NO. 182: JESUS THE CHRIST

No.  182

My dear Brethren: Grace and peace through our Beloved Master!

It is rather a sad commentary that many earnest and sincere Church Members do not know the clear meaning of the name Jesus Christ, the One they desire to worship. This is not only true of lay members, but is also true of quite a few of their ministers who are attempting to “preach Christ and Him crucified.” “Thou shalt call His name Jesus,” was the command of the angel to Joseph, His stepfather. Jesus is the equiva­lent of the Hebrew Jeshua, or Joshua, and means Savior – “for He will save His people from their sins,” said the angel. Jesus continued with only the given name Jesus all during His boyhood, and was known by this name by His family or neighbors. However, when He presented Himself to John at Jordan for Baptism, the Holy Spirit descended upon Him from on High; and from that time onward He was known as Jesus Christ. The word Christ means anointed; and the clear indication is that from Jordan on, from the time the Holy Spirit was poured out upon Him, He was then known as Jesus the Christ – or the Anointed Savior. Thus, the name Jesus Christ and Anointed Savior mean exactly the same thing.

In a broad sense there are four offices He would hold in the saving process for the human family – that of Prophet, Priest, King and Judge. Be it noted there are also four attributes of the Divine character – Wisdom, Love, Power and Justice; and each one of these attributes finds its full application individually in the four offices just named. The work of a prophet is to teach the people the truth; “I will send you Elijah the Prophet... and he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers.” (Mal, 4:5,6) And such a ministry is founded upon the attribute of Wisdom. Next, the purpose of a Priest is to forgive and bless. “We have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities... Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy (forgiveness), and find grace (favor, blessing) to help in time of need.” (Heb. 4:15, 16) Surely, such forgiveness and blessing are primarily a work of the attribute of Love. As King (Ruler), Jesus will use particularly the attribute of Power.  “At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and of things in earth, and things  under the earth.... that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ (the Anointed Savior) is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil. 2:10, 11). It needs no argument that such rulership, regal authority, is the direct result of the attribute of Power. And as a Judge He will use specifically the attribute of Justice. “God hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom He hath ordained (the Anointed Savior); whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised Him from the Dead.” (Acts 17:31) As Judge, the risen Lord will use specifically the attribute of Justice – strict, impartial  and perfect Justice. “The spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him... shall make Him of quick understanding... He shall not judge after the sight of His eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of His ears (as must now be done in our courts, thus often resulting in the conviction of the innocent, and more often resulting in the freeing of the guilty)... With righteousness shall He judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth... Righteousness shall be the girdle of His loins, and faithfulness the girdle of His reins.” (Isa. 11:2-5)

A MORE DETAILED ANALYSIS

While the foregoing gives an overall summary of the Anointed Savior and His work toward men, there are various details of each of these that may be itemized under 17 subheadings; and some of these we shall now consider:

(1) OUR RANSOMER – “The Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Matt. 20:28); And this is further emphasized and clarified in 1 Tim. 2:4-6: “Will have all men to be saved... The man Christ Jesus (the Anointed Savior) Who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” In this latter text the word ransom is from the Greek antilutron, and means a corresponding price – an exact equivalent. This word ransom finds a fairly good illustration in our present-day kidnapping crimes, where a ransom is demanded for the release of the victim. When the demands are met, the victim is released; and it is much the same in the case of Jesus as Ransomer, one great difference being that Jesus Himself provides the ransom price. In 1 Cor. 7:23 it is stated: “Ye are bought with a price”; and we are further informed in Rom. 6:12: “By one man (Adam) sin entered into the world, and death by sin: so death passed upon all men.” From the fall in Eden the great enemy has held the human race as in a gigantic vice, from which none could escape. “None can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him.” (Psa. 49:7)

But Christ Jesus (the Anointed Savior) was well able to  provide  the  ransom  price; and He did this by “pouring out His soul unto death,” giving His human life and life rights as the exact equivalent of the man Adam in Eden. “Behold, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the root of David, hath prevailed to open the book... thou wast slain, and hast redeemed (ransomed) us to God by Thy blood... Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing.” (Rev. 5:5-12) As such He substituted His perfect human body for the perfect human body that Adam lost in Eden; His perfect life rights for those lost by Adam in Eden. “The Son of Man is come to save that which was lost.” (Matt. 18:11) Thus, the question properly arises, What was lost? We answer, Four things were lost. First, Adam lost in Eden his peaceful fellow­ship with God; second, he lost his perfect home in Eden; third, he lost his dominion over the brute creation; fourth, he lost his right to life. The Dying process lasted 930 years, at which time Adam returned to the dust whence he was originally taken.

The doctrine of the Ransom is the foundation stone of all Biblical teachings; it is the touchstone by which we may gauge the truth or error of every other attempted Scrip­tural interpretation. If such teachings impinge in any way against this touchstone, we may be sure there is something wrong with that teaching. Thus, a proper understanding of the Ransom immediately annihilates the idea that man is a dual being; that is, that he has a soul and body separate and distinct from each other.  “In the day thou eatest there­of, thou shalt surely die,” was the clear edict to the man Adam (Gen. 2:17). There are those that contend that Adam died spiritually on that day. But, if he died physically 930 years later, he must then have been both spiritually and physically dead; so just what else would be left of him? However, the record is clear enough, “Man became a living soul” (Gen. 2:7). Thus, when Christ Jesus (the Anointed Savior) “poured out His soul unto death,” He provided an exact equivalent for what the man Adam lost in Eden – ­He became the Ransom, the corresponding price, by which He could “redeem them from death; ransom them from the power of the grave” (Hosea 13:14).

(2) MEDIATOR – In Heb. 12:24 it is stated “Jesus the mediator of the New Covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.” In the verses immediately preceding, there is minutely detailed the Covenant with the nation of Israel at Sinai, with Moses as Mediator, and compared with Jesus as the proposed Mediator of the New Covenant; so it is in order first of all to define the meaning of a mediator. He is a go-between for two parties, much the same as a broker in the stock market. When we buy stock on the New York Stock Exchange, the broker who transacts the action not only represents the buyer, but he represents the seller also, and he is le­gally and ethically bound to give to each a fair and impartial representation. While money is the medium of exchange in a stock deal, the buyer paying and the seller receiv­ing the amount involved, Jesus as Mediator of the New Covenant provides not money, but His blood, His human life and human life rights, to bring the opposing parties into ac­cord. It should be noted also that the parties to a stock transaction need not be ene­mies – they may actually be good friends; but the mediation of Jesus will be between two parties actually at variance with each other. The Jews at Sinai were also out of accord with God – because of inherited and acquired sin; thus, in no position to have any di­rect dealings with God. But, with Moses as the go-between, the Law Covenant was com­pleted, through the sprinkling of animals’ blood. So also with the New Covenant, the Christ Anointed Savior – shall ‘‘make His soul an offering for sin” (Isa. 53:10), as He mediates the New Covenant.

That this New Covenant is not yet in operation should be readily apparent. If it were, man would be unable to continue in his sinful course as he has been doing for the past six thousand years.  There is now no command to the Gentile world to forsake sin and follow righteousness. Rather, there has been a call (“Many are called, but few are chosen”) to such as would hear, a call to “follow in His steps.” But, as stated in the opening paragraphs, when the New Covenant and the Mediator (better than Moses) are es­tablished, then it will be a command for “every knee to bow, and every tongue to confess that Christ is Lord.” Certainly, all will agree that this condition does not prevail at this time.

The purpose of the New Covenant is to give life to all who will accept it under the terms of that Covenant. “God will have all men to be saved” from the various evils that now afflict the human race; but, once that salvation is accomplished, then it will be a matter of each individual’s choice whether or not he wishes to avail himself of the further benefits that will then be available. That will be the “resurrection of judg­ment” (John 5:29, Dia.), the word ‘judgment’ here being from the Greek word krisis, which actually means a trial time – a trial time with sufficient knowledge available to permit those tried to make an intelligent choice between good and evil.

(3) FATHER – In Isa. 9:6 we have the prophecy, “unto us a son is given... His name shall be called Wonderful .... The everlasting father.” St. Paul states, “As by Adam all die, so by the Anointed (Savior) also, will all be restored to life.” (1 Cor. 15: 22, Dia.) The first Adam did not give us life; he gave us a sentence of death, which is slowly executed upon each individual until he is finally placed in the tomb. It is a common expression for men to say, I am living in New York, St. Louis, Los Angeles, etc.; but the fact is that they are all dying in those places, of which every funeral procession gives mute evidence.

But the life that will come from the second Adam (the Anointed Savior) will be just the reverse; it will bring to the race life in perfection – “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death will be no more, nor mourning nor crying; neither will there be any more pain.... These words are faithful and true.” (Rev. 21:4,5) Instead of the aging process we now see on all hands, there will be just the reverse at the hand of the “Everlasting Father”: “Man’s flesh shall be fresher than a child’s: he shall re­turn to the days of his youth.” (Job 33:25) At present we see men going from youth to old age and faltering steps; under the Mediator, the Anointed Savior, the Everlasting Father, just the reverse will occur – man shall return to the days of his youth.

(4) LAW-GIVER – “The Government shall be upon His shoulder.” (Isa. 9:6) And, since all God’s works are perfect, we may expect a perfect Government when the Anointed Savior takes unto Himself His great power to reign. Under present unfavorable conditions all governments are far from perfect; in fact, most of them have been miserably imperfect ­due to the vicious, corrupt and selfish men who have been at the heads of the various governments. “To the intent that the living may know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.” (Dan. 4:17) Even with the few noble rulers of history, their efforts were much impeded and negated by corrupt and ambitious underlings. As the perfect Law­giver, the Anointed Savior will have no selfish motives. “With righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth” (Isa. 11:4) – class distinctions will not enter into the administration of justice under the Perfect Law-Giver,

(5) THE GREAT PHYSICIAN – That the human race is in dire need of better doctors to cure their diseases is apparent on every hand. It is our conviction that many of our better physicians are men and women of high ideals, who work conscientiously and altruis­tically to ease the ills of the human race; yet they are forced to admit their limita­tions against the ailments that afflict the race.  Not long back a very good and person­al friend of ours dropped dead of a heart attack in just a few minutes. He had been a brilliant physician, with a very lucrative practice. We were discussing his sudden de­mise with perhaps ten fellow members of the Medical Association, when one of them sadly remarked that in instances such as that one they were forced to admit their limitations in their treatment of bodily ills.

The human afflictions are not only physical, they are also mental, artistic, moral and religious.  “When I would do good, evil is present with me,” is the open confession of the Great Apostle (Rom. 7:21); and it needs no argument that that noble “example of the believers” exerted all his indomitable will to combat the weaknesses which had come to him through heredity. Said the Prophet Isaiah (1:5,6): “The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrefying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.” Further on the subject by David (Psa. 51:2-5): “Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity... Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.” Doctors have listed about 2,000 diseases that afflict humanity – many times more than can be found in any of the brute creation. “I am fearfully and wonderfully made,” is a further statement by David (Psa. 139:14); but man’s great physique and sensitive nervous system have also subjected him to more numer­ous and more intricate bodily disorders than can be found in any of the lower animals.

And for all of this the Great Physician (the Anointed Savior) will in due time produce the remedies that will effect a complete and permanent cure. “The Sun of right­eousness shall arise with healing in His wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves in the stall.” (Mal. 4:2) “Bless the Lord, 0 my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities (through the work of the Great High Priest); Who healeth all thy diseases (by the hand of the Great Physician)—Psa. 103:2.  This healing has been partially extended to the faith class during the Gospel Age, and will be given fully and completely to all the non-elect during the Kingdom reign who will avail themselves of it.

(6)  THE GREAT AND JUST JUDGE – Previously we touched lightly the Anointed Savior’s office of Judge, but we now offer some elaboration because of the confused and extensive misunderstanding that prevails on the subject throughout Christendom. In previous centuries the belief was general throughout Christendom that the Great Judge would eventually put in an appearance in a 24-hour day, sentence all the sinners to eternal torment, and take His faithful with Him into the heavenly abode. It is a tribute to the great increase in knowledge (Dan. 12:4) here in the end of the Age that many Christian believers no longer accept such an erroneous view; but many of them still have only a hazy conception of any different view on the subject. However, if we consider the Judges in Israel, after the entrance into Canaan, we find their most important work was to deliver their fellow Israelites from their enemies; and in this they were but a type of the Anointed Savior who will deliver mankind in general from their enemies of heart and mind – namely, sin, error and selfishness. “The Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son” (the Anointed Savior)—John 5:22.

Such judgment to be successful will involve several things: First, the human race will be put under providential conditions conducive to accepting the harsh, yet merci­ful, conditions applicable to such judgment. Such conditions do not now prevail, because all will agree that it now is as easy for man to sin as for the smoke and sparks to fly skyward. Even with the faith class, who have resolutely attempted a better way, a cer­tain margin of failure has accompanied their efforts to keep the perfect law of God. Secondly, it will be necessary to teach the unbelief class just what the law actually is – what is required of them – before they can even make the attempt to keep the law. All will agree that the conflicting teachings of the numerous sects today must carry with them a considerable amount of error. It has been well stated that behind every argument lies some one’s ignorance. And this has been especially true of religious arguments. But the promise is sure to all, “I will instruct thee, and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go.” (Psa. 32:8) And, “When thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness” (Isa. 26:9). The people will first be told clearly and certainly what they must do before they will be judged for what they do. It is estab­lished law in the courts of our land that “Ignorance of the law excuses no one”; and this may continue measurably true during the reign of the Anointed Savior. But the ignorance will surely and completely first be eliminated before judgment will be meted out. Then, “the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” (Isa. 11:9)

Such a situation would require, thirdly, that the necessary help be given for the success of the willing, and suitable punishments for willful violations – punishments not too severe, nor yet too lenient for each individual case. Then, finally, the judgment must be pronounced – innocence for the innocent, and guilt for the guilty. “Then will the King say to those at His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed one of My Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the formation of the world’.... He will then also say to those at His left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed ones, into that aionian fire (annihi­lation), which is prepared for the Adversary and his messengers.’”—Matt. 25:34-41, Dia.

From the foregoing it should be clear that the judgment process and the salvation process are companion accomplishments. As the one occurs, so does the other. Thus, instead of the judgment being a fearful thing, the world is admonished to “sing unto the Lord, all the earth... show forth His salvation from day to day – Declare His glory among the heathen.” (Psa. 96:1-3) He will “judge the world in righteousness”; and none will be asked to perform more than he is able to do. Such a situation today is impossible ­even though the judge may have the most noble intentions. We still are faced with the in­disputable truth, “Man looketh on the outward appearance,” and must judge accordingly; but in the judgment process of the Anointed Savior all will know that “The Lord looketh on the heart.”

(7) THE GOOD PROVIDER – Despite man’s best intentions to improve his condition, the result has been mostly dismal failure. Since the great increase of knowledge in the time of the end – from 1799 onward – almost all the great inventions have been produced, re­sulting in great freedom from the burdens of the curse. But, “A morning cometh, and a night also.” In the more advanced countries today we find much the same evils as were charged to Sodom: “Pride, fullness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her...... they were haughty, and committed abomination before Me; therefore, I took them away as I saw good.” (Ezek. 16:49, 50) Jesus compared the world in His first Advent to sheep that have lost their way – without a shepherd; but St. Paul writes of The Anointed Savior as “That great shepherd of the sheep, who will make you perfect in every good work.” (Heb. 13:20, 21) “Our God shall supply all your needs through Christ Jesus, our Lord.” This He has done for the faith class during this Age, and will perform it for all mankind in the Age just ahead, supplying the things needful for them to gain the salvation then avail­able.

At the outset we stated that there are 21 offices, or titles which apply to the Anointed Savior; but we have offered detail on only about a dozen of them. Some of those we have not discussed, and which have Biblical labels are the Advocate, the bride­groom, the Deliverer, the Captain (of our Salvation), the Head (of all things), the Prince of Peace, the Revealer, the Purifier and Refiner. Some of these operate only dur­ing this Age, while others operate now, and will also operate in the next Age. The 21 evils that are rampant among men all find their cure through the person, offices and work of the Anointed Savior; nor are they to be found elsewhere. Once this is clearly discerned, we may join heartily and with increased fervor in offering the prayer, “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth.” That alone will produce “the desire of all nations”; and, as we consider those things already accomplished in that direction, we may have increased confidence in the performance of the remainder, for “He is faithful that promised.”

