No. 338
This Psalm is in effect a prophecy, which has special application to this our time. We say this because it has never been even remotely understood until the Harvest; and, as has been so well stated by That Servant, prophecy cannot be clearly understood until it has been fulfilled, or is in course of fulfillment. A potent illustration of this truth is to be found in Rev. 12:6, where the 1260 days of Papal persecution of the saints is set forth. It is conceded by most people that Martin Luther is one of the 25 greatest intellects among the entire human race; yet, with all his brilliance, and his intense effort to understand Revelation, he could not possibly produce the right interpretation of Rev. 12:6 – because those days did not end until 1799, more than 200 years after he died. Therefore, it was left for the bright shining of Harvest truth to give the prophecy its proper interpretation. Although not so pointedly true as Rev. 12:6, the 107th Psalm may be given the same general comment; it, too, could not be understood until the “due time.”
“O give thanks unto the LORD.” The Psalm treats of four general classes of the human race, each of which we shall treat in due course; but we first offer some comment on the introduction. Rotherham’s translation, which we shall use in much of our explanation, says, “O give thanks to Yahweh.” This Yahweh – or Yahveh – is translated from the tetragrammaton, the same being from the Greek word used to denote four letters. The four Hebrew letters – or consonants – are Yod, He, Vav, He, and they are the counterparts of our English consonants J‑H‑V‑H, which some have used to form the word Jehovah – although such construction is based almost exclusively on imagination. The Tetragrammaton occurs about 7,000 times in the Old Testament; and it has become known as the ineffable name because there are no vowels in it, which makes it unpronounceable. At the first Advent, the Jews had come to regard that combination of letters with such awesome reverence that none of them would even attempt to state it. It is usually translated LORD in the King James version; and, whenever Lord appears in all capital letters – as it does in the opening of this Psalm, we may know it is from the tetragrammaton.
It is probably for the general good to offer some quotation here from Doctor Rotherham’s Introduction: “As it might appear premature, at the outset of this chapter, to spell out that Divine Name which some regard as not only incommunicable but unpronounceable, it will be considerate to begin the present investigation by the aid of abbreviation... The Tetragrammaton, or name of four letters, is a technical term frequently employed by scholars, and will here serve a useful purpose... We can reverently speak of The Name, or can set down the first letter only, Y, in the same way as Hebrew critics are wont to use the letter Yod as the initial of the Divine Name intended ....
“It is willingly admitted that the suppression has not been absolute... To those who can note the difference between LORD and Lord, and can remember that the former do while the latter do not stand for The Name... an intimation of the difference is conveyed… Yet the mere reader remains completely in the dark respecting it, because in nearly all the occurrences of The Name the special Name of God is withheld. ‘nearly All,’ for there are about a half dozen instances in the A.V., in which this concealment does not take place... Is it too much to assume that The Name has about it something very grand or gracious, or at least something very mysterious? Whichever conclusion is accepted, is there not something essentially presumptuous in substituting for it one of the commonest of titles, seeing that there are on earth ‘lords many,’ and the master of the humblest slave is his ‘lord’? Therefore, it is the most natural presumption that suppression of The Name has entailed on the reader irreparable loss.
“The motive was good – let that be assumed... The motive is respected; but the reference is regarded as misapplied, the reason given to be invalid. A plausible argument in favor of leaving The Name veiled, as it is now, may be based upon its concealment by the Septuagint, which conceals the Tetragrammaton under the common title ‘Kurios’ – Lord. Jesus used that version as it stood. (Matt. 22:41‑45) Therefore what was good enough for Him should be good enough for us. However, Jesus had to plead His Messiahship with the Scriptures then current; and any criticism of the nation’s Sacred Documents might have placed a needless obstacle in the people’s path.
“Why not then translate The Name as Jehovah? Is that not euphonious? It is, without question. Is it not widely used? (Especially since 1931 by the Jehovah’s Witnesses – JJH) The reason it is not used here is that it is too heavily burdened with merited critical condemnation – as modern, as a compromise, as a ‘mongrel’ word. What are the facts? First, as to age ‘Jehovah’ was unknown before 1520, when it was introduced by Galatinus; but was contested by others as against grammatical and historical propriety. Next as to formation: Erroneously written and pronounced Jehovah – which is merely a combination of the sacred Tetragrammaton and the vowels in the Hebrew word for Lord, substituted by the Jews for JHVH, because they shrank from pronouncing the name... But to give the name JHVH, the vowels of the word for Lord, and pronounce it Jehovah, is about as hybrid a combination as it would be to spell the name Germany with the vowels in the name Portugal – namely, Gormuna. The monstrous combination Jehovah is not older than about 1520 AD, so the Jews are not responsible for it. Therefore, the form Yahweh is here adopted as practically the best.”
