Apocalypse Delayed: The Story of Jehovah's Witnesses

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University of Toronto Press, Jan 1, 1997 - Religion - 444 pages

Since 1876, Jehovah's Witnesses have believed that they are living in the last days of the present world. Charles T. Russell, their founder, advised his followers that members of Christ's church would be raptured in 1878, and by 1914 Christ would destroy the nations and establish his kingdom on earth. The first prophecy was not fulfilled, but the outbreak of the First World War lent some credibility to the second. Ever since that time, Jehovah's Witnesses have been predicting that the world would end 'shortly.' Their numbers have grown to many millions in over two hundred countries. They distribute a billion pieces of literature annually, and continue to anticipate the end of the world.

Apocalypticism is the key issue in this detailed history, but there are others. As a long-time member of the sect, now expelled, Penton offers a comprehensive overview of a remarkable religious movement. His book is divided into three parts, each presenting the Witnesses' story in a different context: historical, doctrinal, and sociological. Some of the issues he discusses are known to the general public, such as the sect's opposition to military service and blood transfusions. Others involve internal controversies, including political control of the organization and the handling of dissent within the ranks.

Penton has combined the special insight of an insider with the critical analysis of an observer now at a distance from his subject. From them he has created a penetrating study of a spreading world phenomenon.

In this second edition, an afterword by the author brings us up to date on events since Apocalypse Delayed was first published in 1985. Penton considers changes in doctrine, practice, and governance on issues such as medical treatment, higher education, apostates, and the apocalypse. This edition features a revised and expanded bibliography.

 

Contents

Introduction
3
The Beginning of a Movement
13
Russells Chart of the Ages28
28
The Creation of a Theocracy
47
Bible Student memorial attendance 19172861
61
Jehovahs Year of Ransom A proposed Jehovahs Witness calendar67
67
The Era of Global Expansion
77
Worldwide growth of Jehovahs Witnesses 19427784
84
The earthly resurrection
200
The Watchtowers concept of a minister of the gospel
207
Organizational Structure
211
The organizational structure of Jehovahs Witnesses
213
Routes of upward organizational mobility among Jehovahs Witnesses
240
The Witness Community
253
Holy Wedlock The Golden Ages concept of the nature of matrimony
263
Dotage A Watch Tower view of higher education
272

Peak active publishers 19285892
92
Prophetic Failure Reaction and Rebellion
99
Relations with the World
127
Typical Watch Tower Society antiCatholicism
128
Watch Tower view of Franklin Roosevelt and the New Deal in the United
137
A conspiracy against Jehovahs Witnesses over the flagsalute issue144
144
Bases of Doctrinal Authority
159
Major Doctrines
184
Ratio of pioneers to congregation publishers 195080292
292
Conclusion
303
Average and peak publishers 198695308
308
Percentage increase in publishers in developed countries 198695312
312
NOTES
337
BIBLIOGRAPHY
399
INDEX
425
Copyright

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About the author (1997)

M. James Penton is a professor emeritus in the Department of History at the University of Lethbridge.

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