NO. 261: SOME THOUGHTS FOR THE MEMORIAL

No. 261

As previously announced, the proper time for observing the Memorial in 1977 is after six p.m. the evening of April 1. This conclusion is reached by knowing that the Vernal Equinox arrives at the 30th Meridian East (the one nearest Jerusalem) at 7:43 p.m. March 20; and the new moon nearest that time occurs at 8:33 p.m. March 19. Thus the first of Nisan is established at six p.m. of March 19. Counting then to the fourteenth, we arrive at six p.m. April 1; and any time that night after six p.m. is correct for observing the Memorial of our Lord’s death. We here at Mount Dora plan to observe the festival at 7:30 p.m., April 1; and we extend a cordial invitation to any of like mind as ourselves to join us on that occasion if they be in this neigh­borhood.

It will be noted aforegoing that we say “the first of Nisan” (which is the name of the Babylonian God of Spring), but that name was not known to the Jews when the Passover was instituted. The first month of their religious year (and the seventh of their business year) was Abib, which means ‘sprouting’ or ‘budding’ – very similar indeed to the meaning of Nisan. But Nisan is first mentioned in the Bible in Neh. 2:1 – just before release of the Jews from the 70-year Babylonian captivity.

Wherever it may be our privilege to be on that special night, let us keep in mind that it was exactly 3592 years since the Passover was kept that awesome night in Egypt in 1615 B.C.; and the ostentatious observance of the Passover by the Jews to this year is a very strong testimony that the Bible is the Word of Truth. According to human reckoning, 3592 years is a very long time; but it is only a little less than four days if we consider it from God’s standpoint. “A thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.” (Psa. 90:4)

THE NEW MOON AND THE JEWS

It should be apparent from what we have written above that the moon does play a very important part in determining the date of “our Passover.” But this contention is true only as relates the beginning of the month Abib. Once Nisan (or Abib) is deter­mined, then the Bible tersely states that the Passover is to be held on the 14th day of Abib, regardless of the condition of the moon on that date. (Ex. 12:6) The moon is always substantially full at Nisan 14, although it sometimes requires a day or two for it to reach complete fullness. Therefore, the Jewish observance of Passover is often a day or two late, because they wait for the moon to become full for their “remembrance” of that great event.

It is in order here to keep in mind that the moon on this occasion represents the Jewish nation. In its coming to the full from the first of the month it well repre­sents the rise of the Jewish nation from obscurity in the days of Abraham to the pin­nacle of glory when Jesus came into their midst. “The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.” (Matt. 4:16) “A new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in Him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.” (1 Jn. 2:8) But, as soon as they had crucified “the Lord of Glory” the moon began to wane, and with it also went God’s favor from the Jews – until in the year 70 A.D. Roman Em­peror Titus captured Jerusalem and dispersed the Jews to the remote parts of the earth.

A House Desolate – Just before Jesus was crucified, He had made that fatal pro­nouncement upon the Jews: “Your house is left unto you desolate.” (Matt. 23:38) The “house” in this instance includes both the political and religious establishments, but especially so the religious arrangement. When Moses organized the religious ritual at Sinai, he, at the commandment of God, anointed and installed his Brother Aaron as High Priest. At Aaron’s death, his eldest son Eleazar succeeded him into that office; and this order was followed in part to the time that Jerusalem was destroyed – although it seems the Jews had departed in part at least from that set-up when Jesus came. How­ever, we are told in Heb. 5:4 that “No man taketh this honor unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.” Strictly speaking, then, the Jews actually had only one High Priest, Aaron – and subsequent heads of that office were merely a succession of Aaron.

Inasmuch as Aaron was from the tribe of Levi, it follows that all his successors must also come from that tribe. But in the dispersion at the year 70 A.D. the “des­olation” was so devastating that the Tribe of Levi was completely lost at that time. Therefore, the Jews no longer can have a High Priest in the strict and all-embracing term of that word – because they know not which among them are from that tribe. Con­sequently, their Atonement Day and Passover are merely an exercise in futility, because they need a High Priest for a proper standing before God. However, it is commendable that they do the best they can to celebrate the Atonement Day and Passover each year.

