Did the Lord return in 1878 as predicted? The simple answer is NO
The date 1878 was a disappointment because no literal resurrection took place. In the end they concluded that it did take place but it was invisible.
1878: The Resurrection
1878: The Resurrection
The Finished Mystery (1917) p. 64:
“the awakening of the sleeping saints in the Spring of 1878.”
This date was also taught for over 50 years then changed to 1918:
...after the awakening of the sleeping saints in the Spring of 1878. The seven days before the Deluge may represent seven years, from 1914 to 1921, in the midst of which "week of years" the last members of the Messiah pass beyond the veil. The Great Company class shall be cut off at its end - the fact that we see the first half of this week so distinctly marked would lead us to expect three and one-half years more of witnessing by the Great Company class. The Finished Mystery (1917) p. 64: |
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From Paradise Lost to Paradise Regained. 1958 |
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“This was in 1927. In that year the witnesses understood that the dead spiritual Israelites had been raised in 1918 to life in heaven with Christ Jesus. It was an invisible resurrection, of course.” From Paradise Lost to Paradise Regained (1958) p. 192: |
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Studies in the Scriptures Vol.2, 1907 |
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Be not surpised, then, when in subsequent chapters we present proofs that the setting up of the Kingdom God is already begun, which is pointed out in prophecy as due to begin the exercise of power in A.D. 1878, and that the "battle of the great day of God Almighty" (Rev 16:14) which will end in 1914 with the complete overthrow of the earth's present rulership, is already commenced. Studies in the Scriptures Vol.2, 1907. Pg 101 |
The Way to Paradise. 1925 |
The Jewish legal year begins in the fall, about our October first. The year 1926 would therefore begin about October first, 1925. It would he very reasonable to expect to see some beginning of God's favor returning to the Jewish people, as a part of the world, shortly after that date. We should, therefore, expect shortly after 1925 to see the awakening of Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Melchisedec, Job, Moses, Samuel, David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, John the Baptist, and others mentioned in the elev- enth chapter of Hebrews. These will form a nucleus of the new kingdom on earth. One of the first things necessary will be to put Jerusalem in condition to be the cap- ital of the world. The Way to Paradise. Page 224 |
The capital of every country should be in di- rect and quick communication with all parts oi its territory. If Jerusalem is to be the capital ofi the A¥orld, it should be able to get into quick touch with every locality. The princes can easily radio their in- structions to any part of the world. Think of Prince Abraham having some general instruc- tions to give, calling "Attention; The Way to Paradise. Page 225 |
Of course if any one desires to visit Jeru- salem and personally interview the princes, or if the princes should desire to make a personal inspection of some pubhc work, aeroplanes will soon he so perfected that it will be a matter of but a few hours ride to any part of the earth to or from Jerusalem. The Way to Paradise. Page 226 |
You will begin to wish that father and mother, whom you with sad heart laid away in the tomb before the kingdom came in, could return and enjoy all these good things with you. Who knows but that it will be your privilege to make re- quests of those princes, and that they will rec- ommend your petition to Christ and that it will be granted? The Way to Paradise. Page 227 |
Of course it will take some time to get things in smoothly running order after the great 'stress between now and 1926. You will have secured the services of the best decorators you can find. Some of them used to be undertakers ; but since there are no more people dying, they have had to seek some new occupation. Their experience as undertakers prepared them to become decorators with very little difficulty. You have made all preparations for father and mother. The home is all ready; a special room is prepared for them, fitted with every- thing you can think of that might give pleasure and delight. You then call up the princes at Jerusalem, state your ease, and make request that your father and your mother might be The Way to Paradise. Page 228 |
....awakened. In joyful expectancy you wait. Some morning yon hear talking in the room you have prepared. Tou hear father's familiar voice say- ing, "Mother, where are we! Are we dreaming? Why, I thought I attended your funeral last summer; The Way to Paradise. Page 229 
You throw your arms around their necks and embrace them. It gradually dawns upon them that they have been dead, and that they have been awakened. The Way to Paradise. Page 230 |
After things have become somewhat -settled, and they have been here for a year or more, tliey will begin to think about their fathers and mothers, and want to arrange for them to come back. There are no more obituary notices in the papers. Instead, there are lists of those who have been awakened. The Way to Paradise. Page 231 |
the only object of that action was to mark a parallel point of time in this harvest, when he would in reality assume the kingly office, power, etc.; viz., in the spring of 1878, three and a half years after his second advent at the beginning of the harvest period, in the fall of 1874. The year 1878 being thus indicated as the date when the Lord began to take unto himself his great power, it is reasonable to conclude that there the setting up of his Kingdom began, the first step of which would be the deliverance of his body, the Church, among whom the sleeping members are to take precedence.
