NO. 572 KETURAH'S SIX SONS

We present what we believe to be the correct interpretation of antitypical Keturah’s six sons.  First of all we direct attention to the fact that there will be three distinct classes blessed by the New Covenant: No. 1, the Worthies, who will receive the “better resurrection” (Heb. 11:35).  No. 2, the Jews, and No. 3, the Gentiles.  These three classes each have two divisions - somewhat after the manner of the four elect classes pictured in Noah’s Ark: Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth and their wives, the same depicting the leaders and the lesser lights respectively of The Christ, the Ancient Worthies, the Youthful Worthies and the Great Company.

1 - ZIMRAN (Celebrated): The 70 outstanding Ancient and Youthful Worthies - the leaders of their class.

2 - JOKSHAN (Fowler, or bird catchers - overcomers of the fallen angels, in that Satan and his demons had no dominion over them): These will comprise all the lesser lights of the Ancient and Youthful Worthies.  Inasmuch as Zimram and Jokshan were the eldest and second eldest of Keturah’s sons, it is logical enough to determine them as the Millennial-Age firstborns - just as the Seed of Promise (antitypical Isaac) have been the firstborns of this Gospel Age.  Among these Gospel-Age firstborns the Great Company would be included inasmuch as they at one time were a part of the Very Elect; therefore, among the first begotten.  Thus, those of them who retained their class standing as Great Company, having been begotten must evidently come to birth as spirit beings.  “The church of the firstborn” (Heb. 12:23 - See comments in Gems From the Mine.) will include all the first begotten.  All the Worthies will be children of The Christ.

3 - MEDAN (Judgment): The quasi-elect Jew.  “Judgment” sometimes has the meaning of “true instruction,” as in Proverbs 21:3, “To do justice [righteousness] and judgment [true instruction] is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.”  This class would be those Jews who earnestly endeavored to teach and defend “true instructions,” as they received it from the Law, the Prophets and the Psalms (Luke 24:44).  St. Paul says of such that they had “much advantage… chiefly, because unto them were committed the Oracles of God.” (Rom. 3:2)  Those sincere ones among them who were entrusted with the care and preservation of the inspired writings of the Old Testament would have sacrificed their lives in defense of them.  Thus, “judgment” is most fitting for their typical name, Medan.  This would apply to the chief or first of the quasi-elect - “to the Jew first.”

4 - MIDIAN (Strife or contention): Midian consists of all Jews not included in the elect or quasi-elect.  This class of Jews has been a bone of contention since their first appearance in human history - always warlike and assertive people who were not sufficiently persuaded by the Mosaic Law and did not have faith enough to adhere to its principles.

5 - ISHBAK (Free): The quasi-elect Gentiles.  They are “free” in the sense of being free from the Mosaic Law and in the fact that most of them are to be found in Protestant countries.  “Where the spirit of the Lord is there is liberty.” (2 Cor. 3:17)  And there is little question that the liberty that prevails in Protestant countries has been a dominant factor in their tremendous progress in art, literature and invention.

6 - SHUAH (Depression, or low place): An allusion to all Gentiles not included in the elect or the quasi-elect (all Gentile nations, including all the heathen pictured outside the camp) who have never heard the “only Name,” or who have given little or no heed to it (that “seed that fell by the road, or on rocky ground” - Matt. 13:4,5), and whose characters have suffered greater mental and moral degradation because of it.  To use a vernacular expression, most of them are indeed “low-down,” given “over to a reprobate mind, to do improper things… not only are doing them, but are even approving those who practice them.” (Rom. 1:28-32, Dia.)

The May-June 1985 Present Truth, pp. 43 and 44, gives the following on KETURAH’S SIX SONS:

“(1) Zimram: the 70 most prominent of the Ancient and Youthful Worthies (the ancients and youthfuls of Joel 2:28), who will be given the most prominent positions in the earthly phase of the Kingdom during the making, sealing, of the New Covenant (Ex. 24:1,9).

“(2) Jokshan: the Worthies in general.

“(3) Medan: the Consecrated Epiphany Campers - those who consecrate to God and are faithful in their consecration during the Epiphany - the very end of the Gospel Age - after the four elect classes have been fully made up in their membership; the four elect classes of Abraham’s seed are pictured as serving in the Court of the Tabernacle as it was set up for Israel in the wilderness, and these consecrators are pictured as being among those in the Camp - hence the name. ‘Campers.’

“(4) Midian: those Fleshly Israelites who during the Jewish and Gospel Ages have in faith and practice come into harmony with the Abrahamic and Mosaic Covenants, and remained faithful, though not consecrating.

“(5) Ishbak: those Gentiles (and some Jews) who throughout the Gospel Age, including our day, while not consecrating, or dedicating, their lives to God, have repented of their sins and accepted Jesus as their Savior and remained faithful to the Ransom and to righteousness.

“(6) Shuah (low place, depression): the non-elect, unbelieving world of mankind, consisting of unbelieving Gentiles and those Fleshly Israelites who have forsaken the covenant promises; these are the ‘daughters’ of Joel 2:28 and Isa. 60:4, the quasi-elect believers being referred to as ‘sons’—the stronger ones.”

___________________________________________________________________

The above errors are a repeat of the errors inherited, as given in Present Truths ’57,22;  ’58,3 ’63,29,77; ’69,46; ’72,38 and 73,27.  The LHMM cannot produce anything but types to support the false doctrine (“strange fire”) of Consecrated Epiphany Campers.  “A type must not be used to teach a doctrine, but to illustrate one that is taught in plain terms.” (Berean Comment, p. 25 of the Topical Index)

We are told in Jude 3 “to contend for the faith once delivered unto the saints,” but in no place in God’s Word are we told to “contend for the faith once delivered unto crown-lost leaders” as the LHMM is doing.  The devotees of the Jehovah’s Witnesses follow their leaders, who have set aside many basic doctrines of That Servant - the blind leading the blind.

All those who have set aside the Truth taught by That Servant are “Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth.” (2 Tim. 3:7)  We especially refer to the Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Laymen’s Home Missionary Movement who have set aside God’s promise to the natural Jew when they concocted their false doctrines of non-existent classes.

