NO. 620 TIMES OF REFRESHING - TIMES OF RESTITUTION

In Acts 3:19-24 the Apostle Peter was calling to the attention of the Jews the promise that God had made to Abraham, saying, “In thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.” (Gen. 22:18) The word “restitution” in the text means restoration; or, as Rotherham states it, “the times of the due establishment of all things... But indeed all the prophets ─ from Samuel and those following after, as many as have spoken have announced these days.” The Apostle here is contrasting the “refreshing times” to come with the present dry and dying condition of the human race ─ likened to grass that withers and sears for lack of rain. And he proceeds to stress that the Prophet Samuel and all who came after him had spoken of these “refreshing times” to come. This was one of the first public speeches that came from any of the Apostles after Pentecost, and it is in fact just another way of preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom. Often it is recorded of Jesus that He “went about preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom” (Matt. 4:23; 9:35; Mark 1:14), which the Apostle Peter here declares to be the “times of restitution,” so the question is properly in order, What conclusions are we to draw from this?

It would seem that such an important and far-reaching doctrine as this should have prominent recognition wherever and whenever the Christian religion is preached. But what do we find? So far as we are concerned, we have never once, over the past sixty years, heard Acts 3:19-24 even mentioned from the pulpits of Big Babylon; much less has any attempt been made to explain it. Since men usually preach the things they understand and love, we can but conclude that the silence on this part of Scripture is due to the lack of knowledge of those who should be declaring it.

Perhaps the most of us who have any understanding at all of Harvest Truth would testify that one of the first things we heard from the platform and in private conversation, too, was discussion of the “times of restitution”; and this is still a very prominent and favorite discussion among the various groups of Truth people who were emanated from Parousia Truth. But, tragic though it be, some of them have perverted the real Truth on the subject and have twisted it out of all recognition to the way That Servant gave it to us ─ prominent among them are the Jehovah’s Witnesses.

All during the Age, since the death of the Apostles (or shortly thereafter), the doctrine of Restitution was completely lost, as represented by the woman in the parable of Luke 15:8,9, who had ten pieces of silver, had lost one and sought diligently till she found it, then “called her friends and neighbors together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.” The woman in the parable is the Church, which had lost sight of one cardinal doctrine of the Bible ─ Restitution ─ and it was not until the Harvest that this great truth was once more recognized with great rejoicing. After the Harvest work had attracted a following, and the Pilgrims began to circulate, That Servant often urged them all to preach Restitution. That was especially emphasized with those Sunday speakers that were sent from the Bible House on weekends. It was indeed “Good Tidings of great joy” to all who received it with grateful hearts.

Those of us who are at all familiar with the situation know that That Servant gave a very clear and convincing presentation of the times of Restitution; and his entire following was almost a solid unit in accepting it the way he taught it. But what do we find since his death? We find many who once seemed to understand the subject have now perverted it out of all recognition to the manner in which they had once accepted it. Chief among these is Jehovah’s Witnesses, who now have consigned Adam to annihilation, which idea is actually a denial of the Ransom ─ although they would not admit that. However, since Adam was the only perfect man on earth aside from Jesus Himself; and since the word Ransom itself means a corresponding price, an exact duplicate, Adam is actually the only one who could be ransomed. Therefore, St. Paul gives the philosophy, “As all in Adam die, so all in Christ shall be made alive.” (1 Cor. 15:22) When ransom is provided for Adam, that act becomes the inheritance for all of us ─ just as all of us inherited the death penalty for sin which was passed to him. But the Witnesses now leave out a very large section of the human race in their presentation of Restitution. To all who understand the philosophy of the Ransom, it is an elementary conclusion that if Adam wouldn’t be awakened, none of the rest of the world would be awakened.

They are now telling us that all living today who do not accept them will never be awakened ─ never experience restitution ─ at a time when the Devil is bound, and nothing but Truth will be taught. In Isaiah, Chapter 35, there is this: “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. (v. 5) And an highway [an easy way] shall be there, and a way [Christ the Mediator], and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men [the restitutionists], though fools [“fools” according to Psa. 53:1 are atheists], shall not err therein.” (v. 8) Also Rev. 22:5 tells us, “There will be no night [error] there.” The Jehovah’s Witnesses admit that Satan is still blinding the eyes of those who believe not. Yet, they are dividing the Sheep from the Goats during this Time of Trouble when Satan is more active than ever before “blinding the eyes of those who believe not.”

When they say all present “unbelievers” in them will be annihilated in the approaching Armageddon, it is a far-cry from the “good news” taught by That Servant, who had a message of hope for the groaning creation; and they claim That Servant as their founder! He is not the founder of their errors, but is the founder of The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, which the errorists took over after his demise. This simply reveals that they do not understand, or will not accept, the meaning of “the gospel of the Kingdom,” as St. Paul so clearly states it in Galatians 3:8: “The Scriptures, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, in thee shall all nations be blessed.” Most of these heathen have never even heard the name of Christ; and there are quite a few today who have never heard of Jehovah’s Witnesses despite their world-wide ministry.

So this “annihilation” in Armageddon, according to the Jehovah’s Witnesses, will include the majority of the people living ─ quite a few of whom are honorable, benevolent and kind to all with whom they have to do ─ their besetting sin being that they cannot accept the Jehovah’s Witnesses and their errors. We continue to teach the Gospel of Christ, the Good Tidings to all mankind, the grand and glorious restitution work of that blessed Kingdom, which will include all unbelievers as well as believers in Jehovah’s Witnesses. Those who teach the Truth are far more generous to those who teach error than the errorists are to them.

They can no longer teach John 5:28,29: “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of judgment.” (Damnation is a mistranslation: Judgment is the correct translation, which is for all Restitutionists. See Diaglott.) Also, Acts 24:15: “There shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.”

Many of our readers are familiar with the teaching of the Witnesses, by which, for a number of years, they put forth their “Jonadabs” as the Restitution class. They still retain much the same view, except that they now call their Jonadabs the Great Multitude of Rev. 7:9-17. All Bible logic is against such an interpretation, because the language and setting of Revelation 7 clearly depict a class on the spirit plane ─ “before the throne” ─ which is in Heaven. They have set aside That Servant’s interpretation of this text and substituted their own interpretation, which is error. There is another Truth group, The Laymen’s Home Missionary Movement, that also teach a superior Restitution class that is being developed now ─ Consecrated Epiphany Campers. To refute these errors we need only bear in mind that we are still in the Gospel Age, the Faith Age; and during this Age the merit of Jesus is only for Himself and His house ─ for all those who honestly accept Him as their Savior and walk a “narrow way.” And during this Faith Age there is only one place where His merit can be obtained, tentatively or reckonedly; and that is in the Court of the antitypical Gospel-Age Tabernacle. Both groups have their non-existent classes outside the linen curtain of the Gospel-Age Tabernacle ─ outside the righteousness of Christ in this Faith Age.

“I am the way” (John 14:6); and there is only one manner in which that “way” can be obtained, and that is by taking the step from the Camp, through the antitypical Tabernacle Gate, and into the Court, whereby “justification by faith” has been obtainable all during the Faith Age; and it still is the only way, because we are yet in the Gospel (faith) Age. We would emphasize that a place in the typical Tabernacle is a condition in antitype in this Faith Age.

There would seem to be little excuse for such distortions for those who have received Harvest Truth. According to Malachi 3:3, one of the specific missions of Jesus at His Second Advent would be to “sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.” The “silver” in this text is the Truth; and all familiar with the situation know that the Truth has shone with great brilliance during the Harvest period. The meaning of the text is better revealed by the following: “refiner and polisher of silver [the truth].”

While the truth on Baptism, the Lord’s Supper, the state of the dead, etc., were understood fairly well by some groups in Christendom before 1874, it remained for the Harvest Messenger to refine and elaborate upon every one of them with telling force. This is better understood when we consider that the word “purifier” in our text would be better rendered “polisher.” It is from the Hebrew metaher, one of whose meanings is brightener or polisher. Thus, at His Second Advent our Lord not only refines, purges the dross of error from the Truth, but He also brightens or polishes it.

Our text says He “shall sit” as a refiner and polisher. At the time of the First Advent the speaker usually sat down, as the audience stood up; and in the Talmud to sit is almost synonymous with to teach. Jesus was indeed the teacher; but when He said the Scribes and Pharisees “sit in Moses’ seat,” He meant they were setting themselves forth as the teachers of the people ─ just as Moses had done when he gave them the Law at Sinai. Also, Jesus now sits on His throne, as does a king, a judge on his bench, etc. Thus, He is the executive, the authority, the official opponent of error and developer of Truth. And this is not only true of religious truth, but it is also true in great degree of secular truth, as is apparent on every hand. Satan has done an excellent job of corrupting secular and religious truth over the centuries; and none but our all-powerful Divine Lord would be capable of undoing the damage. But He has come with the golden crown on His head as evidence that He has the power and the authority to extirpate the damage of the past.

To polish anything requires a cleansing agent to be applied with muscular strength. And how has this been especially done since 1874? Mainly through much controversy. In controversy the Truth comes out ─ just as necessity is said to be the mother of invention. Therefore, those who object to controversy are actually objecting to one of the special missions of our Lord since 1874, and are imposing a deception on those who listen to them. But our chief purpose in giving this explanation is to focus attention upon the “outer darkness” (See Matt. 25:30 on the “unprofitable servant” and the Berean Comment.) of those who once saw Restitution in its bri11iance and clarity, but who have now sullied it so badly by their perversions. We can but conclude that this reveals something woefully wrong in the hearts of such; the evidence clearly points to just that.

SEEKING THAT WHICH WAS LOST

In Luke 19:10 we have the words of Jesus, “The Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” The question now properly arises, What was lost? We would answer that four things have been lost ─ things which man once had in his pristine purity. First of all, after the transgression in the Garden of Eden, he lost his intimate and friendly relationship with his Creator. Secondly, he lost his perfect home in the Garden. “The Lord God sent him forth from the Garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. So He drove the man out.” (Gen. 3:23,24) Thirdly, man’s dominion was lost: “Let man have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the cattle, and over the fowl of the air... and over ever living thing that moveth upon the earth.” (Gen. 1:26-28)

In Hebrews 2:8 St. Paul quotes from Psalms 8:4-8: “Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet... But now we see not yet all things put under him.” It surely needs no argument that man has lost his dominion; animals often trample man under foot, instead of man dominating them. We have been told that the Kodiak bear (a brown bear larger than the grizzly) is so ferocious that it is not necessary for the hunter to look for him; once the bear knows there is a hunter in his locale he will come looking for him, and often with deadly results to the hunter. And the fourth thing that man lost is his life: “Lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever.” (Gen. 3:22) Man was not created to die; he was created to live; and the Scripture is clear enough that he would have continued to “live forever” had he remained in his perfect Edenic home. And all four of these things Jesus said He came to “seek and to save.”

THE RESTITUTION PROCESS

Just as there were four things lost, so we have four component parts to accomplish the Restitution, the restoration. These are clearly set forth in Psalms 103:2-5: “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: [1] Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; [2] Who healeth all thy diseases; [3] Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; [4] Who crowneth thee with loving kindness and tender mercies... Thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”

The first two of these processes come to man without any effort on his part; and, generally speaking, with little, or no knowledge that he is receiving these “benefits.” St. Paul says of us, who presently believe, “God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom. 5:8) Thus, He made Himself an offering for sin for us before we knew anything about it being done. And, “Christ gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” (1 Tim. 2:10) In “due time” all men will recognize what we now know ─ that a propitiation for sins was provided by the Redeemer without men asking for it ─ Christ “forgiveth all thine iniquities.”

And the same may be said for the second restitution process, “healing all thy diseases.” In the resurrection day it is self-evident that the disease which brought man to the grave must be cured before his awakening; other-wise, he would immediately die again. The natural and artificial causes that have caused death for centuries must be eliminated in all men before they are returned from the grave. This also will be accomplished without men asking for it. If a man has died by having his head shot off, he will certainly have it back when he returns from the grave.

The third and fourth processes will operate somewhat differently. The third: “Who redeemeth thy life from destruction,” will require cooperation on the part of the recipient. “God will have all men to be saved, and come to an accurate knowledge of the Truth.” (1 Tim. 2:4-6, Dia.) But this “knowledge of the Truth” will not be forced down the throats of the unwilling; they must all show some desire, and willingly cooperate, in the educational process. That educational process will not only teach men the religious truth on the facts of life and death, it will also teach them the physical, mental, moral and religious philosophies of life which will enable them to live forever in perpetual youth. “I will ransom them from the power of the grave [that power which now turns man to destruction, to the grave, will be stayed]; I will redeem them from death: O death I will be thy plagues [by depriving it of its present power over all]; O grave, I will be thy destruction.” (Hosea 13:14) Then will come to pass the prophecy of Job 33:24,25: “Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom. His flesh shall be fresher than a child’s: he shall return to the days of his youth.”

