Opinions as to what, exactly, was to occur varied. Of course The Watch Tower had stated the matter rather clearly, but at that time there was far more independent thinking and private "interpretation" than the Scriptures themselves allow for. This was one lesson we were yet to learn and our experiences during this time of crisis did much to clear our thinking and understanding as to what constitutes private interpretation. I certainly have reason to recognize its dangers.

  Ever since 1879 The Watch Tower had been calling attention

  Russell took his seat at the head of the table and made a few remarks, and then I came in for some good-natured twitting. He said, "We are going to make some changes in the program for Sunday. At 10:30 Sunday morning Brother Macmillan will give us an address." Everybody laughed heartily, recalling what I had said on Wednesday at Saratoga Springs--my "last public address"!

  Well, then I had to get busy to find something to say. I found Psalm 74: 9, "We see not our signs: there is no more any prophet: neither is there among us any that knoweth how long." Now that was different. In that talk I tried to show the friends that perhaps some of us had been a bit too hasty in thinking that we were going to heaven right away, and the thing for us to do would be to keep busy in the Lord's service until he determined when any of his approved servants would be taken home to heaven.

  As 1914 approached, we, too, were expecting the end. But when that date arrived and we did not go to heaven, did things end for us? When it appeared that not all events expected

  If later it should be demonstrated that the Church is not glorified by October, 1914, we shall try to feel content with whatever the Lord's will may be.... We believe that the chronology is a blessing. If it should wake us . . . earlier in the Morning than we would otherwise have waked, well and good! It is those who are awake who get the blessing.... If in the Lord's providence the time should come twenty-five years later, then that would be our will. This would not change the fact that the Son of God was sent by the Father, and that the Son is the Redeemer of our race; that He died for our sins; that He is selecting the Church for His Bride; and that the next thing now in order is the establishment of the glorious Kingdom at the hands of this great Mediator, who ... will bless all the families of the earth.... If October, 1915 should pass, and we should find ourselves still here and matters going on very much as they are at present, . . . then we would think, Have we been expecting the wrong thing at the right time? The Lord's will might permit this.

  Russell was not confused on the major events due to take place. He recognized that whether the individual members of the spiritual "little flock" were left on earth or not it would not alter or affect the time schedule for bringing an end to the nations' uninterrupted rule. That is why he emphasized "the next thing now in order is the establishment of the glorious Kingdom at the hands of this great Mediator," the Son of God, Jesus Christ. This, he knew, must occur when "the Gentile times have ended," and that is what he wished to emphasize.

  Russell did not say without good reason in October of 1914 that "the Gentile times have ended." Many years before this

  Here is the way the chronology was determined:

  King David, first of the Judean kings of Israel, was said to sit "on the throne of Jehovah."³ His dynasty thus continued theocratic rule until it was overthrown in the days of Zedekiah at the destruction of Jerusalem.⁴ This date is reckoned from secular and Biblical history as the fall of 607 B.C.⁵ At that time it was foretold that the theocratic line of Israel's kings would be interrupted until he came "whose right it is."⁶ In view of Jerusalem's capture by a pagan king this would infer a period of rule by Gentiles until he time for God to set up his own Kingdom.⁷ Jesus, during his first advent, spoke of these "times of the Gentiles" and indicated they would expire at his return or second advent.⁸ If it could be determined how long the "times of the Gentiles" were to last, then the time for Christ's return and the setting up of his kingdom would be known as a certainty.

  Now, of course, the date 1914 itself is not given in the Bible. Neither was the date of Jesus' first advent, for that matter, yet the Jews were expecting him.⁹ Just so, the length of the period referred to as the "times of the Gentiles" is indicated in the Bible but it is given in symbolic language. Foretelling a temporary period of insanity for Jerusalem's captor, Nebuchadnezzar, because of his high-handed disregard of Jehovah's rule, the prophecy says: ¹⁰ "They shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that

  This prophecy was literally fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar as a symbol of the rule of the nations. When the time expired his kingdom was restored to him and he recognized the supremacy of Jehovah. That is why the restoration of theocratic rule in the hands of Jesus Christ was to be expected at the end of the "Gentile times" and after "seven times" had elapsed. The clue for the length of this period is given at Revelation 12:6, 14 in connection with another prophecy though not related to this one. There, 1,260 days are shown to equal "a time, and times, and half a time." This must be figured as "one time, plus two times, plus one-half time" or three and one-half times, since another unrelated prophecy at Revelation 11: 2, 3 shows 1,260 days as 42 months, which is obviously three and one-half years of 360 days each. On this basis, "seven times" would be twice 1,260 days, or 2,520 days.

