Post by ResLight on Mar 28, 2013 21:55:22 GMT -5
I have posted several responses to the assertions submitted at:
www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/beliefs/249773/1/End-of-world-predictions-JWs
This site appears to no longer exist, although many continue to present similar assertions as was stated. The original expounder of the assertions appears to be Martin Gardner in his book "Fads and Fallacies in the Name of Science".
Most of the assertions often presented are related to Brother Russell, who was never a member of the Jehovah's Witnesses.
The claim is made:
Charles Taze Russell himself was never a member of the JWs. He did not believe in such an organization. Russell did not speak on behalf of such an organization. For links to some of my related research:
rlctr.blogspot.com/p/jws.html
Russell was not expecting what was generally conceived of as being "the end of the world" for any of the dates he presented, and he plainly stated such. Especially since 1904, he was expecting the world to enter the foretold time of trouble in 1914. He was not expecting the world to end in 1914, and he stated such. For links to some of my related research:
rlctr.blogspot.com/p/russell-and-end-of-world.html
Russell, however, did not "base" his expectations on pyramidology, and certainly not on numerology as this word is most often defined: the study of numbers, as the figures designating the year of one's birth, to determine their supposed influence on one's life, future, etc. -- Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Russell's expectations, however, were "based" on study of Bible prophecies, not his study of God's Witness in Egypt. His study of God's Witnesses in Egypt only corroborates the Bible. Brother Russell did not use the measurements of the Great Pyramid as the basis for his dates or his expectations.
The term "numerology" is often used of Russell's studies which leaves the impression that he was involved in some kind of "occult" demonic practice. The basic meaning of the word "numerology" itself is "number study" or "study of numbers". As best as I can determine, however, Brother Russell never spoke of his studies of chronology, numbers in the Bible, or any measurements as "numerology". In the broad sense, the word could be applied to any usage of numbers in any kind of study, even the study of the numbers to relate chapters and verses in the Bible. In other words, if a minister says to look up John chapter 10, verse 11, such could be said to be "numerology" in the etymological sense of the word, since one has to study the numbers related to chapters and verses in order to be able to look for the specific passage. In general, however, the word "numerology" is thought to be associated with some kind of demonic practice. Russell was not involved in such numerology.
Likewise, the word "pyramidology" is often used to speak of things that Russell did not believe in, such as pyramid power, heathen practices associated with the pyramids, astrology, etc. As best as I can determine, Russell never used the word "pyramidology" related to his studies. Many, however, seem to think the word itself denotes something evil or sinister. Etymologically, it simply means "pyramid study", "study of a pyramid" or "study of pyramids". If applied to Russell's study, it would be the Biblical study, not of pyramids, but of only one pyramid. It certainly would not mean that Russell was involved in some kind of heathen spiritistic practice or some form of demonism, etc.
The claim has been made:
To say that "any date can be made meaningful" through "pyramidology and numerology" is meaningless to one who has actually studied Russell's conclusions concerning Biblical time prophecies and God's Witness in Egypt. Indeed, the statement appears to show the author's lack of understanding of what is actually involved, or else willfully misrepresenting what Russell presented.
I have examined claims made by some who assert that they have in some way discredited the Biblical study of God's witness, and so far I have found none that actually have done what they have claimed. They usually misrepresent such study and often show their ignorance of what it is really involved. In effect, they figuratively set up a strawman and then proceed to knock down the strawman.
Charles Taze Russell, however, never originated any prophecies, and the only prophecies he believed in were those of the Bible. He definitely never based his conclusions (not prophecies) on either "pyramidology" or "numerology". Anyone truly familiar with Russell's studies would know this. God's witness in Egypt (Isaiah 19:19,20) can only be used to confirm the Bible; nothing related to the Great Pyramid can be used, of itself, as a source of "prophecy".
rlctr.blogspot.com/p/great-pyramid.html
rlctr.blogspot.com/2019/11/numerology.html
rlctr.blogspot.com/p/prophet.html
It was stated:
As far as I can tell, Smyth never spoke of "numerology"; as far as I have been to ascertain, he never tried to apply what is usually defined as "numerology" to his study of the Great Pyramid his study of Biblical chronology, or his his study of Biblical prophecies. Brother Russell certainly never applied what is often referred as 'numerology" to his study of God's Witness in Egypt, or to his study of Biblical times prophecies.
rlctr.blogspot.com/2019/11/numerology.html
Was Charles Taze Russell the founder of what is now the Jehovah's Witnesses? Actually, Russell preached against the kind of organization that Rutherford created. Russell also preached against the kind of Armageddon message that the Jehovah's Witnesses preach. It would be misleading to say that Russell was not the "founder" of an organization that he preached against.
