Trapped in the Watchtower - Plain Truth Ministries

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He thrusts a Watchtower maga- zine toward you as the other young man chimes in, “I see that you're watching the news, sir. You know, conditions in the.
by Monte Wolverton

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ou are comfortably settled in your recliner behind the sports section of the newspaper, and halfway watching world news on T.V. Your wife, whose turn it is to cook tonight, is in the kitchen preparing your favorite dinner of lasagna, caesar salad and garlic bread. The doorbell rings. Annoyed, you drag yourself out of the recliner, walk to the door and look through the peephole. Outside are two JULY/AUGUST 2007

well-scrubbed young men in dark slacks, white shirts and ties, each carrying Bibles, magazines and other literature. You already know they are either Mormons or Jehovah’s Witnesses. Either way they are selling religion and you don’t want any. You open the door. “Sorry— not interested—we already have a church.” As you begin to close the door, the more earnest-looking of the two pleads, “Sir? We have something we’d like to leave You feel a little sorry with you that we think you might find thought-provoking.” for them….They try He thrusts a Watchtower magaso hard, and they are zine toward you as the other probably rebuffed at young man chimes in, “I see that you’re watching the news, most homes. Even sir. You know, conditions in the so…the lasagna and world are getting worse and worse—if you read this, you’ll garlic bread are find the answers!” starting to smell “To what question?” you retort cynically as you take the really good. magazine and gently but firmly shut the door on their disappointed faces. You watch them through the peephole as they return to the sidewalk. You feel a little sorry for them, and a little guilty that you were brusque. They try so hard, and they are probably rebuffed at most homes. Even so, you toss the magazine in the waste basket and return to your recliner and the newspaper. The lasagna and garlic bread are starting to smell really good. Thankfully, for the time being, most people are more interested in lasagna than the Watchtower Society. But that may be changing if the movement continues to grow at its alarming pace. With a current worldwide membership of 6 million (13 million including families and non-member attendees), conservative estimates place Watchtower membership by 2090 at 195 million. It is, according to some scholars, the fastest growing religious movement in the Western world. Watchtower missionaries, a volunteer army of some 40,000 men and women are, in fact, not rebuffed at every home. They are invited in for a discussion—the Watchtower magazine gets read — the ideas find fertile ground — the families become part of the Watchtower organization—and husbands, wives and children find themselves inducted into that army, knocking on doors and “witnessing”—promulgating the bizarre religious stylings of one Charles Taze Russell.

A Cult Is Born Charles Taze Russell was born in 1852, in Allegheny, Pennsylvania. In Russell’s early teens, his father 19



Thankfully, for the time being, most people are more interested in lasagna than the Watchtower Society. But that may be changing if the movement continues to grow at its alarming pace. made him a partner in his men’s clothing store. Raised as a Presbyterian, Russell was preoccupied with religion. He joined the Congregational church at age 13. In his late teens, challenges to his faith led him to investigate other religions and philosophies such as Buddhism, Hindusim, Taosim and Confucianism. In 1870 Russell heard an Adventist preacher, who convinced him that the return of Christ was imminent. Russell’s subsequent studies led him to sell his clothing business and use the money to further his religious ideas, helping to finance the publications of Millerite Adventist minister Nelson Barbour. Russell and Barbour asserted that the Rapture would occur in 1878. The Rapture, of course, did not occur that year, yet Russell believed

Selected Events in Watchtower History This timeline highlights key developments, events and predictions related to the Watchtower organization up to 1975. It is not comprehensive, but is intended to help our readers gain a perspective on the origins and history of the Watchtower Society.

that Jesus had actually come invisibly as early as 1874. In 1879, Russell parted ways with Barbour and began publishing Zion’s Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence. In 1881, he formed Zion’s Watch Tower Bible And Tract Society. Determining the exact times and events involved in Russell’s early prophetic chronology is confusing, as he revised, reinterpreted and re-spun so many of his predictions. As Russell cranked out his publications, tracts and books, the numbers of his followers swelled. He relocated his headquarters to Brooklyn, New York. In 1903 his sermons began syndication in newspapers worldwide, with an estimated readership of 12-15 million in the United States alone. He was not without detractors. Many Christian leaders regarded his teachings as heretical—but the more controversy he encountered, the more famous he became.

