NO. 307: RETROSPECT AND PROSPECT

No. 307

At the beginning of another year, we may look with a measure of satisfaction at the results of the year past, and once again repeat with gratitude the expression of the Psalmist: “Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness.” (Psa. 65:11) One correspondent from Africa has pretty well expressed our own views on world conditions: “Having just returned from Europe, I see that the Evil One has unleashed a Spirit of Revolution which is sweeping the world. Practically no country is exempt. This is part of the Evil One’s strategy; to break down and destroy. By shaking men’s hearts with fear he is preparing the way of the one whom Jesus Himself prophesied would come, “I come in my Father’s name and you receive me not, but there is coming another one in his own name, him you will receive! We rejoice in these signs and lift up our heads for the end draweth nigh.”

Part of our answer to this follows: “Of course, we have the signs of the times, the Bible chronology, the types and prophecies to bolster our faith; but in private con­versation I often stress that one text alone should persuade us that we are at the threshold of that Kingdom: “Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.” (Dan. 12:4) I lived in Dayton, Ohio when the airplane was invented, and I knew Orville Wright personally (one of the Wright Brothers – inventors). The tremendous improvement in the airplane is staggering; the present cruising speed of commercial jet planes is about 625 miles per hour – a speed that was unthinkable seventy years ago.”

Had the knowledge been available seventy years ago, the performance would yet have been impossible, because those engines generate a heat of about 5,000 degrees; and at that time there was no metal known that would stand up under that terrific strain; but in the interim such metal has been found and utilized to make the performance possible. The ‘whisper jets’ of today are so silent that ordinary conversation can be very easily heard – easier perhaps than driving in an ordinary automobile. Also, silver is now used in the manufacture of batteries, which makes the battery operation just about as useful at thirty degrees below zero as it is on the ground at thirty degrees above zero.

Another item from a recent publication: “It’s possible that phone books will become outdated in the future, American Telephone & Telegraph recently experimented with an electronic informa­tion system in Albany N. Y. Eighty-three participants were supplied with video screens and a special key board that enabled them to retrieve phone numbers and other information directly from AT&T’s computers.” Clearly enough, the inventive ge­nius of the nation is still very commendable. If the political efforts of the nation had kept pace with it, the condition of the country would be much different than it is.

In Surgery – Last summer in Florida a six-year-old girl lost her left arm and right hand when she was thrown from a car. In an extremely rare operation, two surgeons used a microscope to reconnect the tiny nerves and blood vessels; and they said there was a reasonable chance that the girl would regain the use of both arms. This would have been considered impossible twenty years ago.

IN FINANCE

Our general summation of finance bears repetition of our comments last January, al­though it is more deplorable now than it was then. The US Budget deficit for 1980 is about sixty billion dollars. Back forty years ago, when the entire national debt was about 45 billion, one financial publication then made the comment that no one in Washington with any financial sense believes that that debt would ever be paid off. And it is now twenty times that much!

One financial pundit recently made the comment that the American dollar would be valueless in a few years. We do not offer full approval of this; but we state it as a warning to our readers to keep their financial houses carefully in order. In our conver­sation with some men in high position they recognize this quite well; and it brings to mind the statement in Joel 2:6: “The people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness” – “like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble.” Traditions and their outgrowths are in terrible strain.

Recently we made a remark to a sound financial man to the effect that probably not more than five per cent of the men who have been elected to govern the United States have had any practical business experience, to which he quickly stated that there is not that many. This man had himself spent six years in the Senate. Thus we may conclude that a lot of boys are trying to do a man’s job; and we have all probably had experience with homes where the children are allowed free will. The condition is always most lamentable. Again from the Prophet Ezekiel (16:49): “The iniquity of Sodom... pride, fullness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her ... they were haughty, and committed abomination be­fore me; therefore, I took them away as I saw good.” This criticism could well be ap­plied to our political office holders; but it goes quite well here, too.

However, in all this we do not wish to appear too critical, because we have clear confirmation from the Scriptures that no one is now able to rescue present institutions; they are heading for the trashheap because they “are weighed in the balances, and are found wanting.”

Some wits are able to see the humor in this present financial turmoil, as evidence the following news item:

“NOBODY HAS ALL THE ANSWERS, SO ELECT NOBODY PRESIDENT – Listen, this Nobody for President movement really has a lot going for it. At a rally in Texas, Wavy Gravy, the coordinator for the Nobody for President Committee, said he thought Nobody was the best qualified, and he has some facts to back it up. For example, who honored the treaties with the Indians? That’s right, Nobody. Which candidate will lower taxes? Natu­rally it’s Nobody. The 500 students who turned out for the rally at the University of Tex­as carried signs reading “Nobody is qualified” and “Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen.”

IN POLITICS

The political situation here in the United States is badly moth-eaten and collaps­ing, One Congressman in Detroit has been convicted of 28 felony counts – crimes of brib­ery, kickbacks and sleight-of-hand maneuvering. And this is just one instance; in numer­ous other cases the unlawful grab for money has been exposed, and some of the offenders have already been convicted, with others still awaiting trial. Sad to note, many of the people themselves are ready to condone such crimes, and would vote the same people back in­to office.

In Israel the political situation continues to engulf our close attention. Egypt gives lip service to peace with Israel, much to the aggravation of other Arab countries over there. In this matter it is well to keep in mind that Egyptians are not descen­dants of Ishmael, so there is probably not the deep-rooted antagonism against the Jews that exists in the Arab countries. According to a very good encyclopedia, Mohammed is a direct descendant of Ishmael; and of Ishmael it is recorded: “He will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.” (Gen. 16:12) For centuries they have been a group of nomadic Gypsies; and for the past two thousand years they have done nothing to improve the heaps of sand upon which they lived. The remainder of the human race largely just ignored them; but now that the Jews have introduced their skill and industry, and are making something out of Palestine again, the Arabs now want it. It is somewhat of a Com­munistic attitude.

Presently the Jews are receiving some help through the war between Iran and Iraq (written November 3), as both these nations are avowed enemies of the Jews. It is well to keep in mind that Isaac and Ishmael are half brothers, Abraham being the father of both of them; but they have been bitter enemies since Isaac was five years old; and the years have accentuated that hatred rather than to soften it. In October Israeli Presi­dent Yitzhak Navon visited Anwar Sadat, at which he expressed the opinion that “Obstacles in the way of peace will be removed and other nations, sooner or later, will surely join the caravan of peace.” As we have previously stated, it is our opinion that the animos­ity will increase, thus leading up to “Jacob’s Trouble.” (Jer. 30:7), after which there will indeed be peace – a lasting peace much superior to anything that is now expected.

IN RELIGION

Under this subject also some strange things are occurring. Under the heading CATHO­LIC DIOCESE AIDS A LUTHERAN MISSION there is the following news item: “Old wounds slowly are healing. Sunday October 26 traditionally commemorates the break between the Roman Cath­olic Church and the groups that came to be known as the Protestants. But two weeks ago, the Catholic Diocese of Orlando (Fla.) stretched out a helping hand to a fledgling Lutheran mission in the Tuscawilla area of Seminole County.

“The Rev. Franklin Ledvinka came to Central Florida to start an American Lutheran con­gregation that would serve Casselberry, Winter Springs and the Tuscawilla area. He has no place to hold his first services. The San Pedro Center, a retreat facility owned by the diocese, offered to help. The Rev. Guy Noonan, assistant director of the center, talked to Ledvinka, rearranged some schedules and made the center’s facilities available to the Luther­an Mission.

“It’s a turnaround, Ledvinka said. Here is a Roman Catholic Church helping a Lutheran Church find life and get started. The churches are finding they can agree on many things and can grow together. This is a new day in the church. Churches are finding a new one­ness in the spirit that allows us to share together the joy and love and celebration of be­ing in God’s family.”

Well, the Bible puts quite a different construction on it. “They shall gather togeth­er, but not by me.” (Isa. 54:15) Further, from Isa. 34:1-4: “The indignation of the Lord is upon all the nations ... the mountains (powerful monarchies, such as Russia, etc.) shall be melted (overcome by the radical elements) ... the heavens (the present religious systems) shall be rolled together as a scroll, and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf fall­eth off from the vine.” This is accentuated in Rev. 6:14: “The heaven (present relig­ious systems) departed as a scroll when it is rolled together.”

The two ends of the scroll are Protestantism and Catholicism; and these two ends have been making tedious effort to “roll together,” although the intimacy is definitely a vexatious accomplishment. The two reformers that Papacy has despised most are Martin Luther (Ger­many) and Thomas Cranmer (England), because these two have done them the most harm. it was Thomas Cranmer who goaded on Henry VIII of England to throw off the papal yoke by his stewardship truth that the Church is subject to the civil powers in civil matters – a truth that is emphatically taught in the New Testament; whereas, the Papacy ruled the nations with a “rod of iron” from 799 A.D. on to the reformation. But Napoleon definitely broke that power in 1799, when he so openly humiliated the Pope by crowning himself as Emperor of France.

Israel A smattering of religion has been injected into the mid-east fighting: “Israeli fighter-bombers attacked a major Palestinian Guerrilla camp only eight miles south of Beirut Wednesday in what Prime Minister Menachem Begin said was a “holy task” to prevent further terrorist attacks upon Israel ... Begin told reporters in Jerusalem that the “preemptive strikes” were aimed at stopping Guerrilla attacks on Israel. “We want to prevent these murders, and this is the way. This is a holy task, he said.”

Big Money Embraces Religion – The following news item speaks for itself: “More than 100 of America’s wealthiest and most powerful people have given or pledged to raise $1 mil­lion each in a $1 billion drive led by Nelson Bunker Hunt to save the world by taking the Christian gospel to every soul. The campaign is called Here’s Life World. It is one of more than two dozen ministerial offshoots of the Campus Crusade for Christ International Inc., an evangelical movement with headquarters in Arrohead Springs, California ...

“Hunt invited 500 supporters and potential supporters to Houston last month. ‘You and others who have invested their time, money and influence can play a major role in help­ing to reverse the atheistic tide of darkness which threatens to engulf the world,’ Hunt wrote. ‘We encourage you to join us.’

“Hunt, of course, is better known for another type of investment – in silver. He and his brother, William Herbert Hunt, made huge purchases before the silver market collapsed and the price tumbled from $50 an ounce to below $11. At one time they owed almost $1.8 billion in silver-related debts. They have pledged almost everything they own to obtain a $1.1 billion line of credit to offset the losses.”

Another item of interest here: “Tv Preacher Asking $5 Million: The Rev. ------- says he faces a ‘do-or-die’ battle to save his ‘Old-Time Gospel Hour’ television program and that $5 million is needed to keep it on the air... He blames his financial troubles in large part on attacks against him because of his involvement with Moral Majority, a con­servative political action group.”

On one occasion we heard this same Evangelist ask a million of his listeners to send him just $12 a month (only twelve million a month, or 144 million a year) to help him win the nation for Jesus.

Another Educated Teacher – A man in our neighborhood has the following to say: “Will only 144,000 go to Heaven? The false teaching that only 144,000 will go to heaven is taught by the Jehovah’s Witnesses. In their book, ‘Let God be True’ they say ‘All who by reason of faith in Jehovah God and in Christ Jesus dedicate themselves to God’s will and then faithfully carry out their dedication will be rewarded with everlasting life ... The Bible plainly shows that some of these, that is, 144,000, will share in heavenly glory with Christ Jesus, while the others will enjoy the blessings of life down here on earth!

“There are several errors to this doctrine. First, the 144,000 is not a literal number. The book of Revelation abounds in figurative expressions, and this is one of them. For example, in Rev. 7:4 the 144,000 are Jews and in Rev. 14:4, they are virgin men. Therefore, if all this is to be taken literally, then only 144,000 Jewish virgin men will go to heaven! No women, no married, and no Gentiles! Not even the Jehovah’s Witnesses teach this! Truly then, the 144,000 is a figurative number, and even Rev. 7:9 speaks of a ‘great number, which no one could count’ as being in heaven.

“Another error is to teach that there will be an earthly kingdom. Micah 4:1-5, Isaiah 2:2-4, Dan. 2:44 and Joel 2:28-32 all refer to the same event when the Messiah would set up His kingdom. This was fulfilled when Jesus established His Church, which is a spiritual Kingdom.

“A third error of the Witnesses is to teach that the earth will be eternal so that it can be inhabited eternally. The Bible teaches that when Jesus comes again the earth will be destroyed (2 Pet. 3:10-12).”

There is more of this, but this should be more than enough. This man is willing to teach any one the Bible – at a price!

Some More About The Witnesses – From a news item: “According to an official announce­ment, ‘Five persons at Bethel and one outside of Bethel, have been disfellowshiped on the charge of apostasy.’ Bethel in Brooklyn, New York, is the world headquarters of the Watch­tower Bible & Tract Society, the corporate structure of the Jehovah’s Witnesses. The an­nouncement was made June 29 at the close of a four-day ‘1980 Divine Love Convention of the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ held in Long Beach, Cal., one of a series of conventions, in an apparent attempt to squelch many rumors of an apparent major doctrinal controversy among the members of the ‘Governing Body’ and other high level officials within the organiza­tion. The sources state that the reason for the disfellowshiping and forced resignations was that those involved hold the doctrinal position that all Jehovah’s Witnesses must ex­perience a spiritual rebirth and be ‘born again... Only a very small number of the Witnesses alive today, less than 10,000, may experience spiritual rebirth which they con­sider a ‘heavenly hope,’ while remaining Witnesses have only an ‘earthly hope’ and cannot have this spiritual rebirth... The resigning member of the governing body is Raymond V. Franz, a nephew of the current President of the Watchtower, Frederick W. Franz. Sources agree that Raymond V. Franz was considered as one of the three possible successors to his aging uncle as President of the Society.”

Now that the six have been written out of the “Remnant” (approximately 10,000), it will be necessary to replace them with six others if the 144,000 select group of Rev. 7:4 is to remain intact. This forces the inevitable conclusion that – to them, at least ­the High Calling is still open; and this conclusion puts the select group in pretty much the same category as their Chronology; they are floating around in space, with nothing solid upon which to hang their hats.

GENERAL – A recent news item offers the following comment on the tumultuous conditions in the world: “PARIS – West European terrorism now goes on for its own sake. Its politi­cal objectives are more and more remote from reality. Its result thus only increases pop­ular loathing for the terrorists. This is a new development. One could feel encouraged if it were not for the dead.

