The Last Days that began in 1914 are now coming to their End...

[Space Merchant]

On 9/25/2021 at 7:22 AM, JW Insider said:

I think I just happened to run across another post like the one you were speaking about above.

https://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/61369/was-the-1914-prophecy-derived-from-the-book-of-daniel-ever-mentioned-in-any-ne/81433

The responder to that question was @1982 and he also came up with nothing prior to 1914 by anyone except from those comments related to the WT.

Of course, there is still the question of the unnamed Canadian minister that C T Russell referred to in 1914. I haven't looked yet for more information about him. It may be that this was just one of those cases of someone declaring that "the end is nigh" and "it's going to happen before the end of this year or next at the latest."

Something like that was always happening somewhere for the majority of years after 1844. Probably, something like that is still happening somewhere in the world nearly every year, even now. This very forum gives evidence of that.

Yep, and I had sent this before. Around that time there was another person who spoke about 1914, but had his own blog post who went by the name Reslite. Reslite is most likely still a Bible Student, and stated to have studied Pastor Russell for many years. He at times, blames JWs for things, but often finds himself defending Russell from ExJWs. Ironically enough if you catch him at a good time, he is willing to speak to anyone regardless of their faith. As with the mention Reslite, who he himself talked about 1914.

So far, it isn't always easy to find his information, he might know something, probably some info on the Canadian Minister.

The below is one of his comments, but similar.

Quote

The following is the text of the article that appeared in The Bible Students Monthly, January, 1914, issue. Written by Charles Taze Russell, the article relates his viewpoint concerning "the end of the world," and how he was "not" expecting the "end of the world" in 1914. Indeed, the article further shows that Russell was not expecting the second coming of Jesus in 1914, as some have claimed.

Nevertheless, some have quoted the large bold headline out its context, which reads "End of World in 1914," and claimed that Russell was preaching that the world would end in 1914. In fact, the smaller bold headline underneath the large headline continues by saying, "Not the View of Pastor Russell or of I.B.S.A." Thus, in fact, the tract denies that Brother Russell was expecting "the end of the world" in 1914.

 

 

 

[Space Merchant]

On 8/25/2021 at 8:26 AM, NoisySrecko said:

There is a parallel with the Bible Student history chart that is relevant for this discussion that does not align with some opinions here as well.

On 8/25/2021 at 8:26 AM, NoisySrecko said:

I just thought this correction should be included here. Not everything written in WIKI should be considered factual.

I believe this was addressed in another forums.

I didn't use the wiki. More so, there are a few connections that I know of who are Bible Students, mainly the neutral ones like Reslite.

That being said, those 2 Bible groups of which you quoted from my command, are still existing, but have minor activity, some of their members, although not organized, are lone Bible Students - Hence my remarks.

 

EDIT:

 

Just realized I made a response to you already.

As for Wiki, it is a mixed bag of apples in of itself. Some information true, others not. What people do not may attention to is the citations. Other then that, it is best to look for the actual source instead of a wiki. This may be unknown to you, but wiki has been manipulating information for the past several months now.

[Witness]

13 hours ago, BroRando said:

Neither be called leaders, for your Leader is one, the Christ.

 

Accpecting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior can add meaning to your life.

Dear BroRando, you live in a land of unreality. 

“Governing body”, eight men who “govern” - as governors would govern a state.  How is that done?  What power do they have?

"Govern" from Merriam Webster:

1a: to exercise continuous sovereign authority over especially : to control and direct the making and administration of policy in

The country was governed by a king.

b: to rule without sovereign power and usually without having the authority to determine basic policy (interesting!)

2aarchaic : MANIPULATE

b: to control the speed of (a machine) especially by automatic means

3a: to control, direct, or strongly influence the actions and conduct of

b: to exert a determining or guiding influence in or over

income must govern expenditure

to hold in check : RESTRAIN

was told to govern her emotions

4: to require (a word) to be in a certain case

5: to serve as a precedent or deciding principle for customs that govern human decisions

Intransitive verb

1: to prevail or have decisive influence : CONTROL

In all situations allow reason to govern.

2: to exercise authority

 

MANIPULATE, RESTRAIN, CONTROL

These words define the governing leaders. 

If Jesus is our leader, shouldn’t Jesus Christ take precedence in our lives? Shouldn’t his teachings “rule” our lives above and beyond the governing rulership of men?  Is it not true that these men set decrees outside of the Bible, that “govern human decisions”?  Yes! A. Morris admits to this!

