CHRISTADELPHIAN RESEARCH

That's because most failed to realize that God said "2000 years". The gregorian calendar was invented in 1582.. The year was not accurate. And also many failed to figure out why Jesus said "No signs will be given except the sign of Jonah!". Why he said that ? Jonah story was not about his death/raise but also about 40 days Judgement warned. Typical of 40 years Judgement on Israel and Jerusalem. If you do math... we all know the history that Jerusalem was destroyed in AD 70. Easy math - 70-40 = 30. Clearly, Jesus died and raised in AD 30.. 40 years later Jerusalem destroyed in AD 70... Now 2000 years from AD 30 is what ? 2030... However the bible said that Adam and Eve will marry on the sixth day which means Jesus will come before 2030 to give the judgement on his own believers then married... 2030 Jesus and the Saints will march out to the embattled Jerusalem... That is the truth. Many failed to figure it out. It's shame that they chased the speculation. They still do today. 

For my own reasons I have read much of the earliest church writers aka the early church fathers. I want to include an excerpt from the apology of Aristedes dated about ad 125 in other words within one generation of the close of the new testament. John Thomas did not rediscover the lost Truth, no more than the JWs or Mormons or Seventh Day Adventists. Christianity has been consistent from the beginning:

"The Christians, then, trace the beginning of their religion from Jesus the Messiah; and he is named the Son of God Most High. And it is said that God came down from heaven, and from a Hebrew virgin assumed and clothed himself with flesh; and the Son of God lived in a daughter of man. This is taught in the gospel, as it is called, which a short time was preached among them; and you also if you will read therein, may perceive the power which belongs to it. This Jesus, then, was born of the race of the Hebrews; and he had twelve disciples in order that the purpose of his incarnation might in time be accomplished. But he himself was pierced by the Jews, and he died and was buried; and they say that after three days he rose and ascended to heaven. Thereupon these twelve disciples went forth throughout the known parts of the world, and kept showing his greatness with all modesty and uprightness. And hence also those of the present day who believe that preaching are called Christians, and they are become famous."

Here then is a plain very early acknowledgement of both Jesus pre-existence and also full deity.

From another early source, the Epistle to Diognetus, here is a simple, eloquent explanation of substitutionary atonement which has been ridiculed in the Christadelphian community.

"it should now, through the kindness of God, be vouchsafed to us; and having made it manifest that in ourselves we were unable to enter into the kingdom of God, we might through the power of God be made able. But when our wickedness had reached its height, and it had been clearly shown that its reward, punishment and death, was impending over us; and when the time had come which God had before appointed for manifesting His own kindness and power, how the one love of God, through exceeding regard for men, did not regard us with hatred, nor thrust us away, nor remember our iniquity against us, but showed great long-suffering, and bore with us, He Himself took on Him the burden of our iniquities, He gave His own Son as a ransom for us, the holy One for transgressors, the blameless One for the wicked, the righteous One for the unrighteous, the incorruptible One for the corruptible, the immortal One for them that are mortal. For what other thing was capable of covering our sins than His righteousness? By what other one was it possible that we, the wicked and ungodly, could be justified, than by the only Son of God? O sweet exchange! O unsearchable operation! O benefits surpassing all expectation! that the wickedness of many should be hid in a single righteous One, and that the righteousness of One should justify many transgressors! Having therefore convinced us in the former time that our nature was unable to attain to life, and having now revealed the Saviour who is able to save even those things which it was [formerly] impossible to save, by both these facts He desired to lead us to trust in His kindness, to esteem Him our Nourisher, Father, Teacher, Counsellor, Healer, our Wisdom, Light, Honour, Glory, Power, and Life, so that we should not be anxious[ concerning clothing and food."

I apologize for the length of this, but if there are any who wish to read further there are a number of very early texts. Re-reading the marytrdom of Polycarp again, I find a belief in Satan, in the presence of the Holy Spirit, and in immediate reward upon death. These writings provide a wonderful glimpse into both the eraliest Christians beliefs and also their manner of life. They have been enormously helpful to me in my journey out of Christadelphia.

This is a very interesting website. It's always good for any religious community to test its beliefs and traditions.