“But concerning the times and the seasons, Brethren, you do not need to be written to; for you yourselves know accurately, That the Lord’s Day is coming like a Thief at Night. But you, Brethren, are not in darkness, that the DAY should come upon You like a Thief.” (1 Thes. 5:1, 2, 4, Dia.)
The Day of this text is the great seventh‑thousand year day, beginning with the time of the Lord’s Second presence in the Harvest and also the great Time of Trouble which we now see has come upon us. The Lord’s faithful people that are watching will have an accurate understanding of these “times and seasons.”
The word “times” is from the Greek chronos, and forms the root of our English word chronology, which word means the science of assigning to dates their proper events. The word “seasons” means a set or proper time. To gain a clear understanding of these expressions it is well to remember That Servant’s teaching that prophecy cannot be understood in detail until it has been fulfilled, or is in course of fulfillment. That being true, we come to the logical conclusion that God’s people can “know accurately” only the times and seasons that apply to their particular day. As instance, at the First Advent the Apostles and a very small select group recognized that Jesus was the Christ, although the majority did not. Therefore, Jesus said of that majority, “Thou didst not know the season [kairos] of thy visitation.” (Luke 19:44, Dia.) And while the Apostles and others did then know the “season of visitation,” they did not know clearly the times and seasons of the generations that followed them. Therefore, St. Paul said the Ransom for all would be “testified in due time.” (1 Tim. 2:6)
In Noah’s day the times and seasons of due Truth predicated the coming flood, but the great majority understood not. And of the destruction of this “present evil world” Jesus said there would be a similar condition, “They understood not till the deluge came, and swept them away.” (Matt. 24:39, Dia.) However, those in the Parousia Truth Movement understood very clearly, many years before 1914, what was coming. They knew the times and seasons pertinent to their own welfare. That Servant was acutely aware of this situation, as note his comments in Parousia Vol. 3, P. 124:
“While each of the time prophecies accomplishes a separate and distinct purpose, the central object of their united and harmonious testimony has been to mark, with definiteness and precision, by either direct or indirect evidence, or corroborative testimony, the date of our Lord’s Second Advent, and of the establishment of His Kingdom in the earth; also to mark the various stages [the times and seasons] and means of its establishment, during the harvest period.”
Brother Russell also realized a specific work would be due to be performed at each proper time and season: “The present is the time [written in 1890] for the sealing of the servants of God in their foreheads, before the storm of trouble bursts (Rev. 7:2,3)... before the night cometh and the door of opportunity to labor is shut.” (Vol. 3, p. 211)
But he also saw “through a glass darkly” a future “time and season.” “After this [reaping] period the dark night of the world’s great tribulation must find place... Observe that, when this night cometh, when the‑reapers must cease their labors; it will prove that this final work of the Gospel Age is accomplished.” (Par. 3, p. 211)
This period is broadly divided into two periods: “The day of His coming [presence]” and “when He appeareth [makes manifest].” The day of His presence was the forty‑year period from 1874 to 1914, during which time the world in general knew almost nothing at all of what was going on. At that time “the Messenger” did not “appear” to them.
But the situation changed acutely in 1914, when the great trouble started. The Messenger not only then proved His presence to the “Watchers,” but He began to be revealed to the world in general in the fires of that day. In July 1916 That Servant discussed this text, and we quote some of what he said:
“The Scriptures call this day ‘the day of the Lord,’ ‘the day of Jehovah,’ ‘the day of God,’ ‘the day of Christ,’ ‘that great and notable day,’ etc... The Apostle Paul in his writings lays special emphasis upon the fundamental importance of correct doctrinal teaching... This day means the shaking of society in a manner and to an extent never before known [as is now in process], and so thoroughly that another shaking will never be necessary... The hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies [hail, hard cutting Truth]... and only God’s true consecrated church would be in the light [the Present Truth] and not be taken unawares.” (Reprint 5916)
From this it should be clear enough that the leaders among God’s people should “earnestly contend for the faith [the truth]” to the full extent of their ability and providential circumstances; and should be fully informed as to “the times and seasons” and to “know accurately” the times and seasons in which we are in now.
