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Did The “Alarm Clock” Go Off Too Soon?

http://wtsdissident.blogspot.com/2008/09...-soon.html

In my last post I talked about how Russell calculated the end of the gentile times to occur in the year 1914, at which time Christ would put an end to all earthly governments. As it turns out this did not happen. How did those early Bible students handle the disappointment? The next section of chapter 10 of the Proclaimers book has this to say...

*** jv chap. 10 pp. 135-137 Growing in Accurate Knowledge of the Truth ***

Did the “Alarm Clock” Go Off Too Soon?

Great turmoil certainly burst forth upon the world in 1914 with the outbreak of World War I, which for many years was called simply the Great War, but it did not immediately lead to an overthrow of all existing human rulerships. As events in connection with Palestine developed following 1914, the Bible Students thought they saw evidence of significant changes for Israel. But months and then years passed, and the Bible Students did not receive their heavenly reward as they had anticipated. How did they react to that?

The Watch Tower of February 1, 1916, specifically drew attention to October 1, 1914, and then said: “This was the last point of time that Bible chronology pointed out to us as relating to the Church’s experiences. Did the Lord tell us that we would be taken [to heaven] there? No. What did He say? His Word and the fulfil[l]ments of prophecy seemed to point unmistakably that this date marked the end of the Gentile Times. We inferred from this that the Church’s ‘change’ would take place on or before that date. But God did not tell us that it would be so. He permitted us to draw that inference; and we believe that it has proven to be a necessary test upon God’s dear saints everywhere.” But did these developments prove that their glorious hope had been in vain? No. It simply meant that not everything was taking place as soon as they had expected.

Several years before 1914, Russell had written: “Chronology (time prophecies in general) was evidently not intended to give God’s people accurate chronological information all the way down the path of the centuries. Evidently it is intended more to serve as an alarm clock to awaken and energize the Lord’s people at the proper time. . . . But let us suppose, for instance, that October, 1914, should pass and that no serious fall of Gentile power would occur. What would this prove or disprove? It would not disprove any feature of the Divine Plan of the Ages. The ransom-price finished at Calvary would still stand the guarantee of the ultimate fulfillment of the great Divine Program for human restitution. The ‘high calling’ of the Church to suffer with the Redeemer and to be glorified with him as his members or as his Bride would still be the same. . . . The only thing [a]ffected by the chronology would be the time for the accomplishment of these glorious hopes for the Church and for the world. . . . And if that date pass it would merely prove that our chronology, our ‘alarm clock,’ went off a little before the time. Would we consider it a great calamity if our alarm clock awakened us a few moments earlier in the morning of some great day full of joy and pleasure? Surely not!”

But that “alarm clock” had not gone off too soon. Actually, it was the experiences to which the “clock” had awakened them that were not exactly what they had expected.

Some years later, when the light had grown brighter, they acknowledged: “Many of the dear saints thought that all the work was done. . . . They rejoiced because of the clear proof that the world had ended, that the kingdom of heaven was at hand, and that the day of their deliverance drew nigh. But they had overlooked something else that must be done. The good news that they had received must be told to others; because Jesus had commanded: ‘This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations: and then shall the end come.’ (Matthew 24:14)”—The Watch Tower, May 1, 1925.

As the events following 1914 began to unfold and the Bible Students compared these with what the Master had foretold, they gradually came to appreciate that they were living in the last days of the old system and that they had been since 1914. They also came to understand that it was in the year 1914 that Christ’s invisible presence had begun and that this was, not by his personally returning (even invisibly) to the vicinity of the earth, but by his directing his attention toward the earth as ruling King. They saw and accepted the vital responsibility that was theirs to proclaim “this good news of the kingdom” for a witness to all nations during this critical time of human history.—Matt. 24:3-14.

What exactly was the message about the Kingdom that they were to preach? Was it any different from the message of the first-century Christians?



