This is an interesting topic, Phizzy. I've been reading through "The Time Is At Hand", written by CT Russell in 1889. The concepts of Zionism run strongly throughout and establish that what Russell expected to occur in 1914 was far different from what actually happened, and any claims WT makes saying 1914 fulfilled everything that Russell and IBSA said are categorically false and an overt misrepresentation of the facts:
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"The Time Is At Hand"
As shown in the accompanying diagram, the period of their favor, from the commencement of their national existence at the death of Jacob, down to the end of that favor at the death of Christ, A. D. 33, was eighteen hundred and forty-five (1845) years ; and there their " double " (mishnch)-the repetition or duplication of the same length of time, eighteen hundred and forty-five (1845) years, without favor began. Eighteen hundred and forty-five years since A. D. 33 shows A. D. 1878 to be the end of their period of disfavor. A. D. 33 plus 1845 = A. D. 1878. All these prophetic points in the past are clearly marked, and we should expect some evidence of God's returning favor to Fleshly Israel (" Jacob ") in or about A. D. 1878. ( p 218)
But we must remember that the year A. D. 1878 was but the turning point of returning favor to Fleshly Israel. We have already learned, from our study of "The Times of the Gentiles," that Jerusalem and its people will continue to be trodden down-controlled and oppressed by the Gentile until the Times of the Gentiles be fulfilled," and hence, though favor was due and began in A. D. 1878, the Jew will not be received back into full favor until A. D. 1914. ( p 221)
that this parallel period is eighteen hundred and forty-five years long, and that it ended A. D. 1878, we have shown clearly, we think; and that it was marked by favor is an indisputable fact.
....Now call to mind the Apostle's words which show clearly that they were cast off from divine favor, and from EARTHLY COVENANTS, STILL THEIRS, untll the fullness or complete number from the Gentiles has come in-until the end of the Gospel call-and then you will see that 1878 is a marked date, of deep interest to Spiritual Israel no less important than to Fleshly Israel. ( p223)
Interestingly, Russell took a little jab at Miller and others, not realizing that his criticisms of them would also come to describe Russell's failure Re: end -time prophesies and unrealized hopes based on speculation and ignorance.
In the Jewish harvest, there was a going forth of many to meet the Lord when all men were in expectation " of him (Luke 3 : IS), at the time of his birth, thirty years before his anointing as Messiah at the beginning of his ministry; and so there was a corresponding expectation and movement on the part of many (afterward called Adventists) led mainly by a Baptist brother named William Miller, in this country, and by Mr. Wolff and others in Europe and Asia.This culminated in the year A. D. 1844, just thirty years before A. D. 1874, when Christ the Bridegroom and Reaper finally came, as shown by the Jubilee's teaching: In this we find another striking time-parallel between these ages; for those thirty years corresponded exactly to the thirty years from the birth of the babe Jesus unto Messiah the Anointed-baptized, and introduced as Bridegroom and Reaper, at the age of thirty.-Matt. 3 : 11 ; John 3 : 29. In both cases there was a disappointment and a tarrying- time of thirty years, during which all slumbered, and only a few in each case awakened at the proper time to a realization of Messiah's presence. The great nominal mass in both houses fail to recognize the visitation, because over-charged and lukewarm, neglecting the command to take heed and watch. ( p 240, 241)
The Jubilee cycles prove that our Lord Jesus was due to be present and begin the restitution work in the fall of 1874 A. D. And the Parallelism above referred to shows that date (1874) to correspond exaaly with the anointing of Jesus as the Messiah, at the beginning of the Jewish harvest," at the first advent. The "Gentile Times" prove that the present governments must all be overturned before the close of A. D. 1914 ( p242)
