NO. 158: A REVIEW OF THE JEWISH SITUATION

No.158

Since the death of That Servant one group of Truth people after another have attempted to console the sons of Jacob (the Jews) – and proselyte them. Hardly had J. F. Rutherford become president of the Society, than he published a book on “Comfort For the Jews.” This book contained many vital Truths – Truths the Wit­nesses no longer accept and teach. They no longer offer any ‘comfort’ whatever for the Jews, because they claim for themselves the Scriptural promises that belong to the Ancient Worthies and the Jews. They now offer “Annihilation For the Jews.” Whether blinded by Azazel, or by political expedience (at which JFR was quite adept), he eventually completely revised his position toward Zionism and the Jews. So his successors have accepted the shibboleth of “Annihilation For the Jews.” Of course, this reversal of practice and teaching may have been prompted by their total fail­ure to proselyte any of them, as they now present the unbiblical theory that they themselves are “God’s Chosen People,” something the Jews could not swallow. The Witnesses now boast that Pastor Russell is the founder of their organization – at the same time setting aside all his basic and fundamental teachings, particularly on the Jews and Zionism. That Servant was a friend of the Jews – and a friend of Zionism. All who are acquainted with That Servant’s teaching know that he taught that the Ancient Worthies (See Hebrews 11) would be the earthly representatives of Christ’s Kingdom on earth, with the faithful Jews the first recipients of the bless­ings of their Kingdom administration.

The Dawns tried with the Jews and totally failed in their efforts – just as did JFR. The last effort toward the Jews has come from the Executive Trustee of the Laymen’s Home Missionary Movement, using the title for his booklet “Jewish Hopes and Prospects.” Of course, with his newly-invented Class of Consecrated Campers, who are to supersede the Jews and all others of the non-elect in rank and favor – something the Jews could not swallow – his efforts have dismally failed also. And why have all these groups failed? Because they have “run ahead of the Lord”! When the Lord authorizes a work for His people, that work cannot fail. It is not yet God’s “due time.” The Epiphany Messenger was emphatic that the Great Company could not have a divinely-pleasing and fruitful ministry until they are cleansed in Armageddon (and Armageddon is yet future) – after which cleansing their efforts toward the Jews and others would be an acceptable offering before the Lord.

A HOUSE LEFT DESOLATE

Just before His crucifixion Jesus lamented over the City, “O Jerusalem, Jeru­salem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chick­ens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold your house is left unto you desolate. For I say unto you, Ye shall not see Me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord.” (Matt. 23:37-39) The “desolation” pronounced by Jesus was not their racial eradication; it was their religious and political destruction. When the Romans took Jerusalem in the year AD. 70, the Jews were scattered to the four winds, their temple was destroyed, their priesthood elimi­nated, with no longer any place left to them that they could call home. St. Paul tells us in Rom. 11:25 that “blindness is happened in part to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles come in” (to complete the Body of Christ). The years past bare immutable testimony to their “blindness in part”; but those same years also offer eloquent proof that their blindness was only in “part,” and not total. Over the centuries the efforts of the militant Gentiles to convert them, or to absorb them, have been complete failure – a mute witness to the critical words spoken con­cerning them that they are a “stubborn and stiffnecked” people. (See Ex. 32:9; Psa. 78:8; 2 Chron. 30:8; Acts 7:51) But, while this expression was hurled at them adversely, their very insubordination has been the means of preserving their racial identity until this day.

IS THE LAW STILL BINDING?

If their “house was left desolate” at the crucifixion, the logical question arises, Are they then still under the Law Covenant as mediated between God and them by Moses? The answer to this is – Partly, Yes; Partly, No. As we have stressed in previous papers, Jesus said not one jot or tittle of the Law was to pass until all had been fulfilled. Therefore, that part of the Law that has been fulfilled is no longer binding upon the Jews; but they are still bound by that part only that is not fulfilled. We should first of all understand what is embraced in the law Covenant. It began when God gave them the Passover In Egypt – when the Angel of Death “passed over” their houses that night, while slaying all the firstborn of the Egyptians. And it concluded with the ministry of Moses, when the Angel of the Lord buried him in “a vale in the land of Moab.” Thus, the Law Covenant includes almost everything written in the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteron­omy. This is stressed by St. Paul In Heb. 8:9, which is a partial resume of Jer. 31:34:

“Not according to the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.”

