Did C. T. Russell Teach that Moses was an Egyptian?

The following is in response to some statements made in a video by Jerry Jones regarding the Photo Drama of Creation. Evidently, Mr. Jones meant to say that Russell was not the founder of the Jehovah's Witnesses, which would be correct. 

Mr. Jones begins by claiming that Brother Russell was "crazy". This is evidently stated to influence the mindset of the hearers to accept what is being presented as being "crazy".

Mr. Jones further sets the mood by speaking of the "lies" of the Photo Drama of Creation.

A segment of the Photo Drama is presented, although the recording was very hard to understand. Thus, we are not sure exactly what was being presented. The segment presented is evidently that numbered as Segment 21. This segment partly corresponds to that which is found on pages 20 and 21 of the Photo-Drama book.

Evidently, Mr. Jones fails to comprehend the purpose of Russell's use of Abydos tablet. It should be obvious that he was simply pointing to that tablet as corroboration, a vindication, of the Bible. Thus the problem is that rather than seeing the Abydos tablet as being a corroboration or vindication of the Bible record as stated, it is being imagined and assumed that Russell's references to the Abydos table was for the purpose showing that Moses and other Bible characters before him were Egyptians, although nothing in the Photo Drama makes such a claim. The focus is taken away from the substantiation of the Bible record as presented in the Egyptian tablet, to making it appear that Russell claiming that Adam to through Moses were all Egyptians, a claim that is nowhere presented in the Photo Drama.

Evidently, it is being thought that Brother Russell was denying that Moses was a Hebrew, which is not at all the purpose of what was presented in the Photo Drama. Anyone truly familiar with the works of Russell would know that Russell believe Moses to be a Hebrew, not an Egyptian. Brother Russell did quote the Bible as saying "Moses was 'learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians.'" (Acts 7:22) This, however, does not mean that Russell was claiming that Moses was an Egyptian.

However, most people, even most JWs, are not familiar with what Russell taught, and thus can make easy prey for those who would distort what Russell wrote or said to make it appear to be saying something never intended. What Mr. Jones sees and imagines to be "lies" is simply statements meant to show the corroboration of the Bible in an Egyptian record.

Except for what is being distorted, the video never presents any real evidence to substantiate calling Russell a "lunatic". It is claimed that the Photo Drama as too many lies in it. I cannot say that there is absolutely no error at all in the Photo Drama, but, as with the work of other Biblical commentators, I would simply refer to it as an error or mistake. Russell did not claim that his work was infallible, and totally without error. Indeed, he stated many times that he was not infallible in his conclusions.

Mr. Jones evidently is reading the authoritarian claims made by Rutherford and later JW leadership back to Russell. Russell himself many times disclaimed having any special authority over fellow Bible Students, and that only Jesus, through the writings of the New Testament, is the authority in the church.

It was not Russell that twisted things around, but it does appear that there are those who would twist what Russell presented around to make it appear to be something other than what it was intended to be. He was, in fact, simply defending the accuracy of history as given in the Bible. See the segment presented in this video at: https://youtu.be/G9QLXPyKSyc.

Closely related to his, however, is the segment before. See the segment before at: https://youtu.be/iOoOpPza1KI

Nevertheless, Brother Russell was never a member of the JWs. Russell preached against such an authoriatarian organization, and sought to keep the Watch Tower Society from being used for such a prupose. Brother Russell was not part of any "governing body" of such an organization. Indeed, he preached against such authoritarianism. See links to some of our related research on our page: Russell on Authority and Organization. 

It was not until after Russell died that Rutherford created the organization that he later named called "Jehovahs' Witnesses". By 1928, the vast majority of the Bible Students had already in some way rejected Rutherford's "Jehovah's visible organization" dogma.

This author will be eternally thankful to God that He used Brother Russell to bring forth so many truths from the Bible, especially as to the ransom for all, God's great plan of the ages, and why God is permitting so evil and suffering among mankind. Whatever research was done to present this video is in reality certainly does not represent what Russell taught about Moses correctly. It twists things Russell stated to make it appear to mean something else than what he intended. We highly doubt that whoever did the "research" actually did any extensive research to see what Russell actually did teach about Moses, but instead was more interested in finding something that could be used against Russell. The following links is to a Google search that lists some articles Russell wrote about Moses: http://tinyurl.com/mhf-moses.

We do hope that future video presentations as stated in this video regarding the Photo-Drama are researched more thoroughly than what is presented in this video.