The LHMM tell us that their Consecrated Epiphany Campers will supersede the Jews in the Kingdom, setting aside God’s Word as well as the teaching of That Servant and the Epiphany Messenger, knowing that these faithful Messengers consistently taught “to the Jew first.”  They did this with Scriptures in “plain terms.”

Of course, the “repentant and believing” of the Epiphany Camp in the finished picture will share with the Jews in their great missionary work after they become Jews.  The Jews will not have to become Consecrated Epiphany Campers and walk a narrow way to receive God’s promise to natural Jews.  It is the earthly promise to the Jews.  And none of the Restitutionists have to walk a narrow way.  The Consecrated Epiphany Campers will have to become Jews in the Kingdom before they can receive the blessings of the New Covenant.  The New Covenant is Israelitish and will be made with the natural Jew first.  Our Lord says, “Salvation is of the Jews.” (John 4:22)

The Word will first be given by the Worthies from the Christ to the Jews; and it will heal them, as it is written, “He sent His Word and healed them.” (Psa. 107:20)

The Kingdom will, of course, begin to work on the Worthies, and then through them upon the Restitutionists who will survive the Time of Trouble, and that starting with the Jews in Jerusalem.

Fleshly Israel, as the secondary earthly seed of Abraham, under the lead of the Ancient and Youthful Worthies, as the primary earthly seed of Abraham, will be privileged to cooperate with the Kingdom in converting the Gentile world (Gen. 22:17; 28:14; Isa. 19:24; Ezek. 16:60,61; Psa. 107:22).

“Naturally enough, Israel will then in a natural way come first into harmony with the Divine arrangement and be the first to get the blessings.” (Reprint 5810, top)  All the above, and much more, will have to be thrown out if we accept the LHMM’s teaching that the Consecrated Epiphany Campers are to be first after the Worthies.

“St. Paul was an outspoken, uncompromising teacher.  When he knew that he had the truth, he spoke it with confidence, and boldly declared that everything contrary to it is false doctrine.  He also taught believers that it was not only their privilege, but their duty to be established in the faith, to know on the evidence of God’s Word, why they believed, and to be able to give to every man that inquires a reason for the hope that was in them.” (Reprint 5045, col. 2, par. 4)

“The Lord purposed to take away all sins - the sins of Israel, the sins of those who were to constitute the Gospel-Church, and the sins of the whole world.  For this cause Christ was manifested, for this cause He died.  This cancellation, of doing away with the sins of the whole world, will progress as each shall recognize the Heavenly gift of forgiveness and obey the Government.

“The orthodox Jews, those who still hold to the teachings of the Law and the Prophets, and have faith in God, will be the first to receive the blessings of the New Age.  ‘As concerning the Gospel they are enemies for your [the Church’s] sakes; but as touching the election [the natural election], they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes.’ (Rom. 11:28)  So, then, this condition of affliction in which the Jews have been throughout the Gospel Age, in addition to the overthrow of their nation in the year A.D. 70, has really been a favor from God.  All the tribulation through which this people have passed during the entire ‘Seven Times’ of chastisement will be finally found to have been to their advantage, preparing them for the blessings of Messiah’s Kingdom.  The Church will be the first in the Kingdom, natural Israel with the Ancient Worthies at the head will be the second.  Subsequently all nations will come into Divine favor and blessing, becoming members of Israel.  All will be blessed through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (Question Book, pp. 357,358)

“Each consecrated believer should ask himself, How carefully have I studied that which I clearly recognize as Divine Truth?  And how fully capable am I, therefore, of handling the sword of the spirit?  Few indeed are those who can say they have fully digested and assimilated all they have received… that they have a ready answer - a ‘thus saith the Lord’ - for every man that asks them a reason for the hope that is in them, concerning any point of doctrine.”

(Reprint 3199, col. 1, bottom, and col. 2, top)

“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Tim. 2:15)  So long as we “contend for the faith once delivered unto the saints” we need not be ashamed.

(Excerpts from our paper No. 361, September 1985, pages 5,6 and 7)

___________________________________________________________________

We had hoped there would be no need for further refutation of the LHMM on their non-existent class of Consecrated Epiphany Campers after our refutation of Keturah’s Six Sons in our September 1992 paper.  We are pleased to note that their magazines have been generally good with very little mention of Consecrated Epiphany Campers; and so far as we know, they have not published anything about their Consecrated Epiphany Campers superseding the Jews, until now.  It has been reported that the LHMM is still teaching this error to their devotees, but we do not refute hearsay.

It is no pleasure to refute errors of the LHMM, as we have fond memories of this movement when Brother Johnson was with us.  We do so because we believe there are good brethren who have been caught by the “snare of the fowler.”  “The watchmen of Ephraim was with my God: but the prophet is a snare of a fowler in all his ways, and hatred in the house of God.” (Hosea 9:8)  “Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped.” (Psa. 124:7)  But the Lord will surely deliver His people from the “snare of the fowler.” (Psa. 91:3)

We quote from the Bible Standard of March 1992, p. 22, col. 1, under TWO EARTHLY CLASSES:  “The fifth order of Abraham’s seed is the quasi-elect, who for the most part are the faith-justified Gentiles and the Covenant-believing and justice-practicing Jews.  The highest class among them is the Consecrated Epiphany Campers, as pictured by Keturah’s third son, Medan (many of them being pictured also in the Queen of Sheba).”

Since their May-June 1985 Present Truth they have added to Medan “the faith-justified Gentiles and the Covenant-believing and justice-practicing Jews.”  But this addition doesn’t change their teaching that their Consecrated Epiphany Campers are first in the Kingdom after the Worthies and before the Jews, contrary to God’s promise “to the Jew first.”

In the LHMM’s efforts to prove that the Consecrated Epiphany Campers will supersede the Jews in the Kingdom, they are attempting to refute the teachings of That Servant, the Epiphany Messenger and the Apostle Paul.  The Truth cannot be refuted.  God’s Word is infallible.  God’s Word tells us that we should “earnestly contend for the faith once delivered unto the saints.” (Jude 3)  We have no Scripture that tells us to “contend for the faith [what they teach] once delivered unto crown-losers.”  That is what the LHMM is doing - contending for the teachings of a crown-loser; and this teaching disputes the “faith once delivered unto the saints” - the teaching of the Apostle Paul, That Servant, and the Epiphany Messenger who taught, “To the Jew first.” 