That That Servant could not foresee the length of this day is not to his disparagement. He clearly understood the times and seasons of his own lifetime, and spoke in generalities of what has followed since his death; but the details and the length of time he could not see. However, this does not mean that we who now are living cannot see them; in fact, it is our special privilege to see them very clearly. Yet here again we do well not to attempt to speak too emphatically about the years ahead – when the special times and seasons of future years will speak for themselves – just as clearly as we see present happenings.
It would seem that those who have been in the Truth for a number of years would be able to discern the Times and Seasons in which we are living. It is quite evident that we have been in the Time of Trouble since 1914, for there have been revolutions of one kind or another in many countries. Also, all governments – the good, the bad and the indifferent – are all reeling like a drunkard (Isa. 24:20). But in spite of all this there are still some who are insisting that the Saints have not all been gathered. There was strong conviction up to 1910 that the complete Body of Christ would be in the heavenly garner by the Fall of 1914. When that failed to materialize, it caused quite a few to “walk with him no more.” Let us think for a moment about that mistake that Brother Russell made when he thought that the Saints would all be glorified during the 40‑year Harvest period. If he had not firmly believed, and had Biblical support, that they would all be gathered at that time, he could not have entertained such a thought. He corrected this thought, but at no time did he make any correction of his teaching that the Harvest was a period of 40 years. He knew that they would all be gathered before his death, but didn’t know when that would be.
That Servant was made Steward of all the Lord’s goods for the whole of the reaping time following his appointment, and ruler over the whole household, according to Matt. 24:45‑47 and Luke 12:42‑44. Therefore he must have set forth on the table all the meat for the reaping time, and controlled the entire work for the whole household during the reaping time following his appointment. Consequently, before his death every one of the Elect was working in harmony with his teachings and under his direction of the work. Hence, before his death, October 31, 1916, all of the Elect had been reaped, sealed in the forehead, and were engaged in serving others under That Servant’s general direction. He gave The Plan Of The Ages as no man since the Apostles had done, and he did it with Bible support. All the truths of previous ages were revealed and clarified and the many errors were routed.
The Bible teaches that all of the saints, the entire 144,000, would be given the honor of executing (spiritual) vengeance upon the nations, and (spiritual) punishment upon the people, of binding the kings and princes, and executing upon them the judgment written (Psa. 149:5‑9). This was done from the Fall of 1914 to that of 1916.
But some are like the Jews during their Harvest; they do not know the “time of their visitation.” (Luke 19:44) They see the signs of the new dispensation without knowing how to read them or what they signify (Matt. 16:3).
If we knew of at least one person who is suffering with Christ at this time, we might be convinced that we are still in the Harvest, or gathering time. We sympathize with the brethren who are suffering because they live in countries where poverty and political oppression are routine. But they are not the only ones suffering in those countries. Jews and other peoples are suffering in those areas, also. So this is not the suffering with Christ. This is not the “filling up of that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ.” (Col. 1:24) The suffering with Christ has to do with witnessing to, and defending the Truth at all costs.
The word rendered witnesses, in many instances in the Scriptures, is from the Greek word martyrs from which comes our English word martyr signifying those who witness at a cost of suffering or death.
Jesus said: “To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth.” (John 18:37) Of course, the truth that he was bearing witness to was that He was King, for that was the Truth of His day. It was His witness to the truth that cost Him His life.. Similarly, it is such witness to the truth of God’s character and Plan that would cost all the Saints their lives. For this reason the Apostle Paul said: “I am set for the defense of the Gospel.” (Phil. 1:17) During the Harvest Brother Russell and his co‑workers were persecuted in the press, in the pulpits and by individuals. But we see none of that today. The idea now is “live and let live.” You believe your way and I will believe my way, but we won’t argue about it.
THE UNBEGOTTEN CLASS
Those who cannot discern the “times and seasons” in which we are now living deny that there is an unbegotten consecrated class who have been developed since the end of the Harvest and completion of the Church, even though That Servant wrote of them a number of times.
