He said: " As the natural sleep, if sound, implies total unconsciousness, so with death, the figurative sleep; -it is a period of absolute unconsciousness—more than that it is a period of absolute non-existence, except as preserved in the Father's purpose and love."
"Pastor" Russell was nothing if he was not bold. He knew there were credulous people in the world who would be duped by his dogmatic statements of error. He went a step beyond those who teach the soul-sleeping heresy, and boldly avowed extinction at death. Where is resurrection? Gone! Where is the testimony of Scripture? Ignored or denied!
For Scripture soon overthrows such teaching. The statements made by the Lord Himself in Luke 16 teach otherwise. These the rich man dies, and is buried, yet according to "Pastor" Russell is entirely non-existent. But Scripture goes on without a break: " And in hell lie lift up his eyes, being in torments."
"Pastor" Russell says: " It is a period of absolute unconsciousness." But torment is consciousness. Lifting up his eyes is consciousness. Whether the language be taken literally or symbolically matters not—it conveys the sense of full consciousness. Further, the rich man sees Lazarus in Abraham's bosom. But according to "Pastor" Russell, Abraham is "absolutely non-existent."
Take also the scene on the Mount of Transfiguration. Moses and Elias appear in the glory with the Lord. Yet, according to "Pastor" Russell, Moses and Elias are in a state of "absolute non-existence" and therefore of "absolute unconsciousness." But men absolutely unconscious do not talk, and Moses and Elias conversed, and the subject of their conversation is given in the sacred record.
The Apostle Paul, too, knew no such theory as soul-sleeping or annihilation. He wrote: " I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ, which is far better " (Phil. 1:2323For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: (Philippians 1:23)). " We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord (2 Cor. 5:88We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:8)).
On such plain statements of Holy Writ dying saints have pillowed their souls, and passed away in the full and confident expectation of being with the Lord, as surely as the dying thief did, when the Lord said to him: "TO-DAY, shalt thou be with Me in Paradise " (Luke 23:4343And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. (Luke 23:43)).
And that was said to him on the very day that he died. There was no hint of soul-sleeping doctrine, or of extinction of being.
Enough has been written to expose the soul-withering blasphemies of MILLENNIAL DAWNISM. To take up every point, and in detail, would have been to enlarge a pamphlet into a bulky volume.
Referring to the statement that more money rolled in unsought than could be found outlet for, a large, influential London Daily commented that there are still to be found large numbers of men and women, who are willing to pay anyone handsomely, who will tell them there is no hell. This is the whole secret of the popularity of this heresy.
The writer has thought it well to use the late C. T. Russell's self-assumed title of "Pastor" in exposing his blasphemous system, as it is under this title he endeavored to familiarize himself with the public. He was, however, no pastor of Christ, but in reality a wolf in sheep's clothing, bent on the destruction of the flock, as shown by the facts we now state.
He instituted libel proceedings against the BROOKLYN EAGLE, an American newspaper, for damages amounting to $100,000. He lost the case. Examined on March 17th, 1913, Russell swore that his wife had not divorced him, and that the court had not granted alimony from him. Mr. Staunton, the opposing counsel, cross-examined Russell. He was compelled to admit that the court had divorced him from his wife, though not " absolutely," and that the court had granted alimony. Russell swore deceitfully on these two counts.
The same year Russell brought a libel suit against Rev. J. J. Ross, of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, which he lost. Writing of the divorce Mr. Ross says: "It came out in the evidence that his 'conceit,' 'egotism,' and 'domination ' were such as to make life intolerable to any sensitive woman. Second, that his conduct in relation to other women was improper.'
On October 31St, 1916, Russell died in a Pullman car in America, leaving no testimony of joy or brightness. At his funeral his followers claimed that he had already been resurrected—a claim without any proof and of a highly blasphemous nature. Such audacity should open eyes as to this terrible delusion of Millennial Dawnism, and of the "Jehovah's Witnesses" propaganda which sprang out of it, for his teaching was adopted by the late Judge Rutherford, who founded the off-shoot, entitled "Jehovah's Witnesses." For further information as to this, the reader is referred to a pamphlet, "Jehovah's Witnesses, And Judge Rutherford's Books," an exposure from the pen of the present writer.
May God preserve the reader from soul-destroying error is the earnest prayer of the writer.
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