“In Bologna, Italy, 80 people were killed in a railroad terminal explosion. France until now has largely been spared terrorism, but in recent months a government min­istry and a police van have been machine-gunned .... The apparent intention is to launch in France something like the Italian leftist terrorist movement... Why are terrorists or­ganizing in France? The answer appears to be the same. Terrorism itself is the aim... they are in love with death, looking to spread it... Their avowed aim can only be articu­lated in abstractions – the revolutionary transformation of society, complete liberation.”

“Complete liberation,” of course, means the elimination of all governments; but it is a sage observation of sound minds that the worst form of government is better than none at all.

And here is another one: “The Daily News Digest reveals that recent large-scale rioting by the youth in Switzerland is yet another indication that the whole world is be­coming more unstable. In its September 24 issue, the Digest points out that the Soviets are reported using some sort of knockout gas in Afghanistan. Within the last 30 days, the North Koreans used the same (or a similar type) gas against an American patrol in South Korea.”

Much of the foregoing presents a real gloomy picture; but we offer to our readers the words of Jesus: “When these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” As the Prophet Isaiah has advised us: “In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.”

THE JEWS

The turmoil in the Middle East has engaged our attention very closely because we be­lieve that some prophecy is now being fulfilled there; and we shall yet see much more of it. As instance, Zech. 14:1-3: “Behold, the day of the Lord cometh (we have been in the “evil day” –Eph. 6:13– since 1914, with the “evil” steadily becoming worse and worse), and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.”

As In The Day Of Battle. Some outstanding instances where the Lord fought for Israel in former times are (1) when He gave a great victory to David in the Valley of Rephaim in close-by Baal-perazim (2 Sam. 5:17-21); (2) when Gideon commanded 300 men, who were used to inflict a miraculous defeat upon the Midianites and Amalakites, who were “in the valley like grasshoppers for multitude – their camels as the sand by the seaside for multitude” (Judges 7:12-23); and (3) with Joshua in Ajalon, where “the Lord discomfited them. (Josh. 10:8-14)

AJALON – On these citations we shall give detailed analysis on only one, mainly be­cause this one, we believe, may find close kinship in the years immediately ahead of us. Upon the “death of Moses ... the Lord spake unto Joshua, saying... there shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life ... I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee... be thou strong and very courageous.” (Josh. 1:1-7) As we come to the narrative in Ajalon, the various units of Canaan had heard of the prow­ess of Joshua, of the great defeats he had inflicted upon his enemies in various places. This struck such terror into their hearts that thirty-one kings combined to fight against Joshua; and the battle was joined in the Valley of Ajalon.

Now those kings were sun and moon worshipers, so the Lord caused a heavy cloud to appear – so dark that it was almost night. This terrorized the enemy, thinking their gods had turned their backs on them, so they turned and fled, at which the Lord “cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died: they were more which died with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword... And Joshua said... Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon. And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged them­selves upon their enemies.” (vs. 11-13)

A similar situation exists today in the Middle East: About twenty of those Moslem rulers have banded themselves together to destroy Israel; but the “sure word of prophecy” is there that the Lord will again “fight for them as he did in the day of battle.” And the promise is sure, “By myself have I sworn saith the Lord,... that in blessing I will bless thee (Abraham)... thy seed shall be as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the seashore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies.” (Gen. 22:15-17)

Perhaps a bit of historical humor may be acceptable here: After America gained its independence, Benjamin Franklin was appointed the first American ambassador to France; and the French leader in France, the English ambassador and Franklin were having lunch to­gether, when it was suggested that a toast be offered by each one of them for the nation he represented. The Englishman: Here’s to England, whose sun never sets; the Frenchman: Here’s to France, who like the moon controls the tides and the sea; Franklin: Here’s to the United States of America, who, like Joshua in Ajalon, commanded the sun and the moon to stand still – and they stood still!

As we contemplate the great victory of Joshua in Ajalon, we come to a much better ap­preciation of his final address to the Jewish people: “This day I am going the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all good things which the Lord your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof” ....(Josh. 23:14) And further from Josh. 23:9,10: “No man hath been able to stand before you unto this day. One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the Lord your God he it is that fighteth for you, as he has promised you.” And we may accept the statement literally now, that in our day “the Lord will fight against those nations (now combined against Israel), as when he fought in the day of battle.”

Benjamin Disraeli – We believe emphasis will be added to the foregoing if we consider this Jew, and what one authority says about him: “Statesman and novelist, twice British prime minister (1868; 1874-80), was one of the most extraordinary figures to reach the pin­nacle of British politics. He was of Italian Jewish descent. As a result of his father’s quarrel with the synagogue, he was baptized as a Christian, but for which curious accident his career could not have taken the form it did. After some failures in his pursuit of political opportunity he was returned to Parliament (1837) as a conservative member for Maidstone in Kent. In 1848 he acquired a claim to the leadership of the opposition in the House of Commons after being elected to Parliament as member for the County of Bucking­hamshire in 1847. He served as chancellor of exchequer for a period in 1852 and again in 1858. Disraeli became prime minister in 1868, but when the autumn election was won by Liberals, he resigned. His second period as prime minister was 1874-1880. In 1876 he ac­cepted a peerage, taking the title of earl of Beaconsfield.”

Berlin Congress Of Nations – The foregoing is given about Disraeli because he was the first Jew ever to become prime minister of England; and he was a prominent figure at the Berlin Congress which was held June 13 - July 13, 1878. That Congress was attended by all the major European powers, and it replaced the Treaty of San Stefano of March 3, 1878 at the conclusion of the Russo-Turkish war of 1877-78. At that time England was the greatest empire on earth. London was the financial center of the world; and English ships controlled the sea. And Disraeli used that tremendous power to force acceptance of his move to gain favor for the Jews in Palestine. That was the beginning of various efforts to promote the Jews to where they are today. At that Berlin meeting Disraeli secured cer­tain rights for aliens in Palestine that were not previously tolerated – the principal ben­efactors of that decision being the Jews. It is of interest here to note that the date 1878 is exactly 1845 years after the crucifixion of Jesus, previous to which they had en­joyed great favor from the Lord for 1845 years – from the death of Jacob. This “double” is mentioned in Isa. 40:1-3; Jer. 16:18; Zech. 9:12; and the word means an exact dupli­cate, as if we should fold a piece of paper in the middle, the lower half would be exact­ly the same size as the upper part.

Zech. 8:23 – At that time in 1878 we believe the following prophecy was fulfilled: “In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men out of all the tongues of the nations shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.” The “ten men” of the text are the various nations of Europe. While it is true that there are many more than ten governments in Europe, yet there are only ten-language nations (aside from the Jewish): (1) The Scandinavian (Nor­way, Sweden, etc.); (2) The Anglo-Saxon (,England, Scotland, etc.); (3) The Teutonic (Germany, Austria, etc.); (4) The Gallic (France, Belgium, etc.); (5) The Hispanic (Spain and Portugal); (6) The Latin (Italy); (7) The Greek (Greece; (8) The Turkish (Turkey); (9) The Slavic (Russia, Poland, etc.); and (10), The Magyars (Hungarian).

The words of Disraeli are most pertinent here: “Had it not been for the Jews of Pal­estine the good tidings of our Lord would have been unknown forever to the northern and western races. The first preachers of the gospel were Jews, no others; the historians of the Gospel were Jews, no others. No human being has ever been permitted to write under the inspiration of the holy Spirit except the Jew.” Truly, Disraeli was a man of destiny; one among the greatest Jews in all history!

Thus, the situation in the Middle East today is indeed an engaging “prospect.” And we conclude this feature about the Jews with Jer. 30:7: “That day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.” “Jacob’s trouble” will be the climax – the grand finale – of that trouble over there – when those Arab countries make a combined attack upon Israel, and God will then “fight for them as he did in the day of battle.” (Zech. 14:3) As That Servant has said: “How true the statement that those who have cursed, or injured, Israel have brought injury to themselves! As we scan the whole field of the world, we find that every nation which has dealt harshly with Israel has received chastisement or blight. On the contrary, Great Britain and the United States, nations which have blessed the Jew, have in turn received great blessings.” (Reprint 5323, October 1, 1913)

Again it has been necessary to curtail the number of our usual individual greeting cards; but we are most grateful for the cooperation, prayers and good wishes of our many readers. You may be sure the same sentiments exist here for all of you. We repeat with hearty approval the words of the Psalmist: “Thou crownest the year with thy goodness” ­and we express our sentiments toward all for the year 1981 in the words of 3 John 2:

“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.”

Sincerely your brother

John J. Hoefle, Pilgrim

=============================

 LETTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST

Dear Brother Hoefle:

Thank you for your kind, Christian letter. I have probably told you once that some ministers I have reasoned with have been anything but kind. They certainly did not reflect the lovely character of Jesus. That love of Jesus shines out of your letters. It is heart-warming. I do receive your bulletins and thank you for them and the paper en­closed in your letter. I have not yet had time to peruse it (it came today), but I shall do so.

So many things have happened in this confused world of ours since our last correspon­dence. I do believe it is near midnight on God’s prophetic time clock. May dear Jesus come soon to take us HOME. That is our earnest prayer – my wife and I – and we send our Christian love to you and your wife.

Sincerely your brother, ------- (FLORIDA)

...........................................................................

Dear Brother Hoefle:

“Surely goodness and mercy follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever” (Psa. 23:6)!

Perhaps you don’t remember meeting me in your home a few years past. However, I feel impelled to let you know that your Scriptural comments and article about Pastor Russell are much appreciated. Numbers 303 and 304 are outstanding.

A heart condition and the resulting weakness keep me pretty much confined to home ­and articles such as you send me are a blessing. The Lord and His Truth continue to shine brightly! I hope this message of THANKS will be accepted as a profusely sincere expression.

Christian love, ------- (FLORIDA)

...........................................................................

Dear Brother Hoefle:

I am sorry I could only phone you from New York and not actually come and see you. I had four days during which I also had to go to Dayton and Washington for a day each. This left little time for other “business.”

However, I am glad that you are well and that the Lord is blessing you. I was at the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem with 1000 other Christians from around the world and experienced great rejoicing. I will send you a copy of our report...

Many believe that things are moving to a God-appointed climax in the Middle East. Derek Prince is here as our guest at the moment, and this is the thrust of his ministry with great blessing to Christian and Jewish audiences. As ones who love Zion and pray for the peace of Jerusalem, I would suggest you send your name and address to our good friend Harry Hurwitz, who is the Minister of information for Israel...

My first visit to your country was blessed and I was greatly impressed by the many beautiful and positive things I saw there which did much to offset the very negative re­ports one reads in the newspapers these days.

My prayers and love are for your continued well being and blessing in the Lord. I remain, in Christ’s love. Yours sincerely,------- (AFRICA)

...........................................................................

“IN THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW”

SISTER MAUDE H. DUNNAGAN finished her course on Oct. 17, 1980. It is with a heavy heart and great sadness that we make this announcement, as she was an integral part of the Bible House Family, having been with us since its inception. She was a “good soldier of Jesus Christ” and not only helped with the Truth work, but was overseer of the house­hold chores and of the grounds, flowers, etc., doing much of the work herself. As “A true yokefellow who labored with us in the Gospel” (Phil. 4:3), she leaves a great ache in the hearts of all of us, and a void in our activities here which cannot be replaced. As Jesus said of Mary, we can truly say of her: “She hath done what she could”!

Due to our close association with her for these many years, we asked a good friend and brother of the Dawn to officiate. This he readily and obligingly did, even canceling an important business engagement to give us help. Many friends and good neighbors attended the funeral; and all were warm in their commendation of the excellent service of Brother William Vrooman. All of us here in the Bible House, as well as her children, are most grateful for the help he gave us in our time of need.

=========================

The Proper Date for the Memorial this year is any time after 6 p.m. April 17. Details on this will appear in our Memorial article.

If any of our readers fail to receive future papers, please let us know if they wish to continue receiving them.

NO. 306: "WE SEE JESUS"

No. 306

Comes again the time of year that we consider the birth of Jesus. However, at the outset we would say that nowhere in the Bible are we told to remember His birth, although He emphatically told us to remember His death – “This do in remembrance of Me.” (Luke 22:19)

Most of our readers know that December 25 is not the correct date for Jesus’ birth. This date has been plucked out of thin air; the Atonement Day type and other Scriptures inform us that He was born on the tenth day of the seventh Jewish month – Tishri – ­Tishri being approximately our October. But we would not haggle about the exact date. We are persuaded that the Christian world does receive some moral uplift and spiritual encouragement through the observance of His birth; and we readily join with others in the observance. Many in Christendom reveal a milder and more pleasant spirit at that time. Quite often we have noticed people on the street humming some sort of Christmas tune; and we are happy to make this observation.

Coming to the analytical phase of this subject, we make note that if we ask many believers, Do you see Jesus? – That is, do you understand Him? from many we would re­ceive a ready answer: “Of course, we do!” So we would now offer our own analysis of how we “see Jesus.” And we would present some comment by the Apostle Paul in Heb. 2: 6-9: “One in a certain place testified (Psa. 8:3-9), saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him? Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownest him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands. Thou hast put all thing in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.”

To present a proper foundation for our analysis we would first quote from the Gos­pel of John 1:1-5: “In the beginning was the Logos, and the Logos was with God, and the Logos was a god. This was in a beginning with the God. Through it everything was done; and without it not even one thing was done, which has been done. In it was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shown in the darkness, and the dark­ness apprehended it not.” This is taken from the Emphatic Diaglott translation; and the following is a footnote from that same translation: “This term (the Logos) should be left untranslated for the very same reasons why the names Jesus and Christ are left untranslated. As every appellative of the Saviour of the world was descriptive of some excellence in his person, nature, or work, so the epithet Logos, which signified a word spoken, speech, eloquence, doctrine, reason, or the faculty of reasoning, is very prop­erly applied to him. See 1 John 1:1, for a clear and useful comment by the Apostle John on the proem to this gospel.”

