NO. 176: BIBLICAL NAMES AND THEIR MEANINGS

No. 176

Special names in the Bible have special meanings. Attributes or characteristics are often revealed in names. As most of our readers know, the four main attributes of God are: Justice, Wisdom, Power and Love. Justice is the duty love, the good will, that by right is owed to God and others. It is a matter of obligation, duty, to give it. It is “required.” (Micah 6:8) By His wisdom God created the universe and all creation – and devised the “Plan of the Ages” for mankind. (Eph. 3:11, Dia.) His Divine wisdom planned two distinct salvations for mankind – the elective and the non elective – the elective called from among mankind during the reign of sin and evil; the non-elective for the residue of mankind during Christ’s Kingdom. (Acts 15:17) His foreknowledge informed Him there would be believers and non-believers – and it is by this foreknowledge that Wisdom and Love provided such a marvelous Plan of Salvation for all who will in their “due time” came into harmony with Him – and delight in right­eousness and well-doing.  His Power will accomplish His Plan, all in harmony with Jus­tice. Justice must be met, as Justice is the foundation of God’s throne. (Psa. 89:14; Prov. 21:3)

However, inquiries have come to us about the many different names of the Devil, and their Biblical meanings. Although it is not a pleasant subject, it is an important subject – something we should understand if we would be able to resist his evils; it is a distinct Bible teaching. Nor did God describe the Adversary’s evils in much de­tail in His Word except for our admonition, profit and protection, and to arouse our abhorrence. (2 Cor. 2:11) The Bible names for the “god of this world” (2 Cor. 4:4) and the “prince of the power of the air” (Eph. 2:2) are such as those described in Rev. 20:2, “the dragon, that old serpent, the Devil and Satan”; also, Beelzebub, Azazel, etc. We know these different names have special meanings, otherwise the Bible would not use them. God is known to us by His four Holy attributes – Justice, Wisdom, Power and Love; and Satan is known to us by his four unholy attributes, which are hid­den in the four names of Rev. 20:2. In Rev. 12:3 the dragon means the Pagan Roman Gov­ernment, ‘‘which is to rule all nations with a rod of iron” (Rev. 12:5); and that govern­ment was the instrument used by the invisible spirit “Dragon” through his unholy use of Power to ‘,wear out the saints of the Most High” (Dan. 7:25). The word dragon is from the Greek drakon, and occurs 13 times in the New Testament – all in Revelation.

Then, ‘‘serpent’’ means the deceiver; and the “devil” as the “accuser of the brethren” “Satan” means the Evil One, the Adversary, the opposer of God’s fully faithful people. Beelzebub means ‘lord of the fly’ – the destroyer; and ‘‘Azazel,’’ perverter, averter, as he perverts the Truth. The six names describe certain evil qualities of the “evil one”: Dragon, Serpent, Devil, Satan, Beelzebub and Azazel, which we now treat in some detail.

THE SERPENT

As the “serpent” he appears in the Garden of Eden as “deceiver.” None who accept God’s Word will deny that he was indeed a “deceiver” of Eve in that episode. “Now the serpent was more crafty than any living thing” (Gen. 3:—Rotherham); and St. Paul tells us that “The woman was deceived” (1 Tim. 2:14). By his superior intellect, and a tricky use of it, the Serpent used his sagacious mind for evil – just the opposite of “the knowledge of God,” who gives His people the “pure wisdom from above” (Jas. 3:17), that ‘knowledge’ that has saved His faithful people during the Ages from falling under “the snare of the devil” (1 Tim. 3:7; 2 Tim. 2:26) and “the deceitfulness of sin” (Heb. 3:13). The serpent used his superior intellect and perverted knowledge in craftiness to “deceive the nations” (Rev. 20:3) and to “blind the minds of them that believe not” (2 Cor. 4:4). As such, he has been, and is, the “serpent” – the arch deceiver. God had told them they would “surely die’’; ‘‘And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die.”

