July
2006
But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts,
always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to
give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness
and reverence - 1 Peter 3:15
More on Beth-Sarim
Despite a series of false prophecies about the
return of Christ, the Watch Tower Society insisted that faithful
men of old would be resurrected and help Jesus rule the world.
Rutherford explained, "Therefore we may
confidently expect that 1925 will mark the return of Abraham, Isaac,
Jacob and the faithful prophets of old, particularly those named
by the Apostle in Hebrews chapter eleven, to the condition of human
perfection" (Millions Now Living Will Never Die,
pp. 89-90).
Of course they would need a place to stay especially
prepared for them and San Diego, California was chosen.
Perhaps the clearest explanation for purchasing
the property and building a mansion is the Watch Tower Society's
version published in their publication, Salvation:
"At San Diego, California, there is a
small piece of land, on which, in the year 1929 there was built
a house, which is called and known as Beth Sarim. The Hebrew words
Beth Sarim mean 'House of the Princes'; and the purpose of acquiring
that property and building the house was that there are those on
earth today who fully believe in God and Christ Jesus and in His
Kingdom, and who believe that the faithful men of old will soon
be resurrected by the Lord, be back on earth, and take charge of
the visible affairs of earth. The title to Beth Sarim is vested
in the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society in trust, to be used
by the president of the Society and his assistants for the present,
and thereafter to be forever at the disposal of the aforementioned
princes on the earth ... It stands there as a testimony to Jehovah's
name; and when the princes do return, and some of them occupy the
property, such will be a confirmation of the faith and hope that
induced the building of Beth Sarim." - Salvation,
J.F. Rutherford, p. 311
It is truly amazing that the Watch Tower would
purchase property that would house none other than a resurrected
Abraham and other faithful men of old to help rule the New World
order. One wonders how would you possibly recognize them if they
"did" show up.
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Apparently, this wasn't a problem since Rutherford
gave interviews and answered questions to the press. One such interview
was published in the San Diego Sun, March 15, 1930
"But how will you identify King David or
any of the other representatives from God?' Rutherford was asked.
'I thought all that out before I wrote the deed,' the judge replied
with a twinkle in his gray eyes. 'I realized the possibility of
some old codger turning up bright and early some morning and declaring
he was David. The men whom I have designated to test the identity
of these men are officers of my societies and have consecrated themselves
to the Lord, they will be divinely authorized to know impostors
from the real princes.'"
Nearly a year later, The San Diego Sun of Jan
9 1931 wrote:
"A gaunt unshaven tramp has been the lone
claimant for the $75,000 Southern Californian mansion of David,
king of Israel, since it was deeded to the Biblical character a
year ago. This was revealed today by Judge James Rutherford, temporary
owner of the luxuriantly furnished Spanish type mansion at 4440
Braeburn Rd in the exclusive Kensington Heights district. In one
of the oddest deeds ever recorded, Rutherford, president of the
International Bible Students Association and the Watch Tower Bible
and Tract Society, has placed in trust the magnificent estate for
ancient kings and prophets of Israel. The slayer of Goliath and
his companions may occupy the 10 room modern home with it's landscaped
gardens and patio as soon as their credentials are approved by Rutherford
and officials of his societies, divinely authorized to recognize
them."
The deed to the house verifies the seriousness
that the Watch Tower took in purchasing the property. The contents
of the deed to the property were published in the Golden Age magazine
(a predecessor to the Awake! Magazine)
The deed reveals:
"Both the grantor and the grantee are
fully persuaded from the Bible testimony which is the word of Jehovah
God and from extraneous evidence that God's Kingdom is now in the
course of establishment and that it will result beneficially for
the peoples of earth; that the governing power and authority will
be invisible to men but that the kingdom of God will have visible
representatives on the earth who will have charge of the affairs
of the nations under supervision of the invisible ruler, Christ.
That among those who will be thus the faithful representatives and
visible governors of the world will be David, who was once King
over Israel; and Gideon, and Barak, and Samson, and Jepthai, and
Joseph, formerly ruler of Egypt, and Samuel the prophet and other
faithful men named with approval in the Bible at Hebrews 11th. chapter."
The Golden Age, March 19, 1930
Beth-Sarim, July 2006
Joseph Rutherford inside Beth-Sarim
Not surprisingly, not only did Abraham, David
and the faithful not show up, but Joseph Rutherford lived in the
mansion until his death in 1942. Shortly afterwards the Watch Tower
quietly sold the property which closed another embarrassing chapter
on the organization.
Most witnesses are unaware that the organization
has made such incredible blunders concerning Beth-Sarim. Claiming
divine and Biblical guidance positively proves that the Watch Tower
should not be trusted for one's eternal destiny.
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