It is our understanding that in their Special Effort toward the Jew, especially in Israel, they use Brother Russell’s teaching, “To the Jew first.”  The Scriptures tell us to “comfort the Jew.”  Brother Russell always gave a comforting message to the Jews, and reminded them of God’s promises to them that they would be first in the Kingdom; that when the New Covenant is inaugurated that all would have to become Israelites to get the blessings of the New Covenant.  The Kingdom will be Israelitish, he said.  We can find nothing in the Messengers’ writings that conflict with the Apostle Paul’s statement, “To the Jew first” - or even hints at such a preposterous thing.  Of course, we know that faithful Gentiles, such as the quasi-elect, will join with the Jews in their missionary work after they become Israelites in the Kingdom under the New Covenant.

In the Kingdom The Christ will give the Law: “Out of Zion shall go forth the Law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.” (Isa. 2:3)  The Worthies will receive the Law from Zion and will give the “word of the Lord” to the Jew first.  Does it comfort the Jews to tell them that God’s promises will go “to the Consecrated Epiphany Campers first?”  We know the Jehovah’s Witnesses have cast out all God’s promises to the Jews and relegated them to themselves.  Certainly, the LHMM hasn’t gone that far!  Their message to the world about the coming Kingdom is to be commended, as it will be a solace to those who have an “ear to hear.”  However, the LHMM’s Consecrated Epiphany Campers is a non-existent class the same as the Witnesses’ Great Crowd.  Brother Johnson called the Great Crowd a non-existent class, and if he were here today he would call any consecrated class in the Camp non-existent.  The only place one can consecrate is in the Court - the only place Christ’s merit can be obtained, just as both Messengers taught.  But we should mention that a place in the tabernacle is a condition in antitype.  Some who have made a consecration, supposedly in the Camp, and that consecration is accepted by our Lord, may already be in the Court condition if their hearts are pure.

As we have often pointed out: “A type must not be used to teach a doctrine, but merely to illustrate one that is already taught in plain terms.” (p. 25 of Berean Topical Index)  There are no plain terms in the Bible for Consecrated Epiphany Campers, because it is a fractured type.  No type can dispute the Apostle’s plain language, “To the Jew first.”     

The LHMM is double-minded when they teach one thing to their devotees and another thing to the Jews.  They teach their devotees that the Consecrated Epiphany Campers will be first in the Kingdom; and when speaking to the Jews they use Brother Russell’s teachings that they will be first in the Kingdom just as God promised, “To the Jew first.”  “A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.” (James 1:8)  Berean Comments on this text: “The Great Company class.”  However, it applies to all who are unfaithful to their covenant.  “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.  Cleanse your hands ye, sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double-minded.” (James 4:8)

Another error that the Laymen’s Home Missionary Movement teach is that there is no longer - since 1954 - an opportunity to be of the Youthful Worthy class.  Both Messengers taught there would be opportunity for this unbegotten class to be rewarded in honor and service with the Ancient Worthies “until restitution sets in.”  This is another teaching whereby the Laymen’s Home Missionary Movement denies the “faith once delivered unto the saints.”  The LHMM also teach we are in the “finished picture” of the Epiphany Age, and are now in the overlapping of the Epiphany into the Basileia since 1954.  This is supposed to be a parallel of the Parousia over-lapping into the Epiphany for two and a half years.  If they still teach that we are in the over-lapping, it is now in 2005, a period of 51 years, a longer period than the Epiphany proper of 40 years from 1914 to 1954.  The Epiphany and the Time of Trouble are one and the same.  When the Time of Trouble ends the Epiphany ends.  But we are not yet in the severest events of the Time of Trouble.

If we would be faithful to the Lord, the Truth and the brethren, necessity is laid upon us to “earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”  “For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!” (1 Cor. 9:16)  That Servant’s comments on Rom. 1:16, “To the Jew first” are: “God’s blessings of every kind begin with the Jew.  He gave the Jew the first opportunity under the Abrahamic Covenant.  And when it comes to the blessings of the New Covenant, the opportunity will come to the Jew first.” (Question Book, p. 165:2)

“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Tim. 2:15)  We earnestly hope and pray the LHMM will seek to be “approved unto God” by being faithful to “the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”

“NEW LIGHT” SINCE 1914

After That Servant’s demise in 1916 there was an epidemic of “New Light” emanating from the brethren of the Parousia Truth - primarily from the Society, who now call themselves Jehovah’s Witnesses.

At first J. F. Rutherford taught there would be a class of unbegotten consecrators to be won between the Ages - after the door to the High Calling closed, and “until restitution sets in.”  He did this in harmony with Brother Russell’s teaching.  He called this class Modern Worthies and we have no objection to that, but we call this class Youthful Worthies.  We still believe and teach that this unbegotten class will be won “until restitution sets in.”

However, shortly thereafter JFR rejected this class and substituted a class of his own making - Jonadabs.  But now we hear no more of the Jonadabs for it is replaced with a class known as the “Great Multitude,” their claim being that it is the call mentioned in Rev. 7:9 and 19:16.  Prior to 1914 That Servant taught that this class is a spiritual class consecrated under the High Calling but not faithful enough to retain their standing with this Select Group.  As they were not completely unfaithful, they did not merit the Second Death, so God provided a place for them to serve “before the throne” rather than on the throne as do the 144,000.  The JWs have now discarded Brother Russell’s teaching on this as well as much more of his basic teaching, all the time still boasting that Brother Russell was the founder of their movement.