And further from John 1:14, Dia.: “The Logos became flesh, and dwelt among us ­and we beheld his glory, a glory as of an Only-begotten from a Father – full of favor and truth.” Also, from Phil. 2:5-7, Dia.: “Christ Jesus, though being in God’s form, yet did not meditate a usurpation to be like God, but divested (emptied) himself, taking a bondsman’s form, having been made in the likeness of men; and being in condition as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

Note now the exact language found in Psa. 8:3-9: “Made a little lower than the angels.” This description in both texts is identical, so we would apply the geometric theorem, “Things equal to the same things are equal to each other.” To make this very plain: two half dollars equal one dollar; four quarters also equal one dollar. There­fore, the four quarters are the exact equivalent of two half dollars – equal to each other. Here is clear Scriptural proof that Jesus was a man – “made flesh” – “a little lower than the angels.”

THE DUST OF THE GROUND

“The Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” (Gen. 2:7) Not the identical process, but a similar one, may be given for the Man Jesus. When He came to birth from the Virgin Nary, he began to partake of the foods common to man, and grew into a man – the exact du­plicate of Adam – when He was thirty years of age, when he presented Himself to John in the River Jordan on the day He was thirty, the age at which the Jews reasoned, with Scrip­tural authority, that their males reached full manhood.

To analyze this a little further: Presently, the grass grows from the earth – the dust of the ground; the grass is consumed by the flesh-producing animals, which in turn are eaten by man. All of these things are the direct result of “the dust of the ground.” Thus, are we all formed from “the dust of the ground” – even as Jesus was; and the record is clear enough: “Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.” (Gen. 3:19) Thus, at the age of thirty Jesus was in every detail an exact duplicate of Adam when “Cod breathed into his nostrils the breath of life.”

By this statement we do not infer that God was thirty years in producing Adam. But the moment he was animated, Adam was the exact image of Jesus when He was thirty. “The son of man came to give himself a ransom for many.” (Matt. 20:28) The word ransom is from the Greek anti-lutron, which means an exact duplicate, a replica; therefore, Jesus had to be an exact duplicate of Adam – no more, no less – that He could provide the ran­som for Adam, which none of the other human beings was able to do. “They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; none of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him.” (Psa. 49:6,7)

“That disciple whom Jesus loved” reveals the intimate acquaintance and understand­ing that the Apostles had of Jesus: “What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we beheld and our hands felt, concerning the word of life (the Logos); and the life was made manifest, and what we have seen we also tes­tify, and declare to you the aionian life, which was with the Father, and was manifest to us.” (1 John 1:1,2 – Dia.) “Our hands felt” – here the Apostle reveals the intimate re­lationship which he had had with our Lord when He was on earth – a comradeship of the closest nature.

JESUS

“We behold Jesus.” It is in order to stress here that the Apostle does not say, “We behold Jesus Christ.” And there is good reason for this. When the angel was speak­ing to Joseph, the advice was given: “Thou shalt call his name Jesus; for he will save his people from their sins.” (Matt. 1:21) Here is one scholar’s comment on the name: “The name Jesus means the salvation of God. For Joshua among the Hebrews is salvation, and among them the son of Nun is called Joshua. The name Jesus is above every name.”

However, from birth to His baptism by John in Jordan our Lord was known by the single appellation Jesus, and not Jesus Christ. Christ means anointed; and He did not become the ‘anointed’ Saviour until He received the Holy Spirit without measure at His baptism in Jordan. Therefore, it was not Jesus Christ who was made “a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death”; because the Christ – the Anointed – was not sacrificed on the cross, but merely Jesus, the perfect man. Had Jesus the Christ been nailed to the cross, He would have offered much beyond what the man Adam had, because Adam was never anointed with the Holy Spirit; he was simply “a living soul” – a man from any view­point. Christ was not “lower than the angels”; and, when He said on the cross, “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit” (Luke 23:46), He was referring to the spiritual life that had begun in Him at Jordan, which was raised from the tomb three days later, when “God supremely exalted him, and freely granted to him that name which is above every name .... that every knee should bend, of those in heaven, and those on earth, and of those beneath; and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, for the glory of God the Father.” (Phil. 2:9-11) He now “sits at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Heb. 12:2)

VARIOUS NAMES AND POSITIONS

Logos – During His existence our Lord has held three positions in relationship to God; and these various positions are indicated by the various names He has had. Be­fore His first advent to the earth He was known as the Logos – the Word. And as the Word of God He was the principal agent of God’s creation; He was second to God, but above every other creature in Heaven or earth. As such, the Bible tells us, “without him was not anything made that was made.” (John 1:3) As such He was a spirit being, not capable of description with our limited knowledge. Before his deflection, Lucifer was described as The son of the morning” (Isa. 14:12); but the Logos was superior to that, because Lu­cifer came into existence through the agency of the Word.

Jesus Christ – When the Logos came to earth, and became Christ Jesus, the situation is vividly described by St. Paul: “Christ Jesus ... made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men ... became obed­ient unto death, even the death of the cross.” (Phil. 2:5-8) The Diaglott translates this in much finer style: “Christ Jesus ... divested himself (He laid aside His high position, much the same as a man might take off his coat), taking a bondsman’s form (a slave’s position), having been made in the likeness of men..... he humbled himself, be­coming obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

“In The Likeness Of Men” – He had the appearance of a man, although a most unusual likeness of men – so much so that Pilate exclaimed in admiration, “Ecce homo” – “Behold the man!” (John 19:5) And St. Paul writes of Him: “He was in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin.” (Heb. 4:15) Although Pilate saw the excellent features of a most unusual man, he could not see that Jesus was “without sin.” Yet Jesus’ sinlessness had set Him apart from all men. All of us find description in the words of David: “Born in sin, shapen in iniquity.” (Psa. 51:5)

Express Image Of God’s Person – Presently, and henceforth forever, Jesus occupies a third position, described by the Apostle in Heb. 1:3: “the express image of God’s per­son ... the right hand of the majesty on high.” In Heb. 2:9 we have the subject of this treatise – “We see Jesus – a little lower than the angels”; but in Heb. 1:4 it is stated that He is now “so much better than the angels.”

Scores of names and titles are used in the Bible in discussing Jesus; but we shall offer just a few of them here: In Rev. 1:8 He is the “Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending ... the Almighty”; in Rev. 22:16, “The bright and morning star”; in Isa. 51:9, “the arm of the Lord”; in the Song of Solomon 3:1, “Rose of Sharon and The Lily of the Valleys”; and 5:10, “the chiefest among ten thousand”; In John 8:12, “the light of the world ... the light of life”; in Luke 1:78, “the dayspring from on high”-, in 1 Tim. 6:15, “the blessed and only potentate ... the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords;” and in Heb. 13:20, “that great shepherd of the sheep.”

Four Great Offices – The risen Lord is now the possessor of four great offices, in which He is to do a certain work for the human race. There are many sub­divisions of these four, but we shall not go into that detail. These offices are pres­ently operative only in a very limited way; but He will come into the full glory of them all when He establishes His reign on earth – “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth.” These offices are Biblically stated as follows: The world’s Prophet – “A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you..... him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you” (Acts 3:22); and the world’s High Priest – “Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchisedec” (Heb. 5:6); the world’s King – “Thou Bethlehem..... out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel whose goings forth have been from old, from everlasting” (Micah 5:2); though world’s Judge – “The Lord cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteous­ness, and the people with his truth.” (Psa. 96:13) In treating of just these four, we do so be­cause each of them is close companion to God’s four great attributes – Wisdom, Justice, Love and Power; and we shall offer brief comment on each of these descriptive pairs:

World’s Prophet – The word prophet in Acts 3:22 is from the Greek ‘prophetes,’ from which the English word prophet is derived; and it has the meaning of public expounder, or teacher. And to be a good teacher, one must be endowed with Wisdom. Thus, the Lord’s office of Prophet is readily linked with the Divine attribute of Wisdom. In making this statement we should be alert not to confuse wisdom with knowledge, because wisdom is the proper application of knowledge. It is well stated, “Knowledge is power”; but this is true only if we know what to do with knowledge. Also, it is a sound observation that “A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.” Knowledge in inexperienced hands often causes great disaster – in the laboratory, in construction, in the operation of intricate machin­ery, etc. But we have strong Bible assurance that our risen Lord will know perfectly what to do on every occasion, and how to do it. Thus, it is properly foretold of Him: “The government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor” (able to advise and counsel in every situation). (Isa. 9:6)

World’s High Priest – The office of a Priest is to forgive and bless. Therefore, we are counseled in Heb. 4:16: “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy (forgiveness of sins), and find grace (blessing) to help in time of need.” All of this is clearly an operation of LOVE: therefore, we team the High Priest with the Divine attribute of Love.

World’s King – “Of the increase of his government and peace (kingdom) there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom there shall be no end, to order it with judgment and justice from henceforth even forever.” (Isa. 9:7) In the operation of this kingdom the Divine attribute of Power is self-evidently coupled.

World’s Judge – “Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation ... Judgment will I lay to the line, and right­eousness to the plummet; and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies.” (Isa. 28: 16,17) It needs no elaboration to declare that the Divine attribute of Justice is the fitting counterpart of the World’s Judge.

Analysis Of The Four Offices – Now further comment on the foregoing: Teacher­wisdom – He who discerns clearly teaches clearly. Of the Teacher it is recorded: “Jesus needed not that any should testify of man; for he knew what was in man.” (John 2:24,25) And His crushing answers to all the tricky questions of the Scribes and Pharisees offer ample proof that Jesus did know what was in man. Therefore, “He taught them as one hav­ing authority.” (Matt. 7:29) Concerning the Jews St. Paul said: “Israel hath a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.” (Rom. 10:2) Quite a contrast to the knowledge that Jesus had! The Egyptian proverb goes well here:

He who knows, but knows not that he knows, is timid; encourage him.

He who knows not, and knows that he knows not, is ignorant; teach him.

He who knows not, and knows not that he knows not, is a fool; shun him.

He who knows, and knows that he knows, is wise, follow him.

The great World’s Teacher knows, and knows that He knows. “By his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many.” (Isa. 53:11) And the Apostles stressed this point concerning the true followers of Jesus: “We know of whom we have believed. We have known him.” (1 John 2:3) “We know that we are of the truth.” (1 John 3:19) And the philosophers, the comics, the ignoramuses all have had their play on this subject – some of it good and sound. As one of them has put it: “It’s not what we don’t know that hurts; it’s what we know that ain’t right that floors us.” This truth may be emphasized in pol­itics, religion, finance, patriotism, etc. One of our present-day philosophers said of Jesus: “He is the greatest teacher of all times.” Also, one of the poets has contributed an excellent bit on this subject:

Truth forever on the scaffold, Wrong forever on the throne –

Yet that scaffold sways the future, and behind the dim unknown,

Standeth God within the shadow, keeping watch above his own,

However, we know “When thy judgments are in the earth (when the Great Teacher supervises the teaching) the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.” (Isa. 26:9)

Priest-Love – The great love-work that Jesus will accomplish is well expressed in Hos. 13:14: “I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: 0 death, I will be thy plagues; 0 grave, I will be thy destruction.” Of Jesus, our Priest, it is written: “Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.” (Heb. 5:10)

Of Melchisedec it is recorded that he was a Priest upon his throne; that is, he was not subservient to any earthly power – which is an excellent description of our High Priest Jesus. One author gives us this description: “Melchisedec, King of Salem (probab­ly Jerusalem before the Jews conquered that country after their Exodus from Egypt) and priest of the Most High God. Jerusalem means city or foundation of peace or safety, so that Salem is an appropriate abbreviation. In Salem also is God’s tabernacle (Psa. 76: 2), God’s dwelling place in Zion. Melchisedec as described in Heb. 5:10, was without father, without mother, without genealogy. This means that his pedigree is not recorded. He is further described as having neither beginning of days, nor end of life, of whom it is testified that he lives. It is not known whence he came, or whither he went; he is a type of undying priesthood. When thus our Lord was made a high priest after the order of Melchisedec, he held a higher office than the Aaronic priesthood.”

It is a sad record that all movements, religious, governmental, or political, have been relatively pure at the outset. And almost all of them have followed a very fixed pattern as the years have come and gone. Regarding religious movements, they have gone through three stages: Priesthood, Priestcraft and Priestgraft. The pristine purity of the early Christine Church under the leadership of the Apostles is a thing of beauty, earnest­ly striving for the welfare of its adherents. But the Apostle Paul said that already in his day “the mystery of iniquity doth already work ... whose coming is after the working of Satan... with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth.” (2 Thes. 2:7-10) Much the same could be said for the Jewish Church. When it was organized under Moses at Sinai, Aaron was the ideal priest. “No man taketh this honor unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.” (Heb. 5:4) But by the time Jesus had arrived the noble ideals of Aaron had dis­appeared; the priesthood had degraded to the bottom of the dirty barrel – priestgraft. “My house shall be called the house of prayer: but ye (the Scribes and the Pharisees) have made it a den of thieves.” (Matt. 21:13)

Judge-Justice – One of the classic Scriptures describing Jesus as Judge administer­ing quick and perfect Justice is found in Isa. 11:1-5: “There shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots: And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord; And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: but with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.”

The most just and well-intentioned of our Courts today must judge according to the seeing of the eyes and the hearing of the ears. Thus, some guilty go free, and some inno­cent are convicted. That is the best we have today; but that will not be so when the Great Judge administers Justice. We have “the sure word of prophecy” to verify this con­clusion: “God hath appointed a day (the 1000-year day – shall “reign with him a thous­and years”—Rev. 20:6) in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.” Acts 17:31) Indeed, “man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” (1 Sam. 16:7) Often do our judges favor the strong, and burden the weak. A man’s face may be pushed out too far, or in too much; thus, our judgment is often based on the “outward appearance.” It is a recognized truth that the very rich, the very powerful, or the highly educated find it almost impossible for them to receive a fair appraisal of themselves from others, because their position strongly influences the judgment of their admirers, or their enemies. Let us consider the case of Pilate: He admired the fine physical features of Jesus; thus, he said to the Jews: “I find in him no fault at all.” (John 18:38 – repeated in John 19:4) But the “envy” of the Jews was so pronounced and clamorous that they prevailed. Thus the law is often decided through prejudice, trickery, oratory or brute force. And the doctrine “Might is right” often prevails. We close the Justice feature of “We see Jesus” with Isa. 28:17: “Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.

King-Power – As King over all the earth Jesus will exercise the Divine Attribute of Power. Since the time that historical records began to be kept men have striven to im­prove their living conditions; and, while some progress has been made in certain respects, yet the overall picture is well described by the Prophet Isaiah (1:6): “From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrefying sores; they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.”