All of the foregoing may be summarized in the words of St. Peter (Acts 3:19-23) ­“The restitution of all things.” The general premise, and the ultimate consummation are also contained in these texts: “A prophet (the Anointed Savior) shall the Lord your God raise up unto you... Him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever He shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.” We are told further that when That Prophet occupies His office of Teacher of the people that Satan will be bound – “that he should deceive the nations no more.” (Rev. 20:3) But after that he will be “loosed for a Little Season.” That “Little Season” will be the Time of Trouble at the end of the Millennial Age, just as the present Time of Trouble now marks the end of this Age. “Every man’s work shall be made manifest, for the day shall declare it.” (1 Cor. 3:13)

However, when the trial time of the Little Season shall arrive – in the eventual sep­aration of the Sheep and the Goats – most of the 21 evils mentioned herein will have been eliminated; thus, there will be no more any need for their corrective offices to be oper­ative. But there are several of them that will find their real prominence during that Little Season. The Anointed Savior will then act in delivering the Sheep (as Deliverer), even as He destroys the Goats; He will still be their King, because man will not obtain “restitution” of his kingly domain that was lost in Eden until after the full end of the Little Season, when the Lord’s words will apply, “Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the Kingdom.” Also, at the end of that Little Season the Judge will pronounce His final judgment upon “the just and the unjust” – after which “cometh the end, when He shall have delivered up the Kingdom to God, even the Father, when He shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign till He hath put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.” (1 Cor. 15:24-26) This “last enemy” cannot possibly mean the tomb, as we understand it today; because, once the resurrection from the death state occurs, in that instant the bonds of the grave are broken, and the healing, instructing, and reviving processes begin to work – all of which must be completed by the beginning of the Little Season.

Both the sheep and the goats will have been perfected physically by the time the Little Season begins; and to all outward appearances they will all be the same. But it will require the trial time – the graduating process – of the Little Season to deter­mine which of them are also perfected mentally, morally and religiously. These may be classed as the concealed vestiges of the dying process – the evils they willfully refused to forsake – even though they were outwardly obedient during the Mediatorial Kingdom. All who enter that Little Season will be perfect physical specimens; most of the 21 offices of the Anointed Savior will have accomplished their full purpose, and will have passed forever out of existence as such. But a few of these titles and their works will carry right on through the Little Season to its full end. “Then cometh the end,” when all of the 21 offices will cease to operate, as the sheep “inherit the Kingdom” – have had all restored to then that was lost in Father Adam.

Briefly we would recap the 21 offices of the Anointed Savior as described by the Epiphany Messenger: (1) The Ransomer, (2) the Advocate, (3) our Righteousness, (4)       Bridegroom, (5) High Priest, (6) Teacher, (7) Deliverer, (8) Captain, (9) Head, (10) Mediator, (11) Father, (12) Perfect Lawgiver, (13) Prince of Peace, (14) King, (15) Revealer, (16) Executive for God, (17 Physician, (18) Lord, (19) Judge, (20) Purifier and Refiner, (21) Provider. Some of these offices are operative now for the Faith Classes – for the “called” or elect classes, and many of them will continue to operate for all mankind during the Kingdom proper. Also, quite a few of these offices will terminate at the beginning of the Little Season – such as Medi­ator, Ransomer, Physician, etc. But all who have received Present Truth must know that the Christ will continue all through the Little Season until the end in the offices of King, Judge, Revealer, Deliverer and Provider of the Sheep – until the “end” of the Little Sea­son when He shall have “delivered up the kingdom to God” (1 Cor. 15:24) by transferring kingship to the Sheep, to those who entered the Little Season with perfect characters.  Those who enter the Little Season with unholy heart condition, who have failed to perfect moral and religious qualities – who have failed to rid themselves of Adamic defilements (the dying process) – will be destroyed in the Second Death at the end of the Little Sea­son. Then the Restitution work will be finished, and Acts 3:19-23 be fulfilled – also He will have “put all enemies under his feet,” and 1 Cor. 15:24-26 will be fulfilled. “He that is able to receive it, let him receive it,”

The above is well summarized in E-15:211: “What, then, are these enemies? from v. 26, where the last one of these – the Adamic death – is named, we see that they are not persons, but things.  And this one being a work of Satan, and the purpose of our Lord’s two advents being the destruction of all Satan’s works (1 John 3:8), we understand the expression, ‘all rule and all authority and power,’ to mean every expression of Satan’ usurpation. This includes everything that he has accomplished and the means used to that end. Hence Christ’s reign will abolish every feature of Satan’s empire and the evils that he has effected through introducing sin into the world and usurping the rulership of the world. This includes the Adamic sentence and its effects: physical, mental, moral and religious imperfection. Adamic sin, the Adamic death process (this is the last enemy of v. 26), the Adamic death state (hades, destroyed by the awakening the Adamically dead), Adamic tears, sorrow, crying, pain, etc., in a word, all the effects of the curse (Rev. 21:3-5; 22:1-3; 20:13, 14; Is. 25:6-9). Thus the Millennial reign of Christ is to annihilate everything that Satan and Adam brought upon the race.” (The Goats of the Little Season will have failed to rid themselves of their moral and religious imperfec­tions by the beginning of the Little Season, and were, therefore, unable to stand the crucial tests of that trial time—JJH)

“Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men... the righteous shall see it, and rejoice, and all iniquity shall stop her mouth, Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the loving kindness of the Lord” – through the ministration of the Anointed Savior. (Psa. 107:31-43)

Sincerely your brother,

John J. Hoefle, Pilgrim

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LETTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST

Gentlemen:

I have an exciting book borrowed from a friend, entitled The Divine Plan of the Ages. I would like one for myself and one to send my sister. Also would like to pur­chase a copy each of Volumes 2, 3 and 4. the address in the book is yours, so am send­ing to inquire if the prices are as advertised..... Will send a check as soon as I hear from you,

Sincerely, ------- (CALIFORNIA)

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Dear Brother Hoefle: Grace and peace!

It has been quite awhile since I’ve heard from you. I’m enclosing a few names. You will be glad to hear that the papers are coming through better now. I received the July paper on June 10, and the June paper May 18. Also many thanks for sending me by first-class mail the June issue, which I believe I received around May 20. I think the mail service is a little better than it was.

You can rest assured your June and July articles were wonderful! That July issue surely was a masterful production.

We are getting some warm and humid weather here now.... Garden is growing...

Our Christian love to all there ------- (MICHIGAN)

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Dear Brother Hoefle:

Enclosed is $ ------ which is my free will offering toward the wonderful work of the Association. I realize that this work must have financial support, and I would like to contribute as I am able.

I have received the book The Divine Plan of the Ages. I have read it through – and now to read it through again and study it page by page and prove its contents by the Bible. It is very informative and I will tell you that I have never studied anything like it.

Mrs. ------- husband and family are old friends of mine. She sent for the liter­ature from you because I told her to. We have attended the same Church for many years – ­in fact, I used to be her Sunday school teacher. I will help her and her family in any Christian way that I can.

May  the  Lord  be  with   you!  --------  (NEW JERSEY)

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Dear Brother Hoefle: Grace and peace be multiplied!

We received your letter and thank you for sending the books. We truly appreciate your faithfulness in keeping up the war against errors and in defense of the Truth amidst much persecution. I don’t have the words to give thanks to God for you, and for keeping my Mother alive until I was able to see for myself – for I could have been killed by errors.

Warm Christian love for you and all the dear ones that give you a helping hand. God bless you all!

Yours through grace ------- (JAMAICA)

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Dear Brother Hoefle: Grace and peace be with you!

Brother ------- joined with us in celebrating the Memorial of our Lord’s death. Sisters, et al, memorialized together. Brother ------- took our tracts, so we now ask that you send us a supply.

Brother and Sister ------- also Sister ------- called to see us yesterday. They are well. Brother had a talk with a Jehovah’s Witness. He was shocked to hear that the JW believed Adam a ‘murderer,’ – dying the Second Death. Brother defended the Truth, that Jesus died for Adam, a corresponding price.

In closing Sister joins me in warm Christian love, and the assurance of our prayers for you all.

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Dear Sirs:

Kindly send copies of What Is The Soul?  Where Are The Dead?  and The Three Babylons to Mrs --------- Thank    you! ------- (CONNECTICUT)

NO. 181: A MISCELLANY

No. 181

“Is it proper to apply antitypically the ‘water of separation,’ described in Num­bers 19, to the cleansing of God’s people in the Gospel Age or in the Millennial Age, or in both?”

The above question is to be found on p. 29 of the March-April Present Truth, where RGJ ridicules the analysis contained in our Addenda to the February paper No. 176; and in this he confirms once more Brother Johnson’s description of him in E-10:591: “Loquacious, repetitious, false-accusing Epiphany crown-loser, foolish effusions, false criticisms.” Our Epiphany-enlightened brethren know that Brother Johnson himself was the recipient of much of the same “false criticisms” from the same kind of people from whom we now receive it. (See Epiphany Vol. 10, pp. 584 through 594.) RGJ goes into con­siderable detail about Brother Russell and Brother Johnson making limited application of the type to the Gospel Age, just as though we disagreed with that; whereas, we stated very clearly in our No. 176 our complete agreement with them on it.

However, we stressed Brother Russell’s basic conclusion in the Nov. 15, 1895 WT (incorrectly given as 1897 by RGJ in this March-April 1970 PT) to this effect:

“Had the red heifer and its ashes been connected with the Gospel Age cleansings, the Apostle surely would have shown the fact here (Heb. 9:13); for he did not shun to declare the whole counsel of God then ‘meat in due season;’“

We now offer a few more sentences from that same article: “The Apostle Paul, in Heb. 9:13, speaking of the typical cleansing, mentions the blood of both the bulls and goats (the Atonement Day sacrifices) and the sprinkling of the ashes of the red heifer with water, etc.; but, when applying the antitype, he stops with the blood of Christ, and makes no mention of the antitype of the ashes of the red heifer, – because (empha­sis by Brother Russell) it had nothing to do with our cleansing, but relates to the world’s cleansing in the Millennium; as we have shown.”

The foregoing was written sixteen years after Tabernacle Shadows – at a time when That Servant was at the pinnacle of his sanctified reasoning powers – yet RGJ insists on going back to the earlier writings for his ‘proof.’ WHY? Usually, when our positions seem to be reversed, he makes loud ado about the latest expressions by Brother Russell ­just as he did on 1 Cor. 15:24. However, when we quoted from his “latest teachings” on that text – which RGJ boasted could not be found – his “foolish effusions” were again exposed.

When writing our February paper we agreed with the above statement – and we still agree with it; although RGJ rails “sifting errorist” at us for quoting this statement at him in his confusion on this subject. Brother Russell’s emphatic teaching in 1895 should certainly take precedence over his statement 16 years earlier in Tabernacle Shad­ows. “In due time” Brother Russell also corrected others of his statements in that book, as we have previously stated. As we agreed in our previous paper, the noble example of the Ancient Worthies should goad us to better things – and it surely does; but we need not confine this exclusively to their deeds. The noble and inspiring acts of any world­ly person may work in similar manner for us. But we believe there is sound Scripture for claiming that the ashes of the red heifer – as a type – is strictly Millennial.

First, there are many Ancient Worthies of whom we know absolutely nothing – not even their names. Thus, their ashes (memories) can affect us now in no way whatever. But when they are established as ‘princes’ in Jerusalem, all mankind will then be bene­fited by the record of what they did. Second, the ashes of that heifer were for sprink­ling the “unclean.” None of the fully faithful of this Gospel Age are to be considered as “unclean.” “You are already clean (even before the Holy Spirit had been given) through the word which I have spoken to you.” (John 15:3) “Ye are washed, ye are sanctified, ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Cor. 6:11) The only “unclean” new creatures during this Age have been the leprous Levites ­the Great Company – of which RGJ himself is admittedly one – which are so ably described in Epiphany Volume 4, pp. 243-302.

Third, RGJ’s Campers Consecrated (if we should grant such a class may exist now) are no more “unclean” through contact with the dead than any of God’s elect people during this Age. Let us keep ever in mind that justification in this Age comes only through faith – a justifying faith that counts all of the fully faithful elect as clean; where­as, in the next Age imperfect men will never be reckoned clean – they will be definitely “unclean” with Adamic defilements (process) until they reach perfection.

RGJ attempts to confuse this matter by injecting Brother Johnson’s explanation of Numbers 31 into it. And in this attempt he demonstrates once more that his understand­ing of types is just as confused now – if not more so – as it was sixty years ago, when he then admitted his confusion. (See his letter of Nov. 15, 1910 WT) As instance, he says this at the bottom of col. 1, p. 30:

“Though themselves (the warriors of Numbers 31) members of the Camp of Israel, they were to do this cleansing, not in the Court at the Laver, but outside the Camp.”

One would naturally conclude from this that, had those warriors not became “un­clean,” they could have availed themselves of the water in the Laver. Will he tell us if this is his thought? And if this is his thought, Is it now impossible for uncleansed Levites to avail themselves of the Laver in the Court?

But we inform our readers now that the Laver in the Court was exclusively for the priests and levites; therefore, had nothing whatever to do with the “water of separa­tion” in the red heifer type. And it will be noted that those warriors had to purify themselves Outside the Camp – where the ashes of the red heifer were deposited; they were not allowed to do this cleansing in the Camp, with the other Israelites. However, to clarify this matter, in this picture the warriors type the Little Flock – and not a one of them died in battle; but the cleansing of themselves and their instruments typed they “have this treasure in earthen vessels” – that is, Adamic defilements (con­tact with the dead – the Adamic death process) are still present with them – even though reckoned “clean” – perfect – through the merit of Christ. As the Apostle Paul says, “I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.” (Rom. 7:21) And to those who have not lost the “spirit of understanding,” this picture is very clear that the “waters of separation” here are not a substitute for the Laver in the Court ­of which all the consecrated must use if they would be faithful. And in all of this we now secure our information from the antitypical laver – THE BIBLE – even though others may secure theirs from other sources. RGJ has no antitypical laver in his camp, so none of this would properly be available for his Campers Consecrated – even for him, if – as he contends – that the Great Company and Youthful Worthies are on the same “narrow way” (in the Camp) with his Consecrated Campers.

Furthermore, RGJ stresses that those ashes “were available for all the people”; and with this we agree. But, did they have to go to the place where the ashes were – outside the Camp – or were those ashes brought in to them? Those warriors and their instruments were cleansed where the ashes were deposited – outside the Camp; so he again offers rank confusion when he tries to bring that type in and connect it with his Campers Consecrated, whom he contends are in the Camp. In fact, his reasoning here is on a par with his contention that those people who die under the Kingdom reign will be dying the Adamic death if they are still contaminated with any Adamic defilements.

Of course, in all this RGJ is simply treading the steps of his kinsmen of the past, those Levites who built Big Babylon in their efforts to cleanse the world; and for which the Bible offers severe condemnation: “The Levites that are gone far from me, when Israel went astray.... they shall bear their iniquity.... because they ministered to the people before their idols (moral uplift, social reform, convert all to Christianity before the “due time,” etc.), and caused the house of Israel to fall into iniquity.” (Eze. 44:10-12) “Bungling is the usual and natural activity of the Great Company.”

CONCERNING 1 COR. 15:24

It had been our intention to refrain from further comment on “the end” of this text; but there is a statement by RGJ on p. 21, col. 2, that forces us to further elab­oration:

“Many defiled ones have been Truth-enlightened teachers, who themselves became roots of bitterness; thus they defile many, speaking ‘perverse things’ (Acts 20:30), such as:.... The ‘end’ of 1 Cor. 15:24 does not come until at the end of the Little Season.”

