(The following is my private research using only, Wikipedia and various religous websites. All beliefs and statements of the WBTS are from older watchtower magazines or the WT CDROM library).
How unique are Jehovah’s witnesses? Do other faiths share significant beliefs and practices? When did the IBSA get its start and what were its influences?
Most Jehovah’s witnesses believe that the beginning of their religion (in modern times as they refer to it) was when a free thinking young man named Charles Taze Russell began to look for answers after being disillusioned by mainstream religions. Most witnesses will tell you kids that he and some 'friends' abandoned the Church's teaching and just read the Bible to arrive at the "truth'.
The Proclaimers book (jv 1993 published by the WBTS) gives a basic account of this event. Russell credits various men with renewing his lost faith. Mentioned are Jonas Wendell, George W Stetson and George Storrs. Later Nelson H Barbour also became very much an influence on Charles.
What do these men all have in common? All of them were ‘Second Adventists’. They were ALL followers of William Miller. The line of second Adventists can be traced back to William Miller.
William Miller (February 15, 1782 – December 20, 1849) was an American Baptist preacher whose followers have been termed Millerites. He is credited with the beginning of the Advent movement of the 1830s and 1840s in North America. Among his direct spiritual heirs are several major religious denominations including Seventh-day Adventists and Advent Christians. Later movements found inspiration in Miller's emphasis on Bible prophecy.
Basing his belief principally on Daniel 8:14: "Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed," Miller assumed that the cleansing of the sanctuary represented the Earth's purification by fire at Christ's Second Coming. Then, using the interpretive principle of the "day-year principle", Miller, and others, interpreted a day in prophecy to read not as a 24-hour period, but rather as a calendar year. Further, Miller became convinced that the 2,300 day period started in 457 B.C. with the decree to rebuild Jerusalem by Artaxerxes I of Persia. Simple calculation then revealed that this period would end in 1843. Miller records, "I was thus brought... to the solemn conclusion, that in about twenty-five years from that time 1818 all the affairs of our present state would be wound up."[17]
Although Miller was convinced of his calculations by 1818, he continued to study privately until 1823 to ensure the correctness of his interpretation. In September 1822, Miller formally stated his conclusions in a twenty-point document, including article 15: "I believe that the second coming of Jesus Christ is near, even at the door, even within twenty-one years,--on or before 1843."[18]
Jonas Wendell (December 25, 1815 - August 14, 1873) of Edenboro, Pennsylvania, was a zealous Adventist preacher following in the spirit of William Miller. Following the "Great Disappointment" Wendell experienced periods of weak faith, as did many Adventists. He eventually recovered his faith after renewing his study of Bible chronology (historic and prophetic) and began to preach extensively throughout Ohio, Pennsylvania, the Virginias, and New England By the late 1860s he had been studying the chronology of the Bible, and was encouraged by conclusions showing Christ's return would occur in either 1868 or 1873/4. In 1870 Wendell published his views in the booklet entitled The Present Truth, or Meat in Due Season concluding that the Second Advent was sure to occur in 1873. Unknown to him, attendance at one of his presentations restored Charles Taze Russell's faith in the Bible as the true word of God, leading to Russell's ministry.
George W Stetson (1814 – 1879) He was not only a minister, but also a school teacher, and physician. As a member of the Advent Christian Church he and Wendell worked together in several churches throughout Pennsylvania and Ohio in the early 1870s. They also wrote for George Storrs’ magazine The Herald of Life and the Coming Kingdom, and for other magazines such as The World’s Crisis.
“He had been a faithful undershepherd, ever holding before his hearers, as the great incentive to ¬holiness and purity of life, that which filled his own soul with joy and peace and helped him to live ‘above the world’—viz: The appearing of the Heavenly Bridegroom—The King of Glory, and our gathering together unto him. Our brother was a man of marked ability, and surrendered bright prospects of worldly and political honors to be permitted to preach Christ, when the glories and beauties of the word of God dawned upon his heart. The truth cost him much, yet he bought it gladly.” (Reprints, p. 46)
For ten months during 1872 Stetson pastored the church in Pittsburgh where he met a young Charles Taze Russell. Then he led the Edinboro, Pennsylvania, congregation for six years until his death. His dying request was that Pastor ¬Russell give his ¬funeral sermon (Reprints, p. 46) where over twelve hundred ¬attended and heard the good news of the kingdom of God.
