No. 99
My dear Brethren: – Grace and peace through our Beloved Master!
“If the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?” (1 Cor. 14:8) This query by St. Paul is undoubtedly prompted by the record of the two silver trumpets which the Lord told Moses to make (See Numbers 10), and which Brother Johnson has explained typify the Old and New Testament Bible messages. That these would be typical is evidenced by the fact that they had to do with the law and the Tabernacle arrangements and the march of the Israelites from Egypt to Canaan. They were to be blown “for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps.” That these trumpets served more than one purpose is clearly stated in v. 5 – “blow an alarm”; and in v. 10 – “in your day of rejoicing and in your appointed seasons.”
While the main purpose of this article is the feature of v. 5, we first offer some comment on the second feature – the “Appointed seasons.” Chief of these was the sounding of the Jubilee Trumpet every fiftieth year, which was to proclaim a special year of rest for man and land; and to set at liberty such of the Israelites whose improvidence had forced them into a state of slavery with their brethren. This Jubilee trumpet year was typical of the grand year of Jubilee, the great thousand year day, the reign of the Christ which is to free mankind from the slavery of sin and death now more than six thousand years gone. This is described in Revelation 10 and 11 as the “seventh trumpet,” whose sounding began in 1874 and will continue throughout the entire thousand-year day during which Satan, who “has the power of death” (Heb. 2:14) is to be bound that he may deceive the nations no more. Thus, we ourselves are now living during the sounding of this trumpet.
And, since we are so directly concerned with the seventh trumpet's sounding, it is well that we consider a few of its more important messages. Among the first of these is that given in Rev. 10:6: “There should be time no longer.” This statement has been accepted literally by the great bulk of Christendom, even to using the hymn, “When my work on earth is ended, and time shall be no more.” Just a little reflection must impress us that time must continue so long as there is any intelligence remaining to note and be influenced by time; and, since Jehovah Himself is without beginning or ending, so also time itself must be. Therefore, the hymn is a self-evident inanity.
That Evil Servant also offered a perversion of this text almost equally ludicrous when his 'Millions Now Living Will Never Die' and his 1925 deadline were time-proven error. To divert attention from his colossal blunder on that date he proposed the interpretation that, since so many mistakes had been made on time interpretations, therefore, no more consideration should be given the subject. This also caused him to cast aside the Pyramid with its many time-feature truths.
To answer this revolting perversion Brother Johnson directed attention to the proper translation of the text from the Diaglott: “The time shall be no longer delayed” – that is, the long-awaited “manifestation of the sons of God,” for which the slave-burdened human race has been waiting with groanings and travailings, would begin to be made manifest by their proceeding to establish the Mediatorial Kingdom in power and great glory for the “blessing of all the families of the earth.” And among the first blasts of the Seventh Trumpet was That Servant's declaration that the Millennial morning had most certainly appeared to extirpate the rule of sin and death.
Another of the initial features of the Seventh Trumpet is given in Rev. 10:7, “The mystery of God should be finished” – that “mystery which was kept secret since the world began” (Rom. 16:25) that the Christ is not an individual, but a composite company (See Berean Comments). It was this text that furnished the name for Volume Seven, “The Finished Mystery,” and which caused the sorest of trials upon God's people in 1917-1918. That book, which was made a test of fellowship by the Society then, has since become “expurgatus,” with the present-day Society adherents forbidden to read it. Those of us who became involved in that grievous trial should have learned well the lesson that we should approach with much trepidation and minutest scrutiny any new publication by crown-lost leaders; but, sad to relate, so very few profited by the experience. At that period were there not only “great voices in Heaven, but the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead that they should be judged.” (Rev. 11:15-18)
THE CALL TO BATTLE
But, not only did the seventh trumpet announce “your day of rejoicing,” it also gave out the call for all spiritual Israel to gird themselves for the battle of this Great Day, and to wholeheartedly respond to the Harvest message of Present Truth, to proclaim the controversial messages of the Harvest time the Truth against error. ''And if ye go to war in your land (the sphere of the Truth and its spirit) ... ye shall be remembered before the Lord your God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies.” (Num. 10:9) Here, then, is the promise of victory to all those who wholeheartedly respond to the Trumpet's call – “saved from your enemies” – the same being sin, error, selfishness and worldliness. And the rules of the conflict are the same for all – “Ye shall have one manner of law, as well for the stranger (the Youthful Worthies), as for one of your own country” – the Church of the Firstborn. (Lev. 24:22) Typical of the conflict in the beginning of this Millennial day is the record of Gideon and his fully faithful band of three hundred (Judges 7:15-23), wherein the Truth people went forth to do battle with the antitypical Midianites (present-day errorists). And in that type it was Gideon blowing his trumpet (v. 18) that signaled the others to blow with their trumpets, the which brought consternation and complete demoralization to the Camp of Midian. The blowing of the trumpet was the call to Battle.