A few days after the “desolate” sentence the Jews were shouting, “Crucify Him,” over Pilate’s objection. “When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, say­ing, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it. “Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.” (Matt. 27:24,25) And God took them at their word! In the seige of Jerusalem, according to Josephus, 1,337, 490 Jews were destroyed; and the prophecy of Jesus in Matt. 24:2 had a very literal fulfillment: “Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”

It should be noted here that Titus was apparently a brilliant and God-fearing man. The Romans referred to him as “The darling of the human race.” Also, it is recorded of him that he was a close personal friend of Josephus. Titus did not want to sack Jeru­salem or destroy the magnificent temple, but the Jews would have no compromise with him, so he spoke to Josephus somewhat after this manner: You go over and plead with them; you are one of their countrymen, and they may listen to you where they will not listen to me. However, when Josephus made the effort it only aroused the ire of those inside the City one of them threw a rock that hit him on the head; and he was carried away as dead although he later revived, and tried to carry on as Titus had suggested.

However, the Jews would not be persuaded, and this left no alternative but to make a tremendous and violent assault, at which the Romans were expert at that time. Following is some of the quotation from Josephus: “The carriage of the materials was a difficult task, since all the trees, as I have already told you, that were about the city, within the distance of a hundred furlongs, had their branches cut off already, in order to make the former banks... Caesar gave orders that they should demolish the entire city and temple, but should leave as many of the towers standing as were of the greatest eminency... and so much of the wall enclosed the city on the west side. This wall was spared, in order to afford a camp for such as were to lie in garrison; as were the towers also spared in order to demonstrate to posterity what kind of city it was, and how well fortified, which the Roman valor had subdued; but for all the rest of the wall, it was so thoroughly laid even with the ground by those that dug it up to the foundation, that there was nothing to make those that came thither believe it had ever been inhabited. This was the end which Jerusalem came to by the madness of those that were for innovations; a city otherwise of great magnificence, and of mighty fame among all mankind.”

Now follows some more from the same historian – some time after the foregoing had taken place: “While Titus was at Caesarea, he solemnized the birthday of his brother Domitian after a splendid manner, and inflicted a great deal of the punishment intended for the Jews in honor of him: for the number of those that were now slain in fighting with the beasts, and were burnt, and fought with one another, exceeded two thousand five hundred.”

Thus, their statement, “His blood be on us, and on our children,” was exacted in magnified fulfillment; and gives us a much deeper understanding of the prophecy, “Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her iniquity is pardoned; for she hath received of the Lord’s hand double (‘kephel,’ as of a thing folded in the middle ­‘I will recompense their iniquity and their sin double unto them’) for all her sins.” Inasmuch as the Jews had had God’s special favor for 1845 years, they would receive an equal period of time in reverse – “for all her sins.” Reading the record with an un­biased mind, we must come into agreement with the statement of 2 Peter 1:21: “Prophecy came not in old time by the will of man; but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”

THE PASSOVER - TYPE AND ANTITYPE

It should be stressed that there was only one Passover; thus, only one type of “Christ our Passover.” The subsequent observations to this present year have simply been a “memorial” of that original one. “This day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance forever.” (Ex. 12:14) “And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service? That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the Lord’s passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses.” (Ex. 12:26,27) “Thou shalt therefore keep this ordinance in his season from year to year.” (Ex. 13:10)

And just as there was only one typical Passover, so there is only one antitypical Passover – “Christ our passover is sacrificed for us.” (1 Cor. 5:7) Jesus is the anti­type of the lamb slain in Egypt that night – “the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.” When He blessed the bread and the wine at that last supper, He said, “This do in remembrance (as a Memorial) of me.” The outstanding contrast between the Jewish Memorial and the one we keep is that the Jews still eat the lamb at their ser­vice; whereas, we use simply the bread and the wine. Nothing is said about wine that night in Egypt, but the Jews now use four cups of wine in their Memorial, the last one being taken “after supper”; and it was that cup that Jesus used to impress upon us the “remembrance” (memorial) of Him.

Be it noted that, while millions of Jews and Christians will in some formal cere­monies and in a perfunctory manner celebrate this great event of history, but few of either religion discern the real significance of the celebration. Could their minds be awakened thoroughly to its true significance, it would start a religious revival such as the world has never yet known. But, as the Apostle declares, “the god of this world” has blinded the minds of many, and even some whose eyes are partially opened he describes as being blind and cannot see afar off, or holden and unable to see the deep things of God in respect to these ceremonies, which have been celebrated in the world now for al­most thirty-six hundred years. However, it must be admitted even by the higher critics and agnostics in general that an event so prominently marked, so widely observed for so long a time, most have a foundation in fact. There must have been just such an occur­rence in Egypt 3592 years ago: the first-born of Egypt must have perished in that tenth plague, and the first-born of Israel must have been preserved free from it – all that observed the rule to remain “under the blood” – else this widespread celebration of the event would have been inexplicable.

