More than an account of how a cult enslaved a man, Schnell's story illustrates how false teachers "crept in unawares" (Jude 4). The decade following World War I was a time of upheaval, destruction of institutions, and unbridled license. The Watchtower Society masterfully promoted a message that seemed to promise hope in the midst of chaos. Many invested their lives in the Brooklyn-based society, accepting and promoting a message that most would never see heaven. The Watchtower appeals to those searching for certainty and a place to belong. Schnell joined the Watchtower Society in the 1920s, but the societal issues of that time grimly parallel those of today. It would be wise to heed the warning of the author: "Let my life of slavery be your warning! It took me thirty years to get free!"
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