At the crucifixion God “regarded them not” – cast them off – “Your house is left unto you desolate.” There had been previous castings off as, e.g., when they went seventy years into captivity into Babylon under Nebuchadnezzar, and other lesser ones; but the final crushing “casting off” was the one pronounced by Jesus.

God had promised them everlasting life if they would obey His Law – “the man that doeth these things shall live in them” (Lev. 18:5); and the Jews at Sinai had readily agreed to the proposal. “All the words which the lord hath said will we do” (Ex. 24:3). They did not want to die, any more than other human beings want to die; but they learned in due course that what they had thought was ‘unto life’ was really ‘unto death.’ It simply made glaringly apparent their undone condition. But  St. Paul states that that Law which they could not keep “was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith (rather than by the imperfect attempt of works under the law). But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.” (Gal. 3:24,25) Thus, clearly enough, those Jews who accepted Christ were no longer under the Law.

But for those who refused Christ during this Age the law has been in gradual process of ending – although it has not yet fully come to an end for them. For in­stance, an institutional type, such as the Day of Atonement, comes to its end when the antitype appears. Therefore, when St. Paul states, “Christ, our Passover, is sacrificed for us” (those who accepted Christ), we may know that that type is no longer obligatory upon any one.

And we have the law of reason to substantiate this. God never expects any one to do the impossible; and it is now impossible for the Jews properly to perform those ceremonies that require the services of a High Priest, as was Aaron. Why is it now impossible? Because God so “desolated” their house in A. D. 70 that the Tribe of Levi lost its identity; and the High Priest must come from the Tribe of Levi. There is some assumption that the names Cohen, Levi, Levine, etc., are the Levites; but this cannot be substantiated by reasonable proof.

Therefore, the Jews have been without a High Priest since the dispersion began in A. D. 70. Thus, any attempt on their part to keep the Day of Atonement is simply a feeble gesture, although the more devout Jews make solemn effort to observe it yearly; the very religious among them fast in the synagogue that day. Nevertheless, it is an empty ceremony. Without a High Priest to offer up the Bullock and the Goat, the observation becomes devitalized, ineffective. Although the Jews today do not know it, they are no longer to keep that type, which has been fulfilled by the offering of a “better sacrifice” – Jesus; and their present attempts to keep it are totally with­out merit. “Without the shedding of blood is no remission of sins” (Heb. 9:22); thus, there can be no “atonement” on that day without a priest to “shed the blood” of the bullock and the goat – which must be done even in the typical atonement for one year. But St. Paul states that Jesus “taketh away the first (by Himself ful­filling that type through the shedding of His own blood) that He may establish the second” – by providing a “better sacrifice” for all who would receive Him. (Heb. 10:9) “The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7)

However, by the same process we may conclude that those features of the Law that have not been fulfilled are still obligatory upon the Jews. For instance, the Ten Commandments (which are actually the heart of the whole Law Covenant) are still binding, since the New Covenant to come through the “better sacrifices” has not yet appeared. When that Covenant appears, saith the Lord, “I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts.... And they shall no more teach every man his neighbor, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them.” (Jer. 31:33-34) However, this part of the Law (the Ten Commandments) being still obligatory upon them, God has been able justly to punish them all during this Age for their iniquities – violations of that Law. That certain features of the Law have gradually passed away as they were fulfilled, St. Paul states in 2 Cor. 3:7, Dia.: “Now, if this dispensation of death, engraved in letters on stones (the Ten Commandments) was attended with Glory, so that the sons of Israel were unable to look steadily into the face of Moses, because of the bright­ness of his countenance – which dispensa­tion is passing.”

