Development of Jehovah's Witnesses doctrine explained

The doctrines of Jehovah's Witnesses have developed since publication of The Watchtower magazine began in 1879. Early doctrines were based on interpretations of the Bible by Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society founder Charles Taze Russell, then added to, altered or discarded by his successors, Joseph Rutherford and Nathan Knorr. Since 1976, doctrinal changes have been made at closed meetings of the group's Governing Body, whose decisions are described as "God's progressive revelations".[1] These teachings are disseminated through The Watchtower, and at conventions and congregation meetings. Most members of the denomination outside the Governing Body play no role in the development of doctrines and are expected to adhere to all those decided at the Warwick, NY headquarters.[2] [3] Jehovah's Witnesses are taught to welcome doctrinal changes, regarding such "adjustments" as "new light" or "new understanding" from God and proving that they are on the "path of the righteous".[4] [5]

Method of doctrinal development

Some core beliefs of Jehovah's Witnesses have remained unchanged throughout the group's history. Certain doctrines, particularly relating to biblical chronology, were based on what Russell called a "venerable tradition" that he conceded was not directly confirmed by facts or scripture, but "based on faith".[6] [7] Watch Tower publications claim that doctrinal changes and refinements result from a process of progressive revelation, in which God gradually reveals his will and purpose.[8] [9] [10] Watch Tower literature has suggested such enlightenment results from the application of reason and study,[11] the guidance of holy spirit, and direction from Jesus Christ and angels.[12]

Rutherford spoke of spiritual "lightning flashes in the temple".[13] The Society claims its doctrine of the "great crowd" and "other sheep" were "revealed" to "God's earthly servants" in 1935.[14] [15] Witness literature has also described sudden changes in doctrines as "flashes of light" given by God through his Holy Spirit.[16] A 1930 publication claimed God used "invisible deputies" and "invisible angels" to pass his "messages" to The Watchtower.[17] [18] The Watchtower told Witnesses it was not necessary for them to understand how this took place.[19] A 1973 policy change to disfellowship tobacco users was explained as a decision that "Jehovah has brought to the attention of his 'holy' people".[20]

Watch Tower publications often cite Proverbs 4:18, "The path of the righteous ones is like the bright light that is getting lighter and lighter until the day is firmly established" (NWT) when explaining the need to change doctrines.[21] The organization's earlier literature has included claims that its predictions about dates such as 1925 were "indisputable",[22] "absolutely and unqualifiedly correct"[23] and bearing "the stamp of approval of Almighty God", but the Governing Body which was established later says its teachings are neither infallible nor divinely inspired.[24] [25] [26]

Robert Crompton, author of a book on Watch Tower eschatology, has noted that it is difficult to trace the development of doctrines because explicit changes are often not identified in Jehovah's Witness literature, leaving readers to assume which details have been superseded.[27] Edmond C. Gruss, a critic of the group, found that a 1943 Watch Tower Society publication that established a new creation chronology, changing the date of Adam's creation by 100 years, made no mention of the old time reckoning, which had previously been said to be "correct beyond a doubt".[28]

Watch Tower Society founding doctrines

From the first issue of Zion's Watch Tower in July 1879, Russell began publicising a number of doctrines, many of them drawn from Adventist teachings, including the atonement, resurrection, the soul, the invisible parousia (or return) of Christ[29] and God's "plan of the ages". Russell taught that mankind was to be redeemed not from torment but from the death penalty that had been imposed on Adam and subsequently passed on to all his descendants. He wrote that Christ's "ransom for all" mentioned in 1 Timothy 2:5 would be applied to all humankind rather than just the righteously inclined.[30] Christ's death provided the ransom payment to free humans from death.[31] He believed an elect few would be resurrected to serve as a heavenly priesthood and all humans who had died would be resurrected to earth, which would be restored to Edenic perfection.[32]

Millennialist teachings

The dominant and central theme of Russell's teachings concerned the timing, nature and purpose of Christ's second coming. His beliefs on the timing of Christ's Advent and God's overarching plan for humans had gained their first exposure in Three Worlds and the Harvest of This World, a book he paid Millerite Adventist Nelson H. Barbour to write in 1877. Russell and Barbour parted company in 1879 and from 1886 Russell began writing his own books that further developed his Millennialist beliefs.

Russell's doctrines on the Millennium followed a tradition of interpretation of Scripture that had begun in the 1st century, when Jewish rabbis sought to identify the due time for the appearance of the Messiah by interpreting the prophecy of the 70 weeks of years of Daniel 9:24–27. Their approach to prophetic interpretation was based on the Day-year principle, drawn from Ezekiel 4 and Numbers 14, in which one day in prophecy represents one year in fulfillment. Such teachings were revived and popularised in the early 19th century by American Adventist preacher William Miller.

Russell also incorporated Miller's teaching of types and antitypes, in which an actual historical situation (the type) prefigures a corresponding situation (the antitype), as well as a modified version of John Nelson Darby's teachings on dispensationalism. Russell modified Darby's teachings to create his own doctrine of parallel dispensations, in which the timing of certain events in the Jewish age are a prophetic indication of corresponding events at the close of the Gospel age. He believed the internal harmony of his "plan of the ages" proved its validity beyond reasonable doubt, noting that a change of just one year would destroy the parallelisms, and found further confirmation in internal measurements of the Great Pyramid of Giza, which he viewed as a divinely built supporting witness to the Bible.

The main points of his doctrines on Bible chronology were:

Timeline of doctrinal changes

Doctrines unchanged since 1879

1880–1889

1890–1899

1900–1909

1910–1919

1920–1929

1930–1939

1940–1949

1950–1959

1960–1969

1970–1979

1980–1989

1990–1999

2000–2009

2010–2019

2020–2029

Criticism

Former Governing Body member Raymond Franz and Sociology lecturer Andrew Holden have pointed out that doctrines—including those relating to sexual behaviour in marriage and the "superior authorities" of Romans 13:4—have sometimes been altered, only to revert to those held decades earlier. Holden, author of an ethnographic study on Jehovah's Witnesses, commented: "It could be that many Witnesses have not yet been in the organisation long enough to realise that 'new lights' have a habit of growing dimmer, while old ones are switched back on!" In his study of the Witnesses and their history, Tony Wills has suggested that when third president Nathan H. Knorr altered major doctrines established by his predecessor, J. F. Rutherford, he was returning the Witnesses to many of Russell's teachings. He asked: "How can the Society harmonize this circular development with the claimed progressive development?"

