NO. 570 RETROSPECT AND PROSPECT - PART TWO

JEWS

”For the people will dwell in Zion at Jerusalem; thou shalt weep no more, he will be very gracious unto thee at thy voice of thy cry; when he shall hear it, he will answer thee.” (Isaiah 30:19)  

“PARIS:  An advertising campaign against anti-Semitism conceived by the French Jewish Students Union (UEJF) and featuring Jesus and Mary as central figures was canceled before launching on October 25, after it sparked protests from Catholics, anti-racist groups and even Jewish leaders.  Posters and newspaper ads were to show a naïve painting of Jesus and Mary with graffiti scrawled across them reading ‘Dirty Jew’ and ‘Dirty Jewess,’ respectively, with the slogan underneath, ‘anti-Semitism: Shouldn’t it concern everyone?’  Father Patrick Dubois, secretary general of the French Catholic Church’s commission for relations with Judaism and a firm supporter of French Jewry, cautioned that the public would interpret the message as anti-Christian; Monsignor Pierre d’Ornellas, deputy to Jewish-born Cardinal Jean-Marie Aron Lustiger of Paris, called for a high-level meeting with the French rabbinate; Jewish and human-rights leaders counseled that the campaign would be counterproductive.”

“DURHAM, N.C.:  Despite protests before and during, Duke University peacefully hosted the fourth annual conference of the Palestine Solidarity Movement in mid-October, but a new controversy erupted immediately afterward.  An October 18 opinion column titled ‘The Jews’ in the Chronicle, Duke’s campus newspaper, blasted the ‘unprecedented outpouring of pro-Jewish, pro-Israel support in defiance of free speech at Duke’ and accused American Jews of feeling an ‘overwhelming sense of entitlement not to be criticized or offended,’ the Jewish Telegraphic Agency reported.  Columnist Philip Kurian also charged that Jews exploit the Holocaust for political gain.  Chronicle editor Karen Hauptman, who is herself Jewish, defended the paper’s choice to run the column as consistent with its “very broad free-speech policy.’”

“PARIS:  French Jews, who often accuse their country’s press of being one-sided about the Arab-Israeli conflict, got a pleasant surprise when journalists at Radio France International forced the resignation of their news director after he said Israel was a racist state and that Jews created their own ghettos.  Alain Menargues resigned from his post at the state-owned RFI radio station on October 18 after multiple protests from subordinates and journalists’ unions over interviews he gave when launching ‘Sharon’s Wall,’ his virulently anti-Israel book about recent Middle East events.  An RFI correspondent in Beirut and Cairo for nearly 20 years, Menagues, who had occupied his present post only since June, argued that his statements to other newspapers and radios were given as a private author and not as an RFI executive.  But subordinates said the view reflected negatively on the radio station’s mission of being impartial.  The final blow came when the French Foreign Ministry described Menargues’ statements as ‘unacceptable,’ including his assertion that the original ghetto in Venice Italy, was a Jewish idea.”         

(The three above articles are from The Jerusalem Report, November 15, 2004)

“ARAB LEAGUE CONDEMNS WI-FI INTERNET JERUSALEM SERVICE - Editor’s Note:  A joint initiative by the Jerusalem municipality, Intel, and Compumat, together with the Jerusalem Business Development Corporation, may turn the holy city into the world’s first wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) in the near future.  Users in most areas of the city will be able to surf the internet wirelessly.  We published a story about this in the Update on July 23, 2004.  The Arab League (AL) condemned the Israeli project to turn Al-Kuds (the Arabic name for Jerusalem) into a so-called Great Internet City, asserting that the aim of this project is to liquidate the Arab identity of the city and change its historical and archaeological features.

“In a statement issued on August 24, the AL alleged that the project aims to impose defacto [control] of the city in a way that serves Israeli interests under the pretext of encouraging foreign investments.  The AL alleged that the project and all of Israel’s policies contradict not only international law and resolutions, but also reflect no desire to realize a just and comprehensive peace in the region.”

(Sana-Official Syrian News Agency, Reported in Bridges For Peace Update, August 9, 2004)

Comment:  We wonder if this isn’t a forerunner of Jerusalem becoming the world capital and putting the Word forth through this internet.  No wonder the Arabs would be upset over it.

“UN’S HISTORIC BREAKTHROUGH:  In a break from tradition, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution condemning anti-Semitism last Monday as part of a broader resolution against religious intolerance.

“Israeli officials said the inclusion of a reference to anti-Semitism in what has become an annual UN resolution on religious intolerance constitutes a historic breakthrough.  The resolution passed despite efforts by Arab countries to omit any reference to anti-Jewish bigotry amid references to Islamophobia and Christianophobia.  In years past, the resolution made no mention of anti-Semitism.

“In the resolution, the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly said it ‘recognizes with deep concern the overall rise in instances of intolerance and violence directed against members of many religious communities in various parts of the world, including cases motivated by Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, and Christianophobia.’

“In previous years, Israel had abstained from supporting the resolution due to its failure to mention anti-Semitism.  Many pointed to the omission as one of many signs that the UN is hostile toward Israel and the Jewish people.  This year, Israel mounted a concerted campaign to have anti-Semitism included in the resolution, and officials said they were pleased with its unanimous passage.

“‘This was a historic breakthrough for Israel in this organization, which very often does not do what is right,’ said Ambassador to the UN Dan Gillerman.  “Its been a very, very uphill battle.’

“He credited the European Union and the Dutch president of the EU, Jan Peter Balkenende, for pushing for the anti-Semitism clause in the face of strong opposition from Arab and Muslim countries.  He also said Israeli mobilization on the issue - it was a top priority at the Foreign Ministry - helped overcome Arab efforts to ‘dilute and poison’ the resolution.

“The lesson here is that if they want to they can,’ said Gillerman of the European countries.  ‘I hope that this resolve of theirs will carry on to other resolutions.’”

(The Jerusalem Post, December 3, 2004)

“JEW-HATRED ON THE RISE DOWN UNDER:  Attacks on Jews in Australia have surged to record levels over the past 12 months, thanks in part to the growing use of the internet by anti-Semitic groups, a report released by the Executive Council of Australian Jewry has found.  In its annual report on anti-Semitism in Australia, Australian Jewry’s umbrella organization said there were 50% more anti-Jewish attacks between October 2003 and September 2004 than the average recorded over the past 14 years.  In one incident the words’ kill the Jews’ were burned into the lawn outside the state parliament of Tasmania; other incidents involved anti-Semitic graffiti and attacks on synagogues, individuals, and property.

“A total of 455 such attacks took place during the recorded period, marking the third year in a row that the number has tolled 450.”

(The Jerusalem Post, December 8, 2004)

“BBC POLL:  Nearly half of Britons never heard of Auschwitz.  LONDON - Nearly half of Britons in a poll said they had never heard of Auschwitz, the Nazi death camp in southern Poland that became a symbol of the Holocaust and the attempted genocide of the Jews.

“The results of the survey conducted by the BBC were released December 2, as Britain’s public broadcaster announced it will show a new series next January to mark the 60th anniversary of the concentration camp’s liberation.

“‘We were amazed by the results of our audience research,’ said Laurence Rees, a producer for the series, Auschwitz: the Nazi and the Final Solution.

“‘Its easy to presume that the horrors of Auschwitz are engrained in the nations collective memory, but obviously this is not the case,’ Rees said.

“The survey found that 45 percent of those polled had not heard of Auschwitz.  Historians estimate that anywhere from one million to three million people, about 90 percent of them Jews, were killed there.

“Among women and people younger than 35, 60 percent had never heard of Auschwitz, despite the recent popularity of films such as Schindler’s List, Life is Beautiful and The Pianist, which depict the atrocities of the Holocaust.

“‘The name Auschwitz is quite rightly a byword for horror, but the problem with thinking about horror is that we naturally turn away from it,’ Rees said.

“The BBC said the research was based on a nationally representative postal survey of 4,000 adults 16 and older.  The broadcaster is marking Holocaust Memorial Day, January 27, with a variety of television and radio programs.  The Auschwitz series for BBC2 is based on nearly 100 interviews with survivors and perpetrators and is the results of three years research with the assistance of professors Ian Kershaw and David Cesarani.”

(By Reuters, Dec. 2, 2004)

 “Most of the food ingredients sold in the U.S. today are Kosher certified.  Of some $500 billion in ingredient items sold by U. S. manufacturers, over 70% are kosher certified.  A recent Food Expo in Las Vegas attracted 20,000 attendees, and 1,000 exhibiting companies, many seeking kosher certification.  Many of the companies were from the Far East including China where hundreds of companies are now kosher certified.”

 (The Jewish Press, Fall 2004)

“Hundreds of Spanish Hidden Jews have discovered their ancestors were Jews from Portugal and Spain and were forced to convert years ago.  They are now moving to Israel and being absorbed back to the Jewish people after a modified conversion to Judaism.” 

(The Jewish Press, Fall 2004)

“MIDEST OPTIMISM GIVES RISE TO HOPES:  Palestinians shifting support away from more violent faction. GAZA CITY, GAZA STRIP - A rare optimism is taking hold among Palestinians amid signs of a possible breakthrough in the long-deadlocked Mideast peace process.

“Palestinians are looking at next month’s election to replace Yasser Arafat as a new opportunity for peace and perhaps the first real democracy in the Arab world - and their support for violent militants appears to be waning, polls say.

 “‘We want to live freely, to live like other human beings, to feel peace and security, not to worry about the future of my sons,’ said Hisham Karm, 33, speaking on a Gaza street.

“The new hopes for peace - stronger than at any time since the outbreak of the Palestinian uprising four years ago - are shared by Israel and much of the international community.

“In recent days, Egypt’s president praised Ariel Sharon, Israel offered the Palestinians ‘quiet for quiet,’ even Syria said its ready to talk.

“Still, the intifada, or uprising, isn’t over, peace talks are a ways off, and life for most Palestinians is as hard as ever.

“Both Israeli Prime Minister Sharon and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak have taken to dousing the euphoria, explaining that no magical peace leap is at hand.

“Yet the optimism itself is changing the region’s political dynamics, bolstering moderate voices among the Palestinians, and making it easier for Sharon to push through his plan to withdraw from the Gaza Strip and four West Bank settlements next year.

“Sharon invited the dovish Labor Party to join his flagging coalition yesterday, a day after a majority of 3,000 leaders of his own Likud Party voted to let it happen.  Such a victory would have likely eluded Sharon only weeks ago, when gloom reigned supreme in the Middle East and hard-liners often held sway.

“Two polls this month showed a drop in support for the militant Hamas group and an increase for the mainstream Fatah movement.  The independent Jerusalem Media and Communication center, in a survey of 1,200 people (with 3 percent error margin), found that 52 percent of Palestinians now oppose militant attacks on Israelis, compared with 26.9 percent in June.

“Palestinian legislators are at work amending electoral laws that would make it easier for militants to participate in politics, hoping that a stake in the system will persuade them to stop attacks.

“‘There is a feeling among the Palestinians that everybody has to shoulder his responsibility now,’ said Tawfek Abu Khoussa, the chairman of the chairman of the journalists’ syndicate in the Gaza Strip.

“Diplomats from around the world have descended upon Israel and the Palestinain territories, hoping to build on the peace momentum.  The exhilaration hit a fever pitch this month when Mubarak described Sharon as the Palestinians’ best chance for peace, then preceded to release accused Israeli Arab spy Azzam Azzam, receiving six Egyptian students jailed by Israel in exchange.

”Israel and the United States had refused to talk to Arafat because of what they said was his support for terror.  His death on November 11 removed what they called the main obstacle to negotiations.”

(The Associated Press, December 11, 2004)

Comment: There is a saying that the Palestinians never miss and opportunity to miss an opportunity.  Recently the new interim Palestinian leaders have repeated their demand for Jerusalem.  So now it seems another opportunity may be missed by the Palesstinians.

“Did You Know Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) believed himself to be a descendant of Hebrew parentage?  It was Lincoln who opened the U.S. chaplainry to Jews as well as Christians.  General Ulysses Grant ordered the expulsion of all Jews as a class within 24 hours from Department of Tennessee, comprising parts of Kentucky and Mississippi, but President Lincoln revoked Grant’s order.”

(Bible Light International Summer 2004)

“FEARS:  New fears of an upsurge in anti-Semitic violence in England have been raised by recent arson attacks on two synagogues in north London, one of which destroyed prayer books previously rescued from the Holocaust.  More than one hundred synagogues in Britain have been desecrated since last year.”

(World Jewry, July 2004)                                                       

“Israel was ranked 51st for economic freedom in a report released by the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank based in Washington, DC.  In ‘Economic Freedom of The World: 2004 Annual Report,’ Israel received a score of 6.6 out of 10 compared with 6.5 a year earlier, when it came in 53rd.  This is the eighth edition of the report, which ranks 123 nations for 2002, the most recent year for which data was available.  It measures economic freedom in five main categories: the size of government, the legal structure of property rights, access to sound money, the freedom to trade internationally, and the regulation of credit, labor, and business.”

(Jerusalem Post, July 18, 2004)

“The number of Israeli civilians killed in terror attacks in the last four years is nearly equal to the number killed by terrorists in the preceding 53 years, Shin Bet (Israeli security service) head Avi Dichter told the cabinet recently.  Dichter told the cabinet that from November 29, 1947, when the United Nations voted for partition and Jewish statehood, until the start of the current violence in September 2000, some 755 Israelis were killed in terror actions here or abroad.  Some 674 Israeli civilians have been killed since September 2000.  Dichter said that there has been a substantial increase in the Palestinian use of women and children under 18 to carry out attacks.  In 2004 they account for some 81 percent of attack perpetrators.  Since January 2003, Israel has succeeded in foiling 70 percent of the attempted suicide attacks.”

(Jerusalem Post, August 8, 2004) 

“DISTURBING:  According to a recent survey, one in five British citizens would oppose having a Jewish prime minister, and believe that Jews have too great an influence in the United Kingdom.  One in seven of those polled   also thinks    that   accounts    of    the Holocaust are exaggerated.”

(World Jewry, September-October 2004)

”A recent educational program on Palestinian Authority (PA) TV taught that the Jews of biblical history and those of today have no connection, and that accepted Jewish history in the Land of Israel is essentially ‘Arab History.’  Palestinian Media Watch, a watchdog organization monitoring PA media, reports that two senior historians, guest on the television program, went to great lengths to deny ancient Jewish history and erase the Jewish connection to the Land of Israel while at the same time, describing a contrived ancient Palestinian Arab history and creating a historical connection to the land that never existed.”

(Arutz Sheva, July 8, 2004)

“PALESTINIAN VIEW:  We’re standing in the way of peace.  Three years after the September 11 terrorist attacks, Palestinians have failed to do enough to condemn the kind of Islamic extremism that caused the terrorism.

“And while, technically, some Palestinians are correct in arguing that their cause was not behind Osama bin Laden’s terrorism, they were uninvolved and they were unsupportive, a redefinition of terrorism and the rise of terrorism in the intifada place a moral burden on their backs they can’t avoid.

“Further, the failure of Palestinians to control their own Islamic extremist groups, such as Hamas and Islamic Jihad, has redoubled the burden.

