the grand reversal of history north seattle bible students convention – april 1, 2005 part two –...

The Grand Reversal of History

North Seattle Bible Students Convention – April 1, 2005

Part Two – Judgment

The time of trouble means, not a repetition of history, but a stupendous reversal

of history

Excerpt from Battle of Armageddon, The Conflict Irrepressible, page 414


The coming trouble will:

1) end Satan’s rule of selfishness 2) introduce Christ’s Kingdom of blessing.

Excerpt from Battle of Armageddon, The Conflict Irrepressible, page 414


Two Aspects of This Transition Period


Gospel Age Millennial Age

Transition

1. JUDGMENT 2. RESTITUTION

I have this day I have this day set thee over set thee over

the nations and the nations and over the over the

kingdoms, to kingdoms, to root out, and to root out, and to pull down, and pull down, and to destroy,and to destroy,and to throw down, to throw down, to build, and to to build, and to plant. Jer. 1:10plant. Jer. 1:10

“Every valley shall be exalted and every hill made low” Isaiah 40:4

Abase himthat is high

Exalt himthat is low

1 General Restitutionof Man’s Condition

2 Individual Restitutionof Mankind

Times of Restitution

The Grand Reversal of History - Times of Restitution

The Grand Reversal of History - General Restitution

R2800 not until "the times of the gentiles" expire, and not until "the

fulness from the Gentiles" have come . . can the individual blessings of the Millennium be expected; and then to the Jew first. Whatever of Millennial work precedes that time is general,

pertaining to the nations and systems

The Grand Reversal of History - Restitution

What is the meaning of the wonderful inventions of our day? R5153 They are coming to us because we are living in the dawning of a New Dispensation! They are the foregleams of an Epoch so wonderful as to be beyond our most vivid imagination. Evidently God has been gradually lifting the veil of ignorance from the eyes of human understanding.

What is the meaning of the wonderful inventions of our day? R5153 Everything is getting ready for the Millennium! Not only is it coming, but it is here! We are not, indeed, enjoying its full blessings yet; but what we are enjoying is a foretaste of them.

The Grand Reversal of History - Restitution

1 Judgment ofHuman Systems

2 Judgment of Individuals

Day of Judgment

The Grand Reversal of History - Day of Judgment


Isaiah 62:10 “1prepare ye the way of the people; cast up, cast up the highway; gather out the stones; lift up a standard for the people.”

Isaiah 35:8-9 “2An highway shall be there and a way and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; . . the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, . . but the redeemed shall walk there:


Zeph. 3:8-9 “My determination is to 1gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy. 2For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD”


Signs and Times

Times and Seasons

1874 1878 1881 1914

Luke 17:20 When he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation”

Acts 1:11 Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

Times and Seasons

1874 1878 1881 1914

Why 1914? Br. Russell recognized 1914 as the End of the Gentiles Times as early as 1886. Why was this date given so far in advance?

• It gave a focus to the harvest work.• It warned the world of the coming judgments.• It served as a test to the brethren in the early harvest.• It provides evidence that Br. Russell’s ministry is true.

Matt 25:10-13 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

Times and Seasons

1874 1878 1881 1914

Times and Seasons

RSV, NIV, NRSV, NASV, NKJV footnote, Tischendorf footnote

1925 1954 1980 1994

Matt 25:10-13 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour.

Eviction of the Gentiles

We could not, of course, know in 1889, whether the date 1914, so clearly marked in the Bible as the end of the Gentile lease of power or permission to rule the world, would mean that they would be fully out of power at that time, or whether, their lease expiring, their eviction would begin. The latter we perceive to be the Lord's program; and promptly in August, 1914, the Gentile kingdoms referred to in the prophecy began the present great struggle, - B forward iii

The World Magazine, August 30, 1914: “The terrific war outbreak in Europe has fulfilled an extraordinary prophecy. For 25 years Bible Students have been proclaiming to the world that the Day of Wrath prophesied in the Bible would dawn in 1914.”

What Happened in 1914?


“The modern era . . . began in 1914, and no one knows when or how it will end . . . It could end in

mass annihilation.”

– Editorial, The Seattle Times,January 1, 1959.


“Civilization entered on a cruel and perhaps terminal illness in

1914.”

—Frank Peters, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 27, 1980.