IF ANY MAN SUFFER AS A CHRISTIAN

In 1 Pet. 4:16 the Apostle encourages certain believers: “If any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.” We believe this text has a direct bearing on our subject as can be seen from St. Peter’s opening salutation in verse 1: “To the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia,” etc. The Emphatic Diaglott states it thusly: “To the sojourners of the dispersion.” These are the same people referred to in John 7:35, being certain Jews who had been expelled from Jerusalem for fomenting disregard of the Roman yoke, or who had left because they could not tolerate Rome as their governing body. Some of these had accepted Jesus as their Messiah, although they had only heard of Him through Peter or others, never having actually seen Him.(v. 8: “whom not having seen, ye love”).

Such Jews who had the courage to accept the name “Christian” were the special targets of those Jews who rejected Him. So intense was the animosity at that time that the mere mention of the name Christ would cause the unbelieving Jew to turn around and spit upon the ground. And such unbelievers were ever ready enough to heap verbal and physical abuse upon their supposedly renegade brethren who had accepted Him and His teachings. This fierce antagonism is markedly related respect­ing St. Paul in Acts 9:1,2: “And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest. And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.” It was not enough for Paul that he should aid and abet the murder of Christians in Jerusalem (See Acts 7:58), he would travel to distant Damascus to do what he could there to afflict this hated sect. This illustrates how appropriate were the encouraging words of St. Peter to such Jewish converts: “If any man suffer as a Christian.” His statement has lost much of its import today, because it is usually a mark of respect now in Christendom to declare any man is a good Christian! However, the faithful foot­step followers of Jesus do indeed “suffer as a Christian” in the abuse they receive from their erstwhile brethren – just as did the faithful Jewish Christian suffer in the abuse they received from their erstwhile brethren then.

DOUBLE FOR ALL HER SINS

From the death of Jacob until their “house was left unto them desolate” was a period of 1845 years, during which time the Jews were the special recipients of God’s favor. “You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities,” so states the Prophet (Amos 3:2). It needs no argument that the Law of Moses – as to diet, morality and justice to one’s neighbor was far ahead of its time; and it certainly brought a great advantage to the Jew. But they failed to take full advantage of their opportunities. Particularly did they become lax, and often vicious, respecting their religious obligations. Already in Jeremiah’s time (just before the capture of Jerusalem and the seventy years’ captivity in Babylon) the “wailing prophet” was upbraiding them for their lacks in this respect: “The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so.” (Jer. 5:31) And by the time Jesus came this condition was decidedly worse.

Nor did they wish to be reminded of their waywardness. Jeremiah pleaded with them: “Return, thou backsliding Israel” (Jer. 3:12) – but they not only ignored his plea, but eventually stoned him to death. They also stoned Zechariah in the very court of their house of prayer (2 Chron. 24:20, 21); and tradition has it that they sawed Isaiah in twain – all contrary to the law of Moses. Many of the other prophets were shamefully mistreated. Nor could any excuse of ignorance or frailty be offered in return. “What advantage hath the Jew? Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.” (Rom. 3:2) Truth and righteousness were ever with them, but they refused to adhere to them. Said Jesus, “If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin.” (John 15:22 - See margin)

Thus, in due process of time the day came that Israel “should receive of the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.” (Isa. 40:2; 61:7; Jer. 16:16-18; Zech. 9:1) The word double in Isa. 40:2 is from the Hebrew word ‘kephal,’ meaning double fold; and the Hebrew word for double in the other texts cited is ‘mishneh,’ which means exact duplication – just as if we should fold a piece of paper at precise center, the top part would be a ‘mishneh’ (exact double) of the bottom part. And, since Israel’s period of favor lasted 1845 years, so should we expect the period of dis­favor to be 1845 years.

Before attempting proof of the chronology, it is well in order to consider some features of the disfavor – all items in history. Once the dispersion was accomplished in AD. 70, no Jew was allowed residence in Jerusalem. This challenge aroused the admirable ingenuity of Jewry to every conceivable tactic to re-enter their beloved and sacred homeland. They tried to take it by force; they tried to secure it through diplomatic maneuver; they even tried to buy it – probably tried about every resource known to men – with every effort total failure, until the “due time.” “I am the Lord, I change not”; and we find positive proof of this in the sentence of the 1845-year double upon Israel. And during all this time they suffered the terrible persecutions recorded in the books of history. During that time the Scrip­ture in Psa. 107:17,18 found copious fulfillment: “Fools because of their trans­gression (the great transgression of crucifying the Lord of Glory), and because of their iniquities (sins against the Law of Moses), are afflicted. Their soul abhor­reth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death.”