Later writers than Doctor Rotherham – adept in Hebrew and Greek – say Yahveh is better still, so we go along with that. We assume many of our readers do not have access to what we have quoted aforegoing, which is one of the reasons we have gone into such detail about it. A second reason is to alert our readers to the fact that the name “Jehovah’s” Witnesses has no Scriptural foundation whatever; and the great flare they try to give the name is simply a “profusion of words to no purpose.” Of course, this is to get away from the name “Bible Students,” as the Truth people under Brother Russell was known.
Now, as to the Psalm itself, there are seven (divine completeness) distinct divisions in it, the last of which is the summation in v, 43: “Who is wise? Let him observe these things! And diligently consider the loving kindness of Yahweh.” In its overall purport the “loving kindness of Yahweh” is His great Plan of Salvation for the human race; and who is wise to understand this Psalm here in the end of the Age will have a clear understanding of the entire Plan. But, “none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.” (Dan. 12: 10) It is our understanding that (1) vs. 1‑9 treat of the Little Flock (the wise); (2) vs. 10‑16 of the Great Company; (3) vs. 17‑22 of fleshly Israel during the Gospel Age, with special emphasis here in the end of the Age; (4) vs. 23‑32 of the world in general during and at the end of the great tribulation; (5) vs. 33‑38 of the Millennial conditions and people; (6) vs. 39‑42 of the good and evil in the Little Season – “Satan must be loosed for a little season” (Rev. 20:3); then (7) v. 43 as already stated.
THE LITTLE FLOCK
Vs. 1‑9 – “Let the redeemed of Yahveh say, whom He hath redeemed from the hand of the Adversary.” Rev. 5:9 tells us “Thou hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.” These “redeemed of the Lord’’ have indeed been a conglomerate lot – a cross‑section of the human race, as to color, residence, intellectual achievement and providential circumstances. “And hast made us unto God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.” (v. 10) This Little Flock is the “us‑we‑ye” of this and many other Scriptures. “These were redeemed from men, being the first fruits unto God and to the Lamb.” (Rev. 14:4) These are they who ever “give thanks to Yahveh... whom He hath redeemed from the hand of the adversary.” And they have come “from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south” (107:3), the “quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins... walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience “ (Eph. 2:1‑2) Psalms 107:4 and 5: “they wandered about in the desert – in a waste – a city to dwell in found they none” (“We have here no continuing city” – Heb 13:14) Their soul within them fainted.” (v 5)
Continuing with Psalms 107: Amidst all of the foregoing “they made outcry to Jahveh in their peril, and out of their distresses He rescued them.” (v 6) The sentiments stated in v 6 are repeated in vs. 13, 19, and 28, the underlying thought in all these verses being that when the various classes call upon Yahveh in true penitence He is ever ready and willing to hear and give them the relief they seek. It should be noted that in the first nine verses of this psalm, which have to do with the Little Flock, there is no adverse criticism; whereas, there is sharp denunciation of the next three classes that are discussed in vs. 10 through 32. However, the prayer of thanksgiving is identical from all four classes – after He has heard their petitions and given them the needed relief: “Let them give thanks to Yahveh for His loving kindness, and for His wonderful dealings with the sons of men.” The footnote of this last clause says it should read, “For His wonderful dealings with the sons of Adam.”
In response to their petitions, the Psalm proceeds to tell us that Yahveh “led them by a straight road.” He gave them the instruction and the ability to “make straight paths for their feet.” (Heb. 12:13) “That they might journey to a city to dwell in” – in New Jerusalem – Zion, “the perfection of beauty.” (Psa 50:2) Theirs is the promise, The Lord shall bless thee out of Zion: and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life.” (Psa 128:5)
THE GREAT COMPANY
Psa 107:10‑16 – “Such as sit in darkness” – error. The contrast here is between the Little Flock and the Great Company on the Truth. “Ye (the Little Flock) are all the children of light: we are not of the night (of sin), nor of darkness.” “But ye, brethren, are not in darkness.” (1 Thes. 5:4,5) Note the Berean Comment on these texts: “Even to the last solitary one, no matter where he may be located... The spirit will show you things to come.” Here, then, is the clear contrast between the Little Flock and the Great Company – especially now in the end of the Age, when the Truth has shone with special brightness, even making “manifest the counsels of hearts.”
