Terminal Visions: Apocalyptic Thought of Jehovah's Witnesses and the Stelle Group

24 Pages·2015·1.71 MB·English

by  Daniel Gray '86

UUnnddeerrggrraadduuaattee RReevviieeww
Volume 1 Issue 1 Article 6
1986
TTeerrmmiinnaall VViissiioonnss:: AAppooccaallyyppttiicc TThhoouugghhtt ooff JJeehhoovvaahh''ss WWiittnneesssseess
aanndd tthhee SStteellllee GGrroouupp
Daniel Gray '86
Illinois Wesleyan University
Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.iwu.edu/rev
Recommended Citation
Gray '86, Daniel (1986) "Terminal Visions: Apocalyptic Thought of Jehovah's Witnesses and
the Stelle Group," Undergraduate Review: Vol. 1 : Iss. 1 , Article 6.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.iwu.edu/rev/vol1/iss1/6
This Article is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by Digital
Commons @ IWU with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this material in any
way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For
other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s) directly, unless additional rights
are indicated by a Creative Commons license in the record and/ or on the work itself. This material
has been accepted for inclusion by faculty at Illinois Wesleyan University. For more information,
please contact [email protected].
©Copyright is owned by the author of this document.
Gray '86: Terminal Visions: Apocalyptic Thought of Jehovah's Witnesses and
TheS
Turning and turing in the wide
The falcon cannot hear the fal
Things fall apart; the centre Cl
Mere anarchy is loosed upon ~
The blood-dimmed tide is loos
The ceremony of innocence is
The best lack conviction, whi]
Are full of passionate intensit)
Surely some revelation is at ha
Surely the Second Coming is i
The Second Coming! Hardly l
When a vast image out of SpiT
Troubles my sight: somewhere
Terminal Visions: A shape with lion body and tl
A gaze blank and pitiless as th
Apocalyptic Thought
Is moving its slow thighs, whil
of Jehovah's Witnesses Reel shawdows of the indignar
The darkness drops again; but
and the Stelle Group
That twenty centuries of ston)
Were vexed to nightmare by a
And what rough beast, its hOl
Daniel Gray Slouches towards Bethleham t.
Please don't dominate the wra
If you got nothing new to say.
If you please, go back up the 1
This train's got to run today.
Apocalyptic thought, belief
the American experience from
moment. Apocalyptic is infuse
culture. In differing degrees it
creeds of almost every church,
"mainline" churches (Presbyte
Methodist, etc.) apocalyptic t·
fundamentalist organizations (
24
Published by Digital Commons @ IWU, 1986 1
Undergraduate Review, Vol. 1, Iss. 1 [1986], Art. 6
The Second Coming
Turning and turing in the widening gyre

The falcon cannot hear the falconer;

Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;

Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,

The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere

The ceremony of innocence is drowned;

The best lack conviction, while the worst

Are full of passionate intensity.

Surely some revelation is at hand;

Surely the Second Coming is at hand.

The Second Coming! Hardly are those words out

When a vast image out of Spiritus Mundi

Troubles my sight: somewhere in the sands of the desert

Visions: A shape with lion body and the head of a man,

A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun,

Thought
Is moving its slow thighs, while all about it

Reel shawdows of the indignant desert birds.

Witnesses
The darkness drops again; but now I know

ffe Group That twenty centuries of stony sleep

Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle,

And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,

Gray Slouches towards Bethleham to be born?

WB. Yeats
Please don't dominate the wrath Jack

If you got nothing new to say.

If you please, go back up the track

This train's got to run today.

