NO. 200: TRUTH FOREVER ON THE SCAFFOLD

No. 200

During this Gospel Age the Truth has risen and been trampled under foot in each successive epoch of the Church. In the Jewish Harvest there was a specially bright shining, as “the light of life” brought “life and immortality to light through the Gospel” which bright shining was continued by the inspired Apostles, although “the mystery of in­iquity” was already manifesting itself in their day. We find much the same situation was manifest during the life of the Parousia Messenger and the power-graspers associ­ated with him. Once the restraining hand was gone, then a bedlam of turmoil and error arose in both instances, so that some features of the Truth were completely obliterated after the Apostles fell asleep, one instance being the doctrine of Restitution. Much the same has occurred since Brother Russell's death with respect to the High Calling, so that the organization he left behind is in utter confusion on this doctrine and teach­ings related to it. Even the doctrine of Restitution has been perverted out of all sem­blance to the way That Servant taught it.

FIRST LEVITICAL GROUP

As many of us know, J. F. Rutherford flitted from one change to another under the deft defense of the Truth by the Epiphany Messenger – a defense which forced JFR to abandon one truth after another to support each new error he promulgated; so that the Jehovah's Witnesses are now so far from the sound and sober teachings of That Servant that he would be unable to recognize them were he to return now (except, i.e., of course, as he has observed their course from beyond the veil). But, having once de­termined that the High Calling is closed (even though they do not have the right date for it), the Jehovah's Witnesses are forced to provide a place for their new converts. And where are they putting them? Why, in the “great crowd” of Rev. 19:1,6. As all Epiphany­-enlightened brethren know, both Messengers correctly taught there is but “one calling” (Eph. 4:4), the       same being the “high call–ing,” and the “great crowd” are the aftermath – the fall-outs of that calling. They are those who failed to make the grade, lost their standing became crown-losers – but were graciously given a secondary position in the great Plan of Salvation.

Nowhere do the Scriptures designate a “call” to the membership in the “great crowd.” Insofar as the High Calling is concerned, they are failures; and God never calls any one to be a failure. These people are designated the Measurably Faithful, because it was lack of faithfulness that caused them to lose their position among the Fully Faith­ful – the crown retainers. These Measurably Faithful are those who allowed their robes to become “spotted” – some more, some less, but all sufficiently enough to lose their standing among the Very Elect. In some the spots are so vague as to be almost invis­ible, even to those who were closely associated with them (they lost the High Calling “by the skin of their teeth”); in others the spots are so numerous and black that the white is almost obliterated. Some will miss the Second Death by “the skin of their teeth,” and some will lose their standing in the Great Company completely. But all of them through “fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage” (Heb. 2:15); and this will be true of all crown-losers until their cleansing, at which time they will receive their deliverance from such bondage. “These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” (Rev. 7:14) The words of St. Paul apply to the entire “large crowd”: if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.” (Heb. 10:38)

Once any one falls from the High Calling, no amount of wailing and gnashing of teeth will then avail to gain reinstatement therein. When once ejected from the Holy they are not permitted to re-enter – nor offer incense on the Golden Altar. Once it is lost, the High Calling never opens a second time to such Measurably Faithful people. Like Esau, they find “no place for repentance” (so far as the High Calling is concerned), though they may “seek it carefully with tears”; they have forever parted with title to their “birthright,” as did Esau – even though he secured for it only a mess of pottage. It should be remembered that in those days of Isaac it was required of the eldest son that he fast on the birthday of a respected and prominent ancestor, while the youngest son feasted on that same day. Thus, Esau, with a sharp appetite prodding him, offered to trade (barter) places with Jacob – that he might feast while Jacob fasted in his place. His profligacy was considered an act of sacrilege in those days, and would arouse the contempt of all well-disciplined and honorable men. This explains why “Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated” (loved less). Such flagrant disregard for their coven­ant of sacrifice has ever drawn the sharp criticism, disapproval, and chastening rod of Jehovah against those thus guilty (although He does not “hate” them – they are those “saved with fear,” making a difference) – and this observation will eventually be found to be true concerning the measurably faithful Youthful Worthies as it has been true concerning the Great Company; the extreme end of this Age will make this acutely manifest. How­ever, the Youthful Worthies – those consecrating between the Ages, after the High Call­ing is closed and before the Highway of Holiness is opened, as taught by That Servant and the Epiphany Messenger (E-4:342) – are not spirit-begotten, and are not in danger of losing life itself; but they are in danger of losing their class standing before God.

