NO. 254: THE GOSPEL AGE TRUMPETS

No. 254

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

“If the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?” (1 Cor. 14:8) This query by St. Paul is undoubtedly prompted by the record of the two silver trumpets which the Lord told Moses to make (See Numbers 10), and which typify the Old and New Testament Bible messages. That these would be typical is evidenced by the fact that they had to do with the Law and the Tabernacle arrangements and the march of the Israelites from Egypt to Canaan. They were to be blown “for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps.” That these trumpets served more than one purpose is clearly stated in v. 5 – “blow an alarm”; and in v. 10 – “in your day of rejoicing and in your appointed seasons.”

While the main purpose of this article is the feature of v. 5, we first offer some comment on the second feature – the “appointed seasons.” Chief of these was the sounding of the Jubilee Trumpet every fiftieth year, which was to proclaim a special year of rest for man and land; and to set at liberty such of the Israelites whose im­providence had forced them into a state of slavery with their brethren. This Jubilee trumpet year was typical of the great year of Jubilee, the great thousand-year day, the reign of the Christ which is to free mankind from the slavery of sin and death now more than six thousand years gone. This is described in Revelation 10 and 11 as the “sev­enth trumpet,” whose sounding began in 1874 and will continue throughout the entire thous­and-year day during which Satan, who “has the power of death” (Heb. 2:14), is to be bound that he may deceive the nations no more. Thus, we ourselves are now living dur­ing the sounding of this trumpet.

In Num. 10:6 it is stated that “the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow with the trumpets”;  and it is worthy of note that in each of the seven epochs of the Gos­pel-Age Church it was the priests – the leaders in the Church, the Star Members – who began to blow the trumpets. In the first epoch (the church of Ephesus) it was the Lord and the Apostles; and they were quickly joined by the lesser lights in the Church as they embarked on their march toward the Heavenly Canaan. And this same condition prevailed with each Star Member during the Age. When Luther began to trumpet “Justi­fication by faith” (early in the Philadelphia – sixth – epoch), he was soon joined by many capable brethren. This was pointedly true also after 1874 (when the Laodicean period began), when the seventh trumpet began to sound. That Servant soon attracted to him quite an assembly of able men and women – some of them skilled in Hebrew and in Greek, and other branches of secular learning. This situation is clearly emphasized in Josh. 3:6: “Joshua spake unto the priests, Take up the ark of the covenant, and pass over before the people.” This typified the final march of the Church into the Heaven­ly Canaan during the sounding of the seventh trumpet.

And, since we are so directly concerned with the seventh trumpet’s sounding, it is well that we consider a few of its more important messages. Among the first of these is that given in Rev. 10:6: “There should be time no longer.” This statement has been accepted literally by the great bulk of Christendom, even to using the hymn, “When my work on earth is ended, and time shall be no more.” Just a little reflection must im­press us that time must continue so long as there is any intelligence remaining to note and be influenced by time; and, since Jehovah Himself is without beginning or ending, so also time itself must be. Therefore, the hymn is a self-evident inanity.

That Evil Servant also offered a perversion of this text almost equally ludicrous when his “Millions Now Living Will Never Die” and his 1925 deadline were time–proven er­ror. To divert attention from his colossal blunder on that date he proposed the inter­pretation that, since so many mistakes had been made on time interpretations, therefore, no more consideration should be given the subject. This also caused him to cast aside the Pyramid with its many time-feature truths.

To answer this revolting perversion we direct attention to the proper translation of the text from the Diaglott: “The time shall be no longer delayed” – that is, the long-awaited “manifestation of the sons of God,” for which the slave-burdened human race has been waiting with groanings and travailings, would begin to be made manifest by their proceeding to establish the Mediatorial Kingdom in power and great glory for the “bless­ing of all the families of the earth.” And among the first blasts of the Seventh Trum­pet was That Servant’s declaration that the Millennial morning had most certainly ap­peared to eliminate the rule of sin and death; and he began to sound the seventh trumpet with great clarity and energy.

Although the seventh trumpet began to sound in 1874, it will continue until the com­plete separation of the sheep and the goats has been accomplished at the end of the Little Season. This will probably extend then over more than 1040 years. Over such a long period of time it should be evident that the message of “Present Truth” will not be the same at all times. Immediately after 1874 the cry went forth “Behold the Bride­groom,” which not only began the Gospel-Age Harvest message and work, but also thundered forth the message that the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. This was accompanied by “voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.” (Rev. 8:5) These identical words are repeated in Rev. 11:19 and 16:18, with the last text adding the words, “there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty and so great.” Some of these things have been in evidence now for a hundred years, with other parts still to occur – some in the immediate future, and some many years beyond this time.

Another of the initial features of the Seventh Trumpet is given in Rev. 10:7, “The mystery of God should be finished” – that “mystery which was kept secret since the world began” (Rom. 16:25) that the Christ is not an individual, but a composite company (See Berean Comments). It was this text that furnished the name for Volume Seven, “The Fin­ished Mystery,” and which caused the sorest of trials upon God’s people in 1917–1918. That book, which was made a test of fellowship by the Society then, has since become “ex­purgatus,” with the present–day Society adherents forbidden to read it. Those of us who became involved in that grievous trial should have learned well the lesson that we should approach with much trepidation and minutest scrutiny any new publication by crown­lost leaders; but, sad to relate, so very few profited by the experience. At that pe­riod were there not only “great voices in Heaven, but the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead that they should be judged.” (Rev. 11:15–18)

THE CALL TO BATTLE

But, not only did the seventh trumpet announce “your day of rejoicing,” it also gave out the call for all spiritual Israel to gird themselves for the battle of this Great Day, and to wholeheartedly respond to the Harvest message of Present Truth, to proclaim the controversial messages of the Harvest time – the Truth against Error. “And if ye go to war in your land (the sphere of the Truth and its spirit)... ye shall be remembered before the Lord your God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies.” (Num. 10:9) Here, then, is the promise of victory to all those who wholeheartedly respond to the Trumpet’s call – “saved from your enemies” – the same being sin, error, selfishness and worldliness.

And the rules of the conflict are the same for all – “Ye shall have one manner of law, as well for the stranger (the Youthful Worthies), as for one of your own country” – the Church of the Firstborn. (Lev. 24:22) Typical of the conflict in the beginning of this Millennial day is the record of Gideon and his fully faithful band of three hun­dred (Judges 7:15-23), wherein the Truth people went forth to do battle with the antitypical Midianites (present–day errorists). And in that type it was Gideon blowing his trumpet (v. 18) that signaled the others to blow with their trumpets, which brought consternation and complete demoralization to the Camp of Midian. The blowing of the trumpet was the call to Battle.

While the sounding of the Old Testament trumpets called Israel to actual physical combat, the New Testament trumpets have been a call to spiritual combat – by the “sword of the spirit, which is the Word of God.” (Eph. 6:17) And the same Apostle tells us that “the weapons of our warfare are not carnal (not intended to do bodily harm), but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds.” (2 Cor. 10:4) But this change in Gospel-Age technique is in no sense to be interpreted as teaching a calm complacency, an indolent satisfaction with any belief we are inclined to accept. Complaints occasion­ally come to us about our controversial writings, so we consider it in order here to quote what That Servant had to say on the subject in Reprint 735:

“So error of every kind wants to be let alone. The Scribes and Pharisees and dev­ils of Jesus’ day, all wanted to be let alone; but Jesus and the Apostles would not­ let them alone. They exposed them, and declared it to be part of their mission to bear witness to the truth and let the light shine which reproved the darkness of error. Every member of the body of Christ should be controlled by the same spirit of opposition to error from love of truth and of those who are made to stumble by the errors.”

Also our Lord warns us – “Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you: for so did their fathers to the false prophets.” (Luke 6:26) And That Servant warns in Re­print 2163: “Beware when all men speak well of you, and when multitudes are ready to line up with your work and your methods.”

A letter in the Sept.-Oct 1973 Present Truth describes such errorists: “Last Sun­day, I had a visit from a representative of the ‘J.W.’s’ the ‘little Roman Catholic church,’ who, true to the big version, gave me a very rude and threatening warning to lay off his sheep!” The writer of this letter was a former Jehovah’s Witness, and self-­evidently was of the opinion the L.H.M.M. did not use such methods. But the leaders of the LHMM are just as fearful of those who oppose their “strange fire” (false doctrine) with the Truth as the Jehovah’s Witnesses are of those who oppose their errors with Truth. RGJ manifests the same characteristics of the ‘little Catholic church’ when he tells his followers “not to read the ‘sifter’s’ literature; keep your eyes closed, as well as your ears – don’t speak to them and don’t open your mouths to them.” When RGJ was under the benevolent influence of the Epiphany Messenger he outwardly manifested the same attitude toward the errorists that we do today. He wasn’t afraid for any of the brethren in “present truth” to read what JFR and others presented – just as we are not afraid for any of our readers to investigate anything he presents now. We know that those who are “of the truth” will not be stumbled – that reading such literature, if they have the time and inclination, will only strengthen their faith in the Truth. “But ordinarily, under what circumstances is it that Truth progresses? As our Pastor has fre­quently pointed out, it usually is amid controversies.” (E–8:668, bottom) Also, “How vast is the amount of Epiphany Truth that has become clarified through the Great Company and Youthful Worthies controversy!” (E–8:669, top 670)

The same may be said of the controversies since 1955. RGJ is the only group that emanated from Brother Russell that has invented a new Class of believers here in the end of the Age. And what the Epiphany Messenger has said about JFR may be aptly applied to RGJ in his frenzy to uphold his “newly invented” class of Campers Consecrated: “More­over, his desire to shine as the inventor of ‘new views’ continually leads him to pro­pound errors against which the faithful are duty bound to contend in the interests of the Lord, the Truth and the brethren (Jude 3); and thus he is the cause of much strife among God’s people. Blessed are they who contend against him earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints, which is now being corrupted by him.” (E–6:313, bottom)

However, we rest assured in the following: “Those who have been teaching errors will soon be ashamed (Isa. 66:5), while the fire of this day will only manifest the truth to all. No power, no tongue, no pen, can successfully contradict the truth, the great Divine Plan of the Ages. It is strong before its enemies and before all who make as­saults upon it, and ere long the folly of its foes shall be made known to the whole world. ‘There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’” (Reprint 5916, July 1916)

Also the following from Reprint 4826, col. 2 of the June 1, 1911 Watch Tower 0n controversy is noteworthy:

“When Christianity dispenses wholly with controversy it will be like a sleeping man – harmless and helpless; it will be a sad spectacle.

“We were entertained at the house of a friend in New Hampshire, where Henry Ward Beecher was spending a day or two. It was his birthday and he was jubilant.

“He conducted prayers, and his utterances were equal to any of his published prayers in beauty, simplicity, and comprehensiveness.

“Immediately after he arose, he called the writer to him and pointed to a large picture hanging on the wall, representing a huge mastiff sound asleep with a piece of meat placed before him, and a lap-dog quietly drawing it away. Said Mr. Beecher, point­ing to the sleeping mastiff, ‘That is Orthodoxy,’ and to the little dog, ‘That is Heter­odoxy.’

“So it is and ever will be. Controversy was the life of Paul’s works – polite controversy, brotherly controversy; but strong in exposing error and building up the truth. The Epistles are full of controversy. Moreover, many of Christ’s sayings were strictly controversial.

“It is more than a fine art to combine in one sermon the forcible overthrow of an error and a heartfelt appeal; but it is possible to attain unto it.”

It is most pertinent to this discussion to note that Truth has always been more generous with its opponents than has error when contradicting the Truth. As instance, That Servant was preached into eternal torment by the errorists of his day; whereas, he himself not only held a generous view of their ignorance: they will eventually come to a knowledge of the Truth, he said, and thus have full opportunity for salvation – except in the case of those who sinned against the Holy Spirit.

The same may be said for the Epiphany Messenger. Great numbers of his opponents in the Society and other groups had him in the second death – which was giving him the same fate as did the hell-fire preachers of the Parousia time. However, he himself repeatedly said there were many saints in the Society, although some of them honestly be­lieved he was in the second death. And he was also generous with others who were not saints, contending that many of the others would eventually come to a knowledge of the Truth.

And the same comparison may be made of the Jehovah’s Witnesses today – being even more extreme in their conclusions: All who do not accept their errors will certainly go into the second death, even though they do not gainsay their errors. Such a doctrine was counted extremely ridiculous by their founder, Pastor Russell; and the same may be said for the Epiphany Messenger. Some of the Witnesses have openly told us that we are “a dead man” – beyond hope of recovery – although we are always courteous and cordial in our conversations with them.

And what shall we say of Jesus and the Apostles? Of those leaders who were thirst­ing for His blood Jesus said: “Hereafter shall ye see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of Heaven.” (Matt. 26:64) Clearly enough, He was granting them further opportunity for reformation and salvation.

AS “GOOD SOLDIERS”

And be it remembered that it was only after very minute instructions that Gideon and his three hundred proceeded to that battle against the Midianites – typical of the fact that the fully faithful in the end of this Age would also be thoroughly instructed in the cause, the method, and the art of the battle of the Great Day – “the weapons of our warfare are not carnal,” but are the “sword of the spirit, which is the Word of God.” Thus is stressed the necessity for knowing the Truth and imbibing fully of its spirit – and emphasized in the Manna comment for December 20, “Only the studious find the nar­row way to the Divine approval and acceptance.”

It is well that we bear in mind that our Lord, “the Captain of our Salvation,” never sends forth His soldiers without sufficient instruction to gain for them complete victory, so long as they are faithful. None are ever asked to do more than they are able to do. We recall an instance that was told to us very early in the Epiphany, where­in it was related how Brother Russell on a certain occasion was assigning some symposium topics to various brethren. One of them, receiving a subject which was difficult and new to him, begin to make excuse, whereupon Brother Russell asked if he were going to whimper and whine his way out of the battle, or if he would be a “good soldier.” The brother accepted without further protest, and gave an excellent account of himself for the service! Apropos to this incident are the March 28 Manna comments; “The true sol­dier does not debate his cause. He is rightly supposed to have settled upon its justice and righteousness before he enlisted to serve it.” Therefore, we may properly conclude that we must first learn the rules, then resolve to obey them in every circumstance, whereupon we shall certainly be able to “endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” (2 Tim. 2:3)

Nor does “hardness” come in a day, a week, or a year; it is the result of “pa­tient continuance in well doing – perseverance in good works” (Rom. 2:7, Dia.) – just as the successful boxer must do miles of ‘road work’ in training for a bout, skipping rope, etc., to develop hardness and stamina in his legs, back and arms if he would eventually prevail. And by similar comparison must we engage in persistent study of the Truth if we would be “weaned from the milk” (Isa. 28:9) and become “skillful in the word of right­eousness” (Heb. 5:13), if we would see victory as “good soldiers.” And it is by the victories of such good soldiers who “endure hardness” that the Truth progresses. Most of us have been witness to this, retrospectively or actively, all during the Parousia-­Epiphany days. It is the controversies with error that have advanced the fully faith­ful in Grace, knowledge and privilege of service – even as those same controversies have scattered and discomfited the errorists, so well typified in Gideon’s victory over Mid­ian. It is during controversy that the Truth comes out – much the same as necessity is the mother of invention.

A “BAD SPIRIT”

And all during the Gospel Age, but particularly now at its close, when the error­ists have been so badly routed that they become speechless, they have then embraced the battle cry of last resort – Those who wield the Truth against them have a “bad spirit.” To this day the foremost argument of the Roman Catholics against Martin Luther is that he showed a “bad spirit,” because he stunned them with the unanswerable truth against their many errors. It needs no argument that dear Brother Luther did not assail his op­ponents with ‘kid gloves’; in fact, his wording was at times so rough and uncouth that some of the present-day good friends have questioned his saintly standing – have found it difficult to understand how any one using the language Luther did could be of the Elect Church. But, clearly enough, he had the Lord’s approval, because the times then prevailing required such a person as Luther to make his message effective with the people of that day. Respecting Luther, it seems clear enough to us that he must be included among “the seven stars,” which the Lord has “held in his right hand” during the Gospel Age (Rev. 1:16) – regardless of his ‘bad spirit.’

