by Finkelstein 83 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
If Franz read and knew of Russell's previous adherence to the 6000 years of mankind's existence (early 1900's) why did he use twice thereafter ?
I get the feeling that he was playing a role of a pseudo bible scholar, who thought of specific ways and means to attract attention to the literature the WTS published.
A unrestrained scam artist hiding by the sanctity and virtue of a preaching Christian but was really a culpable charlatan sitting at the top control of religious publishing house.
True or False did the Watchtower Corporation create false doctrines intentionally to enhance the proliferation of their own publications ?
True.
I think deep down Russell made stuff up to increase circulation to make his printing business profitable. He no doubt chose contributors/writers who he felt would increase sales,, it was a business so his choice of what he wrote and who he choose as writers had a bottom line: profitability. Lets not forget that he at a young age had already increased his father's clothing business to a chain of stores, and printing religious literature was just another business venture to him but also gave vent to his egomania thinking that he was a special person doing the Lord's work in warning those facing destruction.
It's easy to see that the bottom line is money and not purity and truth for what the Watchtower Corporation publishes.
I always wondered if it was easier to fool people back then in comparison to now.
It would be assumed that the general population held much more relevance to the bible as a book of truth.
Certainly the education level wasn't as high in Russell's day but still people today are hanging onto the WTS's doctrines, which is kind of surprising given the history of the WTS.
Vienne, your totally wrong on this . I have his first publishing of his book The Time at Hand 1889 the gentile time were to end in 1914 with Armageddon soon to take place that autumn. The gentile time ending ment jesus would bring his reign on earth. He wrote that Jesus had already taken is kingship and had come invisibly in 1874 and 1878. He then wrote is his next book I also have the first published year of this book and he confirmed with the pyramid that his dates were correct and set in stone.
I would support your information Crazyguy
I think Vienne needs to research some more of Russell's works pre-1900
I remember reading years ago maybe it was William Schneil,s book "30 years a watchtower slave". Where Russell was quoted that if 1914 did not usher in the end of gentile times, that it would be an "iirrepairable wreck" if the end did not come in 1914.
Russell did not believe that Armageddon was the destruction of all. Witness doctrine on Armageddon is a product of an article by Rutherford in 1929.Russell believed that Armageddon was a period of anarchy following the end of gentile times when socialistic labor would turn against capitalistic governance. Chaos would ensue, eventually turning people to god's kingdom as expressed in a restored kingdom with its capitol in Jerusalem. Neither Russell nor modern Witnesses believe Armageddon means the end of the world.
As I said before, Time is at Hand was NOT Russell's first book. First in the Millennial Dawn series is Plan of the Ages, an update to Russell's Food for Thinking Christians. I own these and have read them many times.
I own and have read many times virtually everything Russell ever wrote. Its my job. I write history. I'm the coauthor of a major work on the Russell era.
https://www.amazon.com/Separate-Identity-Organizational-Readers-1870-1887/dp/1304969401
It is you who are mistaken. Almost everything Russell wrote is available on line. I suggest you confirm your view or give it up. Let me put it to you bluntly. Cite the reference to Russell's work that proves your point. Inform yourself.
Bethel,
Russell's actual words were:
But let us suppose a case far from our expectations: suppose that A.D. 1915 should pass with the world's affairs all serene and with evidence that the "very elect" had not all been "changed" and without the restoration of natural Israel to favor under the New Covenant. (Rom. 11:12,15.) What then? Would not that prove our chronology wrong? Yes, surely! And would not that prove a keen disappointment? Indeed it would! It would work irreparable wreck to the Parallel Dispensations and Israel's Double, and to the Jubilee calculations, and to the prophecy of the 2300 days of Daniel, and to the epoch called "Gentile Times," and to the 1260, 1290, and 1335 days, the latter of which marking the beginning of the "harvest" so well fulfilled its prediction, "Oh, the blessedness of him that waiteth and cometh unto the 1335 days!" None of these would be available longer. What a blow that would be! One of the strings of our "harp" would be quite broken!
However, dear friends, our harp would still have all the other strings in tune and that is what no other aggregation of God's people on earth could boast. We could still worship a God so great and grand that none other could compare with him. We should still see the grandeur of his salvation in Christ Jesus--"a ransom for all." We should still see the wonders of "the hidden mystery," our fellowship with our Redeemer in "his death" and also "in his resurrection" to "glory, honor and immortality"--"the divine nature." If, therefore, dearly beloved, it should turn out that our chronology is all wrong, we may conclude that with it we have had much advantage everyway.
-- October 1, 1907, Watch Tower
Here is the proof. The Watchtower, October 15, 1969, pages 622-3 declared: "More recently earnest researchers of the Holy Bible have made a recheck of its chronology. According to their calculations the six millenniums of mankind's life on earth would end in the mid-seventies.”
This was a mere publicity stunt because in 1975 the Watchtower had spent nearly 2 million dollars to buy the Neo Baroque building in New York known as The Towers only to sell it later when they get maximum returns of 10,000%--they sold it recently for 200 million dollars.
