Steadfast
01-25-2007, 02:45 PM
History Of Charles Taze Russell, Watchtower, And The Occult
There have been a lot of questions concerning Charles Taze Russell and his connection to the occult and freemasonry, so I researched the entire issue and this is what I found:
—1868, Charles tries to convert a non-believing friend, but in the process is actually caused to question Christianity himself.
—1869, Seeking answers from the minister of his Congregational Church, he is given a book to read, which does not satisfy him. A council is called together of other ministers in Pittsburgh to answer Charles' questions, but they are unable to. As a result, he withdraws from the Congregational Church.
—1869–1870, Studies the Eastern Religions of Hinduism, Buddhism and Confucianism to see if they offer a reasonable alternative to Christianity. None of these philosophies satisfy him.
—1870, Hears a Bible discourse given by Jonas Wendell, and his faith in the Bible as the Word of God is restored.
—1870-1875, Begins studying the Bible with a group of other individuals in the Allegheny area. This study group, by careful and systematic research into the Scriptures, begin to recognize and discard the errors hoisted upon Christianity by the Roman Church and her Creeds. He is actively involved in conducting Bible Studies and mission work.
—1876, While on a business trip in Philadelphia, he comes upon an issue of the magazine "Herald of the Morning", published by Nelson Barbour. Because the magazine espouses similar views which the study group in Allegheny concluded he contacts him. Barbour convinces him that the Bible's chronology proves the end of the Christian age has come, and the transitionary stage which Jesus called "the harvest" has come. Charles quits his business, devoting his wealth and time to promulgating the message. Pastor Russell also had published an article in "The Bible Examiner", a religious journal printed by Second Adventist George Storrs. In this article he explains that the foretold dominion of Gentile governments will come to an end in 1914.
—1877, Charles Russell, now 25 years old, and imbued with great zeal to proclaim to the world the Gospel, calls a meeting of all the ministers of Pittsburgh and presents the Biblical evidence that the "harvest" and the "end of the age" spoken of by Jesus in Matthew 13 has arrived. None of the ministers accept this reasoning. He finances the publication of a book written by Nelson Barbour called "Three Worlds and the Plan of Redemption" detailing the Restitution promised by Christ's return and the Biblical chronology proving the time had arrived. The pamphlet "The Object and Manner of the Lord's Return" is finally published. He sells out his five clothing stores, and collects the total cash value of approximately $300,000.
—1878, Russell, Barbour and associates expect a literal rapture of faithful Christians to occur. The failure of this inspired Russell to re-examine the basis of the theory and discovers that I Corinthians 15:51,52 has been misread and misapplied. Examination of the verses revealed that when Christ returns those Christians who were sleeping in death would be all raised at once, and those alive on earth at the time would one by one, at the end of their earthly life, be joined with the Lord rather than falling asleep in death as all the others had. Barbour is not satisfied with this explanation. Russell is shocked to discover that Barbour does not believe in substitutionary atonement, and a debate ensues in the pages of the "Herald of the Morning"
—1879, RUSSELL SPLITS FROM BARBOUR AND PUBLISHES THE FIRST ISSUE OF "ZION'S WATCH TOWER AND HERALD OF CHRIST'S PRESENCE. (Picture from Jehovah's Witnesses – Proclaimers of God's Kingdom, p. 121, confirms that no cross and crown was evident on Zion's Watch Tower in 1879.)
—1880, Begins distribution of tracts on Bible topics.
—1881, ZION'S WATCH TOWER AND TRACT SOCIETY IS FORMED. "Food for Thinking Christians", "The Tabernacle and Its Teachings", and "Tabernacle Shadows of the Better Sacrifices" are published.
—1884, THE SOCIETY IS OFFICIALLY CHARTERED with the State of Pennsylvania, making it the fourth Bible Society in the United States with a national or international focus.
---1884-1886, RUSSELL'S APOSTASY PROBABLY TOOK ROOT DURING THIS TIME PERIOD. (No verifiable evidence prior to this timeframe)
—1886, "The Plan of the Ages" is first published. The name is later changed to "The Divine Plan of the Ages" eventually to become one of the most widely distributed books in world history. PYRAMIDOLGY APPEARS IN PUBLICATIONS.
—1889, Construction begins on a building to be used for disseminating Biblical materials, to be called the "Bible House". "The Time is at Hand", the second in the series of Millennial Dawn, is published. <span style="font-family:Times New Roman">
---1909, JANUARY 1, CROSS AND CROWN APPEARS ON ZION'S WATCHTOWER. (Jehovah's Witnesses – Proclaimers of God's Kingdom, p.724) Please notice the pictures of the Watchtower magazines. No cross and crown is visible prior to 1909.
---1911, SUN DISK ADOPTED.
