Matthew 24:45 reads, “Who then is a faithful and wise servant. whom his Lord hath made ruler over His household, to give them meat in due season?” Blessed is that servant, whom his lord will find doing so when he comes.” (Luke 12:42-43; Mt.20:26; Mark 9:35;10:43-44)

Christ has appointed teachers or pastors to feed the flock. When their Lord and Master returns he finds them doing what is right and they will be rewarded. It is an encouragement to all ministers of the gospel, it is the church that is the household. Jesus is not singling out any particular person to be appointed over his church. Any person can become faithful and wise by serving faithfully. This is juxtaposed with the unfaithful servant who abuses people and has others serve him.

The Watchtower has held a unique interpretation of Matthew 24:45:

We are convinced that the Watch Tower is God's chosen vessel for dispensing “meat in due season.” (Watchtower, 1/1890, p. 1171)

Why? Because the Society began to teach that the “slave” was a particular man, Charles T. Russell.  The WatchTower, (March 1, 1917, p. 6049, Society's reprints)....

For the Watchtower this Faithful and Wise Servant is very important, and there are a few things we should all understand from their point of view: this servant had come already- it was their founder Charles Russell. At least that was their position in the beginning.

The founder of the Watchtower Society was Charles Taze Russell. Years ago, many believed that he alone was the Faithful and Wise Servant. Today, the Watchtower teaches that Russell never claimed to be the Faithful and Wise Servant himself, but this Servant was a “class of people. When we check the Writings of Russell we find that although originally he taught that the Faithful and Wise Servant was a class, he changed his mind. He came to believe and teach that he alone was the Faithful and Wise Servant. One of many examples is found in the Watchtower, where Russell said: The Lord at the time indicated would especially use one member of his church as the channel or instrument through which he would send the appropriate messages.” (Watchtower, April 15. 1904, p. 125.)

“A person would go into darkness after two years of reading the Bible alone; would be in the light reading the Studies in the Scriptures alone” (The Watchtower 9/1 5/1910, p. 4685)

“There has been no clear understanding of the Bible for centuries’ (The Watchtower 9/15/1911, p. 4885) this is why God appointed the faithful servant to them, to lead them into the truth that no one else had.

“That it [The Finished Mystery] contains some mistakes is freely admitted. Even the Bible contains some. (4/1/1920, p. 103)

“If the six volumes of SCRIPTURE STUDIES are practically the Bible topically arranged, with Bible proof-texts given, we might not improperly name the volumes-the Bible in an arranged form. That is to say, they are not merely comments on the Bible, but they are practically the Bible itself” (The Watchtower 9/15/1910, p. 4685)

“The faithful and wise steward” would not be a company of individuals”(Watchtower,. 4/15 1903 p.3306) They state of themselves “The Lord indicated he would use one member of his Church as the channel. . . ( Watchtower 3/11/1923, p. 68)

“The lord foretold an office that would be filled by man. The man the Lord chose to fill that office was his modest, humble, and faithful servant ,brother Russell” (Watchtower. 5/1/1922 p.74).

“The Lord at the time indicated would especially use one member of his church as the channel or instrument through which he would send the appropriate messages.” (Watchtower, April 15. 1904, p. 125.)

“The Society by overwhelming majority vote expressed its will in substance thus: Brother Russell filled the office of 'that Servant.” (Watchtower 4/1/1920, p.101)

“Fulfilled prophecy-or physical facts-and the circumstantial evidence are conclusive proof that Russell filled the office of that faithful and wise servant” (Watchtower 3/1/1922, p. 74)

“the Watch Tower unhesitatingly proclaims brother Russell as the faithful and wise servant.” (Watchtower 3/1/1917 p.6049)

When Russell died, the Watchtower claimed: “Thousands of the readers of Pastor Russell's writings believe that he filled the office of that faithful and wise servant, . . . His modesty and humility precluded him from openly claiming this title, but he admitted as much in private conversation.” (Watchtower, December 1, 1916, p. 357.)

It was later in Rutherford’s presidency the idea of the faithful slave changed because they were becoming understood as Russelites… so the application was changed.

“That faithful and wise servant” does not apply to one individual and not to brother Russell. Russell never made that himself.” (Watchtower 2/15/1927 p.56)

Russell may have never actually claimed to the “faithful and wise servant,” but he never really corrected those who spoke this. These were published this in his own Watchtower, so what does this mean? He may have spoken out on creature worship (they were being called Russellites) but it is not the same as him denying he was the servant of Mt.24.