“Islamic fanaticism has permeated the Palestinian cause, undermining its justice and threatening Palestinian national aspirations.

“They have functioned with the tacit approval of the Muslim world, and Palestinians, who embraced Islam as the so-called official religion of the yet unachieved Palestine, have fueled the linkage.

“More than championing the principle of Palestinian justice, Palestinians must address without equivocation the terrorism that has taken place in their own name.

“That terrorism parallels the terrorism of Osama bin Laden in the eyes of the West, which has the power not only to deny Palestinian national rights, but to empower Israel’s growing right-wing government to exercise even worse acts of state-sponsored terrorism in the guise of self-defense.

“Israel would not have been able to build the wall had Palestinians not failed to rein in the terrorists who have hijacked the Palestinian cause.  Suicide bombings are immoral, and rather than undermine Israel’s actions, they only serve to reinforce world moral support for Israel’s repression.

“Israel would not have been able to expand its racist settlements had Palestinians not failed to control the free-lance terrorists who seem to dominate the current turmoil.

“Israel would not have overcome years of Palestinian advances in the world toward nationhood had Palestinians stood firm in decrying not only Israeli atrocities but also atrocities committed by Palestinians or in the Palestinians’ name.

“Many might argue this is an unfair burden.  It’s true, it is unfair.  But the Palestinian tragedy that is unfolding is worse than unfair, and unless Palestinians take serious steps to arrest the religious extremists among them, their cause will only further erode.

“Before Palestinians can even speak out against Israel’s actions, they must speak out against the actions of their own people.  They can thank the Islamist movement for placing that inevitable burden on their backs.  They can thank the rise of Islamic fanaticism for undermining their just cause.  They can thank Osama bin Laden for pushing the cause of Palestine to the back burners of the international conscience.  They can thank September 11 for making it nearly impossible to stand up and demand justice or demand that Israel’s atrocities end.

“The truth is that despite the ugliness of Israel’s wall, it has reduced Palestinian extremist suicide bombings.  The wall is not the right answer for Israel, nor will it ever guarantee true long-term security, but it is providing the answer that Palestinians have failed to provide.

“The longer Palestinians delay speaking out against the fanaticism among their own community, the worse the situation will become, and the more difficult it will be for Palestinians to achieve justice.

“Even Palestinians who embrace peace and oppose violence cannot succeed as long as the Palestinian community, the conscience of the Palestinian people, fails to stand up and denounce terrorism and suicide bombings.

“They must, as a nation, denounce Islamic fanaticism, Osama bin Laden, al-Qaeda, Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the instrument of these horrors, suicide bombings, or else they may be forced to surrender their historic claims for justice, compromise and peace.

“Hamas stands in the way of peace, not Israel.  The failure of the Palestinians as a nation, not individual groups, to denounce suicide bombings, stands in the way of justice.

“Israel may not want to give the Palestinians a real just peace, but Palestinians have made it easy for Israel not to do so.” 

(By Ray Hanania, Creators Syndicate)

Comment: The Palestinians are their own worst enemy.  If they could stop the suicide bombings, jihad and other atrocities against Israel, then Israel could cooperate in finding a real just peace, which is what Israel has wanted all along.

“A LOOK AT LIFE AFTER ARAFAT:  Yasser Arafat may be dead, but Arafatism lives on.  That is the crucial fact amid all the talk about resurrecting the road map to peace.  Arafat’s principal legacy is hate, his gift to the world a kind of terrorism whose techniques have been aped from Indonesia to Iraq.  Arafat was resolute in refusing to prepare his people for peace.  He used every platform - radio, TV, newspapers, the mosques, schools, even summer camps for kids - to inculcate a hatred of Jews, Israel, and the West.  The Jews, Arafat declared, ‘never lived in or ruled Palestine… They were relying on false mythological sources,’ i.e., the Bible.  Canaan, for Arafat, was not the Promised Land for Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and their descendants; it was the land of banishment.  For good measure, he added that ‘there was no temple in Jerusalem,’ thus denying that Jesus ever walked there, preached there, or was crucified there.  A pox, in other words, on everyone’s house.  Pure Arafat.

“The Palestinians who mobbed his coffin represented as much the hate he had fostered as grief.  A Palestinian poll in Gaza asked whether rockets and mortar attacks on Israeli towns should continue even after Israel’s full withdrawal: 51 percent approved of more attacks.  Only 42 percent said no.  A couple of years ago, another poll found only 26 percent of Palestinians favored stopping terrorist attacks - even if they were to receive all the West Bank and Gaza, East Jerusalem, and sovereignty over the Temple Mount.  No wonder any successor to Arafat will have trouble breaking with Arafat’s rejectionist policies.

“Mannequins.  The great delusion in the West was that Arafat would lead the Palestinians to democracy and peace if only he were given more concessions.  The hope in the Oslo peace pact was that Arafat might provide security for Israel against terrorism and democracy for the Palestinians.  Instead, we ended up with neither security nor democracy.  Again, pure Arafat.  Yet even when he broke his promises, the Clinton administration refused to hold him accountable while the hundred of millions of dollars he received to improve life for Palestinians were diverted to support a terrorist network.  So now the Palestinians are to be guided, it appears, by some 10 feuding groups and their warlords who have about 40,000 guns (to say nothing of the criminal gangs that control swaths of the West Bank and Gaza).

“Symptomatic of the chaos was the murder, at a commemorative service for Arafat, of two bodyguards of Arafat’s likely successor, Mahmoud Abbas - a continuation of the enmity Arafat directed at Abbas in forcing him to step down as prime minister last year.  Abbas and his sidekick, Ahmed Qureia, are both well known to the West, but both are only mannequins in a store window.  The store itself is run by men like Bashir Nafe, Haj Ismail Jaber, Tawfik Tirawi, Jibril Rajoub, and Mohammed Dahlan.  It is they who have the guns and, so, the power.  There is no evidence that these men intend to give up either, or to crack down on terrorists and criminals.  There is danger, instead, that the Palestinian leadership that emerges will seek popularity by encouraging the terrorists and the criminals.

“What should Washington do?

“1. Alleviate the difficulties of Palestinian life and encourage Israel to identify and support moderate Palestinians who want to build legitimacy and political power.

“2. Hold Palestinians accountable.  The fatal flaw of Oslo was that violations of Palestinian obligations provided the rationale not for rebuke but for more concessions.

“3. Encourage the one positive development, namely Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s brave commitment, at the risk of his own political future, to withdraw from Gaza and from four West Bank settlements.

“4. Resist the clamor from Europe to begin political negotiations before terrorist groups are dismantled.

“5. President Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair are right to advocate democratic ideals for the Palestinians, but we must recognize that, in the short run, we may see a Palestinian leadership even more radical than Arafat if those in charge insist on ignoring the underlying values of democracy - especially the rule of law.

“There must be no rush to push a new road map.  The emerging Palestinian leadership must prove its will and ability to transform the nation.  A democratic Palestine offers the only chance to become a peaceful neighbor to Israel instead of a terrorist entity.

“Careful, judicious leadership from Washington will have to convince Europe and the Arab countries that no single leap is likely to achieve justice and peace for all.  If George Bush takes the long view, he could become not only a war president but a peace president, too.”

(By Mortimer B. Zuckerman, U.S. News & World Report, November 29, 2004)

___________________________________________________________________

LETTER OF GENERAL INTEREST

Dear Emily, Marjorie and all there,

We send our loving greetings to you all as this year comes to an end.  We hope this finds you all well and looking back on a year of God’s many blessings and sustaining strength.

Wow! How many changes in the two months since we wrote last!  You can’t take a nap or you have missed something.  We found it interesting that in the same period George W. Bush was re-elected and Arafat left the scene at last.  It reminds one of the Scripture about Israel, “I will bless those that bless thee, and curse those that curse thee.”  Even if one does not agree with all of Bush’s policies, he has been supportive of Israel and kept Arafat out of the White House, so since Israel is God’s main focus for the future Kingdom that means even the U.S. elections are in that viewpoint.  Arafat, on the other hand, couldn’t even depart in peace as his funeral was chaotic.  What a mess he left for the Palestinians to try to clear up now!

In Israel every day brings a new crisis with Sharon’s now weakened government.  He has such a minority in the Knesset that he may even bring the Labor party as a partner to avoid elections.  This party is eager to get in, as they want to give away and give away more, and more of the Land!  They will certainly help Sharon to push for the “disengagement plan,” and expect more down the road.  We have to trust that God has all in His control and the great plans of man will not come to pass.  Israel is also depending more on Egypt to keep the “peace” if Israel pulls out of Gaza even allowing them to move 750 army troops to the border.  The Bible warns about depending on Egypt - “a broken reed.” (Isa. 36:6) 

Take care, Lev and Hava Bausch                                                                       (ISRAEL)             

NO. 569 RETROSPECT AND PROSPECT - PART ONE

“He will judge the nations, heaping up the dead and crushing the rulers of the whole earth.” (Psalms 110:6, NIV)

The year 2004 has been a terrible time, with war, terrorism, crime, etc., and the continued suicide bombings in Israel.  None of the heads of states seem to be able to do anything about any of these troubles.  He shall crush the heads of civil, social and ecclesiastical orders, as well as the rulers of nations, with the sword of truth.  As the first world ended with an almost entire destruction of individual life, so national life is to be destroyed in the end of this world.

Does it mean that the rulers will be crushed, wounded literally?  Isaiah 29:14, NIV answers that.  “Therefore, once more I will astound these people with wonder upon wonder; the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish.”  In other words, wounded in their heads.  The Statesman, College professors, Doctors of Divinity, and the best educated of Christendom have lost even their best worldly wisdom.  None seem to know where to turn.  They cannot make an informed and correct decision about the conditions of the world.  Hence the Christian of low degree, through the instructions of the Bible, may know clearly things that the famous and learned in other wisdoms cannot know.  Thus we should utterly lose confidence in worldly wisdom and the more firmly rely on the wisdom which cometh from above.

Not only do we, Bible Students, lose confidence in the wisdom of the rulers, etc., but the worldly citizens are also loosing confidence and that will bring on more trouble.  But we are not cast down, for we know that the Lord is in control and all these troubles are for the destruction of the present nations in preparation for the Kingdom and His will to be done.  “They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” (Isa. 11:9)

“And they shall say, this land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are become fenced, and are inhabited.” (Ezek. 36:35)

Besides the troubles mentioned above there have also been many natural disasters around the world such as hurricanes, tornados, floods, earthquakes, volcanoes, etc. (Matt. 24:7,8).  We believe these have a purpose, too, in ordering the world for the climatic conditions in the Kingdom.  The Garden of Eden was the original Paradise, but that was destroyed by what may be called a natural disaster, and it destroyed almost all individuals.  But the natural disasters of today, and many have experienced them during the past year, will not destroy all individuals, but will destroy the nations as nations.  God promised that a flood would not destroy the world again.  Paradise will be restored.  As we recall there had not been rain on the earth until the great deluge of Noah’s day.  A mist that came up out of the ground watered the earth, and, we believe that it will be so again (Gen. 2:6).

The above Ezekiel scripture, of course, relates to Israel, but Israel is a type of the world, and through Abraham and his seed “all families shall be blessed.

2004 IN REVIEW:

 (1) President Bush reelected.

(2) Terrorism remains a worldwide threat.

 (3) Fighting continues in Iraq.

 (4) Massachusetts legalizes gay marriage.

 (5) Yasser Arafat dies.

 (6) September 11 commission recommendations.

 (7) Energy prices skyrocket.

(8) Martha Stewart sent to jail.

 (9) Nuclear weapons in North Korea, Iran. 

(10) Federal budget deficit.

“TSUNAMI DEATH TOLL RISES:  BANDA ACEH, INDONESIA - The death toll from the epic tsunami that rocked 11 countries continues to rise, and food and supplies are pouring into the region, part of what the U.N. said would be the biggest relief effort the world has ever seen.  Millions remained homeless.

“Rescuers struggled to reach remote locations where thousands more were likely killed by the deadliest tsunami in 120 years.  Bodies, many of them children, filled beaches and choked hospital morgues, raising fears of disease across the region.”

(Excerpts from Andi Djatmiko, AP)

“RECORD 10TH TYPHOON LASHES JAPAN, KILLING AT LEAST 51:  Heavy rains flooded the storm-battered nation, and 30 people were reported missing.  TOKYO - For the 10th time this year, a typhoon struck land and churned across Japan on Wednesday night, killing at least 51 people, including a driver whose car was swallowed by a mudslide and a postal carrier who drowned while making his rounds.

“An additional 30 people were reported missing in what has become a record year for typhoons here: 10 of 23 have made landfall.  City streets turned to muddy rivers and trees were uprooted, while high waves pounded Japan’s thousands of miles of coastline, sweeping several anglers out to sea.

“The unusually high number of typhoons and the wreckage they have left in their wake have dominated the national conversation here.  Seventy-nine people have been killed in typhoon-related accidents this year.

“This latest storm, called Tokage - which means lizard in Japanese - lashed Japan on Wednesday with sustained winds of 56 mph and gusts of up to 140mph.

“One meteorological station measured 21.6 inches of rainfall during the storm.  The winds and drenching rain shut down major transportation routes in this country of 126 million people.  Bullet trains between Tokyo and Osaka were suspended for several hours and 981 flights were grounded, stranding about 127,000 passengers.  Officials said it was the highest number of cancellations ever in one day.

“Some of the victims in the latest storm were killed trying to do quick repairs to roofs damaged by the storm.  Five men were killed in a fishing port as they tried to bring boats ashore.  And mudslides claimed other victims, including a family of three killed in their home.

“Thirty-seven bus passengers were caught when rising waters trapped their vehicle on a major road near Kyoto.  They spent the night on the vehicle’s roof before being rescued.

“The repeated battering has left many Japanese reeling.  ‘All the neighbors were just finishing repairs from the last typhoon; it’s been a double punch,’ said Kumiko Ueno, 54, Thursday morning as she surveyed damage from the second storm to flood her home this year.  Ueno lives in Kurashiki, a town in western Japan known for its mild climate and sparse rainfall, a place where typhoons are almost unknown.”

(By Bruce Wallace, Los Angeles Times, October 21, 2004)

Comment: Not just in the U.S. and Japan have natural disaster occurred but all around the world.  This agrees with what we said above about the changing climate of the world.

“DARWIN WILL BE SHARING A DESK:  Science class to include ‘intelligent design.’  DOVER, PA - The way they used to teach the origin of the species to high school students    in   this   town   of   1,800    people in southern Pennsylvania, said school-board member Angie Yingling disapprovingly, was that ‘we come from chimpanzees and apes.’  Not anymore.

“The school board has ordered that biology teachers at Dover Area High School make students ‘aware of gaps/problems’ in the theory of evolution.  Their ninth-grade curriculum must include the theory of ‘intelligent design,’ which posits that life is so complex and elaborate that some greater wisdom has to be behind it.

“The decision, passed last month by a 6-3 vote, makes the 3,600-student school district about 20 miles south of Harrisburg the first in the United States to mandate the teaching of ‘intelligent design’ in public schools.