And in their darkness (error), their groping about in confusion, they “sit in the shadow of death” – that is, the second death constantly casts a shadow in their direction, leading them into devious and sundry activities, to which their unholy ambition prods them. While the Great Company did not appear as a class all during the Age, there were many individuals of them – many times more than the Little Flock all during the Gospel Age, “Many are called, but few are chosen.” Their confused views on “the straight road” prompted them to build Great Babylon; and here they have repeated the performance. Especially while in Azazel’s clutches do they become ambitious in works of false propaganda, of building false religious sects, and in indulging in slander against their more faithful brethren. Thus they are deceived into believing they will accomplish great works, win great numbers (such as filling the Epiphany Camp with consecrated ones outside the linen curtain of Christ, and deceiving them into believing they will have the preeminence in the Kingdom in superiority to the Jews), gain great favor. So often are we reminded of some at the first Advent: “They loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.” (John 12:43) But in this day, “when He maketh manifest,” they will learn by sad experience that “the praise of men” is a very transitory and unprofitable possession.
Also, they are “bound with oppression (humiliation) and iron.” (v 10) “Because they had rebelled (revolutionized against the sayings of God.” Among the oppressions (humiliations) that come to them their defeat in controversy is probably at the head of the list. Of those who have rebelled against the sayings of God, St, Paul says, “On this account God will send to them an energy of delusion, to their believing the falsehood (various errors which bring them severe humiliation); in order that all those may be judged who believed not the Truth, but approved the iniquity.” (2 Thes. 2:11, Dia.)
“The counsel of the Most High they had spurned.” (v, 11) Yahveh has given definite instructions for the conduct of His people and their ministry of the Truth – such as congregationalism (each ecclesia is mistress in her own locality), the settlement of differences between brethren, ranking officials in the Church, how to carry on the study and spread of the Truth, etc. To set aside any of these things would be to “spurn the counsel of the Most High” – consider His instructions of little worth by such as think they see a better way to do things. Some of the Lord’s people during this Epiphany have replaced the Berean method of study for textbookism, which is also “spurning” the counsel of the Most High. During the Age this has led to the erection of autocratic systems in some sects, and in loose and irresponsible conduct in others. Most of these perversions have been traceable directly to the crown‑losers, who often have been held in higher esteem by the general public than their Little Flock brethren. John Calvin, for instance, is considered to be one of the sharpest intellects of the entire Age, and he readily attracted a following – so much so that he persuaded his supporters to burn Little Flock member Miletus Servetus at the stake because he could not meet the truth that Servetus presented.
Here in the end of the Age, when we have arrived at the time when “He maketh manifest,” we may definitely conclude that those are of the Great Company who “Rebel against the sayings of God, or spurn the counsel of the Most High.” This is the only way we have of knowing those who “received not the love (the motivating conduct) of the Truth”; but such a conclusion would not be proper for any slight departure, or even some gross departure, from the Truth or God’s arrangements, unless – after the offense is clearly directed to their attention, they then persist therein. This would mean their conduct is not a safe guide for reaching such a conclusion, because we cannot know what degree of Adamic depravity afflicts the individual. It is “God that looketh on the heart.” There are some who believe that Brother Russell was the last saint; thus, by the death of a man they relegate by one broad judgment all others out of the Little Flock. Such a decision is in itself a rebelling, revolutionizing, “against the sayings of God,” because there is no Scriptural support for such a thought.
There was a time, up to about 1910 or 1912, that Brother Russell was firmly convinced that the entire Christ Company would leave the earth by the Fall of 1914. Some one, for reasons unknown to us, once asked him if 1914 came and went, and he was still on earth, would he then conclude that he, too, was of the Great Company. To this he answered an emphatic, No! It was the same with the Epiphany Messenger, who thought all the saints would be glorified by the end of 1956. If some one had asked him if he would think he was of the Great Company if he were still living after 1956, his answer also would have been an emphatic, No!