George Storrs ( 1796 – 1879) While traveling on a train, George Storrs picked up a tract he found on the floor which was about the condition of the dead. He found out later that it was writ ten by Henry Grew. In 1842 after a few years of study on this subject, Storrs began to preach this message to many of the Adventists. After writing a book on the subject, he started a magazine, entitled The Bible Examiner, for the same purpose. He differed from Grew’s teachings in respect to the des tiny of the wicked. Storrs believed these would go into second death and not be resurrected to judgment. The two debated the matter until Henry Grew’s death in 1862.
A decade later, during a severe illness, Storrs reconsidered his views on the wicked, and determined that the Scriptures taught that the wicked would be resurrected to an education in the knowledge of God, to judgment, and that all the families of the earth would be blessed because of the promise to Abraham. He was later surprised to find other individuals teaching these same doctrines, one of whom was Henry Dunn, who a decade earlier had been teaching these things in Eng land. Because of these views, his friends forsook him and Storrs be came an independent publisher of these teachings. During these years Pastor Russell wrote for Storrs’ magazine until Storrs’ death in 1879.
Nelson Horatio Barbour was born in Throopsville, New York, August 21, 1824, and died in Tacoma, Washington, August 30, 1905. He is best known for his association with and later opposition to Charles Taze Russell.
Barbour was introduced to Millerism through the efforts of a Mr. Johnson who lectured at Geneseo, New York, in the winter of 1842. Barbour associated with other Millerites living in that area. These included Owen Crozier, William Marsh, and Daniel Cogswell. Cogswell would become a life-long friend as would Henry F. Hill. Cogswell would go on to become president of the New York Conference of the Advent Christian Church. Hill would become a prominent author associated with the Evangelical Adventists.
Adventists in the Geneseo area met in Springwater to await the second coming in 1843. Their disappointment was profound, and Barbour suffered a crisis of faith. Later, he would write: “We held together until the autumn of 1844.
A ship-board discussion with a clergyman reactivated his interest in Bible prophecy. He consulted books on prophetic themes at the British Library and became convinced that 1873 would mark the return of Christ. This was not a new speculation but had been advanced by others at least as early as 1823.
In 1871 he wrote and published a small book entitled Evidences for the Coming of the Lord in 1873, or The Midnight Cry. It quickly went through two printings and articles by him started appearing in the Second Adventist press, notably the World’s Crisis.
A significant movement advocating 1873 grew up, though it was divided into several parties. Jonas Wendell lead one; another centered on the magazine The Watchman’s Cry, and the rest associated most closely with Barbour. British Barbourites were represented by Elias H. Tuckett, a clergyman.
Many gathered at Terry Island to await the return of Christ in late 1873. Christ failed to return and the group dissolved. Barbour and others looked to the next year. That proved a disappointment too.
Led by Benjamin W. Keith, an associate of Barbour’s since 1867, the group took up the common belief in a two-stage, initially invisible presence. They believed that Christ had indeed come in 1874 and would soon become visible for judgments. Barbour started a magazine in December 1873 to promote his views, calling it The Midnight Cry. He quickly changed the name to Herald of the Morning. After announcing the invisible presence doctrine, the group dwindled into insignificance.
In December 1875 Charles Taze Russell, a businessman from Allegheny, received a copy of The Herald of the Morning. He met the principals in the Barbourite movement and arranged for Barbour to speak in Philadelphia in 1876. Barbour and Russell associated together until 1878 when they parted ways over conflicting views on Ransom and Atonement doctrine.
During their association Barbour wrote the book Three Worlds or Plan of Redemption (1877) and published a small booklet by Russell entitled Object and Manner of Our Lord’s Return.