“The principal and teachers contacted by the San Francisco Chronicle declined to comment.  The idea of intelligent design was introduced by a small group of scientists to explain what they say are gaps in Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution.

“On an intelligent-design Web site, the theory is described as ‘a scientific disagreement with the claim of evolutionary theory that natural phenomena are not designed.’

“Such critics as Eugenie Scott, the director of the National Center for Science Education, based in Oakland, Calif., say that the Dover school board’s decision is part of a trend.

“‘There’s a constant impetus by conservative evangelical Christians to bring religion back into the public schools,’ said Witold Walczak, the legal director of the Pennsylvania branch of the American Civil Liberties Union.  ‘The end goal is to get rid of evolution.  They view it as a threat to their religion.’

“The intelligent-design theory makes no reference to the Bible, and its proponents do not say who or what the greater force is behind the design.  But Yingling, 46, who graduated from Dover High School in 1976, and other supporters of the new curriculum in this religiously conservative part of rural Pennsylvania say they know exactly who the intelligent designer is.

“‘There’s only one creator, and it has to be God,’ said Rebecca Cashman, 16, a sophomore at Dover High.

“Patricia Nason at the Institute for Creation Research, the world leader in creation science, said that her organization and other activist groups are encouraging people who share conservative religious beliefs to run for positions on local school boards.

“‘The movement is to get the truth out,’ Nason said by telephone from El Cajon (San Diego County).  ‘We Christians have as much right to be involved in politics as evolutionists.  We’ve been asleep for two generations, and its time for us to come back.’”

(Scripps Howard News Service, December 1, 2004)

“LOST ARK:  A British television film crew is part of an expedition led by renowned explorer Fedor Konyukkov to search for evidence of Noah’s Ark, which, according to the Biblical Book of Genesis, survived a massive flood and came to rest on Mount Ararat, in what is today Turkey.

“According to legend, a 1917 Russian military expedition found the Ark, walked inside it and took measurements, pictures, and samples of wood, but the evidence was destroyed by Soviet authorities after the Russian Revolution.”

(Word Jewry, September-October 2004)

WORLD IN BRIEF:  “Hamas Statement.  The militant group Hamas will accept a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip and a long-term truce with Israel.”

“BBC duped.”

“Assassination plot foiled:  Phone calls between Islamic radicals led German authorities to arrest three Iraqis suspected of planning to attack Iraqi Prime Minister Allawi.”

“Abuse settlement.”

“At least 8 migrants die as boat flips near Puerto Rico.”

“Japan reportedly planning work on long-range missile.”

“America’s oldest person dies - Ohio woman was 114.”

“Testing uncovers chemicals in nations drinking water.”

IN FINANCE

George W. Bush is re-elected to a second term.  Interest rate is on the rise after 2 years of low rates.  President Bush’s first item on his agenda is making the recent tax cuts permanent; most tax breaks congress passed during Bush’s first term will lapse after 2010.  The 15% top rate on dividends and capital gains ends in 2009 and complete repeal of the estate tax cut.  Backers of permanent repeal of this tax are just shy of the votes needed to make this permanent.  They needed 60 votes in 2002; they had 54.

High oil prices will be around for a while.  Oil was $20.00 a barrel in the 80’s.  Oil will stay above $40.00 a barrel through 2005.  The economy is still growing but the threat of terrorism continues to grow.  The Iraq War is still going on.  The value of the dollar is dropping.  The deficit is getting worse.  People are worrying about terrorism striking again in this country.

Inflation is expected to rise on a year-over-year basis in 2005, as compensation patterns rise and productivity slows.  These two developments are typical at this stage of the business cycle, and as a result, so does the outlook for inflation.  As the economy moves into the mid-phase of the cycle, productivity slows down.  With labor compensation gradually rising, unit labor costs begin to rise.  These higher unit labor costs then feed into output prices and subsequently into inflation indicators.

Rising inflation fundamentals will also be reinforced by a fourth factor - a declining dollar.  The U.S. trade deficit will keep widening in a record dollar terms over $600 billion next year.  Gold prices should stay about the same.  Gold prices and export growth will continue to increase because of the weaker dollar.

In these unsettled times it is hard to state categorically that the prospects stated for the coming year will be as expected.  As we said in our opening remarks, none of the leaders of States, colleges or of churches, etc., know how to correct the problems of finance, as well as of other public sectors.

What we can do to be prepared in this Time of Trouble is to “watch and pray” (Mark 13:33) so that we will not be caught “unaware.” (Luke 21:34)

IN RELIGION

JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES AND THE LAYMENS HOME MISSIONARY MOVE-MENT:  Both these groups are continuing in their ways.  Both have invented a new false class that Pastor Russell never taught and which is not Scriptural.  The JWs have long since invented “new doctrines” and have taken themselves out of a designation as a Truth group.

The LHMM has become more bold recently with their new class they call Consecrated Epiphany Campers.  In their Summer 2004 Present Truth on page 35, column two they write about the Sons of Joel 2:28, in which they cite a reference from E-17-pp31-49.  But in that reference on page 45 it says, “They have not been willing to follow in the Master’s footsteps (1 Peter 2:21), to make a full consecration of themselves to God…”  On page 46 it says, “However, while they have not given themselves in consecration, they have nevertheless clung to a faith in the Ransom…”  This is under the heading of “Your Sons,” as shown in page 42.  Therefore to call them Consecrated Epiphany Campers is a false designation.  We continue to believe that “your Sons,” of Joel 2:28 is converted Israel, as Brother Russell and Brother Johnson taught._(See_E-4-319,_par.5.)

“IRAQI MUSLIMS TARGET CHURCHES:  Assailants triggered a coordinated series of explosions outside five churches in Baghdad and Mosul during evening services in August, killing 11 people and wounding more than 50 in the first major assault on Iraq’s Christian minority since the 15-month-old insurgency began.

 “The unprecedented attacks against Iraq’s 750,000-member Christian minority seemed to confirm community members’ fears that they might be targeted as suspected collaborators with American forces amid a rising tide of Islamic fundamentalism.

“The Islamic world has been pairing and vilifying the ‘Crusader’ (Christian) forces of the United States and Britain and ‘Zionists’ (Israel) in their rhetoric across the Muslim world, since the beginning of the incursion into Iraq in the spring of 2003.

“Both Christians and Jews in the Middle East and around the Islamic world have been targeted for decades as fundamental Islam has begun to exert itself in its most recent jihad, or holy war, to spread its faith by force.  Millions of Christians have been killed while Israel has been under constant pressure and vicious attack, both on the basis that they are ‘violating Islamic territory.’

“We urge the free world to recognize and assist the ‘war on terror,’ and continue their brave fight to protect Christians and Jews, ‘the people of the Book,’ around the world.”

(By Clarence H. Wagner, Dispatch From Jerusalem, September-October 2004)

“DRY BONES:  Terror attacks on Christian churches in Iraq have raised as little anger in the west, as terrorist attacks on Jewish synagogues have, and we can’t blame it on anti-Semitism. (Same Dispatch as above)

Comment: Not only have the churches been attacked in Iraq and other countries, but they have also been attacked in the U.S.  It is not terror attacks here but just plain disrespect for the churches.  Some have been ransacked, robbed and set on fire.  The time was when even the criminal would not touch a church for fear that he would be struck down for desecrating the house of God.  But it seems that they do not believe that they are so sacred anymore.  

“CONTENTION OVER COMMUNION:  Debates affect not only the way believers view the sacrament marking the Last Supper, but also efforts toward ending liturgical disputes and promoting unity.  WASHINGTON - Yet such discussions are important because they go to the heart of the Christian faith, say clergy and denominational officials.  They affect the way believers perceive and take part in one of the most sacred events in Christian history: the meal Jesus shared with his disciples the night before his crucifixion.  And they affect efforts to foster unity among Catholics, Protestants and Orthodox Christians and end theological and liturgical disputes that have created deep divisions in Christianly.

“For those with a goal of unity, success could be far in the future, with Communion practices becoming more diverse as congregations search for new ways to accommodate the lifestyles and sensibilities of their members.

“The United Methodist Church passed a resolution at its general conference in May urging congregations to shed generations of tradition by offering Communion weekly rather than monthly.  The effort is to ‘reshape the focus on Communion by urging people to celebrate the Eucharist more often,’ said denomination spokesman Stephen Drachler.

“Moving toward weekly Communion also has been a goal of many Lutherans for more than 30 years, said the Rev. Michael Burk, director of worship for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.  One reason was the adoption of a book of worship in 1978 that placed more emphasis on Communion.

“And the Presbyterian Church (USA) has been moving slowly from monthly to weekly Communion, said the Rev. Joseph Small, director of the church’s office of theology and worship.

“A more evident change among Presbyterians, whose Reformation forebears rejected many Catholic Communion practices, has been an increase in the number of congregations that prefer taking Communion at the altar rail rather than in the pews, Small said.

“One thing that hasn’t changed for most Protestants is their rejection of transubstantiation, the Catholic teaching that the elements - bread and wine - are transformed during the Eucharist into the body and blood of Jesus and remain so.  In the Roman Catholic Church, any leftover wine must be consumed by the priest, and the leftover hosts or wafers must be kept in a receptacle known as a tabernacle.

 “Burk said Evangelical Lutherans believe that the bread and wine are transformed into the body and blood of Jesus, but only for that meal.  Any leftovers are ‘bread that was used in Holy Communion,’ not the body and blood of Jesus, he said.”

(Excerpts from Bill Broadway, The Washington Post, October 2, 2004)

“THE BIRTH OF JESUS:  Like the Victorians, we live in an age of great belief and great doubt, and sometimes it seems as though we must choose between two extremes, the evangelical and the secular.  ‘I don’t want to be too simplistic, but our faith is somewhat childlike,’ says the Rev. H. B. London, a vice president of James Dobson’s conservative Focus on the Family organization in Colorado Springs.  ‘Though other people may question the historical validity of the virgin birth, and the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we don’t.’  London’s view has vast public support.  A NEWSWEEK Poll found that 85 percent of American adults consider themselves Christians, and 82 percent see Jesus as God or the son of God.  Seventy-nine percent say they believe in the virgin birth, and 67 percent think the Christmas story - from the angels’ appearance to the Star of Bethlehem - is historically accurate.”

 (Excerpt from Jon Meacham, Newsweek, December 13, 2004)

CATHOLICS:  “HOLY WARS:  Greek Orthodox and Franciscan Priests got into a fist fight at Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Christianity’s holiest shrine, on September 27, after arguing over whether a door in the basilica should be closed during a procession.”

(The Jerusalem Report, October 18, 2004)

PRESBYTERIANS:  “WHEN CHURCHES HEAD LEFT:  America’s main-line protestant churches are in trouble.  One sign is shrinking membership.  Another is turning their political policymaking over to fringe leftists whose deepest instinct is to blame America and pummel Israel whenever possible. The latest disgrace is the Presbyterian Church’s plan for selective divestment in Israel - ending the church’s investment in multinational companies that the church believes bear particular responsibility for the sufferings of the Palestinian people.  For example, the Presbyterians say they may divest themselves of Caterpillar stock, because bulldozers made by that company are used to level Palestinian homes in Israel’s antiterrorism campaign.  Of course, these bulldozers can also be used to move debris after Palestinian suicide bombers have finished blowing up another round of women, children and other civilian bystanders in Israel.

“How do the Presbyterians go about adopting stances like this?  Apparently they cast a stern moral glance around the world, look for possible abuses in China, North Korea, and Iran, and seeing nothing disturbing there, decide to focus once again on Israel.  The conservative Institute on Religion and Democracy (IRD) released a measured and devastating report on the human-rights efforts of mainline churches and groups - the United Methodist Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church, the Episcopal Church, and the Presbyterian Church (USA), plus the reliably leftist National Council of Churches and World Council of Churches.  The report, covering the years 2000 to 2003, found that of 197 human-rights criticisms by mainline churches and groups, 37 percent were aimed at Israel and 32 percent at the United States.  Only 19 percent of these criticisms were directed at nations listed as ‘unfree’ in Freedom House’s respected annual listing of free, partly free, and unfree nations.  So Israel was twice as likely to be hammered by the mainliners as all the unfree authoritarian nations put together.  The fixation on Israel left little time and inclination for these churches to notice the most dangerous violation of human rights around the world.  Not one nation bordering Israel was criticized by a single mainline church or group, the IRD report says.  No criticisms at all were leveled at China, Libya, Syria, or North Korea.

“Human-rights groups are normally accorded great respect for the work they do.  But the rights work of the mainline churches is basically a one-sided expression of ideology - America is essentially viewed as a malignant force in the world, while Israel is seen as nothing more than a dangerous colonial implant of the West.  The IRD report says the mainliners’ ‘pervasive anti-Americanism is demonstrated time and again in their public-policy advocacy, and one need not investigate far to find it.’  Later, the report says, ‘When U.S. policy cannot be blamed, the mainline denominations seem less interested in speaking up for the victims.’

“Knee-jerk:  Anti-Americanism is an old story in the mainline church bureaucracies.  During the 1970s and 1980s, these churches generally ignored human-rights abuses in the Soviet Union and focused instead on the United States as the primary source of abuse.  One result was to scorn dissident movements, such as Solidarity in Poland, which were pressing Moscow for more freedom.  The persistent folly of the World Council of Churches on this issue made news in July when its former president, Konrad Raiser, apologized for not supporting freedom movements during the Cold War.  At this rate, a future president of the World Council might decide he’s finally ready to apologize for ignoring severe abuses in today’s vicious dictatorships, oh, sometime maybe around 2030.

“The Presbyterian divestment plan seems to be an obvious effort to get an anti-Israel bandwagon rolling among the churches.  The Episcopalians quickly obliged, letting it be known that divestment in companies doing business with Israel is now up for discussion.  A high-level group from the church recently toured the Middle East, meeting with Yasser Arafat but not with any Israeli officials.  Par for the course.  The divestment movement is a pretty big issue on some college campuses, supported by Muslim students and aging professors committed to blaming the West for all the world’s evils.  As part of this effort, Israel is routinely equated with the apartheid regime in South Africa and, by implication, with the Nazi regime in Germany.  Despite all the inflammatory and one-sided rhetoric, no university has ever come close to supporting divestment.

“Many Jews see the divestment movement as an instrument of anti-Semitism.  Maybe it is, but the efforts of the woeful mainline churches are better seen as classic knee-jerk leftism, an expression of hardcore loathing for the United States and the West, with Israel as a stand-in for America.  The mainline churches believe they still stand for high moral purpose in politics.  They don’t.  They can no longer be taken seriously on politics or human rights.

(By John Leo, U.S. News & World Report, October 18, 2004)

“THE STRANGE MORALITY OF PALESTINIAN SUFFERING:  Drawing itself up on holier-than-thou righteousness, the Presbyterian Church USA has adopted a policy of divesture in companies that do business with Israel, and the Anglican Communion-Episcopalians appears to do the same.

“The idea is trendy on some college campuses, too.  Is this the start of a fad?  If so, it is a nasty business, conducted in the good name of relieving Palestinian suffering.  That suffering is real all right, but is Israel its primary author?

