NEW! on CD-ROM:
Get all the old Watchtower books!! Photocopies and text search combined!

Tips on Buying Older Watchtower Publications

Randy's recommended MUST HAVES for the budget-minded buyer of older Watchtower publications!

Don't buy something if you don't think you'll need it! Often the most expensive items (price is determined by rarity, not usefulness!) are much less helpful in witnessing to Jehovah's Witnesses than the more common, less expensive books and booklets. Read the notes and comments in the right-side column of the order form, which will give you a brief idea why a particular publication will be helpful to you. Actually, we have some special bargains (especially in booklets) which will equip you with some of the more significant and outrageous claims of the Watchtower for just a few dollars--and some of these booklets are over 50 years old! All items are in good shape (considering their age) unless otherwise noted. The Booklet Sampler is a real steal for the money, don't pass it up.

Commentary on Specific Books: 

DIVINE PLAN OF THE AGES

The FIRST of the "Six Volumes" or Studies in the Scriptures --originally Millennial Dawn--that the original Bible Students considered "the Bible Arranged." Current Bible Students still believe these books. This one outlines Bible Student founder and original "Faithful and Discreet Slave," Charles Taze Russell's interpretation of Christ's ransom and avenues of salvation. Russell's love of pyramids is evident in his "Chart of the Ages," which purports to "illustrate the plan of God for bringing many sons to glory."

Extremely interesting piece of Watchtower lore for two reasons. First, the very title of this volume should cause any student of the Scriptures to stay away from anyone who would preach that the end is near (as the Jehovah's Witnesses currently preach) due to Jesus warning: "And He said, Take heed that ye be not led astray: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am he; and The time is at hand: go ye not after them!"-ASV Second, in this second volume of the S.S. Russell makes dozens of far-fetched end-time prophecies --none of which came true. Here are a few of the more outlandish ones:

"And though the Bible makes no direct statement that the 7th thousand will be the epoch of Christ's reign, the great sabbath day of restitution to the world, yet the venerable tradition is not without reasonable foundation."

"In view of the strong Bible evidence concerning the times of the Gentiles, we consider it an established truth that the final end of the Kingdoms of this world and the full establishment of the Kingdom of God will be accomplished by the end of AD 1914."

"The battle of the great day of the Almighty which will end in 1914, is already commenced."

"Just so it has been in this harvest our Lord's presence as Bridegroom and Reaper was recognized during the first  3 1/2 years from AD 1874 to AD 1878."

"1914-and that date will be the farthest limit of the rule of imperfect men."

Studies volume #3.This one REALLY takes the cake. An entire chapter is devoted to using the Great Pyramid (which Russell referred to as 'Jehovah's witness' in order to support his eschatological fantasies. Also engages in some insightful "Monday morning quarterbacking" and post-game analysis of William Miller's failed prophecies. 'If Miller had only figured in another 1335 days, and realized that the second coming would be INVISIBLE, he would have had it right.' Nice astrological references, and conjecture that "Jehovah is in Pleiades just as surely as the devil is in A Draconis"

This ancient structure being thus repeatedly referred to in the scriptures, we cannot doubt that, if questioned, this "witness" of the lord in the land of Egypt will bear such testimony as will honor Jehovah, and fully correspond with his written word.

So, then, if we measure backward down the First Ascending Passage, we shall have a fixed date to mark upon the downward passage. This measure is 1542 inches, and indicates the year BC 1542 as the date at that point. Then measuring down the Entrance passage, from that point, to find the distance to the entrance of the "Pit," representing the great trouble and destruction with which this age is to close, when evil will be overthrown from power, we find it to be 3457 inches, symbolizing 3457 years from the above date BC 1542. This calculation shows that AD 1915 as marking the beginning of the period of trouble; for 1542 years plus 1915 years equals 3457 years. Thus the Pyramid witnesses that the close of 1914 will be the beginning of the time of trouble such as was not since there was a nation...

The rare Studies volume #7, touted as the posthumous work of Pastor Russell" but most likely penned by W.E. Van Amburgh from Russell's notes. The original verse-by-verse interpretation of the Revelation and Ezekiel. Contains respectful references to original Adventist doctrinaire William Miller. Some excerpts:

"The Data presented prove that the spring of 1918 will bring upon Christendom a spasm of anguish greater even than that experienced in the fall of 1914."

"Even the republics will disappear in 1920."

The earlier editions (1921-1924) have a subtitle on the cover: Proof Conclusive That Millions Now Living Will Never Die," reason alone to get this rarer edition. The later version, usually printed in 1928, also has the same content as follows. Both are "study guides" that supposedly outline the basic doctrine of the Jehovah's Witnesses at the time. Interestingly, at that time they thought that Jesus had arrived in 1874! While the book purports to discuss "The harmony of the ten primary Bible teachings," it has great entertainment value when it considers the evidence that Jesus did arrive in 1874:

"It was in the year 1874, the date of our Lord's second presence that the first labor organization in the world was created. From that time forward, there has been a marvelous increase of light, and the inventions and discoveries have been too numerous for us to mention all of them here, but mention is made of some of those that have come to light since 1874, as further evidence of the Lord's presence since that date, as follows: Adding machines, aeroplanes, aluminum, antiseptic surgery, artificial dyes, automatic couplers, automobiles, barbed wire, bicycles, carborundum, cash registers, celluloid, correspondence schools, cream separators, Darkest Africa, disk plows, Divine Plan of the Ages, dynamite, electric railways, electric welding, escalators, fireless cookers, gas engines, harvesting machines, illuminating gas, induction motors, linotypes, match machines, monotypes, motion pictures, North Pole, Panama Canal, pasteurization, radium, railway signals, Roentgen Rays, shoe-sewing machines, skyscrapers, smokeless powder, South Pole, submarines, subways, talking machines, telephones, television, typewriters, vacuum cleaners, and wireless telegraphy."

