Understanding the History and Beliefs of Jehovah's Witnesses

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Discover the origins, doctrines, and practices of Jehovah's Witnesses, including insights into key figures like Charles Taze Russell. Learn about significant events in the movement's history and its enduring beliefs. Explore the impact of pivotal dates like 1914 on the faith of Jehovah's Witnesses.

  • Jehovahs Witnesses
  • History
  • Beliefs
  • Charles Taze Russell
  • Religion
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  1. Jehovahs Witnesses The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society 1 March 20, 2025 Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University

  2. Do we really know them? History -- where did they come from? Doctrines -- what they believe Practices -- how they live Presence in world today When you encounter them . . . 2 March 20, 2025 Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University

  3. Charles Taze Russell 1852- 1916 Bounced from Presbyterian to Congregational churches Ended up contemptuous of all Age 17 -- Heard convincing argument that hell did not exist 1870 -- at age 18 organized Bible class 3 March 20, 2025 Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University

  4. The Russell era Captivated by Adventist preaching on Christ s Second Coming 1876 -- joined staff of Adventist publication Herald of the Morning That group said Christ had returned invisibly in 1874 and would take believers to heaven in 1878 4 March 20, 2025 Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University

  5. Charles Taze Russell 1879 Took control of Barbour s publication, renamed it Watchtower Married Began feeling he was the 7th messenger of Revelation 5 March 20, 2025 Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University

  6. Movement gets underway 1884 -- Incorporated Zion s Watchtower Tract Society 1893 -- First major convention in Chicago 360 in attendance 70 baptisms 6 March 20, 2025 Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University

  7. 1914? 1894 -- Watchtower set 1914 as the return of Christ and beginning of millennium 1914 came and went . . . remains key date for Jehovah s Witnesses The Creator s promise of a peaceful and secure new world before the generation that saw the events of 1914 passes away -- Awake! October, 1995 7 March 20, 2025 Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University

  8. Pyramidology measurements of Egyptian Great Pyramid used to calculate dates 1909 Wife divorced him moved headquarters from Pittsburgh to Brooklyn 1916 Died during train trip Buried near this pyramid structure 8 March 20, 2025 Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University

  9. Judge Rutherford 1869-1942 A power vacuum ensued with Russell s death By quasi-legal maneuvering, this lawyer edged out competition and took over the organization in 1917 9 March 20, 2025 Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University

  10. Judge Rutherford 1869-1942 First visited by Watch Tower representatives in his Missouri law offices in 1894 Baptized as a Bible Student in 1906 When he took over, several groups splintered off Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University 10 March 20, 2025

  11. Rutherford continues dating game 1918 -- Watchtower sets Christ s return for 1925 Millions Now Living Will Never Die -- article became book title two years later Worldwide anarchy was predicted to occur in 1920 Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University 11 March 20, 2025

  12. Expansion in Rutherford era 1919 -- began Awake! 1920 s, 30 s -- Extensive use of radio and phonograph records 1933 -- over 400 radio stations were carrying his Bible lectures Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University 12 March 20, 2025

  13. Steady revision of doctrine and structure 1931 -- New name: Jehovah s Witnesses Under Rutherford, membership grew from 10,000 in 1916 to 100,000 in 1942 Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University 13 March 20, 2025

  14. Beth-Sarim Palatial San Diego home built by Rutherford To be deeded to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and David when they returned to earth Rutherford planned to be buried here After his death, quietly sold Beth-Shan 79 acres purchased in 1939; also deeded to princes Had bomb shelter Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University 14 March 20, 2025

  15. Personality era ends With Rutherford s death, the era of charismatic, flamboyant leadership ended. Power now vested in the governing council. Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University 15 March 20, 2025

  16. JW Bible translation New World Bible translation appeared in 1950 Only one member of translation committee knew anything about the original languages of the Bible Knorr had two years of Greek What is the New World Translation? An authentic translation? No. Systematic re-writing of Scripture in support of doctrinal positions. Yes. Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University 16 March 20, 2025

  17. 1975 -- a new date 1966 book hinted that 1975 would see a new period in human history. August 1968 Watchtower set 1975 as year for Armageddon For JW s, period of growth leading up to 1975, then stagnation when the year came and went Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University 17 March 20, 2025

  18. Doctrines - Beliefs Eschatology (end times) Soteriology (salvation) Pneumatolgy (doctrine of Holy Spirit) Christology (beliefs about Jesus Christ) Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University 18 March 20, 2025

  19. Authority Watchtower Society claims to speak for Jehovah as His sole channel of communication on the earth Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University 19 March 20, 2025

  20. Beliefs: Apocalyptic Focused on end times Waiting for paradise on earth after battle of Armageddon Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University 20 March 20, 2025

  21. Future Paradise on earth Only 144,000 anointed will go to heaven Hell does not exist; evil people will simply be annihilated Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University 21 March 20, 2025

  22. Salvation People God approves will receive eternal life here on earth You may be saved, depending on your faithfulness and obedience Just as a proper secular education is necessary to fit a person for a place in everyday society, so a proper Bible education is necessary to equip one for entering the society that will survive to live in the Paradise earth. -- from Jehovah s Witnesses web site Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University 22 March 20, 2025

