with a second group alive in the present day. Jehovah's Witnesses continue to teach that Armageddon is imminent.[215]
See also[edit]
##Development of Jehovah's Witnesses doctrine
##Eschatology of Jehovah's Witnesses
##Watch Tower Society unfulfilled predictions
##Persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses
##Watch Tower Society presidency dispute (1917)
References[edit]
1.Jump up ^ Jehovah's Witnesses in the Divine Purpose, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1959, page 32, 33.
2.Jump up ^ Wills, Tony (2006). A People For His Name. Lulu Enterprises. pp. 191, 192. ISBN 978-1-4303-0100-4.
3.Jump up ^ Rogerson, Alan (1969). Millions Now Living Will Never Die: A Study of Jehovah's Witnesses. Constable & Co, London. p. 5. ISBN 0-0945-5940-6.
4.Jump up ^ "Walking in the Path of Increasing Light". The Watchtower: 26–29. 15 February 2006. "the resolution stated: “... we desire to be known as and called by the name, to wit, Jehovah’s witnesses.”"
5.^ Jump up to: a b c Crompton, Robert (1996). Counting the Days to Armageddon. Cambridge: James Clarke & Co. p. 101. ISBN 0-227-67939-3.
6.Jump up ^ Draw Close to Jehovah, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 2002, page 157.
7.Jump up ^ "Russia Supreme Court bans Jehovah's Witness congregation", Jurist Legal News and Research, University of Pittsburgh School of Law, December 10, 2009.
8.Jump up ^ Zion's Watch Tower, July 1879, page 1, states the date of Russell's encounter with Wendell as "about 1869". Rogerson (p.6), Crompton (p.30) and The Watchtower (January 1, 1955) claim it was in 1870, Wills (p.4) states it was 1868; Penton and Jehovah's Witnesses, Proclaimers of God's Kingdom (p. 43) say it was 1869. Russell's later recounting of his story in Zion's Watch Tower, July 15, 1906, leaves the actual date unclear.
9.Jump up ^ Jehovah's Witnesses—Proclaimers of God's Kingdom, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1993, p. 43. According to Alan Rogerson, Russell used the collective term "Second Adventists" to refer to a number of sects prophesying the imminent Second Advent of Jesus.
10.Jump up ^ Crompton, Robert (1996). Counting the Days to Armageddon. Cambridge: James Clarke & Co. p. 30. ISBN 0-227-67939-3.
11.^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j Penton, M. James (1997). Apocalypse Delayed: The Story of Jehovah's Witnesses (2nd ed.). University of Toronto Press. pp. 13–46. ISBN 0-8020-7973-3.
12.^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i "A sketch of the development of present truth", Zion's Watch Tower, July 15, 1906.
13.Jump up ^ Wills, Tony (2006). A People For His Name. Lulu Enterprises. p. 4. ISBN 978-1-4303-0100-4.
14.Jump up ^ 1873 reprint of The Present Truth or Meat in Due Season, Jonas Wendell, 1870, with additional essay.
15.Jump up ^ *Wills, Tony (2006). A People For His Name. Lulu Enterprises. pp. 5, 6. ISBN 978-1-4303-0100-4.
16.Jump up ^ The pamphlet was published in 1873, according to the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, while James Penton argues that it was as late as 1877.
17.^ Jump up to: a b c Zion's Watch Tower, July 1879, page 1.
18.Jump up ^ http://www.heraldmag.org/olb/contents/history/barbour%20midnight%20cry.htm N.H. Barbour, Evidences for the Coming of the Lord in 1873: or the Midnight Cry, 1871.
19.Jump up ^ The Midnight Cry and Herald of the Morning, March 1874. See Section under "Our Faith."
20.Jump up ^ Wills, Tony (2006). A People For His Name. Lulu Enterprises. p. 8. ISBN 978-1-4303-0100-4.
21.Jump up ^ N.H. Barbour and C.T. Russell. Three Worlds and The Harvest of This World, 1877. Accessed March 15, 2006.
22.Jump up ^ Though the book bore the names of both men as authors, Russell (Watch Tower, July 15, 1906) noted it was "mostly written by Mr Barbour". James Penton (Apocalypse Delayed) points out that in early issues of the Watch Tower, Russell repeatedly referred to Barbour as its author.
23.Jump up ^ N.H. Barbour & C. T. Russell, Three Worlds, 1977, page 67.
24.Jump up ^ N.H. Barbour, C. T. Russell, Three Worlds, 1877, page 104.
25.Jump up ^ N. H. Barbour, C. T. Russell, Three Worlds, 1877, pp. 124, 143
26.Jump up ^ Wills, Tony (2006). A People For His Name. Lulu Enterprises. p. 9. ISBN 978-1-4303-0100-4.
27.Jump up ^ Issues of the Watch Tower from 1879-1916 are available at http://www.mostholyfaith.com/bible/Reprints/index.asp or by article at: http://www.agsconsulting.com/htdbv5/links.htm. The text was taken from the seven-volume Reprints printed in 1919 and compared with the original issues up to December 15, 1916 to remove transcription errors and add articles that had been excluded.
28.^ Jump up to: a b "Modern History of Jehovah’s Witnesses", Watchtower, January 15, 1955, page 14.
29.Jump up ^ Holden, A. (2002) Jehovah's Witnesses: Portrait of a Contemporary Religious Movement. (p.18)
30.Jump up ^ Zion's Watch Tower, October 1894, page 330.
31.Jump up ^ C.T. Russell, "A Conspiracy Exposed", Zion's Watch Tower Extra edition, April 25, 1894, page 55–60.
32.Jump up ^ Yearbook 1975, Watch Tower Society, 1975.
33.Jump up ^ "The Ekklesia", Zion's Watch Tower, October 1881.
34.Jump up ^ "Questions and answers", Zion's Watch Tower, April 1882.
35.Jump up ^ "Our name", Zion's Watch Tower, February 1884.
36.Jump up ^ "Concerning profitable meetings", Zion's Watch Tower, September 15, 1895.
37.Jump up ^ What Pastor Russell Said, Leslie W. Jones, 1917, pg 346, as cited by Penton, 1997, pg 31, "The Lord's word does not authorize any court of Elders, or anyone else, to become busybodies. This would be going back to the practices of the Dark Ages during the Inquisition and we would be showing the same spirit as did the inquisitors."
38.Jump up ^ Russell directed that an unrepentant person be judged by the entire ecclesia, rather than the elders. He directed that the ecclesia not make the wrongdoer's faults public. See The New Creation Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1904, pages 289–290
39.Jump up ^ Apocalypse Delayed, James Penton, page 31.
40.Jump up ^ Wills, Tony (2006). A People For His Name. Lulu Enterprises. p. 21. ISBN 978-1-4303-0100-4.
41.Jump up ^ "Wanted: 1000 Preachers", Zion's Watch Tower, April 1881.
42.Jump up ^ Wills, Tony (2006). A People For His Name. Lulu Enterprises. pp. 12, 14. ISBN 978-1-4303-0100-4.
43.^ Jump up to: a b Wills, Tony (2006). A People For His Name. Lulu Enterprises. p. 24. ISBN 978-1-4303-0100-4.
44.Jump up ^ "The Newspaper Syndicate's Idea, The Watch Tower, January 15, 1912.
45.Jump up ^ Jehovah's Witnesses—Proclaimers of God's Kingdom, Watch Tower Society, p. 422
46.Jump up ^ "Biography", The Watch Tower, December 15, 1916.
47.Jump up ^ Jehovah's Witnesses in the Divine Purpose, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1959, page 32.
48.Jump up ^ "The First One a Hundred Years Ago", Awake, December 22, 2000.
49.Jump up ^ "Organized Testimony to the New World", Watchtower, July 15, 1950, page 215.
50.Jump up ^ Watchtower, April 1910.
51.Jump up ^ Wills, Tony (2006). A People For His Name. Lulu Enterprises. p. 12. ISBN 978-1-4303-0100-4.
52.Jump up ^ C. T. Russell, The New Creation, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1904, pages 120–121, 127–129.
53.Jump up ^ Thy Kingdom Come (1890), Volume 3 of Studies in the Scriptures, pp. 305–308.
54.Jump up ^ "This spuing out, or casting off, of the nominal church as an organization in 1878, we then understood, and still proclaim, to be the date of the commencement of Babylon's fall..."—"The Consummation of Our Hope" in Zion's Watch Tower, April 1883. Reprints pp. 474–5.
55.Jump up ^ C. T. Russell, The Time of the End, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1889, page 101.
56.Jump up ^ "Things to Come—And The Present European Situation" in The Watch Tower, January 15, 1892, Reprints, p. 1355
57.Jump up ^ Wills, Tony (2006). A People For His Name. Lulu Enterprises. p. 43. ISBN 978-1-4303-0100-4.
58.Jump up ^ Wills, Tony (2006). A People For His Name. Lulu Enterprises. pp. 38, 50. ISBN 978-1-4303-0100-4.
59.Jump up ^ "The Day of the Lord", Zion's Watch Tower, October–November 1882, reprints page 410.
60.Jump up ^ Crompton, Robert (1996). Counting the Days to Armageddon. Cambridge: James Clarke & Co. pp. 38, 39. ISBN 0-227-67939-3.
61.Jump up ^ "The Three Great Covenants", Zion's Watch Tower, March 1880.
62.Jump up ^ "The New Covenant vs the Law Covenant", Zion's Watch Tower, September 1887.
63.^ Jump up to: a b Wills, Tony (2006). A People For His Name. Lulu Enterprises. pp. 63–68. ISBN 978-1-4303-0100-4.
64.Jump up ^ "The Mediator of the New Covernant", Zion's Watch Tower, January 1, 1907, pages 9, 10.
65.Jump up ^ "The Word Mediator Used Differently,", Watch Tower, January 1909.
66.Jump up ^ Penton 1997, pp. 42
67.Jump up ^ See chart "The Seven Messengers to the Church" from The Finished Mystery (1917), page 66.
68.Jump up ^ The Finished Mystery, page 5
69.Jump up ^ Apocalypse Delayed, M.J. Penton, p. 51. Rutherford, as chief legal counsel for the Watch Tower Society, had written the new by-laws. (See Harvest Siftings II, written by J.F. Rutherford.)
70.^ Jump up to: a b M James Penton, "Apocalypse Delayed: The Story of Jehovah's Witnesses", University of Toronto Press, 1997, ISBN 0-8020-7973-3
71.Jump up ^ Raymond Franz, Crisis of Conscience, Commentary Press, 2002, chapter 3.
72.Jump up ^ Rutherford published his version of the dispute in Harvest Siftings
73.Jump up ^ Harvest Siftings II
74.Jump up ^ See Rutherford's Harvest Siftings under subheading "Seeds Begin to Bring Forth."
75.Jump up ^ Rutherford, J.F. (August 1, 1917). "Harvest Siftings" (PDF). Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society. Retrieved July 19, 2009.
76.Jump up ^ See Faith on the March, p. 80. The ousted directors disagreed: "...if the directors were not legally elected, neither were the Society's three officers: Rutherford, Pierson, and Van Amburgh. In order to have been chosen officers in January 1917, they would have had to have been legally elected directors. Yet, they had not been, and hence, by Rutherford's own logic, did not hold office legally."--Apocalypse Delayed, M. James Penton, p. 52
77.Jump up ^ Jehovah's Witnesses in the Divine Purpose. Watchtower. 1959. p. 70.
78.Jump up ^ PDF version of The Finished Mystery
79.Jump up ^ Wills, Tony (2006). A People For His Name. Lulu Enterprises. p. 97. ISBN 978-1-4303-0100-4.
80.Jump up ^ Crompton, Robert (1996). Counting the Days to Armageddon. Cambridge: James Clarke & Co. p. 84. ISBN 0-227-67939-3.
81.Jump up ^ Raymond Franz, Crisis of Conscience, Commentary Press, 2007, page 61.
82.Jump up ^ Rogerson, Alan (1969). Millions Now Living Will Never Die: A Study of Jehovah's Witnesses. Constable & Co, London. p. 40. ISBN 0-0945-5940-6.
83.Jump up ^ Jehovah's Witnesses, Proclaimers of God's Kingdom, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1993, pg 68.
84.Jump up ^ Watch Tower publications since 1917 have vilified those who opposed Rutherford and make no attempt to convey their version of events. In its account of the events of 1917, the 1993 Proclaimers of God's Kingdom book refers to the opposing camps as "those loyal to the Society and those who were easy prey to the smooth talk of the opposers" (pg. 68). The 1975 Yearbook (pg. 87) dismisses the four ousted directors as "rebellious individuals who claimed to be board members" (pg. 92) and men who "ambitiously sought to gain administrative control of the Society". The 1959 history book Jehovah's Witnesses in the Divine Purpose also incorrectly claims the legal advice given to the ousted directors confirmed that given to Rutherford. Their own journal, Light After Darkness, makes it plain their legal advice disagreed with Rutherford's.
85.Jump up ^ Rogerson, Alan (1969). Millions Now Living Will Never Die: A Study of Jehovah's Witnesses. Constable & Co, London. p. 37. ISBN 0-0945-5940-6.
86.Jump up ^ Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society (1975). 1975 Yearbook. Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society. pp. 93–94.
87.Jump up ^ Rogerson, Alan (1969). Millions Now Living Will Never Die. Constable, London. p. 39. ISBN 0-0945-5940-6.
88.Jump up ^ Crompton, Robert (1996). Counting the Days to Armageddon. Cambridge: James Clarke & Co. p. 95. ISBN 0-227-67939-3.
89.Jump up ^ Wills, Tony (2006). A People For His Name. Lulu Enterprises. p. 100. ISBN 978-1-4303-0100-4.
90.Jump up ^ Rogerson, Alan (1969). Millions Now Living Will Never Die: A Study of Jehovah's Witnesses. Constable & Co, London. p. 41. ISBN 0-0945-5940-6.
91.Jump up ^ "Distress of Nations: Cause, Warning, Remedy" (PDF). The Golden Age: 712–718. September 29, 1920.
