No. 274
On pp. 87-95 of the above paper there is “profusion of words” by RGJ to justify his error on campers Consecrated – to justify his “advancing truth” (?) that sets aside the Truths we have received from the Star Members. “Moreover, his desire to shine as the inventor of ‘new views’ continually leads him to propound errors against which the faithful are duty-bound to contend in the interests of the Lord, the Truth and the brethren (Jude 3); and thus he is the cause of the most strife among God’s people. Blessed are they who contend against him earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints and now being corrupted by him.” (E-6:13, par. 1)
That Servant gave us the Truths on all the elective and non-elective classes; and the Epiphany Messenger gave us more light when he elaborated on these classes established by That Servant. Brother Johnson never saw a new class, although he gave us much advancing light on the Great Company, Youthful Worthies and the quasi-elect. But he never taught consecration in the Camp – nor did That Servant – because Christ’s merit didn’t extend to the Camp during the Gospel Age – and won’t be extended for Restitutionists “until Restitution begins.” This is the Truth “once delivered unto the saints.” (Jude 3)
According to RGJ, the Youthful Worthies were all won by 1954; but, according to That Servant and the Epiphany Messenger, Youthful Worthies can be won between the Ages – “until Restitution begins.” Any time these two would-be Pastors and Teachers (RGJ and JWK) concoct a new doctrine, they must set aside – or pervert – the faithful teachings we have received from the last two Messengers, the true Pastors and Teachers. As Brother Johnson said of Rutherford regarding his “new light,” we now say of the RGJ-JWK twosome: “It is not advancing Truth, but rather additional ‘mud splashes.’”
In all the Epiphany Messenger’s books and numerous pages of other writings, at no time did he ever attempt to foist a new doctrine upon the brethren; but now we have a self-admitted crown-loser (a member of antitypical Saul – Great Company leaders up to Armageddon – E-14:5), who considers himself superior to the Epiphany Messenger! He can see a new class in addition to the classes taught by both Star Members. Brother Johnson never saw such a class – never thought about inventing a new class. But JFR did!
On p. 88, par. 9, there is this: ‘Wherever and whenever God’s loyal people presented the Truth and its Spirit against Satan’s domain, he mustered his forces to oppose them and bring tribulation upon them. In each conflict God gave His faithful people the victory over their enemies.” Is RGJ now telling us that God has given him victory over his disputants since 1954?
In par. 14 RGJ says that “prospective Great Company members have been overcomers eventually.” Here is what the Epiphany Messenger says about that in E-5:229: “We can see from the fact that only 144,000 are counted victors over the Beast and his Image (Rev. 15:2; 20:4), tho, as we know, the Truth section of the Great Company opposed the Beast and his Image, but because they are not more than overcomers of certain characteristics of the Beast and his Image, God does not count them overcomers of these, however much they verbally preach and zealously work against them. (Rev. 19:1-3) Hence it is because the Truth groups of the Great Company have practiced Sectarianism and Clericalism as among the main forms that their Revolutionism, manifesting their Leviteship, have assumed, their battling against Nominal Church Sectarianism is not accounted by God as overcoming these prince errors. Hence the type very properly contains no representation of their activity against Sectarianism and Clericalism. On the other hand, from the type we infer that the Youthful Worthies overcome in their own characters the spirit of Sectarianism and Clericalism, and are thus privileged to have their verbal battling against the prince errors of antitypical Midian accounted as their capturing and executing them.”
However, all “prospective Great Company members” of this Epiphany have not been overcomers – some of them were ejected from the Household of Faith because they refused to have their fleshly minds destroyed (See 1 Cor. 5:5 and Berean Comments). But those who remained in the Household were overcomers because they repented of their sins and “washed their robes” in the blood of the Lamb. (Rev. 7:14) But as a Class they are not given the honor of overcoming Sectarianism and Clericalism that the faithful Youthful Worthies receive. This is due to the fact that they have been among the chief sinners in God’s Household in Sectarianism and Clericalism. All during the Gospel Age they have perverted the Star Members’ teachings and made sects for themselves as the chief Clericalists – Pastors and Teachers. And the Epiphany has produced more of this, as so many of the Great Company leaders have sectarianized the Truth left them by the Lord’s faithful mouthpieces – the Star Members.
