We present the following due to the fact that many brethren at one time (and some possibly even still today) believed that the harvest period was over, that spirit begettal had ended, that those being called now were being called in respects to matters concerning the earthly phase of the kingdom. This (false) idea has likewise been propagated by our JW friends.

This is likewise being presented because in our study on the “Time Features of the Great Pyramid” we have reached a segment in which it was assumed at the time (by the authors) that the church would be completed by 1914, this assumption appearing to be confirmed based upon the additional 36 ½ inches of the missing floor found beyond the cut-off at the north end of the Grand Gallery.

“The question of the length of the Harvest period is one of deep concern to all the saints at the present time. Some years ago many of the brethren, including the Directors of our institute and the Editorial Staff of this journal, were under the impression that the Harvest was a period of only 40 years, and that it would come to an end by or during the year 1914. The circumstances and events, however, as we have been carefully observing them, cause us to seriously doubt the truthfulness of that impression, indeed, convince us that WE WERE IN ERROR IN OUR CONCLUSION that the Harvest was 40 years long and ended in 1914.”

But it is asked, did not the Harvest truly end in that year? And are we not to think that the work since that time is of another kind and not to be considered a part of the Harvest?

Our reply is that we should require sound Bible reasons for all that we assume or believe. Looking for evidence that the Harvest ended years ago, we look in vain. We can find not the slightest ground for assuming or concluding that the Harvest work ended in 1914 or that it has yet come to a close. While it is true that the work has not continued upon as large a scale and not all the same methods or instrumentalities have been continued in operation, yet it is nevertheless a matter of fact that the Message of Truth has continued to go forth enlightening the faithful and calling the attention of these to the various entanglements of Babylon, which has meant of course that a gathering and a separating work has progressed unto this present time. Let him that reads understand!

NO NEW WORK AUTHORIZED

We consider the evidence wholly lacking that the Harvest has ended. Nor is there the slightest evidence that the Lord has instituted another and different work. We most earnestly urge upon the Lord’s people to use moderation in their reasoning upon this subject as upon all subjects to use the spirit of a sound mind and to require positive evidence, a “thus saith the Lord,” for every doctrine or thought that we accept. Whatever others may do, whatever changes in the work others may presume to institute without proper authority, let us not be affected by it, nor be alarmed, but let us look carefully to the Lord and His Word for guidance in this matter as in every affair of life. “The meek will He guide in judgment and the meek will He teach His way.” The Great Head of the Church is still our only Teacher and faithful Guide. There are no reasons whatever why we should institute some work different from that carried on by Pastor Russell. The Message has not changed the slightest. It is still the old, old story of Jesus and His love, the Message Of the risen Christ and of our hope of joint-heirship with Him in His glorious Kingdom, in the turning of the curse away from the earth, and the blessing of humanity. The great commission given by the Savior to His followers was that they should bear this Message unto the very end of the Age. We conclude, therefore, that it is pleasing and acceptable to God that we continue bearing testimony to the Truth in simplicity and in love, and allow the work of separation — the Harvest work — to go on under the providence and supervision of the Great Chief Reaper, fully conscious that He is able to have that work discontinued at any moment it may please Him.

“As for the Harvest being a period of 40 years or as to how long this period is, this is a matter entirely proper for us to investigate and discuss. The question is there anything in the Bible that will enable us to determine how long this work of harvesting in the end of the Age will last? Concerning this matter no expositor except one has expressed any opinion, as previously stated it has been the thought of many brethren that the Harvest period would cover 40 years. This was Pastor Russell’s thought, and was held by him up to within a short time (in September) before his death, which occurred in October, 1916. His interpretation which was frequently expressed in his writings was that it covered a period of 40 years, beginning in 1874, and ending in 1914. In September, 1916, he still continued believing that the Harvest of the Age began at this date–1874.