AS “GOOD SOLDIERS”
And be it remembered that it was only after very minute instructions that Gideon and his three hundred proceeded to that battle – typical of the fact that the fully faithful in the end of this Age would also be thoroughly instructed in the cause, the method, and the art of the battle of the Great Day – “the weapons of our warfare are not carnal,” but are the “sword of the spirit, which is the Word of God.” Thus is stressed the necessity for knowing the Truth and imbibing fully of its spirit – and emphasized in the Manna comment for December 20, “Only the studious find the narrow way to the Divine approval and acceptance.''
It is well that we bear in mind that our Lord, “the Captain of our Salvation,” never sends forth His soldiers without sufficient instruction to gain for them complete victory, so long as they are faithful. None are ever asked to do more than they are able to do. We recall an instance that was told to us very early in the Epiphany, wherein it was related how Brother Russell on a certain occasion was assigning some symposium topics to various brethren. One of them, receiving a subject which was difficult and new to him, began to make excuse, whereupon Brother Russell asked if he were going to whimper and whine his way out of the battle, or if he would be a “good soldier.” The brother accepted without further protest, and gave an excellent account of himself for the service. Apropos to this incident are the March 28 Manna comments: “The true soldier does not debate his cause. He is rightly supposed to have settled upon its justice and righteousness before he enlisted to serve it.” Therefore, we may properly conclude that we must first learn the rules, then resolve to obey them in every circumstance, whereupon we shall certainly be able to “endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.”
Nor does “hardness” come in a day, a week, or a year; it is the result of “patient continuance in well doing – perseverance in good works” (Rom. 2:7—Dia.) – just as the successful boxer must do miles of 'road work' in training for a bout, skipping rope, etc., to develop hardness and stamina in his legs, back and arms if he would eventually prevail. And by similar comparison must we engage in persistent study of the Truth if we would be “weaned from the milk” (Isa. 28:9) and become “skillful in the word of righteousness” (Heb. 5:13), if we would see victory as “good soldiers.” And it is by the victories of such good soldiers who “endure hardness” that the Truth progresses. Most of us have been witness to this, retrospectively or actively, all during the Parousia-Epiphany days. It is the controversies with error that have advanced the fully faithful in Grace, knowledge and privilege of service – even as those same controversies have scattered and discomfited the errorists, so well typified in Gideon's victory over Midian.
A “BAD SPIRIT”
And all during the Gospel Age, but particularly now at its close, when the errorists have been so badly routed that they become speechless, they have then embraced the battle cry of last resort –Those who wield the Truth against them have a “bad spirit.” To this day the foremost argument of the Roman Catholics against Martin Luther is that he showed a “bad spirit,” because he stunned them with the unanswerable truth against their many errors. It needs no argument that dear Brother Luther did not assail his opponents with 'kid gloves'; in fact, his wording was at times so rough and vivid that for a time Brother Johnson questioned his saintly standing – he found it difficult to understand how any one using the language Luther did could be of the Little Flock. But he finally came to realize that the times then prevailing required such a person as Luther to make his message effective with the people of that day. Respecting Luther, we emphasize that Brother Johnson in final judgment counted Luther as one of the fully faithful 49 Stars – held in the Lord's “right hand” (Rev. 1:16) – regardless of his “bad spirit.”