Dramatic growth of Jehovah's Witness membership 1945-2005 Russell’s private life was no less controversial than his theology. He had married in 1879, agreeing to a “mutually celibate” relationship so that he and his wife could devote their energies toward preaching the “gospel.” In 1897 they separated and later divorced, with implied allegations of sexual improprieties on Russell’s part with a Watchtower stenographer (who was also their foster child). After Russell’s death in 1916, his successor, Joseph Rutherford, changed certain doctrines, restructuring the society into the form it takes today. He coined the term “Jehovah’s Witnesses” and centralized organizational authority. His predictions rivaled those of his predecessor in sheer oddness (including the return of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and other prophets to govern the earth in 1925—he even built a palatial home for them in San Diego, and then lived there himself when the patriarchs didn’t show up). In spite of the failed predictions of its past, the society has continued to flourish. Currently, the organization brings in an annual revenue of around a billion dollars, much of which goes into its massive publishing operations.

Biblically Deviant Teachings Their success in numbers notwithstanding, The Society’s teachings run contrary to biblically based histori-

1844

John Aquila Brown

End of the 2,300 days of Daniel 8 and return of Christ, according to John Aquila Brown. This idea, adopted by Adventist movement founder William Miller, proves to be wrong when Christ does not return this year.

Charles Taze Russell

1870

1823 John Aquila Brown interprets Seven Times of Daniel 4 to mean 2,520 years, beginning 604 BC and ending in 1917, marking the “full glory of the kingdom.” William Miller, founder of Adventist movement

Millerite prophetic time chart from 1843, about the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation.

C.T. Russell along with Millerite Adventist ministers, begins a study of popular Christian doctrine and end-times chronology, finding what he believes to be significant errors and discovering what he believes to be new truth.

The Jehovah’s Witness missionary who knocks on your door and interrupts your evening dinner may seem confident, sincere and free. But in reality, he or she is a prisoner…. cal Christianity. In addition to their always incorrect and often revised end-time schedules, they teach (or have taught) the following: • The Trinity is satanic. • God the Father is the “supreme God” whose real name is Jehovah. • Christ is not Jehovah, but rather a created being (known originally as Michael the Archangel) who received his divinity after the cross. • The Holy Spirit is merely the power of God—not a divine person. • Jesus rose only spiritually, not bodily, from the dead. • Christ’s second coming occurred spiritually in 1879 (or 1914—take your pick). He will not physically return. • Pyramidology plays a key role in end-time prophetic calculations. • Humans do not have an immortal soul—most dead humans are unconscious—awaiting a resurrection either to eternal life or the the second death. • Eternal life in heaven is limited to 144,000 special saints. The rest of the faithful await resurrection to eternal life on earth. • There is no ever-burning hell. Unrepentant sinners are destined for a one-time annihilation in the Lake of Fire. Additionally, Russell was one of the earliest preachers to promote the idea that the establishment of a state of Israel was essential in

the fulfillment of “end-times” prophecy. The Watchtower Society has created its own version of the Bible, the New World Translation, necessary to support its various unorthodox teachings. Yet this short synopsis of the history of the Watchtower Society and a list of its doctrinal aberrations does not give a sense of the culture of the group — what it is actually like to be a member — where all family, friends, time, effort, thought, worldview and sense of self are engulfed, regulated and controlled by a single monolithic organization.

Raymond Franz—A Leader Who Tried to Reform the Watchtower Most Christians enjoy the personal freedom of being able to decide when and where they will worship, or with whom and how they will meet. If they don’t like a particular church or fellowship, they can walk down the street to another. They can even attend church on the Internet if they prefer. But members of the Watchtower Society and similar “Christian” cultic groups believe they have no such choice. They are either members of the “one true church” or they are not. If they are dissatisfied with something, their only recourse is to attempt internal reform. This doesn’t happen very often, however, as cultic leadership

usually does not react well when its authority is challenged. The Society has withstood its share of such internal reform movements—where a group within the organization attempts to change the status quo. Sometimes these events are driven by those who have recognized unbiblical teaching or flawed biblical interpretation. One such challenge occurred in the mid-1980s when various Watchtower leaders began questioning some long-held beliefs. In his book Crisis of Conscience, Raymond Franz, a former writer and editor for the organization’s publications and a member of the Governing Body of the Watchtower Society, recounts his experiences as it became clear to him that many Watchtower teachings were unbiblical. Franz had spent most of his life in the service of the Watchtower Society. For years, he took a series of foreign missionary assignments

Zion’s Watch Tower, first issue 1879

1873

1877

1878

Adventist N.H. Barbour adopts John Aquila Brown’s interpretation of Daniel 4, changing the starting point to 606BC, ending in 1914. Barbour predicts Jesus will arrive in 1874. Barbour begins publication of periodical The Midnight Cry, later called Herald of the Morning.