For links to some of my related research related to Brother Russell, Jehovah's Witnesses, authority and organization:
rlctr.blogspot.com/p/authority.html
rlctr.blogspot.com/p/jws.html
It was stated:
Regarding this, I think one should keep mind that most of what Russell presented in his third volume regarding God's Witness in Egypt was actually borrowed and rephrased from what Barbour had written. As far as the basic ideas presented, Barbour had already presented those ideas several years before the publication of Volume 3 of Russell's Studies.
This statement was made:
One could say that Russell was thoroughly convinced that Christ had returned in 1874; I also believe this, although, like Russell, I would not be dogmatic on this so as to say that one had believe this to be a Christian. One should understand, however, that the measurements of God's Witness in Egypt only confirm the date 1874. The date itself is based on the Bible prophecies, the evidence of which Russell presented in Volume 2 and Volume 3 of his Studies.
.
Actually, Russell believed that the millennium itself had already begun in 1874, thus he was not looking for it to begin at any future date. He did not, however, dogmatically hold to this, and he discussed views of others related to when the 1,000 years begin. Later, however, Russell came to believe that the harvest did not end in 1914 as he previously thought.
The claim is made that Russell taught:
Russell believed that the dead will rise, and, as far as the world now blinded by Satan is concerned, they will be raised and enlightened by the books that are then opened to them.
I don't know that Russell ever promoted the idea that the resurrection of the unjust is to be a "second chance" to accept Christ, except in the sense that their first chance was lost to them through Adam's disobedience. Since Satan is blinding the minds of people in this age, they are not actually getting a full chance in this life. In general, Russell believed that the blessing of their enlightenment in the age to come will be their "first" -- not "second" -- real individual opportunity to accept Jesus with clear knowledge of what is involved. It could be considered a "second chance" in that mankind lost their first chance through Adam. Thus, in that all mankind lost their "first chance" for everlasting life when Adam sinned, Russell believed that Jesus' ransom sacrifice has given all of us a "second chance" for everlasting life, whether applied in this age, or in the age to come.
Some related studies either written by or edited by Brother Russell:
www.htdbv8.com/1884/r704c.htm
www.htdbv8.com/Volume1/V1_07.htm
mostholyfaith.com/Beta/bible/Harvest_Gleanings_3/HG047.asp#HGL152:1
The above is not what Russell taught, but was the later teaching of Rutherford and the Jehovah's Witnesses. Russell taught after having been given a full knowledge of the truth during 1,000 years of the world's day of judgment, and after having been given a full opportunity to accept Jesus as their king, after the 1,000 years are over, Satan is to be loosed, and those who prove themselves to be wicked at that time will be fully annihilated, and then the earth will be completely cleansed of all evil. Russell did not believe, as the JWs teach, that millions of people now blinded by Satan are to be eternally destroyed at the beginning of the Millennium. Russell believed and taught that Armageddon was to be a period of time in which the people of the nations were to be chastised, not eternally destroyed, and that Armageddon was to prepare the nations for the blessings that were to follow.
Actually, the last time I checked, the JWs' belief is that the great crowd had to be judged with the world and wait until the end of the 1,000 years before they receive eternal life. Russell did not at all teach this, not unless by this you mean that he taught that the "church" would be changed from human glory to that of spirit glory, and then they will live forever. Actually, when Brother Russell referred to "the church" or "the saints", he most often meant the 144,000 joint-heirs with Christ. Russell believed that at the beginning of the millennium, these were being raised in the first resurrection to the celestial (not terrestrial) glory. Believing that the millennium had begun in 1874, by means of several scriptural applications and parallels, Russell concluded that the first resurrection had begun in the year 1878 and, since he believed that the first resurrection only consisted of the 144,000, then he believed that the first resurrection would continue until every member of the 144,000 had been raised, after which Satan was to be abyssed, and the blessing of the nations (heathen) could begin to be blessed, including the resurrection of the world's dead in the resurrection of judgment.
