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)

NO. 161: THE JULY-AUGUST 1968 PRESENT TRUTH

No. 161

On p. 61 is set forth an attempted explanation of some “Prophecies Concerning Benjamin,” which betray the confused condition of the Editor’s mind, along with a very limited ability in spiritual discernment, as well as some self‑evident rank dishonesty. And he labels such statements as these from us as “disparaging the Good Levites, speaking all manner of evil against them falsely,” etc. This statement by him is a fit companion for one made by J. F. Rutherford, when he wrote to us that “Paul S. L. Johnson is vilifying me.”

There is quite some elaboration of the virtues of “good Levites”; but he says nothing about good Levites who become “Bad Levites.” Nor does he mention the disputations of the “good Levites” with the Lord’s Mouthpiece. This is akin to the second deathers who quote texts concerning themselves when they were saints, and of the Roman Church applying Scriptures to themselves that actually condemn instead of supporting and lauding them in their present reprobate state. Any one with even a smattering of Epiphany Truth knows that good Levites become manifested as bad Levites when they revolutionize against truths they once proclaimed correctly.

It is stated in col. 1, par. 4, that an attempt is made “to ascribe evil characteristics to an antitype (Benjamin) where none are indicated”; and on p. 62, col. 1, bottom, there is the further comment that Benjamin was “indeed especially loved and favored of God.” And in col. 2, par. 4, “Typical Benjamin enjoyed God’s special protection even to the very end of the Jewish Age.” Here is simply a duplication of Levitical attempts all during the Age to analyze Scripture by using only a part of the pertinent texts – that part that particularly seemed adapted to their errors, the same resulting in Babylon – confusion. In Judges 19‑21 we have the record of Benjamin as the chief culprit in what is probably the most reprehensible crime of the entire Old Testament, wherein the Lord not only did not give Benjamin “special protection” – as RGJ so emphatically states – but He actually instructed their own Jewish brethren to go up against them (20:28); and verse 35 declares, “the Lord smote Benjamin before Israel.” Thus, the statement that “Benjamin enjoyed God’s special protection even to the very end of the Jewish Age” is nothing more than impudent falsehood. Be it remembered that because of the great slaughter inflicted upon Benjamin by their own Jewish brethren there that Benjamin was thereafter the very most diminutive tribe of all Israel; they were almost exterminated because of their sin then.

SAUL AND JONATHAN

Much the same conclusion may be drawn by RGJ’s attempt on p. 61, col. 2, par. 3, to laud Saul of Benjamin and his son Jonathan as “mighty warriors, making prey of their enemies.” This commendation was true of them only up to the time that Saul “rebelled” (typical of present‑day Levitical revolutionism against the Truth), after which time one failure after another overtook them until their enemies eventually made “prey” of them. (See 1 Sam. 31:4‑6) They came to an ignominious and humiliating end. This is so graphically expressed by David in 2 Sam. 1:25: “How are the mighty fallen!” Certainly, any one with even a smattering of Present Truth knows that both Brother Russell and Brother Johnson were very pronounced in exposing the evils of antitypical Benjamin; and much of what we have written is simply quotations from them. Thus, we have often repeated that Saul is a type of the crown‑lost leaders (a part of antitypical Benjamin) until Armageddon, when he will be slain as such – although not necessarily to a completion physically. However, those of them that do survive the Armageddon cudgeling will then be cleansed from their present evils – prepared to perform a fruitful ministry as a result of that cleansing. And this includes RGJ himself – although he makes strenuous effort to exalt himself as a cleansed Levite now. But, when that time comes, his readers will then know just how much credence they should have placed in his present praise of antitypical Benjamin. (1 Sam. 31:1‑6)

With such glaring contradictions so clearly in the record, it seems unbelievable that the Present Truth Editor would be so crass as to offer illustrations that in the ultimate actually completely condemn him and his kind. It is an identical twin to JFR’s course. As all of us know, he, too, performed valiant service under the benign leadership of Brother Russell – just as did RGJ under the faithful guidance of Brother Johnson – notwithstanding his disputations and revolutionisms even then. With the both of them, it was only after their abandonment to Azazel – through their separation from the faithful priesthood – that they plunged headlong into vitiation of truth and righteousness. Indeed, half truths such as RGJ presents are often more misleading than whole errors. An impartial appraisal – a fully comprehensive appraisal of this situation is to be found in E‑15:519, 520:

“As we saw that there was a progress from good to a mixture of good and evil in their dispositions, the good being the Holy Spirit in them, while they were measurably unfaithful, so there is a progress in their condition of being very unfaithful; for it degenerates into varying degrees of a preponderance of the evil mind over the good mind in the worst of them, and in the preponderance of the good mind over the evil mind in a comparatively few of them – those who almost, but not quite won out in the high calling; and in some it is more or less a case of half of one and half of the other, with considerable of see‑sawing between them. Yet a double mind is in all of them, as St. James assures us: ‘A double minded man is unstable in all his ways’ (Jas. 1:8), with very much of variation in the double‑mindedness in the individuals, even as we saw above....Always they either set aside in revolutionism more or less of the teachings of the Bible and more or less of the arrangements that God has given for His work, or they partisanly support others who become guilty as leaders or ledlings of those two forms of rebellion. 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. 5:3), becoming guilty of love for money, influence, honor from men and leadership. (Note the very clear application of this to RGJ himself in E‑10, p. 585, top and p. 646, top – the very book from which RGJ quotes to laud antitypical Benjamin – JJH)....With all of this they increasingly lose part of their ability to discern between truth and error (also clearly true about RGJ and true in principal of those Youthful Worthies that succumb to his perversions of teaching and arrangements – JJH).

And the resentment of all of them at our repeated quotations similar to the above is clearly explained by Jesus Himself: “Every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.” (John 3:20, 21)

However, it is certainly a pertinent observation here that all during this Age there has been a very close affinity between the sons of antitypical Rachel. This is so clearly shown in 1 Sam. 18:1: “The soul of Jonathan (typical of Gospel‑Age crown‑losers) was knit with the soul of David (type of Gospel‑Age Little Flock), and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.” This is further confirmed in 2 Sam. 1:26 in the words of David after Jonathan’s death: “I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.” Thus, the Little Flock often has admired the good qualities of antitypical Benjamin with such fervency that they either failed to take note of their evils, or overlooked them with a generous indulgence. But this is no indication that their attitude was the right one, or that God viewed them similarly.

