In 1881 a prominent brother who had come to deny the ransom, began teaching obviously false views concerning the significance of the Atonement Day tabernacle sacrifices, overthrowing the faith of some. Brother Russell was greatly disturbed about this and took it to the Lord in prayer. We read of this in his own words, written in 1906: “I told him [the Lord] that I realized that he was the shepherd, and not I; but that I knew also that he would be pleased at my interest in the sheep, and my desire to be his mouthpiece, to declare the truth, the way, and the life to them; that I felt deeply impressed that if the time had come for the permission of a false view to deceive the unworthy, it must also be his due time to have the truth on the same subject made clear, that the worthy ones might be enabled to stand, and not fall from the truth. Believing that the due time had come for the correct understanding of the meaning of the Jewish sacrifices, which, in a general way all Christians concede were typical of “better sacrifices,” and that the Lord would grant the insight as soon as I got into the attitude of heart best fitted to receive the light, I prayed with confidence that if the Lord’s due time had come, and if he were willing to use me as his instrument to declare the message to his dear family, that I might be enabled to rid my heart, and mind of any prejudice that might stand in the way, and be led of his spirit into the proper understanding. Believing that the prayer would be answered affirmatively, I went into my study next morning, prepared to study and write. The forenoon I spent in scrutinizing the text, and every other scripture likely to shed light upon it, especially the epistle to the Hebrews, and in looking to the Lord for wisdom and guidance; but no solution of the difficult passage came. The afternoon and evening were similarly spent, and all of the next day. Everything else was neglected, and I wondered why the Lord kept me so long. But on the third day, near noon, the whole matter came to me as clear as the noon-day sun; so clear and convincing, and so harmonious with the whole tenor of scripture, that I could not question its correctness; and no one has ever yet been able to find a flaw in it.” Reprints, page 3824.

Brother Russell goes on to say how this knowledge of the tabernacle straightened out in his mind the subject of justification, and this includes what he thereafter called tentative justification. Do you think the Lord answered the earnest prayer of his faithful and wise servant for special guidance deceptively, giving him an erroneous understanding of the tabernacle types to pass on to his household? I think not! I think it was “meat in due season” as it was written, and it still is.

The very beginning of the truth movement was based upon the realization that Christ’s second presence began in 1874. Examining the scriptures together with others, Brother Russell came to that conclusion in 1876. Of that time he writes:

“The evidence satisfied me. Being a person of positive convictions, and fully consecrated to the Lord, I at once saw that the special times in which we live have an important bearing upon our duty and work as Christ’s disciples; that being in the time of harvest, the harvest work should be done; and that present truth was the sickle by which the Lord would have us do a gathering and reaping work everywhere among his children. . . . The knowledge of the fact that we were already in the harvest period gave me an impetus to spread the truth such as I never had before. I therefore at once resolved upon a vigorous campaign for the truth. I determined to curtail my business cares, and give my time as well as means to the great harvest work.” Reprints, page 3822.

“And be you like men waiting for their Master, when he will return . . . that when he comes and knocks, they may instantly open to him.” Luke 12:36, Diaglott

Notice how promptly and positively Bro. Russell acted when he realized the Master was there! It was the truth of the Lord’s presence that triggered the commencement of the harvest work. Is it reasonable to suppose the Lord permitted the harvest work to start and the truth movement to begin based on a fraudulent assumption? I don’t think so!