By 1883 Barbour abandoned belief in an invisible presence and returned to more standard Adventist doctrine. He had organized a small congregation in Rochester in 1873, and by 1878 he was in better quarters. He changed the name of the congregation to Church of the Strangers. In later years the congregation would associate with the Church of the Blessed Hope and call themselves Restitutionists.
Barbour continued the Herald of the Morning, though with breaks, until at least 1903, occasionally issuing statements critical of C. T. Russell. He wrote favorably though cautiously that he was persuaded 1896 was the date for Christ's visible return. This wasn't original with him, but grew out of the Advent Christian Church. The last date set by Barbour for Christ’s return was 1907.
Sufficient to demonstrate that Russell, essentialy became an Adventist. He used the same style of calculations, charts and formula to arrive at the dates suggested for the second coming of the Lord. All Adventist faiths and branches had the same practice of setting dates for the expected event and then resetting them when it proved untrue. Infact, he became a 'Millerite'! All his mentors ans 'associates' were in fact, old Millerites.
Charles Taze Russell’s methods were no different. His corporations and writings were all focused on the expected dates he set. Dates that others before him had also preached. Some the same, others one or two years different, but none the less, all Adventists set dates. As each date passed what did the Adventists do? A great many fell away but those that remained concluded of course that the bible had not been wrong, just their own expectations or perhaps some faulty mathematics. So, more research was done, more dates and calculation and a new date was set.
What then should we expect from the Adventist Russell? What dates did he set?
In 1877, he wrote the booklet, The object and manner of our Lords return. The first chapter was titled “The object of the second advent”. As to the ‘time’ of the advent, he refers readers to Barbour’s calculations. And what was Barbour’s set date? He (Barbour) waited on 1843 set by miller, set 1873, 1896 and 1907.
Zions watchtower 1879 suppliment;
[The chronology, showing scripturally that the 6000 years from Adam
ended in 1873, was I believe, first dug from the Bible, arranged and printed by Rev.
Bowen of England, and is there known as "Bowen's chronology." Most of the Prophetic
arguments which we now use, were used long ago by Second Adventists--misapplied--
and their harmony not being seen, they were thrown aside.] Bro. B. was permitted to so
arrange, (gradually) and harmonize these various Prophetic teachings of time, that now,
they give those of us who see them, great joy.
In the 1879 Watchtower Russell writes of he and Barbour:
Br. B. and I talked over various methods of promulgating these truths and finally
decided to travel and preach them wherever men and women would hear, and to thus
spend (D.V.) the remainder of the harvest, which we then supposed was three and a half
years, and would close in 1878
In the WT of 1893 pg281:
The question comes from many quarters:
"Brother Russell, are you not possibly mistaken
by a few years in your calculations, since you
expect, upon Scriptural authority, that the
great trouble will all be over by A.D. 1915,
and that in its severity it will probably not
reach us before A.D. 1906 to 1908? Is it not
possible that the present financial trouble is
the beginning of the great trouble?"
We answer, No; we think there is no mistake.
WT of 1896
It may be well here to remind our readers again
that we are not expecting immediate anarchy. We expect
spurts of business revival on present and still more depressed
levels, interspersed with more and more frequent
panicky spasms, labor troubles and expedients,
until finally, probably between 1908 and 1912, the
wealthy and luxurious will represent about one per
cent. and the discontented, hopelessly poor about
ninety-nine per cent. of the population of "Christendom;"
and then, while "Shylock" sits upon the
safety-valve, the great and awful explosion may be expected.
WT of 1898
The period of
overturning of the Lord's typical Kingdom and the
removal of the crown must correspond to the period of
the lease of empire to the Gentiles and be 2520 years.
And measuring this period, we find that 2520 years
will expire with the close of the year 1914, A.D. and
consequently that by that time Gentile rule will be no
more while God's Kingdom will then hold sway.
WT of 1900
When that call shall go forth, and those restitution
privileges shall be offered to mankind, it will be
as the Prophet has declared, that no man shall thenceforth
die for Adam's sin, nor for the sin of his fathers,
but only for his own sin. (Jer. 31:29,30.) We understand
that this time will not be reached until after
the time of trouble--not until A.D. 1915.