  If the prophecy of Daniel were figured literally as applied to the "Gentile times" then the "seven times" would be only seven years and would have expired long before Jesus' first advent, yet as we have seen, he spoke of the times of the Gentiles as still carrying on. How, then, is this period to be figured?

  On two different occasions at least, in the matter of judgment, Jehovah used a day to represent a year.¹¹ Following this pattern, 2,520 days in the prophecy become 2,520 years in the fulfillment. If the length of time of uninterrupted Gentile rule of earth's nations was to be 2,520 years, then the period would run from the fall of 607 B.C. to A.D. 1914. On the basis of this chronology the time of Christ's second presence and the beginning of his kingdom rule was confidently expected in the fall of A.D. 1914, and Russell was prompted to announce confidently in October, 1914, "The Gentile times have ended; their kings have had their day."

  That is why Russell wrote as he did in January, 1914, warning us that events might continue for some time after the expected beginning of trouble in the fall of the year. Although many of us still thought we would leave this earth, at least by October of 1915 Russell, who was a good reasoner, saw that there was too much work yet to be done by Jehovah's enlightened people on earth. Again he pointed to the Bible for a careful study of the declared purposes of Jehovah.

  Russell's comments on Psalm 149:5-9, as published in May of 1914, show further his desire not to walk ahead of Jehovah's direction and his efforts to encourage us to that same course. The Psalm reads:

  "Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand."

  Russell wrote:¹² "Heretofore we had not questioned that this description of the glory of the saints applied to them beyond the veil (i.e., in heaven)--beyond the completion of the First Resurrection. But a more careful investigation of the words forewarns us that we may not be too sure in such a supposition. We suggest as a bare possibility that a time may

  Little did I dream in 1914 when I read those words in be Watch Tower that over forty years later I would still be here on earth associated with hundreds of thousands of others in preaching the good news that God's kingdom did begin in 1914 and that the climax was to arrive in our own generation.¹³ Had I realized then what I know now I would not have made that "last public address" remark at the 1914 Saratoga Springs convention. How many public addresses I have given since then I'm sure I can't remember.

  Yet here, as early as the spring of 1914, Russell was describing the work that actually has become a part of the present-day history of Jehovah's witnesses. He recognized that at least some members of the anointed "little flock" might remain on earth to participate in the vindication of the name of Jehovah. Although at that time he could not foresee all that would take place, he vividly realized that the end of all Bible-preaching activity on earth could not come during 1914-- after he had restudied Psalm 149, as indicated above.

  So it is that we realize that Jehovah has never revealed all his purpose at one time to any of his witnesses, ancient or modern. Knowledge and understanding of the establishing of the kingdom in heaven and of its operation in earth has come gradually--as the rising of the morning sun. The witnesses of Jehovah walk by faith, not by sight. Jehovah reveals to them only such information as they need to equip them to carry on the particular work to which they are assigned for that time. If there was any question in our minds before 1914 that Jehovah God was directing the affairs of the Watch Tower Society, the events that began that year have thoroughly dispelled such doubts. Says an ancient maxim: ¹⁴ "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life." So it has proved to us.

  Instead of our organization withering away because some expected things did not materialize, those of us who had not received the clearest possible view of things tightened our spiritual belts, took a prayerful view of the Scriptures to determine our mistake and continued to advance in knowledge and understanding of God's purposes. Since our hope was

  At first it looked as if we might come in for real recognition on the part of some leading observers. A foremost American newspaper ¹⁵ of that time (in its Sunday issue with front-page headline: "Germans Now Only 70 Miles from Paris") carried a special article entitled: "End of All Kingdoms in 1914 'Millennial Dawners'' 25-Year Prophecy." The article stated in part:

  The terrific war outbreak in Europe has fulfilled an extraordinary prophecy. For a quarter of a century past, through preachers and through press, the "International Bible Students," best known as "Millennial Dawners," have been proclaiming to the world that the Day of Wrath prophesied in the Bible would dawn in 1914....

