HISTORY OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES

The history of 'Jehovah's Witnesses' dates from 1872 when Charles Taze Russell began to lead a Bible study group in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Originally known as Bible Students, they experienced a major schism in 1917 as Joseph Franklin Rutherford began his presidency. Rutherford stressed 1925 as a date for Armageddon. Rutherford gave new direction to the movement and coined the name "Jehovah's Witnesses" in 1931.
Following his death, Nathan Knorr took over the presidency of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. Later, 1975 was heavily stressed as a possible date for Armageddon. In 1976, leadership of the Jehovah's Witness movement began to be directed by a Governing Body.

Contents

1870-1916

1916-1942

1942-1975

1976-Present

References

Further reading

External links

1870-1916

Timeline of events from 1870-1916

1877	Russell and Barbour publish The Three Worlds
1879	Russell begins publishing Watchtower
1881	Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society is founded
1914	Photo-Drama of Creation Released
1916	Russell dies

Born into a Presbyterian family, Charles Taze Russell^[1] nearly lost his faith until he came in contact with Advent Christian^[2] preacher Jonas Wendell^[3] (one of the spiritual heirs of the Millerites) in 1870. His faith restored, Russell organized a Bible study group in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Adventist ministers George Storrs and George Stetson were early influences. In 1876 Russell met Nelson H. Barbour and subsequently adopted Barbour's understanding of biblical chronology, which had originally been published by Christopher Bowen in 1861. Barbour (like Wendell) had predicted a visible return of Christ for 1873^[4], and when that failed, revised the prediction to 1874.^[5] Soon after that disappointment, Barbour's group decided Christ had returned to the earth in 1874, but invisibly.^[6] Russell provided financial backing for Barbour and became co-editor of Barbour's magazine, ''Herald of the Morning''.^[7] They jointly issued the book ''The Three Worlds''.^[8]They differed from most Second Adventists in teaching that all humankind since Adam would be given a chance to live in a paradise earth^[9]. Russell broke with Barbour in July, 1879 over the concept of substitutionary atonement and soon began publishing his own magazine, ''Zion's Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence'' (now known as ''The Watchtower'')^[10]. He retained Barbour's teaching that the "end times" had begun in 1799^[11], and that Christ had returned invisibly in 1874^[12]. 1878 became the date for Christ's being enthroned as king, the resurrection of the saints, and God's judgment of Christendom^[13][14]. 1914 was held as the ending date of a harvest period which would culminate in Armageddon^[15].

He became known as "Pastor Russell", and in 1881 formed the legal entity which developed into the non-profit organization: The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania (currently headquartered in New York City). For three years W.H. Conley served as president of the Society, with Russell as secretary-treasurer. ^[16] In 1884 it was incorporated, with Russell as president. Over several years, many millions of copies of ''Zion's Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence''^[17] were distributed in several languages to proclaim Christ's presence and the dawn of the . There is, in addition, his six-volume work of Bible textbooks, originally entitled ''Millennial Dawn'', but later renamed to ''Studies in the Scriptures''^[18] They established the fundamental doctrines derived from their ten years of Bible study during the 1870s. (As a consequence, the Bible Students were sometimes called "Millennial Dawnists".) Notably, in 1907 Russell predicted that Armageddon would culminate in the year 1914.^[19] In 1914 Russell founded the International Bible Students Association in Great Britain.
Beginning in January 1914, the Bible Students began public showings of the ''The Photo-Drama of Creation''^[20], a multi-hour presentation covering the history of the Bible combining film, color slides and audio. Attendance in 1914 was over 9 million^[21]. Russell died on October 31, 1916 in Pampa, Texas during a cross-country preaching trip. For the next ten years Russell continued to be viewed as the "Laodicean Messenger"^[22] and as the "Faithful and Wise Servant."^[23]

1916-1942

Timeline of events from 1916-1942

1917	Rutherford elected president of Watch Tower
1917	Schism at Bethel headquarters
1919	Publication of ''Golden Age'' begins
1920	Rutherford publishes ''Millions Now Living Never Die'', setting 1925 as date for Armageddon
1929	Rutherford builds Beth Sarim to hold resurrected Bible personages
1931	Group changes name to Jehovah's Witnesses
1942	Rutherford dies