Probably all who have been in any Truth Movement for any length of time recognize the fact that the Body of Christ will contain only 144,000 – “the number of them which were sealed.” (Rev. 7:4) Once the “fullness of the Gentiles” had come in, there would no longer be opportunity for any one to join that select company. That Servant recognized this fact many years before 1914. Probably his first written comment on the subject is to be found in his Volume 1, page 204, line 2, top: “An earthly calling was made, though imperfectly understood, before the heavenly calling, and we are told that it will be continued after the Gospel Age [emphasis ours].” A more positive statement is found in Volume 6, page 157, top: “And we may be sure that any consecrating and performing a full sacrifice of themselves in the interest of the Lord’s cause after the heavenly class is complete, will find that the Lord has plenty of blessings of some other kind still to give; and that all of His blessings are for such consecrators, self‑sacrificers. Possibly they may be counted in with the Ancient Worthies who had the sacrificing disposition that is pleasing to God, prior to the beginning of the ‘high calling.”
Other instances of his comments on this class are in the 1911 Watch Tower, Reprint 4835, col. 1, par. 4; 1915, Reprint 5716, col. l, par. 1; and in Question Book, 151,152. In these citations he stated that such consecrators between the Ages – after the close of the High Calling and before Restitution begins – would share in honor and service with the Ancient Worthies.
Another quotation from his writings is Reprint 3418, col. 2, the year 1904: “We would be sure that Divine love and care would be over them just as surely, and that failing a place in the elect church through no fault of theirs, these would be given some good portion which would much more than reward and satisfy them.”
Many of the Bible Students never refer to this unbegotten class. Do they think that Brother Russell was unwise when he wrote of this class, instead of being “wise and faithful”?
In Acts 20:27, the Apostle Paul says: “For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.” And in 2 Tim. 2:20 he says: “In a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour and some to dishonour.” This passage shows the six saved classed from among mankind, four elect and two non‑elect. The gold and silver are the Little Flock and the Great Company; the wood and earth are the Ancient and Youthful Worthies with those of honour being the saved Jews and those of dishonour (less honor) the saved Gentiles.
That Servant followed the Apostle’s example and “did not shun to declare all the counsel of God.” He taught that the Youthful Worthies was an unbegotten class consecrating after the heavenly class was complete. He gives this in Reprint 5761, under the heading THOSE CONSECRATING BETWEEN THE AGES. (Other writings of his on the subject are given above.) He did not use the term Youthful Worthies, but he did speak of those who are meant by that term, who would be associated in honor and service with the Ancient Worthies and have a “better resurrection.”
Another text which depicts six saved classed from among mankind is Joel 2:28,29: “And it shall come to pass afterward [after the Gospel Age], that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons [converted Jews] and daughters [converted Gentiles] shall prophesy, your old men [Ancient Worthies] shall dream dreams, your young men [Youthful Worthies] shall see visions; and also upon the servants [the Little Flock] and upon the handmaids [Great Company] in those days [the Gospel Age] will I pour out my spirit.”
We call attention here to the Hebrew word zaqen from which “old men” is translated. This word is translated “ancients” thirteen times in the Old Testament, and once as “ancient men.” And “your young men” would be better translated “young, choice, unmarried men – youthfuls.” This Joel text is clear enough that there are two classes of men who would be especially inspired for the benefit of the remainder of restitutionists Ancients and Youthfuls, Ancient Worthies and Youthful Worthies.
In Reprint 4796, col. 1, par. 2: “That Kingdom will be closely identified with the Zionist movement and the Holy Land. The kingdom itself will be spiritual, invisible to men, but its earthly agents will be visible and they will be Jewish – ‘Ye shall see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom,’ etc. (Matt. 8:11).”
Jesus said, “Abraham rejoiced to see my day, and he saw it, and was glad.” So he was reckoned just because of his faith (Heb. 11:8). “Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.” (Gal. 3:6,7) According to That Servant the unbegotten class here in the end of the Age will be associated with those patriarchs and prophets, who will be the visible earthly Kingdom. They will be “princes in all the earth.” (Psa. 45:16)
THE JEWS
“Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hast received of the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.” (Isa. 40:2)
That Servant said: “AH! Were it not that the Lord has favored us with a share in the work of gathering out the bride and helping to make her ready for the marriage of the Lamb, we would be here in Jerusalem and, by the grace of God, would do a part in the great work now due of turning away blindness from Jacob (Rom. 11:25).”
