A man named Charles Taze Russell, known as Pastor Russell, was born in 1852 in Pittsburg, America. He was a sincere man with a keen desire to understand the Bible. In 1879 he began to gather others with the same interest and by 1881 he had formed the original Watchtower Society. This group became known as “The International Bible Students.” It would be many years before they adopted the name “Jehovah's Witnesses.”
This small group who were sometimes referred to as Russellites, started to make predictions regarding the end of the world system. A book entitled “The Time is at Hand” followed in 1891. The title of this book emphasised the weakness that was to become a flaw in the Watchtower Society as the years passed – their obsession with time.
This book declared that Jesus Christ had already begun his presence since 1873 and would return to gather his chosen ones to heaven in 1914. Pastor Russell, along with his followers, expected to be taken to heaven to become part of Christ’s heavenly priesthood and government in 1914. The battle of Armageddon was to follow and bring an end to all religious and political set-ups. This date was arrived at by various calculations and guesswork, designed to prove that the Gentile Times would end in 1914. The Gentile Times being the time period that the non-Jewish nations would dominate the earth for. The following quotes are taken from the above book, series II:
“True it is expecting great things to claim, as we do, that within the coming twenty-six years all present governments will be over thrown and dissolved; but we are living in a special and peculiar time, the “Day of Jehovah,” in which matters culminate quickly; and it is written, “A short work will the Lord make upon the earth.””
“In view of the strong bible evidence concerning the times of the Gentiles, we consider it an established truth that the final end of the Kingdoms of this world and the full establishment of the Kingdom of God will be accomplished near the end of A.D. 1915. Then the prayer of the church, ever since her Lord took his departure – “Thy Kingdom Come” – will be answered; and under that wise and just administration, the whole earth will be filled with the glory of the Lord – with knowledge and righteousness, and peace (Psalms 72:19; Isaiah 6:3; Habakkuk 2:14) and then the will of God shall be done “on earth as it is in Heaven.”” (Pages 98, 99)
“Be not surprised, then when in subsequent chapters we present proofs that the setting up of God’s Kingdom is already begun, that it is pointed out in prophecy as due to begin the “battle of the great day of God Almighty” (Revelation 16:14) which will end in A.D. 1915, with the complete overthrow of earth’s present rulership, is already commenced. The gathering of the armies is plainly visible from the standpoint of God’s word.” (Page 101)
Taken form the book - Opening the door to Jehovah's Witnesses. Free download available at Lulu.com
“In the preceding chapters we presented evidence showing that the “Times of the Gentiles” or their lease of domination, will run out with the year A.D. 1914 and at that time they will be overturned and Christ’s Kingdom fully established. That the Lord must be present, and set up his Kingdom, and exercise great power so as to dash the Nations to pieces as a potters vessel, is then clearly fixed.” (Page 170)