According to Russell's Last Will and Testament, an editorial committee of five was set up to supervise the writing of the ''Watch Tower'' magazine following Russell's death on October 31, 1916.^[24]. On January 6, 1917, Joseph Franklin Rutherford (also known as "Judge Rutherford") was elected second President of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. New by-laws were passed at the same business meeting which strengthened the President's authority.^[25]Initially, the board of directors for the Watch Tower Society opposed this change, but in time Rutherford's closest associates stood by him.^[26][27] Rutherford cites the new by-law: "the President shall always be the Executive Officer of the corporation and General Manager" in the first pamphlet. The four directors' version of the dispute was published in ''Light After Darkness'' and ''Facts for Shareholders''. The June 20, 1917 meeting of the full board of directors tabled for one month a proposal to return control of the Society to the board.^[28]An attempted impromptu board meeting while Rutherford was away from headquarters was broken up by the police.^[29]Matters came to a head on July 17, 1917 when the book ''The Finished Mystery'' was published. ^[30] (which had been prepared without the board's consultation, and in violation of Russell's Last Will and Testament. It was titled as the final volume of ''Studies in the Scriptures'') was released to the headquarters staff. At the same time, Rutherford announced he was dismissing the four directors from the board on the grounds that their election had not followed the corporation by-laws and was replacing them with new members.^[31] The reaction was as if a "bombshell had exploded!"^[32]Rutherford called for a democratic vote among the Bible Student community, the majority of which supported his administration .^[33]Dissension and schisms ensued in local congregations, however. New predictions were made for the years 1918 and 1925^[34] and 1920.^[35]
The Watchtower Society's opposition to clergy support of World War I garnered prosecution by the United States federal government. Rutherford and the new board of directors were sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for violating the "Espionage Act". They were released on bail in March, 1919 and the judgment against them was reversed and charges dropped.^[36]
Once released from prison Rutherford energized the Bible Students to preach. He inaugurated the magazine ''The Golden Age'' (now ''Awake!'') in 1919.^[37]An emphasis on preaching house-to-house began in 1922.^[38]Early preaching campaigns included distribution of Rutherford's book ''Millions Now Living Will Never Die''^[39] which predicted "end times" events for 1925.^[40]No more dates were suggested after the 1925 disappointment^[41]but Armageddon was still held to be imminent.^[42]The editorial committee was disbanded in 1931^[43] but had been superseded by Rutherford beginning in 1925.^[44]

Some who disagreed with the changes instituted by Rutherford left the movement and became known as the Associated Bible Students, or simply "Bible Students". In 1918 the Pastoral Bible Institute was founded and began publishing ''The Herald of Christ's Kingdom''. By 1928, memorial attendance dropped nearly 75% from 1922, due to the previous power struggle and the failed predictions for the year 1925.^[45] A luxury villa was built by Joseph Rutherford in 1929 to house the biblical "princes" who were expected to be resurrected before Armageddon (in which Rutherford lived from 1929 until his death, and after which it was sold).^[46] On July 26, 1931, Rutherford presented a resolution at an assembly in Columbus, Ohio. Under the title "A New Name" he proposed that the group adopt the name "Jehovah's Witnesses" based on Isaiah 43:10-12.
In 1932 Rutherford abolished the offices of elder and deacon in the local congregations.^[47]Supplanting them was a Service Director appointed by the Watchtower Society and a Service Committee elected by the congregation which organized the local preaching activity.^[48] However, from 1938 onwards congregational elections were discontinued and all who would hold office in the congregation were appointed by headquarters.^[49]
Jehovah's Witnesses endured intense persecution under the Nazi regime from 1933 to 1945, both as a religious group and individually.^[50] Unlike Jews, Sinti and Roma, persecuted and killed by virtue of their culture, Jehovah's Witnesses had the opportunity to escape persecution and personal harm by renouncing their religious beliefs. The courage the vast majority displayed in refusing to do so, in the face of torture, maltreatment in concentration camps, and sometimes execution, won them the respect of many contemporaries. These events are recounted in a documentary entitled ''Purple Triangles''.^[51]
From 1925 to 1933, the eschatological beliefs of the Jehovah's Witnesses underwent radical changes.^[52]By 1933, 1914 was seen as the beginning of Christ's presence, his enthronement as king and the start of the last days instead of being considered the terminal date for chronology.^[53] The 1878 resurrection date was changed to 1918^[54]and the teaching of the judgment of religious groups was moved to 1919.^[55]These are the current teachings of Jehovah's Witnesses regarding 1914, 1918 and 1919. They no longer consider the dates 1799, 1874 and 1878 to have any eschatological significance.
Under Rutherford, Jehovah's Witnesses grew from about 44,000 in 1928 to about 115,000 at the time of his death in 1942. His prolific writings^[56] were distributed in the millions by zealous Witnesses. Rutherford was known for bold rhetoric and assertive preaching tactics. He coined the phrase "Religion is a snare and a racket", heavily denouncing the Catholic Church^[57] and Christendom generally, modern Judaism, and national governments. Placards, information marches, sound cars,^[58] and radio broadcasts were some of the preaching methods employed. He opposed the League of Nations^[59] and Prohibition^[60]. Rutherford taught that saluting the flag was "contrary to the Word of God"^[61], which in the US drew mob violence against Witnesses as they preached and caused many Witness children to be expelled from public schools. Under his leadership, a legal staff was developed that battled successfully in both US and Canadian courts. At issue was their right to preach and their right to refrain from nationalistic ceremonies. These legal battles resulted in significant improvements in freedom of speech and religion in both countries.^[62]

