Hello again,
Now here is.. PART TWO :
***Expecting the return of " ancient worthies" and preparing a place for
them! By the way in 1919, it was not yet " Beth-Sarim" but simply the
Bethel Home " in Brooklyn New York. As a matter of fact this was written
in " The Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence " December 15 th ,
1919 n 24 Vol. XL, page 374 :
"The Bethel Home is a spot dear to all the saints on earth. The name Bethel
means the house of God. It was founded by that wise and faithful messenger
of Laodicea, our dear Brother Russell, as the home from which the message of truth was to be sent forth. In the autumn of 1918 it was dismantled and stood vacant for some time. Many a heart turned longingly toward Bethel, praying that if it might be the Lord's will it would be restored , so that his people in this land
might have one place to which they could look as a temporary resting place in the
earth. The Lord opened the way to restore it and after a few months' strenous
effort it is with pleasure that we are able to announce that the Bethel has been
refurnished and the offices moved into it. The decoration throughout have been
changed, symbolizing the incoming age. While most of the furniture is plain, yet comfortable, the drawing-room and the parlors have been neatly and comfortably
furnished. Some might find occasion to criticize the expenditure of money in
furnishing these, but it has been thought not improbable that the Lord would be pleased to preserve this place and in due time some of the ancient worthies would find here an abiding spot."
* Concerning the particular teaching since the year 1918, also the book:
" Proclaimers " furnishes evidences:
*** jv 632 28 Testing and Sifting From Within ***
In the lecture Millions Now Living Will Never Die, delivered by J. F. Rutherford on March 21, 1920, at the Hippodrome in New York City, attention was directed to the year 1925.
On what basis was it thought to be significant? In a booklet published in that same year, 1920, it was pointed out that if 70fullJubilees were calculated fromwhatwasunderstoodtobethedatewhenIsraelenteredthePromisedLand (instead of starting after the last typical Jubilee beforetheBabylonianexile and then counting to the beginning of the Jubilee year at the end of the 50th cycle), this could point to the year 1925.
On the basis of what was said there, many hoped that perhaps the remaining ones of the little flock would receive their heavenly reward by 1925.
This year also was associated with expectations for resurrection of faithful pre-Christian servants of God with a view to their serving on earth as princely representatives of the heavenly Kingdom.
If that really occurred, it would mean that mankind had entered an era in which death would cease to be master, and millions then living could have the hope of never dying off the earth. What a happy prospect! Though mistaken, they eagerly shared it with others.
***Used Masonic symbols like cross and crown :
*** jv 200 14 "They Are No Part of the World" ***
"For years, Bible Students wore a cross and crown as a
badge of identification, and this symbol was on the front
cover of the Watch Tower from 1891 to 1931.
But in 1928 it was emphasized that not a decorative symbol but ones
activity as a witness showed he was a Christian.
See also The Watchtower January 1 st , 2000 page 9 15:
For example , in the 1920s many Bible Students wore a pin
featuring a cross-and-crown emblem, and they celebrated
Christmas and other pagan holidays.
***Used of "The Ancient Egyptian Winged Sun Disk Symbol" on
the book "Finished mistery " published from the year 1917;
(see front cover of the book)
also see an enlarged picture of "The Ancient Egyptian Winged Sun Disk Symbol" from this link: http://wingedsundisksymbol.homestead.com/
*** Taught and believed that C.T. Russell was
the "faithful and discreet slave" :
"Jehovah's Witnesss in the Divine purpose "
published by the WTBS Inc. , in 1959 , page 95
stated : Some insisted on living on the past, in
the time of Pastor Russell, when the brothers in general
had viewed him as the sole channel of Scriptural
enlightenment. It was the published and accepted
thought down till 1927 that he was that servant
of Matthew 24 :45. (footnote : w. 1927, pp.55,56)
and :
*** jv 626 28 Testing and Sifting From Within ***
Clearing Up the Identity of the Faithful and Wise Servant
Many who were sifted out at that time clung to the view that a single individual, Charles Taze Russell, was the faithful and wise servant foretold by Jesus at Matthew 24:45-47 (KJ), which servant would distribute spiritual food to the household of faith . Particularly following his death, The Watch Tower itself set forth this view for a number of years. In view of the prominent role that Brother Russell had played, it appeared to the Bible Students of that time that this was the case.
He did not personally promote the idea, but he did acknowledge the apparent reasonableness of the arguments of those who favored it. He also emphasized, however, that whoever the Lord might use in such a role must be humble as well as zealous to bring glory to the Master, and that if the one chosen by the Lord failed, he would be replaced by another.
In 1881, Brother Russell himself had expressed the view that that servant was made up of the entire body of faithful spirit-anointed Christians. He saw it as being a collective servant, a class of persons who were united in doing Gods will. (Compare Isaiah 43:10.) This understanding was reaffirmed by the Bible Students in 1927.
Jehovahs Witnesses today recognize the Watchtower magazine and kindred publications to be the ones used by the faithful and discreet slave to dispense spiritual food. They do not claim that this slave class is infallible, but they do view it as the one channel that the Lord is using during the last days of this system of things.
*** Taught and believed that C.T.Russell ,who died in 1916, was granted
the privilege.to exercise some strong influence on the Harvest work.:
" The Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence " November 1 st ,
1917 page 325 :
"Hence our dear Pastor, now in glory, is without doubt, manifesting a keen interest in the Harvest work, and is permitted by the Lord to exercise some strong influence thereupon. (Revelation 14:17) It is not unreasonable to conclude that he has been privileged to do, in connection with the Harvest work, things which he could not do while with us. Although we recognize that the Lord is the great Master and Director of the Harvest, yet we recognize that He would privilege the saints beyond the veil to have a part in the work on this side; and thus all the saints, both in Heaven and upon earth, are now given the honor of concluding the work on this side, preparatory to the full establishment of the Kingdom of Glory."
Btw this kind of teaching was confirmed, without specific names, and
applied to the all the resurrected anointed, in the year 1988, with the
publication by the WTBS Inc. of the book:
"Revelation It's Grand Climax At Hand! " page 125
"And in response one of the elders said to me: 'These who are dressed in the white robes, who are they and where did they come from?' So right away I said to him: 'My lord, you are the one that knows.'" (Revelation 7:13, 14a) Yes, that elder could locate the answer and give it to John. This suggests that resurrected ones of the 24-elders group may be involved in the communicating of divine truths today."
In conclusion, I'm sure that there are ample evidences that BEFORE that special year 1919, and even years AFTER, the " early Bible Students" were quite far and away from the teaching of the Word of Godand some of the practices and doctrines remained for many, many years after , in spite of the fact that , according to the WTBS Inc., Jehovah God :
1)
"removed all stumbling blocks and led them to
freedom so that they could render pure worship
to him. "
2)
"liberated them and restored them to their spiritual
estate, "their land". There they received a double
portion of blessings."
3)
"them with an abundant supply of spiritual waters,"
and also
4)
They needed to see God's purpose and teaching clearly.
False beliefs are stumbling stones on the pathway to life,
but Jehovah's Word is " like a a forge hammer that smashes the crag."
My last thought in this matter that the vast majority of the JW's don't have the time (understandable) nor the disposition nor the keen desire (debatable) , to examine what is continually given to them and always labelled as as coming , from the representatives of Jehovah God's visible organization on earth , under the care and the oversight of
God's beloved son , Jesus Christ !!!
Of course until there is life there is hope!
I'm sure that some will find all this material interesting.
Greetings, J.C.MacHislopp
" Sustineas tibi Habitu esse similes, qui sint virtute impares".
(Fedro ,IV)