Beth Sarim and Joseph Rutherford
Beth Sarim - Home of the Prophets?
In anticipation of the soon to be resurrected biblical prophets and patriarchs, Joseph Rutherford, president of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society commissioned the construction of a house in San Diego, California. This house was to become home for Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, David, Samuel and all the rest mentioned in Hebrews chapter 11. However, when the biblical party failed to appear, the embarrassing Beth-Sarim incident had to be repressed.
Beth-Sarim today:
Photo: Diane Raines
Beginning in 1920, Rutherford declared, "As we have heretofore stated, the great jubilee cycle is due to begin in 1925. At that time
the earthly phase of the kingdom shall be recognized." How would it be recognized? What event would trigger the ushering in of the
kingdom?
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).
This was an exciting prophecy. Jehovah's Witnesses around the world anticipated their
cause being justified by the physical manifestation of these biblical patriarchs. When 1925 did come, but Abraham and the rest did
not, some of Rutherford's followers left the fold. Others still believed that though they were late in their anticipated time of arrival,
the Hebrews 11 crew would be back shortly. Even though it had not occurred by 1929, it was still a topic of much excited anticipation.
For this reason, Rutherford, realizing that when Abraham and company did finally show-up they were going to need a home, he gave instructions
to build them a house. In his book, Salvation, Rutherford mentions this house and its purpose for being built.
"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
might be some tangible proof that there are those on earth today who fully believe 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" (p. 311).
With the house now built, there was nothing to do but wait. And wait they did, until 1942.
As Rutherford wrote
the last book of his life, he again mentioned Beth-Sarim and Abraham, et.al. He wrote, "hence those faithful men of old may be expected
back from the dead any day now. The Scriptures give good reason to believe that it shall be shortly before Armageddon breaks.
"In
this expectation the house at San Diego, California, which house has been much publicized with malicious intent by the religious enemy,
was built, in 1930, and named 'Beth-Sarim,' meaning 'House of the Princes.' It is now held in trust for the occupancy of those princes
on their return" (The New World, p. 104).
Notice that Rutherford said it was "held in trust." Actually, the deed has several very
interesting points. It explains, "that (the) kingdom of God will have visible representatives on the earth who will have charge of
the affairs of the nations under the supervision of the invisible ruler Christ; that among those who will thus be the faithful representatives
and visible governors of the world will be David, Israel; and Gideon, and Barak, and Samson, and Jepthae, and Joseph, formerly the
ruler of Egypt, and Samuel the prophet and other faithful men who were named with approval in the Bible at Hebrews the eleventh chapter.
"The condition herein is that the said Watchtower Bible and Tract Society shall hold said title perpetually in trust for the use of
any or all of the men above named as representatives of God's kingdom on earth and that such men shall have possession and use of
said property hereinabove described as they may deem for the best interest for the work in which they are engaged."
However, there
was a conditional clause placed in the deed. Until David, Abraham or someone else arrived, "the said Joseph F. Rutherford in such
lease or other paper writing shall have the right and privilege of residing on said premises until the same be taken possession of
by David or some of the other men herein named and this property and premises being dedicated to Jehovah and the use of his kingdom
it shall be used as such for ever" (deed dated 24 December 1929).
The deed, which was signed by Rutherford, has three noteworthy items
in it.
First, Beth-Sarim was built for the express purpose of housing the patriarchs.
Second, though Rutherford could live in the
house, he could only do so until someone from Hebrews 11 arrived.
Third, the Beth-Sarim house was to remain in Jehovah's kingdom use
perpetually. Thus, the Watchtower would certainly have this property forever.
Perhaps it is not necessary to explain, but no one from
Hebrews 11 ever arrived to take charge of the Beth-Sarim property. As a result, Rutherford spent the last years of his life in this
beautiful mansion while his followers suffered in poverty during the Great Depression of the 1930's.
Further, a few years after Rutherford's
death, the Beth-Sarim house was sold. In 1948 this house was disposed of and the teaching concerning the "return of the ancient worthies
was quietly dropped in 1950" (Millions Now Living Will Never Die: A Study of Jehovah's Witnesses, Alan Rogerson, p. 48). Thus, Beth-Sarim's
stint in kingdom service was a few years short of perpetual.
There is an epilogue to this story. In 1975 the Watchtower Society published
a book which mentioned Beth-Sarim. However, the information contained in its pages only serves to complicate the Jehovah's Witnesses
historical credibility. From its very inception, Beth-Sarim was said to have been built for Abraham and friends. This book seems to
tell a completely different story.
"In time, a direct contribution was made for the purpose of constructing a house in San Diego for
Brother Rutherford's use. It was not built at the expense of the Watchtower Society. Concerning this property, the 1939 book Salvation
stated: '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.'" (1975 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses, p. 194).
There are two problems with this Yearbook statement.
First,
the Watchtower said that it was built for Brother Rutherford's use when in fact, according to Rutherford himself, it was built for
the Hebrews 11 patriarchs!
Second, the writer of the Yearbook article stops short of the truth.
Though Rutherford claimed to have
prophetic wisdom, he made many false prophecies. One of these prophecies concerned his 1925 prediction concerning the return of Abraham
and other biblical patriarchs. To compound these problems in recent years the Watchtower Society has, in its attempts to cover-up
embarrassing events in their past, turned from false prophecies to outright lying. Perhaps worst of all, is the fact that in so doing,
they are now lying to their own followers.
Copyright 1995 Watchman Fellowship, Inc.
Beth-Sarim : Rutherford and one of his 2 Cadillacs :
"As we have heretofore stated, the great jubilee cycle is due to begin in 1925. At that time the earthly phase of the kingdom shall be recognized.... Therefore we may confidently expect that 1925 will mark the return of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the faithful prophets of old,... "
-J. F. Rutherford, Millions Now Living Will Never Die, 1920, pp. 89, 90.
"What a happy prospect! Though mistaken, they eagerly shared it with others."
-Jehovah's Witnesses--Proclaimers of God's Kingdom, 1993, p. 632.