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| Charles Taze Russell was fascinated by Egypt and believed that the Great pyramid of Gizeh was 'a Bible in stone' designed by God as an indicator of end times. He believed that the measurements could be calculated in years rather than inches. He wrote: "Then measuring down the entrance passage from that point, to find the distance to the entrance of the 'Pit', representing the great trouble and destruction with which this age is to close, when evil will be overthrown from power, we find it to be 3416 inches, symbolising 3416 years from the above date, B.C 1542. This calculation shows A.D 1874 as marking the beginning of the period of trouble; for 1542 years B.C plus 1874 was the chronological beginning of the time of trouble such as was not since there was a nation - no, nor shall be afterward" | |
 Pyramid memorial erected to Charles Taze Russell |
Actually neither measurement is correct. The exact length is
3384.904 inches. Russell was off 31 inches in his 1889 edition and 72 inches off in the
1905 edition. The Great Pyramid figures prominently in many medieval and Renaissance cults, especially in the Rosicrucian and occult traditions. The 'Bible in stone' doctrine was 'officially' renounced in 1928 by Joseph Rutherford, Russell's successor, but books containing the doctrine were being distributed by Jehovah's Witnesses as late as the mid - 1940's. Russell died in 1916, and a massive pyramid memorial - dedicated to him and his teachings - was erected close to his gravestone. |