Jehovah's Witnesses

Continuity and Change

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Imprint: Ashgate
Illustrations: Includes 9 b&w illustrations
Published: January 2016
Format: 234 x 156 mm
Extent: 320 pages
Binding: Hardback
ISBN: 978-1-4094-5608-7
Short ISBN:9781409456087
BL Reference: 289.9'2
LoC Number: 2015020317
George D. Chryssides, York St. John University, UK
Series: Ashgate New Religions
From its origins in nineteenth century Adventism until the present day, the Watch Tower Society has
become one of the best known but least understood new religious movements. Resisting the tendency to
define the movement in terms of the negative, this volume offers an empathetic account of the Jehovah's
Witnesses, without defending or seeking to refute their beliefs. George Chryssides critically examines the
historical and theological bases of the organization's teachings and practices, and discusses the changes
and continuities which have defined it. The book provides a valuable resource for scholars of new religious
movements and contemporary religion.
Contents: Introduction; Researching Jehovahs Witnesses; Origins; Charles Taze Russell; The Rutherford
Era; Opposition; Organisation; The Bible; Ethics and lifestyle; Worship and rites of passage; Prophecy;
Problems and prospects; Glossary; Bibliography; Index.
About the Author: George D. Chryssides is a Visiting Fellow at York St John University, and was
previously Head of Religious Studies at the University of Wolverhampton. He has published extensively in
scholarly journals and has authored and edited several books including The Path of Buddhism (1988), The
Advent of Sun Myung Moon (1991), The Elements of Unitarianism (1998), Exploring New Religions (1999),
A Reader in New Religious Movements (co-edited with Margaret Z. Wilkins, 2006), Historical Dictionary of
Jehovah's Witnesses (2008), Christianity Today (2010), Heaven's Gate (2011), Christians in the TwentyFirst Century (with Margaret Z. Wilkins, 2011), Historical Dictionary of New Religious Movements (2nd edn
2012), The Study of Religion (with Ron Geaves, 2nd edn 2013), and The Bloomsbury Companion to New
Religious Movements (with Benjamin E. Zeller, 2014).
Reviews: Well-researched studies of Jehovahs Witnesses are few and far between. Using a wealth of
newly available information, George Chryssides offers a fresh perspective on the Watch Tower
movements development from its 19th century origins to the era of globalisation. His careful account of the
collision between theocracy, the Internet, environmentalism, the sexual revolution, liberalism and
accusations of sexual abuse is intriguing and highly readable.
James A. Beckford, University of Warwick, UK

I have been waiting for a book like this for a long time. George Chryssides has written a really fine piece of
scholarship about the Jehovahs Witnesses. The book is comprehensive, scientific, interesting, and easy to
follow. I recommend it to students and scholars alike.
Liselotte Frisk, Dalarna University, Sweden
This is a book that gives us a wealth of information about one of the best-known, yet relatively unknown, of
the many minority religions that have spread throughout the globe over the past century and a half.
Professor Chryssides takes us from the origins of the Jehovahs Witnesses right up to the present day,
indicating the changes that have taken place along the way. We learn about the Witnesses beliefs and
practices, some of the more controversial of these (refusal of blood transfusions, proselytising, and
conscientious objection) being discussed in a critical, yet always empathetic, manner. Particularly masterful
is the way Chryssides guides us through the maze of dates and prophecies that have given rise to
confusion not only for the outsider but also for many of the Witnesses themselves. Written with admirable
clarity, the book provides absorbing material for a wide range of readers.
Eileen Barker, Inform, UK
Jehovahs Witnesses is a remarkable feat in both scope and depth of analysis. In clear and fluent prose,
Chryssides explains continuity and change in the Watch Tower Society, exploring everything from its
nineteenth century origins and modern rites of passage to its complex eschatology and twenty-first century
challenges. With this book Chryssides cements his reputation as one of the worlds leading scholars of the
organisation.
Zoe Knox, University of Leicester, UK
Finally, in this long-awaited book, George Chryssides sums up in one volume decades of activities as the
leading European expert on Jehovahs Witnesses. He analyses their historical roots, and discusses
significant recent changes in the Watch Tower organisation. A seminal book, which will define the field of
the scholarly study of Jehovahs Witnesses for years to come.
Massimo Introvigne, Pontifical Salesian University, Torino, Italy and Managing Director of CESNUR (Center
for Studies on New Religions)
Finally - an empathetic but non-partisan history of the Jehovahs Witnesses in sociological perspective.
Chryssides challenges many of our deeply held misconceptions about this fascinating old/new religious
movement.
Susan Palmer, McGill University, Canada

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Contents

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List of Figures and Tables

Acknowledgements

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Introduction

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Researching Jehovahs Witnesses

The Rutherford Era

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5 Opposition

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6 Organisation

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The Bible

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Charles Taze Russell

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2 Origins

8 Ethics and Lifestyle

Worship and Rites of Passage

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Problems and Prospects

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10 Prophecy

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Glossary
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Bibliography
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Index299