It is very pertinent to consider here that the present “large crowd” that the Je­hovah's Witnesses are fostering is to be of the earth, earthy – a class without hope of a spiritual reward. It is the first time in history that such a class as this has ever been presented. However, That Servant correctly taught that the “large crowd” is a New Creation, a part of the “church of the firstborn” (Heb. 12:23), whose ultimate stand­ing will be as spirit beings “before the throne” (not “in the throne” where the Elect Bride will be).

In Parousia Vol. 6, p. 93, par. 1, there is this: “Neither is there a second call during this Gospel Age, though there is a second class of saved ones selected during this Age – the Great Company (Rev. 7:9-13)” – the same as the “large crowd” of Rev. 19:1,6. In furtherance of this position is the footnote on p. 707 of Vol. 6:

“The Great Company, although they cannot be counted in as participants of the First Resurrection, and sharers of its glory, honor and immortality, nor counted in with the Ancient Worthies, must, nevertheless, be counted as overcomers even though the overcom­ing be through great tribulation. And as overcomers, they must be esteemed to pass from death unto life, and, therefore, to be subjects of an instantaneous resur–rection, and not a gradual one, as in the case of the world, whose trial is future.”

The Jehovah's Witnesses accepted fully the above teachings for a number of years after Brother Russell's death, claiming that many who left them after 1916 were the Great Company – a class fallen from the Truth, a class fallen from the High Calling (the “one calling” of the Gospel Age), who “went out from us because they were not all of us.” (1 Jno. 2:19). Presently there is very little said about the Great Company in the various Truth groups, although That Servant gave us extensive elucidation about that Class. Even the Jehovah's Witnesses are talking about an entirely different Class, when they offer a “call” to their “large crowd”; but they are conspicuously silent an the real “large crowd” which Brother Russell expounded so clearly from the Scriptures. The real “large crowd” are to be scourged by Armageddon for their cleansing; whereas, the “large crowd” of the Jehovah's Witnesses are to receive a shadowing protection dur­ing that time. This is a revolutionism against the Truth taught by That Servant – and they have no Scripture to support their claim.

THE 60th LEVITICAL GROUP

While the LHMM takes some cognizance of the Great Company, this is due in part, at least, to the fact that their leader is the only leader of the Truth groups in this Epi­phany period emanating from the Harvest Truth who self-admittedly is one of the Great Company Class – a crown-lost leader. It is commendable that he recognizes his position in this respect, but is regrettable that he now claims that his position, as well as that of all other crown-losers, is superior to all others. This he teaches because of his efforts to teach that all the Very Elect are gone; that this is true because of the Epiphany Messenger's death in 1950 (although he taught that some of the Little Flock would be here on earth after that date). He has perverted much of the Truth on this Great Company Class, as presented by the Star Members, since 1950 – now claiming that all should be subject to their leadership. And some of his public oral teachings concerning the humanity of the Great Company is sadly ridiculous. Also, he claims that he himself was cleansed without being abandoned to Azazel, a revolutionism against the Epiphany Truth as given in E-15:525, E-4:209,210 and other places. The Epiphany Messenger taught that all crown-losers, including those who lost Littleflockship by the “skin of their teeth,” must be fully abandoned to Azazel before their cleansing could be effected.

Also, RGJ often stresses the ‘superior class' of the Great Company – and this he does as he tells us from the other side of his mouth that the majority of them are not yet cleansed! And once more he elaborates in the Nov-Dec. 1971 Present Truth his 'proof' that there are no members of the Little Flock on earth; but his main proof is simply a parallel that did not 'parallel.' He well knows that Brother Johnson expected to leave us in 1956 – just forty years after the death of Brother Russell. But, when he died in 1950, RGJ proceeded to put himself in Brother Russell's parallels – especially in his efforts in 1954 with his Bible films – to parallel the Photo Drama in 1914. All are witness to his failure in that effort. Brother Russell's Photo Drama was from 1914 to 1916, and was an outstanding success with the general public; RGJ's films are from 1954 to an indefinite future period – with very few taking notice of it other than his own group. It is not even recognized by other Truth groups. Did we not attend his Conventions, we wouldn't even be cognizant of its existence. Thus, his efforts are not a “parallel” in time or in accomplishment. Brother Russell died in 1916; RGJ is still here – sixteen years after 1956 – and still insisting upon the parallel! As the Epiphany Messenger so well states, When these crown-losers fall into the hands of Azazel they talk all sorts of nonsense.