MORE “NEW LIGHT” SINCE 1954

 It seems the LHMM is following the example of the JWs instead of “contending for the faith once delivered to the Saints.  Shortly after the demise of the Epiphany Messenger in October 1950, the Laymen’s Home Missionary Movement which was founded by Brother Johnson began to teach a “new” class who were to be won from 1954 “until restitution sets in.”  This manufactured class would be in place of the Youthful Worthies who are to be won between the Ages from 1881 “until restitution sets in” as taught by That Servant and the Epiphany Messenger.  The LHMM still present a non-existent class, called Consecrated Epiphany Campers, teaching that this class will supersede the Jews in the Kingdom arrangement.  On page 37, col. 1 of their Summer 2004 Present Truth they cite E-12, page 185 as applying to their “new class.”  However, if one reads it carefully it will be seen that Brother Johnson is here talking about the Jews as the “fifth order of the seed of Abraham.”  The Epiphany Messenger often said, “The advancing Truth does not set aside the Truth formerly received as some deceivers teach.

Brother Johnson did not “see” a new class not already taught by That Servant.  He just elaborated on the classes already set out in the Parousia teaching.  None of the teaching of the two Messengers teach a consecrated class in the Epiphany Camp.

In their Summer 2004 issue of The Present Truth, page 37, col. 2, the LHMM repeats their assessment of the antitypes of Keturah’s sons, which is the same as what they had said in the May-June 1985 Present Truth, pp. 43,44.  They set out Medan as the Consecrated Epiphany Campers - those who consecrate to God and are faithful in their consecration during the Epiphany and have the name “Campers.”  But there cannot be any consecration in the Camp until the Basileia Camp is set up.  They cite many quotations from The Epiphany Messenger, but in all of them, he says that the quasi-elect are the non-consecrated but faithful tentatively justified in the Epiphany camp.  It would seem that they deliberately misuse or misinterpret their citations, but we prefer to think that they just do not understand what they read.

If we are faithful to the Truth, it is some times a lonely way but it is indeed a good way!  All those who do so have the sure promise of God: “For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.” (Luke 21:15)  So with the Apostle Paul, “I am set for the defence of the gospel” (Phil: 1:17) as we seek to deliver our brethren from the “snare of the fowler” (Psa. 91:3, 124:7; Hosea 9:8).  “Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the way of the people; cast up the highway; gather out the stones; lift up a standard for the people.” (Isa. 62:10)  Berean Comments: “‘Cast out the stones’ - the stumbling blocks, errors, etc.; ‘Lift up a standard’ - The standard of absolute holiness of heart, and as far as possible of conduct.”

(Brother John J. Hoefle, Reprint 436, September 1992, with additions)

___________________________________________________________________

GOD’S ECONOMICAL PLAN

Man has for six thousand years borne the penalty, “Dying thou shalt die” - the penalty which the Bible declares to be the wages of sin - death and all the weaknesses and depravities of mind and of body which are its accompaniments.  But God purposes that all shall have a full opportunity of recovery from this condition of sin and death; and the provision for man’s recovery has been made in Christ.  This provision is the most economical one that could have been arranged.  If a thousand perfect men had sinned, it would have required a thousand perfect men to redeem them - one redeemer for each sinner.  “An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth,” a man’s life for a man’s life, is the requirement of God’s law (Ex. 21:23-25; Deut. 19:21).

Before the creation of our first parents God had arranged that only one man should have the opportunity to fall and to be sentenced to death, that thus only one man would be required as a Redeemer.  This Divine arrangement was most economical because it will bring all the masses of humanity back to life at the cost of but one human life as the redemption-price.  No fallen man could be a ransom, a corresponding price, for the perfect man Adam.  Therefore God purposed from the very beginning that His only begotten Son, the firstborn of all creation, should become man’s Redeemer and that in order to become the Redeemer He should become a man.

The death of an angel could not have redeemed man.  Divine justice required that a perfect human life must be given for a perfect human life.  And God, knowing all this, sent His Son to carry out His great plan of human redemption and restitution.  Neither was there anything unkind or unjust to His Son in this, although for the Almighty to have forced the matter upon His Son would have been an injustice; and God could not be guilty of injustice.

Thus the Scriptures inform us that the coming of the Logos into the world was a voluntary matter.  He did this “for the joy that was set before him,” by the Almighty.  The Father set before the Son that if He would suffer the ignominy of the transference of His being from the higher plane to a lower, a human plane, in order that He might redeem the lost race of Adam, He should be highly exalted, next to Jehovah; He should be made a partaker of Jehovah’s nature - the Divine nature.  All this was the inspiration of our Lord’s course - the joy of doing the Father’s will and of having His approval; the joy of restoring mankind and of being exalted to His Father’s glorious nature.  He who thus humbled himself to become a man and die the ignominious death of the cross, has indeed been highly exalted as promised, and has sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high (Heb. 1:3).

(Pastor Russell, Reprint 5429, 5430, April 1, 1914) 

___________________________________________________________________

We’ve been watching, we’ve been waiting,

For the star that brings the day;

For the night of sin to vanish,

And the mists to roll away.

We’ve been watching, we’ve been waiting,

For the beauteous King of day,

For the chiefest of ten thousand,

For the Light, the Truth, the Way.

We begin to see the dawning

Of the bright Millennial day;

Soon the shadows, weary shadows,

Shall forever pass away.

………………..

The beam that shines from Zion’s hill

Shall lighten every land;

The King who reigns in Salem’s tow’rs

Shall all the world command.

NO. 571 SOME THOUGHTS FOR THE MEMORIAL

The Memorial of our Lord’s crucifixion comes again, the correct time this year 2005 being after 6 p.m. March 22.  The date is determined after this manner: The moon nearest the Vernal Equinox comes new at the Thirtieth Meridian East, Jerusalem time, at 11:31 a.m. March 10, thus establishing 6 p.m. March 9 as Nisan 1, Bible reckoning.  Counting to Nisan 14, we arrive at 6 p.m. March 22; and any time that evening after 6 p.m. would be proper for the celebration.  We here at Mount Dora shall start the service at 7:30 p.m.; and we issue a cordial invitation to any one in this vicinity to join with us if they be of one mind on the matter.