It may be that the “serpent” (the devil) first deceived himself – that he himself believed what he told them, even as many first deceive themselves, then others. To fool others successfully, one must first fool himself. As “deceiver” he has deceived the nations and many of God’s people. Even today we have evangelists trying to teach that we don’t die – that we only appear to die. And they do this even while quoting Rom. 6: 23: “The wages of sin is death.” They tell us that the body dies, but the soul, spirit, or something in us “never dies.” We must either accept Christ and go to Heaven, or reject Him and go to Eternal Torment – according to them. This is blasphemy! The Bible teaches us that the “dead know not anything” (Ec. 9:5). Whether wittingly or unwittingly, when they perpetuate the Devil’s first lie in Eden, they are the Devil’s emissaries. They be­lieve God meant they would die in a 24-hour day, and that they did die spiritually in that day in the sense of losing fellowship with God. But the Scriptures tell us that “a day with the Lord is as a thousand years” (2 Pet. 3:8); and Adam and Eve died in that thousand-year day. God placed life and death before man – not Heaven and Eternal Torment. If Adam died spiritually in the “day” he ate the fruit, and died physically 930 years later, just what was then left of him to continue to live?

We are living in that “evil day” when “Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived” (2 Tim. 3:13). Many of God’s people who have come to a knowledge of the truth on the “wages of sin,” etc., have become enmeshed in other false doctrines – have become “deceivers” of the brethren and others. The Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that all must join up with them or be annihilated in Armageddon; and another group (the LHMM) teach that Campers can consecrate now and walk a “narrow way” with the elect, for which they will be rewarded in partnership with the residue of man­kind in walking up the Highway of Holiness in the Kingdom. Yes, there are many “deceiv­ing, and being deceived.”

AS THE “DEVIL”

The “devil” is from the Greek diabolos – the calumniator – which, according to Web­ster, means ‘to accuse falsely and maliciously of a crime or offense.’ Certainly it needs no elaboration that the devil has used his chief human agency, as well as all the lesser lights that he could enroll, to malign, vilify and calumniate God’s faithful people.  In 2 Tim. 3:1-9 St. Paul describes the Parousia and Epiphany sifters – Jannes and Jambres – and the evils that he attaches to them might just as well have been writ­ten about the devil himself. And the slander, lying, false statements, misrepresenta­tions, bad conscience, etc., that have worked against the fully faithful are a clear manifestation of “in”-justice – just the opposite of that Justice which is the foundation of God’s throne, which “giveth freely, and upbraideth not.” (Jas. 1:5) One secular writer designates the devil as – Mephisto, That spirit that always says No! He always takes the contrary view of any subject where truth and righteousness (justice) are in­volved.

AS SATAN

As “Satan” he is the Evil One, the adversary, the opposer of God’s fully faithful people – often using the measurably faithful to oppose the fully faithful – the “buck­wheat” class meddling in the affairs of the wheat class, attempting to usurp their office powers, frequently using the Truth given by God through His faithful mouthpieces to their own advantage, often palming it off as their own. Such people have been “lame in both their feet” – lacking in Love toward God and man. They are those who “received not the Truth in the love of it” (2 Thes. 2:10), and who have received as punishment an “energy of delusion” in return. “Thou gavest them also blood (error) to drink; they deserve it.” (Rev. 16:6, Dia.) Thus, they are unlovely, measurably loveless! This is just the opposite of the One “altogether lovely” Who “provokes to love and good works” (Heb. 10:24). A similar spirit may be observed in the world today by the radical groups: Their motto is, Find out what they (the present ‘establishment’) want; then vote against it! Similarly stated above: That spirit that always says No!

