It is desired to quote some passages from Pastor Russell, to the effect that the Epiphany and the Time of Trouble are identical. It should be noted, in the following quotation from his writings, that while he shows that the Epiphany and the trouble time are identical, he lays the greatest stress upon the grand climax of the Epiphany, which, of course, occurs after the last member of the true Church has left the world. In construing his thought let us not forget that he uses the word epiphaneia in both of its senses, i.e., sometimes as the period called the Epiphany, and sometimes as the work of that period manifestation and that most of the quotations are made from the booklet, Our Lords Return, which was written in 1902, when he thought that the faithful Church would all be beyond the veil before the trouble would begin a thought that he later saw as incorrect. With this modification kept in mind and allowance made for it, it will be seen how clearly in the following quotations he teaches that the Epiphany and the Time of Trouble are the same period. On this subject, as one all others of a prophetic character, his though became brighter and brighter as the perfect day approached
He held the thought of the identity of the Epiphany and the Time of Trouble. Among other publications this can be seen in his booklet, published in 1902 [as mentioned already]. On this point we will first quote some of his remarks found in that booklet [pg 17, pars. 1, 2] in connection with his discussion of gathering the wheat and burning the tares:
The separation of the tares from the wheat, and the gathering of the wheat into the garner of heavenly conditions, precedes the work of cleansing the wheat field of its symbolic tares by symbolic fire; and this entire Harvest work [with respect to the wheat] is to take place during the Parousia [presence] of our Lord, before His Epiphaneia [manifestation] The Truth will be the separating medium, and not until the separation is complete and the wheat all garnered into the glory of the Heavenly nature [later he saw that part of the Church would be in the flesh during some of the fire period], will the fire, the great Time of Trouble mentioned by the prophet and by our Lord, burn and consume, symbolically, all the tares.
In this section the reaping of the wheat is assigned to the Parousia and the burning of the tares a work of the Time of Trouble is assigned to the Epiphany.
Next page again, he shows the identity of these in connection with the parables of the pounds and talents:
This reckoning with the servants signifies a reckoning with the Church first, after His return, and corresponds to the separating of the wheat and tares, [in the reaping time] in the other parable. It is comparatively easy for any one to realize that this part of the Lords work at His Second Advent is the work which precedes the Epiphaneia, or manifestation, to the world. It is during this period that the Watchers are to be aware of the presence [Parousia] of the Lord, and of His scrutiny, or judgment of them, which will then be in progress. Only the faithful will know, however only they will be accounted worthy to stand before the Son of Man in that judgment all found unworthy shall stumble. The wicked [and slothful servants] shall not stand in the assembly of the righteous [Psalm 1:5]. It is of this period of His presence, and this feature of His work, that the world is to be in total ignorance, and not know, until, having finished reckoning with His servants, and having glorified the faithful [later Bro Russell saw that the Church would not be glorified before the trouble], the judgment of the world shall begin with a time of trouble such as was not since there was a nation. That trouble is symbolically pictured as a fire, and we are told by the Apostle that our Lord shall be revealed [apokalypto uncovered, disclosed, made manifest] in flaming fire [judgments], taking vengeance [hence the trouble time is the Epiphany, according to his views].
The following passage in R5523, referring in the first part to the climax of the Epiphany at the end of the trouble, and in the second part to the Epiphany as beginning with the Time of Trouble, he shows both the progressiveness of the Epiphany from the start to the end of the trouble, and also their identity.
With the conclusion of this work of separating the wise virgins, and after they shall have entered into the joys of their Lord by the glorious change of the first Resurrection, then will come Immanuels Epiphaneia, revealing, showing forth. When He shall appear, ye also shall appear with Him in glory
So far he refers to the climax of the Epiphany at the end of the trouble. What follows refers to its progress throughout the Time of Trouble.
He shall be revealed in flaming fire, taking vengeance. In other words, the revelation of Christ to the world will be subsequent to His revealment of Himself to the wise virgin class. The world will know that He has taken His great power and begun His Reign of Righteousness, not by seeing Jesus in the flesh, but by seeing the great Time of Trouble which then [beginning with the World War] will break upon the world a Time of Trouble such as never was since there was a nation. Daniel 12:1; Matt. 24:21.
One final quotation from R2957
Likewise in His second presence, until disturbed by the commotion and trouble of the epiphania, the apokalupsis of the king in the pouring out of the seven last plagues.
There are many many other places where Pastor Russell referred to the Epiphaneia as the Time of Trouble, and as a period within the Parousia of our Lord the trouble on the world prophesied by Daniel.
God Bless.
bro jon
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