Who

    Who is Jehovah using as His representative today?

      The following is a study of the MAIN doctrine used by the Watchtower Bible
      & Tract Society as their foundation for teaching that they have the authority on
      earth as God's representative!

      For Jehovah's Witnesses, the only spiritual authority on earth is the so-called
      Faithful and discreet Slave (Faithful and Wise Servant) "class" and it's
      governing body. The Witnesses are taught that this FDS and its GB has been
      distributing spiritual food since the beginning of the Christian congregation
      A.D. 33. To be a JW, one must believe this.

      JWs must also believe that this FDS class was actively doing work when
      Jesus came invisibly to establish His kingdom in the year 1915. They are
      taught that the Lord examined the teachings of this FDS class in 1919;
      they passed this doctrinal test and therefore were appointed over all His
      belongings.

             IN OTHER WORDS, THE VERY AUTHORITY THAT THE
             LEADERSHIP CLAIMS IS BASED ON THE HISTORICAL
             CLAIMS THAT THEY MAKE ABOUT THEIR AUTHORITY.

      Our study will prove that these claims are false. What was happening in
      1914? In 1919? The JWs were involved in the creature
      worship of their singular leader, one Charles Taze Russell.
      was no FDS class. There was no GB. There was only C.T.
      Russell-who claimed the FDS was an individual. THE
      SOCIETY'S OWN BASIS FOR SPIRITUAL
      AUTHORITY IS DESTROYED WHEN ONE EXAMINES
      ITS HISTORY.

      The Society claims Charles T. Russell always denied
      ("disavowed") being That Servant because he believed it was a class, not an
      individual. IF IT CAN BE PROVEN that he came to believe That Servant
      was indeed an individual, not a class,this would show he claimed ("avowed")
      to be That Servant.

      Since it can be proven Russell believed That Servant is an individual, and
      therefore himself, the PRESENT DAY WATCHTOWER SOCIETY, and
      especially the governing body, is lying to JWs about their history. No
      truth-lover will accept the spiritual authority of a liar!



            1. WHO is Jehovah using as His representative today?

                CLAIM A: The only true representative of Christ throughout
                Christian history is the faithful and discreet slave "class".

                  ". . . in the first century there were not two or more Christian
                 organizations. God dealt with just one. There was just the
                  "one Lord, one faith, one baptism." (Ephesians 4:5) Likewise
                  in our day Jesus Christ foretold that there would be only one
                  source of spiritual instruction of God's people."

                 CLAIM B: This "class" was found faithfully providing spiritual
                 food WHEN Jesus returned (in 1914).

                  . . . in the year 1914, did Christ find a "faithful and discreet slave"
                 class providing spiritual "food," or information> Yes, he found such
                 a "slave" made up of the remaining ones on earth of his 144,000
                 "brothers."

                 CLAIM C: The spokesman for the faithful and discreet class is
                 called the "governing body."


                 "This governing body is made up of members of "the faithful and
                 discreet." It serves as a spokesman for that faithful "slave."



            2. Should we be interested in the history of the faithful and discreet
                slave as explained in the literature of JWs?

                 CLAIM A: We should be interested in doing research in the
                 publications of JWs, including older literature.

                 "It means reading the footnotes in Watchtower articles, some
                 of which refer the reader to an older publication that provides a
                 fuller explanation of a certain passage or prophecy. It requires
                 digging deeper, putting forth effort to locate that older publication
                 and then studying the pages referred to.CLAIM B: Knowledge
                 of the history of JWs is beneficial."

                 "History also points to the existence of modern Christians who
                 "keep on the watch," are "no part of the world," and put
                 God's Kingdom first. (John 17:16) This information has helped
                 many people to identify Jesus' true followers today. . .A
                 certain amount of knowledge about religious history has been
                 of benefit to these Kingdom proclaimers too."



            3. How do we know the faithful and discreet slave gives progressive
                spiritual food throughout Christian history?

                 CLAIM: Jesus has always given the spiritual food for the faithful
                 discreet slave class to distribute.

