Just so you know much of what is transpiring today in the world was foretold to happen a long time ago at the very beginnings of our century.
The following excerpt was taken from a discourse entitled “The Hour of Temptation” by Brother L.H. Norby
This excerpt seems appropriate at this time as it not only pertains to the Pastor’s time (1852-1916), but more importantly to the times in which we live. Brother Norby was recounting some of the comments Pastor Russell had made on the advent of socialism as it would precede and usher in the great time of trouble.
“It was the Pastor’s belief that Socialism would be the second phase of the trouble, the first being war(s). I am afraid that a lot of brethren have missed this--they have missed this peaceful revolution, this Socialism that the Pastor spoke of so frequently. In some places he said, "War, revolution and anarchy." Other places he said, "War, Socialism and anarchy." In other words, Socialism is synonymous with the earthquake or revolution. Maybe we think of revolution as only being violent-but that is not necessarily true.
That is not the basic thought in the word "revolution". Revolution simply means "to turn over" (to change, to rotate?). A wheel revolves. That does not mean that the spokes fall out. You turn any-thing over, what was on top is now on the bottom--that's a revolution. And it does not necessarily imply violence either. That is not to say there have also been a number of violent revolutions in this period.
We would like to read some excerpts here. There are many others, but these few will suffice. This is taken from the Fourth Volume of the Studies in the Scriptures Series, Page 486: (Note: this was published in 1897 seventeen years prior to the first great war, WWI in 1914, the Bolshevik revolution in 1917 and the rise of Communism.)
"We have reason to believe that Socialism (or its like) will make great progress during the next few years. But frequently it will not be wisely or moderately advanced: success will intoxicate some of its advocates, and failure render others desperate, and as a result impatience will lead to calamity…Rulers, capitalists and clergymen, with few exceptions, will seize upon the first extremes of Socialism to assault it and brand it with infamy, and temporarily throttle it, encouraging themselves with specious arguments which self-interest and fear will suggest. (We want to call attention to the fact that he doesn't say that people are opposing these changes entirely from self-interest, though that is a big part of it. It is also a fear--a fear of our whole way of life being destroyed, particularly religion if the world goes Communist. So, there is a basis for genuine fear, and the Pastor always recognized these different elements and motives.) As intimated the movement will be crushed under the combined power of Church, State and Capital and later lead to the great explosion of anarchy, in which, as indicated in the Scriptures, all present institutions will be wrecked; -- 'A time of trouble such as was not since there was a nation.'"
Notice Socialism will fail or be crushed, and reform being thwarted along that line, the result will be "the great explosion of anarchy." You see there will be a period of time between the revolution and the anarchy and it is during anarchy that all present institutions will be wrecked.
Socialists don't want to destroy the system. They want to reform it-- modify it (to their own liking).
We will continue with the Pastor’s remarks in our next post.
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The following excerpt was taken from a discourse entitled “The Hour of Temptation” by Brother L.H. Norby
This excerpt seems appropriate at this time as it not only pertains to the Pastor’s time (1852-1916), but more importantly to the times in which we live. Brother Norby was recounting some of the comments Pastor Russell had made on the advent of socialism as it would precede and usher in the great time of trouble.
“It was the Pastor’s belief that Socialism would be the second phase of the trouble, the first being war(s). I am afraid that a lot of brethren have missed this--they have missed this peaceful revolution, this Socialism that the Pastor spoke of so frequently. In some places he said, "War, revolution and anarchy." Other places he said, "War, Socialism and anarchy." In other words, Socialism is synonymous with the earthquake or revolution. Maybe we think of revolution as only being violent-but that is not necessarily true.
That is not the basic thought in the word "revolution". Revolution simply means "to turn over" (to change, to rotate?). A wheel revolves. That does not mean that the spokes fall out. You turn any-thing over, what was on top is now on the bottom--that's a revolution. And it does not necessarily imply violence either. That is not to say there have also been a number of violent revolutions in this period.
We would like to read some excerpts here. There are many others, but these few will suffice. This is taken from the Fourth Volume of the Studies in the Scriptures Series, Page 486: (Note: this was published in 1897 seventeen years prior to the first great war, WWI in 1914, the Bolshevik revolution in 1917 and the rise of Communism.)
"We have reason to believe that Socialism (or its like) will make great progress during the next few years. But frequently it will not be wisely or moderately advanced: success will intoxicate some of its advocates, and failure render others desperate, and as a result impatience will lead to calamity…Rulers, capitalists and clergymen, with few exceptions, will seize upon the first extremes of Socialism to assault it and brand it with infamy, and temporarily throttle it, encouraging themselves with specious arguments which self-interest and fear will suggest. (We want to call attention to the fact that he doesn't say that people are opposing these changes entirely from self-interest, though that is a big part of it. It is also a fear--a fear of our whole way of life being destroyed, particularly religion if the world goes Communist. So, there is a basis for genuine fear, and the Pastor always recognized these different elements and motives.) As intimated the movement will be crushed under the combined power of Church, State and Capital and later lead to the great explosion of anarchy, in which, as indicated in the Scriptures, all present institutions will be wrecked; -- 'A time of trouble such as was not since there was a nation.'"
Notice Socialism will fail or be crushed, and reform being thwarted along that line, the result will be "the great explosion of anarchy." You see there will be a period of time between the revolution and the anarchy and it is during anarchy that all present institutions will be wrecked.
Socialists don't want to destroy the system. They want to reform it-- modify it (to their own liking).
We will continue with the Pastor’s remarks in our next post.
Return to Index