And in 1917 the same retort of “bad spirit” was hurled at Brother Johnson, too He described H. J. Shearn, of England, as the most cunning hypocrite he had ever met; yet that trickster gave answer, “You see, brethren, the 'spirit' that he shows.” Others of the discomfited Levites embraced the same weapon, as he smote their errors hip and thigh, and sent them into demoralized retreat, yelling “bad spirit” back over their shoulders as they ran. In answer to a letter we sent That Evil Servant, he said, among other things, “Paul S. L. Johnson is vilifying me.” Yes, J. F. Rutherford was really being vilified – by the Truth, poor fellow!
Be it emphasized that the errorists have always been good runners, instead of “good soldiers” – just as the Midianites ran over each other that night in the valley of Moreh in their effort to separate themselves in haste from the small handful of men who were blowing their trumpets in no uncertain sound. Moreh means “teacher,” in allusion to the fact that so many errorists set themselves up as Pastors and Teachers in defiance of God's faithful mouthpieces. Instance the case of Arius when he boldly faced the overwhelming odds at the Council of Nice – “the Midianites like grasshoppers for multitude” (Judges 7:12). And against that horde came one old man, supported by but two others, to do battle as a “good soldier” against about 380 opponents. Arius, then almost 75 years old, was banished from the Roman Empire, a sentence sufficient to crush even a young vigorous man; yet this “good soldier,” who blew the trumpet message that “THERE IS BUT ONE GOD,” accepted that trying edict, not as a runner, but as the good soldier that he was; went to North Africa, and there organized a virile group of Christians in the remaining eleven years of his life. And what did they call themselves? Why, Arians, of course! Having responded to the trumpet's call, Arius was a good soldier to the last.
Thus, it does not surprise us that we ourselves have had similar experience since Brother Johnson's death, especially in recent months. As example, Fred Blaine in Trinidad, who also proved himself a good runner when we invited him to meet with us on the platform before the brethren there – although we assume he did his usual good job of talking “proven sifter,” of whispering about the “bad spirit of JJH” – at a safe distance from the battle front. And the “cousins” also (Jolly-Krewson) have been profuse with their accusations of “bad spirit,” even as they confuse and contradict each other – in like manner as did the Midianites at Moreh. As example, the correct date for the Memorial: J. W. Krewson contends it is a Little Flock developing Truth (although Brother Johnson himself clearly states it is a Great Company developing Truth) – as R. G. Jolly is silent on this feature, apparently fearing to handle that point at all. Note the similarity here with Mark 14:56: “Many bear false witness against Him, but their witness agreed not together.” Also, J. W. Krewson says our quotation from Brother Johnson – “Never before the Vernal Equinox” – is a quotation from Josephus (more “false witness”)” – even as R. G. Jolly ignores Brother Johnson's statement completely. Other similar instances could readily be offered, but we would spare you, not wishing to make this article over-lengthy. But in all of this the “cousins” have been excellent 'whisperers' about the “bad spirit” of JJH, as note J. W. Krewson's paper of March-April No. 49, pp. 9 and 14; but “their witness agrees not together.” (Mark 14:56)
The feature of response to the trumpet's sound throughout this Gospel Age may be stressed in the good fight against sins of teaching and practice in entrenched strongholds of error. The fight against sin, selfishness and worldliness, individually considered, has been more of the head and the heart within the “good soldiers” themselves; but the conflict with errors of teaching and practice is the phase of battle that has made voluminous record in the pages of history. It was Jesus' faithful “witness to the Truth” against Jewish priestcraft that cost Him His life—John 18:37 (See Berean Comment). It was exposure of errors by the faithful against the papal system that brought upon them the excruciating persecutions, indescribable for their heinous cruelty, and which spilled “the blood of prophets and of saints” (Rev. 18:24). It was That Servant's attacks against the Midianite strongholds of eternal torment and inherent human immortality that brought upon him the venom and slander of Christendom – so much so that when one brother once said to him, “Brother Russell, you are the most loved man on earth,” he replied, “Yes, and the most hated!” The same may be said for Brother Johnson. When he discomfited the crown-lost errorists, and put them to complete silence, they then proceeded to whisper, “He hath a Devil – He is Satanized – He is an insane usurper.” And, since “The Disciple is not above his Lord,” need it concern any of us if we receive the same treatment, we who were counted among his disciples? All thus abused have the strong assurance of our Lord's interceding prayer on our behalf, “Rise up, and let thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee” – let the errorists do the running, as the faithful “good soldiers” do the pursuing with the Truths at their disposal.