Was Russell the Founder of What is Now Jehovah’s Witnesses?

Russell on the Cross and Crown

Russell Acknowledges Jesus as "Channel"

Did Russell Separate From and Later Divorce His Wife?

 

The Color Line Found Necessary

 We are reproducing below a portion from an article from the Watch Tower, April 1, 1914, that is often misrepresented as proof that Brother Russell was a racist.

While it seems that Brother Russell gave a solid explanation of their decision, many still wish to force this into making it appear to be racism, that Brother Russell was "racist" in choosing to have the colored seated separate from the whites.  

We should not that it was the standard at that time that white and blacks did not sit together in such meetings. In many places, it was even illegal for blacks and whites to congregate together.

This, however, was a public showing; it was not a meeting simply for the Bible Students. Please note that, as best as we can determine, it was not Brother Russell nor the Bible Students who were demanding not to be seated along with the blacks, it appears to be people from the public, many of whom certainly belonged to and/or attended various churches. Evidently, the situation was such that it appeared that these white people may have disrupted the showing of the Photo-Drama if the blacks were allowed to sit alongside them. Thus, Brother Russell considered that he had to decide either to cancel the showing to avoid racial confrontation, or have blacks seated separately so that the Photo Drama could be shown. We do not believe that Brother Russell's decision to put God first makes him a "racist."

Nor should one judge Brother Russell according to later concepts related to racism. For instance, some have claimed that his usage of the term "colored" was itself racist. This would appear to be based on later concepts of offensive "racist" words some have created, which ideas did not exist when Russell was alive. Brother Russell certainly would not have been aware that anyone considered the word "colored" to be offensive to anyone, and as far we can determine none at that time objected to use of the word "colored." It would not be fair nor reasonable to think that Brother Russell should abide by later concepts that did not exist when he was alive.

Good sense makes one slow to anger,

and it is his glory to overlook an offense.

Proverbs 19:11, English Standard Version.

Did Russell Say The Jews Are Superior Morally and Intellectually?

By Ronald R. Day, Sr.

The following is from "Bloodlines of the Illuminati," written by Fritz Springmeier.

Russell Says The Jews Are Superior Morally and Intellectually

Russell preached that the Jews are superior to Christians morally and intellectually.

"Judged in this broad, general way, who will dispute that the twelve million Jews are not in advance of the average of Christendom intellectually and morally?" C.T. Russell.

That's quite appropriate for a man who has turned the Messiah basically into a collection of Jews. Russell's hatred for Christianity could serve the interests of any group bent on Christendom's destruction.

The above contains a quote from a sermon of Brother Russell. Below is a link to the entire sermon:

Jews Not to be Converted to Christianity

If one reads what Russell actually said in context, it should become apparent that Russell had just described scripturally the mission of the true church and separateness of the world of the true church that is enrolled in heaven, and showing that the vast majority of those professing to be Christian are only Christian in name only. It is from this standpoint as related to the millions of professing Christians who were not giving in evidence of actually being consecrated to service of Christ that Brother Russell was speaking as being a broad general way of most Christians that Brother Russell compared the Jew to both "intellectually and morally." Russell was not saying that the Jew is inherently superior to those of Christendom, but he was speaking of his observation in which he could see that most Jews were far ahead of most professing Christians both morally and intellectually. He was simply stating his observation.

Earlier in the study being quoted from above, Brother Russell criticizes the Jews:

The Jewish rabbis give practically all of their attention to the reading of prayers in the synagogue, which the people could do as well for themselves, and to the killing of the cattle, which can be done better by our great beef trusts -- which indeed do the most of it and then leave it for the rabbis to mark "kosher." God's Word through the Prophet applies to Jews as well as to Christians --"My people perish for lack of knowledge;" [Hosea 4:6] "There is a famine in the land, not for bread, but for the hearing (understanding) of the Word of the Lord." [Amos 8:11]

In this quote, he classifies both the Jew as well as the Christians as lacking in knowledge. 

The Messiah a Collection of Jews?

Springmeier claims that Russell "has turned the Messiah basically into a collection of Jews." Evidently, Springmeier wishes everyone to falsely believe that Brother Russell presented the Messiah as being "a collection of Jews". 

