Millions Now Living Will Never Die!

Joseph Rutherford

Introduction by Donna Morley: In 1920 Joseph Rutherford, second president of the Watchtower Organization, wrote the book, Millions Now Living Will Never Die! In this book, Rutherford had, like Charles Taze Russell (his predecessor), his own Armageddon prophecy. He warned the living that the world, with them in it, would be destroyed in 1925. He added that only those who belonged to the Watchtower organization would be spared. A righteous government would form under the auspices of the Watch Tower Society. Joining this government would be the resurrected Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and other “faithful ones of old” from the Book of Hebrews, Chapter 11 (pg. 88).

While the Watchtower organization will not make this book available to Jehovah's Witnesses today, there was a time when the Watchtower encouraged all Witnesses to buy and to read it. Rutherford told his followers that his booklets, magazines, and books such as Millions Now Living Will Never Die!,

...contain the message of God's truth and are from the Lord Jehovah, and provided by him through Christ Jesus and his underofficers... Theinterpretation of prophecy, therefore, is not from man but is from Jehovah... (Found in Vindication I, 1931, p. 120; similar quote found in The Watchtower, May 1, 1938 p. 143.)

Jehovah's Witnesses must ask themselves, "was it really Jehovah who told Joseph Rutherford that the world would end in 1925? As well, was it Jehovah who told Rutherford that Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jepthae, David and Samuel will come back to earth--and that they would need a place to stay?"

It was for this reason, the Jehovah's Witness organization needed to build for these Hebrews 11 men (also termed "the princes" by Rutherford) a $15,000 mansion, during the depression, in San Diego, California. Consider. A luxurious home, during the depression could be purchased between three to five thousand dollars. We can well imagine, Joseph Rutherford wanted the best for these resurrected men. He called this home, "Beth Sarim" (meaning "House of Princes) and stayed in the home, until his death, waiting to greet the "princes."

This is a picture of Beth Sarim. For more information about the house, and a look at the actual deed that includes the "princes," go to Beth-Sarim in our Jehovah's Witness section.

Also in this book, Rutherford covers up Charles Russell's end of the world prediction (set for 1914) by saying, "...according to Jesus' words, that the old world legally ended in 1914 and the process of removing the worn out systems is now progressing, preparatory to the inauguration of Messiah's kingdom" (pg. 19).

Joseph Rutherford also explains in this book that Russell prophesied WWI would come in 1914 (pg. 85 to 86). This statement simply isn't true. Charles Russell used the dimension of 3,416 inches from The Great Pyramid (another story for another time), to show proof of that there would be a "time of trouble." There's only one problem. Russell predicted this "time of trouble" for 1874, not 1914. So, how do we now get the year 1914? In 1921 a change was made in the Jehovah's Witnesses Studies in the Scriptures (Volume 3).

Without indicating a correction in future books of Studies in the Scriptures (Volume 3), nor changing the original publisher’s date on the book, the Watch Tower organization changed the number 3,416 inches to 3,457. The organization did this so that Charles could be quoted as saying,

“Thus the pyramid witnesses that the close of 1914 will be the beginning of the time of trouble such as was not since there was a nation–no, nor ever shall be afterward” (Studies in the Scriptures, Volume 3, p. 342.)

The cover up of this change continued when Joseph Rutherford proclaimed that, “...Pastor Russell, for forty years pointed out from the prophecies that it [meaning the war] would come in 1914" (Millions Now Living Will Never Die, page 85-86).

See how easily a failed “prophecy” can be changed to appear accurate? This is why we need to give love, understanding, and sensitivity when Jehovah’s Witnesses come to pay us a visit. They have been deceived. They firmly believe in this “prophecy” because it’s clearly written in their Studies in the Scriptures.

If the Witnesses at your door share with you that Charles Russell prophesied World War I, forty years before it occurred, all you need to do is to encourage them to read their Studies in the Scriptures, (or Millennial Dawn) Volume 3, page 343. It’s important to stress that they must look at this volume with a publishing date prior to 1914.  

Also, if a Jehovah’s Witness claims that Charles had predicted WWI, as they have with me, it's important to say to them that no where, in Charles' Russell's writings did he ever use the actual word, "war." He’s used terms such as “great trouble,” the “battle of Armageddon,” the “end of all kingdoms” and the “establishment of God’s Kingdom on earth.” But, none of these words fulfill a prediction of WWI.

If these dear people do the research, they will clearly see that Charles Russell not only gave a false prophecy and that the organization changed the prophecy date (along with the pyramid inches), they will come to discover, on their own, that the organization has lied to them (which it will do many times again).

Also discussed in Millions Now Living Will Never Die! is the Witness book, The Finished Mystery ("a posthumous book of Charles Taze Russell), that "'the Finished Mystery' is the first and only book that has ever made clear the prophecies of Revelation and Ezekiel" (p. 107). If this is true, why doesn't the Watchtower continue to make this book available to the Witnesses? There's good reason. They don't want the witnesses to read the hundreds (if not thousands) of false statements in it. If you would like to get a physical copy of this book, go to http://www.witnessinc.com.

Also in Milllions Now Living Will Never Die!, you will that Jesus Christ is the angel "Michael" (p. 91). Also, that there will be those who survive the end of the world and live forever here on earth (p. 100). You will also read the wrong view of heaven (p. 106).

Below is Rutherford's book, now in public domain. Jehovah's Witnesses aren't encouraged to read this book, nor will the Watchtower Organization make it available to them. Feel free to copy and give to a J.W. friend or family member. Or, buy them a copy from www.witnessinc.com or, direct them to Faith and Reason Forum (faithandreasonforum.com) to read this stuff for themselves.

MILLIONS

NOW LIVING WILL NEVER DIE !!

"Based upon the argument heretofore set forth, then, that the old order of things, the old world, is ending and is therefore passing away, and that the new order is coming in, and that 1925 shall mark the resurrection of the faithful worthies of old and the beginning of reconstruction, it is reasonable to conclude that millions of people now on earth will be still on the earth in 1925. Then, based upon the promises set forth in the divine Word, we must reach the positive and indisputable conclusion that MILLIONS NOW LIVING WILL NEVER DIE." — page 97.