THE MEMORIAL’S MEANINGS

In this Memorial, commonly known throughout Christendom as the Lord’s Supper, we have one of the sacraments.  The Roman Catholic and some eastern churches recognize seven different services as sacraments: baptism, confirmation, the Eucharist, penance, extreme unction, holy orders, and matrimony.  Protestants hold to only two: baptism and the Lord’s Supper.  The word “sacrament” is from the Latin sacramentum, and in early ecclesiastical usage was used in a wide sense to denote any ritual observance or sacred thing.  In every day usage it had been applied in two ways: (1) as a pledge deposited in public keeping by the parties in a lawsuit and forfeited to a sacred purpose; (2) as the oath taken by a Roman soldier to the emperor, and thence to any oath.  These ideas later combined to produce the concept of a sacred rite which was a pledge or token - an oath of loyalty - which in time led to limiting the word to baptism and the Lord’s Supper.

While the Roman Church observes seven sacraments, we believe the Protestant concept to be more in harmony with the Scriptures, because the Lord’s Supper and baptism are the antitypes of the two Old Testament sacraments; namely, the Passover and circumcism.  In Matthew 28:19,20, the risen Jesus specifically gave the disciples “the great commission” - to “baptize into [according to the Diaglott] the name of the Father, and of the Son, and by the Holy Spirit”; and in His last words to these same disciples on the night before He died He commanded them to “do this in remembrance of Me.”  This latter is stressed by St. Paul in the 11th chapter of 1 Corinthians as obligatory upon all who clearly recognize that “Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us,” which sacrifice is declared every time we partake of the bread and the wine in the Lord’s Supper.

When the sacraments mentioned foregoing are rightly and sincerely observed, they bring rich spiritual blessing to those who participate.  The elements themselves - the bread and wine - in the Lord’s Supper are of themselves only dead material; thus, it is only their faithful and sincere use that have any efficacy at all for the participants.  The same would be true of the water used in baptism.  It is only when we are “buried with Him in baptism”  (Col. 2:12) that the water takes on an added significance not discernible to the ordinary onlooker.

THE SPECIFIC SYMBOLS

In the Lord’s Supper there are especially three thoughts symbolized, and they prove to be the three most important things to the Lord’s people in this life: (1) by our breaking the bread we symbolize our dear Lord’s Ransom-sacrificial death on behalf of the Church and the World; (2) by our partaking of the bread and wine we in the first place symbolize faith-appropriating justification through the death of Jesus; and (3) by partaking of the bread and wine in the second place we symbolize our consecrated humanity and our pledge to “walk as He walked.”  It is readily self-evident that these three things are the main things to us in this life; and these three things should be kept acutely in mind in our preparation for and participation in the service - just as did the Jews in their scrupulous preparation to observe the Passover.  In this latter, the day before the Passover the head of each house took a feather brush and a napkin and very carefully swept every evidence of leaven from the corners and remote places of the residence, which, when completed, he then burned the napkin and its contents - to be sure there would be no leaven remaining anywhere.  With us, we do not scrutinize our home; rather, we adhere to St. Paul’s counsel, “Let a man examine himself,” rather than the structure in which we abide.

St. Paul stresses the first of the above points when he tells us, “As oft as ye eat of that bread and drink of that cup ye shew the Lord’s death till He come.”  The words “as oft as ye eat” do not obligate us to do this often, as some mistakenly think, any more than observance of a birthday should be celebrated every day, or week, or month, even though we might say of such an occasion that we also show forth our birth as often as we perform a celebration of the event.  Any memorial should be kept on its anniversary - once a year.  [It has been reported in the news recently that several denominations are contemplating changing the observance of the Passover Memorial to once a week.  Some already observe once a month, or more, so, if it is changed to once a week, it will only magnify their error on this matter.]  Nowhere does the Bible tell us to celebrate the Lord’s birthday (which would occur but once each year), but we are directly commanded to observe the date of His death - which also can occur but once each year.  By our participation in the Memorial of our Lord’s death we declare, or preach His sacrifice, which is one meaning of the word shew in the text.  However, it is in order here to mention that we shew the Lord’s death in the Memorial by act rather than by words, because we maintain a silence during the sharing of the loaf and the cup.

 And by what act do we shew His death?  After blessing of the bread, it is stated that it was broken; and, since all of the accounts make mention of this, it must be an essential part of the performance.  Indeed, the breaking of the bread is the very act that declares the breaking of our Lord in death; “He hath poured out His soul unto death.”  Once this is clearly seen, we can immediately recognize that the giving of the individual wafers to the participants, or the breaking of the bread before it is passed about by the one conducting the service, must be contrary to the underlying spirit of the service.  The breaking of the bread by each individual says by that act that he is willing to be broken with Him in like manner as He was.  “As He was, so are we in the world.”  And as often as we engage in the services, just that often do we shew forth the Lord’s death till He come - shew His Ransom-sacrifice for us, which is truly the rock foundation of our faith.  Without it we would be as the heathen - without God and without hope in the world.

When St. Paul told the Corinthians (1 Cor. 2:2), “I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified,” he in effect was saying that the two things uppermost in his mind were Jesus the Christ - who gave Himself a ransom for all - and Him crucified.  His narrow way began at Jordan and ended in fullness on the cross.  “Leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps.” (1 Peter 2:21) 

In Matthew 26:28 Jesus said His blood was shed “for many for the remission of sins.”  Therefore, when we partake of the bread, and especially of the cup (His blood), in clear understanding of their import, we may rest secure that we have forgiveness of sins.  “The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin… If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:7,9)  And this is our strong assurance regardless of what other men may think of us.  It is sound doctrine that “Man looketh on the outward appearance” (1 Sam. 16:7); and quite often what men see is colored by their prejudices, their selfishness, or their evil minds.

We are justified by faith in His blood; and, as such, we receive His righteousness - vitalizedly in some, reckonedly in others.  “Abraham believed God, and it was counted [reckoned] to him for righteousness.” (Gen. 15:6)  Thus, we no longer have the Adamic condemnation (the disobedience by which many were made sinners), but we are participants of His obedience whereby many are made righteous.  Speaking specifically to the saints at Rome - and through them to the entire Christ Company during the Gospel Age - St. Paul declares, “We are buried with Him by baptism into death… in the likeness of His death.” (Rom. 6:4,5)  These words some attempt to accept literally, and this causes them to adopt very foolish customs and beliefs.  They say, What was the likeness of His death?  And they proceed to reason that He was nailed to the cross; and, with the cross at the back of His head, He could not allow His head to fall backwards, it necessarily must fall upon His chest, as practically all pictures of the crucifixion show Him.  Therefore, if they are to be “baptized in the likeness of His death,” they must be baptized face down in the water.  Of course, this presents a very contrary view to what baptism should really give.

