Jehovah’s Witness Evangelism

We have been learning about different cults that have grown throughout the 19th and 20th century. Most of these are popular cults that more often than not, have grown to a large extent and now we see people who participate in them everywhere.

Who are the Russellites?

Hint: They are also known as the Millennial Dawnists.

Jehovah’s Witness.

Who founded the Jehovah’s Witnesses?

Charles Taze Russell.

The Jehovah’s Witnesses were founded in the 1870s by Russell.

If you read the JW.org website they will state that he was only the leader of a bible study dedicated to uncovering the truth of the scriptures and that Jesus is the original founder.

Originally they were known as the Millennial Dawnists or Russellites after Charles Russell.

They would not be known by the name ‘Jehovah’s Witness’ until 1931.

Dictionary of Theological Terms Russellites

In 1931 the name “Jehovah’s Witnesses” was coined to distinguish the main body of the cult from a breakaway group.

Let’s talk more about Charles Taze Russell a bit more.

He was a lay preacher who held to many of the Adventist doctrines, which typically has a heavy emphasis on the end times and the impending doom about to come upon humanity.

He was a former Congregationalist and early leader of the YMCA.

Congregationalism is a form of Protestantism in the Reformed tradition whose main tenant is the independence and autonomy of the individual church body. The church members are given the power of government over their congregation rather than church officers. Also: Congregational Church; Congregationalist.

This differs in how Grace operates where there is a Deacon board who does handle some of the churches needs and affairs. However, all major decisions do fall on the church.

He became fascinated with end times prophecy and the Great Tribulation and the book of Revelation.

Russell was an unprincipled man. He lied under oath in court when asked if he knew Greek.

He was summoned for fraud against his wife and she divorced him.

He was charged with selling “miracle wheat” at an exorbitant price and of inducing sick people to sign over their fortunes to his organization.

He did this while he berated the church for being in business for money.

While he was ‘pastor’ of the cult he was more unprincipled and dangerous. He claimed to be such a great bible teacher that it would be better for readers to read his notes on scripture rather than read the scriptures themselves.

Russell was never ordained a minister.

He rejected the view of the trinity and taught instead that Christ was an archangel.

What are some of Russells claims?

The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church Jehovah’s Witnesses

His main claim was that Jesus Christ, a perfect man, had returned invisibly to earth in 1874 in order to prepare for the Kingdom of God which was expected to materialize after the Battle of Armageddon in 1914. The overriding responsibility of believers was to study the Bible and to warn as many people as possible about the impending ‘end time’ so that they might survive on earth, in turn, a First Judgement, Christ’s millennial reign on earth, and a Second Judgement.

How many people do the Jehovah’s Witnesses believe will receive eternal life and enter into heaven?

144,000.

Since this has been an issue they have since revised this number several times or the interpretation of the number.

What year is it now?

2024. 110 years after 1914.

What is a common occurrence in cults?

False predictions.

What is the first question you should ask a Jehovah’s Witness?

Why do you believe Jehovah’s Witness to be true? ‘

They will probably say some arbitrary thing about the teachings of the bible. Most will probably not know what else to say regarding the matter.

Ask them about their testimony.

Russellites operated on the idea that reason was their foundation for which

Dictionary of Theological Terms Russellite Dogma

“we have endeavoured to build … the teachings of scripture in such a manner that, so far as possible, purely human judgment may try its squares and angles” (Rutherford). “Let us examine the character of the writings claimed as inspired, to see whether their teachings correspond with the character we have reasonably imputed to God” (Rutherford).

Because of this they will change scripture translations in arbitrary ways to bring it inline with their teachings.

Russellism denies the deity of Christ.

Denies the doctrine of the Trinity

Russell had this to say in regards to the doctrine of the Trinity:

Dictionary of Theological Terms Russellite Dogma

“that notorious, pagan doctrine, the Trinity.”

