I'm sure it was sincere
Your Present Truth forum appears to be (mostly) a place for the Russell faithful to chat about 1874 etc. This place is more suitable for someone who isn't on the same page. It's never wise to pick a fight with a gang.
Really, I don't know why I posted here on this pathetically neglected forum to begin with. I guess the idea of a Christian "fight" board struck me as funny. It's even scriptural, up to a point. Seemed like the right thing to do at the time. Anyhoo, I don't really have the time or the stomach (courage) or the skill for a doctrinal brouhaha. Especially not with a group of dedicated believers.
I apologize for calling your group gullible. Blame it on the spirit of battle - Moriarti's negative waves. No doubt many would consider me gullible as well. But then, has there ever been a body of belief that was absolutely bulletproof? Every one I've ever seen, no matter how much truth I perceived in it, had some aspects that were at best questionable and at worst downright laughable.
I am not afraid of things that are fringy and cultic. I've done some (admittedly superficial) research on lots of different "brands" of Christianity. Generally it is the "fringy, cultic" brands that dare to speak truths that the mainstream chooses to ignore - which I guess is how they became "mainstream" in the first place
Unfortunately, there are gazillions of little "fringy, cultic" groups out there of many different flavors - as I'm sure you're aware. I guess this was the inevitable result of having a country (the USA) where freedom of religion is part of its reason for existing. In previous ages, the "fringy, cultic" sorts were burned at the stake. But here we've allowed them to develop. And develop they have. Mormons, SDA's, Millerites, Russellites, Rutherfordites, and all the other ites - you name it, we've got it.
And how do they get started and grow? By finding truths in the Bible that the mainstream doesn't teach, either deliberately or in ignorance. They dare to speak hard, unpleasant truths while the mainstream sticks to smooth, pleasant, popular lies. The Bible is a most remarkable book, especially in that the vast majority of those who claim it as their foundation fail to understand or practice more than a tiny fraction of what it contains.
But alas, the temptation for a small group to become
TRULY cultic seems to be too much. They all see the same scriptures that promise a Kingdom to come. They all see the same scriptures that say the way is narrow and difficult and only a few - a "little flock" - will find it. They all see the same scriptures that promise protection from the "hour of trial". They all see that the mainstream is not aware of, or deliberately ignores these things. Proving these truths from the Bible is simple and logical, and has its own appeal to those who (correctly) find that they've been deceived by the mainstream. Those who are so enlightened are naturally grateful to those who have enlightened them. And so the temptation to build upon these truths in order to set up a cult becomes more than most men can bear.
Sometimes the most effective lies are those that are mixed liberally with truth. Satan is not afraid to use 99.9% truth and 0.1% lie. He might prefer it the other way around, but as long as it keeps you from finding the mark, he's accomplished his goal.
So what is your percentage? Is it better than mine? Maybe. Maybe not. Or maybe we're both in a ditch. Opinions, no matter how strongly held, don't matter.
I have no idea how Russell derived his numbers, or whether he beat them into shape to conform to a preheld notions or not. And really, in the end, it's irrelevant. Do the numbers really add up? Let's suppose for a moment that they do. The Ark of the Covenant depicts the very Throne of God the Father. Who (besides God Himself) knows all about that throne, it's dimensions and what they might represent? Why, someone who has been there of course. Like a covering Cherub, which Ezekiel 28 tells me Lucifer once was.
Lucifer/Satan has had his deceptions in place long before they were needed. He is nothing if not thorough in planning ahead. He had his counterfeits of Christ in place thousands of years before Christ was born. He had his counterfeits of the sacrificial system given to Israel long before it was given to them. He knew what God intended to do. He had been there. He was part of the inner circle. So he knew how to make his counterfeits look genuine, or at least close enough to obscure the truth.
People love to claim the Bible as the source of their beliefs. But they don't really believe what it says. And when someone points out what it says, they are offended. But the Bible itself explains this, stating that "the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be" (Romans 8:7). It also states "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" This is not popular. In fact it's downright offensive. In effect, God is calling people "gullible". How dare He?
Whether you (or I) like it or not, God's word trumps what either of us may think or say or do. It also trumps any ancient monuments, which are material and will ultimately pass away.
I really didn't intend to write all this, and I'm not sure why I've bothered to take the time. I guess all I'm trying to say is don't be too sure you have all the answers. And don't be too sure that the "proof" you've seen really proves what you think it does. Remember, the 99.1% that is true does not, and cannot validate the 0.1% that is not.
Asta la bye now