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Introduction

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Despite the profusion of books on Jehovahs Witnesses, there are few serious
academic studies, and the last substantial work was James Beckfords The Trumpet
of Prophecy in 1975. Much has happened to the Watch Tower Society since then,
and this present book seeks to bring things more up to date. Taking the theme
of Continuity and Change, this study aims to explore the origins of the Society,
how it has developed over the past century and a quarter, and the reasons for
its changes. I have tried to combine historical and thematic approaches or in
scholars jargon synchronic and diachronic methods of study, since changes
which have occurred in the Societys history relate to specific themes.
Unlike the majority of popular writings on the Jehovahs Witnesses, this
study does not aim to criticise the organisation, but to attempt to understand
its origins and development in an empathetic which is not the same as
sympathetic manner. Those who want to find criticisms of the Watch
Tower Societys teachings and practices can readily find these elsewhere. The
background to the research and methodological issues are discussed in the
opening chapter, after which Chapter 2 endeavours to explore the background
of its founder-leader, principally in the Second Adventist tradition. Chapter 3
provides a profile of Charles Taze Russell, and how the organisation he started
distanced itself from Adventism, displaying distinctive features that made it stand
out from other Adventist groups. As Max Weber contended, religious groups
move from being loose followings of charismatic leaders to institutionalised
organisations. Chapter 4 discusses how Russells successor Joseph Franklin
Rutherford brought the organisation from being a loose federation of ecclesias
to a unified establishment. From its inception, the Watch Tower Society proved
controversial in many ways, and under Rutherfords leadership it became
even more so. This may be partly attributed to Rutherfords personality, but
it was also due to the world wars, and the Societys stance on armed conflict,
conscription and patriotism. Chapter 5 explores how the Society fared in these
war years, and particularly how the Bible Students stood against Hitler and
the Nazi regime. Chapter 6 explores further organisational developments and
innovations under the leadership of Nathan H. Knorr, the third president, and
how the Jehovahs Witnesses became better trained for their publishing work.
Central to the Jehovahs Witnesses worldview is, of course, the Bible. Chapter 7
discusses the Societys methods of biblical interpretation, and the translation
work that resulted in the organisations New World Translation a project with

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which Frederick W. Franz, who became the fourth president, was particularly
involved. Most, if not all, religious organisations involve two important aspects:
how to live ones life, and how to worship and perform rites of passage; hence
Chapters 8 and 9 deal respectively with these two themes. Religions also
typically promise important goals, and hence Chapter 10 deals with prophetic
expectations, and the Societys views on biblical chronology which underlie
these themes on which there is much popular misunderstanding. Finally, the
last chapter examines a number of outstanding problems facing the Jehovahs
Witnesses today, and how they perceive their future and the future of the world
in the light of their understanding of scripture.
A fuller discussion of methodology is in the first main chapter, but a number
of smaller points need to be mentioned by way of clarification. In the course of
writing a major publication, most authors seek comments and criticisms from
a variety of sources, and this has here included Jehovahs Witnesses themselves.
While their comments have enabled me to consolidate this book, I should
emphasise that their suggestions have been considered, but by no means always
been adopted. There are inevitable differences between outsiders and insiders,
and this has sometimes involved difficulties about how one expresses ones ideas.
In some places I have stated that the Watch Tower Society forbids or prohibits
certain practices, and Jehovahs Witnesses have pointed out that they do not
themselves prohibit anything, but rather it is the Bible that does so. While I
understand their position, I cannot endorse it, since other Bible-believing
Christians would think differently, and a congregation has the power, which it
sometimes exercises, to discipline its members.
A further terminological issue arose when Watch Tower researchers
examined my text, and recommended that I should use the expression Jehovahs
Witnesses hold that Rather than The Watch Tower Society teaches that .
This is a complex issue to which that is no ideal solution. For a start, one can
only use the term Jehovahs Witnesses without anachronism when discussing
the period after 1931 and even then, as my discussion will make clear, not all
Witnesses initially followed this convention. On the one hand, I acknowledge
that it is only people who can hold beliefs, not legally incorporated institutions.
On the other hand, not all Jehovahs Witnesses know all of the Societys
teachings a point which became thoroughly apparent when trying to unravel
their biblical chronology in the course of my research. In general, therefore, I
have used expressions like Jehovahs Witnesses teach that where I believe it
is a reasonable expectation that such teachings are known and widely held, and
phrases like The Watch Tower Society teaches in referring to ideas that are
expressed in their literature. Obviously, this is not a clear distinction, since in
many instances Jehovahs Witnesses affirm what is in their Societys publications.
A further problem relates to the Watch Tower Societys teachings regarding
the Bible. Not only is the Society committed to accepting biblical inerrancy,

Introduction

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but it has its own views on the authorship and dating of biblical books, which
go against current trends in more liberal biblical scholarship. For example,
the Society teaches that Moses wrote the book of Job, that Paul wrote all the
letters attributed to him, including Hebrews (which makes no claim to Pauline
authorship), that the gospel writers Matthew and John were Jesus disciples
bearing those names, and that one single author by the name of John penned
the gospel, the three letters bearing his name, and the Book of Revelation. For
simplicity of exposition I have employed oratio obliqua in my text and avoided
clumsy circumlocutions like the letter to the Ephesians, which the Society
attributes to Paul. My task here is not to call into question Jehovahs Witnesses
understanding of the Bible, but rather to clarify it. Any readers who wish to
pursue questions relating to biblical authorship are advised to consult a reputable
Bible commentary, of which there are many.
The Watch Tower Society has used different editions of the Bible in its
publications, and continues to do so even today. In quoting the Bible, my practice
has been to quote from the King James (Authorised) Version when providing
exposition of older events and people, and quoting from the 2013 New World
Translation when the Societys own version is needed for exposition. Older
versions of the New World Translation are only used when quoting the Societys
older publications, thus leaving quotations intact, as the reader should expect.
It should be clear that, in expounding the Jehovahs Witnesses own ideas
on theology and biblical exegesis, I am not endorsing them. For the sake
of readability, I have refrained from constantly prefacing exposition with
Jehovahs Witnesses believe that or similar expressions, but again used oratio
obliqua. Similarly, the word pagan in the text is not to be understood in the
scholarly sense of earth-centred spirituality, but as false religion, and I have
followed the Watch Tower Societys convention of using lower casing. Although
scholars of new religions are often referred to as cult apologists, I am relying
on intelligent readers to discern between Watch Tower teachings and my own
personal opinions.
Regarding biblical matters, as time has progressed biblical knowledge has
tended to wane. The older Watch Tower literature seems to assume a detailed
understanding of the Bible which it would be unreasonable to expect today.
With the academic teaching of religion extending far beyond theology and
biblical studies, as it once did, even among colleagues one often finds scant
knowledge of the biblical narrative. To facilitate understanding of some of the
Watch Tower Societys teachings, I have at times provided exposition of some
of the Bibles contents. If I have erred on the side of over-explaining, I can only
apologise to those readers whose knowledge of scripture surpasses that of the
majority of students, and even some colleagues.
There is a normal expectation that a twenty-first-century author uses
inclusive language. While I have endeavoured to do so throughout the text, there

