What did Charles Taze Russell and the Bible Students believe?

by Pallbearer 9 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

  • Pallbearer
    Pallbearer

    I know that present-day Jehovah's Witnesses believe that 144,000 are to go to heaven and rule alongside Jesus, and that the survivors of Armageddon along with those who will be resurrected are to live on earth with the prospect of living here forever.

    Questions:

    > What did Pastor Russell and the Bible Students originally believe about the earth?

    > Did they believe that the earth would always exist and that it would become a paradise?

    > Did Russell or any of the Bible Students entertain the hope of living forever upon the earth?

    > Or, did they believe that going to heaven was the only hope that there was?

    Thanks for any help that can be given with regards to my questions.

    Pall

  • LoveUniHateExams
    LoveUniHateExams

    > Did they believe that the earth would always exist and that it would become a paradise? - short answer, yes & yes.

    ************************************

    > Did Russell or any of the Bible Students entertain the hope of living forever upon the earth?

    > Or, did they believe that going to heaven was the only hope that there was?

    ^^^ Ok, two related questions that I'll try to answer.

    Russell and the original Bible Students believed that they would go to heaven if they were faithful to that calling.

    But they didn't believe that all the world's population was going to be destroyed. They believed that, while the world's governments were corrupt and fit for destruction, ordinary people would have the chance to live on a paradise earth. Those that died would be resurrected ... but there would be some who wouldn't taste death at all.

    That's all I can remember. I'm sure there will be other posters who correct any mistakes and add to what I've posted.

    Edit: Russell and his followers believed the time of the end started in 1799, I think.

  • Finkelstein
    Finkelstein

    Jwfacts has lot of information to what your looking for.

    Google Pyramidology this was a core theology that Russel taught through his books and magazines titled Zion's Watchtower

    Adventistism Dispensationalism era dating

    According to Russell 1914 was originally supposed to be the year of Armageddon and 1874 was the year of Christ taken upon his heavenly throne casting Satan to earth.

    Much of the WTS/JWS doctrinal theology since its beginning has roots of dispensational era dating, which ironically was condemned by Jesus and the early Christian apostles .

  • Terry
    Terry

    Better to go to the source, eh?
    http://www.pastor-russell.com/

  • Doug Mason
    Doug Mason

    I provide an overview of the WTS, beginning with CTR, at:

    https://jwstudies.com/The_Watch_Tower_Society_Reveals_Itself.pdf

    I also touch on his contemporaries at:

    https://jwstudies.com/People_important_to_Russell.pdf

    Doug

  • blondie
    blondie

    I would look at current Bible Student websites.

    Here is one:

    https://www.internationalbiblestudents.com/about.html

  • smiddy3
    smiddy3

    Read "Captives of A Concept" by Don Cameron

    Highlights what C.T.Russell and the Bible Students believed and taught back then and compare it with what Jehovah`s Witnesses today believe and teach.

    And this is what your faced with :

    1. If the I.B.S.A. started by C.T.Russell was approved as the Faithful & Discreet Slave Class by Jesus Christ /Jehovah God in 1919 for what they taught and preached back then ,as Jehovah`s Witnesses claim.

    THEN

    2. They would now be rejected and cast out by Jesus Christ / Jehovah God ,simply because JW/WT no longer believe or teach anything C.T.Russell or the I.B.S.A. believed or taught in 1919.or anything of that period.

    Do yourself a favour and read Don Cameron`s book..."Captives of A Concept"

  • Pallbearer
    Pallbearer

    Thank you all for pointing me to some sources, which I am presently trying to sift through. I want to say a special thanks to Doug Mason for having produced this: https://jwstudies.com/The_Great_Crowd_before_1935_and_since.pdf

    I will return later to report on my findings.

    Pall

  • vienne
    vienne
  • betterdaze
    betterdaze

    "By hook or by crook," career criminal Charles Taze Russell and his "Bible Students" mob believed in money-making and laundering through one successive financial scam after another.

    Financial Biography of Charles Taze Russell: The Pennsylvania Years

    Financial Biography of Charles Taze Russell: The New York Years

    Russell and his Racketeers.

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