No. 360
The exodus of Israel from Egypt was indeed a stupendous undertaking in material, physical strength and courageous determination. The burden upon Moses in that effort is probably beyond a sound evaluation by any human being living today. God knew this full well; and He gave Moses and the Jews abundant encouragement for the immediate present, and in His promises of future special helps. One of these promises is contained in Ex. 23:28: “I will send hornets before thee, which will drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite, from before thee.” The word “hornets” in this text is a collective noun and should read “the hornet” – just as we might speak of the fly, the hawk, the wolf, etc.
Here was just one of the encouragements given to Moses – and repeated to the general assembly of Jews – to build up their courage for the task at hand. In v. 20 they had been told that God would “send an angel before thee to bring thee into the place which I have prepared.” This one promise should have been more than enough for ordinary men; but Jehovah was fully alert to the inferiority complex that had developed in the Jews during the hundreds of years of their slavery in Egypt – a condition which would certainly diminish the combative qualities of even the strongest, and develop a subservience not to be countenanced by God’s people. “Jesus needed not that any should testify of man, for He knew what was in man”; therefore, among His last words was the counsel, “Let not your heart be troubled.” And this consolation was to free men, most of whom had never been in servitude as were the Jews.
The Jews had been long under the oppressive yoke, an experience that could not fail to deplete their combative qualities. Thus, humanly speaking, it is no great surprise that they quickly wilted under trialsome experiences, and often plagued the beloved Moses and Aaron for the “leeks, the melons, the onions, the garlic” which had been theirs in Egypt. (Num. 11:5) Also, they readily forgot the precious promise of “the hornet before thee” when the ten spies brought back their evil report of Num. 13: “There we saw the giants,” the spies had told them, “and we were ..... as grass‑hoppers in their sight.” This word “giant” is from the Hebrew “Nephilim,” the same word found in Gen. 6:4: “There were giants (Nephilim – fallen ones) in the earth in those days.” With the horrifying tales of the great deluge that were handed down by “the fathers,” there had come the legend of the “giants” that existed before that flood – those virile creatures, half god and half man, that permeate all Greek and Latin mythology, described as demigods in the numerous accounts. Self‑evidently, the Jewish tradition was also impregnated with accounts of these “fiends from Hell” – creatures which they had never seen, but believed to be in existence in some hidden retreat. Thus, they were ready listeners when the ten spies reported to them that the Nephilim, the fallen ones, that race of super men, were the foes they must meet if they crossed Jordan into Canaan. “And the people wept that night.... and murmured against Moses and against Aaron..... Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt. let us return into Egypt.” (Num. 14:1‑4)
How easily is the fallen human heart and mind deceived and melted! Undoubtedly there were real giants in Canaan; Goliath of David’s day 450 years later is proof sufficient of that. It is stated that Goliath was “six cubits and a span” (1 Sam. 17:4), which would make him over nine feet tall, even using the shortest of the cubits (18”) in the calculation – a very formidable antagonist indeed in any hand‑to‑hand combat. But Goliath, nor any of his kind, were of the Nephelim; God had attended to their annihilation in Noah’s day. And David proved speedily enough that Goliaths in the camps of their enemies were creatures of frailty, vulnerable to the weapons, emotions, and senses, even as were the Jews themselves. Nor could any Goliath before nor since remain quietly in ambush behind rock or bush under the rousing sting of a hornet. It is said that the sting of six hornets has been sufficient to kilt a horse, so we need no vivid imagination to evaluate the advantage that would bee with the Jews as God would “send the hornet before them” – a promise which the Jews en masse so speedily disbelieved.
