Select Works of Charles Taze Russell (12 vols.)

by Charles Taze Russell; WatchTower Bible And Tract Society

Publishers:

Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society; International Bible Students Association

, 1881–1918

Overview

As America’s Second Great Awakening swept through the nineteenth century, it left in its wake a heightened sense of anticipation for the Second Coming of Christ in the new millennium. Stepping onto this fertile soil, Charles Taze Russell founded the Bible Student Movement—out of which eventually grew the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Select Works of Charles Taze Russell brings together the foundational writings of this charismatic pastor, opening a window into the beginnings of Jehovah’s Witness belief.

This collection includes his earliest publications, later expanded into a seven-volume series known first as Millennial Dawn and then changed to Studies in the Scriptures. Originally intended as a Bible study aid, Millennial Dawn presents Russell’s interpretation of Scripture and its relation to God’s plan. Also included is the companion volume to Russell’s ambitious worldwide film presentation, Photo-Drama of Creation.

With Logos Bible Software, these volumes are enhanced by cutting-edge research tools. Your studies on Jehovah’s Witness thought and theology will link to these texts where they’re cited, and Scripture citations appear on mouseover in your preferred English translation. Important terms link to dictionaries, encyclopedias, and a wealth of other resources in your digital library. Powerful topical searches help you find exactly what you’re looking for. Tablet and mobile apps let you take the discussion with you. With Logos Bible Software, the most efficient and comprehensive research tools are in one place, so you get the most out of your study.

Key Features

• Contains all seven volumes of Russell’s most prominent work, Millennial Dawn (also known as Studies in the Scriptures)
• Offers insight into the philosophy behind the Bible Student Movement
• Includes the unique Scenario of the Photo-Drama of Creation, with hundreds of illustrations

Product Details

• Title: Select Works of Charles Taze Russell
• Author: Charles Taze Russell
• Volumes: 12
• Pages: 4,434

Millennial Dawn, vol. 1: The Plan of the Ages

• Author: Charles Taze Russell
• Publisher: Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society
• Publication Date: 1886
• Pages: 356

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Originally intended as a Bible study aid, The Plan of the Ages introduces the reader to the subject and method of Charles Taze Russell’s work, and his interpretation of God’s purpose for mankind. This volume covers elementary topics such as God’s character, and it outlines the events to be expected in Russell’s view of God’s plan.

Millennial Dawn, vol. 2: The Time Is at Hand

• Author: Charles Taze Russell
• Publisher: Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society
• Publication Date: 1889
• Pages: 371

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Russell’s The Time Is at Hand offers his interpretation of biblical chronology and the special times and seasons divinely appointed by God. It then presents his identification of the antichrist after the Second Advent of Christ.

Millennial Dawn, vol. 3: Thy Kingdom Come

• Author: Charles Taze Russell
• Publisher: Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society
• Publication Date: 1891
• Pages: 386

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Detailing biblical prophecies and discussing the fate of Israel, Russell turns his attention to the Great Pyramid at Giza. He expounds on the subject of Pyramidology, claiming that the Great Pyramid becomes a source of scientific, historic, and prophetic truth, when examined critically with God’s Word.

Millennial Dawn, vol. 4: The Day of Vengeance

• Author: Charles Taze Russell
• Publisher: Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society
• Publication Date: 1897
• Pages: 662

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

The Day of Vengeance, also known as The Battle of Armageddon, contains Russell’s assurance of the imminent destruction of the present order, claiming the Day of Vengeance as a necessary step in the establishment of the Kingdom. It outlines Russell’s belief that God will remedy the old order, and it develops his understanding of the glory that awaits God’s consecrated people.

Studies in the Scriptures, vol. 5: The At-one-ment between God and Man

• Author: Charles Taze Russell
• Publisher: Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society
• Publication Date: 1910
• Pages: 510

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Russell addresses the nature of humanity and describes God as the author and mediator of redemption (or atonement). He outlines the work of this redemption and points to the Holy Spirit as the channel of the atonement. Russell also discusses the significance of baptism to seal the spirit of at-one-ment, purchased with the “ransom for all.”