WT of 1908
I come now to the special object of this letter.
The Scriptures indicate that in the year 1915, the year
before this letter is read, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David,
Isaiah, Daniel, and all the holy prophets and patriarchs
from Abel to John the Baptist, will have been raised
from the dead and will be in charge of the earthly phase
of the Lord's Kingdom, with headquarters at Jerusalem.
The Lord's Word also seems to indicate that this truth,
and the fact that there has been a change of dispensation,
may possibly not be generally believed until the
year 1918. I am writing this to you so that you will not
be one of those who will be mistaken on this point, but
will understand that, by the time this letter is read, the
squaring and straightening of earth's affairs will be in
progress from Jerusalem, at the hands of the Ancient
Worthies.
For me, enough to show that Russell was essentially the same as all Adventists of his time. They all speculated on dates and events, all used chronology, tables and formula to arrive at various dates that had the effect of keeping followers in expectation of the Lord. Of note also is that in his split from Barbour, it was not over some date or what may happen at some date. It was over disagreements on the ransom of Christ. Let us presume for one moment that the ‘Lord’ was indeed with the Adventists despite all the date setting and wrong calculations. That he had finally settled on the Barbour/Russell branch… what if Russell was the one who got it wrong and the lord had really stayed with the followers of Barbour?
What are the similarities of the professed modern Adventist religions and the Jehovah’s witnesses?
Adventist: The ‘Day-year principle’ used in interpreting bible prophecy.
JW: Only by applying the formula there expressed of “a day for a year” to the “seven times” of this prophecy can the vision of Daniel chapter 4 have significant fulfillment beyond the day of now extinct Nebuchadnezzar, as the evidence thus far presented gives reason to expect. They therefore represent 2,520 years. Insight Vol 1
Adventist: Until 1870 the church had a "shut door" policy focused on veterans of the 1844 experience, seeing them as a saving remnant. The membership was only 5,400 and the door was shut to new members.
JW: At the 1935 convention of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Washington, D.C.,… the number of discreet virgins needed to complete Jesus’ bride had now been filled. But such virgins were not taken at once to heaven…
Currently, the virgins class has dropped to about 9,000 in number. WS book 1986 chapter 6
Adventist: Acceptance of either of the church's two baptismal vows is a prerequisite for membership.; To be baptised means to declare publicly that you believe Jesus Christ died for your sins and rose again so you may have eternal life. By acknowledging this, you choose to leave behind your life of sin and walk in newness of life with God.
JW: The congregation credits the individual with honesty and with having intelligently entered into a full membership in the congregation by virtue of dedication and baptism. WT 1960 3/1.
When we made our dedication to Jehovah, we willingly vowed to do his will. We disowned ourselves and made serving Jehovah our primary pursuit in life. (Luke 9:23) Hence, we too must pay our vow day after day. (Eccl. 5:4-6) Our public declaration made at the time of water baptism must be reflected in our entire pattern of life, since we know that “with the mouth one makes public declaration for salvation.” KM 7/96.
Adventist: uphold teachings such as the infallibility of Scripture
JW: that the Bible is the true source of divine revelation and that it contains nothing that is out of harmony with provable facts. (Ro 1:18-23) The knowledge of the past in the light of archaeological discovery is interesting and appreciated, but not vital. The knowledge of the past in the light of the Bible is, alone, essential and solidly reliable. The Bible, with or without archaeology, gives true meaning to the present and illuminates the future. Insight vol 1
If there is a single point that alone proves the Bible to be the inspired Word of Jehovah it is the matter of prophecy. There are scores of long-range prophecies in the Bible that have been fulfilled. Insight vol1.
Adventist: Substitutionary atonement; Because Jesus Christ came to earth, was crucified for our sins and was resurrected, we have the chance to overcome sin and be forgiven. God provided the ultimate sacrifice so we may have the gift of eternal life, if we choose to accept it.