For this statement he offers no proof, or refutation of our previous presentations (the reason being because he has none!); and in this he is simply following the steps of That Evil Servant (“walking in the counsel of the ungodly”), who, in his sneering at the crushing refutations of his errors by Brother Johnson, acted on the same principle as do the Jesuits (who also had Azazel for their teacher) – “do not attempt to prove your statements; for the effort to prove arouses suspicion in the minds of the hearers. Repeat, repeat, repeat, and the repetition will gradually be accepted as proof by most people.” (Epiphany Volume 6, p. 611, top)

Let us take a further look at 1 Cor. 15:24, with the Berean Comments as follows: “Then.... Having finished the work of redeeming the race, of bringing many sons to glory, of destroying the reprobate, and of filling the earth with perfect human beings... The End .... the end of the restitution work.” Also the Berean Comments on Matt. 25:34: “Blessed of my Father Inherit the Kingdom... When Christ delivers up the dominion of earth to the Father, he will do so by delivering it up to mankind, the Father’s repre­sentatives, who were designed from the first to have this honor... Prepared for you... From the foundation... For the restitution classes... Not ‘before the foundation,’ as in the case of the Church.”

Is RGJ now telling us “the end of the restitution work” will occur at the begin­ning of the Little Season – before the dominion of the earth is delivered to them? We have raised this question before, with nothing but silence from RGJ. WHY? Simply because he has no answer; therefore, he repeats, repeats, repeats such expressions as “sifting errorist, roots of bitterness,” etc. And we now suggest that Acts 3:19-23 will be accomplished at the end of the Little Season, just as 1 Cor. 15:24. Such tactics as used by RGJ are the last resort of cheap psychologists to fool “the unstable and the unlearned”; but they will have a reverse enlightening effect upon all those who are “of the Truth.”

Once more we refer to the type of Exodus 14 and 15. There the fleeing Israelites do not come to the complete end of their Egyptian bondage until Pharaoh and his pursu­ing hosts had been swallowed up in the Red Sea – the same being a clear type of the “Lake of fire,” into which Satan and his spiritual and human followers will be cast at the end of the Little Season. This Exodus account is one of the grandest types in the entire Old Testament; and we offer now a few of the comments on it as they are found in Epiphany Vol. 11, pp. 245-296 (which RGJ apparently has never read – and apparently does not want to read, because even he might feel some sense of shame in his present Jesuitical course of repeat, repeat, repeat):

“All the factors connected with the final trial (at the end of the Little Season—­JJH) are pictured in Israel’s surroundings at the Red Sea. Israelites camping in such a position types the faithful restitutionists (the sheep—JJH) being tried with the Second Death, as the threat before them, flanked by wicked angels and men, as their opposers to capture them, and guarded in the rear by the Christ, as their strong tower. Certainly such will be the conditions of the final trial (at end of the Little Season—JJH).”

Continuing: “The perfection (shown by the 600 chariots of Pharaoh—JJH), of course, would not be that of character, but that of faculty, because neither Satan, the fallen angels nor apostate restitutionists will be perfect in character, but they will be per­fect in faculty.”

Thus, the “goats” will have all the outward appearance of “sheep” – physical per­fection – with only a bad heart condition as their condemning quality. This latter is the clear result of their willful choice of sin as they enter the Little Season; and is the certain evidence of the Adamic death process still with them. They keep their evils because they are in heart-harmony with them. We have made similar comment in previous papers; and RGJ responded by saying that if this were true, then the Goats would be dying the Adamic death – and not the second death. Those who have even a smattering of Present Truth will readily recognize that That Evil Servant never offered a more ludicrous piece of nonsense to his gullible readers. And yet this same RGJ now has the colossal gall to rail “sifting errorist” at us because we make bold to expose this arrant nonsense.

More from the same book: “It is true that the promise will be given to the Mil­lennial overcomers that at the end of the thousand years they will inherit the king­dom of the earth (Matt. 25:34) – (which is a part of restitution – Acts 3:19-23—JJH). But Satan will use this doctrine deceptively, by ignoring the fact that the thousand years will end lappingly just as they began lappingly, in various stages – 1874, 1878, 1881 and 1914, and by reiterating in his tempting suggestions that it ended in 2874. Hence as days, weeks, months and years pass by he will with increasing emphasis suggest something like the following to the hearts of the people: ‘The thousand years ended in 2874, but you see that the Ancient and Youthful Worthies are not giving over the kingdom to you, but are keeping it for themselves (not giving you restitution – what Father Adam had—JJH). They are usurping the power that is yours in order to Lord it over you. They are power-graspers, and as lords over God’s heritage are seeking to deprive you of your rights for their own aggrandizement. This cannot be the Lord’s will, who has promised you the kingdom (as Adam had—JJH) by the end of the Millennium, i.e., 2874. You must have faith in His pertinent promise and request them to deliver to you the kingdom in harmony with God’s promise.’ Such seems to be that deception.”

And then – the same as now in this Epiphany – those who are not in heart-harmony with the Truth and its Spirit, will be susceptible to the deceptions of the Devil (otherwise known as Azazel) – “deceiving and being deceived.” They had received the Truth all during the Mediatorial Kingdom, but they received the truth not “in the love of it” (2 Thes. 2:10, 11). They, too, will receive “strong delusion” – although those ‘goats’ of the Little Season will not cleanse themselves, as do those crown-losers who are cleansed in the “great tribulation” here in the Epiphany. Any who enter the Little Season with an unholy heart condition will not be able to stand the crucial tests ­and will be “destroyed from among the people” (Acts 3:23) – just as second-death new creatures will all be annihilated during the Epiphany.

Let us note particularly that in the Red Sea experience Moses types Christ as the Deliverer, the Leader of the Sheep. Therefore, He self-evidently will be their Teacher, their Judge, their Ruler, their Protector during the entire Little Season, the same as He was during the Mediatorial Reign – to bring them safely through the antitypical Red Sea, the “Lake of Fire,” and save them from the Second Death. This final trial will be the last stand that Satan, sin and error and all in sympathy with them will ever make. The final trial and its outcome will leave a universe forever free from sin, error and their effects. This will be the end of the restitution work – “the end” of the Little Season. Then – and only then – will “the kings of the earth” (the Sheep, the faith­ful restitutionists) bring their glory into the heavenly city or kingdom. (Rev. 21: 24-26)

Consider further, 1 Cor. 15:24: “Then the end.... when He shall have put down all rule and all authority and power” – “when He shall have abrogated all Government and all authority and power” (Dia.). In a limited sense this will be accomplished as soon as the Kingdom reign is universally established in all the earth; but all during the Kingdom reign there will be a certain defiance by those “sinners a hundred years old that shall be accursed.” But even this defiance will have disappeared by the begin­ning of the Little Season, after which it will reappear when Satan is “loosed for a Little Season”; and it will seem to gain a certain upperhand as the Goats do violence to the “camp of the saints, and the beloved city” – until, eventually, “fire came down out of Heaven from God, and consumed them.” (Rev. 20:9) Clearly enough, this also must be at the end of the Little Season!

“That Kingdom will be an absolute monarchy; hence its government will not be of the people nor by the people, but will most emphatically be for the people.... The ar­rangement that they will establish for mankind will be conducive to Truth and Right­eousness and inconducive to error and sin.... Instead of sin and error prevailing, right­eousness and truth will prevail. Instead of false religions, oppressive governments and predatory aristocracies holding sway, the true religion of God, teaching perfect truth and righteousness, the fostering Government of Christ Jesus and the Church, bless­ing everybody, and the faithful servants of Jehovah as a benevolent aristocracy effect­ing the prosperity of all, will hold sway. Instead of losses, disappointments, sorrows, tears, crying, sickness, weakness, dying, and death, there will be prosperity, hope, joy, pleasures, laughter, convalescence, strength, health and life, abundantly avail­able for all.” (E-17 – The Millennium – published in 1956)

Also, in this same book, p. 15, there are Seven Main Objects of our Lord’s Return: “(1) To gather together and deliver the Little Flock from the earth; (2) to cleanse and deliver the Great Company; (3) to develop the Youthful Worthies; (4) to overthrow Satan’s Empire; (5) to establish God’s Kingdom; (6) to bless with opportunities of Restitution the whole human race, both the living and the dead; and (7) to test and reward each member of the human race.” This seventh item will be completed at the end of the Little Season.

“Restitution means a return to an original estate. The original estate of the human family was the image and likeness of God, as these were exemplified in Father Adam and Mother Eve in Eden before the transgression. By the image of God we under­stand the perfection of being, the condition of being very good, to be meant (Gen. 1: 26, 27, 31; Heb. 2:6-8; Col. 3:10; Eph. 4:23, 24); and by the likeness of God we understand man’s rulership over the earth, even as God is Ruler over the Universe, to be meant (Gen. 1:26, 28, 29; Matt. 25:34). The image of God implies perfection in the physical, mental, moral and religious faculties.... The likeness of God implies a perfect earth with perfect rulers in charge.” (p. 21, and top of p. 22)

More from p. 23 and top of p. 24: “Acts 3:19-21 testifies: ‘Times of refresh­ing (this word is used to denote the re-enkindling of life and the promotion of growth effected by rain falling upon mown and burnt grass, to which the fallen human family is compared (Isa. 40:5-8), and which is expressly stated to be the effect of Christ’s Reign upon our race, mown down by the curse, and burnt by the fierce rays of sin).... but during the Millennium as this passage indicates, He will turn His face toward man, beaming with grace, mercy and truth for man’s restoration.... and He shall send Jesus Christ, which (who) before (during the Gospel Age) was preached unto you, whom (Christ) the heaven must receive (retain; – how long?) UNTIL THE TIMES OF RESTITUTION OF ALL THINGS (every feature of the image and likeness of God is to be restored to the willing and obedient in the Millennium) which (things) God hath spoken (promised) by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.’ This passage expressly teaches us that Christ does not return until the Times of Restitution, the Times of Refreshing; therefore He returns to restore to, and to refresh the race with, its original condition. St. Peter tells us that this is the testimony of all the holy prophets, as also quotations above given prove.”

One of Christ’s offices is that of Deliverer, and the faithful restitutionists will not be delivered until the end of the Little Season: “As God in the ways de­scribed in vs. 19-29 delivered His fleshly Israel out of the power (hand) of the Egyp­tians, so God will by the ministry of the Christ and the Truth, by the authority and power of the Christ in the exercise of God’s power, through the obedience of the faith­ful restitutionists and the threats and protection of Second Death dangers, amid the capturing efforts of the post-Millennial wicked spirits and men, by the Lord’s troub­ling the antitypical Egyptians, by making their organizational efforts miscarry, sup­porting the faithful against them, and by sinking the antitypical Egyptians, all their appurtenances and leaders, into eternal annihilation, effectually and completely de­liver the faithful restitutionists during, and at the end of the Little Season.” (E-11, pp. 275, 276 – Published in 1948)

All authority will be vested in The Christ during the Mediatorial reign; and during this reign sin will be quickly obliterated – that is, outwardly. So, even then, during this Mediatorial reign, all authority and rule are vested in The Christ – some­thing like marshal law will exist then. But the “all authority” mentioned in 1 Cor. 15:24 is similar to the conditions now. Our Lord will not permit any “rule or author­ity” to prevail against His elect, such as Satan and his ledlings endeavor to enlist. All those who are “of the Truth” will come off victorious – the residue of the elect will be delivered during this Epiphany. And the same condition will exist in the Little Season for Restitutionists: Satan, his angels and the goats, who try to exert “authority and power” over the Sheep will not succeed. But Satan will succeed with the Millennial goats of the Little Season, just as he will with the second-deathers dur­ing this Epiphany period. We can indeed praise the Lord for His Goodness, Mercy and Deliverance of the fully faithful, as well as of the measur­ably faithful when they are cleansed.

We know that RGJ won’t attempt to answer any of this, because he can’t. But, true to his “higher class,” he will almost certainly continue his garrulous pernicious name-calling. For those of us well acquainted with Epiphany Truth, we know the basic concept of the article on p. 20 of this March-April Present Truth, “Moses’ Third Fare­well Address,” is by Brother Johnson; but we know, too, from sad experience, that RGJ is certain to inject his perversions into that splendid presentation (Azazel means Perverter). Also, by the same considerations, we know he will eliminate such truth as exposes the evils of the “unprofitable servant” (Matt. 25:30, Berean Comment) – the Great Company, of which he admittedly is one. Thus, if we had available the original notes of Brother Johnson, we would almost certainly find he described that “Great Com­pany” (the unprofitable servant) in his comments on p. 22, regarding the “Restoration of Penitent Ones.” And in all of this RGJ will fool “the unstable and the unlearned,” as he has been doing since he was abandoned to Azazel in 1950; but we know – with pity for him – that “he that being often reproved, hardeneth his neck (in willful per­versions of the Truth) shall be destroyed, and that without remedy.” (Prov. 29:1)

The controversy on such subjects with erstwhile brethren certainly affords us no pleasure, except the pleasure of serving the Lord in sincerity and in Truth. We could readily find other more winsome and pleasant ways to spend our time and money. Our sentiments here are the same as those Brother Johnson wrote concerning himself:

“He abhors controversy with brethren, and at first had, by the Lord, to be pushed into it, greatly against his inclinations. But as he more and more came to see the Adversary’s purpose in these attacks, and he came more and more to see that it was un­holy ambition to get and keep a following (Acts 20:30) that was animating these repudi­ators and attackers of the Truth, he more and more ceased to shrink back from entering such conflicts, though it is always painful for him to have to do it. Just as after the Apostles fell asleep, Satan used crown-losing leaders who hungered for a follow­ing to pervert the Apostolic Truth, until it was lost from the earth through their efforts, culminating in the papacy; so after that Servant passed beyond the veil, Satan began to raise up crown-lost leaders to take away from the Church the Truth that the Lord gave by him, seeking by them to destroy it entirely.” (Epiphany Vol. 5, p. 499)

“The Faithful build upon Christ in wisdom as the Rock by subjecting every thought that is presented to them for acceptance to the acid test of these seven axioms and only then accepting it, if it stands this acid test (1 Thes. 5:21; 1 John 4-4; Ps. 45:1; Is. 8:20; Matt. 4:3-10; John 17:17).... Accordingly, they do His sayings as to their taking Him to be their Teacher in wisdom.... But crown-losers fail to do His sayings as to their taking Him as their Teacher and that in two respects. They fail to seek His teachings in the right way and frequently take as His teaching things that He does not teach. The Lord guarantees to give the meek (Ps. 25:8,9), the hungry (Matt. 5:6), the humble (Matt. 11:25), the honest and good (Luke 8:15) His Truth; but He will not give it to others.... Those who do not do these sayings of His on teaching lack one or more of the five qualities just mentioned as prerequisites of obtaining the Truth. Hence the Lord allows them to imbibe more or less of error. Their unhappy heart condition has a blinding effect on their minds, so they are often prone to accept error for Truth. Some of them go to the extreme of receiving with blank and unquestioning minds whatever a real or fictitious channel of the Lord presents to them. It is even required of them in the Catholic wards of Great and Little Babylon to shut their eyes, open their mouths and swallow whatever is presented to them on the ground that it’s not their but God’s business to keep the channel clean..” (Epiphany Vol. 5, pp. 478, 479)

“Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbors, but mischief is in their hearts. Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance: feed them also, and lift them up forever.” (Psa. 28:3, 9)

Sincerely your brother,

John J. Hoefle , Pilgrim

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LETTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST

Dear Sir:

Please send me your free Bible student material. I am very much interested in starting a course. Sincerely ------- (NEW JERSEY)

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Dear Friends:

Thank you for the extra copies of No. 175. I have presented some of them to close friends of mine. Very thoughtfully written, and tells the truth as it is to­day. The No. 176 is here, and I am reading it now.... absolute accuracy as to Roman Empire, etc., and especially very educational. May I please have a copy of No. 7?

God bless you for your Blessings through your splendid magazine!

Cordially and respectfully, ------- (CALIFORNIA)

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Dear Brother: Greetings in Christ!