92.^ Jump up to: a b *Macmillan, A.H. (1957). Faith on the March. Prentice-Hall. p. 85.
93.Jump up ^ The initial delivery was entitled "The World Has Ended—Millions Now Living May Never Die". See:
 "Noteworthy Events in the Modern-day History of Jehovah’s Witnesses", Jehovah's Witnesses—Proclaimers of God's Kingdom", 1993 Watch Tower, page 719, "1918 The discourse “The World Has Ended—Millions Now Living May Never Die” is first delivered, on February 24, in Los Angeles, California. On March 31, in Boston, Massachusetts, the talk is entitled “The World Has Ended—Millions Now Living Will Never Die” [emphasis added]
94.Jump up ^ Los Angeles Morning Tribune, February 25, 1918, as recorded in Faith on the March by A. H. Macmillan, 1957, page 86
95.Jump up ^ Wills, Tony (2006). A People For His Name. Lulu Enterprises. p. 100. ISBN 978-1-4303-0100-4.
96.Jump up ^ Macmillan, A.H. (1957). Faith on the March. Prentice-Hall. p. 89.
97.Jump up ^ Rogerson, Alan (1969). Millions Now Living Will Never Die: A Study of Jehovah's Witnesses. Constable & Co, London. p. 44. ISBN 0-0945-5940-6.
98.^ Jump up to: a b Raymond Franz, In Search of Christian Freedom, Commentary Press, 2007. Chapter 6.
99.Jump up ^ Edited by C.J. Woodworth, The Golden Age was intended as a general news magazine to proclaim the incoming "golden age."
100.Jump up ^ Jehovah's Witnesses—Proclaimers of God's Kingdom, pp. 259–260
101.^ Jump up to: a b Raymond Franz, In Search of Christian Freedom, Commentary Press, 2007. Chapter 4.
102.Jump up ^ A.H. Macmillan, Faith on the March, 1957, page 152, "Rutherford wanted to unify the preaching work and, instead of having each individual give his own opinion ... gradually Rutherford himself began to be the main spokesman for the organization.".
103.Jump up ^ M. James Penton, Apocalypse Delayed, University of Toronto Press, 1997, page 59.
104.Jump up ^ Rogerson, Alan (1969). Millions Now Living Will Never Die: A Study of Jehovah's Witnesses. Constable & Co, London. p. 54. ISBN 0-0945-5940-6.
105.Jump up ^ *Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society (1975). 1975 Yearbook. Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society. p. 131.
106.^ Jump up to: a b c M. James Penton. Apocalypse Delayed — The Story of Jehovah's Witnesses. p. 60.
107.Jump up ^ Rogerson, Alan (1969). Millions Now Living Will Never Die: A Study of Jehovah's Witnesses. Constable & Co, London. p. 51. ISBN 0-0945-5940-6.
108.Jump up ^ M. James Penton, Apocalypse Delayed, University of Toronto Press, 1997, page 63.
109.Jump up ^ Rogerson, Alan (1969). Millions Now Living Will Never Die: A Study of Jehovah's Witnesses. Constable & Co, London. p. 55. ISBN 0-0945-5940-6.
110.Jump up ^ "How Great a Witness?", The Watchtower, January 1, 1968, page 14.
111.Jump up ^ Wills, Tony (2006). A People For His Name. Lulu Enterprises. pp. 149–151. ISBN 978-1-4303-0100-4.
112.Jump up ^ Rogerson, Alan (1969). Millions Now Living Will Never Die: A Study of Jehovah's Witnesses. Constable & Co, London. p. 57. ISBN 0-0945-5940-6.
113.Jump up ^ Your Will Be Done on Earth. Watchtower. 1958. p. 337.
114.Jump up ^ Jehovah's Witnesses in the Divine Purpose. Watchtower. 1959. p. 313.
115.Jump up ^ M. James Penton. Apocalypse Delayed—The Story of Jehovah's Witnesses. p. 61.
116.Jump up ^ When Pastor Russell Died (PDF). Dawn Bible Students Association. 1946. pp. 6–16. Attendance at the annual Memorial (statistics were published each year in the Watch Tower) shows the growth in the period before 1925. 1919: 17,961, 1922: 32,661, 1923: 42,000, 1924: 62,696, 1925: 90,434. 1926 marked the first decrease: 89,278. There are no published statistics from 1929–1934. In 1935, Memorial attendance was 63,146."Watchtower". August 15, 1996. p. 31.
117.Jump up ^ Penton, M.J. (1997). Apocalypse Delayed. University of Toronto Press. p. 62. ISBN 978-0-8020-7973-2.
118.Jump up ^ 1931 Yearbook, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, pg 57.
119.Jump up ^ Wills, Tony (2006). A People For His Name. Lulu Enterprises. pp. 142, 146, 157–159. ISBN 978-1-4303-0100-4.
120.Jump up ^ M. James Penton, Apocalypse Delayed, page 62.
121.Jump up ^ "A New Name", The Watch Tower, October 1, 1931, page 296–297.
122.Jump up ^ "Riches of the Full Assurance of Our Understanding", The Watchtower, October 15, 1950, page 387.
123.Jump up ^ M. James Penton, Apocalypse Delayed, page 64.
124.Jump up ^ "Modern History of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Restoration of Theocratic Organization", The Watchtower, June 1, 1955, "The final change-over to a theocratic organization of Jehovah’s witnesses occurred in 1938 ... Similarly today the power of appointment of all servants in congregations rightfully rests with the governing body of the 'faithful and discreet slave' class, which is under the direct supervision of Christ Jesus at the temple. These powers do not rest democratically with the congregations."
125.Jump up ^ Consolation, 4 September 1940, pg 25, as cited by Penton, pg. 61.
126.Jump up ^ "The Finished Mystery 1917, p. 485, "In the year 1918, when God destroys the churches wholesale and the church members by the millions, it shall be that any that escape shall come to the works of Pastor Russell to learn the meaning of the downfall of 'Christianity.'" (Later editions read differently)
127.Jump up ^ The Finished Mystery, 1917 edition, p. 258, "And the mountains were not found. Even the republics will disappear in the fall of 1920. And the mountains were not found. Every kingdom of earth will pass away, be swallowed up in anarchy." (This date was changed in later editions.)
128.Jump up ^ "Brooklyn convention and memorial", The Watch Tower, April 1, 1918, page 6233, Reprints.
129.Jump up ^ Watch Tower April 15, 1916 pg 126, "We cannot help it that many of our dear friends continue to tell what The Watch Tower believes, and to misrepresent its teachings ... we are not looking forward to 1925, nor to any other date. As expressly stated in The Watch Tower, we are simply going on, our last date or appointment having been passed more than a year ago... The last place to which he [Elijah] was sent was Jordan, which, we believe, corresponds to October, 1914. ... We have no different time in mind from the Scriptures on the subject and do not expect to have any."
130.Jump up ^ Jehovah's Witnesses—Proclaimers of God's Kingdom, chap. 10 p. 138
131.Jump up ^ Crompton, Robert (1996). Counting the Days to Armageddon. Cambridge: James Clarke & Co. p. 96. ISBN 0-227-67939-3.
132.Jump up ^ Edmond C. Gross, Jehovah's Witnesses: Their Claims, Doctrinal Changes, and Prophetic Speculation. What Does the Record Show?, Xulon Press, 2001, ISBN 1-931232-30-X, chapter 24.
133.Jump up ^ The Way to Paradise, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1924, pg 225, as cited by Raymond Franz, Crisis of Conscience, page 230.
134.^ Jump up to: a b M. James Penton, Apocalypse Delayed, University of Toronto Press, 1997, page 58.
135.Jump up ^ Raymond Franz, Crisis of Conscience, Commentary Press, 2007, page 235.
136.Jump up ^ See March 31, 1930 Time magazine, p. 60.
137.Jump up ^ Vindication, Vol. 1, by J.F. Rutherford, (1931), p.338–339, "There was a measure of disappointment on the part of Jehovah’s faithful ones on earth concerning the years 1914, 1918, and 1925, which disappointment lasted for a time. Later the faithful learned that these dates were definitely fixed in the Scriptures; and they also learned to quit fixing dates for the future and predicting what would come to pass on a certain date, but to rely (and they do rely) upon the Word of God as to the events that must come to pass."
138.Jump up ^ "Work for the Anointed", The Watch Tower, January 1, 1925, pages 4,5. "The Remnant", The Watch Tower, July 15, 1925, pages 215–216.
139.Jump up ^ Jehovah's Witnesses—Proclaimers of God's Kingdom. Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society. 1993. p. 124.
140.Jump up ^ Wills, Tony (2006). A People For His Name. Lulu Enterprises. p. 143. ISBN 978-1-4303-0100-4.
141.Jump up ^ "Character or Covenant—Which?", The Watchtower, May 1, 1926, "The expression 'character development' and like expressions repeatedly made from the pulpit and platform, have resulted in much confusion. Christians have been led to believe that they must develop, while in the flesh on earth, a character that is perfect before they can have an entrance into heaven ... the above excerpts or quotations ... are here cited in order that the issue may be clearly drawn. If any of us have relied upon such expressions and have been misled thereby, then it becomes our duty to get them out of our minds that we might see more clearly God's provisions and rejoice. Many have thought ... that this personal development of a character must be brought to perfection before they can enter into eternal life. This wrong conception of the matter has led many to believe that they can reach perfection in the flesh. Questions: (1) What has been the belief of many Christians concerning "character development'? To what absurdities and fatal consequences have some been misled thereby?"
142.Jump up ^ Watchtower, January 1, 1927, pg 7.
143.Jump up ^ Jehovah's Witnesses in the Divine Purpose, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1959, pages 91, 95.
144.Jump up ^ J. F. Rutherford, Favored People, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, as cited by Wills, 2007, pg 129.
145.Jump up ^ Rogerson, Alan (1969). Millions Now Living Will Never Die: A Study of Jehovah's Witnesses. Constable & Co, London. p. 46. ISBN 0-0945-5940-6.
146.^ Jump up to: a b Yearbook, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1975, page 147.
147.Jump up ^ Wills, Tony (2006). A People For His Name. Lulu Enterprises. pp. 181, 182. ISBN 978-1-4303-0100-4.
148.Jump up ^ M. James Penton. Apocalypse Delayed—The Story of Jehovah's Witnesses. p. 69.
149.Jump up ^ J.F. Rutherford, Prophecy, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1929, pg 319, 328–333
150.Jump up ^ J.F. Rutherford, Vindication, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1931, pg 9–14, 65–68, 135.
151.Jump up ^ Rutherford, Joseph Franklin (1921). The Harp of God. pp. 231–236. affirms that "the Lord's second presence dates from 1874." "Watchtower". Watchtower. March 1, 1922. p. 71. and Prophecy. 1930. pp. 65–66. reiterated this position. The eschatological changes during this period are documented in Thomas Daniels. Historical Idealism and Jehovah's Witnesses (PDF). pp. 3–37. Retrieved 2006-02-01.
152.Jump up ^ Rogerson, Alan (1969). Millions Now Living Will Never Die: A Study of Jehovah's Witnesses. Constable & Co, London. p. 49. ISBN 0-0945-5940-6.
153.Jump up ^ Jehovah's Witnesses in the Divine Purpose, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1959, page 140.
154.Jump up ^ Jehovah's Witnesses—Proclaimers of God's Kingdom. Watchtower. 1993. pp. 84–85.
155.Jump up ^ J. F. Rutherford, Salvation, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1939, pages 25-28, 59, 337.
156.Jump up ^ A. H. Macmillan, Faith on the March, 1959, page 152.
157.Jump up ^ Rogerson, Alan (1969). Millions Now Living Will Never Die: A Study of Jehovah's Witnesses. Constable & Co, London. p. 56. ISBN 0-0945-5940-6.
158.Jump up ^ Kaplan, William (1989). State and Salvation: The Jehovah's Witnesses and their Fight for Civil Rights. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. p. 55. ISBN 0-8020-5842-6.
159.Jump up ^ Rogerson, Alan (1969). Millions Now Living Will Never Die: A Study of Jehovah's Witnesses. Constable & Co, London. pp. 62–63. ISBN 0-0945-5940-6.
160.Jump up ^ M. James Penton. Apocalypse Delayed — The Story of Jehovah's Witnesses. pp. 71, 129.
161.Jump up ^ "United States Holocaust Memorial Museum". Retrieved February 22, 2005.
162.Jump up ^ Hans Hesse (2001). Persecution and Resistance of Jehovah's Witnesses During the Nazi Regime. p. 10. ISBN 978-3-86108-750-2.
163.Jump up ^ Garbe, Detlef (2008). Between Resistance and Martyrdom: Jehovah's Witnesses in the Third Reich. Madison, Wisconsin: University of Wisconsin Press. p. 102. ISBN 0-299-20794-3.
164.Jump up ^ Rogerson, Alan (1969). Millions Now Living Will Never Die: A Study of Jehovah's Witnesses. Constable & Co, London. pp. 59, 62–63. ISBN 0-0945-5940-6.
165.Jump up ^ Kaplan, William (1989). State and Salvation: The Jehovah's Witnesses and their Fight for Civil Rights. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. p. 65. ISBN 0-8020-5842-6.
166.Jump up ^ Kaplan, William (1989). State and Salvation: The Jehovah's Witnesses and their Fight for Civil Rights. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. p. 109. ISBN 0-8020-5842-6.