                 ". . . their "master" appointed a collective "faithful steward" class,
                 the body of anointed Christians on the earth since Pentecost 33 C.E.
                 Since the "master" found the remaining ones of this body faithfully and
                 discreetly giving out "food supplies" when he arrived for inspection in
                 1919, he appointed them "over all his belongings."

                 "Witnesses of Jehovah understand that the "slave" is comprised of
                 all anointed Christians as a group on earth at any given time during
                 the 19 centuries since Pentecost."

             4. Are JWs a "sect"?

                 CLAIM A: No. JWs do not honor a man.

                 ". . . many of the groups and movements we read about can indeed
                 be called sects. . . Many of these can rightly be considered cults, since
                 they idolize certain charismatic leaders and follow their teachings
                 instead of God's Word, the Bible.
                                                                "


                 CLAIM B: JWs submit to a "governing body."

                 "Jehovah's Christian witnesses know and assert that this is no
                 one-man religious organization, but that it has a governing
                 body of spirit-anointed Christians."



            5. How do we know the FDS with its GB is active in modern times?

                 CLAIM A: The GB has been in place in the modern organization.
                 established the Watchtower Society in 1884.

                 "Supplying information on the development of the modern-day
                 Governing Body, the December 15, 1971 issue of The
                 Watchtower explained: Five years later [in 1884] Zions's Watch
                  Tower Society was incorporated. . . They aided in the feeding
                  and directing of the slave class, and thus a governing body made it's
                  appearance."

            For years, the visible Governing Body came to be identified with the
            seven member board of directors.



                 CLAIM B: The FDS and its GB passed a doctrinal test by
                 serving the "right sort of food" since 1919.

                  "he wanted to make sure that his domestic affairs were in the right
                  condition. Had his appointed slave done as he was assigned to do,
                  namely, give to the "domestics" their "food at the proper time"? The
                  master needed to make an inspection. The serving of food, the right
                  sort of food, at the proper time was the issue. It had to be according
                  to this that a decision must be rendered by the returned master. . .
                  Down to 1919 C.E. they had endeavored to give "food at the proper
                  time" to the "household of faith" or the "domestics" of the heavenly . .
                  Not only was the regularity in serving the spiritual food a problem,
                  but the quality of the food itself was to be considered. In this respect
                  the body of hated, persecuted Christians, who always sought to be
                  faithful slaves of Jesus Christ, met the test."

            6. Can we find the identity of the FDS by reading the modern
                history of JWs?

                 CLAIM A: It is easy to find the FDS in modern times.

                  ". . . it is not going to be difficult to find this faithful, happy,
                  responsible "slave" in modern times."

                  CLAIM B: Its identity was clear in 1914.

                  "Especially has the identity of this "slave" become clear at the time
                  of Christ's return or presence. The "slave" is identifiable by it's
                  watchfulness and by the fact that it is faithfully and discreetly providing
                  spiritual food as needed by all in the Christian congregation. ."



            TRUTH: C.T. Russell, the president and founder of the Watchtower
            Society, long before 1914, (and after it) taught the FDS is an "individual"
            not a class.

                  ". . . our Lord, the great Servant of his people, will make choice
                  of one channel for dispensing the meat in due season, though other
                  channels or "fellow-servants" will be used in bringing the food to the
                  "household.". . . Faithfulness on the part of the said steward (both to
                  the "Master" and to his fellow servants" and "the household") will be
                  rewarded by his continuance as steward;- so long as he serves
                  faithfully, he may continue. . ."

                  "In course of time this view was lost sight of, and attention was
                  focused more upon an individual man. The view generally held,
                  that Pastor Russell himself was the "faithful and wise servant" of
                  Matthew 25:45-47."

                 "3:14. And [unto] BY the angel.-The special messenger to the last
                 Age of the Church was Charles T. Russell, born February 16, 1852.
                 He has privately admitted his belief that he was chosen for his great
                 work from before his birth."



            7. After Russell died, who taught that he was the FDS?

                 CLAIM A: Those who worshiped him as the FDS left the
                 movement. They became the "evil slave" class.

