NO. 166: INTO THE WILDERNESS

No. 166

In Lev. 16:21 it is stated that the “live goat” (the scapegoat) is sent away into the wilderness by the hand of a fit man; and in Rev. 12:6 we are told that “the woman fled into the wilderness.” The inquiry has come to us that these two references seem to use much the same expression; therefore, do they refer to the same thing?

There is a fine distinction here which must be clearly seen to avoid confusion. First of all, we stress again that a place in the Tabernacle of the wilderness journey to Canaan types a condition in the antitype. Thus, the Most Holy types the Divine spirit-born condition for this Gospel Age, the Holy types the spirit-begotten condition, the Camp the Christian-world condition, and the wilderness the isolation condition. Clearly enough, then, the “woman” and the “scapegoat” are in isolation, but for decid­edly different reasons. On page 70 of Tabernacle Shadows, par. 1, it is properly stated that the “wilderness is the separated, or dead condition” for the fully faith­ful; thus, it represents for them complete separation from the unfaithful and unbe­lievers in spiritual matters. And this is a state that they pursue voluntarily, be­cause “These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth” (Rev. 14:4) ­they “go (voluntarily) to Him without the Camp, bearing His reproach” (Heb. 13:13) ­they go to “a place prepared of God.” (Rev. 12:6)

But the scapegoat (the goat “for Azazel” – see margin Lev. 16:8) is said to be in the wilderness – the condition of separation – for just the reverse reason. First, the goat did not go voluntarily into the wilderness, it was sent there by the fit man to separate it from the assembled Israelites on the Day of Atonement, to bear away the sins confessed upon its head, and to undergo fit-man experiences (unfavorable cir­cumstances and persecuting persons). This is clearly stated in E-4:203 (65):

“Isolation from the faithful.... a condition in which they are not even given brotherly fellowship.”

Thus, this class is sent into the wilderness – forced to go there by the man of oppor­tunity – in direct contrast to “the woman,” representing the class that goes there voluntarily as “more than conquerors.” Miriam, in her leprous condition (Numbers 12), types this class – detailedly described by Brother Russell as the Great Company, the Great Multitude of Rev. 7:9. “And the Lord said unto Moses.... let her be shut out from the Camp seven days” – in the wilderness condition of complete isolation from the typical faithful priesthood (Num. 12:14) – as “sinners” separated from “the con­gregation of the righteous.” (Psa. 1:5)

It must be emphasized here, however, that in Miriam’s case it was an actual physical separation from the general assembly of Israel; whereas, in the antitype it is always spiritual, though often also physical – but this should not be construed to mean their expulsion entirely from Christendom. When they are disfellowshiped by the faithful (I Cor. 5:5), they then do experience a physical and a spiritual separa­tion, although they still have plenty of company among the Christian worldlings – and to all outward appearances they seem much the same as always. In the case of the faithful it is clearly stated that in their wilderness condition “she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there” – whereas, Azazel’s Goat is delib­erately exposed to the vicious insects and preying carnivore – “for the destruction of the flesh” – fit-man experiences.

The word Azazel occurs only four times in the Bible, all in Leviticus 16. Its meaning is not clearly defined in the various references, but it seems reasonably certain that the Israelites considered it as a name for the Evil One – “that old serpent, which is the Devil and Satan.” (Rev. 20:2) It was He, they said, who in­structed lewd women in the art of painting their faces, to use seductive perfume, etc., to entice men into their ‘parlors.’ And of the two goats presented before Aaron it is stated “one for the Lord.... one for Azazel.” Also, there is reason for stating it thus, because the antitypical goat “for the Lord” built up the true temple during the Age, while the “one for Azazel” built up Great Babylon, the counterfeit temple. Therefore, it is this latter class who will say, when the books are opened and the judgments set, “Have we not prophesied in they name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?” (Matt. 7:21-23) Then will come back the answer, “I never approved of you.” (See Diaglott) The following from E-1:136 is most fitting here:

“Certainly Jehovah’s past, present and future activities with the Great Company, before recent years individually, and since recent years as a class, exhibits remark­ably His power in the forms of self-control and patience. It is in these measurably unfaithful new creatures that Satan found more or less fit instruments for developing the errors of doctrine, practice and organization in Greek and Roman Catholicism and in Protestant Sectarianism. These were by their waywardness, stubbornness and revo­lutionism continually trying God’s self-control and patience; for, children of His, they were using, doubtless ignorantly, their greatest endeavors to advance what actu­ally were the plans of God’s chief enemy—Satan. Only a good father who has constantly sought the best interests of his children, who despite this turned against his interests and sided with his mortal enemy and unscrupulous competitor, can to a large degree enter into Jehovah’s feelings as to the course of the Great Company now and in the past. Surely, great self-control and patience have been His in dealing with them. How great care in these qualities must He take in opposing their revolutionism! How much of these will have to be in evidence until their fleshly mind is destroyed! How highly will they have to act to bring them to a complete cleansing and to a proper service of Himself! The same remarks with slight modifications apply to His dealing with those of the Youthful Worthies who in character act much like, as they are also cooperators with, the Great Company; as also the same remarks as were made on Jehovah’s self-control and patience in dealing with the Ancient Worthies apply to the activities of these two elements of God’s power as an attribute of character in His dealings with the good Youthful Worthies.”

Not too long back a prominent preacher, who conducted a regular Sunday-morning radio “Bible Class,” went into quite some detail to explain how the “scapegoat” was a type of our Lord Jesus, because upon him was confessed the sins of the people, in like manner as Jesus bore our sins. Had this man looked at the margin of his Bible, where it is stated that goat was “for Azazel” (The Devil), it is hardly likely he would have made such a transparent error. Certainly, Jesus was never set aside “for the Devil”; and, since the other goat was sacrificed in the Court, and its blood taken into the Most Holy, it is hardly likely that both goats could represent the same thing. And added to this, the blood of the goat for Azazel was not sacrificially shed; and, “without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins.”

VARIOUS TYPES

That the goat “for Azazel” is indeed the one permitted to fall into the hands of Satan is well confirmed in the New Testament, as instance 1 Cor. 5:1-5, where it is definitely stated that the brother there involved was “delivered unto Satin for the destruction of the flesh.” This is further confirmed in 1 Tim. 1:20: “Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blas­pheme.” Clearly enough, these are the antitype of the goat “for Azazel” (Satan); but here again a fine line of distinction is to be noticed. Almost certainly, the typical goat would be speedily destroyed after entering the wilderness – a total physical destruction; but of the two New Testament cases just cited the destruction of their flesh would be only partial – by unfavorable circumstances and persecuting persons, to rescue them from their wayward course. But this experience would destroy completely their fleshly minds from the malice, hatred, envy, pride, inclinations to falsehood, etc., from which they must be freed if “the spirit is to be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.” Thus, if we see any of this class claiming to be cleansed, but still practicing the works of the flesh, we may definitely conclude that their claim is just so much talk – and nothing more! Indeed, here the words of Jesus would properly apply: “By their fruits you will discover (understand, recognize) them.” (Matt. 7:16, Dia.) And, since the members of this class are not all equally guilty of the “works of the flesh,” we should not expect them to be shown as a unit in any one of the Old Testament types that reveal them. Therefore, we now consider some of these:

ELI – Before giving details here, it should be remembered that the Azazel-goat class did not come into prominence as a Class until here in the end of the Age, although they have existed as individuals all during the Age from shortly after Pentecost, as proven by the two instances given aforegoing. And that such have always greatly out­numbered the truly faithful should be apparent when we consider the “Little Flock” of the fully faithful as against the many who have professed to be true “followers of the Lamb whithersoever He goeth.” This also is confirmed by the words of Jesus that “Many are called, but few are chosen.”

For the end of the Age especially, we offer Eli as a variant type of the Great Multitude in Big Babylon who see the evils existent there – “all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof” (Eze. 9:4) – but who are too weak, spineless or indolent to make positive protest against them. These are they who “make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel My people” (1 Sam. 2:29). But the Priest Eli had two sons, Hophni and Phinehas – “sons of Belial (worthless, reck­less, lawless ones); they knew not the Lord.” (1 Sam. 2:12, 22) The same are typi­cal of the Roman Catholic and Protestant clergy, the majority of whom today show clearly by their acts and teachings that they are indeed the antitypes of Eli’s sons. Both of them were killed in battle in one day; Eli also died that same day; and the ark of God fell into the hands of the Philistines (1 Sam. 4:17) – the same being typ­ical of events that will occur in the Armageddon day just ahead of us. In that destruc­tive day all the clergy will also die – the majority of them physically, with those that survive ceasing longer to be “gentlemen of the cloth.” In substance, antitypi­cal Saul and his three sons (1 Sam. 31:2) come to a similar end in the Armageddon day just ahead.

SAUL – While King Saul of Israel types a number of characters, he is perhaps out­standing in his representation of the crown-lost leaders of the various denominations in Christendom, who always seized the place of leadership from the faithful Star Mem­bers. And like their type, these have failed to put obedience above service, for which the faithful Little Flock leaders have repeatedly rebuked them throughout the Age, but to no avail. One of their outstanding weaknesses has been failure to “Wait on the Lord”; they would set up the Kingdom themselves, since the Lord seemed to “delay.” They also have failed to make a complete job of subduing their love of sin – just as Saul failed to extirpate all the Amalekites and their livestock, as the Lord had com­manded. (I Sam. 15:8) They have also smitten their fellow servants, as Saul sought to slay David. Too, they have become teachers of error – just as Saul took to witch­craft (typical of especially deceptive false teachings); they have offered much “strange fire” (false doctrine) before the Lord.

It should also be noted that one of the outstanding evils of King Saul’s char­acter was hypocrisy. (1 Sam. 15:13: “Manifesting considerable hypocrisy” – Berean Comment) Therefore, we should expect to find this same evil trait in his antitype. This is clearly revealed in his prototype, the Pharisees of Jesus’ day, of whom He said, “within ye are full of hypocrisy” (Matt. 23:28); and He emphatically warned the Disciples, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.” (Luke 12:1) The principal reason they have been forced to be hypocrites is their lack of “the wisdom from above.... which is without hypocrisy.” (Jas. 3:17) Jesus Himself, being filled with the “wisdom which is from above” needed not to present a false front on any occasion; whereas, His accusers were forced to that very evil because they lacked that wisdom. The identical situation has existed all during the Age, with the hypocrites (antitypical Saul) usually gaining the preeminence over the fully faithful who would not stoop to such conduct.

And the same has continued unto this day. The imitation wheat has repeatedly “cast out” the faithful brethren (Isa. 66:5) – even as hypocritical King Saul shunted the fully faithful Samuel into the background that he might grasp power and the pre­eminence before Israel. And this has caused the multitudes to consider the hypocrites as “examples of the believers” – just as the Jewish mob shouted, “Crucify Him,” as they supported the evil course of the Pharisees. “He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.” It is worthy of note that the vast majority of “saints” that have been canonized by the Roman Church have been at best crown-losers – outstanding examples being “Saint” Augustine and “Saint” Francis of Assisi (“the poor little rich man, “the first of the “begging” friars).

LOT – Lot types this same class of people from a slightly different aspect. So long as he remained with Abraham (type of the fully faithful), there was much prosper­ity – “their substance was great.... the land was not able to bear them” (Gen. 13:6). Their prosperity soon produced strife, so that Abraham magnanimously offered Lot and his herdsmen his choice of the land they possessed. “And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere, before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.... and Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan.” (Gen. 13: 10,11) At this Abraham graciously retired to the Plain of Mamre – separated from the evils chosen by Lot. The evils of the Cities of the Plain did not deter Lot, for he “sat in the gate of Sodom” (place of prominence) and continued there until the Lord “rained brimstone and fire.... and overthrew those cities,” as Lot lost all he had gained by his greedy choice. This type has already been partially fulfilled, but it will yet produce a much greater fulfillment in the near future. Rahab followed much the same course as Lot, remaining in Jericho until the walls fell down, and her possessions were destroyed.

These are just a few of the outstanding types of the Great Multitude. All of them in their antitypes may be grouped under the title of Azazel’s Goat. They all have some very good qualities – just as all of them also have some outstanding bad qualities, evils which they failed to subdue sufficiently to retain their standing in the Little Flock. Some of them have been highly respected by the world in gen­eral – moreso in many instances than their fully faithful brethren. This is because some of them have stressed morality and abstinence from alcohol, tobacco, etc. They have been the crusaders who would reform the world, who have raised large sums for foreign missions, social uplift, etc. – “many wonderful works.”

To which we would add the words of Moses: “Rise up, Lord, and let thine enemies be scattered; let them that hate thee flee before thee.” —Numbers 10:35.

Sincerely your brother,

John J. Hoefle, Pilgrim

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QUESTIONS OF GENERAL INTEREST

QUESTION: – What about the persecution of Jehovah’s Witnesses recently – especially in Africa? Are they “suffering for righteousness”? (1 Pet. 3:14)

ANSWER: – The question opens the floodgates, as it were, because two people might experience almost identical abuse at the hand of persecutors, with the one receiving it as “suffering for righteousness,” and the other not so. As an outstanding example, we instance the terrible Jewish persecutions by the Gentiles all during the Age, and especially here at its end; yet the Psalmist defines such as foolish: “Fools because of their transgression (their great transgression in crucifying the Lord of Glory), and because of their iniquities (violations of the Law Covenant), are afflicted.” True Christians have seldom, if ever, suffered greater persecution for their belief than have the Jews, yet we are told the Jews received theirs as “fools”; whereas, the true Christians have been “blessed” in their afflictions and persecutions brought upon them by their faithfulness to the Truth and its spirit.

While the Witnesses and the Jews do not allow of the same analysis, we believe that among the Witnesses themselves their persecutions may be regarded in different manner, depending upon the degree of true Christian character that may actuate them. Some of the Witnesses may actually be progressing toward “a knowledge of the Truth,” with which they will be blessed in “due time.” Thus, St. Paul counsels us, “In meekness correcting the opposers; perhaps God may give them a change of mind in order to a knowledge of the Truth; and that they may be recovered from the snare of the enemy, who have been entrapped by him for his pleasure.” (2 Tim. 2:25,26, Dia.)

Certainly, all of us will concede that there are many well-intentioned people with the Witnesses, just as is true also of many in the Roman Church. In Africa, be it noted, many of the priests and nuns were unmercifully tortured by the savages before they were killed - the very same treatment some of the Witnesses have also been receiving. Shall we say these also “suffer for righteousness’ sake”? In all these systems it is usually the ‘little fry’ who take the beatings. Do we hear of the Pope or the Cardinals receiving any of it? Or, do we have any record that the “successor” to Pastor Russell, or the present “successor” to the former successor, having received any intensive tribulation?

It would seem in order here to stress that the founder of every real Truth movement was viciously persecuted by those who claimed to be the teachers of truth. First and outstanding among these is Jesus Himself, with honorable mention also given to many others such as Arius, Martin Luther, Thomas Cranmer, John Wesly, William Miller, Pastor Russell, etc. – our Lord crucified, Thomas Cranmer burned at the stake, many of the real truth leaders manhandled more or less violently. Satan is wily enough to recognize that if the head is cut off of anything the body will die without other help. “I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.”