On this matter he thus expresses himself under the following heading:

“OUR MISTAKE RESPECTING THE HARVEST”

“Our readers will remember that the basis of our expectations respecting the Harvest time was the parallelism between the closing of the Jewish, Age and the closing of this Gospel Age. We found the beginning of the Harvest time clearly marked by the 1335 days of prophecy, and by the fulfillment amongst God’s people of the declaration: ‘Oh, the blessedness of him that waits and cometh to the end of the 1335 days!’ (Dan 12: 12.) Surely great blessedness, great enlightenment of the eyes of understanding, great appreciation of our God and His glorious purposes came to the Lord’s people at that time’ in full agreement with that prophecy! Ever since then a new song has been in the mouths of the Lord’s people, as they have learned of His goodness through the Divine Plan of the Ages. We see no reason to question the date, October, 1874, as the beginning of the Harvest time and the parallel to the time when Jesus began His ministry in the Harvest time of the Jewish Age.” (R5950 col. 2 par. 8)

He next proceeds to show in what particular matters the mistakes were made. His words are:

“Our mistake was along the very line that we pointed out. Time and again, we reminded our readers that the parallelisms between the Jewish Age and the Gospel Age could not include anything belonging to the New Dispensation. The parallels affected merely the nominal Jewish house and the nominal Christian house here.” (R 5950 col. 2, par. 9)

Let all who are acquainted with Pastor Russell’s writings note these words carefully. Note that in them he states very plainly that the Harvest “parallels affected merely the nominal Jewish house there, and the nominal Christian house here.”

Concerning what features of the parallelisms were referred to in his statement, he said:

“Both [nominal systems] were rejected because of failure to be in the right condition of heart for the truths that were due to them–both rejected for [a future] destruction. The Jewish system was a Church-State affair, paralleled here by the great Church-State systems of Europe, whose destruction began in 1914.” –Z ’16-264, col. 2, par. 1.

The important matters to be noted in this utterance bearing on the parallelisms are these:

(1) Both nominal systems were rejected, the Jewish before the Christian Age began, 33 A. D., which beginning was at Pentecost, immediately after their rejection (see Matt 23:38); the nominal Christian house being rejected in the parallel date 1878.

(2) The rejection in both instances was on account of rejecting the truths then due.

He further goes on to show the peculiar significance and correspondence to the dates 33 A. D. and 1878 A. D. as bearing on their parallel events. We quote:

“Let us remember, however, that the three and a half years of Jesus’ ministry [29 A. D. to 33 A. D.] were more a time of preparation of the Apostles to be the instruments for the harvesting and a sharpening preparation of the Sickle of Truth for the later work which began at Pentecost. There was no “garner” into which to gather the wheat prior to Pentecost [33 A.D.].” (R5950 col. 2 par. 10)

He next gives a diagram to demonstrate the Jewish Nominal Church and Christian-Nominal Church parallels, as follows:

“Jewish-Nominal Church                                 Christian-Nominal Church

            A.D. 29-33                                                        A. D. 1874-1878

 

‘Neither house knew of the time of their visitation’ (i.e. the presence of the Lord)

           A.D. 33-36                                                          A. D. 1878-1881

The Most Holy Anointed, Divine favor prolonged for three and a half years [to individuals of the nominal Jewish and nominal Christian house] to complete the 70 weeks of ‘favor promised to Israel, their rejection being deferred [until 70 weeks had ended, 36 A. D.].

          A.D. 36-73                                                           A. D. 1881-1918

“Because of the overspreading of abominations, He shall make it desolate, even until the consummation or utter destruction-until all that God has predetermined shall be accomplished.” (Dan 9:24-27)

To get Pastor Russell’s conclusions on these parallels, which conclusions we now quote, our readers will need to consider very carefully his words, for they are his last words on these matters and were recorded only about one month before his death:

“NO PARALLELS AS BETWEEN THE PENTECOSTAL CHURCH AND THE TRUE CHURCH NOW ARE TO BE LOOKED FOR.”

He states, however, that because the resurrection of our Lord took place just before the Pentecostal Church began its history in 33 A. D., it is reasonable to believe that His resurrection, at that time would parallel the resurrection of the sleeping saints in 1878 A. D. Thus he said “the resurrection of Jesus before the Church harvesting began, may well be considered to have its parallel here in the resurrection of the sleeping members of the Church–1878 A. D.”