The third feature relative to drinking of the cup has to do with participation in the sin-offering, a privilege reserved exclusively for the Christ Company.  During the Age many have offered themselves thus, only eventually to fall by the wayside, losing their part in that offering.  But to all who partake of the cup in sincerity and in truth we may be certain that the fiery trials of the Great Example will be passed on to them, each according to his ability to bear.  During the Dark Ages, when the Roman Church was in its heyday, the participation of the cup was much more severe and brutal than it is today - although much the same spirit still prevails in the world, and may yet touch those who would follow in His steps.  But in this we may accept the axiom, We know not what the future holds, but we know Who holds the future; and a few lines from the poet tends to emphasize this:

Serene, I fold my hands and wait,

Nor care for wind nor tide nor sea;

I rave no more ‘gainst time or fate,

For lo! my own shall come to me.

What matter if I stand alone?

I wait with joy the coming years;

My heart shall reap where it has sown,

And garner up its fruit of tears.

The stars come nightly to the sky;

The tidal wave unto the sea;

Nor time, nor space, nor deep, nor high,

Can keep my own away from me.

Let us keep in mind that those who despised our Lord the most were the “good” people of His time.  It was because He had such perfect answers to their criticisms that the Scribes and Pharisees came to despise Him so badly.  He proved Himself to be their Master at every controversy, they who were putting themselves forth as the teachers of Jewry - who claim to sit in Moses’ seat.  And having pampered their pride for so many years, they were sadly lacking in the humility which was necessary for them to receive Him.  In addition, He was ever ready to give fellowship to the “untouchables” - the publicans and sinners; and this, too, was anathema to the religious leaders of the nation.  They were angry because He taught the people, which caused them to ask embarrassing questions of those who had been teaching them previously.  And similar conditions exist today in Big and Little Babylon, which should not surprise us.  “All  that  walk  godly  in   Christ  Jesus  shall suffer persecution.”  If this is not a part of our own experience, then we should begin to question whether or not we actually are following “in His steps.”

However, this matter probably needs some clarification -the spirit of a sound mind.  It is quite possible to bring disrepute upon ourselves through our own foolish acts - things that appear right at the time, but which are motivated by poor judgment.  Perhaps none of us are without some of these experiences - some more, some less.  Often such situations are the manipulations of Satan.  We know he tried that on Jesus Himself, when he told Him to jump from the temple and that God would bear Him up.  Had He heeded this unsound suggestion, and found Himself disadvantaged physically because of it, His suffering would not have been “for righteousness,” but for foolishness, an act of sheer presumption.  The years should teach us all something; the chastenings of the past should sober us for the present - and they will to those who are rightly exercised thereby.  Such stabilizing influences usually keep pace with our growth in knowledge and in grace.

THIS IS MY BODY - IS MY BLOOD

In Matthew 26 and in Mark 14 we find the recording of the institution of the Lord’s Supper.  Among Christians - many of them sincere and honest - there has been conducted the sharpest controversy about the meaning of the words that head this section of our article.  Satan has spread error on almost all Scripture, but especially has this been true of the words given above.  The worst of all these errors has been the one concerning the Mass, being the basis of the doctrine of transubstantiation, the same being the central feature of the “abomination that maketh desolate.”  In a broad sense there are two general views on the meaning of these words: (1) Those who teach the real presence of the body and the blood in the loaf and the cup; and (2) those who hold to the representative meaning of those expressions.  Much ingenuity has been displayed in the defense of both positions; some of the ablest of Christian minds have been on both sides of the controversy.  As most of our readers know, our own view is that there is no actual presence of His Body and Blood in the bread and the wine; we regard them merely as representations of the same.

TRANSUBSTANTIATION

Let us consider first of all, that view which holds to the real presence - namely, that the words, This is My Body, This is My blood, teach that the actual body and blood of Jesus are present in the bread and wine, and are imbibed by the communicants.  There are three main views on this feature of our subject, the first of which is that of the Roman Catholic Church.  That system holds to what is commonly known as transubstantiation, which means the actual body and blood of Jesus are substituted, or changed into what before was merely bread and wine.  This transformation is produced by the priest performing what is commonly known as the Mass.  To make this position at all tenable, Roman teachers admit that the emblems retain what it termed “the accidents” - that is, they still look the same to the human eye, they taste the same (that is, no difference whatever can be noticed after the so-called change), have the same form, color, weight, etc., of bread and wine.  But, despite the “accidents,” they contend the bread and the wine are actually lost and take on the essence of the body and blood of the crucified Lord.  And this substitution, this transubstantiation, the priest proceeds in the Mass to sacrifice afresh for the sins of the living and the dead.  Thus, “the daily sacrifice was taken away” (Dan. 8:11), and “it cast down the truth to the ground.” 

By the way of refutation, we would say of the foregoing view, if it were correct, the wording should be changed to, This has been changed into My Body; this has been changed into My blood.  To teach a doctrine which would require a change in wording to make good sense is of itself an admission of something badly wrong with the teaching.  Furthermore, the Bible contradicts their view.  If they were right, they should no longer speak of the bread and the wine - now changed into the body and the blood - but should then speak of those emblems in new phrase - as the body and blood.  But five different times does the Bible itself refer to “bread” after its consecration and during it’s eating.  (See 1 Corinthians 10:16,17; 11:26-28.)  And in these same verses, using the container for the thing contained, the reference is to the “cup,” describing the cup as “the fruit of the vine” - wine, and not blood.  Therefore, by calling the elements bread and wine during their appropriation the Bible itself directly contradicts transubstantiation.