167.Jump up ^ American Civil Liberties Union (1941). The Persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses (PDF). pp. 1–24. Barbara Grizzuti Harrison (1978). Visions of Glory. pp. 185, 281. Jayne Persian (December 2005). "The Banning of Jehovah's Witnesses in Australia in 1941" (PDF). Adelaide Company of Jehovah's Witnesses, Inc. v. The Commonwealth of Australia
168.Jump up ^ M. James Penton, Apocalypse Delayed, University of Toronto Press, 1997, page 89.
169.Jump up ^ See, e.g., Cantwell v. State of Connecticut, Chaplinsky v. New Hampshire, West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette.
170.Jump up ^ Barbara Grizzuti Harrison, Visions of Glory, 1978, chapter 6.
171.Jump up ^ Whalen, William J. (1962). Armageddon Around the Corner: A Report on Jehovah's Witnesses. New York: John Day Company. p. 190.
172.Jump up ^ Rogerson, Alan (1969). Millions Now Living Will Never Die: A Study of Jehovah's Witnesses. Constable & Co, London. pp. 59, 61. ISBN 0-0945-5940-6.
173.Jump up ^ Schnell, William (1971). 30 Years a Watchtower Slave. Baker Book House, Grand Rapids. pp. 104–106. ISBN 0-8010-6384-1.
174.Jump up ^ Heather and Gary Botting, The Orwellian World of Jehovah's Witnesses, University of Toronto Press, 1984, page 41.
175.Jump up ^ Raymond Franz, Crisis of Conscience, Commentary Press, 2007, page 74.
176.Jump up ^ M. James Penton, Apocalypse Delayed, University of Toronto Press, 1997, page 86.
177.Jump up ^ Jehovah's Witnesses—Proclaimers of God's Kingdom, p. 106
178.^ Jump up to: a b Raymond Franz, Crisis of Conscience, Commentary Press, 2007, page 72.
179.Jump up ^ Whalen, William J. (1962). Armageddon Around the Corner: A Report on Jehovah's Witnesses. New York: John Day Company. p. 198.
180.Jump up ^ "Questions from readers", The Watchtower, November 1, 1961, pages 669–670.
181.Jump up ^ "Questions From Readers," The Watchtower,, October 1, 1951, page 607.
182.Jump up ^ Raymond Franz, In Search of Christian Freedom, Commentary Press, 2007, chapter 8.
183.Jump up ^ M. James Penton, Apocalypse Delayed, University of Toronto Press, 1997, pages 145-146.
184.Jump up ^ Life Everlasting in Freedom of the Sons of God (PDF). Watch Tower Society. 1966. pp. 29–35. as cited by Raymond Franz, Crisis of Conscience, chapter 9.
185.Jump up ^ Sniecinski, Roman M.; Chen, Edward P.; Levy, Jerrold H.; Szlam, Fania; Tanaka, Kenichi A. (October 8, 1966). "How Much Longer Will It Be?". Awake! 104 (4): 17–20. doi:10.1213/01.ane.0000250913.45299.f3. PMID 17377078.
186.Jump up ^ See 1975: 'THE APPROPRIATE TIME FOR GOD TO ACT'. Page 14 of the October 8, 1968 Awake! demonstrates the disclaimer that was made at the time: "Does this mean that the above evidence positively points to 1975 as the complete end of this system of things? Since the Bible does not specifically state this, no man can say...If the 1970s should see intervention by Jehovah God to bring an end to a corrupt world drifting toward ultimate disintegration, that should surely not surprise us."
187.Jump up ^ See "Witnessing the End" in the July 18, 1969 Time magazine. Scan available online at: http://www.dannyhaszard.com/time1975.jpg accessed February 14, 2006
188.Jump up ^ Life Everlasting in Freedom of the Sons of God (PDF). Watch Tower Society. 1966. pp. 29–35..
189.Jump up ^ Watchtower, May 1, 1968, as cited by Raymond Franz, Crisis of Conscience, chapter 9.
190.Jump up ^ The Watchtower, 15 September 1971, page 563
191.Jump up ^ "Time of Rest and Refreshment at Hand", Awake!", October 8, 1971, page 27.
192.^ Jump up to: a b Raymond Franz. "1975—The Appropriate Time for God to Act". Crisis of Conscience (PDF). pp. 237–253. Retrieved 2006-07-27.
193.Jump up ^ Holden, Andrew (2002). Jehovah's Witnesses: Portrait of a Contemporary Religious Movement. Routledge. pp. 151–4. ISBN 0-415-26610-6.
194.Jump up ^ Kingdom Ministry, May 1974, page 3, "Reports are heard of brothers selling their homes and property and planning to finish out the rest of their days in this old system in the pioneer service. Certainly this is a fine way to spend the short time remaining before the wicked world’s end."
195.Jump up ^ Penton, M. J. (1997). Apocalypse Delayed (2nd ed.). University of Toronto Press. p. 95.
196.Jump up ^ Awake!, May 1, 1968, pages 272,273.
197.Jump up ^ Awake!, October 8, 1968, page 13.
198.Jump up ^ "Announcements", Our Kingdom Ministry, July 1970
199.Jump up ^ George D. Chryssides, Historical Dictionary of Jehovah's Witnesses, Scarecrow Press, 2008, pg lx.
200.Jump up ^ "Why Are You Looking Forward to 1975?", The Watchtower, August 15, 1968, page 501.
201.Jump up ^ This drop in membership has been variously analyzed. Richard Singelenberg ("The '1975'-prophecy and its impact among Dutch Jehovah's Witnesses") in Sociological Analysis 50(1)1989, pp 23–40 notes a nine per cent drop in total publishers (door-to-door preachers) and a 38 per cent drop in pioneers (full-time preachers) in the Netherlands. Stark and Iannoccone have analyzed the impact on US Witnesses. "The Journal of Contemporary Religion" (PDF). 1997. pp. 142–143. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2004-12-05. |chapter= ignored (help) The January 30, 1982 Los Angeles Times ("Defectors Feel 'Witness' Wrath: Critics say Baptism Rise Gives False Picture of Growth" by John Dart, p. B4) cited statistics showing a net increase of publishers worldwide from 1971–1981 of 737,241, while baptisms totaled 1.71 million for the same period.
202.Jump up ^ "A Solid Basis for Confidence", Watchtower, July 15, 1976, page 441.
203.Jump up ^ According to Raymond Franz, proposals were put to the Governing Body in 1976, 1977 and 1979 to acknowledge the error, but Milton Henschel and others recommended they ignore the matter and hope Witnesses would eventually forget about it. Crisis of Conscience, page 250.
204.Jump up ^ The Watchtower, March 15, 1980, p.17 "With the appearance of the book Life Everlasting—in Freedom of the Sons of God, ... considerable expectation was aroused regarding the year 1975. ... there were other statements published that implied that such realization of hopes by that year was more of a probability than a mere possibility. It is to be regretted that these latter statements apparently overshadowed the cautionary ones and contributed to a buildup of the expectation already initiated. ... persons having to do with the publication of the information ... contributed to the buildup of hopes centered on that date."
205.Jump up ^ 1977 Yearbook, Watch Tower Society, as cited b M. James Penton, Apocalypse Delayed, University of Toronto Press, page 220.
206.^ Jump up to: a b c M. James Penton, Apocalypse Delayed, University of Toronto Press, 1977, pages 117–123.
207.^ Jump up to: a b Heather and Gary Botting, The Orwellian World of Jehovah's Witnesses, University of Toronto Press, 1984, pages 158–165.
208.Jump up ^ M. James Penton, Apocalypse Delayed, University of Toronto Press, 1997. Page 218.
209.Jump up ^ Copy of proposal as presented to Governing Body reproduced in Raymond Franz, Crisis of Conscience, 1997, page 262.
210.Jump up ^ Raymond Franz, Crisis of Conscience, Commentary Press, 2007, chapters 11–12.
211.Jump up ^ John Dart, "Defectors Feel Witnsses' Wrath", Los Angeles Times, January 30, 1982, Part II, page 4, "The Sept. 15 Watchtower magazine told members that anyone who has written a letter of resignation should be shunned as if he had been 'disfellowshipped', or expelled ... 'This is a hardening, a tightening, of our policy,' confirmed William Van De Wall, a headquarters spokesman for the Watchtower Society. Denying any great membership losses, Van De Wall said the new directive was to counteract 'disgruntled' ex-members."
212.Jump up ^ See ”1914 and ‘This Generation’”, pp. 254–272 in Crisis of Conscience by Raymond Franz. Available online at: http://web.archive.org/web/20060208160353/http://users.volja.net/izobcenec4/coc/10.pdf accessed February 12, 2006
213.Jump up ^ "He shows the beginning of this time and how the troubles increase, and mentions some of the sorrows to fall on the world, during the time of trouble. The length of time is indicated by him when he said, 'Truly I say to you that this generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur.' (Matt. 24:34, NW) The actual meaning of these words is, beyond question, that which takes a 'generation' in the ordinary sense, as at Mark 8:12 and Acts 13:36, or for those who are living at the given period. So it was on 'this generation' that the accumulated judgments were to fall. (Matt. 23:36) This therefore means that from 1914 a generation shall not pass till all is fulfilled, and amidst a great time of trouble. Vision of the 'Time of the End', The Watchtower, July 1951, p. 404
214.Jump up ^ The Watchtower, February 15, 2008, page 24 paragraph 15: "As a group, those anointed comprise the present "generation" of contemporaries who won't pass away "until all the things come to pass."
215.Jump up ^ "A Time To Keep Awake", The Watchtower (November 1, 1995), p. 19 par. 12, and p. 20 par. 15.
Further reading[edit]
Three official histories of Jehovah's Witnesses have been published by the Watch Tower Society. The first two are out of print. The most recent one is available in many public libraries and on the Watchtower Library CD-ROM.
##Qualified To Be Ministers, pages 297–345 (1955)
##Jehovah's Witnesses in the Divine Purpose (1959)
##Jehovah's Witnesses—Proclaimers of God's Kingdom (1993)
Books by members[edit]
##Jehovah's Witnesses: The New World Society by Marley Cole. This book received a positive review in the August 15, 1955 Watchtower: "Much of the material was gathered by personal interviews with witnesses, some of them being officials of the Society. Frequently in the news is something about the religion of President Eisenhower's parents. This book gives the facts often overlooked or concealed, with documentary proof that they were Jehovah's witnesses for many years." Cole was an active Witness and wrote the book in collaboration with Witness leaders. It was also distributed by the Watch Tower Society. 229 pages. Publisher: The Vantage Press, 1955.
##Faith on the March by A. H. Macmillan. Macmillan provides a first-person account of the early history of Jehovah's Witnesses from his meeting of Charles Taze Russell in 1900 to the time of the writing of the book (1957). He served with three of the Presidents of Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society: Russell, Rutherford, and Knorr (who wrote the book's introduction). Publisher: Prentice-Hall, Inc. Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 57-8528 (Englewood Cliffs, N.J. 1957)
##A People for His Name: A History of Jehovah's Witnesses and an Evaluation by Tony Wills, (2006) 2nd edition. (The first edition was published under the pseudonym Timothy White.) The author, a lifelong Witness, presents an in-depth look at the Bible Student/Jehovah's Witness movement. He explores its doctrinal growth and shifts and notes schisms from the main body. 300 pages. ISBN 978-1-4303-0100-4.
##Armed with the Constitution: Jehovah's Witnesses in Alabama and the U.S Supreme Court, 1939-1946 by Merlin Newton. Newton researches the contributions of two Jehovah's Witnesses—a black man and a white woman—in expanding the meaning of the First Amendment in 1940s Alabama. She examines two key U.S. Supreme Court decisions, as well as court records, memoirs, letters, and interviews of Jehovah's Witnesses. Publisher: University Alabama Press; Religion and American Culture Series, Reprint edition (June 28, 2002). Paperback: 240 pages. ISBN 0-8173-1228-5
##O'er the Ramparts They Watched by Victor Blackwell.
Books by non-members[edit]
##Millions Now Living Will Never Die: A Study of Jehovah's Witnesses by Alan Rogerson. Constable. 1969
##Jehovah's Witnesses in Canada: Champions of freedom of speech and worship by M. James Penton. Penton, who is a professor emeritus of history at University of Lethbridge (a former member of the Jehovah's Witnesses), examines the history of legal activities that led to expansion of religious freedoms in Canada. Referenced in the January 1, 1977 Watchtower, page 11 and the 1979 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses, page 94. Publisher: Macmillan of Canada. ISBN 0-7705-1340-9 (Canada, 1976)
##Apocalypse Delayed: The Story of Jehovah's Witnesses by M. James Penton. Penton, who is a professor emeritus of history at University of Lethbridge, examines the history of Jehovah's Witnesses, and their doctrines. Read selections from: Google Book Search Publisher: University of Toronto Press. ISBN 0-8020-7973-3 (Canada, 1998)
External links[edit]
##Official website of Jehovah's Witnesses
##Pastor-Russell.com
  


