No. 436
We present what we believe to be the correct interpretation of antitypical Keturah’s six sons. First of all we direct attention to the fact that there will be three distinct classes blessed by the New Covenant: No. 1, the Worthies, who will receive the “better resurrection” (Heb. 11:35). No 2, the Jews, and No. 3, the Gentiles. These three classes each have two divisions – somewhat after the manner of the four elect classes pictured in Noah’s Ark: Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth and their wives, the same depicting the leaders and the lesser lights respectively of The Christ, the Ancient Worthies, the Youthful Worthies and the Great Company.
1 – ZIMRAN (Celebrated): The 70 outstanding Ancient and Youthful Worthies – the leaders of their class.
2 – JOKSHAN (Fowler, or bird catchers – overcomers of the fallen angels, in that Satan and his demons had no dominion over them): These will comprise all the lesser lights of the Ancient and Youthful Worthies. Inasmuch as Zimram and Jokshan were the eldest and second eldest of Keturah’s sons, it is logical enough to determine them as the Millennial-Age firstborns – just as the Seed of Promise (antitypical Isaac) have been the firstborns of this Gospel Age. Among these Gospel-Age firstborns the Great Company would be included inasmuch as they at one time were a part of the Very Elect; therefore, among the first begotten. Thus, those of them who retained their class standing as Great Company, having been begotten must evidently come to birth as spirit beings. “The church of the firstborn” (Heb. 12:23 – See comments in Gems From the Mine) will include all the first begotten. All the Worthies will be children of The Christ.
3 – MEDAN (Judgment): The quasi-elect Jew. “Judgment” sometimes has the meaning of “true instruction,” as in Prov. 21:3, “To do justice (righteousness] and judgment (true instruction] is more acceptable to thy Lord than sacrifice.” This class would be those Jews who earnestly endeavored to teach and defend “true instructions,” as they received it from the Law, the Prophets and the Psalms (Luke 24:44). St. Paul says of such that they had “much advantage... chiefly, because unto them were committed the Oracles of God.” (Rom. 3:2) Those sincere ones among them who were entrusted with the care and preservation of the inspired writings of the Old Testament would have sacrificed their lives in defense of them. Thus, “judgment” is most fitting for their typical name, Medan. This would apply to the chief or first of the quasi-elect – “to the Jew first.”
4 – MIDIAN (Strife or contention): Midian consists of all Jews not included in the elect or quasi-elect. This class of Jews have been a bone of contention since their first appearance in human history – always warlike and assertive people who were not sufficiently persuaded by the Mosaic Law and did not have faith enough to adhere to its principles.
5 – ISHBAK (Free): The quasi-elect Gentiles. They are “free” in the sense of being free from the Mosaic Law and in the fact that most of them are to be found in Protestant countries. “Where the spirit of the Lord is there is liberty.” (2 Cor. 3:17) And there is little question that the liberty that prevails in Protestant countries has been a dominant factor in their tremendous progress in art, literature and invention.
6 – SHUAH (Depression, or low place): An allusion to all Gentiles not included in the elect or the quasi-elect (all Gentile nations, including all the heathen pictured outside the camp) who have never heard the “only Name,” or who have given little or no heed to it (that “seed that fell by the road, or on rocky ground” – Matt. 13:4,5), and whose characters have suffered greater mental and moral degradation because of it. To use a vernacular expression, most of them are indeed “low-down”, given “over to a reprobate mind, to do improper things... not only are doing them, but are even approving those who practice them.” (Rom. 1:28-32, Dia.)
The May-June 1985 Present Truth, pp. 43 and 44, gives the following on KETURAH’S SIX SONS:
“(1) – Zimram: the 70 most prominent of the Ancient and Youthful Worthies (the ancients and Youthfuls of Joel 2:28), who will be given the most prominent positions in the earthly phase of the Kingdom during the making, sealing, of the New Covenant (Ex. 24:1,9).
“(2) – Jokshan: the Worthies in general.
“(3) – Medan: the Consecrated Epiphany Campers – those who consecrate to God and are faithful in their consecration during the Epiphany – the very end of the Gospel Age – after the four elect classes have been fully made up in their membership; the four elect classes of Abraham’s seed are pictured as serving in the Court of the Tabernacle as it was set up for Israel in the wilderness, and these consecrators are pictured as being among those in the Camp – hence the name 'Campers.'