In testimony at a 1954 court case in Scotland, senior Watch Tower Society figures admitted that although doctrines were subject to change if they were later regarded as erroneous, all Witnesses were required to accept current teachings or risk expulsion. Under cross-examination, Fred Franz, then vice president of the Watch Tower Society, conceded a Witness could be disfellowshipped and shunned for "causing trouble" over a belief they held that was contrary to Society teaching but subsequently embraced by the group.[217] Society lawyer Hayden G. Covington told the court that although the Society had for decades published a "false prophecy ... a false statement" about the date of Christ's Second Coming, members had been required to accept it and any who had rejected it would have been expelled. He explained: "You must understand we must have unity, we cannot have disunity with a lot of people going every way."

See also

Bibliography

. Raymond Franz. Crisis of Conscience. Commentary Press, Fourth edition. 2002. 0-914675-23-0. registration.

. James Penton. Apocalypse Delayed: The Story of Jehovah's Witnesses. University of Toronto Press. 1997. 2nd. 0-8020-7973-3.

Notes and References

  1. Jehovah, the God of Progressive Revelation. Watch Tower Society. The Watchtower. June 15, 1964. 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..
  2. The Godly Qualities of Love and Hate. Watch Tower Society. The Watchtower. 15 July 1974. Christians have implicit trust in their heavenly Father; they do not question what he tells them through his written Word and organization..
  3. Jehovah's Theocratic Organization Today. Watch Tower Society. The Watchtower. February 1, 1952. 79. Are we assigned as individuals to bring forth the food for the spiritual table? No? Then let us not try to take over the slave's duties. We should eat and digest and assimilate what is set before us, without shying away from parts of the food because it may not suit the fancy of our mental taste. The truths we are to publish are the ones provided through the discreet-slave organization, not some personal opinions contrary to what the slave has provided as timely food. Jehovah and Christ direct and correct the slave as needed, not we as individuals. If we do not see a point at first we should keep trying to grasp it, rather than opposing and rejecting it and presumptuously taking the position that we are more likely to be right than the discreet slave. We should meekly go along with the Lord's theocratic organization and wait for further clarification ... Theocratic ones will appreciate the Lord's visible organization and not be so foolish as to pit against Jehovah's channel their own human reasoning and sentiment and personal feelings..
  4. Muramoto . Osamu . August 1998 . Bioethics of the refusal of blood by Jehovah's Witnesses, Part 1 . Journal of Medical Ethics . 24 . 4 . 223–230 . 10.1136/jme.24.4.223 . 1377670 . 9752623.
  5. The Path of the Righteous Does Keep Getting Brighter. The Watchtower. Watch Tower Society. December 1, 1981. 26–31.
  6. "And though the Bible contains no direct statement that the seventh thousand will be the epoch of Christ's reign, the great Sabbath Day of restitution to the world, yet the venerable tradition is not without a reasonable foundation."

  7. Knowledge and Faith Regarding Chronology. Watch Tower Society. Zion's Watch Tower. October 1, 1907. 294. Can we feel absolutely sure that the Chronology set forth in the DAWN-STUDIES is correct? ...we have never claimed our calculations to be infallibly correct; we have never claimed that they were knowledge, nor based upon indisputable evidence, facts, knowledge; our claim has always been that they are based on faith. We have set forth the evidences as plainly as possible and stated the conclusions of faith we draw from them, and have invited others to accept as much or as little of them as their hearts and heads could endorse. ...Possibly some who have read the DAWNS have presented our conclusions more strongly than we; but if so that is their own responsibility.".
  8. Impart God's Progressive Revelation to Mankind. Watch Tower Society. The Watchtower. March 1, 1965. 158–159.
  9. .
  10. .
  11. .
  12. Book: Rutherford . Preparation . Watch Tower Society . 1933 . 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..
  13. February 15, 1933 . Jehovah's Honor/The New King Begins His Rule . The Watchtower . Watch Tower Society . 53, 62. As cited by .
  14. Book: Life Everlasting in Freedom in the Sons of God . Watch Tower Society . 1966 . 149. As cited by .
  15. May 15, 1986 . The Things Revealed Belong to Us . The Watchtower . Watch Tower Society . 10–15 . In 1925 God's earthly servants became possessors of an accurate understanding... In 1932 their understanding was deepened still further. Jehovah revealed that the prophecies related ... to spiritual Israel, the Christian congregation. (Romans 2:28, 29) Then, in 1935 a corrected understanding of John's vision of the "great crowd" in Revelation chapter 7 opened the eyes of anointed ones to the huge gathering work that still lay ahead of them..
  16. Part 1—Flashes of Light—Great and Small. The Watchtower. Watch Tower Society. May 15, 1995. 17, 18.
  17. .
  18. .
  19. December 1, 1933 . His Organization . The Watchtower . Watch Tower Society . 364 . Without doubt these angels are delegated by the Lord to convey his instructions to the members of his organization on Earth. Just how this is done is not necessary for us to understand..
  20. You Must Be Holy Because Jehovah Is Holy. Watch Tower Society. The Watchtower. February 15, 1976. 123.
  21. Keep in Step With Jehovah's Organization. Watch Tower Society. The Watchtower. January 15, 2001. 18.
  22. November 1, 1922 . Who is Wise? . The Watch Tower . Watch Tower Society. As cited by .
  23. July 15, 1922 . The Strong Cable of Chronology . The Watch Tower . Watch Tower Society. As cited by .
  24. To Whom Shall We Go but Jesus Christ?. Watch Tower Society. The Watchtower. March 1, 1979. 23–24.
  25. Questions From Readers. Watch Tower Society. The Watchtower. October 15, 1954. 638.
  26. Name and Purpose of The Watchtower. Watch Tower Society. The Watchtower. August 15, 1950. 263.
  27. .
  28. Book: Gruss . The Jehovah's Witnesses and Prophetic Speculation . Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Co . 1972 . 64. Gruss based his comments on The Truth Shall Make You Free, 1943, pp. 141–152.
  29. The Sign of His Presence. Zion's Watch Tower. Watch Tower Society. May 1880.
  30. If Death Ends All. Watch Tower Society. Zion's Watch Tower. July 1879.
  31. Why Did Christ Die?. Watch Tower Society. Zion's Watch Tower. November 1879.
  32. The Royal Priesthood/If Death Ends All. Watch Tower Society. Zion's Watch Tower. July 1879.
  33. Miller's chronology indicated the start in 1798.
  34. Views From the Watch Tower. Zion's Watch Tower. Watch Tower Society. January 1, 1908. 2. February 27, 2009. March 3, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160303213730/http://www.strictlygenteel.co.uk/watchtower/1908_Zion%27s_Watch_Tower.pdf. dead.
  35. How Will Christ Come?. Zion's Watch Tower. August 1879. 3. Watch Tower Society.
  36. Russell. Charles. Zion's Watch Tower. Watch Tower Society. Views From the Watch Tower. 1 March 1906. 68–69. Then came the suggestion that all the larger forms of being were mere evolutions from lower to higher. With this thought the learned of this world have been wrestling for the past fifty years, shaking the foundations of faith in the Bible for millions. For if the Bible be true this theory is false as respects man's origin. Instead of further evolution being our salvation the Bible points us to our fall, to the redemption accomplished for the world by the Son of God, and to the coming deliverance of the groaning creation from sin and its death penalty. Only those who trust the Bible record are safe from the blighting influence of this evolution error..
  37. "These things are clearly taught in the Scriptures, from beginning to end, and are in direct opposition to the Evolution theory; or, rather, such 'babblings of science, falsely so called,' are in violent and irreconcilable conflict with the Word of God."