But if their special favor ended in 33 AD. at the crucifixion of Jesus, their dis-favor should end 1845 years later – namely, in 1878. In that year was held the Berlin Congress of Nations, dominated by Disraeli (otherwise known as Lord Beacons­field), Prime Minister of England – the first Jew in history ever to hold that office. Through threat of force by the then superior naval and armament might of England, he forced the “terrible Turk” to grant citizens’ rights to aliens in Palestine; and this for the first time since A. D. 70 permitted the Jew to return to the land of “milk and honey.” Note now the first verses of Isa. 40: “Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath re­ceived of the Lord’s hand double (kephal) for all her sins” – sins committed during the 1845 years of favor.

But, just as the beginning of the time of favor was a gradual one, so we should expect the return of favor after 1878 to be a gradual one; here a little, there a little. Nor were the Jews themselves too ready to rush back to Palestine. There­fore, the prophecy of Jer. 16:16-21 came into prominence: “Behold, I will send for many fishers (with enticing bait) and they shall fish them; and after will I send them many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain (powerful kingdoms where they were dwelling), and from every hill (democratic governments), and out of the holes of the rocks.... I will recompense their iniquity (violations of the Law of Moses) and their sin (in crucifying the Lord of Glory) double (‘mishneh’).... There­fore, behold, I will cause them this once to know, I will cause them to know my hand and my might; and they shall know that my name is the Lord.”

THE SECOND TANGIBLE EVIDENCE

But from 1878 to 1914 the progress in Palestine seemed slow, and almost hope­less; yet during that time the fervent Zionists were strenuously endeavoring to make some progress. Came then the war in 1914, signaling the end of the “Gentile Times.” And with it came an astounding performance. The Triple Entente, with the assistance of the United States, were attacking the central Powers at every strategic location; and it was thus that England sent General Allenby in 1918 with air and land forces to eject the Turks from Palestine. Knowing the sacred memories of Jeru­salem for Christian and Jew alike, the General was loathe to do anything that might destroy this hallowed landmark. So he concluded to group his entire air force in one spot, and send them flying over the City in an effort to dislodge the Turks. The effect was indeed beyond his expectations: The Turks were so intimidated and disheartened by the great odds so clearly against them – and already much wearied with four years of disastrous war – that they deserted the City without a battle. And it would seem that that strategy by General Allenby gave the fulfillment to the prophecy of Isa. 31:5: “As birds flying, so will the Lord of Hosts defend Jerusa­lem; defending also He will deliver it; and passing over He will preserve it.”

In A. D. 70, after the capture of Jerusalem by the Romans, the Jewish polity sank deeper and deeper into Limbo, as the Gentile glory rose to dominate the earth. With the advent of liberty and religious freedom in the United States, many Jews from many lands came here; and they have prospered enormously – beyond their fondest dreams – so that many of them have come to the false conclusion that this may be the land which the Lord has preserved for them. But, since 1918, when the Lord returned to them their beloved City – through almost no effort at all on their part, in sharp contrast to their failures of the centuries to secure it by their own ingenuity – the land of Palestine has been constantly on the rise, even as the Gentile Governments have become more and more involved in various complexities. We see now an exact reversal of the procedure after AD. 70, when the Jews as a nation went down, and the Gentiles up; now the Jews are going up and the Gentiles down.

And continuing in this fashion, they eventually established the Nation of Israel in Palestine in 1948. Despite the great progress that has been made in the past twenty years, those years have also produced their share of toil, privation, and quak­ing, as they find themselves surrounded by armies on three sides, and by the sea on the fourth side. Already two distinct wars, and many exhausting skirmishes have tended to mar their prosperity; but it should be noted that the Gentile nations everywhere have had their share of the same.