But to those who have actually fallen from the Little Flock, and have been delivered to the ‘fit man’ for buffeting experiences in the wilderness of adversity, verse 12 tells us “He brought down their heart with labor” until “they made outcry to Yahveh in their peril”; after which “He brought them out of darkness (erroneous and sinful ways) and death‑shade, and their fetters He tare off.” This means identically the same thing – although stated in slightly different fashion – as Rev. 7:14: “These are those coming out of the great affliction, and they washed their robes, and whitened them in the blood of the Lamb.” “That Lamb which is in the midst of the throne will tend them (after bringing down their heart with labor), and will lead them to fountains of waters (clear unadulterated Truth) of life; and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” (Rev. 7:17, Dia.) “The bars of iron (enslaving erroneous practices) He hewed asunder.” (Psa. 107:16)
THE JEWS
Psalms 107:17‑22 – “The perverse by reason of their transgression, and on account of their iniquities are afflicted.” The “transgression” for which the Jews have been afflicted is their treatment of the Messiah, when “He came to His own, but His own received Him not.” The “iniquities” are their many violations of the Mosaic Law, which they repeatedly did against one another and against the prophets that Yahveh sent them. “But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears... Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the Lord of hosts hath sent in His spirit by the former prophets: Therefore came a great wrath from the Lord of Hosts.” (Zech. 7:11,12) For 1845 years the Jews had enjoyed the special blessings from Yahveh. “You only have I known of all the families of the earth.”
The land of Canaan, which the Lord had given them, was a goodly land, with an excellent climate – a place in which it was easy to live. Their abuses of their blessings reached a climax when they rejected the Lord of Glory; and He pronounced upon them the penalty: “Your house is left unto you desolate. For I say unto you, Ye shall not see Me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord.” (Matt; 23:38.39) That day their religious house was left to them desolate; then began the fulfillment of the prophecy, “Even today do I declare that I will render double unto thee.” (Zech. 9:12) The word ‘double’ is from the Hebrew ‘mishneh,’ which means repetition, that is, they would receive a repetition of disfavor for the same length of time they had received the favor – namely, 1845 years. And so completely was this carried out that, after the capture of Jerusalem by Titus in 70 AD., the entire Jewish religious ritual of the Aaronic priesthood was so completely demolished – desolated – that the Tribe of Levi was lost in the dispersion. This prevents them from now having a high priest; and any attempt to carry on as did Aaron and his successors is now an empty performance.
“All manner of food their soul abhorreth, and so they draw near unto the gates of death.” (v. 18) The scourgings they have received during their “double” in this Gospel Age have indeed been horrible – enough to take away their appetites, and bring them to the brink of the grave. During their stay in Palestine they had been very much an agricultural people; but that was no longer practical for them, because they were often forced to flee to another city or country, and they could not take their farms with them. Consequently, they were forced into becoming businessmen, and to keep their assets as liquid as possible – to be carried with them if they were forced to leave on short notice. On numerous occasions, during their dispersion, they employed all the ingenuity at their disposal to regain the land of their fathers. They attempted to buy it; they attempted to regain it by force; they used all the tricks of diplomacy; but to no avail. The sentence of ‘desolation’ against them by Jesus was not lightly spoken; they were to learn by the bitter dregs of experience that “the word that goeth forth out of My mouth shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please.” (Isa. 55:11)
The sentence of desolation was pronounced upon them in the year 33 AD.; and, if they were to have 1845 years of disfavor – a double of their time of favor – it would bring us to the year 1878, at which time the Berlin Congress of Nations decreed for them certain rights in Palestine, which were the opening wedge in their efforts to regain their homeland, Since that time they have been in what the Bible terms “Jacob’s trouble,” “That day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it... and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him.” (Jer. 30:7, 8)
The trouble is to have two phases, the first part a rather mild experience. “I will send for many fishers, and they shall fish them” – offer enticing bait to bring them back to Palestine; then “will I send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them... they are not hid from My face, neither is their iniquity (the violations of the Mosaic Law) hid from Mine eyes. First will I recompense their iniquity and their sin double,” (Jer. 16:16‑18) There was good evidence of rapacious hunters in Germany during the last great war; and those atrocities tended to sharpen the desire of Jews everywhere to once more have a land of their own – which was eventually realized in 1948.
