There is information about this at http://jwfacts.com/index_files/davinci.htm
Russell’s belief in the sign of the pyramid most likely came from the Second Adventists. In 1859 John Taylor published The Great Pyramid: Why Was It Built? And Who Built It? He put forward the idea that the architect and supervisor of the Great Pyramid was not an Egyptian but Noah. (Other pyramidologists believe it was Melchizedek.) Piazzi Smyth, a Jewish astronomer accepted this idea. In June 1876 he published an article in the Bible Examiner , a journal owned by George Storrs in Brooklyn. In 1877 Joseph Seiss also published a book on the pyramid entitled Miracle in Stone .
George Storrs then ran a series of articles on the Pyramid and its prophetic significance in the Herald of Life and the Coming Kingdom . It is claimed that Russell attributed his knowledge on pyramids to Smyth.
Charles Taze Russell is buried in a family owned grave at the Rosemont United Cemetery, 226 Cemetery Lane, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This cemetery contains the remains of known Masons and overlooks a Masonic temple. It is claimed that Russell was embalmed at death and next to his grave is a pyramid erected as a memorial. Weighing several tons, it is complete with symbols of the knight’s templar, All-Seeing-Eye and the inscription Watch Tower Bible And Tract Society
Souvenir Report of the Bible Students Convention, Pittsburgh, PA. 1919 January 2-5 p.7
“AT THE GRAVE On Monday, a party of about 150 was conducted by Brother Bohnet to the grave of Brother Russell. Upon a hillside, sloping towards the south, we joined hands around the grave and sang: ‘Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love; the fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above.’ Our last lingering look upon the scene recalled the peaceful manner of our Pastor’s ‘passing beyond the veil.’ Brother Rutherford’s words came to mind: ‘I am glad this prison experience was reserved for us, rather than for our dear Brother Russell.’ We visited the marble works and there watched the workmen slowly but surely chisel out the monument to be erected as a memorial to the Society. The Watchtower Society burial lots in Rosemont United Cemeteries, five miles due north of Pittsburgh City, contain ample grave space for all the members of the Bethel family, and the pilgrims and their wives — in all more than 275 adult graves. In the exact center of the Bethel lot will be erected diagonally the Pyramid Shape Monument as designed by Brother Bohnet, and accepted by Brother Russell as the most fitting emblem for an enduring monument on the Society’s burial space. The size of this structure is nine feet across the base, and its apex stone is exactly seven feet above the ground surface level.”
Pyramids are a major aspect of Freemason teaching and many pagan religions. They were generally used as temples and played an important part in the belief of the afterlife. According to the Encyclopaedia Britannica on DVD 2002
“Pyramids have been built at various times in Egypt, The Sudan, Ethiopia, western Asia, Greece, Cyprus, Italy, India, Thailand, Mexico, South America, and on some islands of the Pacific Ocean. Those of Egypt and of Central and South America are the best known.”
Russell’s interest was particularly in the Great Pyramid of Gizeh, built for Cheops. It is the northernmost of a group of 3 pyramids built in Gizeh and is the largest and oldest of the 3, estimated by archaeologists to have been built over 4,000 years ago. It is considered the most colossal single building ever erected. Its base points are accurately oriented to the four cardinal points of the compass.
Russell’s belief in the message of the pyramids was based on Isaiah 19:19-20;
“19 In that day there will prove to be an altar to Jehovah in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to Jehovah beside its boundary. 20 And it must prove to be for a sign and for a witness to Jehovah of armies in the land of Egypt; for they will cry out to Jehovah because of the oppressors, and he will send them a savior, even a grand one, who will actually deliver them.”
He believed that the sign of Egypt was related to the dimension of the pyramid of Gizeh. In the early 1900’s he went to Egypt to measure the pyramid and claimed that the passage of the great pyramid of Gizeh was 2170 inches and that it was built in 2170 B.C.E. The significance of this teaching is highlighted by it having over 60 pages devoted to it in the Thy Kingdom Come book.
Russell originally used the size of a pyramid to prove that 1874 A.D. marked the beginning of the period of trouble, and 1914 as the end. When 1914 did not bring about Armageddon Russell changed the 1916 edition of Thy Kingdom Come to include new measurements on the size of the pyramid to show that 1914 was the beginning of the time of trouble. Russell’s claim was that the great pyramid of Giza had somehow changed size by 41 inches. The two quotes following are from different editions of the same book.
Studies In the Scriptures Series III - Thy Kingdom Come 1897 ed. p.342 “We find it to be 3416 inches , symbolizing 3416 years from the above date, B. C. 1542. This calculation shows A.D. 1874 as making the beginning of the period of trouble; for 1542 years B.C. plus 1874 years A.D. equals 3416 years. Thus the Pyramid witnesses that the close of 1874 was the chronological beginning of the time of trouble such as was not since there was a nation-no, not ever shall be afterward.“
Studies In the Scriptures Series III - Thy Kingdom Come 1916 ed. p.342 “We find it to be 3457 inches , symbolizing 3457 years from the above date, B. C. 1542. This calculation shows A.D. 1915 as making the beginning of the period of trouble; for 1542 years B.C. plus 1915 years A.D. equals 3416 years. Thus the Pyramid witnesses that the close of 1914 will be the beginning of the time of trouble such as was not since there was a nation-no, not ever shall be afterward. “
The Divine Plan of the Ages 1908 edition end notes state; “The Great Pyramid in Egypt is a Witness to all these events of the ages and of our day -- testifying in symbols? The Pyramid's downward passage under "A Draconis" symbolizes the course of Sin? Its First Ascending Passage symbolizes the Jewish age? Its grand Gallery symbolized the Gospel age? Its Upper Step symbolized the approaching period of tribulation and anarchy, "Judgments," upon Christendom? Its King's Chamber the Divine Nature, etc., of the Overcoming Church -- the Christ, Head and Body? Its Ante-Chamber the Correction in Righteousness of the "Great Company" etc.? Its Queen's Chamber those of Israel and the world who attain Restitution?”
Several more quotes show this belief in pyramids continuing under the leadership of Rutherford even as late as 1925.
Watchtower 1922 June 15 p.187 “In the messages of the Great Pyramid of Gizeh the agreement of one or two measurements with the present-truth chronology might seem accidental, but the correspondency of dozens of measurements proves that the same God designed both pyramid and plan.”
Watchtower 1925 May 15 p.148 “In the great Pyramid of Egypt, standing as a silent and inanimate witness of the Lord, is a messenger; and its testimony speaks with great eloquence concerning the divine plan.”
In 1928 this teaching was discarded and was no longer referred to. Rutherford made the comment in the Watchtower 1928 November 15 p.344 that the pyramid is "Satan's Bible, and not God's stone witness." Was Rutherford implying that Russell was guided by Satan in coming up this teaching?
