C. T. RUSSELL ON BIBLE CHRONOLOGY (1914)

C. T. Russell, The Watch Tower, May 1, 1914, pp. 134, 135.

ʻChronology Based Upon Faith – We remind our readers here that in these columns and in the six volumes of Studies in the Scriptures we have set forth everything appertaining to the times and seasons in a tentative form; that is to say, not with positiveness, not with the claim that we knew, but merely with the suggestion that “thus and so” seems to be the teaching of the Bible.

The Berean Lessons are running now in Volume Second of Studies in the Scriptures in order that all of our readers may have fresh in mind the Bible chronology as furnished there in Chapter II.

We have pointed out that the chronology is the basis of nearly all the suggestions of prophetic interpretations set forth in Studies in the Scriptures.

We have pointed out there that the chronology of the Bible is not stated with great clearness, that fractions of years are ignored and that there are certain breaks in it.

ʻWe have suggested that ordinarily the chronology would be quite insufficient as evidence and that our acceptance of it is based on faith on the supposition that God wished to give us a chronology, wished that we might have some knowledge of the times and seasons, and yet wished that it might be so obscure and indefinite as to require faith on the part of his people.

We pointed out further that we could not exercise that faith were it not for the fact that this chronology seems to be interwoven and interlocked with numerous prophecies and these prophecies, in turn, interwoven and interlocked with other prophecies and fulfilments not dependent upon the chronology.

Having thus set the matter before the minds of our readers, we asked each to judge for himself as to how much faith he would repose in the chronology and in the application of the prophecies connected with it.

ʻHaving laid this broad foundation, having put all of our readers on notice to use their own judgment, we proceeded to use this chronology in connection with the various prophecies, drawing various hypotheses and conclusions.

We did not in any case remind the reader afresh that all these conclusions were based upon the chronology, and that the chronology is admittedly supported by faith.

We assumed that all intelligent readers realized this, and that all such were using their own judgment, not ours, in respect to the chronology and in respect to the applications of the prophecies along the lines of that chronology.

We ask you all still to do this.

ʻThe chronology still seems as strong as ever to the Editor. He sees nothing to alter or amend.

Nevertheless, the Editor wishes to put all The Watch Tower readers on notice, as he already has done twice this year, that to his judgment it now seems unreasonable to expect during the present year all that he had anticipated, as suggested previously. He sees no possibility that the Church Federation will reach its climax of organization and power, and then reach its fall, during the remaining months of this year. And he surely looks for this to occur prior to the full ending of this Gospel age and the glorification of the last members of the church, which is the body of Christ.

ʻThis does not prove the chronology wrong, nor does it prove that the Times of the Gentiles do not end with this year. It may be that Gentile Times will end before the ecclesiastical oligarchy attains sacerdotal power. We must wait and see. The Lord is still our Shepherd. No good thing will he withhold from those who follow him as his sheep, harkening to his voice and ignoring the voice of strangers. His promises will stand sure, and these, as all other things, shall work together for good to those who love him the called ones according to his purpose (Rom. 8: 28).ʼ

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