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Jehovah's Witnesses




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Jehovah's Witnesses beliefs

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Part of a series on
Jehovah's Witnesses

Overview

Organizational structure
Governing Body
Watch Tower Bible
 and Tract Society
Corporations
 
History
Bible Student movement
Leadership dispute
Splinter groups
Doctrinal development
Unfulfilled predictions
 
Demographics
By country
 

Beliefs ·
 Practices
 
Salvation ·
 Eschatology

The 144,000
Faithful and discreet slave
Hymns ·
 God's name
 
Blood ·
 Discipline

 
Literature

The Watchtower ·
 Awake!

New World Translation
List of publications
Bibliography
 
Teaching programs

Kingdom Hall ·
 Gilead School

 
People

Watch Tower presidents

W. H. Conley ·
 C. T. Russell
 
J. F. Rutherford ·
 N. H. Knorr
 
F. W. Franz ·
 M. G. Henschel

D. A. Adams
 
Formative influences

William Miller ·
 Henry Grew
 
George Storrs ·
 N. H. Barbour
 
John Nelson Darby

 
Notable former members

Raymond Franz ·
 Olin Moyle

 
Opposition

Criticism ·
 Persecution
 
Supreme Court cases
 by country

v ·
 t ·
 e
   
The beliefs of Jehovah's Witnesses are based on the Bible teachings of Charles Taze Russell—founder of the Bible Student movement—and successive presidents of the Watch Tower Society, Joseph Franklin Rutherford and Nathan Homer Knorr.[1][2][3] Since 1976 all doctrinal decisions have been made by the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses,[4] a group of elders at the religion's Brooklyn headquarters. These teachings are disseminated through The Watchtower magazine and other publications of Jehovah's Witnesses, and at conventions and congregation meetings.[5]
Jehovah's Witnesses teach that the present age of human existence is about to be terminated by the direct intervention of God, who will use Jesus Christ to fully establish his heavenly government over earth, destroying existing human governments and non-Witnesses,[6][7][8] and creating a cleansed society of true worshippers. They see their mission as primarily evangelical (disseminating "good news"), to warn as many people as possible in the remaining time before Armageddon.[9][10] All members of the religion are expected to take an active part in preaching.[11] Witnesses refer to all their beliefs collectively as "the Truth".[12]


Contents  [hide]
1 Source of doctrines
2 Organization
3 Restorationism
4 Bible
5 God
6 Jesus Christ
7 Cross
8 Satan
9 God's Messianic Kingdom
10 Death
11 Salvation 11.1 144,000 anointed
11.2 Other sheep
12 Eschatology
13 Defection
14 Apostasy
15 Education
16 References
17 Bibliography
18 External links

Source of doctrines[edit]
See also: Development of Jehovah's Witnesses doctrine
Doctrines of Jehovah's Witnesses are established by their Governing Body. Until late 2012, the Governing Body described itself as the representative[13][14] and "spokesman" for God's "faithful and discreet slave class"[14][15][16][17] (the approximately 10,000 "anointed" Jehovah's Witnesses), which Witnesses were taught Christ used as a channel for God's progressive revelations and to direct Christians on biblical matters.[18][19][20] The Governing Body seeks neither advice nor approval from any "anointed" Witnesses other than high-ranking members at the Brooklyn headquarters.[15][21][22] At the 2012 Annual Meeting of the Watch Tower Society, the "faithful and discreet slave" was defined as referring to the Governing Body only.[23]
Jehovah's Witnesses are instructed to welcome changes to their religion's doctrine, regarding such "adjustments" as "new light" or "new understanding" from God.[24][25] The view is based on their interpretation of Proverbs 4:18, which they believe refers to a continuous progressive advancement in doctrinal knowledge and scriptural understanding for "righteous ones",[26][27] with the holy spirit helping "responsible representatives of 'the faithful and discreet slave' at world headquarters to discern deep truths that were not previously understood".[28] Watch Tower literature has suggested such enlightenment results from the application of reason and study,[29] the guidance of holy spirit, and direction from Jesus Christ and angels,[30] however, the Governing Body also disclaims infallibility and divine inspiration.[31][32][33] The religion makes no provision for members to criticize or contribute to official teachings[34] and all Witnesses are expected to abide by the doctrines and organizational requirements as determined by the Governing Body.[35] Watch Tower Society publications strongly discourage Witnesses from formulating doctrines and "private ideas" reached through independent Bible research.[36][37][38][39] Members who promote privately developed teachings contrary to those of the Governing Body may be expelled and shunned.[36][40][41]
Organization[edit]
See also: Organizational structure of Jehovah's Witnesses

 

 Organizational headquarters in Brooklyn, New York.
Jehovah's Witnesses believe that God uses an organization both in heaven and on earth, and that Jehovah's Witnesses, under the direction of their Governing Body, are the only visible channel by which God communicates with humanity.[42][43] The organization is said to be theocratic, "ruled from the divine Top down, and not from the rank and file up".[44] Witnesses teach that people must choose between God’s organization and Satan’s.[45][46] Watch Tower publications teach that the Bible is an "organizational book" that does not belong to individuals and that the Bible cannot be properly understood without guidance by "Jehovah's visible organization".[47]
Witnesses undergoing baptism are required to publicly confirm that they are associating themselves "with God's spirit-directed organization",[48] thereby submitting themselves to its direction and judicial system.[49] Watch Tower Society publications urge Witnesses to demonstrate loyalty to the organization without dissent,[50][51] even at the cost of family ties.[52] Loyalty to the organization is said to require full involvement in public preaching[53] and regular meeting attendance.[54]
Disagreement with the Watch Tower Society's concept of God's organization figured prominently in events that led to a 1980 purge of high-level members at the religion's Brooklyn headquarters. A summary by a Governing Body committee of "wrong teachings" being promoted as "new understandings" included the suggestion that God did not have an organization on earth.[55] Former Governing Body member Raymond Franz, who was expelled as part of the purge, subsequently criticized the Watch Tower concept of organization,[56] claiming the concept—which posits that God does not deal with individuals apart from an organization—has no scriptural support and serves only to reinforce the religion's authority structure, with its strong emphasis on human authority.[57] He also claimed that The Watchtower has repeatedly blurred discussions of both Jesus Christ's loyalty to God and the apostles' loyalty to Christ to promote the view that Witnesses should be loyal to the Watch Tower Society.[58] Sociologist Andrew Holden has observed that Witnesses see no distinction between loyalty to Jehovah and to the movement itself,[59] and other researchers have claimed that challenging the views of those higher up the hierarchical ladder is regarded as tantamount to challenging God himself.[60]
Restorationism[edit]
See also: History of Jehovah's Witnesses and Restorationism (Christian primitivism)
Witnesses believe that after the death of the apostles, the Church embarked on a "Great Apostasy", diverging from the original teachings of Jesus on several major points. Influenced by Restorationism in the 19th century, Charles Taze Russell and his associates formed a Bible study group in the 1870s in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, developing teachings that they considered to be a revival of "the great truths taught by Jesus and the Apostles".[61] Watch Tower publications claim both the Great Apostasy and Russell's subsequent "restoration" of original Christianity[62] were a fulfilment of Jesus' parable of the wheat and the weeds at Matthew 13:24-30,36-43.[63] Although many of their eschatological teachings have changed over the years,[64] Jehovah's Witnesses have consistently claimed to be the only true religion.[65] Based on their interpretation of Revelation 18:2-24, Jehovah's Witnesses believe all other religions are part of "Babylon the Great", a "world empire of false religion" under the control of Satan; consequently, they refuse all ecumenical relations with other religious denominations.[66][67]
Bible[edit]

 