"New Speedway Boogie"
The Grateful Dead
Apocalyptic thought, belief and action have been an integral part of
the American experience from Columbus' landing right up to this very
moment. Apocalyptic is infused into many facets of American life and
culture. In differing degrees it plays sorne part in the teachings and
creeds of almost every church, domination and sect. In many of the
"mainline" churches (Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, United
Methodist, etc.) apocalyptic tends to receive little attention. More
fundamentalist organizations (Assemblies of God, Latter Day Saints,
25
https://digitalcommons.iwu.edu/rev/vol1/iss1/6 2
I
Gray '86: Terminal Visions: Apocalyptic Thought of Jehovah's Witnesses and
Jehovah's Witnesses, etc.) often focus and dwell upon apocalyptic and then attempt a descriptio
concerns including Armageddon, Doom's Day and the Millenium. major features are. I will then
Not to be dominated by religious groups, apocalyptic has played huge Jehovah's Witnesses and the ~
roles in American literature, film, television and politics. 1 A two and a a widespread, well-known, 11
half page article in the Fall 1985 issue of Convergance, entitled "The congregations across the cour
Politics of Armageddon," describes statements, public and private, of Group is small, mostly unknc
President Ronald Reagan that "mirror the Armageddon theology of (one in Illinois and one in T~
Jerry Falwell and his allies in the New Christian Right. "2 The author of in the last 23 years. This expl
this article stresses that Reagan was saying similar things during his first and histories of each group, ~
term as Governor of California, indicating that Reagan is not making and prophecies concerning d
comments of this nature for use as a political tool but that he is "one of
millions of Americans who read the Bible as a sourcebook for The words apocalypse and
predictions of global conflict." apokalupsis, which means to \
(of or relating to the end of t
Upon reaching the coast of South America, Columbus quoted
is concerned with revealing i
passages from Revelation and Isaiah which speak of "a new heaven and
present age, the Day of Judgr
a new earth," and wrote to the sponsors of his voyage, "I deeply feel
within me that there, where I have said, lies the Terrestrial Paradise.,,3 refers to either a group of wri
or to the idea and concepts t
Millenialism, belief in the second coming and thousand year reign of
no concensus among Bible S(
Christ, was very strong among the Puritans who viewed their
means and there is no agreed
Massachusetts settlement as a "city on a hill."4 Inherent in American
difficult to define "apocalypt
culture from the start, apocalyptic has found expression in popular
religious treatments like Hal Lindsey's The Late Great Planet Earth, but considered apocalyptic is ver
also has received a great deal of secular attention in popular which could not be known 0
higher, non-human source is
entertainment. John Wiley Nelson, author and minister, describes the
the end of time, the entranc
prominence of apocalyptic and prophetic themes in recent American
films and television shows. Analyses of Star Wars, Battlestar Galactica, heaven, explanation of natu!
the Western in general, On the Beach, and Dr. Strangelove (to name the Messiah, and the charac
Normally these are presentee
only a few) leads him to the belief that entertainment of this type is
"some hero of the faith of p::
merely an expression of an "onslaught of fear, anxiety, paranoia and
The general form of apoa
technological guilt."s Nelson then identifies three reasons for this
tradition during the one hur
"onslaught." 1) Apocalyptic is as American as the hotdog. 2) After the
prophetic ideals of the Hebr
civil rights movement, the burning of the cities, the assassinations, the
dominating empires of Persi:
birth of the drug culture, the Vietnam War and Watergate, who
The establishment of a com
wouldn't feel anxious, paranoid and Quilty? 3) A growing sense that
Yahweh seefi.led less and leSE
only radical, in-breaking action can successfully resolve problems today.
The End of the World is a compilation of essays which treat the use of supplant the prophets, insis
change or break history. " TI
apocalyptic themes in science fiction. A major characteristic of science
righteous will survive the re
fiction apocalyptic is that "the end of the world is seldom the end."
The cataclysm is always followed by a new creation.6 And in the eyes on the earthly destinies of r
behavior as they attempt to
of science fiction there will always be a cataclysm. "The twentieth
people. The prophet perceive_
century has trained us to expect catastrophes. "7
Apocalyptic emphasizes fut
Though manifest in many aspects of life and culture, apocalyptic is
their current suffering with
rooted in the Bible. This paper will identify the source of apocalyptic
26
Published by Digital Commons @ IWU, 1986 3
l