It is a sage observation that beauty lies in the eye of the beholder. And the Bible emphasizes this in classic and emphatic fashion. In Dan. 2:26-44 there is portrayed the dream of King Nebuchad­nezzar’s metal man – head of gold, breast and arms of silver, belly and thighs of brass, and legs of iron. Here is given us a picture of the four universal empires as viewed through the eyes of man. And Daniel told King Nebuchadnezzar: “Thou 0, king art a king of kings... a kingdom, power, strength and glory. Thou art this head of gold.” (vs. 37,38)

But the seventh chapter of the same book these same kingdoms are described by four beasts: a lion, a bear, a leopard, and “the fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it.” (7:7) In both instances the four universal empires are described – Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome. The last of these ­Rome – is well portrayed by the iron legs, as history is replete with the records of “the iron rule of Rome.” But in Dan. 4:17 there is this terse summarization of all of them: “The Most High setteth up over it the basest of men.”

And as we consider Nero, Ivan the Terrible, the Pharaohs of Egypt, the emperors of Rome, etc., we recognize the truth of this statement. They were conquering heroes in their time; but they do not appear at all favorably when compared to The Prince of Peace! The shibboleth of the Roman rulers was: Without slaves there can be no leisure; without leisure there can be no thinking; without thinking there can be no progress. And his­tory bears sad testimony to the rough time many of those Roman slaves had. And one of the heads of our own Government made the remark not so many years ago: “The average man is so dumb you can tell him anything.”

It is a proper analysis that the human race is divided into three groups – the magnetics, the repulsives, and the neutrals. The magnetics are a very small minority, but so are the repulsives. It is seldom we see a human face of such disagreeable appear­ance that we instinctively turn away from it. But some secular writers – not overly re­ligious – have been caught up with the magnetism of Jesus; and one of them in his im­pelling way treats of the wife of one of the high rulers in Palestine at the time Jesus was being tried and led to the cross. She said to her husband: “O, Lodbrog, I have seen him; and I cannot forget his wonderful face. Save him, and I will go with you any­where to the ends of the earth.” But the husband answered, “I should save God!” Jesus was indeed magnetic, “The common people heard him gladly.” (Mark 12:37)

“We see Jesus” with the eyes of our understanding; and we can join with St. Paul in his superb exclamation, “Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift.” (2 Cor. 9:15) With this comes our warm wishes to all for a blessed Holiday observance.

Sincerely your brother,

John J. Hoefle Pilgrim

=====================

LETTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST

My dear Professor: Christian greetings!

In answer to your letter of June 20, I would say that it was not only “in order” for you to comment on the papers I sent you on Evolution but it was a good opportunity for you to present the Truth to offset the errors you claim were in the papers. You are probably familiar with the Scripture, “In meekness instructing those that oppose them­selves; if God will peradventure give them repent­ance to the acknowledging of the truth; that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil.” (2 Tim. 2:25,26) We here cleave to the Apostle Paul’s advice to Timothy: “O Timothy, keep that which is com­mitted to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called.” (1 Tim. 6:20)

However, in answer to your pointed quips about my ignorance of seminaries, etc., I would remind you that when on earth Jesus did not select any of His Apostles from the highly educated Scribes and Pharisees, “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were ignorant and unlearned men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus.” (Acts 4:13) Those Apostles had been in the highest institute of learning that has ever been on the earth – the School of Christ. I have been in that School for many years myself – in keeping with our Lord’s words, “Learn of me; for I am meek and lowly of heart.” (Matt. 11:29)

When He was here, very few “learned of Him”; the smart boys and the educated wise­acres wanted none of Him. And today it is much worse. “In the last days perilous times shall come.” (2 Tim. 3:1) “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears.” (2 Tim. 4:3) People will accept any kind of hocus-pocus today rather than the Truth. “The god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” (2 Cor. 4:4) Thus, many of the people attending schools of higher education, as well as those who have learned the errors taught to them by their “favorite” preachers, are “ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (2 Tim. 3:7) Indeed, many of them are continually growing smaller by “degrees”! Those “learned” Jews marveled, saying, “How knoweth this man letters, never having learned.” (John 7:15) And again Jesus said, “I thank thee, 0 Father, Lord of Heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father; for so it seemeth good in thy sight.” (Luke 10:21)

Here again I would quote St. Paul: “For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.” (1 Cor. 1:19) “For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” (1 Cor. 1:21) “For you see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;... and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to naught things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence.” (1 Cor. 1:26-29) “His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs (the educated “DDs” – many of whom do truly have their Divinity “Doctored”)...” (Isa. 56:10) The Prophet is here describing the “learned” men of Christendom, “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” (Matt. 15:8,9)

Our paper No. 7 is enclosed, which I trust you will read. These papers were sent to many of these highly educated leaders in Christendom in the United States, as well as to some foreign countries. None of these “educated leaders” have complained about my ig­norance and lack of “seminary training.” In fact, quite a few of them praised the paper, and asked to be put on our mailing list. One prominent Evangelist who conducts a widely-­viewed TV program wrote us as follows: “It was my pleasure recently to come by your No. 7 paper. It is one of the most interesting Bible studies I have ever come across.”

You have come to me with sarcasm and criticism, with not a word from the inspired Scriptures. But I come to you in the Name of the Lord and His Word. However, you do say that “I am sure that you are a good man who loves God much.” I do, indeed love God much, even as I love His inspired Word; and I would think it more becoming of you had you quoted something from His Word to correct my errors. When Jesus came across any one who loved God, don’t you think He gladly accepted the opportunity to teach them the Truth? But your letter is filled with sarcasm and your superiority – of which you gen­erously remind me.

In regard to Pastor Russell, his name and works live on – honored by thousands of people – both Jews and Gentiles. And despite the critics who spend time and energy to desecrate his memory, there are thousands distributing his works – the Six Volumes of the Studies in the Scriptures. Had Pastor Russell lived in the Dark Ages he would no doubt been burned at the stake. However, during his time such cruelties were not per­mitted. So their only recourse was slander and sarcasm when they were unable to meet the Truths presented against them. The Truth alone would have been mighty enough to stop all mouths. “I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.” (Luke 21:15 - also see Heb. 4:12)

You say, “the same low-level scholarship is reflected in the section of the pamph­lets... It is just about the stature of Russell and that is very low.” I only wish I could reach the “low-level scholarship” of Pastor Russell! But I thank you for the com­parison. I freely admit that I am indebted to him for much of my Biblical learning and appreciation of God’s inspired Word – and I never hesitate to use it when occasion arises. However, I would say now, that a large part of those two papers on Evolution is not taken from any of his writings, although I would offer no apology if all of it had been bor­rowed from him.

Of Jesus it is written, “Behold my servant... I have put my spirit upon him... He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the Street.” (Isa. 42: 1,2) Clearly enough, He was not a rabble-rouser, yet He made no show whatever of His superior learning – of which He certainly had an abundance – by using four and five­-syllable words. Thus, “The common people heard him gladly” (Mark 12:37); also, “He left us an example, that we should follow in his steps.” (1 Pet. 2:21)

With this comes my kind Christian regards and best wishes for your physical and spiritual welfare.

Sincerely, John J. Hoefle

NOTE: – The above letter is in answer to a letter from a Professor in Bible College, who had a letter in our local paper against Evolution. So we sent him our two papers on Evolution, about which he wrote us a letter of much criticism and sarcasm. If our answer doesn’t give our readers the gist of his letter, a copy of it will be sent to them upon request.

...........................................................................

Dear Brother Hoefle:

Thank you so much for sending me the copy of the Israel Bulletin (Summer 1980 edi­tion) with the item about Zionism and Pastor Russell’s thoughts on the subject – thoughts he put in writing so many years ago.

Just receiving the papers made me realize more fully what a tremendous job you good folks are doing. First, you have to read so much current news, and digest it for your own use, but then to recall who might be interested in a particular subject, and see that they receive pertinent items. Well! I am most appreciative!

My wishes are for your ever improving health, and strength to continue in your good work.

Most sincerely, ------- (PENNSYLVANIA)

...........................................................................

Dear Sir:

We received your name through Wesley Walters. We are students and Christians who would like to have as much information as possible. Please put us on your mailing list and send us brochures, booklets, charts, or primary material. We assure you that any help will be appreciated and used towards the glory of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Love in Christ, ------- (MASSACHUSETTS)

NO. 305: QUESTIONS OF GENERAL INTEREST

No. 305

In the July-August 1980 Present Truth, pp. 61-63, there are a number of questions and answers, attempting to substantiate the error – “strange fire” – of Consecrated Epi­phany Campers, which we now analyze.

Admittedly by the Editor, these Campers are not to be found in the Epiphany Taber­nacle Court; which means they must have a Tentative Justification in the Camp. How­ever, neither Messenger ever taught there was a place for Tentative Justification outside the Court in the Gospel-Age or Epiphany Tabernacles. Therefore, the present teaching of this PT that Tentative Justification is now to be found in the Camp is pure invention; and such a course always presents sore difficulties for supporting such a teaching by its inventor – since it is a gross revolutionism against both Parousia and Epiphany teaching.

The Epiphany Messenger gave the following on the Epiphany Tabernacle in the January 1940 Present Truth, p. 13, col. 2: “For the Gospel-Age picture the most holy represents the condition of the Divine Beings; the holy represents the condition of the embryo New Creatures, regardless of whether they are crown-retainers or crown-losers: the Court represents the condition of the faith justified; the Camp represents the condition of the nominal as distinct from the real people of God, while the territory outside the Camp represents the condition of those who are either not even nominal people of God or are excommunicated ones.

‘‘For the Epiphany the most holy represents the condition of the Divine beings; the Holy in the finish picture represents the condition of the crown-retaining New Creatures; The Court in the finished picture represents the Great Company and the Youthful Worthies; the Camp in the finished picture represents the formerly faith-justified ones who hold on to the Ransom and practice righteousness, and converted Israel; while the territory out­side of the Camp represents the condition of those who were the Gospel-Age Camp, or who are excommunicated ones.”

However, the only change in the Court in the Epiphany Tabernacle before the finished picture, is that it contains manifested crown-losers together with the Tentatively Justi­fied unconse­crated, as well as the Tentatively Justified consecrated – the Youthful Wor­thies. The Camp continues the same, representing the condition of the nominal as distinct from the real people of God. But in the finished picture the Court contains the consecrated only, and not the Tentatively Justified unconsecrated. The Camp changes in the finished picture, and contains the formerly faith-justified, or the “repentant and believing,” and converted Israel.

And, here is another quotation that is in direct contradiction of the contention in this Present Truth: “The Gospel-Age Camp is the condition of the unjustified people of God, while the Epiphany Camp in the finished picture is the condition of truly repentant and believing, but not consecrated Jews and Gentiles.” In no place does either Messenger either modify or correct this clear statement. Let our readers note well this point. The only place either of them found for Justification was in the Tabernacle Court! Yes, the “repentant and believing” can consecrate, but God does not accept their consecration. God does not accept Restitutionists’ consecration in this Age or in the next Age – not until our Lord delivers up the kingdom to Him. (1 Cor. 15:24) The consecrations in the Kingdom will be to The Christ when the New Covenant is inaugurated.

However, the “repentant and believing” resolve to live righteously, and if faithful they will become missionaries in the Kingdom with the natural Jews. But this does not mitigate against the promises to the Jew – “to the Jew first.” The New Covenant will be made with the Jews (Jer. 31-31-33), so all Gentiles will have to become Jews if they re­ceive the blessings of the New Covenant. But the “repentant and believing” will be ahead of mankind in general: they will share with the Jews in blessing the residue of mankind with the Truth. The New Covenant will be similar to the Law Covenant, in that any Gentile who became a proselyte received in blessings and instruction of the Law the same as the natural Jew. It was indeed the “schoolmaster” that brought many to Christ. (See Gal. 3:24-25) When the natural Israelites accepted Jesus as their Savior, they be­came Spiritual Israelites; and so it was with the Gentiles – when they accepted Jesus as their Savior, they became Spiritual Israelites also. In John 10:1 there is this: “He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold ... the same is a thief and a robber.”

The “door” and the “gate” to the Court are practically synonymous – the only place, or condition, for consecration during the Gospel Age, including the last special period – ­the Epiphany. The “door” and “gate” fit in with the words of Jesus on the night before He died: “I am the way, the Truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father but by me.” (John 14:6) During the Gospel Age, before the door to the High Calling was closed, the “gate” to the antitypical Court was the only “way” for the Very Elect (Matt. 24:24); and it is the same today after the Very Elect has been chosen. Consecration during the ascendancy of sin and evil is made in the Court. Not until the New Covenant is inaugur­ated will consecrations be accepted in the Camp. The consecrators in the Court after the door to the High Calling is closed, if faithful, will be rewarded in honor and ser­vice with the Ancient Worthies. They will be made princes in all the earth. (See Psa. 45:16) Their reward will amply compensate them for their obedience and faithfulness in walking a “narrow way.”

And so it will be with the residue of the world during the Kingdom – the Restitution­ists – they, too, will receive all that they ever hoped for, and more than they have hoped for. The “repentant and believing” will seize every opportunity of knowledge and service, and walk rapidly up the Highway of Holiness (Isa. 35:8) – and will help others do the same. See the Parable of the Sheep and Goats in Matt. 25:31-46.

SACRIFICES SUBSEQUENT TO THE “DAY OF ATONEMENT”

The sacrifices subsequent to the “Day of Atonement” sacrifices – during the Kingdom by Restitutionists – are to be presented to the Priest – The Christ – at the gate of the Court. The Priest then offered it in the Court, which would mean that the animal thus offered represented the one offering it. As in the type, the “Day of Atonement” sacri­fices preceded all others, and were a basis for the general forgiveness and acceptance of all Israel with God, but were followed by other sacrifices by individuals after that day, termed “sin-offerings,” “trespass-offerings,” “peace-offerings,” etc.

The Atonement-Day sacrifices represented the cancellation of Adamic sin by the sacrifice of the Christ. But while the benefits of the atonement are being applied to the world, during the time they are being gradually restored to actual perfection and life in harmony with God, errors will be committed for which they will be in some measure re­sponsible. For such they must make some amends, accompanied by repentance, before they can again come into harmony with the Kingdom regulations. Such offerings might be of cattle or sheep or fowl (turtle doves or young pigeons) or of fine flour – the article offered depending upon the ability of the offerer. However, these offerings are the antitypical offerings in the Kingdom and not the typical offerings which the Jews made after the typical Day of Atonement.