The fourth process will also require man's cooperation, and will receive it with a clear understanding of its import: “Who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies.” This is emphasized in the parable of the Sheep and the Goats: “Then shall the King say to them on His right hand, Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you.” (Matt. 25:34) Today, in earth’s affairs, when a prince inherits a kingdom from his father, he is seated on the throne, and a crown placed upon his head. Figuratively speaking, this same procedure will be followed when the restitution process has completed its work. Each one of the “sheep” will then inherit a kingdom ─ his full right to life and its accompanying life rights ─ just as Adam had it in Eden, when he was given dominion over all things on earth. He was then in every sense monarch of all he surveyed, Lord of the fowl and the brute.

However, this cannot become true in the full sense of things until the causes that now send men to the grave have been eliminated. St. John states this very graphically in Rev. 21:3-5: “I heard a great voice out of Heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men... And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” And the Angel who gave those words to John evidently realized the disbelief with which the message would be received by the present sick and dying race, for he then emphasized it with these words: “Write: for these words are true.” This forces the logical conclusion that the Restitution processes will eliminate all crime, all thievery, physical violence, moral depravity, sickness; no more need for locks on doors; no more destructive armies; no more rigid police protection. “And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” (Isa. 2:4)

THEN COMETH THE END

 Confirmation of the foregoing is graphically stated by St. Paul in 1 Cor. 15:20-26, which we quote from the Improved Version: “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become a firstfruit [Jesus] of them that slept. For since by man [Adam] came death, by [a] man also [Jesus] shall come the resurrection of the dead. For as all in Adam die [this would exclude Jesus, for He was never “in Adam”], even so all in Christ shall be made alive. But every man in his own order; Christ a firstfruit [meaning the entire Christ Company, and not merely Jesus only]; afterward they that are Christ's at His presence.

“Then cometh the end [the end of the Little Season, when He shall have ruled over the earth to the full elimination of death and the dying process], when He shall have delivered up the Kingdom to God, even the Father; when He shall have put down all rule and all authority and all power [complete elimination of Satan and his evil acts]. For He must reign, till He hath put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.”

The “last enemy,” death is not only evil persons, but their evil characteristics, which include Adamic defilements, the dying process ─ all the mental, moral, physical and religious ills now prevalent in the human race ─ is the last great enemy, which will finally be destroyed at the end of the Little Season.

The foregoing is vividly illustrated in Ex. 14:26-31 ─ a picture which is probably the grandest type of the entire Old Testament: “And the Lord said unto Moses [type of Christ], Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians [Pharaoh and his hosts being typical of Satan and his henchmen]... and the sea returned to his strength... and the Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea... All the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one.” Then the conclusion of St. Paul in Heb. 2:14 will be realized: “Jesus through death [His sacrificial death] might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.” And the destruction of the Egyptians in the Red Sea typically sets forth how and when that will be done. At that same time the “goats” of the parable in Matt. 25:41 will come to their complete annihilation from earth’s activities, leaving the “sheep” the unmolested and perfected rulers of all they survey ─ free from all the evils that Satan’s deceptions have inflicted upon the human race during the past 6,000 years. Some one said when hearing this “good news” of the Kingdom, “It is too good to be true!” And an old woman exclaimed, “It is too good not to be true!”

SOME CONTRARY VIEWS

“God will have all men to be saved.” (1 Tim. 2:4) Like all other fundamental teachings of the Bible, this text has been given the extremes of erroneous interpretation. Some contend that if God will have all men to be saved that is a guarantee of eternal life for every human being that has ever lived. Universalism goes even further, insisting that even the Devil and his angels will also eventually be saved, despite the clear statement of St. Paul quoted above. Others contend the text to mean that God would like to have all men saved, but He just can’t seem to accomplish it. These perversions are based upon a misunderstanding of the salvation process.

God will have all men to be saved. But saved from what, to what? St. Paul offers the proper help here in Rom. 5:12: “By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; so death passed upon all men.” All of Adam's progeny inherited the death sentence from him ─ through no fault of their own; and it is relief from that sentence from which God wishes all men to be saved. Often in human affairs we hear of a condemned man being “saved from execution” by official decree; but that does not mean that he shall continue to live forever. It simply means that he is saved from the sentence that had been passed upon him by Judicial process.

Much the same explanation may be given for the entire human race being saved; they will be saved from the sentence now hanging over them, and thenceforth will be given the privilege of regaining perfect life, as Adam had it, if they wish to take advantage of it. If they do, they will be classified as the “sheep” of the parable; if they do not, they will be classified as the “goats” of the parable, and will be sentenced to death once more ─ that time for their own transgression, and not for something they have inherited. This is well stated in Jer. 31:29,30: “In those days they shall no more say, the fathers have eaten a sour grape [sins of the fathers visited upon the children unto the third and fourth generation], and the children’s teeth are set on edge. But every man shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eateth the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge.”

Some years back we exchanged quite some correspondence with a preacher in Jamaica, who insisted that St. Paul’s words mean that every man will eventually receive eternal life ─ although there is just nothing in the text to warrant such a conclusion. Man will be relieved from the present load upon his back, and given the opportunity, under favorable conditions, to free himself from its effects if he will take advantage of the opportunity. Nothing more than that; nothing less. During our exchange of letters the brother cited Matt. 25:46, and argued that “everlasting punishment” simply means age-lasting; that man will continue to receive one opportunity after another ─ for a full Age ─ until he eventually avails himself of eternal life. But the same adjectives are used for the righteous as are used for the unrighteous ─ which forces the logical conclusion that the life received by the sheep will also be limited to the Age. It is well to note here the footnote for verse 46 in the Emphatic Diaglott:

“The Common Version, and many modern ones, render kolasin aionioon, everlasting punishment, conveying the idea, as generally interpreted, of basinos, torment. Kolasin is derived from kolazoo, which signifies to cut off; as lopping off branches of trees, to prune... Thus, the righteous go to life, the wicked to the cutting off from life, or death.”

If we cut the limb from a tree, we know that limb no longer will continue to live; it withers and disintegrates ─ in much the same manner that Adam withered for 930 years, then disintegrated in the grave. “Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.” (Gen. 3:19)

A SUMMATION

At the birth of Jesus the angel declared, “I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.” (Luke 2:10) In 1 John 2:2 this is elaborated: “He is the propitiation for our sins [those who accept Him in this present Age]; and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” “He forgiveth all thine iniquities.” (Psa. 103:3)

As we look back with joy at the Savior’s birth and subsequent atonement for “all men,” so the ancients looked forward to it. “Abraham rejoiced to see My day; and he saw it and was glad.” (John 8:56) The 72nd Psalm gives considerable detail on the subject, too: “God shall come down like rain upon the mown grass [times of refreshing]: as showers that water the earth. In His days shall the righteous flourish [the “sheep of the parable]; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth. He shall have dominion also [that which was lost] from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth. The kings of Tarshish shall bring presents ─ the kings of Sheba shall offer gifts [“every knee should bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord” ─ Phil. 2:10,11]: all nations shall serve Him... to Him shall be given the gold of Sheba... daily shall He be praised... they of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth... All nations shall call Him blessed... Let the whole earth be filled with His glory.”

Biblical names are often significant of the character and accomplishments of the persons to whom they are given. Thus, Jesus is the Latin word for Joshua, or Jeshua, which means “Jehovah is salvation,” the name being very expressive of the work He would do. Thus, He not only delivers, or saves believers in this Age, but in the next Age He will deliver the world in general from the sentence now resting upon men. This He will accomplish by His Priestly, Mediatorial, Kingly, Legislative, Judicial, Prophetic and Paternal offices by His good Word and works. He is indeed mighty to save!

Then will be realized the words of Psa. 22:26-31: “The meek shall eat and be satisfied [none to hurt or make them afraid]: they shall praise the Lord that seek Him: your heart shall live for ever. All nations shall worship before thee. For the Kingdom [Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth] is the Lord’s and He is the Governor among the nations... A seed shall serve Him... They shall come, and shall declare His righteousness unto a people that shall be born.”  

(Brother John J. Hoefle, Reprint No. 500, November 1998)

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LETTER OF GENERAL INTEREST

Dear Sister Marjorie and all the loved ones,

Great joy peace and saving grace be yours through Jesus our Lord.

I just wish to let you know that it is with the utmost joy I receive each and every copy of the “Epiphany” paper you so kindly send without fail. I almost devour them from the moment they arrive and later I regularly reread, and ponder the precious truths there in. The extracts from the reprints always seem so appropriate and timely and also the reasoning of Brother Hoefle is so good to reflect upon. I was wondering if there may be any of his books that it may be possible to purchase. I do find the comments of Brother Hoefle and the other insights added to the articles exceedingly apt, clear and clarifying.

  Please add a small greeting to all those who receive the newsletters. I do hope they all get as much spiritual edification from them as I do, if not more. There is very little activity here in England, the number of “Bible Students” is only a few dozen at most and scattered here and there. Are there any other than myself you mail to here in England? It would be great to make contact if possible.

I wonder dear sister if a photo of the class there might be obtainable as it would bring me a little closer to you all and focus my prayers of thanks to “Our Heavenly Father” for your devotion to his honor and service. 

I have enclosed a “widow’s mite” to help a little toward the print/postal costs. “Gods riches blessing be upon you all.”

  As I regularly read the newsletters you are all often in my thoughts and although I don’t know you on a personal basis I feel I know you all through our “Dear Lord.” May he sustain you all, always. In “His” service with warmest love to you all.  Brother Rick       (LONDON, ENGLAND)

NO. 619 "I AM ALIVE FOR EVERMORE"

Dear Brethren, the time has come for the Memorial of our Lord’s death, which he said “do this in remembrance of me.” The date this year is April 8, 2009, after 6:00 P.M.

We extend our prayers and best wishes to all for a very blessed Memorial. May it be a time of renewing our consecration to do the good and acceptable will of God. We pray and trust that all will be faithful and obedient.

We here at Mount Dora, FL, will meet at 2501 Morningside Drive at 7:00 P.M. All in the vicinity, who are of like mind, are welcome to meet with us.

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“But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first-fruits of them that slept.”  (1 Corinthians 15:20)

While the death of Christ was the greatest event in history, his resurrection from death readily holds second place. The death of Christ without his resurrection would have left our race just as helpless and hopeless as before. The word death signifies the absence of life just as truly when applied to our Redeemer as when applied to others. The Scriptural statement that “The dead know not anything” applied to him while dead as truly as to others, as also the declaration, “There is neither wisdom nor knowledge nor device in the grave” ─ sheol, hades. No religion in the world other than that taught in the Bible teaches the resurrection of the dead. Heathen philosophies assume, contrary to the Scriptures, contrary to reason, contrary to facts, contrary to all the evidences of the senses, that the dead are not dead, but, on the contrary, more alive than ever before.

It is because so many Christian people have imbibed much of heathen philosophy on this subject of death that to many of them the resurrection of the dead is a superfluous matter, to say the least. Indeed they reason soundly when they say that if Abraham lived 175 years in this world and at death passed into the spirit world more alive than ever, where he has been enjoying himself in spirit surroundings for the past 3,800 years, they can see no reason why he might not continue to enjoy himself just as well for all eternity in that condition. Indeed they argue forcefully, logically, that if, according to their expectations, his resurrection by and by will mean a return to earthly condition after so long an experience in spirit conditions, he doubtless would, if given his choice, prefer that there should be no resurrection.

THE INSPIRED RECORD REASONABLE

The difficulty is that the Scriptural teachings on the subject are wholly overlooked in such reasoning. According to the Scriptures Abraham has known nothing since he died, and the moment of his resurrection will mean the revival of all his previous experiences and hopes at a time and under conditions which will permit of the fulfilment to him of all of God’s gracious promises. Without resurrection he would be, as the infidel claims, “dead as a door nail.” From this Scriptural point of view it will be readily seen that the resurrection of the dead is all important, that on it depends all hopes of eternal life. That this is the Scriptural teaching we shall see.

The Golden Text of our Lesson is from the chapter which explains the subject of resurrection more particularly than does any other chapter in the Bible. It assures us that Christ was dead and that he is arisen from the dead. In this it agrees with our Lord’s own words (Rev. 1:18), “I am he that liveth and was dead; and behold, I am alive forevermore.” How plain, how forceful are these words when given their proper weight, their true signification! Life and death are here referred to as opposites ─ he is not dead now, but is alive; when he was dead he was not alive. It seems strange that it should be necessary to examine so simple a statement. It surely would not be necessary to discuss the matter at all with thinking people were it not that the error of thinking of the dead as alive is so prevalent, so deeply entrenched in all our minds, in all our thoughts.

Further, our Golden Text declares that our Lord in his resurrection became the “first-fruits of them that slept.” What does this mean? It means what the Apostle states in other language, saying that he “should be the first that should rise from the dead”; and again, he was the “first-born from the dead.” (Acts 26:23; Col. 1:18) None before him was ever resurrected, though a few were temporarily awakened, as, for instance, Lazarus, the daughter of Jairus, and the widow of Nain’s son. Jesus was the first to be raised completely out of death’s power ─ to perfection of life, of being, on any plane of existence. And the word “first-fruits” carries with it the thought that there are to be others who similarly will pass completely out of death conditions into perfect life conditions.