Perhaps all of our readers know of most of the particulars connected with the institution: The Israelites held in a measure of serfdom by the Egyptians until, in Lord’s providence, the time came for their deliverance, how their masters sought sel­fishly to maintain their bondage, refusing to let them go forth to the land of Canaan. During the year the Lord sent nine different plagues – one after another – upon the Egyptians, relieving them one after another when their king craved mercy and made prom­ises which he afterwards broke. Finally Moses, the servant of the Lord, announced a great crowning disaster: The firstborn of every family in Egypt would die in that one night – in the home of the humblest peasant, as well as in the king’s palace, there should be mourning, as a result of which they would be glad finally to yield and let the Israelites go – yea, urge them to go, and in haste, lest the Lord should ultimately bring death upon the entire people, if their king continued to harden his heart and resist the Divine mandate.

The first three plagues were common to all in Egypt, including the district in which the Israelites resided; the next six plagues did not affect the district occu­pied by the Israelites; and the last, the tenth plague, was declared to be common to the entire land of Egypt, including the land of the Israelites, except as the latter should show faith and obedience by providing a sacrificial lamb, whose blood was to be sprinkled upon the sides and lintels of their doorways, and whose flesh was to be eaten in the same night, with bitter herbs and unleavened bread, the eaters standing staff in hand and girded ready for the journey – with full expectancy that the Lord would smite the first-born of the Egyptians with death, and make them readily willing to let the Israelites go, and with the faith that they would share in this calamity, were it not for the blood on their door-posts and lintels.

The Israelites were commanded to celebrate this as the first feature of the Jew­ish Law, and one of their greatest memorials as a nation. As a matter of fact, we find that in some degree the Passover is celebrated by Jews in all parts of the world ­even by those who claim to be agnostics and infidels. We might add here that the same tendency grips most of them for the Atonement-Day service also. We personally have known Jews who make no pretense of observing Jewish rituals, yet they would go to the orthodox synagogue on Atonement day – in sackcloth and ashes – with the explanation to us that, if that one day would make their father happy, they might as well do it, although we were forced to believe that the superstition was with them that “bad luck” might be their portion if they did not go along with the crowd. Inherently, they still have a measure of respect for it as an ancient custom.

But is it not strange that, with the bright minds which many of them possess, the Jews have never thought it worthwhile to inquire about the meaning of this celebration? Why was the lamb slain and eaten? Why was its blood sprinkled upon the door-posts and lintels? Because it was the commandment of the Lord, of course; but what reason, mo­tive, object or lesson was there behind it all? A reasonable God has reasonable com­mands; and in due time His faithful people should understand the significance of every requirement. Why are the Hebrews indifferent to this subject? Why does deep preju­dice hold their minds? We know, of course, that “blindness has happened in part to Is­rael” until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in – that they are now shortly to re­ceive the light and joy from a full understanding of this drama of the Ages. None like it has ever been imagined by the fiction writers; it is beyond the skill of any of them – which is another reason why we must conclude that it is a Divine operation and performance.

Although Christianity itself has the answer to the foregoing questions, yet few Christians have a clear understanding of them. This even applies to many of the Prot­estant ministers, who know about Paul’s mention of “Christ our Passover,” but do not seem capable of fitting type and antitype together. If the Jew can realize that his Sabbath of rest from the various vexations of life is a shadow of better things to come (Heb. 10:1), why does he not also conclude that the other features of the Law given through Moses are typical? Jesus Himself emphasized this point in very clear and understandable words: “Till heaven and earth shall pass away, one iota or one tip of a letter shall by no means pass from the law, till all be accomplished.” (Matt. 5:18, Dia.)

But “blindness in part” has befallen to Jew and Gentile alike (Rom. 11:25), as they fail fully to comprehend that the Passover lamb typified – represented – the “Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.” It needs no argument that the blood on the door-posts and lintel that fateful night in Egypt did protect the Jews that night from the fatal ravages of sin, and in the following day when they left Egypt (type of the world in sin) with a ‘high hand.” And just as the Jews were protected that night by their lamb, so have Christians throughout this Age been shielded from the fatal effects of sin by our Lamb “which taketh away the sin of the world.”

