![]() ![]() By the time Rutherford died in 1942, the religion had a worldwide membership of 115,000. In 1931 Rutherford called his group "Jehovah's Witnesses" to tell it apart from the other groups. Many members did not agree with Rutherford's harsh changes, and some started their own groups. He told all members to no longer celebrate all holidays, singing at religious meetings was strictly prohibited and preaching from door to door about God's Kingdom and to distribute Watch Tower Society publications so more people would hear the message was mandatory. He made some changes to Russell's teachings and required all the study groups, or congregations, around the world to agree to the teachings and rules set by the Watch Tower Society in New York. Joseph Franklin Rutherford, one of his followers, took Russell's position as president of the Watch Tower Society. He wrote that God would bring about all those events by 1914.Ī new president īy the time Russell died in 1916, he had written 50,000 pages, with almost 20 million copies of his books printed and distributed around the world. He wrote several books, set up some Bible study classes for people to study his teachings, and started a magazine, Zion's Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence, which taught that Christ was already present. He started a publishing group called the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. He believed these "truths" had been carefully hidden in the Bible for thousands of years. Russell believed it was very important that all Christians, including those who were attending churches, should learn those "truths". He believed that God would then end sickness and death and allow obedient Christians to live forever in perfect health. Russell believed part of God's plan was to start Armageddon, which he thought would be a complete breakdown of law and order on earth, when governments and people would fight among themselves. ![]() Churches at the time taught that humans were still waiting for Jesus to return to earth in his Second Coming, but Russell believed that clues in the Bible showed Jesus returned in 1874. Other faithful Christians who had since died would also make up a total of 144,000 kings in heaven. ![]() Using various Bible verses and events from history, Russell decided that God would soon call a group of "saints" to heaven to be kings there. Russell studied that preacher's teachings and looked through the Bible, and ended up with some new beliefs. He said the kingdom, which is mentioned many times in the New Testament of the Bible, would be based in heaven, and it would completely change the way of life for everyone in the world. The preacher said the Bible contained clues that showed God was about to set up a kingdom, or government, over earth. In 1870 a young clothing shop owner named Charles Taze Russell heard an Adventist preacher speak. Jehovah's Witnesses are best known for preaching their beliefs from door-to-door and in other public places, and offering their magazines, The Watchtower and Awake! They are also well known for refusing to join armies and refusing blood transfusions. They teach that when people die, they remain in the grave until God resurrects them after God's Kingdom, or government, is ruling over earth. God rejects worship that uses images or symbols, including the cross "Idolatry" Ex 20:4-6. They believe Jesus died on a pole (also called ' stake') rather than a cross. They do not believe that God is a Trinity. Jehovah's Witnesses believe that only 144,000 people will go to heavenRev 7:1-17,Rev 14:1 and that all the other people who obey God will live forever on a paradise Earth. Some of their beliefs, especially about who God is and what his plans are for humans and the earth, are different from what is taught in most Christian churches. They later started publishing a religious magazine called The Watchtower. Since Jesus is the Founder of Christianity, they view him as the founder of their organization.-Colossians 1:18-20. The goal of Russell and other Bible Students, as the group was then known, was to promote the teachings of Jesus Christ and to follow the practices of the first-century Christian congregation. These beliefs were taught by Charles Taze Russell, a preacher who started a Bible study group in Pennsylvania in 1876. Their beliefs are based solely upon the Bible. They say that God's Kingdom (mentioned (thy Kingdom come) in the Lord's prayer) will restore God's original purpose for the Earth: bringing about peace for all humans who live by Bible standards. 83:18), will end crime, violence, sickness and death by destroying all wickedness in the world. They believe God, who's name is Jehovah (Ps. Jehovah's Witnesses are a religious group with more than eight million members around the world. Meeting in Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses in the Netherlands. ![]()
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