As the various systems of error have developed from the Truth movements, the situation has been much the reverse of the foregoing. “Caiaphas (High Priest in Israel and head of the Sanhedrin) gave counsel that it was expedient that one man should die for the people” (John 18:14); and Jesus specifically said of him that “he hath the greater sin” than Pilate who eventually have the order for the crucifixion. (Jn. 19:11) The religious leaders of that time had built up an imposing system of error and half truths from the service established by faithful Moses; and, as so often occurs in such situations some of those half truths were more misleading than whole errors.

Came then the Papal system which did identically the same thing in much greater degree to the teachings of Jesus and the Apostles, as they also “age the fat,” as the Sanhedrin had been doing at the end of the Jewish Age. Here now in the end of the Age comes the Witnesses, with an imposing system of error and half truths, their half truths also being more misleading than whole errors. As instance, they still stress the doctrine of Restitution, but they have perverted it out of all recognition to the way Pastor Russell explained it. And those of us who know the truth know very well the vilification and slander and threats of physical violence that were hurled at him, as he continued patiently to “preach the Word.” But the errorists, the perverters of those truths he taught, those who now control the Witnesses’ system, experience little or none of the abuse that came to Pastor Russell.

It is not within our province to pass judgment upon the individuals in these various sects; but it is reasonable to conclude that the large majority of them believe what their leaders tell them to believe – beliefs which carry many self-evident contradictions. The Roman Catholics contend they are following the teach­ings of St. Peter; the Witnesses claim their adherence to the teachings of Pastor Russell. The vagaries of the Witnesses are glaringly apparent to the Catholics ­and the vagaries of the Catholics are glaringly apparent to the Witnesses. It is much the same situation as existed among the nations in the thirties. At that time Hitler was telling the truth about the rulers of other nations, even as those same rulers were telling their people the truth about Hitler. The citizens on each side were receiving about half the truth, by which they were stampeded into taking up arms against each other – each partly in the right, each partly in the wrong.

If we would properly evaluate the Roman claims about St. Peter, we should con­sider what St. Peter taught, place it beside the present Catholic teachings, after which it will not be difficult for the unbiased mind to see clearly the fallacy of the Catholic claims. The same may be said of the Witnesses’ claim to be teaching what Pastor Russell taught. Just take their present teachings, place them beside the Six Volumes of Studies in the Scriptures written by Pastor Russell, and the falsity of their claim will be as readily apparent as is the Roman claim about their adherence to the teachings of St. Peter. Both of these systems of error claim to be the One True Church (the channel of the Truth) – no salvation apart from them.

There is one outstanding fact regarding the various true Christian movements during the Age: The founders of those movements were themselves the special target of the Adversary. All are intimately familiar with the treatment Jesus received, with the treatment St. Peter received; and many of us know of the treatment Pastor Russell received. In each instance the leader was the special target of abuse, with the same reaching out and “touching” their adherents. With the false systems the sit­uation is much reversed – Usually the leaders enjoy “peace and safety” even as their supporters accept the abuse. Thus, it is difficult to discern much genuine “suffer­ing for righteousness” in the Witnesses’ experiences in Africa at this time. Many of them, however, are suffering for their blind adherence and devotion to their sect.

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QUESTION: – How can Bro. Jolly’s ‘seventh’ saved class from among mankind relate to 1 Kgs. 6:14: “Solomon built the house of the Lord, and finished it”?

ANSWER: – There is no harmony between the two teachings. The antitype of building the House of the Lord in this Epiphany period means the Epiphany Messen­ger “Arranging God’s people in their separate classes and in their Epiphany work.” And the Scripture is very clear and emphatic that “Solomon built the house, and finished it.” (1 Kgs. 6:14,38) When RGJ was attempting to establish the Epiphany Messenger as the last saint, he made great play upon these very Scriptures to “prove” that the “house was finished.” But now it suits his convenience to set that aside so he can add to the “house” – make a place for his Campers Consecrated. If the Epi­phany Messenger “built the house, and finished it” and he certainly did unless we now want to deny that he was the Epiphany Solomon then RGJ’s attempt to put an addition to that “house” is simply one more of his revolutionisms against the Epi­phany Truth.

As the good Epiphany Solomon explained, one error usually begets other errors; and here is additional proof of that truth. RGJ’s Campers Consecrated doctrine has forced him to establish tentative justification in the Camp (outside the linen cur­tain of Christ’s righteousness); it has forced him to replace both That Servant’s and the Epiphany Messenger’s teachings that the Jews will be the leading restitution­ists under the Kingdom reign; and now to construct an addition to the “house of the Lord.” He should never have attempted to produce a new doctrine at all, because the Epiphany Solomon said such a thing was definitely prohibited to any Levite, the same being the offering of “strange fire” before the Lord. His latest attempt to produce a seventh class from among mankind in the “house of the Lord” should impress all with the awesome warning given us against such performance.

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LETTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST

Epiphany Bible Students Ass’n

Dear Sirs: Will you please send me the following editions: Nos. – 1. Where are the Dead, 2 – What is the Soul, 3 – The Resurrection of the Dead, 4 – The Three Babylons, 5 – Two Distinct Salvations, 6 – God’s Great Sabbath Day, 7 – The Great Reformer.

I enclose $.... for mailing and handling, and in recognition of your supreme efforts and probably correct interpretation of Scriptures.

Sincerely, ------- (CALIFORNIA)

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Dear Brother Hoefle: Greetings in our Redeemer’s name!

Let me take the opportunity of wishing you and yours God’s richest blessing at this Memorial season. Your articles sent to us from time to time are so helpful and much appreciated. God is certainly manifesting the counsels of hearts, and this is seen readily enough about us from those once schooled in the Truth given by the last two Star Members. But despite the errors prevalent in the various groups, the Truth as due is always with the faithful people of God.

Despite the great blessings the friends of the LHMM proclaimed they receive from their Conventions, the true characteristics of the hearts of many are made manifest. If the light in one become darkness, how great is that darkness! (And revealing their true characters, they also explain to us why the Lord is allowing them to go deeper and deeper into error with each passing year. This will continue to a completion—JJH)

Let us not be discouraged over the unpleasant situation amongst those we once fellowshiped, but by the God of all Grace be determined to be faithful. My prayers are for you and the dear ones with you and elsewhere. May God bless you!

Yours by His Grace, ------- (JAMAICA)

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Dear Brother Hoefle: Grace and peace!

This is just a note to tell you I moved from my former address and am now living at the above address. I received the last paper, so everything is okay. Thank you for all the wonderful literature you have been sending me. Sister ------- has not been feeling very well lately.........

When I look at the world today, I think — God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform. How blind the people and this new generation of today have become. Give my love to all in Mount Dora.

Much Christian love, ------- (OHIO)

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Dear Brother Hoefle: Christian greetings!

We trust you and Sister Hoefle are enjoying good health. Lately the Class has not been in correspondence with you, but you may be assured we are endeavoring to press on, continuing our studies. Brother...... gives us a talk now and then. On the whole, the friends are in good spirits.

We look forward to receiving your papers, which keep us up-to-date with the due truth.

Kindly let us have an assorted quantity of tracts, as our supply is nearly exhausted. You may mail them to Sister ------- as that will be more convenient to all.

We join in sending warm Christian love to you, dear Sister Hoefle and the friends there.

Your sister by His Grace ------- (TRINIDAD)

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

We are glad to carefully read your papers and they have been a help and comfort over the years. Keep up the good work as long as the Lord may direct.

This little bit of devalued so-called money is to be used in any way you see fit. Use it quickly or it may be worth nothing.

Our dear old Sr. ------- passed on several months ago. She was eighty-eight or eighty-nine. She came here for Memorial 16 or 17 times until she got too feeble to make the trip.

Of course this mite is not expected to pay for work in getting the paper to us, but we hope it will help pay postage. Let Sister ------- off from work soon enough so she can come by to see us. I am running a race with her in age. She is still ahead but I may catch up some day.

Christian love and our earnest prayers.

Brother & Sister ------- (LOUISIANA)

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Dear Brother Hoefle: Christian greetings!

I am so far behind in my letter answering. I will try this day to get this gift of $.... for the work you are so worthy of doing – your labor of love for the dear Brothers and Sisters. I feel very slack. I have so very much to be thankful to our dear Heavenly Father and His dear Son for so many blessings, but with body and mental failures, more writing this past 8 months due to many long illnesses and deaths among my relatives and friends, I am losing out on keeping up.

This is a request I have been anxious to ask. Could you send me 5 copies of No. 163 – January 1969? I have read and re-read this most valuable Truth, proof of Bible statements and today’s events of results......... I do hope you have some extras on hand. The enclosed will apply on postage and cost of printing, I hope.

I am praying that all is going well in your move – that each one with you in the Household of Faith, will keep looking up to our Heavenly Father, for I know there is no other help. I have certainly had proof of past 40 years, the teachings of Pastor Russell, etc.

May God continue leading and keeping you in Truth and all your dear family of helpers – is my daily prayer. Thanks for your prayers for us, as we need them.

Christian love from Sister ------- (CALIFORNIA)

NO. 165: SOME THOUGHTS FOR THE MEMORIAL

No. 165

My dear Brethren: – Grace and peace through our Beloved Master!

Comes once more the “remembrance” of our Lord’s death – this year 1969 the proper time being after 6 p.m. Sunday, March 30. The method for determining the date is this: The moon nearest the Spring Equinox comes new at 6:51 a.m. March 18 at the 30th Meridian East (the Meridian nearest Jerusalem). This makes Nisan 1 begin at 6 p.m., March 17 Bible time, with Nisan 14 starting at 6 p.m. March 30. There still seems to be considerable misunderstanding about the correct time – even among those who have a reasonably good knowledge of the meaning of the bread and the wine – so we would stress once more that the condition of the moon on Nisan 14 is of no consequence, because that date is unchangeably stated in the Bible as the only date upon which the Passover is to be kept. Thus, once we come correctly to Nisan 1, the remainder is simply a matter of simple addition.

Some brethren are yet apparently confused about some of this calculation; they still believe the moon should be full for the Memorial. The moon represents Israel in this Passover ritual, and it is always substantially full by Nisan 14, but not always completely so; some years it misses by two or three days. When the moon be­gins to wane after reaching its fullness, it well represents the national and religious decline of Jewry – just as its coming to the full about Nisan 14 pictures forth the pinnacle of Divine favor that came to them through the ministry of Jesus at His First Ad­vent. “That people dwelling in darkness, saw a great light; and to those inhabiting a region, even a shadow of death, a Light arose.” (Matt. 4:16, Dia.) Having had the teachings of Jesus and the Apostles available to us most of our lives, it is probably impossible to evaluate fully the dazzling splendor of the Truth they proclaimed to the Jews at that time; but we believe it is a proper appraisal to state that the presence of those teachings has been a great factor in the progress of those nations who have been most influenced by them. About one-sixth of the world’s population has produced most of the great inventions, both constructive and destructive; and this in turn has enabled them to dominate the affairs of the other five-sixths throughout this Age.

CONSIDER HIM

Inasmuch as the bread and the wine are a Memorial, a representation, of “Christ our Passover who is sacrificed for us,” it follows without argument that this time of year is especially appropriate to hark to the words of St. Paul: “Consider Him atten­tively who has endured such opposition from sinners, so that you may not be wearied, being discouraged in your souls. You did not yet resist to blood, contending against sin.” (Heb. 12:3,4--Dia.) And, as we “consider Him,” it is very clear the Scriptures do not intend that we consider Him before His baptism at Jordan, because we know noth­ing whatever of His life from the age of twelve until He became thirty years old, the age in Israel when men were really concluded to be men. And, since all institutional types that begin on a specific date must continue until their antitype appears, and since Jesus was the antitypical bullock of the Day of Atonement sacrifice, we are forced to the conclusion that the day of His birth was on the tenth day of the seventh month, the month Tishri.

Thus, St. Paul makes the declaration, “He takes away the first that He may estab­lish the second.” (Heb. 10:9, Dia.) And he clearly states in the verse following: “By which will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” The Apostle in this chapter is comparing the typical Atonement Day sacrifices with the antitypical – contrasting the inefficacy of those that must be offered year after year with the one that was offered “once for all” – the One enduring sacrifice – that need never be repeated. Therefore, by the offering of Him­self, He did indeed take away the first (the Atonement Day bullock) that He might establish the second, which need never be repeated. This next prompts the explanation of the way He did this:

HIS NARROW WAY – This He explained at the very outset of His ministry: “Enter in through the narrow gate; for wide is the gate of destruction, and broad that way leading thither! and many are they who enter through it. How narrow (strait – tight, close, constricted) is the Gate of Life! how difficult that way leading thither! and how few are they who find it.” (Matt. 7:13,14—Dia.) And, “having left us an example that we should follow in His steps,” He could indeed state the rule of procedure to all who would accept His name: “If any one wish to come after Me (by voluntary choice), let him renounce himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” (Matt. 16:24) It is well stated that the most difficult thing is to know thyself, and the easiest thing is to advise another; but in the foregoing statement Jesus was not only advis­ing others, He was actually doing Himself what He had advised – and He continued to do it for 3½ years, from Jordan to Calvary.

During that 3½ years He was definitely a non-conformist. One of the main charges against Him was that “He stirreth up the people”; and there is no doubt that His faith­ful Disciples “followed in His steps.” Note the counsel of St. Paul in Rom. 12:2: “Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.” The Apostle was definitely out of step with those about him, which made him a very unpop­ular person. It has been well stated that the wise man adapts himself to his sur­roundings, but the fool tries to adapt his surroundings to him – and thus we progress. Paul told the Corinthians: “We are fools for Christ’s sake... we are despised. Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling place; and labor, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: being defamed, we entreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things as unto this day.” (1 Cor. 4:10-13) Here the Apostle leaves nothing to the imagination: He, too, was walking a “narrow way” – a straight way – a tight, close constricted way. Of Jesus Himself, it is written, “Of the people, there was none with Him.”

HIS BAPTISM – “Comes Jesus from Galilee to Jordan, to be immersed by John (the Baptiser). But John refused Him, saying, ‘I have need to be immersed by Thee, and thou comest to me?’ But Jesus answering, said to him, ‘Permit it now; for thus it behooveth us to fulfill all righteousness.” Did Jesus’ immersion actually “fulfill all righteousness”? No, it certainly did not. It did so only figuratively. His immer­sion there did antitype the killing of the bullock on Atonement Day, but the antityp­ical burning of that bullock required the whole 3½ years of what Jesus did. “He poured out His soul unto death” – just as one might take a pitcher of water and slowly pour it out until all is gone. So also Jesus was slowly pouring out His soul (His very being) unto death for 3½ years. This is shown in a slightly different way when He took the cup, and said, “All of you drink all of it, for this is my blood of the covenant, that is poured out for many” – represented by the bullock’s blood taken into the Holy and sprinkled on and before the Mercy seat, and by the slow burning of the animal’s vital parts on the brazen altar in the Court of the Tabernacle.