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are contexts in which expressions like he or she would be grossly misleading,

for example when referring to the congregational elders or members of the
Governing Body. Where a group of people are characteristically of one sex, I
have used appropriately gendered language, including words like chairman,
despite recent tendencies to use gender-inclusive expressions like chair. This
is to reflect Jehovahs Witnesses attitude to gender, and to replicate their own
vocabulary in this regard.
Referencing Watch Tower literature raises a number of issues, not least of
which is the Societys practice of revising and reissuing some of its publications.
In connection with older Watch Tower literature, I have used the pagination
given in reprints which are available online, and where possible I have used the
original editions of other publications. Where it has been necessary explicitly
to indicate a change in the text, this has been clearly indicated. Also, the Watch
Tower Society has not been wholly consistent with regard to the spelling
of Watch Tower or Watchtower, as is reflected in the naming of the two
incorporated societies, one of which is called The Watch Tower Bible and Tract
Society of Pennsylvania and the other of which has been legally registered as
The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York. The widely circulated
magazine, now known as The Watchtower, has previously been known as Zions
Watch Tower and The Watch Tower. When referencing I have used the name of
the publication of the relevant edition, but in attributing authorship to books
and articles of anonymous authorship, I have attributed these generically to
Watch Tower with the usual publishing convention of indicating the year.
When giving citations in footnotes I have included the title of Watch Tower
articles, in the hope that this is more reader-friendly. A similar issue occurs with
the term Jehovahs Witnesses, in which lower casing was initially used on the w.
In this instance, since no points of substance are at stake, I have simply employed
the current convention of using initial capitals on both words.
One further point of clarification should be mentioned. In the text I have
used terms like member and leader in places. Such terms are problematic, since
membership is nearly always a nebulous concept in religious organisations. The
term member is merely convenient shorthand for those who are actively involved
in a congregation, and leader simply designates a prominent individual who
helps to shape policy. I have not embarked on methodological questions about
defining insiders and outsiders a debate which must take place elsewhere.
The books aim is to elucidate the origins, beliefs, practices and changes within
the Watch Tower organisation, and I have tried to avoid other distractions.

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Index

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abomination 27, 323, 45, 48, 83, 226,

23031, 234, 239
abortion 173, 1812
Abraham 55, 59, 612, 63, 69, 7072,
8990, 94, 184
Abrams, Albert 18990
Adam
creation of 37, 61, 1512, 232, 237, 240
and Eve 37, 42, 58, 59, 61, 96, 140, 151,
1567, 171, 172, 183, 184, 191,
196, 215
fall of 44, 47, 58, 61, 140, 1567, 217,
219
as first human being 28, 34
Adams, Don A. 143
Adamson, J.B. 68
adjustments in view 25163
admonishing 129
adoptionism 154
Adventism
chronological calculations 8, 27, 3035,
378, 2289, 2312
in nineteenth century America 258,
3748, 70, 1534
and Jewish festivals 202, 208
Russell influenced by 1, 414, 478,
5051, 229, 2323, 271
Seventh-day 4041, 190
type and antitype in 30, 59
afterlife 26, 35, 73, 75, 184, 194, 217, 258
alcohol 101, 112, 140, 176, 190, 249, 251
Allen, Ethan 35
alternative therapies 188, 190

Amos 28
Ancient of Days 27
ancient worthies 90, 258
angels 27, 57, 76, 86, 93, 107, 148, 1545,
184, 200, 226
animals 32, 69, 151, 153, 187, 1912, 220
anointed class 956, 130, 1323, 141, 143,
184, 194, 21920, 226, 235, 238,
252, 256, 258, 267, 26970; see also
144,000
Antichrist 227
antisemitism 11314
apocalypse 334, 119, 239
Apocrypha 135
apologetics 22
apostasy
of JWs 11, 17, 20, 83, 193, 197, 227,
266
of the church 34, 52, 589, 86, 96, 106,
145, 148, 186, 195, 202, 255, 271
April Fools Day 195
archaeology 150
Arianism 154
Armageddon 5, 20, 93, 100, 107, 118,
144, 170, 171, 184, 194, 215, 226,
23941, 247, 256, 258, 259, 261,
269, 2713
assemblies 94, 102, 120, 135, 142, 195,
2079, 212
Assembly Halls 2078, 272
atonement 44, 47, 53, 72, 145, 1567, 161
Day of Atonement 38, 41, 70, 132,
208
Awake! 92, 123, 142, 164, 178, 188, 190,
191, 192, 195, 246, 249, 251, 264

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144,000: 5, 48, 58, 936, 143, 217, 21920,

226, 235, 242, 256, 258, 26971;
see also anointed class

Babel 197

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Bornkamm, G. 150
Bowen, Christopher 34, 45, 237
Bowen, William H. 2645
brainwashing 17
Brenneisen, E.W. 77
Brooklyn (as headquarters) 10, 18, 67, 84,
86, 100, 131, 134, 189, 207, 283,
247, 250, 264, 268, 270
brother (as term for male JW) 20, 53, 54, 98,
129, 138, 139, 180, 224, 250, 268
Brown, Ian 16
Brown, John Aquila 334
Bryan, Elmer 68
Bultmann, R, 150
Burgess, A.E. 77
Byatt, Anthony 13