Again the comments in the Present Truth stress that “consecration is always in order”; and we have no argument with that. But in the Jewish Age offerings, no Jew was required to offer sacrifice if he did not consciously violate the Law. His only obligation under the Law Covenant was faith in God and obedience to the Law to the ex­tent of his ability. But the Present Truth has stated on various occasions in the past that the Consecrated Epiphany Campers make identically the same consecration as did Jesus. But Jesus knew that His consecration was for Him to “Pour out His soul unto death.” That is certainly a far step from what was required of the Jews then; or what will be required of mankind in general during the Mediatorial reign. In fact, there is no com­parison at all! Nor is there any comparison with the consecrations made by the Lord’s faithful footstep followers all during this Age, who also suffered great persecution un­to death for their faith – a thing that none of the Restitutionists will experience in this Age or the next Age.

THE ANCIENT WORTHIES VS. EPIPHANY CAMPERS

There can be no comparison between the Ancient Worthies and Consecrated Epiphany Campers. The Ancient Worthies lived above the Law, and no Restitutionist is required to do more now than were the Jews under the Law of Moses, and under the New Covenant that will be established in the Kingdom. God’s Justice would prohibit such requirement. The Ancient Worthies will receive a “better resurrection,” which is readily admitted that Consecrated Epiphany Campers will not receive for their walking a “narrow way” in the Camp. There is no narrow way in the Camp now, nor will there be under the New Cov­enant. The only comparison that can be made is with a class in the end of the Age that will receive the same reward and honor with the Ancient Worthies. The consecration that is always in order is simply to covenant to do God’s will; and those who covenant to do God’s will while sin and evil are in the ascendancy, and faithfully carry out their coven­ant, will be rewarded in honor and service with the Ancient Worthies, just as both Messen­gers have taught. His will now is vastly different from what it will be in the next Age. The Ancient Worthies were faithful to John the Baptist, before the antitypical Court came into existence; but anticipatorially they were in that Court. Surely there is no dis­pute that the Ancient Worthies will be represented in the antitypical Court when the New Covenant is inaugurated! Even the Editor of the Present Truth will agree that his new non-existent class is not represented in the Court now, nor will they be in the Kingdom.

On p. 62, col. 2, last par., it is contended that the Consecrated Epiphany Campers have no embargo on Christ’s merit; and with this we heartily agree. And to substantiate this statement we are told the Ancient Worthies had no embargo on Christ’s merit; and with this we agree, because, there was no merit then, such as we have now in the Court. But once that merit was provided on the cross, the situation was very much changed. In E-4:342, middle, there is this: “Through Tentative Justification alone can God now deal with this class (the Youthful Worthies) in preparing them for association with the An­cient Worthies.”

The paper under review cites E-4:336-354 as proof of its claim for the CEC. Then on p. 62, col. 2, last par., there is this: “The fact that the CECs have no embargo on Christ’s merit does not prevent their existing now any more than similarly the fact that the Ancient Worthies had no embargo on the merit prevented them from existing.” As stated, there was no merit as such in their day; but in E-4:355, first five lines, it is stated: “The Youthful Worthies are tentatively under an Advocate through their Tentative Justifica­tion.” It would seem to us an elementary conclusion that, if they are tentatively under an Advocate, the merit would also have to be available for them, thus placing an embargo on that merit.

But that merit has never existed outside the Court – not now or at any other time during the Gospel Age. Therefore, just what standing can we give the CECs who are not in the Court? They have never passed through the Gate, or the Door, or the Way. All this is foreign to them according to the teaching of their leaders.

Following in a quotation from E-4:344 (45): “Every important feature of God’s plan, illustrative from the standpoint of the At-onement, is symbolized in connection with the Tabernacle; hence the Lord has taken care to symbolize Tentative and Vitalized Justifi­cation by that curtain of the goats’ hair which was doubled in the forefront of the Taber­nacle, the part visible to those in the Court typing Tentative Justification, and the part visible to those in the Holy typing Vitalized Justification.”

More at the top of E-4:345: “The eleventh curtain (of goats hair—JJH), the uncov­ered curtain, i.e., that which was doubled in the forefront of the Tabernacle, represents not the Church’s Justified humanity, but Justification by faith, the part (as stated above) visible to those in the Court typing Tentative Justification, and the part visible to those in the Holy typing Vitalized Justification.”

It should be emphasized here that that “eleventh curtain” – the one visible to those in the Court – was not visible at all to those in the Camp. This would mean in the anti­type that those in the antitypical Camp would not be able to see it. Thus the question logically arises: If those in the antitypical Camp could not even see that curtain (that is, understand its meaning), how could it possibly be applied to them? The Camp­ers Consecrated, being now in the Camp, would be just as blind to that curtain an were the Jews in the type.

Then on p. 346 (47): “The doctrine of Tentative Justification as operating from the time of Abel, Enoch and Noah (Heb. 11:4-7), until restitution begins, is a Scrip­tural one, and will remain so despite the denials of the counterfeit channel for sea­sonal meat for priests.”

The Epiphany Messenger in this chapter on Youthful Worthies was telling us that so long as Tentative Justification was operating, that Youthful Worthiship was also available. Prior to Moses there was no typical Tabernacle; but those Ancients who lived before that time were reckoned as standing in the Court. Of course, that did not make them actually righteous; it was simply “counted to them for righteousness.” Who will contend that those Ancient Worthies were not in the Court condition?

Both Messengers clearly taught that those coming into the Household here in the end of the Age “until restitution begins” – and whose consecrations are accepted – would be among the elect Worthies, rewarded in honor and service with the Ancient Worthies. We accept their conclusions on this matter without reservation; and we would offer our opinion that there will be many such – both in the various sects of Christendom and among Truth groups. And of those who are accepted, they are now, and will continue to be, if faithful, in the Court, the place where all are to be found who become justified, because there can be no justification outside of the antitypical Court. Brother Johnson tells us in E-4:406, that those who are ejected from the Court are no longer of the Household of Faith.

However, those who come into the Household now, and perform more than the required “repentant and believing” acceptance, it seems to us to be elemental that God would give to them something more than just Restitution. Both Messengers held this same view. Those who revolutionize against these basic teachings taught by God’s faithful mouth­pieces are simply setting aside God’s Word for doctrines of their own concoction.

We repeat that in the faith Ages the only place for Justification is the Tabernacle Court. And all the places in the typical Tabernacle represent a condition in the anti­type. The question may now arise with some: How about those Ancients who lived before the Tabernacle was constructed by Moses, and before the antitypical Tabernacle appeared? We answer, that they were anticipatorially in the Tabernacle Court; but in the Millen­nial Tabernacle they will be actually in the Court. The writer of the Present Truth ad­mits that the Consecrated Epiphany Campers are not now in the antitypical Court, and we would say they never will be in that Court unless they come into it before the finished picture. At that time the Court will contain only the consecrated, and the Camp will con­tain the “repentant and believing.” Thus, the promises held out to them for sacrificing now are simply based upon thin air – not on the solid Rock.

The teaching of the LHMM puts them in a very fragile position, as respects other Truth groups. They are telling us that all New Creatures are now out of the earth, and the Youthful Worthy call is also sealed; therefore, their only incentive now is the CECs; and it is little wonder that the other Truth groups will give them a hearing ear.

“TO THE JEW FIRST”

However, we commend the LHMM for their efforts toward the Jews, for, so far as we know, they have given them the Truth on “to the Jew first,” as taught by St. Paul and by That Servant. But we cannot sanction their teaching to the Consecrated Epiphany Campers since 1954, that they will be chief and first when the New Covenant Kingdom is inaugurated. Up to now – so far as we know – all their Camper converts have been Gentiles. Had they been able to win one Jew to their fictitious class, we are convinced we would have heard about it.

Nevertheless, by this we do not teach that no Gentile will readily join hands with the Jews to promote the Kingdom “knowledge of the Lord.” We know that the truly “re­pentant and believing” Gentiles will become proselyte Jews, and quickly do that when Christ’s Kingdom is established. Not only the Epiphany Camp’s “repentant and believing” will join with the Jews in missionary work to others, there will be many others who will gladly receive the “knowledge of the Lord” and join them. But there is no Scripture that supports a class of Consecrated Epiphany Campers in the finished Epiphany picture. Just the reverse, the clear Tabernacle picture definitely disputes it. The Conse­crated Epiphany Campers are a fitting companion for the Jehovah’s Witnesses “great crowd,” another non-existent class. Even the Witnesses saw the vagary of Jonadabs, the name they gave their converts several years ago, and have not mentioned that name for many years now. They have substituted the name “great crowd” to be the chief in the Kingdom.

We repeat, the restitution class is not required to sacrifice – in this Age, or the next Age. If any consecrators are accepted by God now, they will be included in the Youthful Worthy class, if faithful – regardless of whatever name errorists may call them; and they will be rewarded in honor and service with the Ancient Worthies. And, as stated previously, we are persuaded there will be many such in the sects of Christendom and in the various Truth groups.

At one of the LHMM conventions some years ago the question was presented: Do the CECs have their names now inscribed in the Book of Life? to which RGJ promptly answered, Yes. Then some one must have informed him that his answer was directly contradicted by his own teaching that his Campers would not receive “a better resurrection”; so he quickly reversed himself on that error. Four – and only four – classes of consecrators from Abel to the present time are among the Elect – two of which will be princes in all the earth – and only these four have their names inscribed in the Book of Life.

Of course, to entice their CECs they have joined hands with the Witnesses by telling them they may survive the Time of Trouble, live on into the Kingdom and “never die.” The Witnesses have been toying with such humbug since about 1920, changing the name of Jona­dabs to Large Crowd, etc., to sugarcoat the error; and it would seem the LHMM should have learned something from such erroneous jugglery. Sixty years ago the idea was vo­ciferously propagandized, “Millions Now Living Will Never Die.” And some good sound Truth people admitted the possibility of such an occurrence, but also then warned that it was a premature teaching, and should not be taught to the general public. Time itself has substantiated such protesters; and we say now that time itself will also condemn the Camp­ers teaching, and put the stamp of approval on those now objecting to the doctrine.

It is our hope and prayer that the LHMM will speedily recognize their error in this matter, and thus lessen their humiliation later on. Let them teach the Truth to the Jews as they have received it from our beloved Pastor, as well as the Truth to their new con­verts, and thus avoid the “weeping and gnashing of teeth” that will be the reward of such teachers. (Matt. 24:51) There is only one Scripture that gives hope to the good world who seek meekness and righteousness – Zeph. 2:3. (See Berean Comments)

Now follows a quotation from Reprints 3418: “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 more than re­ward and satisfy them.”

And further from Reprints 4836 (1911): “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 (See Hebrews, Chapter 11) 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.

“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 by God, perfect on the human plan and made the ‘princes in all the earth.’“

And in Reprint 5344, col. 2, par. 2, there is this: “The reward of the Ancient Worthies, however, will be glorious.” And in Reprint 5182, col. 2, par. 1: “We cannot think of any greater reward than to bestow the spirit nature upon these faithful Ancient Worthies. Long ago they proved their loyalty by choosing to suffer rather than to in­dulge in sin... The fact that this tribe had no inheritance in the land seems to imply that the Ancient Worthies will have no earthly inheritance. (par. 2)

“Since the heavenly Father has been pleased to arrange for the Great Company a place on the spirit plane... we are inclined to think that He may have something more for the Ancient Worthies than will come to the remainder of mankind. So far as we can per­ceive, the Great Company class has not demonstrated that they are any more loyal to Him than were the faithful Ancient Worthies. (par. 3)

“Furthermore, in Gen. 17:8, God said unto Abraham, ‘And I will give unto thee and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God. Two thousand years later, St. Stephen said that God never gave Abraham so much as a foot of the promised land (Acts 7:5); but he implied that Abraham will yet receive that land and afterward leave it to his posterity. If the land is to be given to Abraham and his coadjutors, and then to be left to his seed and mankind in general, the thought would seem to be implied that the Ancient Worthies will pass to the spirit nature.” (par. 4)

However, we commend the LHMM for the good work they are doing toward the Jews, and so long as they continue to present our Pastor’s teaching on the subject, they will have our approval. But they are telling the Consecrated Epiphany Camper converts privately that they will supersede the Jews in the Kingdom arrangement; and this we definitely re­ject and oppose. That Servant stressed Rom. 1:16: “TO THE JEW FIRST.” It was “to the Jew first” in the Christian Calling, just as it will be in the restitution salvation.

In Matt. 10:3,6, Jesus told His Apostles: “Go not in the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” And the Apostles scrupulously followed this command during the 3½ years that Jesus was with them; and for the 3½ years after He died. Then St. Peter was used to bring Gentile Cornelius and his house into the Christian salvation. [Acts 10:22­48) And it should be noted here that for seven years the Christian salvation was “to the Jew first.” And the same situation will apply when the Kingdom is established. When the Worthies are installed in office as the ruling power in the earthly phase of the Kingdom, it will be “to the Jew first,” including the “repentant and believing” Gentiles – who will become Jews, just as all mankind will become Jews if they receive the blessings of the New Covenant. We repeat, the New Covenant will be made with the Jews. (Jer. 31:31­34)

It is written, “I have constituted thee a father of many nations” (Gen. 17:4); and further, “Thy seed shall be as the sand of the seashore” for multitude. (Hosea 1:10)

And with all the quotations we have given from the two Messengers, it is clear that they never taught Tentative Justification in the Camp, a new class of consecrators in the Camp, etc., and we know they would refute such errorists with God’s Word just as we are doing. As we seek to “earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 3) – the faithful mouthpieces of God – it is our pleasure to do so for them that have “an ear to hear,” even though few they may be. “For God hath not given us a spirit of fear; but of power,, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2 Tim. 1:4) We know, too, that in the last days perilous times shall come. (See 2 Tim. 3:1-5) “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure .... The Lord knoweth them that are his.” (2 Tim. 2:19)

“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid.” (Psa. 27:1)

Sincerely your brother,

John J. Hoefle, Pilgrim

=========================

QUESTION OF GENERAL INTEREST

QUESTION: – What is meant by the expressions, clean Youthful Worthies, and, unclean Youthful Worthies?