This statement was made in April 1892 in a report of a trip to the Holy Land. It shows two things: (1) That he believed the “double” of the Jews disfavor to have come to an end; (2) That he believed that it was his mandate from the Lord to gather the Saints according to Psa. 50:5: “Gather my saints together unto me...” He proved the first with Bible Chronology, and the Seasons that we are now in show that a representative number of the Jews have been restored to their homeland. The second we believe we have already covered.
Of course, their blindness has not yet been turned away. That is one of the reasons for the trouble they are having now. If they would turn to their God for help, instead of depending on the crumbling governments of this world, their eyes would be opened. But they will not do this until their last trouble ‑Jacob’s last trouble. Zech. 14:1‑3: “Behold the day of the Lord cometh [we have been in the “evil day” – Eph. 6:13 – since 1914, with the “evil” steadily becoming worse and worse], and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go into captivity, and the residue of people shall not be cut off from the city. Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.” “Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses.” (Psa. 107:19) Note the Berean comments on the Zechariah text: “When he fought for Joshua against the six Amalakite kings at Gibeon; when he fought for David against the Philistines at Perazim; when he miraculously delivered Israel from the host of Midian by Gideon and his band.” The signs of the times seem to show that this cannot be too far in the future. So we “watch and pray” as we observe events unfold.
In the meantime it is our privilege and duty to “speak comfortably” to the Jews in their trouble. For now we think Jeremiah 30:11 applies: “For I am with thee, saith the Lord, to save thee: though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee: but I will not leave thee altogether unpunished.” We can encourage them with our works, reminding them of the promise made to them, but we can also come to their aid in a material way. Some individual Brethren have done this at great inconvenience and expense to themselves.
“Thus, gradually, the geographical center of the earth, the Jerusalem vicinity, is resuming importance in the eyes of the world. Those who view the matter through the prophetic telescope foresee the time when ‘the Law shall go forth from Mt. Zion [spiritual Israel on the heavenly plane], and the Word from Jerusalem [the To‑Be Capital of the world under the Millennial Kingdom arrangements].’ Upon such as will conform to these arrangements the Divine blessing will rest, uplifting them gradually from sin, ignorance and superstition to mental, moral and physical perfection. Thus, according to the Scriptures the whole earth will gradually become the Garden of the Lord – Paradise. And those times or years of restitution will bring the willing and obedient of mankind back again to the full perfection of being, mental, moral and physical, which God intended arid exemplified in Father Adam. Thus eventually all the terrible results of Adam’s disobedience and fall will be blotted out through the long‑promised Kingdom of Israel, the Kingdom of God under Messiah the Mediator of Israel’s New Law Covenant, whose gracious provisions will be open to all the nations of the earth (Acts 3:19‑23; Jer. 31:31; Zech. 14:1‑6, 14‑20).” (Overland Monthly, page 69, col. 1)
“But do thou continue in the things which thou didst learn, and wast convinced of, knowing of whom thou hast been instructed.” (2 Tim. 3:14, Dia.)
WHAT KIND OF A MAN IS SADDAM HUSSEIN?
Our political and military leaders are asking this question, “What kind of a man are we fighting?” The answer to this question was written in the Bible about 4,000 years ago. Abraham had two sons, Ishmael and Isaac: Ishmael by Hagar, an Egyptian, when Abraham’s wife Sarah was unable to conceive. Some years later God performed a biological miracle and permitted Sarah to give Abraham a son Isaac, the “seed of promise.” These two sons of Abraham each had twelve sons which became two mighty nations which later became known as the nation of Israel and the Arab nation or Ishmaelites.
The Arabs or Ishmaelites are described in Genesis 16:12 (Rotherham): “But he will be a wild ass of a man, his hand against every one, and every one’s hand against him yet in presence of all his brethren shall he have his habitation.” In Genesis 16:10, it states that Ishmael’s seed, the Arabs, “shall not be numbered for multitude.”