What Happened in 1914?“the outbreak of World War I ushered in a twentieth-century ‘Time of Troubles’ . . . from which our civilization has by no means yet emerged. Directly or indirectly all the convulsions of the last century stem back to 1914.”

– Edmond Taylor The Fall of Dynasties.


A334-335 The trouble of this day will be in spasms. It will be a series of convulsions more frequent and severe as the day draws on, until the final one. The Apostle so indicates when he says--"as travail upon a woman." (`1 Thess. 5:2,3`) The relief will come only with the birth of the NEW ORDER of things--a new heavens (the spiritual control of Christ) and a new earth


A335 Each time these labor pangs of the new era come upon the present body politic, her strength and courage will be found less, and the pains severer. All that society's physicians (political economists) can do for her relief will be to help, and wisely direct the course of the inevitable birth—to prepare gradually the way for the event. They cannot avert it if they would; for God has decreed that it shall come to pass.


A335 Many of society's physicians will, however, be totally ignorant of the real ailment and of the necessities and urgency of the case. These will undertake repressive measures; and as (the) trouble passes away, they will take advantage of it to fortify the resistive appliances, and will thereby increase the anguish; and while they will not long delay the birth, their malpractice will hasten the death of their patient; for the old order of things will die in the labor of bringing forth the new.

Signs: Wind, Earthquake, Fire

Elijah’s Vision on the Mount

1 Kings 19:11-12 The LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.

1)Wind = wars to weaken the nations

2) Earthquake = revolutions and socialism

3) Fire = anarchy

Signs of Judgment

Reprints 6014, 5673, 5632

1)Wind = conflicts among nations

2) Earthquake = conflicts among groups

3) Fire = conflicts among individuals

Signs of Judgment

Reprints 6014, 5673, 5632

Signs of Judgment

1914 ?1945

FirePhase

WindPhase

EarthquakePhase

Signs of Judgment

1914

1989

1945

FirePhase

WarPredominates

RevolutionPredominates

WindPhase

EarthquakePhase

Anarchy toPredominate

?

Signs of Judgment

1914 1945

FirePhase

WarPredominates

RevolutionPredominates

WindPhase

EarthquakePhase

Anarchy toPredominate

1989 – watershed year marking the beginning of transition from revolution to the anarchy stage

1989

?

Rise of Communism -- D 473Rise of Socialism -- D 482

Rise of National Socialism -- D 490Socialism to fail, anarchy the result -- D xiv

Rise of Anarchy -- D 481US Share of Trouble more in Revolution and

Anarchy Stages -- R5854

Signs of JudgmentProposed Solutions

Female Competition for Jobs -- D 323Labor Unions Rise/Decline -- D 324Rise of the Global Economy -- D 331

Asian Economic Competition -- D 332Rise of Giant Corporations -- D 359

Wars due to Economic Necessity -- D 354Increase in Wealth/Capital -- D 274

Signs of JudgmentFinancial Observations

Ecumenical Movement -- D 258Churches Increase in Unbelief -- C 167

Rise of Peace Movements -- D 238Rise of Human Rights Movements -- B 146

Internationalism/Globalism -- D 269Israel’s Return and Antisemitism -- D 553

Militarization of the Nations -- D 141

Signs of JudgmentOther Observations

The Grand Reversal of History - World Governments

Isaiah 2:17 For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up;

and he shall be brought low . . . Isaiah 13:12 I will

make a man more precious than fine gold;

even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.

Battle of the Great DayD541 The battle of the great day, . . . has its stages of

gradual development:

1) the real or fancied national and individual wrongs

2) a keen appreciation of those wrongs

3) various attempts at reform, which, proving abortive, lead to

4) great controversies, wars of words, divisions, strife of opinions, and finally

5) to revenge and strife of arms.

Joel 3:9 Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles;

Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up: 3:10 Beat your plowshares into swords,

and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I

am strong.


D14 The approaching trouble is inevitable: the powerful causes are all at work, and no human power is able to arrest their operation and progress toward the certain end: the effects must follow as the Lord foresaw and foretold. No hand but the hand of God could stay the progress of the present current of events; and his hand will not do so until the bitter experiences of this conflict shall have sealed their instruction upon the hearts of men.

Joel 2:3 A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind

them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them.


Judgment and Restitution

Man’s extremity is God’s opportunity

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