REBELLION IS ALWAYS THE SIN OF WITCHCRAFT

Then there is an attempt to disparage Youthful Worthies who oppose his revolutionisms by referring to Epiphany Vol. 4, pp. 446‑447. Certainly no Youthful Worthy should conclude he has any part of leading Azazel’s Goat to the Gate and deliverance to the fit man, which Brother Johnson is there discussing; but here again RGJ is offering another half truth. Should Youthful Worthies be gentle in reproving murderers, slanderers (murderers of a brother’s reputation – see Manna Comment for July 14), congenital liars, etc.? Brother Russell explained this situation very clearly when he said there are times it would be wrong not to have righteous indignation, and to show it. Brother Johnson himself was not nearly so drastic with JFR before he realized he had gone the way of Cain and Judas, after which he became more severe with him. And it certainly needs no qualification when we say it is right and proper for any worldling to resist evil toward himself and others, even if it is committed by the “Good Levites” – the Measurably Faithful. God Himself is against all evil, and approves of those who do likewise – whether those in His Household or others. Note the case of Pharaoh re Abraham – Gen. 12:14‑20. Certainly, God does not approve of the evils that the Measurably Faithful commit! RGJ’s tendency is much the same as some of the worldlings today: Pity the poor criminal, and denounce the innocent for wanting him brought to justice – denounce good principles!

That the Youthful Worthies should be positive in their stand against all evil is clearly confirmed in E‑15:532:

“St. Paul gives the testimony as to all the Ancient Worthies, that they wrought righteousness and exercised faith (Heb. 11:1, 2, 33), and in principle these passages apply to the Youthful Worthies. Hence it is a Biblical teaching that the Ancient and Youthful Worthies have that part of the Holy Spirit, God’s disposition, that is the will to do God’s will....consecration to righteousness....the consecration of sanctification...the will that wills God’s will sacrificially. In other words, so far as consecration is concerned, they make the same consecration as the Little Flock ..... their attitude is the same.”

Thus, it is their duty to reprove for sin, for righteousness, and for judgment (John. 16:8‑11). It is indeed a matter for weeping as we observe RGJ crying that he is being treated too severely for his violations of truth and righteousness. “Don’t do that,” says he, “because I am a higher class than you are” – even as his repeated perversions scream to high Heaven that his behavior is often of a much lower class. When the Ancient Worthies exposed and reproved the corrupt priesthood, their ‘higher class’ was often emphasized. “The prophets prophesy falsely and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?” (Jer. 5:31) “Answerest thou the high priest so?” (John 18:22)

In the face of this, and much more, RGJ is brazen enough to declare that “the Good Levites are the only group that has not revolutionized against Parousia and Epiphany Truth, but, on the contrary, has defended and still defends both in their fulness.” (p. 62, col. 2) Here are some of the fundamental Parousia and Epiphany Truths against which RGJ and his ledlings have revolutionized:

(1) – Have Rebelled (Revolutionized) against the Scriptural teaching of Six Saved Classes only from among mankind as set out in Joel 2:28, 29 (see Epiphany Vol. Four, pp. 319‑320). RGJ now has Seven Saved Classes from among mankind – a clear revolutionism against Epiphany Truth.

(2) – Have Rebelled (Revolutionized) against the Epiphany Truth on the Abandonment process for Azazel’s Goat (the Great Company) as set out in Epiphany Vol. 15, p. 525, and other places. RGJ now teaches that it isn’t necessary for the “Good Levites” (that is, he and those with him in this revolutionism in the LHMM)) to be fully abandoned to Azazel – that is, to have all brotherly fellowship and favor of the Priesthood withdrawn from them before their cleansing can be effected (which includes all restraining influence of the Star Members such as was removed from JFR after the death of That Servant, after which he openly revolutionized against the Truth and its Arrangements – and offered “strange fire” – especially in his newly invented class of Jonadabs – before the Lord). RGJ has also revolutionized against the Truth (having revolutionized against the Arrangements during the Epiphany Messenger’s ministry), and has offered “strange fire” – especially in his newly‑invented Campers Consecrated Class, after the death of the Epiphany Messenger. He does all this in the face of the Epiphany Messenger’s clear teaching that ALL OF THEM – the good, the bad and the in between, including those who lost Little Flockship by the ‘skin of their teeth’ – would have to experience full abandonment to Azazel before their cleansing could be effected. RGJ now disputes and revolutionizes against this truth as he tells us he and his kinsmen in the LHMM don’t have to have this process.

(3) – Have Rebelled (Revolutionized) against the Star Members’ teaching on Tentative Justification in the Court only. RGJ now has Tentative Justification in the Camp also, to accommodate his Campers – a direct contradiction of both Parousia and Epiphany Messenger. In his denial completely of tentative justification, JFR was forced to move the place of consecration in the Tabernacle picture from the door of the Tabernacle to the Gate; but RGJ now goes him even one better: He removes consecration from the Court altogether, and has it floating about somewhere in the Camp just where he has never made clear. As we have so often stressed, of the Gospel‑Age, the Epiphany and the Millennial Tabernacles, ONLY ONE operates at a time. Let RGJ state which one is operating now, and the confusion of his ‘justification in the Camp’ then will become glaringly apparent.

(4) – Have Rebelled (Revolutionized) against the teaching that the Camp contains the unconsecrated. RGJ now teaches consecration is available for his Campers – a direct revolutionism against both Parousia and Epiphany Truth.

(5) – Have Rebelled (Revolutionized) against Parousia and Epiphany Truth regarding the Laver. Both Messengers taught that the Laver is indispensable for the Tentatively Justified and the Consecrated. He has his Campers “consecrated” in the Camp without the benefit of this indispensable Laver.

(6) – Have Rebelled (Revolutionized) against Epiphany Truth that Revolutionism against the Truth or its Arrangements) gross and persistent), or both, is the ONLY yardstick for recognizing new creatures as crown‑losers. RGJ now teaches that all new creatures are crown‑losers whether they have revolutionized against any Truth or its Arrangements or not (Truths and Arrangements they once accepted and upheld).

