Was Russell "that" Faithful and Wise Servant?

Sea Breeze

This ?

"From this it is clearly seen that the editor and publisher of Zion's Watch Tower disavowed any claim to being individually, in his person, that "faithful and wise servant." He never did claim to be such," ("God's Kingdom of a Thousand Years Has Approached," 1973, p. 346).

Or This?

"Thousands of the readers of Pastor Russell's writings believe that he filled the office of 'that faithful and wise servant,' and that his great work was giving to the household of faith meat in due season. His modesty and humility precluded him from openly claiming this title, but he admitted as much in private conversation," (Watchtower, Dec. 1, 1919, p. 357).

Which is it?

sir82

LOL.

If you are as good at picking the nit as the WTS is, then how about this:.

The 1919 Watchtower says he admitted it.....but, "admit" is a different word than "claim"....so they feel justified in writing "He never did claim to be such".

I wrote this tongue-in-cheek, but the funny/sad part is, even if it were true, it wouldn't be the most egregious example of tortured logic to have made it into print. Might not even be in the top 10.

Sea Breeze

so they feel justified in writing "He never did claim to be such".

If he privately admitted to being specifically and personally mentioned and identified in the scriptures, isn't that the same as claiming it, just not publicly?

sir82

Sea Breeze

Sorry sir82, hard to grasp nuance sometimes online.

But I don't think this is a case of "tortured logic" or word-smithing either. It looks like a pretty clear case of trying to have it both ways - One view for public consumption and another for the insiders.

The Watchtower here claims that Russell deceived people publicly because he was too "modest" and "humble" to admit that he believed (as well as many others) that he was personally foretold in the scriptures 2000 years ago.

In other words, he deceived people so that they would not be tempted to idolize him as many were already doing. They claim this was out of humility and modesty.... doubtless for their own good.

Of course, had he taught openly about what he believed to be true, it would have revealed his severe narcissism and Savior Complex.

sir82

Yeah, it's either lazy editing (didn't bother to look up what had been written 50 years earlier) or intentional deception.

Neither one is good.

pixel

Russell was the FDS back in the early 1900s... but now TOMO the III IS... that's that. Go figure.

ElderEtta

The following is from Finished Mystery facts. and keep in mind, He wrote finished mystery

Biblical Identities & Fulfillments that directly apply to Charles Taze Russell

1. Charles Taze Russell was “The messenger to the Church of Laodicea” spoken of in the Book of

Revelation. (p. 3)

2. “The one that cries with a loud voice” in Rev 10:3 (p. 167).

3. The other angel of 10:1 is the same one that cries with a loud voice in 10:3

4. “The special messenger to the last Age of the Church” Rev 3:14(p.53)

5. “God's watchman” Spoken of in Ezekiel 3:17 (p. 387).

6. “The Seventh Angel” Rev 10:7(p.169) This fact is revealed to be the “Finished mystery” according to

an advert in the back of the book.

7. Was given “a super-abundance of gifts” (p. 385)

8. The Lord's “Special Servant” to give the “Household of Faith” “meat in due season” (p. 4).

9. The Faithful and wise servant. Rev 1:1(p.11) see with Rev 22:6 (p.334)

10. Divinely ordained. (p.532).

11. Ezekiel, typing Pastor Russell (means that Ezekiel foreshadowed Russell) (p. 421)

12. A true priest of the Almighty (p. 368).

13. When Russell understood the full import of God’s Word, he took a firm stand. The spirit, power and

influence of God entered him, never to leave (p.377)

14. Russell was “the most prolific writer of Biblical Truth that ever lived” (p.65).

15. In fulfillment of Ezekiel 24:15-19, God took away Russell’s desire for his wife by putting a spiritual

plague over her which made her “dead” in the eyes of Russell (p.483, p.484)

15. Russell had a Clear, Beautiful & Complete comprehension of the Plan of God (p. 235).

16. Jesus gave Russell the key to understanding God’s mysteries in the last days (p.6)

It should be noted that these claims are far stronger than those made by most O.T. Prophets or N.T.

Apostles. While we believe those men were inspired, they did not claim to be angels or take a shotgun

approach to selecting previous prophecies that were fulfilled in them or their writings. Clearly Russell

was not merely a humble Bible student, not only does he repeatedly claim authority & inspiration

through these titles but even proclaims himself to be The Seventh Angel of Revelation.

Sea Breeze

Thanks ElderEtta!

Excellent list of descriptions of Russell. Here's more:

"Pastor Russell was…strong, humble, wise, loving, gentle, just, merciful, faithful, self-sacrificing… As a logician and theologian he is doubtless without a peer today. In his research for Biblical Truth and harmony he is without a parallel in this age. Without a blemish in his character…he towers like a giant unmatched." (The Finished Mystery, p. 125)

One reseacher estimated over 1300 statements in the book that JW's today would reject today. Yet, the JW book REVELATION ITS GRAND CLIMAX NEAR AT HAND (1988) refers back to the period 1870-1919 and applies the following descriptions to the early JWs:

anointed Christians, abandoned false doctrines, boldly used the Bible, restoration of true worship, faithful Christians, the John class, God's people, Christ's anointed brothers, faithful and discreet, the Master appointed them, Pure worship was reestablished (p. 209)

This is the same indoctrination and self-glorification that JW leaders promote year after year about the organization, that was once attributed to Russell.

They are really best viewed as two separate cults in my opinion... especially since many Russellites refused to go along with the change to the Organization as God's sole mouthpiece on earth. These were quickly labelled The Evil Slave Class and discarded. One group got control of the printing presses, the other didn't. The rest is history.

But somehow the WT was (and is) able to continue the myth of their origins as a continuation of Russell. Amazing!

This explains why they were willing to give Russell the FDS title in 1919 but later claimed just the opposite after they stole the FDS mantle from Russell after he died.

They were in fact two heretical groups fighting over ownership of one particularly heresy - the FDS entitlement.

smiddy3

The WTB&TS speak out of both sides of there mouth as do Jehovah`s Witnesses today who are mainly made up of gullible ,intellectual lazy people who want to be told what to believe and not do any research for themselves .

Welcome to the forum Sea Breeze

"Your post has been like a breath of fresh air"

seriously WELCOME

I live on the Coast of Vict Aust ,so I know all about sea breezes LOL

Was Russell "that" Faithful and Wise Servant?

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