FURTHER TESTIMONY AGAINST RGJ
“Another aspect of his (Brother Russell’s) teachings as to certain Epiphany truths and relations that proves that he is that Servant, is the fact that his teachings cannot in the Epiphany be repudiated or be supplanted by other teachings without manifesting the perpetrators of such things as Great Company members (uncleansed Great Company members—JJH). This, of course, proves that he is in a most particular sense, represented as a mouthpiece, and that, therefore, to repudiate his teachings or to put others in their place is equivalent to repudiating God’s teachings, or to put others in their place. Many of those who once held his teachings and who regarded him as That Servant, have presumed to repudiate his teachings, or to put others in their place; but this has always resulted in God’s repudiating them as Little Flock members and manifesting them as Great Company members (or uncleansed Great Company members—JJH). Why should this be only in the case of his (Brother Russell’s) teachings and not in the case of those of others before the Epiphany? Can it be explained on any other ground than that he was God’s special mouthpiece and that, therefore, his teachings are God’s teachings, and that, therefore, to rebel against them is to rebel against God (Psa. 107:10,11)? This is the only ground on which such a course on God’s part could be explained, and, therefore, we present it as an Epiphany-Truth proof that our Pastor was That Servant.” (E-9:352)
TRUTH NOT YET DUE
On p. 90 (e) of this paper RGJ says “many Scriptures regarding the Youthful Worthies were not opened up through God’s special servants for them until they came forth as a separate class in the Epiphany, with special need for this Truth as due.” Here RGJ is trying to make a case for himself by saying That Servant did not see many Truths regarding – the Youthful Worthies – just as Brother Johnson did not see much of the Truth regarding Zelophehad’s five daughters because that Truth was not due in Brother Johnson’s time.
This is just a statement of sophistry – antitypical witchcraft (especially deceptive false teachings). RGJ certainly knows as well as anybody that the Truth people as a group believed there would be such a class between the Ages before Restitution begins. JFR believed it in the beginning, after That Servant’s demise, but called them Modern Worthies; and there was much discussion about them then – until JFR decreed that there was no such class. And many of his supporters swallowed that – just because he said so. But, regardless of what name we apply to them, there can be no disputing the fact that Brother Russell taught such a class years before the time arrived for his opinion found sound Scriptural support in this Epiphany period.
In E-11:715 there is this statement: “The priesthood individually stood firm in its faith that there was such a class (then known as Modern Worthies—JJH), which it set forth expositorily, probatively and refutatively against attacks. Encouraged, the Youthful Worthies proved themselves to be strongly founded, not only on Scriptural principles, but also on many Scriptural passages. These Scriptural passages are found in the Old and New Testaments, e.g., the Gershonites (Num. 1; 3; 4), the five daughters of Zelophehal (Num. 27:1-11), Ruth (Ruth 1-4). These are a veritable fortress in proof of the existence of this class (the Youthful Worthies—JJH) from various standpoints. These considerations demonstrate that they are a Divinely-provided class; and as such they found favor with our Lord, because of his Biblical knowledge as to them.”
It will be noted in the paragraph above it is stated that the priesthood individually stood firm in its faith (meaning Brother Johnson and some others). Now RGJ is telling us that “the priesthood” was standing on sinking sand in their understanding of Zelophehad’s daughters – that it remained for an uncleansed Levite, steeped in error of many sorts, to show us where the priesthood was wrong in its understanding of this topic.
