Two items about Christadelphians appear below: 1 What They Said Would Happen J. Hutchinson 2 Not All Are Prophetically Duped M. Pearson WHAT THEY SAID WOULD HAPPEN
A REVIEW OF CHRISTADELPHIAN PREDICTIONS John Hutchinson (Investigator 70,
2000 January)
Test for
Predictions
For 150 years the Christadelphian sect has made numerous sensational predictions – supposedly based on the Bible – and have consistently been wrong. In the early 1970's, for example, they declared that Britain would not enter the E.E.C. Neighbours of mine said: 'You wait and see – Britain will stay out of Europe. Bible prophecy says so.' This prediction was
based on books by John
Thomas (1805-1871) the founder of Christadelphianism. Writing of a
unification
of Europe he listed the 'toe-kingdoms' as Belgium, France, Spain,
Portugal,
Naples, Sardinia, Greece, Hungary, Lombardy and Bavaria, and commented:
Every forecast faces an
inevitable test – Time!
How have other Christadelphian predictions fared?
Dr Thomas London-born Dr. Thomas, emigrated to the USA at 27 in 1832. He joined a sect called Campbellites. At 33 he left the sect and founded his own sect, which in the 1860s he named Christadelphians. Meanwhile he played at being a prophet. In 1848 Dr. Thomas wrote: The judgment
upon Ireland has been
siting since 1786. That crisis was the beginning of a retribution of
seventy-five
years. This period is called 'THE END' – the end of the last period, of
the continuance of modern Europe, as organised into ten kingdoms, and
the ''Holy Roman Empire' in the days of Charlemagne. A.D. 1786
was the
beginning of the end, 1848 the concluding of the end, and 1864 the
termination
of the period. The events of these seventy-five years are the
fulfilment
of the following words concerning modern Europe: 'The Judgment shall
sit
and they shall take away of his (the Little Horn's or Holy Roman)
dominion,
to consume and destroy it to the end.' … After 1864 Ireland and the
rest
of the world will enter upon a new era, in which peace, righteousness,
and blessedness will reign in the midst
of the nations. (Gospel Banner November 1864) Speaking of the resurrection of Daniel the prophet, Dr. Thomas wrote in 1854 in his Exposition of Prophecy titled Anatolia: But in a few
years, that is, about
1866, when the 1335 years terminate, he will 'arise to his inheritance'
in the Kingdom of God. (Anatolia,
1854,
p. 97)
Then for 40 years the resurrected "saints" would "execute vengeance upon the nations":
In 1849 Dr Thomas announced:
Sentences underlined are sentences deleted from subsequent editions of Elpis Israel. They were deleted because the outcome of the Crimean war was the opposite to what Dr Thomas laid down. Russia was defeated and destroyed her own Black Sea ships to prevent their seizure! Cop Out Dr Thomas said that Queen Victoria was the latter day Queen of Sheba who would lay her crown at the feet of Christ upon his return to Jerusalem: Victoria may
therefore be said to
be the Queen of Sheba and may possibly live (for she is young enough)
to
abdicate her throne and to lay her crown and treasures at the feet of
the "greater than Solomon", who will dispose of her and her
affairs according
to his will.
(Exposition of Daniel 1921 edition pp. 96-97) He said that a restored
Israel would become
rich through commerce with India. (Elpis Israel 1849 p. 441) When
has India made a restored Israel rich? Some booklets that quote
Thomas'
prediction of Israel omit the reference to India.
When their predictions
fail, the Christadelphians
cover them up and reinterpret. As the above example illustrates
they
reprint the books but delete the failed forecasts – sometimes with an
apology
that the author's announcements proved premature.