lnd dwell upon apocalyptic I and then attemUnpdt ear gdreasdcuriapteti oRnev oiefw w, hVaotl . a1p, oIscsa. l1y [p1t9ic8 6i]s, Aanrtd. 6 what its
n's Day and the Millenium. major features are. I will then explore the apocalyptic facets of the
ups, apocalyptic has played huge Jehovah's Witnesses and the Stelle Group. The Jehovah's Witnesses are
'ision and politics.1 A two and a a widespread, well-known, 115 year old Christian sect with
.f Convergance, entitled "The congregations across the country and around the world. The Stelle
~ments, public and private, of Group is small, mostly unknown organization with two communities
he Annageddon theology of (one in Illinois and one in Texas) which have been started from scratch
:hristian Right. "2 The author of in the last 23 years. This exploration will involve a brief description
lng similar things during his first and histories of each group, paying particular attention to teachings
ing that Reagan is not making and prophecies concerning the end of the world.
litical tool but that he is "one of
lie as a sourcebook for The words apocalypse and apocalyptic come from the Greek word
apokalupsis, which means to uncover or to reveal, and are eschatological
nerica, Columbus quoted (of or relating to the end of the world) in nature. Apocalyptic literature
ich speak of "a new heaven and is concerned with revealing information relating to the final days of the
:of his voyage, "I deeply feel present age, the Day of Judgment, and the age to follow. 8 Apocalyptic
, lies the Terrestrial Paradise."3 refers to either a group of writings which possess certain characteristics
n.g and thousand year reign of or to the idea and concepts typical of this kind of literature. There is
:ans who viewed their no concensus among Bible scholars as to what the term apocalyptic
hill."4 Inherent in American means and there is no agreed-upon list of apocalyptic books, making it
I
:>und expression in popular difficult to define "apocalyptic literature."9 The variety of topics usually
"he Late Great Planet Earth, but considered apocalyptic is very wide but the subjects are always those
attention in popular which could not be known of or discovered naturally; revelation from a
n.or and minister, describes the higher, non-human source is always necessary. Topics addressed include
IC themes in recent American the end of time, the entrance of the Kingdom of God, secrets of
Star Wars, Battlestar Galactica, heaven, explanation of natural phenomena, history of the creation,
nd Dr. Strangelove (to name the Messiah, and the characters and deeds of both good and bad angels.
entertainment of this type is Normally these are presented as having been a special revelation to
f fear, anxiety, paranoia and "some hero of the faith of past days".10
cities three reasons for this The general form of apocalypse developed from the Judaic prophetic
can as the hotdog. 2) After the tradition during the one hundred years or so preceding Christ. The
le cities, the assassinations, the prophetic ideals of the Hebrews and their political realities (the
Var and Watergate, who dominating empires of Persia, Greece and Rome) were not meshing.
lty? 3} A growing sense that The establishment of a community based on a special relationship with
cessfully resolve problems today. Yahweh seen:J.ed less and less likely. The apocalyptic writers began to
of essays which treat the use of supplant the prophets, insisting that there must soon be "a radical
, major characteristic of science change or break history." The present age must end, and only the
Ie world is seldom the end." righteous will survive the revolution of the end times. Prophecy focused
~w creation.6 And in the eyes on the earthly destinies of men and women and on their specific
::ataclysm. "The twentieth behavior as they attempt to fulfill their appointed role as God's chosen
•phes."7 people. The prophet perceives the future as arising out of the present.
ife and culture, apocalyptic is Apocalyptic emphasizes future events and encourages people to endure
ltify the source of apocalyptic their current suffering with the assurance of a blessed future life. The
27
https://digitalcommons.iwu.edu/rev/vol1/iss1/6 4
Gray '86: Terminal Visions: Apocalyptic Thought of Jehovah's Witnesses and
6) only the moral person I
apocalypticist sees the future breaking into the present, not being constructed
out of it. 11 7) human choices have n<
but they do effect the i
According to G. E. Ladd, apocalyptic literature is the product of
come.IS
three main factors. 1) The emergence of the "Righteous Remnant."
A glaring theme is apocal)l
Whenever people found themselves in a minority group, faithfully
vs. future salvation, evil vs. I
serving God but with little prospect of the whole nation adopting their
God, etc. 19 Human history i~
perspective, there was a tendency to hold that the Righteous Remnant
forces, both personal and cos
prophecies were fulfilled in them. 2) The problem of evil. 3) The
the world; the evil powers wi