Millennial Dawn, vol. 6: The New Creation

• Author: Charles Taze Russell
• Publisher: Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society
• Publication Date: 1904
• Pages: 748

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Drawing on his interpretation of Genesis, Russell outlines the seven days of creation. He then discusses the new creation—describing the call of the new creation, as well as its predestination, organization, order, discipline, law, Sabbath rest, judgment, baptism, Passover, privileges, and obligations.

Studies in the Scriptures, vol. 7: The Finished Mystery

• Author: Charles Taze Russell
• Publisher: Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society
• Publication Date: 1918
• Pages: 634

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Published posthumously, the final volume or Russell’s Millennial Dawn, now known as Studies in the Scriptures, offers Russell’s interpretation of Revelation, Ezekiel, and the Song of Solomon. Though Russell is credited as the author, much of this volume was written by his associates and edited by his successor, Joseph Franklin Rutherford.

The Revelation of Jesus Christ according to the Sinaitic Text

• Publisher: Watchtower Bible and Tract Society
• Publication Date: 1918
• Pages: 634

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

This volume examines Revelation in light of the Sinaitic Manuscript of the Greek text, with explanatory notes and comments.

Food for Thinking Christians

• Author: Charles Taze Russell
• Publisher: Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society
• Publication Date: 1881
• Pages: 164

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Russell’s first major work, Food for Thinking Christians, was distributed in pamphlet form and addresses several topics later expanded upon in Millennial Dawn. Russell begins with a fictional dialogue between two brothers, probing the question of why evil was permitted. He outlines other topics, such as the Second Advent of Christ, the Day of Judgment, Christ as illustrated by the pyramid, God’s plan of the ages, and more. He also highlights his view of the three great covenants—the promise to Abraham, the Law given to the Israelites, and the “New Covenant” of Christ.

The Tabernacle and Its Teachings

• Author: Charles Taze Russell
• Publisher: Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society
• Publication Date: 1882
• Pages: 70

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Russell wrote many of his works to a class he called the “royal priesthood.” In another of his early publications, Russell offers these believers his description of the Tabernacle, and focuses on “an explanation of the teachings and of the significance of the typical sacrifices,” which he believed took place in the Tabernacle.

Tabernacle Shadows of the “Better Sacrifices”

• Author: Charles Taze Russell
• Publisher: Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society
• Publication Date: 1899
• Pages: 133

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

In this volume, Russell expands on his earlier publication, The Tabernacle and Its Teachings, offering his interpretation of the ceremonies and sacrifices that Moses brought to the Israelites under the Law.

Scenario of the Photo-Drama of Creation

• Author: Charles Taze Russell
• Publisher: International Bible Students Association
• Publication Date: 1914
• Pages: 200

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

A major undertaking involving early film technology, Russell’s Photo-Drama of Creation presents his interpretation of God’s plan of the ages—beginning with creation and ending after Christ’s 1,000 year reign. This production was as innovative as it was expensive—an eight-hour film that brought together color slides, sound, and moving film for the first time in a major screenplay. The film was presented all over the world. This work, the Scenario of the Photo-Drama of Creation, was also part of the project, covering the same time span with hundreds of color illustrations.

About Charles Taze Russell

Charles Taze Russell (1852–1916), or “Pastor” Russell, was the original founder of what is now known as the Jehovah’s Witnesses. A charismatic speaker and ardent minister, Russell began publishing Zion’s Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence (still published today as The Watchtower) in 1879. He cofounded Zion’s Watch Tower Tract Society in 1884. He published a widely popular six-volume series, Studies in the Scriptures, from 1886 to 1904, and wrote many other works over his lifetime. His teachings were originally referred to variously as the Bible Student Movement, Russellism, Millennial Dawnism, and later, Rutherfordism. The Bible Student Movement developed from his teachings and ministry, which eventually led to the establishment of the Jehovah’s Witnesses under Joseph Franklin Rutherford in the 1930s. A controversial figure who started a controversial movement, Russell had a profound impact on North American church history.