Christ's death gives humans a way to have eternal life if we only repent of our sins and believe in His Word
JW: In 1878 Russell had a major disagreement with one of his collaborators, who had rejected the teaching that Christ’s death could be an atonement for sinners. In his rebuttal Russell wrote: “Christ accomplished various good things for us in his death and resurrection. He was our substitute in death; he died the just for the unjust—all were unjust. Mankinds search for god 1990 chp 15
Adventist: Resurrection of the dead.
JW: death is likened to sleep, a fitting comparison not only because of the unconscious condition of the dead but also because of the hope of an awakening through the resurrection
Adventist: Evangelical in nature
JW: Throughout modern times, Jehovah’s Witnesses have preached the good news of the Kingdom in a greater fulfillment of Matthew 24:14. A prominent instrument in their evangelizing work has been the Watchtower magazine. WT 1/1 2002
Adventist: Believe in baptism by immersion.
JW: Contemplating Jehovah’s creative works and reflecting on his wonderful and completely reliable promises should move you not only to make a dedication to Jehovah but also to symbolize that dedication by water immersion. WT 5/15 2008
Adventist: Second Coming and End times. Jesus Christ will return visibly to earth after a "time of trouble", during which the Sabbath will become a worldwide test. The second coming will be followed by a millenial reign of the saints in heaven.
JW:
Jehovah’s witnesses have given witness that the wars, famines, pestilences, earthquakes, strifes and persecutions, unrest and fears, increased world delinquencies and immoralities, failures in national rules and world governments—all are but physical facts fitting the signs Jesus foretold to accompany his second presence and on the heels of which comes Armageddon. WT 1/15 1950
Adventist: Wholistic human nature. Humans are an indivisible unity of body, mind and spirit. They do not possess an immortal soul, and death is an unconscious sleep
JW: Condition of Human Dead. The dead are shown to be “conscious of nothing at all” and the death state to be one of complete inactivity. Insight vol 1
Adventist: Conditional immortality. The wicked will not suffer eternal torment in hell, but instead will be permanently destroyed.
JW: We know the truth about the dead and are free of the morbid fear of a God who is said to torment humans in hellfire or consign them to purgatory. WT 5/15 2006
Adventist: Great Controversy. Humanity is involved in a "great controversy" between Jesus Christ and Satan. This is an elaboration on the common Christian theory that evil began in heaven when an angelic being (Lucifer) rebelled against the Law of God.
JW: The most wicked Adversary, Satan the Devil, caused men and angels (see DEMON) to join his opposition to God and man… . In the courts of heaven Satan displayed his antagonism, charging Jehovah with bribing Job for his loyalty, a charge which became an issue of universal importance. Insight vol 1.
Adventist: Remnant. There will be an end-time remnant who keep the commandments of God and have "the testimony of Jesus"
JW: In 1919 the glorified Jesus Christ placed “an opened door” before the anointed remnant. WT 5/15 2008
Adventist: Spirit of Prophecy. The ministry of Ellen G. White is commonly referred to as the "Spirit of Prophecy" and her writings are considered "a continuing and authoritative source of truth", though ultimately and in absolute terms subject to the Bible; the highest authority of faith for the church.
JW: "Without a doubt Pastor Russell filled the office for which the Lord provided and about which he spoke, and was therefore that wise and faithful servant, ministering to the household of faith meat in due season. Pastor Russell finished his earthly course in 1916" (The Harp of God, 1921, p. 239).
"If the six volumes of ‘Scripture Studies’ are practically the Bible, topically arranged, with Bible proof texts given, we might not improperly name the volumes - ‘the Bible in an arranged form.' That is to say, they are not mere comments on the Bible, but THEY ARE PRACTICALLY THE BIBLE ITSELF. Watchtower, September 15, 1910, p298
Adventist: The official Adventist position on abortion is that "abortions for reasons of birth control, gender selection, or convenience are not condoned by the Church.