The first sentence is a little misleading. "Great turmoil certainly burst forth upon the world in 1914 ... but it did not immediately lead to an overthrow of all existing human rulerships." Actually not only did it not 'immediately' lead to an overthrow of all existing human rulerships, it never did. The quote from the Feb 1st 1916 Watchtower makes it seem as though Russell and company had adjusted their thinking in regards to 1914 being the beginning of Christ's invisible return. However, the March 1st, 1916 issue had this comment from Russell:


The Apostle’s words near the close of his Epistle, should be of special comfort and cheer to us now, in this brief waiting time since the close of Gentile Times. He says, "And account that the long-suffering of our Lord is salvation." (2 Peter 3:15) How glad of this little extended time some of the Lord’s dear ones are, who have come into the knowledge of present truth and consecrated themselves to God since October, 1914! And how glad are many of Christ’s followers who have longer known of these precious truths, that the Lord
has mercifully granted them a little further time to make their calling and election sure! Perhaps some of these were not ready when the Gentile Times closed.

So really, even in 1916 there was an expectation that the end of all human government was going to happen soon. The next quote sited as being written 'several years' before 1914 appeared in the January 1st 1911 issue of the Watchtower. The quote selection seems to indicate that it would not be a disappointment if the end of this system of things did not happen in 1914. However, this is the beginning of a new type of message delivery where there are two messages given. One that the writers are not infallible followed by a statement of certainty about some future event. Notice how the paragraph quoted in the Proclaimers book reads in its entirety.


Suppose that our chronological calculations (never set forth as infallible) should prove to be fallible and in error. Our conclusion would merely be that the error could not be very great. Outward signs of restitution multiplying on every hand tell us that the rising of the Sun of Righteousness is near at hand. Church federation tendencies attest the same thing, corroborating the Scriptures respecting the conditions which
will prevail at the very closing of this age. The movement amongst the Jews similarly implies an awakening and a preparation for Messiah much in harmony with what we must expect in the close of this age. The stress along the lines of social, political and financial affairs all indicate that the great time of trouble and anarchy with which this age will end cannot be far off--cannot lie much, if any, beyond October,1914. And if that date pass it would merely prove that our chronology, our "alarm clock," went off a little before the time.

The paragraph begins by stating that the calculations were "never set forth as infallible", but by the end of the paragraph the writer is back to asserting the correctness of the predictions "The stress along the lines of social, political and financial affairs all indicate that the great time of trouble and anarchy with which this age will end cannot be far off--cannot lie much, if any, beyond October, 1914. And if that date pass it would merely prove that our chronology, our "alarm clock," went off a little before the time." So by 'a little before the time', the writer means that the end would come soon after 1914.

The concept that a prediction for a certain event to happen on a certain date is an 'alarm clock' for the rank and file adherents has been very effective over the years. In a future post, I plan to correlate membership with the various predictions for the end of this system of things to illustrate a reason other than 'the brothers were eager for the new system' as has been printed.

Moving on to the next quote from the May 1st 1925 Watchtower cited in the Proclaimers book: "...But they had overlooked something else that must be done. The good news that they had received must be told to others;... " 'They' being the rank and file members. Once again, see how the Watchtower Society has blamed those who believed what was printed in earlier publications instead of admitting how they were completely wrong about the date?

Next we read from the Proclaimers book:

They also came to understand that it was in the year 1914 that Christ’s invisible presence had begun and that this was, not by his personally returning (even invisibly) to the vicinity of the earth, but by his directing his attention toward the earth as ruling King.

This is merely an extension to the technique used in 1874 only this time in addition to Christ's invisible return (which has been moved to 1914 ), they also decided that He did in fact begin ruling in heaven. The problem is that they only 'came to realize' these things after what they had been confident about previously did not come to pass. Is it not reasonable to insist that the group of men claiming to be God's sole channel of information from Jehovah be accurate in advance?

