A Prediction Without Any Warrant from Scripture — Pastor Russell Will Be Found Mistaken — Begins to Fear It Himself, and Seeks to Explain
By JEAN VUILLEUMIER
A FOUR-PAGE periodical, which is volume 2, No. 1, of the Bible Student’s Monthly, published by the “International Bible Association,” Brooklyn, New York, is circulated everywhere. On its first page is a sermon preached recently by pastor C. T. Russell, the well-known religious writer and lecturer, who for the last thirty years or more has been very active and successful, with his colaborers, in circulating books, papers, and pamphlets about the “dawn of the millennium.”
Claims Christ Returned in 1874
Russell’s leading work is entitled “Studies in the Scriptures.” It comprises six bound volumes, and was copyrighted in 1889. In it the claim is made that Christ returned to this earth in 1874, and that forty years from that date—that is, in 1914—“the kingdom of God will obtain full, universal control . . . in the earth, . . . on the ruins of present institutions.”
Let me quote his words more fully in reference to the first date: “The next chapter will present Bible evidence that 1874 A. D. was the exact date of the beginning of the ‘times of restitution,’ and hence of our Lord’s return.” (Volume 2, page 170.) “The antitypical thousand years of restitution of all things . . . commenced October, A. D. 1874.” (Page 181.) See also pages 187, 39, 40.
And now on the second date: “In this chapter, we present the Bible evidence proving that the full end of the times of the Gentiles, that is, the full end of their lease of dominion will be reached in A. D. 1914; and that that date will be the farthest limit of the rule of imperfect men. . . . At that date, the kingdom of God . . . will obtain full, universal control. . . . It will then be ‘set up,’ or firmly established, in the earth, on the ruins of present institutions. . . . He whose right it is to take the dominion will then be present as earth’s new Ruler. . . . From that time forward, Jerusalem will no longer be trodden down of the Gentiles. . . . Before that date, God’s kingdom, organized in power, will be in the earth and then smite and crush the Gentile image (Dan. 2:34)—and fully consume the power of these kings. . . . The Bible evidence is clear and strong that the ‘times of the Gentiles’ is a period of 2,520 years, from the year B. C. 606 to and including A. D. 1914.” (Pages 76–79.)
Said All Kingdoms Would Be Overthrown in 1914
If words mean anything, the above sentences plainly and emphatically state that by the end of 1914, at the latest by January 1, 1915, all the governments of this world will be abolished—that empires, kingdoms, republics, dominions, colonies, protectorates, duchies, principalities, clans, and tribes, in Europe or in America, in Asia or in Africa, would all come to an end, to a “full end”; would be “ruined, smitten, crushed, and consumed.” At that time—that is, on January 1, 1915—“earth’s new Ruler,” Jesus Christ, “will obtain full, universal control” of this world, and assume the duties now devolving on all emperors, kings, presidents of republics, sultans, viceroys, governors, senators, etc.
Such is Mr. Russell’s unequivocal prediction.
Let not the point be misunderstood or evaded. The Bible teaches, and many Christians believe, that there is to be an “end of this world,” or age; that this earth will be shaken by an awful earthquake, which will lay all its cities in ruins, and that our Lord will then appear in power and glory to call forth the dead from their graves.
Mr. Russell leaves out the geological and cosmic disturbances, and the “glorious appearing,” and reduces them to political changes, including also a gradual betterment in physical conditions. But the end of the age, as he understands it, must appear right away. This overwhelming political revolution, he tells us, will take place within a few weeks from now. We are therefore well prepared to test the truthfulness of his prediction. A few more weeks will either vindicate or explode the bold assumption of the founder of Millennial-Dawnism. If this world-wide political transformation takes place within the next sixteen days, there will certainly be some reason for paying attention to Mr. Russell’s teachings and interpretations, and for believing that our Lord Jesus Christ did come to this earth in 1874, and has been here ever since.
Russell Himself in Doubt
But lo, Mr. Russell has come to doubt the correctness of the wonderful prophecy he has been palming off on the world during the past thirty years. Likely enough this doubt has been growing to formidable proportions in his mind for the last few years or months. The only honorable thing for him would be to admit and confess his error. But he does not. He begins by disclaiming his own prediction, and fastening it on some one else. The sermon above mentioned is entitled: “End of the World in 1914 Not the View of Pastor Russell.” This view, he says, has been “recently” uttered by a “Canadian minister.” Then he jumps on some side issues, and finally, coming back to the crucial point, says composedly:
“We are looking very interestedly [well he may] to see what the present year may bring forth. . . . 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. . . . 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. . . . Our expectation [not that ‘Canadian minister’s’], true or false, is that there will be . . . the breaking up of many institutions of the present time, if not all.”