  38. Russell . C. T. . July 15, 1906 . Harvest Gatherings and Siftings . Zion's Watch Tower . Watch Tower Society . 229.
  39. Book: Russell . The Object and Manner of Our Lord's Return . Watch Tower Society . 1877 . 2009-09-17 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200924000732/http://www.strictlygenteel.co.uk/object.html . 2020-09-24 . dead.
  40. Zion's Watch Tower. In Re "The Last Trump". July 1, 1879. 7. Watch Tower Society.
  41. Speak the Pure Language and Live Forever!. Watch Tower Society. The Watchtower. May 1, 1991. 17. In 1879 ... a small Bible-study group led by Charles Taze Russell was meeting in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. They had become certain that Jesus' second coming...would restore Paradise on earth, with eternal life for obedient humans..
  42. Zion's Watch Tower. January 1880. Dialogue. 2. Watch Tower Society.
  43. Russell . C. T. . July 15, 1906 . Harvest Gatherings and Siftings . Zion's Watch Tower . Watch Tower Society . 234.
  44. Zion's Watch Tower. April 1881. 7. Watch Tower Society. New Version of the N. T.. And why did they thus keep the people in ignorance? Because they feared that if people knew this, the only text which gives even a shadow of support to the doctrine of the TRINITY, to be an interpolation to support a papal error, they might renounce the error..
  45. Zion's Watch Tower. Watch Tower Society. Revelation XX:5. September 1881. 132. As to the motives and errors which may have led to these unwarranted interpolations of the [Bible] text, we may be able to offer a suggestion, viz., the last mentioned (1 John 5:7,8) was probably intended to give authority and sanction to the doctrine of the "Trinity.".
  46. Zion's Watch Tower. October 1881. A Short Sermon From a Familiar Text. 4. Watch Tower Society. "He gave his only begotten Son." This phraseology brings us into conflict with an old Babylonian theory, viz.: Trinitarianism. If that doctrine is true, how could there be any Son to give? A begotten Son, too? Impossible. If these three are one, did God send himself? And how could Jesus say: "My Father is greater than I." John 14:28. [emphasis retained from original].
  47. "Hear, O Israel! Jehovah Our God Is One—Jehovah". Zion's Watch Tower. July 1882. 3. Watch Tower Society.
  48. "Barbour and Paton were trinitarians ... although Henry Grew and George Stetson, two others who had influenced him, were non–trinitarians, Russell did not take a stand on the matter, at least publicly, until after his split with Paton."