Thus, the human death of Jesus, and His human righteousness worked out by His obedience are the actual fulfillment of all righteousness of justice – duty love to God and man. But it went beyond that: His walk from Jordan to Calvary – His narrow, strait (difficult) way – fulfilled the law of disinterested love toward God and man; He not only laid “down His life for His friends,” He did it for His enemies as well. “If I be lifted up, I shall draw all men unto Me.” By His immersion (baptism) in Jordan, and by His continuance in His “narrow way” to Calvary He did Indeed “fulfill all righteousness” in His humanity and in His new creature. “I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened (in difficulty) till it be accomplished!” (Luke 12:50) The Diaglott does indeed make this emphatic: “I have an immersion to undergo; and how am I pressed (in difficulty), till it may be consummated.” This was not looking back to His immersion at Jordan; It was a preview of His narrow way from that time until He eventually “poured out His soul” on the cross.

HIS STEADFASTNESS – His determination to continue in the narrow – strait (diffi­cult) – way is forcefully expressed in Luke 9:51: “When the time was come that He should be received up, He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem.” The central thought of this Scripture is to establish the perfect patience of our Lord, which grace He had in excellency of balance with all the other graces. The Biblical patience is an active grace, one of the seven chief graces, meaning the determination and ability to continue cheerfully and without abatement against any and all obstacles that might tend to detour Him from His narrow way. And this He did in perfection and unto a completion.

Especially did He do this with respect to the Truth. “To this end was I born and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the Truth” (Jn. 18:37); and the Berean Comment for this text says, “It was this ‘Good confession be­fore Pontius Pilate’ that cost our Lord His life.” Thus it has been also with many of the martyrs during this Age – crucified, beheaded, thrown to the lions, strangled, burned, hanged, dismembered – as they bore witness to the Truth. And, as we “consider Him attentively,” we are forced to the conclusion that He was our “example” – to go and do likewise. And it is only to those who steadfastly do this – “faithful until death” – that the full laurels of victory will eventually come.

Jesus first studied the Truth. There is little doubt that He had memorized the entire Old Testament; and His study of the Scriptures that testified of Him so en­grossed Him for the forty days after Jordan that He neither ate nor drank. St. Paul also retired into Arabia for three years (Gal. 1:17, 18) after his conversion that he might study and meditate on the best course for him to pursue as respects the “great light” that had come to him. The lesson here is clear enough for us: We should also first be properly informed before we attempt to minister “the good word of God” to others. Even in the distribution of free literature, That Servant always advised those who would distribute it should first read it themselves.

Jesus also practiced what He preached – perfectly – in thought, word and deed. St. Paul, and all others of similar inclination, also practiced what they preached ­imperfectly, of course, because of their faulty inheritance. Thirdly, Jesus, and all His faithful followers have spread the Truth to the best of their ability – often mis­understood, frequently misrepresented and their words twisted and often misquoted by the henchmen of Satan. But they kept steadfastly at it – “endured to the end” – through “glory and disgrace; through bad fame and good fame; as deceivers, and yet true; as grieving, but always rejoicing, as poor, but enriching many (by their ministry of the Truth); as having nothing, yet possessing all things.” (2 Cor. 6:8-10, Dia.) And the rules are still the same as they have been all during the Age: “He that endureth unto the end, the same shall be saved.” Some determined that “the end” would be in 1914; others determined that “the end” would be to 1954-56; but steadfast faithfulness to the Truth knows no date: “He that endureth unto the end, the same shall be saved.” And, as we consider Him – as we “do this in remembrance” – it is timely and proper that we determine anew, steadfastly determine anew, to “Be faithful to the Lord, the Truth, and the brethren” – to “preach the Word, in season, out of season.” Perhaps it is timely that we consider a few lines from the Poem:

When some great sorrow, like a mighty river,

Flows through your life with peace-destroying power,

And dearest things are swept from sight forever,

Say to your heart each trying hour:

“This, too, shall pass away.”

When ceaseless toil has hushed your song of gladness,

And you have grown almost too tired to pray,

Let this truth banish from your heart its sadness,

And ease the burdens of each trying day:

“This, too, shall pass away.”

When fortune smiles, and, full of mirth and pleasure,

The days are flitting by without a care,

Lest you should rest with only earthly treasure,

Let these few words their fullest import bear:

“This, too, shall pass away.”

When earnest labor brings you fame and glory,

And all earth’s noblest ones upon you smile,

Remember that life’s longest, grandest story

Fills but a moment in earth’s little while:

“This, too, shall pass away.”

HIS FAITHFULNESS – Faithfulness means full of faith – firm in adherence to prom­ises, contracts, treaties, etc.: true in affection or allegiance; worthy of confi­dence and belief. Jesus was all of this in perfection as He pursued His narrow way. This was likewise true of St. Paul: “This one thing I do.... I even esteem all things to be a loss, on account of the excellency of the knowledge of the anointed Jesus my Lord (on whose account I suffered the loss of all things, and consider them to be vile refuse, so that I may gain Christ).... to know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings (the understanding of and adherence to His narrow way).”—Phil. 3:8-13—Dia. “I came not to do my own will, but the will of Him who sent Me,” said Jesus; and He truthfully stated also, “I delight to do thy will, 0 my God, Thy law is written in My heart.” Thus, He was always dead to self, but alive toward God; He always maintained the peace of God which passeth understanding – that “perfect peace” which was always His as He kept His mind “fixed” upon God the Father. (Isa. 26:3)

When we remember in all of this that Jesus “was touched with a feeling of our in­firmities,” we must conclude that many of our appetites and desires were His also. Often we hear people say, I don’t care what others think of me! This assertion is fundamentally nonsense. In so many of the things we do – our mode of dress (usually fashioned measurably by the times in which we live), often our conduct, even some­times in the things we eat – the opinion of others influences us. Certainly, there is no evil in wanting others to think well of us – so long as we do not compromise principle or domestic ethics to secure that good opinion. Even with “the beggarly elements,” their drinking bouts, their bawdy conversations, and the like, are often much influenced by their desire to impress others of their caste – to be admired of them for their bravado, etc. Thus, Jesus also would certainly wish the good opinion of others – without which He could have done very little. The fine robe He wore to the cross was a gracious gift from some one who had a good opinion of Him. Quite often the food He ate, the house He occupied, were the result of another’s good opin­ion of Him. Nor was there anything to criticize in this. However, in all of this, never once did He leave the narrow (strait, difficult way) in compromise to secure what He wanted. So also it should be with us.

None of His faithful followers have followed this course to the same degree of perfection that Jesus did. But some of them have been model examples for the rest of us. St. Paul had been one of those few “noble, rich, wise” – a brilliant lawyer, wealthy, of the social elite – who denied himself, took up his cross, to follow the Lord. Prior to that fateful trip to Damascus, he had cherished an insatiable hate toward the despised Christians – a real zealot bent upon their extinction. But once he saw the better way, he was equally determined to “endure unto the end” in his ser­vice of the Great Commission (Matt. 28:19); and it is to his praise that he could eventually write to his beloved ‘son’ Timothy: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept (guarded) the faith (the Truth)” – fully faithful to the end, knowing as he wrote to Timothy, that in a few days the Romans would chop off his head. And similar praise may be given to many others – all of which should renew our determination as we “do this in remembrance” that “neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom.8:38, 39)

As the minute and detailed religious system was given to the Jews through Moses at Sinai and in the Tabernacle construction and subsequent service, so the Levites were also unconditionally and emphatically given to that service. It is said they were “wholly given” – not partially, but with all the heart, mind, soul and strength. As such, they typified the Gospel Age priests and Levites in their service to Gospel Age matters, all of whom are owned by God. Accordingly, unfaithfulness in any of their religious activities would be unfaithfulness to God, Who always requires an accounting for neglect or willful abstinence from those who have covenanted to serve Him. Accordingly, complete faithfulness on the part of the Levites during this Age would usually lead to promotion to the priesthood; and full faithfulness on the part of the male members of the priesthood would often lead to promotion to the office of “prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers” in His Body (Eph. 4:11-13), “for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the Body of Christ.... unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.”

In His faithfulness, Jesus endured the cross “for the joy that was set before Him”; and we offer the following from Parousia Vol. 5, p.118 in elaboration of this statement:

“This joy before Him, we may reasonably suppose, was: (1) A joy to render a service which would be acceptable to the Father. (2) A joy to redeem mankind, and make possible their rescue from sin and death. (3) A joy in the thought that by the accomplishment of this redemption He would be accounted worthy of the Father to be the mighty ruler and blesser, King and Priest of the world; to reveal to the world a knowledge of the Divine Plan, and to lift up from sin to Divine grace whosoever would accept of the terms of the New Covenant. (4) A joy that the Father had prom­ised Him; not only a return to spirit glory that He had with the Father before the world was, but a more excellent glory – to be exalted far above angels, principalities, powers, and every name that is named, and to be made an associate in the Kingdom of the Universe, next to the Father – on the right hand of the Majesty on high; and partaker of the Divine nature, with its inherent or immortal life.”

In an accommodated sense, the foregoing is also “the joy” set before all those during this Age who have “followed in His steps”; and it is our hope and prayer for all our readers that their preparation for, and participation in this year’s “remembrance” will be instrumental in increasing the joy set before them. As in previous years, we suggest to all the reading of the Passover chapter in Parousia Volume 6; and we shall be grateful for the report of your experiences therein.

In St. Paul’s words, “I desire that fruit may abound to your account, and that my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in Glory by Christ Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you all.” (Phil. 4:17, 19. 23)

Sincerely your Brother, John J. Hoefle, Pilgrim

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QUESTION OF GENERAL INTEREST

QUESTION: – On page 14 of the January Present Truth Brother Jolly discusses the number of saved classes from among mankind, and he says, “we are not to seek to limit the Divine wisdom in respect to the number of saved classes.” Brother Johnson tells us that there are SIX SAVED CLASSES from among mankind. What do you think of Brother Jolly’s statement?

ANSWER: – The statement taken by itself is certainly true. No one with the “spirit of a sound mind” would attempt to limit, or even tamper with that which is given in Holy Writ. However, RGJ’s statement here is open to some question: Did Brother Johnson attempt to “limit the Divine wisdom” when he taught and proved by numerous Scriptures that the number of saved human classes should properly be re­garded as SIX (the number of evil or imperfection – the number of classes affected by the evil reign of 6,000 years)? We would refer our questioner to Brother Johnson’s able and clear explanation and treatise of the subject in Epiphany Volume 17, Chap. 2.

However, if the Executive Trustee of the LHMM is now right, then it seems that the Lord did not give Brother Johnson the whole Truth on the subject. Do you believe that? While we are not to seek to limit Divine wisdom, we should readily realize that Divine wisdom does limit us; and this is clearly shown in Joel 2:28, 29; in the Taber­nacle picture; and in the type of the Ark. In the latter Noah and his three sons and their wives type the four elect “saved classes” (the leaders and the ledlings), the “clean” animals, the believing Jews and Gentiles, and the unclean, the heathen, etc. The clean animals include many varieties, and the unclean even more varieties; but there isn’t the slightest hint that we should differentiate between the various species to show more than the two divisions given in the Bible.

The Ark and the Tabernacle show four elect classes – and only four. These are the saved who will receive “the resurrection of the just,” as described in our Febru­ary paper No. 164. If we want to go beyond that, then why stop at fourteen, as RGJ does? Of course, he says he could “go on dividing and subdividing”; and we would agree that words are always with him in super-abundance. If he wants to take St. Paul’s statement in Eph. 4:11, 12, he can find there five more divisions – Apostles, prophets, evangelists, elders and ledlings. Note, however, we say “divisions,” be­cause these five are all five ‘divisions’ of one Class – just as the six sons of Ke­turah are all six divisions of one Class. When he says those restitutionists are dif­ferent “classes,” he attempts a very shoddy use of the word ‘classes’ in this instance ­and actually sets aside the clear Scriptural teaching as taught by the Epiphany Messen­ger; and it is little wonder that Brother Johnson wrote into the record that RGJ is “loquacious, repetitious and false-accusing” (See E-10:591); and that he is one of the “good Levites,” one of “the crown-losers in the Epiphany Movement – who “darken the Truth by their teachings without proper knowledge.” This is an exact quotation of Brother Johnson’s description of him, and not ours – to which we need add no comment of our own. Let us also note Brother Johnson’s charge against him in Epiphany Volume 10, p. 585, bottom, and p. 586, top, with reference to the dying cancerous widow: “R. G. Jolly again was J.’s main opponent before the church on the subject.” When the Epiphany Messenger says “again” he is telling us that this was not the first time RGJ was his “main opponent.”

Yet RGJ accuses us of “having very limited spiritual vision, and inability to discern clearly,” even though there is no record of such against us made by Brother Johnson. Please note – this is RGJ’s comment about us; Brother Johnson never said that about us – nor can RGJ quote from the record any such pronouncement against us. But Brother Johnson did write that it is “one of the foibles of our fallen human nature judging others by one’s self.” And to substantiate this, we direct attention to his con­fusion on p. 15 regarding the “evil day” and the Epiphany. He treats them as though they mean the same thing. In previous papers we have stated that the “evil day” is from 1874 to the end of Jacob’s Trouble, but the Epiphany did not begin until 1914; thus the “evil day” includes the Epiphany, but the Epiphany does not embrace the ‘evil day’ in its entirety.

On another occasion RGJ says C. Shuttleworth is a “parallel” to E. C. Henninges in the 1908-11 sifting. In that 1908-11 conflict E. C. Henninges openly attacked Brother Russell, accusing him of being the sifter; but in 1948-50 Brother Shuttleworth was giving Brother Johnson full cooperation to the day he died; he was Brother Johnson’s British Representative. Some “parallel”; some nonsense!

In support of the foregoing we remind our readers that King Saul of Israel was a type of the crown-lost leaders up to Armageddon; and it is specifically written of him that “the Lord answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets” (Di­vinely-enlightened teachers)—1 Sam. 28:6. On previous occasions we have stated that RGJ cannot read the writings of the two Messengers, and understand what he has read after he reads. Here is simply some more proof of this. He strains to show 14 “classes” (actually divisions, not classes) in order to make a place for his Campers Consecrated, and to make void Brother Johnson’s teachings on the six saved classes from among mankind. All these errors he has presented have been the direct result of his “strange fire” (false doctrine) of Epiphany Campers Consecrated – just as much of the conglomeration of error the Jehovah’s Witnesses foist upon their adherents was produced to substantiate their “strange fire” (false doctrine) of Jonadabs, or “great crowd.”

The following quotation from E-15:520 is timely here: “Whenever a company of them form a group, they become partisan sectarians; and their leaders always grasp for power and lord it over God’s heritage (1 Pet. 5:2), becoming guilty of love of money, influence, honor from men and leadership. As these evil qualities grow in them under Satanic manipulation they lead their followers into increasing errors and Satan­-given wrong arrangements for the Lord’s work. These revolutionisms arousing the opposi­tion of the faithful, controversies set in, wherein, to defend themselves against the Scriptural truths that the faithful bring against their errors, to maintain a semblance of consistency in their errors, they give up one truth after another...... With all of this they increasingly lose part of their ability to discern between truth and error. This shows a deterioration in the bad part of their intellects and their intellects’ contents, while it shows that their intellects still retain some of their former ability to see and to retain some truth – double-mindedness in their intellects in varying degrees.”