MONEY TROUBLES, TOO

The concern over war with the Arabs has affected Israel exactly as wars have affected the Gentiles: Their money has deteriorated because of it. In 1948 their pound was worth four American dollars; now it is worth 29 cts. The cost of defense and immigration – coupled with a reluctance on the part of wealthy Jews here in America to pour too much money into their shaky economy – has caused them to spend more than they have earned. Thus, they are feeling the financial pinch, just as many Gentile nations have seen their currencies melt away during the years. They are now spending twenty times as much for arms as they did in 1950.

Other considerations also enter into this. Some Arab countries have found rich oil fields; and, as Solomon has so wisely observed, “Money is a defense” (Ecc. 7:12) and “Money answereth all things” (Ecc. 10:19). Thus, some Gentiles, who once regarded them with contempt, now address them in respectful terms as they see the “black gold” spouting from their oil wells.

The Labor problem also affects Israel. The Histadrut Union, inclined toward Socialism, contains about a million members, who have not yet learned that Capital­ism is the best form of incentive and well-being of the human race in its present fallen state. Undoubtedly, a form of Socialism will prevail when the Lord estab­lishes His Kingdom – when the “Law goeth forth from Mount Zion, and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem” (although the actual Government in Jerusalem will be a benevolent autocracy) – but that time is yet some years future.

“JACOB’S TROUBLE”

In the extreme end of this Age the Scriptures describe what is termed “Jacob’s Trouble” (Jer. 30:7) – the last spasm of woe before the Messianic Kingdom is inaugur­ated under the leadership of the Ancient Worthies. This is graphically predicted in Zech. 14:1-3: “Behold, the day of the lord cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then shall the Lord go forth and fight against those nations, as when He fought in the day of battle.” The Invaders will probably be the marauding hordes from the nations round about – nations devastated by years of conflict, crop failures and pestilence, who will view with a jealous grasping eye the excellent results of Jewish effort. The “unwalled villages” (Eze. 38:11) will seem an easy prey for them, as they fail to reckon with the hand of the Lord in Pal­estine’s restoration. But, just as success seems within easy grasp for the invaders, the Prophet states the “Lord shall fight against those nations, as when He fought in the day of battle” – as He fought for Moses, for Joshua, for Gideon, for David, etc.

This future prospect we can but view through a glass darkly; thus it would probably be folly to attempt to offer details now. However, to our readers the question may properly arise: What, then, should be our attitude toward Jewry at this time? Our answer would be that we should attempt to follow out the counsel of the Lord that He recorded for us some three thousand years ago: “Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem ... that her iniquity is pardoned.” (Isa. 40:2) Even though it may not yet be the “due time” for them to “look upon Him whom they pierced, and to mourn because of it” (Zech. 12:10), yet we may minister to them “a cup of cold water,” to strengthen them in their present difficulties. As Brother Russell properly observed, all who take this attitude will not lose their reward.

We recognize there is still trouble ahead for them – “even Jacob’s trouble” ­but that will accomplish God’s purposes in all of them who are of “the faith of Abraham.” And it would seem that this class is the controlling body there now, as they have only one Jewish sect in Jerusalem at this time – the orthodox, those who in faith look for “the consolation of Israel.” The various modernist divisions of Jews among the nations are not controlling the religious policies there. But what­ever of “comfort” we may extend to them, we should yet bear in mind that this is not our chief work at this time; it is merely a helping hand – “doing good unto all men as ye have opportunity.” The Jehovah’s Witnesses, however, now take the opposite view.

DOES GOD FAVOR ZIONISM?