 Jehovah's Witnesses prefer to use the New World Translation of the Bible
See also: New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures
The entire Protestant canon of scripture is seen as the inspired, inerrant word of God.[68] Jehovah's Witnesses consider the Bible to be scientifically and historically accurate and reliable[69] and interpret much of it literally, while also accepting it contains much symbolism.[70] Jehovah's Witnesses base all of their beliefs on the Bible, as interpreted by the Governing Body.[71]
They use the terms Hebrew and Christian Greek Scriptures rather than Old and New Testament to avoid implication that the Old Testament is outdated or inferior.[72] They believe that the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) contain prophecy that was fulfilled in Jesus Christ,[73] and that the books of the Christian Greek Scriptures (New Testament) are primarily directed to the 144,000 chosen by God for life in heaven.[74] The Watch Tower Society's New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures—the main translation used by Jehovah's Witnesses—renders the name of God as Jehovah, rather than God or LORD as found in English translations such as the King James Version.
God[edit]
Main article: God in Abrahamic religions
See also: Jehovah and Nontrinitarianism
Jehovah's Witnesses believe God is the Creator and Supreme Being. Witnesses reject the Trinity doctrine, which they consider unscriptural.[75] They view God as the Father, an invisible spirit "person" separate from the Son, Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is described as God's "active force", rather than the third part of the Trinity.[76] They believe God, whose personal name is Jehovah, is "infinite, but approachable"; he is not omnipresent, but has a location in heaven;[77][78] it is possible to have a personal relationship with him as a friend;[79] he is kind and merciful, and would not eternally "torture" wicked people.[80] Being respectful of the principle of free will, he does not force his sovereignty on people, choosing to save only those who want to serve him, even though the course of mankind in general may lead them to harm.[81]
Witnesses teach that God must be distinguished by his personal name—Jehovah. The name is a common modern Latinized form of the Hebrew Tetragrammaton, or four-letter name, transliterated as YHWH.[82] The use of his personal name is regarded as vital for true worship,[83] and Witnesses usually preface the term God with the name Jehovah.[84] The title, LORD (Greek: Kyrios), is rarely used by Witnesses when speaking about God.[84] Because no other religion uses the name Jehovah with the same prevalence, they believe only their religion is making God's name known.[85]
Jesus Christ[edit]
Jehovah's Witnesses believe that Jesus is God's "only-begotten Son", and that his life began in heaven.[86] He is described as God's first creation and the "exact representation of God",[87] but is believed to be a separate entity and not part of a Trinity. Jesus is said to have been used by God in the creation of all other things.[88] Jehovah's Witnesses believe that the Archangel, Michael, "the Word" of John 1:1, and wisdom personified in Proverbs 8 refer to Jesus in his pre-human existence and that he resumed these identities after his ascension to heaven following his death and resurrection. They also identify him with the "rider of the white horse" at Revelation 6 and 19.[89] His birth on earth was accomplished when he willingly allowed himself to be transferred, by God, from heaven to the womb of the virgin, Mary.[90] While on earth, Jesus was executed as a sacrifice to atone for mankind's sins, becoming the "eternal father" to the human family.[91]
They believe that after his death, Jesus appeared to his disciples, convinced them of his resurrection, and then ascended into heaven to sit at Jehovah's right hand until he would become the promised king of God's heavenly kingdom. Jesus acts as the mediator of a "new covenant"[92] referred to in Jeremiah 31:31, Luke 22:20, and Hebrews 9:15; 12:24, directly mediating only for those going to heaven (the 144,000). Those with an earthly hope are said to be beneficiaries of that covenant.[93][94][95] Even as king of God's kingdom, Jesus remains subordinate to God.[96] Witnesses reject the doctrine of the perpetual virginity of Mary, who they believe bore more children after Jesus.[97]
Cross[edit]
See also: Dispute about Jesus' execution method
The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society used the Cross and Crown symbol on tombstones, and on its publications until 1931.[98] Since 1936, Jehovah's Witnesses have rejected the idea that Jesus died on a cross, and instead teach that he died on a single wooden stake (crux simplex), asserting that the Koiné Greek word σταυρος (stauros) refers to a single upright post. They consider the cross to be of pagan origins and an object of idol worship.[99] Some Jehovah's Witnesses have been persecuted or killed for not bowing down to or kissing a cross.[100][101]
Satan[edit]
Jehovah's Witnesses believe that Satan was originally a perfect angel who developed feelings of self-importance and craved worship that belonged to God. Satan persuaded Adam and Eve to obey him rather than God, raising the issue—often referred to as a "controversy"—of whether people, having been granted free will, would obey God under both temptation and persecution. The issue is said to be whether God can rightfully claim to be sovereign of the universe.[102][103] Instead of destroying Satan, God decided to test the loyalty of the rest of humankind and to prove to the rest of creation that Satan was a liar.[75][104] Jehovah's Witnesses believe that Satan is God's chief adversary[104] and the invisible ruler of the world.[102][103] They believe that demons were originally angels who rebelled against God and took Satan's side in the controversy.[105]
Jehovah's Witnesses do not believe that Satan lives in Hell or that he has been given responsibility to punish the wicked. Satan and his demons are said to have been cast down from heaven to the earth in 1914, marking the beginning of the "last days".[102][106] Witnesses believe that Satan and his demons influence individuals, organizations and nations, and that they are the cause of human suffering. At Armageddon, Satan is to be bound for 1,000 years, and then given a brief opportunity to mislead perfect humanity before being destroyed.[107]
Writers including James Beckford and former members James Penton and Barbara Grizzuti Harrison have stated that Jehovah's Witnesses' have a fear of demons, which Penton says is "sometimes so extreme that it becomes quite superstitious". However, Penton also notes that avoidance of "demonistic practices" has released many people in Africa and Latin America from fear of spirits.[108][109][110][111] Watch Tower Society publications state that Witnesses need not harbor dread or superstitious fear of demons, because their power over humans is limited.[112][113]
God's Messianic Kingdom[edit]
Publications of Jehovah's Witnesses teach that God's kingdom is a literal government in heaven, established in 1914,[114] ruled by Jesus Christ and 144,000 humans raised to heaven.[115] The kingdom is viewed as the means by which God will accomplish his original purpose for the earth,[116][117] bringing about a world free of crime, sickness, death and poverty, and ultimately transforming the earth into a paradise.[118] The kingdom is said to have been the focus of Jesus' ministry.[119]
Death[edit]

 

 Jehovah's Witnesses believe the soul is mortal, with a hope of resurrection
Witnesses regard the soul as mortal, based on the statement at Ezekiel 18:4 that "the soul that sins, it shall die" (MKJV)[120] and thus believe the soul does not continue to live after one dies.[121] Death is considered a state of non-existence, based on their understanding of Ecclesiastes 9:5: "For the living are conscious that they will die; but as for the dead, they are conscious of nothing at all." Witnesses believe that the only hope for life after death is in the resurrection, which they say involves re-creation by God of the same individual with a new body.[122] They believe that 144,000 people will be resurrected to life as spirit creatures in heaven to be priestly rulers under Christ, but the vast majority, to physical life on earth.[123]
Watch Tower publications teach that hell (hades or sheol) is not a place of fiery torment, but rather the "common grave of mankind", a place of unconscious non-existence.[124] Gehenna, the Bible word commonly translated "hellfire", is said to describe a judgment of complete destruction,[125] from which resurrection is not possible.[126] They reason that complete destruction does not allow for literal "torture" of the wicked, as the deceased person is not conscious.[127] Based on this, they believe that parables such as that of "the rich man and Lazarus" should not be interpreted literally, and that such references are speaking of symbolic death, not the physical death of actual individuals.[128]
Witnesses teach that wicked angels (demons) sometimes pretend to be spirits of the dead, and that their deception is the basis for many beliefs about ghosts.[129][130]
Salvation[edit]
Main article: Jehovah's Witnesses and salvation
Jehovah's Witnesses' believe that faith in Jesus' ransom sacrifice is essential for salvation. They reject the concept of universal salvation[131] and the concept of predestination. They believe that all intelligent creatures are endowed with free will, and that salvation is dependent on God's "undeserved kindness", but also requires faith in God and in the "ransom sacrifice" of Jesus Christ,[132] demonstrated by "zealous" preaching activity.[133][134][135] According to Watch Tower Society theology, salvation requires Christ's mediation as part of God's purpose to grant humans everlasting life, either in heaven (for 144,000 "anointed" Christians, or the "little flock") or on earth (for the "other sheep", the remainder of faithful humanity).[136] For anointed Witnesses, salvation is said to be achieved through their death and subsequent resurrection to heavenly life to share with Christ as a co-ruler of God's kingdom;[137] for others, it is gained through preservation during the battle of Armageddon.[138][139] Watch Tower Society publications state that salvation at Armageddon is also contingent on baptism, accurate knowledge of Bible truth, adherence to God's standards of conduct and morality, use of the divine name "Jehovah" in worship,[140] membership of God's "organization",[6] and active support of anointed Christians.[141]
144,000 anointed[edit]
Based on a literal interpretation of scriptures such as Revelation 14:1–4, Jehovah's Witnesses believe that exactly 144,000 faithful Christians go to heaven as spirit creatures to rule with Christ in the kingdom of God. They believe that most of those are already in heaven, and that the "remnant" at Revelation 12:17 (KJV) refers to those remaining alive on earth who will be immediately resurrected to heaven when they die. The Witnesses understand Jesus’ words at John 3:3—"except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God"—to apply to the 144,000 who are "born again" as "anointed" sons of God in heaven.[142] They associate the terms "Israel of God" (Galatians 6:16), "little flock" (Luke 12:32), and "the bride, the Lamb's wife" (Revelation 21:9) in the New Testament with the "anointed".[143][144]
Members who claim to be anointed are not given special treatment by other congregation members.[145] Jehovah's Witnesses believe that being "anointed" involves a personal revelation by God's spirit which "gives positive assurance of adoption" to the individual alone.[146] Only those claiming to be anointed partake of the unleavened bread and wine at the yearly commemoration of Christ's death, or Memorial. According to The Watchtower, "the Governing Body does not keep a list of all partakers, for it does not maintain a global network of anointed ones."[21]
Other sheep[edit]
Watch Tower Society literature states that Jesus' use of the term "other sheep" at John 10:16 indicates a separate class with an earthly hope.[147] Those of the "other sheep" who die faithful to God will receive the "resurrection of the righteous" ("just" KJV) mentioned at Acts 24:15.[148] Those who die without faithfully serving God will receive the "resurrection of the ... unrighteous" ("unjust" KJV). They will be given the opportunity to join Jesus' "other sheep" and live forever on a paradise earth.[149][150] Those destroyed at Armageddon and other specific judgments by God are not resurrected.[151] Those of the "other sheep" who survive Armageddon without needing a resurrection, are referred to as the "great crowd".[152]
Eschatology[edit]
Main article: Eschatology of Jehovah's Witnesses
Watch Tower Society publications teach that Jesus Christ began to rule in heaven invisibly as king in October 1914.[153] They assert that the Greek word parousia (translated in most English Bible translations as coming when referring to Christ) is more accurately rendered presence, perceived only by a composite "sign".[154] As such, the Second Coming is considered an invisible presence, lasting for an extended period of time, and ending with Jesus' "coming" to separate the Sheep and the Goats.[155][156] They believe that when Jesus became king, Satan was ousted from heaven to the earth, bringing a period of "woe" to mankind.[157]
Witnesses base their beliefs about the significance of 1914 on the Watch Tower Society's interpretation of biblical chronology,[158] based on their belief that the destruction of Jerusalem and the beginning of the Babylonian captivity both occurred in 607 BCE. (The secularly accepted date for the fall of Jerusalem is within a year of 587 BCE; exiles were taken in various years, with most Jews exiled to Babylon following the siege of Jerusalem of 597 BCE.) They believe that Daniel chapter 4 prophesied a period of 2,520 years starting with 607 BCE and ending at 1914 CE.[159][160] They equate this period with the "Gentile Times" or "the appointed times of the nations", a phrase taken from Luke 21:24. They believe that when the Babylonians conquered Jerusalem, the line of kings descended from David was interrupted, and that God's throne was "trampled on" from then until Jesus began ruling in October 1914.[161] Witnesses believe their doctrine is confirmed by world events since 1914, including wars, famine, earthquakes and increasing lawlessness, which they see as fulfillment of the "sign" of Christ's presence.[162][163] They believe that their preaching is also part of that sign, citing Matthew 24:14.[164][165][166] Witnesses teach that in 1918, Jesus resurrected those of the 144,000 (the "anointed") who had already died to heavenly life; since 1918, any "anointed" are individually resurrected to heavenly life at the time of their death to serve as kings alongside Christ in his heavenly government.[167]
The current world era, or "system of things", is considered to be in its "last days",[168] facing imminent destruction through intervention by God and Jesus Christ, leading to deliverance for those who worship God acceptably. This judgment will begin with the destruction by the United Nations of false religion, which they identify as "Babylon the Great", or the "harlot", of Revelation 17.[169] This will mark the beginning of the great tribulation.[170] Satan will subsequently attack Jehovah's Witnesses, an action that will prompt God to begin the war of Armageddon, during which all forms of government and all people not counted as Christ's "sheep", or true followers, will be destroyed.[171] The Society's publications make no explicit claim about whether small children or the mentally ill will survive, but say God's judgment will be righteous and merciful.[172] After Armageddon, Satan will be abyssed and unable to influence humanity, then God will extend his heavenly kingdom to include earth,[173][174] which will be transformed into a paradise similar to the Garden of Eden.[175]
Most of those who had died prior to God's intervention will gradually be resurrected to a "day of judgment" lasting for the thousand years referred to in Revelation 20.[176][177] This judgment will be based on their actions after resurrection rather than past deeds.[178] At the end of the thousand years a final test will take place when Satan is released to mislead perfect mankind;[179] Satan and any who fail the test will be destroyed, leaving a fully tested, perfect human race who will live forever.[177][180] Christ will then hand all authority back to God.[181]
Defection[edit]
Watch Tower Society publications assert that members of the religion are not compelled to remain part of the congregation.[182] However, Jehovah's Witness doctrines provide no method for baptized members to leave the religion on good terms.[183] Those who choose to depart and announce their decision to terminate their membership are regarded as abandoning God's organization and protection and voluntarily entering the world of Satan,[183][184] becoming part of the antichrist.[185] Watch Tower publications define such individuals as being "more reprehensible than those in the world"[185] and direct that they are to be shunned by other Witnesses, including close relatives, with no social or religious contact and no greeting given.[182][184] Sociologist Andrew Holden claims his research indicated many Witnesses who would otherwise defect because of disillusionment with the organization and its teachings remain affiliated out of fear of being shunned and losing contact with friends and family members.[183]
Apostasy[edit]
Watch Tower Society publications define apostasy as the abandonment of the worship and service of God by members of the Christian congregation, and equate it with rebellion against God.[186] Apostate behavior is said to include the rejection of biblical teachings or requirements, the rejection of Jehovah’s organization, association with or support for another religion[185] and celebration of religious holidays.[187] It is grounds for expulsion from the religion and subsequent shunning. Promotion of personal doctrinal views that deviate from official teachings is also regarded as apostasy. The "identifying marks" of apostates are said to include attempts to gain followers, disregard for the Witnesses’ preaching activity, rejection of God's visible organization, public criticism of other Witnesses and attempts to hinder their work.[186] Other identifying behavior is said to include deviation from the truth, twisted, empty speech, hypocrisy and involvement in deeper forms of ungodliness.[188] Watch Tower Society literature says apostates are motivated by vitriolic bitterness and that their writings are poisonous, distorted and false, display the characteristics of "cunning, contrived error, prideful intelligence, lack of love and dishonesty" and are designed to undermine the faith of Jehovah’s Witnesses.[189] Apostates are described as proud, independent, ungrateful and presumptuous,[188] mentally diseased,[190][191] displaying jealousy, fits of anger and other unchristian conduct and are said to often fall victim to drunken bouts, loose conduct and fornication.[188]
Witnesses who are defined as apostates are said to have become part of the antichrist and are regarded as more reprehensible than non-Witnesses.[185] They are described as "anti-God" and doomed to destruction.[192] Witnesses are told they must loathe and hate in the "biblical sense of the word" those who are defined as apostates and show no curiosity about their ideas.[193] Apostates must be shunned and Witnesses are warned that those who greet one become "a sharer in his wicked works".[185]
Education[edit]