Please change my address from ------- to the address below. Your bulletins are very helpful. Do you have bitterness toward Brother Jolly?

Yours in Christ ------- (KANSAS)

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Gentlemen:

Please send me the following booklets, Numbers 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 10 and 121. I want to thank you for the gift of booklets numbers 1 and 2. They have been of great help to me during the period following the death of my wife.

Do you publish a magazine? If so, please send me a sample.

Thank you! ------- (NEW JERSEY)

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Dear Brother Hoefle: Greetings in our dear Redeemer’s name!

Your letter was received with great pleasure...... We answered your last two letters of the 5th and 16th – and let us say how we received a rich blessing as we celebrated our Lord’s last Supper..... As you have said in your letter to Mr. ------- that you hope he finds the truth, and the truth will make him free. Yes, dear Brother, and as the Apostle says, Free indeed!

As we have said before, dear Brother, your letters to us contain so much, and how uplifting they are! And we can assure you we are deeply grateful to you for them. God bless you both! Thank you again for the copy of letter sent to -------

God bless and keep you all in His loving care–

Brother & Sister ------- (NEW JERSEY)

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Dear Brother Hoefle: Grace and Peace!

Would like to report that Sister and I took the Memorial on March 20 after 6:00 p.m. Sister is not well. She does not get out very much unless someone takes her out for groceries etc. She will be 85 in August. She has asked me to write and tell you so you will understand why she has not written herself. They still live in a section of town that is not safe to visit. So I keep in touch with her by phone.

Thank you for the Epiphany papers. They are wonderful.

Much Christian love, Sister ------- (OHIO)

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Dear Brother Hoefle: Greetings in the Master’s Precious Name!

In reply to yours of the 19th, I am most grateful for your directive. I am, dear Brother, 100 percent in agreement with your statement of my tackling a subject which very few think of in terms of the factual – still one feels good to be reas­sured that he contends for the Truth.

In F 470:2, mention is made of the Apostles and their immediate followers hav­ing fallen asleep – somewhere about the third century. Please enlighten me somewhat here..... I heartily appreciate your invitation to write again if and when your guid­ance is sought on matters that tend to confuse me.........

Sister has received notice of the arrival of tracts, so I believe that she must be in possession of them now....... Please accept here an humble expression of appre­ciation for No. 176. Trusting the Lord’s gracious blessings will forever be the lot of you and yours. May I here pass on the warm Christian love expressed by all here, coupled with that of Sister and myself – to you, Sister Hoefle and the friends on your side.

Sincerely your brother ------- (TRINIDAD)

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Our dear Friends:

Many thanks for your letter. It will be difficult to make Mother understand....... We believe she knows and understands, but get­ting words to come forth is an effort.... when she does talk, such as “Thank you for the kiss,” etc., it is only a few words at a time. She knows us apart and probably understands more than we realize.....

Enclosed is a check for furtherance of your good work. How interesting to see world affairs shaping up exactly as we were taught many years ago. Sister ------- brought the Truth to our Mother. We had a letter from her last week. She is now 92 years of age, but able to be up and about.

Our family is as usual and thankful for that, but most thankful that our mother loved the Truth and told us about it. She would send her love to you all if she could.

Sincerely, ------- (Ohio)

NO. 180: THE EPIPHANY - IN RETROSPECT AND PROSPECT

No. 180

The Bible clearly designates a number of periods of time for the end of this Age, among them The Time of the End, the Time of Trouble, the Harvest, and the Epiphany. All of these periods have different beginnings; but all of them have substantially the same ending. The Time of the End had its beginning in 1799, and will conclude at the full end of the Age. Thus, it must include the Time of Trouble, the Harvest and the Epiphany. The Time of Trouble – in the wide sense began at 1874, as did also the Harvest; and both of these will continue to the full end of the Age. The Epiphany as a period of time had its beginning in 1914 as did also the Time of Trouble in the narrow sense; and both of these periods will continue also to the full end of the Age, at which time the Time of Trouble will end in its narrow sense, as well as in its wide sense. All of these periods will have substantial ending with the end of Jacob’s Trouble; but we cannot now be certain of that exact date, although we assume it will be sometime between now and 1994, a date which will also mark the end of “the third watch.” (Luke 12:38)

Aside from incidental mention of the first three periods above mentioned, we shall concern ourselves herein with the Epiphany as a period of time, the same being the last special period of the Gospel Age. In Epiphany Vol. 4, pages 7 through 72, this subject is given exhaustive Scriptural analysis – both from the standpoint of an act and as a period of time. On page 45 of that book there is an approved quota­tion from Brother Russell:

“Parousia is used in respect to the earliest stage of the Second Advent, while apokalypsis relates to the same advent later: – not that apokalypsis and epiphaneia relate to another or a third advent, but merely to a later feature (not features, since these two words both as an act and as a period are synonymous).... The Scrip­tures clearly indicate that after the Lord has done certain things during His pres­ence (Parousia) and unknown to the world, He will later make a manifestation of His presence; a manifestation which will be discerned by all mankind; and the outward manifestation is designated His ‘epiphaneia.’”

This quotation is from the booklet “Our Lord’s Return,” and was written more than ninety years ago. Having been now some 56 years into the Epiphaneia, we see with the eye of faith, as well as with our physical eyesight, the great progress this Epiphaneia, this manifestation, has made; and this gives us a firm foundation for belief in further manifestations in the years immediately ahead.

It should be noted in the foregoing it is stated that Apokalypsis and epiphan­eia are synonymous “as an act and as a period of time”; and there is good reason for this limitation, because the two words are not synonymous in the strict and all-in­clusive sense of the term. Apokalypsis means uncovering or revelation; whereas, epiphaneia means bright shining, or brilliant illumination. As an act this latter is clearly designated in Matt. 4:16,17, Dia.: “People dwelling in darkness saw a great light (through the brilliant illumination that came from Jesus’ teachings)..... the royal majesty of the Heavens has approached.” But the word apokalypsis is lim­ited more to an uncovering, a revelation. The last book of the Bible is commonly called The Revelation; but the Diaglott translation simply heads it The Apokalypse. It was indeed a revelation at the time it was written by the Apostle John, but it could not be understood in any of its parts without the help of the Holy Spirit and time itself. Therefore, we state it is impossible to have a revelation without an epiphaneia, because it is the bright shining that accomplishes the uncovering.

To illustrate: A dollar bill may be lying on the floor of a dark room, with a person standing directly over it, but he cannot see it because of the darkness. But once the electric light is turned on, that bright shining reveals it. Even so, it would yet be revealed only to the one standing in that particular room, and awake. “Blessed are your eyes, for they see.” Since 1914 this bright shining has increased to such an extent that even some of those in the world not understanding the perform­ance, yet can see some of its effects – hazy and blurred though their vision may be. One outstanding financial expert has stated it this way: We are now in the 56th year of monetary disorder (since 1914).

“The day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night (under cover of darkness)... but ye, brethren, are not in darkness (because of the bright shining which has come to you) that that day should overtake you as a thief.” (1 Thes. 5:2-4) And the same Apostle tells us further that the very purpose of that bright shining is this: “The Lord come, Who (by His coming and the bright shining) will bring to light the secrets of darkness, and will make manifest the purposes of the hearts.” (1 Cor. 4:5, Dia.) And the very purpose of this revelation is that we may speak the things thus revealed to us. “The secrets of darkness” are error; and exposing error always brings at­tempts at retaliation, and often the vicious ill will of those whose errors are exposed. This was often emphasized by brethren during the Parousia through the illustration of a rotten board, under which would be hiding bugs and vermin of various sorts. When the board is overturned, the corrupt life underneath it scurries in all directions, breath­ing resentment at the one who thus disturbed them. “Let your moderation be known unto all men,” says the Apostle in Phil. 4:5. The Diaglott expresses it in better manner: “Let your gentleness be known to all men.” But most of us have learned from sad ex­perience that we may manifest extreme gentleness in exposing error, but it will be given quite the contrary definition by those whose errors are revealed, often elicit­ing slanderous falsehood from them in retaliation.

SOME EXAMPLES

J. W. Krewson: A one-time believer in Epiphany Truth, and an Evangelist in the Epiphany Movement. Although he was closely associated with the Epiphany Messenger for many years – having personal relationship with him over the years – Brother Johnson never saw in him the qualification for a Pilgrim. He was very grateful to him for his many services to him and the brethren – which we know from our own knowledge. Had the Epiphany Messenger seen in him these qualifications, he would have happily bestowed this honor upon him. But it is not to JWK’s discredit as a brother that the Epiphany Messenger did not appoint him as a pilgrim: It was only because of his lack of the necessary qualifications – otherwise JWK would have received an appoint­ment to this office.

But once the Epiphany Messenger was removed from us, JWK began to cast away im­portant teachings he had formerly believed – or accepted with lip service – and we felt constrained to refute his errors. In retaliation, he declared we were parading under false exaltation when we signed our papers with the title “Pilgrim” after our name; said we had no authority from the Epiphany Messenger for such a title, and could produce nothing in writing to prove we had such a title. In answer we quoted the first paragraph of a letter to us dated October 11, 1942, as follows: “I am en­closing a certificate of your appointment as a Pilgrim of the Epiphany Bible House of the Laymen’s Home Missionary Movement, signed by myself and sealed with the seal of the Movement.” We also then quoted from Epiphany Volume 10, page 249: “J. was Commissioned finally, according to the Divine wisdom given into his care, to appoint for the Epiphany – not for Parousia – purposes auxiliary pilgrims and pilgrims, to assist the Lord’s people in teaching ways.”

Not only did he charge us publicly with fraudulently claiming a title as Pilgrim, but he also wrote various brethren to this effect, asking them to demand of us such a proof in writing from the Epiphany Messenger – some of which we now have in our files. He charged that we could not produce our appointment in writing as he could his Evan­gelist appointment – because we would-have done so had we had this evidence. And from these statements it is self-evident that JWK’s contention was simply a fabricated false­hood, a malicious and fraudulent falsehood; yet he has gone right on with his defama­tion, while styling himself the Pastor and Teacher, the Lord’s mouthpiece at this time the “channel” for advancing Truth, and for Present Truth. This is in keeping with the Witnesses claim of being the “channel” for present Truth and ‘advancing’ Truth, while setting aside many basic Parousia Truths – just as JWK has done with both Parousia and Epiphany Truth.

And in keeping with the foregoing, he also has the effrontery to accuse JJH of “paralleling” the Gershonite Levites early in the Epiphany. Therefore, we now call upon him – and upon all those who support him in his falsehood – to show where the Epiphany Messenger ever resorted to open falsehood in his altercations with the Ger­shonites same forty years ago. And we would offer, too, the Epiphany Messenger’s clear and convincing definition of a parallel: “In Bible parallels the two sets or chains of parallel events are Always an equal number of years and days apart.” If we accept this definition of a parallel, then it is quite clear that JWK does not even know the meaning of the word. Our comments here are prompted by his attempted paral­lel on page 211 of his Nov-Dec. 1969 paper No. 89.

ANOTHER FALSEHOOD: In this same connection, JWK then makes the statement, “Much has been written against JJH’s errors which likewise have not been disproved.” The “errors” (?) of which he here speaks center around the date 1954; and the errors (?) we espouse for that date are the exact teaching of Brother Johnson. We quote two of them below:

“The Epiphany Camp in the finished picture is the condition of truly repentant and believing, but not consecrated Jews and Gentiles.” (E-10:209)

And further from the same book, p. 672:

“There will be a large work: (1) whereby our non-Truth Great Company and Youthful Worthy brethren, and new ones not yet consecrated, are to be won for the Truth, some of whom will be won before Babylon is destroyed and others of them afterward.”

We “continue in” these Epiphany Truths and accept them just as stated above; whereas, JWK now rejects them for ideas of his own respecting 1954, just as his “cous­in” RGJ has done. So here is another clear instance where he resorts to falsehood to sustain himself. Of course, this has been the chief method of the great and small systems of error all during the Gospel Age, all of whom have “made lies their refuge, and under falsehood have they hid themselves.” (Isa. 28:15)

And respecting his date of 1950 for the death of the last saint, he tried to es­tablish this from the Pyramid immediately after Brother Johnson’s death – when he and his “cousin” were partners; but Brother Johnson himself was emphatic in his teaching, as was That Servant, that the Pyramid is not to be considered a source of Truth; it is only “for a sign and for a witness” – to substantiate Truth already found in the Bible. The “signs of the Times,” the parallel dispensations, and the chronology do not support 1950 – nor does the Bible give us such a date through any of these, or in plain statement. This statement we have also previously published – with no further comment by JWK. Silence is the best refuge for such people when they can’t meet the Truths presented against their errors. Why doesn’t he show us where 1950 is shown in the Bible? He claims our ‘errors’ (?) have been disproved; let him cite the pages where he has disproved them. Of him we would quote the same words Brother Johnson quoted against the oily blandishments of JFR: “The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.” (Psa. 55:21)

It is in order to mention an odd coincidence here in the end of the Age: JFR, JWK and RGJ have all invented consecrated classes of restitutionists during this Epi­phany. They have done this despite the clear Scriptural demarcation between the Faith classes and the world of mankind. The “due time” for Restitutionists is still future when the Highway of Holiness is opened for them. JFR called his the Great Multitude, JWK calls his Quasi-elect Consecrated, and RGJ calls his Consecrated Epiphany Campers; but the only difference in the three of them is the name they give their ‘consecrated’ Restitutionists. And let us not overlook the fact that JFR was the first one to see this ‘advancing truth’; he saw it many years before JWK and RGJ came forth with their special brand of non-existent classes. We wish to emphasize the fact that none of the three produced such “strange fire” (false doctrine) until after God had removed the restraining hand of His faithful Mouthpieces from them: That Servant was removed from our midst before JFR went on his rampage – and the Epiphany Messenger was removed be­fore RGJ and JWK went on their rampage.

Brother Johnson told us that JFR was rapidly going blind on the Truth – “his right eye shall be utterly darkened” (Zech. 11:17). Self-evidently the “cousins” don’t ac­cept this teaching in toto now, since they, too, have produced similar Restitution classes. And they do this despite the teaching of That Servant that those consecrating between the Ages – after the High Calling had closed and “until Restitution sets in” ­would be the Millennial Associates of the Ancient Worthies in reward and service. And they do this despite the Epiphany Messenger’s repeated reaffirmation of this Truth ­especially in refuting JFR on similar errors. We repeat, if consecrated Restitutionists are now the order of the Epiphany period – the last special period of the Gospel Age ­then JFR was certainly the FIRST to see that “advancing truth” – and clearly enough, he would be the one to receive the chief honor.

On p. 211 JWK has this to say: “much has been written against JJH’s errors.” We have on numerous occasions cited 2 Thes. 2:8, Dia.: “Then will be revealed the law­less one, whom the Lord Jesus will annihilate with the appearing of His presence” ­with the epiphaneia of the Second Advent; therefore, the conclusion logically follows that the epiphaneia must also still be with us, and will continue to be with us at least until the Man of Sin is no more. This premise we have also often presented; but we have seen nothing from JWK or RGJ to disprove this Scripture. Will they now tell us how they can dispose of this clear Scripture?

Furthermore, if we have left the Epiphany and are now in the Apokalypsis, then there should be an Apokalypsis Tabernacle. JWK has now had sixteen years in which to present one. If he has done so, we haven’t seen one, nor have we heard about one. Will he please give the reference? As soon as the Epiphany and its fundamentals of advancing Truth became clear to Brother Johnson, he proceeded at once to present the Epiphany Tabernacle.

THE APOKALYPSIS JOSHUA

Again on p. 211 of this same paper JWK presents himself with the above title, so we now quote Josh. 1:5: “There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee.” And this promise was literally fulfilled with the typical Joshua; there is no record that he ever lost a battle. And the same could be said for the true Epiphany Joshua; there is no record that he ever lost a battle. But what do we find regarding the self-styled Apokalypsis Joshua? He has experienced one crushing defeat after another – not only in his doc­trinal errors, but also on his false charges against us regarding our Pilgrim appoint­ment. Some of our readers know about the crushing defeat he received from his compan­ion in error – RGJ – in the lawsuit over the use of the name Present Truth. RGJ also gave him defeats on those Truth subjects where he still retained the Parousia and Epi­phany Truth in the contro­versy.