“(4) Midian: – those Fleshly Israelites who during the Jewish and Gospel Ages have in faith and practice come into harmony with the Abrahamic and Mosaic Covenants, and remained faithful, though not consecrating.
“(5) – Ishbak: those Gentiles (and some Jews) who throughout the Gospel Age, including our day, while not consecrating, or dedicating, their lives to God, have repented of their sins and accepted Jesus as their Savior and remained faithful to the Ransom and to righteousness.
“(6) – Shuah (low place, depression): the non-elect, unbelieving world of mankind, consisting of unbelieving Gentiles and those Fleshly Israelites who have forsaken the covenant promises; these are the ‘daughters’ of Joel 2:28 and Isa. 60:4, the quasi-elect believers being referred to as ‘sons’—the stronger ones.”
The above errors are a repeat of the errors inherited, as given in Present Truths ‘57,22; ‘58,3; ‘63,29,77; ‘69,46; ‘72,38 and ‘73,27. The LHMM cannot produce anything but types to support the false doctrine (“strange fire”) of Consecrated Epiphany Campers. “A type must not be used to teach a doctrine, but to illustrate one that is taught in plain terms.” (Berean Comment, p. 25 of the Topical Index)
We are told in Jude 3 “to contend for the faith once delivered unto the saints,” but in no place in God’s Word are we told to “contend for the faith once delivered unto crown-lost leaders” as the LHMM are now doing. The devotees of the Jehovah’s Witnesses follow their leaders, who have set aside many basic doctrines of That Servant – the blind leading the blind.
All those who have set aside the Truth taught by That Servant are “Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth.” (2 Tim. 3:7) We especially refer to the Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Laymen’s Home Missionary Movement who have set aside God’s promise to the natural Jew when they concocted their false doctrines of non-existent classes.
The LHMM tell us that their Consecrated Epiphany Campers will supersede the Jews in the Kingdom, setting aside God’s Word as well as the teaching of That Servant and the Epiphany Messenger, knowing that these faithful Messengers consistently taught “to the Jew first.” They did this with Scriptures in “plain terms.”
Of course, the “repentant and believing” of the Epiphany Camp in the finished picture will share with the Jews in their great missionary work after they become Jews. The Jews will not have to become Consecrated Epiphany Campers and walk a narrow way to receive God’s promise to natural Jews. It is the earthly promise to the Jews. And none of the Restitutionists have to walk a narrow way. The CEC will have to become Jews in the Kingdom before they can receive the blessings of the New Covenant. The New Covenant is Israelitish and will be made with the natural Jew first. Our Lord says, “Salvation is of the Jews.”
The Word will first be given by the Worthies from the Christ to the Jews; and it will heal them, as it is written, “He sent His Word and healed them.” (Psa. 107:20)
The Kingdom will, of course, begin to work on the Worthies, and then through them upon the restitutionists who will survive the time of trouble, and that starting with the Jews in Jerusalem.
Fleshly Israel, as the secondary earthly seed of Abraham, under the lead of the Ancient and Youthful Worthies, as the primary earthly seed of Abraham, will be privileged to cooperate with the Kingdom in converting the Gentile world. (Gen. 22:17; 28:14; Isa. 19:24; Ezek. 16:60,61; Psa. 107:22)
“Naturally enough, Israel will then in a natural way come first into harmony with the Divine arrangement and be the first to get the blessings.” (Reprint 5810, top) All the above, and much more, will have to be thrown out if we accept the LHMM’s teaching that the CEC are to be first after the Worthies.
“St. Paul was an outspoken, uncompromising teacher. When he knew that he had the truth, he spoke it with confidence, and boldly declared that everything contrary to it is false doctrine. He also taught believers that it was not only their privilege, but their duty to be established in the faith, to know on the evidence of God’s Word, why they believed, and to be able to give to every man that inquires a reason for the hope that was in them.” (Reprint 5045, col. 2, par. 4)
“The Lord purposed to take away all sins – the sins of Israel, the sins of those who were to constitute the Gospel-Church, and the sins of the whole world. For this cause Christ was manifested, for this cause He died. This cancellation, of doing away with the sins of the whole world, will progress as each shall recognize the Heavenly gift of forgiveness and obey the Government.