ANSWER: – These terms are used somewhat, but not altogether, like the expression clean and unclean Great Company members. By a clean Youthful Worthy one is meant who either never spotted the tentative robe of Christ’ righteousness or, having spotted it, has washed it white in the blood of the Lamb and in the water of the Word. By an unclean Youthful Worthy one is meant who has spotted the tentative robe of Christ’s righteousness by either doctrinal or moral deflections, and has not washed it white in the blood of the Lamb, and in the water of the Word.

The only difference to this: That whereas some Youthful Worthies do not spot their robes, ALL Great Company members do spot their robes. However, in the beginning when they make their consecrations, they have a pure heart and make a sincere consecration to do God’s will, otherwise the Lord wouldn’t have accepted them.

We should note this point very carefully – the Great Company members were already remanded for spotting their robes when they were in the High Calling. They had spotted their robes to such an extent that they were ejected from the Holy, and from the “more than conquerors.” They can never again regain that Class standing. However, the Youthful Worthies who spot their robes and cleanse themselves are not remanded from their Youthful Worthy standing – but they lose their superior position, and do not regain that. Nor are we to be too hasty about concluding all those who have gone into various errors are of this class. Some of them may not have spotted their robes to the extent of los­ing their more favorable standing in the Youthful Worthy Class: some of them have been deceived, and will eventually recognize this and cleanse themselves from these errors. Their hearts had continued right before the Lord; they make mistakes of the head, but not of the heart, having been unduly influenced by their leaders for a time.

By a clean Great Company is meant one who has washed his robe white in the blood of the Lamb and in the water of the Word. (Rev. 7:14). They will gain victory as is attested by the “palms in their hands.” (Rev. 7:9) Sectarianism in those who are other­wise noble characters – in both the Great Company and Youthful Worthies – has caused many of their doctrinal deflections. The Youthful Worthies, too, will become overcomers in their class standing. Although neither class will be among the “more than conquerors” (Rom. 8:37), and receive the chief resurrection. But they will receive the resurrection of the Just (Acts 24:15), which will be glorious indeed. They inscribe their names in the Book of Life (Mal. 3:16 – See Berean Comments) during the time of the ascendancy of sin, therefore whatever they have suffered for Righteousness will be amply rewarded. “For He is faithful that promised” (Heb. 10:23); “God is not ashamed to be called their God.” (Heb. 11:16)

=========================

LETTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST

Dear Brother Hoefle: Grace and peace!

I sure was very glad to receive your very welcome letter with the enclosure of the United Israel Bulletin which was read with great interest. A little later I expect to send him a donation, as I think his is a good cause. Also Brother Robert’s article was quite good. It may be a sign of the cleansing of the LHMM – especially in re Salva­tion to the Jews first instead of Jolly’s Campers. Who knows but what the cleansing of other groups may come also. God’s promises are sure, so let us pray for their cleansing.

Sure would be glad to receive a copy of the book – A Gentile With the Heart of a Jew. I am very glad that you are preparing an article on the 70 Years Desolation of the Land. I think it is needed. I failed to send you the list of names in my last letter, so I am enclosing it now.

Well, I must close for now, but am sure glad that you are much improved in health ...... I remember you all in my prayers. With much Christian love, Your brother in Him.

(MICHIGAN)

...........................................................................

Dear  Brother  Hoefle:

Many thanks for your special post to let us see the Israel Bulletin containing your good article on Zionism. I am wondering what sort of circulation the Bulletin has, but feel sure that the Lord’s hand is working mightily to bring about the desired ends of this world’s accounts, and the establishment of the Kingdom on earth.

I think Brother Cyril would like to have a copy of the Bulletin. We did not see him last week as we had a quick trip to London to meet my nephew and wife... It certainly is a time of ­running to and fro. Who can doubt that it is the closing page of this present world’s history.

Many thanks for your circulars. Some of the letters are most interesting. Keep up the good work! We pray the Lord’s blessing upon you and all the co-laborers. Trusting this finds you all in reasonable health.

With Christian love, ------- (ENGLAND)

...........................................................................

Dear Mr. Hoefle:

Thank you for the monthly papers. I would like to obtain the rest of your past issues. Since this is a large request, I am enclosing my check for postage. Should this not be enough, please let me know.

In the October 1980 issue, No. 304, you mention a book you recently received that slanders Pastor Russell. Could you possibly give me the title and author of such a book?

Thank you! ------- (Virginia)

...........................................................................

Dear Brother Hoefle: Grace and peace in Jesus’ dear Name!

Thank you for your good letter to me. I will be happy to have the book by C. Doug­las Young... Thank you for thinking of me. I am sure Dr. Young will be glad in the resurrection when he sees the blessings on Israel and the whole world.

I am glad you are quite well. My sister broke her hip... It doesn’t seem to pain her, but it probably would if they would set her in a chair... I know that all the true ones of God are so much hoping for the Kingdom. Yet we know certain events have to come to pass to make all work out right.

Yes I have the United Bulletin. Mr. Horowitz sent me two. I sent one to Sister ------- If she has an extra one she can give it to some one, or whatever she wants. I am glad you have had some correspondence with David Horowitz. I am sure he can see how futile man’s efforts are to solve the problems of earth. They are trying very hard at the UN, but there are a large number spend a lot of time hating Israel.

Take care! God bless and be with you all in Jesus’ dear Name! With Christian love to you both, and to Sisters Maude and Augusta from Sister ------- (CALIFORNIA)

NO. 304: IN MEMORIAM

No. 304

Once more we find it a privilege and pleasure to present a treatise on That Wise and Faithful Servant, whom the Lord made “ruler over all His goods.” (Matt. 24:45-47) The Scriptures give more on Brother Russell than of any other individual, except our Lord, in type and direct Scripture. It behooves all who have benefited from his faith­ful ministry to honor him, and more particularly to abide in the beautiful system of truth that he left us – and to study, spread and practice the Truth all the more as the “evil day” progresses. All who abide in “present truth” do not accept the many errors of our day – errors that set aside the fundamental truth in which we have been estab­lished.

THESE SIXTY-FOUR YEARS

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

The Truth received into “good and honest hearts” makes us “good soldiers” – it does not make cowards of us. If we have a cowardly spirit, the Lord did not give it to us. “For God did not give to us a Cowardly Spirit, but one of Power, and of Love, and of a Sound mind.” (2 Tim. 1:7, Dia.) And the Apostle Paul tells us: “Retain an Outline of Wholesome Words, which thou didst hear from me, in That Faith and Love which are in Christ Jesus. Guard the Good Entrusted charge, through that holy Spirit which dwells in us. Thou knowest this, That all those in Asia turned away from me: of whom are Phygel­lus and Hermogenes.” (2 Tim. 1:13-15, Dia.)

ANTITYPICAL JEREMIAH

While we consider ourselves duty-bound to make the statements aforegoing, yet we are also most happy to note that none of the groups that have arisen from the Parousia Truth Movement have resorted to any slander of That Servant – nor have they attacked his character. However, in his day Babylon was grossly guilty of slander when they could not meet his clear Scriptural teachings that exposed so many of their errors.

And this Babylonish evil is still glaringly present with us. In just the past few months a book has come into our hands – written by a man of some considerable education and influential standing – who attempts to expound such subjects as “hermeneutical prin­ciples,” although he at the same time reveals a pathetic ignorance of some of the subjects he attempts to explain. He is a vehement expounder of the Trinity, eternal torment as the wages of sin, and his reliance on Satan’s great lie, “Thou shalt not surely die” ­even quotes that very text in support of his own perversions. In like manner he contends for the flesh and blood return of Jesus at His second Advent.

In Jer. 1:5 it is noted, “I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations”; and this offers us a key to the typical relationship of that prophet Jeremiah to That Servant here in the end of the Age, because the evidence is very strong that That Servant was also “ordained a prophet unto the nations.” In the 38th Chapter of the same prophet we are told how his enemies lowered him into a dungeon of mire, typical of the slander that was heaped upon antitypical Jeremiah – Brother Russell – by his enemies in Babylon. The book we mentioned carries on “the good work” (?) in the following manner: “Thus it was, that at the words of one colossally egotistical and unschooled haberdasher, the Times of the Gentiles ended” (in 1914).

The same writer classes him with “the heretic Arius” in teaching that there is but “one God,” which is an honor to Brother Russell; and emphasizes that he justly lost two slander suits against The Brooklyn Eagle and an Ontario minister – although it is our firm conviction that he should have won both cases; but we shall not here recount the elements that entered into the reason for his loss of those suits. The Eagle had pub­lished that “Russell’s religious cult is nothing more than a money-making scheme, and the court’s decision vindicated the Eagle’s statement and proved its reliability.” Although we know that he put more money into the organization than he ever received from that organization.

The same writer then sums up: “This then is the product of Charles T. Russell, who, because he would not seek instruction in the Word of God, dedicated his unschooled talents to a lone vain search without the guidance of the Holy Spirit.” There is much more of the same we could quote, but we would sum it up in words applied to Babylon, which now have equal force with the writer of the book in question: “The chief leaders of Babylon put him (Brother Russell) into the foulest condition of slander that certain executives of the clergy could invent, and by their strongest arguments they lowered him into the pit of slander, resulting in his sinking deeper and deeper into the filth of misrepresentation.”

Our beloved Pastor has been dead now for sixty-four years; but the foregoing is the sort of calumny that is still being printed and circulated about him – because they realize that his teachings are still with us, and enduring. But, “As He is, so are we in this world.” (1 John 4:17)

ANTITYPICAL DANIEL

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

In Chapter One the account of Daniel’s education for the position of statesman in Babylon is set forth. Here Nebuchadnezzar types the nominal people of God. Ashpenaz (Dan. 1:3) types the chief leaders in the nominal church, such as supervised the educa­tional arrangements of Christen­dom’s prospective teachers. It was the desire of the nominal people of God (vs. 3,4) that the most gifted and promising young men be selected for training as teachers of their views in symbolic Babylon. As Daniel (vs. 4,6) was one of those chosen for such educational opportunities in literal Babylon, so was Brother Russell chosen by those nominal Christians with whom he associated as a religiously and intellectually promising young man to teach in the nominal church.

And as the King (v. 5) provided that such students be fed from the royal table, so the nominal people of God arranged that the future teachers and leaders it symbolic Babylon be nourished on the religious diet that they themselves ate. As Daniel deter­mined not to defile himself with the Levitically unclean meats (v. 8) of the King’s table, so Brother Russell determined that he would not defile himself with symbolic Babylon’s unclean doctrines. Since the story of how this happened is not generally known and should be preserved, we give it here in fair detail.

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

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

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

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

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

Always he found them in harmony with God’s character. This moved him not only to accept all of Jesus’ teachings in the Gospels as he understood them, but also great­ly to appreciate Jesus as a teacher Divinely inspired. Such appreciation of Jesus’ teachings prompted him to want to know more of His life, which moved him to a study of the Gospels historically, resulting in his recognizing Jesus as a perfect human being and the Son of God. But up to then he rejected the New Testament, except the Gospels.

One day he noted the passage (John 16:12-14) wherein Jesus said that the Spirit would reveal to the Apostles such truths as Jesus would yet give them, and which they were as yet unable to bear. He desired to know what those teachings were. Hence he began to study the Acts, the Epistles and Revelation; and as he understood them he recognized their harmony with God’s character. Thus gradually, and upon a right foun­dation, he came to believe that the New Testament was the revelation of the God of wis­dom, power, justice and love, in whom he had always believed.

But the Old Testament he continued to reject. The following things gradually led him to believe in the Old Testament: He noticed that not only did Jesus and the Apostles quote from the Old Testament, but used such quotations to prove their doctrines. Hence he concluded that whatever they quoted from the Old Testament was true. On later thought he decided to study the connections from which these quotations were made; and these he found to be in harmony with the quotations themselves and God’s character. Hence he accepted the teachings of these contexts. This led him to study the connections of these contexts, and thus more and more of the Old Testament became clear to him until his faith was confirmed in the prophetic writings and in the historical writings which were closely interwoven with the prophetic writings. Still he suspected the books of Moses, except those parts quoted by Jesus and the Apostles; because he mistakenly was led to think that Moses made himself a dictator to Israel and established a priesthood that tyrannized over the people. But deeper study convinced him of his mistakes on these points; and he came to see that the Mosaic legislation was the most benevolent, and freedom, equality and fraternity-inspiring legislation ever inaugurated. According­ly, he accepted also the Pentateuch as Divinely inspired; and thus his faith accepted the whole Bible.

He continued to study the Scriptures privately and in an independent Bible class at Allegheny, Pa.; and by 1872, four years after he started out in quest of the Divine revelation, he not only accepted the entire Bible as that revelation, but also the fol­lowing points as its main teachings: the unity of God; the Divine Sonship of Jesus; the Spirit as God’ power and disposition; man’s fall from perfection into sin; death as sin’s penalty (Rom. 6:23); the unconsciousness of the dead (Ecc. 9:5); the Ransom as guaranteeing an opportunity for the elect in this life and for the non-elect in the Millennium; the eternity of the physical universe (Ecc. 1:4); the destruction of the symbolic world at Christ’s Second Advent (2 Pet. 3:10-12); the Second Advent for the restitution of all things (Acts 3:19-21); eternal life in heaven for the elect, and on earth for the saved non-elect; and eternal annihilation for the incorrigible.

It was in 1875 that the antitype of Nebuchadnezzar’s examining Daniel (vs. 18-20) began. From 1872 to 1875 Brother Russell continued to increase in grace, knowledge and fruitfulness in service. It was in Oct. 1874 that he came to see that Jesus in His res­urrection became a Spirit being, and that therefore He would not in His Second Advent come in the flesh, but as a glorious Divine Spirit, and necessarily then would be in­visible to human natural sight. He embodied these thoughts as well as those on the object of our Lord’s return in a tract entitled, The Object and Manner of Our Lord’s Return. The mis-teachings of the Adventists on the object and manner of our Lord’s re­turn had raised more or less doubts and questions in many minds, and this aroused Bro. Russell to write and spread that tract, which was circulated to the extent of 50,000 copies.