(7) – Have Rebelled (Revolutionized) against the Epiphany teaching on Lev. 12 claims to have produced Great Company developing truth now – 14 years after the 80 day (year) period is over. We shouldn’t be too surprised to see him offer some Little Flock developing Truth one of these days – that is, if he doesn’t extricate himself from the clutches of Azazel. Any of the brethren who have received Parousia and Epiphany Truth in a “good and honest heart” will be able to recognize these perversions, distortions, and repudiations as gross and persistent revolutionisms against the Truth. Only those who have been in a leprous house and become contaminated with leprosy cannot “discern between good and evil” – between adherence to the Truth and revolutionism against the Truth.

(8) – Have Rebelled (Revolutionized) against the clear teaching of Epiphany Vol. 1, p. 115, bottom, 116, top “God’s love toward Israel helped the faithful among them to qualify for Ancient Worthies and helped the measurably faithful among them to be fit for the first place among the world of mankind in the Restitution Age.” RGJ now has his Campers Consecrated scheduled for the “first place” among Restitutionists – just as the Jehovah’s Witnesses also displace the Jews from “first place” to supplant them with their “large crowd.”

With such revolutionisms so glaringly apparent, RGJ’s claim to adherence to the Parousia and Epiphany truth is akin to the bombast of the Papacy in claiming strict adherence to the teachings of St. Peter, and to the effervescent claims of other groups who also avow adherence to the teachings of That Servant. All of which finds placement in Solomon’s denunciation of the brazen harlot – “she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness” (Prov. 30:20).

As a final observation on RGJ’s loose and irresponsible teachings, note his statement on p. 56, col. 1, par. 3: “Who shall be able to stand?” He applies this text (Mal. 3:2) here to the fifth Parousia sifting; and then at the bottom of col. 2 (same page), he says, “The reference clearly applies to this Epiphany period.” All instructed in Epiphany Truth know that “Who may abide the day of His coming” is the part of this text that applies to the Parousia ONLY; and the Epiphany Messenger was very emphatic in his time application of the two parts of this text. This text in both parts applies to new creatures. In the Parousia it was a matter of whether they “abide” as new creatures, or go the way of Judas as did the ransom‑deniers, et al, of the Parousia. In the Epiphany it is “Who shall be able to stand?” – continue in the Little Flock standing during this separation time, this manifesting time. And how do we recognize those who fall – the crown‑loser who do not ‘stand’ (those who revolutionize against the Truth and its Arrangements – one or both)? It is gross and persistent revolutionism that separates the crown‑retainers from the crown‑losers.

Now RGJ has admitted that his revolutionism against the arrangements under the benign leadership of the Epiphany Messenger, was gross and persistent. Since the Epiphany Messenger’s demise – at a time when he had lost the brotherly fellowship and favor of the Priesthood, and his complete abandonment to Azazel, he has revolutionized against the Truths which we have enumerated in this paper – although it isn’t clear in the case of Mal. 3:2 whether he is in this instance revolutionizing against this Epiphany Truth, or if he is simply so befuddled by Azazel that he unwittingly contradicts himself right on the same page of his magazine. Truly, those who fall into the clutches of Azazel offer all sorts of nonsense in their writings and teachings. In fact, he is in a very poor position now to use that Epiphany section, because he claims there are none at all left on earth who have been “able to stand”: He says such are all gone from the earth.

“I will also praise thee with the psalter, even thy truth, O my God; unto thee will I sing with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel. My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long: for they are confounded, for they are brought unto shame, that seek my hurt.” (Psa. 71;22, 24)

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QUESTION OF GENERAL INTEREST

QUESTION: – On p. 389 of the July 1, 1968 Watch Tower the question is asked, “Is your religion the true one?” Then they make the statement, “The test is a relatively easy one to make.” Is it easy to “discern between truth and error” in religious teachings?

ANSWER: – There is plenty of Scripture to dispute that statement. In 2 Pet. 3:16 it is said that the Apostle Paul had written “some things hard to under stand, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest.” And in Psa. 97:11 it is written, “Light (truth) is sown for the righteous.” The inference here is clear enough that the Truth is not sown for the unrighteous; and the Manna comment for June 19 has this: “It is God’s provision to open the eyes of understanding of those only whose hearts are in sympathy with righteous principles. To others the Truth would be an injury.” In support of this we have the words of Jesus in Mark 4:11, 12: “Unto you (the Disciples) it is given to know the mystery of the Kingdom of God: but unto them that are without (the unrighteous, the unstable and the unlearned), all these things are done in parables: That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.” Of course, elementary truth can be understood by the good worldlings – those who are seeking to live in harmony with good principles. But, the Apostle Paul tells us that “Strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” (Heb. 5:14) Self‑evidently, the “test” is not relatively easy for any except those who are of “full age.”

God put the secrets in the Bible in so hidden a manner that none could understand them except by a special act of God’s enlightening grace, which He has withheld from all except from those to whom He wished to reveal Himself – the faith class. It is for this reason that the Bible in large part is simply unintelligible to any but the fully faithful – and that as due. This St. Paul makes very clear in 1 Cor. 2:7‑14. Truly he could say, “We speak the wisdom of God in a mystery” – in a secret way.

The Witnesses themselves offer ample contradiction to their contention in this instance, because they make radical changes from year to year in their own understanding of the Scriptures – so much so that they now offer direct contradiction to very many things they presented as the Truth in years past. Thus, if we should admit that they now have the Truth, it would readily follow that it has not been “relatively easy” for them themselves to find that Truth. And of those who are now their devoted “dedicated” devotees, how many do we meet that know their own teachings today, and can “give to every man a reason for the hope” they cherish.