C.T. Russell finances Barbour’s book, Three Worlds; or Plan of Redemption, marking 1914 as end of the “Times of Gentiles” C.T. Russell also publishes his own book, The Object and Manner of our Lord's Return.

Rapture does not occur. Russell becomes assistant editor of Herald of the Morning. According to Russell this year marks the “Fall of Babylon the Great” and the beginning of Christ’s “Kingdom Rule.”

Nelson H. Barbour

1874 Jesus arrives, but “invisibly.” Beginning of Jesus’ “invisible presence,” and beginning of “harvest of the saints” (to end in 1914). C.T. Russell is rebaptized by Millerite Adventist minister.

1876

C.T. Russell meets N.H. Barbour, accepting his prophetic chronology, slating 1878 as the date of the the Rapture. Russell sells his business, to pursue ministry full time.

1879 Russell and Barbour disagree over why the Rapture failed to occur. Russell launches his own publication, Zion's Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence. Russell marries.

Charles & Maria Russell

Charles Taze Russell, founder of Watch Tower Tract Society

1881 Russell founds Zion's Watch Tower Tract Society (chartered in 1884). Resurrection to heaven begins for “anointed” Christians who lived from time of Christ onward.

“Why put up with all this nonsense? Why not just leave?” ...members of such groups are so deeply connected to and dependent on the organization that it would cause major emotional pain for them to step outside the group... where he and his wife lived in modest conditions, braving persecution, political violence and disease to help proclaim what he thought was the gospel. In 1965 he was brought back to the society’s headquarters in Brooklyn to write for the publications. In 1966, as Franz settled into his labors in the Writing Department, the leadership of the Society issued a startling prediction. After years of re-examining and revising their chronology, they set a new date for the beginning of the Millennium —1975. This year, they asserted, would mark the end of 6,000 years of human rule and the start of the thousand-year Sabbath—the millennial reign of Jesus Christ. But this kind of prediction was nothing new for the Watchtower organization. When earlier predictions had failed, the leadership engaged in revisionism and blamed the “brothers”—the rank-and-file members—for misunderstanding the predictions. Yet in every case, the published version of the predictions was dogmatic and absolute. Members had been disfellowshipped for questioning these teachings. Would 1975 be any different? That same year, Society president Nathan Knorr embarked on a worldwide speaking tour, warning members of the difficult months immediately ahead before the anticipated apocalyptic events.

1896

Of course, the apocalyptic events didn’t happen. Headquarters was silent. No explanation was forthcoming until 1980, when it fell to Raymond Franz to write an explanation of the failed prediction—with a positive spin. The Governing Body, which had recently taken on most of the powers wielded by the president, had to deal with fallout from the failed prediction of 1975. Membership of over two million was beginning to decline. Leaders were concerned. Additionally, the culture of the ‘70s was rubbing off on some Jehovah’s Witnesses. Members were beginning to think freely— to study their Bibles and talk amongst themselves. Longstanding assumptions and doctrines were being questioned. The reaction of the Governing Body was to tighten control, beginning at their Brooklyn headquarters. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, special committees were appointed by the Governing Body to investigate reports of “heresy” and “apostasy.” This, ironically, in an organization whose core doctrines are heretical by the standards of historical Christianity. Franz’ book describes how members were subjected to stressful inquiries and interrogations — how they faced “judicial committees” and vainly attempted to defend themselves — how they spent sleepless nights waiting to

1914

Beginning of Kingdom of Russell God on earth does not 1906 separates from happen. Russell explains his wife in Russell’s wife that Jesus has come dispute over sues for “invisibly,” changing his control of Zion’s divorce. earlier dates (either 1874 Watch Tower or 1878) for this publication. occurrence. Watchtower Society will later mark Joseph F. Rutherford this year as the beginning of “last days,” 1917 the end of the “Times of Joseph F. (Judge) Gentiles,” Rutherford and the beginning of the elected president “harvest of the saints.” of Watchtower Society. He moves some prophetic 1916 events that had C.T. Russell dies. been slated for 1914 to 1918. Charles Taze Russell in 1911

hear a verdict, and how they were finally given the sentence of disfellowshipment. Franz continued to fulfill his responsibilities, to sit on the Governing Body, to visit regional offices and to speak as a representative of Brooklyn headquarters, until his turn came to be put on trial for holding views that were contrary to the teachings of the Society. As a result, he chose to resign from Watchtower employment. Several months later, living in Alabama, he was disfellowshipped for having shared a meal with a person who had voluntarily left the fellowship.