Cleverly Changes Front
Witness how cleverly Mr. Russell, after half admitting what he has flatly denied in his title, changes his positions and statements in order to bridge himself over the chasm of his error. What was to take place in 1914 as the “farthest limit,” ‘may772begin’ this year. What was given out on “clear and strong evidence,” “may” happen, but it is “not sure” at all. What was to be the “full, universal control” of the power of the “kings” of to-day, is simmered down to the possible “breaking up of many institutions of the present time.” In a word, Mr. Russell himself reduces his preposterous predictions to nil, without the least admission on his part of having been mistaken.
Error is human. Therefore a frank acknowledgment of one’s mistake should restore to any man the confidence of the public. Mr. Russell has not chosen this way. What will his deluded disciples think of him? Will they accept his glosses, or will they return to these two admonitions of our Lord (Matt. 24:36, 23–27)?
1. “But of that day and hour knoweth no one, not even the angels of heaven, neither the Son, but the Father only.”
2. “Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is the Christ, or, Here; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. Behold, I have told you beforehand. If therefore they shall say unto you, . . . Behold, He is in the inner chambers; believe it not. For as the lightning cometh forth from the east, and is seen even unto the west; so shall be the coming of the Son of man.”
Haste Thee
By Worthie Harris Holden
By Worthie Harris Holden
LOITER not. The day is waning.
Press thy way with urgent tread,
Lest the shades of night o’ertake thee,
Leaving thee among the dead.
See upon the heights the city.
Angels guard the narrow way
Rising from destruction’s moorland
To the home of life for aye.
Look not back, lest treasures lure thee
To forget immortal joy.
Lift thine eyes. A crown awaits thee —
Treasure that has no alloy.
Heaven grants thee strength for striving.
Barter not thy soul for sin.
Gates ajar will soon be closing.
Haste, O, haste to enter in!
Will It Be Peace or Armageddon?
By W. H. Addis
A Prophecy of Peace and Also a Prophecy of War — One Is What God Says — The Other What God Foretells the People Will Say — Both in Striking Fulfilment of the Divine Book
By W. H. Addis
GEN. RADKO DIMITRIEFF
RUSSIAN ARMY
In view of the fact that the universal peace movement to which so much discussion is given at the present time is claimed to be a fulfilment of prophecy, it is interesting to compare the scriptures that speak of the movements for peace, with those that speak of the last great war, which terminates with the battle of Armageddon. What is before us? Whither are we drifting? Two distinct lines of prophecy foretell these two distinct movements. One records the sayings and actions of men and nations in their efforts to establish universal peace, and the other reveals the real outcome of the situation. We will consider the latter.
Comes Suddenly, as a Thief
“For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.” 1 Thess. 5: 2, 3.
“Prepare War”
“Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up: beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning-hooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong. Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about. . . . Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about. Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe.” Joel 3: 9-13. The harvest is the end of the world. See Matt. 13: 39. The valley of Jehoshaphat is the valley that lies to the west of the Dead Sea, and south of Jerusalem.
This scripture foretells a gathering of all the armies of earth, near Jerusalem. Is this gathering of God? What is the prize that lures all nations to the fatal spot? What is the reason that they should gather to this particular place? These are questions that fill the mind of every student of prophecy.
Spirits of Devils
The battle of Armageddon takes place under the sixth of the seven last plagues. “And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.” Rev. 16: 12.
Water is a symbol of peoples, nations, and tongues. See Rev. 17: 15. The great river Euphrates drains the territory occupied by the Ottoman empire. This nation is to be dried up, that the kings of the east may march their armies through its territory. The kings of the east are the nations of Japan, China, and India.
“And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. . . . And He gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.” Rev. 16: 13-16.
Before the end, the world is to witness a mighty display of satanic power. Christ, speaking of this, said: “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” Matt. 24: 24. And Paul, in 2 Cor. 11: 14, adds, “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.”
Why Armageddon?
Why should the devils gather the nations to this particular location? And what will be the almost overmastering deception that will be employed? Paul tells us that at the time they cry Peace, sudden destruction comes. 1 Thess. 5: 3. A careful consideration of the world peace plan reveals the germ of Armageddon, the great war, in embryo.
The Peace Prophecies
The favorite scriptures of the peace advocates are Isaiah 2 and Micah 4. The latter reads: “But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it. And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. And He shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” Micah 4: 1-3.
This is the much talked of prophecy of universal peace. It simply tells us that in the last days many nations will receive a lesson in the horrors of war, that will make them cry, “We will not learn war any more.”
Mountains are a symbol of governments, in the Scripture. See Jer. 51: 1, 2, 11, 25. This is a prophecy that in order to establish peace, the nations will exalt the government of the Lord’s house, or the church, above the governments that have proved failures, and thus establish a reign of righteousness by religio-civil decree.
The Germ of Armageddon
Incidental to this movement will be the cry: “The law shall go forth from Zion. We must take Jerusalem for Christ.”