I have not found any place where Russell ever said that millions living during his lifetime would never die. Nevertheless he, in effect, did believe that millions of those now blinded by Satan who would be living at the time when Satan is thrown into the pit (whenever that may be) could possibly never die. He did not believe in the idea that JWs project, that is, that the "millions" who will never die are the "great multitude" while billions of earth's men, women and children are eternally destroyed without ever having received any benefit from Christ's sacrifice.
The claim is made:
To the great disappointment of the Russellites, 1914 ushered in nothing more dramatic than the World War, and the sect lost thousands of members.
From 1904 onward, Russell was not expecting the blessing of the world to begin in 1914. He was expecting the "time of trouble" to begin in 1914 and that it was to end at some unknown time after 1914. Russell was not expecting what the JWs later began to teach about only the great multitude surviving Armageddon, nor did he believe that earth's billions of unregenerated men, women and children were to suffer the second death, without ever being regenerated from the death in Adam.
Actually, although many of the Bible Students were disappointed that they had not been changed to spiritual glory in 1914, they were rejoicing that the expected time of trouble had begun in 1914, and during the time of World War I, the reports show that several thousand began associating with the Bible Students.
*** below needs to be edited.
exwhyzee posted 3/28/2013
New editions of Russell's Pyramid study were issues with the wording altered at crucial spots to make the errors less obvious. Thus, a 1910 edition had read, '... The deliverance of the saints must take place some time before 1914....' (p. 228) But in 1923, this sentence read, '... the deliverance of the saints must take place very soon after 1914....'
The above was changed in the year 1915, not 1923; nevertheless, Russell had stated this -- that the completion of the change of the saints may not be completed until sometime after 1914 -- to be a possibility several times long before 1914. Indeed, since Russell, from 1904 onward, was no longer expecting the time of trouble to end in 1914, but rather that it was to begin in 1914, the logical conclusion that would conform to this would be that the first resurrection would continue for sometime after 1914. The restatement authorized in 1915 edition, however, was made simply to conform to the facts. Russell in no way sought to hide these changes, since he publicly printed the "changes" in the Watch Tower magazine, which is still made available to all on many sites on the internet.
rlctr.blogspot.com/2017/01/changesstudies.html
Below needs to be updated:
exwhyzee posted 3/28/2013
Judge J. F. Rutherford, who succeeded Russell after the pastor died in 1916, eventually discarded Pyramidology entirely. Writing in the November 15 and December 1, 1928, issues ofThe Watch Tower and Herald, Rutherford releases a double-barrelled blast against it [...]
Rutherford, by the manner in which presented the matter, in effect, attributed Satan with having knowledge of the Bible long before most of the Bible had been written.
See Morton Edgar's remarks concerning this:
www.heraldmag.org/olb/contents/treatises/edgar%20gp%20discourse.htm
exwhyzee posted 3/28/2013
The Judge did not remind his readers in these articles that he, too, had been guilty of a prophetic error. For many years he had taught that 1925 would mark the beginning of the great jubilee year.
The year 1925 had been discussed by Russell several times before he died. Russsell himself consistently stated that he saw so significance in the date, although some of his associates seemed to believe that 1925 would see the the end of the first resurrection.
exwhyzee posted 3/28/2013
Alas, it also had passed, without perceptible upheavals. The sect now discourages the sale and reading of Russell's writing, and although members still believe the Millennium is about to dawn, no definite dates are set.”
Rutherford caused a show-down in the mid 1920s over the "Jehovah's organization" dogma. As a result, during the years 1925 to 1928, more than 75% of the Bible Students openly rejected Rutherford's "Jehovah's visible organization" dogma, by which dogma Rutherford claimed authority over all the Bible Student congregations. The Bible Student movement still exists today, totally separate from the JW organization that Rutherford created.
www.rlbible.com/?page_id=500
Bible Students today, as in Russell's day, do not all agree with Russell that the Millennium began in 1874. Russell, unlike Rutherford, never sought to take authority over the Bible Students so as to dictate that all had to agree with him.
reslight2
reslight28 years ago
exwhyzee posted 3/28/2013
Failed End of the World Predictions for 1914 to 1920 made by the Jehovah's Witnesses,
Before 1914, there was no "Jehovah's Witnesses" organization, and thus there were no "Jehovah's Witnesses" making any predictions; the vast majority of the "Bible Students" in 1914 never became "Jehovah's Witnesses" and never became members of the JW organization.
www.rlbible.com/?p=488
However, as far as I know, none of the Bible Students associated with Charles Taze Russell were expecting the "end of the world" in 1914. Most of them were expecting the "time of trouble" to begin in 1914, and that some time after that, the blessing of the nations would begin.
