The Watchtower claims there has been a "faithful slave" since Jesus time till now so.....why did Russell go independent and start his own group of bible students? Why did he claim the title for himself alone?
Faithful slave has been around since the 1st Century?? So why DIDN'T Charles Russell join them?
by Witness 007 42 Replies latest watchtower bible
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ClassickConcept
Ha! Wow!!! Good question. Imma see if i can stump my moms wiht that one.
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blondie
My question is who were the "faithful slave" or anointed or the "wheat" between 100 and 1879 AD? Especially just before Russell appeared. Was it the Second Day Adventists who "helped" him?
Watch how the WTS dances around this question.
*** (Proclaimers) jv chap. 5 p. 44 Proclaiming the Lord’s Return (1870-1914) ***But what about “the wheat”? Who were among “the sons of the kingdom” during the centuries-long apostasy? We cannot say for a certainty. The literal weeds of Jesus’ illustration are generally considered to be bearded darnel, which very much resembles wheat until maturity, when it can readily be distinguished from wheat by its smaller black seeds. Similarly, only at “the harvest” would a clear distinction be made between imitation Christians and the true “sons of the kingdom.” Nevertheless, Jesus said: “Let both grow together until the harvest.” True Christianity, then, was never completely stamped out.
Throughout the centuries there have always been truth lovers. To mention just a few: John Wycliffe (c. 1330-1384) and William Tyndale (c. 1494-1536) furthered the work of Bible translation even at the risk of their life or freedom. Wolfgang Fabricius Capito (1478-1541), Martin Cellarius (1499-1564), Johannes Campanus (c. 1500-1575), and Thomas Emlyn (1663-c. 1741) accepted the Bible as God’s Word and rejected the Trinity. Henry Grew (1781-1862) and George Storrs (1796-1879) not only accepted the Bible and rejected the Trinity but also expressed appreciation for the ransom sacrifice of Christ.
Although we cannot positively identify any of such persons as “the wheat” of Jesus’ illustration, certainly “Jehovah knows those who belong to him.” —2 Tim. 2:19.
*** re chap. 6 p. 31 par. 17 Unlocking a Sacred Secret ***Nevertheless, through all the centuries of apostasy, there would exist individual wheatlike Christians, genuine anointed ones.
------------so if these are only a FEW INDIVIDUALS where is the organization or governing body? or a slave class? or a slavelike congregation?
*** re chap. 11 p. 57 par. 11 Is Your Name in the Book of Life? ***Likewise, when professed Christians were absorbed into Babylon the Great, the world empire of false religion, during the long centuries of the great apostasy, there must always have been a few individuals who tried, against great odds, to do Jehovah’s will.
*** w00 10/15 p. 30 Working in the “Field”—Before the Harvest ***The “field” that Jesus described in the parable of the wheat and the weeds was not quite ready to be harvested. (Matthew 13:38) Grew, Storrs, and others were working in the “field” in preparation for the harvest.
*** w75 1/15 p. 46 How Are Christians Spiritually Fed? ***Jesus Christ is the Head of the congregation, his slave, and his words show that he would strengthen them to feed his “domestics” right down through the centuries. Apparently one generation of the “slave” class fed the succeeding generation thereof, as well as continuing to feed themselves.
*** w81 3/1 p. 24 Do You Appreciate the “Faithful and Discreet Slave”? ***Beginning with Pentecost, 33 C.E., and continuing through the 19 centuries since then, this slavelike congregation has been feeding its members spiritually, doing so faithfully and discreetly.
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thetrueone
Why did he claim the title for himself alone?
A devised self promoting marketing scheme with the intension to attract more attention to his publishings and himself.
Religion as it is in the United States and elsewhere is a open free market place, where venturous people can literally start their own religions without
guidelines and impunity from outside governmental sources.
C T Russell and the people that followed him had the liberty to do so......and a publishing kingdom was built.
Using tactics of coercion and exploitation of the already established belief in the bible to further push the circulation of
his publishings was his own directive, he wanted to seen as a great spiritualistic prophet of noteworthiness.
He somewhat accomplished this feat, although historically he is just seen as a turn of the century religious charlatan .
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freydo
Can those who claim Br Russell made such a claim provide a link to where that claim may be corroborated?
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freydo
Still waiting.
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Olin Moyles Ghost
Regarding Russell's claim to be the faithful slave, see this quote from the 12/1/1916 WT, p. 356:
- "Thousands of the readers of Pastor Russell's writings believe that he filled the office of "that faithful and wise servant," and that his great work was giving to the Household of Faith meat in due season. His modesty and humility precluded him from openly claiming this title, but he admitted as much in private conversation."
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freydo
Granted, many people make many claims, but Br Russell wasn't one of them.
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Mad Sweeney
"Thousands of the readers of Pastor Russell's writings believe that he filled the office of "that faithful and wise servant," and that his great work was giving to the Household of Faith meat in due season. His modesty and humility precluded him from openly claiming this title, but he admitted as much in private conversation," (Watchtower, Dec. 1, 1919, p. 357).
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sd-7
Pastor Russell was a man of unusual modesty. Great
men usually are modest. The examination of the
contents of this book will disclose the fact that it
deals with Revelation and Ezekiel; that the Lord long
ago caused to be recorded therein, in symbolic
language, a history of the Church, particularly the
closing earthly experiences thereof; and therein set
forth that He would uncover the many frauds,
deceptions and blasphemous teachings and practices
of the church nominal— both Catholic and
Protestant; that in the last days He would then make
bare the unholy alliance between the unrighteous
ecclesiastical systems and the corrupt political
elements of the earth, which religious systems have
prospered and grown fat in the name of Christ; that
the Lord pronounces His indignation and wrath
against all such Babylonish systems and marks their
utter destruction in a Time of Trouble such as the
world has never known and will never again know;
and that the earthly creature made prominent therein
above all others is the messenger of the Laodicean
Church— "that wise and faithful servant of the
Lord"— CHARLES TAZE RUSSELL.
--The Finished Mystery, Preface, 1917.