Revelation Chapter 3
VERSE 14 continued “And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write…”
Russell was not the founder of a new religion, he merely revived the great truths taught by Jesus and the apostles, and turned the light of the twentieth century upon these. In so doing, he did more than any other man of modern times to establish the faith of the people in the Scriptures. By the citation of scriptural authority, he taught and proved the following doctrines:
Man DOES NOT possess an immortal soul; HE IS A SOUL and is mortal. (Ezek. 18:4, 20)
The wages of sin is death, NOT eternal torment. (Rom. 6:23)
Death came upon man as the just penalty for the violation of God’s law. (Gen. 2:17)
Death means the destruction of man (the cessation of life in any sense of the word). (Eccles. 9:5; Psa. 115:17)
God, in His goodness, planned the great ransom price whereby ALL men may be delivered from the bondage of sin and death. (1 Tim. 2:4–6)
God’s beloved Son, Jesus, became a man, grew to manhood’s estate, was put to death as a man, and was raised from the dead a spirit being, inheriting the divine nature. (Heb. 2:14, 16; 1 Pet. 3:18; John 5:26)
By means of his death and resurrection, Jesus provided and produced the ransom price to effect man’s deliverance and restoration. (John 10:17,18; 6:51)
Jesus Christ, by the grace of God, his Father, tasted death for EVERY man. (Heb. 2:9)
EVERY MAN in God’s due time must, therefore, have a fair trial for life, and to this end there shall be a resurrection of ALL the dead. (John 3:16; 5:25, 28)
Jesus Christ ascended into heaven and must come the second time. (John 14:3)
The period of time elapsing between the First and the Second Advents of the Lord is devoted to the election of the members of the body of Christ, taken from among men. (Acts 15:14)
The requirements for election to that exalted position are full faith in the shed blood of Jesus as the ransom price, a full consecration to do the Father’s will, and a faithful continuance in obedience to the Father’s will even unto death. (Rev. 2:10)
All who thus are consecrated and begotten of the Holy Spirit and are over-comers shall have part in the chief resurrection; that is, they shall be exalted to positions in the heavenly Kingdom of God, and shall participate with Christ in his millennial reign for the blessing of all the families of the earth. (Rev. 20:4; 21:2–4)
During the thousand-year reign of Christ, ALL of the dead shall be awakened from the tomb and given a fair and impartial (individual) trial for life or death. (Acts 17:31)
Under said reign the willfully disobedient shall be everlastingly destroyed, while those obedient to the righteous rule of Christ shall be fully restored to human perfection of body, mind, and character. (Isa. 35:5–10; Job 33:25; Acts 3:22, 23)
During this millennial reign the earth shall be brought to an Edenic state—paradise; it shall be made fit as a place habitable for perfect man. (Rev. 22:1–3)
Man, fully restored, will inhabit the beautiful earth in all the ages to come. (Psa. 78:69; 37:9–11; 115:16; Mic. 4:4)
In serving the Lord, Russell traveled more than a million miles, often fifty thousand miles a year; delivered thirty thousand lectures, sermons, and table talks (many of his public lectures were three hours long); and wrote more than fifty thousand book pages. In addition, he personally wrote most and edited all of the articles appearing in *Zion’s Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence, a semimonthly thirty-two-page journal of biblical expositions and religious facts.
He also supervised the printing and publication of The Bible Students’ Monthly, The People’s Pulpit, and Everybody’s Paper, which were distributed—free for the most part—in thirty-three different languages to Bible students throughout the world. A worldwide “lecture bureau” that he established and supervised was composed of about seventy field workers or pilgrims who gave daily lectures on Bible topics. In addition to the regularly employed lecturers, there was also under his supervision an auxiliary force of seven hundred who lectured part-time.
Still another branch of the harvest work that he inaugurated and supervised was the colporteur service. While unique, this plan was nevertheless the essence of simplicity. Never in all the history of the Church had there been anything like it, particularly for quick results. Consecrated men and women, who loved the Lord and appreciated what the truth meant in their own lives, found their sweetest joy in going through the streets of every city, town, village, and hamlet in the land to present the beauty and the reasonableness of God’s great plan as revealed in His Holy Word and amplified in Russell’s writings. To the untiring efforts and supreme devotion of this army of about eight hundred workers, much of the success of the harvest work is due.
.........................................................................................................................................
*Zion’s Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence
Although Pastor Russell was the original founder of the Watch Tower, this journal should not be confused with the organization under that name today (The Jehovah's Witnesses), for upon his death the new succession to leadership made a radical departure from the prior emphasis given to the publication. Instead of encouragement and admonition slanted towards a gospel Church hoping to attain a spiritual resurrection and a destiny of abiding life throughout all eternity with the dear Redeemer, the attention of the readership was directed towards an earthly hope, calling, and residence. Of course, this doctrine is inimical to the development of those who wish to abide by, and to claim for their own, the aspirations and instructions given to the followers of Jesus throughout the New Testament. Therefore, those holding to heavenly hopes, aims, and ambitions have no recourse but to look elsewhere for leadership and counsel.
Continued with next post.