HANDLING THE WORD OF GOD DECEITFULLY
In 2 Cor. 4:2 St. Paul states that we are not of those that “handle the word of God deceitfully”; but it seems this statement has never registered with RGJ, because he never hesitates to “handle the word of God deceitfully” whenever it serves his purpose. We refer now specifically to his quotation from E-10:114: “After 1954 no Youthful Worthies will be won,” which he quotes several times in the paper we are now reviewing. Whenever any one picks a word, or clause, or sentence from its setting – and which is a perversion or twist from the remainder of the statement – it is simply open fraud; and is so considered by the laws of our land.
The analysis here pertains to Rev. 22:10,11. As we have said in other articles on this subject, this is a composite text; and all of it will be fulfilled when any part of it is fulfilled. We now quote some more from that same p. 114: “1954 is the date that the last member of the Great Company will get his first enlightenment that will bring him into the Truth by Passover, 1956.... after 1954 no more persons will enter the tentatively-justified state..... Certainly, when we come to a time when no more consecrations are possible for Gospel-Age purposes, it would be useless to exhort the tentatively justified to consecrate and sinners to repent, for the tentatively justified and sinners could arise no higher from their standings before God under such condition; hence only at such a time could the first and second exhortations of v. 11 be given.”
Following are the first and second exhortations of Rev. 22:11 – with bracketed comments by the Epiphany Messenger; “He that is unjust (the tentatively justified, who are not actually justified, not just) let him be unjust still (remain tentatively justified, and not consecrate); and he that is filthy (the impenitent sinners, who in no sense are clean) let him be filthy still (remain in his then condition).”
All of this directly disputes what RGJ is now trying to have his readers believe; and his statements, when viewed in the light of these positive conclusions by the Epiphany Messenger are none other than “handling the word of God deceitfully.”
Rev. 22:10,11 is an epitome of the finished picture – and RGJ should know that but he either does not know it, or is willfully perverting the writings of the Star Member. And, as one very capable brother once said to us: If he is doing the latter, he will go into the second death. However, we have never said this privately or publicly.
The Epiphany is the Little Season for the Gospel Age, just as the Little Season is the “finished picture” for the Millennial Age. Even though some in the Little Season of the Gospel Age will have received their eternal reward, some of the Youthful Worthies will have finished their course before the end of this Little Season; but in the finished picture of the Millennial Age Little Season all will have their fixed punishment or reward. During the Epiphany quite a few of the faith classes will have finished their course; but it is only in the finished picture that Rev. 22:10,11 will apply, at which time all classes will be fixed, even though some of the faith classes may still be with us. But those who remain will not fall – just as was true of the Saints in 1914. Those who remained during the Epiphany could have fallen, but they did not do so.
Not so with the Great Company: their destiny as a class will not be completed until the end of the Epiphany in the finished picture. At that time none of the Restitutionists will be able to make a consecration that will be accepted; they will have to wait until the New Covenant is inaugurated. They will be in the same position as was Cornelius before the door was opened to the Gentiles. Of course, as Brother Russell said of Cornelius, he was consecrated, but his consecration was held in reserve until “due time” – when the door was opened to the Gentiles. And so it will be with those in the Camp: they will not be recognized until the Christ accepts such consecrators under the New Covenant.
We believe the interpretation of Rev. 22:10,11 is correct; the only thing wrong with page 114 of Vol. 10 is the date of 1954; and that is the one thing RGJ contends is correct – except, of course, his Camp is not yet in the “finished picture.” As Brother Johnson has so aptly stated, when these crown-losers fall into the hands of Azazel, they talk all sorts of nonsense. And here is another sample of it.
There is nothing – just nothing – that distinguishes 1954 from 1953 or 1955; RGJ cannot point to one thing that supports his contentions about that year – except Bro. Johnson’s mistaken conclusions about the date on p. 114 of Vol. 10; but he can see it if it is not there. Re the “finished” picture that he now teaches respecting the Court, but “unfinished” for the Camp, the only statement he can truthfully make is that the picture for the Holy is complete – completely empty, no more entries there. When there are no more entries into the Court, it will be finished from that standpoint, but the living Youthful Worthies and Great Company will still be in the Court – just as the living members of the Great Company remained in the Holy until they were ejected therefrom.
