Did Russell Use Astrology to Support His Beliefs?

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Many sites claim that Russell was into astrology, and that he used astrology to support his expectations (often falsely presented as being "failed prophecies") concerning 1914.

A quote that is often presented, and is often falsely attributed as words of Russell, is found in the Watch Tower of May 1, 1903, page 131. The way it is usually quoted -- sometimes presented as an alleged failed prophecy -- is like this:

1903 "When Uranus and Jupiter meet in the humane sign of Aquarius in 1914, the long-promised era will have made a fair start in the work of setting man free to work out his own salvation, and will insure the ultimate realization of dreams and ideals of all poets and sages in history." (Watchtower, May 1, 1903, p. 130-131; p3184 Reprints)

On some sites, this is directly stated to be the words of Charles Taze Russell; on other sites it is left to be assumed to be the words of Charles Taze Russell; on some sites, the author is honest enough to state that these are not the words of Russell, but it is still often claimed that by his quote of these words, he was using the words of an astrologist to support his claims for 1914.

As it is often presented, however, this quotation is taken out of context. The words are not from Russell or any of the Bible Students at the time, but actually were the words of an astrologist. Before presenting the quote from the astrologist, however, Russell showed his belief that the source of astrology is "of the Adversary himself." In Russell's studies on Spiritism, Russell showed how the demons may present and distort truth in order to advocate a lie. For the entire article: An Astrologer's Outlook,

Of course, if one actually reads what is said in the article, it become apparent that Russell did not quote the astrologist for the purpose of finding support in astrology, for he attributes astrology to "the Adversary," that is Satan the devil. He makes reference to this to note that the demons will make use of a truth to promote their ends, as he had done many other times before.

We should note that this article appeared in 1903, and at that time Russell was still expecting the time of trouble to end in 1914, and God's Kingdom would bring peace to the world in or around 1914. In 1904, Russell rejected this idea, and had come to understand that time of trouble does not even begin until after the end of the times of the Gentiles. See our study: Russell, 1914, Time of Trouble and End of the World.

In the October 1, 1905 issue, Russell again makes another quote from an astrologist, with his own statements before the quote attributing the fortune telling of astrology to demons, thus showing that he was not condoning the usage of astrology. To read this entire article online: Devils Also Believe.

If one actually reads and understands what is stated in the article, it should be apparent that Russell was not supporting astrology, nor using astrology as a means to support his expectations related to 1914. Indeed, anyone familiar with Russell's expectations related to 1914 would know that that what is expressed in the quote from the astrologist was not what Russell was expecting for 1914. 

Russell, in many of his other writings, had already denounced the works of Satan, which he usually summed up as "spiritism". For links to many of Russell's articles, sermons, etc., where in he denounces the works of Satan and spiritism, see our resource page: Russell and the Occult

One site claims the following:

Did you know that the Jehovah Witness founder Charles T. Russell was well into Astrology and Egyptology and pyramidology, and it was later printed in a Watchtower Magazine (June 15, 1922) that he had wrote:

"When Uranus and Jupiter meet in the humane sign of Aquarius in 1914, the long promised era will have made a fair start in the work of setting man free to work out his own salvation, and will insure the ultimate realization of dreams and ideals of all poets and sages in history"

Of course, Russell was not the founder of the Jehovah's witnesses, nor was he into astrology nor Egyptology. Of course, since Egypt has a lot to do with the Bible, Russell was interested in Egypt as related to the Bible. Biblical pyramidology has nothing to do with spiritistic occultism.

But as related to the matter at hand, we have searched that issue of the Watch Tower, as well as many other issues of the Watch Tower close to that date in 1922, and could not find where such a quote was later attributed to Russell. Of course, Russell died in 1916, so even if Rutherford or one of his followers did make such a statement, it is verifiably shown to be untrue, as shown above.

One site claims: "At this same time we find the Society involved in astrology as well as pyramidology, all considered the occult." As we have shown, Russell was involved in astrology only in showing that astrology was of demons, and that the demons may promote some truth in order to get one to believe their lies. The study of God's Stone Witness in Egypt has nothing at all to do with what is often referred to by Christians as "the occult".