“Israel was lawfully created when the United Nations partitioned the old Palestine Mandate.  Israel accepted the compromise.  Palestinians could have had their own nation right then, in 1947, but the Arab states forbade that and instead have since started three classic, over-the border wars in an attempt to destroy Israel and have supported endless terrorist attacks in the down times between and around wars.      

 “The partition and its aftermath created refugee populations of roughly the same size.  Israel absorbed and integrated Jewish refugees from Arab states.  The Arab states still maintain squalid Palestinian refugee camps, refusing the Palestinians acceptance and succor and preferring to keep them aggrieved and miserable as a useful political tool.

“Israel signed up decades ago for the land-for-peace formula proposed by U.N. resolutions, but it has never found Palestinian negotiating partners willing to strive realistically to carry out that process.

“Israel agreed in 2000 to a generous deal that would have created a viable Palestinian state, but Yasser Arafat flinched, insisting at the last minute upon a program that would have resulted in a majority Muslim population in Israel.  Israel declined to commit suicide.

“Arafat returned to the West Bank to cheering throngs, winked a new terrorist war against Israel into bloody action and started smuggling illegal arms in by the shipload.

“Israel is not blameless, of course.  Its settlements in Gaza and beyond defensible lines in the West Bank are obstacles to eventual peace.  Its harsh retaliations have sometimes needlessly hurt innocents while suppressing and redressing Palestinian terror.

“But Israel has provided repeated earnests of its ability to accommodate to workable peace.  It dismantled every Sinai settlement when a deal with Egypt opened.  It stayed over-long and tried to politically overreach after clearing out a Palestinian terrorist infrastructure in southern Lebanon, but in the end Israel unilaterally withdrew.

“Even hard-line Prime Minister Ariel Sharon now acknowledges that the creation of a Palestinian state must be part of any final agreement, and Sharon is pulling Israel out of Gaza, again unilaterally.

“The Presbyterian and Episcopalian scolds offer Israel no safety beyond their good wishes for it.  The Anglican delegation that toured the region proposes, for Israeli security, an interposed U.N. peacekeeping force, which, please be real, would have all the stopping power of a morning mist.

“At bottom, the Presbyterians and Anglicans essentially are saying that for refusing ever to accept Israel’s right to exist, for starting repeated wars against it, for rejecting realistic negotiations and substituting terrorism negotiations and substituting, the Arab states and Palestinians should be held harmless and Israel should be held to account.

“It is a strange morality that, rewarding political intransigence, futile war and terrorism, would encourage more of the same.  

(By Tom Teepen, Cox News Service, October 5, 2004)

___________________________________________________________________

We have received many beautiful and inspiring Christmas cards, for which we are very grateful.  We did not send out Christmas cards this year due to the fact that Sister Hoefle is unable to write cards, but she sends love and prayers to all who have sent cards.  We wish for all our readers that they will grow in Grace and Knowledge of the Lord for a blessed New Year.  “The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.” (Prov. 4:18)

Announcement:  The date of our Memorial is March 22, 2004, after six p.m.

___________________________________________________________________

“IN THE VALLEY O THE SHADOW”

With sadness we report that Brother Wycliff Mahoney of Crofts Hill, Jamaica, has left us.  He died on October 4, 2004 at the age of 87.  He was a wonderful and faithful Brother who gave us much encouragement and help for many years.  We will miss his expertise on the Truth.

NO. 568 THE KING'S HIGHWAY

  Under the reign of sin and death there is now a “broad road” in which, under the tendency of the world, the flesh and the devil, almost all mankind are walking in a greater or less degree of selfishness and gratification of the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye and the pride of life.  Its grade is downward and away from God.  Its end is death, in just harmony with the original sentence of sin in Eden.  On it none can retrace his steps so as to return to God.  He may stop for a time, or even attempt to return, but the grade is too steep, and the influence and pressure of the crowd irresistible; and soon he is on the downward course again - moving slowly or swiftly.

But there is a way of life, into which the pilgrim may turn.  Of it our Lord said, “I am the way, the truth and the life.” (John 14:6)  There is consequently only one way of return - through acceptance of Christ and obedience testifying thereto.  Its gate is Faith, and at present it is a very difficult road to travel, even after it has been found.  This gate and way have been open for nearly nineteen centuries.  Comparatively few of the race have ever seen or known of this path; for we are authoritatively informed that “few there be that find it.”  And the reason for this is given - “the god of this world [Satan] hath blinded the minds of them that believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ should shine unto them.” (2 Cor. 4:4)

Here is a marvelous thing!  Why does the God of love make the gate to the way of life so obscure that only a small portion of the race have any opportunity of even knowing of it - and so narrow and rugged that when found many are so discouraged with the prospect that they make but little effort to walk therein, and gradually drift back again into the general current of the broad road?

From the ordinary standpoint - the world’s standpoint of ignorance and human speculation - there is no reasonable answer to this question.  But from the standpoint of the Divine Plan of the Ages, as revealed in the Scriptures, there is a very satisfactory answer.

The answer is, that God’s purpose of mercy respecting the world (which entered the “broad road” through Adam’s transgression and sentence) is to deal with it as a whole; to let all have an experience with the wages of sin (death), and then through Christ to end the reign of sin and death under Satan, and inaugurate a reign of righteousness and life under Christ, the Kingdom of God.  Thus seen, the “narrow way” now open (which only a few see, and in which but a “little flock” walk in faithfully when they do find it), is not meant to be the way of life for the race in general.  It is provided only for a special class, called variously in Scripture “the Church of Christ,” “the Bride,” “the Temple of the Living God,” “the Elect” or Select, “the Body of Christ,” the “little flock” to which it is “the Father’s good pleasure to give the kingdom.”  The gate of Faith is made obscure to insure that those who enter shall be faith-full.  The way is rugged and difficult to insure that all who continue in that way faithful to the end shall be “overcomers,” shall be of strong character.  The special service for which these are being selected demands that they shall be tried as gold is purified, in the furnace of discipline, that they may be found vessels unto honor and meet for the Master’s use, when His time shall come for them, with their Lord and Redeemer, as “the seed of Abraham” to extend the blessing of God to all the families of the earth (the dead as well as the living) (Gal. 3:16,29) and when they with Him shall be the kings and priests unto God who shall reign on the earth during the Millennial Age, to bind Satan’s power (Rev. 5:10; 20:1) and to open the eyes of those whom he has so long blinded and deceived.  By these God will prepare a favorable way for all (Isa. 62:10).

WHEN CHRIST IS KING - WHAT THEN?

When our Redeemer shall have taken to Himself His great power and established His Kingdom, after the last member of “the church which is his body” shall have been perfected and glorified with the Head upon the throne (Rev. 11:17; 3:21), after the great “time of trouble such as was not since there was a nation” shall have swept away present institutions and humbled the pride of man in the dust and brought the world into a teachable attitude, then the broad road to death will be abolished and instead the way to death (Second Death) thereafter will be hedged about and made narrow and difficult, by reason of the speedy and just retribution which then will promptly follow every attempted violation of Immanuel’s laws.  The narrow way to immortal life will also have terminated, having served its purpose by selecting the “little flock,” the “royal priesthood,” through persecution for godliness and fierce oppositions from the world, the flesh and the devil.  Then Satan will be “bound” (restrained from deceiving mankind) and “the world” will be forced to respect at least outwardly the laws and Kingdom of God.  The “flesh,” the weaknesses men labor under as the result of the fall, will alone stand between men and perfect happiness, and full arrangements are provided by the Mediator-King for assisting the fallen flesh back to perfection.  The way of life will then be a highway, cleared of every impediment - the Highway of Holiness.

The various arrangements of the Millennial Kingdom will at first make the road to death difficult (to insure that only the willful shall go by it into the Second Death); and the same Kingdom arrangements will make the way to life easy of access.  Its gate of faithful obedience will be clearly seen and easily accessible to all; and its name correspondingly will no longer be the narrow way, but the King’s Highway of Holiness, leading to life everlasting, and open to all who desire righteousness (John 10:16).

As the prince of darkness (Satan) rules now over the broad road and its blinded millions whom he leads downward to death, so there the Prince of Light (Christ, Head and Body) will rule over mankind, for whom He will open up the Highway of Holiness, upon which millions will go upward to life eternal.  It is as a means to this end that He is selecting His Church, is causing the great trouble to come upon the world, and will shortly bind Satan for the thousand years of His reign.  And, more than this, He will open the blinded eyes that all may see the light of the knowledge of the goodness of God as it shines in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 4:6).

When Satan no longer has power to deceive men and to put good for evil and evil for good; when the eyes of their understanding have been opened to see and appreciate “the true Light” - until “every man that cometh into the world” has been thus enlightened (John 1:9; 1 Tim. 2:6); when the knowledge of the Lord fills the whole earth as the waters cover the depths of the sea (all covered, but some more deeply than others); when there shall no longer be necessity to teach, every man his neighbor, saying, “Know the Lord,” because all shall know the Lord from the least to the greatest (Jer. 31:34); when the Lord’s Kingdom shall have come and His will is done on earth as it is done in heaven - instead of the message of the Gospel being limited to a few, all will know the Plan of God; and the evidences of its truth will be so clear and convincing that none will have excuse for disbelief; for the conditions will be such that doubt would be more difficult than is belief at present.  Nevertheless a personal acceptance of “the way [Christ]” and of the conditions of the New Covenant will be required of each individual thus enlightened.

Not only will men learn unquestionably that Christ died for our sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God; but more, they will see and feel the restitution work begun, in themselves and in their fellows (Acts 3:19-21; Ezek. 16:48-50, 53-55, 60-63).  They will see righteousness ruling the world unto or toward life, instead of as now sin reigning and all of its influences tending unto death.  They will see great changes in the climate of the earth because “he that hath the power of death, that is the devil” (Heb. 2:14), will no longer be “the prince [ruler] of the power of the air” (Eph. 2:2), and “the wilderness and the solitary place shall rejoice” and “the earth shall yield her increase” (Isa. 35; Ezek. 34:27); for the microbes of destruction and disease shall be restrained and “nothing shall hurt nor destroy” in all God’s Holy Kingdom (Isa. 11:9).

Sickness and pain and all diseases will yield to the power of the Great Physician upon the throne; and He will not permit death to befall any except those who shall intelligently and willfully refuse His offers of full restitution, by rejecting the terms of obedience required under the New Covenant then open to all.  And even these shall be liberally dealt with; for our Lord willeth not the death of him that dieth, but would rather that all should turn unto Him and live.  Accordingly, while all will be forced to “bow,” in at least outward recognition of that Kingdom, and to “confess” it a blessed improvement upon the reign of sin unto death (Rom. 5:21; 1 Cor. 15:26), yet their will must remain their own and their progress in restitution beyond the common advantages will depend upon their willingness or unwillingness to come into accord with that Kingdom and its righteous arrangements.  Concerning these we are expressly told by the Prophet, that if still sinners when a hundred years old they will be cut off (in the Second Death - destruction - from which there is to be no ransom and no resurrection); but that to die at that age then, would be like a death in infancy now; because the smoking flax he will not quench, nor break the bruised reed; and all who shall then show any evidence of love and consecration to the Lord may continue to enjoy the Kingdom blessings at least until the close of that Millennial Age (Isa. 65:20).

As the Lord now sends seedtime and harvest, sun and rain, upon the just and unjust, so then, to a certain extent (i.e., for one hundred years each), the restitution blessings, that is, the equitable laws and other public arrangements for the education and uplifting of the masses, and the climatic conditions more favorable to health, will be common to all men.  But, although plenteous in mercy, the Lord “will not [continue] always [to] chide [correct]; he will not keep [hold back] his anger [his righteous indignation against willful sin and sinners] forever.”  “Every soul which will not hear [obey] that Prophet [Teacher] shall be destroyed from among the people.” (Acts 3:23)

But although the condition of things in the Millennial Age will differ greatly from present conditions so as to be almost the reverse, yet the laws of God, like Himself, change not: it is merely the conditions that will have changed.  God’s law, when exercised by our Lord Jesus and His Church (“Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world?” 1 Cor. 6:2), and tempered with mercy (because of man’s fallen condition for which as Redeemer our Lord paid the price in His own death) will be the same law in every particular that it always has been.  It cannot change, for the same reason that God Himself cannot change; because it is perfect, and to change it in any degree would be to make it imperfect.

That law is love.  Full obedience to it means perfect love - controlling every thought, word and deed; partial obedience means a measure of love.  At the beginning of that new era the world in general will be loveless as at present - controlled instead by selfishness; for the heart of the natural (fallen) man is enmity against this law of God which represents God’s character.  When present-day selfishness shall have blossomed and gone to seed in the great Time of Trouble now impending, it will become apparent to all that, however selfish their hearts may be, their deeds must thereafter conform more closely to the principle of love - doing to others as they would have others do to them.  It will thus be with a practical lesson that the new King will introduce the law of His Kingdom.  Then loving deeds and words will be made compulsory upon all, though their hearts (wills) may still be tainted with selfishness; for God does not now, and never will, force the wills of His creatures.  But those who at the end of the hundred years’ of trial remain obstinate in heart, and only obedient outwardly, under compulsion, shall be judged hopeless “sinners,” and will be cut off from all further trial for life; for the principle will still hold that, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life: the wrath of God abideth on him.” (1 John 3:36)

“In that day” an intellectual unbelief in Christ and the offer of salvation will be an impossibility (Isa. 11:9); for “even the devils believe and tremble” (James 2:19); but belief, in the sense of acceptance of Christ as the Lord who bought us, and hearty obedience to the letter and spirit of His requirements, will be the condition upon which any may obtain everlasting life - provided and intended only for those who love God; which implies a love of His character and His laws (Isa. 47:14-21).

But perfect love and obedience in letter and spirit will not be realized by the world then on trial, until the close of the Millennial Age; for perfection of being is necessary to a perfection of obedience; and that entire Age will be necessary to the full restitution or bringing back of such as accept the Son to the perfection and Divine fellowship lost six thousand years ago.  And as from the first moment of the death-sentence Adam and the race were no longer fully alive, but dying, so, although the reign or Kingdom of life will continue during the entire Age to lift the obedient out of death toward life, yet perfection of life will not be attained until the end of the process of uplifting or restitution; and none will get that grand gift of God except such as are perfected in love - not only in word and deed, but also in the very deepest thoughts and intents of their hearts.  Such as thus believe the Son, accept of His grace and are conformed to His image, and such only, shall see life, in the full and absolute sense, and be presented unto the Father perfect and unreprovable in love, when Christ shall deliver up the Kingdom, having thus accomplished the work begun by Him nearly three thousand years before, when He bought the world with His own life, that He might give life unto all them that obey Him.

But while the giving of everlasting life to the worthy ones of the world will be at the close of the Millennial Age, and in the nature of a reward of obedience in the school of Christ, in fashioning themselves after the pattern of the Redeemer’s character, yet that everlasting life will be reckoned to each one who accepts of Christ and comes to any degree of heart-harmony with His requirements, from the moment that he thus accepts the terms of the New Covenant.