Robert Roberts Robert Roberts (1839-1898) became the chief exponent of Dr. Thomas' teachings in Great Britain. He picked up the prophetic microphone and castigated those before him who predicted and failed – but Dr Thomas was overlooked! In his book Christendom
Astray Roberts
wrote:
Roberts committed quite a few 'fooleries' of his own. He laid down 1910 A. D. for Christ's return and the commencement of Christ's reign on Earth. Read some of his
fanciful deductions:
In the Preface to the 1958 edition of Christendom Astray note the following: The whole of
Chapter 16, on the "Evidence that the End is Near", has been deleted…
As it is desired that
the book shall be left as the work of Robert Roberts, the only
alternative
was to delete the whole chapter, while referring readers to more recent
Christadelphian publications for information on the evidence that the
coming
of Christ is near.
Let's turn to more recent Christadelphian publications.
C. P.
Wauchope
Charles P. Wauchope of
Adelaide, South Australia,
was a prominent Christadelphian who guaranteed fulfilment of what he
predicted.
Wauchope's opening statement to his lectures on Armageddon in 1921 was:
A summary of Wauchope's predictions was presented to the Federal Parliament of Australia by Mr Walter Marks M. H. R. and recorded in Hansard in November1921. [Also reprinted in Investigator Magazine No. 43] Mark's speech was applauded and published by the Christadelphians. Walter Marks stated that: Armageddon
would
occur
in the year 1934 and
said that three nations – Russia, Germany and
France – would attack the British Empire. Christ would return the same year dressed in the tattered robe of a beggar and thief and come quietly into the British headquarters. The King of England would, on bended knees, offer his crown to Christ. Christ would direct British ships to the ends of the earth to collect the Jews and bring them to Palestine. There would be no war in the Pacific and the Kingdom for which we pray would be here in 1934. Wauchope also claimed: The purpose of
God needs that the
bands of the British Empire shall be strengthened so as to be well nigh
unbreakable, and that what we see today proves that this Empire
corresponds
to the appellation given by Ezekiel. (The Troubled Nations 1915 p. 52)
Wauchope stated that the "young lions of Tarshish" are Canada, Africa, India and Australia: The young lions will rally at the time of the end when Britain goes to the Armageddon of Nations for her 'last of fights.' (p. 61) Britain stands related
to Israel as her friend.
What Britain has long been, what she is today and what Page 84 of The Troubled Nations gave 1934 for Christ's return. All of Wauchope's
predictions failed. Israel Many Christadelphian announcements focus on the establishment of Israel. The return of the Jews to Palestine is often cited as a fulfilment of Dr Thomas' predictions. Logos leaflet No 14 (1988) advertised the May 1988 edition of the Christadelphian magazine Herald of the Coming Age. The leaflet's front cover says, 'ISRAEL 1948-1988 40 YEARS OF DESTINY'. And lower down, 'This Generation (40 years) shall not pass away till all be fulfilled.' Also: Behold, the
shooting forth of the "fig tree" (a symbol representing Israel) –
Commencing 1948.
This generation (40 year period) "Shall not pass away till all be fulfilled." (p. 3) The advertised magazine says: Israel's 40th
anniversary as a modern
nation in 1988, concludes the end of a special time cycle in
God's purpose. (p. 4) Israel now stands upon the thresh-hold of a new cycle of time and opportunity that will usher in their king and Saviour: the Lord Jesus Christ. (p. 7) Israel's 40 years of restoration to their land, and the liberation of Jerusalem, proves that this wonderful blessing is about to become a fact. Christ's return is near… (p. 16) Russia and 'Israel's Grand Destiny' That the
Russians are in the final
stages of preparation for world war III, with the sole objective of
subjugating
all nations, there can be no doubt. (The Logos Volume 50 1983 p. 59)
Christadelphians say that Russia will invade Israel with an 'immense confederated northern army'…'a confederacy of European and Eastern nations.' This is depicted as a punishment and humbling of the Jews to prepare them for the Messiah's coming. Two-thirds of the Jews will be killed. The Jews are to be restored to their land. But, unlike the Christadelphians who expect to be made immortal and omnipotent and reign over the world, Jews will have mortal existence but with life spans extended a few years. The Jews will be ruled by immortal Christadelphians and will be their servants. In May, 1985 H.P.