The Epiphany Tabernacle is still with us, and will continue so as long as we have the Epiphany period with us. JWK contends that the Epiphany as a special period of the Gospel Age is concerned is no longer with us; but he has never definitely declared what Tabernacle is now with us – if there is any at all with us. But we are still in the Gospel Age; therefore, Rev. 22:10,11 has a Gospel-Age application only. However, it is a composite text; and all of it will be fulfilled at one time – when the Gospel Age Tabernacle passes out of existence. The Millennial Tabernacle will then come into existence – for Millennial-Age purposes.
In par. 38 RGJ says the Queen of Sheba class will be given “an eternal inheritance” in the Kingdom – if faithful. The same statement can be made now for the lowest heathen – if they are faithful in the Kingdom reign. Then he proceeds to stress that such Sheba members will “have the highest standing among the faithful restitutionists.” The Scriptures clearly teach that all faithful Restitutionists will become kings at the end of the Little Season, the same being clearly taught in the writings of both Messengers. If they become kings, just what “higher standing” can any one have if he is a king?
The following is from E-4:332: “It is reasonable and Scriptural for the Youthful Worthies, as well as for the Ancient Worthies, that they will receive ultimately a higher reward than they could have on earth. As the Ancient, so the Youthful Worthies would be everlastingly degraded instead of being everlastingly rewarded for their Millennial service and suffering for the world, and their post-Millennial service for the faithful world, and for their post-Millennial suffering for righteousness at the hands of the Second Death class, if they would remain on the earth forever; for since all human beings found worthy of everlasting life will henceforth be equal (Matt. 25:34; Rev. 21:24), it would follow that the Youthful, as well as the Ancient Worthies, from being the Millennial superiors, would be degraded to being the eternal equals of the world of mankind, if as human beings they remained eternal on this earth. Thus God would not only not give them any reward for their Millennial and post-Millennial service and suffering, but would post-Millennially give them no more than He will give to those who would not serve Him, but did serve Satan, sin, error and death, during the period that these were in the ascendancy and domination among men .... Therefore, we should not expect that Youthful and Ancient Worthies will remain on the earth amid human conditions and associations, i.e., remain human.”
We now emphasize some of the above paragraph: “All human beings found worthy of everlasting life will henceforth be equal (Matt. 25:34; Rev. 21:34).” This is not only the teaching of the Epiphany Messenger but also of That Servant. Now a self admitted crown-loser sets this fundamental Truth aside for his error that his Campers Consecrated will be superior Restitutionists. The Messengers and the Apostle Paul taught that the New Covenant blessings would be “to the Jew first,” but they never taught that the Jews would have a superior standing over other Restitutionists, as all Restitutionists will have to become Jews to get the Kingdom blessings – and all will be equal who receive eternal life. However, the Jews do have the honor as a nation – as all will become Jews, not Gentiles, and not Campers Consecrated. It is a New Covenant for the Jews to replace the Old (Law) Covenant – so naturally those who receive the blessings under the New Covenant will have to become proselyte Jews, just as Gentiles had to do to receive the blessings under the Law Covenant. So the orthodox Jews in Jerusalem will be the very first to receive the Kingdom blessings. When they cry unto the Lord “he saveth them out of their distresses.” (Psa. 107:19)
In par. 38, p. 92, we find this statement: “Thus the fuller answer to the pertinent inquiries and petitions began to be given, showing that the Consecrated Epiphany Campers will have a special eternal inheritance in the earthly phase of the Kingdom.” This is confusion worse confounded! Not even the Worthies will receive a special “eternal” inheritance when they receive the “better resurrection” at the beginning of the Kingdom reign; they will be “princes in all the earth,” so they will be the earthly phase of the Kingdom. However, this does not mean that their inheritance will be eternal on earth, or in heaven. Their trial for life will be in the Kingdom, and more particularly in the Little Season. All the faithful Worthies will receive their “eternal” inheritance in the Little Season. But, if any of them would become unfaithful, and cause turmoil, they would almost certainly receive the same fate as “the sinner being an hundred years old – shall be accursed.” (Isa. 65:20) The Scriptures are silent on this, but it seems reasonable to expect for the unfaithful. But the Scriptures are clear on all the Restitutionists – any of the quasi-elect, Consecrated Campers and the rest of the worldlings will have their trial for life in the Kingdom, and if unfaithful will be “accursed” either in the Mediatorial reign or in the Little Season. This seems to us to be an elementary deduction. So no one can Scripturally offer any Campers Consecrated an “eternal” inheritance – life eternal – for their faithfulness in this Epiphany period. But we can tell any worldling, whether one of the Consecrated Campers or a heathen, that he will have his “eternal” inheritance – life eternal – if faithful and obedient under the New Covenant.
