NO. 676: CHRISTMAS

“And the Angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of Great joy which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11)

We know December 25 is not the correct date of Jesus’ birth. He died on the Cross at 331/2 years of age, immediately after establishing his memorial (“this do in remembrance of me”) at the Passover dinner he celebrated with his Apostles. The Passover took place immediately after 6 pm which is the beginning of the Jewish 24hr day and he died before 6 pm the next day, placing his death on the same day of the Jewish Passover feast. This would have been in late March or early April.  Counting back it seems to indicate his birthdate was in late September or early October. The December date perhaps might have been the time of the Annunciation.

However, since we are not enjoined by Scripture to celebrate his birthday or instructed to refrain from it, any day, every day is satisfactory to commemoration of such a great event.

But wait, from what does our Great Savior save us? Could it be he saves us from a horrifying eternal torment invented by Satan and espoused by the “Harlots” –nominal Christianity? (Rev. 17:5)

Of course not! Our Great Heavenly Father who with Wisdom, Justice, Power and Love created no such horror. In our text, the angel said “Fear Not! I bring you good tidings of Great joy which shall be to ALL people.”

There are four occasions in which GOD said, “This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased.” (Matt. 3:17; Matt. 17:5; Mark 1:11; and 2 Peter 1:17)   This shows that Jesus was not only the Son of GOD but was a perfect human being and not a sinner. GOD would not be well pleased with him other­wise.

Jesus also is referred to as “The Son of Man;” for he was a descendent of Adam through Mary, his earthly mother. She was the vessel used by GOD to give birth to the perfect human person of Jesus — begotten by the Father, born of the Mother. We can be sure Mary was chosen because of her love for HIM, HIS LAW and her fellow Israelites. She was a virgin and as the mother of Jesus, the second perfect man ever; in her birth-giving she is a type of the true virgin Church who will give re-birth to a perfect human race. They are the new Eve to Christ’s new Adam. The new Adam and Eve will reign from the Divine plane, mother and father of the renewed human race. Just the way our Creator planned it before laying the found­ation for His Creation.

Adam was created a perfect, fully grown adult from elements of the earth in the image of his Creator (Hence – mother earth.)  In the image of his Creator? What does that mean? Adam was of the earth, earthy adapted by his Creator to function on the highest level of the animal nature, while his Creator is Divine, the very highest level of the spiritual nature. That is, at the least, one image of the first man to that of his Creator. Man was created the Deity of the natural plane of existence — a God over the rest of nature, one of the benefits he lost through diso­bedience. Adam succumbed to his mate, Eve who believed Satan when he told her she would not die by eating the restricted fruit of a tree. She would become a god and “more alive than ever.” How many times have we heard at nominally Christian funerals some form of this statement — first coined by the serpent — Satan.

Of course Eve did not exist yet when The Creator gave to Adam His one law of life, not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. (Gen. 2:16,17) 

In our opening text above the angel said “Fear not,” understanding that through sin man is fearful in the presence of spirit beings. Only a true Christian has that perfect love which casts out fear. (1 John 4:18) It is for the real children of God today, as it was for the angels at that time, to assure the world that God is better than all their fears. So in approaching mankind with God’s message, it is appropriate that we begin by saying, “Fear not.” The God we teach is not a demon, but a God of Wisdom, Power, Justice and Love, with all power to carry his plan to a successful conclusion. As God’s children realize that his work is surely going forward to success, doubts and fears give way, rejoicing takes the place of the des­pondency.

“Their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men.” (Isa. 29:13) The LORD would have his people free from this fear, though not free from a proper reverence toward him. HE reiterated the Abrahamic promise, “In thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed.” (Gen. 12:3) Glad would we be if we had a thousand tongues to sing our great Redeemer’s praise, and a thousand hands and feet to use in the promulgation of this blessed message.

As God’s children realize that his work is surely going forward to success, doubts and fears give way, rejoicing takes the place of despondency. Repeat: “Their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men.” (Isa. 29:13) The LORD would have his people free from this fear, though not free from a proper reverence toward him.

Good tidings — The Gospels are a good tidings message, a glorious message, assur­ing the deliverance and blessing of the entire human race. It is a prophecy of good things to be accomplished for the Church and the world, during the Millennium, when Mes­siah’s Kingdom shall be established. When all the deaf ears shall be unstopped, and blind eyes shall be opened. (Isa. 35:5) Transcending anything and everything else in the world; all other philosophies are foolishness.

In the Gospels there is no reference to damnation and eternal misery of anyone. That good message of GOD’S LOVE began to be lost sight of in the second century. Thus far it has been good tidings only to the true Church. This is meat in due season. We are to tell these tidings by personal contact, handing out literature and preaching. The blessedness of these tidings is cumulative: first, “good tidings”; then “great joy;” and then the crowning feature of it is “to all people.” The sacrificial feature of the Lord’s ministry was made less prominent than his power and majesty and glory, because the sacrifice related specially to God. This is of great joy, not great misery. It should be to all Christians a gladsome message; but it is rejected by the nominal Christian churches. There is privilege, love, hope and remission of sins through Christ’s blood of recon­ciliation with the Father; just as there was joy and privilege at the return of the prodigal. (Luke 15:11-24)  “Blessed are the people that know the joyful sound.” (Psa. 89:15)

The announcement recounted above from Luke 2:10-11 took place on the day of the birth of Jesus. We are told by Luke it was made to some shepherds tending their sheep in the countryside nearby Bethlehem. The shepherds and their flocks likely would not have been herding their animals in the winter of December 25th the improper date of Jesus’ birth.

They went immediately to where the baby was and spread the news about the angel’s appearance and the glory of the LORD that shone around them. In fact these shepherds were so excited they celebrated the birth. Even so, nowhere in the Scriptures are we enjoined to celebrate the birthday of our Lord.

He, himself instituted the memorial of the sacrifice of his life during the Passover. Since this occurs in the spring, late March or early April each year and Christ was 331/2 years old at his death, a little simple math would make his birth month in the neighbor­hood of either late August or early September. December 25th could be about the time of the annunciation. (Luke 1:26-31)

During the first three hundred years after Christ’s birth, there was no celebration of it and the exact date was lost. In AD 245 a group of scholars attempted to determine the date of His birth and there was public controversy. A papacy church council de­noun­c­ed the effort and declared it would be wrong to celebrate the birthday of Christ “as though he were a King Pharaoh.” However, the controversy as to the correct date continues, obviously overruled by the Heavenly Father of all.

Then in AD 349, Pope Julius formally selected December 25 as the day for the Christ Mass — Christmas. The date was already widely celebrated in the Pagan Roman world as citizens observed the Natalis Solis Invicti the (birthday of the inconquerable Sun) in honor of the Sun God, Mithras. The festival took place just after the winter solstice, December 21st, as the days begin to grow longer.

Many modern Christmas customs such as decorating the house, exchanging gifts and enjoying festive meals originated with this pagan celebration. At the time the wily Pope Julius decreed the date of the Nativity, Christianity was beginning to grow popular among the Romans and a number of Pagan festivals were adopted by the harlot church and adapted to fit the developing Christian creed.

However, we feel that the 25th of December is an acceptable day to celebrate this momentous event and we should do it humbly and with propriety for one so great, whose birth, death and resurrection means so much to the human family. His birthday may be remembered and celebrated any day — every day in appreciation of what he has done for us.

Our confidence that Jesus was the Heavenly Father’s only begotten son, our Redeemer, the Messiah, the Deliverer does not rest entirely on the testimony of the Apostles of the New Testament, as wonder­ful and convincing as they are. Much of the weight and importance of the New Testa­ment comes from evidence of the fulfillment of the promises, types (illustra­tions) and prophecies given by God in the Old Testament. If we do not see something, at least, of a Divine Plan in connection with our Savior, we fail to get the real strength of the Divine Revelation.

His birth, the first 30 years of his life upon which, he reached his majority accord­ing to Jewish law and the three and a half years’ of his ministry afterward, his sacri­ficial death, his resurrection, his ascen­sion, etc. was designed by God to be a firm foundation for confidence in Him and all the glorious things He has promised He would yet accomplish through this great Savior of ours.

Let us examine, first the original veiled promise of a Savior given in the Garden of Eden shortly after the sin of our first parents brought us under Divine sentence of death. Spoken by God and directed at the serpent — Satan. In Gen 3:15, He said: “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, [make enemies of them] and between thy seed and her seed; [Satan’s seed of evil and her seed; ­­— eventually Our Savior] it [her seed] shall bruise thy head, [a fatal blow] and thou shalt bruise his heel [Satan can hurt us, with God’s permission but not finally and not fatally.]”

Now, let us examine the promise to Abraham that the Messiah would be of his posterity. It was made about half way from original sin to the Ransom – 2083 years after the first promise in the Garden, (1656 years to the flood and 427 years to the Abrahamic promise, according to Biblical Chronology.)

“And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north and to the south; and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.” (Gen. 18:4; 22:18)

Now come forward to Moses, 420 years after the promise to Abraham, and note the types and figures of the Mosaic arrangement and how Moses himself was declared to be like unto the greater Savior to come after him. (Acts 3:22 and 7:37) Then, 536 years after Moses, God said to King David in 2 Sam. 7:12,16: “And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established forever before thee: thy throne shall be established forever.

The prophet Isaiah wrote in Isa. 9:6; 244 years after David and 845 years before Christ, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The [a] mighty God, The [an] everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” Surprisingly, this is the only time the expression “Prince of Peace” appears in the Bible. (Isaiah prophe­sizes as if it was already an accomp­lished fact, probably an indication of how certain he was that it would happen.)

The prophet Daniel, in Dan. 9:24; 110 years after Isaiah refers to the importance of Christ’s work to make an end of sin and bring in everlasting righteousness and to seal up the visions and prophecy, which the Almighty had given Christ and the favor to come through him.

If Israel’s hope for a Messiah had been merely concoctions to deceive the people, it is certain the deceivers would have carefully set out some remarkable line of parentage for him. He would be free from parental blights, and scandals. But this was not done, instead the weakness of the flesh of the progenitors of our Lord through his earthly mother are fearlessly set out.

Judah, one of the twelve ancestors of the Virgin Mary, was not above reproach. His general character is faithfully portrayed and not all that favorably. He did talk his brothers’ out of killing Joseph and instead selling him into slavery. Later, it was Judah who offered to substitute for Benjamin in whose sack Joseph’s silver cup was found. Phares, Judah’s son, through whom our Lord’s lineage runs, was born of an unlawful union between Judah and Tamar, the lawful wife of Judah’s eldest son. Rahab the harlot of Jericho, a foreigner who became an Israelite indeed, was among our Lord’s ancestors. As was Ruth, the Moabitess, another foreigner adopted as an Israelite. Even David’s line is compromised. Christ came through Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah the Hittite, whom David caused to be killed in battle, so he could have her.

The above is all from the Old Testament, but the New Testament writers are equally candid and do not hesitate in recording Christ’s genealogy through his Mother, Mary. Our Lord’s virtue, his sinlessness, his separateness from sinners was through his Heavenly Father, not through the flesh, not through his Mother.

For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.” (Heb. 2:16)

But, as already pointed out through various circumstances, he was related also to the outside world. Our Lord Jesus, though born a Jew under the law, and redeeming those under the law, did more than that. His death was a propitiation (made amends) for the sins of the whole outside world. He died as the ransom price for Adam (a life for a life) and thus purchased us from condem­nation since all mankind was still in Adam’s loins at the time he was condemned.

“And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” (1 John 2:2)

Christ died as the ransom price for Adam who was created a physically perfect human and lost it and his life for disobeying his Creator’s one law.

The Apostle Paul points out; “He is able to save [deliver] them to the uttermost that come unto God by him.” (Heb. 7:25)

This is not only true, but our Lord’s circumstances of birth and early experiences in comparative poverty as a working man, shows us that he is indeed able to sym­pathize with mankind in every station of life. He passed from the glory of the Father to the lowest condition of humanity and back again. So, he is surely able to appreciate and to sympathize with all conditions and classes of the human and spirit natures.

When the Angel came to the shepherds with the announcement of His birth, the light of the Glory of the Lord shone about them and the shepherds were frightened; according to Luke 2:9 preceding our text in the King James translation, the shepherds were “sore afraid.”