AS BEELZEBUB – A fifth name to consider is “Beelzebub,” meaning ‘lord of the fly,’ the God of Ekron (destruction—2 Kgs. 1:3-6), symbolic of his cantankerous disposition through errors (flies) on militarism, encouraging men to slaughter each other for fame, glory and country on the field of battle. He was the idol of the Philistines, typical of sectarians, who are also often very troublesome because of their errors in teaching and practice. In the Kings passage the word is spelled Baalzebub, an alteration of the Canaan­ite Baalzebul. The God Baal himself is typical of power-graspers in the Lord’s House; and Lucifer’s action in Eden is a clear-cut example of grasping for power. His ultimate humiliation and annihilation are graphically stated: “Thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit” (Isa. 14:15) – “cast out of thy grave like an abominable branch... as a carcass trodden under feet” (v. 19). “I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth.... and never shalt thou be any more” (Eze. 28:18, 19).

The Jews regarded Beelzebub as “the Prince of Devils” (Matt. 12:24), and accused Jesus of being his tool. Although Jesus effectively answered their charge, there is little doubt but that Satan is the leader of “the angels that sinned’ (2 Pet. 2:4); and a sober appraisal of his iniquities and his ultimate end should be warning sufficient to all not “to go and do likewise.”

AS “AZAZEL”

Another appellation is “Azazel”; and occurs but four times in the Bible – all in Leviticus 16, where it is translated ‘scapegoat.’ There is no justification whatever for such a translation, as there is nothing in the word itself that even hints at such a mean­ing. It is derived from ‘azaz’ (to be strong) and ‘el’ (God); thus, a strong or mighty God.  And few will deny that the Evil One is such. Its underlying meaning is ‘Perverter’ “one who has turned to error, especially in religion,” Webster. Most of our readers know that the ‘scapegoat,’ the one “for Azazel,” typifies the crown-losers during this Age ­those who have become ‘sinners’ in a very special way – became measurably faithful to their vows and resolves to God; and as such have been cast out of the Holy, and have suc­cumbed to devious and sundry errors – “one who has turned to error.” This connects very well with St. James’ statement: “He who turns back a sinner (a crown-loser, one who sins against his Covenant by Sacrifice) from his path of error will save his soul from death, and will cover a multitude of sins” (the sins of the flesh and mind, somewhat described in 1 Cor. 5:1-5) – Jas. 5:20, Dia.

While this class of people have done many good and valiant works, as typified in Numbers 7, it is their evil works that are stressed when they are said to be “for Azazel,” because Azazel is the “father of lies” – the “perverter” of the Truth. Once this is clearly understood, there is likely to be much less chance of deception from such “per­verters.” “The one begotten of God guards himself and the evil one does not lay hold of him” (1 Jn. 5:18, Dia.) – does not lead him astray through perversions of the Truth.

Lest any receive false impressions of those “for Azazel,” it should be kept in mind that many of them have been examples of good morals and clean living in every respect; and they have preached much on righteousness – what man should do, and what he should not do. Thus, the world has been deceived into believing them to be the real “examples of the believers,” even as the Jews shouted of King Saul, “Long live the King!” Their prototype is to be found in Jn. 12:42, 43: “Among the chief rulers also (the ‘good’ people in Jewry) many believed on Him; but because of the Pharisees they did not con­fess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.”

All during the Age those “for Azazel” have tended to do as did the chief rulers: They have striven for “the praise of men, more than the praise of God.” This is one of their besetting sins. This is clearly typified in Eze. 44:9-14: “The Levites (typical of crown-losers) that are gone away far from Me.... shall even bear their iniquity.... and sacrifice for the people, and shall stand before them.... because they caused the House of Israel to fall into iniquity (by persuading them that their good morals, etc., were sufficient unto salvation – even though their hearts were far from the Lord)... They shall not come near unto Me to do the office of a priest unto Me, nor come near to any of the holy things (such as trying to bring forth new doctrines, or approaching the lamp stand in the Holy in an effort to bring forth new Truth).... but I will make them keepers of the charge of the house.”

Note now the sharp contrast between those “for Azazel” and the real priesthood – those who have been “beheaded for the witness of Jesus” and “despised and rejected of men”: “But the priests... the sons of Zadok, that kept the charge of My sanctuary when the chil­dren of Israel went astray from Me, they shall come near to Me to minister unto Me, and they shall stand before Me” (in the Holy, before the lamp stand, the shewbread and the golden altar... They shall enter into My sanctuary” (to bring forth the Truth as due)—Eze. 44:15,16. We emphasize here that it was only the priests who were to “enter into My sanctuary”; and, when those “for Azazel” have attempted to violate this clear prohibi­tion, they have been afflicted with antitypical “leprosy.”

