Since 1876; Jehovah’s Witnesses have believed that they are living in the last days of the present world. Charles T. Russell; their founder; advised his followers that members of Christ’s church would be raptured in 1878; and by 1914 Christ would destroy the nations and establish his kingdom on earth. The first prophecy was not fulfilled; but the outbreak of the First World War lent some credibility to the second. Ever since that time; Jehovah’s Witnesses have been predicting that the world would end “shortly.†Their numbers have grown to many millions in over two hundred countries. They distribute a billion pieces of literature annually; and continue to anticipate the end of the world.For almost thirty years; M. James Penton’s Apocalypse Delayed has been the definitive scholarly study of this religious movement. As a former member of the sect; Penton offers a comprehensive overview of the Jehovah's Witnesses. His book is divided into three parts; each presenting the Witnesses’ story in a different context: historical; doctrinal; and sociological. Some of the issues he discusses are known to the general public; such as the sect’s opposition to military service and blood transfusions. Others involve internal controversies; including political control of the organization and the handling of dissent within the ranks.Thoroughly revised; the third edition of Penton’s classic text includes substantial new information on the sources of Russell’s theology and on the church’s early leaders; as well as coverage of important developments within the sect since the second edition was published fifteen years ago.
#1767447 in Books 2015-02-26Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.24 x 1.08 x 6.43l; .0 #File Name: 1442239832310 pages
Review
5 of 7 people found the following review helpful. His kingdom for an editor; Please!By Eve HillWhere is an editor when one is needed? While there is some history in here and the author has apparently done research; as witness the footnotes and appendices; it is terribly; awfully; horribly repetitive and full of instances using words such as "septum" when he means "sputum" ( pg. 193) . On page 70 in the space of three sentences the author describes Martha Jefferson's eyes as "The richest shade of hazel;"quoting another source and two sentences later declares "Her eyes were pale blue starred with bristly black lashes." He repeats the quote about hazel eyes and her auburn hair color ad nauseam throughout the book. The editor could easily have taken about a hundred pages out of this and not missed a thing.The manuscript jumps back and forth in time; which would not be a problem if there were some cohesiveness without repeating almost exactly the same quotes from sources and other authors so often and usually within the space of a few pages.This book was one that I had hoped to use for a book group discussion by a national women's history organization which has many Jefferson descendants among the members. (No; it is not the D.A. R.) Sadly; it is just unsuited to the purpose.0 of 2 people found the following review helpful. He lost me when he said that George Mason wrote ...By Miss AllergyHe lost me when he said that George Mason wrote the Bill of Rights; but I did leaf through the rest and saw repetitions; discrepancies; and speculation.5 of 11 people found the following review helpful. Martha Jefferson was the most important person in Thomas Jefferson’s ...By W. HylandMartha Jefferson was the most important person in Thomas Jefferson’s life. William Hyland’s insightful portrait tells us how this little understood fact acquired a tragic dimension.— Thomas Fleming; author of The Intimate Lives of the Founding Fathers