  49. Book: Barbour . The Three Worlds . Russell . C. T. . 1877 . 57 . I am beginning to think Age-to-come people, and many others among pre-millennialists, do not believe in anything of a spiritual nature, or have the most remote comprehension of things of that order; either that the saint is raised 'a spiritual body,' or in the existence of spiritual beings, or even of the Holy Spirit itself. I know one class of age-to-come believers, the Christadelphians, do not. The Holy Spirit, say they, is but a principle, or element of power, and not an intelligence. It is nothing more nor less than 'electricity;' is taught in one of their books, now before me. What wonder they discern only a fleshly future. . 2009-09-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080828222954/http://www.strictlygenteel.co.uk/threeworlds/threeworlds7.html . 2008-08-28 . dead.
  50. Book: Paton . Day Dawn . A. D. Jones . 1880 . 225, 229 . The work of the Holy Spirit is one of the most important elements in the plan of revelation and salvation. He is always spoken of by the Saviour as a Person, and is called the "Spirit of truth." We will follow the Saviour's example in this, though we do not propose to deal with the philosophy of that fact. He being the Spirit of truth, it is His mission to make known the truth..
  51. Zion's Watch Tower. July 1880. 8. Watch Tower Society. Will the Spirit Be Withdrawn?. But the Spirit cannot resign his work until it is complete..
  52. Zion's Watch Tower. August 1880. 4. Watch Tower Society. "To Communicate Forget Not". Then let the Spirit use his sword upon others as he may see fit to humble them, strip them of pride, and bring them to the rock that is higher than they..
  53. Zion's Watch Tower. November 1880. 8. Watch Tower Society. Isaac and Rebecca. The Spirit is still our leader and instructor. He is now telling us of Him who comes by way of unseen presence that He is here present..
  54. Zion's Watch Tower. March 1881. 5. Watch Tower Society. Number Three—Part 1. The number three is surprisingly prominent, as the subject opens before us ... We would first call attention to the Divine Three—Father, Son and Holy Spirit—often mentioned in the Bible..
  55. Questions and Answers. Zion's Watch Tower. Watch Tower Society. May 1882. 8.
  56. Questions and Answers. Zion's Watch Tower. Watch Tower Society. September 1882. 4.
  57. The Three Great Covenants. Watch Tower Society. Zion's Watch Tower. March 1880.
  58. The New Covenant vs the Law Covenant. Watch Tower Society. Zion's Watch Tower. September 1887.
  59. Russell . C. T. . July 15, 1906 . Harvest Gatherings and Siftings . Zion's Watch Tower . Watch Tower Society . 232.
  60. "We have every reason to believe that the definite, fixed number of the elect [chosen anointed ones] is that several times stated in Revelation (7:4; 14:1); namely, 144,000 'redeemed from amongst men.'"