---1911, KNIGHTS TEMPLAR SYMBOL APPEARS ON ZION'S WATCHTOWER. (Jehovah's Witnesses – Proclaimers of God's Kingdom, p. 724)
---1913, RUSSELL'S – "TEMPLE OF GOD" DISCOURSE GIVEN ON FREEMASONRY.
</span> —31 October 1916 (Halloween night), Pastor Russell dies enroute to New York after completing a speaking engagement in Los Angeles. Announcement of his death appears all over the world.
My comment: From this research, I am of the opinion that when the Watchtower was founded in 1881, Charles Taze Russell had not yet corrupted his thinking with occult teachings. With the publishing of 'The Plan of the Ages' is becomes apparent that something went very wrong.
Here is some additional information that sheds some light on this entire issue:
Quote from watchman.org:
"One early proponent of Pyramidology who added to its already supernatural mysticism was Madame Helena Blavatsky (1831-1891). As a leader in Theosophy, a mixture of Eastern philosophy and Occultism, she gave Pyramidology a ritualistic flavor. "According to Madame Blavatsky, the interior of the pyramid was used for the performance of sacred rituals connected with the Egyptian Book of the Dead, and most theosophists today assume there are vast mysteries of some sort connected with the stone monument that are known only to initiates" (Mysterious Pyramid Power, p. 71)."
My comment: Blavatsky is the 'mother' of the modern movement known as Lucius Trust that worships Lucifer. This is the organization behind the NWO, who at one time had an office in the UN and is still an NGO with the UN to this day. They also publish all UN literature.
"Charles Taze Russell, founder of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, published his book The Divine Plan of the Ages in 1886. Each copy had a large fold-out diagram dissecting a pyramid and explaining the biblical events it prophesied. These events stretched from the Genesis flood to the post-millennial reign of Christ. In speaking about this pyramid chart, the 1907 edition states, "As the frontispieces of this volume we give a chart representing the plan of God for the world's salvation. By it we have sought to aid the mind, through the eye, in understanding something of the progressive character of God's plan, and the progressive steps which must be taken by all who ever attain the complete `change' from the human to the divine nature" (p. 219)."
My comment: So is it possible when the Watchtower was founded in 1881 and chartered in 1884 that it was founded as a clean organization in Jehovah's eyes? My conclusion is that it could have been but it didn't remain clean for long as the above timeline seems to indicate.
As always, I welcome your comments and criticisms.
Love, :Love:
Steadfast
There have been a lot of questions concerning Charles Taze Russell and his connection to the occult and freemasonry, so I researched the entire issue and this is what I found:
—1868, Charles tries to convert a non-believing friend, but in the process is actually caused to question Christianity himself.
—1869, Seeking answers from the minister of his Congregational Church, he is given a book to read, which does not satisfy him. A council is called together of other ministers in Pittsburgh to answer Charles' questions, but they are unable to. As a result, he withdraws from the Congregational Church.
—1869–1870, Studies the Eastern Religions of Hinduism, Buddhism and Confucianism to see if they offer a reasonable alternative to Christianity. None of these philosophies satisfy him.
—1870, Hears a Bible discourse given by Jonas Wendell, and his faith in the Bible as the Word of God is restored.
—1870-1875, Begins studying the Bible with a group of other individuals in the Allegheny area. This study group, by careful and systematic research into the Scriptures, begin to recognize and discard the errors hoisted upon Christianity by the Roman Church and her Creeds. He is actively involved in conducting Bible Studies and mission work.
—1876, While on a business trip in Philadelphia, he comes upon an issue of the magazine "Herald of the Morning", published by Nelson Barbour. Because the magazine espouses similar views which the study group in Allegheny concluded he contacts him. Barbour convinces him that the Bible's chronology proves the end of the Christian age has come, and the transitionary stage which Jesus called "the harvest" has come. Charles quits his business, devoting his wealth and time to promulgating the message. Pastor Russell also had published an article in "The Bible Examiner", a religious journal printed by Second Adventist George Storrs. In this article he explains that the foretold dominion of Gentile governments will come to an end in 1914.
—1877, Charles Russell, now 25 years old, and imbued with great zeal to proclaim to the world the Gospel, calls a meeting of all the ministers of Pittsburgh and presents the Biblical evidence that the "harvest" and the "end of the age" spoken of by Jesus in Matthew 13 has arrived. None of the ministers accept this reasoning. He finances the publication of a book written by Nelson Barbour called "Three Worlds and the Plan of Redemption" detailing the Restitution promised by Christ's return and the Biblical chronology proving the time had arrived. The pamphlet "The Object and Manner of the Lord's Return" is finally published. He sells out his five clothing stores, and collects the total cash value of approximately $300,000.