“IF THERE BE NO RESURRECTION”

In the context (I Cor. 15:12-18) the Apostle seeks to impress upon his hearers the importance of the doctrine of the resurrection as connected with the Christian religion. He wrote at a time when the Greek philosophies were invading all parts of the then civilized world, and when many, imbued with the Platonic theory that the dead are alive, had become interested in Christ and were more or less associating the Platonic view that there is no death with the Christian view that death is the penalty for sin, but that Christ paid that penalty, and that as a result the resurrection from the dead is made possible for every member of Adam’s race. Because of the prevalence of the error the Apostle was constrained to state the truth in the most positive form. He says:

“If Christ hath been preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, neither hath Christ been raised: and if Christ hath not been raised, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not then is not Christ raised; and if Christ be not raised your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.”

There is no reasonable ground for misunderstanding these plain statements. Only deep-seated errors have hindered us from attaching to these inspired words their true meaning. They mean what they say: that if Jesus remained dead, if he was not raised up from death to life, he did not complete the work he undertook, he did not become the Savior, the Deliverer. True, indeed, his death was necessary as the redemption price, but it was also a part of the Divine plan that if he accomplished the sacrifice in a manner satisfactory to the Father, he would be raised from death to a higher plane of existence, to a higher than human nature, to the Divine Nature, and that thus raised he should have the opportunity of presenting the merit of his sacrifice on behalf of the Church first and subsequently for the sins of the whole world.

If he remained in death, was not resurrected, it would be a proof that he had failed to come up to the Divine requirements. If he remained in death, was not resurrected, then he could never present his sacrifice on our behalf, could never appear as our advocate and mediator, could never secure our release from the sentence of death, and could never be our helper to bring us back into accord with the Father. Hence, as the Apostle says, “If Christ be not risen the teachings of the apostles are all false,” for they are all built upon this central fact that “Jesus rose on the third day.” Hence again, as he states it, if Christ be not risen it proves that our hope of forgiveness of sins through the merit of his sacrifice is a vain one ─ then he did not appear on our behalf, he did not offer the merit of his sacrifice in mediation of our sins, we are not reconciled to the Father, we are yet in our sins, yet under condemnation, without hope.

“MANY INFALLIBLE PROOFS”

Then comes in our Golden Text, in which the Apostle reassures us that it is no fable, that Christ arose from the dead, that it was not only necessary to our salvation, but that it is a fact well attested. He proceeds in his argument to show that thus by the resurrection of Christ is ultimately to come the resurrection of the Church to full harmony with God, ultimately to be completely delivered from the power of sin and death ─ “As all in Adam die, so all in Christ shall be made alive” ─ a full release from death, which is the great enemy. He proceeds to say that ultimately, at his Second Advent, “Christ must reign until he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.”

With this view of the importance of the resurrection of Jesus, we cannot wonder that the Scriptures lay great stress upon that fact, and deduce various proofs and demonstrations intended to establish our faith in it. All four of the evangelists give the details respecting our Lord’s resurrection and manifestation to his apostles with great particularity. In the book of the Acts (1:3), the writer begins with this assurance, that Jesus “showed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of his disciples [occasionally] during the space of forty days, speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.”

When the Apostle would outline the great plan of God he shows the importance of the resurrection, not only for Jesus but also for all who ever shall be blessed through him as the Savior. He begins his dissertation on the subject by saying, “I delivered to you first of all that which l also received [first of all]: how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that he was buried and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures: and that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve, and after that he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain until now, but some are fallen asleep. After that he was seen of James, then of all the apostles, and last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.”

A VERY PREVALENT ERROR

Those who think of the dead as being alive and who still desire to apply in some manner the Scriptural teaching respecting the resurrection, have forced themselves to the thought that it is a resurrection of the body that is promised, which is a mistake. It is the being or soul that has the promise of a resurrection, and some beings or souls are to be resurrected to one plane of existence and others to another plane. For instance, the promise to the Church of Christ is a resurrection in a spirit body. The Apostle describes “the” resurrection of “the” dead as the resurrection of the Church, born again to a new nature, a spiritual, a heavenly nature. He says of the being or soul of such, “It is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown an animal body, it is raised a spiritual body.”

Although not discussing particularly the resurrection for the remainder of the world, the Apostle intimates that not all will be raised celestial bodies, heavenly bodies, and he explains that there is a glory for the celestial and a glory also for the terrestrial. He proceeds to contrast the first Adam, of the earth earthly, with the second Adam, the heavenly Lord saying, “The first was made a living soul [an animal being] the last was made a life-giving spirit.” But it was not until our Lord's resurrection that he became a life-giving spirit, for as the Apostle Peter declares elsewhere, “He was put to death in the flesh, but quickened in the spirit.” These two Adams are samples or patterns of what mankind may attain to in the resurrection: the Church is to attain to the likeness of the second Adam, the world the likeness of the first Adam ─ “as is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy; and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.”

Only the Church of this Gospel Age has been granted the opportunity of becoming spiritual children of God, joint-heirs with Christ their Lord. Theirs is the great blessing, the privilege of the first resurrection, concerning which the Scriptures declare, “Blessed and holy are they who have part in the first resurrection; on such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.” It is this wonderful hope that God has set before us in the Gospel, the hope of participation with our Redeemer in the sufferings of this present time and also in the glories that shall follow, and our hope is attainable in and through and by the First Resurrection, of which the Lord was the first fruits.

Subsequently will come the world’s opportunity for a resurrection. This is elsewhere described as restitution, a return to all that was lost in Adam ─ a return to the likeness of God in the flesh which Adam had before he transgressed, and which all of his children are yet to attain to if they will ─ through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus and during the period of his Millennial Kingdom. The world’s hope in Christ is a resurrection hope and a glorious one, but the hope of the Church excels in glory, honor and immortality.

MARY THE FIRST WITNESS

John 20:11-23

The honor of being the first witness to whom our Lord manifested himself after his resurrection came to Mary Magdalene, who at one time was possessed by evil spirits, but who, being freed from their domination became a faithful and loyal follower of Jesus. This was not the Mary, sister of Lazarus and Martha, neither was it Mary the “sinner,” who washed our Lord’s feet with her tears in the Pharisee’s house. She is called Mary Magdalene, probably because her home town was Magdala.

Early on the next morning after the Sabbath ─ corresponding to our Sunday, the first day of the week ─ Mary had an appointment with others of the Lord’s friends to go to the tomb with spices, etc., to embalm his body, a proceeding which had been impossible because of the lateness of the hour of his crucifixion, and because on the Sabbath intervening no such work was permissible under the Law. Their thought was to take advantage of the very earliest opportunity for the embalming before decomposition could set in. Arising earlier than her companions Mary went alone to the sepulcher, and, looking in, saw that the body of Jesus was gone. She wondered why he had been removed and where, and wept; then stooping down again, because the door of the sepulcher was low, she beheld two persons in white raiment, whom she recognized as angels, sitting at the head and foot of the place where Jesus’ body had lain, as though they were keeping guard. They asked why she wept; she answered because they had taken away her Lord and she knew not where they had laid him.

Turning, Mary saw a man near her, whom she took to be the caretaker of the garden in which was Joseph’s tomb. He also asked why she wept, and she appealed to him that if he had removed the body, being dissatisfied that it should remain in that tomb, if he would give it to her care she would take charge of it. Nothing about this person indicated who he was. He looked like a gardener, probably had on gardener’s clothing ─ (his own clothing we know had been appropriated by the soldiers who crucified him, and the linen clothes were still lying in the tomb). It was not until Jesus called her by name, probably in the old familiar voice, that she recognized that the one before her was her Lord ─ in a different body, in another form, but still he.

Falling at his feet and clasping them she simply uttered the word, “Rabboni!” Master; but Jesus did not encourage her to thus continue, but intimated rather that, having knowledge of his resurrection, she should become the news-bearer or gospeller to the disciples, informing them that he was risen and that by and by he would ascend, “To your Father and to my Father, to your God and to my God.”  

ART THOU A STRANGER?

 Our risen Lord evidently revealed himself to Mary only by his voice. The clothing was not such as he had previously worn nor was the appearance the same; she knew him not until he spoke. Later in the day two of his disciples were going to Emmaus and the Lord overtook them and saluted them kindly, inquiring why they were of such sad countenances and evidently in deep sorrow. They knew him not, they saw not the print of the nails in his hands nor in his feet, they saw not the features they had long known nor the clothing. They said to him, “Art thou a stranger in these parts and hast not heard about Jesus?” etc. He took occasion to open unto them the Scriptures, to point out to them from the prophecies how it was necessary that Messiah should thus suffer in order to enter into his glory, in order that his Kingdom might come, in order that mankind might be blessed, in order that an elect church might be gathered to be associated with him in the b1essing of the world.

Finally, after being with them probably for several hours, and doubtless being esteemed a very wonderful man indeed, who could thus open up the Scriptures so as to cause their hearts to burn within them with love and devotion and with faith, he revealed himself to them in the breaking of bread and immediately vanished. Something about his words or about his manner of giving thanks told them at once that this was their Lord, and accounted for all the peculiar phenomena they had noted.

The same evening he met with his assembled disciples, who, in fear of the Jews, behind fast-closed doors, were discussing their own safety and also the reports of Mary and the other women at the sepulcher when Jesus appeared suddenly in their midst. They were astounded and fearful. How could any being get into their midst while the doors were fast? Surely the being before them must be a spirit. They were in fear and trepidation, but the Master’s words, “Peace,” stilled their fears. He showed them his hands and his side, and he ate before them and said, “Handle me and see that it is I: a spirit [pneuma] hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.” Then were they glad as they realized the truth, and so are all glad who realize this great fact of our Lord’s resurrection from the dead and who have any conception whatever of its weighty importance as connected with the Divine Plan of our salvation.

WHY THE DIFFERENT FORMS?

We may be sure that there was some good and wise purpose served by the Lord’s course ─ by his appearing in various forms and later on vanishing from sight. Nothing, we may be sure, was done in vain; everything had a purpose, especially at such a time. It is for us to reverently examine the matter and note the purpose, the object, of such manifestations. We accept them as follows: (1) Our Lord would convince them that he was not any longer the fleshly Jesus whom they had known for several years; he would convince them that although put to death in the flesh he was quickened in the spirit, that henceforth he was a spirit being. They knew about angels ─ Mary herself had seen two in the sepulcher; they knew that angels could appear and disappear; they knew that angels could assume human form and flesh; they knew from the record that angels had appeared to Abraham and had eaten dinner with him, and that Abraham knew not that they were angels until subsequently.

Our Lord would show his disciples that not only was he not dead, but that now he could go and come like the angels, he could appear and disappear, he could manifest himself in the flesh or be present without flesh, he could create clothing as easily as the flesh for these appearances and did so, yet none of the clothing and none of the flesh were the same that they had previously been in contact with. The clothing was with the soldiers still ─ the flesh, we know not where it is; we simply know that Jesus was not raised in the flesh, and we know also that the elements of the fleshly body are not at all necessary to God for the creation of a spirit body.

Our Lord illustrated in his own person the very lesson he had given them on the occasion of the visit of Nicodemus. He then said that those born of the spirit could go and come like the wind, and that none would know whence they came nor whither they went. How appropriate that he should illustrate this and thus give them their first lessons in spiritual things, which, however, they would not be fully able to appreciate until after Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit would be poured out.

“A SPIRIT HATH NOT FLESH”

But some, perhaps, may say, Did not Jesus contradict the thought that he was a spirit when he used the words, A spirit hath not flesh and bones as ye see me have? The two thoughts are quite in harmony: they were not seeing the spirit Jesus, they were merely seeing the flesh and bones which the spirit Jesus assumed for the purpose of conversing with them, just as the angels assumed flesh-and-bone bodies when they made certain communications as recorded in the Old Testament Scriptures. He did not say, “A spirit hath not flesh and bones as ye see I am,” but “as ye see me have.”

The spirit Jesus manifested himself through the flesh and bones and clothing. He saw that, if they could but realize that they were looking at flesh and bones their fear would depart, and as they would be thus calmed, Jesus would be the better able to explain to them the fact of his resurrection and to give them the initiatory lessons connected with their future work as his representatives in the world when he should be gone. This was the object of his various manifestations during those forty days, about eleven in all, and very brief in every case. The appearing in the flesh would remove their fear and enable them to hear the better what he had to say to them. Their seeing him on two occasions in a body of flesh resembling the one he had been crucified in, and perhaps in clothing resembling that the soldiers had divided among themse1ves, assisted them also to grasp the thought of the resurrection, that he was no 1onger dead and his appearing in different forms proved to them conclusively that none of these forms was his own proper one, but that they were merely so many appearances through which he communicated with them.