Next the leaders of these Bible students had to figure out the direction that the organization would take. After the death of Russell, a man named J. F. 'Judge' Rutherford became president of the Watchtower Society where he moved the focus from predicting dates ( well, he did make some predictions ) to evangelizing. Why did he shift the focus and what was the result? I'll cover that in my next post.

Warm Christian Love
Bangalore

So where was his attention during the previous 1,881 years? :D

I'd say, based on the following scripture, that he's been pretty busy with the earth since 33AD:

"All authority has been given me in heaven and on the earth. Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations..." (Mathew 28:18-20)

Good point Interpretum :ok:

Agape
Grateful :giverose:

The scripture in Mark 13:32

Concerning that day or the hour nobody knows, neither the angels in heaven nor the Son, but the Father.

has been seen as a kind of "sword in the stone" - whoever can pull it out is the king of England. Everyone who approaches looks foolish and presumptuous, yet their ambition blinds them to jeering audience: Whoever knows the date must be blessed! - they believe - must be directed by holy spirit, must surely be the mythical "one true religion".

Perhaps the timing - "day and hour" - is in our own hands? Does anyone really believe that a loving God would ask angels to watch the minutes pass by and then finally cry:

"That's it! Times up! Slaughter the unfaithful now"

That thinking is purely human in the minds of those who want to separate sword from stone, it's proof that their delusion is really true.

But perhaps our Father has always known the "day and the hour" because He understands our nature: we give a dog a bone, we know it will taste it, eat a little, bury it, and come back to dig it up again - aren't we just as predictable to our Father?

Acts5v29

Every Century recently has seen its prognosticators of The End.

1800s saw the rise of Revivalism, Congregationalists, Adventists and Dispensationalists.
1900s saw the Bible Students, Witnesses, Armstrong's Group WWCG, the Right Wing Evangelicals.

None of the things they said would trigger The Return of Christ and Armageddon triggered either event.

It will come at any hour of God's choosing, not based on a preacher or the evening news.

designs

This is of course slap in the face to Russell and the Bible Students. As they believed that when the Lord returns he returns to the earth's vicinity (invisibly).

The Witnesses today are taught that Jesus simply turns his attention to the things of the earth in 1914. Are we to assume then that for nearly 2,000 years the Lord did nothing? Didn't bother with earth?

What do we do with all those scriptures that tell us that "If I go away, I will return?" or is "Lo, I am with you always" a presence?

RR

Exactly - he has never been away from us. His return means something different to us, some action and not merely a distant gaze.

Acts5v29

Hi Acts 5v29

Or maybe the "day and hour" scripture was in reference to the destruction of the generation that heard Jesus ("truly I say to you that this generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur." (Mathew 24:33)... and that the idea of Jesus talking about two different generations is a red herring?

"With whom shall I compare this generation?... correspondingly, John came neither eating nor drinking..." (Mathew 11:16)

"Men of Ninevah will rise up in the judgment with this generation and will condemn it..." (12:41)

"The queen of the south will be raised up in the judgment with this generation and will condemn it..." (12:42)

"That is how it will be also with this wicked generation." (12:45)

"That there may come upon you all the righteous blood... from... Abel... to Zechariah... truly I say to you, All these things will come upon this generation." (23:36)

Jesus continually referred to his generation. This was the generation which he was speaking to, who wouldn't know the day and hour.

You could well be right - it wouldn't be the first or the last self-induced (or self-bred) red herring that modern-day Christianity has cultivated.

Still, Matthew 24 does refer to Jesus returning, and that would have had to be fulfilled at that time. And he didn't return symbolically to rebuke Jerusalem in 66-70CE - Jehovah promised this in Isaiah 54:9,15

9 This is just as the days of Noah to me. Just as I have sworn that the waters of Noah shall no more pass over the earth, so I have sworn that I will not become indignant toward you nor rebuke you.
...
15 If anyone should at all make an attack, it will not be at My orders.

- unless our Lord's did "arrive" in 66CE, and his "coming" at that time was to give a divine warning to leave before Jerusalem et al were sacked, just as righteous Noah was approached by Jehovah prior to the flood.