The Ishmaelites and posterity have lived by prey and plundering, robbers by land and pirates by sea. Genesis 16:12 states that Ishmael would dwell in the presence of all his brethren – viz., Moabites, Edomites and Israelites. They have been continually at war with the rest of the world and yet never defeated. They did not acknowledge Alexander the Great as conqueror. Alexander objected to this insult and determined to punish the culprits but died before he could accomplish his mission.
When the Romans invaded the East and subdued adjoining countries, they were never able to reduce Arabia to a Roman province. Time after time enemies sought to invade but were always forced out.
About the 7th Century AD, Mohammed appeared on the scene and set the desert and the Mid East aflame. Ishmaelites under Mohammed strengthened and extended their power. Under his successors these Arabs, imbued with their new and false religion and their hereditary thirst for blood and pillage, developed into a ferocious horde and carried the Islam banner throughout Asia, Africa and even into Spain.
Since the fall of their Muslim empire, the Turks have made repeated attempts to subdue these Arabs, but instead of succeeding they have been obliged for several centuries to pay them yearly tribute, to permit the converted Turkish Moslems to have a safe passage to Mecca, the “Holy City” where Mohammed the Ishmaelite was born.
Others, Gallas, Trajan, Pompey and Augustus, have been unsuccessful in conquering the Arabs – the Ishmaelites. Emperor Severus, a Roman, laid siege and even made a breach in their defenses, but insurrection broke out in the ranks. As an unseen power protected these Ishmaelites, Emperor Trajan sought to conquer them in about AD 110. Whirlwinds, swarms of flies, lightning, thunder, hail, apparitions in the sky, heat and thirst all helped to repulse these Italians every time they attacked. And so down the stream of time God’s hand seems to have been on the Ishmaelites. In spite of commerce and intercourse with others, they remain the same fierce, savage, intractable people like their ancestors.
This people, with the Jews excepted, have for 4,000 years withstood the enmity as a distinct people from their beginning with Ishmael.
Compare Arabs and Jews:
A contrast: Israel scattered – Deut. 28:64; Ishmael stayed at home – Gen. 16:12.
The land promised to Abraham and his seed is given in Genesis 17:6‑8: “And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.”
Also in Genesis 22:16‑18: “And said By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: that in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore: and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.” The stars of the heaven and sand which is upon the sea shore indicates a heavenly and earthly phase of Christ’s Kingdom. In Jeremiah 31:31 God promised to make a new Covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. When this covenant is established with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, He will bless them and through them “all the families of the earth.”
The Ishmaelites too will be blessed through the nation of Israel. “And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: behold I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.” (Gen. 17:20)
In Isaiah 2:2, 3 we read: “And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk‑in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.”
The Jews are to be gathered from the four corners of the earth where they have been dispersed until God gathers them by the hunters and fishers (Jer. 16:16). “And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.” (Isa. 11:12)
The headquarters of the Kingdom will be Jerusalem and from there flow throughout the world.
God did not promise Ishmael and his seed the land of Canaan. Isaac and his seed were promised the land from “the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates.” (Gen. 15:18‑21; Ex. 23:31; Deut. 1:7,8; 11:24; Ezek. 48:1‑29)
A similar picture is presented in the two sons of Isaac: Jacob and Esau. Saddam Hussein will be defeated eventually because God has promised Canaan to the Jews. “He is faithful that promised.” (Heb. 10:23)
(By Brother Roy Ekroth, Reprint SPECIAL No. 419‑A)
“MIDEAST SUICIDE BOMBER KILLS 3: Israeli officials said they think the bombing was meant to mar the opening of the Jewish Olympics in Jerusalem. JERUSALEM – A suicide bomber killed himself and two Israelis at a crowded bus stop north of Tel Aviv on Monday, bringing Israel and Palestinians closer to conflagration as a government spokesman vowed an immediate response. Israeli officials said they think the bombing was meant to mar the opening of the Maccabiah, the Jewish Olympics, in Jerusalem.
“In a jarring juxtaposition of images, Israel television cut from graphic eyewitness accounts of the bombing to the gala festivities under tight security at Teddy Stadium.
“The militant movement Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the bombing and said it has dozens of other bombers ready to strike inside Israel.