Those who are familiar with Pastor Russell’s previous teachings concerning the matters (i.e. the harvest its time, length, and duration) of which we now call attention will need to weigh carefully his words which we now quote in order to understand what he himself states as his change of views; and also to consider carefully the significance of this change of view concerning the Church’s work at the present time; and still further the fact that there is no way to determine the length and ending of the Harvest -neither any way to determine the time of the destruction of the nominal Church systems.

Now in our pyramid study it was believed that the extra 36 ½ inches of the cut-off portion of the Grand Gallery denoted this date as 1914, however this was but an assumption one which at the time seem reasonable due to the fact that it was a common belief held by the Pastor and those acquainted with the truth at the time. The date marked by the Pyramid is sure, but its significance we believe was misinterpreted.

In view of the fact that many since his death are in their teaching, saying that the Harvest is ended, or setting particular dates for these great events to occur, his words concerning these matters are in positive conflict with their teachings. Note the following:

“We should not have looked for parallelisms between the starting of the Gospel Church [at Pentecost] and its experiences [there], and the starting in this harvest time of the Heavenly Church [since 1878] and its experiences. These are NO part of the parallel. The parallel belongs to the nominal Jewish system, which went to destruction [in 70 or 73 A. D.] and the nominal Gospel Church, which is now [in 1916, when he wrote] going [NOT GONE] to destruction.” (R5950 col. 2 par.13)

We would ask would it not be reasonable to suppose that to fulfill this parallel the nominal Church systems would need to have been utterly destroyed in 1918. It is a fact of history that they were not destroyed.

 THE SUPPOSITION THAT HARVEST ENDED IN 1914 WAS A MISTAKE

He next proceeds to show another mistake, that he desired to correct, and it will be seen that if his conclusions are correct, and had been heeded, very much of the confusion and erroneous teaching that has existed since in the Church would have been avoided. It will be seen as we quote his words that it was his thought:

(1) That the Harvest did not end in 1914; neither had it ended when he wrote, in September, 1916.

(2) Nor was there any Scripture that gave any date ahead of that time that would indicate the end of the Harvest.

(3) In other words, that the forty-year time feature of the Harvest period was wholly an inference, and was discarded by him. We quote his words to this effect:

“We imagined that the harvest work of gathering the Church would be accomplished before the end of the Gentiles Times [1914]; but nothing in the Bible so said. Our thought was purely an inference, and now we see that it was an unjustified one. This Harvest work belongs to the New Dispensation [beginning in 1874 and cannot be identified with the Old. Anyway, the harvesting of the Jewish Age, gathering ‘Israelite’s indeed’ into the Gospel Church, did not close with A. D. 70, but progressed in various parts of the world thereafter. Quite a good many Jews, doubtless, profiting by their experience, were all the better prepared to be gathered into the Gospel Garner after the destruction of their national polity. Similarly we may expect that quite a good many will yet [since. September, 1916 be gathered to the Heavenly Garner, and we know of no time limit here.” (R 5950 col. 2 par. 14)

Still further bearing on this matter, as showing that it was his thought at the time he wrote (September, 1916) that the forty years supposed by inference to be a type, applying to the nominal Christian system, might possibly meet its fulfillment in 1918, in the utter destruction of them, he next proceeds to say:

“Incidentally we remark that some historians put the end of the Jewish time of trouble as April A. D. 73, which would correspond to April, 1918.”

As the end of the time of trouble on the nominal Jewish systems did not occur then, and the end of such a time of trouble would of course mean their destruction, is it not reasonable and Scriptural to say that the antitype, so far as it related to the forty-year time feature, has failed both as applying to the nominal and true Church? Would he not have understood it this way if he had lived until April, 1918?