 

 Jehovah's Witnesses are directed to study the Bible using Watch Tower Society publications
Jehovah's Witnesses are encouraged to make their preaching work the top priority in their life. Higher education is discouraged,[194][195] based on their belief that it is futile to plan for secular advancement in a world that faces imminent destruction, as well as fears about succumbing to "worldly thinking" and concerns that advanced education might lead to a lack of humility or involvement in immorality.[196][197][198] Because evangelistic activities take priority over educational success, young Witnesses rarely progress to college or university,[199] which Holden cites as a source of regret in subsequent years among those who are raised in the organization and later choose to leave.[199] Watch Tower Society publications advise parents to recommend alternatives to university education for their children, suggesting associate degrees from community or technical colleges or short courses in subjects such as office administration, automotive repair, computing, or hairdressing. They urge young Witnesses to pursue higher education only to gain skills to obtain a reasonable living while maintaining flexibility to pursue their "true" vocation, serving God.[200] Author James Penton's major study of the Witnesses, Apocalypse Delayed, noted that of those Witnesses who do progress to university, few are likely to take studies in such areas as the humanities and the social sciences, "disciplines that are most threatening to the Witness world-view".[201]
Jehovah's Witnesses provide standardized religious training programs for their members, focusing on improving skills for their ministry. These include the congregational Theocratic Ministry School, literacy classes, Pioneer Service School, Bible School for Single Brothers and Gilead School. Some of these programs are by invitation only.[202] Holden observed: "Despite the fact that Witnesses claim to reason from the scriptures, their theology is taught in a highly mechanistic fashion, and written publications encourage the members to learn almost by rote."[203]
References[edit]
1.Jump up ^ Penton 1997, pp. 13.
2.Jump up ^ Franz 2002, p. 106.
3.Jump up ^ "5". Jehovah's Witnesses—Proclaimers of God's Kingdom. p. 42.
4.Jump up ^ "United in Love—Annual Meeting Report". The Watchtower: 3. 15 June 2010. "In 1976, all activities of Jehovah’s Witnesses were brought under the supervision of the six committees of the Governing Body."
5.Jump up ^ Keep Yourselves in God’s Love, Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, 2008, page 43, "The Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses represents the slave class. ... elders today receive instructions and counsel from the Governing Body, either directly or through its representatives, such as traveling overseers."
6.^ Jump up to: a b "Remaining Organized for Survival Into the Millennium", The Watchtower, September 1, 1989, page 19, "Only Jehovah's Witnesses, those of the anointed remnant and the 'great crowd,' as a united organization under the protection of the Supreme Organizer, have any Scriptural hope of surviving the impending end of this doomed system dominated by Satan the Devil."
7.Jump up ^ Worship the Only True God, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 2002, page 179.
8.Jump up ^ Garbe, Detlef (2008). Between Resistance and Martyrdom: Jehovah's Witnesses in the Third Reich. University of Wisconsin Press. pp. 37, 38. ISBN 0-299-20794-3. "In their opinion, only people who have accepted Jehovah and subsequently submit to his requirements will survive Armageddon and enter into the New World ... Jehovah's Witnesses also believe that a person confessing to worship God has to be associated with the true Christian denomination. Since they claim to be the only true religious denomination, they also claim to have the only means for salvation."
9.Jump up ^ "All True Christians Are Evangelizers", The Watchtower, January 1, 2002, pages 11-12, "Proselytize or Evangelize? The Greek language has the word pro·se’ly·tos, which means a “convert.” From this has come the English word “proselytism,” which basically means “the act of making converts.” Nowadays, some say that proselytism is harmful. ... Pressuring people to change their religion is wrong. Certainly, Jehovah’s Witnesses do not act in such a way. Hence, they do not proselytize in the modern meaning of the word. Rather ... they preach the good news to everyone. Any who respond voluntarily are invited to take in more knowledge by means of a Bible study."
10.Jump up ^ Holden 2002, p. 7.
11.Jump up ^ Holden, Andrew (2002). Jehovah's Witnesses: Portrait of a Contemporary Religious Movement. Routledge. pp. 71–76. ISBN 0-415-26609-2.
12.Jump up ^ Holden 2002, p. 71.
13.Jump up ^ The Watchtower, May 15, 2008, page 29
14.^ Jump up to: a b "Seek God's guidance in all things", The Watchtower, April 15, 2008, page 11.
15.^ Jump up to: a b "The faithful steward and its governing body", The Watchtower, June 15, 2009, page 20.
16.Jump up ^ "How the Governing Body Is Organized", The Watchtower, May 15, 2008, p. 29.
17.Jump up ^ You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth. Watchtower Society. 1989. p. 195.
18.Jump up ^ Organized to Do Jehovah's Will, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 2005, page 16.
19.Jump up ^ "Jehovah, the God of Progressive Revelation", Watchtower, June 15, 1964, p. 365, "The abundance of spiritual food and the amazing details of Jehovah’s purposes that have been revealed to Jehovah’s anointed witnesses are clear evidence that they are the ones mentioned by Jesus when he foretold a 'faithful and discreet slave' class that would be used to dispense God’s progressive revelations in these last days...How thankful we should be for the provision God has made of this slave class, the modern spiritual remnant, as they faithfully dispense the revealed truths of Jehovah! ...Jehovah’s faithful witnesses have been progressively brought to an understanding of Jehovah’s purposes, which are clearer now than ever before in history."
20.Jump up ^ Watchtower August 1, 2001 p. 14 paragraph 8, "A mature Christian...does not advocate or insist on personal opinions or harbor private ideas when it comes to Bible understanding. Rather, he has complete confidence in the truth as it is revealed by Jehovah God through his Son, Jesus Christ, and 'the faithful and discreet slave.'"
21.^ Jump up to: a b "Question From Readers", "The Watchtower", August 15, 2011, page 22
22.Jump up ^ Franz, Raymond (2007). In Search of Christian Freedom. Commentary Press. pp. 152–164. ISBN 0-914675-16-8.
23.Jump up ^ "Annual Meeting Report".
24.Jump up ^ Osamu Muramoto, "Bioethics of the Refusal of Blood by Jehovah's Witnesses, Part 1", Journal of Medical Ethics, August 1998, Vol 24, Issue 4, pp. 223-230.
25.Jump up ^ "The Path of the Righteous Does Keep Getting Brighter", The Watchtower, December 1, 1981, pp. 26-31.
26.Jump up ^ Franz 2007, pp. 132–133.
27.Jump up ^ Penton 1997, pp. 165–171.
28.Jump up ^ "The Spirit Searches into the Deep Things of God", The Watchtower, July 15, 2010, p. 23, "When the time comes to clarify a spiritual matter in our day, holy spirit helps responsible representatives of 'the faithful and discreet slave' at world headquarters to discern deep truths that were not previously understood. The Governing Body as a whole considers adjusted explanations. What they learn, they publish for the benefit of all."
29.Jump up ^ Penton 1997, p. 165.
30.Jump up ^ J. F. Rutherdford, Preparation, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1933, page 64, 67, "Enlightenment proceeds from Jehovah by and through Christ Jesus and is given to the faithful anointed on earth at the temple, and brings great peace and consolation to them. Again Zechariah talked with the angel of the Lord, which shows that the remnant are instructed by the angels of the Lord. The remnant do not hear audible sounds, because such is not necessary. Jehovah has provided his own good way to convey thoughts to the minds of his anointed ones...Those of the remnant, being honest and true, must say, We do not know; and the Lord enlightens them, sending his angels for that very purpose."
31.Jump up ^ "To Whom Shall We Go but Jesus Christ?", The Watchtower, March 1, 1979, pp. 23-24.
32.Jump up ^ "Questions From Readers", The Watchtower, October 15, 1954, page 638.
33.Jump up ^ "Name and Purpose of The Watchtower", The Watchtower, August 15, 1950, page 263.
34.Jump up ^ Beckford, James A. (1975). The Trumpet of Prophecy: A Sociological Study of Jehovah's Witnesses. Oxford: Basil Blackwell. pp. 84, 89, 92, 119–120. ISBN 0-631-16310-7.
35.Jump up ^ Holden 2002, p. 22.
36.^ Jump up to: a b "Questions From Readers", The Watchtower April 1, 1986 pp. 30-31.
37.Jump up ^ "Make Your Advancement Manifest", The Watchtower, August 1, 2001, page 14, "Since oneness is to be observed, a mature Christian must be in unity and full harmony with fellow believers as far as faith and knowledge are concerned. He does not advocate or insist on personal opinions or harbor private ideas when it comes to Bible understanding. Rather, he has complete confidence in the truth as it is revealed by Jehovah God through his Son, Jesus Christ, and the faithful and discreet slave."
38.Jump up ^ "Jehovah’s Theocratic Organization Today", Watchtower, February 1, 1952, pp. 79–80.
39.Jump up ^ Testimony by Fred Franz, Transcript, Lord Strachan vs. Douglas Walsh, 1954. p. 123, as reproduced in R. Franz In Search of Christian Freedom, Q: "Did you imply that the individual member has the right of reading the books and the Bible and forming his own view as to the proper interpretation of Holy Writ?" A: "No".
40.Jump up ^ Ronald Lawson, "Sect-State Relations: Accounting for the Differing Trajectories of Seventh-day Adventists and Jehovah's Witnesses", Sociology of Religion, 1995, 56:4 p. 371.
41.Jump up ^ Botting, Heather; Gary Botting (1984). The Orwellian World of Jehovah's Witnesses. University of Toronto Press. pp. 143, 153–165. ISBN 0-8020-6545-7.
42.Jump up ^ "Do You Appreciate Jehovah’s Organization?", The Watchtower, June 15, 1998.
43.Jump up ^ "The Visible Part of God’s Organization", The Watchtower, May 1, 1981.
44.Jump up ^ "Theocratic Organization with Which to Move Forward Now", The Watchtower, December 15, 1971, page 754.
