1. Parallel to and antitype of 36 A.D. Date for the beginning of the closing parallels of the Gospel Age. C217:2; R5950:10-11
2. We find no evidence either in the Bible or in Pastor Russell's writings to the effect that God has reckoned the antitypical Lord's goat class to be sacrificed by this date. All evidence points to the fact that our returned Lord is still in his symbolic linen (sacrificial) garments and that he will be until the last member of the Bride class has been gathered to our Lord in the heavenly garner. The blood cannot be sprinkled until all the spirit-begoten have passed into death. EF:11
3. The Gospel Age general call ceased. The favor to individual believers (the tentatively justified) who were in Babylon in 1878 and had not made a full consecration by October, 1881, ceased. During that 3 1/2 year period, a sufficient number of this group to complete the 144,000, did make their full consecration. The fore-ordained number were completed, but they must all be tried, tested and proved. Under such testing, many would fail and fall out of the race for the high calling in Christ Jesus. C217:2; C219:2; R5532; next last par.
4. The "door" stands open after the general call has ceased, to permit others to enter the race to take the place of any who (failing to keep their covenant) fall out of the race. Rev.3:11; C219:2; C221; C222; C225:1,2; F78:2; F94:2; F95:1,2; R5168:4-8; R5168:13-16; R5169:1; R5917; R5918:2
5. End of spirit begetting in nominal systems:
a. We believe that all spirit-begetting in
Babylon ended in April, 1878 except for
those who were already tentatively justified
and called on or before that date. As
already stated, these were favored for 3 1/2
more years, but if they failed to come to
God in full consecration before that period
ended, their Gospel Age favor ceased
forever.
b. We have found no plain statement in Bro.
Russell's writings to the effect that spirit-
begetting ceased forever in Babylon either
in 1878 or 1881, but if anything can be
taught by implication and inference this
doctrine was surely so taught. But let us
do some reasoning on the proposition,
anyway. In the above references for the
years 1878 and 1881, we find our pastor
stating that in 1878 our Lord had cast off
Babylon forever; she was spewed out of his
mouth entirely; the voice of the Bridegroom
and Bride would no longer be heard in her;
she was not just cast off but cast off for
destruction, this destruction beginning when
all of the true Church were out of her; the
true Church alone is God's mouthpiece; God's
people were all called out and told that if
they stayed in her, they would participate
in her sins and partake of her plagues,
Rev.18:4; that Babylon would gradually lose
all of her truth and settle into a condition
of unbelief; that even those tentatively
justified ones in her in 1878 who failed to
consecrate fully by October, 1881 would lose
all favor. After having learned the afore-
mentioned truths, is it reasonable to our
minds to believe that God would beget more
children into a system which he had cast off
to complete destruction, and from which He
had called all of His children in there
then, threatening them if they remained in
her instead of obeying the command to "come
out"? We believe not. C148-162