6,000 years from Adam ended in A.D. 1872. (Daily Heavenly Manna, inside cover page). -- [First edition was in 1905].
6,000 years of human history ended in 1873.(The Time is at Hand, p.33)
Actually, neither statement is a prophecy, but simply a statement, as related to the chronology that Russell had adopted. Additionally, it appears that the statements are given in the above manner to make it appear to be in contradiction to each other, whereas in reality, they are not. In the manner in which they are presented, the two quotes, could be an attempt to deceive one into thinking a contradiction exists, wherein reality, there is no contradiction, or the person(s) who present the quotes may be ignorant of how Brother Russell presented chronology.
We need to point out that in "The Time is At Hand", on the very same page (page 33), he presents this as being 1873, for it states in subheadings of the chapters: "From the Creation of Adam to A.D. 1873 was Six Thousand Years". The part of page 33 referenced above, however, is where Russell stated:
IN this chapter we present the Bible evidence which indicates that six thousand years from the creation of Adam were complete with A.D. 1872; and hence that, since 1872 A.D., we are chronologically entered upon the seventh thousand or the Millennium--the forepart of which, the "Day of the Lord," the "day of trouble," is to witness the breaking into pieces of the kingdoms of this world and the establishment of the Kingdom of God under the whole heavens.On page 41, however, Russell states:
If, then, the seventh thousand-year period of earth's history be an epoch specially noted as the period of Christ's reign, we shall, by showing that it began in A.D. 1873, be proving that we are already in it.
How could both be right? How could it be that 6,000 years from Adam's creation be both 1872 and 1873?
The answer lies in the manner of application of chronology that Russell adopted. The basis of the chronology adopted runs from fall to fall (Jewish years), not from January to January as does our modern calendar. According to the chronology Russell used, 1872 would end in September/October of 1872, and thus 1873 would begin in October of 1872. It is from this perspective that the two statements above are found to be in harmony, since October of 1872 would be 6,000 years from Adam's creation, and since September/October of 1872 would begin 1873, Jewish reckoning of autumn to autumn years. In reference to the ending of the 6,000 years, it would be 1872; in reference to beginning of the year, it would be 1873.
Although Russell was never associated with the JW organization (that organization did not exist until after Russell died), what the JWs believe are often read back into what Russell stated, since the JWs claim that Russell was a JW, and they often falsely extend their organization back to the days of Russell. Thus, authors often quote Russell as part of their attack on the JW organization, without noting or distinguishing between what Russell taught concerning organization and how it differs greatly from what the JWs teach.
At any rate, Russell never originated any prophecies; the only prophecies he believed in were those of the Bible. Russell never claimed that either he, the Watch Tower Society, of the Bible Students movement, was "a prophet to help [Jehovah's Witnesses], to warn them of dangers and to declare things to come", as the Watchtower of April 1st, 1972, claims for their alleged "footstep followers of Jesus Christ". Russell did discuss possible expectations regarding various dates that he believed study of Bible prophecy had revealed, but he distinguished between the prophecies of the Bible and his expectations and conclusions. Russell, however, unlike the JW leadership, never gave his expectations with any idea that all Christians must accept them. Russell did not consider his teachings on prophecy to be essential for Christian fellowship, and, indeed, acknowledged differing opinions among his associates in the Bible Students movement Russell never claimed authority over fellow Christians or the congregations, as did Rutherford after Russell died.
The Alleged Return of Christ Prophecies
The author of the post cited in the first paragraph asserts: "Since Christ failed to show up for any of the Watchtower dates, JW’s altered their teaching to make his coming conveniently "invisible". Christ returned in 1874. (The Finished Mystery, pages 386, 295, 1917 Edition)."
There are several things historically wrong about the above statement.
1) The "Jehovah's Witnesses" organization did not exist in 1917 (although one could say that Rutheford had already laid the foundation for the creation of that organization), or before 1917. Thus, there were actually no Jehovah's Witnesses at that time saying anything at all about Christ's return.