The various temperaments and various degrees of degradation of fallen men guarantee that their hearty acceptance of Christ and His regulations for their blessing will differ, as is now the case with those who come to the knowledge of the truth.  Some will respond quickly, some slowly, some not at all.  But the Lord’s provision, that all shall have at least a hundred years of opportunity under the clear light of “the Sun of Righteousness” (Mal. 4:2; Luke 1:78,79), guarantees against the loss of any for whom there could be any hope that they would develop characters fit for an eternity of fellowship with God.  Nor will it be merely those who promptly and fully accept the Lord that will be continued beyond the first hundred years of trial, for we are assured that “the bruised reed he will not break, and smoking flax he will not quench.” (Isa. 42:3)  That is, if there is any tendency to hold on, to appreciate and to make use of the Divine favors, if there is even a smoldering spark of love toward God and righteousness, the Lord will not break off such a one, but will fan the spark if perchance it might become a blaze of love which would purify the heart and eventually bring every thought into captivity to the will of God.  He will pursue this course until “he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.” (Isa. 42:3)

Those who most quickly and most fully accept the new conditions will more quickly and more fully taste the joys of salvation and the Lord’s favor, and have the peace of God rule in their hearts.  Thus the measure of “light” sinned against in the present life determines not only the amount of heart-hardening, but also the time and amount of difficulty the person will experience in getting his heart softened again.

Those who will be “cut off” during the Millennium will be such as when given full opportunity to enter upon the King’s Highway of Holiness will refuse to “go up thereon.”  Satan’s broad road of the present time is a downward one, but the King’s highway in the Millennium will have an upward grade.  Now, men can go downward to death almost without effort; but to reach the prize of life at the end of the highway will require effort.  That “highway,” however, will require less effort and overcoming than does the “narrow way” of the present age.  It will be less steep, for several centuries may be had for gradually developing character in likeness to the Lord’s, whereas now the development must be effected in much less time to constitute the pilgrim an “over-comer” and a worthy associate with the Lord in the throne.  Now, there are “stumbling-stones” to faith in the “narrow way,” to test the faithful in trust and endurance, and there are “lions” of opposition to threaten, and to turn back discouraged, all except the “peculiar” people whom the Lord is now selecting for the peculiar work of the future, as His Bride; but of the King’s highway it is declared, “No lions shall be there, nor any ravenous beast” (Isa. 35:9); and the stumbling-stones shall all be gathered out, and mountains of difficulty shall be leveled, and valleys of despair and discouragement shall be filled up, the King’s highway may be most favorable; that all the redeemed of the Lord (who will accept the gift of life upon the conditions of its offer) may go up thereon to perfection (Isa.  35:8-10; 62:10; 40:4,5; 51:11; 25:6-8).

It must not, however, be supposed that progress along that easy “highway,” with everything to aid in the development of character, and with nothing like opposition or temptation to test its strength, would be sufficient evidence of heart-loyalty to God and His laws to prove that all who will reach the end of that Age, are worthy of everlasting life; even though in the use of its elixirs of life, its pure air, nutritious foods, inspired skill and conformity to its Divine Laws and regulations - they shall have attained human perfection - physical, mental and moral.

The testings of the present “narrow way” are step by step; but the testings of the King’s Highway will be specially two - at the beginning and at the end: first, as to who will start to go upward on it and keep on going upward; and finally a test of all who shall have gone up that highway to its farther end - to the end of the Millennium.  Such will then be tested or proved as to their fitness for everlasting life.  (1) Those who, when all the conditions of knowledge and obedience are so favorable (as God has promised they shall be - so that the conditions in general shall make the road to life a highway), will make no effort upward will be cut off after one hundred years of opportunity and testings and reproof, as unworthy of further testing or further Millennial privileges (Isa. 65:20).  (2) The object of the test of those who shall have gone up the highway to its farther end will not be to prove which are sinners, either open or covert; for none of them will be transgressors of God’s Law, the evil doers having been cut off long before, at the end of a hundred years trial; and no doubt it will surprise many of them when they learn that God has purposed their trial at all.  What!  Test those who for hundreds of years have been living in harmony with God’s Law, and constantly blessed by it?  Are not those centuries of obedience a sufficient proof of loyalty to God?  Will there be further tests?  If so, why?

We answer that their obedience for centuries had its corresponding reward of blessings and enjoyments experienced during those centuries.  They are still God’s debtors.  God does not owe them everlasting life.  Everlasting life is a gift of God through Christ; it is one of the things, however, prepared for those who love God, and the test at the end of the Millennial Age will be a test of love; to prove the degree of love and consecration that has been developed as a character in those who have seen and enjoyed so many of God’s favors.  Not outward perfection merely, but inward perfection will be the test; and that some who will have reached outward perfection will not have developed the inward perfection of heart or will, even with every favorable opportunity, is evident from the results of the test (Rev. 20:9).  So, too, Adam was perfect before his trial in Eden, but he had not developed a consecrated will or character fully submitted to the Lord.  Satan was perfect as an angel of God, but he developed a character or will antagonistic to God’s.  And God’s purpose is that the trial or judgment both of angels and men shall be so thorough, so complete, that not a single creature who is not in absolute heart harmony with God and His laws shall receive everlasting life and pass into the ages of eternity beyond the Millennium.  All not possessed of characters (wills) in full, absolute harmony with God’s will, must die the Second Death. And yet they will have enjoyed much, and will have much for which to be thankful.

In no other way could the Lord continue His creatures in His own likeness as free moral agents, and yet guarantee that when the Millennial reign of Christ shall have caused the former things of sin to pass away, “there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain.” (Rev. 21:4)

Praise God for the lengths and breadths of His great and gracious Plan of Salvation through Christ; for the narrow way of the present with its severe trials and temptation and its great prize of life in joint-heirship with our Lord the Redeemer; and praise Him too for the great Highway of Holiness which by and by shall be prepared and opened by the Christ to all the redeemed, that whosoever will may not perish, but have the gift of God, eternal life.

The test at the close of the Millennium is symbolically represented in Revelation 20:7-10.  Satan will be permitted to attempt to deceive all, whose number will then be as the sand, but what proportion he will succeed in leading astray is not stated.

The Lord’s Word does not indicate the nature of the movement, but we do not suppose that Satan and his followers will go up and surround the beloved city (the capital of the earthly phase of the Kingdom) with any thought of war, or with intent to use physical force.  They could not be so foolish, after so long an experience with the power of God’s Kingdom.  We surmise that they will err in their calculation of when the thousand years of Christ’s autocratic Kingdom will end, and when the dominion of earth will be restored to mankind in general to be exercised as a republic - in full harmony with the Divine Law.  Miscalculating the time, they may feel that the rulers of that time (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets) are prolonging their rule unwarrantedly.  And the surrounding of the beloved city may signify a “demonstration,” or appeal for their rights; such has often been made by present-day workmen - surrounding Parliament or council chambers with remonstrances against infringements of their claimed rights.  Such peaceful remonstrances in the present time against wrongs or oppressions are not sins, but such a demonstration on the part of perfect men after centuries of benefits, and blessings at God’s hands would indicate that their hearts were not fully submitted to the Lord; for the right hearted would say to such an invitation - No: we may have been mistaken in our understanding of the Lord’s word, or in our calculations of the time; but if God sees best to continue us as “servants” rather than to grant us the full liberties and privileges of “sons” (Rom. 8:21), we will trust the wisdom, love and power which have so abundantly provided for us thus far - even while we were yet sinners - and will not even harbor in our hearts a wish to change any of the Lord’s arrangements, much less would we join in any demonstration or protest against the Lord’s arrangements.

Only those who under such a test would manifest heart-harmony with God are of the class for whom everlasting life has been prepared as a gift of God.  Such will be received and blessed after the test; but the others will be cut off in the Second Death.  If it be objected that these committed no great crime, we answer, neither was the transgression of the perfect Adam a gross crime; but the eating of the forbidden fruit was a disobedience; and disobedience and transgression on the part of perfect beings is a just cause for a refusal to grant such a great boon of life everlasting.

(Pastor Russell, Reprints 1771-1773, February 15, 1895)

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QUESTIONS OF GENERAL INTEREST

QUESTION - Would it not appear that the Jews only would be blessed by the New Covenant, since they were alone under the Law Covenant?

ANSWER    - I answer: The Apostle says that it is to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.  In other words, he gives us that as a picture that God’s blessings of every kind begin with the Jew.  He gave the Jew the first opportunity under the Abrahamic Covenant, when Christ came to His own and His own received Him not.  And when it comes to the blessings of the New Covenant, the opportunity will come to the Jew first, and he must take his stand, but it is ultimately to reach to all the families of the earth.  The Jews may come in and share with the Church, and with the Ancient Worthies in the matter of carrying this glorious message to other nations, and peoples, and kindreds, and tongues, and to whatever extent they have the right attitude of heart, they will embrace that opportunity; it will be to the Jew first and also to the Gentile.  And the Apostle says, you remember, “If the casting away of Israel meant the bringing in of a blessing, what will the gathering of Israel again mean but life from the dead?” - in general to the whole world of mankind.

QUESTION - Will the world be blessed under the New Covenant or the Abrahamic Covenant?

ANSWER  - I answer, dear friends, that all of God’s blessings come under the Abrahamic Covenant, either directly or indirectly.  The Abrahamic Covenant reads: “In thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.”  That has two parts, the seed and the blessing of the world.  Only the first part of this blessing is realized by us who are coming into membership with Christ, as the Seed of Abraham - “If we be Christ’s then are we Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.”  What is that promise?  That promise is that, as the seed of Abraham, you shall bless all the families of the earth.  Secondly, you see this Abrahamic promise covers the whole blessing of the Millennial Age, as well as the special blessing that comes to us in the Gospel Age. But under this Abrahamic Covenant God arranges this New Covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah: namely, that He will have mercy on their iniquities, etc.  Now this Covenant does not conflict with the old one at all.  The old one said merely, there would be a blessing, and that was a sufficient guarantee to our faith that it would be a good blessing, not merely a nominal blessing, but a blessing in reality.  Now, secondly, the New Covenant comes in and explains to us how this blessing of the Abrahamic Covenant will reach mankind; it will reach them through the forgiveness of their sins, through Christ as the great Prophet, Priest and King, who will establish His Kingdom, causing the knowledge of the Lord to fill the whole earth, and forgiveness to go to every individual, and his assistance out of degradation.  They are not at all in conflict.

(What Pastor Russell Said, page 165, 1908)

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JEHOVAH

Jehovah, our God is the great Emperor of the whole universe, and His Wisdom, power, goodness and benevolence are abundantly equal to all the responsibilities of so exalted an office.  The human mind staggers in its efforts to comprehend the mental resources of a being who is able to assume and to bear such responsibility.  Think for a moment of the memory that never fails; of the judgment that never errs; of the wisdom that plans for eternity without the possibility of failure, and that times that plan with unerring precision for the ages to come; of the power and skill which can harness even every opposing element, animate or inanimate, and make them all work together for the accomplishment of His grand designs; of the tireless vigilance that never ceases, nor seeks relief from the pressing cares of universal dominion - whose eye never sleeps, whose ear is ever open, who is ever cognizant of all the necessities, and active in all the interests of His broad domains.                        (Our Most Holy Faith, page 561)    

NO. 567 GOD'S GREAT COVENANTS

A number of covenants are set forth in the Bible, which may be broadly grouped into two classes - word covenants and blood covenants.  While there are a number of word covenants, there are but two blood covenants.  After brief comment on the former, we shall offer some detail on the latter.  Although the blood covenants find their base along with certain details in some of the word covenants, it is the blood covenants - commonly named in the Scriptures the Law Covenant and the New Covenant - that particularly concern the great majority of the human race.

The first word covenant, conveniently styled the ADAMIC COVENANT, is found in the very beginning of the Bible in the first days of human history: “The Lord God commanded the man, saying, of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it; for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die [“dying thou shalt die” - Gen. 2:16,17 - see Margin].”  The man had no choice in the terms of this covenant.  He must accept it, and abide by its terms, or receive the inevitable result, experience the “dying process” until the grave eventually claimed him - in Adam’s case 930 years of “dying.”  The world is “dead in trespasses and sins” - all are under the death sentence. (Eph. 2:1)  A thousand years is one day with the Lord. (See 2 Peter 3:8 and Psa. 90:4.)

While the Genesis account does not specifically describe this mandate as a covenant, the prophet Hosea (6:7) does say so: “But they [the Jewish nation] like men [“like Adam,” see margin] have transgressed the covenant: there have they dealt treacherously against me.”  Just as Adam had attempted deceit and shallow argument after his violation of his covenant, so had the Jews done likewise in their attitude toward the Law Covenant.  It is well to note here, however, that there was no written covenant with Adam, as there was with the Jews at Sinai.  Nevertheless, the “treachery” was the same in both cases: both covenants were violated by the human parties thereto falling into sin.  A difference, too, may be noted: Adam was perfect, and had no inclination at all toward sin; thus, his was a deliberate act - whereas, the Jews had been “born in sin shapen in iniquity,” of which more later.

A second covenant is the one with Noah, the RAINBOW COVENANT: “I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between Me and the earth [the human social order]… The waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh… A token of the covenant between Me and all flesh.” (Gen. 9:13,15,17)  And further: “With everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee… For have I sworn that the waters of Noah shall no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee.  For the mountains shall depart [the autocratic earthly Kingdoms in the Time of Trouble], and the hills [lesser and more democratic governments] be removed; but My kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of My peace be removed.” (Isa. 54:8-10)

The ABRAHAMIC COVENANT is another word covenant: “The Lord said to Abram, Get thee out of thy country… unto a land that I will show thee… and I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee; and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” (Gen. 12:1-4)  Within this word covenant is the first intimation of the great Plan of the Ages which would restore to mankind what had been lost by Father Adam.  The word Abram means high father; and God presented him with some severe exactions before he could claim the covenant as his: “Get thee out of thy country [Ur of the Chaldees], and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will show thee [Canaan, present-day Israel, especially that part in the vicinity of Jerusalem.].”  The confirmation of this covenant, after Abraham had complied with his requirements, was 430 years before the Law (blood) Covenant was given at Sinai (Gal 3:17).

The foregoing covenant was re-affirmed and elaborated in Gen. 22:16-18, which recitation is styled the OATH-BOUND COVENANT because of its wording: “By myself have I sworn [sealed with an oath], saith the Lord… that in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore… and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.”  St. Paul refers to this covenant in Heb. 6:13,14: “When God made promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no greater, He sware by Himself, saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.”  All of this was the result of Abraham attempting, at God’s command, to sacrifice his son Isaac on Mount Moriah, from which the Angel of the Lord restrained him at the crucial moment.  And, while this may also be defined as a word covenant, the near sacrifice of Isaac, and the actual sacrifice of the ram in the thicket (vs. 13) gave a mild hint of things to come later in the blood covenant of Sinai and the still later one of “Mount Zion.” (Heb. 12:18-24)

In the Oath-bound Covenant also came the first intimation that Abraham’s seed would be both heavenly and earthly.  “Now, we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of the promise.” (Gal. 4:28)  And there appears here a very unusual circumstance: Abraham is titled “the father of them that believe” (Rom. 4:11), and with him was the Oath-bound Covenant originally made; yet he himself is not to be of the heavenly seed.  In Hebrews eleven St. Paul directly includes Abraham by name; then offers the summation: “These all… received not the promise; God having provided some better thing for us [the spiritual Isaac, “the children of the promise”] that they without us should not be made perfect.”  Jesus verifies this conclusion in Luke 7:28: “Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist; but he that is least in the Kingdom of God [the Class in which Paul includes himself - the “us” class] is greater than he.”  Thus, Abraham will eventually be one of the children of antitypical Isaac.