“The orthodox Jews, those who still hold to the teachings of the Law and the Prophets, and have faith in God, will be the first to receive the blessings of the New Age. ‘As concerning the Gospel they are enemies for your (the Church’s) sakes; but as touching the election (the natural election), they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes.’ (Rom. 11:28) So, then, this condition of affliction in which the Jews have been throughout the Gospel Age, in addition to the overthrow of their nation in the year AD 70, has really been a favor from God. All the tribulation through which this people have passed during the entire ‘Seven Times’ of chastisement will be finally found to have been to their advantage, preparing them for the blessings of Messiah’s Kingdom. The Church will be the first in the Kingdom, natural Israel with the Ancient Worthies at the head will be the second. Subsequently all nations will come into Divine favor and blessing, becoming members of Israel. All will be blessed through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (Question Book, pp. 357,358)
“Each consecrated believer should ask himself, How carefully have I studied that which I clearly recognize as Divine Truth? And how fully capable am I, therefore, of handling the sword of the spirit? Few indeed are those who can say they have fully digested and assimilated all they have received... that they have a ready answer – a I thus saith the Lord, – for every man that asks them a reason for the hope that is in them, concerning any point of doctrine.” (Reprint 3199, col. 1, bottom, and col. 2, top)
“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Tim. 2:15) So long as we “contend for the faith once delivered unto the saints” we need not be ashamed. (Excerpts from our paper No. 361, September 1985, pages 5,6 and 7)
We had hoped there would be no need for further refutation of the LHMM on their nonexistent class of Consecrated Epiphany Campers after our refutation of Keturah’s Six Sons in our September 1985 paper. We are pleased to note that their magazines have been generally good with very little mention of Consecrated Epiphany Campers; and so far as we know, they have not published anything about their Consecrated Epiphany Campers superseding the Jews, until now. It has been reported that the LHMM are still teaching this error to their devotees, but we do not refute hearsay.
It is no pleasure to refute errors of the LHMM, as we have fond memories of this movement when Brother Johnson was with us. We do so because we believe there are good brethren who have been caught by the “snare of the fowler.” “The watchmen of Ephraim was with my God: but the prophet is a snare of a fowler in all his ways, and hatred in the house of his God.” (Hosea 9:8) “Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped.” (Psa. 124:7) But the Lord will surely deliver His people from the “snare of the fowler” (Psa. 91:3).
We quote from the Bible Standard of March 1992, p. 22, col. 1, under TWO EARTHLY CLASSES: “The fifth order of Abraham’s seed is the quasi-elect, who for the most part are the faith-justified Gentiles and the Covenant-believing and justice-practicing Jews. The highest class among then is the Consecrated Epiphany Campers, as pictured by Keturah’s third son, Medan (many of them being pictured also in the Queen of Sheba).”
Since their May-June 1985 Present Truth they have added to Medan “the faith justified Gentiles and the Covenant-believing and justice-practicing Jews.” But this addition doesn’t change their teaching that their Consecrated Epiphany Campers are first in the Kingdom after the Worthies and before the Jews, contrary to God’s promise “to the Jew first.”
In the LHMM’s efforts to prove that the Consecrated Epiphany Campers will supersede the Jews in the Kingdom, they are attempting to refute the teachings of That Servant, the Epiphany Messenger and the Apostle Paul. The Truth can not be refuted. God’s Word is infallible. God’s Word tells us that we should “earnestly contend for the faith once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 3). We have no Scripture that tells us to “contend for the faith [what they teach] once delivered unto crown-losers.” That is what the LHMM are doing – contending for the teachings of a crown-loser; and this teaching disputes the “faith once delivered unto the saints” – the teaching of the Apostle Paul, That Servant and the Epiphany Messenger who taught, “To the Jew first.”
It is our understanding that in their Special Effort toward the Jew, especially in Israel, they use Brother Russell’s teaching, “To the Jew first.” The Scriptures tell us to “comfort the Jew.” Brother Russell always gave a comforting message to the Jews, and reminded them of God’s promises to them that they would be first in the Kingdom; that when the New Covenant is inaugurated that all would have to become Israelites to get the blessings of the New Covenant. The Kingdom will be Israelitish, he said. We can find nothing in the Messengers’ writings that conflict with the Apostle Paul’s statement, “To the Jew first” – or even hints at such a preposterous thing. Of course, we know that faithful Gentiles, such as the quasi-elect, will join with the Jews in their missionary work after they become Israelites in the Kingdom under the New Covenant.