It is little wonder that JWK has decided to avoid almost all controversy – even though this is just the reverse of the typical Joshua, who was engaged in warfare all of his life. And let JWK show one instance where the true Epiphany Joshua ever avoided controversy when the welfare of the Household was jeopardized. In fact, JWK’s present position is the exact duplicate of the decision of the Gershonite Levites some forty years ago. Once they were persuaded that they had come up against the razor’s edge, they most lovingly (?) and meekly (?) said, No more controversy; we shall confine our­selves to “love and good works.” And yet it is JWK who is now telling his readers that it is JJH who is ‘paralleling’ those Gershonites!

Of course, give such teachers enough yarn, and they will entangle themselves in a web of their own weaving. Consider 1954: JWK is telling us that the destiny of all crown-losers was unalterably fixed at that date. Now consider what he says on p. 194 of this same paper No. 89: “Almost all of the Lord’s people, in both Babylons, in varying degrees, are complacent in error and the erroneous teachings such produce. They are in serious danger of losing their standing before the Lord (with the Great Company this could eventuate in the second death).”

If the Great Company was FIXED at 1954, then how could they possibly lose their resurrection reward “before the throne” – and how could they be in any more danger of going into the second death now than they will be after their change to spirit nature? Do we find one instance where the Epiphany Messenger ever said the saints were in danger of the Second Death, or of losing their standing before God, after 1914? Such “profu­sion of words to no purpose” simply reveals the confused condition of JWK’s mind – and also manifests that he is indeed a close relative of RGJ, who tells us that if the goats of the Little Season still had the Adamic death process they would be dying the Adamic death then. Note, however, RGJ doesn’t say all those who still have the Adamic death process in them during the Mediatorial reign – and die after 100 years – would also be dying the Adamic death!

It is well to bear in mind here that during the Parousia day it was THE TRUTH that did the separating work among the Household of Faith; but in this Epiphany Day it has been the error that has done the separating. “Come out of her, My people” was the shibboleth of every Parousia warrior. “In His hand a sharp sickle (Present Truth for the Harvest work – “more cutting than any two-edged sword.... and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart,” Heb. 4:12, Dia,).... Thrust in thy sickle, and reap.” (Rev. 14:14, 15) That ‘sharp sickle’ did two kinds of reaping work – gathered the tares into bundles for the burning, and gathered the wheat into the Lord’s barn. But it was just as true then as it was at the first Advent – “Every one that is of the Truth heareth My voice.” (John 18:37)

But in the Epiphany just the reverse occurred. Hardly had That Servant been en­tombed before the leaders in the Society began sweeping changes in the Harvest Truth –with the same continuing unto this day. Any of us with a clear knowledge of Harvest Truth knows that were That Servant to return now he would be unable to recognize the organization that was his at the time of his death in 1916. But, just as in the Pa­rousia the majority was wrong, with the minority right, so here in the Epiphany we see the same situation prevailing. Those who left the Society some fifty years ago were very much in the minority – as much in the minority as were the Protestants who left the Roman Church during the Reformation period. It fell to the lot of the Epiphany Messenger to defend almost every major truth that had been generally accepted by the reapers during Brother Russell’s lifetime. This brought upon him the ill will of many erstwhile brethren – a duplicate of the Parousia Harvest performance. But the contro­versy over those errors did indeed “make manifest the counsels of hearts” – exactly as had been prophesied for this Epiphany period.

In the Vol. 4 cited on page 1 it is stated that the Epiphany and the Time of Trouble are identical – “it is the day of the Lord’s vengeance, and the year of recompenses for the controversy of Zion.” (Isa. 34:8) The “Lord’s vengeance” is the Time of Trouble, which is to occur during the Epiphany as an act and as a period of time here in the end of the Age – the last special period of the Gospel Age; and we may expect it to con­tinue to a completion – the “sharp sickle” will continue to separate the fully faith­ful, the measurably faithful and the complete renegades. “The Lord Jesus will annihi­late the Man of Sin by the Epiphaneia of His Parousia.” “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” (Luke 21:28)

R. G. JOLLY: Our refutations of RGJ have been more elaborate than against any other person or group of persons. This is in keeping with the Epiphany Messenger’s concentration mainly upon JFR and the Society leaders in error. Because of being the leaders in the organization founded by That Servant, they were in a position to deceive the brethren more than the others. And so it is with RGJ, due to his position in the movement founded by the Epiphany Messenger, he is able to deceive the Epiphany brethren more than any one else.

When the Epiphany Messenger brought forth advancing truth, it was based on Parousia Truth – an elaboration of the basic Truths brought out by That Servant. Many Truth people thought he was presenting advancing error when he was simply defending the Truths already expounded by That Servant – a reassertion of Parousia Truth. Of course, these brethren were not “rooted and grounded” in the Truth. Some of the fully faithful, too; failed and refused to investigate the writings of the Epiphany Messenger due to their temporary association with the perverters after the demise of That Servant – just as was true of some of the fully faithful after the Apostles fell asleep. They were told Brother Johnson was a second-deather, and became so inoculated with that false report that they continued to believe he was even after they came to see the errors, and the true state of affairs in the Society. Brother Johnson was sadly cognizant of this fact, but rested in the full assurance of faith that they would some day know better, if not in this life they would know when they would “Awake in Thy Likeness.”

And much the same is true of the LHMM: RGJ’s “advancing truth” is actually “advanc­ing error,” because it is not based on Parousia or Epiphany Truth. Some of our Parousia­ enlightened brethren, even though not acquainted with Epiphany Truth, surely know that Moses leading the children of Israel from Egypt is a type of Jesus delivering the faithful. (See Parousia Vol. 6, Chapter 11) We expect, D.v., to elaborate on this type in a future paper. Brother Johnson has elaborated in great detail on this type and antitype – all in complete harmony with That Servant’s teaching – and the Truth on this type will surely “make manifest” the many errors prevalent in our day – especially of those who have con­cocted a consecrated restitution class here in the last period of the Gospel Age.

In our April paper No. 178 we thoroughly refuted the errors and “foolish effusions” of this “false-accusing Epiphany crown-loser” (See E-10:591) on 1 Cor. 15:24 – so much so that we doubt he will attempt to answer – although we may expect him to make mention of it as a “sifting” error by one of the “sifters.” But we stress here once more his irresponsible contention that the Goats at the end of the Little Season would be dying the Adamic death were they then still infected with the Adamic death process. We have discussed this matter in detail on p. 8 of our April paper; but we would emphasize how ridiculous is his contention here – as though any one who still continued in his charac­ter faults until the Little Season would not be willfully so doing! It would seem that a mere babe in the Truth should know better. We are told by St. Paul that the Truth will give us the “spirit of a sound mind”; and the reverse is true of error: Error will give the spirit of an UNSOUND mind – and RGJ’s effort to refute the Truth here is just one more proof that he has received an ‘unsound mind’ (2 Thes. 2:10, 11). He is indeed in the clutches of Azazel! We say this without rancor or malice; in fact, we feel a deep pity for him – just as did David for King Saul, even as he was painfully moved to exclaim, “Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel.... How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished.” (2 Sam. 1:24-27)

This conflict between truth and error will continue to a completion – until this Epiphany period has made fully manifest the counsels of hearts – until the Time of Trouble culminates in Jacob’s Trouble – when the nations “as the vessels of a potter shall be broken to shivers.” (Rev. 2:26, 27) We are in the day of sweeping portent ­in the world and in God’s Household – great changes in quick succession. As example, the financial world: One financial service estimates that when the Dow-Jones stock averages go down 100 points it whittles the values of the stocks listed on the New York Exchange by 85 billion dollars. Consider now, that since last Spring those averages have dropped more than 200 points, or more than 170 billions of dollars from ‘paper’ wealth of the owners clipped off in a matter of months. “I will cut off from Babylon the name, and remnant.... I will sweep it with the besom (broom) of destruction, saith the Lord of Hosts.” (Isa. 14:22, 23) And such action we may anticipate as further Epiphany work – until it has accomplished all its purposes to a completion.

It is clear enough that many of our brethren don’t like controversy – nor do we; we would much prefer peace and the winsome Truths. But we do so only because “neces­sity is laid upon us” if we would be “faithful to the Lord, the Truth and the Brethren.” His testimony is that none will be acceptable to Him whose faithfulness will not draw upon them the world’s disfavor. His words are, “Whosoever will live godly shall suffer persecution.” As That Servant has faithfully recorded: “If our Lord had not rebuked some of these things that their leaders did, the people would not have known but that those Pharisees had the Lord’s endorsement. There they were going about with sancti­monious faces and saying so many prayers, etc. Were they really holy people? Jesus was there as a representative of God and an exponent of His views.... He merely did His duty. So we believe that we have a perfect right to call attention to the flagrant errors of today.” And this he faithfully did, even though it brought much persecution and revilings upon him – especially from the Clergy. And the Epiphany Messenger re­ceived some of the same treatment, especially from the leaders in the Society, etc., when he exposed their errors. It brought upon him much suffering, persecution and re­vilings.

“Who shall abide in thy Tabernacle, Lord? Who shall dwell in Thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the Truth in his heart... He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.... He that doeth these things shall never be moved.” (Psa. 15)

Sincerely your brother,

John J. Hoefle, Pilgrim

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LETTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST

Dear Mr. Hoefle:

I thank you for the literature which you sent me. It impressed me as no other ever had. You asked about my background. I am a Protestant, having a life-long interest in religion. I have always maintained that were Jesus to return to earth today He would not recognize what is being preached in His name.... I usually read from the Bible every day, and make an attempt to make it the guiding theme of my life. I must confess that many times I fall short of my goal.

Yes, please, please place me on your mailing list. Do you have a Church or represent­ative in my area?

Thank you! ------- (NEW JERSEY)

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Gentlemen:

Would you send me copies of your pamphlets Numbers 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 to the address given above.

Sincerely yours ------- (KANSAS)

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Dear Brother Hoefle: The Lord be with you!

I have your letter of the 30th before me as I write. I see by one of your papers No. 177, which came, I believe, after your letter, that you differ from Brother Jolly on two important points: (1) You believe that there are still Saints on earth; (2) Also you believe that Youthful Worthies can still come into the Truth! I believe you are right on these two important points. I have believed for many years that the spirit-begotten class and the Youthful Worthies are “marching” along side by side ­through observation and searching of the Scriptures. I think you will agree that I have the right thought here. Because of this I would like you to continue sending me your publications from time to time.

Your brother In the Interest of all Truth ------- (CANADA)

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Dear Dr. John Hoefle:

I would like very much to receive your free booklets – Numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. I shall anxiously await their arrival. Thank you! ------- (CALIFORNIA)

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Dear Brother Hoefle: Grace and peace!

Your most welcome letter of the 27th is received..... I sure enjoyed the Memorial article – and also your letter to the Brother in answer to the errors of the Truth people.

I am sending you some names for your mailing list....

With much Christian love – Your Brother in Him, ------- (MICHIGAN)

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Dear Brother Hoefle:

Just to let you know I’m still trusting in the Lord, and in you. May God bless you in your labour of love, and keep you walking in His footsteps. I am seeking to please Him.

Christian love ------- (CONNECTICUT)

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Dear Brother Hoefle: Loving greetings through our Beloved Redeemer!

Your letter of the 3rd is much appreciated, and I am sorry I have not replied earlier.

Yes, Sr. ------- is the sister from Oldham, who is on your list. She is not with the LHMM, and does appreciate your monthly papers. She comes and stays with us once a year, and we have good fellowship. You also send to her natural sister.... also from Oldham. Sister ------- has been here, too, but last year she was not well enough to travel.

Do hope Sister Dunnagan is having a better time with her new glasses. It is good to hear Sister Moynelo is doing well...... Brother and I are keeping fairly well, and we seem to be getting more opportunities to talk on Truth lines to people whom we meet. Quite a few return the tracts, and we hope they have read them. We had a nice talk with our Doctor. He has read Where are the Dead.... and then I gave him one of The Resurrection of the Dead. He is not happy with the dogmas of the Church of England. He appreciated the comma being placed in the right order when Jesus said Today, I’m saying.......

Brother is visiting a gentleman now who is ill – and almost blind. He likes some of the thoughts Brother has pointed out to him. It seems a pity he cannot read for himself. His wife is a practicing Roman Catholic – nevertheless, she could agree on Spiritism should be avoided, as being of the Devil and fallen angels.

The Pope has just spoken out against the Dutch priests being free to marry. Now he says the priests must vow every year to be celibate and obedient. Certainly, 2 Pet. 3:10 is in course of fulfillment – the elements melting with fervent heat. Nevertheless. we according to His promise look for new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth right­eousness. All join in love and prayers. Your loving sister ------- (ENGLAND)

NO. 179: IN HIS STEPS

No. 179

“To this you were called; because even Christ suffered on your behalf, leav­ing you a copy, so that you may follow in His footsteps; Who committed no sin; neither was deceit found in His mouth” —l Pet. 2:21 (Dia.).

Here is a concise sum­mation of the Christian’s duty and privilege; he has set before him a “copy” which he is to emulate to the best of his ability – although it is fully conceded that none of the fallen race can, or will, imitate in fullness that great “copy” which has been left for us. The Apostle Peter is telling us that our Lord left us a perfect example in Word and Deed – He committed no sin, did nothing wrong; and He spoke always the truth – no deceit found in His mouth. Those who clearly grasp the im­port of our great “copy” will have no part in “whispering campaigns” or political wire-pulling in the election of officers in the Church; theirs will be a character which is actuated in all ways by the principles of righteousness – not according to what some people may think of us, but according to the standard of righteousness found in the Scriptures. Therefore, in order to develop that character which is pleasing to God, we should in every detail of life consider carefully what is right and what is wrong, according to that standard. This course is Scripturally termed meditating in God’s law. When we reach that development of character in which thought, word and deed are measured by the principles of righteousness, we shall have attained godlikeness. (Psa. 119:97)

What the Lord desires to see in His people is not merely an outward manifesta­tion of devotion to Him and to His brethren, but a development of love in our hearts and our dispositions. God reads our hearts and judges us accordingly. If we profess to love one another and yet pursue a course of self-seeking, wherein do we manifest love? So St. John admonishes to love not in word only, but in deed and in truth. (1 John 3:18)

Primarily, the godly are those who are in Christ Jesus, members of His mystical body, having presented their human bodies living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God through the merit of the great Advocate. (Rom. 12:1) Secondly, the term godly in­cludes those who live righteously, in sympathy with Christ Jesus, even though they may not live up to the full standard which the Lord has set (in the narrow way), be­cause they shrink from the suffering that results from godly living – that results from “bearing witness to the truth.” Thirdly, the term godly includes some in the remote past, who, believing in the promise of the Lord that the “Seed” shall some day come, separated themselves from the rest of the world and, having obtained new aims, new ideas, were out of touch with the remainder of the race because of having a different standard. (Heb. 11:13-16)

The Ancient Worthies composed this third class, who had a share in the suffer­ing of the godly and a participation also in the blessing. Moses, for example, pre­ferred to suffer affliction with the people of God, rather than to participate in the honors of the Egyptian Government. Although adopted into the family of Pharaoh he had respect to the promise that the Messiah would come. Hence he suffered on account of his faith in the promise. So all the patriarchs desired to be in harmony with God, in accordance with His promise made to Abraham, and because of belief in that promise they suffered more or less persecution. (Heb. 11:24-26, 36-38) And these godly ones of the Old Testament record find their counterpart today in the fully faithful Youthful Worthies, who now have the opportunity, because of increased know­ledge combined with the experiences of the past, to develop even better characters than many of their forerunners. Those noble characters of ancient times did not comprehend the scope of agape love, that disinterested good will toward all men which adorned the Saints of this Gospel Age; and their counterparts of today have had the personal friendship, the noble example, and uplifting instruction of the last two “principal men” as living examples of agape love in operation.