1942-1975

Timeline of events from 1942-1975

1942	Knorr elected president of Watch Tower Society
1950	''New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures'' started (completed 1961)
1966	The year 1975 suggested as possible date for Armageddon

Nathan Homer Knorr succeeded Rutherford as president of the Watch Tower Society. Known as an efficient administrator, Knorr founded the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead to train missionaries as well as the Theocratic Ministry School to train preaching and teaching at the congregational level.
Knorr's Vice-President Frederick William Franz became the leading theologian, and is believed to have been the principal translator of the ''New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures''^[63]. Also produced were a Greek-English New Testament interlinear (''The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures'') and a Bible dictionary ''(Aid To Bible Understanding)''.^[64]The offices of elder and ministerial servant (deacon) were restored to Witness congregations in 1972, with appointments being made from headquarters.^[65]Membership rose from 115,000 to over 2 million under Knorr's leadership.
During the 1960s^[66] and early 1970s, many references appeared in Witnesses literature and assemblies suggesting Christ's thousand-year millennial reign would begin by 1975.^[67] While Witnesses have always been encouraged to increase the preaching work, and avoid secular life goals or careers, this emphasis was especially strong prior to 1975.^[68] Approximately 20% left (or became inactive) from 1975 to 1980.^[69]

1976-Present

Timeline of events from 1976-Present

1976	Governing Body takes control
1995	Teaching that generation of 1914 will see Armageddon is abandoned

The leadership of Jehovah's Witnesses was reorganized in 1976 and the power of the presidency passed on to the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses. Subsequent presidents of the Watch Tower Society after Knorr's death in 1977 have been Frederick William Franz, Milton George Henschel and Don A. Adams. However, doctrinal and organizational decisions since 1976 have been made by the Governing Body.^[70]The Writing Committee of the Governing Body now edits all Witness publications. Congregation affairs are under the direction of the Service Committee of the Governing Body. ^[71]
In 1995 changes regarding their understanding of Jesus' comments regarding "this generation" (from Matthew 24:34) were published.^[72] Throughout the previous four decades, Jehovah's Witnesses had taught that the generation that saw the events of 1914 would not die out before Armageddon came.^[73] The Witnesses' current teaching regarding the meaning of the term "this generation" is that it simply refers to those who saw the signs of Christ's presence. Jehovah's Witnesses continue to teach that Armageddon is imminent.^[74]
Jehovah's Witnesses males are currently imprisoned in Singapore for refusal to participate in the compulsory National Service.^[75]