“GIVING ALL DILIGENCE”
When St. Peter appeals to the Fully Faithful to “give all diligence” (2 Pet 1:5), he also offers the appealing assurance that those who do as he counsels “shall never fall” – even though we have need of reminder, though we know these things and “be established in the PRESENT TRUTH.” It is also the counsel of the worldly sage that “Diligence is the mother of good fortune” – to which may be added the words of Solomon, “Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings.” (Prov. 22:29) And the chief striving of every “good soldier” who answers the trumpet's call should be diligence to “put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the Devil” (Eph. 6:11) – the especially deceptive false teachings of the errorists, the antitypical Midianites. And to all such who give such diligence in response to the trumpet's call, to all such the promise is sure, “There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling” (Isa. 91:10) – no sifting error can possibly contaminate our abode.
Sincerely your brother,
John J. Hoefle, Pilgrim
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QUESTION OF GENERAL INTEREST
QUESTION: – On pp. 55,56 of this July Bible Standard Brother Jolly announces another new tract for special distribution to Jehovah's Witnesses. What is your opinion of the tract? Is it doctrinally true?
ANSWER: – When R. G. Jolly says, “Israel as a nation will be the first of the nations to come into harmony with the new order of affairs on earth,” he is stating a generalized truth, somewhat after the manner of Brother Russell in Volumes 1, 3 and 4; but this forces us once more to inquire, Is it motive or ignorance that prompts him to avoid clarification? Brother Russell offers a correct and detailed explanation of the question in Reprints 5164, Jan. 15, 1913 Watch Tower as follows:
“The New Covenant will begin to swallow up the old Law Covenant as soon as the Kingdom is established. The Scriptures indicate that the first to receive it will be the Ancient Worthies. Raised from the dead to human perfection, they will form the nucleus of the new arrangements in the earth. Next in order will be those who have been known as Christians (the quasi-elect—JJH), but who have not consecrated to death (as R. G. Jolly claims for his Campers Consecrated—JJH), and Jews who have been consecrated to the law, but who have been blinded. Gradually the light will come to all who love righteousness and hate iniquity. Sprinkled from all sympathy with evil, they will make their declaration of full loyalty to God. In due time this light will spread to all kindred and tongues and nations.”
The foregoing is a true definition of the quasi-elect, which is explained in the same exact manner, but using different words, by Brother Johnson in E-10:209 – “The Epiphany Camp in the finished picture is the condition of truly repentant and believing, but not consecrated Jews and Gentiles.”