                 ". . . this tendency toward the formation among his faithful followers
                 was displeasing to the one "who holds the seven stars in his right
                 hand." Under his guidance this tendency toward the founding of a
                 religious sect like the sects of Christendom out of which they had
                 come was fought against by those who hate unchristian
                 sectarianism.Those who chose to follow a dead man left the ranks.
                 Those who believed that the light of Bible truth did not stop advancing
                 with the death of the first president of the Watch Tower Bible & Tract
                 Society held to God's visible organization and continued searching
                 the Holy Scriptures in the advancing light."



                 "The "evil servant" class rejects present truth. . . These claim to be
                 feeding upon food which God provided prior to 1917, and they
                 claim that no food has been furnished since that date."



                 CLAIM B: In 1918, these failed the test of Christ for teaching
                 correct doctrine.

                 "By zeal and loyalty through tribulation and persecution this servant
                 (a class) must prove himself to be the "faithful and wise servant"
                 under Christ Jesus the Head and must be prepared for the witness
                 work after the Lord's calling to the temple in 1918. . . From 1914 to
                 1919 a most desperate attack was made by worldly governments
                 and by the "evil servant" class, headed by several self-styled leaders
                 who formed corporations and associations, each such group
                 claiming to be the "little flock" of Christ. In 1918, when Christ Jesus
                 came to the temple for judgment, he found such ones to be following
                 a man who was dead." . .

                 CLAIM C: After Russell's death in 1916, the "John class" stood
                 against those who were involved in sectarianism (creature worship).

                 "The John class, however, emerged from the tumultuous days of
                 the first world war with a love for Jehovah and for the truth that
                 impelled them to serve him with flaming zeal. They resisted those
                 who tried to introduce sectarianism through practically idolizing
                 the first president of the Watch Tower Society. Charles T. Russell,
                 following his death in 1916."



                 CLAIM D: In 1918, J.F. Rutherford, the Society's second
                  president, denied Russell was the FDS and declared he would
                  rid the organization of creature worship.

                 "Since Russell had been so prominent in the work from the
                  beginning, it was easy for many in the organization at that time
                  to look to him as an individual, rather that as a representative
                  of the entire organization. Rutherford recognized this fact and
                  realized that the president of the Society was merely an instrument
                  to be used to maintain the entire organization as a servant of God."

                 "Why, brother, if I ever get out of here, by God's grace I'll crush
                 all this business of creature worship if I have to get kicked out
                 for doing it."



                 CLAIM E: The Society claims a personality cult" was formed
                 around Russell. After 1917 things changed.

                 "Some were exalting creatures, indulging in a personality cult that
                 focused on Charles T. Russell, the first president of the
                 Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. . . Then, in 1917, shortly
                 after the Watch Tower Society published a commentary
                 on Revelation under the title The Finished Mystery."



                 CLAIM F: In 1917 a book entitled The Finished Mystery was
                  published. It promoted Russell as the world's most
                  prominent "creature". This was sectarianism (creature worship).

                 "This book was called "The Finished Mystery" and furnished a
                 commentary. . . On it's Publishers page the book was called the
                 "Posthumous Work of Pastor Russell." Such a book and religious
                 attitude tended to establish a religious sect centered around a man.
                 The earthly creature made prominent therein above all others is the
                 messenger of the Laodicean Church-"that wise and faithful servant
                 of the Lord"-CHARLES TAZE RUSSELL."



                 CLAIM G: The Peoples Pulpit Association was responsible for
                  the publication of the Finished Mystery.

                  ". . . and discreet slave." This view was prominently featured in
                  the book published in July of 1917 by Peoples Pulpit Association
                  of Brooklyn, New York. This book was called "The Finished
                  Mystery".

                 THE CLAIMS OF A-G ARE COVERUPS OF THE TRUTH:

                  (A) Those who stayed in the Watchtower movement after Russell's
                  death, worshiped him.(See quotes under claim F above).

