The gold leaf., 1911-02-09
PASTOR RUSSELL EXPLAINS.
Did Not Say World Was Coming to
End in IoI5.

End in 1915.
Mr. Editor-l crave "A few inches
of YOUR space in correction oi IL news
item widely circulated from Wash
ington, d. C., January 29th, stating
that a street evangelist charges me
with exciting the people" by preach
ing that Christ will come III A. d.,
1915, and accomplish the destruc-
tion Of the world
This "street preacher got himself
mixed up with my theology. 1t IS
true that he sent me kind invita-
tion to share twenty minutes OF my
time in explaining to the audience
how he misunderstood my preSenta-
tions before he had heard them lt
is true that he had requested pub
lie debate with me at the next Bap-
tist convention in June or at the
Christian EndeavOr convention IN
july. But ! did not believe that the
gentleman was authorized to speak
for either of the conventions; cOnsP-
quently | gave him no heed. AS |
was announcing the closing hymn
the gentleman attempted an inter-
ruptiOn.
But it appears that after my meet
ing was dismissed, the interrupter.
undertook to explain to a beVy OF
reporters Pastor Russell's errors
declaring that all over the country
was preaching the second coming OF
Christ in 1915 and soaring people as
VIM. Miller did years ago. L do not
blame the reporters, for how could
they know how foOlishly the man
was talking?
| wish to deny, as positively as
language will permit, that | said
single thing concerning the year
1915. as VIM. Miller taught OF an
earlier date, my teaching is that the
world will never be burned up, but,
as the Bible declares, The Earth
Abideth Forever" Eccles IA.
If "evangelist" represents any pro-
testant or Catholic bodies, as he In
Inmates, his creed surely recites the
burning up of the world at the Sec
ond Advent of Christ. Many minis
ters in all denominations teach that |
Christ may come at any moment, |
and that the moment of His coming |
will be the end of the world. A few |
sanity ones they say, will be saved;
but all the remainder will be over |
whelmed by fire that will fall upon
them from heaven. 1t is one OF their |
stock arguments intended to excite
the people. | wonder if ''evangelist"
has not SO preached?
1t is because my interpretations OF
the scriptures are so very different
on this particular point that many
Christian people are being awakened
to fresh study of the Bible. | am
in communication with Bible classes
all over the world Many persons
are being reclaimed from intidelity
by the message which has nothing OF
excitement in it, but which shows
the Bible in it's true light, as the
most cOmmonsense book i'll the
world.
NO JEWISH STATE BEFORE 1915.
What | have said respecting 1915
is that, in my understanding, there
ends the treading down of the Jews
by the gentiles-a period of 1920
years from the time the crown was
taken from Judah's last king OF the
house of David-Zedekiah B. e., COG.
Israels restoration to Palestine as a
nation will, biblically, mark the be-
ginning of the Messiahic reign Of
which will Hast thous-
and years. Luke 21-24.
Mr.. Editor, "evangelist," either in
or unintentiOnally, most
thoroughly misrepresented my views.
[ teach from the scriptures that Mes
siah, as the king Of glory, is not a
man and will not be visible to men
that His empire will be spiritual, not
powerful.
Those scriptures which alarm ''evan-
gelist" and others, as representing
the burning up of the world, | under
stand to refer to a great time Of
trouble with which this age will ter
inmate and the new era be inaugu-
rated. Those who read my sermons
and books could not be deceived
Oy "evangelist." Yet thousands of
other people may have been. So |
thank you for this opportunity for
Respectfully,
{. T. RUSSELL.
Brooklyn, N. Y, February 2, 1911.