Once more we direct attention to E-4:319 (5), where Brother Johnson correctly identifies the “godly” of all Ages – namely, the Little Flock and Great Company, and the Ancient and Youthful Worthies, as the four “elect” saved classes of Joel 2:28,29. And Joel 2:28, 29 also enumerates all six saved classes from among mankind. These four classes, with the “sons” (the quasi-elect) and the “daughters” (converted Gen­tiles of the Millennial Age) comprise all the saved classes from among mankind, with the repentant Angels comprising the SEVEN SAVED CLASSES retrieved from the reign of evil. The “sons” in this text are the believing, but UNconsecrated, Jews and Gentiles from the Law Covenant to the full end of this Gospel Age, the same including the Epi­phany Campers UNconsecrated in the “finished picture” – with no reference or place for Campers Consecrated. There is nothing here or anywhere else in the Scriptures to substantiate a class of Epiphany Campers consecrated. As Brother Johnson says (E-4: 319, bottom): “All classes from among mankind savingly associated with the Plan of God are thus treated of in Joel 2:28,29. These and the repentant fallen angels will constitute the seven (perfect number) classes of those whom Christ delivers from sin and condemnation unto perfection and everlasting life in His work as Savior.”

Some may ask, “Why should the godly suffer?” The Bible answers that sin has brought the world into opposition with God. Whoever, then, would have all men speak in commendation of him would not be in harmony with the Divine Arrangement, for the masses of the world are pursuing a course that the Lord does not approve. “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.” (Matt. 5:11) We are not saying that everything which the world does is sinful, but that the standards of God are so high that because of their fallen condition the masses of the world are not subject to the law of God ­neither, indeed, can they be, for they are carnal, sold under sin. (Rom. 8:7; 7:14,15) Those who wish to have influence with the world must cater to popular prejudices. On the contrary, those who would be God’s people must be loyal to the principles of right­eousness, and consequently must go in opposite direction to the general course of this world. Hence they are opposed by the world. Even many of the good people of this world who are working for social reform, etc., oppose the Lord’s real people who are seeking to “bear witness to the Truth.” The tendency today is to forget the Truth (the faith once delivered unto the saints), forget your differences in doctrine – let’s get together and do “good works,” by uplifting the morally degraded, etc.

A striking illustration of this condition is to be found in the person of a man swimming upstream at a time when the River Jordan (a type of the curse) was flood-swollen and rushing rapidly to its entrance into the Dead Sea. From the standpoint of God the course of the world is sinful. There is a tendency in our flesh to go with the world – with those who are laboring under false views of various kinds – because that course is in sympathy with the desires of our own fallen flesh. Hence to live godly is to live in opposition to the course of the world and of our own flesh. This would include not only living uprightly and avoiding sin, etc., but also the making of sacrifices as well, where principles are not involved. We are to beware, however, lest we be deceived along this line. Not only are we contending with the world, but we are wrestling with wicked spirits in high positions. (Eph. 6:12) Sometimes Satan’s arts seem to be employed to get those who are trying to live godly into contention with one another – into faultfinding instead of seeking to cover the faults and human frailties with the mantle of charity. “And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?” (Matt. 7:3) One of his devices is to make unimportant things seem important, and in this way to make people think that they are contending for righteous­ness, and that the sufferings that they bring on themselves in this manner are for righteous­ness’ sake. Another device is to deceive people into “busybodying in other men’s matters.” (1 Pet. 4:15)

Our influence upon each other should be uplifting; we should not cause others to grieve, except where suffering is absolutely necessary. Hence the Lord’s people should cultivate the fruits of the Spirit increasingly – meekness, gentleness, patience, brotherly kindness, love. The cultivation of these fruits of the Spirit is a law in respect to the Lord’s peoples. All who would live godly in Christ Jesus are to see to it that they are not the cause of suffering to others where principles are not involved – especially to those of the Household of Faith.

While it is true that all who will live godly in this world will suffer to the extent to which they are out of harmony with the present evil conditions, yet the promised blessings of the Scriptures are to those who live godly in Jesus Christ those who are Christians. Of these St. Peter says, “If any man suffer as a Chris­tian, let him not be ashamed.”(l Pet. 4:16) A Christian is a follower of Christ, one who has cast in his lot to suffer with Christ (or for Christ), that he may be also glorified with the Lord (or be included in the ‘better’ resurrection, as the case may be)—2 Tim. 2:12. From the Apostle’s standpoint, therefore, no one could suffer “as a Christian” unless he had become a Christian.

Every painful experience which our Lord had was suffered for righteousness’ sake not only the great sufferings, not only the great fight against sin, but also all the little unpleasant experiences common to the world. Being “holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners” (Heb. 7:26), there was no reason why He should suffer. We do not understand that the Heavenly Father has provided sufferings, trials and difficul­ties for the angels who are in harmony with Him. Nor do we think that Jesus, being a Son in full accord with the Father, would have suffered were it not for His coven­ant of self-sacrifice. All of His sufferings were because He had come into the world to be man’s Redeemer, to make “His soul an offering for sin.” (Isa. 53:10) They were all parts of His necessary experience.

The sufferings which our Lord endured were the result of His activity in the service of the Father; and none of His faithful followers should expect to escape similar sufferings under similar circumstances, if they would be faithful. These were His weariness, His weakness after giving out His vitality to heal others – His bloody sweat, His ignominious buffetings, and all the reproaches, the sneers and the bitter words incurred on account of His faithfulness, to all of which He meekly and quietly submitted until His suffering on Calvary terminated His human existence when He had fully “poured out His soul unto death.” (Isa. 53:12)

There is no question that suffering in general is not suffering with Christ but with Adam – as a result of Adam’s transgression. Our physical infirmities which are of heredity, are not sufferings of Christ. Rather we should speak of the suffer­ings of Christ as being voluntary and not involuntary. When the Apostle says that if we suffer with the Lord we shall also reign with him (2 Tim. 2:12), he means the suf­fering which we bring upon ourselves through faithfulness to our covenant. St. Paul speaks of “filling up that which is left behind of the afflictions of Christ (as part of the sin-offering) for His Body’s sake, which is the Church.” (Col. 1:24) These exper­iences are not for Adam’s sake (not on account of Adam’s disobedience, but because of their covenant of sacrifice).

In St. Paul’s own case he had, we believe, weak eyes as a result of his wrong course in persecuting the Church; and that wrong course was, no doubt, largely the result of heredity. When the Apostle speaks of the sufferings he endured on account of his eyes, he does not speak of them as the sufferings of Christ, but he says that his affliction was “a messenger of Satan” to buffet him. (2 Cor. 12:7) We might then say that all physical sufferings resulting from heredity are ministers of Satan oppos­ing us, causing us much difficulty. However, we believe that the Lord is pleased with us if we resist these ministers of Satan.

If we should think of all our physical pains and aches as sufferings for Christ, then we should be obliged to think of our mental defects also as sufferings for Christ.. For instance, a man who had a disabled hand might have a comparatively even temper; another might have a perverse temper, leading him into trouble – into busy­bodying into other men’s affairs, etc. Thus his disposition causes him to suffer as a busybody, and not for Christ. Paul tells us that our defects in character are works of the fallen flesh. (Gal. 5:19-21) If the sufferings that come to us because of imperfect mental conditions are sufferings of heredity, the physical sufferings which result from imperfect physical conditions, cannot be counted as sufferings for Christ.

In the case of a Christian, inherited weaknesses and those brought upon himself by the violation of the laws of God previous to his entrance into the family of God as a son, while not sufferings with Christ, will be made advantageous to him. These weaknesses our Father sees fit to leave with us, but assures us that His Grace will be sufficient for us. (2 Cor. 12:9) While the realization of such care for our interests is humiliating in that it forces convictions of our weakness, yet it is refreshing and inspiring in that it proves our Father’s love for us. “The Father Himself loves you.” (John 16:27)

But when one has undertaken to follow in the footsteps of Christ, whatever affliction that person undergoes because of following the Lord, is suffering as a Christian; and whatever our experiences in suffering may be, these are not neces­sarily the portion of the sons of God, for the angels do not suffer; but He permits the Church to have them in order to develop and crystallize character. If we rejoice that we are found worthy to share in the sufferings of the present time, every trial will be turned to advantage as a part of our Christian experience. “They are not of the world.” (John 17:16) Therefore all of our experiences must be regarded as Chris­tian, for correction in righteousness and for educational purposes.

But this is taking a broader, deeper view than ordinary. Certainly a Christian is not ashamed of what he may suffer because of his loyalty to the Lord, to the Truth and to the Brethren. In these sufferings he is to glorify God and to be thankful for them. He is to be glad for the opportunity of enduring something, to show not only to the Lord, but himself also that he has endured something for Christ’s sake. Every sacrifice that we make is for the purpose of suffering as a Christian, and we are not ashamed so to suffer. (i Pet. 4:16)

There are others who suffer more or less as Christians suffer, but they are suffer­ing from a worldly standpoint. People sometimes say, “This worldly man has his trials and sufferings, and shows such patience, such resignation, that surely he is suffering as a Christian.” But we do not understand that any one can suffer as a Christian un­less he takes the steps necessary to make him a Christian. We are to view matters from God’s standpoint. Doubtless many have suffered as Christians who were not Chris­tians, from a human viewpoint – but not from God’s viewpoint. In the Dark Ages many were put to death for the sake of principle. In our own day there are people who give no evidence of being Christians, but who would rather die than have the Bible taken out of public schools. Although they do not understand the Bible, yet if these were times of persecutions such as were in the Dark Ages, many would die at the stake in order to keep the Bible in the public school.

A point may properly be made here that there is a wide gulf between our con­sciences and our civil or legal rights. Our Lord instructed His people (Matt. 5:39, 40): “Whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.... if he take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.” Certainly, if an adversary should smite us unjustly on the cheek, that would be a trying violation of our legal rights, but it would be no violation of our conscience to permit him to do so, or to turn the other cheek to him. Or, if he unjustly prevails in the courts to seize our coat, that would be a moral violation of our legal rights; but it would be no viola­tion of our conscience to accept the verdict graciously and nobly. Or, if some claim­ing even to be brethren should slander us, this, too, would be a violation of our legal rights; but it may sometimes be better for the general cause that we “suffer it to be so.” Many of us are familiar with Brother Russell’s suit against the Brooklyn Eagle for the contemptible and slanderous statements made about him in that publication – a case in which he was most unjustly defeated. He was certainly justified in the action he took; but he accepted the unjust verdict as “suffering as a Christian,” and let the matter rest there.

It is all too easy to allow resentment to overwhelm us when we are defeated in a cause where we are so preeminently right; and the beloved Parousia Messenger there showed his strength and nobility of character when he accepted the result as “of the Lord.” “This is thankworthy if a man, for conscience toward God, endure grief, suf­fering wrongfully.” We cannot always tell whether suffering is for Christ’s sake. But where people have suffered for conscience’ sake, they have thus cultivated charac­ters, and will get a blessing in the next Age for that suffering. Suffering with Christ, as we have seen, is not the ordinary suffering common to all in the fallen state, but only such experiences as are the result, more directly, of following Christ’s example in advocating unpopular truths and in exposing popular errors – to “bear witness to the (Bible) truth.” Such were the causes of the sufferings of Christ; and such will be the causes of suffering, persecution and loss, to all who follow in His footsteps. Such will have fellowship in His sufferings now, and in the end will be accounted worthy to share in the reward given for faithfulness to principle.

Throughout the Gospel Age this course has meant self-sacrificing labor and endurance of reproach in the sowing and watering of Christ’s doctrines. Now, in the end of the Age, it means a similar fidelity and endurance in the separating work and the gather­ing of the “Israelites indeed” (the elect). The Epiphany will make manifest the ‘coun­sels of hearts.’

Our Lord forewarns us that in the end of the Gospel Age, many who have a love for Christ will allow their love to grow cold because of the iniquity and sin in the world. (Matt. 24:12) It will be a test for such to decide whether they will partake of the worldly spirit. We see this test in operation now. A great many people who name the name of Christ, who really love the Lord, who appreciate much of His character, who would like to see the right prosper, nevertheless have no thought of making a spectacle of themselves before men. They would like to do right, to walk honorably, and to have the favor of men as good citizens. But as to being warm and faithful followers of the Lord – through “evil report and good report” (2 Cor. 6:8), their faith and zeal are not sufficient to endure the test. Many today who once were very zealous in preaching “Present Truth” now seem to believe that it is wrong to “earnestly contend for the faith that was once delivered unto the saints.” And “love for the brethren” may seem easy and pleasant enough when they love us; but it is often a sore trial of character to continue to love them when they become “our enemies because we tell them the truth.” (Gal. 4:16)

The Lord Jesus has very clearly informed us that to follow in His steps will mean trials and difficulties in the flesh. He says, “in the world ye shall have tribula­tion.” (John 16:33) St. Paul repeats the sentiment saying, “We must through much tribu­lation enter into the kingdom of God”; and he emphasizes the thought, saying, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” (Acts 14:22; 2 Tim. 3:12) There is no other way to enter the kingdom than by self-sacrifice, deadening of the flesh, mortifying it. In proportion as the new man grows, the old man perishes, until the sacrifice shall have been completed in death.

The Lord’s people should thoroughly understand the terms and conditions upon which they have been called. They should therefore “think it not strange” when trials come upon them, no matter how fiery, no matter how severe. The Apostle Peter lovingly coun­sels the Church: “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you; on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part He is glorified.” ( 1 Pet. 4:12-14) The Lord is to be not only the Instruc­tor, but also the Refiner to purge out the dross, that we may be made ready to share with Christ in the Kingdom.

The Scriptures plainly teach that special trials may be expected in the Church, amongst the brethren. And we find it to be true that our severest trials came not from without, but, as the Apostle in substance says, “From among yourselves shall arise false brethren,” to injure the flock in general through personal ambition. (Acts 20:30) This becomes a test not only to the church, but to all those who are in contact with us, for if one member suffer, all the members suffer with it. (1 Cor. 12:26)

We are not, therefore, to think it strange if there are trials and difficulties, and if more or less dispute arise in the church. We are to cultivate gentleness, meek­ness, patience, loving-kindness toward all. Nevertheless, if a dispute arise amongst the Lord’s people, we are to recognize that such things are unavoidable amongst those who have the truth. Our heads are imperfect, and consequently it requires time to come into line with the teachings of the Lord’s word. Even disputation makes life an activ­ity, and is better than a dead condition – not to care what is spoken or not spoken. Nevertheless, those who have zeal should be careful that they manifest the Spirit of the Lord, as above indicated – gentleness, patience, meekness, brotherly kindness, love, humility.

“Think it not strange that there are fiery trials amongst yourselves, arising from one cause or another, that will make it particularly severe for you. Those amongst whom you are thrown in contact will cause you suffering, because of your zeal and their misunderstanding, their imperfection, etc. All of these fiery trials will work out good for you. It is far better to be amongst those who are fervent in spirit than to take place amongst those who are lukewarm and thus lose the privilege of being one of those who are footstep followers of Christ. Perhaps those who are lukewarm will, in the time of trouble, learn a lesson. But the faithful are to learn their lesson in the present time – allowing the experiences of life to work out for them a far more exceed­ing eternal weight of glory. (2 Cor. 4:17)”

The above quotation embraces That Wise and Faithful Servant’s exact words on the matter. Some of our readers may recall that at a Philadelphia Convention some years ago it was stressed from the platform that there is full harmony and tranquility at the Philadelphia headquarters; and similar comment has come to us from others. Very strange, is it not, that uncleansed Levites are so quickly able to “improve” upon the experiences of their betters – our Lord, the Apostles and the Star Members? Note the words of the Apostle Peter: “Be not surprised at the fire among you, occurring to you for a trial, as though some strange thing was befalling you.” (I Pet. 4:12, Dia.) We all know the fiery trials that befell our Lord from those in His own group and physi­cally near Him; the same with the Apostles, as testified by Paul and Peter – the same at Bethel under That Servant – and the same with the Epiphany Messenger in Philadelphia.