But that wouldn't fit with Matthew 24:30:

then all the tribes of the earth will beat themselves in lamentation, and they will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

So perhaps there is a "time of the end" fulfilment, but it is a red herring inasmuch as it's made so many religions look presumptuous.

Acts5v29

Hi Acts

Well, it depends on how you view "coming on the clouds of heaven". Or rather, how scripture uses this kind of language.

Consider this psalm of David, when he felt he was near death, and God heard him. David writes:

"And the earth began to shake and rock,
And the foundations of the mountains themselves became agitated,
And they kept shaking back and forth because he had been angered.
Smoke went up at his nostrils, and fire itself from his mouth kept devouring;
Coals themselves blazed forth from him.
And he proceeded to bend the heavens down and descend.
And thick gloom was beneath his feet.
And he came riding upon a cherub and came flying,
And he came darting upon the wings of a spirit.
He then made darkness his concealment place,
All around him as his booth,
Dark waters, thick clouds.
Out of the brightness in front of him there were his clouds that passed by,
Hail and burning coals of fire." (Psalm 18:7-12)

It might be worth reading the whole psalm to see how David uses language to express the might of Jehovah.

Does that mean Jehovah literally breathes smoke from his nostrils, shoots fire from his mouth, and is surrounded by thick clouds?

Or would you accept it's likely David is using poetic, symbolic language to express Jehovah's might?

Or consider Isaiah's pronouncement against Egypt:

"Look! Jehovah is riding on a swift cloud and coming into Egypt. And the valueless gods of Egypt will certainly quiver because of him, and the very heart of Egypt will melt in the midst of it." (Isaiah 19:1)

Does that mean Egypt had a literal "coming in the clouds" experience, like many here are waitng for? Or is it poetic, symbolic language?

Also, you'll notice in many places in the Bible, days of doom, judgment and invasion are often associated with clouds - for examples, see Joel 2:2 and Zephaniah 1:15:

"Blow a horn in Zion, O men, and shout a war cry in my holy mountain. Let all the inhabitants of the land get agitated; for the day of Jehovah is coming, for it is near! It is a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick gloom, like light of dawn spread out upon the mountains." (Joel 2:1,2)

In this passage, a large army invades the city. Notice also the apocalyptic language used:

"Into the city they rush. On the wall they run. Through the windows they go in like a thief. Before it the land has become agitated. the heavens have rocked. Sun and moon themselves have become dark, and the very stars have withdrawn their brightness." (2:9,10)

So Joel is a good example of how poetic, symbolic imagery is used. In this case, the invasion of the city is associated with a "day of clouds", and the sun, moon and stars darkening.

These are Jewish expressions that would have been well known to Jesus. So I'd suggest to you that when he talked about the Son of man "coming on the clouds of heaven" (at the same time as talking about the sun, moon and stars darkening) he was drawing upon the poetic, symbolic expressions that were familiar to the Jews, representing the judgment and doom of their city, Jerusalem.

For another example, see Jesus referring to the daughters of Jerusalem, saying that "they will start to say to the mountains, 'Fall over us!' and to the hills, 'Cover us over!'" (Luke 23:30) and compare this with Hosea 10:8. This is a Jewish idiom for going into hiding - which Jesus again uses in Revelation 6:16.

I would have thought Mathew 26:64 would clinch it. Jesus, speaking to the Jewish Sanhedrin, said to them: "Yet I say to you men, From henceforth you will see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of power and coming on the clouds of heaven."

Jesus is not talking to everybody here, but to the Jewish high priest, and the ruling body the Sanhedrin - it was they who would see Jesus "coming on the clouds of heaven."

So unless Jesus is lying to the high priest, he did come on the clouds of heaven to that generation - but it must mean something somewhat different to the way we imagine it to mean.