Their thought is the same as that held by the Editor of the Present Truth, although he does limit his contention that the Truth is for all the consecrated. But even this is clearly contradicted by 2 Thes. 2 11, “Because they received not the love of the Truth ..... God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie” – not the Truth, but a lie! His “strong delusion” that we are already fourteen years into the Basileia, and that this is a parallel to the 25‑months overlapping of the Parousia into the Epiphany (Sept. 1914 to October 1916), is perhaps the foundation “strong delusion” for most of his other “strong delusions.” As all Truth people know, the Laver in the Court of the Tabernacle types the Bible; and, as the typical priests in Israel washed at the Laver, so the Gospel‑Age people of God wash in the antitypical Laver, the Bible. Yet he now places his consecrated Truth seekers in the Camp, where there is no Laver, no chance for them to wash. And just how much Truth should we expect his consecrated Campers to see when they do not even have access to the antitypical Laver in the Court:

It might be well to remember here that all systems of error have some truth in them; otherwise, nobody would believe them. And the Watch Tower article under dis­cussion has many items of truth, as they sandwich in their error that it is “relatively easy” to understand the most intricate of all books, the Bible. And the Present Truth magazine also has much Truth in it to embellish the errors it contains. St. Paul tells us in Eph. 2:19 20: “Ye (the true Church) are of the Household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets (the specially enlightened leaders of the Gospel Age).” Without the help of these guiding lights, it would be impossible for the ordinary seeker to gain more than a smattering of that knowledge that “maketh wise unto salvation.” “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” (Rom. 10:14, 15) Nor would so many people be in gross darkness if we didn’t have false teachers: “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.” (2 Pet. 2:1‑2)

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LETTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST

Dear Mr. Hoefle:

I send you a study which I published in the U.S. several years ago – about a subject you wrote about in your No. 158. I hope to publish a book about Evangelical Churches and their attitude toward Zionism, and shall use your material in re-editing my chapter about the Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Sincerely yours, Dr. ------- (JERUSALEM)

Answer to above:

Dear Doctor ------- Christian greetings!

Your note of June 20 just arrived, so I hasten to assure you that you are free to use anything I have written. Also, it will be my pleasure to assist you further in any way I can with your new book, of which I would like a copy when you have it ready.

The Reprint you enclose is quite interesting, although I am intimately familiar with much it contains. To inform you somewhat about myself: As a youth I was confirmed into the Lutheran Church, but it was not until I read Pastor Russell’s Scripture Studies that I became an active Christian. At that time I was quite in harmony with the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society (now Jehovah’s Witnesses). I attended those two Cedar Point Conventions mentioned in your Reprint; I was energetic in circulating the petitions (on which we eventually secured more than a million names – a volume large enough to fill an ordinary rail freight car) in 1919, which resulted in Rutherford and his seven associates being released from Atlanta Penitentiary, to which they had been sent in 1918. About 1920 Rutherford proposed that I become his personal secretary, which I have since been very grateful I did not accept, as his multitudinous departures from the teachings of Pastor Russell were soon to make their appearance a fact which caused me to leave the Witnesses about 1923.

About that time I became closely associated with Pastor Paul S. L. Johnson (a Christianized Jew, about whom I have written you briefly in the past), and I continued that relationship until his death in 1950. His publishing name was Laymen’s Home Missionary Movement, of which R. G. Jolly became the guiding officer after Pastor Johnson’s death. He has also followed the course of Rutherford in forsaking the teachings of Pastor Russell, although not nearly to the same extreme degree. Enough so, however, that I was forced to make an open break with him in 1955 – which distressed me much, as I had provided hundreds of thousands of dollars to aid Pastor Johnson in the work he did. I conducted his funeral; and, so far as I know, his group was the only one of the many schisms that developed after Pastor Russell’s death that strictly adhered to the latter’s teachings – a course I now try to follow scrupulously, with the exception of the time features of those prophetic observations that time has clearly proven to be wrong. However, it is still my firm belief that we are in “the time of the end” (Dan. 12:4), exactly as Pastors Russell and Johnson taught, with the reservation that some of their expectations have not materialized at the dates they expected. It is good to note you seem to have such a good opinion of Pastor Russell, as he was truly a profound and honorable man.

Enclosed is one of my No. 133 – The Time of the End – which I hope you will find interesting, and I offer you my cordial good wishes for success with your coming book.

Sincerely your brother and servant, John J. Hoefle

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Dear Brother Hoefle: Grace and peace!

I was very glad to get your last letter – and I thought I could send you the additional names for your list. I find some of these people very liberal, and think they will read other views at least, although they are not too well established in Present Truth. I also enjoyed the July issue on the Epiphany – a very good answer to John W. Krewson. Only wish I had some names and addresses of his people. One that I know is Mrs.-------, and another Mr. and Mrs. -------

Brother and Sister ------- visited us a week ago Sunday ……. They said RGJ is going to have the Philadelphia Convention in a Baptist Church about a mile from the Bible House……. Said they didn’t have enough room in the Bible House – having only a small chapel in which used to be a big ball room in the residence.....

I will be anxiously awaiting the August issue on the Jewish Question. Personally, I do not expect a lot of results toward the Jews at the present time. I believe that the Jews will not accept Christ, or the Truth, until late in Jacob’s trouble. Here are a dozen, or more, of Jewish names for you to send the August paper to. I surely hope you will get some reaction from these brethren. Let me know.

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

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Dearly beloved of The Lord! May Grace and Peace be your continued portion.! Num. 6:24‑26

It was really very sweet of you to send us your message before we left for Ireland. Sister sent the message on to Beaumaris, and acquainted Brother ------- also with the message. Recently we had two Jehovah’s Witnesses call. We did not know them personally. Of course, they think we merit Second Death because we don’t believe their views. However, we had a good talk, and we trust they will remember some things. They are obsessed with their views, and their excuse for changing doctrines, etc., was – they are human! The brother was continually emphasizing the organization. He did not like being told that the Roman Church had a great organization. “Oh, don’t liken us to them!” he said. He made no comment about their memoralizing Jehovah and not the sacrifice of Jesus who died for our sins....

We will return around the 2nd or 3rd. Our united love to Sister and yourself also Sister Dunnagan and Sister Moynelo. God bless you all!

Your sincere brother ------- (ENGLAND)

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Dear Brother Hoefle: Grace and Peace through our dear Redeemer!

Haven’t meant to be quite so long answering yours of the 15th. I am enclosing $‑‑‑‑ for the work. I have been rereading the 1967 papers, and they are so good! Just do not see how any one can think differently on the “end” in 1 Cor. 15:20‑25. You make it plain enough for any one. One would have to be blind not to see it. Surely even Jolly sees it now.