But now, behold! uncleansed Levites are not having the “fire among them”! It will be noted that the Parousia Messenger emphasizes that it is “zeal for the Truth” by the Faithful that enkindles the “fire among you.” Many in the Truth groups – much like the majority in Big Babylon, prefer peace: Their motto – Do not contend about what you be­lieve, just do all the good you can – be pleasant and amiable; be sure to “keep the peace” whether you “keep the faith” or not. If you “keep the faith” keep it to your­self, rather than cause friction among the brethren. It is self-evident that the true “zeal for the Truth” has departed from many.

Our knowledge of God is limited; yet it is only what we should expect of the Heavenly Father, that any whom He accepts as His children will have Divine love and care in the supervision of their affairs, which will make all things work “for good” to them. The tendency toward lukewarmness is becoming more and more pronounced as the Age draws to a close, and the Adversary is resorting particularly to the Slaughter-­Weapon Man of Combinationism to bring this about. It’s not important what we believe anymore, according to the great mass of church-goers, and also with many claiming to be in “Present Truth” – so long as you are “headed in the right direction.” And ac­cepting this premise, it matters not what sect we may dwell in, in Big or Little Baby­lon, with Mohammed or Confucius, so long as our desire is an abode in Heaven when we die.

This was decidedly NOT the attitude of the last two Star Members, who “contended for the faith once delivered unto the Saints” to the pouring out of their souls unto death. Unswervingly and continually did they hold before them that Great “Copy” in their defense of the Truth in a determined effort to “follow in His footsteps.” And they did this in strict harmony with the Bible teachings on the manner in which we must follow “in His steps.” Brother Russell summed it up pretty well when he stated:

“Many (religious leaders) abandon spiritual themes wholly, and descend to the plane of the natural man, to moral and political reform questions (as we see empha­sized on every hand today—JJH). They can go ‘slumming’ and preach the anti-slum gospel (as does the book “In His Steps” displayed for sale some time back on the Con­vention table of the LHMM alongside the Studies in the Scriptures, which teach the very opposite of this book—JJH). They can join in Christian-citizenship crusades.”

We know of some former Truth students who care not how many conflicting opinions may be held on the same subject; in fact, we have met individuals who hold two or more different opinions on the same subject, with none of those opinions being right. Yet these people abide in smug complacency, which will apparently only be changed by the “Great Tribulation” just ahead. All of us know the Epiphany Messenger’s pro­nounced aversion for Combinationism (a worse evil than sectarianism, because it lulls into complete sleep those who once had “a zeal, but not according to knowledge” – they now have no zeal); and those who yet hold him in that respect, love and devotion which is his due, as a faithful teacher in God’s House, will give full heed to his teachings on this matter.

Since the Lord is our Shepherd, no one is able to pluck us out of His hands. (Jn. 10:27-29) We are as dear to Him as the apple of His eye. He that began a good work in us is able to complete it in the day of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Phil. 1:6) So the more faith we have the more we appreciate the text, “We know that all things work to­gether for good to them that love God (supremely), to them that are the called accord­ing to his purpose.” (Rom. 8:28) This includes even the things that seem to be very contrary, very evil, very disadvantageous.

Our Lord said, “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou has sent.” (John 17:3) To know the Father means to be in fellowship with Him, to have an intimate acquaintance with Him. Experience cor­roborates this fact. The more obedient we are as children of God, the more intimate is our acquaintance with Him. And if we are unfaithful, even for a little space, we shall fail to make development along spiritual lines. But in proportion as we are seeking to walk in His ways, we become intimate with Him in the particular sense in which a child knows his father. This knowledge gives us the trust that He cares for us as His children, and makes all things work “for good” to us. (Ram. 8:28; 1 Jn. 1:6,7)

Ours is a covenant of sacrifice. There are certain laws and principles which are not to be broken. Along these lines the Lord Jesus tells us that the Father will appoint those next to the Lord who have demonstrated most of the Spirit of the Re­deemer. He will not put any one in such a position or into the Kingdom arbitrarily. His character, His Words stand pledged that He will make the best of us that He is able to do, while at the same time recognizing our wills as paramount in making the best of us.

Jehovah does not seek those as His children who need to be forced. Our Lord said that “the Father seeketh such to worship Him as worship Him in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:23) We are to work to the best of our ability. But with all of our stumb­ling the Lord stands pledged that He will not leave us if we are faithful, and that He will make even our stumbling work out for good to us, provided we do not “stumble” in the pitfall of the sixth Slaughter-Weapon Man of Revolutionism (forsaking the Pa­rousia or Epiphany Truth, or the Arrangements), because such persistent “stumbling” would manifest such as having lost their Class standing.

But those New Creatures who must be forced to a compliance with the rules who, as the horse or ass, “must be guided with bit and bridle” (Psa. 32:9; Prov. 26:3) will eventually be among those who bewail that “the summer is past, the harvest is ended, and we are not saved” – a bewailing that is yet future. We emphasize once more that there has never been a “call” to the Great Company Class, because God would never issue a “call” to any one to fail; they are the failures for whom God has graciously provided a serving place “before the Throne,” who “through fear of (sacrificial) death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” (Heb. 2:15—See Berean Comment) These are the ones temporarily abandoned to Azazel by our Father, much the same as an earthly father disinherits a wayward son pending his reformation; they are “such as sit in darkness (error), and the shadow of death, bound in affliction and iron; because they rebelled (revolutionized) against the words of God, and contemned (revolutionized against the Arrangements) the counsel of the Most High.” (Psa. 107:10, 11) In the Great Tribulation He shall “bring down their heart with labor.... brake their bands in sunder.... and save them out of their distresses.” And companion with these will be the measurably faithful Youthful Worthies who have aided and abetted them in their wayward course.

We well realize that our pointed criticisms of the Executive Trustee of the LHMM and his partisan supporters are distasteful to many. This we regret, of course, just as we also regret even more the necessity for such exposures. But this should also offer convincing proof that our course is not prompted by a desire to “draw away dis­ciples” unto ourselves, or to pamper pride or pelf; otherwise, we would be using “words smoother than butter, words softer than oil” (Psa. 55:21), as did That Evil Servant and others of like character – such as the Papal ‘diplomats,’ etc., did.

“Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.” (2 Thes. 2:15-17)

Sincerely your brother,

John J. Hoefle, Pilgrim

(Reprint of No. 72, May 1, 1961)

NO. 178: MORE ON 1 COR. 15:24

No. 178

In the Jan.–Feb. 1970 Present Truth, pp. 12 through 15, is to be found a number of questions and detailed answers on the above text. In these comments RGJ repeatedly refers to us as “the sifting errorist” using the “crafty tactics of a pettifogging lawyer.” Of course, such technique is nothing new. During the Parousia crown-losers referred to Brother Russell as that braying Balaam’s ass, old man Russell, and a tool of the Devil. Thus, it should cause no surprise to us to see the same kind of person (a crown-loser – a self-admitted crown-loser) now using the same kind of weapons. Such tactics are a way of life to those who have a “bad conscience.” (See E-10:585)

He also continues to make great play upon a mistake made some fourteen years ago, which we have since corrected in subsequent papers – as though we had committed some capi­tal offense. Brother Russell also made some mistakes – some of which had drastic re­sults – yet he had the humility to admit and correct them in subsequent writings. For Instance, his mistakes on the Covenants, which were the direct cause of the 1908-11 sifting; his mistake in stating in the Tabernacle Shadows that the installation of the Priesthood was just another picture of the Day of Atonement picture in Leviticus 16; his mistake in stating that the Atonement Day was a type of the Gospel Age, then on pages immediately following nullified his previous statement by teaching that the antitypical Atonement Day included the entire Gospel and Millennial Ages – which is certainly correct. But in all of these things Brother Russell had the humility to cor­rect himself. He was fallible, but he was also a faithful mouthpiece of God – and a good “steward.” Perhaps the Lord permitted him to make such mistakes – for a good purpose – not only to test and prove him, but also for the testing of the Lord’s people. Yet RGJ plays up our one mistake as though it justifies his name-calling tactic of “sifting errorist,” etc., toward us.

But let us now consider RGJ himself: At a Convention not too far back he stated that the “end” of 1 Cor. 15:24 was the end of the Little Season. It seems he is now reversing himself on that – but without any admission of his supposed mistake. Also, in the Bible Standard quotation, which he uses on page 124 of his Volume 17, it was RGJ who proof-read that; so he accepted it then as the truth. Then, in this Volume 17, which was copyrighted in 1956, he repeats this same quotation, so we must con­clude that he still believed the statement then. Part of that statement says, “Then cometh the end (the end of the Little Season)”; but RGJ now casts that statement into the waste basket – but without admitting his mistake in the Herald of the Epiphany in 1949, and without admitting his mistake in his Volume 17. Perhaps, then, it would be in order here to remind him that “God giveth grace to the humble,” but He never gives grace to garrulous flippant name-callers. And we mention, too, that this is one of the main reasons why RGJ has suffered such crushing defeats in his controver­sies on Truth subjects – since he is no longer under the restraining hand of the Epi­phany Messenger (since his full abandonment to Azazel – See E-15:525).

SELF-EVIDENT CONTRADICTIONS

Without directly saying so, RGJ tells his readers that Brother Russell contradicted himself on his interpretation of 1 Cor. 15:24. For the benefit of our readers, we now state definitely and unequivocally – Brother Russell certainly did contradict himself in his various statements on this text. So what should be our attitude in such a situ­ation? Certainly, our task is clearly defined for us: We should determine from Scrip­ture and sound analysis which of his interpretations is the right one. But, should we expect RGJ to be able to do this? No, of course not! And why not? We answer, Because he is one of those whose “lamps are gone out” (Matt. 25:8). When one loses the oil in his lamp he loses the spirit of understanding, which is a necessary adjunct to analyzing any intricate interpretation. Furthermore, by his own admission, he is a member of “the unprofitable servant” of Matt. 25:14-30. The unprofitable servant here is the Great Com­pany (See Berean Comment); and the clearly designated punishment for such is to be “cast into outer darkness” (error). Thus, we should expect nothing but confusion from RGJ on subjects such as the one under consideration.

True, he has given copious citations from Brother Russell to prove his point. We also have done the same. The 1908-11 sifters offered multitudinous Scripture citations to prove their point; most errorists usually have plenty of Bible to support their errors. But the only way to arrive at the correct answer is to consider all the involved points; every Scripture should be harmonious with itself, and with all other Scripture, or there is something wrong with our conclusion. Thus, we now approach this 1 Cor. 15: 24 from that standpoint – taking what the Star Members have said, what the Scriptures say, and what our own reason dictates as the logical conclusions:

On page 6 of our December paper No. 174, we emphasized Brother Johnson’s statement on page 125 of this same Volume 17 that RGJ published as the Truth in 1956:

“The Adamic death in the sense of the dying process is this last great enemy; and, because of His faithfulness, Jesus became the One who will after the close of the Millen­nium finally destroy it.” RGJ ignores this statement completely in his present tirade. Why?

Let us consider now Matt. 25:31-46, the parable of the Sheep and Goats: In v. 40 and 41 it is stated, “The king.... shall say to them an the left hand, Depart into ever­lasting fire, prepared for the Devil and his angels.” Just what is a “King”? Is he not a reigning monarch? And is this final judgment not at the very end of the Little Season? Or, is RGJ trying to tell us that this also is at the beginning of the Little Season? But let us go a little further: The “princes in all the earth” will be the visible ruling representatives of the Christ throughout the Millennial reign. Will they step aside, and discontinue that reign at the beginning of the Little Season? Or will they continue on almost to the very end of the Little Season? And, if they continue in their reign, then it must logically follow that their superiors – The Christ, the “King” – will also continue to reign with them. Or, is RGJ now trying to tell us they will go into the Little Season reigning without the supervision they have had all dur­ing the Millennium proper?

To give him a little help here, we now quote from E-11:267 (20): “Their (the Goats) seeking to grasp away from the Ancient and Youthful Worthies the power that God wants the latter to exercise to the full end of the Little Season will be the antitype of the Egyptians’ pursuing after the Israelites onto the exposed reef between the cleft sea (Ex. 14:23). It will be a pursuit, not only of the Worthies, but also of the other faithful restitutionists (is there any doubt that the goats are here pictured as “the last enemy”?—JJH), because the latter will side with the Worthies and will doubtless suffer more or less at the hands of the wicked (their enemies—JJH), as typed by the expression, ‘The Egyptians pursued and went in after them’.... This types that not only the rank and file of apostate restitutionists will embark on what will seem to them to be the way of obedience, but what will actually be the way of disobedience, but that all of their erroneous teachings (horses), organizations (chariots) and human and spirit leaders (horsemen) will also do the same.... That final trial will be the last stand that Satan, sin and error and all in sympathy with them will ever make (a very clear presentation of “the last enemy”—JJH); for oppression of Satan, sin and error, with their concomitants of dying and death (the Adamic death process and the Adamic death state—JJH) shall not rise again.... Hence the necessity of such a trial as the Little Season will witness (at its end, not at its beginning—JJH).” It will indeed be interesting to have RGJ’s comments on this quotation!

But let us note carefully the above quotation, that it includes persons, principles and things, just as it does in this Epiphany period, and just as it is stated in E-17: 124-125. And let us consider now RGJ’s statement on p. 15, par. 3, of this Present Truth:

“Note this: If the ‘Adamic death’ or dying process (emphasis by RGJ himself—­JJH) would be still present with the Goat class in the Little Season, then under that Adamic death process they would still in the Little Season be dying the Adamic death (emphasis ours—JJH), and would continue to do so as this process would proceed to accomplish its work to a finality.”

Could there be a more extreme exhibition of nonsense than the foregoing! Is he trying to teach that all those who come back from the tomb – imperfect mentally, mor­ally, physically, religiously, all the result of the Adamic dying process – no longer have this Adamic dying process present with them? Apparently he doesn’t realize that all who are awakened from the death state will have eliminated the dying process in so far as it concerns the Adamic death state. Some of those who return from the tomb will make little or no progress at all as respects eliminating their character evils. After 100 years of long-suffering with such, they will enter the tomb again, with all – or almost all – of the Adamic dying process which was theirs at their return from the grave. Is RGJ now teaching that such will die the Adamic death?

Such a conclusion would have been considered unbelievable from one claiming to be a teacher of the Truth, were we not now witness to it! Such “foolish effusions” could emanate only from one long schooled in “folly.” (See E-10:591; also his letter in the Nov. 15, 1910 Watch Tower.) The only difference between the goats at the end of the Little Season – who go into the Second Death (not the Adamic death) – and those kinsmen of the goats who die during the Kingdom reign, is that the goats will be imperfect in character only; whereas, those sinners who are accursed after 100 years of trial will be imperfect in character and physique. Those “sinners” during the Kingdom will not experience full resurrection even physically – yet they WILL NOT be dying the Adamic death when they are “destroyed from among the people” (Acts 3:23). Those who came forth from the tomb – whether they eventuate as goats of the Little Season, or as 100-year-old sinners accursed – leave forever behind them the Adamic death state, and the Adamic dying; they can never again experience that. But it is their failure to elimi­nate the Adamic death process – that which they inherited and acquired during the reign of sin and death – that brings them to death – the Second Death – whether this may occur during the Kingdom reign, or at the end of the Little Season. Note carefully Brother Johnson’s comment in E-17:125: “The Adamic death in the sense of the dying process is this last great enemy.” And RGJ says we are a “sifting errorist” for quoting Brother Johnson, so it would seem he now also considers Brother Johnson a “sifting errorist.”

It would seem that a mere babe in the Truth should be able to grasp this situation; only one befuddled by Azazel would attempt to talk such nonsense. If the “dying process” would only include the Adamic dying that would be eliminated as each one is awakened from the tomb, at the same time the Adamic death state is eliminated. But, then, Bro. Johnson says those who fall into Azazel’s hands do talk all sorts of nonsense; and here is just another example (in RGJ’s statement) of that truth!