JW: abortion simply to get rid of an unwanted child is the same as willfully taking a human life. (1 John 3:15) The same is true when it comes to getting an abortion just because a doctor theorizes that allowing the pregnancy to go full term will be harmful to the health or life of the mother. WT 12/15 1969
Adventist: Heterosexual marriages are the only biblically ordained grounds for sexual intimacy. Adventists do not perform same-sex marriages and homosexual men cannot be ordained. An extramarital affair is one of the sanctioned grounds for a divorce, although reconciliation is encouraged whenever possible. Adventists believe in and encourage abstinence for both men and women before marriage.
JW: The Bible is clear: God does not approve of or condone homosexual practices. He also disapproves of people who “consent with those practicing them.” (Romans 1:32) And “marriage” cannot give homosexuality a cloak of respectability. God’s direction that “marriage be honorable among all” precludes homosexual unions, which he considers detestable. Awake 4/8 2005
the term “fornication” is a rendering of the Greek word por•nei′a and includes all forms of illicit sexual relations outside of Scriptural marriage. Hence, Jesus’ words at Matthew 5:32 and 19:9 mean that the only divorce ground that actually severs the marriage bond is por•nei′a on the part of one’s marriage mate. Insight 639
a conscience that has not been trained by Bible principles may allow a man and a woman to test their compatibility before marriage by simply living together. They may think that they have made a wise decision, reasoning that it will prevent them from rushing into an unwise marriage. Their conscience may not condemn them. Yet, anyone who shares God’s views on sex and marriage will decide against such a temporary and immoral arrangement. WT 10/15 2003
Adventist: traditionally held socially conservative attitudes regarding dress and entertainment
JW: This means that our amusement and entertainment should meet the highest standards of Christian taste and beauty. While recognizing cultural differences, our dress is to be simple, modest, and neat, befitting those whose true beauty does not consist of outward adornment but in the imperishable ornament of a gentle and quiet spirit."
Or the test may be in our accepting the need to modify our taste in music or certain other forms of entertainment. Will we question the wisdom of the counsel offered? Or will we let God’s spirit mold our thinking and help us to put on the Christian personality? WT 5/15 1998
Our appearance reflects our feelings for Jehovah and for the privilege of being his Witnesses. We should always dress as those “professing to reverence God.” Km 4/07 2007
Adventist: also avoid certain recreational activities which are considered to be a negative spiritual influence, including dancing, rock music and secular theatre
JW: Of course, morally debased lyrics are not limited to rock and disco music. In many lands or localities there are forms of music that may be quite popular locally despite having a beat or using lyrics that true Christians may find quite objectionable WT 10/15 1983
The brother explains that he had not been taking the truth seriously and “was heavily involved in hard rock music and some rather heavy drinking WT 3/1 1982
If you’re invited to attend a party where there will be dancing, ask yourself such questions as: ‘Who will be going? What kind of reputation do they have? Who is taking responsibility for the event? What supervision will there be? Do my parents approve of my attending the party? What type of dancing will be featured?’ Many dance styles are designed solely to arouse sexual desire. Would engaging in or just watching such dancing help you to “flee from fornication”? Yp2
Adventist: The Adventist church officially opposes the practice of gambling.
JW: The practice of gambling is out of harmony with God’s Word, which condemns greediness and commands doing honest, productive work. Km 9/76
Adventist: Ministers are neither elected nor employed by the local churches, but instead are appointed by the local Conferences, which assign them responsibility over a single church or group of churches.
JW: By way of contrast, Jehovah’s Witnesses endeavor to imitate Jesus and his early disciples. They have no paid clergy. Each Witness is a minister charged with the responsibility of preaching the “good news of the kingdom” to others. WT 8/1 2003
an overseer in a Christian congregation is one who is appointed to watch over the congregation, to visit and upbuild those associated with it. WT 1/1 1972
Adventist: As of October 2009, the church has 16,049,101 baptized members. More than one million people joined the Adventist church in the 12-month period ending June 30, 2009 (inclusive), through baptisms and professions of faith. The church is one of the world's fastest-growing organizations, primarily due to increases in membership in the developing nations. Today, less than 7% of the world membership reside in the United States, with large numbers in Africa as well as Central and South America.
