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Preparation;: The revelation of the prophecy by Zechariah showing Jehovah and his enemies preparing for the final war, and describing the great battle ... the everlasting vindication of Jehovah's name
1933. "To Jehovah of Hosts, The Victorious Warrior, this Book is Dedicated"
381 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 1933
7 people want to read
About the author
J.F. Rutherford
72 books11 followersJoseph Franklin Rutherford, also known as Judge Rutherford, was the second president of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society (Jehovah's Witnesses) from 1917 until his death in 1942. His appointment was disputed by the Society's board of directors, 4 of which accused him of an autocratic leadership style. This controversy lead to a schism in the Bible Students movement. In 1918 Rutherford and seven other Watch Tower executives were imprisoned briefly on charges of sedition. Following his release from prison, Rutherford began a major reorganization of Bible Student activities.
At a May, 1919 convention in Ohio he announced the publication of a new magazine, The Golden Age (later renamed Awake!). In 1920, Rutherford published a booklet, Millions Now Living Will Never Die, and a year later published his first hardcover book, The Harp of God. This was followed by a further nineteen hardcover books, each with one-word titles, such as Creation (1927), Jehovah (1934) and Children (1941). His publications reached a total printing of 36 million copies.
In 1925 he gained full control over what doctrines would be taught in Watch Tower Society publications, overruling the refusal by the five-man Editorial Committee to publish his article, "Birth of the Nation", which contained significant doctrinal changes. At a 1931 Bible Student assembly in Columbus, Ohio Rutherford proposed a new name for the organization, Jehovah's witnesses, to differentiate them from the proliferation of other groups that followed Russell's teachings.
Rutherford died at Beth Sarim on January 8, 1942 at the age of 72. Cause of death was "uraemia due to carcinoma of the rectum due to pelvic metastasis."
At a May, 1919 convention in Ohio he announced the publication of a new magazine, The Golden Age (later renamed Awake!). In 1920, Rutherford published a booklet, Millions Now Living Will Never Die, and a year later published his first hardcover book, The Harp of God. This was followed by a further nineteen hardcover books, each with one-word titles, such as Creation (1927), Jehovah (1934) and Children (1941). His publications reached a total printing of 36 million copies.
In 1925 he gained full control over what doctrines would be taught in Watch Tower Society publications, overruling the refusal by the five-man Editorial Committee to publish his article, "Birth of the Nation", which contained significant doctrinal changes. At a 1931 Bible Student assembly in Columbus, Ohio Rutherford proposed a new name for the organization, Jehovah's witnesses, to differentiate them from the proliferation of other groups that followed Russell's teachings.
Rutherford died at Beth Sarim on January 8, 1942 at the age of 72. Cause of death was "uraemia due to carcinoma of the rectum due to pelvic metastasis."
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
October 6, 2016
I've read the entire book of Zechariah. It's a prophetic book in the Old Testament, and it uses mystical language to prefigure the arrival of Jesus Christ in the New Testament. Similar to Revelation, it uses highly figurative language to announce the end of the world.
Similar to Preservation, Rutherford attempts, through the use of scripture and exegesis, to place meaning into the challenging OT book. He actually cites copious scripture from Zechariah in order to defend his explanations.
In contrast to Preservation, however, Rutherford seemed to be a lot more desperate in pronouncing the end times. Everything that is in disagreement with him is hypocrisy and Satanism, and this dated allusion to obsolete Aristotelian logic that divides everything into just either black and white left a bad taste in my mouth. This differed little with Leninist literature in that everything that disagrees with Lenin's beliefs was propaganda, even when these disapproving beliefs were actually wiser.
I think the best work of JW literature could be found in Rutherford's work: when he focuses on the scripture instead of attacking the evil British empire, or the Satanic League of Nations, I can respect his work and his beliefs even if I do disagree with him. After all, he cites references. When travesties like Riches happen, however, it seems to me that I'm reading propaganda instead of exegesis: that's not how to defend one's faith.
Similar to Preservation, Rutherford attempts, through the use of scripture and exegesis, to place meaning into the challenging OT book. He actually cites copious scripture from Zechariah in order to defend his explanations.
In contrast to Preservation, however, Rutherford seemed to be a lot more desperate in pronouncing the end times. Everything that is in disagreement with him is hypocrisy and Satanism, and this dated allusion to obsolete Aristotelian logic that divides everything into just either black and white left a bad taste in my mouth. This differed little with Leninist literature in that everything that disagrees with Lenin's beliefs was propaganda, even when these disapproving beliefs were actually wiser.
I think the best work of JW literature could be found in Rutherford's work: when he focuses on the scripture instead of attacking the evil British empire, or the Satanic League of Nations, I can respect his work and his beliefs even if I do disagree with him. After all, he cites references. When travesties like Riches happen, however, it seems to me that I'm reading propaganda instead of exegesis: that's not how to defend one's faith.
Displaying 1 of 1 review