Doubtless it was for this same reason that he remained forty days, manifesting himself occasionally, yet invisible to them all the remainder of that period. He would have them learn gradually not to expect him again in the flesh, but to realize, nevertheless, his presence with them and care over them, so that they might the better understand, when he should leave them, how he could still maintain his presence with them and his guardianship of all their interest. He was sending them forth as his special representatives in the world as his words indicated, “Peace be unto you. As the Father hath sent me even so send I you.” Jesus Christ was the Father’s representative; we are the specia1 representatives of our Lord and Head, though of course through him and in him representatives also of the Father.

“RECEIVE YE THE HOLY SPIRIT”

The disciples had not yet received the Holy Spirit. Only Jesus had ever received it in the sense of a begetting, although the prophets had received it in a mechanical sense to work in them and through them. This is in harmony with the statement elsewhere made, that “the Holy Spirit was not yet given because Jesus was not yet glorified.” In other words, God cou1d not communicate his spirit to any until after the merit of Christ’s sacrifice had been appropriated to them. This was done after the Lord had ascended up on high, there to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. Forthwith the Holy Spirit, in Pentecostal power and blessing, was shed forth.

The Lord would have the disciples anticipate the blessing that was to come to them; he would have them understand that the Holy Spirit he would send would not be a person, but the Father’s spirit and his own spirit ─ the breath or spirit of God, the breath or spirit of Jesus, the spirit of truth, the spirit of holiness, the spirit of a sound mind.

“WHOSESOEVER SINS YE REMIT”

Our Lord’s declaration that his disciples might or might not remit sins is not to be understood after the manner in vogue amongst Roman Catholics, Greek Catholics, etc. ─ that a priest by virtue of the sacrifice of the mass or otherwise, is able to remit sins. The thought rather is that these twelve apostles in particular, and less particularly all the Lord’s true members while in the world, would be under the influence and guidance and instruction of his Holy Spirit to such an extent that they would know the terms and conditions on which it would be possible to forgive sins, and that they might thus know so certainly as to be able to tell their hearers whether or not their sins were forgiven by the Lord.

We have this privilege still, and every true child of God should know how to exercise it, so that if brought into contact with penitent sinners he could render them the necessary assistance and indicate to them upon what particular terms they might know that their sins were forgiven of the Lord. For instance, we may assure any one who gives evidence of contrition, of heart repentance, restitution to the extent of ability, faith in Christ and obedient desire to walk according to his ways ─ we may assure any such person that his sins are forgiven; not that we have the power to forgive them, but we, being intimate with the Master and knowing his mind on the subject, can speak for him as his mouthpiece, to declare the terms of reconciliation. Whoever can know about his own sins, should know also how to direct and assist others in knowing of the cancelation of their sins.

(Pastor Russell, Reprints 3563-3565, May 15, 1905)

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THE MEMORIAL SUPPER

As we are approaching the anniversary of our dear Redeemer’s crucifixion; once more we remind our readers of the lesson which years have taught many of us, namely, that for some unexplainable reason the Lord’s consecrated people experience special trials and testings at this particular season ─ corresponding to our Lord’s time of heaviness and sorrow, and the time of special testing amongst the early disciples. It was shortly before he went up to Jerusalem, foreknowing the crucifixion, that he explained it to the Apostles. It was then that he declared that only those who eat his flesh and drink his blood have life in them. Many of his close followers said, “This is a hard saying; who can receive it?” and walked no more with him. (John 6:60)

Shortly after, when telling the twelve of his approaching crucifixion, St. Peter brought upon himself a rebuke by saying, Far be it from thee, Lord. This thing shall not happen unto thee. But Jesus answered him, saying Get thee behind me, adversary, for thou savorest not of the things of God, but of the things of men. (Matt. 16:22,23) Your suggestions and advice are contrary to the Divine program; it is necessary that the Son of man suffer sacrificially; that he might enter into his glory and accomplish his appointed work as the Savior of the Church and of the world ─ whosoever wills.

Later on, near the climax, we remember the special trial upon Judas, and how his love of money led him to oppose the anointing of the Master for his burial, and later led him to sell that Master for thirty pieces of silver, and later on, to betray him with a kiss. Still later we remember how all the disciples were disconcerted by the arrest of their Master and by his evident willingness to be arrested, so that they “all forsook him and fled.” (Mark 14:50) We remember how, still later, the noble St. Peter was overtaken in a serious fault and denied his Lord and Master, even with cursing.

Perhaps we partly imagine a parallel of testing on the Lord’s people at this season of the year. And perhaps it is real and appropriate that the Lord’s people should, in this particular at this season, have special trials, peculiar difficulties, testings of faith, obedience and loyalty.

(Excerpts from Pastor Russell, Reprint 4756, February 1, 1911)

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THE TWO RESURRECTIONS

“The hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto  the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of judgment.” (John 5:28, 29, R.V.)

The Divine provision is that through the obedience of One, the sins of the whole world will be atoned for, and a blessing come to every member of the Adamic race. By a man came death, and by a man comes the resurrection of the dead (1 Cor. 15:21-23). We have two classes here; they that have done good are those who, during the present time, have heard the Gospel, and who have and use an opportunity to do good, and those who have done evil are those who have not heard and who have not, therefore, had an opportunity of doing good.

Who can be said to have done good? “There is none righteous, no, not one.” (Rom. 3:10) After having received this good Word of God we should make good use of it, enter into the school of Christ to be taught of him, and pass through our trials and testings. These things will determine whether or not we are worthy of this high position, to attain which we have consecrated our lives.

But we shall not in this life be perfect as Jesus was ─ in body as well as in mind. We cannot be perfect in the flesh, as Jesus was; but Jesus had a perfect will, and we can also have a perfect will, although we may have drawbacks and hindrances in carrying out that will. But to cover our defects, we have our Advocate, in whom God has arranged that we may be accepted. The Church have had their trial in advance of the world; and if they have overcome, God has said that the verdict will be, “Well done… I will make thee ruler over many things.” (Matt. 25:21) These constitute the “good,”

Who are they that have done evil? None have been perfect; not even in their minds have they come up to a standard that God can approve. They are unsatisfactory, which means unfit. When God shall have established the glorious Messianic Kingdom, then he will put all mankind under trial to see whether, during the thousand years of his reign, the rewards and punishments will bring them to a proper condition of heart. At the end of the thousand years, Jesus, as Mediator, will present them to the Father for a final testing. If they pass that test, God will give them everlasting life. But those who take a thousand years to make good, will not get as high a reward as those who, by self-sacrifice, now prove their love for the truth and die for righteousness’ sake.

(Pastor Russell, Reprint 5108, column 2 and 5109, column 1)

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LIVING FOR JESUS

Living for Jesus day by day,

Following just as He leads the way,

Never a choice in great or small,

Doing His will, and that is all.

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“IN THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW”

PASTOR MOSES STEPHEN EMAH:  We have sad news about Brother Moses S. Emah of Nigeria.  He was shot by armed robbers on his way from a Crusade at Ikot Oku Ubo Offot in Uyo of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria on October 27, 2008 and passed away on the 28th in the hospital. He was born April 12, 1935. He is survived by his wife, three sons, three daughters and twelve grandchildren.

 He was founder and representative of The Epiphany Bible Students Ass’n of Nigeria since July 15, 1986. He was a faithful servant and gave us information that we would never have had without him. We will miss him greatly for himself and for his help in the Truth.

NO. 618 RETROSPECT AND PROSPECT - PART TWO

“See I will bring them from the land of the north and gather them from the ends of the earth… (Jeremiah 31:8)

This seems to be happening now before our very eyes, for the Jews are returning to their land and are filling it up very rapidly.

JEWS

“ISRAEL AT 60: Living in Israel in the 21st century, one might wonder what Theodor Herzl would think of this modern-day state. The malarial swamps of pre-state Palestine have been replaced by rapidly growing cities with glitzy shopping districts, carefully landscaped parks, and six-lane highways that run between high-rise office buildings and limestone apartment complexes. The nation whose birth defied the odds in a war of independence against invading Arab armies to the north, east, and south has become a regional military superpower.  In all likelihood, Zionism’s founder would not even recognize the place.”

(By Uriel Heilman, B’nai B’rith Magazine, Spring 2008)

“ISRAEL is turning 60 this year. What are her accomplishments and what issues, both political and social, does she face in the next 60 years?

“Well, Israel is an unbelievable, unparalleled success story. You look at the accomplishments in the past 60 years, and you cannot find any example similar: after 2,000 years, having to take in close to 6 million Jews from more than 100 countries [and] build a modern society, a vibrant society; being able to create and develop a very vibrant democracy, in an area where this is a great rarity, under very difficult conditions, with being at war imposed on us; [developing] an economy that is growing fantastically; and a young generation [developing] innovations, which is, again, remarkable ─ maybe, again, unparalleled ─ if you compare it to the size of Israel and the challenges that Israel has to face. If you look at every high-tech development in the world, you are quite likely to find an Israeli innovation in it.

“Also, Israel is a Western society that is maintaining a significant, positive growth rate, which I hope is a reflection of optimism, and a social system, that allows Israel to be, at the same time, more advanced [and] self-fulfilling without compromising various needs of family and children. So altogether, I think that anybody who is giving it an objective look ─ and not like mine ─ will tell you that this is almost a miracle.”

(By Sallai Meridor, B’nai Brith Magazine, Spring 2008)

“WOULD JESUS WANT TO CONVERT THE JEWS? But rather than merely lamenting this new effort by Christians to proselytize Jews, I believe that we might see it as an opportunity. Time magazine recently identified the new effort by scholars to re-Judaize Jesus as one of the 10 most important new ideas in the world.

“Using public forums to teach our Christian brothers and sisters of the essential Jewish nature of Jesus and his teachings is vital to a renewed relationship.

“Jesus was a Pharisaic rabbi. Everything he taught and lived was based on the Torah and the Talmud. From the proclamation that ‘The meek shall inherit the earth’ (Matt. 5:5) which comes from Psalm 37, to the famous Golden Rule of ‘Do unto others what you would they do to you,’ which derives from Leviticus 19, to his statement that Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath, whose origin is the Talmud. Yoma threads of tradition were being unraveled due to the oppressive hand of the occupying Roman beast.”

(The Jerusalem Post, April 4-10, 2008)

Comment: John 4:22 says, “Salvation is of the Jews.” The New Covenant will be made with the Jews (Jer. 31:31-33) so all Gentiles will have to become Jews if they receive the blessings of the New Covenant. Also, Jerusalem will be the capital of the world, and all will be citizens of that world-wide Jewish country. “Many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob: and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion [the true church, Head and Body] shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.” (Isa. 2:3)

“ISRAEL ─ UNIQUE AMONG THE NATIONS: 

(1) Israel is home to the lowest point on earth in the DEAD SEA. 

(2) Israel’s SHRINE OF THE BOOK Museum in Jerusalem houses the oldest Jewish manuscripts in the world.

(3) Israel has more Museums per square capita than anywhere in the world.

(4) Israel boasts over 500 different bird species and is a major stop for many birds’ migrations.

(5) Tel Aviv has one of the finest examples of Bauhaus Architecture in the world and is now a United Nations World Heritage site.

(6) Israel’s population comes from 120 Different Countries.

(7) In Israel, you hear the only spoken language that was RESURRECTED AFTER 2,000 YEARS.”

“THEODOR HERZL (founder of modern political Zionism): ‘Were I to sum it up the Basel Congress [First Zionist Congress in Switzerland in 1897] in a word…it would be this: ‘At Basel, I founded the Jewish State.’ If I said this out loud today, I would be answered by universal laughter. If not in 5 years, certainly in 50, everyone will know it.”

“GOLDA MIER (Israel’s fourth prime minister (1969-74): ‘Peace will come when they love their children more than they hate us. Zionism and pessimism are not compatible.’”

(The above 3 items are from Bridges of Peace, April 2008)

“NEW YORK: The anti-Defamation League said on April 4 that the Vatican had not done enough to allay its concerns about the introduction of a Latin prayer calling for the conversion of Jews.

Abraham Foxman, the league’s national director, echoed earlier comments from Jewish leaders, who in March criticized the pope for his refusal to abolish the prayer in the Latin mass on Good Friday ─ the day that commemorates the crucifixion and death of Jesus.”

(Jerusalem Report Staff, April 28, 2008)

“HATE TAX: A British taxpayers group claims that millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money is being spent to fund anti-Semitism in the Palestinian territories. A report issued in January by the ‘Taxpayers Alliance’ alleges that funding donated to the Palestinian Authority is being used to teach children anti-Israel and extremist propaganda.

“The report, entitled ‘Funding Hate Education,’ says Britain gave 47.5 million pounds in aid last year to the Palestinian Authority. According to the Alliance, a right-of-center group dedicated to lowering British taxes, Palestinian leaders are using these monies to produce textbooks calling for death to Jews among other violent messages.”