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LETTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST

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

So sorry I have been so slow in sending you my small donation. It was in 1913 Brother Johnson gave a talk on consecration at Aurora, Ill., and shortly after symbolized my consecration. Then the Radio Station was built on our farm. So you see we have had experience with the Jehovah’s Witnesses! But thank the Lord, for the past 22 years we have had pleasure meeting with the friends who left them also.

We live in the country, so do not have the privilege to attend meetings.... But we do have lots of helps – Reprints, etc.

Thank you again and God bless you! Sister ------- (MICHIGAN)

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

This is Sister ------- writing on behalf of Sister ------- and myself. She gives thanks to you for the gifts – especially for the spiritual help. We had our usual New Year night meeting, which was very nice – prayer meeting and testimonies...... So we are going forward in the name of the Lord. We hope that the good Lord will bless and keep you and Sister Hoefle. Also give our warm love to the other brethren over there.

Warm Christian love from Sister --------- (TRINIDAD)

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Our dear Brother Hoefle: Grace and Peace!

May your birthday be a happy one. The joy of the Lord be your strength. Thank you all for the good wishes for Christmas and the New Year. Our health is improving, and we thank the Lord for everything. We trust Sister Moynello is con­tinuing to make steady progress – and that Sister Hoefle and Sister Dunnagan are able to cope with all the matters at hand.

It was good hearing the news from one of the astronauts that the “earth was beautiful” – and then quoting from Genesis. It may be that these adventures will mean – that is, it will prove God’s word to be right and infallible. The Lord now in His Second Presence is allowing it.

We look forward to receiving January issue. The postal system is not good ­and it looks as if it might get worse. Hope you get this in time for your birthday. God bless you! With our love to you, Sister Hoefle, Sisters Moynello and Dunnagan –

Brother and Sister ------- (ENGLAND)

PS – We have almost finished Parousia Volume 1. Brother Johnson encouraged all to keep in constant touch with the Parousia Truth – and if neglected, it would be difficult to keep in the Truth. If ever you can come you will be most welcome.

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Dear Brother Hoefle: Grace and peace in Jesus Name!

Thank you for your good letter of the 27th, and your good council. I looked up in my bound papers and I do have the one of July 1966 with the article the Time of the End. I read the part about One Hour with the Beast. As you say, some – or many ­details we don’t know yet. I want to read the whole article over again – and will keep book opened to that place, also the 3rd Volume where it speaks of the “Time of the End.”

I hope all is going well with you. Things are quite good here. I received a letter from Sister -------, also from Sister ------- Please send some tracts when convenient.......

We have been having quite a lot of rain lately. I do like the rain, but some people have had their homes spoiled. There are locations where homes should not be built......

I haven’t been receiving Brother Krewson’s paper, but he sent me one for this month. There is quite a lot about the Quasi-elect.

With Christian love to you, Sister Hoefle and to the others.

Your sister by faith ------- (CALIFORNIA)

NO. 164: THE RESURRECTION - OF THE JUST AND THE UNJUST

No. 164

My dear Brethren: – Grace and peace through our Beloved Master!

“There shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.” (Acts 24:15) During the Parousia the subject of the resurrection had been puri­fied from all error; but it is one of those subjects that has once more been accu­mulating a considerable amount of rust and rubble since 1917. Thus, it seems timely that we should endeavor to treat the matter “in spirit and in truth.”

The word ‘resurrection’ is from the Greek anastasis, which means a raising up to life again; and this definition must be clearly understood or we may conclude that the Bible contradicts itself. In Acts 26:23 we are told that “Christ should be the first that should rise from the dead”; but this appears to be disputed by the raising of previous persons, such as Lazarus who had been in the death state for four full days, and of others who had been dead for a shorter period, such as Jairus’ daughter (Mark 5:22-43), Eutychus (Acts 20:9,10), etc.

Once we clearly understand that the above instances were not resurrections – not a real anastasis, but merely resuscitations, the difficulty disappears. Some forty years ago – when the belief was quite general that man is a dual being – that man has a soul, instead of being a soul – one prominent columnist often raised the question regarding persons who had been drowned for an hour or more, then restored to life, “During the time he was dead, where was his soul?” The preponderant mass of the human race that has entered the tomb is in much the same condition as the instances given above. Even though many of them have returned to the dust, their status is sub­stantially the same as those who have been dead only a short time – as no man can resuscitate them once they are fully dead. Once they are fully dead, only the Lord of life can bring them to life again.

The question then properly arises, Who are the just, and who are the unjust? And do both experience the same resurrection? In his great exposition chapter on the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15), St. Paul says in verse 20: “Now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept.” Continuing in verse 23, “Every man in his own order.” Clearly enough, then, the resurrection has a different meaning for different classes of men. In John 5:28,29 Jesus said, “All that are in the graves shall hear His voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good unto the resurrection (anastasis) of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation (judgment, from the Greek krisis, meaning a trial time).” This is simply another way of saying there would be a resurrection (anastasis) of the just and the unjust – the “good” in this Scripture being the “just” of Acts 24:15, and the “evil” being the “unjust” of that text. The good and evil, the just and the unjust, the elect and the non-elect are simply different expressions of the same thing. Thus, the good, the just, the elect, are all one class; and the evil, the unjust, the non-elect, are all another class.

However, these two classes have different divisions, the first having four divi­sions, and the second having two divisions. The just are comprised of No. 1, The Very Elect (The Little Flock, the Body of Christ – the chief section of the Church of the Firstborn); No. 2, the Great Multitude of Rev. 7:9-17 (the secondary portion of the Church of the Firstborn—Heb. 12:23); No. 3, the Ancient Worthies (Heb. 11); and No. 4, the Youthful Worthies (Joel 2:28). The second class – those that have done evil – have two divisions: No. 1, being all the heathen and the unrepentant and evilly inclined throughout Christendom; and No. 2, those Jews and Gentiles that have experienced a measure of conversion, and are inclined toward the moral features of the Law.

In 1 Cor. 1:26 St. Paul states that “not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble” have embraced the true Christian way. This leaves the ines­capable conclusion that most of the wise, strong, noble of this world have not fully responded to the Gospel-Age calling, although most people are often mis-led to consider such persons as outstanding “examples of the believers” because they have been good examples of morality, of charity, champions of social uplift, etc. Nevertheless, if we apply the true Scriptural standards, we must conclude that all these people –regardless of their inclination toward righteousness, regardless of their religious and social affiliations - come within the classification of the non-elect. Therefore, they cannot possibly experience the “resurrection to life,” instantaneous physical per­fection. They would properly be designated as the quasi-elect – having a certain lean­ing toward God, and a certain respect for Scriptural standards, but not sufficiently impelling enough to cause them to come wholeheartedly into the good, the just, the elect – to renounce the world and its ambitions, and forsake all to “follow in His footsteps,” and walk a “narrow way.” Thus, they will receive the anastasis by krisis (resurrection by judgment – trial time), although the exactions of that trial time will be ameliorated by whatever of righteous conduct they have developed during this “present evil world.” Too, instead of walking a “narrow way” as the elect must do during this Age, they will walk up the Highway of Holiness (Isa. 35:8) then opened for the non-elect; and instead of being ridiculed for so doing, they will be rewarded for their efforts – and, as they come into full heart-harmony with the Kingdom arrangements, they will gradually receive their resurrection – perfection of physical being as they develop perfect characters.

However, when Jesus said some would experience the “resurrection to life,” this would prompt the inescapable conclusion that all who receive that reward would be raised with full physical perfection. If it were otherwise, the difference between the good and the evil would be only one of degree – hardly a sufficient reward for the hardships that have accompanied the “good fight of faith” during this and previous Ages.

Comes now the question, Do the “just” all receive the same kind of resurrection? Before answering, we would explain that the “just” are simply the justified elect classes – those in this Age, and in times past, who have been justified by faith. It is written of Abraham that “he might be the father of all them that believe”; ‘he be­lieved God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness (justification)”—Rom. 4:3,11. “Every man in his own order,” says St. Paul; and it is written in 1 Pet. 1:3,4, that The Elect would receive a “resurrection to an inheritance incorruptible,” which is further explained in 2 Pet. 1:4 as being “partakers of the divine nature” – a condi­tion indestructible and grounded in perfection.

The Great Multitude will also have a spiritual resurrection (See Rev. 7:9-17), but not to the “divine nature,” as they are pictured as “before the throne,” and not “in the throne,” as is the case with The Elect. Their bodies will also be incorrup­tible, but not indestructible, as will be the case with The Elect. As respects the third and fourth classes of “the just,” it is stated they will “obtain a better resur­rection” (Heb. 11:35) – a resurrection “to life,” better than the remainder of man­kind – thus a perfect physical raising, but not to a spirit nature. But the “resur­rection to life,” which will be theirs, would in the very nature of the contrast given by Jesus in John 5:28,29, assure them of a resurrection to perfection of physical being – full life, perfect life, “more abundant life.”

VARIOUS “WAYS”

There are three “ways” clearly defined in the Bible. Two of these are set forth in Matt. 7:13,14 (Dia.): “Wide is the gate of destruction, and broad that way leading thither; and many are they who enter through it. How narrow is the gate of life! How difficult that way leading thither! And how few are they who find it.” Both of these “ways” have been with us during this “present evil world”; but there is a third way ­a “highway of holiness” (Isa. 35:8) – that will be available in the Age ahead, the Millennial Age. Those that are now walking the “broad way that leadeth to destruction” those who have not “elected” to tread the “strait” (narrow, difficult) way now – will have available to them in the Age ahead that “highway” in which the “wayfaring men though fools, shall not err therein” (will be fully instructed and not be deceived). Again we stress that the narrow way, the way now trodden by “the just,” in this present Age, the way that leads to life, will result in a “better resurrection” – an instantaneous resurrection to perfect life; whereas, the Highway of Holiness will provide a gradual access to perfection, a process in some instances requiring many years to accomplish. This is treated briefly in Reprints 5108, col. 1, as follows:

“There shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. (Acts 24:15) The Ancient Worthies had this testimony, that they pleased God; and we know that they had the promise of a better resurrection than would have been theirs if they had not pleased God. (Heb. 11:35).”

The following quotations are also pertinent to our subject: “The thought is not that those who remain in an unjust condition will be granted a full resurrection. The text does not state that all the unjust will be resurrected, brought to perfec­tion of life. There are some now justified who will have a share in the resurrec­tion, even as there are others who are not now justified who will also have a share in the resurrection. The just will have a special resurrection, which will be a reward for their special obedience. But the opportunity will, during the incoming Age, be thrown open for all to gain everlasting life through Christ. The justified ones of the Church class are ‘changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye,’ from the earthly to the Heavenly condition – made perfect spirit beings. Those of the past dispensations justified to God’s favor through faith, are to be brought forth perfect men, instead of in the condition in which they died. This will be after the merit of Christ will have been applied for the world.

“So we have the resurrection of the highest class of the just – the Little Flock on the Divine plane; that of the Great Company, on a lower spirit plane; that of the Ancient and Youthful Worthies, on the earthly plane – four classes who pass their trial, their testing, in the present life. But it has been provided in the Divine Plan that the remainder of men may gradually be raised fully up, out of every frailty, back to the original perfection that Adam had in the beginning.

“The Bible teaching of two ways of salvation – a private one for the Elect, called the narrow way (Matt. 7:13,14) and a public one for the non-elect, called the highway (Isa. 35:8), proves the same doctrine. The connection (Isa. 35:9,10) shows that this highway will be for certain of the unsaved dead; and the whole chapter proves that it describes the Millennial Age.... The Bible further demonstrates it by the teach­ing that the free grace salvation will operate after the elective salvation is com­pleted (Acts 15:14-16; 3:19-21; John 17:21-23; Rom. 8:19-23), even as the Millen­nium, the time for its operation, follows the Gospel Age, with its elective salvation now operating.” (See Epiphany Vol. 17, pp. 164 and top of 165-171 and top of 172)

When that highway of holiness becomes available to the class described above, then will apply the words of Rev. 22:17 (Dia.): “The Spirit and the Bride say, Come! and let him who hears say Come! And let him who is thirsty come – let him who wishes take freely of the water of life” – as he progresses up the highway of holiness during his anastasis by krisis (the resurrection by trial time). It is well to emphasize here that the evil, the unjust, the non-elect – those who have fol­lowed the broad way that leadeth to destruction in this “present evil world” – all these people will reverse their present trend as they go up the highway of holiness in the next Age – the way that will produce their raising up to life again. Thus, these two ways will be traversed by the very same people, but in reverse order. Whereas, they now go down to destruction, they will then go up to “life more abundantly.”

PERVERSIONS OF THE RESURRECTION

Hardly had our Pastor departed from our midst in 1916 than Levites began to pervert the truth on the Resurrection – just as they did on so many other truths. On this score Vol. E-6:651,653 has this to say concerning J. F. Rutherford (a crown-lost leader “manifested” in this Epiphany) be–clouding the truth on the subject:

“He sets aside our Pastor’s teachings on Psa. 17:15, as referring to the resurrection of the Christ, claiming that it is falsely explained in our hymn No. 105. He sets forth the thought that the Old Testament does not say of its faithful that they hoped for a resurrection. Against this please see Job. 14:13, 39:25,26; Psa. 49:14: Hos. 13:14, etc.... In an attempt to take out the resurrection hope from Psa. 17:15 and to construe the passage as applying to his remnant’s allegedly being with our Lord in the temple since 1918 for judgment, he offers the following false translation of the Septuagint on Psa. 17:15: ‘Let me appear righteous before thee; let me be satis­fied with the display of thy glory.’ The following is the proper translation of the Septuagint on this verse, though its translation is not correct, while that of the A.V. is: ‘I will be seen in righteousness in thy presence; I will be satisfied when I shall be seen with Thy glory.’ But, as said before, the A.V. is here correct: ‘As for me, I will behold Thy face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake with Thy likeness.’ ....

“Then he tells us that our meeting the Lord in the air (1 Thes. 4:17) does not refer to the resurrection, but to his remnant’s being, while in the flesh, in JFR’s temple since 1918.... A theory is hard pressed for proof that to find it tries to tear out of Ps. 17:15 and 1 Thes. 4:17 the saints’ resurrection.”