Many of the links I provided 7 years ago no longer exist. I am posting this to update those links.
For links to various studies regarding God's Witness in Egypt:
gpwit.blogspot.com/p/on-this-site.html
For links regarding Russell and Jehovah's Witnesses:
rlctr.blogspot.com/p/jws.html
Regarding Russell and the Beginning of the Time of Trouble
rlctr.blogspot.com/2016/10/t-of-t.html
Regarding the Bible Students and Rutherford's creation of the Jehovah's Witnesses:
rlctr.blogspot.com/2016/12/bstudents-jws.html
For links to research related to Russell regarding authority and organization:
rlctr.blogspot.com/p/authority.html
viennea year ago
Neither Bible Students nor Jehovah's Witnesses believe in or ever believe in the end of the world. They believe in a divine judgment, not the Adventist end of the world. They reject end of the world theology.
Finkelsteina year ago
Theologically speaking they do when they claim at Armageddon god will cast down balls of fire and destroy all who rejected him and did not worship him.
Since I am no longer able to comment on site regarding this, the above statement, although accurate concerning the JWs, this would be inaccurate as far as the Bible Students are concerned. Russell was not expecting God to cast down balls of fire and destroy all who rejected him. I do not know of any of the Bible Students today who believe that God at the battle of the great day is going to send down balls of fire and destroy all who rejected him.
www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/beliefs/249773/1/End-of-world-predictions-JWs
This site appears to no longer exist, although many continue to present similar assertions as was stated. The original expounder of the assertions appears to be Martin Gardner in his book "Fads and Fallacies in the Name of Science".
Most of the assertions often presented are related to Brother Russell, who was never a member of the Jehovah's Witnesses.
The claim is made:
The JWs initial predictions of the end of the world were based on pyramidology and numerology. This is the use of measurements and dates surrounding the great pyramid in Egypt to predict days.
Charles Taze Russell himself was never a member of the JWs. He did not believe in such an organization. Russell did not speak on behalf of such an organization. For links to some of my related research:
rlctr.blogspot.com/p/jws.html
Russell was not expecting what was generally conceived of as being "the end of the world" for any of the dates he presented, and he plainly stated such. Especially since 1904, he was expecting the world to enter the foretold time of trouble in 1914. He was not expecting the world to end in 1914, and he stated such. For links to some of my related research:
rlctr.blogspot.com/p/russell-and-end-of-world.html
Russell, however, did not "base" his expectations on pyramidology, and certainly not on numerology as this word is most often defined: the study of numbers, as the figures designating the year of one's birth, to determine their supposed influence on one's life, future, etc. -- Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Russell's expectations, however, were "based" on study of Bible prophecies, not his study of God's Witness in Egypt. His study of God's Witnesses in Egypt only corroborates the Bible. Brother Russell did not use the measurements of the Great Pyramid as the basis for his dates or his expectations.
The term "numerology" is often used of Russell's studies which leaves the impression that he was involved in some kind of "occult" demonic practice. The basic meaning of the word "numerology" itself is "number study" or "study of numbers". As best as I can determine, however, Brother Russell never spoke of his studies of chronology, numbers in the Bible, or any measurements as "numerology". In the broad sense, the word could be applied to any usage of numbers in any kind of study, even the study of the numbers to relate chapters and verses in the Bible. In other words, if a minister says to look up John chapter 10, verse 11, such could be said to be "numerology" in the etymological sense of the word, since one has to study the numbers related to chapters and verses in order to be able to look for the specific passage. In general, however, the word "numerology" is thought to be associated with some kind of demonic practice. Russell was not involved in such numerology.
Likewise, the word "pyramidology" is often used to speak of things that Russell did not believe in, such as pyramid power, heathen practices associated with the pyramids, astrology, etc. As best as I can determine, Russell never used the word "pyramidology" related to his studies. Many, however, seem to think the word itself denotes something evil or sinister. Etymologically, it simply means "pyramid study", "study of a pyramid" or "study of pyramids". If applied to Russell's study, it would be the Biblical study, not of pyramids, but of only one pyramid. It certainly would not mean that Russell was involved in some kind of heathen spiritistic practice or some form of demonism, etc.