“FRANCO-ISRAELI FRIENDSHIP: French Jews are basking in the warmth of French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s unprecedented words of friendship in late March. In remarks to an umbrella organization of 1,000 French Jewish leaders and citizens, the new president whose maternal family is of Jewish origins underscored the importance of Jewish life to the republic.

“This month, Sarkozy is scheduled to follow up with a visit to Israel, having promised a new era of open and friendly relations between the two countries. In recent times French Jewry has been shaken by a precipitous surge in anti-Semitic incidents.”

“GERMAN-ISRAELI TIES: Germany and Israel may disagree on several issues ─ such as dealing with Iran ─ but if recent meetings are indicative, they are forging strong and lasting ties. The two nations held joint cabinet meetings in February and say they are amenable to making the meetings an annual tradition.

“As a follow up, German Chancellor Andrea Merkel and her ministers visited Israel in March to consider programs of scientific and student exchange. Noted one expert on German-Israeli relations, the two nations have put the guilt and sensitivities of the Holocaust behind them.”

“SINATRA’S AID TO ISRAEL: Frank Sinatra was said to have played a part in smuggling guns to Israel in 1948, according to Brian Greenspun, son of Las Vegas entrepreneur Hank Greenspun, who admittedly helped back the illegal enterprise.”

“HEBREW AID HOAX: The Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society refuted a report circulating on the internet that its clients got higher social security benefits than other Americans. A spurious email sent to media editors claimed that some Americans were only entitled to benefits of $791 a month whereas refuges could get $1,890 a month

“HIAS scrambled into corrective mode, advising editors that most aged refuges and asylum seekers receive a one time $425 grant and a monthly entitlement of only $637. Snopes.com was able to corroborate the Society’s corrections noting that the original email was indeed a hoax.” (The above 5 items are from World Jewry, May 2008)

“RICE: NO PEACE DEAL THIS YEAR: TEL AVIV, ISRAEL ─ The Bush administration conceded Thursday that an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal by a year-end deadline is no longer possible. ‘We do not think it is likely it will happen before the end of the year,’ White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said, while Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice acknowledged as much as she arrived in Israel at the outset of a Mideast trip meant to secure the modest gains from a year of U.S.-sponsored talks between Israel and one part of the fractured Palestinian leadership.” (From Global News Services, November 7, 2008)

“MOBILE MEDICAL IMAGING: Hebrew University breakthrough uses cell phones to send medical images, enabling remote areas to access important health services.  The device can be made with off-the-shelf parts that somebody with basic technical training can operate.”

(The International Jerusalem Post, May 9-15, 2008)

“PEACE WILL BE ISRAEL’S BEST ACHIEVEMENT: In the last 60 years Israel has achieved much. The greatest achievement is still to come, however, and Israel continues to work hard towards it.”

(Israel21c, May 20, 2008)

“THE AUGUST 2008 WAR AND PEACE INDEX: The question asked: When you think of the Middle East, what is the first word that comers to mind?

‘I can’t take it anymore!’

‘God help us.’

‘What the hell are we doing here?’

‘A nutcase region.’

“Professors Ephraim Yaar and Tamar Hermann oversee the ‘War and Peace Index,’ funded by the Tami Steinmetz Center for Peace Research and the Evens Program in Mediation and Conflict Resolution of Tel Aviv University. When the monthly report was released, it began: ‘The world of images that the concept ‘Middle East’ arouses in the Israeli Jewish population is mainly negative and includes adverse opinions, perceptions, and emotions.’

“On the positive side of the response, came a strong desire for peace in the region. While peace is an aspiration, 71% said they did not believe Israel will succeed in integrating into the Middle East politically; 52% were negative about future integration economically; and 59% saw no chance of merging culturally even over decades.

“While Israelis want their Jewish culture, they prefer to relate to the West (Europe-United States) in all three areas: politically (63% are interested in integrating with the West versus 28%, who are interested in integrating with the Middle East), economically (74% vs. 18%), and culturally (69% vs. 15%). When analysts crosschecked the surveys taken about a decade ago (February 1995), when Oslo process had just commenced, they found the preference for integration with the West has strengthened. The 2008 report states, ‘It is also worth emphasizing that the tendency to prefer the West is especially pronounced among young people up to age 29, immigrants from the former Soviet Union, third-generation Israelis, and seculars.’

“Those surveyed declared their pro-Western preference without shifting from their unique Jewish identity. In response to a question concerning which of the three cultures ─ Western, Jewish, or Arab ─ one feels closest to, over two-thirds (64%) said they felt closest to the Jewish culture, compared to 31% who felt closest to the Western culture.

“The press release provided by Tel Aviv University contained what I believe is the biggest shock at the end of the report: ‘The findings on the Israeli Arabs’ positions on these questions are particularly thought-provoking… the majority prefers integration with the West (Europe-United States) and not with the Middle East. In the political sphere, 49.5% prefer integration with the West vs. 39% with the Middle East; in business and economy, 63% vs. 39%; and particularly surprising is the preference for the West over the East regarding cultural integration ─ 49.5% vs. 23%... Yet, when asked about their closeness to one of three cultures that were mentioned, an overwhelming majority, 88%, said they felt especially close to the Arab culture…”

(Dispatch From Jerusalem, December 2008)

“THEOLOGICAL RIFT: The central council of Jews in Germany has severed relations with the Catholic Church over the resumption of a controversial prayer. Pope Benedict XVI recently opted to reuse a rare Latin prayer for Good Friday services that exhorts Jews to recognize Jesus Christ as their savior.

“In a reversal of what had been recently good interfaith relations, Jews say there is no place for the proselytizing prayer which could stoke the fires of anti-Semitism. Catholic Clerical leaders say the prayer is not a missionary statement but simply a hope that all peoples can be saved, specifically urging Catholics to ‘pray for all Jews’ to acknowledge Christ for salvation.”

(World Jewry, June 2008)

          “IN BRIEF: More than 150 Jewish communities across Europe kept the lights of their local synagogues on overnight on November 9, as the Jewish world marked the 70th anniversary Kristallnacht ─ the Night of Broken Glass. The notorious 1938 Nazi pogrom was the first in a series of violent riots that effectively began Nazi Germany’s attempt to destroy European Jewry. The World Zionist initiative, calling on rabbis and community leaders to turn on all the lights in their synagogues ─ as well as to light candles and torches ─ was meant to commemorate the pogrom in a highly symbolic way, said WZO official Zvika Klein. ‘The Nazi objective was to darken Israel’s eyes and turn off the light of the world, the light of the Torah and prayer that shone out of synagogues and midrashot [centers for Jewish learning]’ read a joint message published by Social Affairs Minister Isaac Herzog and chief rabbis Yona Metzger and Shlomo Amar. The idea was to illuminate synagogues on the memorial date was the brainchild of Rabbi Yechiel Wasserman, who heads The Department of Religious Affairs at the WZO.

(The International Jerusalem Post, November 14-20, 2008)

“RUSSIAN PHAMPLETS: JEWS USE CHILDREN’S BLOOD IN MATZOT: Hundreds of anti-Semitic pamphlets were distributed in the Russian city of Novosibirsk warning residents of supposed Jewish practice of kidnapping children to use their blood for Passover matzot  [unleavened bread plural]. ‘Beware Russian parents. Keep watch over your children before the coming of April 2008, the Jewish holiday of Passover. These disgusting people still engage in ritual practice to their gods. They kidnap small children and remove some of their blood and use it to prepare their holy food [matzah]. They throw the bodies [of the children] out in garbage dumps,’ the notice read.” 

(World Jewish Congress, June 2008)

“SERIAL HATE CRIMES: While multi-cultural South Florida ─ a major American Jewish stronghold and a second home to many Israelis ─ was gearing up for celebrating Israel’s 60th year, hate crimes reared its ugliness. On the third day of Passover, a Chabad Shul on Miami’s South Beach was the apparent target of extremist anti-Semites who not only torched the building but shredded the holy Torah ─ and only seven months after another suspicious and as yet unsolved Miami Synagogue fire.

“Only days before official local celebrations kicked off in May in many communities throughout the region, a Chabad Synagogue in the Fort Lauderdale area town of Parkland became a crime-scene of anti-Jewish graffiti replete with swastikas. While community and national political leaders have called for vigorous investigations, local investigative authorities were joined by the ATF and FBI to follow up on concerns that serial hate crimes including arson might be afoot in the lower sunshine state and to answer the larger question: who in a free and open society would act out such callow deeds.”

(World Jewry, July/August 2008)

“HOMES BEST: 77% of Israeli Arabs would rather live in Israel than any other country in the world, a Harvard University Kennedy School of Government survey found. It also found that 73% of Jews and 94% of Arabs want Israel to be ‘a society in which Arab and Jewish citizens have mutual respect and equal opportunities.’” 

(The Jerusalem Report, July 21, 2008) 

“UK: ANTI-ISRAEL HOTBED: Britain’s Israeli ambassador says that the UK has become a ‘hotbed’ for radical anti-Israeli expression. Ambassador Ron Prosser says extremists have ‘hijacked’ the debate over Israel, blindly advocating for a one-state solution while the media and public opinion totally ignore terror attacks on Israeli citizens.

“Citing traditional British values of liberal fairness, decency and common sense, the Israeli envoy says it is up to the British public ‘to prevent the radical fringe from monopolizing British-Israeli discourse.” (World Jewry, September 2008)

“SHEKEL GLOBALLY TRADED: Recognized as one of the world’s strongest currencies, the Israeli shekel is now accepted as legal tender internationally. Global Business Service says that Israeli companies can now make payments in shekels to overseas accounts and customers.

“This recent change comes as a result of CLS Bank International, a worldwide currency clearing house, recognizing the strength and stability of the shekel. It can now be tendered in overseas trading, as banks throughout the world participate in the financial system’s ability to handle and convert shekels to other currencies.”  (World Jewry, September 2008)

“THE DEAD SEA SCROLLS PROJECT: Israeli antiquities experts say they are in the process of digitally photographing all of the thousands of fragments of the Dead Sea Scrolls with the intention of displaying them on the internet within two years. The historic and painstaking project will enable extremely high resolutions, high clarity photos of the 15,000 fragments making up some 900 separate documents.

“Found in the late 1940s in a cave near Jerusalem, the 2,000 year old scrolls are the record in papyrus and parchments of nearly intact Old Testament and rituals of a sect practicing during the time of Christ. Experts say that every exposure of the elements of the fragile pieces results in some degree of irreversible deterioration.”

(World Jewry, November 2008)

“FROM BARACK TO BARLAT: A Look Back at the November Elections ─  The just concluded Jerusalem election, while certainly not as important on a world stage as last week’s U.S. presidential contest, was in many ways spookily similar in its overseas counterpart.” (Israel21c)

NO. 617 RETROSPECT AND PROSPECT - PART ONE

“Let the sea resound, and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them! Then the trees of the forest will sing for joy, they will sing for joy before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth.” (1 Chronicles 16:31-33)

All the world dreads the judgment day, for they know that they haven’t done as they should. But they do not understand that the Judgment day consists of a trial before the sentence is rendered. The world has not been on trial in the present age or past ages, only the elect have, mainly the saints. So when    the Judgment day for the world comes       there will be a trial first and then the    sentence rendered. It is the same in this day for people who have been involved in   criminal activity. They are put on trial first, judged, and then the sentence is rendered.

WORLD EVENTS

There have been many events in nature this past year. For instance, a terrible earthquake in China, a cyclone in Myanmar, terrible fires in Florida, tornadoes in many places and melting of the ice-caps which has endangered the polar bears. Add to that the 7,000 medical mistakes in the United States and it doesn’t give a good picture of the year 2008.

“$50 M GIFT IS GENESIS FOR BIBLE-TRANSLATION PROJECT: A new effort to translate the Bible into every living language kicks off today with the help of a $50 million anonymous gift to Orlando-based Wycliffe USA ─ the world’s largest Bible-translation company.

“The goal of Wycliffe’s Last Languages Campaign is to translate the Bible for all of the 2,400 languages that still do not have one. Those represent about a third of all languages spoken and include nearly 200 million people, mostly in three regions: Central Africa, northern India-southern China and Indonesia-Papua New Guinea.

“The translations are expected to take at least 17 years to complete. Robert Creson, president of Wycliffe, would identify the cash donor only as someone with a longtime interest in biblical translation and the positive effects it can have on communities that do not have written languages. ‘It’s a huge encouragement and a huge investment of faith,’ he said.

“Worldwide, the nonprofit Bible-translation company has more than 6,400 people working in 93 countries. In 1999, about 1,500 languages had translation of the Bible. That number since has more than doubled to 4,000.

“It can take several years to complete a translation. Samuel Mubbala, a Ugandan translator working on a Bible in his native language, knows how difficult the task can be. Although the Bible already had been translated into a related Ugandan language, that version did not seem to speak to him intimately enough. ‘You’re missing part of the message if it’s not in the mother tongue,’ Mubbala said. Mubbala and others had to come up with a new linguistic construction that Lugwere speakers understood.