When we speak Christ’s truth – TRUTH – Wt’s “governors” exercise their assumed sovereign power of authority, and direct those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their leader, to be spiritually “killed” – disfellowshipped.  (John 16:2; Rev 11:1-3,7; 13:11,12,15)

You will know when you are on the side of truth, when you experience the same.  

“Look, I’m sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as serpents and as innocent as doves. ¹⁷ Beware of them, because they will hand you over to local courts(judicial committees)  and flog you in their synagogues – (“congregations”). ¹⁸ You will even be brought before governors and kings because of me, to bear witness to them and to the Gentiles. ¹⁹ But when they hand you over, don’t worry about how or what you are to speak. For you will be given what to say at that hour, ²⁰ because it isn’t you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father is speaking through you.

²¹ “Brother will betray brother to death - disfellowshipped, and a father his child. Children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. ²² You will be hated by everyone because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. ²³ When they persecute you in one town, flee to another. For truly I tell you, you will not have gone through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. ²⁴ A disciple is not above his teacher, or a slave above his master. ²⁵ It is enough for a disciple to become like his teacher and a slave like his master. If they called the head of the house ‘Beelzebul,’ how much more the members of his household!”  Matt 10:25-13

 “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.

So you see, your governing body leaders have put themselves above Jesus Christ through their judgment against Jesus’ disciples. (Luke 22:24-27)  We have another spiritual fulfillment of what took place under the corrupt rule of the Pharisees.  Those part of the anointed Body of Christ must follow the same path that Jesus took - persecution from their own people. (John 15:20)  If they remain where you are, they are the foolish virgins buying their "oil"/spirit/food from wolves in sheep's clothing, a wicked slave.  (Matt 24:48-51; Acts 20:29; Rev 13:11,12)

 I answer only to the Father and the Son.  (Gal 1:10)

 

 

Should we obey men?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Dmitar]

1 hour ago, Space Merchant said:

I believe this was addressed in another forums.

I didn't use the wiki. More so, there are a few connections that I know of who are Bible Students, mainly the neutral ones like Reslite.

That being said, those 2 Bible groups of which you quoted from my command, are still existing, but have minor activity, some of their members, although not organized, are lone Bible Students - Hence my remarks.

You seem to fail to understand the complexities of how the Bible Student association work. They are independent of each other with their own understandings. Some enjoy being compared to the Advent Movement, while others enjoy their autonomy.  Pastor Russell was different in may respects. That is what JWs should focus on. My point about Wiki was simple. It's unreliable since anyone can "edit" the content.

[Space Merchant]

2 minutes ago, NoisySrecko said:

You seem to fail to understand the complexities of how the Bible Student association work. They are independent of each other with their own understandings. Some enjoy being compared to the Advent Movement, while others enjoy their autonomy.  Pastor Russell was different in may respects. That is what JWs should focus on. My point about Wiki was simple. It's unreliable since anyone can "edit" the content.

I made this point, they are not unified, there are different groups who are independent, different views, even those who hold 1914, or that similar to it, to some significance be it Jesus being crowned as King or the latter. The CSE thread brought up the 1843 chart because the question was asked if anyone outside of JWs hold this 1914 view, identical or similar, and the groups were brought up, some who held the view, others who may have shared the view or had something different, reasons why those 2 groups were mentioned because they were listed. JWI added others of which not related to any of the mentioned Bible Student groups, for it was always assumed others outside of JWs and Bible students viewed 1914 in some light, but not many can bring forth the name of said groups.

Also true, Reslite is the type to constantly profess that he, along with those on his side to be compared to the original Bible Student group. There are other Bible Students who profess the same thing in regards to comparisons to the original, but on the other side of the spectrum, some do not, even to the point they do not wish to be called Russellites because they see it as Sectarian to a degree.

The pastor was indeed different, some would say even unique. Then you have the constant conspiracy people profess about him, hence some of the students, even JWs enact a defense to misinformation.

[Space Merchant]

21 hours ago, BroRando said:

Imposter... using corrupt scripture that removed Jehovah's Holy Name.

To be fair LORD in all caps refers to the God of Israel - Strong's 3068. In some translations it is Yahweh or Jehovah/YHWH. It is only a violation if something other than the Strong's itself is there and or something not related to it.