2) One who knows what Russell taught about Christ's return would surely wonder at the statement, "Since Christ failed to show up for any of the Watchtower dates." The only date that Russell and his Watch Tower claimed for Christ's return was 1874, and this he plainly stated was not dogmatic. In 1876, Russell's accepted Barbour's conclusion that Christ had returned invisibly in 1874. Russell's Watch Tower never presented any other date for Christ's return, so the idea of making it appear that there were other dates, and that because he did show up at these other dates, Russell (or anyone else) changed the the at a latter date from being visible to invisible totally misrepresents recorded history. Russell, sometime before 1874, had already concluded that Christ would not return as a human being but as a spirit. It was not until 1876, however, that Russell accepted Barbour's conclusion that Christ had returned in 1874. Before 1876, two years after 1874, Russell set no date for Christ's return at all. From 1876 until his death in 1916, Russell believed that Christ had returned invisibly in 1874.
3) In harmony with point 2, the book, The Finished Mystery simply restates what Russell had believed since 1876, that Christ had returned invisibly in 1874. The statement makes it appear that The Finished Mystery presented a new thought in 1917. No, it did not. It only restated the conclusion that Brother Russell reached in 1876, and which he held to until his death in 1916.
4) Russell's conclusions, however, were not "prophecies". They were simply his conclusions and expectations based on his study of Bible prophecies.
Several years after Russell died, Rutheford began to point to 1914 as being the date of Christ's return. Gradually, without explanation, the date 1874 as being the date of Christ's return simply vanished. Our own speculation concerning this is that Rutherford wanted to bolster his "organization" claims by making use of the time prophecies in such a way as to make them appear to have something to do with the organization he created. Thus, Rutherford gradually began contradicting nearly everything in Russell's Volumes 2 and 3 of his Studies.
The author of the post cited in the first paragraph asserts: "Since Christ failed to show up for any of the Watchtower dates, JW’s altered their teaching to make his coming conveniently "invisible". Christ returned in 1874. (The Finished Mystery, pages 386, 295, 1917 Edition)."
There are several things historically wrong about the above statement.
1) The "Jehovah's Witnesses" organization did not exist in 1917 (although one could say that Rutheford had already laid the foundation for the creation of that organization), or before 1917. Thus, there were actually no Jehovah's Witnesses at that time saying anything at all about Christ's return.
2) One who knows what Russell taught about Christ's return would surely wonder at the statement, "Since Christ failed to show up for any of the Watchtower dates." The only date that Russell and his Watch Tower claimed for Christ's return was 1874, and this he plainly stated was not dogmatic. In 1876, Russell's accepted Barbour's conclusion that Christ had returned invisibly in 1874. Russell's Watch Tower never presented any other date for Christ's return, so the idea of making it appear that there were other dates, and that because he did show up at these other dates, Russell (or anyone else) changed the the at a latter date from being visible to invisible totally misrepresents recorded history. Russell, sometime before 1874, had already concluded that Christ would not return as a human being but as a spirit. It was not until 1876, however, that Russell accepted Barbour's conclusion that Christ had returned in 1874. Before 1876, two years after 1874, Russell set no date for Christ's return at all. From 1876 until his death in 1916, Russell believed that Christ had returned invisibly in 1874.
3) In harmony with point 2, the book, The Finished Mystery simply restates what Russell had believed since 1876, that Christ had returned invisibly in 1874. The statement makes it appear that The Finished Mystery presented a new thought in 1917. No, it did not. It only restated the conclusion that Brother Russell reached in 1876, and which he held to until his death in 1916.
4) Russell's conclusions, however, were not "prophecies". They were simply his conclusions and expectations based on his study of Bible prophecies.
Several years after Russell died, Rutheford began to point to 1914 as being the date of Christ's return. Gradually, without explanation, the date 1874 as being the date of Christ's return simply vanished. Our own speculation concerning this is that Rutherford wanted to bolster his "organization" claims by making use of the time prophecies in such a way as to make them appear to have something to do with the organization he created. Thus, Rutherford gradually began contradicting nearly everything in Russell's Volumes 2 and 3 of his Studies.
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