I would like to spend just some time today writing about the Christadelphians from the Watchtower point of view through its history.

The early days of the Watchtower as you will see saw some agreement. Additionally, in the following quote, if you substitute the term “Christadelphian” with “Jehovah’s Witness,” you will see a striking similarity when it comes to who doesn’t get destroyed.  Also, the first quote has the fledgling organization admitting overlap.  The one are where they differ greatly from the Society is the belief of Satan which they believe is an imaginary being. 

HERE and there are to be found people who hold what are known as Christadelphian views, which are in some respects much like the views advocated in ZION’S WATCH TOWER, and in other respects the very opposite. Their views, briefly stated, are (1) That the Church is chosen or elected (according to the foreknowledge of God) through the truth; and that in all it is a “little flock,” heirs of the Kingdom. (2) They hold, however, that the Kingdom will be a visible, earthly throne, on which Christ will sit with his apostles, and that somehow all Christadelphians will be “joint-heirs,” who will “sit every man under his own vine and fig tree,” plant, build, etc., and long enjoy the work of their hands. (3) As for the dead Christadelphians, they will be resurrected to share these blessings, but for all other dead people, good or bad, they see no hope, no resurrection. (4) A great catastrophy at the second coming of Christ will destroy nearly all of the living except the Christadelphians, and the few spared will merely be spared so as to be the everlasting servants of the Christadelphians–their hewers of wood and drawers of water,–their slaves.

Lest some generous soul should suppose that they use the term “Christadelphian” in a broad sense to mean all true Christians, we answer, No; the term Christadelphian is used in the narrowest sense, applicable only to those who have believed as foregoing, and who then have been immersed, and who do not change their faith afterward. Other portions of their creed, made very prominent, are, that our Lord Jesus never had an existence before he was born in Bethlehem, and that there is no devil. They also deny the ransom.

Zion’s Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence.  March 15, 1896.  Reprints page 1950

In 1902, the organization had purchased the printing rights of the Emphatic Diaglott.  This was the preferred interlinear for many years.  As a Wathtowerite, if you have the orgnanization’s official app on your device, you know it’s been replaced by the Kingdom Interlinear. 

The November 8, 1944 issue of the Consolation magazine reports that Benjamin Wilson was a Christaldelphian. 

More information is shed in reference to Benjamin Wilson with the release the organization’s first history book.

It seems that one of Barbour’s group had come into possession of Benjamin Wilson’s Diaglott translation of the “New Testament.”  He noticed, at Matthew 24:27, 37, 39, that the world rendered coming in the King James Version is translated presence in the Diaglott.  This was the clue that had led Barbour’s group to advocate, in addition to their time calculations, an invisible presence of Christ. 

Jehovah’s Witnesses in the Divine Purpose.  1959. p. 256

This had first been published by its author, Benjamin Wilson, a newspaper editor of Geneva, Illinois, in 1864, and who was never associated with the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society.

Jehovah’s Witnesses in the Divine Purpose.  1959. p. 256

One question at this point that is worth asking is simply this-since the organization regards itself as the channel of communication, why did it have to go outside to get this information? 

The tenor of the foregoing may cause some to conclude that Christadelphianism is indeed of God. However, as we examine it more closely we find that it contains such gross shortcomings and false doctrines that it simply could not be of God but must be of men.

The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom.  August 1, 1962 p. 474

In 1962, we have the organization fully not respecting the roots and connection of the influence Benjamin Wilson had.  The premier “doctrine of men” espoused by Benjamin Wilson is the use of the word “presence” and not “coming” in reference to Jesus.  Henceforth, one of the foundational doctrines of the organization is not in harmony with the Bible but a man made tradition.  If you are in this organization, take some time and look at the Bible and put down the publication’s material.