ending of prophecy. Apocalyptic was never prevalent when life was
be overcome by the direct in
easy and straightforward, it was called forth by the circumstances of the
forces implies that history is
day. With its emphasis on God's final and perfect solution it made life
cosmic struggle time will cea
livable under intolerable conditions.12 '~pocalyptic was a Judea­
eternity and the faithful will
Christian world-view which located the believer in a minority
Apocalyptic tradition recc
community and gave his life meaning by relating it to the end, soon to
a limited time in which hum
come, which would reverse his present status. The key to the
history is not deterministic.
interpretation of apocalyptic has usually been seen in the restlessness
but needs humans, whose ch
with the imperfection of the present and its quest for a new and total
conditions which allow the 1
solution to the human problem."13
to reward moral behavior by
A feature of much apocalyptic is the use of a cryptic language and
people must choose whether
strange symbolism, which makes the message unintelligible to the
about when the End would 1
modem reader, or anyone outside the group for whom the writing was
their own perspective) and t
intended.14 It is very difficult to interpret in detail because it belongs
apocalypticists put their emI
within a sect or party. It is esoteric, its meaning to be kept secret until
the last days, which always tum out to be in the apocalypticist's own that God would prevail. 22 H
apocalyptic is not immediate
time. IS The question to be asked of apocalyptic is not, "What the hell
politics." Apocalyptic is a re
was the writer really trying to say behind and amid all that imagery and
back from immediate involv
symbolism?" It is rather, "What did the readers (the people) hope for
about story." Apocalyptic is
that could only be expressed in such outlandish use of images and
meaning of current political
symbols?"16
way through the present sufi
The apocalypticists were concerned by the problem of why the
that will "devolve from the
righteous should be called upon to endure very harsh suffering and
17 What types of people, or
persecution. They concluded that the goodness of God lies in his
kinds of literary expectatior:
bringing a speedy end to the evils of history and the imminent
movements almost always: ]
beginning of the Messianic Age. Characteristics of apocalyptic thinking
Have established clear bour:
include that:
the world as essentially evil
1) history is teleological (exhibiting or relating to design or
purpose), members which hail from aI
unsettled masses. In times c
2) the teleology of history is moral,
movements create a "lively
3) the evils of history are necessary preludes to the realization of the
industrialization furnished c
moral end of history,
groups as the Seventh-Day
4) this world will be cataclysmically destroyed before the new world
same milieu also set the sta:
begins,
apocalyptic vision which he
5) we are living at the critical period of historical transfonnation,
28
Published by Digital Commons @ IWU, 1986 5
Undergraduate Review, Vol. 1, Iss. 1 [1986], Art. 6
) the present, not being constructed 6) only the moral person has a place in the new world,
7) human choices have no effect on the processes of history per se,
but they do effect the individual's own situation in the world to
:ic literature is the product of
of the "Righteous Remnant." come. 18
A glaring theme is apocalyptic is dualistic thinking-present suffering
·a minority group, faithfully
vs. future salvation, evil vs. good, evil spirits vs. good spirits, Satan vs.
:the whole nation adopting their
God, etc.19 Human history is seen as a dialectic between two opposing
old that the Righteous Remnant
forces, both personal and cosmic in character, which vie for control of
be problem of evil. 3) The
the world; the evil powers which are currently in dominance will soon
lever prevalent when life was
be overcome by the direct intervention of God. This dualism of ethical
forth by the circumstances of the
forces implies that history is "radically discontinuous." After the final
md perfect solution it made life
cosmic struggle time will cease, "heaven and earth will become one for
'~pocalyptic was a Judea-
Le believer in a minority eternity and the faithful will enter the holy city. "20
Apocalyptic tradition recognizes the existence of history, but only as
by relating it to the end, soon to
a limited time in which human change is possible. But God's control of
•status. The key to the
history is not deterministic. "He sets the teleological course of history
Iy been seen in the restlessness
but needs humans, whose choices he doesn't control, to create the
n.d its quest for a new and total
conditions which allow the teleological processes to occur. He promises
to reward moral behavior by implementing the Messianic Age, but
: use of a cryptic language and
lessage unintelligible to the people must choose whether or not to be moral."21 Though details