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Caesars rule 105, 124, 143, 265

calendar 29, 368, 967, 202, 211, 218,
223, 2268, 235, 242, 255
Calvin, John 32, 50, 186, 198
Calvinism 46
canon of scripture 146
capital punishment 173
Cedar Point Convention 92, 235, 239
cessationism 148, 169, 1856, 194, 2245
Cetnar, William and Joan 164
charisma 1, 49
charitable work 105, 1789
children 14, 44, 55, 105, 112, 115, 121,
138, 140, 193, 195, 209, 21012,
217, 249, 251, 2645
Christ, see also Jesus
atoning work of 44, 47, 53, 70, 72, 145,
1567, 161
cleansing of the sanctuary by 17, 33, 36,
38, 48, 226, 231, 234
death of 34, 36, 37, 44, 47, 58, 64, 71,
73, 90, 1567, 163, 170, 201, 202,
212, 21718, 221, 231, 238
judgement of 268, 33, 34, 38, 40,
423, 95, 100, 2557
as mediator 71, 97, 195
presence of 23, 64, 94,1623, 229,
2312, 242, 245, 256, 268

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Babylon
figuratively 6, 39, 52, 54, 57, 75, 93,
175, 1969, 234, 269, 271
historically 26, 2930, 33, 36, 83, 87,
111, 151, 1969, 216, 22930, 236,
2545
bad associations 11, 105, 141, 176, 246
Balfour Declaration 114
Ball, Rose 66, 73
baptism 5, 20, 30, 46, 54, 56, 74, 78, 96, 109,
121, 127, 133, 135, 138, 179, 1813,
195, 207, 21016, 221, 252, 271
Baptist churches 35, 42, 46, 75, 88, 161, 213
Barber, Carey 269
Barbour, Nelson H. 289, 33, 345, 456,
51, 59, 161
Barchas-Lichtenstein, Jena 14
Barclay, William 165
Barry, Lloyd 268
Bates, Joseph 38
beasts 267, 30, 35, 37, 44, 93, 100, 234; see
also mark of the beast
Beckford, James 1, 10, 272
Bender, J.J. 56, 160
Berger, Peter 21
Beth Sarim 89, 236
Bethel xi, 8, 16, 18, 52, 57, 67, 78, 812, 84,
86, 100102, 113, 134, 142, 171,
189, 207, 233, 250, 264
Bibelforscher 113, 11516
Bible Students 1, 8, 25, 41, 46, 513, 567,
73, 75, 7980, 845, 91, 1056,
10810, 116, 1256, 151, 160, 198,
202, 206, 20910, 213, 2256, 234,
245, 269
Bible study 49, 54, 57, 61, 66, 133, 137,
173, 206, 218
birth control, see contraception
birthdays 90, 105, 195, 199, 200201
blood transfusion 12, 16, 105, 187, 1913,
2667
Blunden, S.O. 68
Board of Directors 66, 68, 141
Bohnet, J.A. 65, 79, 161
book study 137, 206

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Conley, William H. 44, 514

conscience 16, 108, 141, 1725, 177, 188,
21617, 251, 253
conscientious objectors 106, 10811, 117,
121, 187
conscription 1, 105, 1079, 117, 12022
Consolation 101, 120, 190
Constantine 106, 148, 149
contraception 1812
conventions 19, 55, 68, 78, 81, 924, 98,
99, 111, 113, 118, 142, 162, 195,
20610, 212, 226, 2356, 239, 242
countercult critique 68, 10, 12, 25, 246
covenants
history of 6970, 114, 187
new 6871, 94, 163, 173, 192, 212, 220
old 41, 59, 689, 71, 163, 173, 177,
178, 191, 208, 221
Covington, H.C. 11112, 121, 135, 263
Cox, James L. 13
Crawford, William 8083
creation
of Adam 37, 61, 1512, 232, 237, 240
of the world 29, 32, 37, 50, 589, 91,
97, 1516, 171, 250
creeds 35, 38, 61, 68, 74, 145, 162, 166, 174
Crompton, Robert 8
Crosier, O.R.L. 38
cross
as pagan symbol 91
as torture stake 9091, 163
Cuninghame, William 29
Cyrus 34, 36, 238
Czatt, M.S. 89

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ransom sacrifice of 21, 44, 51, 58, 61, 69,

7071, 72, 91, 1567, 219, 221, 271
resurrection of 16, 56, 64, 71, 145,
16970, 202, 212
rule of 65, 107, 1302, 143, 178, 226,
228, 2323, 23940
second coming of 25, 33, 345, 27,
3940, 428, 51, 59, 91, 145, 163,
226, 2289, 231, 250, 272
status of 16, 42, 52, 145, 151, 1536,
1667
in typology 30, 59, 64, 69, 71, 128, 133,
157, 212
Christadelphians 8, 105, 161
Christendom 54, 86, 98, 132, 147, 162,
198, 204, 205, 214, 217, 234, 251,
255, 259, 271
Christian Congregation of Jehovahs
Witnesses 143
Christian Greek Scriptures 159, 1623, 166
Christian Science 6, 128
Christian Witnesses of Jah 13
Christmas 90, 105, 175, 195, 199, 203, 271
Christology 1534
chronology 2, 2835, 447, 60, 64, 202,
229, 2312, 23740, 2667
Church of England 119, 198, 251
Ciranko, Robert 143
circuit 11, 204, 2079, 212, 248
civil authority, see Caesars rule
cleansing of the sanctuary 17, 33, 36, 38, 48,
226, 231, 234
clergy 25, 52, 54, 73, 80, 86, 98, 108, 113,
117, 119, 149, 198, 216, 225, 234,
257, 271
cognitive dissonance 223
Cole, Marley 9, 239
colporteurs 547, 68, 91, 134, 257
Colwell E.C. 167
committee structure 130, 139, 1423, 248
Communism 99, 122
conditional immortality, aka
conditionalism, 26, 40, 42, 43, 46
congregation book study 137, 206
Congregationalism 39, 43, 47, 213

