The suggested answers provided to all questions below are based on and in harmony with the views of the original Watchtower Bible and Tract Society when under the guidance of Pastor Charles Taze Russell. Comments will often include a link to Pastor Russell’s own explanation. However, in any case, we leave your conclusions to your own personal study, prayer, conscience and the influence of the Holy Spirit.
- Who are the Friends of Jehovah’s Witnesses who have created this website?
- Why have the Friends of Jehovah’s Witnesses set up this site? What is your purpose?
- Should we really want to be on earth rather than heaven? Does the Bible give us that option?
- Are the Great Crowd the same as all the people in Paradise Earth?
- What is the role of the Great Crowd on Paradise Earth?
- Is the Great Crowd to be in heaven or on earth?
- Who are the “other sheep” of John 10:16?
- What happens to Anointed who do not make the 144,000
- As the Path Shines Brighter, does the Truth Change?
- Why does God Permit Evil and Human Suffering?
- What is the future mission of the Anointed for which they are now being prepared?
- Will Present Unbelievers Serve and Worship Jehovah on Paradise Earth?
- Will Everyone Be Resurrected from the Dead?
- Have People Received Final Judgment for the Past 6,000 or will they have an Opportunity for Judgment and Restitution on Paradise Earth?
- Will the wicked get an opportunity to repent in Paradise earth?
- Who will occupy the land of Israel in Paradise earth?
- Who does Jehovah make the New Covenant with?
- What prophecies regarding Israel’s regathering have already been or are being fulfilled?
Max, who do the free Bble students identify the the “great crowd” as being?
To Ken;
I guess they could say you are like the m and m’s!
LOL! Max, I like the idea of being a “FREE” Bible student….meaning you’re not tied down to a belief just because someone in authority says it but, you believe whatever makes the most sense!
To Ken;
If one wants to go with them, then they can’t go with the Bible Students, because they left the WT in 1907 and disagreed with the Pastor’s new light.
And scanning some of their beliefs, I noticed they believe the millenium is still future. Ans it appeared they applied Hoe 13:14 and Is 25:8 to also the earthly crowd.
So I guess if a Person wants to be a Jew to the Jews, and a GREEK TO THE Greeks principle it should work nice for you.
But I don’t think that will sit well with Jeff and Peter. Will look for feedback from both sides.
I read on the website that Russell at first believed the new covenant applied to all of the anointed ones and later said it applied only to the Jews in the millenium……is this true?
Hi Ken, I went to the site last night and recognized the Lombard, Il. class. Br. Knapp says he actually know me from the Chicago conventions in May and Dec. He said he will do a formal intro at the convention in a couple of weeks. He was very encouraging. I was going to visit that class about 3 yrs ago. I like that the BS groups don’t insist that you draw a line in the sand, they can still conversate and attend camps and conventions of each other.
Many feel that doctrine is the identifying mark of Christianity, but the Bible says love is (and fruits). Normally when everyone is agreeing on every little point there is only one person thinking. Thanks for the link.
Amen Jacqueline, a person has to able to express differences of opinion to stay sane!
Ken – Bro. Russell made passing references to the Church as being under the New Covenant early on his ministry, but did not outright teach and promote that view. Over time as he grew in knowledge he realized the Church was not under the New Covenant. However, Russell never attempted to remove elders who disagreed with him. That was a decision in the hands of each congregation.
Thank you Bro. Peter for the Info.
Jeff M.;; I hit the link but could not find anything on Mr. Hudson.
Try searching the site. You can look for AOH (his initials) for the articles he wrote.
To Ken;
There are a couple of other coarses out there. The Assemblies of Yahweh. Ant the Intercontinental Church of God. The first one has an online Bible study and I had talked to the founder of it before. His name was Jacob Elder O’Meyer. He passed away a few years ago.
The second one has a study coarse on the Bible. A person can learn a great deal and they put it in simple to learn language. And a person can still be a free thinker like you. You might check their t.v. and radio logs.
Thanks Max, I’ll check it out!
Ken I noticed the CMF does not go along with CTR. But they are the longest running group Of Bible Students. I believe the Chacago Bible Students are in disagreement with them? Maybe Peter K. can shed some light. Ken, are you thinking of becoming one of them free thinkers, sounds like they have lots of friends and a magazine with loads of info? If so, let us know what you like about it verses the Chicago group. I think Russell’s own nephew went with them because Mr. Russell changed some of his beliefs, brought in new light. What puzzles me is the ones who follow CTR is they don’t believe in new light at all, but the CMF left because of it? Confusing! Hopefully Peter can shed some info.
Hi Max, Since I’ve just completed reading all of the “SITS” I can now give a few brief comments on my opinion of Pastor Russell’s beliefs and the ones I don’t agree with…..1)the new covenant applying to fleshly Israel. 2)the “great crowd” of Rev. 7:9 are the rejected bride class. 3)Christ presense began in 1874, to name a few.So yes, I consider myself a “free Bible student”, fact, I’m going to take them up on their free correspondance course…..are you with me??
To Max and all….here’s a link to the free Bible students and others….http://www.freebiblestudents.org/ tell me what you think!
Thanks Ken for the link! Jani has an interesting link also: http://waitingforthefinaltest.blogspot.ro/ there is some intereting experiences on there from the 1940″s of when the witnesses were first turning the religion into a dictatorship.
Thats interesting.
This one originates from Romania. I’ll have my wife (who is from Romania) check this one out.
To Humbleman, Peter and Ken;
I saw A.O. Hudson’s name at CMF. Was he not the last living Bible Student to have remembered Pastor Russell? And wasn’t he from England? I f anyone knows please share it.
Hi Max and Ken,
A.O. Hudson was not associated with the CMF as such. His Bible publication continues today. He was quite a scholar.
http://www.biblefellowshipunion.co.uk/
I was looking at the “Free Bible Students”(christian millenial fellowship)website and saw brother “Karavas” name on an address….is this the same “Karavas” that is on this site?
Very interesting Max….I Like CMF!
To Peter K.
Not sure if that was you at the fair, about 1985.
It is true, Max…
That a few ecclesias are closing here in the US due to various causes. But there are new ones forming in other countries and I think we may have a net increase of bible Students internationally, if slight. But I’m not overly worried. True Christians have always been few. But the two eras where the numbers were comparatively larger were at the beginning of the gospel age and at the end during the harvest age.
Since the only call during the gospel age is to fill out the ranks of the 144,000 one would expect the ranks of true Christians at any point to be rather small, even recalling that “many are called but few chosen” (Matt. 20:16). Even if we factor in the fact that those not chosen make up a “great company” which go on to a lesser role in heaven (Revelation 7:9-17), numbers would conceivable still be relatively small in comparison to the billions living on our planet right now.
So I’m not bothered by the small numbers within our ranks and the closing of some ecclesias. God invites whom he chooses and the vine gets grafted and pruned where best to eventually fill out the appointed number by the appointed time. Besides, all of us have to complete our earthly course to gain the prize. So the numbers will dwindle at some point as it must before the mediatorial phase of the Kingdom can begin.