The physical condition of the bread and wine after consecration also contradicts transubstantiation.  Both still taste exactly the same; and enough of the wine will still intoxicate the drinker, which blood will not do.  It is generally known that priests often do become tipsy, or even intoxicated, if they must perform several masses in one morning, drinking a full glass of wine on each occasion.  One of the vilifications that the Roman Catholics hurl at Martin Luther is that he got drunk - which is probably true, and it is probably true of very many other priests for the reason just stated concerning multiple masses in one morning.  In that service the priest does not minister any of the wine to the communicants, but drinks it all himself.  Chemical analysis also confirms this - not only of the wine, but also of the bread.  They are both exactly the same as they were before consecration - and this leaves a wide spread between the chemical contents of a human body and the sacramental wafer that is given the communicant.  In lesser degree, the same may be said of different kinds of bread - rye bread, white and whole wheat bread, black bread, etc.

CONSUBSTANTIATION   – INSTRUMENTALIZATION

Some sections of Christendom teach consubstantiation, which carries the thought of a mingling of the bread and wine with the body and the blood; that is, both are present in the emblems.  The Lutherans and Episcopalians teach what may be termed instrumentalization, although they do not use that term itself.  Their thought is that by means of the bread and wine – which remain bread and wine during the service - the actual body and blood of Jesus are communicated to those who partake.  Thus, it may be properly stated that transubstantiation, consubstantiation and instrumentalization all teach that the real body and the real blood are conveyed to those who partake during the service.

Therefore, the arguments that apply against one of the foregoing would apply against all three, and is our thought that the Bible directly contradicts all three of them.  (1) The Bible account of the original institution of the Lord’s Supper on the night before His death is certainly contrary to these views.  The body and blood of Jesus could not possibly have been in the bread and the wine He gave the Disciples because He was not yet dead; He was still very much alive.  Thus, when he held in His hand unleavened bread He had taken from the table, it was self-evidently quite a different thing from His body.  Nor did He give any indication in the words He used that any significant change had taken place in that loaf.

With the exception of the two disciples on His right hand and on His left, none of the Disciples even touched Him in that service; nor is here the slightest hint in the wording that His body and His blood were being fused into the bread and wine.  Thus, such an assumption is based solely upon pure imagination.  There is not the slightest suggestion in the whole event that would indicate that Jesus or the Disciples thought there was actual presence of body and blood in the bread and the wine.  Also, the Mosaic Law expressly forbade the Jews from drinking even the blood of animals; and Jesus had told them He had come not to nullify the Law but to fulfill it.  We may be certain some of the Disciples would have raised that question immediately, as they were all very scrupulous in their dietetic habits.  Therefore, to claim that subsequent observance of the Lord’s Supper should be different from its original would in itself declare that they are not the same thing; that is, they are not the Lord’s Supper at all.

Jesus had told His followers, “My flesh I give for the life of the World.” (John 6:51)  That being true, the implication would be that He has now taken His flesh to Himself again for this new purpose, and such a procedure would be a contradiction of the Ransom; He would be taking back the Ransom price.  The Scriptures also tell us that The Lord is that spirit, which, being true, He is no longer human; that is, He does not now have His human body and blood with Him to disperse in the services mentioned above.

This teaching also has unreasonable implications, one of which is that we must believe that the body and blood of Jesus must be in many places at the same time.  On certain occasions, such as Easter, etc., practically the whole Christian world celebrates the Lord’s Supper; and He would have to be present in every one of them if we are to accept the three teachings set out foregoing.  Also, when we consider the millions of persons who have observed the Lord’s Supper over the centuries, and even today, we must conclude that His body and His blood are inexhaustible elements if we are to believe these elements are present in every such service.  This immediately reveals the absurdity of the teaching.  There is nothing at all reasonable about it; we must accept it as one of the great unexplainable “mysteries.”  This also is contrary to Scripture which tells us, “Come, let us reason together, saith the Lord.” (Isa. 1:18)  And, whenever we are asked to accept with blind belief what is contrary to our reason, we may certainly conclude that the Father of Lies must be its author; and not the great Teacher of Truth.  Such an attitude always encourages superstition, ignorance and credulity with accompanying degrading results.

THE UNDERLYING ERROR

The chief reason for these errors is that their propounders accept the position that there is but one meaning to the word is.  But, like many words in our language, it has more than one meaning.  However, as noted above, those who hold to but one meaning of the word, have come up with three varying views of it.  There are especially two literal meanings of the verb “to be”: (1) it is the predicate to denote actual existence; (2) it is the predicate to denote actual representation; but the meaning is literal in both instances.  Thus, if we should say, A dog is an animal, we express actual existence; but, if we should say, as is so often done, of a picture on the wall, This is my father, my mother, brother, or what not, we would then mean an actual representation.  And this would be true even if the picture represented one long ago dead.

The question now properly arises; Do other Scriptures substantiate this view?  Take for example, some of the parables.  Before giving specific examples, we would stress that in a parable the thing said is never the thing actually meant: In Matthew 13 Jesus gave the parable of the wheat and the tares, which He explained in response to the disciples’ questions.  There He repeatedly used the verb “to be” in various of its forms, saying that he who sowed is (represents) the devil, and the reapers are (represents) angels.

The same may be said of types in the Bible, which are also representative things, presenting hidden meanings.  For example, “This is [John the Baptist - represents] Elias [the Church] that is to come.” (Matt. 11:14)  “That rock was Christ [represented Christ].” (1 Cor. 10:4)  “These women [Sarah and Hagar] are [represents] two covenants.” (Gal. 4:24)  In each of these examples the verb is means represents because a representative thing is interpreted.

Some Biblical institutions are representative things; and, whenever the Bible explains them and uses the verb to be to predicate the interpretation, it always means to represent.  “He [Abraham] received the sign of circumcision” (Rom. 4:11); and Gen. 17:10 says “This [circumcision] is [represents] My Covenant.”  Clearly enough here, circumcision could be nothing more than a representation when it used the word is; and much the same may be said of the Passover.  When the Jews in subsequent years would be asked by their children what mean these things, the head of the house was to tell them, “It is [represents] the sacrifice of the Lord’s Passover.”

Another consideration proves that the word is in these texts is used to predicate actual representation and not actual existence: It is the language that Jesus uses in connection with the cup, “This is the New testament.” (1 Cor. 11:25; Luke 22:20)  Certainly in this expression the word is cannot be the predicate of actual existence; the New Testament, or Covenant, is not a cup at all - it will be a contract between God and man, and mediated by The Christ during the Millennium.  Hence, the word is here means representation, and not actual existence.  It would follow, then, that the same meaning is carried in all the places where Jesus discusses the subject of the bread and the wine.