“Fear not, the Angel said. Fear is a dominant impulse of the human mind, especially in connection with the Spirit World — Ghosts. In every case in the Scriptures, where an Angel or messenger of God approaches a human, “Fear not” are the first words, because the human as we might expect, was quaking in his tracks. We all realize we’re imperfect and that the Almighty and HIS laws are perfect. The “sore afraid” fear of man toward God is true with all except the comparatively few who are well informed concerning the Divine Character and Plan.

With some, the very subject of religious beliefs is avoided. Many of these professed Christians do not even know what they believe, much less the reasons for it. They seem to prefer to let some creed, which they have never bothered trying to understand, or some preacher’s words lull them into believing they are “saved” with no further effort.

Some feel guilty — and dread any knowledge, which they fear might bring further condemnation.

This is Satan’s doing.

It is in Satan’s interest to make God out to be an ogre — to instill fear of him. Not the fear that implies reverence but the fear that means to be frightened of Him and His great power. This is the “sore afraid” fear.

“...this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me [God] is taught by the precepts of men.” (Isa. 29:13)

These precepts of men come from the lies of Satan — the deceiver — the world’s first liar, the father of liars. He lied to mother Eve in the Garden, (You won’t die but you will become more alive than ever.)

He lied to the angels whom God permitted to try their hand at saving man in the “world that was” before the flood. He convinced them that they could co-habit with humans and propagate a better race.

What they propagated were hybrids — mules. The offspring of these unions were “Giants” intellectual as well as physical and they were even more evil than man already was. Mythology, much of which was written down by Greek poets and philosophers, probably comes from stories passed on by the survivors of the flood.

Many pagan religions and their gods are passed-on stories from the world that then was. Some of it also crept into the nominal Christian systems. The fallen angels of “the world that then was” — are the spiritual leaders — the teachers of mankind or, in other words, the heavens of that world. Mankind was the earth. So God destroyed the heavens and earth with the great flood. Not the literal earth or literal heavens, but the order of things, but the world that was at that time. Not the literal earth, for the earth abides forever as is written in Gen. 8:22 and again in Eccl. 1:4.

Before this present evil world is wiped out, Christ found himself a man, a perfect man by the heavenly Father through the Virgin Mary. He called Himself the son of man through his mother, with his human perfection from His Heavenly Father, the same perfection Adam had before he sinned. And Christ must sacrifice his perfect humanity to purchase the human race from death. He carries it out faithfully and becomes the Everlasting Farther of the human race. He replaces Adam and becomes the second Adam.

When Christ became an adult under Jewish law at 30 years of age, he was baptized by John, the Immerser, received the Holy Spirit without measure and began to lay down his perfect human life daily, until 31/2 years later, as he expired upon the cross he proclaimed; “It is finished.” (John 19:30)

The Jews, Pilate or Roman soldiers did not take Jesus by force. He laid down his life willingly, obediently and voluntarily.

In Gethsemane, when they came to take him, one of his disciples drew his sword and loped off an ear of one of the assailants. Christ told him to put it away for “he who lives by the sword will die by the sword.” Then he said:

“Thinkest thou that I cannot pray to my Father, and he will presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?” (Matt. 26:52-53)

A Roman legion was 6,000 soldiers; twelve legions would be 72,000 angels. He could not have been crucified surrounded by 72,000 angels.

No, Christ submitted himself willingly and paid the corresponding price for Adam; the Ransom for all of us in Adam’s loins at the time he disobeyed God and was sen­tenced to death.

Christ was dead for 3 days. His life was extinguished for that period. He knew not anything in the tomb like all dead people.

“Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave, whither thou goest.”  (Eccl. 9:10)

“But God raised him from the dead.” (Acts 13:30)

“…firstfruits of them that slept.”  (1 Cor. 15:20)

He was not raised to his human nature, which was sacrificed for us, but to a higher spiritual nature than he had before his ex­perience as a human being. He appeared to some of his disciples, but assumed his humanity, before going to his Heavenly Father. 

“For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself [Christ’s reward for faithfully sacrificing His humanity].” (John 5:26)

Mary was not the mother of God, but of Jesus who became Christ and is “A” God and will be The God of the ‘World to Come,” after he and his 144,000–strong Bride has judged the rest of us during The Christ’s Millennium Judgment Day. This is the Bride who has already been gathered during this “Present Evil World.”

“…though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him [thus] no more.” (2 Cor. 5:16)

The trinity is a satanic deception which much of Christendom has accepted from the harlots, their mother and has believed since about the third century AD.

“In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.” (1 John 4:9)

Did God send Himself? Was God His “Only Begotten Son?” It is unthinkable.

After death, Christ was entombed in a cave with a huge boulder blocking the entrance. The boulder was in the shape of a huge wheel, 10 ft. or more in diameter and about 10 inches thick. This “door” to the burial cave is chocked in place at the top of a slightly inclined track with the entrance to the cave open. When the chock is removed the massive wheel rolls to the bottom with a rumble and bang sealing off the entrance to the cave. People from all over the world visit the cave purported to be where the body of Jesus was put after his death.

After his resurrection Christ appeared to some of his disciples but it was obvious he was no longer a human being. After this brief encounter, he ascended to his Father.

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NO. 675: THE MISSION OF THAT SERVANT

“Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, that he shall make him ruler over all his goods.” (Matt. 24:45‑47)

We believe Brother Charles Taze Russell was That Servant.

The Mission of That Servant des­erves to be kept fragrant, and our best effort to do so is by a faithful use of the Truth that he gave us, as well as by a loyal endeavor to copy his example of “walking in the footsteps of Jesus.” The following is offered as a tribute to his memory:

If our Lord found him “so doing,” during what period of time, did he accomplish the things that the Lord appointed him to do as “that wise and faithful servant?” We think he accom­plished all the Lord gave him to do, but it required all of his life from the time he was appointed until he died. Since it covers a period of time, it will require time to fully answer the question.

At our Lord’s First Advent He appointed twelve Apostles. Aside from their inspired teachings, some of their words and acts were not perfect, which proved that they were imperfect men.

At our Lord’s Second Advent He appointed Brother Russell as “That Servant.” He also was an imperfect man, nor were his teachings inspired of God. He faithfully studied the inspired teach­ings of all Scriptures, and gave us texts from them for his teachings. However, he made mistakes due to his expecting too much to happen at the time. His most notable mistake was his expectations for the year 1914. He corrected this mistake in the foreword of Volume 2, among other places. He knew that 1914 was plainly revealed in Bible Chronology, but his mistake was expecting too much too soon. The mistake is easy to understand when we reflect upon the conditions of the time when he made it. We cannot find fault with his few mistakes when we see the grand panorama of truth he gave in outlining the entire Plan of the Ages, with Scriptural proof and he did it in a manner that has not been done since the days of the Apostles. All this came by hard study and it was “due time” to make known many truths and Scriptures which had not been previously understood by anyone else.

The writers of the Old Testament did not understand much of what they prophesied as shown in Daniel 12:8. Also, the prophecies of the Apostles were not all understood by them.

The Apostle Paul no doubt under­stood what he pro­phesied but it wasn’t lawful for him to utter it to the other Apostles and disciples. (2 Cor. 12:4) But the Lord’s people of all times have received truth sufficient “so that the man of God may be made complete, thoroughly fitted for every good work.” (2 Tim. 3:16, 17, Dia.)

Our Lord’s Second Presence began in 1874 and That Servant referred to that year, as well as the years 1878, 1881, and 1914 many times in his writings. He did not imagine these dates but under­stood them from Bible chronology, time prophecies, parallels, jubilees and types.

“But these things occurred to them typically, and were written for our admonition, on which the ends of the Ages have come.” (1 Cor. 10:11, Dia.)

It is remarkable how all five of these lines of Biblical teachings reach the same conclusions and the same dates. (See Volume 2, pages 187, 223, 233)

Read what That Servant himself said: “The Truths I present, as God’s mouthpiece, were not revealed in visions or dreams or by God’s audible voice, or all at once, but gradually, especially since 1870, and particularly since 1880. Neither is this clear unfolding of truth due to any human ingenuity or acuteness of perception, but to the simple fact that God’s due time has come; and if I did not speak, and no other agent could be found, the very stones would cry out.” (Reprint 3821, col. 1, par. 3 – 1906)

That Servant in searching the Scrip­tures realized that the Jewish nation was typical of Christendom. Therefore, he studied the Taber­nacle, but sought the advice of able Bible Students before he proceeded with further work. He then wrote Tabernacle Shadows in 1881 which was intended for the Royal Priesthood and all of the Lord’s people. It is a precise explanation of the Old Testament Types. It has been truthfully said that any Bible Student who has studied and understood Tabernacle Shadows would never stray very far from the Truth. We would like to know how many Bible Students have ever even read that “little book.”

The context of our opening passage shows that this special servant would be placed over the household of faith in order to minister to it, showing “that servant” as an individual leader and not the household itself, nor an organization or group. This “wise Steward” (Luke 12:42) was to be a general steward, overseer and dispenser of the Lord’s goods — not a composite steward, be­cause we are not to recognize a clerical, or authoritative class; and the word “that” (“the” in the revised Version) implies a particular one.

The intimation is that during the Lord’s presence, and at the time of the elect’s gathering, Jesus, the great Ser­vant of His people, would make choice of one individual for dispensing meat in due season. However, other fellow‑ser­vants would be used to bring the food to the household.

“BEHOLD THE BRIDEGROOM”

Although the theme “restitution of all things” (Acts 3:21) ran throughout his ministry, his mission included much more. Since 1799 the world had entered the “time of the end” (Dan. 12:4) and the work of cleansing the sanctuary (Church Class) had been proceeding. The awak­ening of the Lord’s people on the subject of the Second Advent culminated in 1874 when the above announcement began to go forth. This message was given to the Virgins in Matt. 25:6 (see Diaglott). It does not say He cometh but He is present, He has come. And the further an­nouncement, “Thy God reigneth” was pro­claimed (Isa. 52:7). This message was also to the Virgins. The revelation to the world would come later. (Volume 3, page 190, bottom; Reprint 3868, col. 1, par. 4)

A detailed understanding of the different lines of Bible Chronology (gene­a­logies, jubilee cycles, parallel dis­pen­­­sation, types, etc. (1 Cor. 10:11, Dia.) provided undeniable proof to the watch­ing saints that the Lord’s presence had commenced. Truth on the distinction be­tween human and spiritual natures reveal­ed that Christ’s second presence was an invisible one and that the only manner in which He would be revealed or “seen” by the world was through the eye of faith and understanding.

That Servant showed that the first and second comings were related and part of one plan; the first to redeem the world, the second to restore and bless the world through the promised seed. (Gal. 3:8, 29) He made clear that the period between the first and second Advents (Gospel Age) was for, calling, testing, and selection of a “people for his name” (Acts 15:14) to reign with Christ in the next Age and share in the work of judging and blessing the world (1 Cor. 6:2). The Lord came as the chief “reaper” at that time, also.

“THE HARVEST IS THE END OF THE AGE”

The Harvest is a term which gives a general idea as to what work should be expected to be done during the 40 years between 1874 and 1914. Jesus’ presence as Bridegroom and Reaper was recog­nized during the first three and a half years, from 1874 to 1878. Even though Christ was present in the Parousia as chief reaper, separating the wheat and tares with the sickle of truth (Rev. 14:14),

That Servant was the mouthpiece and instrument for overseeing the gath­ering work. The Lord gave the message to That Servant: “Gather my Saints together unto me.” (Psa. 50:5) The Berean comments on that verse is as follows: “Gather my saints – From every quarter of Babylon into oneness with the Lord and each other, and out of fellowship with mere professors, tares after, and in consequence of, the Lord’s return.” That Servant in turn gave the message to the Saints to “Come out of her my people.” (Rev. 18:4) The Saints were never gathered into one unit at all in the Gospel Age until the Harvest. when they were gathered into the sphere of the Truth. As the consecrated came forth from the nominal church during the 40 year period from 1874 to 1914, the Lord’s command of Psalms 50:5 was being fulfilled. The gathering was done under That Servant to an extent never done since the days of the Apostles. (See Volume 3, page 121; Volume 4, page 616, last paragraph.)