THE METAL-MAN DREAM

The second chapter of Daniel treats of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of the metallic image of a man with a golden head, silver shoulders and arms, brazen belly, iron thighs and legs, and feet and toes of a mixture of iron and clay, and of the stone which destroyed the image and then grew into a mountain, filling the entire earth. It is not our pur­pose in our study of Daniel – type and antitype – to point out the prophetic features of Daniel, since that is sufficiently done in Studies, Volume one, two and three. Here we limit our attention to the typical features of this book. Nor will we rehearse the typ­ical features. Rather, we will merely indicate them by the citing of the verses in which they occur, asking our readers to have the book of Daniel open at the pertinent part for the sake of reference. In interpreting Daniel’s interpretation of the dream, our Pastor gave its prophetic teachings. At the same time, the entire story of Dan. 2 types something very interesting. Typically, this chapter sets forth the meaning of his­tory under the rule of the nations during the Times of the Gentiles and the prophesied role of God’s Kingdom as the destroyer and successor of these.

In this chapter, as in the preceding one, Nebuchadnezzar types the Gospel-Age nom­inal people of God, who, as such, have been in existence since the Jewish Harvest. His having the dream represents the nominal people of God having a proper view of the mean­ing of history as exemplified in the four universal Gentile powers and in their ten suc­cessor powers, and of the role of the prophesied Kingdom of God as their destroyer and successor; for the Apostles properly taught the early Christians that, as represented by the deterioration of the metals from gold to silver, from silver to brass, from brass to iron and from iron to a mixture of iron and clay, under the Gentile rule the race and its governments would become more and more fallen and depraved – and that when depravity would reach its height the kingdoms of this world would be destroyed by God’s Kingdom, which would stand forever. This, in brief, is the philosophy of human history under Gentile rule and the prophetic role of the Kingdom of God. And this view, taught by the Apostles, remained with the real and nominal people of God for several centuries.

The papacy’s teaching another theory of God’s Kingdom in its time and other rela­tions to the kingdoms of this world darkened the subject; for it taught that it was God’s Kingdom commissioned to convert the world and rule over it for 1,000 years before Christ’s return, whereas it was the clay mingled with iron in the feet and toes. (The Jehovah’s Witnesses teach similarly about their organiza­tion in our day.) This view gradually caused the one given to the nominal people of God by the Apostles to be for­gotten by them (the thing is gone from them, v. 5). For many centuries the true view was forgotten; and it was only beginning with the illumination – in 1748 – that nomi­nal Christians began to demand an explanation of the meaning of history from the clergy (Chaldeans), the professors (magi), the historians (astrologers) and the prophets (sor­cerers) of Christendom (v.2). Their inability to tell what was the early view of Christians thereon, as well as its meaning, was typed by the inability of Nebuchadnezzar’s wise men to tell the dream and its interpretation (vs. 4-11).

The decree to slay the wise men of Babylon types the determination of the thinking members of the nominal church to set aside as their teachers (a symbolic killing) the wise men of Christendom. Arioch (vs. 14,15) represents those who led the people in setting aside such teachers, i.e., the free thinkers, higher critics, etc., who begin­ning about 1785, worked to undermine popular confidence in Christendom’s wise men as teachers. Undoubtedly, the prestige of such wise men was greatly decreased with ever­-increasing numbers of nominal people of God from that time onward. Arioch’s seeking Daniel (v. 13) represents that such free thinkers, higher critics, etc., sought to undermine Brother Russell as a teacher in Christendom. Daniel’s tact in dealing with Arioch (vs. 14,15) types Brother Russell’s tact in dealing with free thinkers, etc. Arioch’s telling Daniel the situation (v. 15) types the free thinkers, etc., telling the situation of the antitypical wise men to Brother Russell.

Daniel’s going to the king and obtaining time to consider and answer the matter (v. 16) represents Brother Russell’s standing before the nominal people of God as a teacher of religion and promising, if allowed due time, to solve the matter at hand. Daniel’s laying the matter before his three friends and asking their united prayers over the matter (vs. 17,18) represents Brother Russell’s habit of asking suggestions from the brethren when in difficulty and asking their prayers for Divine enlightenment, e.g., when he was perplexed over the meaning of the voice of the three signs (Z’07), 276, last par.). Members of the Bethel family will recall such things as occurring. This course he followed in the present instance. God’s revealing this matter to Daniel (v. 19) types God’s making known to Bro. Russell the view of the early Christians on the meaning of history as exemplified in the Gentile rule and the prophesied role of God’s Kingdom. Daniel’s thanksgiving (vs. 19-23) types Bro. Russell’s thanksgiving at this mercy of God. Daniel’s desiring Arioch not to destroy Babylon’s wise men (v. 24) repre­sents Bro. Russell’s refutation of the course of the free thinkers, etc., which was a hindrance to their object. Arioch’s bringing Daniel to the king as one who would tell and interpret the dream (v. 25) types the free thinkers, etc., more or less praising Bro. Russell, whose kindly manner and logical teachings favorably impressed them.

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

In the events of Dan. 3, Daniel took no part. It has often occasioned wonder as to where Daniel was while Shadrach, Meshack and Abed-nego were undergoing the trial of the golden image and the fiery furnace. While the record is silent on this point, one thing is certain about it, i.e., that Daniel was absent from the plain of Dura; for he cer­tainly would have stood beside his three friends, had he been present. When we look at the antitype it becomes manifest that Daniel, who throughout his book types our Pastor, could not have been there; for had he been present it would have spoiled the antitype; for Bro. Russell died before either of the two fulfillment’s set in when he lived. Thus in the light of the antitype Daniel’s absence during the events described in Chapter 3 is entirely clear. Nevertheless, Daniel wrote this, as well as the rest of the book that bears his name. And what does his writing this chapter type? Bro. Russell’s giving the two antitypes of this chapter, e.g., one in Z ‘99, 168-172, and the other in Z ‘15, 159­261. Thus in giving these two antitypes of this chapter our Pastor antityped Daniel in writing it.

THE HANDWRITING ON THE WALL

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

The great perturbation of the king at the sight (v.6) types Christendom’s fears at the events which proved to be the signs of the times – “men’s hearts failing them for fear and for looking after those things which are coming upon the earth.” (Luke 21:26) The king’s demand that the wise men of Babylon be brought before him types the demand of the nominal people of God that the wise men of Christendom be summoned to the fore on the subject at hand. His offer to give the purple robe, the golden chain, and the third po­sition in the kingdom to the one who would read and interpret the handwriting, represents Christendom’s reward of making the true reader and interpreter the royally accepted (purple), Divinely authorized (golden chain on the neck) chief teacher in the religious (the third) department of symbolic Babylon.

The failure of the king’s wise men to interpret the handwriting types the failure of Christen­dom’s learned men, clergy and prophets, to read and interpret the signs of the times. Belshazzar’s increased fears and that of his lords (v.9) types the increased perplexity of the nominal people of God, particularly of its leaders, at the events which proved to be the signs of the times, etc. Daniel’s being brought in before the king (v.13) types Bro. Russell being brought in before the nominal people of God by his writ­ings, sermons and lectures. Daniel’s first statement (v. 17) that the king keep his gifts or bestow his rewards upon another types Bro. Russell’s disinterestedness; for he gladly gave his service in the cause of Truth freely, declining to accept financial recompense therefor. “Seats free – No collections” was his shibboleth during his entire ministry.

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

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

HONOR TO WHOM HONOR IS DUE

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

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

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

Sincerely your brother

John J. Hoefle, Pilgrim

=======================

LETTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST

Dear Brother Hoefle:

Thank you for serving me with the Truth over these many years. Enclosed is a
check long overdue to help you in the Lord’s work. May the Lord be with you and Sr.
Hoefle as you continue in the work.

Sincerely ------- (CONNECTICUT)

...........................................................................

Dear Brothers:

I am gathering information on the history of the Bible Students’ movements. Do you know how many groups are in existence – past and present? Where can I get the Tower Reprints?

Tell me all about your group, “The Epiphany Bible Students Association.” Are you part of the Laymen’s Home Missionary Movement?

Please put my name on your mailing list and send available literature.

Thanks! God bless you! ------- (CALIFORNIA)

NO. 303: THE LAW OF MOSES - PART ONE

No. 303

In Luke 24:44 Jesus expresses the three component parts of the Old Testament: the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms. By “the Law” Jesus meant the writings of Moses – the Pentateuch, or the first five books of the Old Testament. By “the Prophets” He meant the prophecies of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, etc. (the Prophets being sub­divided into the Major and the Minor prophets). And by “the Psalms” He meant the Psalms, The Book of Job, Proverbs, etc., the same being the more or less sentimental writings; and we believe that all of us will agree that there is much of sentiment in those writings.

To digress here just a little, we would offer the four component parts of the New Testament: the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John); the Acts of the Apostles; the Epistles (beginning with Romans and ending with the letter by Jude); and the Apoca­lypse – Revelation. Thus we have pointed out to us the seven parts of the Bible, the “seven” revealing the Divine origin of the inspired writings, which we designate as the Bible.

MORE SPECIFIC DETAIL

Many good Christian people regard “the Law” as a reference to the Ten Commandments given to Moses by God, as set out in the 20th Chapter of Exodus, vs. 2 through 17. This is definitely true, of course; but in Psa. 119:97 there is this: “O how I love thy law! It is my meditation all the day.” “The Law” here, however, embraces much more than the Ten Commandments: It refers to the entire Bible, which is indeed the “medita­tion” of all true believers. Next, it would refer to that part of the Bible as ex­pressed by Jesus – the first five books of the Bible; then in the very narrow sense, the Ten Commandments. The revelatory and strictly religious features of the Law have their beginning in Exodus 12, where the Passover was instituted, and which definitely ends that period from the Covenant with Abraham to the Exodus – a period of four hundred and thirty years. (Gal. 3:17) The minute exactness of this period is stressed in Ex. 12:51: “It came to pass the selfsame day, that the Lord did bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their armies.” And here we have the beginning of the Law ­begun by the Passover and elaborated in great detail in the remainder of the Pentateuch. It is well we keep this in mind in all our studies of this subject.

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

Many sincere people consider the Ten Commandments as the Law of Moses; but they are just the nucleus of that Law. The Ten Commandments are the mandatory feature of the Law of Moses – divided into parts, “Thou shalt” and “Thou shalt not.” The secon­dary part of the Law of Moses is the Ceremonial features – much more extensive, much more complicated, and much less understood – although we would stress here that the manda­tory features of that Law are also greatly misunderstood by many sincere people.

In Lev. 18:5 the Lord said unto Moses: “Ye shall therefore keep my statutes: which if a man do, he shall live in them.” This was certainly welcome news to the Jews: they would continue to live if they kept that law, and that they promised to do. They did not realize that this was a perfect Law, which as imperfect beings, they were total­ly unable to keep. When Jesus began His ministry at the age of thirty, the Jews shortly began to accuse Him of ignoring, or setting aside, this Law which was so sacred to them. And in response, Jesus said, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.” (Matt. 5:17) And this He did “fulfill” (fill full that Law); but the Jews did not recognize that He was perfect, and could keep that perfect law, which they were unable to do. Thus, the best of them, those who very earnestly endeavored to keep that law, continued to die; and this is a vivid proof to the unbiased mind that they were unable to keep that Law.

The Law is set forth in the 20th Chapter of Exodus, vs. 2 through 17. In referring to this section of Scripture the word “commandment” is not strictly correct. In Hebrew it is properly given as “word”; thus, the first word, the second word, etc. As a brief summary, we would express the first “word” thus: “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” And the second “word”: “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image.” The third “word”: “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy god in vain.” The fourth: “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.”

The second table of the Law begins with the fifth “word”: “Honor thy father and thy mother”; the sixth “word,” “Thou shalt not kill”; the seventh, “Thou shalt not com­mit adultery”; the eighth, “Thou shalt not steal”; the ninth, “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor”; and the tenth, “Thou shalt not covet.” Much elab­oration could be offered on the foregoing, but that is not primarily the purpose of this writing.

As most of our readers know, we often become involved in extensive controversy re­garding our understanding of the interpretation of the Scriptures; and these ten “words” are no exception. Just recently we became involved with a Brother about these words, and especially so on the one concerning “The sabbath day.” And our main reason now for writing this article is to help our readers to a better understanding of this subject. Thus we reproduce some of the questions involved, with our answers, in the hope that our readers will profit thereby. But before proceeding, we would offer the opinion that the Ten Commandments (“words”) are a grand law of justice, since they embrace every duty of God’s creatures to Him and to one another – perfection from every standpoint – and this does indeed prove them to be the inspired word of God. And believing this, it should immediately become apparent that in nowise do we wish to abrogate – or even miti­gate – any part of those ten “words.”

Now, for some of the Questions: “Doesn’t your belief in the Creation Week help the evolution­ists in their false teachings, since it does away with the Sabbath?”

Answer: “Regarding the Ten Commandments, it seems we have a little different under­standing on that – although you believe in them, even as I do. But no man has been able to keep the Ten Commandments – neither the Jew nor the Christian. Only the perfect man Jesus was able to keep a perfect law. Paul says, ‘having blotted out what was written by hand (the two tables of the Law, the Ten Commandments) in ordinances which were against us, and removed it from our midst, having nailed it to the cross.’ (Col. 2:14, Dia.) We know the Jews were able to keep the ceremonial features, because the High Priest was told to do it all exactly as Moses gave it – that he die not. And there is no record that any of the High Priests died because of failure to perform the ceremon­ial features – regardless of their moral delinquencies. However, the Ten Commandments were the ‘written Law,’ but not the ceremonial features. The latter were all given orally to Moses.”

Moses told the Jews that they would live if they kept the Law (Lev. 18:5); but they soon learned that they could not keep the Ten Commandments, because they all con­tinued to die. Jesus, being perfect, was able to keep the Law, and proved it by what He did; He knew that we could not keep it – thus He nailed it to His cross. St. Paul writes, “I was alive without the Law once (in the Abrahamic covenant); but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.” (Rom. 7:9) St. Paul says, “We do not make void the law through faith.” (Rom. 3:31) In answer to this we quote from Rom. 10:4: “Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” Also, “Love is the fulfilling of the law.” (Rom. 13:10) If our life is motivated by that love – love for God and love for man – we are fulfilling the law, which is the same for all who “walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” (Rom. 8:1)

We are in full agreement that we should keep the Law to the best of our ability, because it is a perfect law. All these moral laws are incorporated in the New Testa­ment, however, but there is nothing said about keeping the Ten Commandments. Should we fall short on any of them through weakness of the flesh, we should immediately go to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in the time of need. (Heb. 4:16) At the same time we are fully convinced that none of us have the ability to keep a perfect law – although we can keep it in spirit. As Gentiles, we were never under the Mosaic law; therefore, when Jesus “nailed it to His cross” it was only for the Jews that He did that; and He did that only for those Jews that became Christians ­footstep followers of Him. All other believing Jews are still under that law, but none of them can keep it; that is why they all continue to die. “Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments; which if a man do he shall live in them: I am the Lord.” (Lev. 18:5) And those Jews who kept the Law as best they could were blessed.

