Does anyone have a chart highlighting the line of WT presidents -comparing the changes/teachings that each made in order to see how the organization has indeed been "spirit-directed"?
Comparing past WT presidents
by architect 4 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
-
-
jayhawk1
I wanted to copy my speech I did in college, but it won't paste for some reason. I'll PM it to you.
-
jayhawk1
Charles Russell founded Zion’s Watch Tower in 1879 – rejected hell teaching – later other teachings
1889 he began teaching Armageddon would occur in 1914
Wrote a series of books – Studies in the Scriptures so people could understand his interpretation of the Bible
WWI happened in 1914, but no Armageddon
Russell died in 1916
Joseph Rutherford wrestled control of the Watchtower group and began making wild predictions of his own.
In 1918 Rutherford predicted God would destroy all churches and their members
And by 1920 every country would be swallowed up by anarchy
Those predictions failed so in 1921 he authored a new book Millions Now Living Will Never Die
He predicted God would resurrect the men of the bible like Noah and Moses and they would live in San Diego California in a mansion he built called Beth-Sarim
In 1931 Rutherford changed the name to Jehovah’s Witnesses from International Bible Students
Rutherford died in 1942 and was replaced by Nathan Knorr
In 1948 the Watchtower Society quietly sold Beth-Sarim and adjacent property named Beth Shan because the “Prophets of Old did not return to denounce God’s Judgment against all.”
Knorr was responsible for blatantly inaccurate bible New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures
Many of the Watchtower teachings could be argued against, so with this new bible, all Jehovah’s Witnesses could see their teachings in the bible
Knorr also founded Gilead Missionary School – now Jehovah’s Witnesses teachings can be found in every country that does not ban their teachings
Knorr founded the Governing Body (God’s Prophet Class on Earth) in the 1960’s. These men are responsible for all new teachings (New Light) the Jehovah’s Witnesses adopt
Knorr’s administration is also responsible for a new Armageddon date 1975
The 1975 Armageddon date began with this Magazine
SOURCE – AWAKE! MAGAZINE OCTOVER 8, 1968 (SHOW PICTURE)
Yes, the only way to survive the end of this wicked world and to gain life in God's new order is by doing God's will...The end of this wicked system is approaching rapidly. It is much later than most people realize. Hence, there is no time to lose in working for survival...Those who refuse to listen to God will not survive the end of this system. The Great Judge of all mankind now causes his wisdom to cry out and give warning...Do you want to be 'left over' in the earth when this wicked system is annihilated soon at Armageddon?
This and other Watchtower/Awake/Books followed outlining how the world would end in 1975
Knorr died in 1977 and was replaced by Fred Franz
Franz had a problem on his hands
The JWs was still dealing with the aftermath of 1975, his solution was to promote 1984 for Armageddon
Franz and the JWs didn’t promote the 1984 date with as much zeal as 1975, in fact it was pushed back to 1989 and then 1994 which I will explain more on later
Franz died in 1992 and was replaced by Milton Hinschel, who died in 2003
Currently Don Adams is president of the Watchtower Society
[Generation]
1889 — Charles Russell teaches that Armageddon would occur in 1914.
1950 — The Watchtower teaches that Christ returned to earth invisibly in 1914.
1950 — The Watchtower emphasizes that the thirty-six years between 1914 and 1950 have drawn the world closer to Armageddon occurring before the generation alive in 1914 pass away.
1961 — The Society states, "The foretold events having begun A.D. 1914, the generation of mankind that is still alive from that year is the generation meant by Christ."
1967 — The Society changes the meaning of "generation" to include only those individuals who were alive in 1914 and able to view the events with understanding.
1968 — The Society specifies that the age of understanding is 15 or older, meaning that Armageddon will occur before all those who were 15 or older in 1914 have passed away.
1984 — The Society extends the "generation of 1914" to include all individuals who were babies during that year.
1988 — The Society states that a biblical generation consists of 75 years. Thus, 75 years from 1914 comes to 1989, marking the potential end of that generation.
1988 — Later in 1988, the Society revises its definition of generation, referring to a range of 70–80 years. Thus, the "generation of 1914" could be extended until 1994.
1995 — The Society redefines the term "generation of 1914" to refer to anyone who is alive at any time who can understand the spiritual significance of the date. The "generation of 1914" can thus be extended indefinitely into the future.
Recently the Watchtower Society began speculating the Armageddon Date could be either 2014, 100 years after Jesus’ supposed return or in 2034 120 years after the return of Christ. The 120 years is based on how long it took Noah to build the Ark.
Other teachings worth knowing about…
Don’t celebrate holidays like Christmas, Halloween, and Easter
Don’t celebrate birthdays
Only 144,000 faithful JWs go to heaven, the rest stay on a Paradise Earth forever
All non-JWs will be destroyed at Armageddon
Can’t vote
JW women must wear a head covering when praying in front of men
Masturbation and some sex acts are sins
Jesus died on a pole
We are living in a time period known as the Great Tribulation
At Armageddon Satan and Demons will be captured and thrown into the abyss. Jesus will rule the Earth for 1000 years to restore the Earth to Paradise, and then Satan will be released from the abyss for a short time for a final judgment on all mankind. Satan will be destroyed and Jesus will hand Earth back over to Jehovah to rule for eternity. -
-
Leolaia
I think Angharad was working on an interesting timeline...if memory serves....