Springmeier presents the following as being what Russell taught:

The Messiah is basically a group of Jews. "The hidden Mystery is that this great Prophet, Priest and King is not a man, but a Son of God on the spirit plane; and further, the great Messiah is composed of many 'members,' of which he is the 'Head.'" Christ is a son not the son and is made up of many people.43 The church is the Messiah — "twelve thousand for each of the twelve tribes of Isreal..." "This class as a whole is the Messiah..." "Does this make clear my reasons for not wishing to turn Jews into Presbyterians, Baptists, Roman Catholics, etc.? Does it make clear my reason for urging Jews to a preparation mentally, morally and physically for the great work that God has

for them to do? I hope so...it is my conviction that the Messianic company, all saintly, will be composed more largely of Jews than of any other nationality."44

43. Jewish Hopes..., p. 10

44. Overland Monthly, p. 156 

 

The above is basically true, but rather slanted. Russell did not say that the Christ would solely be made up of Jews. Russell often presented the 12 tribes of Revelation 7 as being natural Israel. He believed, without being dogmatic, that the 144,000 were due to be selected from the 12 tribes of Israel, but that since only a remnant of Israel believed, that God then turned to Gentiles to fill up the remainder. (Romans 11:1-5,25) Russell presented his opinion that most of these 144,000 were from natural Jews, sealed in the first century. Whether this is true or not, we will have to wait to see when the saints are revealed. (Romans 8:19) Our own view related to the three groups in Revelation 7 is presented in our studies related to the Twelve Tribes, the 144,000 and the Great Multitude.

Evidently, however, Springmeier wishes to make the Jews into something very evil, which, in reality, would make Jesus himself evil, since he was a Jew.

Christendom

Christendom, as Brother Russell used it, refers to the alleged "Christian" kingdoms of the earth as supposedly being the kingdom of Christ; Brother Russell stated in the study quoted above: 

But Christendom is not the Church of Christ at all. The term is a misnomer. It signifies Christ's Kingdom; whereas Christ's Kingdom, Messiah's Kingdom, is not yet, but is still waited for by the Jews and by the true Church --the saintly "little flock" of the New Testament. Both Jews and saintly Christians still pray, "Thy Kingdom come; Thy will be done;" and both still recognize that Messiah's Kingdom is the need of the world, and the hope of the world--and both are waiting for it.

Being a false "Christ's kingdom," and filled with sectarianism, such must come to an end in order for the peoples of these so-called "Christian" nations to be freed so as to learn how to serve God with one consent in the millennium. -- Isaiah 2:2-4; 26:9; Zephaniah 3:9.

By the same line of reasoning, we should realize that what is now what is often called "Judaism" is not what is to be approved by God, but rather the true Judaism which is to eventually accept Jesus as their Messiah under the new covenant which Brother Russell believed was yet future (and we believe is still yet future).  One could say, however, that true Judaism is in harmony with true Christianity. Thus, Brother Russell stated, evidently speaking of true Judaism: "Jesus and his apostles expounded the harmony between Christianity and Judaism, nevertheless comparatively few Christians today seem to grasp the subject clearly." -- "Christianity and the Law." Watch Tower, April 1, 1912, page 117.

And yet, Russell knew that present-day traditional Judaism and its blindness must be taken away, thus freeing the Jewish people so that they may be enlightened to serve Jehovah with one consent. (Isaiah 2:2-4; Zephaniah 3:9) This cannot be done without their acceptance of Jesus as being their Messiah. Brother Russell stated,

"We understand one of the first things of the new order of things will be pouring upon Israel their share of the blessings and their eyes will be opened to recognize Him whom they rejected more than eighteen hundred years ago." -- What Pastor Russell Said, page 94.

Illuminati Bloodline

Any approval of the idea of there being any such "Illuminati Bloodline," as described by various "conspiracy" theorists, automatically rejects the Bible, and the basis of the ransom for all as revealed in the Bible, since Christ died for all who are dying in Adam. Adam and all of Adam's descendants are condemned in Adam. (Romans 5:12-19; 1 Corinthians 15:21,22) We find nothing in the Bible about any special condemned bloodlines in our time. Russell only believed in one condemned bloodline (although he may never have used the word "bloodline"), that all races are descended from one blood (Acts 17:26), and that since all are condemned in one man, then only one sinless man is needed to redeem the entire human race. The Bible does not teach, nor did Russell teach, anything about any bloodlines today that are outside the power of the blood of Jesus to redeem.

It is the Bible itself, however, that shows that the Jewish people were alone chosen by God to receive the Law, and to the extent that any Jew would seek to keep that Law, would, of course, result in better moral standards than all other nations. Was God being racist to do this? From the standpoint of the carnally-minded, it would seem so; it is only as one appreciates God's overall purposes that one can begin to comprehend the details of God's purposes.