“Six years ago, Wycliffe USA moved from California to a 200-acre campus in Orlando. That facility employs about 285 workers and includes an interactive display about Bibles, which is open to the public.

“Wycliffe was founded in 1942 by American missionary Cameron Townsend, who saw the need for native-language Bibles while working in Guatemala in 1917. The company was named for John Wycliffe, who initiated the first English translation of the Bible in the

14th century.”

(By Jay Hamburg, Excerpts from Orlando Sentinel, November 22, 2008)

“STICK ‘EM UP, PLEASE: A thief who robbed a store in Vermont apologized to the owner and left the singles behind so workers on the next shift would have something in the till. The knife wielding man made off with an undetermined amount of money from Joe’s Pond Country Store in West Danville. ‘I’m very sorry I have to do this,’ he told owner Jeff Downs. No arrests have been made. Vermont State Police Lt. Timothy Clouatre said Friday. ‘Usually, they’re in more of an angry mode, Just give me the money and get out,’ he said. ‘Maybe this is somebody who’s just desperate but isn’t a career criminal.’ Downs suggested that money is scarce in the wrong places. ‘Wall Street tycoons can’t live on millions, and here is this kid willing to be shot or go to jail for a couple of hundred bucks. Something is not right.’”

(The Associated Press, November 22, 2008)

IN FINANCE

2008 was some year. In two weeks the stock market plunged 38% with more bankruptcies and more rising joblessness. Clearly the U.S. economy is on the ropes. Never before has the nation and its citizens faced such a financial crisis.

Banks are going bankrupt. Merrill Lynch and Wachovia are merging with other banks. Some say we are going into a depression but looking at the economic facts we are better off than we were in 1930. But when you are out of a job it is a depression or it seems that way. More people are out of work than ever before. Many companies are laying people off.

The government has given a stimulus package to the people and one to the banks but people are not buying anything they can do without. Debt is the highest in the history of our country.

When Barack Obama takes office January 20th he will face the worst economy in decades with no hope of a quick or fast recovery. Unemployment is predicted to increase to 8% by December 2009. As typical the Federal Reserve cuts rates and jobs are created expecting consumers will start spending and recovery begin. But not this time; there aren’t any quick fixes.

Since we are in the Time of Trouble it is difficult to predict the future. Our advice is “Seek ye the Lord, all the meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment: seek righteousness, seek meekness, it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord’s anger.”

IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

“EUROPE FIRMS SNUB U.S.: TEHRAN, IRAN ─ A high-profile natural gas conference in part by two of Europe’s largest energy companies opened Saturday in Tehran – evidence, Iran said, that U.S. pressure was ineffective in preventing the country from developing its vast oil and gas resources. The two-day conference is sponsored by European energy giants, a total of France and OMV AG of Austria, as well as Crescent Petroleum of the United Arab Emirates. The U.S. has tried to persuade European energy companies to avoid business with Iran, hoping the pressure will cause Tehran to suspend its nuclear program.” (From Global News Services)

“HEAPS OF POWER: Getting rid of mountains of garbage and generating cheap electricity ─ that’s exactly what an Israeli startup, TGE Tech says it can do with its patented system to convert unrecycled trash into gas. TGE’S CEO Jean Claude Obhayon says it can do it with its patented system to convert unrecycled trash into gas. TGE’S CEO Jean Claude Obhayon says that the gas byproduct can be used by municipalities to generate electricity from which it can then reap a profit.

“Based in the Arava desert, the company has mounted a pilot program at a dump near Tel Aviv and is planning a larger program with

 another municipality that can burn 200 tons of garbage daily.”

(World Jewry, July/August 2008)

“BOOSTING WIND ENERGY: Wind power is a good energy alternative to free America from its oil dependence, but it could be made a lot more efficient. The wind can blow in gusts and spurts, it can tickle your ears or rip out trees, but the massive blades of today’s wind turbines can’t match the wind’s temperament: the rotors are fixed to spin at an even speed, maintaining a constant RPM (rounds per minute). The result is that a large amount of wasted energy just dissipates with the wind.

“A new Israeli company IQWind proposes a new solution. The company has designed a new gearbox that promises to squeeze the most energy from both new and existing wind turbines. ‘IQWing has solved a painful problem in wind turbines and allows them to work in an efficient way while significantly reducing the costs. Because when you add our gears in, other components become redundant and can reduce the price of building a wind turbine by 25%,’ IQWind founder and CEO Gideon Ziegelman, tells ISRAEL21c.

“Astorre Modena, a general partner, adds that the technology is ‘an elegant, smooth and solid gearbox that allows you to change gears without disconnecting the transmission,’ he says, noting that ‘there is much more meat,’ to the technology’s innovation that he can’t disclose. Modena says that the company expects to have a beta test site by March and another two years before the gearbox goes into production.

“Israel has strong expertise in solar thermal and water technology, owing its success in clean technology to the massive influx of Russian immigrants, says Modena who remarks that in general, clean technology is a difficult field, requiring cooperation between multiply disciplines: ‘Israelis are good at that,’ he says.”

(Excerpts from an article by Karin Kloosterman, www.israel21c.org)

IN RELIGION

“TEXAS BLESSES BIBLE CLASS IN SCHOOLS: AUSTIN, TEXAS ─ The Texas State Board of Education gave final approval Friday to establishing Bible classes in public high schools, rejecting calls to draw specific teaching guidelines and warnings that it could lead to constitutional problems in the classroom.

“The legislator passed a law in 2007 allowing courses to be offered as an elective. They are supposed to focus on the history and literature of the Bible without preaching or disparaging any faith...

“The adopted rule says courses should follow applicable law and ‘all state guidelines in maintaining religious neutrality and accommodating the diverse religious views, traditions and perspectives of students in their school district.”

  Marck Chancey, associate professor in religious studies at Southern Methodist University, has studied Bible classes already offered in about 35 districts. His study found most of the courses were explicitly devotional with almost exclusively Christian, usually Protestant perspectives.”

(By Jim Vertuno, The Associated Press, July 19, 2008)

“RELIGIOUS: About 1,267 schools in the U.S. have closed since 2000 and enrollment nationwide has dropped by 382,125 students, or 14 percent, according to the National Catholic Education Association. Catholic schools have been closing since their peak in the 1960s, when there were 12,893 schools with about 5.25 million students. Today, there are 7,378 schools with 2.27 million students.” 

(Associated Press, April 12, 2008)

“The Vatican issued a new version of a Roman Catholic prayer that had long offended Jews, but some said the changes don’t go far enough. Jewish groups said they interpreted the new version of the prayer for Jews as requiring members of their faith ─ and all humanity ─ to convert to Christianity in order to find salvation. The prayer for Jews is recited during Good Friday services of Easter Week.”  (Associated Press, February 5, 2008)

”JEWISH leaders criticized Pope Benedict XVI for a Good Friday prayer that implied that all people must convert to Christianity for salvation. Revived from the old Latin rite, the original prayer was used in the past to justify anti-Semitism.”

(Indianapolis Star, April 5 2008)

“The Catholic Church in England and Wales is launching a campaign to replace its retiring priests. The move comes as the church struggles to find replacements, despite a modest upturn in the numbers of new recruits in the past five years. The numbers of those willing to enter the Catholic priesthood has fallen steadily, to a low of 24 in 2003. The church says that due to the low intake of new priests, many dioceses are having to rationalize their deployment of priests as a result.”  (BBC, April 13, 2008)

“Membership in Catholic religious orders dropped by 20 percent from 2005 to 2006, to just under one million priests and nuns. The number of nuns worldwide dropped 25 percent during the pontificate of John Paul II.”  (BBC, February 5, 2008)

THE VATICAN recently identified modern sins that require penance include pollution, genetic manipulation, and human cloning. The Papacy is becoming increasingly conscious of protecting the environment, including installing solar panels.

“POPE AND PRESIDENT HAVE MUCH IN COMMON: VATICAN CITY ─ When President Bush pays a visit to Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican on Friday, it will be his sixth meeting with a pope, and his third meeting with Benedict in just over a year. Never in U.S. history has a president consulted so often with the leader of the Catholic Church. Carl Anderson, a former aide who now heads the Knights of Columbus calls it ‘remarkable.’

“‘Less than 50 years ago,’ he said ‘it was a question as to whether a Catholic should even be able to run for president.’

“Bush has emphasized his admiration for the papacy and in particular for Benedict, whom he has called a ‘very smart, loving man.’ When Benedict arrived in Washington in April, Bush personally met the pope on the tarmac, the only time that Bush has so honored any dignitary.”

(Religion News Service, June 2008)

“CATHOLIC, MUSLIM LEADERS BUILD BRIDGES: VATICAN CITY ─ Roman Catholic and Muslim leaders worked Thursday to deflate suspicion between the two faiths, pledging at a high level seminar here to work together to condemn terrorism, protect religious freedom and fight poverty.

“The meeting was long in coming, a year after 138 Muslim leaders wrote a letter to Pope Benedict XVI after he offended many Muslims by quoting a Byzantine emperor who called some teachings of the Prophet Muhammad ‘evil and inhuman.’ In turn, top Vatican officials have worried about freedom of worship in countries with a Muslim majority, as well as immigration that is turning Europe, which they define as a Christian continent, increasingly Muslim.

“But Thursday, both sides said that they hoped the seminar would open a new and much-improved chapter in Catholic-Muslim relations, as the two groups said they might establish a committee that could ease tensions in any future crisis between Catholics and Muslims.

“‘Let us resolve to overcome past prejudices and to correct the often distorted images of the other, which even today can create difficulties in our relations,’ Benedict told the Muslim delegation. He called the gathering ‘a clear sign of our mutual esteem and our desire to listen respectfully to one another.’

“Addressing the pope on behalf of the Muslim delegation, Seyyed Hossein Nasr of Iran, a professor of Islamic studies at George Washington University in Washington, said that throughout history ‘various political forces’ of both Christians and Muslims had carried out violence. ‘Certainly we cannot claim that violence is the monopoly of only one religion,’ he said.

“The three-day forum brought together about 30 Catholic clerics and scholars, led by Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, head of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue; and as many Muslim clerics and scholars, led by Mustafa Ceric, the Grand Mufti of Bosnia and Herzegovina based in Sarajevo.

“‘The atmosphere was very good, very frank,’ said Tariq Ramadan, a professor of Islamic Studies at Oxford University. A celebrated intellectual in Europe, Ramadan in 2004 was denied a visa to the U.S. on the grounds that he had donated to two European charities that the State Department later said gave money to Hamas.

“Ramadan said the thorniest questions the group tackled were ‘apostasy’ and ‘freedom of worship in a minority situation.’ Some Muslims believe it is apostasy to convert out of Islam.

“The Muslim delegation included representatives of Sunni and Shiite Islam, as well as several converts and participants from North Africa, Indonesia, the Philippines and Uganda.”

(By Rachel Danadio, The New York Times, November 7, 2008)

“CATHOLICS RESTORE JEWISH GRAVES: Fifteen students and four professors from the Franciscan Sierra College in Albany, New York have tended to a neglected Jewish cemetery in Belarus. Through the auspices of Voluntas and other non-governmental institutions, the group paid its own way to help restore the Rubiazhevichi cemetery where 120 gravestones were decrepit or had been toppled.

“The Catholic contingent assisted by a local group also rebuilt the entrance to the cemetery which contains the graves of some 400 Jews from the village ghetto who perished during the Holocaust.”

(World Jewry, September 2008)

“PRIEST FACES EXCOMMUNICA-TION: COLUMBUS, GA. ─ A Georgia priest facing excommunication for supporting the  ordination of women said Friday he plans to visit the Vatican with a contingent of fellow priests and a bishop to appeal the decision. Roy Bourgeois, 69, a Maryknoll priest and nationally known peace activist, ran afoul of Vatican doctrine by participating in an August 9 ceremony in Kentucky to ordain Janice Svre-Duszynska, a member of a group called Roman Catholic Womenpriests. Recent popes have said Roman Catholic Church cannot ordain women because Christ chose only males as apostles. Sevre-Duszynska also faces excommunication. Bourgeois lives near the main gate of the Army’s Fort Benning.

(Orlando Sentinel, November 15, 2008)

“FEWER JOIN SOUTHERN BAPTIST CHURCHES: NASHVILLE, TENN. ─ The number of people baptized in Southern Baptists churches fell for the third straight year in 2007 to the denomination’s lowest level since 1987, while total membership dropped by nearly 40,000.

“Baptisms last year dropped nearly 5.5 percent to 345,941, compared with 364,826 in 2006, according to an annual report released last week by Life Way Christian Resources, publishing arm of the Southern Baptist Convention.

“Total membership was 16,266,920 last year, a less than 1 percent drop from the 2006 figure: 16,306,246.