  Rev. Charles T. Russell is the man who has been propounding this interpretation of the Scriptures since 1874....His surmises have seemed to the average person of no more importance than a mystic's dream. And yet on the date set we are in the midst of a world-wide war.

  However, even such limited popular recognition was shortlived. As 1914 passed, then 1915 and 1916, the reproach heaped upon us increased. In our effort to discern the meaning of Bible prophecy before the expected events had actually occurred, I admit some partially inaccurate public expressions were made. But when these minor details did not develop, the more important major fulfillment that actually did occur was entirely overlooked by those lacking full faith in God's Word. Instead of viewing the increasing number of facts, actual

  A marked year indeed was 1914!

  As informed, sober-minded persons now look back to it, they admit that there has been no year like it in man's history. Its unprecedented events will never be repeated.

  That 1914 marked the end of an era was openly admitted forty years later by an outstanding American newspaper editor, who wrote: ¹⁷ "The last completely 'normal' year in history was 1913, the year before World War I began."

  A famed scientist, one of the creators of the atom bomb, in 1951 said: ¹⁸ "We have not had a peaceful world since 1914."

  But the new era was the beginning of far more than just the atomic age. An associate professor of history at Columbia University wrote: ¹⁹ "It is indeed the year 1914 rather than that of Hiroshima which marks the turning point in our time, for by now we can see that, whatever the future may hold in store, it was the first world war that ushered in the era of confused transition in the midst of which we are floundering."

  Another newspaper editor recently commented: ²⁰ "It seems

  This view was taken by another leading journalist in making a comparison of the two world wars: ²¹ "The first war marked a far greater change in history. It closed a long era of general peace and began a new age of violence in which the second war is simply an episode. Since 1914 the world has had a new character: a character of international anarchy....Thus the first World War marks a turning point in modern history."

  Another competent observer said: ²² "Forty years ago the world overnight goose-stepped from the 'golden age' into a volcanic epoch marked by bloody wars." And the noted British author, Bertrand Russell, remarked: "Ever since 1914 the world has been reeling drunkenly toward disaster."

  Those of you who have lived through this period will no doubt add your own personal testimony to the unmistakable trend in human history since 1914. To deny the change is to ignore the facts.

  Very many Scriptures seem to teach that the kingdoms of earth will be overthrown by a rising of the people: goaded to desperation from lack of employment and seeking relief from the oppression of bloodthirsty governments. Such a rising and overturning Socialists, Communists and Nihilist of today would gladly bring about if they could.... And it is astonishing how very rapidly these things once looked at as absurd and impossible are becoming realities. When we with a few others declared these things only a short time since, and called attention to the fact that trouble was taught to be occasioned by a rising of the people and the overthrow of governments--Communism--we were laughed at; there was truly little sign then of Communism; but today every civilized nation is in dread, and Nihilism, Communism and Socialism are household words, and we see "men's hearts failing them for fear and for looking after those things coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven [governments] shall be shaken." (Luke 21: 26)

  The Communist uprising, according to this 1879 description, was due to begin in 1914 or shortly thereafter, and the dreaded storm's climax was expected to follow immediately. The First World War and the resulting 1917 Bolshevist Revolution in Russia did become the world-shaking event envisioned by Russell almost forty years before. But the final outcome has not yet been seen. After the tremendously turbulent decades of 1914 to 1954, the 1953 death of the Soviet dictator Stalin has seemed to be leading toward a gradual settling--a continuing period of globe-encircling social revolution. Is anyone on earth today unmindful of the immeasurable power of what outstanding human leaders in all lands call Soviet Communism?

  But as to the length and the meaning of this turbulent transition period that began in 1914, how could we properly understand it from the viewpoint of the Bible prophecies as early as 1879, when these events were still over forty years ahead of us? That is why, as 1914 approached, Russell became

  In the course of the talk I pointed out that a few years after 1914 we saw that what we were looking for, namely, the establishment of God's kingdom, actually did take place in 1914; but it was a heavenly kingdom--the beginning of God's rule earthward from the established "kingdom of the heavens."