  61. The Great Company. Watch Tower Society. Zion's Watch Tower. October 15, 1904.
  62. The Rank of the Ancient Worthies/The Great Company. Watch Tower Society. Zion's Watch Tower. October 15, 1904. 312–313.
  63. The Outlook—War & Prosperity. Watch Tower Society. Zion's Watch Tower. September 15, 1901. 292.
  64. Universal Anarchy. Zion's Watch Tower. July 1, 1904. 197.
  65. Our Advocate, the World's Mediator. Watch Tower Society. Zion's Watch Tower. January 1, 1907.
  66. The Word Mediator Used Differently. Watch Tower Society. Watch Tower. January 1909. 11.
  67. Book: Scenario of the Photo-Drama of Creation. 1914. International Bible Students Association. 3.
  68. Views from the Watch Tower. Watch Tower Society. The Watch Tower. January 1, 1914. 3.
  69. Overcome With Wine. Watch Tower Society. Zion's Watch Tower. January 15, 1892. 27.
  70. What Smiting of the Waters May Mean. Watch Tower Society. The Watch Tower. February 1, 1916. 38.
  71. The Burning of the Tares. Watch Tower Society. The Watch Tower. September 1, 1916. 265.
  72. Book: Woodworth, Clayton J. . The Finished Mystery . Fisher . George H. . . 1917 . Studies in the Scriptures . 7 . Brooklyn, N.Y. . 23-44 . St. Paul, St. John, Arius and Waldo . https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uva.x030802423&seq=27.
  73. Book: Woodworth, Clayton J. . The Finished Mystery . Fisher . George H. . . 1917 . Studies in the Scriptures . 7 . Brooklyn, N.Y. . 45-72 . Wycliffe, Luther and Russell . https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uva.x030802423&seq=49.
  74. The Two Parts of Sanctification. The Watch Tower. Watch Tower Society. October 1, 1913. 291–295.
  75. How Are We Sanctified?. The Watch Tower. Watch Tower Society. April 1, 1916. 98–99.
  76. The Watch Tower. Watch Tower Society. Let Brotherly Love Continue. December 15, 1919. 375.
  77. The Watch Tower. Watch Tower Society. Gospel of the Kingdom. July 1, 1920. 196.
  78. Watch Tower Society. Gospel of the Kingdom. The Watch Tower. July 1, 1920. 199–200.
  79. View from the Tower. Watch Tower Society. Zion's Watch Tower. January 15, 1892. 19.
  80. Book: New Heavens and a New Earth. Watch Tower Society. 1953. 225.
  81. The Watch Tower. Watch Tower Society. Discourse By Brother J. F. Rutherford. November 1, 1922. 332–337.
  82. The Watch Tower. Watch Tower Society. The Parable Of The Sheep and the Goats. 307–314. October 15, 1923.
  83. The Keys of the Kingdom and the Great Crowd. Watch Tower Society. The Watchtower. October 1, 1979. 14.
  84. The Watch Tower. Watch Tower Society. Work for the Anointed. 3–10. January 1, 1925.
  85. Book: The Finished Mystery. Watch Tower Society. 1917. 256–258. 2009-09-16. 2012-03-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20120316090349/http://www.strictlygenteel.co.uk/finishedmystery/fmr16.html. dead.
  86. The Watch Tower. Watch Tower Society. Birth of the Nation. March 1, 1925. 69.
  87. Book: The Finished Mystery. Watch Tower Society. 188. 1917. 12:7. And there was war In heaven.—Between the two ecclesiastical powers, Pagan Rome and Papal Rome. Michael.—"Who as God," the Pope.—B275; C62. And his angels.—The Bishops.. 2017-06-13. 2017-01-30. https://web.archive.org/web/20170130141138/http://www.strictlygenteel.co.uk/finishedmystery/fmr12.html. dead.
  88. Book: Rutherford . Deliverance . Watch Tower Society . 1926 . 268, 269.
  89. Watch Tower Society. Restoration of True Religion. The Watchtower. March 1, 1954. 150.
  90. February 1927 . Servant—Good and Evil . The Watch Tower . Watch Tower Society . 51–57. As cited by .
  91. The Watch Tower. 163. Watch Tower Society. The First Resurrection. June 1, 1927.
  92. The Watch Tower. February 15, 1927. 62. Watch Tower Society. Interesting Questions.
  93. The Prince of Peace. Watch Tower Society. Zion's Watch Tower. December 1, 1904. 364.
  94. The Golden Age. December 24, 1919. Watch Tower Society. Religion and Philosophy. 215. Christmas is regarded by many people as the date of the birth of the babe Jesus in a manger at Bethlehem. Whether the date is correct or not is of small importance, but the event was and is of the greatest importance..
  95. Book: God's Kingdom Rules! . Watch Tower Society . 2014 . 102 . The King Refines His People Spiritually . https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1102014249#h=16.
  96. The Watch Tower. Watch Tower Society. Seventy Years' Desolation—Part II. June 15, 1922. 187., as reproduced by Raymond Franz, Crisis of Conscience, pages 225, 226.
  97. November 15 – December 1, 1928 . The Altar in Egypt . The Watch Tower . Watch Tower Society . 339–345, 355–362. As cited by .
  98. The Higher Powers. The Watch Tower. June 1929. 163–169, 179–185.
  99. Book: Rutherford . Creation . Watch Tower Society . 1927 . 314 . 12 . 2009-03-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200223172432/http://www.strictlygenteel.co.uk/creation/creation12.html . 2020-02-23 . dead.
  100. Book: Rutherford . The Harp of God . Watch Tower Society . 1928 . 233 . registration.
  101. December 1, 1929 . Locating the Time . The Watch Tower . Watch Tower Society . 355–357. As cited by Gruss, Edmond C. (2003). The Four Presidents of the Watch Tower Society, p. 117 and .
  102. Book: Rutherford . Prophecy . Watch Tower Society . 1929 . 65 . 4 . 2009-03-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080725030208/http://www.strictlygenteel.co.uk/prophecy/prophecy4.html . 2008-07-25 . dead.
  103. Watch Tower Society. Question and Answer. The Golden Age. April 30, 1930. 503–504. If it is true that Jesus has been present since the year 1914, then it must be admitted that nobody has seen Him with his natural eyes ... thus, for over sixteen years, Christ has been present, unseen by men, but plainly revealed to those who are students of the Bible and looking for the evidences which Jesus said would be a proof of His presence..
  104. Book: Rutherford . Preservation . Watch Tower Society . 1932 . 103–194 . 2009-03-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080807172948/http://www.strictlygenteel.co.uk/preservation/ruth1.html . 2008-08-07 . dead.
  105. The Watchtower. Watch Tower Society. Jehovah's House Desired. October 1, 1932. 294.
  106. Book: Rutherford . Preparation . Watch Tower Society . 1933 . 196.
  107. Rutherford, J. F. (1932). What Is Truth?. Watch Tower Society. p. 56.
  108. Book: The Finished Mystery. 1917. 307. Watch Tower Society.
  109. Book: Vindication. 2. 311. Watch Tower Society.
  110. August 15, 1934 . His Kindness—Part 2 . The Watchtower . Watch Tower Society . 243–251. As cited by .
  111. The Watch Tower. Watch Tower Society. The Year of the Jubilee. February 15, 1925. 57. We know the work of restitution must come to the Jews first, and through them to the rest of the world. As the Scriptures state that Jerusalem is to be the capital of the world and that the ancient worthies are to be princes in all the earth, we are warranted in expecting that the kingdom work will begin at Jerusalem..
  112. Book: Rutherford . Vindication . Watch Tower Society . 1932 . 2 . 258, 269, 295 . 2009-03-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190904120021/http://www.strictlygenteel.co.uk/vindication2/vindication2_8.html . 2019-09-04 . dead.
  113. Book: Rutherford . Vindication . https://archive.today/20120912100606/http://www.strictlygenteel.co.uk/vindication3/vindication3_12.html . dead . September 12, 2012 . Watch Tower Society . 1932 . 3 . 333.
  114. Book: Rutherford . Vindication . Watch Tower Society . 3 . 83–84.
  115. January 15, 1927 . Sharing the Good News . The Watch Tower . 26, 27 . He who is called to be a minister of God must be a new creature, begotten of God's holy spirit; none other can have a share. In this ministry only those who are new creatures in Jesus Christ are entitled to share.. As cited by .
  116. The Watch Tower. November 1, 1917. 325. Watch Tower Society. A Tribute to the Seventh Messenger.
  117. Book: Rutherford . Jehovah . Watch Tower Society . 1934 . 191.
  118. Book: Rutherford . Jehovah . Watch Tower Society . 1934 . 320.
  119. Book: Jehovah's Witnesses in the Divine Purpose. Watch Tower Society. 1959. 140.
  120. The Watchtower. March 1, 1935. 77. Watch Tower Society. Questions.
  121. The Golden Age. October 12, 1921. Watch Tower Society. Vaccination a Failure. 17. Vaccination never prevented anything and never will, and is the most barbarous practice ... We are in the last days; and the devil is slowly losing his hold, making a strenuous effort meanwhile to do all the damage he can, and to his credit can such evils be placed ... Use your rights as American citizens to forever abolish the devilish practice of vaccinations..
  122. The Golden Age. May 1, 1929. 502. Watch Tower Society. Vaccination. Thinking people would rather have smallpox than vaccination, because the latter sows seeds of syphilis, cancers, eczema, erysipelas, scrofula, consumption, even leprosy and many other loathsome affections. Hence the practice of vaccinations is a crime, an outrage, and a delusion..
  123. The Golden Age. Watch Tower Society. "True Christian Heard in Court". April 2, 1935. 465. As vaccination is a direct injection of animal matter in the blood stream, vaccination is a direct violation of the law of Jehovah God..
  124. November 1, 1937 . Rebellious . The Watchtower . Watch Tower Society . 336. As cited by .
  125. The Watch Tower. Watch Tower Society. Jehovah's Royal House. March 1, 1930. 71. Since "Christ' means the anointed of God, it is manifestly true that no one can properly be termed a Christian who is not in Christ and who has not received the anointing..
  126. October 15, 1938 . "Fill the Earth" . The Watchtower . Watch Tower Society . 307., November 15, 1938 . Righteous World . The Watchtower . Watch Tower Society . 323, 346. As cited by .
  127. Book: Jehovah's Witnesses—Proclaimers of God's Kingdom. 1993. Watch Tower Society. 193., citing The Watchtower, November 1, 1939.
  128. The Watchtower. Watch Tower Society. Everything For the Issue. July 1, 1942. 205–206.
  129. True Bible Chronology Stated A. M.. Zion's Watch Tower. Watch Tower Society. May 15, 1896. 112.
  130. Book: Barbour . The Three Worlds . Russell . C. T. . 1877 . 67, 186. As cited by Gruss, Edmond C. (1972). The Jehovah's Witnesses and Prophetic Speculation, 1972, pp. 62–63.
  131. Book: The Truth Shall Make You Free. Watch Tower Society. 1943. 11. 151. 2009-03-13. 2020-07-30. https://web.archive.org/web/20200730172949/http://www.strictlygenteel.co.uk/truthfree/truthfree11.html. dead.
  132. July 15, 1943 . Kingdom Sign of the Servants . The Watchtower . Watch Tower Society . 216 . [T]the remnant of Jehovah's "people for his name" were colaboring with the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society as their legal governing body..
  133. Chryssides . George D. . George D. Chryssides . 2010 . How Prophecy Succeeds: The Jehovah’s Witnesses and Prophetic Expectations . https://web.archive.org/web/20101210034539id_/http://www.equinoxjournals.com/IJSNR/article/viewFile/8147/pdf . dead . 2010-12-10 . International Journal for the Study of New Religions . 1 . 1 . 42 . 10.1558/ijsnr.v1i1.27 . 2041-9511 . 2041-952X . The Kingdom is at Hand (1944) makes one further minor adjustment: the date 606 BCE becomes 607 BCE, principally on account of presumed new archaeological evidence. ... The reasons are explained in The Watchtower, 1 May 1952, 265..
  134. May 1, 1952 . Determining the Year by Fact and Bible . The Watchtower . Watch Tower Society . 271–2 . Concerning the first error, Russell and others considered 1 B.C. to A.D. 1 as being two years whereas in fact this is only one year because, as has been said above, there is no "zero" year in the B.C.-A.D. system for counting years..
  135. November 1, 1944 . The Theocratic Alignment Today. The Watchtower . Watch Tower Society . 330 - 333.
  136. The Watchtower. Watch Tower Society. Questions From Readers. 1 February 1955. 94–95.
  137. The Watchtower. Watch Tower Society. Unity For the New World. 147–156. May 15, 1944.
  138. "The administration of discipline is not the function of the elders only, but of the entire Church. ... If the reproved one fails to clear himself, and continues in the error or sin, then two or three brethren without previous prejudice should be asked to hear the matter and advise the disputants. (Elders they may or may not be, but their eldership would add no force or authority in the case except as their judgment might be the riper and their influence the more potent.) If this committee decide unanimously with either party, the other should acquiesce and the matter be wholly at an end—correction, or restitution, so far as possible, being promptly made. If either of the original disputants still persists in the wrong course, the [accuser, a committee member] or, preferably, all of these together, may then (but not sooner) exercise their privilege of bringing the matter before ... the Church. Thus it is evident that the Elders were in no sense to be judges of the members—hearing and judgment were left to the local body, or Church. The two preliminary steps (above mentioned) having been taken, the facts being certified to the elders, it would be their duty to call a general meeting of the Ecclesia ... as a court—to hear the case in all of its particulars, and in the name and reverence of its Head to render a decision. ... if the transgressor refuse to hear (obey) the decision of the entire Church, ... the Church is to withdraw from him its fellowship and any and all signs or manifestations of brotherhood. [emphasis retained from original]"