The only people who get fooled are those who do not know why LORD is all caps or it's connection to Tetragrammaton. But to be honest, if the people back then simply put YHWH or equivalent and left it as is, a lot less confusion by others later on, then you also have the fear of those who invoke the name of God.

[Patiently waiting for Truth]

14 hours ago, Space Merchant said:

To be fair LORD in all caps refers to the God of Israel -

I now tend to use the BSB, Berean Study Bible, which I find much easier to read and get the sense of. 

I'm not saying it is a better Bible but it certainly is better for me to study than the NWT. 

[Space Merchant]

26 minutes ago, Patiently waiting for Truth said:

I now tend to use the BSB, Berean Study Bible, which I find much easier to read and get the sense of. 

I'm not saying it is a better Bible but it certainly is better for me to study than the NWT. 

BSB is literal word for word/easy to read, there isn't a study source for it, granted it was produced by Bible Hub, however, Bible Hub instill takes in commentary and notes from others such as Thayer, etc. However, the notes are mixed, therefore, you would still need to study outside of Bible Hub for better understanding.

The BSB and the NWT are among the few Bibles that is said to follow the sources, whereas BSB is literal word for word easy read format and the NWT is a modern revision, more evident to them following the earliest source can be seen in verses like 1 Timothy 3:16, Acts 7:59, Revelation 1:11, etc.

That being said, as long as there is no affiliation with TR and if there is, there has to be a notation. This is one of my issues with KJV Onlyist, even during a time I use to deal with them in person.

[Patiently waiting for Truth]

https://berean.bible/  Berean Study Bible. 

[Space Merchant]

I found some of Reslite's work, regarding his defense of 1914, he has a lot to say about it, as well as defending Pastor Russell from ExJWs sources.

The first quotation below was his response to an EXJW blog post which is connected to JW Facts.

The second quotation is a bit lengthy, for his focus was people taking things out of context in relation to 1914

Quote

We are quoting the following from a website:

In 1876, Russell wrote an article that appeared in the October, 1876 issue of the Bible Examiner under the title, “Gentile Times: When do they End?” On page 27 he was writing about Luke 21:24...

The Early Writings of Charles Taze Russell

We wish to say to begin with that the article represents Russell's view before 1904; in 1904, he came to realize that the "time of trouble" was to begin in 1914, not end in 1914. 

The author of the site continues:

He said that the “Seven Times” will end in AD 1914. However, the anticipated Kingdom of Jehovah did not come. Big surprise! None, zero, zip, nada of the events concerning Jerusalem, mentioned in Luke 21:24 occurred in the predicted year, 1914. The Society then concluded that 1914 was not the end of the “Seven Times” but was to be a turning point in human history. Two years later, Russell died. (Maybe the dejection and depression that God was actually not using him took its toll.)

There are several misrepresentations being presented here. Although Russell was expecting God's kingdom to be established in 1914, he was not expecting that it would all of a sudden bring peace to the earth in 1914, rather just the opposite: from 1904 onward, he was expecting that with the influence of God's kingdom the world would enter into the worst time of trouble and warfare that it had ever seen, the nations would become angry. Thus, it is absolutely not true that nothing happened in 1914, and the fact that the greatest war the world had ever seen began in that year does give reason to believe that the spasms of the time of trouble did begin that year.

The quote from the site, after declaring that nothing happened in 1914, then states: "The Society then concluded that 1914 was not the end of the 'Seven Times' but was to be a turning point in human history." This is totally false! The Society in 1914 certainly never concluded that 1914 was not the end of the Gentiles, and as far as we know, it has never concluded such! Russell certainly never made any statement that the Gentile Times had not ended in 1914, and he made many statements to the effect that they had ended up to the day that he died. We have no doubt that Russell died rejoicing that he was seeing the Bible prophecies come true.

That Brother Russell had not concluded that the "seven times" had not ended can be seen from the following quotes from the The Watch Tower, all made after October 1914.

Because certain important things are to be accomplished, we see that God is permitting what to others might seem to be purely human devilishness. For a wise purpose He permits this reign of lawlessness, this condition which evokes universal odium. Our thought is that we should look for still further evidences day by day that the Gentile Times have ended, and that God's Kingdom has begun its work. We are expecting to see multiplied proofs of the Kingdom power, though the world will not recognize it as such until it is manifested in the flaming fire of Anarchy, which is still further along. The present step is the war of the nations. The next step will be Socialism--an attempted Socialism--among the people. Then the third step, Anarchy, will gradually come on.