With much love and prayers, ------- (KANSAS)

NO. 160: "A VOICE OUT OF THE TEMPLE"

No. 160

(Reprint of No. 22, June 1, 1957, with additions and revisions)

The caption for this treatise is taken from Rev. 16:1, the real thought of which would be better expressed by “A voice out of the Tabernacle.” To substantiate this conclusion it becomes necessary first of all to offer an analysis of Brother Russell’s Stewardship Doctrine, which we believe to be:

A correct understanding of the Atonement as portrayed in Leviticus 16, the central teaching of which is Restitution.

It should be noted that those Star Members who received special stewardship doctrines received them early in their ministry; quite often those doctrines were the cause of their leaving the religious group with whom they had been associated; and it was the teaching that provided stimulus throughout their entire ministry. For instance, Martin Luther was motivated by Romans 5:1 to break with the Catholic Church, because this text was a direct contradiction of the Catholic belief in justification by works, as opposed to St. Paul’s clear statement that it is justification by faith that brings “peace with God.” Luther’s primary objection, of course, was the sale of indulgences, the elimination of which he believed would at least start a cleansing of the Roman system; but it soon became clear to him – after his expulsion from that Church – that it was simply a surface malady, fed and encouraged by justification by works. Thus, his “justification by faith” almost automatically and very quickly be­came the antithesis of indulgences and their underlying evils.

While the doctrine of Restitution was not directly responsible for Bro. Russell’s leaving his “orthodox” surroundings, it was indeed indirectly responsible for his do­ing so. His very vitals rebelled at the teaching of eternal torment for the unsaved world; and this revulsion – much the same as Luther’s experiences with indulgences in turn drove him toward the proper explanation, which he received when the Atonement ­Day ritual was made clear to him in type and antitype. That the doctrine of Restitu­tion sparked Brother Russell’s entire ministry after receiving this Truth surely none will dispute. It is probable he never delivered a public discourse thereafter in which Restitution did not have a large and prominent place. And those who witnessed the Photo Drama will recall the oft–repeated expressions: “India needs Restitution; China needs Restitution,” etc., etc. We know, too, that his favorite Scripture was John 3:16, 17, the mainspring of which is also Restitution – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” And early in his ministry he urged the Pilgrims and the Bethel speakers to stress Restitution in their public discourses, as he him­self also did.

To avoid argument, it should be here stated that Brother Russell taught all the stewardship doctrines of the past, in addition to Restitution, although he had to remove many a rough spot from those doctrines – taints, impurities and distortions that had been attached to them by the crown–lost leaders of the past. When the Harvest arrived, the time also arrived to restore “the faith once delivered to the Saints” (Jude 3), so that the “Harp of God” would once more be attuned to its pristine harmonious melody. This Brother Russell accomplished with all the skill of the master artisan! With­out Restitution, the “Plan of the Ages” was an empty and unsatisfactory expression, a fact which was recognized by many great and good men of the past. Martin Luther’s fine mind and magnanimous heart rebelled against the fate of the unsaved as it had been taught to him by the Catholic Church; but in vain did he seek the answer. He knew full well of St. Peter’s teaching in Acts 4:12, “There is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved”; and he was ever prodded by the indisputable fact that untold millions had never heard that Name. “Somehow there must be a way after death for them to hear that name,” he said; but he had to admit he had no Scripture to substantiate him, and he could not explain how or what the process would be. John Wesley also chose to stress the love of God rather than the wrath of God; he also was too delicately formed to accept with good appetite the teaching of eternal torment – although he did admit to his belief in it, even though his sensitive and loving disposition caused him inner revulsions. Rather, he stressed “The spirit and the bride say, Come.” He could not then know he was more than two hundred years ahead of his time in using Rev. 22:17.

The struggles of these good and fully faithful men to reach a satisfying answer is well set forth by the parable of the lost coin in Luke 15:8–10; and Brother Rus­sell’s peace of mind at finding the answer is well stated in the words, “Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I had lost.” To make this teaching clear to all, we here itemize the “ten pieces of silver” (truth), the ten strings of the Harp of God: (1) the Creation – of Adam and Eve; (2) the Condemnation – the fall into sin; (3) the Law – given to Moses at Sinai; (4) the Ransom – the anti–lutron by Jesus; (5) the Resurrection – Jesus the first–born from the dead; (6) the High Calling – “a new and living way” (Heb. 10:20; (7) Justification; (8) Sanctification; (9) Restitution ­the sounding of the Jubilee trumpet (Lev. 25:9—See E–8, p. 659); (10) the Second Death.

But, just as preceding Star Members had their stewardship teachings perverted by the crown–lost leaders who followed them, so Azazel (the meaning of which is Perverter) immediately led the crown–lost leaders to pervert Brother Russell’s stewardship doc­trine of Restitution. This began in a mild way at first – not so much perversion in its early features, as it was failure to “Wait on the Lord.” That Evil Servant and his henchmen determined to “rush” Restitution with their “Millions Now Living Will Never Die.” When time itself proved that teaching to be an abortion, they then pro­duced a real perversion – No restitution at all for Adam, or any who refuse now to accept their teachings! Just as the “Millions” teaching came early after the Star Member was gone, and was then only a mild perversion, so we are probably now seeing a repetition on a smaller scale in the teaching of the “quasi–elect consecrated” and Epiphany Campers Consecrated.

REVELATION 16

The foregoing elaboration is presented to prepare the explanation of why the temple in Rev. 16:1 is really the tabernacle. It is the same temple as described in Rev. 11:19 – “The temple (tabernacle) of God was opened (explained) in heaven (among the brethren in the heavenly places –Phil. 3:20), and there was seen in his temple (tabernacle) the ark of his covenant” – the ark representing in its chest the Christ, head and body, and in its mercy seat and two cherubim the four attributes of God, this latter being the explanation given in Tabernacle Shadows. In conversation with Brother Johnson, he told this writer several times that when he was having trouble in understanding the sin offering, and some things in the volumes, Brother Russell kept repeating to him: “But those volumes came out of Tabernacle Shadows.” From this we can readily see why Tabernacle Shadows was basic to the understanding of Parousia Truth – just as “Elijah and Elisha” is basic to Epiphany Truth. Thus, the “voice” out of the Tabernacle” was in reality the Seven Volumes of Scripture Studies given to the “seven angels” (God’s true Church in the Harvest time), with the instruction: “Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.” (Rev. 16:1) Therefore, we conclude Brother Russell’s stewardship doctrine to be as aforementioned, as it occupied a large place – a very large place – in Tabernacle Shadows; and we venture the opinion that, aside from the inspired writings, Tabernacle Shadows is the biggest little book ever published.