  139. The Watchtower. Watch Tower Society. Immovable For the Right Worship. 195–204. July 1, 1945.
  140. Zion's Watch Tower. Watch Tower Society. The Apostolic Council. November 15, 1892. 351.
  141. The Watch Tower. Watch Tower Society. Settling Doctrinal Differences. April 15, 1909. 116–117. These prohibitions had never come to the Gentiles, because they had never been under the Law Covenant; but so deeply rooted were the Jewish ideas on this subject that it was necessary to the peace of the Church that the Gentiles should observe this matter also ... these items thus superadded to the Law of Love should be observed by all spiritual Israelites as representing the Divine will..
  142. Book: Jehovah's Witnesses: Proclaimers of God's Kingdom. 1993. Watchtower. 76. At the time, it was believed that faithful men of old times, such as Abraham, Joseph, and David, would be resurrected before the end of this system of things and would serve as 'princes in all the earth,' in fulfillment of Psalm 45:16. This view was adjusted in 1950, when further study of the Scriptures indicated that those earthly forefathers of Jesus Christ would be resurrected after Armageddon..
  143. Book: Jehovah's Witnesses in the Divine Purpose. 1959. Watchtower. 252–253. 2008-07-21. 2016-04-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20160409190711/http://www.strictlygenteel.co.uk/divinepurpose/1959_Jehovah%27s_Witnesses_in_the_Divine_Purpose.pdf. dead.
  144. For reactions to the announcement of the change of belief, see "The 'Princes' Are Here" in Book: 1975 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses. Watchtower. 1974. 213–214.
  145. Book: Harrison . Visions of Glory: A History and a Memory of Jehovah's Witnesses . Simon & Schuster . 1978 . 180–181, 269–270 . https://web.archive.org/web/20040209123952/http://www.exjws.net/vg.htm . February 9, 2004.
  146. The Watchtower. Watch Tower Society. Questions From Readers. October 1, 1951.
  147. The Watchtower. July 1, 1951. 404. Watch Tower Society. Vision of the "Time of the End".
  148. The Watchtower. December 15, 1952. Watch Tower Society. Questions From Readers.
  149. Watch Tower Society. Questions From Readers. The Watchtower. September 15, 1958. Q: Are we to consider the injection of serums such as diphtheria toxin antitoxin and blood fractions such as gamma globulin into the blood stream, for the purpose of building up resistance to disease by means of antibodies, the same as the drinking of blood or the taking of blood or blood plasma by means of transfusion? A: No, it does not seem necessary that we put the two in the same category, although we have done so in times past..
  150. The Watchtower. Questions From Readers. 703. Watch Tower Society. November 15, 1953.
  151. Book: Consolation. Watch Tower Society. 14. 1937.
  152. The Watchtower. October 1, 1953. 583, 596. Watch Tower Society. The Attack by Gog of Magog.
  153. Interesting Queries. Watch Tower Society. Watch Tower. July 15, 1898. 216.
  154. The Watchtower. Watch Tower Society. Snares. November 15, 1939. 339. Jehovah God commands all to worship Christ Jesus because Christ Jesus is the express image of his Father, Jehovah.
  155. The Watchtower. Watch Tower Society. "Jehovah Hath Become King!". October 15, 1945. 313. Since Jehovah God now reigns as King by means of his capital organization Zion, then whosoever would worship Him must also worship and bow down to Jehovah's Chief One in that capital organization, namely, Christ Jesus..
  156. Questions From Readers. Watch Tower Society. The Watchtower. January 1, 1954. 30.
  157. Modern Restoration of True Worship (1919–1932). Watch Tower Society. The Watchtower. May 15, 1955. 296. Jesus—then to expand on a global scale—so now in the spring of 1919 there was an outpouring of Jehovah's holy spirit organizationally upon the Christian remnant..
  158. Book: "Your Will Be Done on Earth". Watch Tower Society. 1958. 264–307.
  159. Questions From Readers. Watch Tower Society. The Watchtower. January 15, 1961. 63.
  160. Questions From Readers. The Watchtower. Watch Tower Society. August 1, 1961. 480.
  161. Subjection to "Superior Authorities"—Why?. Watch Tower Society. The Watchtower. November 15, 1962.
  162. "They taught the Church to obey the laws, and to respect those in authority because of their office, even if they were not personally worthy of esteem; to pay their appointed taxes, and, except where they conflicted with God's laws (Acts 4: 19; 5: 29), to offer no resistance to any established law. (Rom. 13:1–7)"