It should not require much spiritual understanding to realize that the foregoing statements by both Star Members will not embrace the Jewish nation in all its living individuals throughout the earth, but just a representative part – even only a part of those now in Palestine, or yet to arrive before Jacob's Trouble – any more than could be said of all individuals of the Jewish nation in the Jewish Age (although our Lord presented Himself at His First Advent to the Jew – the first to receive the Gospel Message, even though only a representative few accepted Him). The large majority of them failed to receive the blessings of the Mosaic Covenant, almost all of the “ten lost tribes” losing it, with the majority of the remaining minority also losing it. “Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh.” (Rom. 11:7) “For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly.” (Rom. 2:28) If we are very exacting, then we are forced to state that the qualified Jews in Palestine at the time the Kingdom is established (those still trusting in the promises to “the fathers”) will begin to receive the blessing of the quasi-elect even before their Christian section of the same class of “sons” (Joel 2:28) begin to receive theirs. The promise, “To the Jew first” (Rom. 2:9,10) is certain of accomplishment – if for no other reason than that they will be “on the ground floor” – right there in the land of Palestine when “the fathers” appear on the scene; but in addition to reason and facts, we have “also a more sure word of prophecy” (2 Pet. 1:19) given by our Lord as cited above, which is all-sufficient for us, But, before that time arrives, the undesirables – those not of the quasi-elect – will have been eliminated – “half the city shall go forth into captivity” (Zech. 14:1-3).
It is our conviction that R. G. Jolly understood all of the foregoing when he was under the benign supervision of the Epiphany Messenger. Why, then, is he completely silent about it in his new tract? Can it be he is back to his old trick of “misrepresentation” (See E-10:585), of which Brother Johnson warned the General Church? He has been telling his Campers Consecrated that they will be chief above all the quasi-elect, because of their “consecration unto death,” and would naturally be the first to be blessed under the Worthies – with a higher standing before the Lord than the unconsecrated quasi-elect; whereas, his new tract says the Jewish nation will be first to be blessed. The JW's use similar technique by telling their “Great Multitude” that they will precede all others – so there is little to choose between the promises they make to their hybrid non-existent class than there is of the promises R. G. Jolly is making to his Campers Consecrated, with both of them offering “strange fire” (false doctrine) in their attempts to “run ahead of the Lord” and create a special Restitution Class not described in the Scriptures or taught by either of the last two Principal Men. This reminds us of two unscrupulous political parties, each trying to out-promise the other, with the voters asking in disgust, “Why change? What can you give us that we don't already have?” Certainly, there is not much incentive for the JW's “Great Multitude” to decide to become Campers consecrated; so we ask if R. G. Jolly may have thought of all this when preparing his new tract, or if this is some more Parousia-Epiphany Truth on which he is now “sitting in darkness” (Psa. 107:10)? Please note he has defined quite clearly and correctly the true four elect classes of the Kingdom – but not one word about his own semi-elect consecrated fifth class in his recently constructed Camp – the same being a very close “relative'' to the JW's “Great Multitude.” Just an oversight, would you say – or “handling the Word of God deceitfully”?—2 Cor. 4:2. In our Three Babylons Tract we have presented the true view on this subject, exactly as Brother Russell and Brother Johnson taught it – as we have also analyzed the erroneous views of the JW's and LHMM on their hybrid non-existent classes, and have shown them to be perversions (Azazel means Perverter) by crown-lost leaders in Little Babylon of the Truth given by the last two Star Members. As for ourselves, we still accept in total the teachings of both Messengers, as defined aforegoing, the same being summarized in E-4:342 (7) as follows:
“Those faithful consecrators from 1881 until Restitution sets in, for whom there are no crowns available, and hence no spirit-begetting for Gospel-Age purposes, will be the Millennial associates of the Ancient Worthies in reward and service” – (with the unconsecrated but repentant and believing Jews and Gentiles comprising the quasi-elect, the “sons” of Joel 2:23—JJH).
And to afford credence and substance to the foregoing by Brother Johnson, we offer this from Brother Russell:
“It is our thought that with the closing of the 'door' of this Gospel Age there will be no more begetting of the Holy Spirit to the spirit nature. Any afterward coming to God through consecration, before the inauguration of the restitution work, will be accepted by Him, not to the spirit plane of being, but to the earthly plane. Such would come in under the same conditions as the Ancient Worthies ... Our thought is that whoever under such conditions as these will make a full consecration to the Lord, to leave all to follow in His ways, and will live up faithfully, loyally, to that consecration, may be privileged to be counted as a similar class to those who preceded this Gospel Age. We know of no reason why the Lord would refuse to receive those who make a consecration after the Close of the Gospel Age High Calling and before the full opening of the Millennium.” (This is exactly as we have presented it in “earnestly contending for the faith once delivered unto the saints” – Star Members – Jude 3—JJH) See Reprints 5761, Sept. 1, 1915 Watch Tower.