Mansfield, a South Australian
Christadelphian, claimed:
In 1968 H P Mansfield claimed: Present day
developments in Israel,
Russia and all nations can be aligned with Bible prophecy,
and indicate that the world lives in the very shadow of Christ's second coming. When the time is ripe, Russia will emerge from its iron curtain, and having confederated other European nations under its control will invade the Middle East. The world will appear to be on the eve of becoming completely communised. (Key to Understanding of the Scriptures pp. 129, 141) Are present developments in Russia conforming to Mansfield's forecasts? In Herald of The Coming Age (March 1985) Mansfield said: The growth of
Russian power is a
notable sign of the times indicating that the world is on the eve of
the
most dramatic event of all history: the return of Christ in power and
glory.
(Volume 32 No. 6 p. 5)
He claimed that the coinciding of Israel and Russian growth is a witness to the 'imminent return of Christ.' (p. 6) Also: It is of the
utmost significance
that today, Russia occupies East Germany… The prophecy requires
an Eurasian confederacy of nations headed by Russia to invade the Middle East. (pp. 8-9)
Roger Stokes Roger Stokes of South Australia wrote in 1987: Russia and her
Soviet empire and
satellites, in their policies of conquest, domination, terror,
anti-Semitism,
and God-denying teachings mixed with Orthodox Church patronage, are
almost
prepared for the final major role they will play in the greatest
conflict
of all ages. (The Jews, Rome and Armageddon. (p. 323)
Tomorrow's Headlines Christadelphians often suggest tomorrow's newspaper headlines: "RUSSIA INVADES TURKEY: RED ARMY MASSING ON ISRAELI BORDER""WESTERN FORCES EVACUATE BESIEGED JERUSALEM"! "AMAZING JEWISH LEADER CLAIMS TO BE JESUS CHRIST." "ISRAEL ACCEPTS NEW LEADER AS JESUS CHRIST: JEWS ADMIT PAST GUILT." "NEW ISRAELI GOVERNMENT ORDERS DESTRUCTION OF CHURCHES, MOSQUES, SYNAGOGUES" "CLERGY FORBIDDEN TO PRACTISE WITHIN REALM OF ISRAEL'S NEW KING." "POPE PROCLAIMS HOLY CRUSADE AGAINST ANTICHRIST IN JERUSALEM." "AMAZING JEWISH EXODUS BACK TO ISRAEL." "ISRAELI GOVERNMENT WARNS AGAINST ATTEMPT TO RESTRAIN JEWS" "BRITISH GOVERNMENT ACCEPTS ULTIMATUM FROM ISRAEL." "THE QUEEN [Elizabeth?] ACKNOWLEDGES JEWISH KING AS JESUS CHRIST." (From the booklet: Tomorrows News Today) Current Christadelphian Anticipations Currently Christadelphians anticipate a massive coming together of nations against Israel that will devastate the Jews – only 1 in 3 will survive: The residue of
the people in the
land, finally to be reduced to only one-third of the previous
population.
(The Jews, Rome and Armageddon 1987 p. 376.) During Armageddon Christ will remove Christadelphians to Sinai where they will be judged. Unworthy Christadelphians will be banished: …to share in
the judgments which
will descend upon the apocalyptic beast and his armies.
(Christendom Astray p. 224) Those deemed 'worthy' will be made 'immortal' and will emerge from the valley with Christ to confront the Russian Confederacy. Roberts wrote: The saints will
be removed at a
particular juncture of affairs without previous intimation… all that
the
world in general will know of it will be that a few obscure individuals holding fanatical doctrines will have disappeared. (Christendom Astray p. 225) At this point those who in past ages have understood Christadelphian doctrine will be raised from the dead for judgement. The worthy ones will be made immortal and the unworthy banished. Next an unprecedented storm will annihilate the Russian hordes. At a later stage the European bloc will attack Christ and be destroyed. Roberts says:
Jewish restoration will be in two stages: …the first is
before the battle
of Armageddon; and the second after it; but both pre-millennial. (Elpis
Israel p. 441)
Judah is to be restored first but: Judah's
submission to the Lord Jesus,
as a result of seeing him, will give them no right to eternal life, or
to the glory and honour of the kingdom. It just entitles them to the
blessedness
of living in the land under the government of Messiah and the saints.
