Does Charles Taze Russell, Watchtower founder, fit the description of Matt. 24:23-26?

Question

CT Russell founded the Watchtower magazine in 1879 as a means of 'heralding Christ's invisible presence' in the earth which he taught as beginning in 1874. He did not say "he is in the wilderness" or "the inner chambers", but he did say, in essence, "Look! He has returned to the earth. He's here, he's present." He did not claim to have a revelation from God, but he did claim that God had revealed "truths" to him gradually and he (Russell) acted as "God's mouthpiece." (Proclaimers, pages 46-49, and 143)

If Jesus was NOT present in the earth in 1874 onward, is there any possible way that Russell would be an exception, and NOT fit the description of Matt. 24:26?

Answer 1

You bet he did...Be careful Witnesses are touchy about their History!

Answer 2

No
(to the initial "question" in bold).

Here are the verses mentioned in this so-called "question":
(Matthew 24:23-26) Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look! Here is the Christ,’ or, ‘There!’ do not believe it. 24 For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will give great signs and wonders so as to mislead, if possible, even the chosen ones. 25 Look! I have forewarned you. 26 Therefore, if people say to you, ‘Look! He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out; ‘Look! He is in the inner chambers,’ do not believe it.

Jehovah's Witnesses readily acknowledge that Russell was imperfect and frequently wrong, but in over a century never before have even Russell's most vitriolic enemies pretended that Russell performed "great signs and wonders". The man called himself and his fellow worshippers "Bible Students" and presented all of his ideas as the results of bible research rather than divine revelation.

Learn more:
http://www.jw-media.org/people/who.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/jt/index.htm?article=article_02.htm

Answer 3

that scripture simply says his presence would be invisible.
As to Jesus not knowing what is going on in the earth as a powerful spirit person at the right hand of God Almighty.
I find it difficult to believe that at any given moment he doesn't know what is going on in the earth.
It matters little to me when it all began but what I am concerned with is its conclusion. We would be very unaware of what is going on in the earth to say that these are not the last days.

(Matthew 24:20-22) . . .; 21 for then there will be great tribulation such as has not occurred since the world’s beginning until now, no, nor will occur again. 22 In fact, unless those days were cut short, no flesh would be saved; but on account of the chosen ones those days will be cut short.

Never before could we have destroyed all flesh off this earth like the political powers could today?
He also said, he was bringing to ruin those ruining the earth.
How did he know that mankind would advance to the point they could actually ruin the earth?

Answer 4

“Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look! Here is the Christ,’ or, ‘There!’ do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will give great signs and wonders so as to mislead, if possible, even the chosen ones. Look! I have forewarned you. Therefore, if people say to you, ‘Look! He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out; ‘Look! He is in the inner chambers,’ do not believe it." --Matthew 24:23-26

Those claims were that Christ had returned to earth physically. Russell did not make any claims that Christ had come to earth physically; "in the wilderness", or, "in the inner chambers". He taught that Christ's second coming was spiritual, and this is what it was & is, enthroned as King of God's heavenly Kingom government.

Jesus will never physically return to earth. For him to take again life as a man would require him to take back the value of his ransom sacrifice, making it invalid--totally out of harmony with God's will & purposes, which he is in complete harmony with. So, this he will never do...

Answer 5

Is your contention that Mr. Russell was a false prophet? Are you questioning the religious truth of the Jehovah's Witnesses? Better yet, are you questioning religious truth PERIOD. If you are then BRAVO! Question everything that you have been fed about religion! Apply reason (not faith) to it and see for yourself if any of it actually makes sense.

Honestly, does it matter if Russell was a false prophet if it all was nonsense anyway? Seems like this is just another search for reasons to censure and exclude one religious dogma from the standpoint of another. This is exactly why the religious always want to war each other. "You don't believe the nonsense that I believe so I have all the reason I need to take everything (including your life) from you!"

And we sit around and ask, "Why do the Muslims hate us enough to blow themselves up in order to kill us?" Why? Because they are applying the same logical (and nonsensical) thought process that you are applying to the JW's to your version of Christianity. Everyone needs to STOP worrying about what God(s) everyone else is worshiping or not worshiping and get on with living a sane and ethical life here on Earth.

Answer 6

First let me say, For the last 2000 yrs. Christ has been sitting on the throne in heaven as our mediator, & in no way has Christ has ever came of that seat in 1874 or any other time, When Christ does come off that throne as our mediator then he will be our king, Read Rev. 8:1 & Rev. 10:1-6 You see Christ standing with that scroll in his hands OPENED which contains 7 seals, & Once Christ opens that last seal of redemption, He then & then only will be no longer our mediator, Therefore he will have no further need to sit on that throne holding the scroll of redemption in his hand, because he had opened that last 7th seal. & Time for the Gentiles are over, & grace age.

Answer 7

No Russell was not a false prophet and does not fit the description at Matthew 24:26. The Bible shows that Jehovah enables his servants to understand his purposes in a progressive manner.(Proverbs 4:8, John 16:12) Thus prophets who were divinely inspired to write portions of the Bible did not understand the meaning of everything they wrote.(Daniel 12:8,9; 1Peter 1:10-12) The apostles of Jesus Christ realized there was much they did not understand in their time.(Acts1:6,7; 1Corinthians 13:9-12)The Bible shows there would be a great increase in knowlegde of the truth during the time of the end.(Daniel 12:4) Increased knowledge often requires adjustments in one's thinking. Jehovah's Witnesses are willing humbly to make such adjustments, whereas other religions persist in their wrong teachings.

Answer 8

To my knowledge Charles T. Russell fits this description well and has misled over 6 million people worldwide. If you study the Russell bloodline he is included in it. One of his misleading doctrines is The Memorial Day service where J.W.'s refuse to partake of Christ (a satanic ritual) denying Jesus.

Answer 9

Yes he fits the description perfectly of a false prophet, preaching a false gospel.

Answer 10

Well, considering that Russell was right about Christ being enthroned in 1914 (and his "presence" starting from that point onward), I guess it's rather irrelevant isn't it???