Throughout the Age the Fully Faithful have gladly been “beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God” (Rev. 20:4), have “chosen rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt” (Heb. 11:25,26); whereas, the Measurably Faithful have chosen rather the green plains of Sodom, “Well watered every­where, as the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt.” (Gen. 13:10) Many of them have labored under the “strong delusion” that they could be the “rich man” in this world and “Lazarus” in the next world. (See Luke 16:19:31)

YOUTHFUL WORTHIES SIMILARLY CLASSIFIED

It is in order here also, we believe, to entertain such a concept for the Youthful Worthies. They are much the same people as those who embraced the High Calling during its term, and some of them are actually the children of such people – some of whose par­ents have “finished their course with Joy” among the Very Elect, with others being found among the Measurably Faithful. Therefore, it is hardly a stretch of the imagination to assume that at least some of the children would be like their progenitors; it would seem a reasonable certainty to find fully faithful and measurably faithful ones among the Youthful Worthies. The Epiphany is a special time for “making manifest the coun­sels of hearts”; and it would be folly extreme to believe this will not also occur with those in the LHMM after the Epiphany Messenger's death. During his lifetime his re­straining hand withheld many from a contrary course, just as was true with Brother Rus­sell, and just as occurred when the restraint of the Apostles was removed from the early Church. Therefore, it is a reasonable conclusion that many of the measurably faithful among them will be found among the quasi-elect in later calculations, while those who be­come badly reprobate will receive nothing more than the “resurrection to shame and age-lasting contempt.” (Dan. 12:2) “If any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.” Just as the Measurably Faithful lost completely their standing in the Very Elect, so also can we expect the Measurably Faithful among the Youthful Worthies to lose their standing in their Class.

It is well that we keep always in mind the events of 1914. The date was right, but the expectations were very much wrong as respects the disposition of God's people. Although Brother Russell himself was telling the Household two years before that they had been expecting much too much for 1914, many of them stopped their ears to his warnings. And, when 1914 came and their hopes were dashed, many became offended – their weaknesses be­came acutely apparent. “Judgment must begin at the house of God... And if the righteous (the Saints) scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly (second-deathers) and the sinner (the Great Company) appear?” (1 Pet. 4:17,18) “The Covenant by sacrifice” is unto death, and not to any special date; only the Lord Himself is to say “It is enough”; and those who serve the Lord “with all the heart, mind, soul and strength” are fully content to accept this arrangement.

And, with 1954 came a similar situation. The date was right insofar as the Great Company developing truths were concerned, but it was also very much wrong as regards other expectations – with things similar to 1914 occurring since that time. As the Measurably Faithful were given over to “strong delusions” various, sundry and accentu­ated after 1914, so we are now witness to the same again since 1950. The Epiphany Mes­senger emphatically taught that the quasi-elect would be the unconsecrated – that the unconsecrated would be the residents in the Epiphany Camp in the finished picture ­that Tentative Justification would cease when the Gospel Age ceases. This latter Bro. Russell also taught. Yet the Measurably Faithful are setting aside these clear and reasonable teachings to make way for their Consecrated Epiphany Campers, or quasi-elect Consecrated – just as others have done with their antitypical Ammonites and Moabites – ­the Jonadabs, and now a “large crowd,” which is not the culls from the High Calling, but a class all their own who are to live right through Armageddon and on into the Kingdom. Because the Measurably Faithful “received not the love of the Truth... God shall send them strong delusion.” (2 Thes. 2:10,11).

And, as might be expected, they are saying almost nothing about the “great tribu­lation” that lies ahead for this “large crowd.” (Rev. 7:14) But we may happily and wholeheartedly join with St. Paul in 2 Thes. 2:13-17 (Dia.) in his warm encouragement to the Fully Faithful, “We are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren be­loved of the Lord, because God chose you a firstfruit for salvation, in sanctification of Spirit and belief of Truth... so then, Brethren, stand firm, and retain the instruc­tions you were taught (by the Star Member teachers appointed by the Lord)... and Jesus Christ Himself will establish you in every good work and word.” “Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest.” (Josh. 3:15) Not only have gross evils and injustice accentuated the curse since 1874, but we now also witness an overflowing scourge of abortive classes the likes of which was never before seen in human history. “As it was in the days of Noah” – the whole earth was then infested with physical hy­brids; now it is infested with spiritual hybrids.