At 1878 Jesus took the office of King and began to exercise His power by resurrecting the sleeping Saints (Matt. 28:18); Rev. 11:15‑17; Isa. 52:7). “And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed is the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth.” (Rev. 14:13) Mark­ing a particular time – 1878 – before which it would not be a blessing to die, but after which it would be a blessing to die. (Reprint 5556, col. 2) Since 1878 those Saints who were still alive need not sleep even a moment; but in the instant of dying are changed to spiritual beings. (See Vol. 4, page 621, last par.; Vol. 3, page 304, bottom and 305, top)

The date 1878 also was the beginning of the return of Divine favor to fleshly Israel. Their 1845 years double (mishneh), began in AD 33 and ended AD 1878 – 33 + 1845 = 1878. (Volume 2, page 218) The Scripture says, “Speak ye com­fortably to Jerusalem”. (Isa. 40:2) This “speaking comfortably” was to be done from 1878 onward, before they believe In Christ. All the evidence of the return of Divine favor to fleshly Israel is testimony that Divine favor to spiritual Israel had gradually drawn to a close. (Volume 2, page 218)

In Reprint 1395 there is this: “AH! were it not that the Lord has favored us with a share in the work of gathering out the bride and helping make her ready for the marriage of the Lamb, we would be in Jerusalem and, by the grace of God, would do a part in the great work now due of turning away blindness from Jacob (Rom 11:25).”

The date of the complete casting off of Babylon came in 1881. (Volume 2, page 235) The Gospel Age condition of wheat and tares com­bined is designated the Church nominal, church in name only. This mixed and confused condition is scripturally styled Babylon. That the wheat and tares were allowed to grow together until the Harvest indicates that God’s favor had been upon the nominal church throughout the Gospel Age (“Baby­lon hath been a golden cup in the Lord’s hand” – Jer. 51:7; Rev. 17:4).

This was for the spiritual growth and testing of the Wheat class. As the Harvest truth reached the faithful Brethren through­out all denominations, it became apparent to them that the doc­trines of Christendom were scriptur­ally unsound, moving them to leave their various sects and join the assembly of the Saints outside sectarian boundaries. The Truth, therefore, made plain that “Babylon the Great is fallen [no longer under Divine favor]" (Rev. 3:16) and that the only proper response for the true believers was to “come out of her my people.” (Rev. 18:2, 4, 23; Reprint 3884, col. 1, par. 3)

The date 1881 also marked the close of the special favor to Gentiles, the close of the High Calling, or invitation to the blessings peculiar to this Age — to become joint-heirs with Christ. At this time the full number was complete, including those in Heaven and those still on the Earth. However, oppor­tunity was still open for indi­viduals who would take the place of those who lost their crowns. But after 1881, there was no time that the full number was not complete, because each crown‑loser was replaced immed­iately. (Volume 3, pages 217‑219)

“As a matter of fact, then, the only ones who see clearly the peculiarly high and grand features of the call of the Gospel Age, the only ones, therefore, who could an­nounce or explain this calling, are the very ones who are also shown from God’s Word that the time limit of this call was reached in October, 1881. Others, while quoting the Apostle’s words concerning a ‘high calling of God in Christ,’ really explain the lower call which belongs to the Millennial Age. Hence the general Gospel call is ended. None can extend it – some because they do not understand it and cannot give it, others because they know it to be at an end.” (Volume 3, page 219, par. 1)

That Servant predicted, according to Bible Chronology, that 1914 would be the end of Gentile Times and a world war would be the sign of that. But everything was so calm and serene all over the world that he began to question the chronology. But he went over it four or five times with other Brethren, but could find nothing wrong with it. Suddenly the war broke‑out due to the assassination of the Austrian Archduke in Serbia. All countries were involved, though some were not active in the battles of war. (Volume 2, page 101)

In Revelation 7:1‑3 we are told that the four angels should “hold the four winds of the earth that the wind should not blow on the earth... till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.” The four winds in this text are the fallen angels (see also Dan. 7:2) the wind is the great war that started in 1914; and the forehead sealing refers to the ministering of the Truth to those who came into the Truth before that war began in each country. It should be noted here that all the Saints were spirit­begotten (sealed in the heart) by 1914, but all of them had not been sealed in their foreheads (intellectually) with pres­ent Truth. “Till we have sealed...” — those on this side of the veil had an important work, to gather together the elect and to seal them in the forehead. Each sealed one became a sealer of others as soon as he himself was sealed.

The chief mission of the Church has been her own development. “Edifying one another.” (1 Thes. 5:11) “Building up yourselves on your most holy faith.” (Jude 20) The sealing of one another was done with the present truth, “meat in due season,” given by the Lord through That Servant – the “steward” over the “household.” (Volume 3, page 165, bottom)

However, it should be carefully noted that this restraint was to be only “that no wind [World War One] might blow on the earth... till we have sealed the bondservants of our God in their foreheads;” giving sufficient knowledge of “Present Truth” to enable them to “Come out of her, My people.” (Rev. 18:4) The war did not break out in any country until the saints there had been “sealed in their foreheads.” Our thought is that the evil angels would long ago have done injury to the symbolic earth, sea and trees, had it not been for the restraint of Divine Power.

Symbolically, the earth represents organized society; the sea represents disorganized masses, and the trees represent the Household of Faith.

THE SMITING OF JORDAN

But all of them were “sealed in the forehead” in time to take part in the Smiting of Jordan. This Smiting was sharp, disclos­ing truths that disproved the doctrines of the Divine Right of the clergy, of aristocrats, of labor, each claiming certain priv­ileges and powers by Divine Right. All the literature exposing these evils was used and directed by That Servant such as: Volume 4, Armageddon; tracts like The World on Fire, Distress of Nations, Clergy Ordination Proved Fraudulent, Why Financiers Tremble, Photo Drama, etc. Public lectures and private conver­sations were used also in this smiting. It was done from the fall of 1914 to 1916 by the expression “this honor have all his saints.” (Psa. 149:9) This shows the honor would be shared, even by the last member called of the Little Flock. (Psa. 149:9). (Pg. 100, last paragraph of Volume. 2.) Some of the Bible Students who believe they are saints are beginning to use the above mentioned literature as if they are finishing That Servant’s mission.

“UNITY OF FAITH”

If we define the “unity of faith” to be a clear and harmonious understanding of the “ten strings of the harp of God” (Psa. 33:2), then we must conclude That Servant and all who came into and clearly understood Harvest Present Truth indeed came to “unity of faith.” That this is the position God wished His people to accept during the Harvest is shown in Isa. 52:8, “Thy watchmen... shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion.” Note the Berean Comments on this: “In the harvest of the Gospel Age, clearly, harmoniously.” It was Brother Russell’s Stew­ardship Doctrine centering about Restitution that brought “unity of faith” for the first time in history to God’s people as a collective group. It is true that St. Peter preached Restitution (Acts 3:19‑21); and it is true that St. Paul was “caught up into Paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter” (2 Cor. 12:4); but it is also true that the General Church of that time had not come to the “unity of faith” – had not come to a clear understanding of Restitution. However, all in the Gos­pel Harvest were rea­sonably clear on Restitution doctrine. (Volume 4, page 610) Therefore, a Prophet did accomplish the first of the two purposes for which the servants of the Church were appointed; “till we all attain to the unity of faith.”

We believe he also accomplished the second of these purposes — the measure of the full stature of the anointed one.” (Eph. 4:13, Dia.)

When the last one was reaped in September 1914, also there, for the first time, was reached “the full stature of the anointed one” in that the Body was then full and irrevocably complete unto that unity which “every joint supplieth, to the effectual working in the measure of every part.” (Eph. 4:16)

Can it be said that the “watchmen” have seen “eye to eye” since 1916? No! Nor can it be said that this oneness is something attained by the Saint Class beyond the veil, because there would be no need for them to be “watchmen” then. If any are inclined to believe that “unity of faith” means understanding the entire Bible, then we must admit that no one does, so far as we know.

That Servant repeatedly said, in both the Towers and the Volumes that the King­dom was set up September 21, 1914. (Reprints 5632, col. 2, par. 3). This meant several things: (1) that the full number of the Saints had been won, and between 1914 and 1916 the last ones came into the sphere of the truth “sealed in the forehead.” (Rev. 7:1‑3); (2) that the full number, 144,000, was irrevo­cably fixed at that date; (3) that there were no more crowns lost after that date to be taken by others. It also meant that the Time of Trouble and the judgment of the nations had begun — “this honor has all the saints.” (Psa. 149:9 Volume 4, page 624, par. 3) Of course, the most severe features of the Time of Trouble have not yet come, but That Servant could not have known how soon or how late this would be. But the severe trouble is to be to and for the world, not for the Saints.

We see then that the following things took place during the period of 40 years from 1874 to 1914. [1] The announcement of the Second presence of the Lord. (Matt. 25:6; Volume 3, pages 190, bottom through 193) [2] Gathering of the Saints. (Psa. 50:5; Volume 3, page 159, par. 2) [3] The begin­ning of favor returning to the Jews. (Vol. 2, page 258, bottom) [4] The close of the High Calling or special favor to the Gentiles. (Vol. 2, page 218, top) [5] The smiting of Jordan. (Reprint 5632, col. 1, top; Vol. 2, page 101, last par.) [6] The unity of faith. (Eph. 4:13; Reprint 3856, col. 2)

If all the saints were not gathered under Brother Russell during that 40‑year period then he did not complete the mission of That Servant and indeed was not That Servant. In that case, the Harvest has not yet been. That would also mean that the Lord’s second presence has not yet occurred, because His first task was to be the “chief reaper” of the Harvest. If all this be true then what we have learned from Brother Russell about the Plan of Salvation is all wrong. But more Truth, “meat in due season,” was revealed during his ministry than had been since the days of the Apostles, and we can be confident to “contend for the faith once delivered unto the saints.” (Jude 3) This is not to say that he succeeded the Apostles, or that he was inspired as they were, for we know that there is no such thing as apostolic succession. But there is no other con­clusion than that he was That Servant and that he did complete his mission of gathering the saints.

We love all of the Lord’s people including those who believe they are Saints, and we are trying to help and not hurt them. We appreciate the good work they have done in witnessing and in publishing the Volumes and Towers. When we correct their mistakes, it means we love them even more. (Prov. 13:24) Let us remember that the first condition of acceptance with God is loyal obedience to His Word, the evidence of love for Him and faith in Him. Let us remember, also, that the second qualification He will look for in us is love for the brethren, readiness to be, to do and to suffer, to die on behalf of those who are really, truly consecrated children of God, seeking to walk in His ways.

But it is unrealistic to think all in the Bible Student groups are of the Little Flock. That would constitute a great flock. If their numbers could be counted, we believe it would be found that there are more of them now living than the number 144,000 (Rev. 7:4) predestined to be of that class. And, if they are bringing in new ones, the number would be even more inflated.

St. Paul said, “For I have not shun­ned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.” (Acts 20:27) It no doubt means he shunned not to give all the elect classes as well as the saved class of the Kingdom of the world, or the Restitutionists of Acts 17:31. Then the Apostle Paul gave us 2 Tim. 2:20: “But in a great house [God’s household] there are not only vessels of gold [the Bride class] and of silver [the Great Company, or the ones that lost their crowns], but also of wood [the Ancient Worthies of Hebrews, chapter 11] and of earth [the unbegotten class that That Servant taught in Reprint 5761, September 1, 1915]; and some to honour [saved Restitutionists], and some to dishonor [these are the ones that disobey and are sentenced to the Second Death].”

We notice there is a difference in how the elect and non‑elect are listed. The elect classes are separated by com­mas, while the non‑elect are separated from the elect by a semi‑colon. It seems reasonable that That Servant noticed these two texts when he unhesitatingly gave us an unbegotten class, which we call Youthful Wor­thies, to be won after all the Saints have been gathered. We do not wish to add anything to That Ser­vant’s faithful teach­ing any more than to add to God’s Word (Rev. 22:18); nor do we want to omit any of his faithful teaching any more than we would omit some of God’s word (Rev. 22:19).