But, in addition to Moses and Aaron, who “fell on their faces,” Caleb and Joshua held faith in God’s promise: “The land... is an exceeding good land... the Lord will give it to us.” But the people would not hear, preferring instead the forty years’ wandering in the wilderness, at the end of which all males who had departed Egypt at twenty years and over were corpses in that wilderness – all except the two, Caleb and Joshua. Therefore, when God repeated his promise in Deut. 7:20 to “send the hornet” among the Jews’ adversaries, Moses was talking to a new generation – although it is clear enough from Joshua’s farewell address that he had believed and had seen with his own eyes that “He is faithful that promised”; the Lord had indeed “sent the hornet before them.” (Josh. 24:12)
THE ANTITYPE
In considering this type, it should first of all be stressed that only the Hittites, the Canaanites and the Hivites are named in Ex. 23:28; whereas, at least a dozen nations are mentioned at various times – Amorites, Perrizites, Girgashites, Jebusites, Amalekites, Ammonites, Philistines, Maonites, Moabites ‑ this list not including the Zidonians, whom the Jews never attempted to conquer, but usually held in friendly relationship. It will be noted, however, in E‑12:516 that Brother Johnson lists only seven nations of Canaan whom Joshua conquered – the Canaanites (worldliness), Hittites (cowardice), Amorites (sinfulness), Perrizites (siftingism), Hivites (sectarianism), Girgashites (selfishness), and Jebusites (erroneousness). Brother Johnson also teaches that “the hornet” represented God’s opposing and hurting power.
Why, we ask, are only three of the foregoing evils listed in Ex. 23:28? We believe it is because those three sins have been most influential in retarding and destroying Christian character and progress all during the Gospel Age. These three the antitypical Hittites (cowardice), Canaanites (Merchants – worldliness) and Hivites (sectarianism) – are the three evils St. Paul specifically opposes in 2 Tim. 1:7: “God did not give to us a cowardly spirit (of the antitypical Hittites) but one of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (Dia.)
The opposite of cowardice is courage, and the essence of courage is power (will power) and a strong heart. The quality of courage, when balanced by love and a sound mind, adorns a character as do diamonds and rubies the physical person. And God gives to all His faithful people the “spirit of power” – will power. “I can do all things through Christ, Who strengtheneth me,” says St. Paul; and his great will power is eloquent testimony to the truth of this statement. There was none of the antitypical Hitite (the cowardly spirit) in St. Paul. Courageous men of the world have some of the qualities and slogans that Christians may well emulate. One instructor, when training contestants for grueling physical combat, always impressed upon them: “The other fellow is as tired as you are!” Thus, when the pace becomes so unbearably severe, and the body is crying for a respite, just remember your opponents feel exactly as weary as you do. “Fear not them that are able to kill the body,” said Jesus; and St. Paul had ingrained these words into the very fiber of his heart and mind: “I shall not fear what man may do unto me,” for “the fear of man bringeth a snare.”
And the courageous will power of true Christians all during this Age is eloquent testimony that “God hath not given us the spirit of fear.” Even their worst enemies have often admired the courage of men physically frail, who “endured the cross, despising the shame,” even as Jesus Himself had done. St. Paul is an outstanding example – a small man of frail stature and with faulty eyesight, knowing that his head would soon be chopped off by the Roman ax, could write calmly to his beloved Timothy, “I am now ready to be offered.” And he makes only passing mention that “no man stood with me, but all men forsook me,” as he assured Timothy that the “Lord stood with me, and strengthened me.” Military leaders have been known to express openly the wish that they might have under their command just one company of men of such courage.
Secondly, the antitypical Canaanite (worldliness) is the very antithesis of (agape) love; and God has given His people this “hornet,” the spirit of love, to enable them to overcome worldliness. The two are the exact opposites. “Love not the world (cosmos), nor the things in the world (cosmos). If any one love the world (cosmos), the love of the Father is not in him.” (1 Jn. 2:15) The Canaanites were the lowlanders, the merchants who pursue vigorously the things of the world. “Where a man’s treasure is, there will his heart be also”; consequently, one cannot be motivated by the spirit of (agape) love, and yet put his heart into “the things of this world” – this cosmos.