JEWS OR CONSECRATED CAMPERS – WHICH?
“The days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah.” (Jer. 31:31) If God’s Word means anything to us at all, it means that the New Covenant will come through the Jews – just as the Old (Law) Covenant came through the Jews. As all of our readers would surely know, the Jews under the Law Covenant were found in the twelve tribes of that nation. Likewise, spiritual Israel of this Gospel Age also is comprised of twelve tribes (Rev. 7:4-8), although the vast majority of those twelve tribes came into this world as Gentiles; but they were considered spiritual Israelites once they became members of the Body of Christ – the 144,000 mentioned in v. 4.
However, when that Law Covenant was given to fleshly Israel, the only way any Gentile could receive any of its blessings was to become a proselyte Jew – have himself circumcised, adopt the Law and thenceforth live as Jews. The same rule has applied during this Gospel Age with the spiritual Israelites; and the same rule will apply in the Millennial Age: all restitutionists will have to become proselyte Jews have to become Jews if they are to receive the New Covenant blessings, as the New Covenant is made for the Jews and with the Jews. Are Campers Consecrated Spiritual Israelites, or are they proselyte (natural) Jews, the Jews to whom the promise is made “to the Jew first”? Both Messengers stressed the fact that the Kingdom blessings will be “to the Jew first.”
“The power of salvation... to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” (Rom. 1:16) Both Messengers agreed with St. Paul, and taught accordingly; Jeremiah 31 also agrees with the Apostle Paul – but RGJ now emphatically disagrees with all of them. As Brother Johnson has so aptly stated, When these people go wrong on any cardinal point, they are forced to cast away one Truth after another in a vain attempt to support their first error. And this present situation offers tragic proof of that statement.
In Isa. 2:3 we are told “Out of Zion (the glorified Christ Company) shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem (the Worthies).” As of now, we believe it is safe assumption that RGJ does not have one Consecrated Camper in Jerusalem; and we would say also that it is equally proper to say there won’t be one there when the Worthies begin to send out the faithful orthodox Jews as missionaries. “O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the Lord.” (Isa. 2:5)
Almost always in the Old Testament when Jacob is addressed, it refers to fleshly Israel; and it certainly does so in this text. If RGJ is right about his Campers being first in the Kingdom, naturally, they will have to be there and “cry unto the Lord,” – because it is self-evident that those who “cry unto the Lord in their distresses, and he saveth them out of their distresses ... He sent his word, and healed them and delivered them from their destruction.” (Psa. 107:19,20)
If Campers Consecrated are to be first and chief, they would self-evidently have to be in Jerusalem, which would mean the Consecrated Campers “crying unto the Lord,” and would make Brother Johnson’s interpretation another error, according to RGJ – another error that RGJ is now correcting. Of course, if the Consecrated Campers – or any other Restitutionists receive the New Covenant blessings, they will have to become Jews in the full sense of the word, and will also become missionaries to minister to others. They, too, will be superior to those who have not become Jews up to that time. According to the words of Jesus in Matt. 25:31-46, all who gain “eternal life” will be required to become missionaries – minister to their fellow Restitutionists. The Sheep then all become equals – Kings of the earth. To the sheep He says, “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world”, and to the goats, “And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.” (Matt. 25:34, 36) It is the faithfulness during the Kingdom reign that will give the Restitutionists “their special eternal inheritance” – and not their faithfulness to righteousness during the Gospel Age – although the worldlings who practice righteous living during this Age will be better prepared to walk up the Highway of Holiness. However, their efforts in this Age do not insure them their “special eternal inheritance,” because that can be won only in the Kingdom by obedience to the Kingdom arrangements. Some who have lived righteously during this Gospel Age may turn and do unrighteously.