In the Kingdom The Christ will give the Law: “Out of Zion shall go forth the Law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.” (Isa. 2:3) The Worthies will receive the Law from Zion and will give the “word of the Lord” to the Jews first. Does it comfort the Jews to tell them that God’s promises will go “to the Consecrated Epiphany Campers first?” We know the Jehovah’s Witnesses have cast out all God’s promises to the Jews and relegated them to themselves. Certainly, the LHMM haven’t gone that far! Their message to the world about the coming Kingdom is to be commended, as it will be a solace to those who have an “ear to hear.” However, the LHMM’S Consecrated Epiphany Campers are a nonexistent class the same as the Witnesses’ Great Crowd. Brother Johnson called the Great Crowd a non-existent class, and if he were here today he would call any consecrated class in the Camp non-existent. The only place one can consecrate is in the Court – the only place Christ’s merit can be obtained, just as both Messengers taught. But we should mention that a place in the tabernacle is a condition in antitype. Some who have made a consecration, supposedly in the Camp, and that consecration is accepted by our Lord, may already be in the Court condition if their hearts are pure.
As we have often pointed out: “A type must not be used to teach a doctrine, but merely to illustrate one that is already taught in plain terms.” (p. 25 of Berean Topical Index) There are no plain terms in the Bible for Consecrated Epiphany Campers, because it is a fractured type. No type can dispute the Apostle’s plain language, “To the Jew first.”
The LHMM are double-minded when they teach one thing to their devotees and another thing to the Jews. They teach their devotees that the Consecrated Epiphany Campers will be first in the Kingdom; and when speaking to the Jews they use Brother Russell’s teachings that they will be first in the Kingdom just as God promised, “To the Jew first.” “A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.” (James 1:8) Berean Comments on this text: “The Great Company class.” However, it applies to all who are unfaithful to their covenant. “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands ye, sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double-minded.” (James 4:8)
Another error that the Laymen’s Home Missionary Movement teach is that there is no longer – since 1954 – an opportunity to be of the Youthful Worthy class. Both Messengers taught there would be opportunity for this unbegotten class to be rewarded in honor and service with the Ancient Worthies “until restitution sets in.” This is another teaching whereby the Laymen’s Home Missionary Movement denies the “faith once delivered unto the saints.” The LHMM also teach we are in the “finished picture” of the Epiphany Age, and are now in the overlapping of the Epiphany into the Basileia since 1954. This is supposed to be a parallel of the Parousia over-lapping into the Epiphany for two and a half years. Their overlapping is now in 1992 thirty-eight years, almost as long as the Epiphany proper which they claim ended in 1954. It is a long overlapping period for the “finished picture”! The Epiphany and the Time of Trouble are one and the same – when the Time of Trouble ends the Epiphany ends.
If we would be faithful to the Lord, the Truth and the brethren, necessity is laid upon us to “earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” “For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!” (1 Cor. 9:16) That Servant’s comments on Rom. 1:16, “To the Jew first” are: “God’s blessings of every kind begin with the Jew. He gave the Jew the first opportunity under the Abrahamic Covenant. And when it comes to the blessings of the New Covenant, the opportunity will come to the Jew first.” (Question Book, p. 165:2)
“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Tim. 2:15) We earnestly hope and pray the LHMM will seek to be “approved unto God” by being faithful to “the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”
“NEW LIGHT” SINCE 1914
Since That Servant’s demise in 1916 there has been an epidemic of “New Light” emanating from the brethren of the Parousia Truth – mainly and primarily from the Society, who now call themselves Jehovah’s Witnesses. At the outset, after That Servant’s ministry, J. F. Rutherford came up with many gross errors – some perverting the Truth he had received and taught under That Servant, along with other basic Truths that he set aside completely. He immediately set aside Tentative Justification, although it was a necessary prerequisite for those “repentant and believing” who have accepted Jesus as their Savior and desire to have a standing before God. They could not do this without the Tentative merit of our Lord. God doesn’t accept consecration from sinners. In this Tentative standing, God will accept their consecration to do His will, if they so desire after “counting the cost” (Luke 14:28). So we must first have access to God through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Without repentance and belief in our Lord as our Justifier and Redeemer, we cannot receive Tentative Justification and cannot attain “peace with God.” “Having been justified, therefore by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ; through whom, also we have been introduced to this favor in which we stand.” (Rom. 5:1,2, Dia.) “Without faith it is impossible to please God.” (Heb. 11:6) “For all men have not faith.” (2 Thes. 3:2)
At first after 1916, J. F. Rutherford taught there would be a class of unbegotten consecrators to be won between the Ages – after the door to the High Calling closed, and “until restitution sets in.” He did this in harmony with Brother Russell’s teaching. He called this class Modern Worthies, and we have no special quarrel with that, although we call this class Youthful Worthies. We still believe and teach that this unbegotten class will be won “until restitution sets in.”