It requires no great imagination or profound learning to fit together the fore­going with St. Paul’s words in Heb. 12:23, where he speaks of Christians as the “Church of the firstborn”; and the words of the Apostle James (1:18): “We should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.” Self-evidently, this would imply after-borns and after­fruits. While the sprinkled blood obligated only the firstborn, yet all the other Jews were likewise delivered from Egypt in that performance; and that nation typified the entire human race that will eventually come into harmony with God during the Kingdom. “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” This is vividly shown in the miraculous protection received by every Jew in the passage over the Red Sea ­not one Jew was lost that day, although the entire Egyptian army was destroyed.

As stated above, St. Paul clearly and positively identifies the Passover lamb with our Lord Jesus: “Christ our Passover is slain for us; therefore, let us keep the feast.” (1 Cor. 5:7,8) And as the Jews were to keep their Passover once a year, so it is with the antitype – it is also to be celebrated once a year. It goes without saying that all who come into the Lord’s “house” need the blood of sprinkling, not upon our resi­dences, but upon the tables of our hearts. “The blood of Jesus Christ his son cleans­eth us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7) And, as the Jews ate literal unleavened bread with their lamb that night, so we also partake of our Lamb with the unleavened bread of “sin­cerity and truth.” (1 Cor. 5:8) Thus, we “put on Christ” as we grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus. As the Jews ate the lamb that night with “bitter herbs” (which whetted their appetites for more lamb), so the Christian partakes of his Lamb with symbolic bitter herbs – the punishing trials of life through the sins of our­selves and those of others.

Our Lord Jesus also personally identified Himself with the Jewish Passover lamb at the last Supper before He died. He gathered His disciples together in the upper room, saying “With desire have I desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.” (Luke 22:15) As Jews, it was necessary that they should celebrate the Passover supper on that night – the saving of the typical first-born from the typical prince of this world. However, as soon as they had finished eating the lamb with all the pertinences, Jesus instituted a new Memorial upon the old foundation, saying, “As often as you do this do it in remembrance of Me.” (1 Cor. 11:24,25) And, while their Jewish neighbors, who did not accept “our Lamb,” would go on keeping the typical arrangement each year, as the faithful covenant-keeping Jews still do today. But that was the last typical Passover for the disciples; henceforth they would partake of the bread and wine “in newness of life” each year – with the eating of the actual lamb, etc., only a memory of the past with them.

Jesus was emphatic that the disciples should no longer keep the typical celebra­tion, as He took the bread and the wine and told them to use these “in remembrance of Me.” His blood would be shed the next morning; and the cup – the wine – would be a fitting reminder of what they had done that night. Of course, the apostles knew very well what their future Passovers would be: the bread and the wine once each year on the typical Passover date.

This practice was followed once every year as long as the Apostles remained alive, after which a great falling away occurred – as foretold by St. Paul in 2 Thes. 2:3: “That day shall not come, except there come a falling away first.” This “falling away” occurred during the Dark Ages – a time of such confusion that there is no reliable his­tory for much of it. However, the truth that Christ was the antitypical Passover Lamb persisted even then, though the celebration itself as given by Jesus that last night fell into disuse, the Mass taking its place. Although Protestants in general have repudiated the Mass, as being wholly contrary to what Jesus commanded, yet they are still somewhat influenced by it, as their practice shows.

Many Protestants will innocently ask (not grasping the connection between the Jew­ish Passover and “Christ our Passover”), Is not the Mass merely the Eucharist, the Lord’s Supper, under another name? We would answer that it is wholly different: The Lord’s Supper celebrates the death of Christ accomplished at Calvary, but the Mass rep­resents a new sacrifice for sins made every time it is performed. Our Roman Catholic friends believe that when the priest blesses the wafer it becomes the actual body of Christ in his hands, thus sacrificing Him afresh. High Mass is a particular sacrifice of Christ for a particular sin of a particular individual; whereas Low Mass is a sac­rifice of Christ for the general sins of a congregation.