A STRIKING CONTRAST BETWEEN THE FAITHFUL AND MEASURABLY FAITHFUL

At the Chicago Convention last October RGJ was asked for his proof for the things he is contending for 1954; and he went into profuse detail about the 'parallel' be­tween 1914 and 1954. We would stress, first of all, that parallels are teachings that are identical – “like in essential parts,” according to Webster. Thus, we now present a true parallel that is an exact duplication of 1954 – even to the words and events con­sidered therein. We refer to the Epiphany Messenger's expectation of Armageddon in June 1932. When that date came and went without any hint of Armageddon, he graciously admitted his mistake, and we now quote some of what he then said about it:

“Please note the similarities between our mistake in this matter and that of our Pastor on the deliverance of the Church by October 1914: In both cases the involved thoughts contained partial truths. In both cases the time forecasts were made as prob­able, not as certain (just as the events forecast for 1954 were “inferred,” and not cer­tain—JJH). In both cases mistakes were made as to the undue things... But please note how differently real false prophets have acted as to a mistakenly forecast date. When Mr. Barbour's dogmatic forecast on the Church's leaving the world Nisan 16, 1878, failed, instead of humbly acknowledging and correcting it; lest he might lose his influence as a teacher he sought to divert the Church's attention from the mistake by involving it into the no-ransomism controversy.

“When J. F. Rutherford's dogmatic forecasts as to 1925 failed, he sought even as late as 1926 to make his pertinent teaching seem true by intimating that the Ancient Worthies had returned and were in hiding in some Palestinian cave as a test to the So­cietyites! The Lord did not leave us holding the bag until after the forecast date was passed, as He did with Mr. Barbour, J. F. Rutherford, Zion's Messenger, Elijah's Voice, etc..... We approached June 11, 1932, not dogmatically, but tentatively, in faith.”

In like fashion, we may be certain that the Epiphany Messenger would have treated 1954 in identical 'parallel' manner when it came and went, and no evidence of Armaged­don appeared; and 1956, with no evidence of Anarchy. But RGJ is following the identi­cal footsteps of the Barbour-Rutherford renegades, as he clings to the 1954 date; and insists on using that parallel that didn't parallel for the fulfillment of Rev. 22:10,11. Thus, he associates himself with superior company; and, were we not witness to it, we would have much difficulty in believing that his trusting supporters could be so gullible and wanting in understanding as to accept such foolish contentions. When they do so they are not honoring the Epiphany Messenger, nor are they really helping RGJ as they support him in “his path of error.” (James 5:20, Dia.)

TWO GREAT LEADERS

In Reprints 5427, col. 2, Brother Russell has something on the subject: “Undoubt­edly, the principal remains always true that there are but two great captains in the warfare between sin and righteousness; namely Christ and Satan. It remains true also that whoever is fighting for the one is fighting against the other. It is for us to make sure, first of all, that we are on the Lord's side. There is still a further step to make sure that we are fighting as our Captain would have us fight... 'This is the will of God (concerning you), even your sanctification.' Thus our personal salvation comes first, in God's order. What is the next step? The answer comes, 'Feed my sheep; feed my lambs.' At first we might be disposed to demur, to say, Lord, should we not rather go after the straying, after the lost sheep? The answer is given by the Lord, Do good unto all men as we have opportunity, especially unto the Household of Faith. If, there­fore, the Household of Faith demands all of our time when we have the opportunity, we may do nothing for the lost sheep, but only helping to perfect those whom the Lord has already found..”

This advice has always been difficult for the crown-lost leaders all down the Age ­because it has always been these leaders who have wanted great numbers, popularity, etc. That is a characteristic of the Saul Class. He, too, wanted to please the people (1 Sam. 15:24). During That Servant's day even the weakest were able to give to every man a reason for the hope they cherished. “One shall chase a thousand, and two shall put ten thousand to flight.” Today, it is much the reverse with RGJ and his lieuten­ants. They now counsel their adherents to flee from the 'wolves' – even as King Saul fled from the Philistines (1 Sam. 31:1) – no longer are they able to “refute the gain­sayers.” Thus, instead of having an army of 'good soldiers,' willing to face every foe for the cause, he is developing an army of runners – an exact duplication of the army of Jehovah's Witnesses, who also spread the word quickly to “avoid” contact with us – who still retain the Truth as given us in this Laodicean period. We are not to forget that RGJ also was of those who did not run when under the restraining hand of the Epiphany Messenger – when he had the Truth on his side. But, true to his type now, King Saul typed the crown-lost leaders of this Gospel Age up to Armageddon, he has changed his tactics; and, just as Saul led Israel into defeat at the hands of the Philis­tines, so antitypical Saul has also repeatedly led trusting followers into defeat by those who hold the Word 'in sincerity and in truth.'