A further perversion of the resurrection doctrine is to be found in JFR’s inter­pretation of Zech. 13:8,9: “In all the land, saith the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third part shall be left therein. And I will bring the third part through the fire, and refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on My name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is My people: and they shall say, The Lord is My God.” Our Pastor properly interpreted this text in the “two parts” being the Little Flock and the Great Company (classes One and Two on page 1 aforegoing), and the “third part” as the world of mankind, the same being the evil, the unjust, the non-elect, who will be raised up to life again by the refining processes of the Highway of Holiness. But JFR cast away that interpre­tation, placing in its stead his perversion that the “two parts” mean two-thirds of the now living human race who would be destroyed in Armageddon because they do not accept his erroneous teachings, with the “third part” being those people who do accept his errors and become “dedicated” to his program. These errors on the resurrection are still being circulated by the Jehovah’s Witnesses unto this day; whereas, we our­selves still “continue in my word...in the truth.... that shall make you free” – by adhering to the interpretations of both Messengers on the texts aforegoing. JFR, however, grossly and persistently revolutionized against the Parousia Truth on this and other subjects.

A KINSMAN IN PERVERSION

More recently comes the Executive Trustee of the Laymen’s Home Missionary Move­ment (another crown-lost leader “manifested” in this Epiphany) also perverting the doctrine of the resurrection. At the Chicago Convention in October he declared from the platform, in answer to a question, that his Campers Consecrated would experience the resurrection of the “just” – although he admits they cannot be of any of the four classes of the Elect as we have set them forth herein – and that they cannot have a “better resurrection” that will come to those that are the true “just” (those Ancient Worthies and those now “who consecrating and proving faithful in the interval between the close of the General Call in 1881 and the inauguration of the earthly phase of the Kingdom” – See E-4, p. 337). JFR perverted the doctrine of the resurrection; RGJ is now also perverting the doctrine of the resurrection. It seems he just can­not refrain from following in the steps of JFR, as he has been repeatedly doing since 1950 – although this may be done unwittingly at the incept, as his teacher is the same as JFR’S. Thus, he casts aside completely, or offers some perversions on truths clearly and emphatically defined by both Messengers – truths he once accepted and taught himself. As for ourselves, we repeat our conclusion regarding JFR’s perversions: We still “continue in my word.... in the truth.... that shall make you free” ­by adhering to the interpretations of both Messengers and the clear Bible teachings on the doctrine of the resurrection, and other fundamental truths. Crown-loser RGJ, however, grossly and persistently revolutionizes against both Parousia and Epiphany Truth on this and other important subjects, while JFR revolutionized only against Parousia Truth, never having accepted Epiphany Truth.

It is indeed a sound conclusion that one error usually begets other errors; and this is clearly evident in the present instance with RGJ. He well knows he cannot possibly promise his Campers Consecrated the “better resurrection”; yet he must ‘promise’ them something for their present privations in serving the Lord. God never requires sacrifice from any one; and those who do sacrifice in His cause are certain of abundant reward for their efforts. Thus, RGJ tells his Campers they will receive the resurrection of the Just, even though he knows, or should have known, that the resur­rection of the just is the better resurrection – “the resurrection to life” promised by Jesus to those “that have done good,” to those that are of the “just” class – to the called according to His purpose. Thus, RGJ says Yes out of one side of his mouth, and No out of the other side, as he offers a spiritual bedlam akin to that of the foolish and unprofitable shepherd of Zech. 11:17 on his Jonadabs, or presently called the Large Multitude.

Here is another quotation from E-4:334 that should sober – partially anyway ­those who render RGJ partisan support in his revolutionisms:

“Inasmuch as the Youthful Worthies, as well as the other Levites, will be receiving tithes forever from the saved world of mankind, and inasmuch as all on earth as kings (Matt. 25:34; Rev. 21:24) will be equals of one another, it follows that the Youthful Worthies will have a higher than human inheritance on this earth,”

Many of our readers are well acquainted with his teaching that his Campers Consecrated will forever have a higher honor and reward than other Restitutionists; thus, he is revolutionizing against both Parousia and Epiphany Truth on the quota­tion above, as That Servant also substantially taught the same about it. Certainly That Servant taught that all Restitutionists would be equals. He does all this to bolster up his false doctrine (“strange fire”) of Campers Consecrated.

Such jugglery must eventually reap the inevitable reward that is reserved for such – “If any one add to the words of this prophecy, God will add to him these plagues written in this book (the pestilence that walketh in darkness – in this Epiphany night – the “plagues” of Psa. 91:6 and 10). And if any one take away from the words of the book of this prophecy (by injecting error into the teachings of God’s fully faithful mouthpieces), God will take away his part from the word of life, and out of the Holy City (by demoting from The Elect to the Great Company, from the Great Company to the second death – from the just to the unjust, etc.)”—Rev. 22:18,19.

It is our heart’s desire and prayer that all of our readers may be motivated by the Apostle Paul’s inspiring statement regarding all the “Sound doctrine” of Parousia and Epiphany Truth: “I have maintained the good contest. I have finished the race, I have guarded the faith (the Truth)”—2 Tim. 4:7, Dia. And to this would we add the words of Joshua in his final oration to Israel: “Choose you this day whom you will serve; .... As for me and my house we will serve the Lord.”—(Josh. 24:15)

Sincerely your brother,

John J. Hoefle, Pilgrim

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LETTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST

Dear Brother Hoefle: Grace and Peace! I know it is way past time I should send a contribution for your kindness. I’m always on the lookout for your most wonderful articles, keeping us informed of what goes on among the Lord’s Epiphany people – a time when all should be proving all things and holding fast to that which is True and good. The Wisdom from above is first pure then peaceable. RGJ surely goes further and further away from the right course given him through the Parousia and Epiphany Messengers.

Here is a quotation from Bible Comment on Prov. 12:15: “Whoever succeeds in justifying himself in a wrong course finds the downward path easy.” I do enjoy very much this past year in going over Epiphany Vol. 15 – Christ – Spirit – Covenants.....

We know the Lord watches over His own, so we can trust Him implicitly. My love to you and Sister Hoefle and the dear ones with you in Mount Dora.

Lovingly by His Grace, Sister ------- (OHIO)

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My dear Brother and Sisters in God’s Truth:

The letter with the surprise notice of your moving was related to Sister----, and she tells me Sister...... will be over this week....... I never seem to benefit myself by my moves, but only Jesus and our Heavenly Father knows what good it has done, or will be......

With this note I’m praying each night – Thanks to God and His beloved Son for you dear souls in the work of the Truth. I’ll close here with my donation – and may God’s blessing be with each brother and sister across sea and land in His Truth.

Keep well – no need to write a letter, just a postcard to tell me this is received O.K. Christian love to each dear soul, and may the New Year be rich day by day in living. I’m keeping up – very richly blest!

Sister ------- (CALIFORNIA)

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Dear Brother Hoefle: Greetings of love in our Lord’s Name!

We are enclosing a check to be used in the Lord’s work in any manner it may be needed. We do enjoy the monthly articles and get a great deal of help from them. We are continuing our First Volume study here for the benefit of the young folks. They seem to be enjoying it, and ask many questions – so we are all benefiting.

We ask your prayers that we may be able to give them a good foundation truth. Our love to you and all there.

Brother & Sister ------- (NORTH CAROLINA)

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Dear Brother Hoefle: Grace and peace be multiplied! Your letter came a few days ago. I am also in receipt of five additional pounds from Brother.... for which I am very grateful. I have enjoyed reading the September article. A question: In 1 Sam. 16:14 – Should the quotation be an “evil spirit” from the Lord, or should it be an evil spirit apart from the Lord? Thanks.

The attitude of these crown-lost leaders is surely painful – seeing they have taken their lives in their own hands. But as in the type of Aaron’s sons who were destroyed for their willful acts, God told Aaron not to weep for them. God cannot be mocked, and so the unfaithful shall surely feel the weight of His displeasure.

May the dear Lord bless all your efforts and labour of love, dear Brother. With much Christian love to you and the dear ones with you.

Yours by His Grace, Brother --------- (JAMAICA)

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Dear Brother Hoefle: Grace and peace through our Beloved Lord!

Your letters received – also the No. 162 with your newsy nice note, which we deeply appreciate. We are sorry to learn of Sister Moynelo’s illness, but glad to hear she is coming along nicely. Give her our very best love. We shall especially remember her in our prayers as we approach the throne of Heavenly Grace, that it may be His good pleasure to restore her to good health again. While writing these thoughts, they remind me of that beautiful hymn we sing sometimes – What a Friend we have in Jesus! How wonderful to those who have tasted of the Lord’s Goodness and the Blessings we receive daily – and His Providential good from day to day. Yes, dear Brother and Sister Hoefle, we know whereof we stand, and we thank God daily for the Truth, and for His revealing it to us, refreshing our hearts and minds by the way of remembrance through your writings, dear Brother Hoefle. We do appreciate your monthly articles!

We would like to report to you the lovely meeting we had commemorating our dear Brother Russell’s and dear Brother Johnson’s passing from our midst. We sang Hymn 99, one of Brother Russell’s favorite – thanking our dear Heavenly Father for the bless­ings we have received, and are still receiving, from those two great Servants of His, to whom it was His good pleasure to raise up. And we read the thoughts in Reprints, and Brother Johnson on Pastor Russell’s relation to the Pilgrims. We also read the January 1951 Herald of the Epiphany, your delivery, officiating October 27, 1950. In closing we sang No. 299 – My Blessed Portion, Brother Johnson’s favorite hymn ­and closed with prayer. Truly, dear Brother, we felt so refreshed and strengthened because of the honor and privilege of knowing these two great men of God. We met them personally and talked with them, and have been blessed by them through their ministry. Praise His Holy Name!....

We trust that you, dear Brother and Sister Hoefle, are keeping quite well, physi­cally. We know you are rejoicing in the Lord’s service, for which we are grateful. God bless and protect you both and give you strength to carry on this good work for all the dear brethren. We thank you for the Philadelphia and Chicago report of the Conventions. I am glad to say that Sister and I are quite well. She joins me in sending you both and all at Mount Dora, God’s richest blessing.

Your Brother and Sister by His Grace, ------- (NEW JERSEY)

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Dear Brother Hoefle: Greetings in our Lord’s Name!

I was glad to hear from you. The books and tracts were re­ceived in good shape. The tracts came first, then the books came in later. Thank you for sending them. I have some Life-Death-Hereafter books yet,

I cannot find words to describe the blessings, the joy, and peace that I get from your ministry. Those who have been teaching error will soon be ashamed (Isa. 66:5), while the fire of this day will only manifest the truth to all. No power, no tongue, no pen, can successfully contradict the truth – the great Divine Plan of the Ages. It is strong before its enemies and before all who make assaults upon it; and ere long the folly of its foes shall be made known to the whole world. “There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth” – Reprints 5916. I did not get any tracts out this week, as it is getting cold up here....

I hope this will find you all and all with you happy and rejoicing in the good Lord, is my prayer.

Sister -------- (PENNSYLVANIA)

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Dear Brother Hoefle: Grace and peace be multiplied through our dear Redeemer!

We are glad to report that we kept a memorial service for Brothers Russell and Johnson on the 31st of October. Our memories went back to Big Babylon and how God’s people were enslaved in sin and error, and how Brother Russell was used by God to release them, enlighten them by his ministry – and the experiences after his death when his Movement was perverted into a sect that took them back in Babylon. And God again raised up a Mouthpiece – Brother Johnson ­and delivered many of them. Still we can see that even with two such experiences some of God’s people gather together to be carried right back into Babylon – some­thing we experienced since Brother Johnson’s death. But we who have been spared have much to give praise to God, for His mercies toward us. We were not taken cap­tives back to Babylon. We also thank God for you, dear Brother, and exhort you to be of good courage, seeing God is with you, even as all honest-hearted can see: God is using you to perform a good victory in your refutations over sin and error, as you are confronted by your opponents. We receive your monthly articles and carefully read them with references – and we marvel at our brethren! Are they so very blind ­or, are they in deep sleep? We wonder!

Please send us some tract – 200 each of Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 5. Thank you! Warm Christian love to you, Sister Hoefle and the dear ones with you.

Your brethren by His Grace, .--------- (JAMAICA)

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SPECIAL EFFORT – ANTITYPICAL GIDEON’S SECOND BATTLE

Our Memorial date for this year is March 30, and we suggest for our Special Effort in Antitypical Gideon’s Second Battle Sunday, March 16 through Sunday, April 13 for our volunteer and sharpshooting in the slaying of the two King Errors – Zebah (Eternal Torment), and Zalmunna (Consciousness of the Dead). Our tracts No. 1, Where are the Dead, No. 2, What is the Soul, and No. 3, The Resur­rection of the Dead are available free and postage paid, and are especially appro­priate for serving individuals and at Church services wherever opportunity permits. Also L-D-H and The Divine Plan of the Ages can be used to good advantage in this Battle, and will also be available if ordered in time. So place your orders early enough if you desire to participate in this good work.

Be assured of our prayers for all those who participate in this Special Effort, which is an Arrangement made by the Epiphany Messenger, that they may have blessed experiences as they seek to serve Him in Truth and Spirit.

NO. 163: RETROSPECT AND PROSPECT

No. 163

Another year gone – with events in finance, science, government and religion too numerous to detail. Considering first a few scientific facts: It is common news about the Astronauts who circled the earth for eleven successive days at a speed of 17,000 miles per hour. What a contrast to Sir Isaac Newton’s prophecy that he believed the time would come that men would travel at the rate of fifty miles per hour. And for this he was called an old man in his dotage, taken to reading the Bible, which had prompted him to such a foolish prediction. But, viewing present-day speed in the light of Bible prophecy – “In the time of the end many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased” (Dan. 12:4) – this one thing alone, the great increase in speed and travel, should persuade even the skeptical that we are in­deed in “the time of the end.” Some months back we left Detroit, Michigan in the early morning by plane for Albany, New York – spent about five hours there, then to New York City, thence to Orlando, Florida, all within a period of about fifteen hours. We observed afterward that it would have taken our Lord about a whole year to cover that much mileage when He was here at His First Advent.

Further, a radio report stated a scale had been developed that was sensitive enough to weigh a fly’s tongue. Whether or not this may have been exaggeration, we know of our own knowledge that the gold-mining industry has balances so fine that they will weigh a sheet of paper, then will record the additional weight of a heavy pencil mark on that paper. Also, a clock has been developed that will keep time to one-millionth of a second – will not lose or gain more than one second in three years. And computers are now operating that will handle items at the rate of 400,000 per sec­ond – almost the speed of light.

IN FINANCE

The “house of paper” money continues to enlarge almost in keeping with the items aforementioned. Early last year a gold crisis appeared, making such a run on the United States gold stock that the gold markets over the world were forced to close. Over that week-end a makeshift arrangement was adopted, but of such shoddy nature that many financial experts agree it has only postponed the awful day of reckoning. As one wit has expressed it – Economics are terribly simple, bit simply terrible when politicians get into it.

In May-June the economic structure of France almost collapsed; but, whatever may be our opinion of General DeGaulle, many brilliant minds admit he revealed superb strategy in the way he handled the situation then. But conditions in France are by no means firmly settled.

With all this the International Monetary Fund continued its annual September get-together (this last year in Washington, D. C.) for the usual feasting, drinking, and foggy effusions that somehow seem to justify its continuance. One English financial publication of recognized merit said something like this about that meeting:

“It was very tempting in Washington this week to crack the old joke about the joint get-together of the International Monetary fund and World Bank by describing it as the fun and bunk meeting. So it seemed for the most part. The monologues delivered by one finance minister after another to a half-deserted flag-draped hall in the Sheraton Park Hotel seemed even more thanusually full of platitudes and san­guine hope. But let’s be fair: few of us expected that anything much could happen and what has occurred has been good.