“Part of the blame for the slide can be blamed on a perception that Baptists are ‘mean spirited, hurtful and angry people’ and that the denomination has been known for ‘what we’re against’ rather than for ‘what we’re for,’ said the Rev. Frank Page, the convention’s president.”

(The Associated Press, April 21, 2008)

“DIOCESE SEVERS EPISCOPAL TIES: PEORIA, ILL. ─ A third theologically conservative diocese has broken away from the liberal Episcopal Church in a long-running dispute over the Bible, gay relationships and other issues. The Diocese of Quincy, Ill., took the vote at its annual meeting that ended Saturday. Two other dioceses ─ in Fresno, Calif., and in Pittsburgh ─ have already split off. The three dioceses are aligning with the like-minded Anglican Province of the Southern Cone, based in Argentina. The Quincy diocese, based in Peoria, has 24 churches.”

(Orlando Sentinel, November 9, 2008)

 “DIOCESE EXITS EPISCOPAL CHURCH: The theologically conservative Diocese of Fort Worth voted Saturday to split from the liberal-leaning Episcopal Church, the fourth traditional diocese to do so in a long-running debate over the Bible, gay relationships and other issues.  About 80 percent of clergy and parishioners in the Texas diocese supported the break. A lengthy, expensive legal battle is expected over who owns Episcopal property and funds. The Fort Worth diocese serves about 19,000 people. The other seceding dioceses are in Pittsburgh; Quincy, Ill.; and Fresno, Calif.” (Orlando Sentinel, November 16, 2008)   

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Many thanks and much appreciation for the beautiful Christmas cards received, with special thanks for the love and prayers expressed which we heartily reciprocate. We wish for all our readers that they will grow in Grace and Knowledge of the Lord for a blessed New Year.

ANNOUNCEMENT: The date of our Memorial is April 8, after six p.m.

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“IN THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW”

With sadness we announce the death of Pastor Moses Emah’s fourth son, Brother Ekpeno Moses Emah. Ekpeno, age 26, was a technical welder with trade test 1,2,3, in Ewet Technical School, and worked in a company in the northern part of the country. He was seriously sick over the year and remained in the hospital until when he finally finished his earthly course on July 17, 2008.

After a three day journey, his remains came home, and was buried July 29, 2008. He leaves behind a one year and six months old son, missed so much by his family, but glad he will have a better resurrection in the Kingdom.

******

Brother J. E. Tom lost his mother, a sister in the truth since 1971. She was 116 years old the oldest sister of this age. We have great hope for a joyous resurrection in the Kingdom.

******

It is with great sadness that we report the loss of our good friend and Sister in the Truth Elizabeth “Betty” Carr Burke. She was born March 31, 1929 and died August 31 at the age of 79.

Betty had a colorful life. She was in movies the most memorable being a musical movie Seven Brides For Seven Brothers in 1954.  When she came into the Truth she was as enthusiastic for it as she had been for the movies. She was an energizing force to all of us. We miss her very much and pray God Bless her memory.

NO. 616 BLESSED IS THE KING

“And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord: Blessed be the Kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.” (Mark 11:9,10) The multitude hailed Him King, but a few days later they cried, Crucify Him! “And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto Him whom ye call the King of the Jews? And they cried out again, Crucify Him.” (Mark 15:12,13)

The message of John the Baptist was, “The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” This same message Jesus instructed His disciples to carry from village to village throughout Palestine. This same message was the burden of His preaching and the theme of His parables. Finally, at the close of His ministry, the Kingdom came to the Jewish nation in the sense that it was offered to them ─ it was theirs for the accepting. Thus “He came unto His own, and His own received Him not” ─ except a few. His own nation rejected Him, and four days later crucified Him. A little later, at Pentecost, a few who received Him were begotten of the Holy Spirit and became the nucleus of Spiritual Israel, in preparation for the glorious Kingdom and the work which is to be accomplished at His Second Advent.

On the second evening preceding the story of this lesson, Jesus and His disciples were at Bethany, the guests of Lazarus, Martha and Mary, who had prepared a special feast for Jesus, whom they loved so dearly. This was the Lazarus whom He had awakened from the sleep of death but a short time before. The feast took place at the close of the Jewish Sabbath day. The next morning corresponded to our Sunday, the first day of the week, and on Monday Jesus made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem.

In preparation for presenting Himself as King, Jesus sent two of His disciples for an ass’s colt, telling them where they would find it, and instructing them to say that it would be returned after the Master had used it. By the time the colt arrived, a considerable multitude had gathered ─ people of the village of Bethany and others who had come out from Jerusalem, about two miles distant, to see Jesus and to see Lazarus, upon whom the notable miracle had been wrought. It had long been the custom of the kings of Israel to ride to their coronation upon an ass; and the multitude seemed to enter into the spirit of this occasion and to realize what it meant that Jesus was about to ride into Jerusalem on this colt. It signified that finally He was ready to assume the office of King.

For some time the disciples had recognized Him as the Messiah, the glories of whose Reign they were to share; and the multitude in general had learned so to regard Him, saying, “When Messiah cometh, will He do greater works than this man?” ─ could we expect anything more of Messiah than we see being accomplished by this man Jesus? But this was the first time Jesus had formally put Himself forward. On previous occasions, when they had sought to take Him by force to make Him a king, He had withdrawn Himself, realizing that the time was not yet come. Now, so far from withdrawing, He was taking the active part, sending for the colt, preparing for the triumphal ride to the capital of the nation as its King.

We may be sure that the hearts of the Apostles thrilled with excitement as they thought of the nearness of their Master’s glory and of their own share in it; for as yet they did not realize the full import of His words to the effect that He must be crucified and must depart to a “far country,” even Heaven itself, and be invested with authority, and later return to establish the Kingdom which would bless the world. Jesus, however, was fully aware that the presentation of Himself as King was a formal matter, fulfilling the prophecy and leaving the nation of Israel without excuse. If, when He entered the city, the people should rise en masse, acknowledge Him and acclaim Him, then indeed they would be in line with the Divine requirements which would bring them the greatest of all blessings. But Jesus knew that prophecy had already declared that He would be despised and rejected, and that His own people would hide their faces from Him in shame (Isa. 53:3). The journey and the preparation for it, therefore, meant something very different to Jesus from what it signified to the disciples and the multitudes.

ENTERING JERUSALEM

When the ass arrived, some of the people put their garments upon it in lieu of a saddle; Jesus mounted and the procession began. Some went before Him, and some followed after. The people were familiar with the prophecy relating to Messiah’s coming, which declared, “Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! behold, thy King cometh unto thee: He is just and having sa1vation; Lowly, and riding upon an ass.” (Zech. 9:9) They were familiar also with the “shout” the prophets had foretold and the responses ─ one party crying, “Hosanna to the son of David! Blessed is the King of Israel, that cometh in the name of the Lord!” Then the response, “Hosanna in the highest!” These different expressions are recorded by the different evangelists.

But not all were enthusiastic acclaimers of Jesus; a discordant note was heard. Some of those who had come from the city through curiosity criticized the shouting, and wondered why Jesus did not rebuke the people for ascribing so great honor to Him. They sent word to this effect to Jesus through His disciples. Jesus made answer that a great prophecy was being fulfilled. The Prophet Zechariah had by inspiration said, “Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem!” and such a shout must be made. Jesus declared that if the multitudes had failed to shout, the prophecy would still have been, fulfilled ─ the very stones would have cried out. The record tells that on the journey many of the people strewed their garments in the way, as a mark of respect and honor, waiting until the little animal had passed over them, and then running on before and placing them again. Others brought ferns, flowers and grasses, and strewed them on the way. Still others, John’s Gospel tells us, brought palm tree branches.

It was a jubilant procession, fulfilling the prophecy of Zechariah. Yet to Jesus it had the sad feature, as indicated by the account. When they had reached the turn of the Mount of Olives, which brought Jerusalem into view, the Master halted the procession while He looked over the city and wept, saying “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the Prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your House is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall see me no more, until that Day [over nineteen centuries later] when ye shall say, Blessed is He that cometh in the name of Jehovah!” (Luke 13:34,35) Jesus realized that day was a turning point with the Jewish nation ─ that their rejection of Him meant their rejection by the Heavenly Father for a long time. It meant that during those long centuries the highly favored people of Abraham’s natural seed would be in distress. It meant that the favor of God, which had been with them for centuries, would instead be extended to the Gentiles, to gather out of the Gentiles a company of faithful, saintly ones to be associates and joint-heirs with Jesus and the faithful ones of the Jews in the Heavenly Kingdom. It meant that not until this elect, Heavenly, spiritual Kingdom class should be received to glory would the Jewish people be again received into fellowship with God. St. Paul markedly calls our attention to this fact that the rejection of Israel is not permanent, but only for a time ─ only until the complete number of faithful Saints be gathered out from amongst the Gentiles. Then God’s favor will go to Israel, and all earth’s families (Rom. 11:25-32).

THE KINGS OF THIS WORLD

How different was this entry of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, from the triumphal marches of earthly conquerors and kings! In the excitement of human passion and the prejudice of human minds a special halo of glory has surrounded the world’s conquerors. Heroic deeds, valiant conquests, as pictured by historians have a charm. The rising generation reads with thrilling interest of the prowess of Alexander the Great, of the Spartans of Greece, of the Caesars of Rome, and in more modern times of Robert Bruce, of Napoleon and Wellington, of Generals Grant and Lee, Sherman and Johnson, Sheridan and Steward. The homecomings of all of these were triumphal marches, in many cases rendering honor to whom honor was due.

Nevertheless, in every instance the mind’s eye necessarily closes against scenes which led up to such triumphs. We try to forget the millions of slain and wounded, and other millions of mourning widows and orphans. We try to forget the smoking ruins of homes behind those victorious armies. However necessary war at times may seem to be for the maintenance of justice, nevertheless all must concede that the blessings purchased by the sword are procured at a terrible cost. From this viewpoint Jesus, the Prince of Peace, followed by an army of saints who are walking in His footsteps, presents a beautiful picture ─ even to the worldly. These victors ─ Leader and followers ─ conquer by dying. Thus Jesus said to His followers, “Whosoever will save his life shall 1ose it; and whosoever shall 1ose his life for My sake and the Gospel’s shall find it.” (Mark 8:35) Thus viewed, all the followers of the Lamb are self-sacrificers, as the Bible declares: “1 beseech you, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” (Rom. 12:1) Such a victory ─ victory through death ─ is difficult for the majority of people to understand! What is the philosophy of it? Where is the victory?

VICTOR-KINGS THROUGH DY1NG

Well may it be asked, Wherein is the victory of Christ and His followers in laying down their lives for the brethren and in support of truth and righteousness? Only the Bible answers the question, and only those who exercise faith can understand the Bible answer. The Bible declares that the real victory of Christ and the Church is over self. Their crowning day is future ─ their triumph will be then. The triumphal entry of Jesus on the ass was only typical. The antitype will be glorious ─ beyond the veil. As Jesus after His resurrection was “received up into glory,” so also He has promised His Church that their resurrection shall change them from imperfect human beings to perfect spirit beings, joint-heirs with their Master, their Redeemer, in the glorious Millennial Kingdom which is to bless the world.

After Jesus had risen from the dead, He explained to His perplexed disciples what His death signified, saying, “Ought not Christ to have suffered these things [death], and to enter into His glory?” (Luke 24:26) So St.   Paul has declared in respect to all who will be Jesus’ associates in the Kingdom ─ they must suffer with Him if they would reign with Him; they must be dead with Him if they would live with Him (2 Tim. 2:12). Christ and His Church die to human hopes and interests, present and everlasting ─ laying down their lives, suffering for righteousness’ sake. Their reward is two-fold: (1) Their own personal exaltation to a Heavenly, spirit glory, like unto the angels, and yet more glorious ─ “far above angels, principalities and powers and every name that is named.” (2) The Kingdom glory ─ the joy of being the Divine agents for human restoration.

From this, the Bible viewpoint, the Christian warfare is different from every other warfare known to the world. It is a fight against sin, a fight against self-will, a full submission to the Divine will, a victory through death. “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” (Rev. 2:10) “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My Throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His Throne.” (Rev. 3:21) No wonder that a proposition of this kind is but imperfectly understood by the world! “The world knoweth us not, even as it knew Him not.” (1 John 3:1) And this is one of the requirements of the Gospel, that Jesus and His followers shall submit themselves to be misunderstood by the world. We are counted fools for Christ's sake (1 Cor. 4:10).

It requires some stamina to be a loyal follower in the footsteps of Jesus, misunderstood as He was misunderstood by those of His day, reviled as He was reviled. “They shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake.” (Matt. 5:11) It is only when we understand through God’s promises that in these trying experiences of Christ and His followers there is a glorious purpose, that we are able to endure them with any measure of rejoicing. Only these are granted glory, honor and immortality, and the Kingdom which the Lord has promised to His faithful followers. Since Jesus is the Prince of Peace, how shall we understand the various passages of Scripture which refer to Him as a mighty Conqueror in blood-stained garments, taking vengeance on His foes? But especially, how shall we understand the declaration that, at His coming in the clouds of heaven, all the tribes of the earth shall wail because of Him?