301

Dabney, A.B. 79
Daniel 268, 324, 367, 436, 48, 58,
148, 150, 155, 191, 226, 22933,
2389, 241
Darby, J.N. 589, 228
Darwinism 151, 153
Dawson, Andrew 19
deacon 80, 1257, 130, 139; see also
ministerial servant
deaconess 126

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Equipped for Every Good Work 135

eschatology 73, 75, 119, 2278, 262
ethics 18, 145, 1718, 268
ethnic minorities 209
euthanasia 173
Evangelical Alliance 48, 231, 239
evolution 15, 47, 1513, 249, 257
ex-members 11, 1618, 264
Ezekiel 32, 76, 823, 856, 148, 226, 259

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faithful and discreet slave 143, 252

faithful and wise servant 76, 252
false religion 3, 6, 86, 90, 98, 118, 134, 136,
140, 148, 1745, 1968, 217, 227
feminism 66, 128, 247, 250
Festinger, Leon 2234, 233, 272
field service, aka field ministry 1378, 176
fieldwork 9, 19
figurative language 33, 356, 145, 151
Finished Mystery, The 847, 92
First Council of Jerusalem 131, 169, 173
Fisher, George H. 77, 79, 85, 87
Fitch, Charles 39, 43
flag salutation 100, 11011, 118, 174
Flemings, Hal 13
flip-flops 16, 2512, 258
Food for Thinking Christians 52, 54, 56
Franz, Frederick W. 2, 18, 92, 101, 121,
124, 136, 145, 164
Franz, Raymond V. 12, 18, 164, 175, 264
friendship 11, 14, 105, 141
fundamentalism 7, 145, 150, 152, 168, 173,
227, 229, 250
funerals 19, 44, 81, 217
Furuli, Rolf 13

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Easter 56, 195, 199, 202

Eaton, E.L. 734
ecclesia 1, 7981, 84, 109, 1258, 213
ecology 88, 248, 24950
ecumenism 248, 269
Edgar, John 77
Edson, Hiram 38
education 92, 112, 134, 143, 176
elder 4, 18, 19, 80, 83, 91, 109, 121, 1257,
12930, 13640, 142, 144, 175,
17980, 193, 210, 212, 214,
21619, 235, 248, 253, 264, 2667,
270
Elijah 131, 158
Elijah period 131
Elliot, E.B. 29, 34
emblems 70, 94, 133, 218, 21920, 26970
Emphatic Diaglott 16062, 237
employment 107, 123, 137, 138, 1756
end-times 8, 16, 28, 33, 36, 38, 448, 63,
86, 95, 123, 171, 175, 223, 2269,
2323, 235, 239, 2412, 2556
environmental issues 250

death 26, 35, 42, 43, 44, 61, 64, 73, 75, 110,
153, 1578, 1723, 1834, 193,
195, 201, 212, 217, 221, 249, 258
DeCecca, Giovanni 87
Declaration of Facts, aka Wilmersdorf
Declaration 11314
demons 169, 1845, 187
Devil 100, 114, 155, 199, 2545, 257, 259
disassociation 11, 13
discipline 2, 18, 1289, 139, 253
disfellowshipping 11, 12, 19, 21, 46, 100,
101, 112, 13941, 174, 181, 190,
193, 2534, 265, 266, 268
dispensationalism 30, 589, 612, 228,
256, 258
Divine Plan of the Ages 58, 61, 69, 211, 231
divorce 21, 105, 115, 181, 182
door-to-door ministry see house-to-house
ministry
doubles, theory of 34, 228, 232, 238
drugs 140, 171, 176, 249

gambling 140, 171, 176, 177

Gangas, George D. 164
generation
first generation of Christians 146, 148,
185, 215, 2245
generation of 1914: 2412, 252
Gentile Times, aka Appointed Times of the
Nations, 33, 43, 93, 107, 114, 226,
227, 230, 2323, 2678, 271

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Gilead School of Ministry, aka Watchtower
Bible College of Gilead, 1345
globalisation 15, 112, 245
Gobitas case 100, 112
Golden Age 92, 97, 114, 136, 18690, 237
Goodrich, Roy D. 189
Gordon, David 20
Gospel Age 30, 39, 69, 713, 228, 23032,
238, 256
Governing Body 4, 12, 18, 133, 1414, 164,
169, 172, 1745, 180, 193, 209,
242, 248, 252, 266, 26870
great crowd 90, 936, 1323, 142, 143,
184, 194, 219, 220, 226, 247, 250,
269, 271
Great Disappointment 38, 45, 50, 229, 231
great multitude, see great crowd
Great Pyramid 624, 232, 233, 251
great tribulation 93, 95, 226
Greber, Johannes 16970
Grew, Henry 414, 50
Gruss, Edmond C, 12, 1356, 255, 237
Guard, F.G. 83

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Hirsh, Robert 77, 79

Hislop, Alexander 1967, 199201
Hitler 1, 10, 12, 99, 11215, 11718, 134
Holden, Andrew 18, 223, 262
Holocaust 10, 11, 11516, 122, 272
holy spirit 42, 59, 141, 148, 151, 154, 156,
192, 213, 215, 224
homosexuality 1723, 181, 251
Horne, Elizabeth 126
Hosea 201
Hoskins, Isaac 77, 79
Hospital Liaison Committees 193
house-to-house ministry, aka door-to-door
ministry; public witnessing, 5, 9, 18,
19, 9092, 105, 110, 115, 133, 1345,
1378, 163, 181, 2056, 210, 246
human rights 247
Hume, David 35
hypnosis 190

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immortality 26, 40, 423, 46, 136, 198, 271

incarnation 52, 155
inerrancy 2, 29, 41, 145, 151, 157, 166,
1689, 172, 271
information march 989
insider-outsider problem 13
Insight on the Scriptures 152, 154, 168, 224, 260
institutionalisation 1, 41, 49
interfaith movement 140, 248, 269
International Bible Students Association
(IBSA) 108, 116, 225
Internet 223, 246, 265
investment 1778, 247
invisible presence, see Christ, presence of
Isaiah 9, 63, 88, 93, 106, 130, 155, 157, 191,
200, 228, 2545, 257
Islam 334, 122, 136