Russell's Alleged Hatred for Christianity

The fact is that Russell had no hatred for Christianity. Only someone who is totally ignorant of what Russell taught or one who has a somewhat willful desire to misrepresent Russell would consider any idea that Brother Russell hated Christianity. In the sermon quoted above, Brother Russell stated:

The world misunderstands Christianity; so do the majority of Christians. The general misconception is, that the Church of Christ is in the world as a reformatory institution -- to give the world correct moral ideas and to help keep them out of drunkard graves and from all kinds of licentiousness, brutality, profanity, etc. Indeed, the world measures Christianity by its success in fighting down these evils, and many Christians have the same false views.

This does not sound like Brother Russell was expressing a hatred for Christianity, but rather that he was defending Christianity, although he does point to some false concepts of what many think that Christianity is supposed to be doing.

Russell, however, most often spoke of those who belong to Christ as being "Christian." Russell did, at times, refer to "nominal Christianity," noting an adherence to Christianity in name only. While one could say he hated the disobedience of Jesus as shown in actions and beliefs of nominal Christianity, he had no hatred for Christianity itself. In many cases, we would have to quote extremely long portions of what Russell wrote in order for the reader to understand how Brother Russell spoke of a false or nominal Christianity as opposed to true Christianity. Here are a couple of short quotes from Russell regarding Christianity that could be easily understood:

Christianity is not selfish, but the reverse. -- Watch Tower, March 15, 1909, page 91.

This certainly doesn't sound like he hated Christianity.

True science has never contradicted the Bible; has never touched it but to confirm. The same God made both the world and the Word, so that there can be no contradiction. It is only false science that has seemed -- or been made to appear -- in conflict with Christianity. -- Watch Tower, September 1, 1904, page 262

If Russell hated Christianity, why would he seek to defend Christianity in relation to what he calls "false science"? 

Russell Founder of Original WTS - Not the JWs

One has responded to our finding that Russell was not the founder of the JWs, and several assertions have been made that are misleading, to say the least.

The claim is evidently that since Russell was the principal founder of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, and since the JWs are now using that legal entity as their "legal instrument", that this is supposed to mean that Charles Taze Russell was actually the founder of the Jehovah's Witnesses organization. Of course, in reality, the legal instrument as Russell envisioned it, was not designed to be the legal instrument of an organization such as the "Jehovah's Witnesses." As he designed the Society, it was a legal entity for coordinating communication among the Bible Students and as a service entity. We have not found any place that Russell ever referred to the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society as an "organization", but, internally, one could refer to it as a business organization. It was not, however meant to govern the affairs of fellow Christians. Indeed, just before Russell died, he stated concerning the Watch Tower Society:

Let it be borne in mind that the Society exercises no authority, makes no criticism, but merely gives advice; and that in the interest of the Lord's Cause and the Lord's people. -- The Watch Tower, August 15, 1916, page 248.

And, in the year before, Russell also stated:

There would be nothing to come out of, as an organization, if one is an International Bible Student. -- The Watch Tower, July 15, 1915, pages 218, 219.

When Russell died, Rutherford -- by means of deceit and illegal means -- gained control of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, and almost immediately began to use that legal entity as a means of slowly producing what would become known as the JW organization. As a result, many of the Bible Students rejected Rutherford's new ideas, and thus indirectly stopped supporting the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society. At first, the vast majority of the earlier Bible Students evidently did not fully realize what was happening, or possibly simply believed that the matter would correct itself in time. Nevertheless, it is reported that about 20% of the Bible Students stopped supporting Rutherford in 1917. This does not mean, as the Watch Tower leaders later stated, that they left "Jehovah's organization". That which the JWs mistakenly call "Jehovah's organization" did not actually exist in 1917, although Rutherford had already begun to implement ideas as a basis for such an organization. Rutherford slowly created his organization by rejecting the core teachings of Russell and the Bible Students. What is not stated on the jwfaq site, however, is that in the years that followed, many more of the Bible Students either voluntarily stopped supporting Rutherford, or else they found themselves disfellowshipped by Rutherford's followers for not accepting Rutherford's new teachings. Indeed, according to the Watchtower's own published statements, by 1928 more than seventy-five percent of the Bible Students had stopped supporting the Society. Nevertheless, there were thousands who were associated with the Watch Tower after 1914 who evidently were never fully appreciative of the scriptural testimony concerning the local church organization, nor even in the central teaching of the "ransom for all." These, along with some of the earlier Bible Students, became the followers of Rutherford, and could not actually be called "Russell's followers" as is done on one of the sites.