Roman Catholics claim to believe in the merit of Christ’s sacrifice at Calvary, that it covered original sin and general sins that are past up to baptism; but they claim also that the subsequent daily sins, shortcomings, blemishes of every individual, require to he cleansed by fresh sacrifices of Christ from time to time. Thus, from their standpoint, as represented in the Mass, and as practiced by Roman Catholics and Greek Catholics and high Church Episcopalians, Christ is being sacrificed afresh all the world over every day. However, this is in direct contradiction to St. Paul’s words, “Christ dieth no more” (Rom. 6:9); He accomplished full sacrifice for sin in His death on the cross.

Once this matter is clearly understood, it requires no great imagination to rec­ognize that the repeated sacrifices represented in the Mass would have the general ef­fect of minimizing the value of the great sacrifice at Calvary as represented in the Passover and its Memorial Supper. Certainly those who come to regard the Mass as the cancellation of their sins could hardly be expected to look with deep concern and high appreciation as otherwise to the antitypical Passover – He that perished on the cross. Of course, the celebration of Good Friday continues to this day throughout Christendom, but the true celebration of the Lord’s Supper preceding it fell into disuse long ago, with its meaning almost completely lost.

Protestants generally have repudiated the Mass centuries ago, but they have sub­stituted the Lord’s Supper in its place. But, accustomed to the frequency of the Mass, they consider it but a matter of expediency how often the Lord’s Supper should be kept; hence, we find some celebrating it every four months, some every three months, some every month, and some every Sunday – usually in the morning; whereas the proper time is after six p.m. in the evening. Did they realize that Jesus is “Christ our Passover” – “the Lamb of God” – they would then give heed to Ex. 12:6: “The whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.” And it was in the evening of Nisan 14 – after Jesus and the Apostles had kept the Passover – that the Memorial (“re­membrance of Me”) was established by Jesus blessing the bread and the wine – “My body, My blood.”

Also, Christians generally have misconstrued the Lord’s words, “As oft as ye do this,” to mean, Do this as often as you please; whereas the words really signify, You, My disciples (all Jews are accustomed to keeping the Passover once each year), keep this antitypical Memorial – once each year on the same day and hour as you have done for the typical Memorial of the Passover in Egypt.

“By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.” (Heb. 13:15)

Sincerely your brother

John J. Hoefle, pilgrim

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QUESTION OF GENERAL INTEREST

QUESTION: – Was Joseph, the stepfather of Jesus, an Ancient Worthy?

ANSWER: - So far as we know, this question never came up under Brothers Russell or Johnson; otherwise we would quote their opinion rather than our answer. We have the same attitude toward both Messengers that Brother Johnson had toward Bro. Russell: If the Scriptures didn’t give him an unmistakable answer to such questions, he always took Brother Russell’s opinion rather than his own.

While the Bible does not definitely say Joseph was an Ancient Worthy, it would seem from the general setting, and the things said about Joseph, that he was one of them. Some might think that he would have been mentioned in the 11th Chapter of He­brews if he were an Ancient Worthy, but there were other prominent Ancient Worthies not mentioned in that Chapter – John the Baptist, Isaiah, Hosea and “the prophets” (Heb. 11:32). So the fact that he was not mentioned in that Chapter would be no cri­terion. The Lord appeared unto Joseph in a dream with instructions concerning Mary; and Joseph followed very carefully what he was told to do. (Matt. 1:20,21) Undoubt­edly he was faithful in carrying out all the Lord told him to do.

So far as we know, there is nothing in the records to tell us whether Joseph was alive or dead when Jesus died, but the commentators infer that he was dead; otherwise Jesus would not have given the Apostle John the custody of His mother. Since Joseph was faithful in all the Lord told him to do, caring for Mary until Jesus was born, then caring for Jesus until He became the anointed One – Jesus Christ, Jesus would not have ignored His stepfather to give John the custody of His mother. The Jewish family arrangement was a very strong one; thus, Jesus would hardly have told Mary to leave her husband, and make her home with John.

Matthew 1:19 says Joseph was “a just man”; and this identical expression was given concerning Cornelius (Acts 10:22). Galations 3:11 and Rom. 1:17 tell us that the “just shall live by faith”; and it would seem that Joseph lived by faith. Accord­ing to Acts 24:15, which uses the same Greek word ‘dikaios’ translated “just,” then he would receive “a better resurrection” – the resurrection of “the just.” He had the supreme privilege of caring for the boy Jesus; and this in itself was a great honor. Joseph believed God, and Gal. 3:6 says “Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”

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LETTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST

Dear Brother Hoefle:

Please send me the papers you have concerning Jehovah’s Witnesses. Thank  you!