And in 1917 the same retort of “bad spirit” was hurled at those that differed with “The Channel.” When H. J. Shearn, of England, was described as the most cunning hypo­crite ever, that trickster gave answer, “You see, brethren, the ‘spirit’ that he shows.” Others of the discomfited Levites embraced the same weapon, as their errors were smit­ten hip and thigh, and they were sent into demoralized retreat, yelling ‘bad spirit’ back over their shoulders as they ran. In answer to a letter we sent That Evil Servant, he said among other things, “Paul S. L. Johnson is vilifying me.” Yes, JFR was really being vilified – by the Truth, poor fellow!

Be it emphasized that the errorists have always been good runners, instead of “good soldiers” – just as the Midianites ran over each other that night in the valley of Moreh in their effort to separate themselves in haste from the small handful of men who were blowing their trumpets in no uncertain sound. Moreh means “teacher,” in allu­sion to the fact that so many errorists set themselves up as Pastors and Teachers in de­fiance of God’s faithful mouthpieces. Instance the case of Arius when he boldly faced the overwhelming odds at the Council of Nice – “the Midianites like grasshoppers for mul­titude” (judges 7:12). And against that horde came one old man, supported by but two others, to do battle as “good soldiers” against about 380 opponents. Arius, then al­most 75 years old, was banished from the Roman Empire, a sentence sufficient to crush even a young vigorous man; yet this “good soldier,” who blew the trumpet message that “THERE IS BUT ONE GOD,” accepted that trying edict, not as a runner, but as the good sol­dier that he was; went to North Africa, and there organized a virile group of Christians in the remaining eleven years of his life. And what did they call themselves? Why, Arians, of course! Having responded to the trumpet’s call, Arius was a good soldier to the last. Some of the present-day encyclopedias say that he was a man of clear intel­lect.

Thus, it does not surprise us that we ourselves have had similar experience since 1950 especially in recent years. At times, since 1955, some whose errors we oppose, have been profuse with their accusations of “bad spirit,” even as they confuse and con­tradict each other—in like manner as did the Midianites at Moreh. Note the similarity here with Mark 14:56: “Many bear false witness against Him, but their witness agreed not together.” But in all of this our accusers have been excellent ‘whisperers’ about the “bad spirit” of JJH.

The feature of response to the trumpet’s sound throughout this Gospel Age may be stressed in the good fight against sins of teaching and practice in entrenched strong­holds of error. The fight against sin, selfishness and worldliness, individually consid­ered, has been more of the head and the heart within the “good soldiers” themselves; but the conflict with errors of teaching and practice is the phase of battle that has made voluminous record in the pages of history. It was Jesus’ faithful “witness to the Truth” against Jewish priestcraft that cost Him His life—John 18:27 (See Berean Comment). It was exposure of errors by the faithful against the papal system that brought upon them the excruciating persecutions, indescribable for their heinous cruelty, and which spilled “the blood of the prophets and of saints” (Rev. 18:24). It was That Servant’s attacks against the Midianite strongholds of eternal torment and inherent human immortality that brought upon him the venom and slander of Christendom – so much so that when one brother once said to him, “Brother, you are the most loved man on earth,” to which he replied, “Yes, and the most hated!” The same may be said for Brother Johnson. When he discom­fited the crown-lost errorists, and put them to complete silence, they then proceeded to whisper, “He hath a Devil – He is Satanized – He is an insane usurper.” And, since “The Disciple is not above his Lord,” need it concern any of us if we receive the same treatment, we who are counted among His disciples? All thus abused have the strong as­surance of our Lord’s interceding prayer on our behalf, “Rise up, and let thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee” – let the errorists do the running, as the faithful “good soldiers” do the pursuing with the Truth at their disposal – as their shield and buckler.

“GIVING ALL DILIGENCE”

When St. Peter appeals to the Fully Faithful to “give all diligence” (2 Pet. 1:5), he also offers the appealing assurance that those who do as he counsels “shall never fall” – even though we have need of reminder, though we know these things and “be established in the PRESENT TRUTH.” It is also the counsel of the worldly sage that “Diligence is the mother of good fortune” – to which may be added the words of Solomon, “Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings.” (Prov. 22:29) And the chief striving of every “good soldier” who answers the trumpet’s call should be diligent to put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the Devil” (Eph. 6:11 – the especially deceptive false teachings of the errorists, the antitypical Midianites). And to all such who give such diligence in response to the trumpet’s call, to all such the promise is sure, “There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling” (Psa. 91:10) – no sifting error can possibly contaminate our abode.

Sincerely your brother, John J. Hoefle, Pilgrim

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LETTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST

Dear Friends:

The Bible Students Manual arrived yesterday, and I am so happy to have it. I had placed a question mark beside several verses in the Bible that seemed wrong to me – and now with the help of the Manual and the Diaglott I should be able to find more explana­tions. Many thanks for your thoughtfulness in sending it to me.

Have just finished reading the March and April editions – and they are excellent. The various methods used in celebrating the Lord’s Supper and the method used by the Truth people was most enlightening – and the Three Worlds was written in such a manner that I felt I was living right down through the Ages of history.

The enclosed check for the Manual and the remainder for the Lord’s work. Again many thanks.

With Christian love, ------- (OHIO)

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Dear Mr. Hoefle:

I have read with interest Number 249 and your discussion of the date of the Lord’s death. I am wondering if you could elaborate, however, on the date of the Lord’s birth. I note on page 2 you state that the correct date is the 10th day of the 7th month. I am wondering how this date for Christmas has been determined. I will appreciate any more information you can send me on this interesting subject.

Pastor ------- Christian Church (FLORIDA)

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Dear Brother Hoefle: Love, joy and peace to you!

We so often pray God’s mercy upon you that you may be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed in these last times. We can in good feeling believe that the Lord is so lovingly using you to help us in our journey toward the whole of the land of rest. These are not easy days, Brother, from Captain to Lieu­tenant, nor the soldiers: It is no easy day for us, Brother. So we cannot forget you in our prayers.

Send us one or more parcels of tracts for us to serve. Of late one or two people will ask something toward God. We will have to serve them the best we can till their eyes are opened. Please give my love and good wishes to Sr. Hoefle and the others in the Bible House. You will note my address is a new one.

Yours by the Grace of God, Brother ------- (JAMAICA)

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Dear Brethren in Christ:

Your No. 247 – “RETROSPECT AND PROSPECT” – was given to me by a friend, and I found it very interesting – in fact so interesting I would like to send copies to a few other people in various parts of the country. Would I be asking too much if I asked for about 6 copies? I am always afraid of imposing, but this is such a re­vealing paper I would like to share it with friends and relatives.

I have never heard of this Bible Class before, and I join with the South Dakota reader in expressing my interest.

May God bless all who join in His work and endeavor to the best of their ability to serve Him.  May He open our minds to more understanding of His plan.

Yours in Him ------ (CONNECTICUT)

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Dear Brother Hoefle: Greetings in our Master’s dear Name!

It was indeed a pleasant surprise to receive your letter... I trust all in your household, as well as the friends on your side, are enjoying the best that is per­mitted at this time – you and Sr. Hoefle, especially so.......

Dear Brother, you and all there, are constantly in our thoughts, prayers and con­versations – never a prayer said, be it short or measurably lengthy, but you all are commended to our Loving Savior for your continued growth and success.... Love from the friends, as we continue to ask the Master’s tender care and guidance.....

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

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Dear Brother Hoefle: Christian love and greetings!

I hereby acknowledge ––lbs. from Brother... I have also received the papers, which are ever to our appreciation and satisfaction. The refutations given to RGJ’s errors are certainly crushing – but will he take it? He is so persistent in his wayward course that we fear for him. As for his adherents, they are given strong delu­sion, so they believe the lie and reject the truth. What a sad state!

We are thankful for your faithful service to the Lord, the Truth and the breth­ren. God will not forget your labor of love. God will give strength to His people. (Psa. 29:11).... Thank the Lord all here are still striving together as a little band of pilgrims receiving and enjoying the Master’s Grace.... I wonder if RGJ at any time looks back into his “Basilia” Kingdom teaching and compares it with the world condition now. If we are now over twenty years in the third stage of our Lord’s pres­ence what a wishy-washy Kingdom that is!

Let us look to the Lord for wisdom, knowledge and understanding, and with faith­ful eye look for the revealing of His plan in His due time.

With this comes my sincere good wishes for you, Sr. Hoefle and the others at the Bible House. Hymn 93.

Yours by His Grace, Brother ------- (JAMAICA)

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Dear Brother Hoefle: Grace and peace!

This is a very much overdue letter to thank you for the circulars which arrive so regularly, and are always absorbing and encouraging....

Next time you write perhaps you would let me know how much I still owe you for the volumes, as it might be a good idea to order a few more while the going is good or should I say, not so bad.

When one contemplates the world situation, the groaning creation not knowing which way to turn for relief from the sicknesses of society, how mercifully the Lord is breaking it gently to all that there is no escape, no remedy: the proud must be humbled! We continue in fairly good health, which goes for Brother and Sister -------, whom we saw at the week-end. They are both 80 now and do very well all things con­sidered. The eyesight is the main disability.

I have been looking back on my early copies of your circulars and find that my earliest was date March 27, 1956. If you have any copies previous to that date I would like to have them.

Recently we had a visit from Brother ------- of Darlington after a lapse of 25 years, and we were most impressed by the spirit manifested. The various points of difference were freely discussed, and he may see his way to give us another visit in due course. This meeting was brought about providentially, involving Brother ------- et al. “The Lord moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform!”

Brother joins with us in sending Christian love to you and yours.

By His Grace ------- (ENGLAND)

NO. 253: THE JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES AND THEIR PREDICTIONS

No. 253

Over the years the Witnesses have attempted to interpret some of the time proph­ecies in the Bible, having been very emphatic about some of them; but with every one of their efforts ending in complete failure – with time itself offering indisputable proof of our statement.

The first of such bunglings was their announcement that the High Calling would close at Passover 1918; but they themselves subsequently changed that statement sev­eral times; and even now they do not have a firm date for that event. However, their first real debacle toward the world (the 1918 date was something discussed among them­selves, and never received general publication) was the “Millions Now Living Will Never Die” – none need die after 1925, they emphasized – which they proclaimed in almost ev­ery meeting to the general public, with a very positive date of 1925 as the exact time for that great event to arrive.

Their main Scripture for this conclusion was 2 Chron. 36:21: “The land had enjoyed her sabbaths.... to fulfill threescore years and ten.” The “sabbaths” mentioned here are the 50-year jubilee-cycle sabbaths, of which there was to be one every fifty years. The first of these occurred in 1575 B.C.; and that would place the last one 3500 years later – in 1925. The installation and method of operation for the 50-year jubilees is given in the 25th Chapter of Leviticus; and we shall not go into detail here, other than to say their 1925 date was based upon a miscalculation of the overall operation of the jubilees – type and antitype. But 1925 came and went without the slightest hint that their predictions had been sound.

The humiliation for their President, J. F. Rutherford, was so overwhelming – and the dissatisfaction among his “dedicated devotees” was so tense – that he had to pro­duce something to offset his colossal failure. So what did he do? He seized upon Rev. 10:6, “There should be time no longer,” and interpreted this as meaning they were no longer to consider time prophecies in their teachings. Of course, that conclusion was self-evident nonsense, because the text in the King James version is a rank mistransla­tion. The Diaglott states it thus: “The time should be no longer delayed”; that is, “the secret of God should be completed” (see v. 7) – “no longer delayed.”

Nevertheless, the large majority of his followers accepted his erroneous conclu­sion on this mistrans­lation, and said almost nothing for some years about the time fea­tures of the great Plan of the Ages as outlined in the Bible. But after JFR’s death in 1943 his successors began again to nibble at time prophecies – all the while emphasizing imminent Armageddon and the subsequent destruction of all those who failed to join in with them. But in these hallucinations they lost one more essential teaching left them by Pastor Russell – they no longer have the truth on the chronology, the chronology they so ably defended against erroneous attacks by some people who had left their Society shortly after Pastor Russell’s death in October 1916.

However, more recently they have come up with the date of 1975 as the time for Armageddon’s occurrence; but that date has now come and gone – and once more they are publicly manifested as “false prophets,” in accordance with the counsel given in Deu. 18:22: “When a prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.”

For the past year or two, seeing that conditions might not produce Armageddon by 1975, they were “suggesting” more than they were being positive; although we are informed that one of their English represent­atives came on the radio in the Spring of 1975 and vehemently and positively declared 1975 as the time for Armageddon – warning that all who did not join up with them would suffer annihilation in the approaching holocaust.

However, at their American’ headquarters, this another total failure on their part has manifestly been causing them to “sweat”; so they have come up in several of their papers with the words of Jesus: “Of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the an­gels of heaven but my Father only.” (Matt. 24:36) This causes us to wonder if they have just now discovered that tent! During the early Parousia – from 1874 to 1914 ­that Scripture was the shibboleth of Babylonian errorists whenever the second coming of Christ was mentioned by the Watch Tower. They had no other answer to the subject; but it satisfied a large segment of their gullible followers. Now the Witnesses are using it as a crutch – just recently; and with them it goes a little deeper than meets the eye. With 1975 now a proven hoax, it leaves the Witnesses without any firm chronology; they are now floating around in space; and it remains to be seen whether their “dedi­cated” devotees will once again swallow this myth as readily as they have their many other revolutionisms against the finely-harmonious system of Truth that Pastor Russell left to them.

Their aberrations of the true chronology are finally making them an open spectacle, and revealing the unsoundness of all their dates. It is now impossible for them to produce any clear-cut compilation of time features, so they tell us that “no man know­eth the day or the hour.” This text does not say that no man ever would know; and we know from clear Scripture that Jesus came to know definitely the day and the hour ­even though He did not know it when He spoke Matt. 24:36. And we know, too, that Pastor Russell pinpointed 1914 as the end of the Gentile Times; and he did that more than 25 years before 1914.

MORE RECENT CONTENTIONS

During the “Millions” uproar in the twenties the Witnesses (then known as The Soci­ety – they did not adopt the Witnesses name until the thirties) did not offer the dire distress that would come upon those that did not accept their teachings. In fact, their intention was then to impress the general public with the appealing message of the ap­proaching Kingdom, which would eliminate all their physical and financial worries. Thus they placed great emphasis upon the comforting words of Rev. 21:14: “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain.” This is the very antithesis of their present mes­sage, in which they are proclaiming the total annihilation of all who do not now accept their errors – and they do this boldly, just as though they have been giving the truth in their publications over the years past. Thus, the words of Solomon concerning the lewd woman well apply to them: “She wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.” (Prov. 30:20)

It is well to recall here that shortly after 1918 (after their leader J. F. Rutherford and seven others were released from Atlanta Penitentiary in 1919) they published the claim that the “Lord came to His temple in 1918”; and there was fulfilled Mal. 3: 1-4, which made them a “clean” organization “as in the days of old.” But, at the same time they were making that claim, they also were starting the proclamation “Millions Now Living Will Never Die,” which time itself proved that message to be one of the most unclean teachings of the entire Gospel Age; there was not one word of truth in it.

All the errors they have concocted in recent years are a direct contradiction to the teachings of Pastor Russell. They are telling us that God’s Kingdom was set up on earth in 1914, but a short review of the parallel dispensations will easily reveal the folly of this contention. The Jewish harvest and subsequent destruction of Jerusalem’s temple and dispersion of the Jews was a small picture of the trouble that was to come upon Christendom since 1914. Note now what Pastor Russell has to say about this in his book “Thy Kingdom Come,” p. 149: “After telling of the burning of the tares (the parallel of the burning of the chaff in 70 A.D.—JJH), the parable further declares ‘Then shall the righteous (the wheat) shine forth as the sun in the Kingdom of their Father.’ What better testimony than this could we have, that the true church is not set up in power, as God’s Kingdom, and that it will not be thus exalted until this harvest is ended? Then shall this sun of righteousness, of which Christ Jesus will always be the central glory, arise with healing in his beams, to bless, to restore, purify and disin­fect from sin and error the whole world of mankind (not just the Jehovah’s Witnesses—­JJH), the incorrigible being destroyed in the second death.

