by cabasilas 6 Replies latest watchtower bible
I'm wanting to do some research in the 1870s Bible Examiner magazine that was edited by George Storrs. Would anyone have a suggestion on where they could be found? Does anyone have them on microfilm?
There's a few things I'd like to research. One is that I've been told by a couple of people that in one of the later Bible Examiners Storrs mentions that he had baptized Russell in 1874. I've been told it's not in a 1874 Examiner, but later.
There's one for sale on ebay at the moment
Thanks, AO. I asked that vendor if he could document the claim that Storrs baptized Russell and he said he didn't have the issue, but had been told on good authority it was sometime after 1874. I've also heard this from two other sources. Perhaps they're repeating the same rumor...or perhaps it's true. I'm curious if it's true or not.
http://www.strictlygenteel.co.uk/examiner/examiner.html
"Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled." — Luke xxi. 24.
Doubtless our Lord intended to communicate to His disciples some knowledge, and possibly it was addressed more to the disciples in our day, than to the early church.
Let us then search what times the prophecy, which was in Christ, did signify. Of course, if it be one of the secret things of God, we cannot find out; but if a secret, why should Jesus mention it? If, on the contrary, it is revealed it belongs to us. Shall we guess and suppose? No: let us go to God's treasure-house; let us search the Scriptures for the key.
Jesus does not foretell its treading under foot of the Gentiles, as Rome had her foot upon them at that time. He does tell us, however, how long it will continue so, even the disciples thought "that it was he which should have DELIVERED Israel."
We believe that God has given the key. We believe He doeth nothing but he revealeth it unto His servants. Do we not find part of the key in Lev xxvi. 27, 33? "I, even I will chastise you seven times for your sins; . . . and I will bring your land into desolation . . . and will scatter you among the heathen." Israel did not hearken unto the Lord, but disobeyed him, and this prophecy is now being fulfilled, and has been since the days of Zedekiah, when God said, "Re-move the diadem, take off the crown, ... I will overturn, overturn, overturn it, ... until He comes whose right it is, and I will give it unto Him." Comparing these Scriptures, we learn, that God has scattered Israel for a period of seven times, or until "He comes whose right" the Government is, and puts an end to Gentile rule or government. This gives us a clue at least, as to how long until the Jews are delivered. Further, Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, the head of gold, is recognized by God as the representative of the beast, or Gentile Governments. "A king of kings and wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field, and the fowls of the air, hath God given into his hand." Dan. ii. 38. God has taken the crown off Zedekiah and declared the Image, of which Nebuchadnezzar is the head, ruler of the world until the kingdom of God takes its place (smiting it on its feet); and, as this is the same time at which Israel is to be delivered, (for "Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled"), we here get our second clue. viz.: these two events, noted of the Scriptures of truth — "Times of Gentiles," and "Treading of Jerusalem," are parallel periods, commencing at the same time and ending at the same time; and, as in the case of Israel, their degradation was to be for seven times, so with the dominion of the Image; it lasts seven times; for, when in his pride the "Head of Gold" ignored "The God of heaven," the glory of that kingdom (which God gave him, as a representative of the Image,) departed, and it took on its beastly character, which lasts seven times. Dan. iv. 23, — and, (pre-figured by the personal degradation for seven years, of Nebuchadnezzar, the representative) until the time comes when they shall acknowledge, and "give honor to the Most High, whose Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom." Dan. iv. 34; for all the ends of the earth shall remember and turn unto the Lord when He is the Governor among the nations.
Our next question naturally, is, How long are seven times? Does God in his word, furnish us any clue from which to determine the length of that period? Yes, in Revelations we learn that three and one-half times, 42 months, and 1260 prophetic days, literal years, are the same (it has for years been so accepted by the church,) and it was so fulfilled: if three and one-half times are 1260 years, seven times would be twice as much, i. e., 2520 years. At the commencement of our Christian era, 606 years of this time had passed, (70 years captivity, and 536 from Cyrus to Christ) which deducted from 2520, would show that the seven times will end in A. D. 1914; when Jerusalem shall be delivered forever, and the Jew say of the Deliverer, "Lo, this is our God, we have waited for Him and He will save us." When Gentile Governments shall have been dashed to pieces; when God shall have poured out of his fury upon the nation, and they acknowledge him King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
But, some one will say, "If the Lord intended that we should know, He would have told us plainly and distinctly how long." But, no, brethren, He never does so. The Bible is to be a light to God's children; — to the world, foolishness. Many of its writings are solely for our edification upon whom the ends of the world are come. As well say that God should have put the gold on top instead of in the bowels of the earth it would be too common; it would lose much of its value. So with truth; but, "to you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom.
We will ask, but, not now answer, another question: If the Gentile times end in 1914, (and there are many other and clearer evidences pointing to the same time) and we are told that it shall be with fury poured out; a time of trouble such as never was before, nor ever shall be; a day of wrath, etc., how long before does the church escape? as Jesus says, "watch, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape those things coming upon the world."
Brethren, the taking by Christ of His Bride, is evidently, one of the first acts in the Judgment; for judgment must begin at the house of God.
cabasilas:
(Credit goes to RR)
YES .... Charles Taze Russell was baptized. In 1874 along with his Father, Jospeh and sister, Margaret. It is reported in the 1907 Convention Reports. During the "Praise and Testimont meeting" Margaret Russell Land, testified.
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My comments:
If a scan of a "Bible Examiner" is a must, then we will keep our eyes open for that certain issue. It may take some time though! If a scan of the 1907 Convention Report will be satisfactory then that can be arranged much easier.
Cheers! Atlantis-
From 1907 Convention report (not a scan)
Charles met with them. At the close of the meeting the list of questions
were returned to him with the admission that no satisfactory solution to these could be found.
Later at a church meeting he requested a letter of dismissal, stating his reasons for withdrawing
from church fellowship. About this time he had a very strange dream, and although he was not at
all superstitious, not a believer in signs, dreams, etc., being extremely practical, yet this dream
strangely impressed him. In his dream he seemed confined in an underground passage and stifled
as with gases. Upon seeking an exit, he started toward a tiny yet the only visible light. He,
however, found his progress impeded by prostrate bodies, seemingly dead, but upon examination
he discovered they were merely stupefied with these same gases. He awoke, and feeling much
impressed by this dream sought its significance, until finally this thought dawned upon him:
Could it be that these were all stupefied by the same gases (doctrinal errors) from which he was
awaking? Could it possibly be that God was awakening him first, and that his life’s work was to
awaken and help release others? He determined to seek further knowledge, remembering the
Lord’s words, "Seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you." From that time
onward so devoted was he to the Lord’s service that he spent all of his leisure time in mission
work and conducting Bible studies, etc. About 1874 the true mode of Baptism and its import was
discerned by him, and he and father, together with a number of others, including myself,
symbolized our baptism into Christ by water immersion.
Thanks for the info from the 1907 Convention Report. My question is: who enlightened CTR about the true meaning of Baptism? Was it Storrs? Some have said that Storrs had travelled to Pittsburgh (or Philadelphia) and was the one who baptized the Russell household. That's the question I'd like answered...was it Storrs?
