Russell's Theology

Updated 

The following is found in the October 15, 1908, Watch Tower. Conflicting interpretations are found in 'the literature.' Please read it carefully. How do you understand this?

The divine purpose in the redemption provided was to bring a blessing to all the families of the earth-a release from sin and death conditions and a return to divine favor to all who would be obedient; hence our Lord's work did not end with the application of his merit to those who were accepted of the Father as members of his Body. Rather the sacrifice was allowed to continue on a larger scale-a sacrificing of the Church, the members of his Body being counted as a continuation and a completion of our Lord's own personal sacrifice. When all the members of this great mystical Body shall have suffered with him”-when he as the great antitypical High Priest shall have offered up not only himself but us, his adopted members, then justice will have all that it ever demanded and much more. It will have the one great valuable sacrifice of Jesus and additionally the sacrifice of his members-144,000 justified through faith in his blood, whose sacrifice the Apostle declares to be in God's sight holy and acceptable.”-Rom. 12:1.

Would it be right for justice to accept 144,001 sacrifices when only the one was really demanded? We answer, Yes. Justice is not hindered-divine justice would not be stopped from receiving all of those sacrifices in the manner arranged. Justice could not have demanded more, however, nor accepted less, than the one perfect life. We are to remember that none of these sacrifices was demanded nor compelled by justice merely a high reward for faithfulness was held out for the time. Our Lord was attracted thereby and For the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame.” 

As a matter of fact the divine plan through him opened the door of opportunity to others who have His spirit (disposition) during this Age, to a limited fore-ordained number, which we believe to be 144,000. Their sacrifice was not demanded. It was voluntary and because they saw riches of grace and .divine rewards which they esteemed to be their privilege to attain. Thus in the divine plan the world has been redeemed much less directly than we may have imagined, but much to our advantage, in that it has permitted us to become members of the Bride Class, members of the Body of the Great Mediator, whose work throughout the Millennial Age will be that of Intercessor and· Go-between and Mediator between God and men-the world in general. We, who now come in under this arrangement as members of the Body, members of the Seed of Abraham,” members of the Great Antitypical Mediator, Prophet, Priest, King, Judge, are as his members under his supervision yielding up our lives in sacrifice during this Age, and these sacrificed lives counted in with his constitute the blood of The Christ, which seals the New Covenant between God and the world. That New Covenant will not be sealed until all the blood of the Great Mediator has been shed. Then Head and Body, Bridegroom and Bride, we shall be presented before the Father and the blood of the Great Christ, as shown in the types of Leviticus, will then avail for the cancellation of the world's sin, even as the blood of Jesus now avails for our sins.

James Gray of the Moody Bible Institute wrote:

“It is in the extra-Scriptural teaching on the atonement that the greatest harm is done, for Millennial Dawnism makes the Church a part of the Redeemer in His redemptive work. It wrests that transcendent doctrine of the believer’s oneness with Christ, to make it appear that we are part of the ransom price for sin. ...  Roman Catholicism has never uttered greater blasphemy than his concerning Him who ‘appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.’” – J. M. Gray, The Errors of “Millennial Dawnism”

Thoughts. Was he right?