However, shortly thereafter JFR rejected this class and substituted a class of his own making – Jonadabs; and then he predicted that the Ancient Worthies would be resurrected in 1925, and broadcast that “MILLIONS NOW LIVING WILL NEVER DIE.” As most people would like to live forever the message was “Good Tidings of Great Joy” to many. But the message they teach today is far from “Good Tidings.” Their message now is that all who do not join with them before Armageddon will be annihilated in that holocaust with no chance of ever “coming to a knowledge of the Truth” (1 Tim. 2:4). This is very bad tidings to the majority of people.
When the 1925 fiasco was proven false by time itself, JFR came up with some more “New Light,” which his devoted sectarian followers accepted. Now we hear no more of the Jonadabs for it is replaced with a class known as the “Great Multitude” which they claim is the class mentioned in Rev. 7:9,14 and Rev. 19:6. Prior to 1914 That Servant taught that this class is a spiritual class consecrated under the High Calling but not faithful enough to retain their standing with this Select Group. As they were not completely unfaithful, they did not merit the Second Death, so God provided a place for them. They became overcomers after their cleansing, but are not “more than conquerors” (Rom. 8:37) as were the 144,000. The Jehovah’s Witnesses have now discarded that teaching and substituted their “New Light” on the subject, although they still boast that Brother Russell was the founder of their movement But there is much of his basic teaching that they have cast aside.
The Witnesses have produced a multitude of other errors, such as Adam will not be resurrected, as he had his judgment in the Garden of Eden; no resurrection for Sodom and Gomorrah, eventhoughour Lord said it would be “more tolerable” for them: “And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city.” (Mark 6:11) The implication is that it will be tolerable for both classes in the Kingdom (Acts 17:31), but less tolerable for those who willfully reject the light of Divinely revealed Truth, and thus prefer the darkness to light.
“Wonder not at this; Because an Hour comes in which all those In the tombs will hear his voice and will come forth; Those having done good things to a Resurrection of life [the elect of this Age]; and those having done evil things [the non-elect], to a Resurrection of judgment [mistranslated damnation in the KJV]. (John 5:28,29, Dia.) In that Judgment Day, Christ and the Church will be the invisible ruling power, and the Worthies will be the visible ruling power who take their instruction from The Christ. “Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world?” (1 Cor. 6:2)
But the Witnesses distort these Scriptural Truths. They say that those to whom they have “witnessed” who do not join them before Armageddon will be eternally lost, eventhoughmany of them are morally good and kindly disposed toward the needy and afflicted.
They also teach that there will be no resurrection for the Scribes and Pharisees that their judgment was final at our Lord’s First Advent. But our Lord tells us in Luke 13:28: “There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets [those described in the 11th chapter of Hebrews], in the Kingdom of God, and you yourselves cast out.” Certainly they didn’t see this at our Lord’s First Advent. When they are resurrected in the Kingdom they will see these Ancient Worthies as the teachers and rulers instead of themselves. And it will be much the same with many of the Witnesses’ “Great Multitude.” They, too, will have “weeping and gnashing of teeth” when they see the Worthies exalted to the ruling power instead of their “nucleus.” However, that will not be true of all of them, as some are honestly motivated, just deceived. Some will “come to a knowledge of the Truth” in this Age. (2 Tim. 2:25) Others among them who only aspire to restitution blessings will “rejoice in the Truth” then instead of weeping as they find many of their relatives and friends there whom they thought had been annihilated in Armageddon. They will also learn that “When thy judgments [instructions in righteousness] are in the earth the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.” (Isa. 26:9) Then they will realize that the world did not learn righteousness from Jehovah’s Witnesses who had “compassed land and sea” with their so called “Good News”(?). “The god of this world hath blinded the minds of them that believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” (2 Cor. 4:4) The Witnesses admit that Satan is still the “god of this world,” so how can they expect such people to understand Truth, much less the so-called “light” they are spreading?