The Turk must come to his end. This present conflict will leave the Eastern question still unsettled. The Turk may be driven from Europe, but will take up his seat of government “between the seas in the glorious holy mountain” (Dan. 11: 44, 45), which is Jerusalem. See Dan. 9: 16. The cry of Christendom will be, “Jerusalem for Christ, and then we will have peace.” In olden time, the Lord promised Israel that if the people of Jerusalem would keep the Sabbath, their city should remain forever. Jer. 17: 20-27. Religious zealots will reason that if they capture Jerusalem from the Turk, and set up an international court, and enforce an international Sunday law, they will be able to maintain righteousness by civil decree.
The Gathering to Armageddon
Marvelous will be the display of satanic zeal. The spirits of devils will go forth to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to fasten them in deception, and urge them to unite with Satan in his last struggle against the government of heaven. Satan will appear in person to the rulers of the nations, and personate Christ, assuring them that theirs will be the favored government that will rule the world. Then the gathering will commence.
The great pagan hordes of the kings of the east, represented by the dragon, will start their long march to destruction.773
The second division of earth’s armies, those that bow the knee to the papal beast, gather from the great Catholic nations.
The false prophet is the power that will deceive the world with the message of peace. This is graphically portrayed in Ezekiel 13. Fallen and apostate Protestantism, making an image to the beast, will lead the world to Armageddon. Concerning the message of the false prophet, the Lord says: “Because ye have spoken vanity, and seen lies, therefore, behold, I am against you, saith the Lord God. And Mine hand shall be upon the prophets that see vanity, and that divine lies. . . . Because, even because they have seduced My people, saying, Peace; and there was no peace.” Eze. 13: 8-10. “There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.” Isa. 57: 21.
The Battle of Armageddon
Obeying the command of Satan, the proudest of earth’s armies will gather to battle for the supremacy of the world. As they besiege Jerusalem, it is then that the waters of the great river Euphrates will be dried up. The armies of the dragon (paganism), the beast (Catholicism), and the false prophet (apostate Protestantism) will unite to wipe out the common enemy that holds Jerusalem. The Ottoman empire will become the spoil of her enemies. Concerning this, we read in the prophecy of Zechariah: “Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, 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.” Zech. 14: 1, 2.
It is then that Jerusalem will become a burdensome stone to all people, with the combined armies of Christendom facing one another. Then the question arises, Who shall take the spoil?
“And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord God, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day.” Amos 8: 9.
It is at noon that a strange, unnatural darkness will cover the earth, and the armies will tremble as a man that must quaff a poisonous cup.
CANADIAN ARMORED CARS SENT TO THE BATTLE FRONT IN EUROPE
“Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling [margin, “a cup of slumber, or poison”] unto all the people round about. . . . And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it. In that day, saith the Lord, I will smite every horse with astonishment, and his rider with madness.” Zech. 12: 2-4.
“The great day of the Lord is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the Lord: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly. That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness. . . . And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the Lord: and their blood shall be poured out as dust.” Zeph. 1: 14-17.
God’s Message to the Nations
Isa. 34: 1-4: “Come near, ye nations, to hear; and harken, ye people: let the earth hear, and all that is therein; the world, and all things that come forth of it. For the indignation of the Lord is upon all nations, and His fury upon all their armies: He hath utterly destroyed them, He hath delivered them to the slaughter. Their slain also shall be cast out, and their stink shall come up out of their carcasses. . . . And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll.”
“For the great day of His wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand.” Rev. 6: 17.
The Great Climax
“And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns; and He had a name written, that no man knew, but He Himself. And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood; and His name is called the Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed Him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations: and He shall rule them with a rod of iron: and He treadeth the wine-press of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, King of kings, and Lord of lords.
“And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; that ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him that sat on the horse, and against His army.
“And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that had worshiped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of Him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of His mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.” Rev. 19: 11-21.
Our Refuge
Boston Photo News Co.
“Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation not desired; before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the Lord come upon you. . . . Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought His judgment [kept His commandments]; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord’s anger.” Zeph. 2: 1-3.
ELIZA H. MORTON
By Eliza H. Morton
Impressions
IMPRESSIONS come through different agencies, some from God and some from the devil. The only sure way is to test them. Our feelings are no test, neither is the imagination. The “toss-penny” arrangement is no test, for that is nothing but “religious gambling.”
When one is impressed very strongly to do a certain thing or to take a certain course, the only safe thing to do is to wait and pray over it, and thus give God’s Spirit time to direct the mind to some Scriptural thought which may open the way and solve the difficulty.
The Bible rule is, “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isa. 8: 20.
Any impression which is not in harmony with the teaching of the Bible, we may know is from beneath.
ELIZA H. MORTON
“Out of the Mouth of Babes”
At Nancy a man told Colporteur Riner that he did not believe in God, because he could not see Him. Thereupon a little girl who was listening said in a modest way, “When you put a piece of sugar in a glass of water, you can see it; but when it is melted, you see it no longer.” “No,” said the other, “but I taste it.” “Just so with God,” said the girl. “We don’t see Him, but we taste Him. He acts in the world as the piece of sugar in the water. You ought not to believe in the piece of sugar when you can not see it.” The unbeliever grew so confused that he walked away. — Bible Society Gleanings.