References

1. A sketch of Russell's early life is given in the January 1, 1912 ''Watch Tower'', p. 4947.
2. ''Jehovah's Witnesses--Proclaimers of God's Kingdom'', p. 43. These were also known as "Second Adventists."
3. Pages 35-36 of Jonas Wendell's treatise ''The Present Truth or Meat in Due Season'' pointed to 1873 for the time of Christ's visible return.
4. ''Evidences for the Coming of the Lord in 1873: or the Midnight Cry'', N.H. Barbour (1871). Available online at: http://www.heraldmag.org/olb/contents/history/barbour%20midnight%20cry.htm accessed February 20, 2006
5. ''The Midnight Cry and Herald of the Morning,'' March 1874. See Section under "Our Faith."
6. Russell explains how he accepted the idea of an invisible return of Christ in 1874 from N.H. Barbour in "Harvest Gatherings and Siftings" in the July 15, 1906 ''Watch Tower'', ''Reprints'' page 3822.
7. The issues of ''Herald of the Morning'' from 1874-1876 are available online at: http://tjliberte.free.fr/Library/Watchtower_Publications/1874-1876_Herald_of_the_Morning.pdf accessed August 23, 2007
8. ''The Three Worlds and The Harvest of This World'' by N.H. Barbour and C.T. Russell (1877). Text available online at: http://www.heraldmag.org/olb/contents/history/3worlds.pdf accessed March 15, 2006
9. ''The Three Worlds'', pp. 184-185
10. Russell's explains his side of the break with Barbour in the first issue of the ''Watch Tower''.
11. "The 'Time of the End,' a period of one hundred and fifteen (115) years, from A.D. 1799 to A.D. 1914, is particularly marked in the Scriptures." ''Thy Kingdom Come'', p. 23.
12. ''Jehovah's Witnesses--Proclaimers of God's Kingdom'', pp. 631-632
13. ''Thy Kingdom Come'' (1890), Volume 3 of ''Studies in the Scriptures'', pp. 305-308.
14. "This spuing out, or casting off, of the nominal church as an organization in 1878, we then understood, and still proclaim, to be the date of the commencement of Babylon's fall..."—"The Consummation of Our Hope" in ''Zion's Watch Tower'', April 1883. ''Reprints'' pp. 474-5.
15. "Things to Come--And The Present European Situation" in ''The Watch Tower'', January 15, 1892, ''Reprints'', p. 1355
16. ''Jehovah's Witnesses: Proclaimers of God's Kingdom''. Watchtower, p. 576.
17. Online copies of the ''The Watch Tower'' from 1879-1916 can be viewed by issue at: http://www.mostholyfaith.com/bible/Reprints/index.asp or by article at: http://www.agsconsulting.com/htdbv5/links.htm. These are taken from the 7 volume ''Watch Tower Reprints'' published by the Watch Tower Society in 1920 which reprinted all the issues from 1879-1919.
18. The titles of the six volumes are: 1) ''The Divine Plan of the Ages'', 2)''The Time is At Hand'', 3)''Thy Kingdom Come'', 4)''The Battle of Armageddon'', 5)''The At-one-ment Between God and Man'', 6)''The New Creation''
19. Russell, C.T, The Time is At Hand, Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, Inc., 1907 p. 101
20. Slides and film from the Photo-Drama can be viewed online at: http://www.agsconsulting.com/pdoc/menu.htm; the book is available online at: http://www.heraldmag.org/olb/contents/russell/Drama.pdf
21. ''Jehovah's Witnesses--Proclaimers of God's Kingdom'', p. 422
22. See chart "The Seven Messengers to the Church" from ''The Finished Mystery'' (1917), page 66.
23. ''The Finished Mystery'', page 5
24. ''Jehovah's Witnesses--Proclaimers of God's Kingdom'', pp. 64-65
25. ''Apocalypse Delayed'', M.J. Penton, p. 51. Rutherford, as chief legal counsel for the Watch Tower Society, had written the new by-laws. (See ''Harvest Siftings II'', written by J.F. Rutherford.)
26. Rutherford published his version of the dispute in ''Harvest Siftings''
27. ''Harvest Siftings II''
28. See Rutherford's ''Harvest Siftings'' under subheading "Seeds Begin to Bring Forth."
29. The four directors were not able to achieve the needed quorum of five to transact business. Rutherford had left instructions to call the police to prevent such an action. See ''Faith on the March'' by A.H. Macmillan, p. 79. The directors claim, however, that the police officer did not force them out. (''Apocalypse Delayed'', M.J. Penton, pp. 319-320) Rutherford, in ''Harvest Siftings'', dates this as July 5, 1917.
30. ''The Finished Mystery'', published 1917, was called the seventh volume of ''Studies in the Scriptures''.
31. See ''Faith on the March'', p. 80. The ousted directors disagreed: "...if the directors were not legally elected, neither were the Society's three officers: Rutherford, Pierson, and Van Amburgh. In order to have been chosen officers in January 1917, they would have had to have been legally elected directors. Yet, they had not been, and hence, by Rutherford's own logic, did not hold office legally."--''Apocalypse Delayed'', M. James Penton, p. 52