about when the End would be (though never too far in the future from
~oup for whom the writing was
their own perspective) and how it would come about differ, all the
ret in detail because it belongs
apocalypticists put their emphasis on the next world and on their faith
meaning to be kept secret until
be in the apocalypticist's own that God would prevail. 22 History does not interpret itself. Therefore,
apocalyptic is not immediately concerned with "plain history and real
xalyptic is not, "What the hell
politics." Apocalyptic is a re-telling of events. It takes another step
ld and amid all that imagery and
back from immediate involvement and response and becomes "story
~ readers (the people) hope for
about story." Apocalyptic is the cosmic, universal interpretation of the
Itlandish use of images and
meaning of current political and historical happenings. It points the
by the problem of why the way through the present suffering and total chaos toward those things
ure very harsh suffering and that will "devolve from the mighty works of God. "23
~ goodness of God lies in his What types of people, or groups, have tended to array behind these
kinds of literary expectations of time, history and God? Apocalyptic
story and the imminent
movements almost always: 1) Have had a charismatic leader (s), 2)
lCteristics of apocalyptic thinking
Have established clear boundaries between truth and falsehood and see
the world as essentially evil territory to be avoided at all costs, 3) Have
:or relating to design or
members which hail from among the sociologically and psychologically
unsettled masses. In times of unusual social stress apocalyptic
movements create a "lively sense of group identity." "Urbanization and
preludes to the realization of the
industrialization furnished a social context for the emergence of such
groups as the Seventh-Day Adventists and Jehovah's Witnesses. The
·destroyed before the new world
same milieu also set the stage for refining other variants of the
apocalyptic vision which helped to assure the place of hope for a 'new
d of historical transfonnation,
29
https://digitalcommons.iwu.edu/rev/vol1/iss1/6 6
Gray '86: Terminal Visions: Apocalyptic Thought of Jehovah's Witnesses and
heaven and a new earth' within mainstream protestantism. "24 Converts . of the world. When propheci
to the new religions are concerned about their personal, physical and "spiritualized," or abandoned
moral survival and because of this are very negatively oriented toward All of this prediction and '
the established society which is "sunk in materialism and headed scripture and involved, comr
for disaster. "25 study, based upon examples t
This brief summary of the tradition of apocalyptic is drawn from and
month and day) are assigned
is descriptive of very old religious traditions, which began to develop beginning of the existence oj
during the first century B.c. Two thousand years later the conditions Nebuchadnezzar, baptism of
I
which made this type of movement possible still exist and still find
also given significance: 1914
receptive personalities and mindsets willing to embrace and perpetuate beginning of the end times; :
even the extremes of the apocalyptic lifestyle. The organization known the birth of the New Nation
as the Jehovah's Witnesses provides an excellent contemporary example 6,000 years of human exister
of the degree to which apocalyptic can thrive in American culture. earth will be completed; 291,
In 1869, at the age of seventeen, Charles Taze Russell, heard a will be restored to mankind.:
sermon by an Advent Christian preacher that restored his faith in the
Jehovah's Witnesses hold t
Bible. He did not become a Second Adventist, but gathered a few the sixty six books of the stal
friends to meet weekly for systematic Bible study. "We came to
as the only scripture, but rna
recognize," wrote Russell, "the difference between our Lord as 'the man truthful than others. They hI
who gave himself,' and as the Lord who would come again, a spirit only one that is completely (
being. We saw that spirit-beings can be present, and yet invisible to Bible was conducted by a cOl
men.... we felt greatly grieved at the error of the Second Adventists, Bible "scholars. "29 Througho
who were expecting Christ in the flesh ... "26 To counteract these plethora of Bible study aids,
erroneous teachings Russell wrote and published at his own expense, in explain the Bible to its mem'
1873, 50,000 copies of "The Object and Manner of the Lord's Return,"
these Watchtower printings t
the first publication of what would later be known as the Jehovah's importance of the Bible and
Witnesses. Throughout the history of the Witnesses there has been a Witnesses were expected to I
very confusing number of leadership associations made and dissolved, but only 197 pages of the Btl
due usually to disagreements in theology, prophecy and prediction. My status of tradition and became
discussion of the history and organization of Jehovah's Witnesses will were to be understood. 30