  163. The Congregation in the Time of the End. Watch Tower Society. The Watchtower. March 1, 1961. 146.
  164. Book: All Scripture Is Inspired of God and Beneficial. Watch Tower Society. 1963. 286.
  165. The Watchtower. Watch Tower Society. The Removal of Mankind's Chief Disturber. 15 July 1967. 446–447.
  166. Awake!. June 8, 1968. 21. Watch Tower Society. Christian witnesses of Jehovah,... consider all transplants between humans as cannibalism..
  167. Questions From Readers. Watch Tower Society. The Watchtower. November 15, 1967. 702–704.
  168. Muramoto . Osamu . August 1998 . Bioethics of the refusal of blood by Jehovah's Witnesses, Part 1 . Journal of Medical Ethics . 24 . 4 . 223–230 . 10.1136/jme.24.4.223 . 1377670 . 9752623 . They called vaccination "a crime, an outrage, a delusion' and 'the most barbarous practice', and prohibited organ transplants as 'cannibalism', only quietly to reverse those positions as those practices became standard medical care. Most JWs accepted this reversal without questioning whatever tragedies were caused by the misguided doctrines..
  169. "In 1967 the society suddenly decided that what had been permissible no longer was. Organ transplants suddenly became a form of human cannibalism ... Yet after many faithful Jehovah's Witnesses had suffered for their faith by giving up transplants which in some cases could have made their lives more pleasant and comfortable and by saving them from early death in others, the society again reversed itself."