It should be noted here that it was not many years after Brother Russell’s death that Tabernacle Shadows was cast aside completely by those who took over his executive offices. And not many years after Brother Johnson’s death those who took over his executive office perverted some of the fundamental teachings of Tabernacle Shadows ­mainly by putting Justification in the Camp, outside the linen curtain of Christ’s righteousness, and without the cleansing access to the Laver, so vital to Justifica­tion of any kind in this Gospel Age.

And from this great little book, bearing Brother Russell’s stewardship doctrine, came the “seven vials of wrath” – better translated by the Diaglott as “seven bowls of wrath.” We say this is a better translation because it was mainly in their controver­sial features that the seven volumes “plagued” those whose errors they exposed. Bro. Johnson has ably explained in Epiphany Volume Eight that the bowls, chargers and spoons of Numbers 7 represent refutative, correctional and ethical teachings; thus, these bowls are the same as the “refuting” of 2 Tim. 3:16. And what is it we refute? We refute error! And it is the refutation of error that always arouses the antagonism of errorists. In these seven “bowls” there was much of corrective and ethical teach­ings, too; but these did not elicit the same savage reprisals as did the refutations of error. Even the members of antitypical Balaam (those who teach error for profit) agree that professing Christians should behave themselves – outwardly, at least.

It should be borne in mind that those mainly aroused by these refutations were the members of antitypical Saul and their ledlings; and a moderate analysis of their character will disclose why this was so – and still is so. Brother Russell says Saul “manifested considerable hypocrisy” (see Berean Comments on 1 Sam. 15:13); and his antitype is also not lacking in this “dis”grace. Nor were their prototypes lack­ing in it, as witness the words of Jesus, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.” It should be noted that all of them are atrocious liars and that another of the root evils of hypocrisy is an overweening approbativeness. Note the words of 1 Sam. 15:17: “When thou–wast little in thine own sight.... the Lord anointed thee king over Israel”; but, having once reached the head of the crowd, he apparently became power–drunk with his own importance, and resorted to “rebellion (Revolutionism). And with such characters, the unforgivable sin that incites their hatred (Isa. 66:5, “Your brethren that hated you.”) is to parade their errors before the gaze of the mob. Therefore, the “bowls” that came out of Tabernacle Shadows were indeed “the wrath of God” to them. To such, Present Truth has always been a “savor of death unto death” (2 Cor. 2:16); whereas, to the Faithful it has ever been a “savor of life unto life.” The observation was appropriate in the Parousia concerning the members of antitypical Saul – as it is still appropriate concerning them: They know that we know that they know that they don’t know!

“And the first went, and poured out his bowl on the earth (organized Society), and there came an evil and malignant ulcer on those men having the mark of the beast, and on those worshipping his image.” Volume 1 was published in 1886, and truly it proved to be a “malignant ulcer” to antitypical Saul and his henchmen; it was a ‘hot penny’ – they could not hold it, and they were afraid to drop it. The stewardship doctrine of Restitution, with which Volume 1 is replete, made material for a “plan of ages,” the likes of which had not been known since the days of the Apostles; and it placed Restitution and eternal torment at opposite ends of the measure. It did in­deed “spoil the vines” for many a hell–fire evangelist! Also, Chapter 14 – The King­dom of God – made a shambles of the teaching that we now have Christendom – Christ’s Kingdom; and it showed the present order to be a far, far cry from “Thy will be done on earth.” Our Lord’s Return, The Permission of Evil, The Day of Judgment, etc., etc., all combined to make this “bowl” a “malignant ulcer” – “a savor of death unto death” to many members of antitypical Saul.

The second “bowl,” “The Time Is At Hand,” made its appearance in 1889; and the third, “Thy Kingdom Come” in 1891 – “and they became blood.” These “bowls” defined clearly “The Man of Sin” and his counterfeit Millennium as a direct contradiction to Restitution. About this time many of the more “cultured” of antitypical Saul were describing the Jewish sacrifices as blood, blood, blood – barbaric and out of place in Christianity; but these bowls pointed to the “better sacrifices” as fundamental and inseparable to Christianity, that “without shedding of blood there is no remission” of sins (Heb. 9:22), that the consummation of the better sacrifices provided the hope for Restitution, and the only hope for “Thy kingdom come.”

And the time features were indeed a powerful refutation of those who were loudly proclaiming “no man knoweth the day nor the hour”; and of those who were lustily singing, “When my work on earth is ended, and time shall be no more.” The second “bowl” demonstrated the correct translation of Rev. 10:6 to be, “The time shall be no longer delayed”; that is, the “time is at hand” for God, through the Christ, to carry out His promise of Restitution – that the time had arrived for the blessing of all the families of the earth. Many of us recall the opposition that came when “The Second Coming of Christ” was preached. As instance, the tale of one brother, long in the Truth: A Pilgrim was coming to a small town in Ohio to preach on the Second Coming; and the brother was trying to rally his neighbors to the meeting. Said one, “You know the Bible teaches no man knoweth the day nor the hour, and I think we ought to rotten-egg the fraud out of town when he gets here.” The brother, using considerable tact, said, “Well, come on, and bring your eggs; if he’s a fraud, I’ll help throw a few at him myself.” The Pilgrim gave a very masterful presentation, at the conclusion of which the brother went to the rostrum and said to his neighbor, “Well, Joe, you’ve now heard the man; do you want to start throwing your eggs?” The man had been most impressed, and his only answer was, “I guess not.”

It should be noted, too, that Volume 3 contained a moderate explanation of the Great Pyramid of Giza, showing from the prophetic statement of Isa. 19:19–22 that the “altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt” was indeed “a sign and a witness” to the great Plan of the Ages as contained in the Bible. Thus the pertinence of verse 7: “I heard another (angel) out of the altar” – in “the midst of the land of Egypt.” This truth, too, has been completely rejected by some, and distorted by others since Brother Russell’s death.