—1878, Russell, Barbour and associates expect a literal rapture of faithful Christians to occur. The failure of this inspired Russell to re-examine the basis of the theory and discovers that I Corinthians 15:51,52 has been misread and misapplied. Examination of the verses revealed that when Christ returns those Christians who were sleeping in death would be all raised at once, and those alive on earth at the time would one by one, at the end of their earthly life, be joined with the Lord rather than falling asleep in death as all the others had. Barbour is not satisfied with this explanation. Russell is shocked to discover that Barbour does not believe in substitutionary atonement, and a debate ensues in the pages of the "Herald of the Morning"
—1879, RUSSELL SPLITS FROM BARBOUR AND PUBLISHES THE FIRST ISSUE OF "ZION'S WATCH TOWER AND HERALD OF CHRIST'S PRESENCE. (Picture from Jehovah's Witnesses – Proclaimers of God's Kingdom, p. 121, confirms that no cross and crown was evident on Zion's Watch Tower in 1879.)
—1880, Begins distribution of tracts on Bible topics.
—1881, ZION'S WATCH TOWER AND TRACT SOCIETY IS FORMED. "Food for Thinking Christians", "The Tabernacle and Its Teachings", and "Tabernacle Shadows of the Better Sacrifices" are published.
—1884, THE SOCIETY IS OFFICIALLY CHARTERED with the State of Pennsylvania, making it the fourth Bible Society in the United States with a national or international focus.
---1884-1886, RUSSELL'S APOSTASY PROBABLY TOOK ROOT DURING THIS TIME PERIOD. (No verifiable evidence prior to this timeframe)
—1886, "The Plan of the Ages" is first published. The name is later changed to "The Divine Plan of the Ages" eventually to become one of the most widely distributed books in world history. PYRAMIDOLGY APPEARS IN PUBLICATIONS.
—1889, Construction begins on a building to be used for disseminating Biblical materials, to be called the "Bible House". "The Time is at Hand", the second in the series of Millennial Dawn, is published. <span style="font-family:Times New Roman">
---1909, JANUARY 1, CROSS AND CROWN APPEARS ON ZION'S WATCHTOWER. (Jehovah's Witnesses – Proclaimers of God's Kingdom, p.724) Please notice the pictures of the Watchtower magazines. No cross and crown is visible prior to 1909.
---1911, SUN DISK ADOPTED.
---1911, KNIGHTS TEMPLAR SYMBOL APPEARS ON ZION'S WATCHTOWER. (Jehovah's Witnesses – Proclaimers of God's Kingdom, p. 724)
---1913, RUSSELL'S – "TEMPLE OF GOD" DISCOURSE GIVEN ON FREEMASONRY.
</span> —31 October 1916 (Halloween night), Pastor Russell dies enroute to New York after completing a speaking engagement in Los Angeles. Announcement of his death appears all over the world.
My comment: From this research, I am of the opinion that when the Watchtower was founded in 1881, Charles Taze Russell had not yet corrupted his thinking with occult teachings. With the publishing of 'The Plan of the Ages' is becomes apparent that something went very wrong.
Here is some additional information that sheds some light on this entire issue:
Quote from watchman.org:
"One early proponent of Pyramidology who added to its already supernatural mysticism was Madame Helena Blavatsky (1831-1891). As a leader in Theosophy, a mixture of Eastern philosophy and Occultism, she gave Pyramidology a ritualistic flavor. "According to Madame Blavatsky, the interior of the pyramid was used for the performance of sacred rituals connected with the Egyptian Book of the Dead, and most theosophists today assume there are vast mysteries of some sort connected with the stone monument that are known only to initiates" (Mysterious Pyramid Power, p. 71)."
My comment: Blavatsky is the 'mother' of the modern movement known as Lucius Trust that worships Lucifer. This is the organization behind the NWO, who at one time had an office in the UN and is still an NGO with the UN to this day. They also publish all UN literature.
"Charles Taze Russell, founder of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, published his book The Divine Plan of the Ages in 1886. Each copy had a large fold-out diagram dissecting a pyramid and explaining the biblical events it prophesied. These events stretched from the Genesis flood to the post-millennial reign of Christ. In speaking about this pyramid chart, the 1907 edition states, "As the frontispieces of this volume we give a chart representing the plan of God for the world's salvation. By it we have sought to aid the mind, through the eye, in understanding something of the progressive character of God's plan, and the progressive steps which must be taken by all who ever attain the complete `change' from the human to the divine nature" (p. 219)."
My comment: So is it possible when the Watchtower was founded in 1881 and chartered in 1884 that it was founded as a clean organization in Jehovah's eyes? My conclusion is that it could have been but it didn't remain clean for long as the above timeline seems to indicate.
As always, I welcome your comments and criticisms.
Love, :Love:
Steadfast