The WATCHTOWER wrote: “Thousands of the readers of Pastor Russell's writings believe that he filled the office of that faithful and wise servant, . . . His modesty and humility precluded him from openly claiming this title, but he admitted as much in private conversation.” (Watchtower, December 1, 1916, p. 357.)

What developed was the Organization became the faithful slave to keep this theme of exclusive truth going: “his sole visible channel, through whom alone spiritual instruction was to come. . . . recognize and accept this appointment of the 'faithful and discreet slave' and be submissive to it.” (Watchtower 10/1/1967, p. 590)

The Watchtower teaches today that Russell, nor the organization ever claimed to be the Faithful and Wise Servant, erasing any embarrassment by re-visioning their own history. The Watchtower society are engineers at revisionism, where many quotes that appeared The original documents are not often found in the reprints. So, when a witness goes to his own library at the Kingdom hall to check up on something you point out he may or may not find these quotes that were once there.

Rutherford wrote after Russell’s death “The insistence that Russell had been 'that servant' led many to regard Russell in what actually amounted to creature worship.” (Jehovah’s Witnesses in the Divine Purpose 1959,p. 69.)

“This erroneous thought that Russell himself was the `faithful and wise servant' was cleared up.”  “this Servant is not one Person, but a group or “class” of individuals. (1975 YEARBOOK of Jehovah’s Witnesses p. 88 )

The 1975 YEARBOOK adds “the idea adopted by many was that C. T. Russell himself was the 'faithful and wise servant.' This led some into the snare of creature worship. (p. 88).

Who led them into creature worship? The Organization, but they could not have that known, because the organization is the faithful and wise servant TODAY. This creature worship is repugnant to a Jehovah Witness because they view it like Christianity where they worship Jesus Christ (and rightly worship Him as the Bible depicts.)

However, their own founder wrote “Yes. We believe our Lord Jesus while on earth was really worshipped, and properly so. While he was not the God, Jehovah, he was a god.”( Watchtower 7/1/1898 p.2332) so Russell led them to worship a CREATURE! A god that is not the one God Jehovah but another god, that is at least two isn’t it.

Their own founder would be considered an apostate Jehovah’s Witness today.

Yet nearly 100 years later they write “Those who don't worship like JW's are honoring Satan (Reasoning from the Scriptures 1989 p. 49-53)

“Every indication of the Lord's providence has shown that God gave Brother Russell to the church to be as a mouthpiece for him; and those who claim to have learned the truth apart from Brother Russell and his writings have been manifested by the Lord as deceivers, ready to lead the flock of God in their way. Satan has attempted by many attacks upon this fact to break it down; to cause the Lord's people to believe: that Brother Russell was not the only channel by which the Lord would lead his people” (Watchtower, Sept. 15, 1922, p. 279). (see 1910 and 1951)

Who was responsible for the teaching that Russell, was this special Servant? The society! Nearly the whole time Russell their founder was leading, the whole organization he was the Servant of. By their own words they are condemned, as they taught the organization believed it was Russell was right, and those who did not were deceived. The witness has to make up his mind whether he is deceived today, or, believe as the Watchtower now teaches, thus, Russell and the society were deceived from its beginning.

A modern Watchtower book gives us an answer to this dilemma:

“This view was prominently featured in the book published in July of 1917 by People's Pulpit Association . . . this book was called THE FINISHED MYSTERY' . . . such a book and religious attitude tended to establish a religious sect centered around a man.”

(GOD'S KINGDOM OF”A -THOUSAND YEARS HAS APPROACHED, 5 1973, p. 347.

Who was responsible for establishing a religious sect around a man - Russell? The Watchtower puts the blame squarely on the People's Pulpit Association. Who were they?

'Such a corporation came into legal existence February 23 1909 and was named People's Pulpit Association. Thirty years later, in 1939, the name was changed to its present one Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, Inc.” (Qualified to be Ministers 1955 edition, p. 309.)

The People's Pulpit Association is the Society! The Watchtower itself allowed and promoted the idolatrous worship of Pastor Russell for many years. Now they try to hide the fact. Can an organization' that actually worshipped the man who was the head of the organization be God's representative on earth? Given that their view of worshipping Jesus, (whom the apostles and others did in the Bible) is idolatry; what of themselves? Are they not guilty of Romans 1:25: “For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served the creature rather than the creator,” whom they claim is Jesus.

Some may say that was then, not now. Okay, doesn’t this affect the choosing of the 144,000? Not to mention all those who were taught this will not be resurrected (according to their own doctrine).

Even after Russell’s death, the new president Rutherford proclaimed him as THE faithful and wise servant.