The fourth bowl appeared in 1897; and it certainly affirmed its title, “The Battle of Armageddon,” in that “power was given to scorch men with fire.” It pointed out the prevalent sins among rulers, clergy, aristocracy and labor; and was a true fulfillment of Jesus’ words in John 16:8–11: “When the Holy Spirit is come, it will reprove the world of sin (the wrongs they are committing), of righteousness (point out the right way to do), and of judgment” (warn them of the coming judgment, which in this instance was in its initial phase to be the “battle of the great day of God Almighty”). But, “as it was in the days of Noah,” they neither heeded nor wanted to hear that message – “repented not to give God glory.”

In 1899 came the fifth “bowl” poured out upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness (great portions of the beast’s teachings were proven to be error, superstition and tradition – the “precepts of men”); and they gnawed their tongues for pain” (v. 10). It should not cause much argument when we declare that Volume 5 was Brother Russell’s masterpiece. His analysis of the Holy Spirit, of Life Everlasting and Immortality, of the Trinity, The Soul, of Sheol–Hades–Gehenna, left his opponents “speechless.” Of a truth, “they gnawed their tongues with pain.” So clear and convincing were the presentations of the fifth “bowl” that many segments of the secular press gave it unstinted praise; although antitypical Saul and the lesser lights “repented not” (v. 11).

Then came the sixth “bowl” early in this century, which contained much less of controversial writings than the previous five had done. In fact, its title – “The New Creation” – is well in keeping with verse 12 – “that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared”; its purpose was to instruct the true church (kings of the east) in every good word and work. It was the “law,” the better way, to every one who is “of the truth.” And any one who knows and faithfully abides by the teachings of Volume 6 can be assured of the best of present possessions – “a good and honest heart.”

The seventh vial did not appear until 1917; and, as Brother Johnson so aptly stated, it appeared in a vile condition. It had been produced by uncleansed Levites a “rush” production, at the urging of That Evil Servant in his haste to “eat and drink with the drunken” (Levites drunken with error). However, as the seventh “bowl” (its controversial features), there was not too much fault to find with it, the reason for this being that the “bowl” portions of “The Finished Mystery” were almost completely paraphrase or exact quotation from the Star Member. It was the injection of their own ideas into what should have been a priestly production that brought those uncleansed Levites eventually to Atlanta Federal Penitentiary. They had run ahead of the Lord to publish the seventh vial; had published it in a vile condition; and the Lord rewarded them “according to their works” – by reducing them to durance vile (prison). In fact, the expression in verse 6 regarding Volume 3 is also emphatically pertinent here: “Thou gavest them also blood to drink (revulsive error); they deserve it.” (Dia.)

That Fit–Man experience had a salutary effect upon at least one of the eight who went to Atlanta: George Fisher, who wrote the Ezekiel comments of the Seventh Volume (which part Brother Johnson declared to be far superior to the Revelation part by Clayton Woodworth). Brother Fisher eventually saw “the Judge” in his true colors; and before his death he personally wrote to the writer of this article: Any one who does not see JFR as That Evil Servant is just that much out of Present Truth.

It is worthy of note that it was not the “bowl” features of Volume Seven that brought its writers into trouble; it was their own foolish statements about the war then raging, and their diatribe on Patriotism, which remarks were definitely out of order at the time. Therefore, in their incarceration they did not “suffer as a Christian” (I Pet. 4:16); rather, they paid for their own folly – although it should be noted that any persecution which came to them because of the true and opportune features of the seventh “bowl” would be counted to them for righteousness’ sake.

We offer the foregoing as a help and guide to all God’s people who may be in­clined to follow blindly the errors and bad judgment of uncleansed Levites; because they do so at their own peril – “God brought down their heart with labor; they fell down, and there was none to help.” (Psa. 107:12)

With this writing comes the prayer of the writer that it may prove a blessing to all our brethren – a means of growing in grace and in the knowledge of our Be­loved Lord and Savior Jesus Christ – and of continuing “in the faith once delivered to the Saints.”

“Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he will give thee the desires of thine heart. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.” (Psa. 37:3,4,6)

Sincerely your brother.,

John J. Hoefle, Pilgrim

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LETTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST

To Mr. John J. Hoefle:

How silly can you be to think the Jews are still God’s “Chosen Nation” when they rejected God’s dear beloved Son? The present-day Jew has just as much chance as you and I do to gain God’s favor and blessing as “individuals.”

Please remove my name from your mailing list. We are moving our office July 1, and I shall no longer receive mail at this address. Hope you wake up! ------- (FLORIDA)

Answer to above letter:

Dear Sister -------: Christian greetings! In your letter of June 20 you ask us to remove your name from our mailing list, which we are doing. However, since you ask how silly can we be to think the Jews are God’s Chosen people, I feel constrained to write you yet this once.

You offer no Scripture to prove your contention, although I assume you do profess belief in the Bible. Thus, I would ask if you think St. Paul was also silly when he wrote in Rom. 11:26–28: “All Israel shall be saved. There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob.... As concerning the Gospel (the good news of the Gospel-Age elective salvation), they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes.” Just as the sins of the fathers are visited upon the children unto the third and fourth generation, so the virtues of the fathers are also handed down to future gen­erations. Thus, St. Paul is telling us that God remembers the faithfulness of Abra­ham, Isaac and Jacob, and will thus grant “salvation to the Jew first” (Rom. 1:16).

If you affiliate with any special religious group, I assume you would be ready enough to admit that not all of them are good Christians, that only those among you who “show their faith by their works” will eventually be found among the Elect of this Gospel Age. And, while “blindness in part has happened to Israel,” and the true Christian of this Age have been blessed with the Great Salvation in their stead, this does not make of none effect the promises that are still theirs “for the fathers’ sakes.”

You hope I “will wake up,” which would mean your motives toward me are good – if I were asleep (spiritually). However, our main purpose in all we are doing is to “wake–up” brethren in the various groups so they might be able to “discern between good and evil” – between truth and error; and we consider we have accomplished some­thing when we arouse any as you have been aroused. But we have also been able to “wake up” some to the errors in their various groups sufficiently enough for them to, forsake those errors.

