C T Russell did not believe everyone dies at Armageddon!

yaddayadda

Found this interesting link, via a Christian Universalist site. http://www.geocities.com/kencallen/russell.html It's a link to a letter written by Charles Taze Russell to a Universalist magazine (and the editor's response), wherein Russell defends the idea that some will experience everlasting death, contrary to the Universalists believe that eventually ALL will be reconciled to God, no matter how evil. (I personally do not accept basic Universalism but I think it is a lot closer to the truth than what the JW's currently teach as mankind's destiny). But what is particularly interesting about this letter by Pastor Russell is that it offers clear proof that he believed mankind will be afforded an opportunity to come to a knowledge about God and Christ DURING the millennial reign (see the first paragraph of his letter), contrary to the Watchtower Society's hideous teaching that Jehovah is going to exterminate all non-JW's, like pests, BEFORE the millennial reign at Armageddon. How many JW's today know that this is what Russell taught, a view that is quite reasonable scripturally and far more compatible with the idea that God is love? I think this can be a very liberating realisation for JW's today, who are largely in mental bondage to Joseph Rutherfords nightmarish vision of the future for mankind that is still perpetuated by the Watchtower Society. http://www.geocities.com/kencallen/russell.html

lovelylil

Yes you are right. He believed in the ransom for all and that you did not have to belong to any certain religion to be saved. He laid out God's plan for all of mankind in his book "The divine plan of the ages". I read it and agree with most of it and it is supported by scripture. I think it was his best writing.

Unfortunately, Russell should have stopped after that book as the rest of them contained much speculation. Lilly

jwfacts

At first Rutherford did not believe all non JWs were going to die either. http://jwfacts.com/index_files/millions.htm Hence the phrase "millions now living will never die" This was being said by him just prior to the end in 1925 when there were less than 100,000 JWs.

It would appear Rutherford introduced the concept of mass slaughter as the most effective way to grow his publishing company.

fullofdoubtnow

Though I am not a believer these days, I do find the often vast differrences between what CT Russell started and what the wts eventually became somewhat interesting.

As for Rutherford's introduction of the "mass slaughter at armageddon" theory, which Russell never pronounced, it's easier to get people to listen to you, and start giving you their ~~money~~ time if you can convince them the [rice of not listening is death. It's just another example of wts blackmail.

proplog2

The only thing thrown into the lake of fire (2nd death) at armageddon is the Wild Beast and the False Prophet.

No one else goes into Gehenna until after the 1,000 year judgement.