“…the earthly creature made prominent therein above all others is the messenger of the Laodicean Church - 'that wise and faithful servant of the Lord' - CHARLES TAZE RUSSELL…” (The Finished Mystery, 1917, p. 5.)

Wouldn’t this mean that the Jehovah’s Witnesses are Laodicea.

The Watchtower leaders have a 90 year cover up on their founder Russell, who claimed to be the Faithful and Wise Servant. The Jehovah's Witnesses is reading revisionist history not knowing the truth of what really happened.

So they continue as if none of this ever happened: “Even in our time The Watchtower teaches that Jesus Christ prophesied that a special servant of God would come in these last days to be God's “channel of communications.” (Watchtower, January 15. 1969, P. 51.)

The years have gone by and this position and title was transferred to the Organization.

“Those who recognize Jehovah's visible theocratic organization, therefore, must recognize and accept this appointment of the “faithful and discreet slave” and be submissive to it” (The Watchtower, Oct. 1, 1967 p. 590)

“fact is, many things are needed to be a real Christian....a Christian has to recognize the AUTHORITY of the “faithful and discreet slave.” (The Watchtower, October 1, 1991, p. 20). 

The AWAKE Magazine says:  “Thus, we are enlightened by God's answers to present-day problems, answers that reveal where we are in the stream of time and how we can successfully plan for the future.  Those answers come to us through the channel of “the faithful and discreet anointed slave” class, WHICH USES THE WATCHTOWER SOCIETY AS ITS PUBLISHING AGENCY”  (Awake, October 8, 1991, p. 13),

“As Jehovah revealed his truths by means of the first-century Christian congregation so he does today by means of the present-day Christian congregation. Through this agency he is having carried out prophesying on an intensified and unparalleled scale. All this activity is not an accident. Jehovah is the one behind all of it. The abundance of spiritual food and the amazing details of Jehovah's purposes that have been revealed to Jehovah's anointed witnesses are clear evidence that they are the ones mentioned by Jesus when he foretold a “faithful and discreet slave” class that would be used to dispense God's progressive revelations in these last days.” (Watchtower, June 15, 1964, p. 365)

“Since the Master Jesus Christ had appointed this “slave” class to be “over his domestics, to give them their food at the proper time,” the famine-relief spiritual food could come only though this one “channel,” this appointed “slave” class, the Elijah class” (Let Your Name Be Sanctified; 1961; p. 302)

This false prophet movement that taught people Jesus returned, started by Charles Russell has developed into an oppressive worldwide religion that denies nearly all of the basic tenets of Christianity found in the Bible. How can people involved, sometimes for great lengths of time, realize the Watchtower is not whom they claim they are and break free?

At this time (1919), believed that the “faithful and wise servant” was not a class but an individual, namely, Charles T. Russell.  The Watchtower taught that Russell himself was the “slave” until 1927.

This developed into absolute authority, even over the Bible, God’s eternal word.

“We all need help to understand the Bible, and we cannot find the Scriptural guidance we need outside the faithful and discreet slave' organization.” (Watchtower 2/15/1981, p. 19)

As we have seen from their own history they wobble as they spin. They depend on peoples bad memories to survive these changes and so far its worked.

  “It is unlikely that someone who simply reads the Bible WITHOUT TAKING ADVANTAGE OF DIVINELY PROVIDED AIDS could discern the light.  That is why Jehovah God has provided “the faithful and discreet slave”, foretold at Matthew 24:45-47.  Today, that “slave” is represented by the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses.”  (The Watchtower, May 1, 1992, pg. 31). 

By 1975 they changed the servant “this Servant was to come in these. The last days. … is not one Person, but a group or “class” of individuals (1975 YEARBOOK of Jehovah’s Witnesses ' p. 880) Then it should say servants – plural, not singular. But that is just one of those points from the Bible, no need to be concerned about it, right.

Then they also say “--this Servant is to be God's spokesman, who alone can understand the Bible and teach Jehovah's Witnesses. (The Watchtower February 15, 1981 p. 19.)