Sincerely, ------- (ALABAMA)

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Dear Sir:

I was real interested in reading one of your leaflets. I would appreciate one copy of each. Thank you for this service.

Sincerely, ------- (FLORIDA)

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Dear Mr. Hoefle: Greetings to you!

Many thanks for the literature and your informative letter. both are highly appreciated. I am curious about your split with the LHMM in 1955. What were some of the errors that brought about your departure? Have you written anything on these mat­ters? Oh, please send me a copy of the funeral service of Professor Johnson...........

I am a Reform Jew, and yes, I observe full New Year’s services from Rosh Hashannah to Yom Kippur. God be with you!

Sincerely ------- (CALIFORNIA)

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Dear Friends:

My sister gave you my name and you have been very kind in sending me some of your bulletins. The earliest one I received was #192. In some of the bulletins I notice references to Pastor Johnson as founder of the LHMM, and to Bro. Jolly and his Campers. These references lead me to believe that there has been a schism along the line since my parents studied with Pastor Johnson. Do any of your earlier bulletins explain the differences of opinion between your group and those of others? I have recently become more deeply interested in trying to understand God’s plan, and I be­lieve an understanding and knowledge of both sides of such differences can be helpful.

I will appreciate any information you can send me. I hope my small contribution will be of some help.

 Yours sincerely, ------- (PENNSYLVANIA)

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Dear Brother Hoefle:

I have been associated with Jehovah’s Witnesses for a number of years – or from 1962 to 1975. Frankly, it got to the point where I would become very upset at things that were said at the meetings and things written in the Watchtower – especially when the virtues of Jehovah’s Witnesses were proclaimed. Their actions were far from the lofty ideals presented. In my humble opinion the hypocrisy of the Jehovah’s Witnesses constant religious politicking is clearly far removed from the high ideals among the Witnesses, and thousands are leaving (I was told 400,000 in the last 5 years).

Especially do the more intelligent and reasoning Witnesses have a difficult time, and they are leaving as the dogmatism and intolerance becomes more unbearable – espec­ially the more enlightened ones. I feel I have wasted a great deal of time in the Witnesses and regret that I left college. But I understand it is a very common expe­rience for a Witness, once he becomes involved with the Witnesses, to leave his col­lege studies and later on regret it – even if he does not leave the Witness movement. A good friend of mine, a non-Witness, said that in a few years I probably would leave the Witnesses, and she was right. But she did say I should try to learn from it, and I feel I have – although it is hard not to be bitter. As I still have a strong spir­itual need, and I have enjoyed, and found helpful, your publications. Please send me the current issues of your magazine. Thank you very much.

Most sincerely, ------- (OHIO)

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Dear Brother Hoefle: Greetings in the Name of the Father and His Son Jesus!

In the article of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, I heartily agree 100%! I have two of them (husband & wife) that come to my place to visit, and I return their visits to their home. I call them the “Jay Walkers,” because of their artificial behavior of Christianity; and, as of now, I have practically stopped my visits to their home. I’ve tried time and time again, to show them the errors of their beliefs, but I can’t make them see the light. They are so bullheaded that it is a waste of time to discuss the Bible with them. I gave them the history of Brother Russell, Rutherford and Knorr, but it just will not sink in. The trouble is, when anyone becomes a “speaker,” That’s it! It seems that I cannot do the work of God that will break that “iron” that’s keeping their minds from seeing the Truth. That “evil” was the dominating factor that caused the Israelites to lose their “Identity” as a nation..........

Enclosed is $-- to help keep your work alive and going, and may God help you also in every way. Amen! Yours in the service of the Lord, Brother ------- (ILLINOIS)

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Dear Gentlemen:

I am very interested in studying religions, within the context of the Christian belief. I have a friend that gave me your address and so I decided to write you and find out about your organi­zation. Would you please send me a list of your publica­tions, as well as the addresses of any local Churches.

I have a few questions that I hope you will be able to answer. What do you be­lieve about Pyramids in connection with Biblical prophecy? What is your estimation of the writings of Pastor Russell? Any help on the above material will be most appreciated. Sincerely ------- (California)