“Besides those who were killed, seven people were injured when the man strapped with explosives blew himself up across from the Binyamina train station.
“Israel’s main north‑south line runs through the small town, and two commuter trains had just let off their passengers.
“Transportation Minister Ephraim Sneh said police thought the bomber might have intended to detonate his explosives on a train. Ever since a Palestinian blew up himself and 21 young people outside a Tel Aviv nightclub June 1, Israeli pundits have predicted that the next such bombing inside Israel would trigger a broad military campaign against the Palestinian Authority.
(Excerpts by Mary Curtius, Los Angeles Times, July 17, 2001)
“ISRAEL UPS WEST BANK FORCES: JERUSALEM‑ Israeli military officials said the army had begun to send infantry and armored reinforcements to the West Bank early this morning after an escalation of Israeli‑Palestinian violence. An aide to Palestinian President Yasser Arafat said the deployment meant Israel wanted to attack the Palestinian Authority. The move came after a day of tit‑for‑tat violence in which Israeli helicopter gunships killed four activists of the militant Hamas group and Palestinians launched their first West Bank mortar‑bomb attacks since violence erupted in September.
(Orlando Sentinel, July 18, 2001)
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LETTER OF GENERAL INTEREST
My Dear Sister Emily:
It was so good to hear from you in your letter of May 25. I was amused at your noticing that the letter was mailed a day after it was dated. Perhaps I should explain that I write all my correspondence at night and drop it into the outgoing mailbox at my home, where it is picked up the next day and postmarked. Unless I deviate from that pattern, which I rarely do, the postmark will always be the next day.
I was also amused that you might think I don’t read the newsletters. On the contrary, they are always of great interest. I don’t correspond about them much, but they are well read and some of the thoughts are shared with the local Bible Students.
Life has been very busy with my move. I’m almost done – I should be in my new apartment by July 1. All my books have been boxed up, including my complete set of the volumes from Laymans. Did I tell you I ordered the entire library some time ago? I haven’t had the time to read the books, but have gotten into several of the volumes. They are very complex and require a lot of study. What do you think of those volumes?
I’ve lost track of what I’ve written, but I think I told you I also lost my roommate of more than a decade, accounting for the need for me to move. He died after open heart surgery. It was very sudden, and things have been in a real tizzy around here.
Your insert on the Youthful Worthies and other classes of the Gospel Age was a bit confusing. I was puzzled in particular about the understanding of Joel 2:28, with the sons being interpreted as converted fleshly Israel, etc., and the daughter being the converted Gentiles of the Millennial Age. I’m not sure how those interpretations came about; I can’t find anything in Brother Russell’s writings describing this.
Are you familiar with Brother ...? He’s a frequent speaker at Bible Student conventions, and he’s a real enigma to me. I know that Bible Students have never been strong on sending their children through the higher educational system. Brother ... credentials include “Professor Emeritus from the Graduate School, University of Hartford; Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel; Swiss Institute of Technology, Lausanne, Switzerland; and the American MBA [I don’t know what this is, perhaps Master of. Business Administration] in Paris, France. He received his Ph. D. from the University of Connecticut receiving honors from Tau Beta Pi, Etta Kappa Nu and Phi Delta Kappa honorary societies in engineering, science and management.”
Quite a list, eh? And yet, when some of us hear him speak, he really doesn’t seem to know what he’s talking about! Can it be that Bible Students, of all people, could be so bewitched by multiple credentials, that they’re just accepting everything he says without doing some critical thinking? I’m afraid this is exactly what’s happening.
He’s on my mind because I just ordered his latest book, “Ten Bad Mistakes About God” which are listed as follows: God Is In Parts; God Became A Man; God Must Be Eaten; God Less Popular Than Jesus; God Burns and Tortures Souls Forever; God Has DNA; God Has a Mother; God Was Killed by the Jews; God is Perceived in Many Contradictory Ways; God is Being Replaced by Science.” I’ll read the book, but I’m a little uncomfortable with the author.
Well, time to go to sleep – I spent the better part of the day dusting and cleaning, getting ready to move. Blessings to you and all, and please be patient with me as I try desperately to keep up with my correspondence!
Blessings and love, .......