It is a tragic truth that all during this Age the people have hearkened more to antitypical Saul than they have to antitypical Samuel. The condemnation of Israel re­ceives little or no recognition at this time: “They have not rejected thee, but they have rejected Me.” Thus, many members of antitypical Samuel have received shameful treatment at their hands. We need mention only a few, such as Arius, Servetus, Zwingli, Cranmer, et al.

A SUMMATION

We have heard some say that they could never have made the High Calling anyway when they were told that they were crown-losers after Brother Johnson's death, whether they had revolutionized against the Truth and its Arrangements or not – they thought they were not good enough. This is foolish and unscriptural. God never calls any of us to be a failure, so He also never calls any to do anything they are not physically or mentally able to do. “Your Father knoweth what things ye have need of” (Matt. 6:8); this text carries the thought that God “sympathetically appreciates” our needs. Thus, He is able to put Himself fully and exactly in our position, and to evaluate perfectly the physical and mental capacity of any task we face. “Take my yoke upon you,” He told His Disciples. Here He was contrasting His yoke with the Law yoke under which they were laboring, and which they had found impossible to bear; they were indeed unequal yokefellows in that Law yoke. The Law had forbidden them to place an ox and an ass to­gether in the same yoke, because the dissimiliarity of those animals placed an unequal and exhausting burden upon one of them (Deu. 22:10 – see Berean Comment). But, when Jesus supplanted the Law with His yoke, He appreciated in perfection the strength of each one to bear his part of that yoke. Thus, if one could bear but ten percent of that yoke, His Lord would bear the other ninety percent, and so on. Therefore, He never asks any to bear more than his ability to do.

Nor should any of us be too hasty in our judgment of ourselves or others as to our weak and fallen human vessels. The Epiphany Messenger has summarized this matter in E-4:132-133 (13): “We earnestly caution against making character blemishes the ground of declaring brethren to be levites (Great Company members, although the same caution would apply to Youthful Worthies—JJH). It is revolutionism or its partisan support and its arrangements, that manifests crown-losers as such. The great touchstone of manifesting Leviteship is revolutionism or its partisan support, and nothing else.   The reason that misconduct cannot be the touchstone for us is that we do not know how to decide what vary­ing degrees of misconduct in various brethren forfeit their crowns. Therefore, such judg­ing is forbidden.”

In view of this clear and correct elucidation by the Epiphany Messenger, we urge that none – New Creatures, or Youthfuls – become discouraged if overtaken in faults, even repeated faults, faults that may vex or shock others in high degree, so long as they have not persistently cast away that Truth (or its arrangements) which they have understood and which has made them “clean.” “Now are ye clean through the words (the Truth) which I have spoken unto you,” said Jesus in John 15:3, and only the casting away of that cleansing Truth can be trustworthy evidence that any have fallen from their Class. As both Messengers have truly taught, when any are not worthy of the Truth the Lord will not permit them to retain it. We are not the heart-searchers, but God is – and when He makes manifest His judgment by permitting some to depart from the Truth, then we know that there was something wrong with their hearts that we could not know about be­forehand. Nor should this encourage us to the other extreme – that we need not fight all evil in ourselves to the extent of our ability. We are never to float listlessly downstream, because if we do so we will certainly lose the Truth and our Class stand­ing – although it is only the Lord who is to say when “sin is finished to bring forth death.” (James 1:15) Therefore, let us continue to “fight the good fight of faith” unto ultimate victory.

The last two Messengers were profuse in their writings of the Faithful and the Measurably Faithful. What we have given herein are quotations, or based upon what they have written. “Love is not easily provoked,” says St. Paul in 1 Cor. 13:5, but the translation is misleading. It would be better stated, “Love (agape) is not easily enraged, or infuriated,” because he specifically counsels in Heb. 10:24 that we should “consider one another to provoke unto love and good works: not forsaking the assemb­ling of yourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more as ye see the day approaching.” Thus our purpose herein is to provoke to “love and good works,” for which “the assembling of yourselves together” is essential the moreso since we “are in the evil day.”