Some may ask, what of those who have consecrated since 1914? That Servant did not hesitate to give us the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27). He taught four elect classes, including an unbegotten consecrated class between the Ages, after the High Calling is closed and before Restitution begins. (2 Tim. 2:20: Volume 6, page 157, top; Reprint 5761, col. 2; Reprint 5493, col. 1, par. 6)

Perhaps in a future paper we will give more detail on this unbegotten class in the end of the Age. But it is now sufficient to say That Servant finished his mis­sion to “gather together the Saints.” (Psa. 50:5) All were reaped into the Harvest movement before he enacted the toga scene in the railroad Pullman in Texas on October 16, 1916, with one of his final statements being, “I have done as thou hast commanded me.” (Ezek. 9:11) This was in substance one of the last statements of Jesus, “I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.” (John 17:4) (See Question Book, page 147, Question 1, and page 152, Question 3)

Will our Pastor’s work endure? Temporarily it has suffered and will for a short time continue to suffer a partial eclipse in many minds — but surely as the Truth is powerful and will in the end prevail, so surely the work that the Lord gave That Servant will endure. In the meantime, it is the privilege of all who wish to support his work to protect against deviation from, and perversions of it whenever, wherever and however they can.

We also pay tribute to the Epiph­any Messenger who faithfully upheld and defended the Truth in keeping with 1 Sam. 2:30: “Them that honor me I will honor.” We do well to honor those that the Lord honors; not as “angel” wor­shipers, but in sound and proper ap­praisal of their position and service in the Household.

Let their memory abide fragrant to us and be an inspiration for greater fidelity to fruitfulness, in the Lord. We heartily proclaim, God Bless their memory.

(By John J. Hoefle, No. 509 Sept. 1999) 

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Our internet address, check it out: www:http.//epiphanybiblestudents.com

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Letter of general Interest

Dear Brethren:  Loving greetings in our Master’s name!

At this time we would like to make a donation of $100.00 towards your work of proclaiming the good news of the coming Kingdom and cost connected with your newsletter. We receive it regularly and enjoy reading its helpful articles.

May the Lord bless and direct as you faithfully carry on this ministry.

By His grace, -------, California

NO. 674: THE MEMORY OF PASTOR CHARLES T. RUSSELL

Once more we find it a privilege and pleasure to present a treatise on That Wise and Faithful Servant, whom the Lord made “ruler over all His goods.” (Matt. 24:45-47) The Scriptures give more on Brother Russell than of any other individual, except our Lord, in type and direct Scripture. It behooves all of us who have benefited from his faithful ministry to honor him, and more particularly to abide in the beautiful system of truth that he left us – and to study, spread and practice the Truth all the more as the “evil day” progresses.

All who abide in “present truth” do not accept the many errors of our day – errors that set aside the fundamental truth in which we have been established.

THESE NINETY SEVEN YEARS TO DATE

That Servant entered into his reward Oct. 31, 1916 and since that time the Ad­versary has done all in his power to distort the Truth in every way possible, by set­ting it aside for “new light,” by perverting the Truth and by revolutionizing against the Truth. All those who have “continued in the Truth” once delivered unto the faithful are much saddened to witness such distortions, etc. Some have gone from one Levitical group to another, hoping to find the pure faith and some have come to the conclusion that they would separate themselves from all groups. We believe that is a mistake, be­cause there are yet others of like mind who seek to “abide in His Word,” and who are keeping up the “good fight,” in upholding and defending the faith. Such a course is the only way we can be faithful to the Lord, the Truth and the brethren. We are to “lay down our lives for the brethren,” and we cannot do that if we isolate ourselves and refuse to hold up the standard because we do not want to “stand the heat of the day.” The Truth received into “good and honest hearts” makes us “good soldiers;” it does not make cowards of us. If we have a cowardly spirit, the Lord did not give it to us.

“For God did not give to us a Cowardly Spirit, but one of Power, and of Love, and of a Sound mind.” (2 Tim. 1:7, Dia.)

And the Apostle Paul tells us: “Re­tain an Outline of Wholesome Words, which thou didst hear from me, in That Faith and Love which are in Christ Jesus. Guard the Good Entrusted charge, through that Holy Spirit which dwells in us. Thou knowest this that all those in Asia turned away from me: of whom are Phygellus and Hermo­genes.” (2 Tim. 1:13–15, Dia.)

ANTITYPICAL DANIEL

Our Pastor knew that he was the antitype of Daniel, as he indicated by two paint­ings prepared for, but not used as, Photo–Drama slides. One of these slides interpreted the antitypical handwriting on the wall and one on Pastor Russell in the critics’ den, which was reproduced in plate cut on the back of a Bible Students’ Monthly and in the 1913 Convention Report. Daniel does not type our Pastor in all the latter’s rela­tions, but only in his relations to the world as a teacher on subjects pertinent to the world and on some of the relations of the Church to the World. In this treatise we do not write in a spirit of “angel worship,” but in appreciation of his faithful ministry and “labor of love” toward all God’s people.

In Chapter One the account of Daniel’s education for the position of a states­man in Babylon is set forth. Here Nebuchadnezzar types the nominal people of God. Ashpenaz (v. 3) types the chief leaders in the nominal church, such as supervised the subordinate teachers of the nominal church, and such as particularly supervised the ed­ucational ar­range­ments of Chris­tendom’s prospective teachers. It was the desire of the nominal people of God (vs. 3,4) that the most gifted and promising young men be selected for training as teachers of their views in symbolic Babylon. As Daniel (vs. 4,6) was one of those chosen for such educational oppor­tunities in literal Babylon, so was Brother Russell chosen by those nominal Christians with whom he associated as a religiously and intellectually promising young man to teach in the nominal church. And as the king (v. 5) provided that such students be fed from the royal table, so the nominal people of God arranged that the future teachers and leaders in symbolic Babylon be nourished on the religious diet that they themselves ate. As Daniel determined not to defile himself with the Levitically unclean meats (v. 8) of the King’s table, so Brother Russell deter­mined that he would not defile himself with symbolic Babylon’s unclean doctrines. Since the story of how this happened is not generally known and should be pre­served, we give it here in fair detail.

Brother Russell was born with a most exceptionally fine religious endowment. Be­fore he was born his mother consecrated him to the Lord, and afterward gave him the most careful religious training within her ability. As he often said, he could not remember a time from childhood’s first memories onward when he was not consecrated. Early he showed his zeal in seeking to save people from Eternal Torment, among other ways, by his writing, at the age of 14, Scripture passages on the sidewalks and walls of houses, urging people to repent and believe. With such evangelical zeal at 16 years old, he sought to convert an infidel acquaintance. The latter asked him if he believed God to be perfect in wisdom, justice, love and power. On his replying “yes,” his ac­quaintance asked him how such a God could have absolutely predestined the vast major­ity of the race to eternal torment. The boy answered that he could not understand it.

Up to this time he had not thought deeply on this feature of his (the Congrega­tional) church’s creed. Troubled by the question, he raised it in the circles of his church. Unable to get any satisfying answer, he expressed his doubts on the matter. The report spread in the church that he was on the way to becoming an infidel. The pastor and elders of the church appointed a special meeting to solve his questions. But instead, they only increased his doubts. They told him that the Bible taught that doctrine. He then said to them, “I believe God is perfect in wisdom, power, justice and love, and I will not believe anything contrary to His character to be a revelation from Him. Therefore I do not believe He gave the Bible as His revelation; for if He had given it as such, it would agree with His wisdom, power, justice and love.” It was at this stage wherein he decided he would never believe as a revelation of God anything contradictory to His character, that he antityped Daniel (v. 8), determining not to de­file himself with leviti­cally unclean meats; for he concluded that any doctrine con­trary to God’s character is false. It will be noted that the stand that Brother Russell took on this matter of God’s character as a test of revealed religion, when he was 16 years old, he retained until death ended his course.

His pastor and elders, as representatives of the highest church authorities (v.9), thought highly of him; and his determination to accept only what harmonized with God’s character (“pulse”, v. 12) put them into considerable difficulty with the pertinent nomi­nal people of God who would cut them off from their positions (“endanger my head to the king,” v.10), if they did not require of him to accept the Congregational creed in whole. But rather than lose so promising a young man, they conceded to him tempor­arily (ten days, v. 12) the privilege of subjecting all teachings to the rule of har­mony with God’s character. Accord­ingly, we find Brother Russell as a youth of 16 a disbeliever, not actually, though ostensibly, in the Bible, but actually in the Calvin­istic creed, which he was wrongly taught to be the right interpretation of the Bible.

He was of too religious and logical of mind to be content without a revealed re­ligion. He therefore set out to learn what the true religion was, and to this end de­cided to investigate all religions until he would find out the true one. So he began with that of the Chinese, whose idea of the creation is this: In the beginning all was water. Then a god with a handful of earth boarded a boat and threw this earth into the water, where it grew into our present earth. That was enough of the Chinese reli­gion for him! Worse absurdities than this made him reject Hinduism and Buddhism. The fact that Mohammedanism was partly based on the Old and New Testaments impelled him to reject it. And because Judaism was based in part on the Old Testament, he rejected it. Thus his rejection of the non–Christian religions left him for a while stranded high and dry on the shores of unbelief, though all the while he devoutly held to God as perfect in wisdom, justice, love and power and trusted Him as such.

But his religious disposition could not be content with no religion; and what to do troubled him. Finally he said to himself, I can at least believe so much of the Bible as is contained in the Golden Rule Godward and manward: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy mind, with all thy soul and with all thy strength... and thy neighbor as thyself (Matt. 22:37,39). Fur­thermore, he concluded that Jesus’ explanation of the law, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, as meaning: All things whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, do ye even so unto them (Matt. 7:12), was correct. Thus he said, “I believe that much of the New Testament.” This prompted him to look up the context of Matt. 7:12, which he found to be a part of the Sermon on the Mount.   He studied this in the light of God’s character and recog­nized it to be in harmony therewith. Therefore he accepted it. This moved him to de­sire to study more of Jesus’ teachings, which, accordingly, led him to study these as they are found elsewhere in the four Gospels. Always he found them in harmony with God’s character. This moved him not only to accept all of Jesus’ teachings in the Gos­pels as he understood them, but also greatly to appreciate Jesus as a teacher Divinely inspired. Such appreciation of Jesus’ teachings prompted him to want to know more of His life, which moved him to a study of the Gospels historically, resulting in his rec­ognizing Jesus as a perfect human being and the Son of God. But up to then he rejected the New Testament, except the Gospels.

One day he noted the passage (John 16:12–14) wherein Jesus said that the Spirit would reveal to the Apostles such truths as Jesus would yet give them, and which they were as yet unable to bear. He desired to know what those teachings were. Hence he began to study the Acts, the Epistles and Revelation; and as he understood them he rec­ognized their harmony with God’s character. Thus gradually, and upon a right founda­tion, he came to believe that the New Testament was the revelation of the God of wisdom, power, justice and love, in whom he had always believed. But the Old Testament he con­tinued to reject. The following things gradually led him to believe in the Old Testa­ment: He noticed that not only did Jesus and the Apostles quote from the Old Testament, but used such quotations to prove their doctrines. Hence he concluded that whatever they quoted from the Old Testament was true. On later thought he decided to study the connections from which these quotations were made; and these he found to be in harmony with the quotations themselves and God’s character. Hence he accepted the teachings of these contexts. This led him to study the connections of these contexts, and thus more and more of the Old Testament became clear to him until his faith was confirmed in the prophetic writings and in the historical writings which were closely interwoven with the prophetic writings. Still he suspected the books of Moses, except those parts quoted by Jesus and the Apostles; because he mistakenly was led to think that Moses made himself a dictator to Israel and established a priesthood that tyrannized over the people. But deeper study convinced him of his mistakes on these points; and he came to see that the Mosaic legislation was the most benevolent, and freedom, equality and fraternity-inspiring legislation ever inaugurated. Accordingly, he accepted also the Pentateuch as Divinely inspired; and thus his faith accepted the whole Bible.

He continued to study the Scriptures privately and in an independent Bible class at Allegheny, Pa.; and by l872, four years after he started out in quest of the Di­vine revelation, he not only accepted the entire Bible as that revelation, but also the following points as its main teachings: the unity of God; the Divine sonship of Jesus; the Spirit as God’s power and disposition; man’s fall from perfection into sin; death as sin’s penalty; the uncons­ciousness of the dead; the Ransom as guaran­teeing an opportunity for the elect in this life and for the non–elect in the Millen­nium; the eternity of the physical universe; the destruct­tion of the symbolic world at Christ’s Second Advent; the Second Advent for the restitution of all things; eter­nal life in heaven for the elect, and on earth for the saved non–elect; and eternal an­nihilation for the incorrigible.