During this Age God’s people have been called out of this world (antitypical Egypt) just as certainly as the Jews were taken from literal Egypt; and the lure to return to old habits is perhaps even more prevalent now than it was then. And a “Great Multitude” (Rev. 7:9) has returned at least partially to old haunts, old habits, old social conditions; while some have returned fully, and the earth (the present social order) has swallowed them up – Just as it did with Korah. (Num. 16) Thus, uncounted numbers have sold their birthright for “one morsel of meat” (Heb. 12:16), while the Fully Faithful have “overcome the world” – just as did their Captain.
Thirdly, the antitypical Hivite (sectarianism) is the extreme opposite of “the spirit of a sound mind.” Note Brother Johnson’s description in E‑4:291 (47):
“Sectarianism is a great sin; for it does not act from devotion to the Truth, the Truth arrangements and the Spirit of the Truth (which virtues are the Gospel‑Age “inheritance of the land” – JJH), but from devotion to partisanship. The Truth, its arrangements and its spirit are by it neglected or antagonized whenever this is in the interest of the sect. Their actual, though not verbal motto is: My party, I stand for it, right or wrong.”
And, further in E‑4:299 – “The works of sectarianism are wrath, strife, envy, prejudice, partiality, enmity, persecution and misrepresentation of the faithful, approval of certain evils and disapproval of certain good things of the Truth and its arrangements.” Certainly, we can find none of “the spirit of a sound mind” in these reprehensible evils.
Sectarians in large measure use the weapons of Goliath, and they have received from the faithful the identical answer given to him by David: “Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts.” (1 Sam. 17:45) Note the close similarity in these words to those used by Jesus in answering Satan’s temptation for Him to “love the world”: “It is written.” (Matt. 4:10) But the Measurably Faithful fail in this respect, choosing rather the methods of this world to accomplish their aims. – “Azazel deceives them into believing they will accomplish great works, win great numbers, gain great favor. The upshot of it all, however, is great disappointments, troubles, losses, frustrations and failures, as is shown of them in Psa. 107:12.” (E‑15:52S) RGJ even now, disregards these warnings of the Priests. (written in 1964)
The sectarian spirit is one of the evidences of Great company uncleanness – a clear proof that they have not extirpated the antitypical Hivite from their characters. The fully faithful gain complete victory over the Hittite (cowardice), over the Canaanite (worldliness), and over the Hivite (sectarianism): the fully unfaithful make full compromise with these evils, and thus, shipwreck of their future; the Great Company make partial “covenant with them, and with their gods” (Ex. 23:32) – which is the direct cause of them losing their crowns. The fully faithful, who wage successful warfare against these evils, gain the Truth and the Spirit of the Truth as their unchangeable possession – a goodly prize indeed for fighting “the good fight” ‑ “more than conquerors.” “Therefore, brethren, more earnestly endeavor to do these things, for thus richly will be furnished to you the entrance into the aionian Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
We may also offer a secondary application to “the hornet,” as the sharp stinging truths in the Bible. Who of us has not had the experience of quoting a pertinent annihilative text to some gainsayer; then see him jump from his chair as though stung by a hornet’ A good instance of this is to be found in Acts 21:28: “Men of Israel, help!” Those Jews had been “stung!’ by St. Paul’s teachings to the point of willing to murder him. But Paul here again gave testimony that he had eliminated the antitypical Hittite (cowardice) from his character, as he calmly asked the Roman commander: “I entreat thee, permit me to speak to the people.” How many would have been only too glad to “call it a day” after being rescued from a shrieking murder‑bent mob; but St. Paul, “good soldier” that he was, gave again eloquent witness that “God did not give to us a cowardly spirit.” And may his example be a strong stimulus to all who strive to “inherit the land” – the Truth, and the Spirit of the Truth.