Another site claims: "A different link of WTS doctrine with astrology appeared in The Watch Tower of 1903. There astrology and planetary positions were said to support the WTS's predictions of 'the long promised era' to start by 1914."

This is incorrect, since Russell did not say anything about his presenting that quote in order "to support" his expectations concerning 1914. The statement is an effort to claim that Russell was linked to astrology; as shown above, he actually linked astrology to the Adversary and his demons.

One has claimed that Russell "taught that the influence of "Uranus and Jupiter" ( presumedly referring to the conjunction (0º) in 9º.30'.00" Aquarius on 4 March, 1914 ) would set "... man free to work out his own salvation" (v.i.). "Uranus" and "Jupiter" who are "setting man free", no mention of God!" The references given are The Watchtower of June 15, 1922,  Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. 3 page 327; and The Golden Age, September 1924. 

Although not cited, the reference appears to be the quote from an astrologist as given in The Watch Tower of May 1, 1903, page 13, which we discussed earlier. It was this astrologist, not Russell, who claimed that in 1914 "the long-promised era will have made a fair start in the work of setting man free to work out his own salvation." Russell never claimed in place that man will ever begin to work out his own salvation apart from God. Indeed, the entire plan of salvation that Russell presented from the Bible would be against such an idea.

We are not sure what in The Watchtower of June 15, 1992, or in The Golden Age of September 1924 is supposed to support the above statement. We have found nothing in either.

On page 327 of Volume 3  of Russell's Studies in the Scriptures we find a quote from Joseph Seiss regarding the belief of some that the center of the universe is in the Pleiades, and of the idea that from the Pleiades God governs the universe. There is nothing there that gives any hint that Russell was in support of astrology. Possibly "astronomy" is being confused with "astrology".

Some brief statements from other sites that misrepresent Brother Russell regarding astrology (and often regarding many other things): "1903 The Watchtower organisation commenced to dabble in astrology and base predictions on astrological conjunctions." *** "Sorcerers are usually into astrology as well, looking for patterns and meanings in the stars. Charles Russell was no exception." ***  "Not only was he into the occult but he was interested in astrology and other occult practices." [See links to our research related to CTR and the occult.] *** "Watchtower's elites or special persons have not held that belief as seen for example by the use of astrology and planetary positions made to back Watchtower predictions for 1914."

One, under the heading, "Russell wrote about Astrology", presents the quote from the 1903 Watch Tower in such a way that it does not distinguish from the actual words of Russell and the astrologist whom he was quoting, evidently with the desire to leave the impression that Russell himself said the words and thus approved of astrology. The site also presents some quotes from Russell concerning the Pleiades, but closely fails to show the connection to the Bible. The quote from Seiss concerning the Pleiades is evidently being falsely imagined and assumed to be writings "about Astrology", while in actuality, there is nothing in the quote that is connected to astrology. 

One claims: "Russell was not only into Egyptology but also referred to Astrology for confirmation of his predictions." Russell had no reason to refer to astrology for confirmation of his expectations; indeed, the very quotes given, especially when taken in context, show that he was not doing such a thing.

Another author states: "C.T.Russell was well into Astrology and Egyptology and pyramidology."  Russell was only "into astrology" in that he showed that astrology was of the Adversary and the demons; Russell only studied about Egypt as such is mentioned in the Bible. Russell's Biblical study of God's Witness in Egypt had nothing at all to do with any kind of heather "occult" practices, nor with astrology. Rutherford's pyramid monument in the Rosemont has nothing at all to do with astrology. The Biblical cross and crown symbol on Rutherford's pyramid monument is not "Masonic". 

The greater weight of judgment will be upon those who knowingly deceive others. We believe that many of those who claim that Russell believed in, or supported astrology do so in ignorance, although the person or persons who have originated such claims must have at least had access to the material they quoted, and thus must have to some extent known that they were willfully distorting what they quote to make it appear to mean something other than what it actually says.  If one actually notes what Russell did say, one can easily see that Russell was certainly not teaching any acceptance of astrology. 

Last updated: 4/29/2015; 1/29/2023, Ronald R. Day, Sr.