Charles T. Russell, Jehovah's Witnesses and 1914

Multi-faceted Ministry of Charles T. Russell

Among other things this non-denominational group concluded that hell was the common grave, not a place where God burned the wicked forever, the soul was not immortal, but mortal, it does not survive death, but dies when the individual dies. Russell also rejected the Trinity, stating that the Bible did not support the idea and that it was of pagan origin.

Additionally, Russell and his colleagues believed that the fulfillment of the prophecies of Jesus Christ concerning the end times, as related in Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21 were imminent. Russell associated with a minister, Nelson Barbour, older than Russell, Russell being in his 20s at that time. Barbour convinced Russell of time-prophecies in the Bible, one of which pointed forward to the date 1914.

Russell's ministry then, was many-faceted, and the date 1914, considered to be a pivotal year in Bible prophecy, was only one facet of a multi-faceted ministry.

Nelson Barbour, Charles T. Russell, Protestant Clergymen of the 1800s, and 1914

The book, Jehovah's Witnesses Proclaimers of God's Kingdom explains,

"Early in 1876, C. T. Russell received a copy of Herald of the Morning. He promptly wrote to Barbou and then spent time with him in Philadelphia during the summer, discussing, among other things, prophetic time periods. Shortly thereafter, in an article entitled "Gentile Times: When Do they End?", Russell also reasoned on the matter from the Scriptures and stated that the evidence showed that "the seven times will end in A.D. 1914." This article was printed in the October 1876 issue of the Bible Examiner. The book Three Worlds, and the Harvest of This World, produced in 1877 by N.H. Barbour in cooperation with C.T. Russell, pointed to the same conclusion. Thereafter, early issues of the Watch Tower, such as the ones dated December 1879 and July 1880 directed attention to 1914 C. E. as being a highly significant year from the standpoint of Bible prophecy."

Among those who previously interpreted the Bible as pointing to 1914 were, John A. Brown (1823); E. B. Elliot (1844); Robert Seeley (1849); Joseph Seiss (1870), in addition to Nelson Barbour and then Charles T. Russell. Some state that the date was referenced by Protestant clergymen as early as the 1700s.

In 1889, one chapter in Volume II of Russell's Millennial Dawn series (later referred to as Studies in the Scriptures), was devoted to a discussion of this topic. The Bible Students, as they were then referred to, were not sure of what 1914 would mean, other than it would be highly significant. However, it was later believed that the year would begin a period of anarchy that would commence the time of destruction against the wicked, spoken of in Revelation as Armageddon, "the great day of God the Almighty." Revelation 16:14,16.

Charles T. Russell and The Photo-Drama of Creation

In 1914, Russell completed and released The Photo-Drama of Creation, which was a six-hour film presentation that depicted through slides and drama (as in the silent film genre), the creation of the earth, as related in Genesis, the creation of man, through Bible times, using theatrical production of Bible stories, until the final days of the present world, and into the Millennial Reign of Jesus Christ, as written of in the Bible at Isaiah 11:6-9 and Revelation 20:1-6; Revelation 21:3,4. Russell and his associates continued preaching from 1914 until 1916, using the Photo-Drama of Creation, which was viewed by some nine-million at that time. (The copyright has since run out and it is available for purchase on the internet presently in DVD form).

Bible Prophecies from Jesus and Revelation of "The time of the end".

While the Bible Students did believe 1914 to be a "highly significant year" and even though their full expectations of that year were not then realized, they believed that Bible prophecy as related by Jesus in Matthew 24, that "nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom," with "food shortages in one place after another," as well as "pestilences" and "great earthquakes," as a sign of Christ's presence and the coming of the end of this system of things, began to be fulfilled in that year, a view that Jehovah's Witnesses continue to endorse. Revelation 6 and the prophecy of horsemen of the Apocalypse corresponds with these prophecies of Jesus Christ.

So, while 1914 did not bring complete world anarchy, it did, in the view of some, usher in a new time period, which the Bible prophetically refers to as "the last days". Jesus said that this would culminate in a "great tribulation such has not occurred since the world's beginning until now, nor will occur again." Matthew 24:21.

The Apostle Peter concerning Ridiculers in the "Last Days"

At the same time, one of Jesus foremost Apostles, Peter, prophesied concerning people's attitude, " For YOU know this first, that in the last days there will come ridiculers with their ridicule, proceeding according to their own desires and saying: "Where is this promised presence of his? Why, from the day our forefathers fell asleep [in death], all things are continuing exactly as from creation's beginning." 2 Peter 3:3,4. Many have this attitude towards Bible prophecy today and endeavor to find fault with what they (erroneosuly) view as Charles Russell's date, 1914.

Russell, Rutherford, Jehovah's Witnesses and the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses do not Consider Themselves to be Prophets

Additionally, it should be noted that neither Russell, nor Jehovah's Witnesses in the past nor today view themselves as prophets. Rather, they state in their literature,

The only time in the history of the writings of Jehovah's Witnesses that they referred to themselves as prophets, (Watchtower articles from 1959 and 1972), it was in the context of what is mentioned above, preaching the prophecies already written in the Bible, and not in the context of the prophets of the Bible who were inspired by God, in the viewpoint of the Christian, to write inspired prophecies from God. Any references where Jehovah's Witnesses refer to themselves as being prophets, usually from these two articles, are taken out of context and presented in a manner that the articles did not intend.

The literature of Jehovah's Witnesses states,

"God's people today are not prophets. We are not inspired to add to Jehovah's infallible words of truth found in the Bible. Still, we have been commissioned to preach the good news of the Kingdom all the days until the end of the system of things. (Matthew 28:19,20). (God's Word For Us Through Jeremiah, 2010. Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. p. 167)

Jehovah's Witnesses in general and the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses do not view themselves, and never have viewed themselves as prophets, including Charles T. Russell and J. F. Rutherford. Rather, they viewed themselves as ministers endeavoring to point to the prophecies of the Bible and to "Keep on the Watch," as Jesus commanded at Matthew 24:36-47.

Jehovah's Witnesses and the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses view themselves as:

* Fallible

* Not directly inspired by God

* Not prophets

Conclusion of Charles T. Russell, Jehovah's Witnesses and 1914

Hopefully, this helps to provide clarifying and background information to the general public and to researchers concerning the date 1914 and Jehovah's Witnesses. Jehovah's Witnesses believe and teach that we are in the last days of this system when God will destroy the wicked and usher in a "new earth," and earthly Paradise, that is spoken of in Genesis, and that the Bible prophecies will be restored.

Bible Verses Concerning the New Heavens and New Earth

"But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells." 2 Peter 3:13

"And the wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder's den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of Jehovah, as the waters cover the sea." Isaiah 11:6-9 American Standard Version

"With that I heard a loud voice from the throne say: "Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his peoples. And God himself will be with them. 4 And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away." Revelation 21:3,4. New World Translation

Official sites of Jehovah's Witnesses include:
Jehovah's Witnesses media
Jehovah's Witnesses beliefs

Accurate information concerning Jehovah's Witnesses from non-Witness sources include,
KNOCKING.org PBS documentary and information study guide page on Jehovah's Witnesses
and the BBC pages on Jehovah's Witnesses.