“Let the fact be remembered that in the typical Jewish harvest Israelites indeed and imitation Israelites constituted the Jewish or Fleshly House of Israel; that only the true Israelites were selected and gathered into the gospel garner, and honored with the truths belonging to the Gospel Age; and that all others of that nation, ‘chaff,’ were not physically destroyed, though many lives were lost in their trouble, but were cut off from all Kingdom favors in which previously they trusted and boasted. Then trace the parallel and counterpart of this, in the treatment of the tares, in the present burning time.

“Not only has the Lord shown us what to expect in this harvest, and our share in it, in being separated ourselves and in using as ‘reapers’ the sickle of truth to assist others to liberty in Christ and separation from false human systems and bondages, but in order to render us doubly sure that we are right, and that the separating time of the harvest has arrived, he provided us proofs of the year the harvest work began, its length, and when it will close. These, already examined, show that the close of 1874 marked the beginning, as the close of 1914 will mark the end of the 40 years of harvest; while the minutiae of the order and work of this harvest were portrayed in that of its Jewish Age type.”

This “Kingdom” book then proceeds to give details to substantiate the foregoing; and our readers would be well advised to read them. However, at no time during his life did Pastor Russell arrogate to himself any Kingdom powers, such as the Witnesses are now doing. They now feature headlines such as “Divine Sovereignty Assemblies,” etc. And in their October 1, 1975 Watchtower they say this: “Indeed, it was in 1914 that Jehovah enthroned Christ Jesus in the heavenly kingdom, on heavenly Mount Zion, with possession of the kingdom of the world... From 1919 on, a spiritual paradise under Christ’s head­ship was restored for God’s anointed remnant on earth. (It was about that time that the “Millions” hoax began to be preached with vigor—JJH) And beginning with 1935 a ‘great crowd’ of other humble worshipers came into evidence, joining with the anointed remnant of Jehovah’s Kingdom class in singing Jehovah’s praises throughout the earth. Now more than two million of these servants of God look forward to passing through the fast-­approaching ‘great tribulation’ into a cleansed earth, where a literal paradise will be restored throughout this globe, and for all eternity.”

Be it noted that since 1914 – when the Witnesses’ counterfeit kingdom was estab­lished – there has been more volume of error, more variety of error and more crime and disorder than ever before existed in the history of the human race. The Apostle Paul tells us in 2 Cor. 4:4 that “The god of this world hath blinded the minds of them that believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel should shine unto them.” Apparently, the Witnesses do not even know what this “glorious gospel” is, or they would not be teaching what they do. St. Paul gives us a clear answer to this question in Gal. 3:8: “The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached be­fore the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.” From this statement it should be clear enough to any sound mind that the blessing of the nations could not possibly mean that the great majority of those now living are to be annihi­lated in Armageddon! Had they continued in the sound teachings of Pastor Russell, they would know that at this particular time there would be fewer and fewer people who would be able to “endure (embrace) sound doctrine.” (2 Tim. 4:3)

With the uproar that we see all about us today, the corruption that is being ex­posed in high places, etc., it is clearly evident that the “god of this world” is still doing a real good job of “blinding the minds” of the great majority – and this is just the reverse of what will prevail when the true Kingdom is established. “He laid hold on the devil (the god of this world)... and bound him a thousand years... that he should deceive the nations no more.” (Rev. 20:2,3) If a man is deceived, defrauded, can he justly be held responsible for his actions?

There is no Scriptural evidence that God is now judging the individuals of the world – although we are told that the great systems of error have been judged and marked for destruction. And, while their judgment has already been set, it is evident that their punishment has not yet come to the full. “When thy judgments are in the earth (when the true Kingdom is established), the inhabitants of the world will learn right­eousness.” (Isa. 26:9) When that time arrives, “The earth shall be filled with the knowl­edge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” (Hab. 2:14) At that time, “Will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve Him with one consent.” (Zeph. 3:9) Then we may be sure there will not be any erroneous predictions making the rounds, such as “Millions Now Living Will Never Die” after 1925; no false predictions of Armageddon in 1975, and no false interpretations of God’s Word. The language of the true Kingdom will be a pure language – free from every vestige of error – published by perfect and flawless teachers.

The results of that Kingdom, “There shall be no more curse (the evils that now af­flict the human race)... no night there (no error of any kind)... for the Lord God giveth them light” (Rev. 22:3-5) – He who “balances the clouds... of Him which is per­fect in knowledge.” (Job 37:16) And the “good news” of the Kingdom – “glad tidings of great joy which shall be unto all people” – include the billions living today who fail or refuse to join with the Jehovah’s Witnesses: they will be privileged to receive the blessings of the Kingdom, and will also be privileged to experience the glorious results of that Kingdom if they so choose. Nor does this blessed privilege exclude the Jehovah’s Witnesses – many of them will come to a “knowledge of the Truth” at that time, and they will rejoice to know that their relatives and friends did not suffer annihilation in Armageddon because they refused to join with the Witnesses before Armageddon.

It is certainly sound appraisal that the general public is more confused religious­ly than they have ever been before. We see Babylon (confusion) at almost every street corner, which is Bible proof that we are now in “the evil day” (Eph. 5:16) – that day of which St. Paul wrote in 2 Tim. 3:13, Diaglott: “Evil men and impostors will make prog­ress for the worse, deceiving and being deceived.” Yet the Witnesses are telling these “deceived ones” that they must now “rightly divide the word of truth” – which means, of course, accept their teachings and agree with them and their errors, or be annihilated in Armageddon.

This idea of having a monopoly on God’s favor reaches back for many centuries. God had told the Jews: “You only have I known of all the families of the earth” (Amos 3:2); and, basking in this favor, the centuries eventually confirmed in them the be­lief that all others were “dogs,” without God and without hope in the world. The same attitude was eventually adopted by the Christians, and many of them narrowed it down to their particular sect. The Roman Catholic Church (of which the Witnesses are a small replica) branded all as heretics who would not agree with them; and the histories are replete with crimes that were committed through that false belief.

The Witnesses are now saying substantially the same thing – even though they have eliminated the eternal torment theory from their belief, they consign all who oppose them to Armageddon annihilation: In other words, those who oppose them are “dead men.” Even assuming that all of their claimed two million converts will inherit the Kingdom, that is a mere handful compared to around four billions now living. When we consider the words of the angel in Luke 2:10 – “good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people” – it requires quite a perverted twist of the mind to interpret that as meaning the merest handful of Witnesses now living. These people join well with the sayings of Solomon: “Of making many books there is no end.” (Ecc. 12:12) And the fact that some of their books directly contradict what is found in other of their books doesn’t seem to bother them at all.

Of all the groups that have emanated from the movement established by Pastor Russell the Jehovah’s Witnesses are the only ones who condemn all that do not join with them. The larger groups that have been formed since 1916 are attempting to give a comforting message of Truth to the general public, and for this they are to be commended. Some of them are distributing thousands of copies of The Divine Plan of the Ages; and it is well in order here to cite what the writer of that book said in his Foreword in 1916 – just be­fore his death: “The Author and the publisher desire publicly to acknowledge the favor of God which has permitted them to be identified with the circulation of this volume, and with the results – light, joy, peace, fellowship with God to many hungry, thirsty, bewil­dered souls. The first edition in its present form was issued in 1886. Since then, one edition has followed another in rapid succession and in twenty different languages, until now there are nearly five million copies in the hands of the people all the world over....

“The reader of THE DIVINE PLAN OF THE AGES at each step finds a strengthening of faith and a greater nearness to the Lord, and therefore a confidence that he is in the right way. After seeing the Truth, the errors are more and more seen to be absurd, worthless, injurious, and are gladly abandoned.” We add here that that is the response we personally have received from many thousands of people to whom we have presented this excellent book. The various groups that are now engaged in its distribution are cer­tainly doing a good work; and are attempting to live within the scope of Isa. 52:7: “How beautiful upon the mountains (the present great governments of earth) are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace, that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation (not annihilation in Armageddon—JJH).”

It is well that our readers keep ever in mind that only about ten thousand of the Witnesses two Million adherents are of the elect – the “great salvation” (Heb. 2:3); all the others are destined to receive the “common salvation” (Jude 3), and constitute the “great crowd” that has been garnered since 1935. Yet these heirs of the “common salva­tion” are required to sacrifice time, money, and many modern conveniences to receive this reward; whereas, the Bible tells us that when the true Kingdom is established, the glad call will go forth: “The spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” (Rev. 22:17)

Certainly this text is teaching just the extreme opposite of what the Witnesses are now telling to the general public, and to their own “dedicated” adherents; and we might add here that another so-called Truth movement is also preaching sacrifice and a “narrow way” to present consecrators – although they do not consign to annihilation all others who do not join their ranks. Nevertheless, they also are doing violence to Rev. 22:17 when they urge their newcomers to great sacrifice, although they eventually will receive nothing more than “the common salvation.” The teaching of this second group also finds no lodg­ment in any of the writings of Pastor Russell – just as the Witnesses also can find no support in his writings for their present contentions.

When the Witnesses emphasize that Armageddon will destroy completely “this present evil world,” they are again rejecting the clear Teaching of Pastor Russell an this sub­ject, based upon the Scriptures in 1 Kings 19:11-12 and Jer. 30:7. These Scriptures clearly indicate four great spasms in the destruction of the present order; namely, War, Revolution (Armageddon), Anarchy and Jacob’s Trouble. Or, if we merge Jacob’s Trouble with Anarchy, we still have three upheavals if we accept the prophetic vision of Elijah in the Kings episode. Here is part of the Berean Comment on 1 Kgs. 19:11: “An earth­quake – Symbol of revolution – God’s Kingdom will not follow the epoch of revolution (Armageddon—JJH) which is to follow the great wars.” It is our firm conviction that time itself will also prove the Witnesses wrong on this Scripture, which their founder explained so clearly and logically. Of course, when their present prediction of Arma­geddon is revealed as gross error, they will undoubtedly invent some “new light” (actu­ally mud splashes of error) as a cover-up – just as they did in 1925, after that predic­tion ended in total failure. In this we recognize that the Witnesses are prophets all right – FALSE PROPHETS; but they certainly are not earnest, sincere and reliable stu­dents of prophecy. Their entire course since 1917 (when J. F. Rutherford assumed lead­ership) has been confusion worse confounded, just as Papacy was in its hey-day – one con­tinuous stream of error after error; and their “dedicated” followers continue to cleave with the Witnesses as did the sectarian adherents with Papacy.

It is well to stress here that the Witnesses have long since abandoned The Divine Plan of the Ages – as they also have done with the other five volumes of Scripture Studies that the same author published at various times after 1886. Thus, they have lost the Truth on the real Plan of the Ages, and to that extent it may also be said of them: “blinded by the god of this world.” However, in rejecting these excellent Stud­ies in the Scriptures, they have at the same time produced many volumes of their own make-up, along with their numerous magazine publications; and they forbid their loyal adherents to question any of their writings.

We have been closely associated with quite a few persons who were expelled from their organization because they dared to question what they publish. Thus we would quote some more from p. 145 of Vol. 3 of The Studies in the Scriptures: “While indivi­dual liberty must outwardly be regarded as never before, we see that really there was never a time when the bands were so thoroughly drawn, to bind all wheat and tares into the many bundles. There never was a time when arrangements were so close, and so restrain­ing of all personal liberties, as now. (Written in 1891—JJH) Every spare hour of a zealous sectarian is filled by some of the many meetings or projects, so that no time for untrammeled thought and Bible study can be had. The principle design of these meet­ings, entertainments, etc., is sectarian growth and strength... Some wheat and many tares constitute these bundles, from which it daily becomes more difficult to get free.”

The foregoing is such an exact description of the present-day Witnesses that one might easily conclude that the writer was describing them. However, we would emphasize here that we are discussing the Witnesses as an organization, and not as individuals. It is our firm conviction that there are many – a minority of their two million, of course – conscientious Christians among them, who verily think that they do God service ­and which they do when they avoid the grossly sectarian supervision of their leaders. Sectarianism always warps the judgment of any individuals – whether with the Witnesses, or in other organizations. This same condition prevailed in the various sects of Chris­tendom prior to the beginning of the Harvest in 1874; but the true saints among them took a generous view of things, many of them admitting that there were Christians in other than their own group.

Rabid sectarians always rely upon the spirit of fear as one of their strongest crutches. Thus, the Roman Catholic Church, during the Dark Ages, when they were in their hey-day, threatened eternal torment to all who did not join them. Today, the same spirit motivates the Witnesses, who preach annihilation in Armageddon to all who do not join with them. Note the decided contrast in the statement by St. Paul: “God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2 Tim. 1:7) And with such an armor St. Paul could honestly say, “I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” (Heb. 13:6)

It is a tragic commentary on the morale of the human race that so many of them are actuated by fear; and many of the religious leaders, being good psychologists, have used this weakness to their own advantage. The Roman Catholic Church, even now, makes great boast of their superior numbers; and the same may be said of the Witnesses. They also display their two million “dedicated” followers as their strength; but their ‘founder’ Pastor Russell said of Great Papacy (as we now say of Little Papacy): Their numbers reveal their weakness. Yet, while they have the largest following of any of the groups that have come from them since 1916, they have rejected and revolutionized against more of the Truth given by Pastor Russell than have any of the others.

In their mad scramble to be ‘different,’ they have also ‘made’ their own Bible – ­made it to fit what they are now teaching. As one instance, Rev. 18:4 states in the King James Bible, “Come out of her (Great Babylon), my people.” So the Witnesses have translated this text, “Get out of her.” Here is the way Pastor Russell treats that text:

“The command is Come, not Go; because in coming out of bondage to human tradi­tions, creeds, systems and errors, we are coming directly to our Lord, to be taught and fed by Him, to be strengthened and perfected to do all His pleasure, and to stand, and not fall with Babylon.”

The Torture Stake – Another change the Witnesses have made is the translation of the word ‘cross,’ which they now translate as “torture stake.” Be it noted that all of the ablest Greek scholars use the word cross in their translations of the New Testament; not a one of them ever uses torture stake, instead of cross. Just to mention some of them – Young, Strong, Cruden Concordances, and Wilson’s Emphatic Diaglott translation of the New Testament. And Pastor Russell accepted the work of these eminent intel­lects, never once using the expression torture stake in referring to the manner of Je­sus’ death. (Please see our No. 155 for further elaboration on this subject. Copy free upon request.)

THE LORD’S SUPPER

This year 1976 the Witnesses celebrated this event on the evening of April 14 ­two days from the correct time. In doing this they stress the full moon after the Equinox as the proper date, but in this they show a confusion somewhat after the Jew­ish custom. In no place in the Bible are we told to celebrate the Memorial at the full of the moon. The only influence the moon has on the determination is to establish when Nisan 1 arrives. Once that is done, the Bible clearly and directly tells us it should be on Nisan 14, regardless of the condition of the moon on that date. Here again they set the Bible aside when it seems to suit their convenience.

The New Covenant – On p. 75 of their Feb. 1, 1976 Watchtower they tell us that “the little flock are the ones taken into the new covenant... the eleven faithful apos­tles... the nucleus of those later to be taken into the new covenant on Pentecost day of 33, C.E. (Luke 22:20).” This is what Pastor Russell had to say about that text:

“The New Covenant cannot become operative until the cup of the Lord’s sufferings which are left behind (including all faithful Christians of this Gospel Age—JJH) has been fully drained by the members of His Body.”