So, contrary to what the Witnesses teach and preach, their “witnessing” will not garner all this generation who are “fit” for eternal life in the Kingdom. There is no intimation or hint anywhere in the Scriptures that God will judge the individuals of the world before Christ’s Kingdom is inaugurated and established in the earth when Satan will be fully bound and spirited away. (Rev. 20:2) Then it will be the choice of each individual whether to choose good or evil during that their “Judgment Day.” God is now judging only those that come into His Household – the elect. He has judged the systems – ecclesiastical, social and the Gentile governments; and He is now in the process of evicting them, (2 Pet. 3:7-13 and Isa. 24:20)
He is now selecting those who are “of the Truth” – a people for His name (Acts 15:14), to bless all the others during the Kingdom when He will turn over to the people a “pure language” (Zeph. 3:9), a language all will understand. Then “the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.” (Isa. 26:9) Nowhere do the Scriptures tell us that those who are not “of the Truth” will be annihilated during this generation or past generations. “And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.” (John 12:47) Neither then was the world’s judgment day nor is it now. He saved the world from their Adamic sins, which will be testified in “due time” – in Christ’s Kingdom.
When the Kingdom is fully established, the “god of this world” will no longer blind the minds of them that now believe not: “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf will be unstopped.” (Isa. 35:5) Also, “An highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called the way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools [atheists – Psa. 14:1], shall not err therein.” (Isa. 35:8) No error will be there, so no one will err except those who prefer evil to good.
Surely the Witnesses cannot claim there is no lion here, nor any ravenous beast that only the redeemed are walking here now. (See Isa. 35:9) Their kingdom since 1914 is a counterfeit kingdom, the same as Papacy’s was a counterfeit kingdom from 799 to 1799. Papacy also taught that all who didn’t join them would be lost – consigning them to eternal torment rather than to eternal annihilation as do the Witnesses. The Papacy made converts through fear of eternal torment; and the Witnesses make converts through fear of annihilation in Armageddon. The Scriptures tell us God desires us to “worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24) not in fright and cravenly fear. “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2 Tim. 1:7) The “spirit of fear” doesn’t come from God and His Truth; it comes from the Adversary and his emissaries – false teachers.
The Witnesses teach only two classes of the blessers – their remnant, or the 144,000, and their Great Multitude. Brother Russell taught four classes of the elect – two classes of the heavenly realm – the 144,000, the Saints who will be Divine, and the Great Company who will be on a lesser spirit plane. Also, there will be two classes of the earthly realm – the Ancient Worthies as described in Hebrews the 11th chapter, and the Youthful Worthies, an unbegotten class selected between the Ages who will be rewarded in honor and service with the Ancient Worthies. There will, also, be two classes of the world of mankind – the believing Jews and the believing Gentiles.
More “New Light” Since 1954: Shortly after the demise of the Epiphany Messenger in October 1950, two brethren in the Laymen’s Home Missionary Movement began studying “New Light” to present to the brethren in preparation for 1954. But there arose a dispute between the two. It is evident that they both aspired to be the Pastor and Teacher; and each thought himself to be the more capable. But they both had manufactured a “new” class who were to be won from 1954 “until restitution sets in.” This would be instead of the Youthful Worthies who would be won between the Ages from 1881 “until restitution sets in” as taught by That Servant and the Epiphany Messenger. The LHMM still present a nonexistent class, called Consecrated Epiphany Campers, teaching this class will supersede the Jews in the Kingdom arrangement. The Epiphany Messenger often said, “The advancing Truth does not set aside the Truth formerly received, as some deceivers teach.
Brother Johnson did not “see” a new class not already taught by That Servant. He just elaborated on the classes already set out in the Parousia teaching. None of the teaching of the two Messengers teach a consecrated class in the Epiphany Camp.
If we are faithful to the Truth, it is some times a lonely way but it is indeed a good way! All those who do so have the sure promise of God: “For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.” (Luke 21:15) So with the Apostle Paul, “I am set for the defense of the gospel” as we seek to deliver our brethren from the “snare of the fowler” (Psa. 91:3, 124:7; Hosea 9:8). “Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the way of the people; cast up the highway; gather out the stones; lift up a standard for the people.” (Isa. 62:10) Berean Comments: “Cast out the stones – the stumbling blocks, errors, etc; Lift up a standard – The standard of absolute holiness of heart, and as far as possible of conduct.”
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