“First, some progress was made in the debate on South African gold sales. Second, positive encouragement was given to the activation of the new scheme of Special Drawing Rights in the IMF, SDRS. Third, some oneness of mind was expressed about possible further reforms in the interna­tional monetary system of the kind that only a year or so back would have been looked upon as utterly crackpot in any bankers’ forum.

“It hasn’t, therefore, been playtime for everybody. Behind the formal scenes many officials concerned themselves day in and day out with the problem of South African gold. At first Americans and Europeans mistrusted each other so much that neither side would allow the other to meet the South Africans alone. But, as in so many similar circumstances, it soon became a matter of finding an agreed wording suf­ficiently flexible to be face saving all around. The Americans want a formula that would in theory allow the gold price in the free market to fall below $35 an ounce, while at the same time conceding that under certain circumstances gold producers should be guaranteed purchases by the IMF at the official price. There is no doubt that the IMF has a legal obligation to purchase gold from members at $35 an ounce, and nobody believes that a realistic distinction can be made between monetary and newly mined gold. On the other hand the IMF has an overriding obligation to main­tain stability in the international monetary system, and it might argue that these two obligations are not compatible.”

At this writing (Nov. 11, 1968) the price of gold on the open market is over $39 per ounce, so it has advanced above the official $35 price instead of falling below it, as some argued it would do if allowed to find its own market level. The English commentator continues:

“Central bankers will be in no mood to consider any other radical changes for some time. Yet, for all their brave front, they have been badly shaken by the awful financial crises of the past twelve months, and they suspect that in the end some further re-shaping of the mechanism will be inevitable.”

And in keeping with the foregoing, the debts of Governments, States, Cities, Corporations and individuals (especially here in the United States) continue to rise, which has prompted one financial counselor to offer this appraisal:

“I would guess that one-third of all American families are over-extended in their debts and are on the brink of serious trouble.... If this country, for just a period of ninety days, eliminated credit, it would make 1929 look like an age of optimists.”

Yet, with all of this tremendous debt increase the interest rates are going up instead of down. One prominent Canadian authority takes note of this by pointing out that the total interest on the Canadian national debt in 1937 was $127,900,000; but in 1967 it was $1,270,939,000 – about ten times what it was thirty years ago. He then offers this sage conclusion:

“Humanity can have peace and goodwill, but it cannot have peace and USURY.” Another writer on the same subject: “If you want to compare this entire inflationary situation with 1929, it will scare you down to the end of your big toe. In 1929 most people who had homes owned them. Today hardly any one owns his home. He owes it! In 1929 most people who had automobiles owned them, or for the most part owned them. Today everybody owes their automobiles. In 1929 the furniture in your house was paid for. Today it is not. The credit struc­ture of today is absolutely staggering.  Banks have about an 8% cash reserve.” And we ourselves might add here that banks are permitted to carry their Government and Municipal bonds in their portfolio at what they paid for them; whereas, some of these bonds are down almost thirty per cent from the original purchase price. If they were forced to show these bonds at present market price, many banks would be insolvent.

A METHOD TO THE MADNESS – Many have been the criticisms by those who see clearly the fallacy of present policies, but their protests fall on deaf ears for the most part – partly because of the apathy of the average citizen, and partly because of the economic circumstances of many of them.  It matters little to a street sweeper what is our national debt; nothing could bother him less. Also, few of the politicians know much about finance, and most of them are too lethargic to inform themselves about it, leaving it, as they do, to the ‘money’ men – the Secretary of the Treasury, etc. But one monetary authority has caustically remarked:

“Never under-estimate the stupidity of the Treasury Department.” Yet another one comments: “You should not attempt to follow the fortunes of the United States Treasury Department unless you have a distinctly developed taste for soap opera.”

But there is yet an underlying cause for the present financial turmoil: The Marxists and men of similar bent have been shrewd enough to realize the colossal strength of the capitalistic system, and to realize they cannot topple it over of their own strength – much for the reasons stated aforegoing about the attitude of Mr. Average Citizen. So they determined upon a deep-laid scheme to allow capitalism to provide its own undoing, the central part of the plan being to have the capitalis­tic countries issue so much paper that the system will collapse of its own weight. Such a jolt, accompanied by widespread losses among the uninformed, would then arouse all to the weaknesses of present monetary policies; and it would then be easy enough to create a world-wide socialism upon the ruins of the present structure.  And it would seem the realization of their scheme is not too far in the future.

Of course, the spoilers of present capitalism fail to recognize the fallacies inherent in their own invention. Were they possessed of that much financial skill, they would now be capitalists themselves, with no wish to change the system. In fact, we ourselves are acquainted with some who were ardent Socialists until they came into ‘money’ – then they were more “capitalistic” than the capitalists themselves. We be­lieve That Servant gave the proper analysis when he said that capitalism is the best system for the human race in its present undone condition. The average person is yet totally unprepared for Utopian conditions, wherein every man may be a king, with policemen and armies an unnecessary burden. It is not at all difficult to see the faults of present capitalism; but this does not mean at all that Socialism or Com­munism offer a better answer to man’s problems. As one prominent speaker has said, A Communist is simply a capitalist that’s broke. Thus, we advise our readers to follow the advice of That Servant to stand aloof of present social elements, to re­frain from positive action against existing institutions, knowing that eventually the only cure for present ills is the gracious voice of The Christ, “Peace, be still.”

IN POLITICS

The political status has changed in the United States once more; and we be­lieve it is safe to assume that the change will bring with it increasing difficul­ties – domestic and foreign. A new broom usually sweeps clean; but, when people have been accustomed to living in bad surroundings, they often resent any attempt to cleanse their residences – much the same as bugs living under a rotten board object to the daylight. For some thirty years now most nations have been on a tremen­dous spending spree, and any attempt to correct this is certain to produce opposition. To illustrate the distorted thinking that prevails in some minds today, a certain company had been losing money for a few years – so much so that it was no longer prac­tical or sensible to continue the operation. But when the plant was closed the cry went up that the Company was putting money before people – they should continue right on losing money rather than put people out of work. Many railroads have discontin­ued their passenger service because they could no longer operate at a profit; and the same argument was raised against them.

It is indeed a rarity today to see any national leader arise to power without making promises that he himself knows can never be achieved. One of the outstand­ing virtues of Abraham Lincoln was that he was just an honest man – determined “to do the right as God gives us to see the right.” The great Gladstone, political star in England during the late nineteenth century, was once asked what makes one a successful politician. His answer: He must be a man with a pleasing personality; have a reasonably euphonious name, easy for people to pronounce; and he must be a man without any self-respect. With such a formula for success, it becomes very easy to understand the summation in Dan. 4:17: “The Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.” Thus, we seldom see great national decisions made that are not influenced at least in part by selfish motives; and St. Peter informs the true Christians that they have escaped “the corruption that is in the world through lust (selfishness).” (2 Pet. 1:4)

This is clearly evident to the most of us concerning the leadership in the Com­munist countries; and one writer has given a very lucid picture of the working of their minds: “Independence, like coexistence, is a malleable word; to the militant Communist it might mean the right to take over the political structure by force, murder the opposition, eliminate the middle class, weaken or dissolve the family unit as the basis of society, inhibit the established religion, cut off all communication with the outside world, prohibit individual enterprise, deny the ethical basis of individual reward for effort, substitute the state’s supremacy for the individual’s dignity, forbid dissent, control the press, put up posters of the Communist gods and command their adoration, tell the people lies about Western imperialism, nourish a new generation on hatred, suppress freedom of thought in the arts and sciences, create agricultural poverty and industrial stagnation, and then build a wall around the whole mess to prevent any one getting out.

‘‘All this is part of a well-established pattern, which we certainly don’t recognize as either the will of the people or as ‘independence’; moreover, this pattern was certainly not contemplated in the Geneva Agreement.......

In keeping with the foregoing, another writer offers this terse observation: “The brotherhood of man has been turning out too few brothers and too many hoods.”

When the French revolutionists sent most of the French intelligencia to the guillotine, they paved the way for Napoleon, which in turn made of France a deca­dent nation for many years after Waterloo. It does not require great wisdom to see that the capitalistic system is lacking in many ways, and this makes it very easy for many to accept the philosophy that Communism would improve things; but we observe that the only real way to improve the human relationship is to improve the morale of the individual to such an extent that he will no longer be influenced by the hokus-pocus of getting something for nothing. When America began to be colonized, many persons readily accepted transport to this country, believing they would have a life of ease, free of the task to live; and this forced Captain John Smith to apply the Bible law: “If any would not work, neither should he eat.” (2 Thes. 3:10)

In the hope that we are not overdoing the political in this paper, we offer one more writer’s opinion: “Almost everywhere the established authority is being chal­lenged as never before.... The infection – the trend toward violence on the one hand and repression on the other – is a world-wide disease.... It would seem, in fact, that economic and social progress has actually fed the fires of discontent in many countries.”

The foregoing quotes are not from politicians; they are from men of good sound and respected reasoning. In contrast, the Attorney General of the United States (a politician) gave newsmen the inane observation that there is no crime wave in this country. The Mayor of Detroit (also a politician) seconds this statement. Both of these men, however, – both robust and well fed – are afraid to go about without an armed guard with them. Naturally, under such circumstances there is no crime wave for them. But we are well informed that the best hotels in the larger cities are informing their incoming guests not to leave the hostel after dark, and to be very cautious about the streets in high daylight. Thus, the statements of the politicians fit in very well with the quip about three friends, a Catholic, a Protestant and a Christian Scientist, all of whom died and went to the nether world.  Upon meeting, the conversation went something like this: The Protestant to the Catholic – I’m surprised to see you here.  The Catholic – I expected to see you here. The Christian Scientist – I’m not here. It is a matter of indisputable record that there were six times as many bank robberies in the United States in 1967 as there were in 1957.

Nations, like trees, die in the top first. This simply means that the politi­cians, like the ostrich hiding his head in the sand, refuse to recognize the coming events whose shadows are plainly visible to many. Five minutes before Louis XV of France was beheaded he was a well and active man whose mind had been blinded to the handwriting on the wall. When Babylon was taken by the Medes and Persians the poli­ticians were eating and drinking themselves drunken with Belshazzar – just as the Roman political leaders had become soft and flabby, an easy prey for the virile Teu­tonic barbarians.

“Truth forever on the scaffold, Wrong forever on the throne,

Yet that scaffold sways the future, and, behind the dim unknown,

Standeth God within the shadow, keeping watch above His own.”

IN RELIGION

Much of the religious leadership today is boon companion to the faulty political leadership, although it is to their commendation that some of them at least see rather dimly the approaching storm, and are feverishly trying to combine – to form the ‘Universal Church’ – realizing, as they do so, that if they do not hang together, they shall all hang separately. Some of this is deftly set forth in the April 22 issue of Newsweek:

“After nearly two centuries of separation, the differences between most Angli­cans in the Church of England and their British cousins in the Methodist are largely matters of style. (Quite a contrast to the attitude of the noble and saintly John Wesley, of whom George III – the same one against whom the American colonies rebelled in 1775 – made the praiseworthy comment that Wesley and his ministers had done more good for England than the entire Church of England combined—JJH).... Earlier this month commissions from both churches approved a blueprint for reunion.... A far more sweeping call for unity was issued last week by Episcopal Bishop C. Kilmer Myers of California, who boldly suggested that this summer’s Lambeth Conference of the Angli­can Bishops in London and the World Council of Churches meeting in Uppsala, Sweden, be reconvened in Rome with the world’s Roman Catholic Bishops and under the leader­ship of Pope Paul VI as acknowledged ‘first among equals of the Christian Church on earth.’ Beyond that he proposed a ‘World Congress of the Great Religions of Man’ ­including humanism – in order that the vast majority of the earth’s population may speak out, through its spiritual leadership, for human worth and dignity.” Thus, we now offer the timely Scriptures: “They shall surely gather together, but not by me.” (Isa. 54:15) “The heavens (the present religious systems) shall be rolled to­gether as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree.” (Isa. 34:4) The end of all this is graphically set forth in Rev. 6:14: “The heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain (powerful absolute monarchies) and island (republics and lenient governments) were moved out of their places” – of which we have seen so much since the collapse of the powerful Czarist regime in Russia in 1917.

THROW HER DOWN – In previous papers we have offered some considerable detail about the destruction of antitypical Jezebel (The Roman Catholic Church), but there is one point on which we have said nothing – an item on which the past year has cast some light because of the controversy that has arisen within the Church itself over the Pope’s birth control edict. The news has mentioned numerous priests and nuns who have registered open defiance on the subject, and this may now be giving us the fulfillment of 2 Kgs. 9:30-33: “When Jehu was come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she painted her face, and tired her head, and looked out at a window.... And he lifted up his face to the window, and said, Who is on my side? Who? And there looked out at him two or three eunuchs.  And he said, Throw her down. So they threw her down.” It is quite probable that the action of the rebelling priests and nuns (the antitypi­cal eunuchs) that became so open in 1968 is the beginning of Jezebel’s fall from the window that caused her death.

All of this uproar and slinging of dust affords ample opportunity for all sorts of legerdemain.  For the past year or more there is an early Sunday morning radio service, in which the preacher urges his listeners to send to him a handkerchief, a napkin, or other personal pieces of cloth (along with $10 or more, of course), which he will bless to their physical and financial increment. As authority for this, he quotes Acts 19:12: “God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul (one of the twelve Apostles who alone were able to confer the miraculous gifts of the Spirit ­a power which died with them): So that from his body were brought unto the sick hand­kerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.” All in the blessed name of Jesus, of course!

IN LITTLE BABYLON – The confusion among the former Truth groups is now even sur­passing some of the flummery in Big Babylon. One segment now emphatically proclaims there is not one word in the Bible about an earthly Kingdom. Seemingly they have never read the Lord’s prayer: “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth.” Another is now proclaiming that That Servant was the last saint; while yet another is saying the Lord is not yet even present – thus the Harvest is yet in the future, and That Servant has not yet arrived. Was Big Babylon ever more confused!

THE LAYMEN’S HOME MISSIONARY MOVEMENT – This the latest sect to arise in Little Babylon has not gone to the ridiculous extremes mentioned above, yet they have revo­lutionized against many truths they once enthusiastically accepted. We have noted many of them at various times, but we specially stress now the one explained in our last paper – the explanation of Rev. 19:6-8. That Servant clearly stated that mes­sage was to be given “after Babylon’s fall”; and the Epiphany Messenger full agreed with that. But a Levite now says that is all wrong – those two just did not know whereof they spoke – so he has been giving this ‘message’ since 1950, and especially emphasized since 1954 as a part of his “Attestatorial Service.” And this he does despite the clear statement of verse 6 that it would be “as the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings.” This he offers as a “parallel” to the 1914-1916 Little Flock Attestatorial Service: wherein ALL the Little Flock then living engaged enthusiastically unto a completion; whereas, his present Great Multitude – those who joined with him in 1950, and even up to the present – is not one-tenth of one percent of the present total Great Multitude, and no visible representation at all of the “many waters” engaging in it. The message itself is the Truth; the error lies in the “due time” selected for its delivery. This is akin to J. F. Rutherford’s Millions Now Living Will Never Die message back in the early twenties. That message is partially true, but the “due time” for its delivery was decidedly out of keeping with the “signs of the times” ­and now with many of the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ adherents long since dead who expected to “never die.”