Russell, however, was a non-sectarian, and he was not the founder of any religion; he did not believe in such an organization as Rutherford later formed after Russell died. Rutherford, in fact, rejected the core teachings of Russell, and replaced them with his own teachings. Rutherford, not Russell, was the one who set up an authoritative organization. Rutherford evidently realized that the core teaching of the "ransom for all" would not be an effective doctrine to sustain an organization such as he envisioned, and thus he dropped that teaching to make it a ransom for some, but not all, and he adopted a teaching of eternal destruction for almost all who disagreed with him, something Russell never thought to do. Russell was certainly not the founder of that which he did not believe in.

The fact that Russell and his associates started the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society does not mean that Russell was responsible for what happened afterward, anymore than Jesus, in instituting his church can be held responsible for others who came after to him who sought to lord it over the church, and sought to kill others who disagreed with them. That organization came into being after Russell died. At the protest of thousands of Bible Students all over the world, Rutherford, after Russell's death, proceeded to form his organization, and began to teach a salvation doctrine that is almost the opposite of the good news of great joy that will be for all the people that Russell had preached and defended. Over the next 15 years, most of the Bible Students around the world no longer supported Rutherford's new organization. The Bible Students movement, as a whole, continues to exist today separate from the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society.

The statement is made that "Russell’s group, the International Bible Students, had their name formally changed by Rutherford in 1931 to Jehovah’s Witnesses." This is misleading since the name of the Bible Students movement itself was not changed in 1931 to "Jehovah's Witnesses." The Bible Students continued to uphold the gospel Russell preached whereas those who followed Rutherford stopped preaching that gospel and replaced it with an alleged "good news" for most of the people that they would be destroyed in the second death if they do not join the organization that Rutherford had created. Russell actually preached against such a message.

Rutherford did have the name "Jehovah's Witnesses" adopted by his followers in order to distinguish his organization from the Bible Students who continued their own work separate from the WTB&TS. This is admitted in the resolution that was printed in The Watchtower, September 15, 1931, page 279, in that the name of "Jehovah's Witnesses" was being adopted because "shortly following the death of Charles T. Russell a division arose between those associated with him in such work, resulting in a number of such withdrawing from the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, and who have since refused to cooperate with said Society and its work and who decline to concur in the truth as published by the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society in The Watch Tower and the other recent publications of the said above-named corporations, end have opposed and do now oppose the work of said Society in declaring the present message of God’s kingdom and the day of the vengeance of our God against all parts of Satan’s organization; and said opposing ones have formed themselves into divers and numerous companies and have taken and now bear such names as, to wit, 'Bible Students, ' 'Associated Bible Students,' 'Russellites teaching the truth as expounded by Pastor Russell,' 'Stand-Fasters,' and like names, all of which tends to cause confusion and misunderstanding." Although I doubt that most 'Bible Students' today would agree that the statement is totally accurate, it does point out that the "Bible Students" were separate from the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, and that this is the reason for the "new name."

The name "International Bible Students Association" is the name of a legal entity in England; that name was never changed, and the legal entity still has that name to this day. The Bible Students movement itself continues to this day separate from the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society. Brother Russell did use the term "International Bible Students" as well as "International Bible Students Association" to describe the Bible Students movement. Thus, essentially, it had two different applications, one as referring to the legal entity by that name, and the other regarding the Bible Students movement as a whole. However, Russell, in the Photo Drama of Creation presentation, also spoke of the conference in Jerusalem that is spoken of in Acts 2:16-18 as the first I.B.S.A. convention. In doing so, he was not referring to the legal entity in London.

From the Photo Drama of Creation

Today, however, Bible Students rarely use "International Bible Students Association" to describe themselves, evidently because many would confuse such an expression with the legal entity that still bears that name. The phrase "International Bible Students", however, is used in reference to an international convention, not as a "name" for the movement, but simply because the convention of Bible Students is international in scope. Some Bible Students have created a site called "International Bible Students Association", but this is obviously not the legal entity in London that is of the same name.

----- Ronald R. Day, Sr.

This above was originally published in April of 2009; it has been edited several times since. Republished in September of 2014; Updated in August, 2021; December 2024.

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