                  (B) The Society and it's followers failed their own doctrinal purity
                  test in 1918 because they were creature worshipers.(see above).

                  (C) The "John class"(the Watchtower Society, called the People's
                  Pulpit, and it's followers) DID NOT stand against
                  sectarianism.To the contrary, they promoted it by publishing .

                  "Today those remaining of this anointed remnant are known world
                  wide as Jehovah's Witnesses. They were also his witnesses back
                  there in 1918. They are the ones designated in Revelation 11:3 as
                  "my two witnesses."

                  (D) Rutherford DID NOT deny Russell was that Servant in 1918.
To the contrary, he promoted Russell as that Servant.
There is no evidence of him attempting to rid the organization
of creature worship at that time.

(E) The "personality cult" around Russell was spearheaded by
the Watchtower Society.

"God had a channel for communicating Revelation. . . In his
                  great prophecy concerning the conclusion of the system of
                  things, Jesus identified the earthly part of this channel as "the faithful
                  and discreet slave. . . He uses this john class in unlocking the
                  meaning of the prophecy."

                  (F) The admission that The Finished Mystery promoted sectarianism
                  (unwittingly) the admission that the Society promoted creature
                  worship.

                  (G) The mention of the Peoples Pulpit Association as the publisher
                  of the Finished Mystery is an attempt to confuse the issue. Many
                  JWs have never heard of the People's Pulpit Association and often
                  confuse it with a group which broke off from the Watchtower
                  movement after Russell died. Yet, it is the former name of the
                  Watchtower Society of N.Y. If one know this fact, one knows
                  the Society promoted sectarianism.



                 8. Are the following CLAIMS examples of "sectarianism"?

                 YES. The documents in which these points are made promoted
                  the creature worship of C.T. Russell:



                  A. The truth came to the Bible Students (JWs) only through Russell.

                  "Present truth came to us through Pastor Russell as
                  heavenly seed."

                  B. The FDS was an individual.

                 "Clearly, then, the Lord foretold an office that would be filled by
                  a man. We believe that almost all if not quite all, the readers of The
                  Watch Tower will agree that the man whom the Lord chose to fill
                  that office was that modest, humble, and faithful servant, Brother
                  Russell. If we agree to this, then we should likewise unanimously
                  reach the conclusion that the Lord directed and overruled the work
                  performed by Brother Russell."

                  C. If we don't believe Russell=the FDS, we repudiate the Lord.

                 "To abandon or repudiate the Lord's chosen instrument means to
                  abandon or repudiate the Lord himself, upon the principle that he
                  who rejects the servant sent by the Master thereby rejects the
                  Master. . . Brother Russell was the Lord's servant. Then to repudiate
                  him and his work is equivalent to a repudiation of the Lord."

                  D. Satan will attempt to persuade us that Russell is not the Servant.

                  "Satan would have such cast away much that the Lord has
                  provided for his people and has brought forth upon his table
                  through his wise and faithful steward. . . But no true child of God
                  will thus be deceived."



                  E. We are deceivers if we say Russell is not the Servant.

                 "God gave Brother Russell to the church to be as a mouthpiece
                 for him; and those who claim to have learned the truth apart from
                 Brother Russell and his writings have been manifested by the Lord
                 as deceivers.."



                  F. Only Russell is our "pastor."

                 "As to the use of the term "pastor," that properly applied to Brother
                 Russell because he occupied the office of special servant of the
                 to the church. But it hardly seems proper to apply that term to other
                 brethren."



                  G.We all believe Russell is the Servant.

                 "No one in present truth for a moment doubts that Brother Russell
                  filled the office of the "faithful and wise servant, whom his Lord hath
                  made ruler over his household to give them meat in due season."

                 H. Russell did a greater work than any other man.

                 ". . . and in practically every home of the United States and Canada
                 Pastor Russell is known. He did a greater work for the cause of
                 Messiah's kingdom than did any other man that ever lived on the
                 earth."



      For more information on the subject complete with photocopies,
      please see the book, Who is the Faithful & Discreet Slave. Magnani 1992