In Ex. 3:10, when God said unto Moses, “Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt” – the beloved man of God shrank back from such a seemingly impossible task... “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh,” said he; and he protested further, “They won't believe me.” In final protest Moses said, “I am not eloquent... but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.” But, after exhausting all protest, Moses accomplished what God had told him to do. Indeed, it is a common trait among the meek of the earth to under­estimate themselves, and often to overrate their adversaries out of all proportion to their intrinsic strength. Even the impulsive Peter was taken aback when Jesus told him “by what death he should glorify God.” (John 21:19) Perhaps all this is as it should be – that the Fully Faithful should ever realize that their strength rests not in the “arm of flesh” – “not by power, nor by might, but by my spirit, saith the Lord.” And in the very realization of their limitations they “can do all things through Christ Who strength­eneth them.” And may this “strength” be ever present with all who endeavor to serve Him “in good and honest hearts.”

“Good and upright is the Lord; therefore will He teach sinners in the way. The meek will He guide in judgment; and the meek will He teach His way. All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.” (Psa. 25:8-10)

Sincerely your brother,

John J Hoefle, Pilgrim

-------------------------------------------------------------

LETTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST

Dear Members of Christ:

Praise the Lord for the privilege of living and loving the Savior and the members of the Household of Faith! I think of you dear ones so often.... I talked to Sister C ------- Monday. She was cheerful as usual – and we talked of our faith and the Word of the Lord. I would be a very lonesome person if it were not for Sister C ------- and our visits over the phone.

I enjoy the papers each month. Sometimes I have to ask Sister C ------- to fill me in on some of the writings. I am praying and trusting in the Lord – and I desire your prayers. My warm Christian love to you and all with you.

Your sister by His Grace, ------- (NORTH CAROLINA)

………………………………………………….

Dear Brother Hoefle: Grace and peace!

I am sending our Christmas cards out early this year – as we plan to fly to Ari­zona to spend the Holidays.... We are rather fearful to go away, as there has been so much burglary, etc., going on, although not much in our part of the city. The Time of Trouble is getting more severe!...... We visited Brother and Sister ------- recently .... Their address for the next few months will be........ They will probably be back in May.

I sure appreciated the December paper! You sure did defend the Truth – and I hope you will be able to do so for a long time to come. I am enclosing a check for $--- ­as a little offering to the work, and to show my appreciation of your efforts, which I have done for the past 16 years. Hoping you all will have a Happy Holiday season, and to hear from you soon.

With much Christian love, Brother ------- (MICHIGAN)

...........................................................................

Dear Brother Hoefle:

It is about time that I sent you a few lines. We must not forget to adapt the men­tal and spiritual part of our life – especially now at Christmas time.

Trust you and yours are in excellent health, and I wish all of you a wonderful Christmas and a real happy 1972. I am awaiting a new paper from you soon. There is always wonderful writing and spiritual understanding in your magazine. I trust that 1972 will bring us all a better understanding of life – its meaning and unfolding. It is always a real joy to read your excellent spiritual magazine. Therefore, the best to you and yours for the coming Holiday Season. God-recommended and happy 1972!

Sincerely yours ------- Col. (CALIFORNIA)

...........................................................................

Dear Friends:

I have read with interest your June copy of “The Herald of Epiphany” – and would like to receive the other publications listed at the bottom of the copy. It is my understanding there is no cost or obligation connected with this request.

Also, would you give me some information concerning your organization.

Respectfully yours ------- (TEXAS)

...........................................................................

Dear Sir:

Please send me the following booklets – The Resurrection of the Dead, What is the Soul, Where are the Dead, Two Distinct Salvations, The Three Babylons, God's Great Sab­bath Day and The Great Reformer. Thank you very much!

Sincerely ------- (NORTH CAROLINA)

...........................................................................

SPECIAL EFFORT

Our Memorial date for this year is March 27 – and we suggest for our Special Effort in Antitypical Gideon's Second Battle Sunday, March 19 through Sunday, April 9, for our volunteer and sharpshooting in this Battle against Eternal Torment and the Consciousness of the Dead. The Battle is not over yet. Our tracts are free and postage paid; and the books, L-D-H and The Divine Plan of the Ages, are available also, and most appropriate for this Special Effort. We request that all who desire to participate with us in this Special Effort, to please order your literature in time.

Let us continue in this Arrangement made by the Epiphany Messenger until the Battle is won. We pray a special blessing on all those who participate, and trust they will receive many blessed experiences; and for those who are unable to participate – whose hearts are with us in this “good fight” – we pray for them also the blessing that maketh rich!