When this symbolic fire shall prevail, then the world will realize what we are trying to tell them now; namely, that God's Kingdom is taking control, and that these various demonstrations are evidences that our Lord is taking His great power. But the many will not begin to see until the flaming fire is revealed. When we endeavor to tell them now they will not receive it, but they will be thoroughly convinced when they see the destructive fire of Anarchy. The Watch Tower, February 15, 1915.

The Bible indicates that the Gentile Times have ended. Their kings have had their day. They have made a good showing, in many respects. Many of these governments have done wonderfully. The Watch Tower, July 15, 1915. We believe that Gentile Times have ended, and that God is now allowing the Gentile Governments to destroy themselves, in order to prepare the way for Messiah's Kingdom. The Watch Tower, April 15, 1916

It still seems clear to us that the prophetic period known as the Times of the Gentiles ended chronologically in October, 1914. The fact that the Great Day of Wrath upon the nations began there marks a good fulfillment of our expectations. The Watch Tower, September 1, 1916
We only chose those quotes that are most precise; more quotes could have been given. These, however, are sufficient to show that Brother Russell did not then, in 1914 (or any other time after 1876), conclude that the "seven times" had not ended in 1914.

 

Quote

The following is the text of the article that appeared in The Bible Students Monthly, January, 1914, issue. Written by Charles Taze Russell, the article relates his viewpoint concerning "the end of the world," and how he was not expecting the "end of the world" in 1914. Indeed, the article further shows that Russell was not expecting the second coming of Jesus in 1914, as some have claimed. Nevertheless, some have quoted the large bold headline out its context, which reads "End of World in 1914," and claimed that Russell was preaching that the world would end in 1914. In fact, the smaller bold headline underneath the large headline continues by saying, "Not the View of Pastor Russell or of I.B.S.A." Thus, in fact, the tract denies that Brother Russell was expecting "the end of the world" in 1914.

 

We have expanded the names of some of the Bible books that were abbreviated in the original, in order to aid electronic searches for scriptural references. Links are provided for relevant information on some words or phrases of the text, which may be accessed by clicking on the words or phrases.

 

We do not necessarily agree with all of Russell's conclusions as presented in the article.

 

 

 

END OF WORLD IN 1914

Not the View of Pastor Russell nor of I. B. S. A.
"The Earth Abideth Forever"
Christ will not return to Earth as a Man
Present Year Believed to Mark Great Change of Dispensation,
but World May not discern Immediate Difference

 

I am prompted in the selection of my text by reading an extract from the sermon of a Canadian minister delivered recently. In it he declared that 1914 would witness the Second Coming of Christ, etc. His statement allowed the inference that he holds the view common to nearly all the creeds; namely, that the earth is to be burned up and the human race blotted out; and that, incidentally, Christ will come a second time, to see that none of the Church are included in the destruction.

 

MISTAKES OF DARK AGES BEING CORRECTED

 

To my understanding, all such expectations are wholly unscriptural, untrue, misleading, and hindrances to a right understanding of the Bible. They belong to the Dark Ages, when public teachers seemed to lose all appreciation of poetic language, figurative language, mental imagery. They belong to the time when Christ's references to Gehenna Fire, which burned outside the walls of Jerusalem, were understood to mean an eternity of torture for all except the saintly few. They belong to the time when Jesus' words respecting the cutting off of the right hand and the plucking out of the right eye were misunderstood, and taken literally.

 

St. Peter's words are generally urged to be the foundation for the theory that the world will be destroyed by literal fire at the Second Coming of Christ, when the heavens shall be on fire, and the earth also and the things therein shall be burned up (2 Peter 3:10), a literal interpretation here overlooks the fact that St. Peter, speaking of the very same time, in Acts 3:19-21, declares that Times of Restitution and blessing - not times of world-burning - will follow the Second Coming of Jesus. It also overlooks the fact that St. Peter and the other apostles, as well as the Master, frequently used the word fire in a symbolic sense, to represent tribulation. Thus St. Peter, addressing the Church, says: "Think it not strange concerning the fiery trial that shall try you."