“Be as Men Who Are Facing Har-Magedon Unafraid .. In behalf of such right-hearted individuals Jehovah has considerately raised up his 'prophet to the nations.' .. In behalf of such individuals who at heart seek God's rule instead of man's rule, the 'prophet' whom Jehovah has raised up has been, not an individual man as in the case of Jeremiah, but a class. The members of this class are, like the prophet-priest Jeremiah, wholly dedicated to Jehovah God through Christ and, by the begettal of Jehovah's holy spirit, they have been made part of 'a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for special possession' .. At this late date, there is a mere remnant of this 'prophet' class yet on earth.” (Jehovah’s Witnesses Oct. 1 1982 26-7)

“Today, a remnant of this 'faithful slave' is still alive on earth. They occupy a position similar to that of Paul .. when that apostle said of the wonderful truths .. 'It is to us God has revealed them through his spirit.' .. How vital it is for everyone in God's family to submit loyally to the teachings and arrangements of the Great Theocrat, Jehovah, and his King-Son, Christ Jesus, as transmitted through the 'faithful slave' on earth.” (Jehovah’s Witnesses June 1 1982 p.17)

Today, this Servant is the source for the Watchtower's authority over the lives of Jehovah's Witnesses. (INFORMANT, November 1943, p.1)

In other words, this Servant 'class' is absolutely essential to Jehovah's Witnesses, just as Russell was in the beginning.

They tell them to Join their church for salvation just like the Catholic church.

Paradise lost to Paradise Regained p.193 identified 'The faithful and discreet slave' as the 'Remnant of Spiritual Israelites' (i.e. the anointed remnant on earth of the 144,000 'heavenly class'

The “Governing Body” is now the “faithful and discreet slave of at Mathew 24:45. This group consists of 10 to 15 men that have direct guidance from Jehovah.

It is extremely difficult because of their long history of control over the members corporately and individually.

“We all need help to understand the Bible, and we cannot find the scriptural guidance we need outside the 'faithful and discreet slave' organization.'“ (Watchtower, February 15, 1981, p.19)

All who want to understand the Bible should appreciate that the “greatly diversified wisdom of God” can become known only through Jehovah's channel of communication, the faithful and discreet slave. (Watchtower Oct. 1, 1994; p. 8)

“The Bible should be our primary textbook for study. Watchtower 4/15/1971, p. 230) However there is a qualification…

“He wants his earthly servants united, and so he has made understanding the Bible today dependent upon associating with his organization.” (Watchtower 11/1/1961, p. 668)

“Why have Jehovah's Witnesses disfellowshiped for apostasy some who still profess belief in God, the Bible and Jesus Christ? Approved association with Jehovah's Witnesses requires accepting the entire range of the true teachings of the Bible, including those Scriptural beliefs that are unique to Jehovah's Witnesses. What do such beliefs include? .. The Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses are the sole interpreters of the Bible.. That 1914 marked the end of the Gentile Times and the establishment of the Kingdom of God in the heavens, as well as the time for Christ's foretold presence.. Only 144,000 will go to heaven.. Armageddon is near, followed by the Paradise earth, where the rest of the Witnesses will live” (Watchtower Apr. 1 1986 30-1).

They may not like it but there are many similarities of the Jehovah Witnesses and the Catholic Church. They tell their people not to read their bible alone just like the Catholic church

“Heavy research is not necessary. The WatchTower has done it for you. The most beneficial study you can do is to read The Watchtower or Awake! or a new book by the organization. (Watchtower, 6/1/1967, p. 338)

Regarding the Roman Catholic Church: Any organization that claims to be the way of salvation should be willing to submit to scrutiny and criticism” (Awake 8/22/1984, p. 28)

I agree, so why do they not allow one to scrutinize any of their teaching?

they have said “The Vatican belittles Bible study by claiming organization authorized and qualified to interpret the Bible. (Watchtower 7/1/1943, p. 201). Isn’t that just like their organization?

The Catholic Church has traditions -- So does the Watchtower. I fail to see the difference between a Pope and a man who claimed to be the teacher of the organization by applying a scripture to himself.

The more things change the more they stay the same.

“Any class leader who would make objection to a reference being made to The Watch Tower or to Studies in the Scriptures in connection with the discussion of any topic should properly be viewed with suspicion as a teacher.” (Watchtower 9/15/1911, p. 4885)

So how does one understand the truth? “The Bible is organization-minded and it cannot be fully understood without our having the theocratic organization in mind.” (Watchtower 9/1 /1954, p. 529)

But they have also said contracting themselves: “A truth presented by Satan himself is just as true as a truth stated by God.... Accept truth wherever you find it, no matter what it Contradicts.” (Watchtower 7 /1879, pp. 8-9)

Can Satan present any truth when Jesus said there is no truth in him? That he was a liar from the beginning. I think not, and the Watchtowers own words show how little they understands truth.

…Is not the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society the one and only channel which the Lord has used in dispensing his truth continually since the beginning of the harvest period? (Watchtower 1919 April 1 p.6414)

“Those who claim to have learned the truth apart from CT Russell are deceivers. Satan will cause people to think Russell was not the channel. (Watchtower 1922 Sept. 15 p.279.

Jesus asked can a bad tree bear good fruit, you must answer this for yourself.