Who was Charles Taze Russell?
Charles Taze Russell was an influential American Bible student, pastor, and religious writer of
the late 19th and early 20th centuries, best known for launching what became the Bible Student
movement and for his extensive writings on biblical chronology and prophecy.
Early Life and Background
• Born: February 16, 1852, in Allegheny (now part of Pittsburgh), Pennsylvania, USA.
• Raised in a religious Presbyterian family, Russell eventually left traditional
denominational affiliations because he questioned doctrines such as eternal hell and
sought to understand the Bible more deeply.
Bible Study and Ministry
As a young adult, Russell became deeply interested in Bible prophecy and God’s plan of
salvation. Through intense study using Hebrew and Greek sources, he began forming Bible
classes in the early 1870s and working with others who shared his interest in systematic biblical
study.
In 1879, he began publishing a religious monthly, Zion’s Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s
Presence, which later became The Watchtower.
Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society
In 1881–1884, Russell and associates established the Zion’s Watch Tower Tract Society, later
known as the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, with Russell as president. This
organization served as the publishing and coordinating arm for the Bible Student movement.
Publications and Teachings
Russell was a prolific writer:
• He produced many articles, sermons, books, and pamphlets—around 50,000 pages in his
lifetime.
• From 1886 to 1904, he published a six-volume Bible study series originally titled
Millennial Dawn, later known as Studies in the Scriptures. Nearly 20 million copies
were distributed in multiple languages during his lifetime.
His writings emphasized interpretations of biblical prophecy, chronological calculations (such as
his views on Christ’s “invisible presence” and the end times), and a restorationist Christian
theology that rejected doctrines like the traditional Trinity and eternal torment.
Movement Legacy
Russell’s work gave rise to the Bible Student movement, a network of Bible study groups and
congregations. After his death, disagreements over leadership and doctrine led to a split; some of
his followers remained organized around the Watch Tower Society, which later adopted the name
Jehovah’s Witnesses (no longer associated with the Bible Student Movement) in 1931, while
others formed independent Bible Student groups. *
Death
• Died: October 31, 1916, in Pampa, Texas, while traveling by train.
Summary: Charles Taze Russell was a religious reformer, teacher, and writer whose intense
Bible study and publishing work sparked a major Christian renewal movement in the United
States. His legacy continues in various groups that trace their roots to his teachings and
publications.
Key Teachings of Charles Taze Russell
📌 1. Non-Trinitarian View of God
Russell rejected the traditional doctrine of the Trinity. He taught that Jehovah alone is Almighty
God, that Jesus Christ was God’s first creation (not co-equal with the Father), and that the Holy
Spirit is not a distinct divine person but God’s active force.
📌 2. Interpretation of Christ’s “Invisible Presence”
Russell taught that Christ’s second coming was not a visible event but an invisible presence that
began in 1874.
📌 3. Chronological Prophecy and Bible Timelines
Central to Russell’s theology was his attempt to construct a chronology of biblical history and
prophecy, especially the idea that:
• Christ’s invisible return began in 1874,
• The end of the “Gentile Times” would occur in 1914. (This date and WWI was a pivotal
turning point in history. By the end of WWI, the Divine Right of Kings was over. Of the
major monarchies before WWI only England’s King remained, a figurehead rather than a
powerful leader. The Jewish homeland became open to more Jewish immigrants which
culminated in the establishment of the Nation of Israel in 1948.
📌 4. The Nature of the Dead
He denied the traditional idea of immortal souls. Instead, he taught that the dead are unconscious
(Christ compared it to sleep (John 11:11-14) until a future resurrection, and that the wicked will
at the end of Christ’s 1000 year reign go into eternal non existence rather than eternally
tormented.
📌 5. Salvation and the Kingdom
Russell emphasized salvation through Christ and the coming of God’s Kingdom on earth. He
believed that Scripture promises the resurrection of the faithful and an eventual restoration of
righteousness upon the earth which was lost at Adam’s fall.
📌 6. Emphasis on Bible Study and Restoration
Russell promoted personal Bible study over creeds and traditions. He believed that many
Christian doctrines were human constructs, such as church hierarchies, hell fire, the immortal
soul and the trinity. He supported following first-century Christianity as revealed in Scripture.
📌 7. Use of Extrabiblical Corroboration
In some of his prophetic work, Russell used the Great Pyramid of Giza as an“witness” to
confirm his timeline interpretations.
* Bible Students are independent of any organization. They study the bible in small groups and
have no paid ministry or a hierarchy. They are not associated with Jehovah’s Witnesses.
* Pastor Russell taught that the end of the Gentile Kingdoms would immediately usher in
Christ’s Kingdom in 1914. He revised this view before his death. Luke 21:24 is referring to
Israel and the return of the Jews to their land. (See Jewish History, 1914 to 1948 & The
Creation Of Israel: A Nation Born From Conflict)

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