EPHRAIM TO THE BATTLE
This treatise would be hardly complete were we to omit some comment on Judges 7:24‑25, where we are informed “the men of Ephraim... took the two princes of the Midianites, Oreb and Zeeb... and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon on the other side of Jordan.” (See E‑5:226‑229) Orab (raven) represents Sectarianism – just as does “the Hivite” in Ex. 23:28 – and Zeeb types Clericalism; and those two prince errors are the same as typed by the two golden calves which Jeroboam constructed, one in Bethel and the other in Dan. (See 1 Kings 12:26‑30) And the victory over these princes is designated specifically as going to “the men of Ephraim” (typical of the Youthful Worthies in this Epiphany period), with no mention whatever made of the Great Company. This, Brother Johnson explains, is because:
“The Lord counts as overcomers... only those who first in their own characters overcome the disposition underlying such doctrines and practices... just as only the 144,000 are counted victors over the Beast and his Image, though, as we know, the Truth section of the Great Company opposed the Beast and his Image, but... are not more than overcomers... however much they verbally preach and zealously work against them... On the other hand, from the type we infer that the Youthful Worthies overcome in their own characters the spirit of Sectarianism and Clericalism... This consideration should arouse the Great Company to cleanse themselves.” (E‑5:229)
It is well to stress here that sectarianism is of Satanic origin – a product of Azazel. And, as Brother Johnson has so clearly taught, the Great Company serve Azazel with the bad part of their minds (the ‘fleshly mind’ that must be destroyed if they are to be saved in the Day of the Lord Jesus), as they also serve God with the good part of their minds. That is why James refers to them as “doubleminded.” Thus, promoting and developing sectarianism with the bad part of their minds, they have built up the various sects in Big and Little Babylon, instead of fighting this evil as the Saints and fully faithful Youthful Worthies have done unto complete victory in their own characters. And, while individual Great Company members may suppress this evil in themselves, the vast majority will cling tenaciously to their various sects until the Lord Himself separates them from those sects by extreme scourging in Armageddon through the destruction of their sects. But, for the present, we are safe in concluding that any Great Company or Youthful Worthies who manifest the sectarian spirit are actually serving Azazel, regardless of the denials they may put forth to the contrary. That is why the Great Company are not mentioned as victors in the battle against Oreb and Zeeb; theirs is not a “more than conquerors” victory, because their cleansing from this great sin is forced upon them when “their hearts are brought down with labor.” (Psa. 107:12)
We should ever keep in mind that it was the Little Flock’s faithfulness in antitypical Gideon’s First Battle that emphatically attested they were of the “very elect.” And we conclude from this that it will be the faithfulness of the Youthful Worthies in the battle against antitypical Oreb and Zeeb that will eventually determine them “worthy” to occupy places of rulership in the Kingdom with the “worthies” of the ages preceding this Gospel Age. Inasmuch as the Great Company do not make full conquest of those sins within themselves, they cannot serve as examples to those Youthfuls who accept their leadership. It is rather the example of the Fully Faithful that has been their help and instructor thus far – and will continue to be so to the consummation of the Epiphany. It is quite probable that those who fail in this conquest will find themselves either back in the world or among the quasi‑elect in the Kingdom, and not among the fully faithful Worthies – although some of them have been the loudest professors, Just as was true of the Great Company vs. the Little Flock. This should certainly cause each one to examine himself” to determine whether he is performing “in sincerity and in Truth” his part in this “good fight” against antitypical Oreb and Zeeb, or whether he be “wallowing” in the mire of the great sin of depraved Sectarianism.
We believe, though, that a warning is here appropriate, lest any come to speedy judgment toward those now enmeshed in these evils. We are told in Ex. 23:29, “I will not drive them out (the Hittite, Canaanite and Hivite) from before thee in one year: lest the land become desolate and the beast of the field multiply against thee.” This is just another way of saying what Brother Russell said about grand characters – they do not spring up mushroom like overnight, but are fine‑grained and strong like the olive tree – the result of years of determination in fighting “the good fight.” Thus, the Lord allows each one time sufficient for his needs to “inherit the land” (the sphere of the Truth and its spirit); and it is only the “Lord who looketh on the heart” that can give equitable evaluation to each one. It should be sufficient for each one that he determine for himself that he is conquering the Hittite (cowardice), the Canaanite (worldliness), and Hivite (sectarianism) from his own character and giving that assistance to others of his brethren who are “of the Truth.”