Trapped by the Watchtower As I read these accounts I found myself asking, “Why put up with all this nonsense? Why not just leave?” The answer (as I very well know from my own background in an authoritarian religious group) is that members of such groups are so deeply connected to and dependent on the organization that it would cause major emotional pain for them to step outside the group into the freedom that Christ offers. Raymond Franz’ story is not dissimilar to the stories of hundreds of thousands of people who have had the traumatic experience of leaving a cult. Why classify the Watchtower Society as a cult?

1918 This year is marked for the complete establishment of God’s Kingdom. It is also the revised date of the resurrection to heaven of “anointed” Christians who lived from time of Christ onward.

1919 Events slated for 1918 moved to 1920.

Beth Sarim “House of the Princes”

1920

1930

Rutherford slates 1925 as date for return of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and other O.T. “worthies” to help prepare for Millennium.

Palatial “Beth-Sarim” house built in San Diego, California, to house Abraham, Isaac, Jacob whenever they do arrive. Rutherford later moves in to occupy this house until ancient “worthies” arrive.

1925 Abraham, Isaac and Jacob fail to show up.

“Why Be Divisive?” n recent years, there has been a movement in Evangelical Christianity to invite representatives of cultic groups such as Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons to participate in Christian conferences. In a related development over the last decade, Jehovah’s Witnesses and especially Mormons have begun to use Christian terminology. For example, 30 years ago, Mormons would have been reluctant to identify themselves as Christians, because they wanted to be distinct from conventional Christianity. Yet now, Mormon missionaries will insist that they are Christian, even though they believe in a markedly different Christ. Their definitions of such basic words as gospel, salvation and sanctification are also very different. Apologists observe that both Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses have recently made a deliberate effort to polish their image among Christians.

I

Three reasons: False doctrine: Its doctrines are contrary to the core historical, biblical doctrines of the Christian church. Authoritarianism: It exercises extraordinary control and micromanages people’s lives, demanding nothing less than complete conformity among its members. Religion: It advocates human effort and religious observance to attain salvation — over the completed work of Jesus Christ. The Jehovah’s Witness missionary who knocks on your door and interrupts your evening dinner may seem confident, sincere and free. But in reality, he or she is a prisoner in a religious hell-hole. Sadly, there is nothing you can do or say to release them from their captivity. There

Are Christian leaders falling for a clever public relations ploy? One Christian pastor tours the country with a Mormon, dialoguing and promoting good will. Prominent evangelical leaders have apologized publicly to Mormons for misrepresenting their beliefs or opposing them (and of course it is probable that Mormon beliefs have been misrepresented). One well-known Baptist leader, who included Mormons in his pastor’s training programs, asked “Why Be Divisive?” Perhaps such evangelical leaders believe that creating a friendly dialog with cultists will afford a better chance for the true gospel to penetrate cultic defenses. Is this true, or will Christians of the next century find themselves a minority in the shadow of groups formerly regarded as cultic? Time will tell.

is no doctrinal argument that you can present that they have not been programmed to answer. The good news is that God is able to work (and is working) in the lives of many such cult members, just like he worked in the life of Raymond Franz. It is God who gives people the ability to have a “Crisis of Conscience”—to have the capacity to think, to question and eventually to wake up to the realization that they are religious captives. Those of us who live in the freedom of Christ can help, as opportunities arise, by planting seeds of the real gospel—even seeds of doubt and questioning — in the

1941

1950

The return of 1942 Abraham, Isaac and Rutherford Jacob is officially dies. Beth abandoned in a Sarim house speech by sold. Nathan Watchtower viceKnorr elected president Fred president. Franz.

Rutherford tells young people to postpone marriage until the return of the ancient “worthies,” who will direct the selection of mates.

For more infor mation on cults and biblical Christianity, write for PTM’s free booklet, Contending for the Faith (item K191). For even more resources and inspiring stories of people who have been rescued from cults and religious legalism, visit “First Aid for Legalists” at http:// www.ptm.org/legalism/.

Chart showing end would come in 1975—Watchtower Society’s magazine Awake!—in1968.

Fred Franz Nathan Knorr

minds of such people. We can also point them toward sound apologetic resources, publications and websites where cultic teachings are confronted. And we can equip ourselves to better understand differences between cultic teachings and the core doctrines of historical Christianity. ❑

1975 The Millennium does not begin.

1966 Watchtower vice-president Fred Franz suggests (citing the 6,000 year, day-for-a-year model) that the Millennium will begin in 1975. Raymond Franz, author of Crisis of Conscience