There is yet another word covenant, the COVENANT OF SACRIFICE: “Gather My saints together unto Me; those that have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.”  (Psa. 50:5)  It could properly be stated here that this is a semi-blood covenant, because it involves the death of each individual who becomes a part of it.  The individuals compose the Christ Company, those who “were beheaded for the witness of Jesus and for the word of God.” (Rev. 20:4)  Not all of them have come to a violent end (as did Jesus, the Apostles, and many others during this Gospel Age), but each one did truly “pour out his soul unto death.”  Thus, each one furnishes the blood, his own blood, to seal his part in this Covenant, even as Jesus also “left us an example, that we should follow in His steps.” (1 Peter 2:21)  Thus, we believe the expression semi-blood covenant is properly placed here.  None of those involved in this Covenant of Sacrifice had his part therein sealed by the blood of other men or animals, as do the two real blood covenants, but each one has heeded the appeal of St. Paul: “Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God.” (Rom. 12:1)

THE LAW COVENANT

Comes now a consideration of the Law Covenant, the one at Sinai mediated by Moses, as proposed by God and accepted by all Israel.  It is indeed properly described as “the blood of sprinkling,” with the terse summation of it contained in the Ten Commandments (literally, ten words) as given in Exodus 20; and more briefly stated by Jesus Himself: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy mind, with all thy strength, and thy neighbor as thyself.” (Matt. 22:37-39)  But in its broad sense it began with the Passover in Egypt, when “the blood of sprinkling” of the typical lamb was observed by each Jewish house that awesome night.  And, continuing, it embraces practically everything in the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.

Jesus said that all of that law was typical - “one iota or one tip of a letter shall by no means pass from the Law, till all be accomplished.” (Matt. 5:18, Dia.)  And St. Paul elaborates upon this in Heb. 10:1-9, Dia., part of which reads: “The Law, having a shadow of the future good things, not the very image of the things, is by no means able with the same annual sacrifices which they offer continually, to perfect those who draw near… Sacrifice and offering and whole burnt offering thou didst not desire, nor didst delight in [which are offered according to the Law]; Then He [Jesus] said, Behold, I come to perform Thy will.  He takes away the first [the continual sacrifices of the Law] that He may establish the second [the better sacrifices,” of Himself and all who have joined with Him by “following in His steps” - See Heb. 9:23).”  In 1 Cor. 10:11, Dia., this “shadow” is further confirmed: “These things occurred to them [the Jews] typically.”

The Law, being an institutional type, must continue until its antitype appears to ‘fulfill” it, to fill it full in every minute detail.  But, once the antitype does appear, the type is no longer effective or obligatory upon those involved.  Therefore, when Jesus “takes away the first… that he may establish the second,” He in one master stroke eliminated all the animal sacrifices of the Law, which in turn left no more room for the Jewish priesthood or the rituals they performed.  However, the “ten words” of the Law still bind those who have not accepted Christ; and that feature of the Law Covenant must still bind those who have not accepted Christ; and that feature of the Law Covenant must continue operative until its antitype, the New Covenant (Jer. 31:31-34), is inaugurated.

The various features of the Law are distributed over four whole books of the Pentateuch; but the acceptance by the people is contained in just one simple sentence: “Moses took the book of the covenant and read in the audience of the people; and they said, All that the Lord hath said will we do, and be obedient.  And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the Lord hath made with you concerning all these words.” (Ex. 24:7,8)

We need reminding, however, that the great majority of the people quickly forgot the covenant.  Most of them had not even the will to abide by it; but of those few who wished to do so, it soon became apparent that they were unable to do so.  They were far removed from the condition of Adam when the Lord’s command was given to him in Eden.  He could have done what was asked of him; but even those faithful Jews who earnestly strove to keep their covenant found that what they thought was unto life was really unto death, which prompted St. Paul to write: “I was alive without the Law once; but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.” (Rom. 7:9)  He, speaking representatively for all Israel, had come to realize that the Abrahamic Covenant, which assured the blessing of all men, including Paul and all his brethren, had put all of them in the position of eventually attaining life; but, when they place themselves under an ideal beyond their ability to reach, the Law itself then commanded death for disobedience - whether that disobedience were willful or in spite of their best efforts to avoid disobedience.  However, they were blessed when they endeavored to obey the Law. (Josh. 23:3)

The Law Covenant (the first of the blood covenants) also had attached to it certain offices and intermediary persons not found in any of the word covenants.  There was Moses the Mediator; also, a priesthood, prophets and kings who performed certain services that were not parts of the obligations of the people in their promises concerning the covenant itself.

The Law Covenant, with its righteous arrangements for human relations, its superior dietary requirements, and its worship of the one true God in holiness of purpose and avoidance of all superstition and traditional chicanery, was a far step from the religions of Canaan and the east country.  Thus, it is little wonder that Satan attempted to counterfeit such parts of the Plan of the Ages as he understood.  It had been dimly hinted in the transgression in Eden that a deliverer would eventually come to succor men from the disaster he had invited by his willful disobedience.  And as more was added to the Divine Revelation, Satan busied himself by not only counterfeiting what was revealed, but using also his imagination to concoct features as he considered they might eventually be.

As stated previously, the Law Covenant was typical in all its details; but parts of it were to be fulfilled during the Gospel Age, and the remainder during the Millennial Age.  Thus, Jesus was the Gospel-Age antitype of the Atonement-Day bullock, and the Church, His Body, has been the Gospel-Age antitype of the Atonement-Day goat as typed in Leviticus 16.  Inklings of the Ransom and the Sin Offering were gradually revealed as the inspired testimony increased through the writings of the various “elders,” the 24 writers of the Old Testament (Rev. 4:4; 5:5).  As it gradually began to be revealed that Jesus would die and then be raised from the dead about the Passover time in the Spring, Satan busied himself with a counterfeit of this in the heathen religions, specially in that of Babylon.

It will be recalled that Babylon was founded by Nimrod (upstart) - Gen. 10:9,10, whose sinful performances became so obnoxious that he was eventually executed at the instigation of Melchizedek, his body was divided into fourteen pieces, one of which was sent to each section of the then established world, as a warning to others not to continue in his evil ways.  But Satan immediately moved Nimrod’s cult survivors to circulate the rumor that he had not really died, that he was too strong to be contained in the tomb, that he was now risen and placed in the sun.  This quickly led to sun worship under the name of Baal, Tammuz, etc.  And by the time Israel was to lose its national individuality in the Fall of 606 B.C., the belief had been well established in Babylon that Tammuz died every Spring, but he was brought back to life again, and his place in the sun, by three days of violent weeping by the women of that city.

This idea had become so strong by that time that it had captivated certain renegades in Jewry, which aroused the Prophet to write: “He brought me to the door of the gate of the Lord’s house which was toward the north; and behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz.” (Ezek. 8:14)  Here was the counterfeit of the experience of Jesus: “Women bewailed and lamented Him.  But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for Me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.” (Luke 23:27,28)  By the time Babylon had reached its pinnacle, its Satan-invented religion had with certain variations infected the whole heathen world, which inspired the expression from Jeremiah (51:7) - “Babylon hath been a golden cup in the Lord’s hand, that made all the earth drunken; the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore, the nations are mad.”

And this same situation found even greater repetition in the Gospel Age through the manipulations of the Roman Church, of which the Apostle John had written in advance of the occurrence: “I saw a woman… having a golden cup in her hand… upon her forehead a name written, Mystery, Babylon the Great, the mother of harlots and abominations of the earth.” (Rev. 17:4,5)  Note the close similarity between the two recordings.  We have offered this slight digression here to show how true types of the Law Covenant have been greatly overshadowed by the earlier inventions of the great “serpent” (deceiver) to the extent that most Christians know little or nothing about them.

THE NEW COVENANT

Some of the prophets were more or less aware of what had transpired, as evidence the words of Jeremiah (31:31-34): “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: not according to the covenant [the Law Covenant] that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake [some of which we have described aforegoing], although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord: but this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; after those days, saith the Lord, I will put My law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts… and they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know Me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”   The Prophet Ezekiel (36:26,27) writes more of the same: “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.  And I will put My spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.”

The Apostle Paul discusses these Scriptures in the eighth chapter of Hebrews, quoting large portions of them, then summing up in this wise: “In that He saith, A new covenant, He hath made the first [the Law Covenant] old.  Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away” - as its various features were fulfilled.  The contrast is very incisive in the first verses of this chapter: “We have such an high priest… A minister of the true tabernacle [not the tabernacle made with hands at the time of the Law Covenant], which the Lord pitched, and not man… But now hath Jesus obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also He is the Mediator of a better covenant [the New Covenant] which was established upon better promises.”

This, the second blood covenant, has been already assured, although its administration is yet future - waiting for the full number of servants to be gathered who shall officiate and mediate it between God and the whole human family.  “Ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched… and the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words…but ye are come unto Mount Sion… the heavenly Jerusalem… to God the Judge of all… to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.  See that ye refuse not Him that speaketh… Wherefore, we receive a Kingdom which cannot be moved.” (Heb. 12:18-28)

The Mediator of this New Covenant will be primarily Jesus, but joined with Him will be the entire Christ Company.  They in turn will be assisted by the Great Multitude (Rev. 7:9), and the Worthies - four elect classes (the “just”) who will administer the blessings to those of the “unjust” who will bow with the knee and confess with the tongue that Christ is Lord (Phil. 2:9-11).  Those who “will not hear that prophet shall be destroyed from among the people.” (Acts 3:23)

It should be noted here that the New Covenant is eminently superior to the Law Covenant, because it will actually accomplish all it is designed to do.  We say the New Covenant is superior to the Law Covenant, because the Law Covenant was “weak through the flesh.” (Rom. 8:3)  The Law Covenant itself could have no superior if it had been kept by the Jews.  “All God’s works are perfect.”  The imperfection of the Law Covenant was in the human weaknesses of those who agreed to keep it, but could not do so - their own imperfections making them insufficient to cope with the perfection required in the Law.  But the New Covenant, through the better Mediator, will give life to all who will receive it under the easier terms of that covenant.  Under the Law Covenant and its Mediator there was no such provision, and it brought the reverse - death.

Thus, the question properly arises, Why was there a Law Covenant at all if the human acceptors could not possibly adhere to it?  St. Paul offers his usual superb logic on the question in Gal. 3:21-29: “If there had been a law [covenant] given which could have given life, verily righteousness  [justification] should have been by the law… But before faith came, we were kept under the law… wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ [by persuading all the persuadable ones of their inability to save themselves by their works under the law], that we might be justified by faith.  But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.”

The Apostle offers further enlightenment on this in Rom. 10:1-4: “My heart’s desire and prayers to God for Israel is that they might be saved.  For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God [as some of them earnestly endeavored to keep the law], but not according to knowledge.  For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, have not submitted themselves to the righteousness of God [by accepting Christ].  For Christ is the end [the fulfillment] of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.”  But of those who have not accepted Christ, “God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all [in the Kingdom]” (Rom. 11:32); they are to have the broad classification of the “unjust” - unjustified of this Age.  See Acts 24:15 and John 5:28,29.

All of the “just” will have a better resurrection than any of the “unjust.” (Heb. 11:35)  The blessing of the nations through Abraham’s seed will come from the “stars of Heaven” (two elect classes raised as spirit beings before the New Covenant can begin to operate) and from the “sand of the seashore” (the two elect classes who will officiate as perfect human beings on earth).  “The Law shall go forth from Mount Zion [the Heavenly Jerusalem], and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem [in Israel].” (Micah 4:2)  Thus, all four of these elect classes will receive a better resurrection than their former human associates, with those serving from Jerusalem being elevated to the spirit realm after the New Covenant has met all its requirements to make every human being (who will hear the prophet) a king in his own right.  But even at that time it will properly be said that all the Covenant’s administrators (the four elect classes) will have received a superior resurrection to that of the residue of men.  And this leaves no space at all among the “just,” either at the beginning of the New Covenant or at its end, for the non-existent classes taught by the errorists of our day, such as Campers consecrated, quasi-elect consecrated, and Jehovah’s Witnesses’ “large crowd.”

And what shall we say of the non-elect - all those who will have part in the resurrection of the unjust?  All of us know there are many noble people among them, as well as many who are not so noble.  However, among the elect, those who have covenanted to walk a “narrow way” during the ascendancy of sin and evil, there are not many “wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.” (1 Cor. 1:26)  And what shall we say of these noble ones of the non-elect?  Will their nobility be overlooked?  No!  They will be greatly blessed, even at the beginning, as they walk up the Highway of Holiness (Isa. 35:8), because it will be easy and agreeable for them to conform themselves to the Kingdom’s righteous laws.  When they recognize God’s love, His goodness and mercy toward them, they will be glad.  They will be among those for whom the promise applies: “Whosoever is athirst come.  And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” (Rev. 22:17)  And what shall we say of the very wicked?  Among them, too, there will be some who will come to love and appreciate God’s love and goodness toward them; and as they seek to extricate their sinful tendencies they will join with those who walk up the Highway of Holiness.

When God’s Plan is fully understood it clarifies God’s past and present dealings with the children of men.  The Bible becomes in its light a book harmonious with itself, with God’s character, Christ’s Ransom, the Holy Spirit’s work, man’s needs and with the facts.  It indeed is thereby demonstrated to be the depository of God’s marvelous Plan of the Ages, as well as the glorious expression of His adorable character.  He thus becomes loved by us with “Love Divine all love excelling,” and with “Joy of heaven to earth come down.”  Let us worship, praise and adore Him, all whose works praise (reflect credit upon) Him.  “Great and marvelous are Thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are Thy ways, Thou King of saints.  Who shall not fear [reverence] thee, O Lord, and glorify Thy name?  For Thou only art holy; for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for Thy righteous acts have been made manifest.” (Rev. 15:3,4, A.R.V.)