Be it noted that Brother Johnson built his Epiphany elaborations exactly in line with Parousia teachings, just as we do with both Parousia and Epiphany teachings (“The advancing Truth does not set aside the Truth formerly received, as some deceivers teach” – E-9:19 – as do the “Cousins” with their new false doctrine of Campers consecrated or Quasi-elect consecrated). And all during Brother Johnson's ministry he was refuting and denouncing the non-existent class of the Jehovah's Witnesses, just as we are now doing with the LHMM non-existent class – the only difference between Brother Johnson and us at present being that now we are burdened with just one more such non-existent class (Campers consecrated), which places an additional obligation upon us because of the deflection of our fellow pilgrims and former brethren. Gospel-Age history continues to repeat itself all through its last special stage (the Epiphany period). Brother Johnson's extra burdens were also imposed by his fellow pilgrims and former brethren.
And what shall we say of the same class of leaders here in the end of this Age, but to repeat what our Beloved Lord said of the Scribes and Pharisees at the beginning of the Gospel Age: “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves”—Matt. 23;15; and the Berean Comments on this Scripture: “With your missionary activities... One convert to your false and therefore injurious doctrines.... The effect of the preaching of the bungling arguments of sectarianism in India has been to turn the whole country from heathenism to complete infidelity.” (Yet R. G. Jolly claims they are bringing them to “justification”!)
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LETTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST
Dear Sirs: – Recently the husband of one of the members of my parish died. Several days later she received in the mail a copy of the Herald of the Epiphany, a special edition for August 1st, 1959. The letter was mailed from some place in Connecticut. It was unsigned and there was no return address. It was obvious that the sender had apparently read of the death in the newspaper and had addressed the correspondence to Mrs. ------- in hopes that under the duress of grief, this particular point of view of death and life after death might find acceptance.
This whole thing was extremely upsetting to Mrs. -------. She and I both feel that this kind of thing is neither good taste nor good Christianity. She and her family are regularly at worship in our church. They find their faith in Jesus Christ both helpful and inspiring. One of her sons is seriously considering the ministry as his vocation.
I realize that you may have little control over this kind of activity but if you do, I hope that you will do what you can to see that it ends. I will affirm your right to publish and to distribute literature and propaganda. But I do think that it is unfair to enter a family's life with this kind of thing at the time of death. Certainly I cannot imagine that Jesus would do this kind of thing.
Sincerely, ------- Minister (MASSACHUSETTS)
Our answer to the above letter:
Sir: – Christian Greetings!
In your letter of March 8 you inform us that your member Mrs. ------- received one of our papers after the burial of her husband, and that the contents of our tract are objectionable to you. We have no way of knowing who sent Mrs. ------- the paper; but we are convinced that the paper contained the Truth as revealed in the inspired Record if it bore our name. Therefore, when you resent “the entrance of that Word that giveth light” (Psa. 119:130), I cannot but wonder whether you are properly motivated in your ministerial activities. Those who love God's Word seek to bless others – especially in “their time of need” – with the comforting assurance of His Plan of Salvation and a future hope for the dead. That is my understanding of a Christian's obligation toward others, as embodied in that “wisdom that is from above.”
When you say you “cannot imagine Jesus would do this kind of thing,” I remind you of a prophetic text concerning Him (Isa. 61:1-3): “The spirit of the Lord is... upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek... to bind up the brokenhearted.... to comfort all that mourn.... the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.” Self-evidently, this text would have its primary application in just such a case as the death of Mr. -------; and in what better way can any of us apply ourselves to the grief-stricken than by ministering “the Good Word of God”? Surely, you yourself know that the ministers and leaders of our Lord's Day, the High Priest in particular (“he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin”—John 19:11), resented Him because He bore ''witness to the Truth” (which exposed their errors). Since the “servant is not above his Master,” we are not too much surprised when we receive much the same treatment from present-day ministers and leaders.