And to all who fully conquer the antitypical Hittite, Canaanite and Hivite, eliminating them from their characters, to such the promise is sure: “He who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” (John 8:12 – Dia.) And further, in John 12:35, “He who walks in darkness knows not where he is going”; and this is the specific penalty meted out to the Measurably Faithful in Matt. 25:30: “Thrust the unprofitable servant (The Great Company – See Berean Comment) into outer darkness” – into error – error of doctrine, such as Campers Consecrated, and error of practice. The Manna Comment for March 26 pointedly defines the “darkness” of 1 Thes. 5:5 as ERROR – but “We (all who purify their characters from the three evils herein discussed) are not in darkness”; even as we are also clearly taught in Psalms 107:10 that the Great Company who fail in this respect are “such as sit in darkness.”
“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the spirit saith unto the Churches” (Rev. 3:22 – by the “voice behind thee” (Isa. 30:21), the “voice” for our time being the faithful and true teachings (based upon the Old and New Testaments) of That Wise Servant and other faithful pilgrims of this Harvest time. Thus, we urge all to continue in this “good fight,” – “abounding in the work of the Lord at all times, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” (1 Cor. 15:58 – Dia.)
Sincerely your brother, John J. Hoefle, Pilgrim
This is a reprint of No. 111, published in September, 1964.
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QUESTIONS OF GENERAL INTEREST
QUESTION: – Will you please explain Text‑bookism?
ANSWER: – Text‑bookism is treating the Bible as a text book, whereas the Bible is a book of texts. The Plan of the Ages was given to That Servant as it has never been given before; as it was not due until That wise and Faithful Servant was given charge over the Household. (Matt. 24:45 – See Berean Comments) Since That Servant’s death, there have been quite a few who have brought forth “new light” not in harmony with the Plan of the Ages as given to us with Scriptural proof by Brother Russell. The Epiphany Messenger, who never gave us any “new light” not in harmony with That Servant’s faithful teaching, gives us the following on text‑bookism:
“We are not to understand that the unscripturalness of text‑bookism implies that the Lord’s people are not to read the Bible consecutively. We should read, especially the historical parts of the Bible consecutively, in order to familiarize ourselves with the text and histories of the Bible, and to draw from those histories lessons for our daily lives enabling us to take a proper stand toward evil, i. e., hating, avoiding and opposing it, and to take a proper stand toward good, i. e., loving, practicing and encouraging its cultivation in ourselves and others. For devotion and for helping us to take such stands toward evil and good it is also well for us to read consecutively such books as the Psalms and Proverbs. We would even say such reading, especially in the justified, of the doctrinal and prophetical books of the Bible should be done in order to familiarize oneself with the wording of these books. (Even before That Servant gave us the Plan of the Ages, the reading of the Bible in sincerity of purpose, has blessed the Lord’s faithful people; and the reading of the Bible and becoming familiar with the texts, caused the Saints to readily accept the Truth as given by That Servant – JJH)
“But the unscripturalness of text‑bookism certainly forbids the reading of the historical books to make new types from them, and the prophetical and doctrinal books to make new prophecies and doctrines from them; for such a course is text‑bookism; and such a study of types, prophecies and doctrines made to draw new types and doctrines out of them is the forbidden speculation of Ex. 19:21‑25. For such study is wrong in all antitypical Priests, Levites and Israelites, except in the mouthpiece priests, since it always leads to error; because the Lord Jesus, the Bible’s only Interpreter, will not give the Truth through such a revolutionistic method of Bible study, since His way to interpret the Bible to the Lord’s people is through the mouthpiece priest officiating at the time.” (February 1, 1938 Present Truth, p. 29 – also see E‑5:136)
It is certainly true that we get the Truth through the Mouthpiece Priests – and any “new light” contrary to the “faith once delivered unto the saints” is error; and any types and doctrines presented by Levites are forbidden, as quoted above.