Anyway, I have given you some Scripture to substantiate my contention, although you have not offered me a single one yourself. If you have any, I would be glad to have them; and I would assure you, too, that our services are available any time you in­vite them. We here try to stay with the Bible, and we put our trust in leaders only to the extent that they also give “sound doctrine” in proof of their statements. I am also enclosing a tract on The Three Babylons, which gives at least succinctly our belief.

With this comes my cordial good wishes for your highest welfare, and the prayer that you may be “guided into all truth” and be blessed also with the Spirit of the Truth.

Sincerely your brother, John J. Hoefle

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Dear Mr. Hoefle: Some time ago you sent me a wonderful write-up on The Time of The End – dated July 1, 1966. I would like to have 25 or more. As to the time of the end, this is better than anything I have read. My wife passed on this last Tuesday night. I want to help some one and I know the write–up you have is good, and I can truthfully say I will not be ashamed to pass them out. We were Witnesses from 1944 to 1960. We believe they are wrong in judging peoples and so on.

Enclosed is $..... If more, let me know. ------- (Mississippi)

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Dear Brother Hoefle: Loving greetings in our dear Redeemer’s Name!

I am glad to say that we received the tracts in good condition, and thank you..... Now we shall get busy sending them out. We thank you again for your letters which are deeply interesting and uplifting – also the monthly articles which we receive and study. We got the June issue....... I am glad to say Sister and I are quite well and we trust that you, dear Brother and Sister Hoefle, are the same. And we know that we are all rejoicing In the truth! Thank you and Sister Hoefle for the photo of you both – also of your dear sister. They are so good! And now, May the God of all good, bless and keep you all at Mount Dora in His loving care, in Jesus dear Name we ask it.

As ever your Brother & Sister by His Grace, ------- (NEW  JERSEY)

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Dear Brother Hoefle: Grace and peace be yours through our Blessed Master!

I hereby acknowledge the receipt of your letter, and also to assure you of my willingness to cooperate in anywise for the Truth and its service. Re the Convention attendance, I could not be definite, but there were approximately 70 present on the day of my visit in Kingston. In Crofts Hill it was not really a Convention – the Brother had only paid a visit to the Class of eight brethren. They had invited us and three from our Class were there..........

The monthly articles are always enjoyed by us. Our prayers are always at the Throne of Heavenly Grace on your behalf. May the dear Lord bless and keep you all in this our day of peril.

Yours by His grace ------- (JAMAICA)

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Dear Brother Hoefle: In answer to your lovely letter and much appreciated one, I wish to inform you that I am a Bible Student. The book I men­tioned is the book on the Scriptures you mentioned in one of your articles – also I would like to get some hymn books, if you have them. I was handed one of your articles by Mrs. ------- That is how I became acquainted and sent you a letter. Please put me on your regular mailing list. I greatly appreciate receiving your wonderful literature.

I remain your Christian friend ------- (CANADA)

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ANNOUNCEMENT OF GENERAL INTEREST

Our Special Effort in antitypical Gideon’s Second Battle this year will be from October 13 to November 10. And we now quote from The Epiphany Messenger’s last Present Truth (the year 1950) on this work:

“Are all preparing to take a zealous part in the special effort.... in volunteer, sharpshooter, lecture and conversation work in memory of our dear Pastor’s work against the erroneous doctrines of the consciousness of the dead and eternal torment? If not, let us be about the King’s business. Be sure to order the necessary literature now.”

In like manner we encourage our faithful brethren to “be about the King’s busi­ness,” and order the necessary literature now. Most of our brethren know of our Gideon literature, especially designed to continue this good work. These tracts ­Where Are the Dead, What Is the Soul, and The Resurrection of the Dead – are available free and postage paid. Also the Divine Plan of the Ages – Parousia Volume One – is good to use in connection with this special effort, which we can also furnish if ordered in time.

The first year following the Epiphany Messenger’s demise, the Executive Trustee of the LHMM concentrated on a tract he had just published – Do-You[Know, having printed a million of them. However, he made no mention at all of special effort in antitypical Gideon’s Second Battle in his Present Truth that Fall. Instead, he was more absorbed with telling the world that the last Priest had departed this earth, and he placed great stress upon this in the September, October and November 1951 PT’s. His zeal for the blessed memory of the departed Star Members seemed very much abated at that time; and this continued to such an extent that he actually described the Gideon tracts as “timeworn and threadbare” at the Chicago Convention in 1953 – at which time he had produced another of his “specials,” “The Flying Saucer.” Against this departure from established Epiphany arrangements we made personal protest to the Editor himself.

When Brother Johnson left us in 1950 that did not mean that antitypical Gideon’s Second Battle was also finished. Nor is it finished yet. This is clearly evident from the emphasis that some prominent evangelists still offer for the God–dishonoring doctrines of Eternal Torment and the Consciousness of the Dead. Thus we cordially invite those of like mind as ourselves to join with us once more in this “good fight,” as it is an arrangement made for Epiphany purposes until it ends in victory over anti­typical Zebah and Zalmunna.

This Battle is one in which the Saints are the primary participants – the Victors – having provided the literature and the arrangements; but any Battle the Youthful Worthies participate in that assists the Saints in their work, will not go unrewarded. Of course, the Battle that the faithful Youthful Worthies engage in as Victors, is the Battle against Sectarianism and Clericalism (see E–5, pp. 228–229). The Great Company Class is not given this credit – although as individuals some of them have participated therein. It is sectarianism and clericalism in the Measurably Faithful Youthful Worthies that blind their eyes to the work the Lord has for the faithful – such as antitypical Gideon’s Second Battle, and the battle against Oreb and Zeeb (Sectarianism and Clericalism), which the good Youthful Worthies should resist in their own groups and in other groups if they would continue faithful to the Lord, the Truth and the Brethren. Some of us recall the course of good Youth­ful Worthies who resisted the errors of That Evil Servant that he propounded in the Harp of God, The Golden Age, etc., which resistance was eventually rewarded by the Lord bringing them into Epiphany Truth.

To all who yet offer the prayer, “God bless their memory,” we not only suggest special effort in this work, but also appropriate testimony and discourse in honor of the departed “righteous.” “Them that honor Me, I will honor.”