 

St. Paul says that the fire of that Day shall try the work of every man [the Church], of which sort it is. Those who have built with gold, silver, precious stones [the promises of God's Word], shall be fireproof in that Day; while those who have built with the wood, hay and stubble of tradition-Higher Criticism, Human Evolution, etc.,-will find their faith structure amenable to the fire; and they will suffer the loss of faith and have tribulations accordingly. Yet, the Apostle explains, such will themselves be saved, but these very fiery trials will destroy their misconceptions. They will be saved because, in spite of their errors, they built their faith upon Christ. -- 1 Corinthians 3:11-15.

 

The Apostle, however, urged that all should build with gold, silver and precious stones-characteristics which would enable them to pass through the fire of that Day unscathed-"more than conquerors." Similarly, Jesus referred to a testing of faith, by the figure of a flood, telling that those who built upon the sand would suffer loss; but that those who built upon the Rock would be safe. All these Scriptures, however, these references to fiery trials, etc., belong to the end of the Age - not the end of the world.

 

"THE EARTH ABIDETH FOREVER"

 

The Bible teaches that in God's great Plan He has provided various epochs, or ages, each for the accomplishment of its own special work; for instance, the Jewish Age with its work, and the Gospel Age with its work, to be followed by the Millennial Age and its still different work. The Bible declares that "the earth abideth forever" (Ecclesiastes 1:4); that "God created it not in vain; He formed it to be inhabited." (Isaiah 45 :18). The earth has never yet been inhabited. There are immense tracts of country still unoccupied. The Divine Plan for the earth has not yet reached consummation. It will require the thousand years of Messiah's glorious Kingdom Power to bring the world out of present sin and death conditions, and into the glorious conditions of Millenial blessing and Restitution, of which the Scriptures so frequently speak, and which St. Peter declares God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy Prophets.

 

So, then, the basis for thinking of the end of the world, now or ever, is purely a misunderstanding, due largely to the fact that our English translation uses the word world where it would more properly have used the word Age, Epoch, or order of things. In a word, the present order of things, of which the Scriptures declare Satan is the prince, or ruler, is not to be perpetual; it is to pass away. A new order of things, under the control of Messiah, the Prince of Light, is to take the place of the present reign of the Prince of Darkness. A reign of righteousness and life is to succeed the present reign of sin and death, according to St. Paul. -- Romans 5:17, 21.

CHRIST'S SECOND COMING

The Bible everywhere represents that Christ left a Heavenly glory when He came to earth nearly nineteen centuries ago. "The Logos was made flesh and dwelt among us." The Bible explains that the necessity for this humiliation, this leaving the glory and taking a bondman's form, lay in the fact that God had pronounced a death sentence upon man, which mankind was paying and from which they could not be released unless someone would become their redeemer and meet the penalty for them - a death penalty, not an eternal-torment penalty, of which the Scriptures know nothing.

 

The Bible nowhere tells that Jesus took the human nature to keep it forever, and to return with it to Heaven, where it would be completely out of order and out of place. The Bible teaches, on the contrary, that "flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God" (1 Corinthians 15:50); and that Jesus was made flesh merely "that He, by the grace of God, should taste death for every man" (Hebrews 2:9); and that after doing this work He would "ascend up where He was before." (John 6:62) St. Paul assures us that this, the Divine Program, has been carried out. After telling of our Lord's obedience to the Father's will in humbling Himself to death, even the death of the cross, he adds, "God hath highly exalted Him" - "far above angels, principalities and powers." -- Philippians 2:5-11; Ephesians 1:20-23.

 

The Master declared plainly, "Yet a little while, and the world shall see Me no more"; but He promised that He would be seen by His followers. St. John declares, "We shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He IS." (1 John 3:2) We read: "Every eye shall see Him"; but this, to be in harmony with the other Scriptures, must refer to the eyes of understanding. The Bible declares that eyes of human understanding are blinded now by error and sin, but that shortly all the blind eyes shall be opened. Then all will see Messiah and His Kingdom with the eye of faith, as the Church now see Jesus, the crown of life, and the things which the natural eye hath not seen.

 

PAROUSIA--PRESENCE;
EPIPHANIA--MANIFESTATION

 

Our English word coming is used to translate several very different Greek words. One of these is Parousia, which means presence, and is used in referring to the first stage of the Lord's Second Advent. He will be invisibly present. For a time none but the saintly few whose eyes of understanding are anointed through the Word and the Spirit will realize His Parousia, His presence, while all things earthly will continue as they have been-buying, selling, building, marrying, etc.