One of the outstanding examples of the above vagary is RGJ, who has cast the above teaching aside. Take for instance, his distortion of the half Tribe of Manasseh west of the Jordan. Brother Johnson taught us that this half tribe is to be taken for the whole; and he has cast aside that Truth to make way for his Campers Consecrated. He did this because he had a “vision” one day.
And what shall we say about his types that teaches him a doctrine! Yes, those types teach him a doctrine ‑ a false doctrine, as said by the Epiphany Messenger in the above quotation: “For such study is wrong in all antitypical Priests, Levites and Israelites, except in the mouthpiece priests, since it always leads to error.” RGJ’s indulging in pictures and types in 1910, which he said was corrected at the time, seems to have cropped up again. He has indulged in such “forbidden things” for over 24 years (written in September 1978), and still hasn’t been corrected. Had he heeded Brother Johnson’s warning, he would not have foisted so much error on the Lord’s people; he would not have revolutionized against Tentative Justification; he would not have moved consecration to the Camp; he would not have set aside the faithful teaching of the two Star Members on Youthful Worthies to be won “until restitution sets in”; he would not have boldly taught that Cornelius wasn’t “repentant and believing” had he been mindful of That Servant’s teaching. Had he been faithful to the Truth he once received and believed, he would have been saved a lot of embarrassment – and had the approval and support of all the faithful Epiphany brethren.
Although he hasn’t departed from the Truth in the marked degree as did J. F. Rutherford, his ministry toward the Lord’s people is a sorry testimony against him; and we are much saddened that such is the case – because his ministry toward the world is commendable in many respects. And the fact that he still has the Parousia and Epiphany books is also commendable, as they refute his errors. One brother he brought into the Truth and gave him these volumes to read came to see that his Epiphany Campers Consecrated was an erroneous doctrine; and he came to see that on his own with the help of the Parousia and Epiphany volumes. He wrote us that it distressed him very much to oppose “Brother Jolly,” as he had been so good to him. A flaw in his ministry to the world is the fact, so far as we know, that he does not “witness” his doctrine of Campers Consecrated to the Jews. If he believes his own doctrine he should certainly “bear witness” to it to the Jews of all people! The Bible doesn’t teach “to the Christian Gentiles first,” but it does teach “to the Jew first.”
So far as we know, RGJ doesn’t recommend text‑bookism for Class study, but the most heinous form of text‑bookism is for leaders to indulge in text‑bookism by making types and parallels to teach a doctrine, thereby, as Brother Johnson says, “It always leads to error.” These errorists do this by claiming they are the Pastors and Teachers. RGJ doesn’t claim to be a priest: he is a self‑admitted crown‑lost leader. As Brother Johnson has said, such leaders do better toward the world than they do toward the brethren.
Written by Brother Hoefle September 4, 1978.
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QUESTION: – Are we to regard the Worthies as Restitutionists, and the first Restitutionists to be blessed under the New Covenant?
ANSWER: – We are not to regard any of the elect as Restitutionists, including the Worthies. They are the first to be blessed under the New Covenant, as they will experience the ‘better resurrection’ before any blessing can go to others. The first Restitutionists to be blessed under the New Covenant are the faithful covenant keeping Jews. As we have repeatedly quoted from our faithful Messengers’ teaching and from the Scriptures, the New Covenant is Israelitish, and would naturally come to the Jew first.
We have also repeatedly contended that the salvation of the elect is in the Faith Age, and the salvation of the world of mankind is in the Mediatorial Kingdom. There are two salvations, and they are not to be mixed. Just as there won’t be any opportunity for the elective salvation in the New Covenant arrangement, so there is no opportunity for the non‑elect, including the quasi‑elect, Campers Consecrated and Jonadabs to make an acceptable consecration to God during the Faith Age.
At one time JFR taught the truth on the two salvations being separate and distinct, but revolutionized against that truth when he invented a new class – Jonadabs or the “Great Multitude”; and the same is true about RGJ. It was after he invented a new class – Campers Consecrated – that he, too, revolutionized against the truth on the two salvations.