32. ''Jehovah's Witnesses--Proclaimers of God's Kingdom'', p. 66-68
33. ''Jehovah's Witnesses: The New World Society'' by Marley Cole, pp. 89-90. Cole reports that 31 members of the headquarters staff were expelled and produces the votes from 813 American congregations.
34. "Also, in the year 1918, when God destroys the churches wholesale and the church members by millions, it shall be that any that escape shall come to the works of Pastor Russell to learn the meaning of the downfall of 'Christianity.'"--''The Finished Mystery'' 1917, p. 485 (later editions read differently)
35. "And the mountains were not found. Even the republics will disappear in the fall of 1920. And the mountains were not found. Every kingdom of earth will pass away, be swallowed up in anarchy." ''The Finished Mystery'', 1917 edition, p. 258. (This date was changed in later editions.)
36. ''Apocalypse Delayed'', M.J. Penton, pp. 55-56
37. Edited by C.J. Woodworth, it was intended as a general news magazine to proclaim the incoming "golden age." It published many unusual science and medical articles. The evils of aluminum (''The Golden Age'', September 23, 1936, p. 803), vaccines (''The Golden Age'', May 1, 1929, p. 502) and modern medicine (''The Golden Age'', September 8, 1937, p. 771) were frequent topics.
38. ''Jehovah's Witnesses--Proclaimers of God's Kingdom'', pp. 259-260
39. ''Millions Now Living Will Never Die'', J.F. Rutherford (1920). Scanned copy available online at: http://www.strictlygenteel.co.uk/millions/millions.html accessed February 18, 2006
40. ''Jehovah's Witnesses--Proclaimers of God's Kingdom'', pp. 632-633. See also ''The Way to Paradise'' (1924), pp. 220-235.
41. "There was a measure of disappointment on the part of Jehovah’s faithful ones on earth concerning the years 1914, 1918, and 1925, which disappointment lasted for a time. Later the faithful learned that these dates were definitely fixed in the Scriptures; and they also learned to quit fixing dates for the future and predicting what would come to pass on a certain date, but to rely (and they do rely) upon the Word of God as to the events that must come to pass."--''Vindication, Vol. 1'', by J.F. Rutherford, (1931), p.338-339
42. ''The Watchtower'', September 15, 1941 p. 288 spoke of "the remaining months before Armageddon."
43. Up until 1931, each issue of the ''Watch Tower'' published this notice: "This journal is published under the supervision of an editorial committee, at least three of whom have read and approved as truth each and every article appearing in these columns." See "Rutherford vs. the Editorial Committee" in ''A People For His Name'' by Timothy White, pp. 186-188
44. See Watchtower'', June 15, 1938, p. 185: "In the beginning of the first Hebrew month ''The Watchtower'' of March 1, 1925 published the article "The Birth of The Nation", meaning the kingdom had begun to function. An editorial committee, humanly provided for, then was supposed to control the publication of ''The Watchtower'', and the majority of that committee strenuously objected to the publication of that article "The Birth of The Nation", but, by the Lord's grace it was published and that really marked the beginning of the end of the editorial committee, indicating that the Lord himself is running the organization."
45. ''Apocalypse Delayed--The Story of Jehovah's Witnesses'', M. James Penton. p. 61.
46. See March 31, 1930 ''Time'' magazine, p. 60. Scan available at http://www.catholic-forum.com/members/popestleo/Time_March_31_1930.jpg Accessed May 11, 2006. This belief was discarded in 1950. (''Jehovah's Witnesses--Proclaimers of God's Kingdom'', p. 263)
47. It was argued that elders were superfluous since Christ had returned: "...was it not the purpose of the Lord to limit the jurisdiction of the elders to the time of the absence from the earth of the Lord Jesus, commencing with his ascension, and the giving of the holy spirit as a guide or teacher, and the coming of Christ Jesus to the temple?" February 1, 1932 ''Watch Tower'', p. 47. See also ''Apocalypse Delayed,'' M.J. Penton, pp. 63-64.
48. ''Jehovah's Witnesses--Proclaimers of God's Kingdom'', p. 214
49. See June 15, 1938 ''Watchtower''.
50. See article on the persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum at: http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/article.php?lang=en&ModuleId=10005394 accessed February 22, 2006
51.
52. Documentations of these changes can be found on pages 3-37 of ''Historical Idealism and Jehovah's Witnesses'', by Thomas Daniels, available online at: http://www.catholic-forum.com/members/popestleo/Historical%20Idealism%20and%20Jehovahs%20Witnesses.pdf accessed February 1, 2006.