  170. Keep Abstaining from ... Blood. Watch Tower Society. Awake!. July 8, 1972. 28. The stand of the Christian witnesses of Jehovah—that such transplants are in effect a form of cannibalism—proved a safeguard. How so? In that it spared them much frustration, grief and anxiety, which were experienced not only by the patients and their relatives but even by many of the assisting medical personnel..
  171. Book: Gruss, Edmond C. . The Jehovah's Witnesses and Prophetic Speculation . Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Co . 1972 . 0-87552-306-4 . 68–69.
  172. Questions From Readers. Watch Tower Society. The Watchtower. February 1, 1955. 95. However, from our present chronology (which is admitted imperfect) at best the fall of the year 1976 would be the end of 6,000 years of human history for mankind... Obviously, whatever amount of Adam's 930 years was lived before the beginning of that seventh-day rest of Jehovah, that unknown amount would have to be added to the 1976 date..
  173. Why Are You Looking Forward to 1975?. Watch Tower Society. The Watchtower. August 15, 1968. 499–500.
  174. The Watchtower. Watch Tower Society. August 15, 1950. 251. Answering the Foes of His Government. The Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, with main offices in Brooklyn, New York, acts advisorily as the governing body and servant of Jehovah’s witnesses in all lands..
  175. Jehovah's Witnesses Endure for His Sovereign Godship. Watch Tower Society. The Watchtower. September 15, 1966. 553.
  176. Book: 1970 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses . Watch Tower Society . 1970 . 65 . So really the governing body of Jehovah’s witnesses is the board of directors of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania.
  177. December 15, 1971 . A Governing Body as Different from a Legal Corporation . The Watchtower . Watch Tower Society . 755-758 . ON Friday morning, October 1, 1971, the legal corporation known as Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania held its annual corporation meeting, this time in the Assembly Hall of Jehovah’s witnesses at Buckingham, Pennsylvania. ... At this meeting a question came up and was discussed from the platform. It was as to what the relationship is between the Board of Directors of the Society as a legal corporation and the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Christian witnesses. ... According to the apostolic example of the first century C.E., these dedicated, baptized Christians known today as Jehovah's witnesses have a governing body, as specifically noted from the year 1944 onward. This governing body has through the years been associated with the publishers of the Watch Tower magazine and the Board of Directors of the legal religious corporation now known as Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania..
  178. Keeping God's Congregation Clean in the Time of His Judgment. Watch Tower Society. The Watchtower. June 1, 1973. 340.
  179. Questions From Readers. Watch Tower Society. The Watchtower. March 15, 1980. 31.
  180. News: Dart . John . January 30, 1982 . Defectors Feel Witnesses' Wrath . Los Angeles Times . 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..
  181. Seek Peace and Pursue It. Watch Tower Society. The Watchtower. July 15, 1983. 25.
  182. Questions From Readers. Watch Tower Society. The Watchtower. January 1, 1987. 30. A study of the fulfillment of Bible prophecy and of our location in the stream of time strongly indicate that each of the creative days is 7,000 years long. It is understood that Christ's reign of a thousand years will bring to a close God's 7,000-year 'rest day,' the last 'day' of the creative week. Based on this reasoning, the entire creative week would be 49,000 years long..
  183. Book: Insight. 1. 1988. Watch Tower Society. 545. Since the seventh day has been continuing for thousands of years, it may reasonably be concluded that each of the six creative periods, or days, was at least thousands of years in length ... Ascribing not just 24 hours but a longer period of time, thousands of years, to each of the creative days better harmonizes with the evidence found in the earth itself..
  184. Book: All Scripture Is Inspired of God and Beneficial. Watch Tower Society. 1990. 286.
  185. Book: Man's Salvation Out of World Distress at Hand!. 9. Watch Tower Society. 167–168. 1975.
  186. Jehovah's Provision, the "Given Ones". Watch Tower Society. The Watchtower. April 15, 1992. 12–17.
  187. The Watchtower. November 1, 1993. 21. The Final Victory of Michael, the Great Prince. Watch Tower Society.
  188. Book: Pay Attention to Daniel's Prophecy!. Watch Tower Society. 1999. 280–281. 16.
  189. The Watchtower. October 15, 1995. 23–28. Watch Tower Society. What Future for the Sheep and the Goats?.
  190. Part 2—Flashes of Light—Great and Small. Watch Tower Society. The Watchtower. May 15, 1995. 25.
  191. Book: The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived. 24. 1991. Watch Tower Society. Jesus came to earth particularly to preach about God's Kingdom, which will vindicate his Father's name..
  192. A Time to Keep Awake. Watch Tower Society. The Watchtower. November 1, 1995. 20.
  193. Questions From Readers. Watch Tower Society. The Watchtower. June 1, 1997. 28. The recent information in The Watchtower about "this generation" did not change our understanding of what occurred in 1914. But it did give us a clearer grasp of Jesus' use of the term "generation," helping us to see that his usage was no basis for calculating-counting from 1914 – how close to the end we are..
  194. Engardio . Joel P. . December 18, 1995 . Apocalypse Later . Newsweek . The Washington Post Company.
  195. News: Dart . John . November 4, 1995 . Jehovah's Witnesses Abandon Key Tenet . Los Angeles Times.
  196. "Have No Fear, Little Flock". Watch Tower Society. The Watchtower. February 15, 1995. 19.
  197. Questions From Readers. Watch Tower Society. The Watchtower. May 1, 2007. 30–31. Thus, it appears that we cannot set a specific date for when the calling of Christians to the heavenly hope ends..
  198. Christ's Presence—What Does It Mean to You?. Watch Tower Society. The Watchtower. February 15, 2008. 23–24. On the other hand, Christ's faithful anointed brothers, the modern-day John class, have recognized this sign as if it were a flash of lightning and have understood its true meaning. As a class, these anointed ones make up the modern-day "generation" of contemporaries that will not pass away "until all these things occur."* This suggests that some who are Christ's anointed brothers will still be alive on earth when the foretold great tribulation begins..
  199. The Watchtower. Watch Tower Society. Holy Spirit's Role in the Outworking of Jehovah's Purposes. 15 April 2010. 10.
  200. The Watchtower. September 15, 2010. 23. Watch Tower Society. Your Leader Is One, the Christ.
  201. Web site: Annual Meeting Report. 2012. Watch Tower Society.
  202. The Watchtower. July 15, 2013. 20–25. Watch Tower Society. Who Really Is the Faithful and Discreet Slave?.
  203. Web site: 2014 Annual Meeting of Jehovah's Witnesses. 2014. Watch Tower Society.
  204. The Watchtower. February 1, 1985. 17. Watch Tower Society. Seeing the "Sign" With Understanding.
  205. The Watchtower. March 15, 2015. 13–14. Watch Tower Society. Will You "Keep on the Watch"?.
  206. The Watchtower. September 15, 2012. 25. Watch Tower Society. You Know Neither the Day Nor the Hour.
  207. The Watchtower. March 15, 2015. 15–16. Watch Tower Society. Will You "Keep on the Watch"?.
  208. The Watchtower. March 2016. 29. Watch Tower Society. Questions From Readers.
  209. The Watchtower. June 2016. 16. Watch Tower Society. Questions From Readers.
  210. Book: Watch Tower Society. "The Nations Shall Know That I Am Jehovah"—How?. 1971. 346. 18.
  211. The Watchtower. July 2016. 32. Watch Tower Society. Questions from Readers.
  212. June 2020 . “Let Your Name Be Sanctified” . The Watchtower . Watch Tower Society . 7.
  213. August 2023 . Questions From Readers . The Watchtower . Watch Tower Society . 18 . Second, for the good of all creation, Jehovah is determined to vindicate his name, clearing it of all reproach. That is of the utmost importance to Jehovah..
  214. Annual Meeting 2018—Talks and Announcements. 2018. Watch Tower Society. 53:15.
  215. Book: Pure Worship of Jehovah—Restored at Last!. 141. 2018. Watch Tower Society. 13.
  216. The Watchtower (Study Edition). "The King of the North" in the Time of the End. Watch Tower Society. May 2020. 3, 5.
  217. http://cchasson.free.fr/deposit/trial/Walsh_Trial.pdf Transcript, Lord Strachan vs. Douglas Walsh|year=1954|page=119