To some our criticism in this instance may seem trivial – “straining at a gnat,” as it were; but the time element is definitely of far-reaching importance. If the leader of the LHMM is correct in his delivery of that message now, then all his kins­men in Big and Little Babylon are just that much out of Present Truth (although they should be declaring the message also if the teaching of the Star Members is correct); they may be working for the Lord, but they are not doing the Lord’s work (that is, if the message is now due to be proclaimed) – just as was true of those during the Parousia who continued to sow the seed, when they should have been engaged in the reaping work. On the other hand, if That Servant and the Epiphany Messenger were right in their interpretation of Rev. 19:6-8, then the LHMM is certainly not now do­ing the Lord’s work: they have a “zeal, but not according to knowledge.” Thus, they must eventually reap the reward of “the unprofitable servant” (the Great Company – see Berean Comment) – “weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matt. 25:30) – “sorrow, disappoint­ment and chagrin in every sense.”

COMBINATIONISM – The third Slaughter Weapon of Combinationism (Eze. 9:2) that made its first world-wide appearance in 1893 is again prominently active, as shown by the references previously given herein; but it is not only active in Big Babylon, but Little Babylon is also doing its best to keep the pace. In the LHMM this is true in a limited way with persons, but it is also becoming more prominent each year in their combination with Big Babylon’s methods and teachings.

ISRAEL – The turmoil continues to intensify there, although we have covered this feature pretty well in our paper No. 158. We now mention one item, however, that is not featured in the news, so it is not general knowledge. The Arabs are selling their oil mainly to countries where the US Dollar is dominant, and the pressure is being put upon them from such sources. And since we are still in the time when “money talks,” the Arabs are forced to soften somewhat their attitude toward Israel. The overlords there are reveling in too much luxury to allow the flow of US dollars into their coffers to be jeopardized, although it is clearly evident it is a strenuous effort for them to restrain themselves.

IN GENERAL

A Canadian financial paper of restricted clientele offers a rather enlightening article – “THE WORLD WE LIVE IN” – from which we offer just a few paragraphs:

“Things move so fast these days – new inventions, new developments are contin­ually cropping up all around us – that few people appreciate the scope of what is happening. It pays, therefore, to pause occasionally and reflect; to take time out from the day-to-day strife of meeting the payroll, placating the boss, or bleeding for the unfortunate in Biafra, Vietnam and scores of other places. Instead, we should count our blessings and renew our strength by looking back on some of the accomplish­ments of recent years.

“If any one should doubt the lightning changes that are taking place, let him reflect that next year we are scheduled to see the first landing of man on the moon. By 1978, according to an official of a company deeply immersed in space projects, we should have regular traffic back and forth to the moon. Further, he says, we’ll be keeping orbital systems above the earth with space labs flying crews of up to thirty people. And, in another 10 or 15 years trips to other parts of the solar sys­tem may be possible.

“With barely any thought a host of new inventions that made their first appear­ance only a few years back can be compiled – electric toothbrushes, polaroid cameras, color TV, tubeless tires, direct long distance dialing, and so on, almost ad infinitum.

Not everything that is new and bright meets with every one’s approval, but no one can say that this is not an exciting and challenging world in which we live. And from the developments currently in progress it is likely to stay that way for a long while yet.”

Truly, this is “the day of preparation,” as it is also “the evil day” (Eph. 6:13) the best of times and the worst of times. The luxuries appearing on every hand are wanted just as much – perhaps even more – by those who cannot afford them as by those who can afford them. This is undoubtedly one great contributing cause to the great upsurge in crime – an effort by the have-nots to secure from the “haves” by theft, intrigue, violence, what they cannot secure by legal orthodox methods. Thus, our readers are well reminded of the Scriptural counsel: “The end of all things is at hand: Be ye therefore sober and watch unto prayer” (1 Pet. 4:7), for “God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2 Tim. 1:7)

To all our readers we send for the year ahead the prayer for the blessing that maketh rich, and for that “godliness with contentment which is great gain.” (1 Tim. 6:6) We also heartily reciprocate the many Holiday greetings that have come to us, wishing for all throughout 1969 a rich increase in Grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Sincerely your brother,

John J. Hoefle, Pilgrim

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

OF GENERAL INTEREST

In November 1968 the United States Government granted tax exempt status to the Epiphany Bible Students Association. This will result in a considerable sav­ing in our postage – more than two cents on each monthly paper or tract mailed from here.

Also, this allows contributors to use as deductible expense in their income tax returns any contributions made toward the work we are doing. Some thirty years ago we secured this same status for the Laymen’s Home Missionary Movement, although it re­quired a long and rugged and expensive lawsuit to accomplish it – an action which cost the Laymen’s Home Missionary Movement not one cent, as the entire cost was at our own personal expense. At that time the Government was very adamant in their con­tention that the LHMM was merely “a private venture of Mr. Johnson,” a decision they were forced to retract by their own Board of Tax Appeals Court. Based partly upon that decision – and aided by the experience we received in that action – it was not necessary to resort to litigation to secure the present ruling. If any of our readers do desire to use their contributions as deductions from their federal income tax re­turns, our suggestion would be that they make the checks payable to EPIPHANY BIBLE STUDENTS ASS’N, rather than to John J. Hoefle. While either way is legally all right, it may avoid some argument if the Movement’s name is used on checks, instead of a per­sonal designation.

NO. 162: THE SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 1968 PRESENT TRUTH

No. 162

On pages 66-69 is to be found an article “False Claims on Rev. 19:8 Examined” – ­four pages of castigation against those brethren who disagree with RGJ’s view that the last saint left the earth in 1950. Before we analyze his statements in detail, we would ask once more why he refuses to give to the brethren other parts of Reve­lation that Brother Johnson left us. In the January 1950 Present Truth Brother Johnson stated that Revelation was then clear to him, and he was intending to put it into book form for us. He was prevented from doing this, however, because of increasing physical difficulties and his death that Fall.

The notes left on Revelation are not RGJ’s private property; they belong to all of us. Why, then, does he continue to keep them concealed? Our opinion is that if he did publish those notes they would completely annihilate his present position on a number of things. When we arrived in Philadelphia on the evening of Wednesday, October 25, 1950, preparatory to conducting Brother Johnson’s funeral two days later, one of the first questions we asked RGJ was what about so much of the Bible still left unexplained – especially so, as respects Revelation. RGJ’s answer was quick and positive: Every one in the Bible House was well-informed on the book, and all of them understood the four keys necessary to a correct understanding of it.

But nothing has ever been said in the Present Truth about publishing the notes that Brother Johnson left; and we were well-informed a few years after the funeral that the Bible House family had been emphatically forbidden to discuss those notes. And we know of our own knowledge that certain members of the Bible House staff openly and grossly falsified concerning some of the explanations Brother Johnson had given them. Why? And again we ask, WHY?

In the article now under discussion RGJ offers detailed quotations from Brother Johnson on Rev. 19:8, etc., to “prove” there can be no more saints on earth. Why does he ignore here, why is he completely silent on Brother Johnson’s teaching of a 25-month overlapping of the Epiphany into the Basileia (1954-1956) as a parallel to the 1914-1916 overlapping of the Parousia into the Epiphany? And we should keep in mind, too, that all the Little Flock participated in the “attestorial service” of that period. It is already 18 years since Brother Johnson’s death, and no one hon­estly willing to face the truth would contend that any one of the things he had pre­dicted for those 25 months has even yet came to pass here in 1968. Brother Russell himself saw his mistaken predictions for 1914, and openly measurably corrected them; but Brother Johnson died before he had time to see his mistakes for 1954-1956. This, however, does not mean the rest of us have to be too derelict to correct what time itself clearly demonstrates to be mistaken expectations. Just think of it! RGJ’s “overlapping” is already more than fourteen years gone – and no end in sight. His “attestatorial service” is now fourteen years going – with but a mere handful of the “great crowd” even admitting its existence, much less having anything whatever to do with it. The fallacy of this position is so glaringly apparent that it is little wonder RGJ makes desperate effort to detract attention from it by resorting to such articles as the one we now review.

 CONCERNING 1954

All of us know – who wish to face the matter honestly – that Brother Johnson’s explanation of Rev. 19:6-8 goes hand in glove with what he gave on Rev. 22:10,11 in E-10:114, where he stated:

“1954 is the date that the last member of the Great Company will get his first enlightenment that will bring him into the truth by Passover 1956.” When the time arrives that all the Great Company come into Present Truth there will then be a “great crowd” indeed; and their message will then be “as the sound of many waters” (peoples). As of now, RGJ’s proclaiming his message, with the infin­itesimal number with him (even if he includes the Youthful Worthies, as he is trying to do), is simply as the whispering of a mouse – and a very small mouse at that.

He places great stress upon the past tense of verse 7: “the marriage of the Lamb came.” In verse 6 we also find the past tense: “Our Lord God, the Omnipotent reigned.” Just how does he explain that past tense with respect to his other con­tentions here? Once again, an honest appraisal of both these texts show they have reference to the beginning, and not the full realization of their content. Our Lord began to take to Himself His great power to reign in 1874; still more of it He took in 1878; more in 1881; much more in 1914 when “the stone cut out of the mountain without hands” (Dan. 2:45) smote the image on the feet. All of this is in the past, properly described in the past tense; our Lord God has been reigning as respects the things done. Yet no one with the “spirit of a sound mind” would claim that He is fully reigning in Kingdom Glory. The Jehovah’s Witnesses are attempting to believe this as of and through themselves, but even RGJ scoffs at such claims.

But if this line of reasoning applies to the reign, it must also apply to the marriage. All of us know Brother Johnson’s teaching that the marriage had been going on – had “come” – as each member of the Bride partook of the First Resurrection. Thus, the marriage “came” in its first grand initial portion in 1878; it “came” to Brother Russell in 1916; and it “came” to Brother Johnson in 1950. Only one sadly befuddled by Azazel would attempt to distort this Scripture as RGJ now tries to do.

PROCLAIMING DIRE CONSEQUENCES

On P. 68, col. 1, par. (5) RGJ says those now “in their uncleansed and rebel­lious condition are in danger of the second death.” Yes, those actually in that condition are indeed in danger of the second death! They “sit in darkness (error), and the shadow of death” – the second death—Psa. 107:10. When the renegade Church of Rome pronounced similar dire sentence upon heretics, they were also partly right; but one of their big mistakes was in failing to see that they themselves were the worst offenders of all. We would not take this extreme accusation against RGJ; but we would certainly say he is leaning in that direction. He himself is flagrantly disputing the statement in E-10:114: “after 1954 it would be useless to exhort the tentatively justified to consecrate and sinners to repent.” He is still telling sinners they may “repent” and receive tentative justification – but they can now get it in his Camp, instead of in the Court – the place where both Parousia and Epiphany Messengers said it must be found.

But we might ask here, Which is more important: To know the date the last one came into the Bride Class, or the correct date the last one died – or will die? And, while Brother Johnson was very emphatic about the date the High Calling closed, he never to our knowledge threatened any with the second death if they did not accept his teaching. In fact, he freely admitted there were saints in the other groups who openly contradicted him – who did not accept the Epiphany Truth, with some believ­ing him to be in the Second Death himself. (See E-10:671) And concerning his teach­ing that gross and persistent revolutionism would reveal one as a crown-loser, yet he never consigned to the second death even those “sitting in the Shadow” because they still considered themselves saints, but were not so. And we believe all will agree that some of the Saints in other groups died during Brother Johnson’s ministry, still believing the High Calling open, as did also some of the Great Company: they didn’t go into the second death because of that belief. It takes a “cleansed” (?) Levite (crown-lost leader) to offer such flummery.

On p. 69, col. 1, bottom, he quotes Brother Russell: “It is after the Little Flock is changed and the Great Company is still in a measure of tribulation,” etc. Just what tribulation was RGJ, or the “Great Company in general,” in when Brother Johnson died in 1950? As Brother Johnson so ably stated, When crown-losers fall into the hands of Azazel they talk all sorts of nonsense. And here is simply some more of it! The “great tribulation” that is to cleanse the Great Company to wash their robes – is still in the future. Thus, Brother Russell’s statement taken at exactly what he says – is a direct contradiction to RGJ’s statement. As so often occurs with would-be Pastors and Teachers (crown-lost leaders more especially), the very texts, the very quotations they offer, reveal the errancy of their claims instead of supporting them.

SOME NOTES ON REV. 19:6; 11:15-17

In further confirmation of the foregoing, note now especially the Berean Comment on Rev. 19:6: “A great multitude.... All mankind after Babylon’s fall; but especially the Great Company.” Here is a clear statement by Brother Russell that the message of Rev. 19:6-8 is due after Babylon falls. And certainly Brother Johnson taught that such would be the case, in harmony with That Servant’s teaching – although he (the Epiphany Messenger) mistakenly believed that Babylon’s fall would be before 1956 – just as Brother Rus­sell thought it would be shortly after 1914 – and that Anarchy would probably be here in its initial stage by 1956. RGJ is very verbose in offering other parts of what Brother Russell taught, so why is he now ignoring this essential section? And why is he ignoring the “events” predicted for 1954-1956 that Brother Johnson clearly taught? Just how much reliance is to be placed in any one who resorts to such Azazelian trick­ery? (E-10:646, top) Please note he accuses the brethren of presenting “False Claims” who accept what Brother Russell teaches here. Thus, he is indirectly accusing Bro. Russell of offering “False Claims.”

And certainly all who have “received the Truth in the love of it” (2 Thes. 2:10) must conclude that such language in the present circumstances is unkind and unfair. But, then, we should not forget that RGJ offered “unfair and unkind criticisms” of Brother Johnson, too – which he admits (See E-10:585 bottom); so we should probably not be surprised to find him doing the same thing against others of lesser stature than Brother Johnson. To be “unkind and unfair” is evidently a deep-rooted evil in RGJ’s character – one to cause distrust and abhorrence in all who conduct themselves “in sincerity and in truth.” And it should also be a warning to all that we are be­ing extremely foolish if we are gullible enough to believe the Lord would ever favor an “unkind and unfair” person with any advancing truth. He himself is now revolu­tionizing against the clear and direct teachings of That Servant, and against the teachings of Brother Johnson, all the while he is accusing those who have not thus revolutionized of making “False Claims.”

Let us now notice Rev. 11:15-17, some of which we offer with the Berean Com­ments: “Great voices.... The widespread message of Present Truth.... particularly distributed in 1902.” “And hast reigned.... In a sense from 1878; actually from 1914.”