It was in 1875 that the antitype of Nebuchadnezzar’s examining Daniel (vs. 18-20) began.  From 1872 to 1875 Brother Russell continued to increase in grace, knowledge and fruitfulness in service. It was in October, 1874, that he came to see that Jesus in His resurrection became a Spirit being, and that therefore He would not in His Second Advent come in flesh, but as a glorious Divine Spirit, and necessarily then would be invisible to human natural sight. He embodied these thoughts as well as those on the object of our Lord’s return in a tract entitled, The Object and Manner of Our Lord’s Return.

The wrongful teachings of the Adventists on the object and manner of our Lord’s re­turn had raised more or less doubts and questions in many minds, and this aroused Brother Russell to write and spread that tract, which was circulated to the extent of 50,000 copies.

THE METAL-MAN DREAM

The second chapter of Daniel treats of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of the metallic image of a man with a golden head, silver shoulders and arms, brazen belly, iron thighs and legs, and feet and toes of a mixture of iron and clay, and of the stone which destroyed the image and then grew into a mountain, filling the entire earth. It is not our purpose in our study of Daniel – type and antitype – to point out the prophetic features of Daniel, since that is sufficiently done in Studies, Volume One, Two and Three. Here we limit our attention to the typical features of this book. Nor will we rehearse the typical features. Rather, we will merely indicate them by the citing of the verses in which they occur, asking our readers to have the book of Dan­iel open at the pertinent part for the sake of reference. In interpreting Daniel’s interpretation of the dream, our Pastor gave its prophetic teachings. At the same time, the entire story of Dan. 2 types something very interesting. Typically, this chapter sets forth the meaning of history under the rule of the nations during the Times of the Gentiles and the prophesied role of God’s Kingdom as the destroyer and successor of these. In this chapter, as in the preceding one, Nebuchadnezzar types the Gospel–Age nominal people of God, who, as such, have been in existence since the Jewish Harvest. His having the dream represents the nominal people of God having a proper view of the meaning of history as exemplified in the four universal Gentile pow­ers and in their ten successor powers, and of the role of the prophesied Kingdom of God as their destroyer and successor; for the Apostles properly taught the early Christians that, as represented by the deterioration of the metals from gold to silver, from sil­ver to brass, from brass to iron and from iron to a mixture of iron and clay, under the Gentile rule the race and its governments would become more and more fallen and de­praved – and that when depravity would reach its height the kingdoms of this world would be destroyed by God’s Kingdom, which would stand forever. This, in brief, is the philosophy of human history under Gentile rule and the prophetic role of the King­dom of God. And this view, taught by the Apostles, remained with the real and nominal people of God for several centuries.

The papacy’s teaching another theory of God’s Kingdom in its time and other rela­tions to the kingdoms of this world darkened the subject; for it taught that it was God’s Kingdom commissioned to convert the world and rule over it for 1,000 years be­fore Christ’s return, whereas it was the clay mingled with iron in the feet and toes. (The Jehovah’s Witnesses teach similarly about their organization in our day.) This view gradually caused the one given to the nominal people of God by the Apostles to be forgotten by them (the thing is gone from them, v. 5). For many centuries the true view was forgotten; and it was only beginning with the illumination, 1748, that nominal Christians began to demand an explanation of the meaning of history from the clergy (Chaldeans), the professors (magi), the historians (astrologers) and the prophets (sor­cerers) of Christendom (v.2) Their inability to tell what was the early view of Christians thereon, as well as its meaning, was typed by the inability of Nebuchadnez­zar’s wise men to tell the dream and its interpretation (vs. 4–11). The decree to slay the wise men of Babylon types the determination of the thinking members of the nom­inal church to set aside as their teachers (a symbolic killing) the wise men of Christendom. Arioch (vs. 14,15) represents those who led the people in setting aside such teachers, i.e., the free thinkers, higher critics, etc., who beginning about 1785, worked to undermine popular confidence in Christen­dom’s wise men as teachers. Undoubtedly, the prestige of such wise men was greatly decreased with ever–increasing numbers of nominal people of God from that time onward. Arioch’s seeking Daniel (v.13) repre­sents that such free thinkers, higher critics, etc., sought to undermine Brother Rus­sell as a teacher in Christendom. Daniel’s tact in dealing with Arioch (vs. 14,15) types Brother Russell’s tact in dealing with free thinkers, etc. Arioch’s telling Dan­iel the situation (v. 15) types the free thinkers, etc., telling the situation of the antitypical wise men to Brother Russell.

Daniel’s going to the king and obtaining time to consider and answer the matter (v. 16) represents Brother Russell’s standing before the nominal people of God as a teacher of religion and promising, if allowed due time, to solve the matter at hand. Daniel’s laying the matter before his three friends and asking their united prayers over the matter (vs. 17,18), represents Brother Russell’s habit of asking suggestions from the brethren when in dif­ficulty and asking their prayers for Divine enlightenment, e.g., when he was per­plexed over the meaning of the voice of the three signs (Reprint 4057, last par.). Members of the Bethel family will recall such things as occurring. This course he followed in the present instance. God’s revealing this matter to Daniel (v. 19) types God’s making known to Brother Russell the view of the early Christians on the meaning of history as exemplified in the Gentile rule and the prophesied role of God’s Kingdom. Daniel’s thanksgiving (vs. 19-23) types Brother Russell’s thanksgiving at this mercy of God. Daniel’s desiring Arioch not to destroy Babylon’s wise men (v. 24) represents Brother Russell’s refutation of the course of the free thinkers, etc., which was a hindrance to their object. With Arioch bringing Daniel to the king as one who would tell and interpret the dream (v. 25), types the free thinkers, etc., more or less prais­ing Brother Russell, whose kindly manner and logical teachings favorably impressed them.

Nebuchadnezzar’s asking Daniel if he could give and interpret the dream (v.26) types the nominal people of God inquiring, i.e., searching Brother Russell’s teachings for an answer to the matter on hand. Daniel’s reminding Nebuchad­nezzar that Babylon’s wise men could not answer his questions (v. 27) types Brother Russell’s statements that Christendom’s clergy, professors, learned ones, prophets and philosophers have been unable to answer the matter. Daniel’s attributing the implied wisdom, not to him­self, but that it was of God, who as due revealed the knowledge to him. Daniel’s tell­ing and interpreting the dream (vs. 28–45) types Brother Russell’s showing the view of the early Christians on the increasing depravity accompanying the rule of the Gentiles and on the role of God’s Kingdom as the destroyer and successor of these. This view our Pastor gave in his writings, sermons and lectures. The king’s honoring and pro­moting Daniel (vs. 46–48) type how increasingly the people of Christendom honored Brother Russell and regarding him as above all other religious teachers of Christendom. Dan­iel’s desire for promotion of his three friends (v. 49) types Brother Russell’s using his position to advance the Lord’s people as teacher in Christendom. Daniel’s sitting in the king’s gate (v. 49) types the great and favorable publicity that Brother Russell got especially from 1913 onward.

In the events of Daniel 3, Daniel took no part. It has often occasioned wonder as to
where Daniel was while Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were undergoing the trial of the golden image and the fiery furnace. While the record is silent on this point, one thing is certain about it, i.e., that Daniel was absent from the plain of Dura; for he certainly would have stood beside his three friends, had he been present. When we look at the antitype it becomes manifest that Daniel, who throughout his book types our Pastor, could not have been there; for had he been present it would have spoiled the antitype; for Bro. Russell died before either of the two fulfillment’s set in where he lived. Thus in the light of the antitype Daniel’s absence during the events described in Chapter 3 is entirely clear.

Nevertheless, Daniel wrote this, as well as the rest of the book that bears his name. And what does his writing this chapter type? Brother Russell’s giving the two antitypes of this chapter, e.g., one in Reprints 2495, 2496, and the other in Reprints 4873, 4874, our Pastor antityped Daniel in writing it by giving these two antitypes in this chapter.

THE HANDWRITING ON THE WALL

The fifth chapter of Daniel treats of Belshazzar’s feast, the handwriting on the wall, its reading and interpretation. In one of the pictures used in the German Photo ­Drama the antitype of the interpretation is given. Therein Brother Russell is repre­sented as giving the right interpretation, while the clergy, etc., are pictured forth as in confusion thereof. In this picture Belshazzar types the nominal people of God in state, church and capital. His 1,000 lords (v.1) represent these leaders distributive as being many, i.e., in their totality. His wives represent the main organ­izations of the nominal people of God, and his concubines their lesser organizations. The feast types the Parousia privileges and advantages that the nominal people of God appropriated to themselves – particularly so in the church unions during the Harvest period. The golden and silver vessels (vs. 2,3) type the Divine truths that had been taken captive in the Dark Ages with God’s real people into symbolic Babylon. The send­ing of these ves­sels types the requirements that the teachings of God’s word be made subservient to Babylon’s unclean uses. Putting Babylon’s wine into these vessels types the antitypical Babyl­onians’ partaking of a mixture of truth and error in their Parou­sia feast. The fingers of a man’s hand (v.5) that wrote on the wall represent the ex­hibition of Divine power (hand) on symbolic Babylon’s walls (her political, financial, ecclesiastical, social and labor powers). The king’s seeing the part of the hand that wrote (v. 5) types the nominal people of God recognizing in part that it was a manifes­tation of Divine power that they witnessed. And such power was manifest in the signs of the times occurring in Babylon’s political, financial, ecclesiastical, labor and so­cial powers.

The great perturbation of the king at the sight (v.6) types Christendom’s fears at the events which proved to be the signs of the times – “men’s hearts failing them for fear and for looking after those things which are coming upon the earth.” (Luke 21:26) The king’s demand that the wise men of Babylon be brought before him types the demand of the nominal people of God that the wise men of Christendom be summoned to the fore on the subject at hand. His offer to give the purple robe, the golden chain, and the third position in the kingdom to the one who would read and interpret the handwriting, represents Christen­dom’s reward of making the true reader and interpreter the royally accepted (purple), Divinely authorized (golden chain on the neck) chief teacher in the religious (the third) department of symbolic Babylon. The failure of the king’s wise men to interpret the handwriting types the failure of Christendom’s learned men, clergy and prophets, to read and interpret the signs of the times. Belshazzar’s in­creased fears and that of his lords (v.9) types the increased perplexity of the nomi­nal people of God, particularly of its leaders, at the events which proved to be the signs of the times, etc. Daniel’s being brought in before the king (v. 13) types Brother Russell being brought in before the nominal people of God by his writings, ser­mons and lectures. Daniel’s first statement (v. 17) that the king keep his gifts or bestow his rewards upon another types Brother Russell’s disinterestedness; for he gladly gave his service in the cause of Truth freely, declining to accept financial recompense therefor. “Seats free – No collections” was his shibboleth during his en­tire ministry.

First of all Daniel read the writing (v. 25), which the Babylonian wise men could not even read. Then, as Daniel explained the meaning of the words (vs. 26-28), so Brother Russell explained the meaning of the signs: MENE (v.26) – “God hath numbered thy kingdom and finished it.” This Brother Russell explained as the 2520 years of the Gentile times, which would end in 1914. Very significant in this connection is the fact that the numeric value of those words on the wall is exactly 2520 – Mene, 1000; Mene, 1000; Tekel, 20; Peres, 500, the gerah being the unit here meant. Thus, Brother Russell boldly declared – many years before 1914 – that the allotted years of Gentile rule were 2520, that they would end in 1914 by a great world–wide war, the be­ginning of which precipitated Christendom into two antagonistic camps – the Radicals and the Conservatives, with the breach between the two becoming ever wider with each passing year. This will presently eventuate in the complete destruction of the Conser­vative camp, with the resultant oblit­eration of the present forms of state, church and capital.

In addition, he related that these signs of pending doom also indicated the immi­nence of God’s Kingdom, as the kingdom that would succeed the kingdoms of this world. Thus did he point out the three great things indicated by the signs of the times: (1) the end of the Gentile Times; (2) Babylon’s judgment going against her; and (3) the overthrow of Satan’s empire, to be succeeded by God’s two–phased Kingdom. Brother Russell explained these things in crystal clarity, which none of Babylon’s wise men could do. They could not even recognize their significance. Events since 1914 amply corroborate the truth of his readings. Daniel’s being accepted as the third (the re­ligious) ruler in Babylon types that Brother Russell was increasingly regarded as the greatest religious teacher in Christendom; and his renown was world-wide.