Of this Prince of Peace it may be said that He will wound to heal, that whatever disasters He may bring or permit to come upon the world will be so overruled as to make of them blessings in disguise. Undoubtedly much that is said respecting our Lord is highly symbolic. For instance, He is to smite the nations with the Sword that proceedeth out of His mouth ─ the Word, or Message, of Truth. Such a smiting is in full conformity with the declaration that when St. Peter preached the Gospel at Pentecost, some of his hearers were “cut to the heart” ─ not with St. Peter’s literal sword, but with “the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.” Eventually, that Sword will smite all opponents of righteousness for their good. Only the willfully wicked will eventually be destroyed in the Second Death. We are not to forget, however, that the inauguration of the Messianic Kingdom is to be in the midst of the Time of Trouble, and that Christ will have to do with the bringing, or at least the permitting, of that Trouble. Apparently mankind will be permitted to bring the great trouble at the end of this Age upon themselves. There are forces of evil, Satan and His angels, ready to do us harm and, through human forces, sin-forces entrenched in human nature, ready to do harm to the social fabric.

The New Covenant is the Scriptural name for the new arrangement between God and man which will be instituted at the beginning of the Age to follow this, and by which God purposes to receive the world of mankind again into favor with Himself. The covenant relationship which Adam originally enjoyed with his Maker, and its resultant harmony with Him, was contingent upon obedience to the expressed will of God, and was forfeited by disobedience. This covenant relationship with God was renewed typically at Mount Sinai, with Israel (Ex. 19:1-9; 24:3-8). Through Moses as mediator, God promised that if Israel would keep His Law they should have everlasting life. The inauguration of that Law Covenant was effected by their mediator, within six months after Israel left Egypt, through the sacrifices of bulls and of goats, the children of Israel solemnly agreeing to their part of the covenant. Later the Atonement Day sacrifices were repeated year by year continually; “for the blood of bulls and goats could never take away sin.” (Heb. 10:1-9) Israel failed to gain the blessing promised in their Law Covenant. God foreknew that Israel would fail; but through their endeavors He was giving an object lesson which in the future would be a lasting blessing to Israel and to the whole world.

God will introduce this new Law Covenant through the Mediator of the New Covenant, Christ Jesus, in whom the entire arrangement centers, and through whom it will be carried out. He will be assisted in this work by the Church. This New Covenant will succeed, because of its better Mediator. And He will be not only Mediator, but Priest, Prophet, King and Judge. As Priest, He will uplift and bless humanity and receive their offerings. As King, He will rule mankind in righteousness; as Prophet He will teach them; as Judge, He will test them, decide and pass sentence, favorable or unfavorable. It will require the full thousand years to bring the people out of their condition of death and degradation, to restore whosoever will of all mankind to the image and likeness of God, lost by Adam in Eden.

The Scriptures tell us that “out of Zion shall go forth the Law, and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem.” (Isa. 2:3; Micah 4:2) So Jerusalem will then be the capital of the world, and the Ancient and Youthful Worthies will be made “princes in all the earth.” (Psa. 45:16) This arrangement will appeal first and primarily to the Jew, who would naturally be the first to come under the new regulations, because a nucleus of these Jews who were faithful to the Law Covenant, will be in Jerusalem when the Kingdom is inaugurated. The Scriptures tell us they will be humbled by the last phase of Jacob’s trouble in Jerusalem, and they will “cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses. He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.” (Psa. 107:19,20) They will then recognize their Messiah, and will become the most active and zealous missionaries of the Kingdom. They will receive their instructions first-hand from the Worthies in Jerusalem, and will then appreciate the Lord’s promise to them: “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake. I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts: and will be their God, and they shall be my people.” (Jer. 31:31-34)

We may not say that all the Jews will do so, but that this will be true of at least a considerable number of them. Quite a few have become infidels ─ unbelievers of God’s promises: “For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh.” (Rom. 2:28) There are many well-meaning people among the Gentiles who have not taken the vow of consecration to the Lord. They have accepted Jesus as their Savior, and have practiced righteousness to the best of their ability; but have not taken the second step of full consecration to the Lord, because the narrow way was too difficult for them: “Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matt. 7:14) during the reign and ascendancy of sin and evil. These Gentiles will be the first to join with the Jews and become Israelites ─ and like the Jews, they will become faithful and zealous missionaries of the Kingdom. We refer to these Gentiles as the quasi-elect, just as the Jews who were faithful to the Law Covenant are quasi-elect Jews.

In that day “The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing; the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the Lord, and the excellency of our God. And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.” (Isa. 35:1,2,8) This Highway of Holiness will be an easy way for all who love righteousness, and we believe there will be many who find it ─ which is in contrast with a “narrow way” under the reign of sin and evil.

By the close of the Mediatorial Reign those who have responded and made earnest effort to advance will be brought to a condition of human perfection, as was Adam at the beginning. Then they must be subjected to the same loyalty as was Adam, with no Mediator between them and God’s justice. How many will maintain their loyalty under the test, and how many will lose out and suffer destruction, we cannot know because there will be some who have obeyed outwardly during the thousand years, but not inwardly ─ were not in heart-harmony with righteousness.     

Covenant relationship with God means perfection, either reckoned or actual. During the thousand years of Messiah’s Kingdom, mankind will be approaching actual perfection. The New Covenant, with all that goes with it, is the blessing which The Christ gives to mankind. It is God’s Covenant, and He has arranged that it shall go to the world through the Christ class, Head and Body. These glorious things are clearly set forth in various types in the Old Testament, as well as plainly stated in the New Testament.

For instance, St.   Paul explains that Isaac, the heir of Abraham, was a type of The Christ, Head and Body. Isaac did not receive his inheritance by a new covenant, but by the original Covenant with Abraham, as does the Church (Gal. 3:8,16,29; 4:22-31). In Micah 4:1-4, we read: “In the last days...that Mountain [Kingdom] of the House of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains [kingdoms of earth]... and people shall flow unto it. And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the Mountain of the Lord, and to the House of the God of Jacob; and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths.” The succeeding verses of the chapter depict the influence that will be exerted. The blessings and prosperity will then be with those who will be in harmony with God. Now it is different, “All that wi1l 1ive godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” (2 Tim. 3:12) The world thinks that Christians, true followers of Jesus, are making their lives miserable. But the world is greatly mistaken on this matter. On the contrary, we are enjoying ourselves greatly, we are having a good time. We have much advantage every way, in spite of our afflictions; for we know that in a very little while our and afflictions will be over. We know that the glorious Kingdom of Messiah, in which, if faithful, we are to share, is about to be set up on the earth.                               

In the future Dispensation, God tells us, the tables will be turned. None of the wicked shall prosper. THEN whoever is unrighteous shall suffer, and whoever does righteously shall receive a blessing (Psa. 37:1,2,7-17,22). NOW the wicked very often prosper, and the poor and needy and the good of earth are oppressed. When the Times of Restitution come to the world, all will be changed. The result will be a clean universe in which everyone in heaven and on earth, and such as have been in the sea, the rebellious race, will glorify and praise the God of perfect wisdom, justice, love and power, and the Lamb that sitteth with Him on His throne forever and ever, saying, “Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever.” (Rev. 5: 13)

The basic concepts of the foregoing are from the “faith once delivered unto the saints” ─ and much of it is verbatim of their writings. As much of the beauty and harmony of the Truth has been distorted, set aside, and revolutionized against, since the demise of That Servant, it is our hope that what is presented herein will commend itself to all our readers and better enable them to appreciate the “Good Tidings of great joy, which sha1l be to all people.” (Luke 2: 10) “May that peace of God which surpasses all conception, guard your hearts and your minds by Christ Jesus.” (Phi1. 4:7, Dia.)

Our cordial good wishes to a1l for a Blessed Holiday Season ─ and “The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and He addeth no sorrow with it.” (Prov. 10:22)

(Brother John J. Hoefle, Reprint 428, December I991)

WHAT OUR LORD FEARED AND FROM WHAT HE WAS SAVED

“Christ… was heard in that he feared.” (Hebrews 5:7)

We are glad that Jesus was not cold and stoical, but that he was full of warm, loving, tender feelings and sensibilities; and that we, consequently, can realize his ability to sympathize with the most tender, the most delicate, the most refined, the most sensitive, more than could any other human being. He must have felt keenly the conditions under which he had placed himself in laying down his life on our behalf; for the more perfect the organism, the more sensitive and high-strung are the feelings; the greater the capacity for joy, the greater the capacity for sorrow. Being absolutely perfect, our Lord must have been immeasurably more susceptible to the influence of pain than are others.

“OFFERED UP STRONG CRYINGS AND TEARS TO HIM WHO

WAS ABLE TO SAVE HIM”

Besides this, he knew that he had a perfect life, unforfeited, and realized that he was about to part with it. Others of the human family possess only a forfeited or condemned existence, and realize that they must part with this some time. It would, therefore, be a very different matter for our Lord to lay down his life from that of any of his followers laying down theirs. If we let one hundred percent represent perfect life, our Lord had the full one hundred percent to lay down, while we, being more than ninety-one one-hundredths dead through trespasses and sins and condemnation could, at most, have had but one hundredth part to lay down. A cold, stoical indifference to the loss of life, based upon knowledge that it could last but a short time longer at best, would, therefore, be a very different thing from the clear knowledge which our Lord had of the experience which he had with the Father “before the world was”; and the realization that the life he was about to lay down was not forfeited through sin, but was his own voluntary sacrifice.

There can be no doubt that this thought of the extinguishment of life was an important factor in our Lord’s sorrow. The Apostle clearly intimates it in the words (Heb. 5:7), “Who in the days of his flesh… offered up prayers and supplication, with strong cryings and tears, unto him who was able to save him from [out of] death, and was heard in [respect to] that he feared” ─ extinction. This thought brought with it another, viz., Had he done the Father’s will perfectly? Could he claim, and would he receive the reward promised him ─ a resurrection from the dead?

Had he failed in any particular to come to the exact standard of perfection his death would have meant extinction; and although all men fear extinction, none could know the full depth and force of its meaning as could he who not only had the perfection of life, but had recollection of his previous glory with his Father before the world was. For him the very thought of extinction would bring anguish, terror of soul. This thought seems not to have come to our Lord with the same force previously. It was this, therefore, that bore down upon him now so heavily as an exceeding sorrow unto death. He saw himself about to suffer according to the Law as an evil-doer, and the question naturally arose, was he entirely blameless, and would the Heavenly Judge thoroughly acquit him whom so many were disposed to condemn?

“COULD YE NOT WATCH WITH ME

ONE HOUR?”

After praying he went to his three disciples, but found them asleep. Gently he reproved them, asking, “Could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.” Then our Lord went away and used the same words in prayer; and again, he prayed a third time, similarly. The matter was weighing upon his heart. Could he rely upon it now, that having sought to do the Father’s will, having finished his course, he had done it acceptably? Could he have full assurance of faith that God would save him out of death by a resurrection?

In answer to his petition a heavenly messenger was sent to comfort him, to reassure him, to strengthen him. We are not informed what message the angel brought, but we can see that it was a message of peace; that he brought assurance, not only that the Lord’s course had the Father’s approval, but that he would be brought again from the dead by a resurrection. These were quite sufficient to give our Lord all the strength and courage necessary for the ordeal before him; and from that moment onward we find him the coolest and calmest of the notable figures brought to our attention. When approached by Judas and his band, he was the most calm and self-possessed of all; when before the chief-priest, Caiaphas, he was the same; when before Pilate, the same, when crucified the same. He had found peace in the message that he was approved of the Father, and that all the gracious promises of glory, honor and immortality were his; and now he could pass through any ordeal, he could submit himself perfectly to his enemies.

(Pastor Russell, Reprint 4804, April 15, 1911)

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OUR BLESSED HOPE

When’er the storms come down on thee,                     

And days of peace all seem to flee,                     

This thought thy peace again shall bring,          

Why should I fear? ─ the Lord is King.               

E’en when the tempest rages high,                       

And the darkest clouds are drawing nigh,             

With hands of faith of this, oh, cling,                  

Why should I fear? ─ the Lord is King.                

Amid the stormy waves of life,                            

Above the tumult and the strife,                           

The chimes of hope still sweetly ring,                  

Be not afraid ─ the Lord is King.                          

Thy ship is toss’d by wind and wave,

But there is no one whose power can save,

Across the sea He hastes to bring,

Both rest and peace ─ the Lord is King.

Yes, Jesus walks upon the sea,

And in the storm He comes to thee;

Then trust Him, rejoice and sing;

He calms the waves ─ the Lord is King.

He stretches out His hand to thee,

And from thy fears He sets thee free;

Beneath the shadow of His wing

He keeps thee safe─ the Lord is King.