There is yet another point in proof: It is St. Paul’s direct explanation of the meaning of the Lord’s Supper in 1 Cor. 11:26.  Immediately after quoting our Lord’s language in explanation of the bread and the wine, he explains it and the Church’s participation in it by these words: “For as often as ye eat this bread and drink this cup, ye do shew [preach, reveal] the Lord’s death.”  Preaching, revealing are done in two ways - in words and in acts.  When we keep the feast we do not speak; therefore, the announcement must be in acts, not words - in pantomime; and this is done in the breaking of the bread, and in the drinking of the wine.  Thus, these acts are a representation of something else.  Since the breaking of the bread and the pouring of the wine represent Jesus’ death, the bread and wine must then self-evidently represent His body and His blood.  Therefore, all of the foregoing is clear proof that the word is does not mean existence, but actual representation.

STILL DEEPER THOUGHT

The Lord in Luke 22:20, and St. Paul in 1 Cor. 10:16,17; 11:25 teach a still deeper meaning to these words.  By the language, “We, being many, are one bread, one body,” the Apostle shows that the one bread to be broken represents the Church as well as Jesus, for the Church is the body of Christ (Rom. 12:4; Eph. 1:22; Col. 1:24).  In 1 Cor. 10:17 the Apostle calls the Church both the one bread and the one Body of Christ, which in the preceding verse he says is represented by the bread of blessing.  Hence, the bread, in addition to representing the body of Jesus, represents the Church also as Christ’s body.  That being true, it would be equally correct to say the bread and wine represent the actual body and blood of the Church, the participants in the service, if that statement were true of our Lord.  But no one with the spirit of a sound mind would think to suggest such a meaning to the Apostle’s words.

It is well here to stress the words of Jesus in Luke 22:20, Diaglott: “This cup is the New Covenant in My blood, that in your behalf being poured out.”  As the Authorized Version translates this, the average reader would conclude that the clause, “which is shed for you,’ modifies and explains the word blood; but the Greek grammar forbids such a construction.  The participle translated poured out and its governing article do not modify the Greek word for blood.  The participle translated poured out with its governing article sustains the same grammatical relation to the word is as the Greek words translated New Covenant.  Therefore, our Lord’s statement means that the cup by His blood (merit) represents two things: the New Covenant, and that being poured out for us.  What is meant by the latter?  Since a cup in Biblical symbols represents experiences that the Lord pours out for His people, we would understand that the cup in this connection also represents the sufferings unto death of the Church with Him.

Much of what has been presented herein has been gleaned from the writings of others, with some of our own thoughts interspersed; and it is our hope that our effort will prove a blessing to all who endeavor to “walk in newness of life.”  Also, we would stress that it is not our intention to supplant the Passover article in Volume 6, the reading of which we heartily recommend to all.  Thus, we pray for all a special blessing in the preparation for, and participation in this 2005 service, as we “do this in remembrance.”  The Lord lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace!

“This is my body,” the Master said,

“Which is broken for you this day;

And this is my blood, which is being shed

To open for you the way.”

Oh, the pain that the Savior bore,

And the grief that the Pure One knew!

By men depraved He was bruised sore—

Though not for Himself, but you.

Man could not grasp His wondrous thought,

Nor the matchless love that was shown.

He suffered and died alone.

And now comes the call to His faithful few:

“You may share what is left behind

Of the grief and suffering the Loved One knew

For the blessing of all mankind.”

It was an unfriendly race He sought;

So may each to the table worthily come--

Nor earthly loss bemoan

Till he finally hear that sweet “Well done!

                                             Sit down in my Father’s throne.”

(Brother John J. Hoefle, Reprint 386, March 1988)

___________________________________________________________________

THEY KNEW NOT THE TIME OF THEIR VISITATION - LUKE 19:44

Our Lord reproved the teachers of Israel because they did not discern the signs of the  times; because they “knew not the time of their visitation.”  His words imply that their ignorance was a mark of carelessness and unworthiness, and of Divine disfavor.  He said “Ye can discern the face of the sky: but can ye not discern the signs of the times?”  There was a reason, and the realization of that reason might have meant, to some at least, a correction of it - a drawing near to God to be taught of Him.  So now in the time of our Lord’s second presence we find the world largely increasing in wisdom along various lines, and many hearts in perplexity and wonderment looking for those things which are coming upon the world, their hearts failing them for fear of the impending dissolution of the social structure in anarchy, and yet none are so blind respecting the times in which we live and the great changes impending, as the leaders of religious thought.

They are blinded by their false theories.  They have declared that the Lord’s commission to His church is that she should convert the world into a Kingdom of God, and thus bring about the reign of righteousness; and they are so determined that their theories must not fail that they cannot see what is rapidly becoming apparent even to the worldly; namely, that the numbers even nominally converted every year are increasing far less, proportionately, than the natural increase of the world’s population: so that if they had millions of years before them, the conversion could never be hoped for; but at the end of millions of years, true Christianity could not expect to claim as large a percentage as at present.  Their theory also blinds them to the fact that much of the increase of church membership in civilized lands is merely for popularity’s sake, and for the sake of worldly prosperity, social standing, etc., and not the result of love for God and righteousness, nor significant of a consecration to walk in the “narrow way” of self-denial, self-sacrifice, etc.

The worldly, therefore, are really in a better condition to discern the signs of the times than many prejudiced nominal Christians.  But none can see these things from the true standpoint except as they take that standpoint, and it is only granted to those who are fully consecrated to the Lord and who hearken to His Word.  These shall not be in darkness, the Lord will not hide from them either His good purposes as respects the blessing of The Church and, subsequently, of the world, or His purposes respecting the chastisement of the world in a great Time of Trouble, preparatory to its blessing, which will come after it has been humbled.

(Pastor Russell, Reprint 2981, March 15, 1902)

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)

___________________________________________________________________

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)

___________________________________________________________________

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)