So
with the ten tribes, their faith in the word preached will entitle them
to no more than a union into one kingdom and nation with Judah. (Elpis
Israel p. 441)
So much for the 'Hope of Israel'. There follows a 1,000-year reign of Christ on the earth, a time of peace but also: There is sin,
and degeneration,
and death; and because of the existence of sin, and flesh and blood,
and death; there are mediatorship, and priesthood, and ruling with an iron rod. (Eureka vol 5. p.337)
Rebuilding
the Temple
Roberts predicts: …a system of
universal compulsory
religion, which will require the presence of every man once a year
at the centre of divine government and worship, and which, for every offence against the laws, will exact the token of penitence afforded in the sacrifice of an animal of his property. (Christendom Astray p. 210.) Such reinstitution of animal sacrifices contradicts the book of Hebrews: And every
priest standeth daily
ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can
never
take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for
sins
forever, sat down on the right hand of God.' (10:11-12)
In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. (10:6) <>Why
Christadelphian Predictions
Keep on Failing
<><> The Old Testament lays down a strict requirement for all prophets – total accuracy. False prophecy was so serious that false prophets were to be put to death. (Deuteronomy 18:20-22) Why then do Christadelphians keep blundering? If such works
as "Elpis Israel"
and "Eureka" are neglected an essential foundation for individual
research
and investigation is lacking.
(Christadelphian Standards p. 104) Let us also treat with scorn any suggestion to hide or shelve the works of Bro Thomas and Bro Roberts. (p. 52) Christadelphians keep blundering because they follow John Thomas – a misguided man discredited by his failed predictions.Such men themselves fulfil what Jesus said: For false
Christs and false prophets
will arise and show great signs and wonders, so as to deceive,
if possible, even the elect. (Matthew 24:24) It is not for
you to
know times or seasons
which the Father has put in His own Authority. (Acts 1:7) Copy of a letter to which no reply has been received:
CHRISTADELPHIANS
– Mike Pearson (Investigator 89, 2003 March)
Afterwards I felt compelled to write to you in order to clarify a few issues. Firstly, let me state that I am a Christadelphian myself – yet I agree with most of the things that were written. What saddened me was that the article portrays Christadelphians as a bunch of prophetically duped hacks. This is most certainly not the case, as interpretation of prophecy is one of the greatest debates within our community. There is an ever growing number of us who do reject the whole "Russian" angle that has been applied to prophecy and would therefore be in total agreement with the article. One aspect of the Christadelphian community is that unlike virtually every other religious group we do not have a head or governing body. This has many positive implications. However, one of the negative implications of the absence of such a body is that there is no 'editorial control', and therefore our members are able to put into print the sort of things mentioned in your publication. Sadly, these sort of statements then reflect on the entire community – even those who would not agree with them. This is especially so in Australia as by far the greater percentage of Christadelphians here still hold to this Russian-European focused version of prophecy. I guess what it comes down to is that yes – John Thomas, Robert Roberts et al should not have made such sweeping statements and to do so opens one self up for all sorts of abuse and correction. So in that regard the article was quite justified. However, the article is not a fair reflection on the Christadelphian community as a whole and that is what saddens me about its tone. However – thank you for
your efforts. I too
prefer an empirical approach to life and have enjoyed your site.
Ironically,
it was that same empirical approach that drew me to Christadelphian
doctrine
(not prophetic interpretation!). Religious
beliefs analysed on this
website – hundreds of articles:
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