Before we begin this discussion, we should first like to clear up a common misconception, one which has been fostered no less by the Jehovah’s Witnesses themselves, it involves who the founder of the organization was and what teachings or materials the organization uses in their studies and interpretation of the scriptures.

“Contrary to what is generally propagated by both orthodoxy and the JW’s themselves, Pastor Russell WAS NOT the founder of this religious group. He was never associated with them, nor did he ever claim the name. Pastor Russell died in 1916, while the “Jehovah’s Witnesses“ did not come into existence until 1931. Linking Pastor Russell with “Jehovah’s Witnesses” leaves the decidedly mistaken view that their teachings and beliefs are alike. Such is not the case.

Pastor Russell founded what has been called “The Bible Student’s Association.” This movement had its beginning in the 1860’s in Allegheny, Pa. when some earnest Christians formed a Bible class for advanced Bible study to meet the then rising wave of infidelity. In 1879, Zion’s Watch Tower Society was formed, later know as The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society.

This Society however WAS NOT the central authority for the Bible Students, for all cooperating congregations of Bible Students held strictly to congregational self-government. The Society only served to coordinate the activities of the various congregations.

After the death of Pastor Russell in 1916 the purpose of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society changed completely. The teachings of the six volumes of “Studies in The Scriptures“, which Pastor Russell wrote on in regards to the bible, were discarded. Those congregations who were in harmony with the New Society relinquished their congregational or self-rule. Thus, the New Society became the central head and authority over all congregations willing to yield their sovereignty.

Basic doctrines of the Society seriously digressed from the teachings of Pastor Russell, and before long Judge Rutherford, (the new head of the society) whom the Pastor had dismissed from his staff prior to his death, seized legal control of the Society, dismissed the majority of the Board of Directors and established dictatorial control, subsequently declaring that those associated with the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society were from hence forth to be referred to as “Jehovah’s Witnesses” on this earth. Here is where the name emerged — certainly not in Pastor Russell’s time.

The new society sued for the right to the name “Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society” and since the Lord had taught that brethren should not sue brethren, those who exited the society refused to contest the matter, and so today the JW’s retain the right to this name.

Every so often you will note that we may quote some material from the old reprints, the old Watch Towers, for example R2557 or something akin, however bear in mind that these old Towers are NOT the ones which the Society presently uses, these old Towers as well as the Studies in the Scriptures series were long since discarded by the Society, although they may still keep a few copies around in their libraries for historical reference only.

After Pastor Russell’s death, The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society began to rise as a hierarchy  over the once independent congregations. Many refused to surrender their Christian liberty and here started the work of separation. As early as 1917 this exodus from the Society began, by 1918 one-fourth of all the original Bible Students had left Rutherford and his dictatorial policies preferring rather to respect the truth as it was presented in the teachings of the late Pastor Russell today these are known as “Associated Bible Students” or just “Bible Students” if you will.

Between 1925 and 1931 Judge Rutherford embarked on a campaign to purge Russell’s followers from the new society and so by the time the new organization had adopted the name Jehovah’s Witnesses over three fourths of those formerly associated with the Bible Students movement in Pastor Russell’s day who remained faithful to his teachings had completely separated themselves from Rutherford and the new society known as the JW’s.

The picture is clear to the unbiased mind, the historical data revels beyond a doubt that Bible Students founded by Pastor Russell and Jehovah’s Witnesses founded by Judge Rutherford are two separate movements all together, it is only on account of ignorance and personal prejudice that some continue to dispute this. Even yet there is one point that tends to be confusing and contradictory,

Why do some JW’s continue to refer to Pastor Russell as their founder?

Certainly, it is not because they agree with his basic teachings. In fact, they so vigorously disagree with his basic teachings that they have time and time again categorized us Bible Students as the “evil servant” class who will in the final judgment be eventually annihilated eternally.

This alone should be enough to convince our critics that we are not associated with the Jehovah’s Witnesses.

What is the sin of Pastor Russell and his Bible Students movement that makes them so evil in their eyes?

What is the abominable sin that they have committed that merits eternal destruction?

The answer is simply that Bible Students still hold on to the Biblical teachings of Pastor Russell! That means that, therefore they reject Jehovah’s Witnesses’ doctrines. To the JW’s the basic teachings of Bible Students are gross error, worthy of eternal judgment.

Thus, doesn’t it seem a bit absurd for the JW’s to claim Pastor Russell as their founder, when they believe that he taught errors.

So why do they claim him anyway?

For one reason and one simple reason alone is this claim made, “historic depth”. As a Christian church, the JW’s are neophytes. Since the JW’s only began in 1931, they need historic credibility. Imagine in the 1930s, ’40s or ’50s, saying, “Our Christian group only began in 1931.” To claim Pastor Russell as their founder, however would project them back into the 1800s as a Christian group. (After all, a number of Christian churches had their beginnings in the 1800s.) As evidence of their sensitivity to historic depth, they do a “one-up” on all religious groups by claiming that Able, Adam’s son was the first Jehovah’s Witness. This is really reaching for historic depth! But pretense of historic depth means nothing.

The historic facts are clear, Pastor Russell founded the Bible Students in the 1870s, and Judge Rutherford founded the JW’s in 1931.

Just to illustrate the point, Lutherans and Roman Catholics share a common lineage simply because Lutherans broke away from the Papacy, but nevertheless they are two separate churches. Lutherans believe in Martin Luther’s teachings and the Catholics believe in the teachings of the popes. Merely because the lineage of the Lutherans’ goes back to the popes does not mean the popes are the founders of Lutherans’, no more than merely because the JW’s lineage goes back to Pastor Russell means that he was their founder.

There are however a few similarities of belief between Bible Students and JW’s, but this is not uncommon, Baptist and Presbyterians share common beliefs, so too do Methodist and Adventist. To say that Bible Students and JW’s are the same merely because of their obvious similarities is inaccurate. Just as Baptist and Presbyterians believe in eternal torment as the wages of sin, Bible Students and JW’s (as well as Seventh Day Adventist) believe that the wages of sin is eternal annihilation, but this similarity does not make them the same group nor more than the similarity between the Baptist and Presbyterians made them the same group.

In any case, it is well to observe that Bible Students feel most JW’s are noble-minded people and are just as likely as other people to enjoy the blessings of God’s eternity, we only wished they shared such kindly feelings toward us!

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