In the June 1, 1968 Watch Tower, the Witnesses say “Zionism must fail because Jehovah is having nothing to do with it.... Zionism is a part of this old world or system of things and therefore is doomed along with it.” All who have been in­structed in Harvest Truth know that That Servant favored Zionism; and J. F. Ruther­ford, too, at the outset of his administration was high in his praise of Zionism. In the August 15, 1918 Watch Tower (Reprints 6315-6316) he offers strong commenda­tion for Zionism, with the statement, “Our readers will perhaps recall that the thought above expressed is the same that Pastor Russell set forth in his sermon on Zionism, delivered in the Hippodrome on Oct. 9, 1910.” And in the May 15, 1919 Watch Tower (Reprint 6433), he said that Zionism is a further evidence of the ‘set­ting up of the Kingdom.’ One thing we can say for the Jehovah’s Witnesses, they are indeed consistent in their inconsistencies! We believe the following from That Servant is most apropos here:

“If, therefore, we love and obey the Lord and desire to grow in His favor, his written Word is our daily meditation and study; and thus we grow in knowledge: not, however, by finding out each year that what we learned last year was false (the Witnesses repeatedly renounce their previous views, in direct contradiction to the instruction of their proclaimed founder – although it would be refreshing if they renounced their present system of error and replace with the Truth; but they re­nounce their previous errors to replace with their “new light” – newly-invented errors to fit their present needs—JJH), but by adding to what we learned last year, by putting on more and more of the armor of God until we realize its glorious com­pleteness in the full discernment of the Divine Plan of the Ages.”

According to their June paper, some of their “dedicated” devotees in Egypt were given vicious treatment because of their supposed encouragement of Zionism. This the Witnesses now describe as “slanderous untruths.” Well, it depends entirely upon which of their literature we read – that which they are distributing now, or what J. F. Rutherford was publishing in 1918-1925. We certainly whole­heartedly deplore the abuse they are receiving now in Egypt; but it would seem a logical question to inquire if they now hold J. F. Rutherford responsible for their present unhappy situation in Egypt. And are they now “suffering as a Christian” (See page 3 of this paper) – even as they repudiate their sound Biblical teachings of 1918 – or would they now be suffering as evildoers – a chastening from the Lord for repudiating the Truth they once cherished?

Does God favor Zionism? That Servant taught with Scriptural support that He does, and we continue to believe and teach this Truth. Zionism certainly supports the Jews returning to Palestine, and we heartily accept the thought that all who favor that which God has ordained will not fall to receive God’s approval.

“The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully.... Is not my word like as a fire, saith the Lord; and like a hammering that breaketh the rock in pieces?..... Behold, I am against the prophets, saith the Lord that steal my words every one from his neighbor..... I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the Lord, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies.... Yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the Lord.” (See Jeremiah 23:28-32)

Sincerely your brother,

John J. Hoefle, Pilgrim

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LETTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST

Dear Brother: Your No. 156 at hand. Very interesting – very timely work of clarifying Present Truth so much needed at present.

Brother ------- (PENNSYLVANIA)

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Dear Brother Hoefle: Grace and peace!

I have received the May and June papers and they were wonderful! The J.W. Issue is a masterpiece. Will you print it in tract form like Where Are the Dead? They would be wonderful to hand out – especially to the Jehovah’s Witnesses who come to our door. I have an opportunity to witness once in awhile.

I was glad to see that you made Bro. Jolly back down on Tentative Justifica­tion operating all during the Millennium. No doubt his own followers made him do so – and he is trying to run for cover by blaming every one else except himself. Anyway, Bro. Jolly shows his folly in the Present Truth (magazine)......

Well, I must close for this time. Hoping this finds all well there. We are about as usual here. Let me hear from you soon, as I need your fellowship.

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

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Dear Brother Hoefle: Greetings in the name of our precious Savior and Lord!

I am writing to thank you for your noble defense of the Truth as given to us through His chosen servant – our dear Brother Russell. “Holding on to the things which we have learned, knowing of whom we have learned them.” (2 Tim. 3:14) I am so thankful the Lord pulled us away from the Jehovah’s Witness movement at its very beginning!

May God continue to bless you as you endeavor to strengthen and encourage all who are standing, defending and holding on to this precious Harvest Truth, which is unchangeable. (Mal. 3:6)..... O glorious Hope and Prospect! May God keep us and help us to be faithful and worthy, that we may press on in “full assurance of faith.” (Reprint 5424).

Yours by His marvelous Grace, Sr. ------- (PENNSYLVANIA)