It seems that the Witnesses have now gone back to that vicious error that precipi­tated the 1908-11 sifting – the Murmursome-Contradictionism fifth sifting that caused the severest controversy among Truth people of the entire Harvest – from 1874 to 1914.

New Covenant – New Mediator – In Heb. 8:6 we are told, “Jesus is the mediator of a better covenant”; and Heb. 12:24, “Jesus the mediator of the new covenant.” The entire context of Hebrews 12 is describing the overthrow of Satan’s empire and the es­tablishment of the Mediatorial Kingdom. Thus, any one being under that new covenant (the contrast here is with the introduction of the old Law Covenant) would necessarily have to be under the Mediator of that covenant. Now the meaning of mediator is “middle man,” which means a go-between for parties that are at enmity with each other. Thus, to carry the comparison to a logical conclusion, the Witnesses’ “little flock” are now at enmity with God; whereas, St. Paul tells us that God’s true followers in this faith Age have peace with God. (Rom. 5:1,2)

On p. 76 of this same paper they summarize the subject with the following: “It is always a joy to see so many new ones attending the Memorial celebration. After the pro­gram, an occasion for happy fellowship is enjoyed with the new ones and with one another. This joyful fellowship is truly upbuilding and encouraging to everyone. The evening’s program, if it is reflected upon, always give much food for thought with grateful appreciation to Jehovah, reminding us of all that He has done out of love for us through the Ransomer, Jesus Christ our Lord... Upon arriving home after the program a family of Jehovah’s Witnesses may spend time discussing the meaning of this significant occasion.”

The teaching of Pastor Russell is in direct contrast to the foregoing, as the following from p. 478 of his Scripture Studies, Vol. 6 reveals:

“The service being thus ended (after partaking of the bread and the cup—JJH), we advise that the course of the Lord and the Apostles be followed to the end – that a hymn be sung in conclusion, and the congregation thus dismissed – without any concluding prayer. We advise that on this occasion the usual greeting, inquiries for health, etc., be dispensed with, and that each go to his home avoiding as far as pos­sible, anything that might disturb his reflections and communion, and that so far as possible each seek to continue to commune, not only on that night, but during the fol­lowing day, having in memory the Lord’s experiences in Gethsemane, and his need of sym­pathy and help, and the fact that each member of His Body may also have Gethsemane oc­casions, and need the comfort and help of fellow-disciples.”

The above is exactly in keeping with the words of Jesus Himself in Matthew 26:38: “My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death.” Then, if we add to this the pray­er of Jesus, and the things He said to His disciples that last night, as given in the Gospel of John (Chapters 13-17), we find not the slightest hint of the “happy fellow­ship” now recommended by the Witnesses. In fact, this is just one more confirmation that they have lost great quantities of the Truth and the Spirit of the Truth. It is little wonder that their predictions have consistently failed of performance, because we need not expect the Lord to give advancing Truth through such mouthpieces. And it con­firms our conclusion that they have not only lost many important doctrinal truths as given by Pastor Russell, but their conduct has also suffered accordingly – as we should expect.

Thus, they have not only revolutionized against the Truth, but against its arrange­ments also. Therefore, Psalms 107:10,11 pointedly applies to them: “Such as sit in darkness... Because they rebelled against the words of God (revolutionized against the Truth which once made them clean—John 15:3), and contemned the counsel of the most High” (rejected the arrangements given through the Lord’s faithful mouthpiece). Here St. Paul’s appraisal applies directly to them: “Ever learning (one new error after another), and never able to come to a knowledge of the Truth.” (2 Tim. 3:7)

In conclusion, we would advise our own readers to accept the counsel of St. Paul as given in 2 Tim. 3:14, Diaglott: “Do thou continue in the things which thou didst learn (from Pastor Russell, the founder of their organization) and wast convinced of, knowing by whom thou hast been instructed.”

Sincerely your brother,

John J. Hoefle, Pilgrim

NO. 252: CONSECRATION FROM 1881 UNTIL RESTITUTION SETS IN

No. 252

All who are familiar with Harvest Truth know that the general call for entrance into the High Calling ended in 1881 – that thereafter entrance into that select company could occur only as one dropped out. All who accept this great truth agree also that a time would come when the door to the High Calling would eventually be forever shut (Luke 13:25) – that the 144,000 would be fully and fixedly complete. However, there is divergence of views as to when that time would occur; and it is not our wish at this time to discuss when that would be.

But when that time would come – from then until Restitution sets in, as That Ser­vant taught – there would almost certainly be those among the human family who would wish to do God’s will to the extent of their understanding and ability – just as there were those who wished to do God’s will before the High Calling was available. (See He­brews, Chapter 11) Such consecrators – between the Ages – will have to walk a ‘narrow way’ while we are yet in “the evil day” (Eph. 6:13) – and, if faithful, they will bring upon themselves the adversities that all have experienced who have chosen to “follow in His steps.” (1 Pet. 2:21) And to such the attributes of God would prompt bestowal of a reward higher than that which will come to the world in general—something higher than Restitution.

That Servant recognized this fact – that there would be such a class of consecra­tors – even though he gave us no Scripture to prove it. He came to that conclusion pure­ly from his clear and logical intellect. We believe this is another proof that he was made “ruler over all his goods” (Matt. 24:47); and that he could say, with the Apostle Paul, “For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.” (Acts 20:27)

We offer now some quotations from Brother Russell’s writings to substantiate these statements: The first one of these is to be found in Reprints 3418, the year being 1904: “We would be sure that Divine love and care would be over them just as surely, and that failing a place in the elect church through no fault of theirs, these would be given some good portion which would much more than reward and satisfy them.”

In that same year 1904, Reprints 3445, the teaching is presented that the Ancient Worthies would be a higher class than the Great Company, because they were a fully faithful class. He further stated that, being a higher class, they would precede the Great Company in the resurrection – that the Ancient Worthies would be first to be res­urrected after the Little Flock. That this is a wrong conclusion is apparent from the fact that the Great Company class is a part of the Gospel-Age “church of the firstborn” (Heb. 12:23); whereas, the Ancient Worthies are the “church of the firstborn” of the Millennial Age – and Brother Russell eventually came to see the matter in this way.

Coming down to 1911 (Reprints 4836) there is this: “But suppose that some should present themselves after the close of the acceptable time, what would be their status and God’s dealing with them? Since God is unchangeable, we must assume that He would always be pleased to have His creatures devote their lives wholly and unreservedly to the doing of His will, as He was pleased with the faithfulness of the Ancient Worthies to lay down their lives before a covenant of sacrifice was in force. We may reason that as God has promised human perfection to those Ancient Worthies who laid down their lives, He would be willing similarly to reward any who might follow the same course after the completion of the Church – after the ending of the acceptable time of sacri­fice. [God’s character forbids accepting sacrifice from any one without giving suitable reward for such service—JJH]

“Quite likely, therefore, there will be some in the end of this Age who, although faithful unto death, will not have been begotten of the Holy Spirit and not attain the spirit plane of being in the resurrection, but who will come forth members of the same class as the Ancient Worthies, who were developed before this Age began.

“In view of these facts, our advice to all who love the Lord and who desire to be in complete fellowship with Him is the same message that has gone forth throughout this Age – ‘We beseech you, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies living sacrifices’... We can tell them, too, that, to our understanding the Scriptures teach that the Ancient Worthy class (of which they may be a part if they fail to be accepted to the new nature) will be highly honored of God, perfect on the human plane and made ‘princes in all the earth.’ (Psa. 45:16)”

In the Feb. 15, 1913 Tower (Reprints 5182) it is stated that the Ancient Worthies are of the Tribe of Levi, and therefore would have no inheritance in the land (as would the Restitutionists). And, as he has said before, the unbegotten class of consecrators would receive the reward and honor that will be given the Ancient Worthies; which means a higher reward than will come to the Restitutionists. These would be typed by the Ger­shonites, of which more later on. In the Nov. 1, 1913 Tower (Reprints 5344 – top of col. 2) we are told that the eventual glorious reward of the Ancient Worthies – after the Millennium has come to a close – would be on the spirit plane.

Coming now to Sept. 1, 1915 Tower (Reprints 5761) there is the following, under the caption, “The Two Parts of the Harvest Work” – and under the sub–heading, “Those Consecrating Between the Ages”:

“It is our thought that with the closing of the door of this Gospel Age there will be no more begetting of the Holy Spirit to the spirit nature. Any afterward coming to God through consecration, before the inauguration of the restitution work, will be accepted by Him, not to the spirit plane of being, but to the earthly plane. Such would come in under the same conditions as the Ancient Worthies who were accepted of God. The Ancient Worthies came in, no call being opened to them – the High Calling not yet being opened, and the restitution opportunities not open. But they freely gave themselves up to God without knowing what blessings their consecration would bring, except that they had the intimation that they would, in the future life, have a ‘better resurrection’ than would the remainder of the world.

“Our thought is that whoever under such conditions as these will make a full con­secration to the Lord, to leave all to follow in His ways, and will live up faithfully, loyally, to that consecration, may be privileged to be counted as a similar class to those who preceded this Gospel Age. We know of no reason why the Lord would refuse to receive those who make a consecration after the close of the Gospel Age High Calling and before the full opening of the Millennium.”

Inasmuch as the Time of Trouble had broken upon the world in 1914 – as predicted by Brother Russell – there existed the general conviction among Truth people that the Kingdom would be established within a matter of but a few years. “The stone” (Dan. 2:45) had already begun its smiting, and was increasing in severity with each passing month. At that time none of the Truth people had the slightest notion that things would be as they are today – some sixty years later. Had that thought then been enter­tained, we may safely conclude that Brother Russell would have been much more positive and voluble than he was about that class that “would consecrate between the Ages.”

However, even with the small amount that he did say, the Harvest group generally was so inoculated with the idea, that the Society under J. F. Rutherford came out em­phatically that the High Calling would definitely be closed at Passover 1918 – after which time a new class of consecrators would appear whom they labeled as “Modern Wor­thies” – to emphasize their grouping with the Ancient Worthies. This was maintained for a number of years – until JFR rejected tentative justification. Once that was done, it was impossible to harmonize Modern Worthies without any justification, without which they could have no standing before God. Eventually they invented a class of their own – the Jonadabs – which was later fused with their present “Great Crowd,” of which more later.

Other Truth groups mostly ignored the expressions of Brother Russell as we have quoted them aforegoing; and prior to 1950 the Laymen’s Home Missionary Movement was the only Truth organization – so far as we know – that championed such a class. But failing to do this, these others are now left in a very awkward and vulnerable position. The Society eventually had to re-open the High Calling, changing the dates for its close on several occasions, as the “penny” became too hot for them to hold, and too important to drop. In some of their 1975 editions of the Watchtower they are forced to the con­clusion that the High Calling may not even yet be closed. And other Truth groups are forced to the same conclusion.

But embracing such a view is now making their position ridiculously untenable. So far as we know, all Truth groups accept the position that there can be only 144,000 in the Christ Body. Yet, if we reflect upon the number of persons in all the groups who consider themselves in that select company, there would almost certainly be more than 144,000 that have had that conviction since 1914. And, if there are more than that many since 1914, what shall we say of the entire Gospel Age? Most Truth groups think there was a “Harvest” following 1874. A Harvest of what? Why, of the last members of the 144,000, of course! Manifestly, these various conclusions produce such a bedlam that no one of sound mind can bring himself to believe them all. And, even if they reject some of them, yet “the bed is shorter than that a man can stretch himself on it; and the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself in it.” (Isa. 28:20)

SCRIPTURAL PROOF

As stated aforegoing, Brother Russell offered no Scripture to prove his conclusions – nor did he attempt to give a name to such persons. It was the Society – after his death – that produced the name Modern Worthies. Nor do we now offer too much criticism for their selection of the name. Up to that time no Scripture had been produced which might suggest a Biblical name. It remained for the Epiphany Messenger to offer a name more suited to our place on the stream of time. However, we would emphasize here that the term Ancient Worthy is not in the Bible either; but they are referred to as Ancients a number of times in the Old Testament, and St. Paul tells us in the 11th chapter of He­brews that the world was not “worthy” of them. Consequently, the name Ancient Worthies comes easily enough. We believe the same will apply to the Youthful Worthies, as we now examine some Scriptures to this end.

The clearest of such Scriptures is found in Joel 2:28,29. In Joel 2:29 the ref­erence is to the Little Flock and Great Company: “And also upon the servants [the Little Flock] and upon the handmaids [the Great Company] in those days [the Gospel Age] will I pour out my spirit.” Thus far, Brother Russell saw the truth on the text as expressed here: but the remainder he could not see because it was not the “due time.” (See Berean Comments) Then Joel 2:28: “And it shall come to pass afterward [after the Gospel Age, during which the Lord pours out His spirit for His servants, the Little Flock, and handmaidens, the Great Company – compare Joel 2:28 with 2 Cor. 6:17,18] that I will pour out My Spirit for all flesh; and your [the Christ’s] sons (converted flesh­ly Israel and the persevering, but unconsecrated believers of the Gospel Age] and your daughters [converted Gentiles of the Millennial Age, Isa. 60:4 – all the repentant hea­then] shall prophecy [teach the Truth to those of mankind who then will not know it—­Matt. 25:35, 37, 40]; your old men [Ancient Worthies] shall dream dreams [will be given new and inspired deeper revelations as a part of “another book... of life” – a third “Testament” of the Bible, Rev. 20:12] and your young men [Youthful Worthies] shall see visions” (will be given inspired less deep representations, clarifying and elaborating for themselves and the people the teachings of the Old and New Testaments, as well as producing “another book of life”).

All classes from among mankind savingly associated with the Plan of God are thus treated of in Joel 2:28,29 – six in all. These and the repentant fallen angels will constitute the seven (perfect Divine number) classes of those whom Christ delivers from sin and condemnation unto perfection and everlasting life in His work as Savior. (See E–4:317–322) We would direct attention here to the Hebrew “zaqen,” from which “old men” is translated. This word is translated “ancients” thirteen times in the Old Testa­ment, and once as “ancient men.” We offer just two of these—Psa. 119:100: “I under­stand more than the ancients” [zaqen]. Also, Isa. 24:23: “The Lord of hosts shall reign in Mount Zion [through the Christ Company], and in Jerusalem [through the Worthies], and before His ancients [zaqen] gloriously.” And “your young men” would be better trans­lated “young, choice, unmarried men – youthfuls.” This Joel text is clear enough that there are two classes of men who would be specially inspired for the benefit of the re­mainder of restitutionists – Ancients and Youthfuls – Ancient Worthies and Youthful Wor­thies.

Next we consider 2 Tim. 2:20: “In a great house [the great house of the typical Aaron—Lev. 16:6; Num. 17:2, 3:6-9, 17-20, consisted of his sons and the three typical classes of Levites –the Kohathites, Merarites and the Gershonites; accordingly, in the great House of our Great High Priest there are four classes antitypical of these] there are not only vessels of gold [the Little Flock—Mal. 3:3], and of silver [the Great Com­pany—Mal. 3:3—See Berean Comments on Mal. 3:3 and 2 Tim. 2:20], but also of wood [the Ancient Worthies] and earth [The Youthful Worthies, who with the Ancient Worthies will be, during the Millennium, the human members of antitypical Aaron’s House, as they were or are also human before the Millennium], and [additionally] vessels of honor [the faith­ful Restitutionists] and dishonor [the Goats of the next Age].”

Thirdly, Ps. 72:3: “The mountains shall bring peace to the people; and the little hills by righteousness.” This entire Psalm describes the Millennial reign of Christ, implying that symbolic Jerusalem will be the seat of Government (v. 16). Literal Jeru­salem was built upon two mountains, Zion and Moriah, and upon two hills, Akra and Be­zetha. Zion and Moria represent the heavenly and the earthly phases of the Kingdom re­spectively – i.e., The Christ and the Ancient Worthies as the two higher powers of the Kingdom. (See v. 16, “top of the mountains,” etc.) Akra and Bezetha represent the trib­utary [subordinate] powers of the Kingdom, i.e., the Great Company and the Youthful Wor­thies. (See Berean Comments on the “hills.”)... And as the hill Bezetha was the fourth and last height of Jerusalem to be built by the Israelites, so the Youthful Worthies are the last one of the powers [the other subordinate power] of the Kingdom to be developed.