HONOR TO WHOM HONOR IS DUE

Much of the foregoing is taken from Brother Johnson’s writings; and from it we may properly draw the conclusion that he was fully persuaded that Brother Russell was “that servant” (Matt. 24:45-47). And such persua­sion convinced him that the system of Truth he presented, with all important doctrines of the Bible clearly and correctly explained, should be retained as he gave it. Thus, Brother Johnson was bold in defend­ing all attempts to pervert the Truth as it is contained in Tabernacle Shadows and the Six Volumes of Studies in the Scriptures. This he did from the heart, and not by mere lip service.

Both of these Messengers died late in October, and we fondly pay homage to both of them at this season of the year. It is in order here to state that during Brother Russell’s lifetime the Truth group he led was almost 100% solidly persuaded that he was That Servant; but quite a few denied the fact shortly after he was gone. And many others who laud Brother Russell reject large parts of the Truth he gave us ­chief among these are the Jehovah’s Witnesses. This is strikingly similar to the Ro­man Catholics, who claim they originated with the Apostle Peter but also reject about every important teaching he gave. Thus, consistency in their words and in their acts is sadly absent.

Of both these “men of God” (2 Tim. 3:17) we offer the tribute: “Wealth and riches (rich in faith and in the knowledge of the Lord) shall be in his house: his righteousness endureth forever... A good man will guide his affairs with discretion... The righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.” (Psa. 112:3–6)

This paper was taken from article No. 426, October 1991 written by Pilgrim Brother John J. Hoefle.

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No. 673: OUR LORD’S RETURN​

“…I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place and for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am there ye may be also.” (John 14:2,3)

That our Lord intended his disciples to understand that for some purpose, in some manner, and at some time, He would come again is, we presume, admitted and believed by all familiar with the Scriptures, for when he said “If I go, I will come again” (John 14:3) He certainly referred to a Second personal coming.

Quite a number think that when sinners are converted that forms a part of the coming of Christ, and he will continue coming until the entire world is converted. Then, say they, he will have fully come.

These evidently forget the testimony of the Scriptures on the subject, which declare the reverse of their expectation; that at the time of our Lord’s second coming the world will be far from converted to God; that “In the last days perilous times shall come, for men shall be lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God” (2 Tim. 3:1-4); that “Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, de­ceiving and being deceived.” (Verse 13)

They forget the Master’s special warning to his Little Flock: “Take heed to yourselves lest that day come upon you unawares, for as a snare shall it come on all them (not taking heed) that dwell on the face of the whole earth.” (Luke 21:34,35)

Again, we may rest assured that when it is said, “All kindred of the earth shall wail because of his coming” (Rev. 1:7), no reference is made to the conversion of sinners. Do all men wail because of the conversion of sinners? On the contrary, if this passage refers as almost all ad­mit, to Christ’s presence on earth, it teaches that all on earth will not love his appearing, as they certainly would do if all were converted.

Some expect an actual coming and presence of the Lord, but set the time of the event a long way off, claiming that through the efforts of the church in its present condition the world must be converted, and thus the Millennial Age be introduced. They claim that when the world has been con­verted and Satan bound, and the know­ledge of the Lord caused to fill the whole earth, and when the nations learn war no more, then the work of the church in her present condition will be ended; and that when she has accomplished this great and difficult task the Lord will come to wind up earthly affairs, reward believers and con­demn sinners.

Some Scriptures, taken disconnectedly, seem to favor this view; but when God’s Word and plan are viewed as a whole these will all be found to favor the opposite view; that is, Christ comes before the con­ver­sion of the world and reigns for the purpose of con­verting the world. The Church has now been tried, and that the reward promised the overcomers is that after being glorified they shall share with the Lord Jesus in his reign, which is God’s appointed means of blessing the world and causing the knowledge of the Lord to come to every creature. Such are the Lord’s special promises: “To him that over­cometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne… And they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.”

The Apostle (Acts 15:14) tells us that the main object of the Gospel in the present Age is “to take out a people” for Christ’s name — the overcoming Church, which, at his Second Advent will be united to him and receive his name. The witnessing to the world during this Age is a secondary object.

“MY PLANS ARE NOT AS YOUR PLANS.”

A further examination of God’s reveal­ed Plans will give a broader view of the object of both the First and Second Advents; and we should remember that both events stand related as parts of one plan. The specific work of the First Advent was to die for men; and that of the Second is to restore, and bless, and liberate the redeemed. Having given his life a ransom for all, our Savior ascended to present that sacrifice to the Father, thus making reconciliation for man’s iniquity.

He tarries and permits “the prince of this world” to continue the rule of evil, until after the selection of “The Bride, the Lamb’s Wife,” who to be counted worthy of such honor, must overcome the influence of the present evil world. Then the work of giving to the world of mankind the great blessings secured to them by his sacrifice will be due to commence, and He will come forth to bless all the families of earth (Heb. 9:24,28; Rev. 3:21).

True, the restoring and blessing could have commenced at once, when the ransom price was paid by the Redeemer, and then the coming of Messiah would have been but one event, the reign and blessing beginning at once as the Apostles at first expected (Acts 1:6). But God had provided “some better thing for us” — the true Christian Church (Heb. 11:40); hence it is in our interest that the reign of Christ is separated from the sufferings of the Head by these eighteen centuries.

The period between the First and Second Advents, between the giving of the ransom for all and the blessing of all, is for the trial and selection of the Church, which is the Body of Christ. Otherwise there would have been only the one advent, and the work which will be done during the period of His second presence, in the Millennium, would have followed the resurrection of Jesus. Or, instead of saying that the work of the Second Advent would have followed at once the work of the First, let us say, rather, that had God not purposed the selection of the “little flock,” “the Body of Christ,” the First Advent would not have taken place when it did, but would have occurred at the time of the Second Advent, and there would have been but one. God has evidently designed the permission of evil for six thousand years, as well as the cleansing and restitution of all shall be accomplished during the seventh thousand.

Thus seen, the coming of Jesus as the sacrifice and ransom for sinners was just long enough in advance of the blessing and restoring time to allow for the selection of the “little flock” of “joint heirs.” This will account to some for the apparent delay on God’s part in giving the blessings promised, and provided for, in the ransom. The bles­sings will come in due time as at first planned; though for a glorious purpose, the price was laid down longer beforehand than men would have expected. So the Bride of Christ will abide with patience and the blessings will come.

“DIFFERENT CLASSES OF ELECT”

Those who claim that The Heavenly Father has been trying for six thousand years to convert the world, and failing all the time, must find it difficult to reconcile such views with the Bible assurance that all God’s purposes shall be accomplished. That His Word shall not return unto Him void, but shall prosper in the thing where to it was sent.

Glancing backward, we notice the se­lec­t­ion, or election, of Abraham and certain of his offspring as the channels through which the promised Seed, the blesser of all the families of the earth, shall come (Gal. 3:16,29).  We note also the selection of Israel from among all nations, as the one in whom, typically, God illustrated how the great work for the world should be accomplished — their deliverance from Egypt, their Canaan, their Covenant, their laws, their sacrifices for sins, for the blotting out of guilt and for the sprinkling of the people, and their priesthood for the accomplishment of all this, being a miniature and typical representation of the real priesthood and sacrifices for the puri­fying of the world of mankind. God speaking to Israel, said; “You only have I known of all the families of the earth.” (Amos 3:2) This people alone was recognized until Christ came; yes, and afterwards, for his ministry was confined to them, and He would not permit His disciples to go to others — saying, as he sent them out, “Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not.” Why so, Lord? Because, he explains, “I am not sent but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” (Mat. 10; 5,6; 15:24) All His time was devoted to them until His death, and there was done His first work for the world, the first display of His free and all-abounding grace, which in “due time” shall indeed be a blessing to all. When the called-out company (called to be sons of God, heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ our Lord — who have made their calling sure) is complete, then this feature of the plan of God for the world’s salvation will be only beginning.

Not until it is selected, developed, and exalted to power will the Seed bruise the serpent’s head. “The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly.” (Rom. 16:20; Gen. 3:15) The Gospel Age makes ready the chaste virgin, the faithful Church, for the coming Bridegroom. And in the end of the Age, when she is made “ready” (Rev. 19:7), the Bridegroom comes, and they are ready to go in with him to the marriage — the second Adam and the second Eve become one, and then the glorious work of restitution begins. In the next dispensation the Church will be no longer the espoused virgin, but the Bride; and then shall “The Spirit and the Bride say, Come! And let him that heareth say, come! And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” (Rev. 22:17)

Gospel Age, so far from closing the Church’s mission, is only the necessary preparation for the great future work, for this promised and coming blessing “the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now, waiting for this mani­festation of the sons of God.” (Rom. 8:22, 19) And it is a blessed fact that free grace in fullest measure, not merely for the living, but for those who have died as well, is provided in our Father’s plan as the blessed oppor­tunity of the coming Age.

PRE-MILLENARIANS COME SHORT

Those who can see something of the blessings due at the Second Advent, and who appreciate in some measure the fact that the Lord comes to bestow the grand blessing secured by his death, fail to see this last proposition; viz., that those in their graves have as much interest in that glorious reign of Messiah as those who at that time will be less completely under the bondage of corruption — death. But as surely as Jesus died for all, they all must have the blessings and opportunities which he purchased with his own precious blood.

Hence we should expect blessings in the Millennial Age upon all those in their graves as well as upon those not in them; and of this we will find abundant proof as we look further into the Lord’s testimony on  the subject. It is because of God’s plan for their release that those in the tomb are called “prisoners of hope.” What is, and is to be, their condition? Did God make no provision for these, whose condition and circumstances He must have foreseen? Or did He from the foundation of the world make a wretched and merciless provision for their hopeless, eternal torment as many of His children claim? Or has He yet in store in the heights and depths and lengths and breadths of His plan, an opportunity for all to come to knowledge of that only Name, and, by becoming obedient to the conditions, to enjoy everlasting life? We read that “God is love,” and “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish.” (1 John 4:8; John 3:16) Would it not seem that if God loved the world so much He might have made provision, not only that believers might be saved, but also that all might hear in order to believe?

Again, when we read, “That was the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world” (John 1:9), our observation says, Not so; every man has not been enlightened; we cannot see that our Lord has lighted more than a few of Earth’s billions. Even in this comparatively enlightened day, millions of heathen give no evidence of such enligh­tenment; neither did the Sodomites or multitudes of others in past ages. Jesus Christ, by the grace of God, tasted death “for every man.” (Heb. 2:9) But if He tasted death for the entire race of over twenty billions and from any cause that sacrifice becomes ef­ficacious to only one billion, was not the redemption comparatively a failure? And in that case, is not the Apostle’s statement too broad? When again we read, “Behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people” (Luke 2:10), and looking about us, see that it is only to a “little flock” that it has been good tidings, and not to all people, we would be compelled to wonder whether the angels had not overstated the goodness and breadth of their message and overrated the importance the work to be accomplished by the Messiah whom they announced.

Another statement is, “There is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom for all.”  (1 Tim 2:5,6) "A ranson for all?" Then why should not all the ransomed have some benefit from Christ’s death? Why should not all come to a knowledge of the truth that they may believe?

PLAN OF THE AGES— THE GOD-GIVEN KEY

Without the key, how dark, how inconsistent, these statements appear; but when we find the key to God’s plan, these texts all declare with one voice, “God is love!” This key is found in the latter part of the text last quoted—“Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” God has a due time for everything. He could have testified it to these in their past lifetime; but since he did not it proves that their due time must be future.

For those who will be of the Church, the Bride of Christ and share the Kingdom honors, the present is the “due time” to hear; and whosoever now has an ear to hear, let him hear and heed, and he will be blessed accordingly. Though Jesus gave our ransom before we were born, it was not our “due time” to hear of it for long years afterward, and only the appreciation of it brought responsibility; and this, only to the extent of our ability and appreciation. The same principle applies to all; in God’s due tine it will be testified to all, and all will then have opportunity to believe and be blessed by it.