therefore be very simple and existent only to the extent necessary to "The Watchtower Society
understand some of their teachings. it has held to a particular po
The motivating factor behind the Jehovah's Witnesses development speculation or otherwise. TI­
as a sect (a religious movement alienated from the world, which stresses doctrine in question was un1
that it alone possesses the truth) and their insistence on remaining one that Watchtower leaders are
has been their millenarian eschatology. No major Christian movement light. "31 For years "God's pe·
has been so insistent on prophesying the end of the world in such
the end of the Gentile Time:
definite ways or such specific dates. They have consistently looked to
when the faithful would be =
specific dates-1874, 1878, 1881, 1910, 1914, 1918, 1920, 1925, 1975 1914 receded further into th
and others -as having specific eschatological significance. 27 Russell identify that date as "the be
originally believed that 1874 would mark the beginning of Christ's In 1975 an attempt was I'I
"invisible presence," that 1878 and then 1881 would see the "change" Witness community on a IlL
of members of the church from fleshly bodies to spiritual bodies, and hope that the Society's Ger
that 1910 would be the beginning of global troubles leading to the end surrounding 1914 would be ,
30
Published by Digital Commons @ IWU, 1986 7
Undergraduate Review, Vol. 1, Iss. 1 [1986], Art. 6
,tream protestantism."24 Converts
. of the world. When prophecies failed they had to be re-interpreted,
)ut their personal, physical and "spiritualized," or abandoned.
very negatively oriented toward All of this prediction and "prophecy" is based upon in-depth study of
in materialism and headed scripture and involved, complicated chronologies developed from this
study, based upon examples from the past. Specific dates (often to the
of apocalyptic is drawn from and
month and day) are assigned to historic biblical events--creation, the
itions, which began to develop beginning of the existence of Israel, the fall of Jerusalem to
JSalld years later the conditions Nebuchadnezzar, baptism of Christ, etc. Recent and future dates are
lssible still exist and still find also given significance: 1914 as the end of the Gentile Times and the
'illing to embrace and perpetuate beginning of the end times; 1918 as the fall of Babylon the Great and
ifestyle. The organization known the birth of the New Nation of Jehovah's Witnesses; 1975 as the end of
Iexcellent contemporary example 6,000 years of human existence; 2875 as when the restitution of the
'\ thrive in American culture. earth will be completed; 2914 as the date when dominion of the earth
narles Taze Russell, heard a will be restored to mankind. 28
ler that restored his faith in the Jehovah's Witnesses hold that "all scripture is of God." They accept
.dventist, but gathered a few the sixty six books of the standard Protestant Old and New Testaments
3ible study. "We came to as the only scripture, but maintain that some translations are more
lce between our Lord as 'the man truthful than others. They hold that the New World Translation is the
10 would come again, a spirit only one that is completely error-free. Translation of the New World
e present, and yet invisible to Bible was conducted by a committee composed of Watchtower Society
error of the Second Adventists, Bible "scholars. "29 Throughout its history the Society has published a
l ... "26 To counteract these
plethora of Bible study aids, commentaries and other materials to
published at his own expense, in explain the Bible to its members. Due to the emphasis placed upon
ld Manner of the Lord's Return," these Watchtower printings there has occurred an inversion of
er be known as the Jehovah's importance of the Bible and the "supplementary teachings." In 1981
the Witnesses there has been a Witnesses were expected to read 3,178 pages of Watchtower literature,
5SOciations made and dissolved, but only 197 pages of the Bible. Russell's teachings quickly attained the
gy, prophecy and prediction. My status of tradition and became the only medium by which the scriptures
ion of Jehovah's Witnesses will were to be understood. 30
mly to the extent necessary to "The Watchtower Society had been extremely doctrinaire whenever
it has held to a particular position, whether relating to prophetic
~hovah's Witnesses development speculation or otherwise. Then, later, when it became obvious that the
ted from the world, which stresses doctrine in question was untenable, it would retreat to the assertion
heir insistence on remaining one that Watchtower leaders are not infallible and must progress with the
r. No major Christian movement light. "31 For years "God's people" had anticipated October 1, 1914, as
he end of the world in such the end of the Gentile Times, the end of all things and the moment
ley have consistently looked to when the faithful would be lifted off the earth heavenward. As October