The world of mankind are symbolized by the valley sections of literal Jerusalem. The thought of this passage seems to be that the two phases of the Kingdom, receiving cooperation from the subordinate powers of the Kingdom [the Great Company and the Youth­ful Worthies], will be used by Jehovah to bless the world of mankind with peace and pros­perity through righteousness during the Millennium.

The fourth text is Isa. 60:13: “The Glory of Lebanon [Lebanon means white, and its evergreen trees, the glory of Lebanon, represent the righteous as antitypical Levites—­Psa. 92:12,13] shall come to thee [the antitypical Levites will he brought to Christ and the Church—Num. 3:6-9), the fir tree [Ancient Worthies], the pine tree [the Great Com­pany] and the box [Youthful Worthies] together [rendering a cooperative service], to beautify the place of my sanctuary.” It was a Levitical work (Num. 3:6-9) to beautify the sanctuary of the Lord.

In this connection, Isa. 35:2 tells us that “the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it.... they shall see the glory of the Lord, and the excellency of our God.” The cedars of Lebanon are tall and stately, the timber was much prized for the construction of palaces and temples; pillars, beams and planks were cut from it, and masts were made for ships. The timber of these trees was aromatic, impervious to rot, decay and infestation by termites. The roof for the Temple of Diana [one of the seven wonders of the ancient world] was made from cedar planks, and continued for 400 years without appar­ent wear from the elements. To this day these trees are reverently described by the Arabs as “the cedars of the Lord.”

ANTITYPICAL ELEAZAR

Much of the foregoing is taken from Epiphany Volume 4, pp. 317-324; thus, it is unfolding Epiphany Truth. Those who are familiar with Parousia Truth, and who hold to the truth that Brother Russell was That Servant, whom “the Lord made ruler over His House­hold” (Matt. 24:45), recognize that the “household” is much the same as the Gospel-Age Tabernacle (the true church). He occupied much the same position here in the end of the Age as did the twelve Apostles at the beginning of the Age. As such, they then, and he here in the end of the Age, antityped Eleazar, son of Aaron, of whom it is recorded: “And to the office of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest pertaineth the oil for the light, and the sweet incense, and the daily meat offering, and the anointing oil, and the oversight of all the tabernacle, and of all that therein is, in the sanctuary, and in the vessels thereof.” (Num. 4:16)

Therefore, it is only logical that he should write Tabernacle Shadows, which book was foundational for the Six Volumes of Parousia Studies in the Scriptures. When writ­ing Tabernacle Shadows in 1879 he set forth the antitypical designation of the Levites: The Amram Levites to the east of the Tabernacle typified the Gospel-Age Royal Priest­hood; the Kohathites to the south the Ancient Worthies; the Merarites to the north the Great Company; and the Gershonites to the west the saved world of mankind. But he was quite emphatic that the Levites were not to have any inheritance in the Land of Canaan; thus, the antitypical Levites would have no inheritance in the Millennial Canaan. This produced the question: If the restitutionists were to have no inheritance in the Mil­lennial Canaan, then they would all eventually become spirit beings – a thing Brother Russell realized just could not be. He wrestled with the question, but could not pro­vide any satisfactory answer because it was not the “due time” for the truth to become known.

ANTITYPICAL ITHAMAR

It remained for the Epiphany Messenger to produce a logical picture here; and this he did by showing that the Gershonites typified the Youthful Worthies, who would share in honor and service and reward with the Ancient Worthies. This picture is well set forth in the Jews crossing Jordan to inherit Canaan. It will be recalled that be­cause the Jews refused to enter Canaan – believing the evil report of the ten spies in­stead of the good report of Caleb and Joshua – that the Lord pronounced this sentence upon them: “Your carcasses shall fall in this wilderness... according to your whole num­ber from twenty years old and upward... ye shall not come into the land... save Caleb... and Joshua.” (Num. 14:29,30)  It is well to note that all the males who entered Ca­naan were young men. Joshua, of the Tribe of Ephraim, could not be a priest [only those of the Tribe of Levi were eligible to be priests], was given the honor of leading the Jews over Jordan and possessing goodly Canaan land. Joshua in that picture typed the Lord Jesus, and Caleb typed the true Church; but they were supported by an entirely new generation that had grown up in the wilderness wanderings; and that group would well represent an unbegotten class here in the end of this Age who are fully loyal to antityp­ical Joshua [Jesus]. Once we see this picture clearly, all obstacles are removed. This gives us four elect classes, with two non-elect classes – as explained aforegoing – and the picture becomes harmonious with all parts of the Bible.

It will be recalled that Aaron had four sons – Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar ­the first two of whom were destroyed in their rebellion. (See Lev. 10–1–7) Eleazar and Ithamar, the third and fourth sons of Aaron, then became eligible for the priest­hood, Eleazar being the one who succeeded his father Aaron to that office, being the oldest son living when his father died at Mount Hor. Thus, he would fittingly typify the twelve Apostles [the Lord’s mouthpieces during the first epoch of the Gospel-Age Church], and That Servant in the seventh epoch of the Gospel-Age Church.

But in the interim the Lord also had prominent mouthpieces – such as Martin Luther, John Wesley, Thomas Cranmer, etc. – 35 in all. These would be well depicted by Ele­azar’s younger brother Ithamar. And after the departure of the Parousia Eleazar [That Servant] we should logically expect to see an antitypical Ithamar; and this we find in the person of Brother Johnson. Num. 4:28 is definitely pertinent: “This is the ser­vice of the families of the sons of Gershon in the tabernacle of the congregation; and their charge shall be under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.” And just as Brother Russell clearly and correctly gave details about the Gospel-Age Little Flock, so Brother Johnson gave similar description of the antitypical Gershonites – the Youthful Worthies. To him came the privilege of interpreting the Scriptures concerning this Class; and the Youthful Worthies occupied a large place in his writings.

It is well to remember here that he did not set aside any of Brother Russell’s teachings about an unbegotten class here in the end of the Age. He simply interpreted the pertinent Scriptures to prove what Brother Russell has taught, but without offer­ing any Scripture to prove his thought. This is what we find in E–4:342:

“If Truth people generally knew that this method was being used [of setting aside the truth on tentative justification—JJH] by at least two of the Tower editors, they would be more on their guard against various errors that JFR and some of his associates have been holding, and are ‘privily’ bringing in among the unsuspecting sheep. If our dear readers will keep in mind that the Tower’s denial of Tentative Justification dur­ing this Age is the foundation of its rejecting the Scriptural doctrine that those faithful consecrators from 1881 until Restitution sets in, for whom there are no crowns available, and hence no spirit-begetting for Gospel-Age purposes, will be the Millen­nial associates of the Ancient Worthies in reward and service, they will be able by Scriptural, reasonable and factual thinking completely to overthrow every argument that the article under review presents to defend its thesis; for through Tentative Justifi­cation alone can God now deal with this class in preparing them for association with the Ancient Worthies.” [And we say the same of others who have perverted Tentative Justification and have set aside the teaching of both Messengers as given above on the faithful consecrators from 1881 until Restitution sets in—JJH]

To reverse himself on his “Modern Worthies,” JFR was logically forced to reject Tentative Justification; and eventually to discard the entire book on Tabernacle Shad­ows, which book had been basic for a large part of the Parousia Truth. This accounts for much of the flood of error that subsequently appeared in the Towers. In the Taber­nacle picture the Levites type the tentatively justified during the Gospel Age, as well as in this last special period of the Gospel Age – the Epiphany. In the type the Le­vites were the teachers of the people (See Ezek. 44:9-14); and eliminating them from the Tabernacle picture makes the book a lopsided and unintelligible presentation. This readily accounts for JFR’s rejection of the book after he had rejected tentative justi­fication.

ANOTHER PERVERSION

Coming now to the Present Truth, R. G. Jolly does not follow precisely in the steps of JFR, but he presents a teaching just about as bad, but in the very opposite direction. He is telling us now that no new consecrators may secure tentative justi­fication in the Court – as has been true during the entire Gospel Age; they must ob­tain it in the Camp. He is telling us also that tentative justification will prevail throughout the Millennium – all of which is directly contradicted by both Brother Russell and Brother Johnson. In the March 15, 1913 Tower (Reprints 5207), col. 2, par. 6, we find this:

“Tentative Justification, then, is for the purpose of giving a standing with God [“being justified by faith, we have peace with God” (Rom. 5:1)—JJH], from which a believer in our Lord’s ransom-sacrifice as his only hope of salvation may ascertain whether he has that spirit of sacrifice which will lead him to full consecration. The believer is at liberty to choose which course he will take. He may offer himself in consecration, or he may decide not to do so. But should he decide to wait for restitu­tion, he thereby proves that he has not appreciated God’s offer.”

Certainly the above would now apply to Youthful Worthies – and to no other class ­if we accept our Pastor’s teaching that “those consecrating and proving faithful in the interval between the close of the General Call in 1881 and the inauguration of the earthly phase of the Kingdom [for whom no crowns are available] will become associated in reward and honor with the Ancient Worthies in the Kingdom.” (F 156; Z ‘11,181; Z ‘15, 269; Question Book pp. 151-152. See also E-4:337)

All the foregoing is set aside by RGJ when he declares that those in the Camp can now make an acceptable consecration; but in the ultimate analysis they will be no more than restitutionists, although required now to walk the same narrow way as the Little Flock has done all during the Age. Note now the comment in E-4:332 (26): “It is reasonable and Scriptural to expect for the Youthful Worthies, as well as for the Ancient Worthies, that they will receive ultimately a higher reward than they could have on this earth. As the Ancient, so the Youthful Worthies would be everlastingly degraded instead of be­ing everlastingly rewarded for their Millennial service and suffering for the world, and their post-Millennial service for the faithful of the world, and for their post-­Millennial suffering for righteousness at the hands of the second-death class – if they would remain on the earth forever; for since all human beings found worthy of everlast­ing life will henceforth be equal (Matt. 25:34; Rev. 21:24), it would follow that the Youthful, as well as the Ancient Worthies, from being the Millennial superiors, would be degraded to being the eternal equals of the world of mankind... The Divine Attri­butes do not reward such faithfulness by eternal degradation.”

The above reasoning would apply to all consecrators “between the Ages” who walk a narrow way while sin and evil are in the ascendancy. Why accept such adverse afflic­tion if their eventual reward will be no more than those who have “enjoyed the pleas­ures of sin for a season?”  Furthermore, to concoct such a class now for restitution purposes is simply mixing the two salvations – as the nominal church has done all dur­ing the Age. It is a revolutionism against the Two Salvations – for the elect and for the non-elect – with no support whatever coming from the two Messengers: a pure inven­tion by RGJ.

In the May-June 1972 Present Truth [which is excellent in much of its pages be­cause it is mostly from That Servant and the Epiphany Messenger] RGJ says: “Further­more the history of the Epiphany shows that, generally speaking, the Youthful Worthies have not yet even been recognized as existing as such by the Truth groups under bad leadership.” (p. 43, col. 1, par. 1) That is true, of course; but RGJ is now telling us that there is no longer opportunity to join that class. Can he show a parallel for such a conglomeration for the Ancient Worthies, the Little Flock and the Great Company among the Truth groups?

Up to 1950 the LHMM was the only group – so far as we know – who conscientiously made any effort to win Youthful Worthies. The Witnesses were very dedicated to win­ning worldlings for a worldling work; but almost all the other groups were busily en­gaged in winning others to the High Calling. Let us emphasize that RGJ’s Consecrated Campers do not now have their names inscribed in the Book of Life – this according to his own admission; yet he has them with Tentative Justification! But when they even­tually inscribe their names in the restitution book they will lose their Tentative Justification and come under the Mediator.

But this matter of a Mediator makes transparent nonsense of a justification of any kind – except a gradual works justification, which will only be completed by the end of the Mediatorial reign. Justification during the Gospel Age does not make one right; it merely reckons him right. And when one is reckoned right, this gives him a standing before God, which eliminates the necessity for a Mediator. Thus, those in the 1908-1911 sifting who claimed the Church is under the New Covenant revealed a fool­ish foundation. If they were under the New Covenant, then they would also be under the Mediator – as the restitutionists will be when the Kingdom reign begins. None of the tentatively justified during this Age have needed a mediator; they stood before God in reckoned perfection. During this Epiphany time the Youthful Worthies have been in­scribing their names in the Book of Life – although they have no more than Tentative Jus­tification – and this same fact would be true of Consecrated Campers [if there would be such a Class]. They, too, would be inscribing their names in the Book of Life, be­cause they would have a perfect standing before God.

As we have said on previous occasion, many in the various Truth groups, as well as in Big Babylon, who have conscientiously presented themselves to God during this Epi­phany time will realize that they are Youthful Worthies, although they do not recognize that fact now. Armageddon will probably be the means by which this will be accomplished. That is why the Epiphany Messenger wrote as he did in E–10:672: “Our non-Truth Great Com­pany and Youthful Worthy brethren, and new ones [Youthful Worthies—JJH] 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.” That is, after Armageddon.

The Epiphany Messenger tells us in the March 1945 Present Truth, p. 48, that the Youthful Worthies will be as numerous as the Ancient Worthies; and according to Hebrews 11:32 the Ancient Worthies are quite numerous. Since Tentative Justification is a Gospel–Age justification, given for the purpose of a standing before God, all consecra­tions made between the Ages “until restitution sets in” are for elective purposes. Restitutionists don’t have a standing before God now, neither will they have in the Kingdom until their works justification is completed – at the end of the Millennium. There will be neither a tentative nor a vitalized justification in the Kingdom, as Bro. Johnson tells us in Epiphany Vol. 15, p. 261.

In view of the faithful teachings of both Messengers as given herein, we reiterate that Youthful Worthiship is available as long as Tentative Justification is available between the Ages – until restitution sets in. And we would qualify this statement by saying there will come a time when sound doctrine will not be endured by any one not already established in Present Truth; and when that time arrives it is doubtful that any one would be able to receive “sound doctrine” sufficiently enough to make an ac­ceptable consecration. However, tentative justification will continue for the faith­ful consecrators. That Servant corroborates this thought: “The question is May not this statement of the Revelator (Rev. 13:17—JJH) mean more than is now experienced? Like the Apostle Paul’s statement, may it not imply a time will come, in the last days, when sound doctrine will not be endured at all?” (Parousia Vol. 2, p. 259, bottom)

If Restitutionists want to consecrate for Restitution purposes now, that is their privilege, just as it was the privilege of Cornelius before his consecration was ac­cepted; and if such consecrators are sincere it will doubtless make them more amenable for the Highway of Holiness when the “way” is opened up for them. Their standing will be before The Christ until their works justification is completed – at the end of the Millennium. Such a Restitution Class walking a ‘narrow way’ in this last special period of the Gospel Age is an absurdity, but “Every absurdity has a champion to defend it, for error is always talkative.”

“For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds... And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.” (Hebrews 12:3, 13,14)

Sincerely your brother,

John J. Hoefle Pilgrim

NO. 251: THE THREE WORLDS - CONDITIONS AND PEOPLES - (PART FOUR)

No. 251

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

(Continued from No. 250 – April 1, 1976)

As explained in previous papers, the first world – “the world that was” – con­sisted of but one Age or Dispensation; the second world – “this present evil world” ­has been comprised of three Ages: (1) the Patriarchal Age, (2) the Jewish Age, and (3) the Gospel or Christian Age. The latter is now rapidly drawing to a close, and will immediately he followed by a new order of affairs “wherein dwelleth righteousness.” (2 Pet. 3:13)

In Eph. 2:7 St. Paul speaks of “the Ages to come”; and the Bible reveals that the first of these will he the Millennial Age. The words Millennial and Millennium at such are not in the Bible, but the idea contained in those words is very clearly taught there­in. Millennium is a Latin word – an adjective meaning thousand–yeared. In Latin it is combined with the noun regnum (kingdom). Therefore, the expression regnum millennium means thousand-yeared kingdom. The Latin adjective millennium has been accepted liter­ally into English, but as a noun instead of an adjective – and refers to that period of time in which Christ and His Church will reign over the earth and mankind – the fulfillment of Jesus’ prayer, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth.”