This thought is well expressed in Ez. 18:21-25: “But if the wicked shall turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live and he shall not die (v. 21). But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live?... in his sins that he hath sinned, in them shall he die (v.22).” “Once in grace” is not always in grace, as some have thought. During the Gospel Age the Great Company got weary of doing the Lord’s will and was ejected from the Holy; the Second-Deathers got weary of doing the Lord’s will altogether and were ejected from the Household of Faith – perished as one of the ungodly. (Psa. 1:4,5) And it is quite possible that the Restitutionists who have practiced righteous living during this Age and for awhile in the next Age to “turn away from righteousness,” as many have done in this Gospel Age when as New Creatures they have been on trial for life. Their destiny was at stake during this Age. But that is not true of the Worthies, as they are not on trial for life, or for their “eternal inheritance”; nor do any of the quasi-elect, Campers Consecrated, and other worldlings receive their “eternal inheritance” as a reward for their activities in this life. All Restitutionists receive their “eternal inheritance” when fully faithful in the Kingdom under the New Covenant.
WHICH SHOULD BE GREATEST
When Jesus was here “a dispute arose among them (the Apostles), which of them would be greatest.” (Luke 9:46, Dia.) A much more violent “dispute” occurred after Brother Russell’s death in 1916-17. Shortly after Brother Johnson’s death the same struggle for power occurred between R. G. Jolly and J. W. Krewson, and is still continuing. We are not interested in the “new light” presented by either of them; nor are we interested in their fight for preeminence as star member, or as Pastor and Teacher. But we are interested in presenting such Truth as may expose their errors – errors that tend to bewilder and befog some of our brethren. The Jehovah’s Witnesses are very insistent that their devotees study their errors – just as RGJ and JWK are – and they “are always learning, and never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.” (2 Timothy 3:7, Dia.) Some of these people have never really been “rooted and grounded” in Parousia Truth – much less in Epiphany Truth; and this conclusion is not made as any pointed criticism of them. We realize that many of them do not have the capacity, and others with the capacity have not had the opportunity yet to become informed. Both power-graspers – RGJ and JWK – have made vicious effort to belittle our Pilgrim appointment. JWK actually accused us of never having such an appointment from Brother Johnson. However, if this would be all there is to our differences, we would not belittle ourselves by attempting to answer them; but both of them have made vigorous attempt to forbid their readers from reading what we write; and the Jehovah’s Witnesses give us the same treatment – something we never do with our readers toward any of these three cults. We have stated in private correspondence, and openly in our papers, that our readers are most welcome to read their papers if they have the time and the inclination.
Brother Johnson wrote us a letter shortly before he died, saying “I do many things for you, my dear Brother (regarding some special Truth he shared with us) that I do not do for others.” And we can well understand that now more firmly than we did before his demise in 1950. There are now many things that are very clear to us, regarding his special tutoring, etc., “words not lawful for a man to utter.” (2 Cor. 12:4) Nor do we intend to publish oral statements; the written expressions of both Brother Russell and Brother Johnson are fully sufficient for our purposes – to refute the errors of such people. The perverters (Azazel means perverter) have much learning (?) with which their readers may confuse themselves; but our advice to all the Lord’s people is to study the Parousia and Epiphany Truth, and make these truths their own. We are warned that the great majority will not endure sound doctrine in “this evil day” – and we find this condition in all corners now – not only in Big Babylon, but also in the Truth groups. However, we do what we can to enlighten and strengthen those who have an ear to hear.