“And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb… And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him.” (Rev. 22:1,3)  “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” (Rev. 21:4)

Some comments on Psa. 103:2-4 are pertinent as an aid to demonstrate the working of the New Covenant, and to reveal its superiority over the Law Covenant: “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities [by providing the perfect Sin Offering of Christ]; Who healeth all thy diseases [as each one returns from the tomb, he must self-evidently be rid of the cause that sent him to the grave, otherwise he would immediately succumb once more]; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction [“the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His beams” to “redeem them from death, and ransom them from the power of the grave”]; Who crowneth thee with loving kindness and tender mercies [physical, mental, moral and religious perfection].”  As Job has written, “His flesh will become fresher than a child’s; he shall return to the days of his youth.”(33:25)

These are indeed “Glad tidings of great joy” which shall be for all people - and we send this forth with the prayer that it will bless, uplift and comfort all who receive it - especially those of the Household of Faith.  “I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: I will sing unto thee among the nations.  For thy mercy is great unto the Heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds.  Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: let thy glory be above all the earth.” (Psa. 57:9-11)

(Brother John J. Hoefle, Reprint 444, June 1993)

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THE MOUNT OF OLIVES THE KINGDOM OF BLESSING

“And His [Jehovah’s] feet shall stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.” (Zechariah 14:4)

This text refers to the closing of the day of trouble and the manifestation of God’s power in connection with that trouble.  The literal Mount of Olives may have, and probably will have, somewhat to do with the matter.  It is referred to here as experiencing a great earthquake.  No doubt the Israelites will be gathered at Jerusalem at this time, and no doubt the Lord’s favor will be manifested to them there.  This will be at the close of “Jacob’s trouble,” from which the Lord will be present to deliver them.  Our thought is that this will be after the Church shall have passed into glory.  The execution of what is here described seems to be a part of the work of the glorified Church.

We understand that the Ancient Worthies will then appear, and that God’s favor will have returned to the Jews, and that Israel’s temporal blessings will there begin.  This would imply that the Jews will then be under the New Covenant arrangement, and hence that the Church must have been completed.

Symbolically, a mountain represents a kingdom.  The Scriptures elsewhere declare that Jehovah will make the place of His feet glorious.  The word olive always associates itself in the minds of the people of the Orient with the thought of light and nourishment.  The olive oil they use regularly instead of butter.  As the olive furnishes both light and food, the Mount of Olives would represent the Kingdom of God.  Olive oil was poured upon the head of the Jewish kings and priests, and symbolized thus the Holy Spirit.  God’s Kingdom will be for the blessing of mankind.  It will be of two phases - the heavenly and the earthly - and all people may eventually come under its blessed condition.         

(Pastor Russell, Reprint 5437, April 1, 1914)

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“WE ARE VERY LUCKY ARABS”

“I am a lucky Arab.  My grandfather, Mohammed, traveled on foot from his home in Iraq in the early part of the last century looking for work.

“Jews had come to British-controlled Palestine in the thousands, joining the Jews who had always been here, raised a large family, worked hard, and lived quietly   I live in Haifa in Israel.  In 1948 when Israel declared its independence, Arab armies from surrounding Arab states attacked with the intention of destroying the new state.  I was about 15 years old and remember well the radio broadcasts from Arab states telling us to leave our homes and move eastward ‘temporarily’ while the advancing Arab armies wiped out the Jews.  They told us we would then return in triumph to our homes and would have the joy of taking over all the Jewish assets - their homes, farms, shops, cars and bank accounts.

“My father, Ibrahim, was a very wise man, a learned man, and a man of peace.  We had good relationships with our neighbors, Christian, Jews and Muslims.  He gathered the entire family and explained why he did not believe it wise to flee, that he did not believe the Jews would mistreat us.  We stayed put.  We are still here.

“Today I still live in my father’s old stone house with my wife and the youngest of our eight children.  My older children and my many grandchildren all live nearby.  We have never been mistreated, and we are much better off than those Arabs who fled and who ended up in miserable refugee camps being supported by the United Nations and charities.

“I want you to know what my life is like as an Arab citizen of Israel.  I was educated in Israeli schools and universities.  I became a pharmacist and worked in a large pharmacy in Haifa.  I was paid the same salary and received the same benefits as Jewish colleagues.  Now I’m retired.  I receive two pensions; one based on the investment plan to which my company belonged and I contributed.  The other comes from the Israeli government’s National insurance plan.

“I have eight children.  Every month I received a child allowance paid by the government until each became 18.  I know of no other country where this happens, certainly not any Arab nation.

“Our entire family is covered by the National Health Plan, which provides good medical care.  All my children were born in a hospital; my wife received excellent prenatal care and postnatal care.  All medical and surgical [expenses are] covered from the first shekel from birth to death, and when we die, even the cost of burial is covered!

“My children went to school with Jewish children, they were members of the same sports clubs and the community center, and they all received university educations.  Some with state scholarships.

“I pray in a mosque, which was built on land donated by the Jewish National Fund.  I am a citizen, I have a passport, and can travel anywhere, anytime.  I vote in local and national elections, and we have a number of Arab members in the Knesset [Parliament].

“I have a very good life, and so has my family.  I feel for those forced to live under [Yasser] Arafat, for they are being used and abused badly.  I long for the day that Arafat is no more, that a real peace treaty can be negotiated with Israel, so that the Palestinian Arabs can have a better life also.

“I long for the day I can travel to visit cousins in Ramallah without fear of being called a collaborator and executed.  I thank Allah my grandfather came here.  I thank Allah my father didn’t leave in 1948.  I thank Allah my children were raised here, in the only free country in the Middle East.

“We are very lucky Arabs.”

(Author’s name withheld for security reasons, distributed by Naomi Ragan, August 15, 2004)    

NO. 566 IN MEMORIAM

On October 31 it will be 62 years [2004 - 88 years] since our beloved Brother Russell left us, and October 22 it will be just 28 years [2004 - 54 years] since our dear Brother Johnson joined him.  All our readers who knew these brethren even passingly well know they both had superior intellects.  Brother Johnson graduated from Capital University in Columbus, Ohio, with the highest honors of any one who had attended that University up to that time.  He was a Greek and Hebrew scholar, was well conversant with seven languages, and in his younger days he could give an oration in Latin, which very few college professors of Latin can do.  He was so well educated in Hebrew and Greek that he would quote copious sections of the King James Bible, then quote the same passages from the Hebrew or Greek, as the case might be.  We were intimately acquainted with him for 27 years, although we never had the pleasure of meeting Brother Russell.

However, we did know brethren who had known him well, one of these having been his private secretary for quite some time; and a number of these told us about him within a year after he died, which somehow gives us a feeling of having known him personally.  He had none of the institutional learning of Brother Johnson, but we believe that none of our readers will dispute the fact that he was an educated man.  In fact, one professor of English remarked that he considered The Divine Plan of the Ages as nearly perfect in English and grammar as any book he had ever read.  But his enemies often hurled the slur at him, as they did with Jesus Himself: “When He was come into His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?” (Matt. 13:54)  Also, “The Jews marveled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned? (John 7:15)  His memory deserves to be kept fragrant among us; and we honor his memory more by abiding in the beautiful system of truth that he left us, and by not accepting the many errors of our day - errors that set aside the fundamental truth that he established.  And with this brief introduction we now proceed to a discussion of

THE LAODICEAN STAR

“One like unto the Son of Man… had in his right hand seven stars.” (Rev. 1:13-16)  The Finished Mystery offered the following explanation for this text, which that book quoted from page 345 of the 1916 Watch Tower:

“This One whom we thus know, thus recognize, as the Instructor and Caretaker of the candlesticks, we are also to recognize as having in His right hand - in His favor as well as His power - seven stars, the angels, the messengers, of the seven churches.  That they are in His right hand seems to teach us that these should be considered as in some special sense under the Master’s guidance, protection and care in the interest of the Churches which they represented.”  We have offered this quotation from Brother Russell because it fits exactly our own understanding of the text.

However, the book then goes on to name the “seven stars” as St. Paul, St. John, Arius, Waldo, Wycliffe, Luther and Russell.  This part of the book is not from Brother Russell, but is the private interpretation of the writers of the book which we believe is contrary to sound Bible analysis.  We disagree also with most of their time predictions, because time itself has demonstrated them to have been nothing more than the imagination of the writers of the book - a sure proof that they were not qualified to write the book at all.  Anything they have presented which is not directly from Brother Russell should be given very careful scrutiny.  As instance, they say: “The chronology as it appears in the Studies in the Scriptures is accurate.”  With this statement we fully agree, but the Witnesses themselves (those claiming to be the “channel” for Divine Truth at the time they wrote the book) are now in complete disagreement with their own teaching in 1917.  We simply offer these few conclusions as an introduction to the correct analysis of the “seven stars,” etc.

In Revelation 12:1 it is stated that “the woman,” the true Church, “had upon her head a crown of twelve Stars.”  That these “twelve stars” are the twelve Apostles needs no elaboration; but we direct attention to the fact that there is just nothing in the statement to indicate that “star differeth from star in glory” - the twelve in the picture appear as equals.  And the statement by Jesus to all twelve of them confirms this:  “He that heareth you, heareth Me.” (Luke 10:16)  They all received the miraculous gifts of the Spirit and they all were empowered to “bind and loose” on earth as occasion might require.  Therefore, if the “star” to the Church at Ephesus contained more than one individual, we should be warranted in believing the six succeeding “stars” to the other six churches of the Age would consist of more than one individual.

It is our understanding that the “seven stars” are the same as the seven “angels”  (messengers) of Revelation Two and Three.  They are the same as the “seven shepherds” of Micah 5:5, and they are the same as the “seven pipes” and the “seven eyes” of Zechariah 4:2 and 4:10.  Revelation 1:20 directly states “The seven stars are the seven angels of the seven churches.”  The Bible seldom uses different words just to be different; there is usually a specific meaning in the different words used, and this seems to be true here.  “Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write.” (Rev. 2:1)  This might be better stated, “Unto the angel of the church for Ephesus write.”  The message to be given was not for the individual benefit of the star who delivered it; it was rather for that Messenger at that particular time to deliver to the church.  As the “seven shepherds” of Micah 5:5, these same persons would guard and protect the sheep - “take heed unto all the flock, over which the Holy Spirit hath made you overseers.” (Acts 20:28)  As the “seven pipes” of Zechariah 4:2 they were the channel through which the Holy Spirit was administered to the Church; and as the “seven eyes” they were God’s watchmen - “I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel” (Ezek. 3:17), “The watchmen shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion.” (Isa. 52:8)

As the “seven stars” those shepherds not only gave enlightenment to the Church during the night of sin and death, but they also gave a measure of light to the Christian world in general - “you appear as luminaries in the world.” (Phil. 2:15, Dia.).  Some of these “luminaries” such as the Apostles, Martin Luther, John Wesley, and a few others, stand out prominently in the pages of history; but many of them have received only passing notice in the records.

We instance particularly Arius, of whom many in the Christian world have never heard at all; yet he is probably one of the very brightest of them all, aside from the Apostles.  We give just one example: When he was at the Council of Nice in 325 defending the Truth that there is but “one God,” he was overwhelmingly out-numbered by the bishops assembled from the then Christian world.  Yet one of those opposing him shouted forth during the heated debate: “This man has the populace so stirred up that if you go into a store and ask the price of bread, the answer you get back from the clerk is, ‘The Father is superior to the Son; the Son is inferior to the Father.’”  While there is little mention made of him today, it is clear enough that Arius was “a burning and shining light,” a true “luminary” in 325.  This, and similar incidents concerning the other “stars” give us a more vivid conception of Jesus’ words concerning all the fully faithful - “Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the Kingdom of their Father.” (Matt. 13:43)  Eventually, when the lives and works of such “stars” are skillfully written by capable writers during the Kingdom reign, we can see how the words of Jesus will then be fully understood and appreciated.  But considering now the Laodicean Star, it is our understanding it contained two members, the first of whom we discuss as:

THE PAROUSIA MESSENGER

This is the title we offer for Brother Russell because he officiated during the small Parousia from 1874 to 1914, and because he made crystal clear the meaning of the Greek Parousia - as PRESENCE, and not COMING, as it is generally given in the King James translation.  Once that became clear to him, it began to sweep away many of the accumulated errors of the past, leading directly to his understanding of the 16th Chapter of Leviticus, the same being a concise picture of the entire Atonement, which culminates in “the restitution of all things.” (Acts 3:19-21)

It is pertinent to our subject to consider here Micah 5:5, as it pertains to Brother Russell: “When the Assyrian shall come into our land [The Assyrians were a very warlike and destructive people, well portraying the errorists of this Gospel Age.]: and when he shall tread in our palaces [by devastating the Truth and the Spirit of the Truth among God’s true people], then shall we raise against him seven shepherds, and eight principal men.”  The fact that there are “eight principal men” among the “seven shepherds” is additional proof that the seven shepherds were composite groups, and not seven individuals.

If we view the Bible as the origin of all spiritual Truth, then we must admit that it came first of all; but, if we consider those who vitiated its teachings (the antitypical Assyrians - the errorists), then it is clear that the error came first, with the Lord sending deliverance through His stars, angels (messengers), eyes, shepherds and eight principal men - who have “wasted the land of Assyria with the sword,” (Micah 5:6) the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of Truth.  If we consider Brother Russell as the seventh one of those eight principal men to appear on the Gospel-Age stream of time, all of us who are familiar with his teachings must admit that he did wield the “sword of the spirit” most mightily against the accumulated errors of the past.

It has been prophetically stated of him - “I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations” (Jer. 1:5); and his true calculation of the chronology, with 1914 as the end of the Gentile Times, put the finger of identification upon him as a prophet who had spoken in the name of the Lord.  He had predicted the outbreak of a world war by the fall of 1914; and this had received much ridicule from his enemies, who had contended that civilization had advanced much too far to allow of such a conflict.  We have been told that when the Gideon’s had their convention in Toronto in 1913 they there openly stated that such an expectation was simply beyond belief, what with the advances in science, medicine, art and culture that had been experienced in this generation.  But when the war came exactly on time many of his critics openly confessed that he had indeed spoken the truth, and should receive due recognition for it.

But we here consider mainly two of his teachings that still vitally concern us - Tabernacle Shadows and his refutation of Combinationism as it appeared in the Chicago Parliament of World Religions in 1893.  When the Parousia Messenger began his ministry, the erroneous doctrine of eternal torment as the wages of sin was so deeply entrenched that it was generally considered sacrilege to gainsay it.  Many were the prominent and forceful orators who appeared as evangelists in their crusades to save the poor sinner from such an awful fate, so that Brother Russell was faced with what seemed an impossible assignment.  This is so graphically revealed in Judges 6:5 and 7:12:  “The Midianites and the Amalekites and all the children of the east lay along in the valley like grasshoppers for multitude; and their camels were without number, as the sand by the seaside for multitude.”

And against this portentous force Gideon was arrayed with his band of 300 - outnumbered by probably more than a thousand to one.  This was precisely the situation when Brother Russell began his attacks on human immortality, the consciousness of the dead, and eternal torment as the wages of sin.  His most popular public discourse was, “Where Are The Dead?” which always included a good exposition on Restitution.  When he sent out brethren from Bethel for Sunday discourses he always urged them to include a good portion of their public discourse on restitution, and he himself occasionally remarked to Brethren “That’s the subject!” when he was to speak on “Where Are The Dead?”

He kept steadfastly at the subject and its pertinent errors, so that he was able to see certain victory ahead by the time he had finished his ministry.  By 1916 it was considered by many intellectuals as a distinct mark of ignorance on the part of those who still regarded eternal torment as the wages of sin.  This is probably best stated by repeating what Pilgrim Brother Sidney Morton once told us:  He was spending some time at Bethel, as all the pilgrims occasionally did.  Brother Russell wanted all the brethren to keep abreast of current events, so he appointed two or three to peruse the leading newspapers each day, and give a resume at the dining room table.  This saved the remaining brethren from spending valuable time with the newspapers.  On one occasion one of the reviewers began to read:

There is a man in our town

Who thinks he’s wondrous wise;

He fell into a bramble bush

That put out both his eyes.

