by stevieb1 12 Replies latest jw friends
Rex,
By jove, you've got it, Seeker.
Bully for you.
Thanks. As I said, I really did move beyond WTS teachings about Christianity, as you can see. So the next time we disagree, I hope you will appreciate it is just that: a disagreement, not a lack of understanding of your point-of-view.
Regarding the letters to the seven congregations in Revelations, the letters are to the ANGELS of the seven congregations. If you notice, God is telling the ANGELS about the good AND the bad that can be found in the PEOPLE that make up the 'congregations'. Another thing that I think is worth noting, some of the PEOPLE in the 'congregations' seem to hold teachings that aren't scriptural in any way. I think that the 'congregations' themselves represent ALL of mankind. Even Antipas (Pilate) is refered to as being "my witness, the faithful one, who was killed by your side", which is previously revealed as being "where the throne of Satan is". I don't think that these letters in any way indicate that there is one "specific" Christian organization that the messages are meant for.
MacHislopp said:
**The WTBS stated that the FDS was a class " 1900 years old.." yet C.T. Russell did not contact such class... but he started on his own.
I and the Society would have to disagree slightly with that point. According to the publication The Revelation of Jesus Christ printed in 1918 by the WTBTS, I quote from the top of page 62 as saying:
3:14. And by the angel: Charles T. Russell. He took the place of Mr. Barbour, who became unfaithful and upon whom were fulfilled the prophecies of Matt. 24:48-51 and Zech. 11:15-17. He was ordained by the only divine ordination and orthodox by the test of the infallible Word, as presented in 1 Cor. 3:16, 17; Eph. 2:20; Gen. 28:14; ...etc etc.
This quote is taken from the Commentary portion of the book. The "3:14" and "And by the angel" are refering to Rev. 3:14 with the commentary immediately following. If Russell was to have started on his own, then Mr. Barbour would not have been mentioned as passing on the torch, so to speak, to Russell. But as stated by the Society, Russell indeed did take over after Barbour became unfaithful. It is Barbour's spiritual heritage line that we are unsure of.
Just a side note for those of the Hurling Class --- on the same page as above it says of verse 14 regarding the word "write":
Write: Pastor Russell was the most prolific writer of Biblical truth that ever lived.
Excuse me now, the pea soup I had for lunch is coming back up.
