He said: "The reader... must not expect to have passages of Scripture pointed out in which these matters and dates are plainly written. On the contrary, he must bear in mind that all these things have been hidden by the Lord in such manner that they could not be understood or appreciated, until the due time had come, and then only by his earnest, faithful children, who esteem truth more precious than rubies " (Vol. 2, page 171).
The reader can read between the lines. " The due time had come " when none other than Charles Taze Russell appeared upon the scene, and the Lord's " earnest, faithful children " are those who swallow what Charles Taze Russell has to say—without proof.
The year 1914 was vastly important to Russell, for he prophesied that the Seven Times of the Gentiles would expire about October 1St, 1914. This statement was adhered to by Russell for years, but as the time drew near he began to be less dogmatic, and to cast about to find some way out of the difficulty.
In THE WATCH TOWER (issued Nov. 15th, 1913) Russell had an article entitled, "What course should we take?" He told of a farmer, who suggested that if the Church was to be gathered before October, 1914, he would be inclined to quit farming and spend the year in colporteur work, as he would have sufficient money to do this, if he were to mortgage his farm or sell it. The wily pastor advised this farmer that such a proposal would be unwise unless he were unencumbered. If unencumbered it would be a good thing to give a year to the Lord's work " and at the close of the year [he] might hope in any event to be in reasonable health and as capable as ever of earning a living." There is not much certainty about this.
Then Russell said later on: "The fact is that, notwithstanding the strength of our position and our hope that it may be true, it is nevertheless of faith and not of knowledge."
The fact is, it was neither faith nor knowledge. Evidently the "Pastor's" thoughts had not been very comfortable. He said: "The thought has been borne in upon the Editor [this is himself] very forcefully during the past two weeks, that to expect the world's great trouble to begin on or before October 1St, 1914, would be to expect astounding things during the intervening months."
Russell concluded his extraordinary article: "We state with positiveness, the opinions of the writer and the reasons thereof, but leave the final decision with each head and heart in all matters, without attempting more."
How modest! How unlike his previous dogmatic utterances!
A man proved guilty of conduct sufficient to enable his wife to divorce him, of fraud, of swearing deceitfully on oath, is not likely to have his opinions as to the end of the world, or of anything else, received either by the head or heart of any intelligent, upright person.
One verse completely upsets "Pastor" Russell's claim to settle the date of Christ's second advent. The Lord Jesus Himself says: "Of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but My Father only" (Matt. 24:3636But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. (Matthew 24:36)).
Our Lord says "no man" knows. Then evidently Russell did not know.
And when we come to Bible details as to the coming of Christ, he fared no better. He told us the Lord had come to earth. Scripture tells us He will first catch up His own to heaven. Russell tells us He came secretly, graciously veiling His presence from human sight. Scripture tells us the believer will see Him when He comes. For proof let the following Scriptures give such teaching the lie direct.
"The dead in Christ shall rise first: then we [believers] which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord" (1 Thess. 4:16, 1716For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:16‑17)). "We know that when He shall appear, we shall be like Him: for we shall see Him as He is" (1 John 3:22Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:2)).
C. T. Russell did not appear to have any idea as to the difference between the Lord coming for His people, catching them up to heaven, and then coming with His people to reign upon the earth. As to the latter event, he fared no better. We read of the Lord Jesus: "Behold, He cometh with clouds: and every eye shall see Him" (Rev. 1:77Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. (Revelation 1:7)).
Yet again C. T. Russell said: "We must not expect Him to come again as a human being, as at the first advent" (Vol. 2 page 107).
How completely Scripture refutes the statements Of MILLENNIAL DAWNISM.