Remove out of the midst of Babylon, and go forth out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be as the he goats before the flocks.–Jeremiah 50:8
Babylon was not only a literal city and empire, but also a symbol of oppressive captivity. Thus it was not unusual for first century Jews to refer to Rome as Babylon. It is in this sense that we see Babylon referred to as emblematic of a great power oppressing true Christians in Revelation: “And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH” (Revelation 17:15).
Just as many literal Israelites fled literal Babylon when the decree of Cyrus (Ezra 1:1) granted them the freedom to do so, Jeremiah predicts that many Christians (symbolic Israelites) leave the oppressive system that persecuted them when the greater-than-Cyrus (the Messiah, Isaiah 45:1) gives them the same opportunity. Just as it was only a minority of Jews who left literal Babylon, so it only a minority of Christians will heed the call to flee mystic Babylon.
But he never did jump. So no one who jumped which were ever convinced him to jump. He died still in the W.T.
And he thought it would be remarkable if Jehovah God did not continue using the W.T. after he died.
Henry
Manybe you can find where he banned people from discussion. I thought he debated with anyone anywhere.
Pastor Russell stated the following:
“If anyone can tell me how he got into Babylon by getting interested in the affairs of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, let him show me how he will jump out, and I will jump with him.” – Question Book, p 353
How ironic that the Society became everything he abhorred in Babylon.