In continuing, none of the human race are totally depraved; thus, the Adamic death process (in the sense of physical, mental and artistic) exists in all the restitutionists in varying degree – some more and some less. But every one of them immediately eliminates that part of the dying process that took him into the tomb, the minute he receives his awakening from the tomb. The Adamic death state no longer holds sway over him – nor does Adamic dying (going to the tomb) hold sway over him. When he dies it will be the Second Death for him. Would any babe in the Truth dispute this basic principle? However, let us not have a mere play on. words here: The Red Sea type of Egyptian destruction clearly portrays the final destruction of the end of the Little Season, and not the beginning.

And are not the Goats definitely the enemies of the Sheep? They are here at the beginning of the Little Season, and are manifested as such during the Little Season ­and whether they are still infected with the Adamic dying process, or whatever you may call their evil characteristics, they are still the enemies of the Sheep: and – THEY ARE THE LAST ENEMY THAT WILL BE DESTROYED – just as the Egyptians were the enemies of Israel (the Sheep of the Little Season) when the Red Sea (typical of the Lake of Fire) destroyed all of them. And is RGJ now telling us that this also will be at the begin­ning of the Little Season? Be it remembered that the reign of the Christ is to accom­plish the “restitution of all things.” Can that Restitution possibly be complete until all enemies have been obliterated? Certainly not. Let us remember that Adam did not need to gain restitution; he already had its equivalent in the Garden. But none of his progeny have that asset; they must acquire it. And all of the sheep must gain ATONEMENT – must be restored to what Adam had before his fall – i.e., fellowship with God, a perfect home, life rights, and Kingship. Will that be possible at the beginning of the Little Season – or must it occur at its end – after the “Last enemy” is destroyed?

A side observation might prove interesting here. “Cousin” Krewson holds the same view on the “end,” as does RGJ; and J. F. Rutherford also held the same view – with the Jehovah’s Witnesses still clinging to it tenaciously – so far as we know. Even as they have cast away one Harvest Truth after another, and even as RGJ has also cast aside many a Parousia and Epiphany teaching, they all three cling with fanatic determination to the wrong side of this controversy. It would seem that RGJ embellishes his ego mightily through the support of such stalwart allies! The Truth becomes clearer and clear­er to the fully faithful, even as the error continues to make firmer grip upon the Measurably faithful and total renegades. As Brother Johnson has aptly said, those in Azazel’s clutches not only lose much of the Truth they once believed and taught, but they can’t see progressive truth at all. Truly, in controversy the Truth comes out!

CONCERNING REV. 20:4

Here is another text given to prove his error, so we offer some analysis of it. “They lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.” Who are “they”? They are those “that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus” – the Christ Company. If the “reign” concludes fully at 2874 – as RGJ claims – let him name just one who can qualify under this text. The first saints were not raised from the dead until 1878 – 3½ years after 1874; so the longest any of them could possibly reign would be 996½ years. But “the stone cut out of the mountain without hands” (Dan. 2:45) was not complete until 1914, at which time it began to “break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms.” Thus, Rev. 20:4 defeats his contention instead of supporting it. As Brother Johnson has so well stated the matter: Why is it that these Levites offer texts to support their arguments which definitely contradict their position? Is it not because they are in the clutches of Azazel, and cannot think clearly on controversial subjects. Too, has he ever read Brothers Russell and Johnson on the distinction of “a” thousand years, and “the” thousand years of the reign of The Christ?

In this same connection, RGJ quotes from Brother Russell in a 1911 article, his contention being that this is a later expression, and thus should carry greater weight than statements we gave from his earlier writings. Therefore, we now quote the follow­ing from the August 15, 1913 Watch Tower, par. 2 (Reprints 5293):

“While the sprinkling of the blood upon the Mercy Seat on behalf of all the people takes place before restitution begins, or before the right to live can be given to any of the Ancient Worthies, nevertheless, those who would get God’s blessing, His uplift­ing influence, must become Israelites – that is, become believers in God, by believing in the Mediator, who will be God’s representative. This law will be applicable to the whole world. If mankind would get everlasting life, they must accept Christ and join themselves to this earthly kingdom class. Christ’s Kingdom must rule the earth until all the wicked are destroyed. – 1 Cor. 15:24-26”

Thus, we now ask RGJ to give us an answer: Was Brother Russell referring to the be­ginning of the Little Season when “all the wicked are destroyed,” or was he refer­ring to the end of it? And if he was referring to the beginning of the Little Season, does he mean to tell us that the Goats who enter the Little Season are NOT the wicked? And we direct attention to the fact that the only Scripture Brother Russell gives to prove his statement is 1 Cor. 15:24! Yet RGJ asserts that Brother Russell teaches according to his (RGJ’s) views after the year 1911.

A GENEROUS PROPOSAL

While RGJ does not mention that ‘faulty disc’ in the paper under review, he has made quite some play upon it in the past, his contention being that the text should read, “The end is the Little Season,” instead of “The end of the Little Season.” The very construction of the grammar is against his statement. Had Brother Johnson intended to say what RGJ claims, he would have had a complete sentence, and no paren­thesis would have been necessary. Certainly he – and RGJ, too, would have caught this at the time of publication had such been the intent; therefore, we very much doubt the veracity of RGJ’s claim about the disc. And to support our conviction, we now suggest he secure some unbiased disc expert in Philadelphia to examine the disc, for which we offer to pay the expense, not only of the expert, but also the expense of RGJ himself from Chester Springs to Philadelphia and back again, and our own expense to Philadelphia. We do this in the interest of the Truth, and in faithfulness thereto. Will he accept this proposal? If he is interested in the Truth, we see no reason for his refusal!

SUPPORT FROM THE STUDIES IN THE SCRIPTURES

RGJ has been quite loquacious over his citations from Brother Russell and Brother Johnson to support his presentations, so we now offer some from the Parousia Volumes:

“When, in the end of the Millennial Age Christ delivers up the dominion of earth to the Father, He does so by delivering it to mankind as the Father’s representatives, who were designed from the first to have this honor. (1 Cor. 15:24; Matt. 25:34) Thus the Kingdom of God lasts forever. And so we read in our Lord’s words: Then shall the King say to them on his right hand (those who, during the Millennial reign, will have retained the position of favor by harmony and obedience), Come ye blessed of my Father (you whom my Father designs thus to bless), inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” (Parousia Volume 1, p. 305)

Will this be done at the beginning of the Little Season, or at the end of the Little Season?

“The Scriptures inform us that when the activity of the evil principle has been permitted long enough to accomplish God’s purpose, it will forever cease to be active, and that all who continue to submit to its control shall forever cease to exist. (1 Cor. 15:25-26; Heb. 2:14)” (Parousia Volume 1, p. 121)

There’s no mistaking in Brother Russell’s teaching here. No one should have any doubt as to his meaning – and he uses 1 Cor. 15:25-26 in support of his teaching.

“When, in the end of the Millennial Age, Christ delivers up the dominion of earth to the Father, He does so by delivering it to mankind as the Father’s representatives, who were designed from the first to have this honor. (I Cor. 15:24; Matt. 25:34) (Parousia Volume 1, p. 305)

Does RGJ contend that the Sheep will be made Kings at the beginning of the Little Season?

“So shall God’s Kingdom come, and His will be done on earth as it is done in heaven. Thus shall the Christ reign as the Father’s vicegerent until He shall have put down all antagonistic authority and power (this certainly must include Satan, the fallen angels and the goats at the end of the Little Season—JJH), and caused every knee to bow and every tongue to confess the Wisdom, Justice, Love and Power of God the Father. And finally, having manifested, by the last crucial test at the close of the Millennium, all who have even a sympathy for sin, though outwardly obedient; and having destroyed these from among the people (Rev. 20:9), He shall surrender to the Father the vice-royal dominion. Thus the Apostle expresses the matter: He must reign until he shall have put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be sub­jugated is (Adamic) death. Then cometh the end (of His reign; it having effected its object) when he (Christ) shall have put down all (opposing) rule and all authority and power.... When all things shall be subjected unto him (the Father), then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him (the Father) which did subject all things under him (for the thousand years)—l Cor. 15:24-28.” (Parousia Volume 4, pp. 644-645)

“For he must reign until he hath put all enemies under his feet, before he delivers up the Kingdom at the close of the Millennium—l Cor. 15:24-28.” (Parousia Volume 4, p.649, par. 1)

“When the great Mediator-King shall resign His completed work to the Father, de­livering up His office and Kingdom as the Apostle explains (I Cor. 15:24-28), what lasting results may we expect the great Mediator’s redemptive work toward mankind to show? It will have accomplished: (1) The sealing of the New Covenant with His own precious blood.... (2) The reconciling or bringing back into harmony with God of a ‘little flock,’ a ‘royal priesthood,’ zealous of good works, willing to lay down their lives in God’s service...... (3) The reconciliation, the full restitution, of an earth full of perfect, happy human beings...... In this condition they shall indeed be blame­less and irreproachable, and capable of standing every test. (4) The destruction of all others of the race, as unworthy of further favor, the cumberers of the ground, whose influence could not be beneficial to others, and whose continued existence would not glorify their Creator.” (Parousia Volume 5, pp. 30-31)

On page 40 of Parousia Volume 5, we have 1 Cor. 15:25-28 quoted with bracketed comments by Brother Russell: “He (Christ) must reign till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For he (the Father) hath put all things under his (the Son’s) feet. But when he (the Father) saith, ‘All things are put under him (the Son),’ it is manifest that he (the Father) is excepted, which did put all things under him (the Son). And when all things (earthly) shall be subdued under him (the Son), then shall the Son himself be subject unto him (the Father) that put all things under him (the Son), that God (the Father) may be all in all.”

“Until he shall have put down all authority and power opposed to Jehovah and His righteous law, until He shall have brought forth judgment unto victory, until He shall have made the place of Jehovah’s feet (the earth His footstool) glorious, and shall have delivered up the Kingdom to God, even the Father—1 Cor. 15:24-28; Matt. 12:20.” (Parousia Volume 5, p. 47, top)

“Then the Mediatorial throne and reign having served their purpose, and all cor­rupters of the earth having been destroyed (evidently this would mean all those who don’t have perfect characters—JJH), ‘the Son shall deliver up the Kingdom to God, even the Father,’ by delivering it to mankind for whom it was originally designed....” (1 Cor. 15:25-28) (Parousia Volume 6, p. 50, par. 1)

“Jesus will occupy this Mediatorial relationship between God and men until He shall have brought back into full harmony with God every creature who, being brought to a knowledge of His Creator and His righteous laws, shall desire to be and to do in com­plete harmony therewith. More than this, His ‘all judgment,’ will include the execution of His findings, for He will not only reward the obedient, but shall ‘destroy those who corrupt the earth’ – will destroy the willful sinners, destroy from amongst the people all who will not hear His voice, His command, His instructions, putting down all sin and all insubordination, including even the last enemy – death—1 Cor. 15:25­28; Rev. 11:18; 2 Thes. 2:9; Heb. 2:14.” (Parousia Volume 6, p. 398)

Perhaps more than enough time and space have been expended on 1 Cor. 15:24; but we are mindful of St. Paul’s thought: “Exhort by the sound instruction, and to con­fute the opposers” (Titus 1:9); – to which we make our own addition, “to silence the garrulous and flippant name-callers.” We would advise our readers that of things so far in the future we can but have generalities, and certainly not the details. Let us remember that the Little Season will be for the Millennial Age what the Epiphany is for the Gospel Age – ‘‘making manifest the counsels of hearts.”

During the Parousia it was commonly known that there would be a Time of Trouble, the same being also stated in the Bible as the Epiphaneia; but no one even faintly visualized the details of what we have witnessed over the past 54 years. And this same condition will almost certainly be true in the Little Season; otherwise, that trial time and “manifestation” would be largely nullified. We are fully persuaded that we have presented herein the clear Truth on the generalities; and we doubt that the name-callers will have the ability to answer this paper. But we would counsel that this particular item is not one that carries with it a decision of brotherly fellowship. If others are not so fully persuaded as are we, we do not consider that sufficient reason to cast them from our midst; but we do consider that here is just one more instance that those who are “abiding in My Word” will “know the Truth, and the Truth shall make you free.”

“Whoso hath quarreled with thee shall fall (regardless of the ‘great swelling words’ and name-calling they may produce).... I have created the smith, who bloweth up a fire of coals.... And I have created the waster to destroy (in this fiery Epiphany turbulence): No weapon formed against thee shall prosper, and every tongue that riseth against thee in judgment shalt thou prove to be lawless (especially applicable to the Epiphany crown-losers that “darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge” – Job 38:2 – described in E-10:591 as “loquacious, repetitious, and false-accusing.... foolish effu­sions”.... false criticisms, such as teaching that those who do not eliminate the Adamic death process in the Kingdom would thus be dying the Adamic death). This is the in­heritance of the servants of the Lord.” (Isa. 54:17, Rotherham)

“Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm. But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully. (1 Tim. 1:7) And now, let us “Incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding.” (Prov. 2:2)

Sincerely your brother

John J. Hoefle, Pilgrim

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QUESTION OF GENERAL INTEREST

QUESTION: – Do Gospel-Age new creatures eliminate the Adamic death process from themselves once they are begotten of the Holy Spirit?

ANSWER: – Certainly not! If they did, they would actually reach perfection, some­thing the very best of them never accomplish. This is so clearly stated by St. Paul in Rom. 7:19-21: “The evil which I would not, that I do.... When I would do good, evil is present with me.” Try as he would, the Apostle could not eliminate from his being the Adamic dying process; and certainly he was one of the outstanding “examples of the believers.” While he, and all others of the Body of Christ, never actually die the Adamic death, none of them ever were able to fully rid themselves of inherited frailty – the Adamic death process continued to work in them until they finally finished their course.

Let us consider now the case of Judas: He was one of those who made little or no progress in “crucifying the flesh” (the Adamic death process). But did he die the Adamic death? Of course not! And the same with all others who died the Second Death during this Age, regardless of how well they may have run for a time. Some of the Parousia sifters were model saints before their deflection; some of them gave classic discourses on character development and Christian living – even as the Adamic death process was working in them (however, not in the sense of dying the Adamic death, because as New Creatures they could not do that). But once they went astray, eventu­ating in the Second death for them, it was still the Adamic death process that finally took them into the tomb. It is well known to all in Present Truth that such renegades are more capable of evil at the close of their lives than they were when they came into the Truth. It was not through any direct act of God that the most of them came to their end. It was the Adamic death process that took them into the Second Death (their failure to overcame their evil qualities to the extent of their ability).

And yet, in the face of such compelling evidence right before his eyes, RGJ would tell his readers that the goats at the end of the Little Season would be dying the Adamic death if the Adamic death process were still present with them. How are the mighty fallen! “And on this account God will send to them an energy of delusion, to their believing the falsehood” (2 Thes. 2:11, Dia.) – falsehoods such as the one we now consider from RGJ, that those retaining any of the Adamic death process must die the Adamic death. Surely, he knew better than this at one time – at least while he was under the restraining hand of the Parousia and Epiphany Messengers.

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LETTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST

Dear Brother Hoefle: Grace and Peace!

Please send me a supply of Where Are the Dead and What is the Soul If you can spare them, send 100 each. Hope you are well. If you would send an address to send some money, I would send you some. I’ve been working.... God has been good to His people! Psa. 15:1; 91; Eph. 3; John 16:15.

Your brother by His Grace ------- (ENGLAND)

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Dear Brother Hoefle:

I am much interested in the paper you presented – The Counterfeit Kingdom Since 1914, No. 140, dated Feb. 1, 1967. I followed it through carefully and am able to see the light and the gross errors of the “Second Hierarchy” portrayed. One would think there would be more people see the maddening errors by that organization, and depart from it. It is shocking to note how blinded men can become. I, myself, was a victim of their tirade, and was formally excommunicated from their order........... Did you notice the reasons given in the Watch Tower for disfellowshiping so many this last few years. I heard a thousand. It must be getting desperate.

What is Jolly doing now? He used to oppose you a lot and call you names.

Your brother in Christ, ------- (CANADA)