53. ''The Harp of God'' (1921 ed., p. 231, paragraph 400; 1928 ed., p. 236, para. 400) affirmed that “the Lord’s second presence dates from 1874.” Page 71 of the March 1, 1922 ''Watch Tower'' and pages 65-66 of the book ''Prophecy'' (published in 1930) reiterated this position. However, by 1930 some vagueness can be seen. For example, the October 15, 1930 ''Watch Tower'', page 308 says the “second advent of the Lord Jesus Christ dates from about A.D. 1875.” The November 1, 1932 ''Watch Tower'', page 325 is even less precise, stating that from “approximately 1875 forward” Christ was preparing the way. The first clear statement occurs in 1933: "The year 1914, therefore, marks the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, the King of glory."-- December 1, 1933 ''Watch Tower'', p. 362
54. June 1, 1927 ''Watch Tower'', p. 106.
55. ''Light, Book One'' pp. 318-319.
56. Online scans of many of Rutherford's books are available at: http://www.strictlygenteel.co.uk/index2.html
57. Articles against the Catholic Church were often published in ''Golden Age'' and ''Consolation''. See Who Rules America?, , , , Golden Age, Jesuit Destroyers, , , , Consolation, for examples.
58. Witnesses also played Rutherford's audio messages on portable phonographs in their door-to-door preaching. An audio sample of "Who Will Survive Armageddon?" is available online: http://www.freeminds.org/media/armsurv.rm accessed February 23, 2006
59. ''Prohibition and the League of Nations: Born of God or the Devil, Which?'' by J.F. Rutherford (1930)
60. ''The Watch Tower'', November 1, 1924, p. 323-325. Text also available at: http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/history/e1920/rutherford1.htm
61. Radio discourse, October 6, 1935 as cited in ''Jehovah's Witnesses--Proclaimers of God's Kingdom'', pp. 196-197
62. See, e.g., ''Cantwell v. State of Connecticut'', ''Chaplinsky v. New Hampshire'', ''West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette''.
63. Since 1942, Witness publications are produced under a policy of anonymity. Former Governing Body member Raymond Franz claims the translators of the ''New World Translation'' were Fred Franz, Nathan Knorr, Albert Schroeder and George Gangas. ''Crisis of Conscience'' (4th ed., 2004), pg. 56. Atlanta: Commentary Press, ISBN 0-914675-23-0.
64. In 1988 this was replaced by the 2-volume set ''Insight on the Scriptures''.
65. ''Jehovah's Witnesses--Proclaimers of God's Kingdom'', p. 106
66. The year 1975 was first mentioned in 1966. See, for example, the article "How Much Longer Will It Be?" in the October 8, 1966 Awake!, pp. 17-20.
67. See "Witnessing the End" in the July 18, 1969 ''Time'' magazine. Scan available online at: http://www.dannyhaszard.com/time1975.jpg accessed February 14, 2006
68. Scanned text discouraging higher education from the Watch Tower 22 May 1969, p.15 http://www.jwfiles.com/scans/AW5-22-69p15.htm
69. See ”1975—The Appropriate Time for God to Act,” pp. 237-253 in ''Crisis of Conscience'', by Raymond Franz. Available online at: http://web.archive.org/web/20031209184316/http://users.volja.net/izobcenec4/coc/9.pdf accessed February 12, 2006
70. ''1977 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses'', p. 258
71. The various committees were enumerated in the January 1, 1977 ''Watchtower'', p. 15. They are: Writing, Teaching, Service, Publishing, and Personnel.
72. See ”1914 and ‘This Generation’”, pp. 254-272 in ''Crisis of Conscience'' by Raymond Franz. Available online at: http://web.archive.org/web/20060208160353/http://users.volja.net/izobcenec4/coc/10.pdf accessed February 12, 2006
73. "He shows the beginning of this time and how the troubles increase, and mentions some of the sorrows to fall on the world, during the time of trouble. The length of time is indicated by him when he said, 'Truly I say to you that this generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur.' (Matt. 24:34, NW) The actual meaning of these words is, beyond question, that which takes a 'generation' in the ordinary sense, as at Mark 8:12 and Acts 13:36, or for those who are living at the given period. So it was on 'this generation' that the accumulated judgments were to fall. (Matt. 23:36) This therefore means that from 1914 a generation shall not pass till all is fulfilled, and amidst a great time of trouble. Vision of the 'Time of the End', ''The Watchtower'', July 1951, p. 404
74. "A Time To Keep Awake", ''The Watchtower'' (November 1, 1995), p. 19 par. 12, and p. 20 par. 15.
75. International Religious Freedom Report 2005 — Singapore, ''U.S. Department of State'' (2005). Available online at http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2005/51529.htm