And since the resurrection of the Church must occur sometime during this “end” or “harvest” period (Rev. 11:18), we hold that it is a most reasonable inference, and one in perfect harmony with all the Lord’s plan, that in the spring of 1878 all the holy apostles and other “overcomers” of the Gospel age who slept in Jesus were raised spirit beings, like unto their Lord and Master. And while we, therefore, conclude that their resurrection is now an accomplished fact, and hence that they as well as the Lord are present in the earth, the fact that we do not see them is no obstacle to faith when we remember that, like their Lord, they are now spirit beings, and, like him, invisible to men. The facts that they are invisible, that tombs were not found opened and empty, and that none were seen...…
Thy Kingdom Come. Series 3 1908 Pg 234
They have shown us that since 1873 we have been living in the seventh millennium; that the lease of Gentile dominion, “The Times of the Gentiles,” will expire with the year 1914; and that the advent of him whose right it is to take the dominion was due in 1874. They have shown us that in the days of these Gentile kings, before their lease of power expires, the God of heaven will set up a Kingdom, and that the setting up of that Kingdom has actually been in progress since the year 1878; that there the resurrection of all the dead in Christ was due; and that therefore, since that date, not only is our Lord and Head invisibly present in the world, but all these holy messengers are also with him. And observe, further, that this date of the resurrection of the dead in Christ parallels the date of the resurrection of the Head of the body. Our Lord’s resurrection occurred three and a half years after his advent as the Messiah, in A.D. 29; and the resurrection of his body, the Church, we have seen, was due in the year 1878, three and a half years after his second advent, in October 1874. Prophecy has also indicated the manner of our Lord’s return, so that, though he is present, we should not expect to see either him or the risen saints, who are now in his likeness except by the eye of faith—faith in the “sure word of prophecy”; though we have learned that those who now constitute “the feet of Christ” shall also shortly be changed to the same glorious likeness. They shall then be spirit beings, like him, Christ, and like all the risen saints who are now with him, and will in due time see him as he is.
(1 John 3:2) We have also seen that the coming of the foretold Elias and of the predicted Man of Sin, which were to precede his advent, are accomplished facts. We have marked, too, the fixed dates to which the Prophet Daniel calls attention. The 2,300 days point to 1846 as… Thy Kingdom Come. Series 3 1908, Pg 305. Thy God Reigneth!
(1 John 3:2) We have also seen that the coming of the foretold Elias and of the predicted Man of Sin, which were to precede his advent, are accomplished facts. We have marked, too, the fixed dates to which the Prophet Daniel calls attention. The 2,300 days point to 1846 as… Thy Kingdom Come. Series 3 1908, Pg 305. Thy God Reigneth!
Studies in the Scriptures Vol. 2, 1906 p.218
1878 will be the end of the period of disfavor to fleshly Israel.
Jesus is present since 1874.
“But now we are in the end of this Gospel age, and the Kingdom is being established or set up. Our Lord, the appointed King, is now present, since October 1874, A.D., according to the testimony of the prophets, to those who have ears to hear; and the formal inauguration of his kingly office dates from April 1878 A.D.” (Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. 4, p. 621).
1878 will be the end of the period of disfavor to fleshly Israel.
Jesus is present since 1874.
“But now we are in the end of this Gospel age, and the Kingdom is being established or set up. Our Lord, the appointed King, is now present, since October 1874, A.D., according to the testimony of the prophets, to those who have ears to hear; and the formal inauguration of his kingly office dates from April 1878 A.D.” (Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. 4, p. 621).