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Habakkuk 30, 148

Hades 42, 168, 260
Halloween 105, 195
harmonisation 150, 158, 168
Hart, Tom 57
Hayles, William 29
healing 6, 148, 1847, 194
health 41, 88, 92, 114, 173, 184, 18891, 194
heavenly class, see anointed class
Hebrew-Aramaic Scriptures 30, 159,
1623, 173
Hebrews, Letter to 3, 69, 72, 90, 147, 152,
2356
hell 16, 26, 33, 40, 42, 43, 50, 52, 61, 136,
163, 186, 271
Hemery, Jesse 80, 824
Henninges, E.C. 72, 73
Henschel, Milton G. 143, 164, 269
hermeneutical circle 1667
higher criticism 135, 149, 257
Himes, Joshua V. 35, 46

303

Jackson, Charles Rowland 110

Jacob 57, 612, 69, 8990, 184, 231
Jakubovic, David 13
Jarvis, Samuel Farmar 29
Jehovah
introduction of name Jehovahs
Witnesses 93, 130

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King James Version 3, 26, 32, 80, 160,

1625, 254
Kingdom Hall 8, 20, 112, 135, 1379,
17982, 185, 195, 2037, 210, 216,
217, 218, 248, 249, 264, 272
Kingdom Support Services Inc. 143
Knorr, Nathan H. 1, 9, 85, 98, 101,117,
1346, 141, 145, 162, 164, 207
kurios 162, 164, 1667

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Karaites 378
Ksemann, E. 150
Kelly, Richard E. 18
Keturah 712
kinds, theory of 153
King, Christine 117

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Larson, Max H. 143

laying on of hands 126, 132
League of Nations 88, 198, 225, 234, 239,
242
Let God be True 1356
Leviticus 1723, 192, 220, 229, 231, 251
Liberal Elders 2667
Liebster, Simone and Max 115
litigation 65, 79, 85, 111, 119, 123, 135,
164, 248, 263, 2645; see also
Gobitas case; Moyle, Olin R.;
Walsh, Douglas
little flock, see 144,000; anointed class
London Tabernacle 7980, 203
Lords Evening Meal, see Memorial
Lords Prayer 207
love feast 210
Lucifer 2545
Luther, Martin 32, 86, 1856, 196
Lutheranism 52, 62, 84
Lyell, Charles 1512

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as name of a month 97
as personal name of God 167, 199, 207
as transliteration of YHWH 1634,
1667
Jeremiah 3940, 63, 69, 95, 232
Jesus, see also Christ
historical 14950
teachings of 30, 378, 42, 70, 76, 83,
106, 117, 123, 124, 128, 137, 157,
159, 179, 182, 184, 191, 2067,
213, 220, 252, 255, 269
Jewish Age 59, 62, 71, 228, 23033, 256, 268
Jews
calendar 37, 967, 156, 218, 22831,
234, 238
festivals 4041, 202, 2078, 218, 221
law 41, 69, 157, 192
under Nazis 10, 11316
restoration of 33, 3940, 107, 227, 232
Joachim of Fiore 32
John the Baptist 71, 74, 156, 201, 211,
215
Johnson, Paul S.L. 7984, 86, 189
Jolly, Raymond G. 84
Jonadabs 946, 99, 1323; see also great
crowd, other sheep
Jonsson, Carl Olof 32, 2678
jubilee 89, 229, 231, 2368
Judas Iscariot 101, 126, 132, 220
judgement
investigative 26, 95, 256
last 268, 334, 38, 40, 42, 73, 945,
100, 215, 226, 2558, 26061
judicial committee 128, 13940, 181, 248,
253, 264
judicial reproof 13940, 181, 265
jury service 175

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Macmillan, A.H. 9, 79, 87, 187

McPhail, M.L. 712, 103
McRoberts, Steve 18
Marduk 1989
mark of the beast 56, 40, 165, 227
marriage 14, 109, 123, 18084, 195, 214,
21517, 221, 25051, 253
Martin, R.J. 87
Martin, Walter 1516, 25, 48
medicine 5, 6, 45, 18792, 194, 266
meetings (of JWs) 1921, 56, 75, 91, 94,
98, 119, 125, 1278, 13740, 185,

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New World Translation 1, 3, 137, 154,

1629, 218
Newton, Isaac 2930, 32, 42
Nichols, Carleton B. 111
Nickels, Richard C. 3940
Nimrod 6, 17, 86, 136, 1969, 201
Noah 30, 59, 61, 69, 100, 152, 184, 187,
191, 1967, 211, 256, 261

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occultism 67, 140, 170, 187, 189, 190, 200

organ transplantation 16, 175, 188, 192
Origen 156
Orthodoxy 122, 198
other sheep 95, 256, 258
overseer xi, 1011, 20, 80, 121, 131, 135,
137, 139, 180, 248

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national government, see Caesars rule

National Service 117, 120
Nazis 1, 99, 11318
Nebuchadnezzar 26, 27, 33, 111, 191, 229,
266
new covenant, see covenants
New Covenant Fellowship 72, 103
new light 174, 262
new world 120, 125, 144, 174, 180, 186,
191, 194, 262

