Charles Taze Russell and the Forgotten Roots of Christian Zionism

I was raised a Jehovah’s Witness. At 15, I walked away and became a born-again, Spirit-filled Christian—lots of altar calls, lots of anointing oil. These days? I just follow Jesus. No more, no less. No titles. No door-to-door literature. No charts.

But recently, something stopped me mid-scroll. What if the founder of the Watchtower—yes, that Watchtower-had more to do with the modern state of Israel than most pastors ever mention?

I didn’t see that one coming. But the evidence? Let’s just say it’s enough to make even a Baptist double-check their Scofield notes.

A Civil Case for Forgotten History

We approached this investigation like a civil court case, using the standard of preponderance of evidence—weighing timelines, publications, public statements, and corroborating witnesses. The result is not speculation, but documented historical reconstruction.

Claim 1: Russell Preceded Herzl in Promoting Zionism

Charles Taze Russell began preaching the return of the Jews to Palestine in 1879, nearly two decades before Herzl’s Der Judenstaat (1896). His writings in Zion’s Watch Tower from the 1880s onward declared that the land of Canaan still belonged to the Jewish people by divine right.

Russell’s language was unmistakably prophetic and political. He consistently described the return to Zion as part of God's covenant plan—not merely a symbolic hope, but a literal restoration. His ideas circulated in Zion’s Watch Tower, which had tens of thousands of subscribers worldwide.

Claim 2: Christian Zionism Without Jesus?

Unlike most 19th-century Christians, Russell did not call for Jewish conversion. He told Jewish audiences across Europe and the Middle East that they were still God’s covenant people. He publicly rejected the idea that they needed to accept Jesus to fulfill biblical prophecy.

In a 1891 speech to Jewish leaders, Russell said, “I do not come to you as a Christian missionary, but as a friend of your race, believing in your destiny.” Jewish newspapers like The Jewish Criterion praised his tone and approach, even reprinting portions of his lectures.

This was radical. Christian Zionism today is often tied to evangelism, but Russell’s approach was restorationist, not proselytizing.

Claim 3: He Predicted the Jewish Exodus from Eastern Europe

In 1891, Russell publicly predicted a coming crisis in Russia and Eastern Europe that would force Jews to flee by the millions. This was before the major pogroms of the early 20th century.

Between 1881 and 1924, over 3 million Jews emigrated from Eastern Europe—especially Russia, Poland, and the Balkans. Russell connected this movement not only to political forces but to Old Testament prophecy.

His forecast wasn’t vague or spiritualized. It was specific, data-driven, and later proven accurate.

Claim 4: Recognized by Israeli and U.S. Leaders

Russell’s name may be obscure to Evangelicals, but it is not forgotten in Jewish memory. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly said that Russell’s role in early Zionism was “long overdue for recognition.” Former U.S. Ambassador Jeane Kirkpatrick also acknowledged his early support for the Jewish homeland.

These statements were echoed in retrospectives by Israeli news outlets such as Haaretz, as well as Jewish historical publications.

Claim 5: He Proposed a Jewish Homeland Plan Before Herzl

In August 1891, Russell wrote from Jerusalem to Jewish philanthropists Baron Edmond de Rothschild and Baron Maurice de Hirsch, proposing a detailed plan:

• Purchase large tracts of land in Ottoman-controlled Palestine

• Create an autonomous Jewish administration

• Form an international board of Jewish governors

• Align this with prophetic timelines from the Old Testament

His proposal was later printed in the December 1891 issue of Zion’s Watch Tower—five years before Herzl published his own plan. Russell’s proposal wasn’t fringe or theoretical—it was published, circulated, and historically documented.

So Why Has History Forgotten Him?

Because he wasn’t a mainstream theologian. Because he didn’t preach rapture charts. Because the group he founded—Jehovah’s Witnesses—would later be rejected by most Christians.

And because historians often overlook inconvenient origins when those origins don’t fit cleanly into theological or political boxes.

Final Thoughts for Evangelicals

Over 60% of American Evangelicals believe Israel's restoration is part of God's prophetic timeline. Most believe the movement began with Darby or Scofield—or with the miracle of 1948.

But what if the true seed was sown earlier… by a man Evangelicals would never quote?

This doesn’t discredit your faith. But for those of us who hold a preterist view—that many biblical prophecies were fulfilled in the first century—it complicates the narrative. And it reminds us that God’s providence often weaves through unlikely characters and unexpected channels.

The builder of modern Christian Zionism may not have stood in a pulpit—but at a printing press in Pennsylvania, writing to barons and addressing Jews as brothers.

Acknowledgment: This investigation was sparked by the YouTube video Charles T. Russell, Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Occult Origins of Christian Zionism by Anthony of Westgate. While we do not endorse every claim made in the video, it served as the catalyst for this deeper, evidence-based exploration.

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Endnotes

1. Zion’s Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence, October 1880; December 1891 editions. Available via: https://wol.jw.org

2. Charles Taze Russell, Thy Kingdom Come (Millennial Dawn Vol. III), 1891. See Chapter 7 on “Restoration of Israel.” Full text: https://archive.org/details/MThyKingdomCome

3. Russell, Charles T., “To the Jews” address, 1891. Quoted in Zion’s Watch Tower, December 1891; reprinted in The Jewish Criterion, 1892.

4. The Jewish Criterion (Pittsburgh, PA), multiple issues between 1891–1895. Known for coverage of Russell’s lectures.

5. The Jewish Exponent (Philadelphia), archival references to Zionist mass meetings led by Russell in the early 20th century.

6. Haaretz, Israeli daily newspaper. Retrospectives on early Christian Zionism include references to Charles Taze Russell. Access archive: https://www.haaretz.com/archive

7. Zydek, Fredrick. Charles Taze Russell: Herald of the Morning, Xulon Press, 2005.

8. Merkley, Paul C. Christian Attitudes Towards the State of Israel, McGill-Queen’s University Press, 2001. Chapter on Christian Zionist roots.

9. Vital, David. A People Apart: The Jews in Europe, 1789–1939, Oxford University Press, 1999. See migration statistics from Eastern Europe, 1881–1924.

10. The Pioneers of Zionism, Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Educational summaries referencing early support for Jewish national restoration.

11. Reported remarks by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Russell’s contributions to Zionism; as cited in Watchtower retrospectives and JW historical summaries.

12. Jeane Kirkpatrick, former U.S. Ambassador to the UN, cited Russell’s prescience in 20th-century Jewish homeland establishment. Appeared in retrospective commentary and Watchtower literature, late 1980s.

13. Charles T. Russell, Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Occult Origins of Christian Zionism – YouTube video by Anthony of Westgate. Link: https://youtu.be/imgF3CQMGJw