The claim has been made:
Because the number of potential numbers to use are as plentiful as the imagination, almost any date can be made meaningful. Pyramidology and numerology is thoroughly discredited by mathematicians, and prophecies based on them have had an uncountable number of failures.
To say that "any date can be made meaningful" through "pyramidology and numerology" is meaningless to one who has actually studied Russell's conclusions concerning Biblical time prophecies and God's Witness in Egypt. Indeed, the statement appears to show the author's lack of understanding of what is actually involved, or else willfully misrepresenting what Russell presented.
I have examined claims made by some who assert that they have in some way discredited the Biblical study of God's witness, and so far I have found none that actually have done what they have claimed. They usually misrepresent such study and often show their ignorance of what it is really involved. In effect, they figuratively set up a strawman and then proceed to knock down the strawman.
Charles Taze Russell, however, never originated any prophecies, and the only prophecies he believed in were those of the Bible. He definitely never based his conclusions (not prophecies) on either "pyramidology" or "numerology". Anyone truly familiar with Russell's studies would know this. God's witness in Egypt (Isaiah 19:19,20) can only be used to confirm the Bible; nothing related to the Great Pyramid can be used, of itself, as a source of "prophecy".
rlctr.blogspot.com/p/great-pyramid.html
rlctr.blogspot.com/2019/11/numerology.html
rlctr.blogspot.com/p/prophet.html
It was stated:
An American preacher enormously impressed by Smyth's researches [on pyramid numerology] was Charles Taze Russell, of Allgheny, Pa., founder of the sect now known as Jehovah's Witnesses.
As far as I can tell, Smyth never spoke of "numerology"; as far as I have been to ascertain, he never tried to apply what is usually defined as "numerology" to his study of the Great Pyramid his study of Biblical chronology, or his his study of Biblical prophecies. Brother Russell certainly never applied what is often referred as 'numerology" to his study of God's Witness in Egypt, or to his study of Biblical times prophecies.
rlctr.blogspot.com/2019/11/numerology.html
Was Charles Taze Russell the founder of what is now the Jehovah's Witnesses? Actually, Russell preached against the kind of organization that Rutherford created. Russell also preached against the kind of Armageddon message that the Jehovah's Witnesses preach. It would be misleading to say that Russell was not the "founder" of an organization that he preached against.
For links to some of my related research related to Brother Russell, Jehovah's Witnesses, authority and organization:
rlctr.blogspot.com/p/authority.html
rlctr.blogspot.com/p/jws.html
It was stated:
In 1891, Pastor Russell published the third volume of his famous series Studies in the Scripture. It is a book of Biblical prophecy, supplemented by evidence from the Great Pyramid. A letter from Smyth is reproduced in which the Scottish astronomer praises Russell highly for his new and original contributions.
Regarding this, I think one should keep mind that most of what Russell presented in his third volume regarding God's Witness in Egypt was actually borrowed and rephrased from what Barbour had written. As far as the basic ideas presented, Barbour had already presented those ideas several years before the publication of Volume 3 of Russell's Studies.
This statement was made:
According to Russell, the Bible and Pyramid reveal clearly that the Second Coming of Christ took place invisibly in 1874.
One could say that Russell was thoroughly convinced that Christ had returned in 1874; I also believe this, although, like Russell, I would not be dogmatic on this so as to say that one had believe this to be a Christian. One should understand, however, that the measurements of God's Witness in Egypt only confirm the date 1874. The date itself is based on the Bible prophecies, the evidence of which Russell presented in Volume 2 and Volume 3 of his Studies.
This ushered in forty years of 'Harvest' during which the true members of the Church are to be called together under Russell's leadership. Before the close of 1914, the Millennium will begin
Actually, Russell believed that the millennium itself had already begun in 1874, thus he was not looking for it to begin at any future date. He did not, however, dogmatically hold to this, and he discussed views of others related to when the 1,000 years begin. Later, however, Russell came to believe that the harvest did not end in 1914 as he previously thought.
The claim is made that Russell taught:
Russell believed that the dead will rise, and, as far as the world now blinded by Satan is concerned, they will be raised and enlightened by the books that are then opened to them.