  23. Holy Spirit Denial of trinity Claim trinity comes from ancient mythology a complicated, freakish-looking, three-headed God -- Let God Be True Holy Spirit is an active force like electricity or fire Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University 23 March 20, 2025

  24. Core issue: Christology As fascinating as all the date setting and shifting is . . . As fascinating as the issues of blood transfusions and saluting the flag may be . . . The core of our disagreement with our Jehovah s Witness friends centers on Jesus Christ Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University 24 March 20, 2025

  25. Latter day Arians Arianism -- a 4th century heresy denying deity of Christ, saying Jesus was the first thing God created To JW s, Jesus Christ is Archangel Michael At Jesus death, God disposed of Jesus physical body. Because Jesus was raised a spirit creature, God had to materialize a fleshly body for him Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University 25 March 20, 2025

  26. Practices -- how they live No drugs; alcohol in moderation Sexual purity Limited social environment Pervasive us/them mentality Everyone else is of the devil Heavy control Not allowed to read literature critical of JW s Children discouraged from higher learning Respect government but do not participate in elections Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University 26 March 20, 2025

  27. Community life Congregations Attendance expected at weekly book studies (can be in homes) Full congregations meet in Kingdom Halls Ministers serve without pay Disfellowshipping -- kicking people out of the family Communion or Lord s Supper Observed annually on date of Jesus death Nisan 14 -- March/April Only 144,000 elite may take the elements In 1999 the partakers worldwide were 8,755 Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University 27 March 20, 2025

  28. Iconoclastic overthrowing traditional or popular ideas No celebrating Christmas No celebrating Easter No celebrating birthdays No celebrating Mother s Day No saluting of the national flag No blood transfusions Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University 28 March 20, 2025

  29. Iconoclastic overthrowing traditional or popular ideas Jehovah s Witnesses say Jesus died on a stake rather than on a cross Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University 29 March 20, 2025

  30. Presence in world today 800,000 in USA 5 million publishers worldwide 300, 000 baptisms annually 100,000 net increase 90,000 congregations worldwide Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University 30 March 20, 2025

  31. Global publishing operation 15 million publications each week Brooklyn factory building bought in 1927 Several expansions 3,000 now work there Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University 31 March 20, 2025

  32. Recruitment / Evangelism Door-to-door house calls 740 house calls needed to recruit one new member Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University 32 March 20, 2025

  33. 7 Step Process Literature put in prospect s hands Back calling or follow up Prospect starts actual book study Attendance at Kingdom Hall meetings Attendance at worship services Active tract distribution Baptism Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University 33 March 20, 2025

  34. When we encounter them Do we slam that door? Do we just politely close it? If we let them in . . . should we try to prove them wrong? Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University 34 March 20, 2025

  35. When we encounter them Remember . . . They believe they are the only true religion JW s are used to attacks and persecution Using logic to prove them wrong accomplishes little Criticism will likely encounter a stone wall How do we overcome that true religion idea? Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University 35 March 20, 2025

  36. Overcoming true religion syndrome Shy away from setting them straight Ask disarming questions See yourself as a sower of seeds, not a harvester Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University 36 March 20, 2025

  37. Question possibilities . . . not to provoke a fight Have true Christians always existed somewhere over the last 2,000 years? Are the marks of real Christians exclusive to the Watchtower or are they shared by other groups? Does the Watchtower believe all other Christian groups are completely false? Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University 37 March 20, 2025

  38. Questions on the Bible Was the Bible written to all people? Can someone who had a Bible and no other literature understand it and become all that God wanted him or her to be? The Mormons claim that one must study their books in order to get an accurate knowledge of Scriptures. What do you think of that? Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University 38 March 20, 2025

  39. Key question on Christ Can you come to Christ as your mediator? Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University 39 March 20, 2025

  40. Be friendly and neighborly Don t focus on winning arguments Don t defend yourself or your beliefs Win trust Don t try to back people into a corner Allow them to save face Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University 40 March 20, 2025

  41. Use of Scripture Get your Bible Read aloud every text they mention Look carefully with them at the context (the surrounding verses and chapters) in a verse appears Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University 41 March 20, 2025

  42. Be sensitive to whom you are speaking. . . Someone made in God s image for whom Christ died A human being with whom you have much in common Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University 42 March 20, 2025

  43. Stay in touch with the One in whose presence you are having the discussion. . . Your greatest advantage is prayer Be constant in prayer as you talk with them Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University 43 March 20, 2025

  44. Maintain with discipline . . . your position and role Humility and love Make your conversation heart to heart rather than head to head Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University 44 March 20, 2025

  45. A bit of poetry . . . He drew a circle that shut me out. Heretic, rebel; a thing to flout. But love and I had the wit to win. We drew a circle that took him in. -- Edwin Markham Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University 45 March 20, 2025

  46. Jehovahs Witnesses The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society (end) Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University 46 March 20, 2025

  47. This PowerPoint presentation is available along with related materials and other PowerPoint presentations at htps://home.snu.edu/~hculbert/ppt.htm Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University 47 March 20, 2025

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