45.Jump up ^ "Directing Interest to the Organization", Our Kingdom Ministry, March 1987, page 3.
46.Jump up ^ "Restoration of True Religion Today", The Watchtower, March 1, 1954, page 151.
47.Jump up ^ The Watchtower, October 1, 1967; cited in Penton 1997, p. 163.
48.Jump up ^ Franz 2007, p. 118.
49.Jump up ^ Holden 2002, p. 33.
50.Jump up ^ "Meeting the Challenge of Loyalty", The Watchtower, March 15, 1996, page 16.
51.Jump up ^ "Building Disciples Having the Quality of Endurance", The Watchtower, April 1, 1970, page 213.
52.Jump up ^ "Do Not Resist Jehovah’s Counsel", The Watchtower, July 15, 1965, page 435.
53.Jump up ^ "Loyalty to theocratic organization", Our Kingdom Ministry, November 1, 1953.
54.Jump up ^ "Serve Jehovah Loyally", The Watchtower, November 15, 1992, page 21.
55.Jump up ^ Franz 2002, p. 316.
56.Jump up ^ Franz 2007, p. 449.
57.Jump up ^ Franz 2007, pp. 449–464, "Loyalty to the organization becomes the touchstone, the criterion, the "bottom line", when it comes to determining whether one is a faithful Christian or not ... to make any organizational loyalty the criterion for judging anyone's Christianity is, then, clearly a perversion of Scripture ... Read the whole of those Scriptures ,,, nowehere are we taught to put faith in men or in an earthly organization, unquestioningly following its lead ... the entire Bible record is a continual reminder of the danger inherent in that kind of trust."
58.Jump up ^ Franz 2007, p. 458.
59.Jump up ^ Holden 2002, p. 121.
60.Jump up ^ Botting, Heather; Gary Botting (1984). The Orwellian World of Jehovah's Witnesses. University of Toronto Press. p. 156. ISBN 0-8020-6545-7.
61.Jump up ^ Zion's Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence, December 1, 1916, R6010: page 371.
62.Jump up ^ "Religion’s Future in View of Its Past", Awake!, October 22, 1989, p. 17.
63.Jump up ^ "Is religion at the root of Mankind's problem?", The Watchtower, February 15, 2004, page 5.
64.Jump up ^ Franz 2002, pp. 183–184.
65.Jump up ^ Reasoning from the Scriptures, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1989, p. 203.
66.Jump up ^ Holden 2002, p. 1.
67.Jump up ^ "Take Refuge in the Name of Jehovah". The Watchtower: 3. January 15, 2011.
68.Jump up ^ Penton 1997, p. 172.
69.Jump up ^ All Scripture is Inspired of God, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1990, page 336.
70.Jump up ^ "Obedience to the Good News a Way of Life", The Watchtower, October 15, 1977, page 618.
71.Jump up ^ Reasoning From The Scriptures, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1989, p. 199-208.
72.Jump up ^ "Old Testament or Hebrew Scriptures—Which?", The Watchtower March 1, 1995, p. 19.
73.Jump up ^ "We Have Found the Messiah"!, The Watchtower, October 1, 1992, p. 10.
74.Jump up ^ United In Worship of the Only True God, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1983, p. 111.
75.^ Jump up to: a b Holden 2002, p. 24.
76.Jump up ^ Should You Believe in the Trinity?, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1989, pages 14, 20.
77.Jump up ^ Insight In The Scriptures volume 1, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1988, p. 969.
78.Jump up ^ The Watchtower, February 15, 1981, page 6, "Jehovah God truly is a person and has a body as well as a certain location. ... He has a location in the highest heavens"
79.Jump up ^ "Is God Everywhere?", Awake! March 8, 1995, p. 21.
80.Jump up ^ "Eternal Torment — Why a Disturbing Doctrine?", The Watchtower, April 15, 1993, p. 5.
81.Jump up ^ "God’s Wisdom in Dealing with Mankind", Awake!, June 8, 1971, page 12.
82.Jump up ^ Penton 1997, p. 184.
83.Jump up ^ "Who Are Giving God Glory Today?", The Watchtower, October 1, 2004, page 12.
84.^ Jump up to: a b Franz, Raymond (2007). In Search of Christian Freedom. Commentary Press. p. 494. ISBN 0-914675-16-8. "The fact remains that today no religious group of any size uses the name "Jehovah" with such intense frequency as does that of Jehovah's Witnesses. That name predominates throughout their literature. Among Jehovah's Witnesses it has become almost strange to speak of "God" without prefacing the term by saying "Jehovah God", while the term "Lord" is quite rare in their expressions. They read "Lord" in the Bible but hardly ever use it in their own speech extemporaneously. It is almost a liturgical form for them in most prayers to initially address these to "Jehovah" or "Jehovah God"."
85.Jump up ^ Franz 2007, p. 489
86.Jump up ^ Insight On The Scriptures volume 2, p. 52 Jesus Christ
87.Jump up ^ Worship the Only True God, Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, 2002, p. 184
88.Jump up ^ "What Do the Scriptures Say About 'the Divinity of Christ'?, The Watchtower January 15, 1992 p. 20-23.
89.Jump up ^ "Jehovah’s Word Is Alive Highlights From the Book of Revelation", The Watchtower, February 15, 2009 p. 3.
90.Jump up ^ Jesus? The Ruler "Whose Origin Is From Early Times", The Watchtower, June 15, 1998, p. 22.
91.Jump up ^ Worldwide Security Under the “Prince of Peace”, chap. 20 p. 163 par. 8 A Happy Human Family Under a New Fatherhood
92.Jump up ^ "Appreciate Jesus’ Unique Role in God’s Purpose", pages 13-14, The Watchtower, December 15, 2008, "The original-language word translated “mediator” is a legal term. It refers to Jesus as a legal Mediator (or, in a sense, an attorney) of the new covenant... What about those who are not in the new covenant, those who hope to live forever on earth, not in heaven? While not participants in the new covenant, these are beneficiaries of it. ... Whether we have a heavenly hope or an earthly hope, each one of us has good reason to appreciate Jesus’ role as the Mediator of the new covenant."
93.Jump up ^ Insight on the Scriptures, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, Vol 2, page 360.
94.Jump up ^ Penton 1997, pp. 188–189.
95.Jump up ^ Questions From Readers, The Watchtower, August 15, 1989, p. 30.
96.Jump up ^ "Is Jesus God Almighty?". The Watchtower: 7. September 15, 2005.
97.Jump up ^ Jesus' Family—Who Were They? The Watchtower December 15, 2003, p. 3
98.Jump up ^ "They Are No Part of the World". Jehovah's Witnesses—Proclaimers of God's Kingdom. p. 200.
99.Jump up ^ What Does the Bible Really Teach?. Jehovah's Witnesses. 2005. pp. 51,201–204.
100.Jump up ^ "European High Court Upholds Right to Preach in Greece". The Watchtower (Watchtower): 28–29. 1 September 1993.
101.Jump up ^ "Poland". 1994 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses. Watchtower. p. 206.
102.^ Jump up to: a b c Jehovah's Witnesses—Proclaimers of God's Kingdom. Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society. 1993. pp. 144–145.
103.^ Jump up to: a b What Does the Bible Really Teach?. Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society. 2005. p. 32.
104.^ Jump up to: a b "Declaration and resolution", The Watchtower, December 1, 1973, page 724.
105.Jump up ^ "Angels—How They Affect Us". The Watchtower: 7. January 15, 2006.
106.Jump up ^ What Does the Bible Really Teach?. Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society. 2005. pp. 87,216.
107.Jump up ^ The Watchtower, 15 March 2009, p. 15, “Be Vigilant”
108.Jump up ^ Penton, M.J. (1997). Apocalypse Delayed. University of Toronto Press. pp. 189, 190. ISBN 978-0-8020-7973-2.
109.Jump up ^ Beckford, James A. (1975). The Trumpet of Prophecy: A Sociological Study of Jehovah's Witnesses. Oxford: Basil Blackwell. p. 106. ISBN 0-631-16310-7. "God is believed to have banished from heaven a number of 'wicked spirit creatures' who are understood to be the main source of human frustration on earth. Consequently, Jehovah's witnesses learn to cultivate a very noticeable fear of phenomena connected with the occult; they 'believe in' ghosts, for example, to the extent of shunning conversation about them and of refusing to listen to ghost-stories."
110.Jump up ^ Havor Montague, "The Pessimistic Sect's Influence on the Mental Health of Its Members", Social Compass, 1977/1, page 144.
111.Jump up ^ Grizzuti Harrison, Barbara (1978), "8", Visions of Glory, Robert Hale, ISBN 0-7091-8013-6, "The Watchtower concludes, from this bizarre account, that "one can see from this that one need not live in fear of the demons". But of course the result of all this misbegotten advice is to keep the Witnesses in constant fear of "demon harassment". Their demons are never exorcised."
112.Jump up ^ "Angels-How They Affect Us", The Watchtower, January 15, 2006 pg. 7, "Demons are dangerous, but we do not dread them."
113.Jump up ^ "True Religion Dispels Fear–How?" The Watchtower, November 1, 1987, pg. 6, "True, demons are powerful. But ... demons shudder out of dread of Jehovah. But the Almighty God offers you his protection if you ask for it. Bible writer James further says: "Subject yourselves, therefore, to God; but oppose the Devil, and he will flee from you." (James 4:7) Your superstitious fear will likewise flee."
114.Jump up ^ "What Has God’s Kingdom Been Doing Since 1914?", The Watchtower, October 15, 1966, page 617.
115.Jump up ^ The Government That Will Bring Paradise, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1993, page 3.
116.Jump up ^ Insight on the Scriptures,, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, Vol 1, page 310.
117.Jump up ^ Worship the Only True God, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 2002, page 6.
118.Jump up ^ Reasoning from the Scriptures, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, pages 225-234.
119.Jump up ^ "God’s Kingdom—Earth’s New Rulership", The Watchtower, October 15, 2000, page 10.
120.Jump up ^ You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1989, p. 77.
121.Jump up ^ "Is There LIFE After Death?", The Watchtower July 15, 2001.
122.Jump up ^ Reasoning From The Scriptures, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1989, p. 333.
123.Jump up ^ "The Only Remedy!", The Watchtower March 15, 2006, p. 6.
124.Jump up ^ "Hell—Eternal Torture or Common Grave?" The Watchtower, April 15, 1993, p. 6.
125.Jump up ^ "Comfort for Those Who Mourn", Awake! May 8, 2002, p. 19.
126.Jump up ^ Questions From Readers, The Watchtower, July 15, 2005, p. 31.
127.Jump up ^ Insight On The Scriptures, Vol 1, p. 906.
128.Jump up ^ "The Dead Who Are in Line for Resurrection", The Watchtower, February 1, 1965, p.76.
129.Jump up ^ "Satan Worship in Our Time", The Watchtower, September 1, 1988, p. 5.