JW: Jehovah God is blessing his earthly organization with continued growth. Last service year, 375,923 were baptized worldwide—an average of over 1,000 new disciples each day, or about 43 every hour! Despite the decades of hardship that our brothers may have faced in various parts of the world, the Kingdom work is flourishing and outstanding increases are being experienced. Km 4/1998 (currentyly about 6.5 million JW, largest in USA and Africa)
Adventist: The Adventist Church owns and operates many publishing companies around the world. Two of the largest are the Pacific Press and Review and Herald publishing associations located in the United States.
JW: To get the work accomplished, Jehovah’s organization uses a number of legal corporations, such as the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, WT 1/1 1984
Adventist: The official church magazine is the Adventist Review, which has a North American focus. It has a sister magazine (Adventist World) which has an international perspective. Another major magazine published by the church is the bimonthly Liberty magazine
JW: As the official journal of Jehovah’s earthly servants, The Watchtower has consistently used God’s name WT 9/15 1997..
this magazine, The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom, is published every month in 169 languages, and its companion magazine, Awake!, in 81 languages. WT 12/1 2008
Adventist: the Adventist claim to be the “remnant church”, and the traditional Protestant association of Roman Catholicism and other denominations with "Babylon". These attitudes are said to legitimize the proselytizing of Christians from other denominations
JW: The church of God, the daughter of Zion, is not designed or developed by men… Such a structure corresponds to the theocratic organization in heaven; and today, since 1919 and the bringing forth of the remnant of Zion’s children, it realizes a fulfillment of Isaiah’s words. WT 5/1 1957
As parts of Babylon the Great, the world empire of false religion, both Catholicism and Protestantism have been deeply involved with the commercial and political elements of this world. (Revelation 17:1-6; 18:1-19) True, an individual Protestant denomination may have less influence than the powerful Roman Catholic Church. But the many Protestant churches combined outstrip the one Catholic Church in power and influence WT 4/1 1989
The official religion of the land was Islam, and proselytizing among Muslims was illegal. So we could preach only to the mainly European non-Muslim population. WT 10/1 1991…. He can also leave work at his own discretion to devote more time to proselytizing.” WT 7/15 1982… The Times added: “Last August, Aleksei II, Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church, called for a ban on proselytizing faiths, particularly those that try to lure people away from the ‘religions of their ancestors.’” Since then, efforts to ban the so-called proselytizing faiths have continued, resulting in what has been characterized as a “religious cold war.”…..Jehovah’s Witnesses have been one of the chief targets of the attack led by the Russian Orthodox Church. Awake! 4/22 2001
Adventist: The church holds Arminian theology, and hence does not teach a "once-saved-always-saved" philosophy
JW: Note the word “probably.” It is not a case of once saved, always saved. Our concealment in that day depends on our continuing to do those three things. We must seek Jehovah, seek righteousness, and seek meekness. WT 5/1 1992
Adventist: The church strongly discourages members or employees from taking legal action against it, citing 1 Corinthians 6:1-8 in defence of this position. (On the other hand, the church authorities feel free to resort to legal action in order to bully those it perceives as opponents.)
JW: And shall the son of peace take part in the battle when it does not become him even to sue at law?” Tertullian quoted in WT 2/1 1982
Paul gave strong reasons why Christians should not sue one another in secular courts but rather settle disputes within the congregation setting. God’s love book
The legal battles won by Jehovah’s witnesses, which have advanced religious liberty, are not limited in value to Americans. As the Watch Tower Society’s booklet Defending and Legally Establishing the Good News points out: “The court decisions in the United States, where the issues have been thoroughly litigated, should be helpful and persuasive precedent to assist courts and judges in other nations. . . WT 3/15 1958
Adventist: Because of its particular doctrines, there is no other church that Adventists can join without compromising or abandoning their beliefs. A member who is disfellowshipped, therefore, feels cut off from the Christian church and in consequence from God.
