Russell quotes

by larc 21 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  larc

  My local library has the Studies in the Scriptures by Russell. Here are a few quotes for Vol. 2, 1906 edition.

  1872

  Six Thousand years from the creation of Adam were complete in A.D. 1872, and hence that since A.D. 1872, we chronologically entered upon the seventh thousand or the Millenium."
  p. 33

  1874

  Chapter seven is devoted to showing that 1874 began the 40 year great harvest (converting people).

  "A.D. 1874 when Christ the Brideroom and Reaper actually came." p. 240.

  1878

  The Kingdom of God is already begun, which is pointed out in prophecy as due to begin the exercise of power in A.D. 1878, and that the "battle of the great day of God Almighty" which will end in 1914 with the complete overthorw of the earth's present rulership, is already commenced. p. 101.

  1878 will be the end of the period of disfavor to fleshly Israel. p. 218.

  My comment,

  It was reading things like this, many years ago, that got me out. I had no internet or books by others to read. The WT's own writing did it for me.
• 

  refiners fire

  I fail to see that any true dub would accept information posted on the internet. For my own part, I was not satisfied until having read the full history, from original publications. Not Berean repros but originals.

  Heres Mr Russell from the WT of August 1889:
  ...."The foundation of the great apostacy was laid in the seperation of a class (called clergy)from the church of believers in general...
  this was not done in a day,but gradually.Those who had been chosen from their own number ,by the various congregations, to minister, or serve them in spiritual things,gradually came to consider themselves a superior class....Next they felt it beneath their dignity to be elected by the congregations they were to serve...Their councils ..came finally to decreeing what should be considered orthodox...this self exalted clergy, becoming more and more vain and boastfull,finally concluded that they alone constituted the Church ,and that the laity..were not to be classed as joint heirs..to the promises of coming glory and honor and association with Christ"...

  Two classes. One for heaven, one not.

  Burn Rutherford, Burn!
• 

  terafera

  So when he said: t the
  "battle of the great day of God Almighty" which will end in 1914 with the complete overthorw of the earth's present rulership, is already
  commenced. p. 101.

  WAS HE SAYING the end was coming then??!! Weird...
• 

  larc

  Refiner's fire,

  I agree. I just read these words today at the library, and to touch the pages and see the words on the brownish paper has much more impact than seeing them on a computer screen.

  Terafira,

  As I understand these words, Russell was saying that the battle had already begun in 1878, and 26 years later, in 1914 it would all come crashing down at Armageddon.
• 

  refiners fire

  russell believed Armaggedon commenced in 1874, and that it would escalate and build over a period of forty years, ending in 1914.
  This 40 year period, called "the harvest" coincided in "Parallel" with the years 30ce thru 70 ce.
  This explanation of mine is open to modifications, such as whether it started 29ce, or 30ce, but is basically correct.
  Russell expected many events to occur before 1914 arrived. Example, the return of the Jews to Jerusalem. When this hadnt happened, or didnt look like happening by 1910, 1912, Russell started to slip around and hedge his bets a bit.Thus WT quotes from 1912 with Russell saying ."WE have not predicted anything".
  The fact that the Jews reestablished in Israel in 1948 has been the wellspring of much current predictive date setting amongst current Christian revivalists .Some claim the "generation" will end in 2018.
• 

  larc

  Refiner's fire,

  If you go back and read the quotes you will see that Russell believed that the great harvest began in 1874 (the 40 year type and antitype (sp) that you refer to) and that the beginning of the end started four years later in 1878.
• 

  refiners fire

  Larc
  you could be right,I dont claim to be a repository of absoluteness.
  Thats the Orgs job.
• 

  refiners fire

  hmmmm.
  Im inclined to think 1874 to 1914 for Armaggedon brother.
  Checking now. If Im wrong I will grovel for forgiveness before your supremeness.

  After a quick look:
  I can see that Christ "returned" in 1874. He recieved his "Kingship" in 1878. And the "harvest' commenced in 1874.

  I give up.Your right.

  Page 635 of "The Battle of Armaggedon" says therell only be a three hour working day in the paradise. How about that one?
• 

  Scorpion

  This is one reason why I keep all of the WTs old publications. I have several hundred books and pamphlets including Watchtowers and AWAKEs that number in the thousands. When the questioning JW can see the actual qoutes from the WTs own books, it carries more weight than reading something on the net.

  To understand 1874 one must be spiritually minded, and the clergy is not. CREATION, PAGE 291

  A visible organization is out of harmony with God's divine plan. WT 12/1/1894

  Don't quibble about the date; join in with the world and celebrate Christmas. WT 12/15/1904

  The Studies in the Scriptures suggested as Christmas gifts WT 11/15/1907

  New light never contradicts old light, but adds to it. WT 2/1881,p.188

  White people living in China eventually produce Chinese offspring-without intermarrying-due to the influence of soil and climate. WT 7/15/1902, page 3043

  "A truth presented by Satan himself is just as true as a truth stated by God...Accept truth wherever you find it, no matter what it contradicts." WT 7/1878, pp.8-9
• 

  refiners fire

  "Battle of Armaggedon" on page 619 forward talks about the "Ancient worthies". After Russell and his mates are gone (apparently in the 1910 rapture), Armaggedon will follow (by 1914) then the world will be rebuilt under the Ancient worthies". These will be able to communicate DIRECTLY with the 144000 and act as conduits to Gods spirit. Thus (in my interpretation)the worthies will rule mankind as kings. Curious.So maybe there was going to be a paradise earth after all, just without the Dubs there.

  So thats where Rutherford got THAT idea from.

  page 33 of "The time is at hand" (volume 2 of Studies) states:

  ...."In this chapter we present the Bible evidence which indicates
  that 6000 years from the creation of Adam were completed with AD 1872, and hence that,since 1872AD, we are chronologically entered upon the 7th thousand or the Millenium"...

  So go figure. Its all a bit flexible isnt it.