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pacifism 1056, 117, 118

paedophilia 21, 140, 2645
paganism 3, 37, 9091, 96, 145, 154, 156,
173, 195, 199202, 216, 221, 271
Page, William E. 77
Paine, Thomas 35
papacy 36, 99, 125, 23031, 233, 234, 239
parable of the penny (denarius) 83, 269
paradise earth 11, 956, 153, 158, 171, 184,
194, 220, 226, 236, 247, 272, 273
parousia 1623, 229, 231
Paton, John H. 467, 53, 54
patriotism 1, 87, 107, 108, 110, 112, 115, 118
Paul 3, 30, 40, 50, 59, 61, 86, 102, 1234,
1278, 13031, 138, 148, 148, 155,
163, 173, 179, 182, 185, 21112,
237, 251, 259
Pentecost 59, 208, 215, 224
Penton, M. James 12, 16, 1134, 229
Peoples Pulpit Association 9, 134
Peters, George N.H. 52
phenomonlogy 13, 21, 22
Photo-Drama of Creation 578, 91, 245, 254
Pierson, A.N. 78, 79
Pike, Royston 8, 9
pioneer 53, 54, 912, 101, 121, 138, 160,
179, 209
pioneer publisher 138

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195, 2037, 20912, 248; see also

Watchtower Bible Study
Memorial 7, 19, 52, 56, 85, 94, 96, 133,
195, 202, 209, 217221, 241,
26970, 271
messiah 27, 34, 49, 59, 99, 154, 156, 230, 238
Methodism 38, 43, 45, 46, 73
Metzger, Bruce 165
Michael, archangel 1545, 233
Millennial Dawn see Studies In The Scriptures
millennial rule of Christ 65, 70, 228, 232
millennium 25, 39, 59, 64, 6973, 114, 152,
226, 231, 232, 239, 247, 2568
Miller, William 26, 3031, 33, 3541,
456, 48, 106, 229, 231, 233
Millions Now Living Will Never Die 8890,
93, 227, 235
ministers ( JWs as) 109, 121, 135, 209
ministerial servant 121, 127, 139, 144, 253,
264; see also deacon
Ministerial Training School, see Gilead
School of Ministry
miracle wheat 21, 645, 105
miracles 63, 149, 1867, 190, 194
missionary work 84, 1345
mobile stands 19, 138, 181
Mohammedanism, see Islam
money 98, 126, 139, 1778, 179, 190, 249
monotheism 154
Moses 3, 30, 32, 69, 70, 140, 146, 148, 149,
192, 203, 212
Moyle, Olin R. 21, 78, 85, 100103, 111, 135
music 58, 92, 206, 248
myth 147, 198

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Quakers 109, 110, 11718

quick build, aka quickly built 19, 205

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radio 92, 99, 100, 179, 189

Raines, Ken 225
ransom sacrifice 21, 51, 58, 70, 72, 97, 145,
156, 194, 202, 211, 212, 219, 220,
221, 230, 271
rapture 227, 229
Reformation 323, 149, 196, 198, 239
religion as a snare and a racket 989, 259;
see also false religion
Religious Order of Jehovahs Witnesses 143
remnant (of the 144,000) 226, 235, 258
repentance 129, 13940, 157, 211, 213,
242, 253, 2589, 2645, 272

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resurrection 26, 40, 43, 51, 73 89, 127, 170,

184, 194, 198, 202, 212, 214, 226,
2356, 247, 25861, 273
of Christ 16, 56, 64, 71, 145,16970,
202, 212
Revelation, Book of 3, 5, 6, 257, 324,
3940, 58, 856, 923, 1456,
155, 196, 199, 226, 254
Richardson, James T. 123
Ritchie, A.I. 789, 81
rites of passage 2, 195, 21121
Robinson, J.M. 150
Robison, F.H. 77, 87
Rockwell, Henry Clay 77
Rogers, S.D. 68
Roman Catholicism 32, 33, 99, 125, 134,
146, 186, 196, 198, 213, 215, 220,
230, 259
Rotherham, J.B. 16061
Rowe, F.L. 74
Russell, Charles Taze 4976
and Adventism 1, 414, 478, 5051,
229, 2323, 271
chronological calculations 33, 345, 64,
103, 107, 22933, 237
early life 5051
marriage and divorce 21, 657, 105
organisation of Watch Tower Society
546, 7880, 1259
status 49, 83, 226, 252
theology 44, 478, 5862, 6971
will 77, 85, 136
Russell, Maria 658, 105
Rutherford, J.F. 77103
attitude towards state 11112, 11819
changes introduced by 1, 89, 846,
9096, 98100, 102, 12933,
199200, 252, 256
early involvement in WTS 74, 75, 78
elected president 789
imprisonment 878, 110, 257
and Jews 11315
and prophecy 2256, 2336, 238, 241,
243, 257
and use of technology 91, 179, 245

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politics 9, 22, 88, 92, 105, 106, 108,

11214, 118, 121, 122, 172, 176,
178, 198, 248, 257, 272
polygamy 182, 183
prayer 20, 53, 91, 106, 127, 132, 186, 190,
204, 2067, 209, 210, 216, 217,
219, 253
predestination 50, 271
premillennialism 14, 26, 39, 52, 59, 125
president (of Watch Tower Society) 12,
9, 18, 44, 51, 534, 78, 79, 84, 92,
101, 134, 1423, 162, 252
prophecy 22343
biblical prophecy 2534, 3640, 43,
49, 52, 58, 645, 83, 88, 99, 114,
123, 130, 147, 155, 157, 185, 226,
22843, 254, 271
end-time prophecies 16, 378, 51, 155
failed prophecy 21, 389, 45, 90, 223, 272
predictive prophecy 25, 28, 30, 36, 83, 90,
99, 123, 2246, 233, 235, 239, 242
public witnessing, see house-to-house
ministry
publisher 9, 18, 85, 91, 92, 122, 123,
1345, 1378, 140, 163, 18082,
218, 271
purple triangle 115
Pyramid of Giza, see Great Pyramid