It was a Jewish idiom (expression) that represented doom, judgment and invasion - and in that sense, Jesus did come on the clouds against Judah and Jerusalem, in 70AD.

Well, I think many people read about Jesus comparing it to the days of Noah, and assuming it must therefore be worldwide, since Noah's flood was worldwide.

However, keep in mind that it was also compared to the days of Lot:

"Likewise, just as it occured in the days of Lot: they were eating, they were drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building. But on the day that Lot came out of Sodom it rained fire and sulphur from heaven and destroyed them all. The same way it will be on that day when the Son of man is to be revealed." (Luke 17:28,30)

The destruction of Sodom was not worldwide, but came upon one city. (Well, actually two, if you include Gomorrah.)

I would suggest to you Jesus is talking about the destruction of Jerusalem. It's destruction would be like the days of Noah, and the days of Lot - most people not paying attention.

This is what the context suggests. Look how Jesus introduces the illustration about Noah and Lot...

"First, however, he must undergo many sufferings and be rejected by this generation. Moreover, just as it occured in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of man..." (Luke 17:25,26)

The "days of the Son of man" follow Jesus' rejection by "this generation", which is why "this generation" is swept away, in the destruction of the city in 70AD, which comes upon them almost like a thief in the night.

Keep in mind that the Greek word for earth, "ge", can also mean - and is often translated - as "land".
http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexi...1093&t=KJV

It can mean...

1) arable land
2) the ground, the earth as a standing place
3) the main land as opposed to the sea or water
4) the earth as a whole
a) the earth as opposed to the heavens
b) the inhabited earth, the abode of men and animals
5) a country, land enclosed within fixed boundaries, a tract of land, territory, region

I'd suggest that, in combination with "all the tribes", Jesus is referring to all the tribes of the land of Israel.

But by understanding the Hebrew idioms that Jesus draws upon, there is no need for a second fulfillment.

Jesus said that the high priests and Sanhedrin, the ones who condemned him to death, would see him coming on the clouds of heaven. (Mathew 26:64)

Would you accept that, if Jesus is not lying, then this must have been fulfilled?

If "coming on the clouds of heaven" and "sun, moon and stars darkening" are associated with doom, judgment and imminent invasion (as it is in Joel 2), then Jesus did indeed come in the clouds against Jerusalem and that wicked generation.

And the tribes of Israel definitely did lament and weep at that time. They may not have literally seen him in the clouds, but they would have known full well that their destruction was exactly as he foretold.

It was even preceded by signs, even in the clouds - such as the one reported by Josephus, in which chariots and horses were seen skipping about in the clouds, and surrounding cities. And when the Roman stones were falling upon those Jews, the watchmen would call out, "The Son Cometh".

The only explanation I can think of for this is that they did see him coming in the clouds. Whether literally or not, they finally recognized their destruction was because of the Son.

It seems to me that the "End of the Gentile times", means exactly THAT, "End of the GENTILE times".

Times for WHAT? Dominion over Jerusalem of course, "And JERUSALEM will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled." - Luke 21:24 NKJV

My point is, EVERYONE seems to be looking at the "Christians" or the World in general for a fulfillment of this, and overlooks the FACT that JERUSALEM (Literally) is NO LONGER UNDER GENTILE DOMINION! Yes! The "Times of the Gentiles" HAVE ended!
:shocked:

Dear John,


Your evidence?

And, what does that mean for me?

With Sisterly Love, Debbie

My evidence?

This is actually a good question. As a result of the Six-Day War in 1967, the whole of Jerusalem came under Israeli control. However it seems that the question is still a bit unresolved. Today, the status of Jerusalem remains one of the core issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Never the less, I definitly feel that the focus needs to be changed to OVER THERE.

And, what does that mean for me?

It means that the earthly phase of the Kingdom IS being set up as we speak. ( I am NOT saying the the current "State of Israel" IS that earthly phase. Please don't misconstrue my words!). I believe that Christ is saying to EVERYONE, "Ready or not, here I come!"