Either Charles Taze Russell obtained his ideas from Jehovah or he didn't.
If Russell didn't get them from Jehovah---from where?
Let's take a survey of the facts about William Miller and subsequent Adventist teachings.
Then, we can ask this question again!
When William Miller (Baptist farmer turned theologian) predicted the 2nd Coming of Christ in 1843/44 a large segment of America's population believed along with him.
Miller was invited to preach in church after church. He gave his points in sermons demonstrating the nearness of Armageddon. Perhaps a hundred thousand devout christians waited for The End. They sold their houses and early goods and waited on rooftops and hillsides for their Lord and Savior's return.
The nothing which followed is now called THE GREAT DISAPPOINTMENT.
It set in place a pattern to be repeated by others making similar claims. The pattern forms a chain of reasoning. Error to error to error and one great disappointment after another.
This is where our interest as Jehovah's Witnesses (former and current) commences.
Why?
Miller is a link in a chain. Miller is the origination point of the work done by later crackpots such as Pastor Russell and J.F.Rutherford as well as Fred Franz.
How can we say this with assurance? Better still, how can we prove it? Read on.
Many of the disappointed true believers in William Miller's chronologies and computations went back to their old churches and apologized. Others were convinced they were right and set about dedicating their lives to proving it.
Among the many True Believers, a woman named Ellen received visions telling her what the "Truth" was. She wrote many books and articles including THE GREAT CONTROVERSY. She is the founder of modern day SEVENTH DAY ADVENTISM.
Like William Miller before her, Ellen G.White is the next link in our chain of proof.
What is the chain? It is a chain of proof which leads to Pastor Russell and J.F.Rutherford and demonstrates they could NOT possibly be any "mouthpiece" of Jehovah or channel of communication or latter day prophet. Why? Because we will demonstrate that there are no ORIGINAL core beliefs to Jehovah's Witnesses. They were copied, stolen or merely wrested away from others and adopted.
If we succeed in demonstrating these counterfeit beliefs are, indeed, plagarizms we destroy the core idea of "new light" and guidance by Jehovah through one True religion in Brooklyn New York.
Let's begin with the core beliefs Ellen G.White recieved through mysterious "visions"
wikipedia: In 1840, at age 12, her family became involved with the Millerite movement. Attending William Miller lectures Ellen began to feel that she was guilty of sin, and she was filled with terror about being eternally lost. She describes herself as spending nights in tears and prayer, and being in this condition for several months. Historian Merlin Burt points to a three-step conversion process. She was baptized by John Hobart in Casco Bay in Portland, Maine, and eagerly awaited for Jesus to come again. After her conversion, in her later years, she referred to this as the happiest time of her life. Her family's involvement with Millerism caused the Methodist church they attended to disfellowship all of them
White was a controversial figure even within her own lifetime. She claimed to have received a vision soon after the MilleriteGreat Disappointment. In the context of many other visionaries, she was known for her conviction and fervent faith.
Read them carefully and ask yourself IN WHAT WAY do they differ from Pastor Russell's core theology?
Holistic human nature (fundamental beliefs 7, 26) - Humans are an indivisible unity of body, mind and spirit. They do not possess an immortal soul, and death is an unconscious sleep (commonly known as "soul sleep").
Conditional immortality (fundamental belief 27) - The wicked will not suffer eternal torment in hell, but instead will be permanently destroyed.
Great Controversy (fundamental belief 8) - Humanity is involved in a "great controversy" between Jesus Christ and Satan. This is an elaboration on the common Christian theory that evil began in heaven when an angelic being (Satan.) rebelled against the Law of God.
Investigative Judgment (fundamental belief 24) - A judgment of professed Christians began in 1844, in which the books of record are examined for all the universe to see. The investigative judgment will affirm who is worthy of salvation, and vindicate God as just in His dealings with mankind.
Remnant (fundamental belief 13) - There will be an end-time remnant who keep the commandments of God and have "the testimony of Jesus"
Spirit of Prophecy (fundamental belief 18) - The ministry of Ellen G. White is commonly referred to as the "Spirit of Prophecy" and her writings are considered "a continuing and authoritative source of truth", though ultimately subject to the Bible.
Dress and entertainment
"For the Spirit to recreate in us the character of our Lord we involve ourselves only in those things which will produce Christlike purity, health, and joy in our lives. This means that our amusement and entertainment should meet the highest standards of Christian taste and beauty. While recognizing cultural differences, our dress is to be simple, modest, and neat, befitting those whose true beauty does not consist of outward adornment but in the imperishable ornament of a gentle and quiet spirit."
Accordingly, many Western Adventists are opposed to practices such as body piercing and tatoos. More conservative Adventists refrain from the wearing of jewelry altogether, including such items as earrings and wedding bands. Traditionally Adventists dress semi-formally when attending church.
Conservative Adventists also avoid certain recreational activities which are considered to be a negative spiritual influence, including dancing, rock music and secular theatre.
Exclusivism
Finally, it is alleged that certain Adventist beliefs and practices are exclusivist in nature. Non-Adventist critics have raised concern about the Adventist claim to be the "remnant church", and the traditional association of Roman Catholicism and other denominations with "Babylon". [ These attitudes are said to legitimize the proselytising of Christians from other denominations.
Pastor Russell's chronology "proofs" of 1914 and Armageddon came from two sources.
Pyramidology and Dispensational theology. Neither of these ideas originated with Russell.
John Nelson Darby, (
STEM Publishing:The writings of J. N. Darby: On "Days" signifying "Years" in prophetic language.
On "Days" signifying "Years" in prophetic language.
J. N. Darby, 1830.
The question is not, therefore, whether a day ever means a day, when used in Scripture or in prophecy, confessedly literally expressed (as evidenced by a literal fulfilment, evincing that meaning), but what is its force, when used as a symbol in a confessedly symbolical prophecy? The consideration of the mind of GOD, as adverted to in the third principle afore stated, will give us a full apprehension of the reason of the statement, when we consider the value too it was to the Church - the principle of the "yet a little while," and the moral gap unfilled up by any events which made the time included in the 1260 years of this prophecy. As to the event not satisfying us in fulfilment, neither did the Lord's coming; and I would remark that there is no remarkable event of such external magnitude in the world's eye as to fix the mind on its evident fulfilment; and as to the former, to this day the terms of the seventy weeks are as much discussed and in the dark as the 1260 years, save that we, by habitual belief, have recognised Jesus the Lord, as the Messiah.
18 November1800 - 29 April1882) was an Anglo-Irishevangelist, and an influential figure among the original Plymouth Brethren. He is considered to be the father of modern Dispensationalism.
What is left for C.T.Russell to receive from Jehovah? In what way did he serve as god's mouthpiece?
On what did Judge Rutherford build that came from Faithful and Discreet contact with the divine?
Let the words of Pastor Russell come to mind at this point:
Truth:
"A truth presented by Satan himself is just as true as a truth stated by God. . . . Accept truth wherever you find it, no matter what it contradicts" (WT 7/1879, pp. 8-9). Charles Taze Russell