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Sodom and Gomorrah 25862

Solomon 132, 146, 237
Son of Man 30, 37, 156, 1589, 255, 259
songs 20, 139, 206, 210, 219, 220
soul 6, 42, 73, 136, 163, 186, 198, 271
soul sleep, see conditional immortality
sound cars 91, 119, 245
Spill, W.E. 79
spirit-anointed Christians, see anointed class
spiritism, see occultism
spiritual food 14, 16, 120, 142, 249, 2523,
257
Spiritual Israel of God, see 144,000;
anointed class
Stafford, Greg 13
Stetson, George 41, 44, 50, 52
Storrs, George 41, 434, 50
Strachan, Lord 121
Stroup, H.H. 810
Studies in the Scriptures 48, 58, 80, 84,
856, 125, 229, 231
Sunderlin, J.C. 56
Swaggart, Jimmy 1234

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Sabbath observance 4041, 48, 208

sacrament 33, 214, 218
salvation 9, 11, 15, 40, 44, 59, 97, 114, 123,
155, 157, 183, 214, 239, 240, 249, 271
Satan
at Armageddon 107, 118, 232,
bound during the millennium 25, 39,
226, 256
cast out of heaven 48, 93, 107, 155, 171,
226, 234, 239, 252, 254
final defeat of 61, 197, 226, 2712
as ruler of the world 22, 70, 88, 93, 99,
1056, 118, 122, 135, 171, 175,
178, 234, 271
as tempter 127, 184, 196, 246, 254
Scaliger, J.J. 29
schismatic groups 9, 47, 53, 689, 845,
134, 252, 266
Schnell, William J. 18, 84
science 29, 42, 63, 92, 145, 147, 151, 187,
18990
Schroeder, Albert D. 98, 119, 134, 164
Schweitzer, A. 150
Scofield, C.O. 58
Scott, James Frederick 109
second death 129, 226
Seiss, Joseph A. 623
Semiramis 1978
Senior, Charles Herbert 110
Septuagint 159, 166
shareholders 779, 133
Shearn, Henry J. 8083
Shem 1967
shunning 129, 14041
Silentlambs 265
sin 39, 42, 44, 50, 58, 61, 64, 7072, 74, 127,
129, 132, 140, 153, 1567, 180, 202,
217, 219, 229, 249, 254, 265
sister (as term for female JW) 20, 54, 138,
139, 211
Smith, Elias 34
Smyth, Charles Piazzi 624
smoking 140, 176
Snow, Samuel S. 378
sociology 8, 12, 17, 21

307

Talmud 38, 135

Talon, Brock 18, 250
tacking 2634
tarrying period 378, 70
tattoos 173
technology 15, 90, 912, 168, 206, 209,
218, 245, 247, 250
teenagers 211
televangelists 179
tetragrammaton 163, 166, 199
theocracy 84, 97, 102, 120, 12931, 1345,
143, 174, 197, 2345, 248, 268, 271
Theocratic Ministry School 1345, 137,
139, 142, 206
Thousand-Year Reign of Christ, see
Millennial Rule of Christ
Thurman, William C. 29, 46
Tischendorf, C. 160
tobacco, see smoking
tongues, speaking in 148, 169, 185, 215
Transfiguration 158

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vaccination 5, 6, 16, 1878

Van Amburgh, William 779, 81, 87
Vardy, Peter 23
vegetarianism 191, 262
virgin birth 145, 155, 157
Voltaire 35
voting 77, 79, 120, 1267, 131, 133, 1412,
248
Vulgate 160, 163, 254

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United Nations 88
Ussher, James 29, 35

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Walsh, Douglas 12022, 263

war 1, 812, 868, 99, 10510, 11213,
11721, 155, 1712, 174, 179, 187,
191, 194, 198, 234, 242, 249, 254,
257, 273
Watchtower 4, 20, 92, 94, 101, 118, 120,
122, 123, 142, 170, 175, 206,
23940, 242, 246, 249, 2612,
2713; see also Zions Watch Tower
Watchtower
Bible and Tract Society of New York,
Inc 4, 6, 9, 1423
Bible College of Gilead, see Gilead
School of Ministry

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Bible Study 19, 20, 139, 206, 211, 248,

249, 250
Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of
Pennsylvania Inc 4, 6, 56, 1423
WBBR 92, 179; see also radio
wealth 171, 1767, 216
Weaver, Leon, Jr 143
Weber, Max 1, 49
wedding rings 21617
Wellhausen, Julius 149
Wendell, Jonas 41, 445, 50
Whalen, William J. 8, 9, 78
What Does the Bible Really Teach? 147
White, Ellen G. 38, 40, 154
White, James 38
Wilmersdorf Declaration, see Declaration
of Facts
Wilson, Benjamin 16061, 237
Wilson, Bryan 17
witches 128
women 15, 16, 66, 1278, 209, 216, 250
Woodworth, Clayton J. 85, 92, 97, 187,
18990
Work, Mae J. 189
World War I, 812, 868, 99, 105, 106,
107, 110, 191, 242, 254, 257
World War II 106, 112, 117, 119, 187, 191
Wright, J. Dennis 79
Wright, N.T. 150

translation 1, 15, 32, 80, 90, 91, 135, 142,

145, 149, 15970, 209, 218, 254,
271, 272; see also New World
Translation
transubstantiation 33, 220
Trinity 16, 26, 42, 50, 136, 196, 213, 249
Troy, John R. 75
trumpets 27, 92, 145, 235
truth (as expression for WTS teachings)
6, 15, 20, 43, 56, 73, 77, 122, 124,
1368, 164, 1746, 179, 182, 187,
194, 215, 221, 252, 2578, 271, 273
typology 30, 59, 6972, 89, 95, 100, 128,
132, 133, 157, 212, 228, 231, 236,
254, 259

year-for-a-day rule 32, 367, 151, 2289, 234

yearbooks 9, 97, 142, 143, 218, 272
yeartext 204
Young, Robert 16061
Zech, Otto and Matilda von 68
ziggurat 197
Zions Watch Tower 44, 467, 516, 60, 62,
648, 76, 85, 107, 160, 202, 252, 256
Zions Watch Tower Tract Society 56, 66
Zionism 114
zones 131, 135
Zydek, Frederick 73, 76

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