ПЕРШІ КРОКИ ПРОПОВІДНИЦЬКОЇ АКТИВНОСТІ ЧАРЛЬЗА ТЕЙЗА РАССЕЛА

Yevhen Kharkovshchenko; Roman Orlovskyi

doi:10.17721/sophia.2023.22.10

Authors

Yevhen Kharkovshchenko Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Kyiv, Ukraine https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8241-1625
Roman Orlovskyi Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Kyiv, Ukraine https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6924-3866

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17721/sophia.2023.22.10

Keywords:

Charles Taze Russell, Jehovah's Witnesses, Adventists, prophetic periods, Nelson Barbour

Abstract

This study is aimed at outlining the context of the first preaching company of Charles Taze Russell, the founder of the Watch Tower Society, and the religious movement International Bible Students, which today is called the religious organization of Jehovah's Witnesses. As a result of the study, it was found that in the first half of 1870, Charles Russell and a group of like-minded people, through Bible studies, came to certain conclusions that became the basis of their doctrinal system. During this same period, independent Adventist minister Nelson Barbour and his followers were identified as rethinking the idea of Christ's second coming after their disappointment in 1874. They found the theological basis for a new view that Christ's return had actually occurred, but in an invisible manner.

It has been established that the common belief in the invisible manner of Christ's return became the reason for the acquaintance of Charles Russell and Nelson Barbour in 1876. This encounter made Charles Russell open to the importance of studying the prophetic periods of the book of Daniel. It was found that the basis of the interpretation of the prophetic scheme, which he got acquainted with and accepted, was the edited scheme, which was professed by the participants of the movement of William Miller in the 1830s–1844.

It is revealed that the new convictions, the realization that the time for the fulfillment of events before the arrival of the Millennial Kingdom has come, prompted Charles Russell to take active action in preaching, for the accomplishment of which he spent his time and money. As a result of the religious activities of Charles Russell and his employees, a significant number of US states were covered by preaching. Because the religious leaders of the day did not agree with the idea of the invisible return of Christ in 1874, Charles Russell's preaching work faced great resistance. At the same time, some noted his positive personal qualities: confidence and courage in public sermons.

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