There were several more similar stanzas, and Brother Russell was beginning to show his annoyance at what seemed to be pretty much on the vaudeville side of things, when the lines were read:

There is a man in our town

Whose name I need not tell;

I’m sure you all must know him,

For he put the fires out of Hell.

Certainly Brother Russell was the “principal man” of God’s Household in his day; he was the “angel” (messenger) to the Church in Laodicea.  He had a message to deliver, and he delivered it with telling force, until the very day his Great Captain finally said to him, “It is enough!”  But his ministry brought upon him the most vicious attacks from the brightest lights of Satan, and they were legion.  When they could not gainsay or resist the Truth he preached, they devised the most vicious sort of slander against him - he was grossly immoral, a thing he could deny, but he could not disprove.  The human mind being as it is today; the advantage was with the slanderers.  Many were ready enough to believe the evil side of things.  Others referred to him as “That braying Balaam’s Ass!”  Here was indeed the antitype of Jeremiah’s being “let down in the dungeon… where there was no water [truth], but mire [filthy words].” (Jer. 38:6)  All this he took in stride, being mindful of Jesus’ words: “It is enough for the disciple that he be as his Master, and the servant as his Lord.  If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of His Household?” (Matt. 10:25)  The Lord Himself had called him “blessed”; and this more than compensated for the slanders hurled at him by “the workers of iniquity.” (Psa. 37:1)

COMBINATIONISM: He was adamant against the Combinationist sifters, which sifting had become prominent at the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1893.  Combinationism takes the position that it matters not what one believes so long as he is sincere in his belief.  In that Convention in Chicago such an attitude tended to place all the assembled heathen dignitaries on equality with Christian ideals.  And it might be observed that the quality of Christianity that was displayed at that Convention by some in attendance tended to confirm such a conclusion.  In fact, some of the heathen were heard to remark that they thought they should be coming to America to convert us to their ways and beliefs, instead of us sending missionaries to them to change their ideals.

Combinationism is Scriptural fornication, a combining of forbidden things.  It finds its type in Numbers 25:1-18, where some of the Jews were engaging in illicit union with the heathen round about in direct violation of the sixth Commandment.  St. Paul pinpoints this situation in 1 Corinthians 10:8: “Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.”  And in v. 11 he states that those things happened to them “as types” and “are written for our [special] admonition and learning, upon whom the ends of the Ages are come.”  We are in the closing “end” of the Gospel Age and the opening “end” of the Millennial Age (the “ends” of the Ages).  But it was in the closing of the Jewish Age and the beginning of the Gospel Age when Paul wrote about it.

Brother Russell was rigidly opposed to Combinationism, and he made his stand known in no uncertain terms.  In this he is individually typed by Phinehas (Num. 25:7,8), who was the chief underpriest at that time.  Certainly, those of us who are familiar with the history of the Harvest will offer no argument against the conclusion that Brother Russell was decidedly the chief underpriest in God’s Household during his ministry.  Phinehas means brazen mouth, and those of us who know the record know there was never any compromise of principles by Brother Russell.  It was his unyielding stand against the Combinationist sifters that revealed him as “That Servant” of Matthew 24:46 for the first time to the brethren generally.  For his uncompromising adherence to the “rules” many today still pray, “God bless his memory.”  But this becomes only an empty and meaningless expression if we fail to follow the grand ideals he left.  He was indeed that wonderful “man of God” - of and to the believers.  And with Combinationism everywhere rampant today, we do well to take heed to ourselves lest we also fall under its deceptive lures.

To start from nothing against tremendous odds - as evidence the case of Gideon with his 300 - and to achieve the success he did, required remarkable ability.  It could be said of him that he was versatile, efficient and immensely capable in whatever manner he applied himself.  One outstanding businessman once remarked that his service would be worth $2,000,000 per year to any corporation large enough to afford that kind of help.  Another man once remarked to him, “Pastor Russell, you have put the standard of Christian living entirely too high.”  His answer - “I didn’t put it there, Brother; the Lord did!”

While his great ability was essential to his ministry, another item contributed much to his success.  When he appeared upon the scene there were many in the various systems who were longing for reform - “men in the midst of the City who sigh and cry for all the abominations that be done there.” (Ezek. 9:4)  Thus, there were some who were not only ready to hear him, but they also joined enthusiastically with him in the work.  Over a period of time he attracted to himself quite a number of the best minds in Christendom, and it is elemental to the success of any enterprise that its organizer surround himself with capable assistants.  This That Servant did; and, following St. Paul’s counsel to “prefer one another in honor” (Rom. 12:10), he freely delegated authority to any who showed the capacity to act accordingly.  In this also he was a noble “example of the believers.”  But he continued only to promote them so long as they were uncompromising to principle and fundamental doctrines of the Bible.  All during his ministry his shibboleth was, “Come out of her, My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” (Rev. 18:4)  He was a determined and unyielding foe to Combinationism to the end of his ministry.

When That Servant appeared on the scene all of the fundamental doctrines of the Bible, except Restitution, were being taught in some section of Christendom; but all of them were either directly, or indirectly, cumbered with some error, or were not clearly understood by those attempting to teach them.  Before he had finished, every one of those doctrines, including Restitution, had been relieved of all rubbish, and had been made crystal clear.  This was foretold in Malachi 3:1-3: “The Messenger of the Covenant [the Lord himself]… shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.”  The word “purifier” in this text would be better rendered “polisher”; and who of us will not admit that That Servant did “polish” the Truth (silver) in admirable brilliance!  And in doing this he never resorted to the tricks of oratory.  There were better orators than he, but certainly no better preachers.  And in him was a living proof of our Lord’s sure words, “I will give you a mouth [eloquence] and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.” (Luke 21:15)  Every one that “was of the Truth” heard his voice gladly.

He was engaged in “the good fight” until the very day he died, and it could be said of him as one historian wrote about Martin Luther: He fell peacefully asleep in Jesus.  “Them that honor Me, I will honor, saith the Lord” (1 Sam. 2:30); and the Lord did honor him greatly.  And if we wish to honor him, we can do so in no better way than to adhere to and uphold that Truth that was so dear to him.  As Jesus said of Himself; “He who has My commandments [the Truth], and observes them, that is he who loves Me.” (John 14:21, Dia.)  It is our hope and prayer that this brief review may prove a rich blessing to all our readers as we approach now the 62nd [88th in 2004] anniversary of That Servant’s death.

THE EPIPHANY MESSENGER

The second member of the Laodicean Star was Brother Paul S. L. Johnson, whom we style the Epiphany Messenger because he clarified the Epiphany as an act and as a period of time in a manner never before done by any one else, so far as we know.  He clearly demonstrated from the Scriptures that the Epiphany would follow the small Parousia, and would be the last period of the Gospel Age.  This special period would manifest persons, principles and things with a brilliance before unknown.  Of course, That Servant had predicted there would be an Epiphany following the small Parousia, which would begin when the Time of Trouble would begin (See Reprint 2979 and Pastor Russell’s Sermons, page 420) - but he gave no elaborate details about it, although what he did say formed the foundation for what the Epiphany Messenger wrote about it.

While the Greek Epiphaneia occurs six times in the New Testament, we here select only two texts as pointedly pertinent to our present discussion.  In 2 Timothy 4:1 it is stated that “the Lord Jesus Christ shall judge the quick and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom.”  The general concept through Christendom is that the “quick” in this text means those human beings still alive, and the “dead” are those in the tomb; but That Servant properly defined these classes as those quickened by the Holy Spirit and the fallen angels, with the dead including all other human beings - whether in the tomb or out of it; that is, those “dead in trespasses and sins.”  “God hath appointed a day in which He will judge the [dead] world,” (Acts 17:31) that “day being the 1000-year day of His reign.  That time was future when Paul wrote, and is still future for the great mass of persons, although the foundation for its operation began to be laid in 1874.  But “the quick” were to be judged in His Epiphaneia.  Thus, the text would be more clearly expressed in this manner: He shall judge the quick at His Epiphaneia, and the dead at His Basileia (Kingdom).

The various features of these great accomplishments by the Lord were given in lucid detail by the Epiphany Messenger.  And the second text to have or attention is 2 Thessalonians 2:8 (Diaglott): “Then will be revealed the lawless one (whom the Lord Jesus will consume with the breath of His mouth, and annihilate by the appearing of His presence).”  “The appearing of His presence” is literally, “the Epiphaneia of His Parousia.”  The Epiphaneia (bright shining as an act and as a period of time) has been gradually eroding the very foundation stones of the Man of Sin’s [Papacy’s] structure, until today it is visibly falling over.  But it has not yet fully done so, so we have here a sure proof that we must yet be in the Epiphany, and that this period will continue until the “annihilation” is fully accomplished.  This feat is much nearer than many suppose, and time will reveal it.

Another feature of this period would, according to That Servant, be to reveal those who have built their “house upon the Rock” and those who have built their “house upon the sand.” (Luke 6:48,49)  So long as this revealing has not yet been fully accomplished, we have here another proof that we must now still be in the Epiphany.  But the Epiphany is definitely a time of separating and a time of combining.  Of His Parousia our Lord had foretold: “In the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares [combine them], and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.” (Matt. 13:30)  Clearly enough, from this text Combinationism would be rampant before the harvest had been completed; and it offers explanation as to why both members of the Laodicean Star were so emphatic in their denunciation of it, and their warning for the faithful to have none of it.

The Epiphany Messenger had emphasized that the Gospel Age would be repeated here in the Epiphany on a small scale insofar as the Truth is concerned.  The chief culprit of the Gospel Age in overthrowing the Truth has been the Man of Sin [Papacy] - that system having perverted or counterfeited every important feature of the Great Plan of the Ages.  And in this Epiphany the Little Man of Sin (the Jehovah’s Witnesses, the self-styled “Channel”) has done the same thing with many important features of the Harvest Truth.  Most of our readers know too, how determined was the Epiphany Messenger in exposing the error of JFR and his cohorts in the Society.

Tabernacle Shadows was basic for a proper understanding of the Harvest Truth, and Brother Russell himself said that the Six Volumes of Studies in the Scriptures all had their origin in that book.  The Epiphany Messenger elaborated considerably on that contention, and emphasized that every important feature of God’s Plan was revealed in the typical Tabernacle that Moses constructed.  But hardly had That Servant been buried before the Society editors began to demolish the Tabernacle teachings, which brought forth determined exposures by the Epiphany Messenger - so much so that they eventually abandoned the Tabernacle completely.  The heat of exposure became more than they could bear.  The Epiphany Messenger contended, very logically, that if Tabernacle Shadows was basic for the Parousia Truth, it must also be basic for the Epiphany Truth.  It was the foundation stones, and any superstructure must therefore be built upon that solid foundation.

Thus, it became his privilege, and duty, to defend almost every feature of the Harvest Truth - just as the Gospel-Age reformers were compelled to defend every feature of God’s Plan against the encroaching error of the Man of Sin.  This embroiled all of them in constant warfare - even as their Captain had also been involved in much controversy during His 3½-year stay on earth.  This caused resentment on the part of many who had once been his bosom brethren, and “they walked with him no more.” (John 6:66)  And many of those who resented him became ready candidates for the evil of Combinationism.

Combinationism is an illicit union or cooperation of God’s people with persons, principles, things and practices not fully approved by God.  Examples of it are evident in the union of church and state (probably the worst form of it), of denominations with denominations, of Christian people with religio-secret-societies, of Christendom generally with heathenism.  Of all the movements that originated from the Parousia Messenger’s organization, the Jehovah’s Witnesses have been among the most rigid against actually combining with other movements, but they have also been probably the most remiss of all of them in adopting the methods of those people they studiously avoid in actual contact.

After the death of Pastor Russell, J. F. Rutherford decided to “modernize” the organization Pastor Russell had formed, and he introduced a sales campaign to distribute their literature after the same pattern used by business organizations to sell their products.  Lest we be misunderstood, we find no fault with secular businesses using their advertising and sales ingenuity to dispose of their wares so long as they adhere to the truth.  But the use of such methods to disseminate Christian principles, literature, etc., is violently contrary to the high ideals given by Jesus in the fifth, sixth and seventh chapters of Matthew.  Nor would the Parousia Messenger adopt their technique.  But JFR had some seasoned business salesmen in his group, and these he persuaded to go from city to city to teach their sales technique toward the sale of his literature.  The ideals of his adherents immediately began to decline - until now the high ideals of the Parousia Messenger, based upon sound Bible principles, are almost gone from this group.

In a very short time the Epiphany Messenger, who had a strong love for the Parousia Messenger and the ideals he had established, saw the trend of things, and objected so strenuously that a complete and irreparable separation resulted within a matter of months.  Others joined themselves to him through the same motives - although the great majority, many of them not too well grounded in the Parousia Truth, remained with the Society.  And in a very few years those who remained were so engulfed with the spirit of Combinationism in practice that the Parousia ideals were a lost asset.  We ourselves say, God bless the memory of both Messengers, as we seek to “continue in the things we have learned” (2 Tim. 3:14) from both of them; and we abide in the conclusion of Solomon: “Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.” (Prov. 17:1)

A fitting conclusion to the foregoing is to be found in Parousia Volume 6, page 658:  “The Sword of the Spirit - the Word of God - is the only offensive armor of the Lord’s little band.  The Captain prevailed in His ‘good fight’ against the Adversary, saying, ‘It is written’; and this is the battle-cry of His followers.  Others than the true soldiers have fought for the Lord with carnal weapons, and with human philosophies and worldly wisdom and organization [the methods used by the Society], and decrees of councils and synods and presbyteries, but we must depend in the struggle of this ‘evil day’ upon the Word of God - ‘It is written!’  We must use no darts like Satan’s - anger, malice, hatred, strife.  And ‘the sword of the Spirit’ can only be possessed by careful study and leading of the Spirit after consecration, after enlistment in this army.”  And to the foregoing we would add another paragraph from Parousia Volume 2, page 361:  “We desire again to impress our readers with the fact that Papacy is the Antichrist, not because of its moral obliquity, but because it is the counterfeit of the true Christ and the true Kingdom.  It is because of failure to realize this fact that many Protestants will be deceived into cooperation with Papacy in opposition to the true King of Glory.”

The above was written over one hundred years ago, but it has the ring of yesterday; and persuades us all the more in our conviction that the Parousia Messenger was indeed “the prophet unto the nations,” and that he was That Wise and Faithful Servant of Matthew 24:45.  It should also now be given its true evaluation by all who “have an ear, let him hear what the spirit saith unto the Church” (Rev. 2:17) at this very time, and to avoid Combinationism for the evil that it is - lest we “receive of her plagues.”

“We are a sweet odor of Christ to God… not like the many, which adulterate and negotiate the Word of God for their own lucre and advantage; but really from sincerity, and as from God, in the presence of God, we speak concerning Christ.” (2 Cor. 2:15-17, Diaglott footnote)

(Brother John J. Hoefle, Reprint 415, October 1990)