Brooklyn, N Y, February 2 Editor National Labor Tribune:
I crave a few inches of your space in correction of a news item widely circulated from Washington, D C, January 29, stating that a Street Evangelist charges me with "exciting the people" by preaching that "Christ will come in A D 1915, and accomplish the destruction of the world."
This "Street Preacher" got himself mixed up with my theology. It is true that he sent me a kind invitation to share twenty minutes of my time in explaining to the audience how he misunderstood my presentations before he had heard them. It is true that he has requested a public debate with me at the next Baptist Convention in June or at the Christian Endeavor Convention in July. but I did not believe that the gentleman was authorized to speak for either of the Conventions; consequently I gave him no heed. As I was announcing the closing hymn the gentleman attempted an interruption.
But it appears that after my meeting was dismissed, the interrupter, who calls himself an evangelist, undertook to explain to a bevy of reporters Pastor Russell's "errors" (as published in your Journal.) He declares that all over the country I was preaching the second coming of Christ in 1915 and scaring people, as Wm. Miller did years ago. I do not blame the reporters, for how could they know how foolishly the man was talking?
I wish to deny, as positively as language will permit, that I said a single thing concerning the year 1915 last Sunday. Nor have I ever preached such things; nor do I believe them now. So far from teaching that Christ will come and the world be burned up in 1915, as Wm. 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." Ecc. 1:4
If "Evangelist" represents any Protestant or Catholic bodies, as he intimates, his creed surely recites the burning up of the world at the Second Advent of Christ. Many ministers 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 saintly ones, they say, will be saved; but all the remainder will be overwhelmed by fire that will fall upon them from heaven. It is one of their stock arguments intended to excite the people. I wonder if "Evangelist" has not so preached?
It is because my interpretations of the Scriptures are so very different on this particular point that many Christian people are being awakened to a fresh study of the Bible. I am in communication with Bible classes all over the world. Many persons are being reclaimed from infidelity by the Message which has nothing of excitement in it, but which shows the Bible in its true light, as the most common-sense book in the world.
What I have said respecting 1915 is that, in my understanding, there ends the treading down of the Jews by the Gentiles a period of 2520 years from the time the crown was taken from Judah's last King of the house of David Zedekiah, B C 606. Israel's restoration to Palestine as a nation will, Biblically, mark the beginning of the Messianic reign of righteousness, which will last a thousand years. Luke 21:24
Mr. Editor, "Evangelist," either intentionally or unintentionally, most thoroughly misrepresented the views I teach from the Scriptures that Messiah, as the King of [HGL463] Glory, is not a man and will not be visible to men that his Empire will be spiritual, and powerful.
Those Scriptures which alarm "Evangelist" and others, as representing the burning up of the world, I understand to refer to a great time of trouble with which this Age will terminate, and the New Era be inaugurated. Those who read my sermons and books could not be deceived by "Evangelist." Yet thousands of other people may have been. So I thank you for this opportunity for explanation.