A case in point is here in order. In 2 Chr. 26:16-20 is related the incident of King Uzziah: “When he was strong, he lifted up his heart to destruction.... went into the temple of the Lord to burn incense upon the altar of incense (corresponding to the Holy of the Tabernacle).... And Azariah the priest.... withstood Uzziah.... It appertaineth not unto thee, Uzziah, to burn incense unto the Lord, but to the priests the sons of Aaron (typical of the Little Flock in the Gospel Age).... Then Uzziah was wroth.... and while he was wroth with the priests the leprosy rose up in his forehead.... And all the priests looked upon him, and, behold, he was leprous in his forehead, and they thrust him out from thence.... Uzziah the king was a leper unto the day of his death.” And being a leper “unto the day of his death,” he would be typical of such as go into the second death, so we do not set him forth herein as a type of those “for Azazel” – although he was such at one time; but merely as an illustration. Many of those “for Azazel” have attempted to re-enter the Holy after they were throughst out, and they have invariably gone into error as they did so have become afflicted with antitypical leprosy – although not to the extent of the second-­deathers, the antitypical Uzziah class.

And it is to be noted that the leprosy was in Uzziah’s forehead; hence, he could not see it himself, although it was plainly visible to the priests about him. Also, being in his forehead indicates that the intellect would be defiled, meaning that such as be­come leprous in their foreheads must of necessity go into more or less of error – their minds become unclean – fleshly – and it is because of this that they are delivered to Azazel “for the destruction of the flesh” (1 Cor. 5:5), their fleshly, “leprous” minds, “that the spirit (their new creature) may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus (this Epiphany period).

Almost invariably during the Gospel Age those “for Azazel” have attempted to “sac­rifice for the people” – they have been strong crusaders for moral uplift, for various reforms, which would naturally bring them into the limelight, gain for them “the praise of men.” Usually those thus deceived have been enmeshed in the delusion that they would accomplish great works, win great numbers, gain great  favor. As  the  most  outstanding example of this in the Truth movements we offer the case of JFR, who boasted that he             could break the Devil’s back in one year if he had a million dollars. It  would  seem  that the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ assets today must be many times one million; yet the “children of Belial” are noticeably more in everything today than they were fifty years ago. Also, about that same time JFR conceived The Golden Age, a monthly magazine; and he told the Convention at Cedar Point in 1919 that he expected to have four million subscribers with­in one year. Instead, at the end of one year many newsstands would no longer give it space because there was almost no demand for it. We offer this summation from our own personal experience with the paper, so we are not talking hearsay.

Such experiences do not come to those “for Azazel” while they are still in the com­pany of the priests (have the restraining hand of God’s true Mouthpieces upon them), but only after they have been “delivered to Satan for the destruction of the flesh” (fleshly mind). And we emphasize again that their “deliverance to Satan” is not for the destruc­tion of their fleshly bodies, but of their fleshly minds – although their bodies also often suffer through persecuting persons. On this particular feature the Executive Trustee of the LHMM is in much confusion: he is now teaching it is the actual destruction of their fleshly bodies that is meant by “delivering them to Satan for the destruction of the flesh.” Any one not befuddled by Azazel – who has not lost the Truth on this subject ­would readily realize that this interpretation cannot possibly be correct. In corrobora­tion, we offer something from E-15:526:

“As with the prodigal son, their untoward experiences will eventually lead them to came to themselves; and resolving to return to the Father (and to the Truth they once embraced and recognized as Truth—JJH) they will make efforts to retrace their steps. (This they could not do if their humanity were destroyed by Azazel—JJH) It is this for which the Father longed, and for which He allowed them to suffer persecution, unfavor­able circumstances and buffeting at Satan’s hands. Seeing them at a distance painfully and humbly seeking to return, He runs forward to meet them by favoring providences and the presentation of appropriate portions of His Word through His faithful Little Flock mem­bers.... He saves them out of all the spiritual and earthly distresses into which they were brought by their willfulness, rebelliousness and waywardness (Psa. 107:13).... By these delivering acts God will have freed their Holy Spirit, His disposition in them.... and they will come to their rightful place as the suppressers of the evil and the devel­opers of the good in them. Thus we see the Holy Spirit enthroned in them as it was be­fore they began to turn unfaithful.”

Then some more from E-15:527, after they have cleansed their fleshly minds, and are resolved to do what they should have done in their original “covenant by sacrifice”: “They will be forever done with sin, error, selfishness and worldliness and their double mind. Henceforth their Holy Spirit, God’s disposition in them, will cleanse them from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit and enable them to perfect holiness in the rever­ence of the Lord (2 Cor. 7:1). Renewing their covenant of sacrifice, they will remain dead to self and the world and alive to God by the Holy Spirit, God’s disposition in them.... will practice self-denial and world-denial... faithfully meditate on the Truth... They will by their holy wills, minds and hearts faithfully scrutinize their dispositions, motives, thoughts, words, acts, surroundings and influences operating on or out of them... will cultivate the prayer spirit and practice.... become faithful witnesses of the Truth... The Holy Spirit will enable them to do these things amid pleasant and unpleasant, easy and hard, toward and untoward experiences.... will demonstrate that the Holy Spirit is God’s disposition in them.”

While the above procedure has been operative all during the Gospel Age in perhaps Millions of individuals, it is only in the end of the Age – in which we now are – that this will become apparent in them as a Class “after they have came out of great tribula­tion, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” (Rev. 7:14) It is then that they will have a fruitful ministry – after Armageddon has accom­plished the destruction of the Man of Sin, thus removing his deceptive influence. Then those that were “for Azazel” will no longer be such; and they will be blessed with a mighty message concerning the coming Kingdom, will be privileged to study, spread and practice the Truth as true “examples of the believers.” God speed this time!

The Epiphany is the last special period of the Gospel Age; it is also identical with the Time of Trouble in its violent features, having its beginning in 1914; and it will continue to the end of Jacob’s Trouble. One of the outstanding items for this per­iod is the elimination of the “Mystery of iniquity,” whom the Lord “shall destroy with the brightness of His coming” (2 Thes. 2:8) – “annihilate by the appearing (epiphaneia) of His presence” (Parousia).” A second outstanding item for this period is the mani­festation of those “for Azazel” as a Class, an event yet future. All during the Age there have been individuals of this Class – just as there have been individual members of the Little Flock; but neither of them was revealed as a Class since Apostolic times, as they were scattered throughout the various sects of Christendom.

But, when the Harvest came, there was definitely a Little Flock movement, and all of the saints came into that movement; and now before the Epiphany is over, those “for Azazel” will also be revealed as a Class separate and distinct. All the Little Flock developing truths were cleansed from all error before the Parousia was fully ended ­just as the developing truths of those “for Azazel” have now been cleansed from all error in this Epiphany period. But it does not necessarily follow that every member of that Class – even after the Class has been fully manifested – will be cleansed from all error; because some of them – such as those with the Jehovah’s Witnesses – have become so in­volved in the quagmire of error that it will probably be impossible for them to rid them­selves of all of it. However, we may safely conclude that by that time – after Armaged­don, when they will be saying, “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved” (Jer. 8:20), they will imbibe enough of Present Truth to give them a clear direc­tive of the course they should follow as they then “offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness” (Mal. 3:3). They will have sufficiency of the Truth to make their elec­tive salvation, just as all the saints received enough of the Truth to make their “call­ing and election sure.”

Much of the foregoing is not precisely bearing on the names of Satan and their mean­ings, but the comment on those persons involved in the machinations of Satan as Azazel is so closely related that we have felt justified in giving the details we have thereon.