130.Jump up ^ "What Is the Bible’s View? Mourning for the Dead", Awake!, December 8, 1974, pp. 26-28.
131.Jump up ^ The Watchtower 4/15/60 p. 229 Does the Bible Teach What You Believe?
132.Jump up ^ "Is Your Life Predestined?", Awake!, May 2007, p. 13.
133.Jump up ^ "Preaching in a Lawless World", The Watchtower, July 15, 1979, page 13, paragraph 4; cited in James Penton, ‘’Apocalypse Delayed”, pg. 206.
134.Jump up ^ Botting, Heather; Gary Botting (1984). The Orwellian World of Jehovah's Witnesses. University of Toronto Press. p. 107. ISBN 0-8020-6545-7.
135.Jump up ^ Keeping “Clean from the Blood of All Men”, The Watchtower, October 1, 1960, page 608.
136.Jump up ^ The terms "little flock" and "other sheep" are drawn from Luke 12:32 and John 10:16 respectively.
137.Jump up ^ ”Keep Your Hope of Salvation Bright!”, The Watchtower, June 1, 2000, pages 9-14.
138.Jump up ^ Beckford, James A. (1975). The Trumpet of Prophecy: A Sociological Study of Jehovah's Witnesses. Oxford: Basil Blackwell. p. 110. ISBN 0-631-16310-7.
139.Jump up ^ Hoekema, Anthony A. (1963). The Four Major Cults. Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans. p. 285. ISBN 0-8028-3117-6.
140.Jump up ^ ”Salvation – What It Really Means,” The Watchtower, August 15, 1997, pgs 4-7.
141.Jump up ^ ”Rejoicing in Our Hope”, The Watchtower, March 15, 2012, page 20.
142.Jump up ^ The Watchtower 11/1/96 p. 10 Look to Jehovah for Comfort: “One of the main operations of God’s spirit upon first-century Christians was to anoint them as adopted spiritual sons of God and brothers of Jesus. (2 Corinthians 1:21, 22) This is reserved for only 144,000 disciples of Christ. (Revelation 14:1, 3)”
143.Jump up ^ Survivors Out of All the Nations, ©1984 Watch Tower, page 65
144.Jump up ^ "Congregation of God", Watchtower Publications Index 1930–1985, "CONGREGATION OF GOD (Also called 144,000; Anointed; Body of Christ; Bride of Christ; Chosen Ones; Elect; Holy Nation; Israel of God; Kingdom Class; Little Flock; New Creation; New Nation; Royal House; Royal Priesthood; Sanctuary Class; Sons of Levi; Spirit Begotten; Spiritual Israel; Spiritual Sons)"
145.Jump up ^ The Watchtower 5/1/07 p. 31: “They do not believe that they necessarily have more holy spirit than their companions of the other sheep have; nor do they expect special treatment or claim that their partaking of the emblems places them above the appointed elders in the congregation”
146.Jump up ^ “United In Worship Of The Only True God” chap. 14 pp. 112-113 ‘I Make a Covenant With You for a Kingdom’: “Spiritual Sons—How Do They Know? ... God’s spirit gives positive assurance of adoption as spiritual sons to baptized Christians who have received the heavenly calling.
147.Jump up ^ The Watchtower 2/1/98 p. 20 par. 7 The Other Sheep and the New Covenant
148.Jump up ^ The Watchtower 2/15/95 p. 11 par. 12 'There Will Be a Resurrection of the Righteous: “Men and women of old who exercised strong faith in Jehovah and his promises and remained faithful to the death were declared righteous by Jehovah on the basis of their faith, and they will without doubt share in the ‘resurrection of the righteous.’
149.Jump up ^ The Watchtower 6/15/06 p. 6 A Sure Guide to Happiness: “Acts 24:15 ... “There is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous.” So even “the unrighteous,” many individuals who did not know and serve Jehovah, will get a future opportunity to gain God’s favor.”
150.Jump up ^ You Can Believe in a Paradise Earth The Watchtower November 15, 2003, p. 4.
151.Jump up ^ The Watchtower 3/15/06 p. 6 The Only Remedy!: “Some committed sins for which there is no forgiveness. They are not in Hades (mankind’s common grave) but in Gehenna, a symbolic place of eternal destruction. (Matthew 23:33)
152.Jump up ^ The Watchtower 4/15/95 p. 31 Questions From Readers: “In summary, we might remember “other sheep” as the broader term, encompassing all of God’s servants having the hope of living forever on earth. It includes the more limited category of sheeplike ones today who are being gathered as a “great crowd” with the hope of living right through the impending great tribulation”.
153.Jump up ^ "Christ’s Presence—What Does It Mean to You?", The Watchtower, February 15, 2008, page 21.
154.Jump up ^ "Maintain Your Sense of Urgency", The Watchtower, March 15, 2012, p. 18.
155.Jump up ^ "Jesus’ Coming or Jesus’ Presence—Which?", The Watchtower, August 15, 1996, p. 12.
156.Jump up ^ "Tell Us, When Will These Things Be?", The Watchtower, July 15, 2013, p. 6.
157.Jump up ^ The Watchtower, February 1, 1996, p6.
158.Jump up ^ "Why do Jehovah’s Witnesses say that God’s Kingdom was established in 1914?", Reasoning From the Scriptures, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1989, p. 95-96.
159.Jump up ^ Gruss, Edmond C. (1972). The Jehovah's Witnesses and Prophetic Speculation. Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Co. pp. 20–58. ISBN 0-87552-306-4.
160.Jump up ^ Let Your Kingdom Come, Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, 1981, pp. 186-189 Appendix to Chapter 14.
161.Jump up ^ What Does The Bible Really Teach?, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 2005, pp. 217-218.
162.Jump up ^ The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1981, pg 86.
163.Jump up ^ True Peace and Security—How Can You Find It?, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1986, pp 81-84.
164.Jump up ^ "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be proclaimed in all the world as a witness to all nations. And then the end shall come." - Matthew 24:14.
165.Jump up ^ The Watchtower, October 15, 2000, p11.
166.Jump up ^ Awake!, October 22, 1993, p. 11.
167.Jump up ^ Revelation—Its Grand Climax At Hand!, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1988, page 102-104.
168.Jump up ^ "Deliverance by God’s Kingdom Is at Hand!", The Watchtower, May 15, 2008, page 15.
169.Jump up ^ Revelation – Its Grand Climax at Hand, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1988, pages 235-236.
170.Jump up ^ "Apocalypse—When?", The Watchtower, February 15, 1986, page 6.
171.Jump up ^ Revelation – Its Grand Climax at Hand, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1988, page 286.
172.Jump up ^ "Strengthening Our Confidence in God's Righteousness", The Watchtower, August 15, 1998 p. 20
173.Jump up ^ The Watchtower: 530–531. September 1, 1959. Missing or empty |title= (help)
174.Jump up ^ "Armageddon—A Happy Beginning". The Watchtower: 4–6. December 1, 2005.
175.Jump up ^ Penton 1997, p. 180.
176.Jump up ^ The Watchtower, May 15, 2006, p 6.
177.^ Jump up to: a b Penton, M.J. (1997). Apocalypse Delayed. University of Toronto Press. pp. 186–187. ISBN 978-0-8020-7973-2. ISBN 0-8020-7973-3.
178.Jump up ^ Insight on the Scriptures, Vol. 2, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1988,p. 788.
179.Jump up ^ The Watchtower, May 1, 2005, p. 20.
180.Jump up ^ The Watchtower, August 15, 2006, p. 31
181.Jump up ^ Pay Attention to Daniel’s Prophecy!, Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, 2006, pp. 94,95.
182.^ Jump up to: a b Questions From Readers, The Watchtower, July 1, 1984, page 31.
183.^ Jump up to: a b c Holden 2002, pp. 150–170.
184.^ Jump up to: a b "Disfellowshiping—How to View It", The Watchtower, September 15, 1981, page 23.
185.^ Jump up to: a b c d e Questions From Readers, The Watchtower, July 15, 1985, page 31, "Such ones willfully abandoning the Christian congregation thereby become part of the ‘antichrist.’ A person who had willfully and formally disassociated himself from the congregation would have matched that description. By deliberately repudiating God’s congregation and by renouncing the Christian way, he would have made himself an apostate. A loyal Christian would not have wanted to fellowship with an apostate ... Scripturally, a person who repudiated God’s congregation became more reprehensible than those in the world."
186.^ Jump up to: a b Reasoning From the Scriptures, pages 34-35.
187.Jump up ^ Pay Attention To Yourselves and to All the Flock, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, pages 94-95.
188.^ Jump up to: a b c "Remain Solid in the Faith", The Watchtower, August 1, 1980, pages 17-21.
189.Jump up ^ "At Which Table Are You Feeding", The Watchtower, July 1, 1994, pages 11-12.
190.Jump up ^ "Will You Heed Jehovah's Clear Warnings?", The Watchtower, July 15, 2011, page 16.
191.Jump up ^ Jerome Taylor, "War of words breaks out among Jehovah's Witnesses", The Independent, September 27, 2011.
192.Jump up ^ "Why So Many Christian Sects?" The Watchtower, March 15, 1975, page 167.
193.Jump up ^ "Search Through Me, Oh God," The Watchtower, October 1, 1993, page 19.
194.Jump up ^ Penton 1997, pp. 271–273
195.Jump up ^ Ronald Lawson, "Sect-State Relations: Accounting for the Differing Trajectories of Seventh-day Adventists and Jehovah's Witnesses", Sociology of Religion, 1995, 56:4 pg 369
196.Jump up ^ "Remain Without Spot From the World", The Watchtower, October 1, 1984, p. 17 par. 10.
197.Jump up ^ "Repudiate Valueless Things", The Watchtower, April 15, 2008, page 4.
198.Jump up ^ "Parents—What Future Do You Want for Your Children?", The Watchtower, October 1, 2005, pages 26-29.
199.^ Jump up to: a b Holden 2002, p. 135.
200.Jump up ^ "Parents—What Future Do You Want for Your Children?", The Watchtower, October 1, 2005, p. 26-31.
201.Jump up ^ Penton 1997, pp. 314–315.
202.Jump up ^ "Some Educational Opportunities Available", Our Kingdom Ministry, October 2011, Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses, Inc., pages 5-6
203.Jump up ^ Holden 2002, p. 67.
Bibliography[edit]
##Holden, Andrew (2002). Jehovah's Witnesses: Portrait of a Contemporary Religious Movement. Routledge. ISBN 0-415-26610-6.
##Penton, James M. (1997). Apocalypse Delayed: The Story of Jehovah's Witnesses (2nd ed.). University of Toronto Press. ISBN 0-8020-7973-3.
##Franz, Raymond (2002). Crisis of Conscience. Commentary Press. ISBN 0-914675-23-0.
##Franz, Raymond (2007). In Search of Christian Freedom. Commentary Press. ISBN 0-914675-16-8.
##Botting, Gary and Heather (1984). The Orwellian World of Jehovah's Witnesses. University of Toronto Press.
##Botting, Gary (1993). Fundamental Freedoms and Jehovah's Witnesses. University of Calgary Press.
External links[edit]
##What Do Jehovah’s Witnesses Believe?
  


Categories: Beliefs and practices of Jehovah's Witnesses




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