Millions Now Living Will Never Die!

by J.F. Rutherford

A public talk titled "The World Has Ended; Millions Now Living May Never Die" was first delivered on February 24, 1918 in Los Angeles, California. Five weeks later, on March 31, 1918 the title was changed to indicate absolute certainty: "The World Has Ended; Millions Now Living Will Never Die." The public talk continued to be delivered under that same title until 1925. The material was published as this book in 1920. This book may be of interest to students of human psychology and students of religious movements, particularly millennialist apocalyptic, "prophetic" religious movements. It is now republished in a larger, easy-to-read format for purposes of research, scholarship, teaching, news reporting, commentary or criticism. With the exception of the rear cover, every page is a photographically enlarged duplicate of the original publication. Once hard to find, this reprinting makes this historic book available at a reasonable price.

132 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1920

About the author

Joseph 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."

Reviews

[David Reed · Rating 1 out of 5]

Predicts the resurrection of ancient patriarchs would occur in 1925 -- a false prophecy.

[Dan White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well....I think every JW should read this book and soak it all in.

[Lance · Rating 1 out of 5]

While an intriguing thought, the logic behind the book was poor at best and one had to twist their intellect to get to the place the author was trying to say was plain as day. So many passages were taken out of context from the Bible that any modern day scholar would be embarrassed to have their name associated with this book.