Be it noted that this language “hast reigned” is in the past tense – just as it is past tense in the Diaglott of Rev. 19:6. Let RGJ fit this into his “past tense” comments on Rev. 19:8 – if he can!

THE ROBE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

And as respects the “robe of righteousness,” he again quotes Brother Russell on p. 68, col. 2, par. 1: “It became a permanent gift from the Bridegroom to as many as accepted the invitation to union with Him.” Why then so much uproar about Rev. 19:8? “The fine linen represents the righteous acts of the saints.” Would he tell us the saints have not performed “righteous acts” during the time of their earthly sojourn – during the time the “fine linen” was theirs only through imputation? The only difference between the “fine linen” in the flesh and the “fine linen” in Glory is that the present fine linen is imputed to them; whereas, in Glory they have it as their Own. But in either case, there is no difference in the “fine linen,” because the fine linen imputed to them is the actual fine linen of their glorified Lord.

At the bottom of col. 2, p. 69, RGJ says: “Evidently they (those who do not accept his teaching re the last saint—JJH) are cutting themselves off from among all (italics RGJ’s) God’s servants, and are no longer among those who reverence Him above all else.” That is a very strong charge: “cutting themselves off...... and no longer among those who reverence Him above all else.” Is he telling us here there are none of “God’s servants” in the other Truth groups? None of those groups – not even any individuals, so far as we can learn – accept his edict. In this he is in exact alignment with Dark-Age Papacy, and with That Evil Servant, who said the same about those who did not agree with him. The Jehovah’s Witnesses – in harmony with RGJ – say the same about us, too. And in all this he once more displays the impu­dence and the hypocrisy of King Saul of Israel, who furnished us with the type of such crown-lost leaders as RGJ, when he describes those dissenters not in agreement with him as guilty of “self-will, self-exaltation, usurpation, pride, position and power grasping.” (Couldn’t he think of a few more high-sounding adjectives here? It sounds like a Papal Bull!) And once more we answer, “Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee”!

2 TIM. 2:17-19, DIA.

Here we offer the words of St. Paul regarding a similar situation at the begin­ning of the Age: “The word of those men will eat like a mortifying sore; of whom are Hymenius and Philetus (crown-losers who had been abandoned to Azazel by St. Paul – See 1 Tim. 1:20); who missed the mark with respect to the Truth, saying that the RESURRECTION has already happened (the First Resurrection as regards the Saints who had died previously); and they are perverting the faith of some. However, the firm foundation of God stands, having this inscription, The Lord knoweth those that are His; Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.”

Much the same condition prevails now at the end of the Age, the only difference being that Levites abandoned to Azazel were insisting the First Resurrection had al­ready begun, whereas, here now in the end of the Age these Levites are declaring it is fully completed. Both, however, “missed the mark with respect to the Truth” on the subject, having also “missed the mark” with respect to their own standing in the High Calling. It seems that “missing the mark” is a common malady with the crown-losers.

And we would now offer the same counsel as did St. Paul: “Let every one who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity” – let them cease accusing brethren of resorting to “false claims,” brethren whose only failing (according to their charges), so far as they know, is their conviction that they have not “missed the mark with respect to the Truth” on the First Resurrection. We would say to all such: Determine for yourselves whether you wish to accept the teaching of That Servant, who has told us this message is due AFTER BABYLON FALLS, or whether you now wish to ac­cept the word of one abandoned to Azazel (as were those two in St. Paul’s day), who is now saying this teaching by Brother Russell is a “false claim.” And bear in mind, too, that all are as guilty as RGJ who support him in this – even though they may not openly join with him his evils.

Let us stress once more that the only Scriptural rule, or standard, for recog­nizing crown-losers is by their gross and persistent revolutionism. It would not be in harmony with God’s character to permit any one to denounce others as crown-­losers because of their human frailties, etc.; nor does the Bible give the slightest hint that there would be a blanket manifestation in one 24-hour day of all crown-losers here in the end of the Age. There will come a time when the remaining crown-losers will recognize themselves as such. They will discern that the “harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.” (Jer. 8:20) That time is yet future! But there is no hint or indication in the Scriptures that they will recognize themselves as such the very day it became “past.” The “signs of the times” will manifest it so unmistakably that all new creatures will then recognize themselves as such. And the Epiphany Messenger so taught – he thought those signs (Armageddon and Anarchy) would be here by 1956, at which time all crown-losers would be in “present truth.” Bro. Johnson was very pronounced in emphasizing this Scriptural rule for recognizing crown-losers – by their manifesting themselves as such by Gross and Persistent Revo­lutionism of the Truth or its Arrangements, or both. Any who have received this Epiphany Truth and now grossly and persistently revolutionize against it, and pro­nounce “dire consequences” upon those who do not likewise revolutionize, are guilty of God-forbidden “judging”; and, as is so often the case with such errorists, they themselves face the “dire consequences” they mistakenly direct toward their erstwhile brethren.

Again we quote Isa. 66:5: “Hear the word of the Lord, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name’s sake, said, Let the Lord be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.” (See E-4:87 and 155; E-6:280 – “the mouthpiece priests are crucified ‘without the gate,’ both in great and in little Babylon.” Also, E-6:527)

“He that is able to receive it, let him receive it”!

Sincerely your brother,

John J. Hoefle, Pilgrim

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THE CHICAGO CONVENTION

The usual turmoil again – confusion, Babylon extreme. One speaker stressed there is no discord, no disharmony among them. All are in perfect harmony on the Epiphany Truth, with Brother Jolly as the Lord’s appointed leader. Even RGJ him­self saw the weakness of this statement, and attempted to “make amends” in his sub­sequent remarks – although the attempt on his part made only more glaring the folly of his predecessor on the platform. In fact, it was suggested to us that we offer a question for Sunday morning requesting RGJ to take a hand vote of those present to learn if they are all a “unity” in their belief of his Campers Consecrated. Rather, we decided simply to record the incident with the suggestion that RGJ himself take such an accounting at his next Labor Day Convention – and also at the next Chicago Convention.

RGJ also complained about the “chronic faultfinders,” who even fault him when he quotes Brother Russell. The only times we have ever found such fault with him was when he used an earlier opinion that Brother Russell later corrected himself ­or when he quotes Brother Russell to support his error, even injects some of his own errors into it – when the citations do not support him; they often directly contradict him. And we now stress again that this is simply proof that he has lost the “oil in his lamp” – the spirit of understanding on Present Truth. If RGJ should now quote Brother Russell that the Church has been under the New Coven­ant, we would certainly “find fault” with that. And, if he should quote Brother Russell that the Gentile nations would be removed and the Kingdom fully established by 1915, we would certainly “find fault” with that!

All of this, of course, is a desperate effort on his part to minimize the crushing refutations we have given his many errors; and we now state that the Bible itself is a chronic “faultfinder” against the crown-losers – the “children of diso­bedience.” Brother Russell was a “chronic faultfinder” against the same class; Brother Johnson was a “chronic faultfinder” against the same class. Let us not for­get that St. Paul in Heb. 12:16,17 describes this class as “profane persons”; yet, if we but repeat St. Paul’s words, the cry immediately emerges – “chronic faultfinder”! (Please see Heb. 12:16,17, Dia., and E-6, bottom and top of p. 447; also 1 Tim. 1:9; 2 John 8)

Along this same line, there was quite some-profuse testimony about a Sister recently departed who had been in the Truth since about 1908, and “fully faithful” all her life. That would mean, of course, that she was of the Little Flock. Yet these same people give us the double-talk that Brother Johnson was the last of the “fully faithful” – and now gone some eighteen years. Of course, it is seldom that the disciple rises above his lord. And, as Brother Johnson so well put it – Those who fall into Azazel’s clutches talk all sorts of nonsense. Thus, it should not sur­prise us at all that those who are persuaded by RGJ’s nonsense would also talk the same sort of nonsense.

We realize that these dear brethren (we regard them as “brethren,” even though they do not so regard us!) mean well – that they may have unwittingly spoken the truth about the departed Sister. Most of us know it was Brother Johnson’s opinion that many of those who embraced the Truth during the 1908-1911 sifting continued steadfast unto the end. But to those of our brethren who now read this, it is our fond hope they will be better persuaded, and will recognize the confusion worse con­founded into which their leader has inveigled them, when he revolutionized against the clear Epiphany teaching that it is only by gross and persistent revolutionism that the Great Company manifest themselves as such – none of us ‘manifest’ them as crown-losers; and it is also our hope and prayer that RGJ’s partisan supporters will cease and desist from this God-forbidden judging. If we allow ourselves to be inveigled into such revolutionism – a position that God gives to no man – then the Lord Himself will manifest His displeasure of such people by sending them “strong delusion” (2 Thes. 2:11), as He has indeed been doing since Brother Johnson’s demise.

In the Question Meeting RGJ again emphasized his errors on Campers Consecrated, etc., and stressed Leviticus 12 as “proof” that the Youthful Worthy call ended in 1954. However, there is not the slightest hint in this type that it includes the Youthful Worthies; it is exclusively a recitation of New Creatures – the Little Flock and Great Company developing Truths from 1874 to 1954. And for him now to attempt such an interpolation is exactly the same technique employed by Trinitarians, who “added” Scripture to “prove” their error.. It should be noted that Brother Johnson does not even mention the Youthful Worthies in his interpretation of Leviticus 12 in Volume 4.

He offered a similar contortion on Heb. 2:15: “Deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” Some one asked who these people are. RGJ said primarily the Great Company; but it could also include the Little Flock, Youthful Worthies and his Campers Consecrated. A look at the Berean Comment will readily persuade any one that Brother Russell could not possibly have included any of the Fully Faithful (those who kept their sacrifice upon the altar) in his interpretation. The “fear” St. Paul mentions in the text is fear of the sacrificial death (the result of which produces their fleshly minds), which “fear” is the direct cause for losing one’s crown. Thus, it is a gross insult to the faithful Little Flock to include them with the crown-losers in this text; and RGJ’s attempt to do so is just one more revolutionism against Parousia and Epiphany Truth – that Truth he brazenly contends that only he and his kind have “not revolutionized against, but, on the contrary, have defended and still defend both in their fullness.” (See 1968 PT, p. 62, col. 2, par. (2). Just as with Leviticus 12, he now reads something into the text that isn’t there at all. Of course, Azazel means Perverter; so it should not surprise us to see one abandoned to Azazel repeatedly perverting Parousia and Epiphany Truth, even as he contends he is upholding it. Much the same has been done by those who have tampered with the Bible, even while loudly and emphatically contending that they “believe the Bible from cover to cover.” Is it any wonder St. Paul labels such crown-losers as “profane” persons!

Inasmuch as there is no laver in the Camp, some one wanted to know how RGJ’s Campers Consecrated receive their cleansing. His answer: By looking at the linen curtain! This is the same linen curtain, of course, that the faithful all during the Age – including the Epiphany – have been holding up, concerning which Brother Russell explained it is a “,wall of faith” to those within, and a “wall of unbelief” to those without. Thus, he now has his Campers receiving their cleansing by merely gazing at the linen curtain. So we would ask, do the residents of the Court secure their cleansing merely by gazing at the laver there? RGJ also said that the laver is not now being removed from the Court to the Camp, nor will it be all during the Kingdom. We fully agree with this, and would also state that a “narrow way” is not being opened up in the Camp, nor will a “narrow way” be opened up for Restitu­tionists all during the Kingdom. The laver types the Old and New Testament – the Bible. The Bible is primarily for the elect, although describes the non-elect. The promises in the Old and New Testaments are to enable the elect to walk a “narrow way.” When the Kingdom is fully established, and the New Covenant inaugurated, another Book will be opened – a book that will enable the Restitutionists to walk up the Highway of Holiness.

In answer to another question – the Resurrection of the Just and the Unjust, RGJ said that his Campers Consecrated would have the Resurrection of the Just! When we differentiate between the resurrection of the just and the unjust, the resurrection of the just is instantaneous, and the resurrection of the unjust, grad­ually, by Judgments. The Just is rewarded in their resurrection; the unjust includes all the Restitutionists as they gradually become actually justified – perfect in mind and body. The Ancient and Youthful Worthies receive the “better resurrection” (made perfect in body), which is specifically stated in Hebrews 11. He offers the same kind of confusion regarding the Book of Life when he says his Campers Consecrated are now inscribing their names in the Book of Life. Their Book of Life is not even opened! We will have more to say about the Resurrection of the Just and Unjust in a future writing.

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me; seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. As they were increased, so they sinned against me; therefore will I change their glory into shame. They eat up the sin of my people, and they set their heart on their iniquity. And they shall be, like people, like priest: and I will punish them for their ways, and reward them their doings.” (Hosea 4:6-9)

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LETTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST

Dear Brother Hoefle: Grace and peace through our Beloved Master!

The October paper is received, and it is so wonderful! Sister ------- and I discussed it for a long while...... the tabernacle and His Temple..... See Manna texts for Feb. 7 and 9; the Plan of the Ages, pp. 79-8 and 141; the New Creation, pp. 461 and 464.

We here are praying for you. May God bless you more and more! Please let me hear from you. God bless you and Sister Hoefle and all the others. May God bless you all! “Sweet is the work, my God, my King – to praise thy Name and give thanks and sing.” Hymns 275, 23, 309 and 315.

Your brother ------- (TRINIDAD)

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Dear Brother: Greetings in His dear Name!

It was nice hearing from you and we look forward to seeing you another time, if it be God’s will. I am enclosing a check for the Lord’s work and ask God’s special blessing upon you, as you seek to serve Him day by day.

Will you please send me about 200 copies of What Is the Soul, and Where Are the Dead?

We saw the ......... the first Sunday of the month and enjoyed studying together. ........ Let us pray we will be faithful, come what may.

With Christian love, sister -------. (CONNECTICUT)

PS – Dear Brother & Sister, Amen to all of the above and God bless you! – Sr. -------

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Dear Brother Hoefle: Grace and peace!

I received your very welcome letter with the Convention program, which I greatly appreciate – also your comments. You may be sure that I am anxiously awaiting your comments of the Conven­tion, which I know will be thorough. We are very fortunate that we have such a good reporter who gives the facts, and very critical as to errors and perversions of the Truth – and to find one who is still loyal to the Epiphany Truth as we originally received it.

We have been quite busy this summer and are quite well. We had a hot and wet summer.....

Hoping this finds all of you in the best of health and that you will be able to attend the Chicago Convention also.

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

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Dear Brother Hoefle: Grace and peace be multiplied!

I trust that these few lines meet you and yours basking in the sunshine of the Master’s bounteous Providence. Let me now hasten to solicit your pardon for not sending until now the dues for books received. The plan upon which we agreed has up to now proven to be inconvenient for use.......

We over here are trying to forge ahead as best we can, and do thank the Lord for His wonderful and timely supply of “meat in due season” through you, our dear Brother. We, I am sure, would be at an entire loss for words with which we could express our appreciation of the numerous manifestations of your unstinted kindness and love for and toward us. My sincerest wishes – also those of Sister ------- go out for the continued growth in spiritual and temporal good health of yourself, Sister Hoefle, and the friends your way. I remain,

Your brother in the faith ------- ­(TRINIDAD)