Regurgitation of Rutherford’s explanation of how political bigwigs and all clergy are evil like Darth Vader. Also re-explains how Jesus chose the Bible Students in 1919. Published in 1926, we see a hardly chastened Rutherford backpedaling only slightly in view the passage of his recently failed 1925 end-times prophecy: no reference to the old prophecy in the entire chapter XII, titled “The Final Battle.”

Also contains an amnesiac interpretation of the end of World War I decisively won by the Allied Powers:

“On November 11, 1918, with the signing of the armistice, the war suddenly came to an end. No one could give a good reason why it there ended, because no side had won a victory. ”

CREATION

This book published in 1927 says that 1799 begins the time of end. You will see  Jesus on a cross, with a halo; also the last promotion of 1874 before 1943 change.

PROPHECY

This book published in 1929 was the last book containing an instance of this teaching, "Scriptural proof is that the second presence of the Lord Jesus Christ began in 1874."

VINDICATION

Published in 1931, Book One contains an admission of predictions that did not come true for 1914, 1918, and 1925. p. 146

PRESERVATION

Published in 1932, makes contention between the "Ruth" and "Naomi" anointed class distinctions. The "higher powers" are Jehovah and Jesus (opposite current teaching that they are the governments).

JEHOVAH

This book, published in 1934, actually describes the "great multitude" as the selfish who remain in the churches rather than join the organization! Classic Rutherford control methods.

RICHES

Published in 1936, saying Protestants are now controlled by Catholics, and that the Watchtower receives direction from the angels!

Published in 1937, this book captures exquisitely the paranoia of then Watchtower Leader Joe Rutherford. Like "tricky Dick" Nixon, Rutherford had a long "enemies list." It included anyone who opposed him, questioned him or even looked at him funny!

Little known fact: Central to the JW doctrine is the year of Christ's return, and there have been MANY dates for it, including 1874 and 1914. When this book hit the presses, they thought Christ had returned in 1918!

"The proof shows that the time of his coming was in 1918... Those who deny this are against God and his kingdom, regardless of what they may claim."

Published in 1939, makes the astonishingly arrogant claim that the name "Jehovah's Witnesses" applies only to the anointed!

CHILDREN

Published in 1941, this book was actually printed for the children but was really a not-so-subtle message to JWs, encouraging them not to marry and have children! This book was to be the source of bitterness among many of those children receiving the book that day, years later when they grew up and shunned marriage, finding themselves either lonely or childless.

THE NEW WORLD

This 1942 book is most notable in its clinging to the view that the “faithful men of old,” such as Abraham, Isaac, and others would be resurrected “any day now.” It re-explains the purpose of Beth-Sarim, (now explained as being the luxurious hideaway of  Joseph Rutherford)

...hence, those faithful men of old may be expected back from the dead any day now. The Scriptures give good reason to believe that it shall be shortly before Armageddon breaks. In this expectation the house at San Diego, California, which house has been much publicized with malicious intent by the religious enemy, was built, in 1930, and named “Beth-Sarim” meaning “House of Princes.” It is now held in trust for the occupancy of those princes on their return.

This became their basic textbook for teaching new converts for years to come; taught the new "gospel" of 1914.

JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES IN THE DIVINE PURPOSE

Published in 1959, this was the New World Society's first main attempt to portray their history as being of divine origin. The governments were not the "superior authorities, but only Jehovah God and Jesus Christ, a teaching that often brought them into trouble with the law. Much of this book is easily proved deceptive and fallacious by their own later publications. Notably helpful to get in contrasting this version of their history is the 1975 Yearbook (their second "update" history), and the current Jehovah's Witnesses -- Proclaimers of God's Kingdom.

LIFE EVERLASTING IN FREEDOM OF THE SONS OF GOD

Published in 1966 and purported to be the work of eccentric leader Fred Franz, this book has a chart showing that 1975 would be the end of 6000 years of man's existence, and the serious implications regarding Armageddon. Classic cliffhanger.

REASONING FROM THE SCRIPTURES

Published in 1985, this is the book currently used to help Jehovah's Witnesses win doctrinal arguments in their door to door campaigns. Contains over 42,000 bible "proof-texts," used to support their wacky dogma. One neat entry attempts (unsuccessfully) to explain why Jehovah's Witnesses do not fit the description of "false prophets." This whopper is taken from page 136-7:

"Matters on which corrections of viewpoint have been needed have been relatively minor when compared with the vital bible truths that they have discerned and publicized. Among them are the following:... Since 1914 we have been living in the last days of the global wicked system of things."

NOT! This doctrine has gone through some very notable changes, in fact. They actually thought that the world would END in 1914, and that the last days started in 1799.

VISIONS OF GLORY by Barbara Grizzuti Harrison

Though not a Watchtower-published book but published by Simon and Shuster in 1978, this now out-of-print but must-have book tells the story of the author who worked and lived at Watchtower headquarters, some poignant stories of the leadership and her own crazy misadventures, and how she eventually left the Watchtower and her victory over its power. A Randy Watters must-read! Barbara is now a famous New York author.

BOUND VOLUMES of the WATCHTOWER and AWAKE! MAGAZINE

Some of the best gems are found in the pages of the Watchtower magazine and its "current events" sister, Awake! Below are some of the better ones to get. These are printed books consisting of all the Watchtowers or Awake!s printed for a certain year, 26 issues of each bound by the Watchtower factory. We do not sell individual magazines, nor do most book dealers. You need to purchase the whole year. They are not too expensive.

Books    CDs    DVDs    Cassettes    Videos    Old WT publications and ephemera

back to listing of old Watchtower publications

email Randy