This thought is clearly demonstrated in many Scriptures, such as 2 Tim. 4:1, Jas. 2:5, Rev. 3:21, 11:15, 20:4-9. In Rev. 20:4 it is expressly stated that “they (the Church) lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.” And Rev. 5:10 states, “We shall reign on the earth”; thus, the earth will have to be here for that thousand years if the Christ Company is to reign on it during that time. And Rev. 11:15 states further, “The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign forever and ever” (throughout the “Ages to come”). The set­ting of this last text clearly shows that the setting up of this “reign” is to be pre­ceded by much turmoil and violent disorder, after which time “He maketh the storm a calm” (Psa. 107:29, Matt. 8:26). This Matthew text is a striking demonstration of how it will be then. That thousand-year reign is also described in the Bible as “the day of the Lord” – “the day of God” – “that day,” etc.; which infer the Millennium, because “One day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years is as one day.” (2 Pet. 3:8; Psa. 90:4)

The Millennial Age immediately follows the last Age (The Gospel Age) of “this present evil world,” and is, therefore, the first Age or Dispensation of the “world to come,” and will be the first thousand years of the third world. It will be followed by the “Ages to come.” How many of such Ages there will be we do not know, because the Bible is silent on the matter; but we do know that the “world to come” will be endless; “Israel shall be saved in the Lord with an everlasting salvation... world without end” (Isa. 45:17) – “He shall reign for the Ages of Ages.” (Rev. 11:15, Dia.) Therefore, apart from the Millennial Age – the first Age of “the world to come” – we know almost nothing about the Third World, except that its many Ages will be completely devoid of evil – with all beings in Heaven and on earth in harmony and peace with each other ­“They shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid.” (Zeph. 3:13)

God’s revealed “Plan of the Ages” (Eph. 3:11, Dia.) covers the period of Creation in “the world that was” to the close of the Millennium (the “world to come”); therefore, it would profit us nothing to attempt to delve into that which has not been revealed. We are told in Rev. 20:12 that “another book was opened,” and it would seem from this that a third division of the Bible will be added to the Old and New Testaments, which will offer some enlightenment on a future that is now very dim to us.

We would be better occupied here to consider some of the workings of the Millennium as they are revealed to us now. Rev. 22:3 says that when the Throne of God is estab­lished in the earth “there shall be no more curse.” However, it is clearly stated in various Scriptures that presently we do experience the effects of the curse – the curse that was pronounced upon Adam as a result of his disobedience. (Gen. 3:16–19; Rom. 5: 12–21; 8:19,20,22; 1 Cor. 15:21,22) This curse affects mankind physically, mentally, morally and religiously. The imperfect conditions that now prevail in the earth have placed a great burden on man physically. As we see things today, the great majority of the human race is engaged in a vicious struggle just to keep alive – to have food, cloth­ing and shelter sufficient for survival. It is axiomatic that man lives in hope, and dies in despair. Heat and cold, myriad of disease germs (it is stated that man is sub­ject to about 2,000 different maladies), major calamities such as earthquakes, violent storms, etc., continually sap man’s vitality. Man’s inhumanity to man, coupled with “the darkness that covers the earth, and gross darkness the people” (Isa. 60:2) hangs over the human race like a black night without stars or moon. Over the centuries the hereditary effects of these evils have tended to make man weaker and shorter of years in life.

The imperfect condition of the earth (including fermentation, extremes of climate and very poor quality of air) has greatly dwarfed man’s mental powers. While there has been great dissemination of general knowledge during the past hundred years, we do not have any minds on earth today that would compare with men such as Moses, Solomon, Euclid, St. Augustine, Shakespeare, etc. The rigors of life have been so severe that man has been so forced to neglect his mental development that ignorance has been widespread; and it still continues so with the great majority – even in the more enlightened countries. Error, too – both secular and religious – has made inroad upon the intellect, so that many openly admit they do not know what to believe. St. Paul was acutely conscious of this: “Henceforth walk ye not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them.” (Eph. 4:17,18)

While the untamed earth has taken heavy toll upon man’s physical, mental and moral powers, it has been even worse on his religious perceptions. Many disregard religion entirely, which has caused atrophy in this the finest of his faculties. As we view the multifarious religious cults today – all of them contradicting each other in major doc­trines in Christendom, and even worse in heathen lands – it would produce in us gross dis­couragement were it not for the grand promise that “In this mountain (His Millennial king­dom) the Lord will destroy the face of the covering cast over all people (the death pro­cess which collects its unrelenting toll from all), and the veil (of ignorance and super­stition) that is spread over all nations.” (Isa. 25:7) This will be the overall grand result of the thousand–year reign just ahead of us.

That there is great need for relief from all of the foregoing all will agree; and many well–intentioned persons and organizations are making great effort to assuage the various evils that afflict mankind; but each century seems to make things worse instead of better, so that St. Paul describes this present time as “the evil day.” (Eph. 6:13) However, man’s effort to rid himself of the evils that afflict the race will continue in failure; his effort is a feeble attempt to lift himself up by his own bootstraps – an impossible thing. This was vividly demonstrated in the Jewish Age through failure to keep the Law; and it has been even more so in the Christian Era, despite the great enlighten­ment and spiritual blessings that Christianity has wrought.

But, what man has been unable to do for himself, the Millennial kingdom will accom­plish when the prediction is realized: “We give thee thanks, 0 Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because Thou hast taken to thee Thy great power, and hast reigned.” (Rev. 11:17) That power will remove the curse from the earth, and will restore Edenic conditions – perfect life in perfect surroundings. All error shall then vanish from the earth, and Truth will prevail in secular and religious matters. Death and the death process will be lifted. “The creature itself shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption.” (Rom. 8:21) “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” (Rev. 21:4) “These words are true and faithful.” (Rev. 21:5)

False religions shall disappear under that reign; oppressive governments shall be eliminated; no more back–breaking labor to enrich the few and enslave the many. The Millennial reign will accomplish all of this in the centuries immediately ahead; and bring it to full conclusion by the year 2874. Self–evidently, these good operations will com­pletely overthrow “this present evil world,” whose history since the flood has been filled with gruesome records of blood, cruelty and tears.  “Man’s inhumanity to man makes count­less thousands mourn.” This has been pronouncedly true since “the time of the Gentiles” began in the Fall of 607 BC, and which continued for 2520 years to the Fall of 1914. “Let his heart be changed from man’s, and let a beast’s heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him.” (Dan. 4:16) A “time” is a Jewish year of 360 days; and “seven times” would be 2520 literal days, or 2520 actual years.

Concurrent with the foregoing, Satan has “blinded the minds” of the many, so that “the whole world (Kosmos – present social order) lieth in wickedness.” (1 John 5:19) He has concocted especially six great errors: Divine right of Kings, Divine right of the Clergy, Divine right of the Aristocracy, Consciousness of the Dead, Transformation of the Dead into spirits, and Eternal Torture in the Lake of Fire. Thus, “His kingdom was full of darkness” (Rev. 16:10), which has produced a “night of weeping” (Psa. 30:5); but joy of the Millennial morning will shortly dissipate all this.

RESTITUTION OF ALL THINGS

The Apostle Peter says this Millennium will accomplish “the restitution of all things.” (Acts 3:21) Restitution means a return to an original state, which implies (1) an original state; (2) a leaving or a loss of that original state; and (3) a restora­tion to that original state. If man is to have Restitution, we are forced to three con­clusions: (1) his primeval perfection in the image and likeness of God at his creation; (2) his fall through sin under the curse to his deficiencies as we see them today; and (3) his uplift out of present adverse conditions, and his restoration (Restitution) to his original state.

The Scriptures are very clear in substantiation of the foregoing. “God saw every­thing that He had made, and, behold, it was very good.” (Gen. 1:31) “As for God, His way is perfect.” (Psa. 18:30)   As for man’s sinful condition, the evidence of it is ev­erywhere about us. His relief from the present undone condition is the declared purpose of restitution, which is synonymous with the Millennial kingdom. One of the first steps in this matter will be to eliminate “the father of lies,” that is, the Devil (John 8:44), which in turn will allow free and fluid teaching and understanding of the Truth. “Satan bound for a thousand years (the Millennial kingdom)... that he should deceive the nations no more.” (Rev. 20:2,3)

The means of accomplishing this has already been provided by the sacrifice of Jesus the giving of His life and life rights for Adam and his descendants. Jesus kept the Di­vine Law perfectly, which would have secured for Him the right to perfect existence, per­fect environment (home, food, air, water, fellowship with God and man, with dominion over the earth, its atmosphere and creatures). In sacrificing all of these things through His death on the cross He was able to purchase the race in perfection as Adam had enjoyed these things in Eden. This purchase guarantees restoration – restitution – to all who wish to avail themselves of the opportunity.

By opportunity we mean faith and obedience to the Divine Law. Restitution will not be forced upon any one; it is a privilege, not a command, to be consummated gradually during the Millennium with all the assistance necessary to acquire it. Imperfect man at that time will be no more able to keep the Divine Law perfectly than he is able to do so now; but he will be aided in all proper ways to enable him to gain perfection. “An high­way shall be there... The way of holiness....... the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein... the ransomed of the Lord shall return... with songs and everlasting  joy up­on their heads.” (Isa. 35:8–10) This is described otherwise as the “New Covenant” – in contrast with the old Law Covenant – “Saith the Lord, I will put My law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts.” (Jer. 31:31-33)

In “this present evil world” the sins of the parents have been visited upon the chil­dren. Thus, many are brought into this world under unbearable handicaps – through no fault of their own; but it will not be so in the Age just ahead. “In those days they shall say no more, The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children’s teeth are set on edge. But every one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eateth the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge.” (Jer. 31:29,30) Divine Truth will come freely to all; it will be “the leaves of the tree for the healing of the nations.” (Rev. 22:2) Thus man­kind will be shown what to believe, what not to believe, what to do, what not to do – in secular and religious matters – “the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” (Isa. 11:9) The cobwebs of error will be swept away, and the people will then desire to render obedience through the inherent reasonableness and inherent strength of the Lord’s Word.

The various Scriptures we have quoted herein witness with harmonious and powerful voice that the Millennium will bring to the living and the dead the privileges and bless­ings of restitution.  “All that are in their graves shall hear His voice, and shall come forth.” (John 5:28,29) The first three chapters of Genesis treat of the original para­dise (“The Lord planted a garden – paradise – eastward in Eden”), man in the image and likeness of God, their possession and loss. The last three chapters of Revelation tell of the image and likeness of God restored, the new paradise in “the world to come.” In between these six chapters the Bible is vocal with the grand message of restitution. The patriarchs spoke of, and hoped for it; the Mosaic Law prefigured it; the Biblical histories typed it; the Jews longed and prayed for it; the Apostles and their followers proclaimed it; Jesus by His death guaranteed it; and Jehovah by His oath unchangeably pledged it. When Jesus told the Apostles to pray “Thy kingdom come” it was not intended as a request for something then uncertain; it was rather a yearning petition for the ar­rival of something that was already irrevocably assured.

The clear truth on the foregoing was completely lost in the deluge of error  that developed after the Apostles fell asleep – overruled by the Lord until the “due time” for its understanding. We have already mentioned that the Apostle Peter spoke of “the times of restitution” (Acts 3:21); and we now quote some from what the Apostle  Paul has recorded about it: “I knew a man in Christ (Paul himself) .... caught up to the  third heaven.” (2 Cor. 12:2) This third heaven is the same one mentioned by the Apostle in 2 Pet. 3:13: “new heavens and a new earth.” Paul then continues in 2 Cor. 12:4: “He was caught up into paradise (“God planted a garden – a paradise – eastward in Eden—Gen. 2:8) and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.” The “paradise” which Paul saw was the restored earth; and, while he says he was not per­mitted to speak fluently about it, he was undoubtedly much illuminated by what he saw in that vision, giving great force, shading and depth to his writings.

TWENTY–ONE EVILS – TWENTY-ONE REMEDIES

It is our understanding that twenty-one evils are revealed in the Bible as afflict­ing the human race, and that God has provided twenty-one remedies – a cure for each of them – through the ministry of Jesus. Some of these cures have been operative since the Christian Age began; all of them will have been operative by the full end of the Millen­nial kingdom. By that time most of them will have accomplished their purposes, and will pass out of existence – although a few of Jesus’ titles will never terminate; they are eter­nal. We  list the twenty-one evils, with brief comment on each of them as follows:

1. Enslavement of the race under the curse unto death. The remedy for this as provided by Jesus is the Ransom.

2. Law-condemned convicts. Jesus acts as Advocate for them.

3. Destitution of righteousness (Isa. 64:6): “We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness as filthy rags... our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” But, “Jesus is made unto us righteousness.” (1 Cor. 1:30)

4. A selfish and worldly life.  Jesus, as Bridegroom, shows us a “more excellent way.” (1 Cor. 12:31)

5. Alienation between God and man. Jesus, as High Priest, forgives and blesses.

6. Ignorance. Jesus  “is made unto us wisdom.” (1 Cor. 1:30)

7. Captives of Satan. Jesus is made unto us deliverance. (1 Cor. 1:30)

8. Enmity of truth, righteousness and holiness. Jesus is “the Captain of our salvation.” (Heb. 2:10)

9. Inability properly to think God’s thoughts, feel His affections and will His will. “The head of every man is Christ.” (1 Cor. 11:3)

10. Distrust between God and man. Christ as Mediator will mediate these differences.

11. Dying and death. Jesus is “the everlasting Father.” (Isa. 9:6)

12. Lack of a perfect law and lawgiver. Jesus is the Perfect Lawgiver. “The law of the Lord is perfect... making wise the simple.” (Psa. 19:7)

13. Worry and strife. Jesus is “The Prince of peace.” (Isa. 9:6)

14. Unruliness. Jesus is King.

15. Without knowledge of Divine Truth. Jesus is a Revealer and Teacher of the Truth. “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go; I will guide thee with mine eye.” (Psa. 32:8)

16. Impracticability as to saving arrangements. Jesus will cure this as God’s Executive.

17. Physical, mental, artistic, moral and religious sickness. Jesus the Physician: “Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; Who healeth all thy diseases.” (Psa. 103:3)

18. Owned and controlled now by Satan. Jesus will be Lord. “At the name of Jesus every knee should bow... in heaven... in earth... Every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.” (Phil. 2:10,11)

19. Not able to stand before the judgment seat unaided. Jesus is our understand­ing and merciful lenient judge. “Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; Who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies.” (Psa. 103:4) “The Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son.” (John 5:22)

20. Impurity.  Jesus the Purifier and Refiner. “And He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver (Truth); and He shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver.” (Mal. 3:3)

21. Impoverishment, Jesus the Provider. “My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:19)

    It will be noted that the foregoing 21 evils are all-inclusive of the afflictions that presently beset the human race; and that Jesus, “Who learned obedience by the things which He suffered” (Heb. 5:8), is well-qualified and empowered to correct and fully cure all of them. And this He will do when He takes to Himself His great power and reigns throughout the Millennial Age – the first Age just ahead in “the world to come.” By the time that reign ends the death that “has passed upon all men” (Rom. 5:12) through Adam’s disobe­dience, and the dying process that has afflicted the human race for more than six thous­and years, will have been fully destroyed and “there shall be no more curse.” (Rev. 22:3) Also, the “goats” in the parable that Jesus spoke in Matt. 25:31-46 will have gone into everlasting destruction – the Second Death, symbolized by the Lake of Fire; “they shall be as though they had not been” (Obad. 16).