Dictionary of Theological Terms Russellite Dogma

Russellism reduces atonement* to a mere “at-one-ment” i.e., reconciliation to God without any sacrifice of propitiation.* Russell taught that reconciliation* was in two parts:

a. The work of reconciliation by the man Jesus; and

b. Man’s return to God of his own free will, the condition for such a return having been met by what Jesus did. This work of atonement is not complete and “the little flock” (the Russellites) are said to be “joint sacrifices, joint-mediators, joint-reconcilers, joint-at-one-ers,” who shall thus be “privileged to be joint heirs in the Millennial Kingdom and partakers of his divine nature.” Thus in the Russellite view of salvation, man always acts first, and God accepts the act.

What does the bible teach about who acted first?

God.

Where would I find that in the bible?

Genesis 3:14–15 KJV 1900

14 And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: 15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

We call this the protoevangelium. It is the first mention of the gospel in scripture.

Dictionary of Theological Terms Russellite Dogma

Russellism denies all divine retribution, holding that man is so constituted as to be incapable of suffering God’s wrath.* It is vehement in its denunciation of any who preach the reality of a place of torment

In this view, what do they deny exists?

Hell.

Does the bible teach that there is a place of torment?

Yes, it is mentioned many times in the scriptures. Including the book of Revelation in which was so instrumental in the founding of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Revelation 20:14–15 KJV 1900

14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Matthew 13:49–50 KJV 1900

49 So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, 50 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Dictionary of Theological Terms Russellite Dogma

It also denies the bodily resurrection* of Christ, holding that He was raised “a spirit being of the highest order of the divine nature.”

Here is another quote from Russell regarding the resurrection of Christ:

Dictionary of Theological Terms Russellite Dogma

“The man Jesus is dead, forever dead”

They hold a very interesting view of eschatology (doctrine of the end times):

Dictionary of Theological Terms Russellite Dogma

a. The time of the end began in 1799.

b. Christ’s second coming took place in 1874.

c. The Day of Jehovah began in 1914.

d. The Messenger of the Covenant (the Lord Jesus) came to His temple (the Russellites) in 1918 and so began “the day of our Lord Jesus Christ,” and the judgment of the house of God. Thus Christ has already come, the battle of Armageddon is just about to happen, and immediately the Millennium will follow.

e. All this gives rise to the notion of two sections to the kingdom, the heavenly part and the New World Order on earth.

Just like Mormonism, Russell had a successor named J.F. Rutherford. Which by now you have seen some of his quotes.

I bring him up now since we will see some of his quotes regarding these two sections of the kingdom.

Dictionary of Theological Terms The Heavenly Kingdom

The Heavenly Kingdom

Since 1914 Christ has been ruling in His heavenly kingdom. By Christ, Russellites understand something different from the rest of us. “Christ is composed of Jesus, the great and mighty head, and 144,000 members” (Rutherford). These 144,000 are a special class, all resurrected since 1918, called variously “the mystery class,” “the bride class,” or “the anointed class.” These are “Christ the body,” while Jesus is “Christ the head.” This special class enjoy the heavenly kingdom, ruling as Christ.

Dictionary of Theological Terms The New World Order

The New World Order

Following the battle of Armageddon, the millennium will begin. In it “millions now living,” who desire righteousness but do not know the way, will be given a chance for a place in the New World Order. There will be great miracles of healing, so that “the most sceptical, it is to be hoped, will believe that the Lord Jesus reigns” (Rutherford). There will be a resurrection of those who have died without the knowledge of Christ, and they will be given a minimum trial period of 100 years (for which Isa. 65:20 is cited!). Only a small number will remain disobedient, and they will be annihilated. All the rest, i.e., those “other sheep,” who are not of the 144,000 who reign in the heavenly kingdom, will constitute the New World Order in God’s everlasting kingdom.

One commentator said this about Russellites:

Dictionary of Theological Terms The New World Order

A more complete example of “strong delusion” would be difficult to find.

As far as eschatology goes, we will not delve into this much, suffice it to know that we believe there will be a rapture of the church before a 7 year tribulation period and that Jesus will rule for 1000 years.

What is the Jehovah’s Witness teach about Jesus? who is he?

They believe that Jesus is an archangel.

More specifically they believe that Jesus is actually the incarnation of Michael the archangel.