 

Then, later on, will come the Epiphania; that is to say, the revelation, or manifestation, of the present One. This will not be a manifestation in the flesh, but in a great Time of Trouble, symbolically represented as fire, as when we read, "He shall be revealed in flaming fire, taking vengeance." -- 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10.

To my understanding, the Bible teaches that Jesus has been present in the world since 1874. In other words, His Second Advent then began. The wonderful progress in the world since then Bible students thus explain; the wonderful blessing upon them and their study of the Bible they interpret in harmony with this. They understand the Bible to teach that this Parousia will continue for a thousand years; but that the Epiphania, or manifestation to the world, will be due in forty years from the time the Presence began. For this reason they are looking very interestedly to see what the present year may bring forth. And do we not see everywhere signs of unrest, a time of trouble brewing? It looks as though this year would mark the beginning of the "flaming fire" of judgments upon the world which will mark the closing of this Age and the inauguration of the New Dispensation of Messiah's Kingdom, when "justice shall be laid to the line and righteousness to the plummet," and when the ignorance, superstition and darkness which so long have hindered us will begin to be broken. The transition may be painful, yet it will be blessed, marking the overthrow of Satan's empire and reign of sin and death and the inauguration of Messiah's Kingdom and its reign of righteousness and life eternal.

 

"EATING, DRINKING, PLANTING AND BUILDING"

Our Lord, in describing His Second Presence, clearly indicated that it would be unnoticed by the world until the cataclysm of trouble should come. Thus He likened the earlier days of His presence to that period before the Flood, when the world, unconscious of the impending catastrophe, continued to build, eat and drink as usual, and knew not. So, says the Master, it will be in the end of this Age.

 

Eating, drinking, building, planting and marrying will proceed as usual; and the world will not know that they are in the PRESENCE of the Son of Man. The great Day of Trouble, noted throughout the Scriptures as "the Time of Trouble such as never was since there was a nation," will come upon them suddenly - St. Paul says, like the pangs of a woman in child-birth. A New Dispensation and new order of things is about to be born, and this great trouble is merely incidental to that birth. St. Paul, in referring to the matter, says: "Yourselves know perfectly, brethren, that the Day of the Lord cometh as a thief in the night. For when they [the world] shall say, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that Day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all children of the light, children of the Day." -- 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6.

 

CHANGE A CAUSE FOR REJOICING

 

If this great change from the dominion of Satan to the rule of Christ shall begin to manifest itself this very year, 1914, it will be a cause for rejoicing to all. Although no sufferings are joyous, but rather grievous, nevertheless, when we know that our interests are in the hands of a gracious Savior, who died for us and who is intent upon doing all that can be done for the recovery of our race from sin and death, we may well be glad in realizing that the Plan which Messiah is about to carry out for the blessing and uplifting of mankind from sin and death conditions is part of the original Divine Plan of the Father. And we have all the more joy, confidence and assurance that all things will work together for good to those that love God.

 

"The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower."

 

The trouble will be an awful one, but we believe not of great length. The Bible everywhere tells of the glorious results that will follow, when the shackles of darkness, sin and error shall be broken, and when all the spiritual powers surrounding mankind will be good and helpful, as in contrast with those of the wicked spirits now operating through mediums, by clairvoyant and clairaudient powers, to ensnare, to deceive, to bewilder mankind.

 

The fact that our Lord appeared in seven different flesh-forms on various occasions after His resurrection does not contradict other plain statements. Rather, we see that such appearances resembled the appearances of angels in the flesh, to communicate some good message from God to men. Had Jesus not materialized and appeared to His disciples, what proof would they or we ever have had respecting His resurrections And would not the fact that He saw them for a few moments and then vanished tend to prove to them that He was no longer a flesh being, but a spirit being, who had merely appeared to them for a special purpose?

St. Paul declares that he saw the Lord last, and not as a man, but as a spirit being, whose brightness was above that of the sun; and it injured his eyesight; for our Lord was not veiled in the flesh, as when He appeared to the disciples during the forty days.

 

The Christ who is to come a second time, then, is not the Jesus of the flesh, but the glorified Jesus, who in nature and glory is far above the angels-of the Divine nature.

