Revelation Chapter 3
VERSE 14 continued “And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write…”
As one of the pioneers in the development of the successful idea of chain stores, Russell soon started a store of his own and rapidly increased his ownership to a chain of stores. His prospects for wealth were indeed great. At age twenty-one he was already worth more than $250,000 (Approximately $6,197,150 today.)
One hundred dollars in 1877 is worth $2,478.86 today.
In due process, his business responsibilities continued to multiply, interfering with his hours for theological research. Yet in 1876, at age twenty-four, he became aware of the time features or prophecies of the Scriptures, which revealed the important truth that 1874 was the year the Lord’s second presence began. He immediately realized that the special time had an important bearing upon Christian work and duty; that it was the time of the harvest and hence harvest work should be done; that present truth was the sickle by which God would have His people do a gathering and reaping work everywhere among His children.
A decision became necessary:
Should he continue his search for truth on religion, or should he abandon such hope and strive instead for fame and fortune among the financial and commercial captains of his day?
Undoubtedly, had he remained in the race for commercial supremacy, utilizing his extraordinary management and leadership ability and financial acumen to pursue wealth, his fortune would have rivaled that of John D. Rockefeller. Fortunately, he chose the former course and in 1877 gave up his secular work to devote his time and wealth to the work indicated in the Scriptures as incident to the close of the Gospel Age and the change of dispensations impending.
Russell’s background and experience were similar to those of the fourth messenger, Peter Waldo of Thyatira, who also was a rich merchant and did not rise up within the ranks of orthodoxy as a licensed minister, yet was ordained by God and was both congregationally and individually recognized by countless thousands of consecrated believers.
To determine whether his purposed course was in harmony with the Scriptures, and also to demonstrate his own sincerity, he decided to test the Lord’s approval as follows: (1) devote his life to the cause; (2) invest his private fortune (about $350,000, roughly $8,500,000+ in today’s money) in the promulgation of the work; (3) prohibit collections at all meetings; and (4) depend on voluntary, unsolicited contributions to continue the work after his own fortune was exhausted.
Subsequently, he actively engaged in the Lord’s work for forty-two years, laboring day and night without desiring the praise and approbation of men and without seeking any personal advancements. During that entire time, he worked seven days a week, never taking a vacation. To spend and be spent was the impelling theme of his life.
Throughout his ministry he claimed nothing of superiority, or of supernatural power, dignity, or authority. He claimed only, as a faithful student of the Word of God, to be an index finger to help Bible students trace for themselves, on the sacred page, the wonderful plan of God.
The truths he presented as God’s mouthpiece were not revealed in visions or dreams, or by God’s audible voice, or all at once, but gradually, especially since 1870 and particularly since 1880. The clear unfolding of truth he attributed not to human ingenuity or acuteness of perception but to the simple fact that God’s due time had come, and if he had not spoken, and no other agent had been found, the very stones would have cried out.
Continued with next post.