Although they are now established as a nation, they are yet to experience the second phase of “Jacob’s Trouble,” the same being contained in the prophecy of Zech. 14:1‑3: “The day of Yahweh... I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then shall Yahveh go forth, and fight against those nations, as when He fought in the day of battle.” Then will be fulfilled the words of Psa. 107:19: “Then make they outcry to Yahveh in their peril, and out of their distresses He saved them. He sendeth His word (the truth about their Scriptural past, present and future), and healeth them, and delivereth them from their graves.” After that, “they shall look upon Him whom they have pierced” – they will then “give thanks to Yahveh for His loving kindness” – they will “sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and recount His works with a shout.” (v.22)
THE WORLD
The world of mankind during and at the end of the great tribulation – (Psa. 107: 23‑32: “Men who go down to the sea in ships, doing business through mighty waters.” All know that the Capitalistic system has been the dominating economic force during this “present evil world” – doing business through mighty waters. But, “Yahveh speaketh, and there ariseth a tempestuous wind (the world war in 1414, “The wind” of Rev. 7:1), which lifteth on high its rolling waves; They mount the heavens; They descend the roaring deeps (vs. 25‑26), their soul by trouble dissolveth.” On the literal ocean it is wind that produces roaring waves, which roll high, thus making huge deep clefts in between them. This is indeed a vivid illustration of what the symbolic wind (the World War) did in 1914. Although the United States was not involved then, the New York stock market received such a jolt that it was closed for three months after August 1, 1914. That trouble did truly dissolve the souls of the market traders, who had no way to buy or sell on that Exchange.
The World War in 1914 was the greatest calamity in history up to that time; but the “rolling waves” have continued to make “roaring deeps” – each “deep” being lower and more severe than the previous ones. When the market smash came in 1929, it brought on the depression of 1930‑32; and the “roaring deep” of those years probably caused more distress than did the years 1914‑1918, because it was wider in scope, and brought distress upon more people – although probably not as many deaths as did the war.
Came next the “rolling waves and the roaring deep” of 1939‑1945, which was a much deeper calamity than the 1914‑1918 or the 1930‑1932 distresses. The waves rolled higher, and the clefts were much deeper than any previous episode. One man from England, who had been there during 1914‑1918, and who still had relatives in that country, told us at the outbreak of the conflict in 1939 that he felt like lying down in the gutter and weeping. When the German army overran Belgium in 1940 they defeated an opposing army of two million men – described by writers at that time as the most destructive battle in all history – the roaring waves, caused by the tempestuous wind, rolled higher and deeper than ever before.
Just ahead is the next “rolling waves and the roaring deep” – Armageddon, which will prove even more severe than any of the previous happenings since 1914; and this will shortly be followed by Anarchy, which will be worst of all, ending in Jacob’s Trouble, and the destruction of all existing institutions. As previously written, we witnessed the riot in Detroit in 1967, with the immense destruction it produced; and we made comment then that once Armageddon topples over these present governments, it will not be very long until Anarchy will follow, because it will not be possible to assemble any sort of sound order from that wreckage. Detroit is not yet even substantially recovered from that debacle, although they have had the help of the Government and other communities, which they will not have in Armageddon.
At that time “make they outcry to Yahveh in their peril, and out of their distresses He bringeth them forth.” For, “He calmeth the storm to a whisper, and silent are their rolling waves” – after the great tribulation has accomplished to the full the dissolution of present elements. Then, “Let them extol Yahveh in the convocation of the people, and in the seated company of elders let them praise Him.” (v. 32) The word ‘elders’ in this text is from the Hebrew ‘zaqen,’ which is the same word that is translated ‘old men’ in Joel 2:28. Thus, the “company of elders” here means the Ancient Worthies who will be sending forth the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem – after the tribulation be passed. (See Isa. 2:3) The World will then have learned through excruciating experience what they could not learn by instruction.
MILLENNIAL CONDITIONS – AND PEOPLE
Psalms 107:33‑38 – When the benign Kingdom reign is established “Yahveh turned rivers into desert, and springs of water into thirsty ground” – “the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose.” (Isa. 35:1) This section of Psalm 107 is in exact keeping with the 35th Chapter of Isaiah, a beautiful companion text for this Psalm. “Thus hath Yahvey blessed the people, and they have multiplied greatly (as one generation after another returns from the tomb the total population will amount to something around thirty to fifty billion – “multiplied greatly” by present standards)” – and their labors will be greatly blessed – “Their cattle He maketh not a few.”
The Little Season – Vs. 39‑42: “Yahveh poureth contempt upon nobles, and causeth them to wander in a pathless waste” – typed by Pharaoh and his armies engulfed in the pathless waste of the Red Sea – the “goats’ of the parable in Matt. 25: 31‑46. “But Yahveh hath set the needy on high from affliction, and made families like a flock.” (v. 41) Here the “sheep” of the parable are described; they will be “set on high from affliction” – typed by the Jews passing through the Red Sea on dry land, and eventually to the opposite shore in full safety. “The upright (sheep) seeth and is glad” (v. 42 – typed so markedly in Ex. 15:20, 21: “Miriam, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to Yahveh, for He hath triumphed gloriously; and the horse and his rider (the ‘nobles’ of v. 40) hath He thrown into the sea” – into the Second Death at the full end of the Little Season. The world of mankind will be under the ‘‘resurrection by judgment” – krisis, or trial time – (John 5:28,29) all during the Mediatorial reign; but the real and final test that will make clear separation between the sheep and the goats will not occur until the Little Season has come to a complete end. All Restitutionists will enter the Little Season with perfect minds and bodies, but all will not have perfect heart condition – perfect characters. Those goats who don’t have perfect hearts will not be able to stand the tests of the Little Season.
“Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power,” (1 Cor. 15:24) And this will be the “restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world Began,” (Acts 3:21) Not until then – the end of the Little Season – can this “restitution of all things” be accomplished.
It is only then that the Restitutionists will be made kings, as was Adam in the Garden of Eden. “Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!” (Psa. 107:31) That Servant expresses it beautifully in Reprint 5636, Feb. 15, 1915:
“God created Father Adam the king of earth. Had he remained loyal to his God, he would have retained not only his life and health and happiness, but also his kingly authority over the beasts, the fish and the fowl – ruling them with telepathic powers. The breaking of the covenant with God by Adam not only brought death and separation from God, but impaired his ruling powers as respects the lower creatures. The redemption accomplished by the death of Jesus is eventually to reach every member of Adam’s race, and not merely will be applicable to their restoration to human perfection of mind and body, but will include a restoration of kingly powers.
“Surely the Divine program for humanity is beautiful, simple, and sublimely grand! As the Bible declares, it will be ‘the desire of all nations.’ Those whose eyes and ears of understanding are open to appreciate this message of the Bible have much advantage in every way over the average man at the present time. ‘Who is wise? then let him observe these things.’ (Psa. 107:43). This knowledge is very assistful to them as they come to realize that the anointing of the Holy Spirit upon them is with a view to preparing them to be the royal priesthood of the future and, with Jesus to bring to mankind the blessings of Jehovah, lost by sin, redeemed at Calvary.”
“The righteous shall see it, and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her mouth. Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the loving kindness of Yahveh.” (Psa. 107:43) “It is good that a man should both hope and quietly” wait for the salvation of the Lord.” (Lam. 3:26)
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LETTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST
Dear Brother Hoefle: Welcome to you all!
And I hurry to put things straight. When I received the latest numbers – the Truth of the matter concerning Campers Epiphany Consecrated, it “struck me fair and square.” Please understand me when I say that there is order in your explanation of the Youthful Worthies only being consecrated up to Restitution. I am glad that Jehovah has allowed me to persevere along this line, as it is so very important not to presume over the Epiphany Messenger’s thorough explanation re the Camp. So “breathe easy,” John, but also pray that I continue taking hold of real “Present Truth,” for what ability I am allowed.
Please send me some of the various tracts, each – especially the “Two Salvations” in large number – also Nos. 108, 255, 130.
Do you have the Improved Version of the Bible for purchase, as in No. 130 mention is made of it? I agree with the view that Christ rules until all enemies are put under His feet. Satan is surely “The enemy of enemies” (6:319), even as death is an enemy. The Second Death covers all enemies, death and hades included. Nobody attains life until all death is gone, even as Christ attained immortality by His faith, and those of like faith, before Restitutionists, as in God’s Plan before the world began. (E8:218‑19)
“Satan” was never given life before his fall.
Send the three following names your papers: .......
I am concerned about Jolly’s magazines as to what happened between you and him, Can you supply your own details, as it is fair? Love to you all, ------- (AUSTRALIA)
………….............……….
Dear Brother and Sister Hoefle:
What a Beautiful morning! Especially so following days of rain which has caused flooding and evacuations in various parts of the State. This situation brought in various memories of the 1913 flood, and pictures of Dayton, Ohio which, of course reminded us of Brother Hoefle, an experience he will never forget. The dams that were then built have really protected that area well. Of course, our area is only 16 miles from the highest point in Ohio – just east of Bellefontaine, so we had no worries except that harsh rains washed away the top soil. ....So we are not planting corn this year, which reminds me of the programs of the Israelites giving the land a rest.
It is so interesting to watch each day as prophecy develops – wars, disasters, earthquakes, etc., coming it seems more rapidly. I heard yesterday on the radio, there are 41 wars going on right now.
We are anxiously awaiting for news of war equipment being made into pruning hooks and plowshares.
Many thanks for the good articles you send us. Every one is priceless in the messages they contain.
With very best for your health and Christian love, ------- (OHIO)