APING THE WITNESSES
As many of our readers know, the Witnesses study only what emanates from headquarters; and the questions are all set out, to be sure no one gets any different ideas. In this Present Truth under review RGJ has done the same thing – just to be sure the error sinks in. Study, Study – Study error – “ever learning, and never able to come to a knowledge of the truth” (2 Tim. 3:7). And generally speaking, when such sectarians embrace error, they show more zeal for the error than they did for the Truth.
Both Messengers were well informed regarding the quasi-elect – represented by the clean animals in the ark – “the truly repentant and believing, but not consecrated Jews and Gentiles.” (E-10:209) We are personally acquainted with quite a few such people, who are not ambitious for anything more than Restitution, and we give them what we believe to be the best Scriptural encouragement for righteous living: “Seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord’s anger.” (Zeph. 2:3—See Berean Comments) But RGJ is telling these people they should make “a covenant by sacrifice,” to supersede the Jews in Restitution; but the Apostle Paul and both Messengers clearly contradict his error. God’s promise “to the Jew first” is unconditional: Only Jews or proselyte Gentiles – circumcised as Jews – could come into the Body of Christ until the “week” was up – the seven years beginning at Jordan.
And it will be the same in the Kingdom reign – “to the Jew first.” “He is faithful that promised.” (Heb. 10:23) The difference in the Kingdom will be that all Gentiles will have to become proselyte Jews to receive the Kingdom blessings, receive eternal life if faithful. No door at all will be opened for Gentiles as such. When the door was opened to the Gentiles, Cornelius was the first Gentile to come into the “Body” – and he did not have to become a proselyte Jew, nor did any other Gentile have to become a proselyte Jew after that to come into the Body of Christ. But all nations will have to become proselyte Jews in the Kingdom – the Kingdom is Israelitish. The two Messengers and the Apostle Paul all state it exactly that way. “When we ask ourselves what blessings are that the New Covenant will Millennially confer upon Israelites and Israelite-made Gentiles, we find them summed up in Christ’s perfect human body and life.” (E-6:709) And they will all be known as Israelites, and not by any name that RGJ has manufactured for Restitutionists in this Epiphany!
In the Jewish Age all were promised earthly prosperity if they would keep the Law – “that thy days may be long upon the earth.” But all the faithful will be able to do under the New Covenant what no fallen human being could do under the Law Covenant. In a lame attempt to bolster up his error, RGJ says Brother Russell made a mistake when he taught that the Gershonite Levites typified the world of mankind in the Kingdom; but why does he not tell us That Wise and Faithful Servant corrected that mistake after Brother Johnson called it to his attention? Note Reprints 5023 (May 1, 1912) col. 1, first question: “In the type the entire Tribe of Levi was cut off from having any possession in the land... God thus typified the fact that the antitypical Levites would not have an earthly inheritance, but rather the spiritual or heavenly inheritance.” Can it be that RGJ is again resorting to “the trickery of men, cunning craftiness in systematic deception” (Eph. 4:14, Dia.), or is he just ignorant of this Truth?
As our Lord told His believers – “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (Jn. 8:31,32) And we know that “Every word of God is pure; he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.” (Prov. 30:5)
Sincerely your brother,
John J. Hoefle, Pilgrim
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LETTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST
To Epiphany Bible Students:
I will thank you very much for sending me your printings. But you have a wrong spelled address, and I am giving you the right spelling as follows: -------
By His Grace, ------- (SWEDEN)
...........................................................................
Gentlemen:
I would appreciate it if you would send all your tracts that you have listed.
Thank you very much ------- (VIRGINIA)