JW: since 1952, Jehovah’s Witnesses have given increased support to an arrangement that helps to protect the congregation—that is, the disfellowshipping of unrepentant sinners. WT 5/15 2006
Christendom’s apostate teaching, God’s Word prevails, sustaining all who yearn to serve Jehovah. WT 11/1 2007
Of course, it is much better to cling firmly to the truth and not be ensnared by apostate views in the first place. WT 1/15 2006
Adventist: Claims of rapid growth
The denomination in the 1870s turned to missionary work and revivals, tripling its membership to 16,000 by 1880 and establishing a presence beyond North America during the late 1800s. Rapid growth continued, with 75,000 members in 1901. By this time operated two colleges, a medical school, a dozen academies, 27 hospitals, and 13 publishing houses. By 1945, the church reported 226,000 members in the US and Canada, and 380,000 elsewhere; the budget was $29 million and enrollment in church schools was 40,000.
JW: It will be remembered that in order
not to allow the debt to hinder the publication
of missionary papers in foreign
languages the proposition was accepted,
to start a German and also a Swedish
fund, which, though included in the
general work of the Society, should be
specially applied to publishing matter in
those languages. Watchtower 1885
R1347 : page 3
VOL. XIII. JANUARY 1, 1892. NO. 1.
VIEW FROM THE TOWER.
HOME AND FOREIGN MISSIONS.
In traveling abroad during the past Summer,
one important object was to learn by actual observation
something of the present condition
and progress of Foreign Mission work, and to
this end, had time been at our command, we
would have liked to extend our tour a little
further across the seas to India. However, we
had opportunities in Turkey, Syria, Palestine
and Egypt, which may be justly regarded as fair
samples of foreign missionary effort and success. Watchtower 1892
1918 saw 3800
1928 saw 23900 a growth of 900%
1938 saw 47100 a growth of 'only' 95%
1948 saw 230500 a growth of 500%
1950; 373'000
1970; 1'483'000 is a growth of about 390% (av 19.5% per year)
1990; 4'017'000 is a growth of about 270% (av 13.5% per year)
2009 7'313'000 is a growth of about 82% (av 4.1% per year)
Adventist: The Holy Spirit inspired followers of God to speak and write the Old and New Testaments of the Holy Scriptures.
JW: Bible writers could not have foretold future events based solely on their own insight. Rather, they “spoke from God as they were borne along by holy spirit. WT 10/1 2008
Adventist: God is the Creator of all things. The Bible gives an authentic account of God's creative activity
JW: According to the Bible, Jehovah made the first man perfect. It is impossible for God to make things any other way. The creation account says: “God proceeded to create the man in his image . WT 1/1 2008
Adventist: The Lord's Supper is a memorial of Jesus' crucifixion. When we participate in this special occasion, we express our faith in Jesus as our Lord and Saviour
JW: The death of Jesus Christ is thus linked with the two greatest expressions of love—the great love that Jehovah showed for mankind in giving his Son and the self-sacrificing love that Jesus showed for humankind by willingly giving up his human life. The Memorial of Jesus’ death magnifies these two expressions of love. Since we are recipients of this love, should we not show our gratitude for it? One way to do so is by being present for the observance of the Lord’s Evening Meal. WT 2004 3/15
While there are obviously numerous differences, there are also in my research, a total of over 33 very close similarities that i looked at. This is of course, because Charles Taze Russells spiritual awakeing was at the hands of the second Adventists.
Conclusion of the matter is that if global growth is touted as proof of gods blessing on their religion, there is another extrordinarily similar branch of christianity, indeed one from which The jehovahs witnesses grew out of, that has even more impressive growth. It has the same characteristics, persecutions and ridiculers as the JWs. A number of different Adventist sects have far greater global growth and followers than they do.
The fact of the matter is this: The Jehovah’s Witnesses, born of the Teachings of Russell, despite abandoning a significant number of Russells ideas, are indeed a second Adventist religion, and not even a remarkable one. There is in fact, nothing unique about them. In fact, all the claimed proofs of God's blessing on them are evident in almost all the other Adventist faiths.
So my readers, are you as surprised as i was? I spent the better part of 37 years believing that i had been part of a truly unique organization, one unlike any other. One so special that Jehovah selected IT as his vessel. Never did i suspect that it was just one of many clone-like sects of Adventism.
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