The prevailing opinion is that death ends all probation; but there is no Scripture which so teaches. Since God does not purpose to save men on account of ignorance, but “will have all men to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim. 2:4); and since the masses of mankind have died in ignorance, and since “there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave” (Eccl. 9:10); therefore God has prepared for the awakening of the dead, in order to knowledge, faith and salvation. Hence His plan is that “as all in Adam die, even so shall all in Christ be made alive, but each one in his own order”— the Gospel Church, the Bride, the Body of Christ, first; afterward, during the Millennial Age, all who shall become His during that thousand years of His presence (mistrans­lated coming), the Lord’s due time for all to know him, from the least to the greatest (1 Cor. 15:22).

Thus we see that all these hitherto difficult texts are explained by the statement—“To be testified in due time.” In due time, that true Light shall lighten every man that has come into the world. In due time, it shall be “good tidings of great joy to all people.” And in no other way can these Scriptures be used without wresting. Paul carries out this line of argument with emphasis in Rom. 5:18,19. He reasons that, as all men were condemned to death because of Adam’s transgression, so, also, Christ’s righteous­ness, and obedience even unto death, have become a ground of justification; and that as all lost life in the first Adam, so all, aside from personal demerit, may receive life by accepting the second Adam.

Peter tells us that this restitution is spoken by the mouth of all the holy prophets (Acts 3:19-21).

They all teach it. Ezekiel says of the valley of dry bones, “These bones are the whole house of Israel.” And God says to Israel, “Behold, O my people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. And ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I… shall put my Spirit in you, and I shall place you in your own land; then shall ye know that I the Lord have spoken it, and performed it, saith the Lord.” (Ezek. 37:11-14)

To this, Paul’s words agree (Rom. 11:25,26)—“Blindness in part is happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles (the elect company, the Bride of Christ) be come in; and so all Israel shall be saved,” or brought back from their cast-off condition, for “God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew.” (Rom 11:2) They were cast off from his favor while the Bride of Christ was being selected, but will be reinstated when the work is accomplished. (Verses 28-33) The prophecies are full of statements of how God will plant them again, and they shall be no more plucked up. “Thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel… I will set mine eyes upon them for good, and I will bring them again to this land; and I will build them and not pull them down, and I will plant them and not pluck them up. And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the Lord; and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.” (Jer. 24:5-7; 31-28; 32:40-42; 33:6-16) These cannot refer merely to restorations from former captivities in Babylon, Syria, etc., for they have since been plucked up.

Though many of the prophecies and promises of future blessings seem to apply to Israel only, it must be remembered that they were a typical people, and hence the promises made to them, while sometimes having a special application to themselves, generally have also a wider application to the whole world of mankind which that nation typified.

While Israel as a nation was typical of the whole world, its priesthood was typical of the elect “little flock,” the Head and Body of Christ, the “Royal Priesthood;” and the sacrifices, cleansings and atonement made for Israel typified the “better sacrifices,” fuller cleansings and real atonement “for the sins of the whole world,” of which they are a part.

A CRUCIAL TEST—THE SODOMITES

And not only so, but God mentions by name other nations and promises their rest­oration. As a forcible illustration, we mention the Sodomites. Surely, if we shall find the restitution of the Sodomites clearly taught, we may feel satisfied of the truth of this glorious doctrine of restitution for all mankind, spoken by the mouth of all the holy prophets. And why should not the Sodomites have an opportunity to reach perfection, and everlasting life as well as Israel, or as any of us? True, they were not righteous; but neither was Israel, nor we who now hear the Gospel.

“There is none righteous; no, not one,” aside from the imputed righteousness of Christ, who died for all. Our Lord’s own words tell us that although God rained down fire from heaven and destroyed them all because of their wickedness, yet the Sod­omites were not so great sinners in his sight as were the Jews, who had more knowledge (Gen. 19:24; Luke 17:29).

Unto the Jews of Capernaum He said; “If the mighty works which have been done in thee had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.” (Matt. 11:23)

Thus our Lord teaches that the Sod­omites did not have a full opportunity; and he guarantees them such opportunity when he adds (v. 24), “But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom, in the day of judgment, than for thee.” The character of the Day of Judgment and its work is shown elsewhere. (See Vol. 1, “Scripture Studies,” “The Divine Plan of the Ages.”) Here we merely call attention to the fact that it will be a tolerable time for Capernaum, and yet more tolerable for Sodom; because, though neither had yet had full knowledge, nor all blessings designed to come through the “Seed,” yet Capernaum had sinned against more light.

And if Capernaum and all Israel are to be remembered and blessed under the “New Covenant,” why not the Sodomites should be blessed also among “all the families of the earth?” They assuredly will be. Let it be remembered that since God “rained down fire from heaven and destroyed them all” many centuries before Jesus’ day, when their restoration spoken of, it implies their awakening, their coming from the tomb.

In “due time” they will be awakened from death and brought to a knowledge of the truth (1 Tim. 2:4), and thus blessed together with all the families of the earth, by the promised “Seed.” They will then be on trial for everlasting life.

With this thought, and with no other, can we understand the dealings of the God of love with those Amalekites and other nations whom he not only permitted, but com­manded Israel to destroy, saying, “Go smite Amalek and utterly destroy all they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.” (1 Sam. 15:3)

This ap­parently reckless des­truction of life seems ir­reconcilable with the character of love attributed to God, and with the teaching of Jesus, “Love your enemies,” etc., until we come to recog­nize the sys­tematic order of God’s plan, the “due time” for the ac­complishment of every feature of it, and the fact that every member of the human race has a place in it.

We can now see that those Amal­ekites, Sodomites and others were set forth as examples of God’s just indignation, and of his determination to destroy finally and utterly evil-doers, examples which will be of service not only to others, but also to themselves, when their Day of Judgment or trial comes.

Some, who are willing enough to accept of God’s mercy through Christ in the forgiveness of their own trespasses and weaknesses under greater light and knowledge, cannot conceive of the same favor being applicable under the New Covenant to others; though they seem to admit the Apostle’s statement that Jesus Christ, by the favor of God tasted death for every man. Some of these suggest that the Lord must, in this prophecy, be speaking ironically to the Jews, implying that he would just as willingly bring back the Sodomites as them, but had no in­tention of restoring either. But let us see how the succeeding verses agree with this (Ezek. 16:60-63). The Lord says, “Never­theless I will remember my covenant with thee in the days of thy youth, and will establish unto thee an everlasting Covenant.”

“Then thou shalt remember thy ways and be ashamed when thou shalt receive thy sisters… And I will establish my Covenant with thee and thou shalt know that I am the Lord; that thou mayest remember and be confounded, and never open thy mouth anymore because of thy shame, when I am pacified toward thee for all that thou hast done, saith the Lord God"

“ALL ISRAEL SHALL BE SAVED”

To this Paul adds his testimony, saying, “And so all Israel (living and dead) shall be saved (recovered from blindness), as it is written.  ‘There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungod­liness from Jacob. For this is my Covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins…’

“They are beloved for the fathers’ sakes; because the gracious gifts and callings of God are not things to be repented of.” (Rom. 11:26-29)

How different is this glorious plan of God for the selection of a few now, in order to be the blessing of the many hereafter, from the distortions of these truths, as represented by two opposing views — Calvinism and Arminianism! They both deny the doctrine of election, and fail to comprehend the blessed fairness of free grace.

The day of trouble will end in due time, when he who spoke to the raging Sea of Galilee will likewise, with authority, com­mand the raging sea of human passion, saying, “Peace! Be still!” When the Prince of Peace shall “stand-up” in authority, a great calm will be the result. Then the raging, clashing elements shall recognize the auth­ority of “God’s Anointed,” “the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together;” and in the reign of the Christ thus begun “shall all the families of the earth be blessed.”

BROKEN PURPOSES

My purposes are broken off,

So be it, blessed Lord;

     With wisdom and with wondrous Love

Thy purposes are stored

         The thoughts of my poor heart give place

   To Thy great plan for me;

         In all Thy ways my soul can trace

 Thy mercy rich and free.

This paper has been reproduced, with minor editing for space, from an article by Pastor Charles T. Russell in the “Overland Monthly” (See Page 222 through Page 228), published in San Francisco, California, by Bret Harte, journ­alist and author. The Pastor’s columns appeared in the overland Monthly from 1908 until his death in 1916.

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No. 672: The State of the Dead

“And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” (Gen. 2:16-17) “…the soul that sinneth, it shall die.”  (Ezek. 18:4)

Did Adam understand what “sure­ly die” meant? He surely did! However, note that Eve did not exist yet when the Creator gave this one law to Adam. So it is understandable that the serpent could–would deceive her. After all, she did get the law second hand from her husband and oh, that serpent was beautiful and such a charmer. He taught deceivers who came later how to deceive — the popes, bishops, preachers, evangelists, law­yers and politicians among many, many others. Come to think about it, he deceived these most of all. He even tried to deceive Jesus during his First Advent when Jesus was on earth to die Adam’s death; blame­lessly and event­ually to restore Adam and all his progeny for a chance to obtain everlasting life. “Get thee behind me, Satan.” (Mat 16:23)

The Medical Dictionary defines Death as the cessation of all vital functions of the body, the heartbeat, brain activity (including the brain stem) and breathing. In Jewish Law, for whatever the reason, the current definition of "death" is now a composite one. It is deemed that death occurs when there is either irreversible cessation of circulatory and respiratory functions (the "old" definition) or irreversible cessation of all functions of the entire brain including the brain stem. (The new) The principal utility of these second standards permit declaring as dead a comatose, ventilator-dependent patient incap­able of spontaneous respiration but whose heart is still beating due to the provision of oxygen via an artificial breathing apparatus. Judaism does not specifically mention an afterlife, although we think they fully expect a resurrection.

Notice the Creator did not breathe into man an immortal soul. (One could search the Scriptures for that one and find it doesn’t exist.) The thought of an immortal soul was introduced by man much later. It is total nonsense and a big lie, unsupported by scripture and fostered on fallen man by the deceiver; dubbed by the Apostle Paul as the “prince of the power of the air” of this present evil world. (Eph 2:2) The mother of Harlots (Papacy) and her harlot offspring still promote this nonsensical belief. It is almost astonishing that so many otherwise intelligent people cling to this blatant error, inspired by The Evil One. Much additional errors and superstitions have traveled down this avenue. Most people never bother to seek the truth, “precept upon precept;” they daydream through Bible Study as many do on Sunday mornings when the preacher delivers his sermon.

The penalty for Adam’s sin would have been much worse if it had been “living thou shalt live in eternal torment.” This might have been the penalty for sin if the Creator had given Adam an “immor­tal (death proof) soul,” which even GOD could not eliminate. Think about the difference between “Eternal” and “Immortal.” Eternal seems to imply a long indefinite period of time that does not include incorruptibility. There is no other way to consider immortality as anything but incorruptibility – death proof.

Our Lord God, whose major character traits are Love, Power, Wisdom, and Justice, has not extended immortality to the person of anyone except The Christ – the second Adam and his 144,000 strong Bride, the second Eve, gathered during the “Gospel Age.” They will rule the earthly Kingdom of God and lead Adam and his progeny to human perfection with full knowledge of good and evil. Humanity has spent the last six thousand years learning evil and during the Christ’s 1,000 year Kingdom will learn the opposite and become gods (mighty-ones)  of this physical universe.

What about NDE? – “Near Death Exper­ience” we occasionally read or hear about in news reports and gossip. One victim said that before her NDE she did not believe in a benevolent God and afterward – she still didn’t. She added, however, she now is convinced there is an “Afterlife.”

When Adam sinned, received the death sentence and passed it on to his progeny, all life as we know it became a Near Death Experience. When a person suffers painfully over a long period, death can become a blessed relief for the patient who will have no pain or knowledge of any kind in the grave and the friends and relatives of the patient who suffer the loss, also are relieved but continue living for a while.

Most of the people, who have accepted the immortal-soul concept with eternal torment for the bad people, never consider they or any of their loved ones would ever experience this forever Afterlife of a burning hell. If it is true we all are condemned by the prospect and God has no love in Him.

We would never enjoy any of the life we have here now for worrying about the “After life” des­cribed. The term should be “After­­ death” for death comes after we have lived for a while. The human race has enough to worry about for we are near death from the moment of our conception within our mother’s womb and every second of our present life thereafter.