 Would it not also prove that the Gentile date of 1914 must be considered as having no direct bearing upon the change of the Church, but to Gentile authority only?  (With this we are in full agreement especially as it applies to the additional 36 ½ inches of the missing floor in the Grand Gallery of the Pyramid) And still further we ask, would it not be much the wiser and the more Scriptural course of the Church to be looking to the fulfillment of events yet to come to pass, rather than to dates? Let him that reads understand!

In closing we quote Pastor Russell’s words concluding the same article:

“Are we regretful that the Harvest work continues? Nay, verily; we rejoice and have the pleasure each day of showing forth the praises of Him who hath called us out of darkness into His most marvelous light; and we delight in seeing how others are being benefited and made to rejoice. Are we regretful of the experiences we have had in coming to this present point? Do we feel like repining that the Lord did not force upon us more careful attention to the parallelism? Nay, verily; The Lord’s leadings have been good. Perhaps, indeed, we got benefit from the thought that the Harvest work would soon be ended. Perhaps it led us to deeper consecration and greater activity in the service of the Lord, in ourselves and for others. We therefore have nothing to regret. “‘Who led us first, will lead us still; calmly we sink into His will.’

Now understand that as much as we may honor and respect the Pastor as the Lord’s chosen vessel, “The Faithful and Wise Servant” chosen to deliver “meat in due season” to the household of faith, nevertheless our faith is not reliant solely upon his testimony along on this subject, but rather upon the Lord’s on words on the matter, for was it not he who when explaining the work of the harvest (Matt 13) clearly stated that the harvest would consist of (1) the gathering of the tares, i.e. the binding and bundling of the nominally professing church into its various, sects, creeds, and denominations, this in preparation for (2) their burning, and (3) that meanwhile the wheat should be gathered into the barn (or fully consecrated condition). Now we ask has all this work which the Lord himself designated as the harvest taken place. Has all the wheat been garnered, have the tares, not as individuals, but as systems of error been burned, destroyed? If not then we must conclude that the harvest is not yet completed.

 THE BURNING OF THE TARES

“In the parable of ‘the wheat and the tares,’ the Master puts very prominently the gathering of the tares and the binding of them in bundles for burning. We assumed that this burning would not take place until all the wheat had been gathered into the Heavenly Garner; but apparently this was an incorrect thought. The garnering of the wheat continues; but apparently the consuming of the tares will correspond very, closely with the division of Jordan. The tares are a class of (often) noble people who have risen up out of the world infused with hopes and aims of a benevolent character, but misled into thinking that they are the Church. From the tare viewpoint, the wheat are an abnormal growth, a peculiar people, few in number, and not held in high esteem. The smiting of the waters will reveal the truth in respect to what is the real Church of Christ, and what are imitations; and the honest-minded tare class will be undeceived and cease to longer pretend that they are the Church of Christ-thus they will be burned or cease to be as tares (professed Christians), continuing, however, as noble-minded worldly people and will have a share in the general blessings of the ‘sweet by and by’ under the Kingdom, for which we still pray.

“Our present attitude, dear brethren, should be one of great gratitude toward God, increasing appreciation of the beautiful Truth which – He has granted us the privilege of seeing and being identified with, and increasing zeal in helping to bring that Truth to the knowledge of others. In the meantime, our eyes of understanding should discern clearly the Battle of the Great Day of God Almighty now in progress; and our faith, guiding our eyes of understanding through the Word, should enable us to see the glorious outcome-the Messiah’s Kingdom. Furthermore, we can be fully content not to know how long the Harvest work will last-content that the great Captain, who by Divine appointment has the entire matter in charge, is too wise to err, and has promised us that all of our experiences shall work together for our good if, we love Him and are of ‘the called ones according to His purpose,’ seeking to make our calling and election sure.”

(The Herald of Christ’s Kingdom Vol 4 April 1, 1921 No. 7)

Understand that we bare no ill will toward any who differ with us on this subject; they like ourselves are entitled to their own opinion, however as the Pastor pointed out in Q150 “We must not allow our expectations (our own personal views and expectations) to weigh anything against the facts,’ The fact that the Harvest work is still going grandly on.