Further reading

Three official histories of Jehovah's Witnesses have been published by the Watchtower Society. The first two are out of print. The most recent one is available in many public libraries and on the ''Watchtower Library CD-ROM.''

★ 'Qualified To Be Ministers', pages 297-345 (1955)

★ 'Jehovah's Witnesses in the Divine Purpose' (1959)

★ 'Jehovah's Witnesses—Proclaimers of God's Kingdom' (1993)
Books by members:

★ 'Jehovah's Witnesses: The New World Society' by Marley Cole. This book received a positive review in the August 15, 1955 ''Watchtower'': "Much of the material was gathered by personal interviews with witnesses, some of them being officials of the Society. Frequently in the news is something about the religion of President Eisenhower's parents. This book gives the facts often overlooked or concealed, with documentary proof that they were Jehovah's witnesses for many years." Cole was an active Witness and wrote the book in collaboration with Witness leaders. It was also distributed by the Watchtower Society. 229 pages. Publisher: The Vantage Press, 1955.

★ 'Faith on the March' by A. H. Macmillan. Macmillan provides a first-person account of the early history of Jehovah's Witnesses from his meeting of Charles Taze Russell in 1900 to the time of the writing of the book (1957). He served with three of the Presidents of Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society: Russell, Rutherford, and Knorr (who wrote the book's introduction). - Publisher: Prentice-Hall, Inc. Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 57-8528 (Englewood Cliffs, N.J. 1957)

★ 'A People for His Name: A History of Jehovah's Witnesses and an Evaluation' by Tony Wills, (2006) 2nd edition. (The first edition was published under the pseudonym Timothy White.) The author, a life-long Witness, presents an in-depth look at the Bible Student/Jehovah's Witness movement. He explores its doctrinal growth and shifts and notes schisms from the main body. 300 pages. ISBN 978-1-4303-0100-4 Publisher: Lulu Press.

★ 'Armed with the Constitution: Jehovah's Witnesses in Alabama and the U.S Supreme Court, 1939-1946' by Merlin Newton. Newton researches the contributions of two Jehovah's Witnesses—a black man and a white woman—in expanding the meaning of the First Amendment in 1940s Alabama. She examines two key U.S. Supreme Court decisions, as well as court records, memoirs, letters, and interviews of Jehovah's Witnesses. - Publisher: University Alabama Press; Religion and American Culture Series, Reprint edition (June 28, 2002). Paperback: 240 pages. ISBN 0-8173-1228-5

★ 'O'er the Ramparts They Watched' by Victor Blackwell.

★ 'Jehovah's Witnesses in Canada: Champions of freedom of speech and worship' by M. James Penton. Penton, who is a professor emeritus of history at University of Lethbridge, examines the history of legal activities that led to expansion of religious freedoms in Canada. Referenced in the January 1, 1977 ''Watchtower'', page 11 and the ''1979 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses'', page 94. - Publisher: Macmillan of Canada. ISBN 0-7705-1340-9 (Canada, 1976)
Books by non-members:

★ 'Millions Now Living Will Never Die: A Study of Jehovah's Witnesses' by Alan Rogerson. Constable. 1969

★ 'Apocalypse Delayed: The Story of Jehovah's Witnesses' by M. James Penton. Penton, who is a professor emeritus of history at University of Lethbridge, examines the history of Jehovah's Witnesses, and their doctrines. Read selections from: Google Book Search - Publisher: University of Toronto Press. ISBN 0-8020-7973-3 (Canada, 1998)

External links

★ Official website of Jehovah's Witnesses

★ Historical publications relating to Jehovah's Witnesses Sources & articles relating to Watchtower history, from a critical Catholic website

★ Writing Their Faith into the Law of the Land: Jehovah's Witnesses, the Supreme Court and the Battle for the Meaning of the Free Exercise Clause, 1939-1945

★ Purple Triangles: A Story of Spiritual Resistance - Thorough essay chronicling the persecution lodged against Jehovah's Witnesses by those opposed to their stand in Nazi Germany circa 1933-1945. This document analyzes the early history of this conflict and the endurance of the ''Bibelforscher'' (as Jehovah's Witnesses were known in this land at the time).