    Then “the righteous shall see it and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her mouth” (Psa. 107:42).  Sin shall never rise again. God will be glorified forever and ever by perfect creatures, both in heaven and on earth. “And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever.” (Rev. 5:13) May this presentation prove a rich blessing to all our readers!

    Sincerely your brother,

    John J. Hoefle, Pilgrim

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QUESTION OF GENERAL INTEREST

QUESTION: – The Jehovah’s Witnesses are teaching that all who do not now join with them will be forever annihilated in Armageddon. How do they harmonize that with the words of Jesus (John 5:28,29): “All that are in the graves shall hear Jesus’ voice, and shall come forth”?

ANSWER: – They don’t try to harmonize the two; they just ignore the words of Jesus on the subject.  They also ignore the words of Jesus in a couple of other Scriptures, as instance Matt. 24:30: “They shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of Heaven.” This statement was made concerning the Jews, particularly their leaders. Yet the Witnesses are telling us that those people have already experienced annihilation. If they be forever dead, just how will they “see” the Son of Man in any way whatever?

Then another Scripture (Luke 13:28): “Ye shall see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.” Here again, just how will those unbelieving Jews see this Kingdom array if they are never to return?

These people also deny a resurrection for Adam, which in effect is a denial of the Ransom – whether or not they are aware of that fact. In 1 Tim. 2:4-6 St. Paul gives us the inspired statement: “Jesus gave Himself a ransom for all.” And further in 1 Cor. 15:22: “As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” Inasmuch as the word Ransom is an exact equivalent, the only one for whom the perfect man Jesus could provide a ransom was the perfect man Adam. The only way any of Adam’s fallen race could be ransomed would be through Adam – in his loins. So there could be no ransom for the im­perfect human race if there is no ransom for Adam. And, while the record is clear that Adam transgressed in the Garden of Eden, there is no indication whatever in the Bible that Adam resorted to evil after his ejection from the Garden.

Let us consider now St. Paul’s words in Acts 24:15: “There shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust.” How shall we classify these two sets of people? In John 5:28,29 Jesus gives us a pretty good idea: “They that have done good” and “they that have done evil.” This would self-evidently include Adam, the Jews who failed to keep the Law of Moses, all the heathen – and all who will not join the Witnes­ses now, as well as the Witnesses themselves who do not believe these words of Jesus. If we agree with the Apostle Paul, it should need no argument that both the just and the unjust are to have a resurrection; and this was to be a future event – after Paul’s death. The word resurrection in this text is from the Greek ‘anastasis,’ which means not merely a resuscitation, as revival from a fainting spell, or some such, but a raising up to life again from the death state.

“A ransom for all, to be testified in due time” (1 Tim. 2:6): Even the Witnesses would hardly contend that this “due time” was any time in the past; but they are declar­ing the “due time” has now arrived; and they tell us we may take their word for that! They are contending that the Kingdom was established through them in 1914; and shortly there­after they began to preach that the “due time” would arrive in 1925. But when 1925 came and went without anything at all occurring to support them, they lost sight of the “due time” for many years; it is just rather recently that they ‘discovered’ that the “due time” is now with us.

“In those days (when the due time, arrives) they shall say no more, The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children’s teeth are set on edge, but every man shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eateth the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge.” (Jer. 31:29,30) The sins of the fathers are still being visited upon the children in our day; even the Witnesses would probably not deny that. At present many are being brought into the world with loathsome diseases which incapacitate them mental­ly and physically; and many who have no outward physical infirmities are woefully lack ­in mentality. And of those who have average mentality, many of them cannot read or write – all through no fault of their own.

Furthermore, we are told in 2 Thes. 3:2 that “all men have not faith.” And of those who “have not faith,” many have more than average intelligence otherwise. Faith is deter­mined by certain organs of the brain; but its lack does not specially impair the other parts of the brain. So what shall we say of these – who cannot presently believe in a resurrection, etc.? Their present condition is certainly the result of the fallen state of their forebears: “the fathers have eaten a sour grape.”

Jesus is the Great Physician – “Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases.” (Psa. 103:3) This “forgiveness of iniquities” has already been ac­complished for all – even though the vast majority do not know it. But the “healing of all diseases” will not be accomplished for any until He takes unto Himself His great power and reigns in the Mediatorial Kingdom. Diseases in the human race are simply the dying process working in men. “In the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” (Gen. 2:17) The marginal reading says “dying thou shalt die” – indicating a gradual process.     This cannot possibly be stopped until the Great Physician has fully set up His Kingdom, at which time “death and hell will be cast into the lake of fire.” (Rev. 20:14) Hell in this text is from the Greek hades, which means the death state – the tomb; whereas, “death” means the dying process. Casting death and hell into the lake of fire simply means the total extinction of the death state and the dying process which are now everywhere apparent; but there is not the slightest evidence to indicate that this destruction has yet even begun.

There are many evidences of normal parents bringing children into the world who are woefully deficient in mind and body – the same being due to numerous causes of the curse. There may be some such parents who now belong to the Witnesses’ organization, and the Witnesses tell us that such parents will be happily saved, although they are to witness the annihilation of their children in Armageddon because such children didn’t have the men­tal capacity to accept them. We are still in the faith Age; and the Apostle Peter counsels us to add to our faith—2 Pet. 1:5. But just how can any one add to something he doesn’t have? All men do not have faith. For  all such we may apply the words of Jesus: “All that are in their graves shall hear His voice, and shall come forth.” This is the inheritance for all – those that now have faith, and those that don’t have faith ­regardless of whether they are Jehovah’s Witnesses or not.

The Witnesses also are quite vociferous in telling others to “Study the Word of God’ they place great emphasis on this feature. Well, all the texts we have quoted herein are the “Word of God” and in substance exactly as they have them in their own Bible. Therefore, we suggest they study these texts in their own Bible – and correct the errors they are presently circulating. Perchance for some of them, “God will give them repent­ance to the acknowledging of the Truth” (2 Tim. 2:25), thus enabling them to become faith­ful “witnesses” of the true “Gospel (good news) of the Kingdom” – Glad tidings of great joy that shall be unto all people. In their “study” of the Bible, the Witnesses follow the exact technique of Babylon; they study it to fit it into their creed – to make it fit what they believe, as they vehemently condemn other systems who do the same thing. “Their folly shall be manifest unto all men.” (2 Tim. 3:9)

On p. 107 of the February 15, 1976 Watchtower there is the following, which fits very well with the foregoing: “The more we read the Bible, the more the churches ap­peared to be condemned by the very book they professed to follow.” And we would say the same for the Witnesses: “The more we read the Bible, the more the Jehovah’s Witnesses appeared to be condemned by the very book they professed to follow.” “Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee,” says Jesus (Luke 19:22).

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LETTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST

Dear Brother Hoefle: Grace and peace!

Your very welcome letter is received... I surely wish to thank you for all of the good literature you sent me last year. It is sure good for volunteer purposes. They are well written, plain and to the point – and well understood by the readers, which is what we need right now...........

As to Rev. Chas. H. Spurgeon, I have a book of the Life and Works of Spurgeon – a memorial edition which belonged to my Grandmother; was given to her for a Christmas present in 1901... It is a very good book and a lot of good thoughts in it. I see in the nominal church articles that Spurgeon is quite popular now........

Yes, I think Bro. Jolly would better serve the brethren in issuing articles in the Bible Standard more like the one in the February issue, which I see is a reprint of Chapter 6, E Vol. 17 – and also reprint of H.E. 9–15–50.

Wishing you all there the Lord’s richest blessings and the best of Christian love to you all, I remain, Your Brother in Him ------- (MICHIGAN)

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Dear Friends:

Praise be! ‘you-all’ are some better. That’s better than “no change,” which is the frustrating hospital remark. That or – “as well as could be expected.” I often wonder what aches and pains caught up with Methuselah after 900 years! I bet the first 500 were a breeze! Imagine it! We know Moses was spared until the very end at least.

His eye was not dim – (he didn’t know about cataracts and glaucoma) nor his nat­ural force abated – 120 years of virile manhood. What a life!

Have had a very enriching time studying and summarizing E Vol. XI. I might ask your “candid comment” some day. We expect to continue our Sunday study... We’ve almost finished T.S. I could go through it again right now, but am sure I need time to absorb what I’ve read and studied this time through,

Take an extra look at the sunrise on your lake  –  for  me. And  may  we  all  be  able and willing to say, Thy will be done!  Love to all at Mount Dora ------- (FLORIDA)

NO. 250: THE THREE WORLDS - CONDITIONS AND PEOPLES - (PART THREE)

No. 250

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

(Continued from No. 245 ‑ November 1, 1975)

In Part One of this subject we offered synoptic analysis of “The World That Was”; in Part Two we offered comment on “This present Evil World,” with detailed information concerning the origin of the various heathen religions before the Patriarchal Age; then the description of that Age, the Jewish Age and the Gospel Age, which latter we have treated in some detail concerning the erroneous religious beliefs that have arisen. since the beginning of the Christian era. Especially did we stress the elective salvation that has prevailed during the Gospel Age, with the extreme misunderstandings that have arisen concerning it.

Now we begin Part Three by stating that much of this misunderstanding is the result of a sad confusion concerning predestination and condemnation which has been applied to this Christian Age – this “good news” Age – with one extreme view by John Calvin, who taught that all not predestinated to salvation in this Age (and this would include the majority in Christian countries, and the entire population in many heathen lands) were predestinated to an eternity of torment in the fires of Hell. By no stretch of the imagination could this be a “good news” Age to those who would inherit eternal torment when this life is finished – nor would it be “good news” to those who are predestinated to know that many of their loved ones will have that fate. While the Bible definitely does teach predestination and condemnation, this does not mean that any individuals were predestinated to salvation or condemnation at birth; the confusion arises from the mistaken belief that the call of this Age is final and determinate a misapplication of the elective and non‑elective salvations.

The elective salvation of this Age is for the very purpose of blessing the non elect in the next Age – in “the world to come” – which we shall discuss later. St. James makes this quite clear in his statement as recorded in Acts 15:14‑17: “God at the first did visit the Gentiles (who had been ignored all during the Jewish Age) to take out of them a people for His name (Christians)... After this (in the Age to come) I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David... that the residue of men (all the non‑elect in Christendom and all the heathen) might seek after the Lord.” This will occur when the Lord’s prayer becomes fact: “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth.” Then the present “blindness of Israel” will be healed; then the “ransom for all men” will be available for all men – if they choose to have it so. Then will apply the words of Rev. 22:17: “The Spirit and the bride say, Come.... And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”

Some sects in Christendom have embraced the foregoing Scriptures, and have carried them to the opposite extreme of eternal torment. They contend every person who has ever lived will experience salvation – that even the Devil and his demon angel cohorts will be saved. Of course, they are forced to keep silent on such texts as Heb. 2:14: “Through death He (Jesus) might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the Devil.” The doctrines of election and free grace have greatly perplexed Christians for centuries – the result of their inability to “rightly divide the Word of Truth.” (2 Tim. 2:15)

All during this Christian (good news) Age the selection of the Church has been taking place – gathered from all nations, but especially from the nations of Christendom. “Thou has redeemed us by thy blood out of every kindred, and nation, and people and tongue.” (Rev. 5:9) But we stress again that this has been a call – not a command; it has applied only to those who would “follow in His steps.” (1 Pet. 2:21) This call has now been substantially completed, and preparation is being made for the introduction of the next Age – “the world to come” – in the very near future. All of this has been progressing in orderly fashion “according to the Plan of the Ages, which God hath formed for the anointed Jesus our Lord.” (Eph. 3:11, Diaglott translation)

The sowing of the glad tidings of this Gospel Age should logically conclude with a reaping, a harvest – just as was true at the end of the Jewish Age. In the 13th Chapter of Matthew Jesus offered the parable of the sower, the wheat and the tares; and in verse 36 the Disciples asked him to explain the parable. In concluding His explanation Jesus said, “The harvest is the end of the world.” The word world in this text is from the Greek aion, and means the Age or Dispensation. In other words, the “harvest” is the end of the Christian or Gospel Age. Jesus also explained to them that the tares would be first gathered into bundles for the burning; and this burning has been proceeding in ever‑increasing severity since the outbreak of the World War in 1914; and will proceed to a completion in the very near future.

This bundling for the burning began first with the nations, then proceeded to various organizations, and will find finality with individuals before this present generation passes away. (“This generation shall not pass away, till all these things be accomplished.” – Matt. 24:34.)

Illustrative of the foregoing, we mention the Triple Alliance, formed in 1882 between Germany, Austria‑Hungary and Italy; and the Triple Entente, formalized in 1893 between Great Britain, France and Russia, and fully in existence in 1907. At the outbreak of the World War in 1914 these six nations were pitted against each other in the greatest conflict in history up to that time. After the completion of the war these bundles fell apart – were fully “burned” – so much so that they are seldom mentioned now; many people who were not yet born in 1914 do not understand what we are talking about if we mention the Triple Alliance or the Triple Entente. And this same situation will eventually prevail with many of our present organizations – after which individual “tares” will be destroyed to a completion.

One of the evidences that the foregoing statement is true is to be found in Dan. 12:1: “There shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time.” The World War, which began in 1914, was up to that time the world’s greatest calamity; and Dan. 12:4 tells us that this would be one of the evidences of “the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.” During this present century the automobile and the airplane have accelerated transportation in a manner not dreamed of one hundred years ago. The average cruising speed of the ordinary commercial plane is now about 600 miles per hour, or ten miles per minute. A hundred years ago it took a real good horse drawing a carriage to make ten miles in one hour; and it was not possible for such a horse to continue that speed for several hours without intermittent rest.

And the increase in knowledge has kept pace with the increase in travel. Prior to the year 1800 there were just two inventions of any consequence – the printing press and gun powder. But after “the time of the end” began in 1799 the steamboat (in 1803) and the railroad train (in 1813) came into being; with a great flood of inventions appearing later, and especially so since 1874. The first hand carpet sweeper appeared in 1869; the first commercial typewriter in 1874; the Bell telephone was patented in 1876. Shortly thereafter came the electric light, considered by some to be the most beneficial invention in all history for the human race. Pages could be written on this subject; but we believe enough has been said to prove that we are in “the time of the end” of this Gospel Age, the end of “this present evil world”; and that we are on the threshold of “the world to come” – that kingdom for which Jesus taught us to pray. We are now in 1976, just 6102 years from the beginning of “the world that was.”

However, hand in hand with the mechanical contrivances has come a tremendous increase in Biblical knowledge, history, and critical translations, most of which have come in the past hundred years. Brilliant Greek and Hebrew scholars have given us vastly improved works, compared with the common King James version of the Bible, which latter is known to have about 20,000 mistakes in it. One of the most enlightening bits of knowledge came in the Fall of 1874, when it became clear that the “Lord is that spirit (2 Cor. 3:17), invisible to the human eye; and, as such, He would establish His kingdom on earth in the near future.

Also along with the great increase in knowledge – secular and biblical – there came “the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world” (Rev. 3:10), which began in 1878 and continued concurrently with the harvest work. This hour produced a great scourge of insidious errors – such as Christian Science, Spiritism, Materialism, Evolution and various faith‑healing counterfeits, along with a surge in Higher Criticism, Rationalism, Agnosticism, Atheism, Deism and Pantheism. During this same time there developed much political radicalism, which had its first great national victory in Russia in the Fall of 1917 – when the Czarist regime was toppled by Kerenski, et al with many similar movements operating since that time. Furthermore, “the heavens (the present religious systems) shall be rolled together as a scroll” (Isa. 34:4; Rev. 6:14), with great effort being made to combine the various systems into one great universal church, largely ignoring loyalty to principle and striving to win great numbers and gain great favor.

But in the face of all this, many sectarians claim that the people are now more ready for the truth than ever before. We would mention especially the Jehovah’s Witnesses, who make this contention, even as they in the same breath admit that Satan is still “The god of this world, who hath blinded the minds of them which believe not.” (2 Cor. 4:4) Especially is this true, they say, since 1914, when they claim Satan was cast out of Heaven; yet they contend those “blinded” ones must join them before Armageddon if they are to experience any salvation. Along with this “strong delusion” they also advertise “A BIBLE YOU CAN UNDERSTAND.”