 

"THIS SAME JESUS--SHALL COME AGAIN"

 

When Jesus ascended, two angels appeared to the disciples, saying, "This same Jesus whom ye have seen go into Heaven shall so come again in like manner as ye have seen Him go." In the past many of us have misunderstood this statement - not scrutinizing it carefully enough. Assuredly it will be the same Jesus that will come again - the same One who died for us, the same One who left the glory for us before He was born the Babe of Bethlehem. In all His changes He remains the same personality, as He declared: "I am He that is, and was, and is to come." The angels did not say, however, He will come again in the flesh, or materialized, as you have seen Him go away. Their message related to the MANNER of His going and the MANNER of His coming. What was there special about the manner of His going away that would correspond to the manner of His coming again? Many things! He went away quietly, secretly, unknown to the world, unknown to any except His disciples. In like manner has been His Parousia-silently, quietly, unknown to the world, not known to any except His disciples. Surely, if we are right in saying that His Parousia began in 1874, the manner would correspond with the manner of His going. He did not come with glorious hosts, blaring trumpets, etc., but as a "thief in the night." If we have the correct date and chronology, Gentile Times will end this year-1914.

 

What of it? We do not surely know. Our expectation is that the active rule of Messiah will begin about the time of the ending of the lease of power to the Gentiles. Our expectation, true or false, is that there will be wonderful manifestations of Divine judgments against all unrighteousness, and that this will mean the breaking up of many institutions of the present time, if not all. Some Scriptures seem to indicate that this will mean world-wide anarchy, not all beginning at the same moment, nor ending at the same time, but beginning and gradually spreading the world around. The further intimation is that this trouble will eventually prove a blessing to humanity, melting their hearts in the Day of Trouble, teaching the more of sympathy for one another, breaking the power of superstition, wealth, ignorance, etc. - preparing them for the glorious Reign of Messiah's Kingdom.

 

[JW Insider]

21 hours ago, Space Merchant said:

The first quotation below was his response to an EXJW blog post which is connected to JW Facts.

I had not been able to find that blog post or "website" (as ResLight called it). You might know more about it since you were able to say that it was somehow connected with jwfacts.com.

I understand his fixation on defending CTR, as CTR produced an amazing amount of truth that has stood the test of time. But CTR also had a "thorn in the flesh" related to his own fixation on chronology. His first attempts of preaching and writing on his own (1876-1878) were years of great embarrassment, mostly because, as he admits, he was motivated to get the word out as quickly as possible about the predictions for the year 1878. It reminds me of Paul, who related his own "thorn in the flesh" as a counterbalance to the exaltation and pride that could have resulted from his own special revelations:

(2 Corinthians 12:6-9) . . .For even if I want to boast, I will not be unreasonable, for I would say the truth. But I refrain from doing so, in order that no one should give me more credit than what he sees in me or hears from me, ⁷ just because of receiving such extraordinary revelations. To keep me from becoming overly exalted, I was given a thorn in the flesh, an angel of Satan, to keep slapping me, so that I might not be overly exalted. ⁸ Three times I begged the Lord about this, that it would depart from me. ⁹ But he said to me: “My undeserved kindness is sufficient for you, for my power is being made perfect in weakness.” . . .

But CTR was continually overly exalted by others, mostly, due to the weakness of men around him looking for a leader. CTR evidently gave in to that weakness himself and, within 20 years, considered himself alone to be the individual embodiment of the "faithful and wise servant" (faithful and discreet slave). In spite of the embarrassment of 1878, he began placing more importance on chronology than ever before. Most of the content of the 6 volumes of Studies in the Scriptures would concern the "chronological plan" of the ages. A "divine" chronology, as he believed.

 Defending his chronology today seems out of place. ResLight does a good job correcting the exaggerated and incorrect claims against CTR, but he also goes too far in trying to defend Russell on this same topic. Remaining Bible Student groups vary in their defense of Russell, but it's a common tendency to give too much exaltation to the man himself. Rutherford called it "worship" of Russell and it took until about 1931 to remove most of it. 

I have asked ResLight a couple of questions through one of his forums. Hopefully he will answer soon.

[Patiently waiting for Truth]

20 hours ago, JW Insider said:

But CTR was continually overly exalted by others,

Probably totally off topic but have you said, or, has someone said here, that Russell thought that he was something like 'free from sin' or 'could not sin' because he had been specially chosen before he was even born ? 

Did Russell think that there was something extra special about himself ?  

I did try to research it with lots of different keywords, but found nothing. So is it all in my mind ?