When Mrs. ------- came to you with our paper, could it possibly be that its most disturbing feature to you was the Truth it contained, and that she herself wanted to know how to reconcile this Truth with the error that you and others have taught her in the past?
No, my dear sir, I think Jesus would have done even as we have done had He been here under circumstances similar to ours; and we may be sure that He would have received much the same 'objections' from you and others that we receive as we seek to be a good witness and “good soldier” of Jesus Christ.
Sincerely yours, John J. Hoefle – Executive Director
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My dear Brother Hoefle – Greetings in His dear Name!
I appreciate your letter of June 7 very much, and also the last article you mentioned. I can't see how it could be better! I sure get blessings and wonderful help from them – in fact, all your writings are uplifting and encouraging, and are ringing true with both Parousia and Epiphany Truth. How we can “Praise the Lord for His merciful kindness is great toward us.” I am so thankful to the dear Lord for you, dear Brother, and I pray for the Lord to keep you faithful, so that we can be faithful – and rejoice in the Truth greatly.
I know Brother ------- got the papers, for he told me he had read them – and he, too, thought they were good....
My Christian love to you and all with you – and May the Lord's rich blessing be with you all is my prayer. Your sister in the One Faith ------- (PENNSYLVANIA)
P.S. Please send some more tracts....Thank you!
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ANNOUNCEMENT OF GENERAL INTEREST
OUR SPECIAL EFFORT: – In harmony with Bro. Johnson's custom, we designate October 13 through Nov. 10, which includes five Sundays – in which all may participate in serving at Church doors who have opportunity – for our Special Effort in antitypical Gideon's Second Battle. The Epiphany Messenger did this in honor of the memory of That Wise and Faithful Servant, who “poured out his soul unto death” in faithfully presenting these Truths to Big Babylon, and refuting and resisting their errors. We also invite all who are 'like-minded' to join with us in the distribution of the Three Babylons tract (which is a summary of Epiphany teaching) to individuals and groups in Little Babylon, in special remembrance and honor of the Epiphany Messenger, who likewise “poured out his soul unto death” in faithfully presenting these Truths to Little Babylon, while resisting and refuting their errors. We call our readers' attention to Bro. Johnson's statement on the Gideon tracts as follows:
“We now see that the public testimony that the Little Flock has been giving against Eternal Torment and the Consciousness of the Dead is connected with the leading of nominal-church section of Azazel's Goat from the door of the Tabernacle to the Gate of the Court .... We are certain that the faithful (Little Flock) will be the only ones to persist therein (1) unto a completion (2) in the true spirit of the High Priest,”
And to this we add: “True enough (v. 4), the dear ones who participate in this conflict are antitypically faint, i.e., they are weak in numbers and in resources: but the Lord God Almighty is with them by His Vicegerent, our beloved Gideon, the Lord Jesus, who is invested with all authority in heaven and in earth (Matt. 23:20), and with whom but one is a majority and an invincible host! And with an unwavering faith in and an implicit obedience to Him, though faint, they are yet pursuing! And with Him they will yet capture antitypical Zebah and Zalmunna, as they have struck them a blow, before which they are even now in ignominious flight with their terrified host.”See E-5:237 (64)
And we are certain that the faithful Youthful Worthies will heartily join with them, even as they did under Bro. Johnson – because we know any participation in the Battles of the Faithful will surely receive the approval and reward of the Lord. So, to all the faithful – whether Priests or Youthfuls – we gladly supply these “timely tracts” free, carrying charges prepaid, our only limitation being the recommendation that no more be ordered than will be faithfully distributed in the true spirit of a “good soldier” in this Battle. And we ask all to join with us in praying, God bless their memory!