“The Youthful Worthies as a class are pointed out in various Scriptures... 2 Tim. 2:20 that ‘in a great house (the great house of the typical Aaron, Lev. 16:6; Num. 17:2, 3; 3:6‑9, 17‑20, consisted of his sons and three typical classes of Levites – the Kohathites, Merarites and Gershonites; accordingly, in the great House of our Great High Priest, there are four classes antitypical of these) there are not only vessels of gold (the Little Flock, Mal. 3:3), and of silver (the Great Company, Mal. 3:3), but also of wood (the Ancient Worthies) and of earth (the Youthful Worthies, who with the Ancient Worthies will be, during the Millennium, the human or earthly members of the antitypical Aaron’s House, as they were or are of the human nature also before the Millennium); and (additionally) some to honor (the faithful Restitutionists, the ‘sheep’ of Matt. 25:31‑40), and some to dishonor (the ‘goats’ of the next Age” – (E‑17:39,40)
So when RGJ groups the Youthful Worthies with the Restitutionists in his contention for his Campers Consecrated, by saying, “If God can make an exception of the Youthful Worthies, who are made up largely of Gentiles, in regard to ‘the Jew first,’ then He can make an exception of another class – Consecrated Epiphany Campers.” God makes an exception of all the elect. The Jews will be the first of the Restitutionists to be blessed under the New Covenant. As repeatedly said, the New Covenant is Israelitish, and simply replaces the Old Law Covenant, which also is Israelitish.
Written by Brother Hoefle October 11, 1974.
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LETTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST
Dear Sr. Emily:
I was so happy to get the article on the AT‑ONE‑MENT between God and Man. I looked through Dad’s books, and sure enough there are two books, one written in 1904 and one in 1958.
We have had second ice storm, making this a very hard winter. I thank you, ------- (MICHIGAN
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Dear Sister Hoefle:
May Got, the source of hope, fill you with all joy and peace by means of your faith in Him, so that your hope will continue to grow by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Thank you for your letter – also for the United Israel Bulletin. After I finish with it I will pass it to some one that will also appreciate it. Yes, I would like a copy of the Bulletin with the write‑up about Brother Hoefle.
Helen’s mother is 94 years young. In the last year she has gone down hill physically, but her mind is still alert. ….. My wife is in Miami visiting the brethren. I am baby‑sitting Mother. Even though I am retired, we both can’t leave at the same time because one of us has to look after Mother. ...............
May the Lord bless you and yours as you to serve Him. See Heb. 6:10.
We are praying for you and your nephew. Yours in His service, ------- (Illinois)
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Dear Sr. Hoefle: Christian greetings’
It was sad news to hear of Brother Hoefle’s demise. I felt proud to be associated with his name. His writings on the Holy Scriptures were well analyzed and fully tested. I found them always a strong boost to my faith. Some of the groups emanating from Brother Russell have not fully kept the faith – and it is the same after the demise of Brother Johnson. Do you think the cause of this is due to the expectations of Brothers Russell and Johnson did not mature? As for myself, I can see the prophecies taught by both Messengers are shaping up.
I continue to enjoy the papers. I think they are very well presented – and a credit to you at the Bible House for your brave efforts. Although I haven’t written for some time (problems and troubles of my own), you have been in my thoughts and prayers for your spiritual and physical well‑being.
In reading Brother Russell’s biography I see where he had accumulated $50,000 in the haberdashery business at the age of 26. He must have been a genius’ He worked very hard and spent all of it in enlightening the ordinary brethren into Bible Truths. God bless all at the Bible House in all their spiritual thinking.
Sincerely your brother in Christ. ------- (ENGLAND)
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Dear Emily,
First of all we want to say how very grateful we are for your generous gift toward our ministry. Thank you very much for promising to send me a copy of David Horowitz’s book. ........
I circulated some of the books you kindly sent me to excommunicated Watchtower members. We assure you of our prayers for you and the ministry, and trust that the Almighty God will continue to bless and encourage you as you serve Him.
Yours in Christ, ------- (AFRICA)
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