I don't know that Russell ever promoted the idea that the resurrection of the unjust is to be a "second chance" to accept Christ, except in the sense that their first chance was lost to them through Adam's disobedience. Since Satan is blinding the minds of people in this age, they are not actually getting a full chance in this life. In general, Russell believed that the blessing of their enlightenment in the age to come will be their "first" -- not "second" -- real individual opportunity to accept Jesus with clear knowledge of what is involved. It could be considered a "second chance" in that mankind lost their first chance through Adam. Thus, in that all mankind lost their "first chance" for everlasting life when Adam sinned, Russell believed that Jesus' ransom sacrifice has given all of us a "second chance" for everlasting life, whether applied in this age, or in the age to come.
Some related studies either written by or edited by Brother Russell:
www.htdbv8.com/1884/r704c.htm
www.htdbv8.com/Volume1/V1_07.htm
mostholyfaith.com/Beta/bible/Harvest_Gleanings_3/HG047.asp#HGL152:1
Those who refuse are to be annihilated, leaving the world completely cleansed of evil. Members of the church alive at the beginning of the Millennium will simply live on forever. This is the meaning of the well known slogan of the Witnesses— "Millions now living will never die."
The above is not what Russell taught, but was the later teaching of Rutherford and the Jehovah's Witnesses. Russell taught after having been given a full knowledge of the truth during 1,000 years of the world's day of judgment, and after having been given a full opportunity to accept Jesus as their king, after the 1,000 years are over, Satan is to be loosed, and those who prove themselves to be wicked at that time will be fully annihilated, and then the earth will be completely cleansed of all evil. Russell did not believe, as the JWs teach, that millions of people now blinded by Satan are to be eternally destroyed at the beginning of the Millennium. Russell believed and taught that Armageddon was to be a period of time in which the people of the nations were to be chastised, not eternally destroyed, and that Armageddon was to prepare the nations for the blessings that were to follow.
Actually, the last time I checked, the JWs' belief is that the great crowd had to be judged with the world and wait until the end of the 1,000 years before they receive eternal life. Russell did not at all teach this, not unless by this you mean that he taught that the "church" would be changed from human glory to that of spirit glory, and then they will live forever. Actually, when Brother Russell referred to "the church" or "the saints", he most often meant the 144,000 joint-heirs with Christ. Russell believed that at the beginning of the millennium, these were being raised in the first resurrection to the celestial (not terrestrial) glory. Believing that the millennium had begun in 1874, by means of several scriptural applications and parallels, Russell concluded that the first resurrection had begun in the year 1878 and, since he believed that the first resurrection only consisted of the 144,000, then he believed that the first resurrection would continue until every member of the 144,000 had been raised, after which Satan was to be abyssed, and the blessing of the nations (heathen) could begin to be blessed, including the resurrection of the world's dead in the resurrection of judgment.
I have not found any place where Russell ever said that millions living during his lifetime would never die. Nevertheless he, in effect, did believe that millions of those now blinded by Satan who would be living at the time when Satan is thrown into the pit (whenever that may be) could possibly never die. He did not believe in the idea that JWs project, that is, that the "millions" who will never die are the "great multitude" while billions of earth's men, women and children are eternally destroyed without ever having received any benefit from Christ's sacrifice.
The claim is made:
To the great disappointment of the Russellites, 1914 ushered in nothing more dramatic than the World War, and the sect lost thousands of members.
From 1904 onward, Russell was not expecting the blessing of the world to begin in 1914. He was expecting the "time of trouble" to begin in 1914 and that it was to end at some unknown time after 1914. Russell was not expecting what the JWs later began to teach about only the great multitude surviving Armageddon, nor did he believe that earth's billions of unregenerated men, women and children were to suffer the second death, without ever being regenerated from the death in Adam.
Actually, although many of the Bible Students were disappointed that they had not been changed to spiritual glory in 1914, they were rejoicing that the expected time of trouble had begun in 1914, and during the time of World War I, the reports show that several thousand began associating with the Bible Students.
*** below needs to be edited.
exwhyzee posted 3/28/2013
New editions of Russell's Pyramid study were issues with the wording altered at crucial spots to make the errors less obvious. Thus, a 1910 edition had read, '... The deliverance of the saints must take place some time before 1914....' (p. 228) But in 1923, this sentence read, '... the deliverance of the saints must take place very soon after 1914....'
