Who was Joseph Franklin Rutherford?
Answered from the commentary of A. J. Pollock
Joseph Franklin Rutherford was the chief exponent of the teaching of “Jehovah’s Witnesses” and the author of numerous religious books and pamphlets. Under that name, he taught a system that carried on the teachings of “Pastor” Russell.
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The late Judge J. F. Rutherford, the chief exponent of the teaching of Jehovah's Witnesses, was the author of numerous religious books and pamphlets. They boast an enormous circulation, and, we are told, they have been published in thirty languages. Under the title of Jehovah's Witnesses, he was really teaching in a new dress Millennial Dawnism, whose inventor, the self-styled Pastor Russell, died on October 31st, 1916, in a Pullman car on a railway journey in the United States, leaving no dying testimony of joy or brightness.
The late Judge J.F.Rutherford, the chief exponent of the teaching of “Jehovah’s Witnesses,” was the author of numerous religious books and pamphlets. They boast an enormous circulation, and, we are told, they have been published in thirty languages. Under the title of “Jehovah’s Witnesses,” he was really teaching in a new dress “Millennial Dawnism,” whose inventor, the self-styled “Pastor” Russell, died on October 31st, 1916, in a Pullman car on a railway journey in the United States, leaving no dying testimony of joy or brightness.
We are anxious to make this pamphlet as small as possible, consistent with exposing this deadly system of error, so that it may have a wide circulation. The price of a larger book would defeat this. There is abundant material for criticism, much that is fantastic, untrue, unsupported by Scripture, but we will content ourselves by pointing out what Judge Rutherford, as the echo of Pastor Russell, teaches as to dates.
We are anxious to make this pamphlet as small as possible, consistent with exposing this deadly system of error, so that it may have a wide circulation. The price of a larger book would defeat this. There is abundant material for criticism, much that is fantastic, untrue, unsupported by Scripture, but we will content ourselves by pointing out what Judge Rutherford, as the echo of “Pastor” Russell, teaches as to dates.
Of course Judge Rutherford is not original. He only passes on the system that was invented by the self-styled Pastor Russell. The first drop of deadly poison in Judge Rutherford's teaching, which he derived in all its unscriptural crudity from Pastor Russell, is concerning the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. To be wrong here is to be wrong at the fountain head. If the spring is poisoned here the whole stream is poisoned.
Judge Rutherford denies the Deity of the Lord Jesus, he teaches that He was not God, the Son. He wrote of the Lord Jesus that He was
Of course Judge Rutherford is not original. He only passes on the system that was invented by the self-styled “Pastor” Russell. The first drop of deadly poison in Judge Rutherford’s teaching, which he derived in all its unscriptural crudity from “Pastor” Russell, is concerning the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. To be wrong here is to be wrong at the fountain head. If the spring is poisoned here the whole stream is poisoned.
Judge Rutherford denies the Deity of the Lord Jesus, he teaches that He was not God, the Son. He wrote of the Lord Jesus that He was “The first and only direct creation of Jehovah.” (The Harp of God, p. 99) “Jehovah is the Father of Jesus because he gave life to Jesus; hence Jesus is called the Son of God.” (The Harp of God, p. 98)
We can understand how people may be deceived by this system, if they read Judge Rutherford's books, and do not check his teaching by the Bible.
Judge Rutherford says: “In 1914 Jehovah set his anointed One upon his throne; therefore at that time Christ Jesus took his authority as King. Three and one-half years thereafter, to wit, in 1918, the Lord came to his temple, which is the temple of God.” (Prophecy, pp. 73-74) “This new ruling power, the Messiah, is invisible, and will be invisible to human eyes, but will establish in the earth visible agencies and representatives of his government of righteousness. We should not, therefore, expect the Lord’s second coming to be in a body visible to human eyes, but should expect that he would be present, exercising his power in his own sovereign way.” (The Harp of God, p. 225)
We can understand how people may be deceived by this system, if they read Judge Rutherford’s books, and do not check his teaching by the Bible.
One rises from a study of Judge Rutherford's works with no respect for the writer, so wild and unfair are his statements, so great his ignorance of Scripture, so poisonous and blasphemous his teaching. For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works (2 Cor. 11:13 -15).
Judge Rutherford has now followed Pastor Russell to the grave, but may this brief exposure be the means in God's good hands of counteracting in some measure his evil teaching, for Christ's name sake.
Judge Rutherford has now followed “Pastor” Russell to the grave, but may this brief exposure be the means in God’s good hands of counteracting in some measure his evil teaching, for Christ’s name sake.