, 1914, 1918, 1920, 1925, 1975 1914 receded further into the past, members of the society began to
logical significance.27 Russell identify that date as "the beginning ofthe end.,,32
Irk the beginning of Christ's In 1975 an attempt was made to get the governing body to set the
en 1881 would see the "change" Witness community on a more open, less dogmatic course. There was
bodies to spiritual bodies, and hope that the Society's Gentile Times chronology and the teaching
.obal troubles leading to the end surrounding 1914 would be ditched, or at least re-examined. The
31
https://digitalcommons.iwu.edu/rev/vol1/iss1/6 8
Gray '86: Terminal Visions: Apocalyptic Thought of Jehovah's Witnesses and of the details of the end time a:
closest they came to abandoning that teaching was a proposal to shift
has been resurrected in spirit al
the date from 1914 to 1957; from the generation that saw World War I
midst of his enemies and prepa:
to the generation that witnessed Sputnik and the beginning of the
brought about by the sinfulness
Space Age. 33 The latest spectacular date that has come and gone Satan. Eventually Christ shall.
without fireworks is 1975, the end of 6,000 years of human history and
20:3 and destroy all wicked del:
the probable beginning of the millenium. The "Stay alive till '75"
serve as king-priests over mank.
campaign proved to be a lot of hype, and caused serious chaos within
paradise earth during his 1000-­
the power structure of the society and the falling away of many who
The human soul is the perso­
were weak in the faith. 34 The preceding examples are enough to give us
is the human soul that dies. T}­
a taste of the doctrinal integrity that has been practiced throughout the
"life force" present in both mer
entire history of the Watchtower Society. It would be unfair to assert
spirits are in no sense conscioll
that the leadership conciously engages in deceptions. The type of
hellfire or purgatory. Hell is sir:
person that reaches the upper tiers of leadership in the society is
individuals can be resurrected I
thoroughly steeped in millenial thinking and really believes that God
Gehenna and the lake of fire rc;
will work in the ways they have distilled from the scriptures-the inspired not indicate eternal torment, 1:
word of God. die because Adam and Eve's wi
Jehovah's Witnesses have always accepted and believed the
perfection, and imperfect bein~
traditional Christian concept of the linear progression of history. raised up to make God's will kr
History began with the fall of Adam and Eve in Eden. Jehovah
people of the last days another
destroyed the first world of man and wicked angels by flooding them accept it. 38
out. He smiled upon Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and gave their
In its formative years the W~
descendants a divine law to live by. However, the law only made Israel's
sense that it believed that othe
innate sinfulness more apparent. Jesus Christ was sent to die in order to Protestants, were part of the c~
ransom Israel and humankind in general from sin and death. At that
But as time passed Russell and
point God revealed his will for men and the way in which they could be
had a special role. He was the
saved. At the same time Christ began to choose a "church class of
24:45-47 who was to provide ".
144,000 spiritual Israelites from among all sorts of men and women."
faith. Though he originally ass­
This "little flock", "bride of Christ," etc. eventually will receive a
teachings of, clergymen of varL
heavenly resurrection to reign and rule with Jesus as king-priests for
grew more negative towards, al
1000 years. Except for the people who have been "wilfully wicked" the
pastors and priests. In 1919 Jud
dead will be ressurected during the 1000-year reign of Christ and given
president of the Society, began
the opportunity to learn God's will and then accept or reject it. Those
world in which business, gover
living during the end times will either pass through Armageddon, into a
Devil's chief instruments." He
new earth which will eventually become an Eden-like paradise, or will
had sided with Satan in opposi
be completely destroyed by God's wrath. The dead who are resurrected Christian Witnesses. The Cat~
will be raised to that paradise. At the end of the 1000 years Satan and
disfavor, with Protestant and J.
his demon hordes will be released to deceive the nations. Then Satan,
were all depicted as deliberatel
his spirit comrades and those men and women that joined him in "Religion is a Snare and a Rad
rebellion will be destroyed by the fire of God's wrath. Those left The formal organizational st
alive will be declared justified and granted the loving reward of
Jehovah's Witnesses are govern
everlasting life. 35 government of God on earth. I
This brief outline of the entire history of the world has appeared in hierarchial. The structure of rr
Watchtower publications since 1884. We'll now take a glimpse at some mirrors the organization of the
32
Published by Digital Commons @ IWU, 1986 9