The above was changed in the year 1915, not 1923; nevertheless, Russell had stated this -- that the completion of the change of the saints may not be completed until sometime after 1914 -- to be a possibility several times long before 1914. Indeed, since Russell, from 1904 onward, was no longer expecting the time of trouble to end in 1914, but rather that it was to begin in 1914, the logical conclusion that would conform to this would be that the first resurrection would continue for sometime after 1914. The restatement authorized in 1915 edition, however, was made simply to conform to the facts. Russell in no way sought to hide these changes, since he publicly printed the "changes" in the Watch Tower magazine, which is still made available to all on many sites on the internet.
rlctr.blogspot.com/2017/01/changesstudies.html
Below needs to be updated:
exwhyzee posted 3/28/2013
Judge J. F. Rutherford, who succeeded Russell after the pastor died in 1916, eventually discarded Pyramidology entirely. Writing in the November 15 and December 1, 1928, issues ofThe Watch Tower and Herald, Rutherford releases a double-barrelled blast against it [...]
Rutherford, by the manner in which presented the matter, in effect, attributed Satan with having knowledge of the Bible long before most of the Bible had been written.
See Morton Edgar's remarks concerning this:
www.heraldmag.org/olb/contents/treatises/edgar%20gp%20discourse.htm
exwhyzee posted 3/28/2013
The Judge did not remind his readers in these articles that he, too, had been guilty of a prophetic error. For many years he had taught that 1925 would mark the beginning of the great jubilee year.
The year 1925 had been discussed by Russell several times before he died. Russsell himself consistently stated that he saw so significance in the date, although some of his associates seemed to believe that 1925 would see the the end of the first resurrection.
exwhyzee posted 3/28/2013
Alas, it also had passed, without perceptible upheavals. The sect now discourages the sale and reading of Russell's writing, and although members still believe the Millennium is about to dawn, no definite dates are set.”
Rutherford caused a show-down in the mid 1920s over the "Jehovah's organization" dogma. As a result, during the years 1925 to 1928, more than 75% of the Bible Students openly rejected Rutherford's "Jehovah's visible organization" dogma, by which dogma Rutherford claimed authority over all the Bible Student congregations. The Bible Student movement still exists today, totally separate from the JW organization that Rutherford created.
www.rlbible.com/?page_id=500
Bible Students today, as in Russell's day, do not all agree with Russell that the Millennium began in 1874. Russell, unlike Rutherford, never sought to take authority over the Bible Students so as to dictate that all had to agree with him.
reslight2
reslight28 years ago
exwhyzee posted 3/28/2013
Failed End of the World Predictions for 1914 to 1920 made by the Jehovah's Witnesses,
Before 1914, there was no "Jehovah's Witnesses" organization, and thus there were no "Jehovah's Witnesses" making any predictions; the vast majority of the "Bible Students" in 1914 never became "Jehovah's Witnesses" and never became members of the JW organization.
www.rlbible.com/?p=488
However, as far as I know, none of the Bible Students associated with Charles Taze Russell were expecting the "end of the world" in 1914. Most of them were expecting the "time of trouble" to begin in 1914, and that some time after that, the blessing of the nations would begin.
Many of the links I provided 7 years ago no longer exist. I am posting this to update those links.
For links to various studies regarding God's Witness in Egypt:
gpwit.blogspot.com/p/on-this-site.html
For links regarding Russell and Jehovah's Witnesses:
rlctr.blogspot.com/p/jws.html
Regarding Russell and the Beginning of the Time of Trouble
rlctr.blogspot.com/2016/10/t-of-t.html
Regarding the Bible Students and Rutherford's creation of the Jehovah's Witnesses:
rlctr.blogspot.com/2016/12/bstudents-jws.html
For links to research related to Russell regarding authority and organization:
rlctr.blogspot.com/p/authority.html
viennea year ago
Neither Bible Students nor Jehovah's Witnesses believe in or ever believe in the end of the world. They believe in a divine judgment, not the Adventist end of the world. They reject end of the world theology.
Finkelsteina year ago
Theologically speaking they do when they claim at Armageddon god will cast down balls of fire and destroy all who rejected him and did not worship him.
Since I am no longer able to comment on site regarding this, the above statement, although accurate concerning the JWs, this would be inaccurate as far as the Bible Students are concerned. Russell was not expecting God to cast down balls of fire and destroy all who rejected him. I do not know of any of the Bible Students today who believe that God at the battle of the great day is going to send down balls of fire and destroy all who rejected him.
