Who
Would Live Forever on Earth?There was no thought on the part of Brother Russell that God was offering mankind a choice—heavenly life for those who wanted it and life in an earthly paradise for those who thought they would prefer that. The Watch Tower of September 15, 1905, pointed out: "Our feelings or aspirations are not the call. Otherwise it would imply that we do our own calling. Speaking of our priesthood, the Apostle declares, ‘No man taketh this honor to himself but he that is called of God,’ (Heb. 5:4), and the place to ascertain what is God’s call is not in our feelings but in God’s own Word of revelation."
As for the opportunity to live in a restored earthly paradise, the Bible Students believed that this would be extended to people only after all the little flock had received their reward and the millennial age had been fully ushered in. That, they understood, would be the time of "restitution of all things," as referred to at Acts 3:21. (KJ) Even the dead would then be raised so that all could share in that loving provision. The brothers envisioned all of humankind (apart from those who had been called to heavenly life) as being given their opportunity then to choose life. As they understood it, that would be the time when Christ, on his heavenly throne, would separate the people one from another, as a shepherd separates sheep from goats. (Matt. 25:31-46) The obedient ones, whether born as Jews or as Gentiles, would prove to be the Lord’s "other sheep."—John 10:16.
After the Gentile Times ended, they thought that the time of restitution was very near; so from 1918 down till 1925, they proclaimed: "Millions now living will never die." Yes, they understood that people then living—mankind in general—had the opportunity to survive right into the time of restitution and that they would then be educated in Jehovah’s requirements for life. If obedient, they would gradually attain to human perfection. If rebellious, they would, in time, be destroyed forever.
During those early years, the brothers had no idea that the Kingdom message would be proclaimed as extensively and for as many years as it has been. But they continued to examine the Scriptures and endeavored to respond to what these indicated as to the work that God would have them do.
p. 138:
God’s
Kingdom, the Only Hope of MankindAs a result of careful study of God’s Word, the Bible Students associated with Brother Russell understood that God’s Kingdom was the government that Jehovah had promised to set up by means of his Son for the blessing of mankind. Jesus Christ, in heaven, would have associated with him as rulers a "little flock" selected by God from among humankind. They understood that this government would be represented by faithful men of old who would serve as princes in all the earth. These were referred to as "ancient worthies."—Luke 12:32; Dan. 7:27; Rev. 20:6; Ps. 45:16.