The life we now live in this present evil world is a true “Near Death Experience.” Though some are nearer than others, such as those who are approaching death through illness, or a court of law, or who have lived beyond the age where their bodies can no longer support living. Fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil is surely allegorical. The provisions for life of the newly created Adam were conditional, dependent upon obedience to his Creator’s law. His instruction was that he could eat the fruit of every tree: that is, he could experience everything within Eden except the “fruit” of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. This was the one and only law the Creator gave his Special Creation. The tree with the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil was surely allegorical. Think about what this night have repre­sented. Perhaps it was the act of pro­creation?

Why would the Creator provide the means by which his creatures could self-destruct after HE had already said the creation was “good?” Doubtlessly, the Heavenly Father had a higher purpose for his creation. Though the physically per­fect, Adam was unfinished. He, along with the rest of us, was born needing a proper education. The Crea­tor purposed to give us one and man was to become the god of our universe. In order for this to be, the human needed to have knowledge of both good and evil and voluntarily to eschew evil and accept only the opposite. Note that Adam and his prodigy learn evil first.

“Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest. (Eccl 9:10)

What is hard to understand about this Scripture and are there not others, which make the same indisputable declaration? The only answer is that there is very little seeking of truth in this Age, it is easier to believe the catechisms of the Man of Sin. Attend any nominal Christian church, and the sermon is a great sleeping pill. But, you might feel that momentarily you are a “Good Christian” and have done your duty-worship.

“In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.”( Gen 3:19)

This is another nail in the coffin of the “afterlife” belief of the vast majority of human minds, corrupted in the hands of the prince of the power of the air. The death curse includes sweat for food just to stay alive. We were created from the dust of the earth and when death takes us we return to the dust from which we came. Remember, “No knowledge in the grave.” (Eccl 9:10)

Adam and Eve had it so good, everything they would ever want or need right there in Paradise-Eden. The weather was perfect they needed no wraps, clothing or covering of any kind. The animals were their friends and servants, food was plentiful, lots of good apples and other fruits and vegetables, just do not eat the fruit of that one tree – Just one law and what an easy one! Through Moses, God gave the Israelites 10 laws, the obedience to which could gift them life forever. These ten laws are impossible for imperfect men to obey, but this marked the Jews as His “typical” chosen people.

Did The Creator really mean that “surely die” would be a bright light of peace and joy at the end of a tunnel for the good people and the horror of being dragged off into darkness by a couple of the evil one’s henchmen to be seared and burned forever. Did the Creator of every­thing whose chief character traits are Love, Wisdom, Power and Justice actually do that? Did the Creator make man with a death-proof kernel of immortality? Did He plan this horrible method of punish­ment for the disobedient of his crea­tures? Did He plan to turn the bad people over to Satan for everlasting unspeakable tor­ment with no way out, ever? Was that part of God’s Eternal Purpose? After all, when souls are immortal you must have a way to separate the bad from the good.

Notice, it has always been “everlast­ing life” and not “immortal life.” Search the Scriptures and try to find the phrase “immortal soul.” This phrase is not there. We cannot pay attention to the catechism; (A book in question-and-answer form giving a brief summary of the basic principles of Christianity ac­cord­ing to the Papal system,) or bishops, preachers, priests, popes, evan­ge­lists, etc. They are all deceived; under the influence of “That Man of Sin” pointed out by the Apostle Paul.

O, what a tangled web we weave,

When first we practice to deceive!

But when we’ve practiced quite a while

How vastly we improve our style.

Satan, enticed poor Eve like a hand­some lover, telling her she could eat the fruit and become more alive than ever. He appeared to her in the form of a beautiful serpent and enticed poor Eve , which condemned the serpent to forever having to crawl upon its belly like a reptile. Eve had no armor to protect herself. Adam and Eve were two souls who when together were one, a head and body. She went running to Adam and told him the good news; we’ll be like God, “more alive than ever.”

The evil one told her this lie and preachers of all stripes have been repeating it at almost every funeral sermon they preach. Poor father Adam, he was not deceived, but he loved this woman who had been taken from his body and did not want to live without her. He deliberately disobeyed his Creator’s law. Adam and Eve lost their lives, life rights, and their home in Paradise.

“…in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” (Gen 2:17) But Adam and Eve didn’t die in a 24-hour day, did they? ―“But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.”(2 Pet. 3:8) We don’t know how long Eve lived, but we are told Adam lived 930 years, (Gen 5:5) about 928 of which were after being banished from the Garden of Paradise, their wonderful home. Adam’s death was 70 years before the end of a thousand-year Day of the Lord. Adam and Eve’s children never experi­enced life as perfect creations.

They were born in the exact condition as their earthly parents were already—a “Near Death” condition. The human race was already devolving. One of Adam and Eve’s sons, Cane killed his brother and became the first murderer. Their new home, the earth outside of Eden was much different. Food didn’t grow easily and they had to determine which of the plants were nutritious or poisonous and which were just fattening.

They had to learn how to make their food more edible, more near to what had been available in the Garden of Paradise. The Creator knew it all from the beginning as He planned it that way. He permitted Satan to deceive them, for the evil one can do nothing not allowed by The Creator’s “eternal purpose.” Obviously we needed this oppor­tunity to experience evil.

Oh My Lord, we humans had to seek, kill and eat animals upon realizing that growing food from the ground was hard labor and too dependent on things a human cannot control. We became carnivores and lost almost all our animal friends. Down through the years the animosity between man and beasts has grown. Some animals are susceptible to becoming pets and some to slaves, but largely now there is much antagonism between man and the lower animal souls.

But let’s go back a moment. In Gen 1:22 it says, “...be fruitful and multiply,” But notice no children were born to Adam and Eve until after the sin and its consequences. Therefore their children were born cursed with a death sentence handed down through their parents, and it has been such ever since. What an inheritance! Instead of evolving from our beginnings, we have been devolving for more than 6,000 years. We are now approaching our extremity and need our Creator’s help.

In the beginning “eternal torment,” was never an issue. The wily deceiver had not invented it yet. Today, many people believe this deception, which has filled them with superstition. First, the evil one had to foster the belief in an immortal soul, which even the Creator, it is implied, could not take from these growing errors in the beliefs of the human race. We have been getting an education in “evil.” Immortal means death proof even though the scriptures tell plainly, “The soul that sinneth shall die.” (Ezek 18:20)

The English word soul is translated from the Hebrew word “Nephesh” meaning a breathing creature, any breathing creature, a man, ape, dog, elephant, horse, etc; all of us earth animals are souls. The root of the word Nephesh is Nêphash, meaning to breathe. The voluntary taking in and letting out of air.  Since Adam and Eve had been perfect earthly physical specimen, it took time for the gradual disintegration to end with death. Also, they did not have the natural nutritious food from the Garden of Eden. Still Adam lived 930 years. Death happens to us all. Yet, He passed from our near death condition to the oblivion of death. We have devolved into much less perfect souls than Adam was before he sinned. God did not suddenly strike Adam dead, but allowed him to die naturally, while gaining knowledge of both good and evil. Where did all the fairy tale beliefs of humanity come from? “The Evil One,” of course. The prince of the power of the Air; (Eph. 2:2.) “More alive than ever” will have believers only in this “present evil World,” (Gal 1:4.)

How many times in “Nominally Christian” funerals have we heard expression from the pulpit, such as; “Our dear departed is now more alive than ever—and is now looking down upon us with love.” They never preach that the loved one has gone to horrible torment and is now looking up at us with hateful, fierce jealousy.

“One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.”  (Eccl 1:4) The physical earth “God created to be inhabited.” (Isa 45:18) So it will never be destroyed, despite the several diamet­rically opposite conclusions fostered by Satan onto orthodox religions and so called sciences.

A few years ago some scientist were concluding that the solar system was running down and that eventually the earth would become very cold and lifeless. Now, of course they are predicting just the opposite —“global warming.” They sound like pol­iticians, promising one thing today and the opposite tomorrow.

“For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.”  (Eccl 9:5)

“Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.” (Eccl 9:10)

                            MORE ALIVE THAN EVER?

Satan invented this “more alive than ever” baloney and so many people believe it! He is certainly the deceiver, “Prince of the power of the air,” But he can do nothing without The Heavenly Fathers permission who has allowed Satan to acquaint mankind with the evilness of sin.

“Irreversible ending of life and the approach of that end, death, involves a complete change in a living entity— the loss of its essential characteristics. “Death occurs at several levels. Somatic (bodily) death is the death of a living thing as a whole, marked by the stopping of heartbeat, respiration, move­ment, reflexes, and brain activity. After somatic death, several changes occur, which indicate the time and circumstances of death. Algor mortis is the cooling of the body after death. Rigor mortis is the stiffening of the skeletal muscles, begin­ning from five to ten hours after death and disappearing after three or four days. Livor mortis is the reddish-blue discoloration that occurs on the underside of the body, resulting from the settling of the blood. Clotting of the blood begins shortly after death, as autolysis does, the death of the cells. Putrefaction, the decomposition that follows, is caused by the action of enzymes and bacteria.

“Ideas about what defines death vary with different cultures and times. In modern times, death has been thought to occur when the vital functions of breathing and circu­lation stops. As medical advances have made it possible to sustain respiration and cardiac function by mechanical means, the concept of brain-death (the irreversible loss of brain activity) has gained acceptance. Some authorities now challenge the concept of brain-death, arguing that death should be considered as the loss of the capacity for cons­ciousness or social interaction, activities controlled in the higher centers of the brain. “Dying people go through several stages: denial and isolation; anger, rage, envy, and resentment; bargain­ing; depression; and accep­tance. Families and friends also go through stages of denial and acceptance. Grief often begins before a loved one dies. After the death, mourners typically cry, have difficulty sleeping, and lose their appetites. Some may feel alarmed, angry, or betrayed at being deserted. Later, the grief may turn to depression. Finally, the survivors begin to feel less troubled, regain energy, and restore their ties to others.”  Encarta® Encyclopedia ©

Upon the death of a loved one we hear statements from those grieving, such as; “My , [the deceased] is gone and I will never see her or him again.” Frequently these kinds of statements are made by good “Christian” people who are faithful church-goers in the nominal systems and momentarily forget that their sect teaches that the dead go either to Heaven of Hell. If this were true, there would be some chance they might meet up with their loved ones in one of those places.

We’ve heard dying people acclaim, “I’m going to join my Jesus.” We can’t fault them since momentarily at least; they feel better. However, the vast majority of the dying masses are not be members of the “Little Flock,” the “Bride of Christ” for as Scriptures tell us there are only 144,000 of these out of all the billions who have lived since Jesus Christ took upon himself to die for Adam and his progeny. (Eccl. 9:5; Rev. 14:1)

The Christ,” head and body will attain the Divine Plane with The Father of all Creation: “If in this life only we have hope in Christ we are of all men most miserable.”  (1 Cor 15:19). In other words, if our hope in Christ is merely dependent upon the circum­stances of this present life, we rob ourselves of what little enjoyment and advantage that might be obtained here.

Christ knew not anything in the tomb; he was dead, unconscious, for a part of three days. “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.”  (Eccl 9:10) Con­demned to death and nailed to the cross, perhaps the brief uncons­cious rest was beneficial after what he had gone through. His death was for Adam and all of mankind, Adam’s progeny. But now is Christ risen [raised] from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept. —(1 Cor 15:20) The Emphatic Diaglott has it “Christ has been raised.”

It wasn’t God that died and was raised. The love of God was manifested toward us, because God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. (1 John 4:9) “In the beginning was the Logos and the Logos was with God and the Logos was a God. (John 1:1) (Benja­min Wilson’s Dia­glott) in other words he has it as, Christ was the first in the beginning of God’s creation. He was the first-fruit of all God’s Creation.

“And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul; but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell [the grave].” (Mat. 10:28 KJV) A better translation of this verse is in the Diaglott by Benjamin Wilson: “Be not afraid of those who kill the body, but cannot destroy the [future] LIFE, but rather fear HIM who can destroy life and body in Gehen­na.”[Hell-grave].” (Matt.10:28 Dia­glott)

“And no one hath ascended into HEAVEN, except the Son of Man who des­cended from heaven.” (John 3:13 Diaglott)

“The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son; the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.” (Ezek. 18:20) This scripture refers to the coming age, The World to come beginning with Christ’s Millennium.

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