In the foregoing they are directly contradicted by the Bible itself – in language any one can understand who knows how to read: “In the time of the end .... none of the wicked shall understand.” (Dan. 12:4,10) The Apostle Paul corroborates this in 2 Tim. 4:3,4: “The time will come (in the end of this Age) when they will not endure sound doctrine... And they shall turn away their ears from the truth.”

During this period there arose also great social reform movements, such as prohibition, crusades against vice, denunciation of the drug traffic, uplift from slum, poverty, disease, etc. Many of these cared not that they ignored sound doctrine, made little or no effort to follow the Bible teachings. One outstanding effort in this line is the abolition of capital punishment, which now has the jails in America so overcrowded that many of them are in very dire straits. These various evils have so undermined sound government that it is well‑nigh impossible to succeed in any political campaign without resorting to rash promises which are impossible of fulfilment, which in turn has eroded the respect which the ordinary citizens once had for their rulers.

The treaties between nations are experiencing similar deterioration. Before the czarist regime fell in 1917, when the Czar would ride down a dusty road, the peasants would rush out into the road and kiss the dust over which his carriage had gone. This was not good, of course, but the same class of people have now gone pretty much to the other extreme, and do not extend even common courtesy to those in authority. Along with the harvest of the “wheat” (the Lord’s faithful followers) there has also been fulfilment of Jesus’ words: “In the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into My barn.” (Matt. 13:30) Further confirmation of this thought is to be found in Dan. 7:11: “I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame” – in the trouble that has been steadily increasing since 1914.

The “chaff” of the Jewish Harvest and the “tares” of the Christian harvest bear a relationship – both are sentenced to be burned; but this should not be construed as a literal fire. Fire in the Bible often indicates a destructive influence; and that is its meaning here. John the Baptist had said, “Jesus will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” (Luke 3:16) The “fire” in this prophecy was the terrible destruction by the Roman army in the year 70 AD (“the chaff He will burn with fire unquenchable”); and the burning of the tares has a similar meaning here in the end of “this present evil world.” Literal tares are imitation wheat; and the tares of the parable represent imitation Christians, as note the following by one writer:

“In passing through the country of the ancient Philistines, on the south of Palestine, I asked the guide one day, a native Syrian, if he knew of a plant which was apt to make its appearance among the wheat, and which resembled it so much that it could hardly be distinguished from it. He replied that it was very common, and that he would soon show me a specimen of it. Shortly he pointed out to me some of this grass growing near our path; and afterwards, having once seen it, I found it in almost every field where I searched for it. Except that the stalk was not so high, it appeared otherwise precisely as wheat – just as the ears begin to show themselves, and the kernels are swelling out into shape. I collected some specimens of this deceitful weed, and have found, on showing them to friends, that they have mistaken them quite invariably for some species of grain, such as wheat or barley.”

This bundling of the tares has been quite prominent since 1874. Various human combinations, such as national bundles like me Triple Alliance and the Triple Entente, which were largely responsible for the 1914 war; capitalistic bundles like trusts, etc.; proletarian bundles such as unions; ecclesiastical bundles like federations, etc. The “fire” of the 1914 war unmasked many of these; e.g., Who now rates the Kaiser or Hitler as Christians? This burning of the tares will continue to a completion in the years immediately ahead.

Another item of interest here in “the time of the end” is the prophecy that Israel’s “blindness” will be cured. “It shall come to pass in that day (the end of this Age) that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem..... and they shall look upon Me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn because of it.” (Zech. 12:9, 10) Israel is established as a nation now, and is prominent in world affairs, and world troubles.

In 1878 two events occurred which cast “a shadow before” of the greater things we witness today. In that year Delitzch’s Hebrew translation of the New Testament began its work among the Jews; and in June 1878 the Berlin Congress of Nations (presided over by Disraeli, the first Jew ever to be Prime Minister of England) passed some resolutions that made things much more tolerable for Jews in Palestine. In the years that have followed, the Jews have become measurably reconciled in their age‑old prejudice toward Christ; and many consider Him one of the greatest of Jewish prophets. His sayings are often quoted in Jewish pulpits, seminaries and social circles; and many Jews now accept Him as their Messiah.

In ancient times Palestine was truly a land flowing with milk and honey, a goodly land; and it is becoming once more highly productive under the present ambitious Jewish leadership. The second largest industry is the citrus fruit production. Israel’s prosperity is already exciting the envy of the nations round about; and skillful military techniques have become a vicious irritant to their neighbors. These irritants are certain to increase in the immediate future; and the anarchistic elements of the Gentile nations will ultimately make a desperate attack upon them Ezek. 38:10; 39:29), which will terminate in the second phase of Jacob’s Trouble. (Jer. 30:4‑8) “Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when He fought in the day of battle” (Zech. 14:3) – “the day of battle” here having reference to those times of major triumph under Moses, Joshua, Gideon, David, etc. Thereafter the land that was promised to “the fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,” will be forever theirs.

Thus as a nation in the promised land – having accepted Christ as their Savior they will be the nucleus of the world of mankind waiting to receive the earthly phase of Christ’s Kingdom – to be set up first in their midst. This will be the final purpose of this Christian (Gospel) Age – the greatest of the three Ages of “this present evil world” – to be followed immediately by the Millennial Age of “the world to come,” wherein will be accomplished “the restitution of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets.” (Acts 3:21)

It is well to emphasize here that there have been, broadly speaking, two kinds of Jews. At the time Jesus came, they were described as the “wheat and the chaff,” that being a small picture of the “wheat and the tares” in Christendom at the end of this Age. As said, at that time John the Baptist spoke of them thus: “He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit, and with fire... will gather the wheat into His garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.” (Luke 3:16,17) This was markedly accomplished when the Roman army under Emperor Titus leveled Jerusalem in the year 70 AD. They had said, “His blood be upon us, and on our children” (Matt. 27:25); and God took them at their word. When Titus had finished his work, there was a circle of crosses around Jerusalem, with a dead Jew on every one of them.

But of those that escaped they were scattered hither and yon throughout the earth, and they lost not only God’s favor, but they lost also much of the virility and truth which had been theirs under Moses and Aaron. “Your house is left unto you desolate.” (Matt. 23:38) This desolation was so thoroughly accomplished that the Jews do not now have a High Priest, because that priest must come from the Tribe of Levi; and that Tribe was so thoroughly dissipated during the dispersion that the Jews do not now know which of their number are of that Tribe. Therefore, their Passover and Day of Atonement services are simply exercises in futility because they do not have a High Priest to officiate therein – although the orthodox Jews who are trying to keep the Law Covenant to the best of their ability are to be commended for their sincerity and efforts to keep the Law.

And of the “chaff” of that time St. Paul wrote: “Not that which is external makes the Jew... but the Jew is hidden within, even circumcision of the heart – spiritual, not literal; whose praise comes not from men, but from God.” (Rom. 2:28,29, Dia.) That is, certain facial features sitting in a synagogue are not to be reckoned as the real Jew; but only that which is produced by a proper adherence to the Law and the Prophets is the only real Jew to whom the promises belong. And there are very few of these indeed! The great majority give only token recognition and observance of the true Jewish religion. Their motto over the centuries has been “Get the money”; and at times they have shown a savage ruthlessness in doing that.

Although the Jews played a very prominent role in the Old Testament and in religious lore up to the time of their rejection of the Messiah, and His pronouncement of desolation upon them as a nation, their decline began immediately with Jesus’ death, and judgment was violently meted out to them in the year 70 AD. And, when their nation was thus desolated, so that their national unity was completely dissolved, the Gentile “dogs” (Matt. 15:26,27) took over earth’s authority. This has continued throughout the Age – until the Times of the Gentiles ended in 1914 – since which date the Gentile nations have been declining, and the Jews are once more in the picture of nations; and this condition will prevail unto a completion in the years immediately ahead.

And with this summary we conclude Part III of The Three Worlds; and this series of articles will be completed with Part IV in the near future. It is our hope that the three sections provided thus far have proven enlightening and profitable information to all our readers. “If ye continue in My word... ye shall know the Truth, and the Truth shall make you free.” (John 8:31,32)

Sincerely your brother,  John J. Hoefle; Pilgrim

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QUESTION OF GENERAL INTEREST

QUESTION: – In John 3:16,17 it is stated that “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son... that the world through Him might be saved.” But in 1 John 2:15 we are told, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” Skeptics seize upon these texts as one instance where the Bible contradicts itself. What is the correct thought on these texts?

ANSWER: – The Bible is harmonious with itself. If this were not true – even in a single instance – it could not be regarded as “the Word of Truth.” In both these texts the word “love” is from the Greek agapao; but the word “world” is from the Greek kosmos. Agapao in both texts carries the thought of duty love; but the word kosmos has two different meanings – just as many of our English words have two or three different meanings. In the first text the kosmos means the inhabitants of the earth; whereas, in the second text it carries the thought of the present social order or arrangement.

In the Bible we are told to love our neighbors as ourselves, but nowhere are we told to love the present social order. It was the present social order that crucified our Lord; and it was the present social order that has shed “the blood of the prophets and of saints,” and it has been condemned to destruction “by fire,” the fire being a figurative expression used to denote complete annihilation.

In 2 Pet. 3:10 we are told that “the earth (another expression for the present social order) and the works that are therein (the selfish and depraved acts of men) shall be burned up.” The whole chapter from which we have quoted one small text is written in highly figurative language, but much confusion has resulted by men attempting to accept these figurative statements as literal. If they were literal, it would indeed be a sore and unexplainable contradiction of many other Bible statements – such as “The earth (the planet on which we live) abideth forever.” (Eccl. 1:4) This “burning” began in 1874 in a broad sense; but it actually began in a narrow violent way in 1914 with the outbreak of the World War; and has been steadily progressing since 1914 – so much so that it is now apparent to many persons of sharp discernment. As one outstanding instance, we quote President Woodrow Wilson, who said concerning the great war, “The world is on fire.” Thus it becomes apparent that God has arranged for the salvation of the people living in this present social order, although He has condemned the social order itself to destruction.

It is our thought that the Jehovah’s Witnesses would be well advised to ponder this point in their present proclamations, because they are heralding just the reverse of what the Scriptures teach on the subject – also it is just the reverse of the error which they taught for 1925 – Millions Now Living Will Never Die. These people change their teachings just as easily and just as readily as the chameleon changes his color. They reverse themselves when their predictions fail; and their “dedicated” adherents close their eyes, open their mouths, and swallow any new delirium that they present to them. For the past few years they have been very vociferous in their declaration that the large majority of earth’s inhabitants now living WILL DIE – be annihilated in Armageddon when the present kosmos is overthrown. They now have about two million “saved” persons in their organization; and it is only those who accept them that will survive Armageddon. While the Bible does teach that large numbers of the human family will perish in Armageddon, nowhere does it teach that such death means their eternal annihilation; but the Bible does teach clearly and emphatically the eternal annihilation of the present kosmos – the present social order.

The Witnesses’ present teaching is indeed a far cry from what they were teaching some fifty years ago, at which time they placed great stress upon Zech. 13:8, 9: “It shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: They shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, the Lord is my God.” When they were using this text, they tried to give it a very literal explanation; namely, one‑third of earth’s population would survive Armageddon, which would mean by present reckoning that over one billion living through 1925 would live right on through Armageddon, and into the Kingdom, which is how they arrived at their slogan “Millions Now Living Will Never Die” – after the year 1925. Of course, time itself made them look quite ridiculous, so they were forced to come up with some new hocus‑pocus. Now only their “dedicated” devotees will live on into the Kingdom; all others will be annihilated by that seething cauldron. Thus through fear they have persuaded many to join them – just as did the Roman Catholic Church in the Dark Ages gather numbers to avoid the fate of eternal torment.

When the lawyer asked Jesus which is the great commandment (Matt. 22:37‑40) He answered him in this manner: The first “thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all the heart, soul and mind... and the second, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” From this it is very clear that the requirements of the Law given through Moses are a duty, and many of the Jews tried to keep it, but could not do so because of their fallen condition. And in this connection it should be noted that when “the restitution of all things” (Acts 3:19‑23) is fully established under the Kingdom reign, perfect duty love will be required of all who gain life under that arrangement – a “new heavens and a new earth (a new social arrangement) wherein dwelleth righteousness.” Just the opposite of that condition prevails now, which is the reason for its “burning,” which will proceed to a completion in the very near future.

As stated aforegoing, the word “love” in both texts in the question is from the Greek agapao, which conveys the thought of duty love. There are a number of other texts which contain the word love, but are translated from different Greek words. One of these is the Greek agape, which carries the thought of a sacrificial love, and has been in operation specifically since Pentecost; but it has not been required of the world in general during this Gospel Age, nor will it be required in the next Age when “the restitution of all things” becomes operative. The only ones required to practice sacrificial love during this Age have been those who have accepted Jesus in the full sense determined by His words: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” (Matt. 16:24) But this has been an invitation – and not a command.

Such persons as the foregoing have been a very small minority, and they have not loved the world as it refers to the present social order. This is graphically typified by the acts of the Prophet Elijah in his attempts to reform the Jews – especially so as respects Ahab and Jezebel. He there typed the Gospel‑Age Christians who have attempted to reform the present social order, and have failed badly in their efforts. However, the reformers have shown great love for the people, the inhabitants, of this “present evil world,” and have done much good for them in their ministries.

me Jews under the Law were not required to practice agape love; in fact, they knew little or nothing about it. This is clearly stated by Jesus (Matt. 5:43,44): “Ye have heard that it hath been said, m Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate shine enemy, But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you’“

The foregoing, however, applies only to those who have come into the Christian family; it is not now required of the “world” (the inhabitants of earth), nor will it ever be required of them in the next world. Much confusion has resulted as Christians all during the Age – since shortly after the demise of the Apostles – attempted to apply these words to every one now, which error came about through the loss of the Truth on the two salvations – the “common salvation” (Jude 3), and the “great salvation.” (Heb. 2:3) The “common salvation” is not available during the Gospel Age; and the “great salvation” will not be available in the next Age. Any attempt to mix the two salvations is certain to result in rank confusion.

Love for our enemies was not required under the Law Covenant, such love being sacrificial love – from the Greek agape. Our Lord was the one who brought this agape love into focus – just as He also “brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel.” (2 Tim. 1:10) Had “the ancients” in Old Testament times been instructed in agape love, David and Samson would not have prayed for the death of their enemies.

The inhabitants of this world who will receive restitution in the world just ahead are not now required to practice agape (sacrificial) love in this Age – nor will they be required to do so in the next Age, or at any time in the future. However, we would stress in conclusion that a proper understanding and analysis of love in the two texts is not the real crux of the problem; it is rather the two meanings of the word “world” (kosmos) that make them readily understandable. All who “follow in His steps” also love the world (its inhabitants).

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LETTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST

Dear Brother Hoefle: Grace and peace be multiplied!

Enclosed is a few dollars of the Lord’s money to help in spreading of His Truth. With the demands of the present, it isn’t very much. This seems to be the day when no man can work. May the Lord bless you and yours real good. I appreciate your writings and agree with them. Your brother in Christ, ------- (FLORIDA)

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Dear Brother Hoefle: Grace and peace be multiplied!

Your good letter of the 7th is here, and as always very glad to hear from you. I was quite surprised that Brother Jolly shook hands with you both. I wonder if he is having second thoughts about his Campers Consecrated. Let’s hope so! Of course, he has been warned very thoroughly by you, Brother Hoefle, and if he does not change it will not be because you haven’t tried. But we leave it with the Lord.

Yes, I can imagine you have nice weather all year round. I visualize your lovely place since seeing it last winter. May God grant you good health to carry on His work. Be assured of my prayers and Christian love to you and all the dear ones with you.

Your brother by His Grace, ------- (NEW JERSEY)