These six names of the Evil One – Dragon, Serpent, Devil, Satan, Beelzebub and Azazel surely have special significance, even as many names in the Bible have special meanings – such as Jesus, Jesus Christ, Son of Man; Jacob, Israel, etc.

LUCIFER - This name occurs only once in the Bible – in Isa. 14:12, and means ‘light bearer.’ This name does not signify any of the evils described in the six names treated above, because this was the name given him before he sinned. It was the Latin name for the planet Venus, the brightest object in the sky apart from the sun and moon.  Inasmuch as Isaiah styles him “son of the morning,” it might well be concluded that as Lucifer he was exceeded in rank and brilliance in the heavenly realm only by the Lord God and the Logos. In any event, Eze. 28:11-19 tells us that he was a cherub, one of the highest of all angels. In this Scripture the Prophet eulogizes him in superlative phrase –physically, mentally, morally, religiously perfect before his defection. He was fig­uratively covered with “every precious stone” – language used similarly of the glorified Bride of Christ as the “new Jerusalem” (Rev. 21:11-21), and of the stones set in the high priest’s breastplate (Ex. 39:10-13). Strictly speaking, Lucifer as such, should not be grouped with the foregoing six derogatory names, but we present it here for in­formative reasons. After his fall he was no longer the ‘light bearer’ but rather be­came ‘darkness bearer’ (error bearer), and is no longer known by the name of Lucifer. And this is also true of many of his emissaries; they were once ‘light bearers,’ but became teachers of darkness (error) when they fell from God’s favor.

We know that it is for our good that we understand the characteristics of the Devil; otherwise God would not have had them in His Word – “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices” (2 Cor. 2:11). Our meditation, however, should be on God’s glorious attributes – Justice, Wisdom, Power and Love.  God is supreme in His being, character, plan and works incomparably superior to all other beings in these respects. His supremacy was acknowledged by every creature in heaven, until Luci­fer rebelled and later led off some of the angels from subjection to God.  But even these must submit to the metes and bounds that God has appointed them. So,  too, mankind is also now in rebellion against God, yet is subject to the metes and bounds placed by God upon the race under the curse. None of God’s faithful people would be able to con­tinue in the “narrow way” if this were not true. But nothing happens to God’s faithful people except by His permission. However, those people who have not in this life had the opportunity of making God supreme in their lives, due to Satanic influence and hin­drances, will be given an opportunity to do so in the Kingdom when Satan is bound (Rev. 20:2). Many will then avail themselves fruitfully of that opportunity, and will in the Ages to come eternally make God supreme in their lives. But all who refuse so to do ­both human and angelic beings – will be “destroyed from among the people” (Acts 3:23), will be annihilated in the second death, from which there is no recovery. Thus the “Kindness and the severity of God; Severity, indeed towards those having fallen, but kindness of God towards thee, if thou continue in that kindness; for otherwise thou even shalt be cut off.” (Rom. 11:22, Dia.)

And surely our consideration of the attributes of God’s being should enhance Him in our appreciation and should prompt us to trust, reverence, love, adore and worship Him as altogether worthy. O! How great our God is in His attributes of being! “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.” (2 Cor. 2:14)

Sincerely your brother,

John J. Hoefle, Pilgrim

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SPECIAL EFFORT – ANTITYPICAL GIDEON’S SECOND BATTLE

Our Memorial for this year is March 20 after 6:00 p. m., and we suggest for our Special Effort in Antitypical Gideon’s Second Battle Sunday, March 8 through Sunday, April 5 for our volunteer and sharpshooting in the slaying of the two King Errors ­Zebah (Eternal Torment), and Zalmunna (Consciousness of the Dead). The Adversary is still very busy “blinding the eyes” of many with these blasphemous doctrines. The Battle is not over.  We believe all faithful brethren who desire to continue in this Arrangement made by the Epiphany Messenger for this Epiphany period, will be happy to participate, if time and circumstances will permit – even though few in number, but “faint yet pursuing.” Please order your literature in time. All our literature is free, pos­tage paid – and our Nos. 1, 2 and 3 Gideon tracts, and the books, L-D-H and The Divine Plan of the Ages are very good for this purpose.