  We learned that Jesus, enthroned in heaven that year, had immediately begun his war on Satan and his demon associates in heaven. Satan and his demons, those rebel spirit creatures associated with him, had been whipped and hurled to the earth, never to return to heaven.²⁴ The Scriptures stated this event was to mark the beginning of Jehovah's rule by Christ Jesus and the beginning of a time of unparalleled trouble in the earth.²⁵

  "Now," I pointed out in my talk, "had Jehovah's great warrior, the Lord Jesus, continued the assault against Satan and his angels after that first skirmish which ousted those rebels from heaven, it all would have been over before this. That had been our view before 1914. Jehovah's war at Armageddon would be done but, according to Jesus' statement, no flesh would have been saved.²⁶ So, for the sake of God's own people, and

  "So while the time of trouble for Satan and his demons began in heaven in 1914, exactly on time, and while the uninterrupted rule of earth's kings then had ended and the Lord Jesus was placed by Jehovah on the throne as king of the new world, still, as Jesus foretold in Matthew 24:14 (New World Translation), 'This good news of the kingdom [as being just established] will be preached in all the inhabited earth for the purpose of a witness to all the nations, and then the accomplished end will come.'" (Italics mine.)

  My purpose in this speech at California was primarily to show why the war in heaven was halted after Satan had been cast out and how a "great multitude" was being gathered by the Lord, as foretold in the Bible book of Revelation.²⁸

  During the talk I made reference to the mistake Jesus' disciples had made when he was on earth. They thought he was going to break the yoke of Rome and establish his kingdom right there.²⁹ They were wrong as to both the time and place of his setting up his kingdom. The mistake C. T. Russell had made, I pointed out, was not as to the time, 1914, but his error was only as to where the kingdom had been established--in heaven instead of on earth.

  After giving that talk, and while riding with that friend to the railroad station, I said: "Now what's your question, brother?"

  "Well," he said, "you've already answered it."

  In the fall of 1916 he went on a preaching tour to the West. He did not return alive. That trip proved to be his last. His final talk was in Los Angeles where he had been so weak that he had to remain seated during the talk.

  As reported in the New York Times for November 1,1916:

  OCTOBER 31----Charles Taze Russell, pastor of the Brooklyn Tabernacle, and known all over the country as "Pastor Russell," died from heart disease at 2:30 o'clock this afternoon on an Atchison, Topeka Santa Fe train, en route from Los Angeles to New York. He complained of feeling ill after leaving Los Angeles, his secretary said, and gradually grew worse. The end came while the train was stopped at Pampa, Texas.

  At seven o'clock the next morning (November 1 ). I entered Bethel dining room with a telegram just delivered. Members of the family were all seated in their customary manner and did not know anything about Russell's serious illness or death. I read them the telegram and a moan went up all over that dining room. Some wept audibly. None ate breakfast that morning. All were greatly upset.

  At the end of the meal period they met in little groups to talk and whisper, "What is going to happen now?" Little work was done that day. We did not know what to do. It was so unexpected, and yet Russell had tried to prepare us for it. What would we do?

  The first shock of our loss of C.T. Russell was the worst. For those first few days our future was a blank wall. Throughout his life Russell had been "the Society." The work centered around his dynamic determination to see God's will done. He had been a man of action. He had never had any sympathy

  We had no real organization. There had seemed no need for it. Russell had learned through many hurtsome experiences that few men could be trusted with serious responsibility. Since his prime objective was to do the harvest work, he was for getting it done before 1914 would (as he had thought until just before his death) bring an end to it. Then, as the date approached, he realized more and more that there was a far greater work to be done than the few remaining years--then months--would allow for. So with the waning of his own physical powers he had made an effort to strengthen the Society as best he could in order to keep things moving.

  Our hope was real; it was a living hope. When Russell died

  We could not then have realized what we were being prepared for. But the Lord knew what he was doing in permitting these experiences to come to us, and now, forty years later, it is quite clear to us.

  In those few dark years following 1914 we were experiencing the pains of travail. The New World society as it has now come to maturity was then not yet born. The dark clouds which had only begun to gather in 1916 were merely a warning of the approaching storm that was to come as close to wrecking the entire organization of Jehovah's witnesses as anything experienced before or since. The next few years truly proved to be a test of Christian fortitude and integrity.

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Contents Page

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Photographs

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Reference

Index

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