“As for the Harvest being a period of 40 years or if not, how long it might be, this is a matter entirely proper for us to investigate and to discuss. The question is,

Is there anything in the Bible that will enable us to determine exactly how long this work of harvesting at the end of the Gospel 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—A.D.1874. On this matter he thus expresses himself under the following beading:

 “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)

The Pastor 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 A.D.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 systems were rejected, the nominal Jewish house rejected just prior to the beginning of the Christian Age, which began at Pentecost in 33 A.D.  (see Matt 23:38); and the nominal Christian house being rejected at the parallel date 1878 A.D.

(2) The rejection in both instances was on account of rejecting the truths THEN DUE (i.e., Present Truth, truths made known at a particular time, in this particular instance during the end or harvest period of each system.)

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” (spiritual conditions) 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’

 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 -nor any way to determine the time of the destruction of the nominal Church systems.

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.

Continued with next post.