Be assured of our prayers for all in this special season – that they may receive blessed experiences and special blessings as they seek to “study, spread and practice the truth” in “sincerity and in truth.”

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LETTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST

Dear John J. Hoefle:

Your literature just obtained at the Post Office. Thank you for your nice letter. I shall write you later when the literature has been read.

Sincerely ------- (CALIFORNIA)

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Gentlemen:

We have been receiving your letters for some time, and since no one reads them, we are returning them to you each time unread. It is possible that the P. 0. Dept. will not return them to you. Since I know all about your belief, having been in Bethel in the early part of 1923 and on, we will not continue to return them, but from now on will not bother the P. O., but will burn them as they come in. You might save yourself a lot of postage if you removed this one address.

If you would spend your time preaching the Good News of the Established Kingdom instead of preaching a doctrine of hate toward the Witnesses, you might regain Jehovah’s favor.

Yours very truly ------- (ARKANSAS)

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Our answer to above letter:

Dear Brother ........... :  Christian greetings!

In accordance with your request, we are removing your name from our mailing list. You say you “know all about my belief,” but I’m quite certain you do not; otherwise, you would not have written me as you have. At one time I attended the Roman Catholic Church; then I accepted the Lutheran beliefs, from which I graduated to affiliation with the International Bible Students Ass’n (now called Jehovah’s Witnesses). I knew J. F. Rutherford well enough that he proposed that I become his private secretary in 1919. I spent many days going from house to house securing names in a petition to secure his release from Atlanta penitentiary in 1919. Thus, when I tell you that I know all about your belief, you should readily recognize that I know whereof I speak.

It was with a heavy heart that I severed my relations with so many brethren I had come to love very much; but I had taken a resolve and vow to be “faithful to the Lord, the Truth, and the brethren,” so there was no other course left to me. When you say I spend my time “preaching a doctrine of hate toward the Witnesses,” you judge me un­justly. You and your organization go to great lengths in almost every paper you pub­lish to expose the errors of Catholicism and Protestantism. Are you also preaching “a doctrine of hate”? I assume you are a member of the Household of Faith; there­fore, I consider it my Christian obligation to address you as a brother. We are both in the same Household, although it would seem you do not recognize that.

Over the years I have followed the teachings of your Organization very closely; have watched the followers accept one error after another. I suppose you won’t ac­cept this sentiment; but you will be forced to accept it when Armageddon clearly re­veals how wrong are your present teachings. Thus, it is just a matter of time, and I shall bide the time, safe in the conviction that you will eventually see my position is the correct one – especially when you see that many of those who have faithfully adhered to the organization’s teachings will not survive, while many who have refused to accept the Jehovah’s Witnesses will survive Armageddon. So I close by extending to you my cordial good wishes for your spiritual welfare, and the assurance that I am yet, as I have always been, and hope always to be

Your servant and brother,  John J. Hoefle

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Dear Friends:

Thanks for the literature received today and in the past, which I have enjoyed.  Have recently come in contact with ------- and I am definitely interested in the Modern (Youthful) Worthies. I suppose you hold to the Truth concerning this Class. I was immersed in 1921, and desire to know where the Lord will place me in His King­dom. I do, of course, realize that Brother C. T. Russell was “That Wise and Faithful Servant ............ Hoping to hear from you about the Youthful Worthies, I am

Your brother by His favor ------- (CANADA)

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Dear Sirs:  Please send me one copy each of your free literature:

No. 1 – Where Are the Dead?
No. 2 – What Is the Soul?
No. 3 – The Resurrection of the Dead
No. 4 – The  Three  Babylons
No. 5 – Two Distinct Salvations
No. 6 – God’s Great Sabbath Day  – Thank you!

Yours  in  Christ ------- (FLORIDA)