The site http://www.reexamine.org/quotes/1874.htm lists the quotations related to the dimensions of the Great Pyramid.
The first quotation comes from the 1904 edition of Millennial Dawn, vol 3, p.342. Part of the quotation says: "the close of 1874 was the chronological beginning of the time of trouble such as was not since there was a nation".
The second quotation comes from the 1910 edition of Studies In The Scriptures, vol. 3, p.342. Part of the quotation says: "the close of 1914 will be the beginning of the time of trouble such as was not since there was a nation".
Did Russell change the dimensions? Did Russell change the beginning of the Time of Trouble to 1914? If so, when did he do that? And why?
I had thought he expected that with 1914, "man would learn to be still".
Doug
Who stretched the pyramid? When? Why?
by Doug Mason 3 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
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Doug Mason
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cabasilas
I'm no expert on this. Russell refers to this in the Nov 1, 1904 WT:
http://www.mostholyfaith.com/bible/Reprints/Z1904NOV.asp#Z326:1
and says some of the measurements by Smyth were not correct. My guess is that he really wanted to prove his case that the Great Pyramid fit his chronology and kept playing with the numbers until it worked. The Edgar brothers did the same thing later and tried to make a measurement work for this but with a different starting date. -
Quandry
Doug--interesting post
Looks like someone needs to go back to Egypt and recount the steps, doesn't it? Somehow they need to add up to more years, since the 1914 thing is getting a little stale.
It sure does seem like Mormons and early Russellites were somewhat cut from the same mold. The LDS had to view Joseph Smith as God's mouthpiece and the Witnesses had to view Russell as the faithful slave. Both had the pronouncements of God.
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VM44
From the Watch Tower, NOVEMBER 1, 1904, page 326
R3451 : page 326]
THE GREAT PYRAMID MEASUREMENTS.
ARE we quite sure of the accuracy of the measurements of the Great Pyramid's passages as given in MILLENNIAL DAWN, Vol. III.? I have seen another measurement of the downward passage (3465 inches instead of 3416 inches), said to be from Prof. Piazzi Smyth's writings, says a reader.
* * *
We have no reason to question the accuracy of the figures given in DAWN III. They were all secured from Prof. Piazzi Smyth's work entitled, Our Inheritancein the Great Pyramid. Moreover the manuscript of that chapter was submitted to Prof. Smyth by a friend before it was published and no flaw in its figures was noted. The illustrations are of Prof. Smyth's preparation, too.
We remark, however, that Prof. Smyth's interest centered in the upper chambers of the Pyramid, and the passages leading upward to these. Much less care and precision are manifested in his dealings with all other parts of the Pyramid than with this. As an evidence of this note the difference in the two drawings in VOL. III. which show this downward passage and the "pit" at its terminus. In the frontispiece the lower or level portion of the downward passage is shown as running to the axis line of the Pyramid, nearly one-half the length of the "pit." The illustration showing "The Passage System" of the Pyramid (MILLENNIAL DAWN, Vol. III., page 333) shows this totally different--it shows the depressed and broken floor commencing before the vertical axis is reached. Examine the illustrations carefully and note what we refer to.
The cut of page 333 is to a scale, and, being prepared by the one Astronomer Royal of Scotland, it should be accurate, yet the figures we have given (3416 inches) reach (into the "pit" of this diagram, --to the "pit" in the frontispiece) to the vertical axis of the Pyramid. We cannot therefore see how any longer measure for the passage could be possible. Measure for yourself, using the scale given on the diagram, page 333. If you have not the proper calipers use a piece of stiff paper as your measuring line and then apply it to the scale.
At the time of the Editor's visit to the Pyramid in 1892 the downward passage was filled full of debris and evidently had been long in that condition, as only one Arab was found who had any knowledge of it. He was quite an old man who many years before had assisted Prof. Smyth. The Editor, therefore, like other measurers of recent years, could ascertain nothing new respecting the "downward passage."
Russell must have found a reason to question the accuracy of the figures becasue after writing the above in Novemeber of 1904, Russell decided to CHANGE the numbers in the 1905 edition of the book. Bible Student Morton Edgar mentioned this in a letter he wrote.
You may have noted that, in his early editions of Vol. III of 'Studies in the Scriptures," in the Pyramid chapter, Brother Russell states that the length of the Descending Passage, from the junction of the Ascending Passage down to the Subterranean Chamber, is 3416 inches. But in all later editions of his third volume, since 1905, the length of this passage has been altered to the extent of 41 inches, the length now being said to be 3457 inches. Formerly the north wall of the Subterranean Chamber was said to mark the date 1874 A.D., but with the new measure of 3457 inches this date was shifted forward 41 years to 1915 A.D. No explanation is given for this change.
SOURCE: http://members.cox.net/jellogator/pyramid/edgar.htm
The September 15, 1909 issue of The Watch Tower published a list of Changes made in "Studies in the Scriptures"
Note is made of the change in the pyramid measurements in Volume 3.
Volume III, Page 342, lines 17, 18.
3416 inches, changed to, 3457 inches to agree with later accurate measurement, would seem to mark 1915. The former figures were "paper measure" from Piazzi Smith's illustration supposed to have been drawn to a scale, but found inaccurate.
This is a written admission made by Charles T. Russell that the measurements in Thy Kingdom Come were obtained by measuring a diagram published in Piazzi Smyth's book.
Russell does not indicated from what source he obtained these "later accurate measurements" for the Pyramid.
--VM44