Some of those Jewish heroes are mentioned in Chapter 11 of Hebrews, but there is nothing said about their having kept the Law. In fact, some of them lived many years before the law even appeared. It is clearly stressed that they were victors “by faith.” Also, some of them mentioned grossly violated the law, but later repented. Consider, for instance, the case of David. The Law was then here – and David knew it – yet he grievously violated it. But the Apostle Paul includes his name with the heroes of the Old Testament. David’s heart was always right before God, but not toward man. (1 Kgs. 11:4; 15:5; 1 Sam. 13:14) But there is no doubt that he had that “godly sorrow that worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of.” (2 Cor. 7:10) The same with Rahab, the harlot, whose life was a gross violation of the law, yet her faith in the God of the Hebrews places her in the select company of the Old Testament heroes. (Heb. 11:31) So they lived “above the Law” in many respects, and “by faith” and repentance because of their fleshly weakness in violating the perfect law, were reinstated in the “Household of Faith.”

In the third and fourth chapters of Galatians St. Paul treats of this subject in some detail; and in Gal. 3:22–24 he tells us that we are saved by faith, not by keep­ing the Law. “The law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ... then (v. 25): “But after faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.” Here is a very clear and plain statement by a onetime Jew, that “we are (the Jews who accept Christ by faith) no longer under a schoolmaster.” However, those faithful Jews who are mentioned in Hebrews Chapter 11 lived above the law: they lived by faith – although punished where they violated the Law they did not keep, as in the case of David.

Here we cite Martin Luther’s fundamental doctrine (by which he mutilated the Roman Church): “Being justified by faith, we have peace with God.” (Rom. 5:1) He had the same difference with the Roman Catholic Church that we have with those who believe they can be saved by works. That Church contended that we are saved by works; whereas, Luther correctly contended we are saved “by faith” and no longer under a schoolmaster (the Law).

Note also this very pertinent Scripture on this subject: “Sin shall not have do­minion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” (Rom. 6:13–18) And 1 Kgs. 8:6–9: “The priests brought in the ark of the Covenant unto his place... There was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone, which Moses put there at oreb, when the Lord made a covenant with the children of Israel.” And so it will be under the New Covenant when it is inaugurated in Christ’s Kingdom. (Jer. 31:31–33) This Scripture (1 kgs. 8:6–9) relates to the dedication of Solomon’s Temple; and makes very clear what St. Paul meant when he stated what he did in Col. 2:14 – “the handwrit­ing of ordinances.” He is referring clearly and specifically to the two tables of the Law that ONLY were in the Ark when the Temple was dedicated.

Today many sincere people believe they are saved by works for a good cause. And many unsavory characters are highly praised for their “works of charity.” The Jehovah’s Witnesses tell their dedicated devotees (many of whom have our good opinion) that if they are faithful in serving so many hours a day or week, they will be chiefs in the Kingdom. At one time they told them they will live right on through to the Kingdom, but have softened that somewhat, as many of their faithful followers have since died.

By the foregoing statements we would not have our readers believe that those who have faith are to sit idly down and do nothing but have faith in our Lord and in God. “I will shew thee my faith by my works.” (Jas. 2:18) And that is our position, as all who have true animated faith will do with their might what their hands find to do: They will demonstrate their faith by their works. But faith cometh first! Every man should be able to give every man that asketh you a reason for the hope that is in you with meek­ness and fear (reverence). (1 Pet. 3:15)

During this Gospel Age it is a “narrow way” that leadeth unto life; and, as Jesus said, “Few there be that find it.” (Matt. 7:14) But, when the New Covenant is inaugu­rated (Jer. 31:31) – made with the Jews just as the Law Covenant was made – all will be given a chance to walk up the Highway (an easy way compared with the “narrow way” now operating). And all nations will be blessed by this Covenant as soon as they come under it and comply with its terms. The “narrow way” during the Gospel Age is a call: “But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wis­dom of God.” (1 Cor. 1:24 – also see verses 25–30) In the Kingdom it will not be a “call” but a command, if they get life.

Question: “When St. Paul told the Jews ‘we are free’ in Christ, is there anything here that says the Jews were not obligated to keep the Law – the Ten Commandments? Or was he referring to the Ceremonial Law?”

Answer: “By this question we would not infer that the Brother is not sincere in his query, but sincerity alone is not sufficient. When the nations went at each others’ throats – as they did in 1914 – there is no doubt at all in our mind that many were sin­cere on both sides. However, at least one side had to be wrong; and some prominent individuals have contended that both sides were wrong. But the latter point we do not ar­gue. We now confine ourselves specifically to one expression by St. Paul in Col. 2:14: ‘Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that are against us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross.’”

Now follows this same text from a more exact translation: “Having blotted out what was written by hand in ordinances which was against us, and has removed it from our midst, having nailed it to the cross.” Let us stress here that the ONLY part of the Law that was written by God’s hand was the Ten Commandments – contained on two tables of stone – and nothing else. The ceremonial law was all given orally to Moses; none of it was written by God’s hand. (Ex. 31:18; 24:12; Deut. 9:10)

As said above, when the ark was placed in Solomon’s Temple, the only thing it con­tained was the two tables of the Law – written by God’s hand. (1 Kgs. 8:6–9) Aaron’s rod that budded, and the golden pot of manna were no longer in the Ark. This is to tell us that God’s eternal law – the Ten Commandments – will be perfectly implanted into human hearts and minds “in due time.” (Jer. 31:33) Solomon’s Temple in this picture is a replica of what shall be when the “living temple” of God is established in the earth. But for the present – and because of our frailty – it is “removed from our midst.” Certainly this statement by St. Paul is plain enough and positive enough for a child to understand it.

When the lawyer wanted to know what he should do to inherit eternal life, Jesus said, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.” (Luke 10: 25,27) So it is love for God and man that will eventually give us eternal life. This applies now in this Age, and will apply toward all men in the next Age.

Question: “When the Commandment says, ‘Remember the sabbath day to keep it holy.’ is not this a perpetual obligation?”

Answer: “Yes, to those who have put themselves under it; but Gentiles have never done that – have never been asked to do it – so there is no obligation on their part to try to keep it. However, that same Commandment says, “In it thou shalt not do any work, thou... nor thy manservant, nor thy maidservant.” Can any seventh Sabbath Day adher­ent honestly say he is keeping this command­ment? Does their manservant leave them a newspaper on Saturday? Does their manservant leave them milk on Saturday? Does their manservant operate a bus that carries them to church on Saturday? Many years ago we lived next door to a very religious Jew, who scrupulously tried to keep the Sabbath; so, every Friday evening at six o’clock – when his Sabbath began – he gave us a penny to come into his kitchen, strike a match and light his stove fire. Seemingly, he did not real­ize that in hiring us for that penny he was having his “manservant” – or boyservant – do some work for him. This general thought of the Ten Commandments – handwriting of ordi­nances – is further emphasized in Ex. 31:18: “God gave to Moses... two tables of testi­mony, tables of stone (the Ten Commandments are the only “tables of stone”), written with the finger of God.”

And to emphasize the superiority of the Ten Commandments (written by the finger of God), note now the record in Deut. 31:24–26: “When Moses had made an end of writing the words of this law (the ceremonial features, written by Moses – in contrast to the Ten Commandments written by God) upon a scroll (not on tables of stone)... Moses commanded the Levites... Take this scroll of the law, and put it at the side of the ark (not in the ark – as was done with the two tables of stone, written by the finger of God) of the covenant of Yahweh your God.” (Rotherham translation)

When Jesus said, “A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another” (John 13:34), that terse statement embraced everything in the great addition problem set forth by St. Peter in 2 Pet. 1:5–7: “Add to your faith virtue (fortitude); and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance (self–control); and to temperance pa­tience (stick-to-itiveness); and to patience godliness (piety); and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity (love). And this addition cir­cumvents all the ethical, ceremonial and mandatory elements of the Christian religion. If any of us could keep the mandatory law of Moses, we could not improve on what St. Peter has instructed us. However, be it emphasized here that no one of the fallen hu­man race has ever been able to do perfectly what St. Peter has prescribed. In not one of these seven character qualities have any of us been able to reach perfection – just as none of the Jews could reach perfection in keeping the law of Moses; but it is the ideal set before us – “that we should follow in his steps.” (1 Pet. 2:21)

In no place does Jesus insist that His followers should keep the law of Moses; on the contrary, He tells us, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me... for my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matt. 11:29,30) Here He was making a clear distinc­tion between the yoke of the Law – which no Jew had been able to keep – and His yoke (“follow in His steps”), which we keep imperfectly, but, if faithfully, satisfactory to God, because Jesus is with us in that yoke, bearing the heavier part of it – a help the Jews did not have in their attempt to keep the Law of Moses.

Solomon’s Temple should be considered here in connection with this discussion. It was an elegant structure – one of the finest then in existence. And in this it was typical of the grander Temple, the spiritual temple that will appear when the Kingdom is established. At the dedication of Solomon’s Temple we are told, “The priests brought in the ark of the covenant (the golden ark from the Most Holy of the Tabernacle) of the Lord unto his place, into the oracle of the house, to the most holy place (which now supplanted the Most Holy of the Tabernacle), even under the wings of the cherubims. (1 Kgs. 8:6); then verse 9, “There was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone, which Moses put there at Horeb (where the Jewish ritual was first established after they left Egypt), when the Lord made a covenant with the children of Israel.”

All during the Jews’ journey through the Wilderness of Sin, on their journey to Canaan, the golden ark in the Most Holy of the Tabernacle had contained the two tables of stone, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the golden pot of Manna that never decayed; but two of these items were no longer there when the golden ark was transferred to Solomon’s Temple – showing us very clearly that when the antitypical Temple appears in the Kingdom, there will no longer be need for the Rod or the Pot of Manna. Only the eternal law of God will be there – the “words” engraved on the two tables of stone by the finger of God, which Jesus temporarily suspended, “Nailing it to His cross,” because no one had been able to keep it; but its presence in the Temple tells us very clearly that in the Kingdom all the willing and obedient will then be able to keep that Law – just as Jesus Himself kept it when He was with us at His first Advent – being a perfect man could keep a perfect Law.

Question: “In Matt. 5:17 not one word is said about Jesus nailing the Law to His cross; why, then, do you quote it now?”

Answer: “He does not say anything in Matt. 5:17 about nailing the Ceremonial law to the cross either. He had disposed of that in Matt. 23:38 – as we pointed out afore­going. And, as for the mandatory feature of the Law (the Ten Commandments) certainly He did not nail that to His cross for Himself: He had no need to do that, because He Himself kept that Law perfectly – something we cannot do. Therefore, at His crucifix­ion He nailed it to His cross to remove that ‘schoolmaster’ that had afflicted the Jews for centuries. ‘For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.’ (Rom. 8:3,4) That statement about ‘nailing it to His cross’ applied only to those Jews who had agreed to keep that Law; but it does not apply to any Gentiles, because they never were under that Law – had made no covenant with God to keep it. This is no ‘private interpretation’ on our part: it is just simple logic applied to a very much circulated illogical interpretation that quite a few good people mistakenly try to place upon it.”

However, we would emphasize that both the Law Covenant and the New Covenant are regulated by the same eternal Law of God, the Ten Commandments; and these must eventu­ally be kept perfectly by all who will gain eternal life under the New Covenant – when “Satan is bound, that he should deceive the nations no more.” (Rev. 20:2,3)

Question: “If we are caught stealing, and plead exemption from prosecution because the Law was nailed to the cross, would the judge accept that excuse?”

Answer: “No, of course he would not! There are some features of the Law Covenant that we can keep ­such as stealing, thou shalt not kill, commit adultery, etc., but that is a far cry from including the entire Law. The Gentiles who were not under the Law had enough light not to do those things, if they were motivated by right and wrong. ‘But glory, honour, and peace to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile.’ (Rom. 2:10)”

Question: “Why do you make so complicated the plain and simple statement of Jesus in Matt. 5:17,18?”

Answer: “We do not make it complicated; the question complicates it when it tries to put Gentiles in the same category with Jesus Himself. In that text Jesus says, ‘I come not to destroy the law.’ Neither do we come to destroy it. But He also said, ‘I am come to fulfill it’ – which we do not do because we lack the ability and the heredity to do that.”

The Curse: “As many as are of the works of the law are under the curse.” (Gal. 3:10) “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law... for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.” (Gal. 3:13) The whole human family is now under the curse of sin and death; but, when the Jews covenanted to keep the law, but were not able to do so, it put them under a double curse. Thus, Jesus had to “hang upon a tree” – the cross – to redeem the Jews from the double curse which rested upon them – the curse inherited from Adam, and the curse of the works of the Law.

Question: “What about Matt. 5:19 – ‘Whosoever shall break one of these least com­mandments shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven?”

Answer: “Jesus had said that if any one break the least of the commandments, he is guilty of all. Yes, here He says that even the “least” will be in the Kingdom of heaven. Coupled with this, we have His statement about John the Baptist, a Jew who was scrupulously trying to keep the Law: ‘There hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the Kingdom of heaven is greater than he.’ (Matt. 11:11) Here is a clear statement that John the Baptist will not be in the King­dom of Heaven (the heavenly phase of the Kingdom), although he painstakingly tried to keep the Law to the best of his ability, which he could not do. By our Lord’s statement, we know that he will be included among the faithful, honored Ancients, mentioned by the Apostle Paul in the llth Chapter of Hebrews – his reward being the earthly phase of the Kingdom and not the Spiritual phase, which is the Kingdom of Heaven.”

Also, according to the questioner’s reasoning, the Apostles Paul, Peter, James and others will also be least in the Kingdom of Heaven, because they taught that the follow­ers of Jesus – Jews or Gentiles – were not under the Law, as noted by the following Scriptures: “By him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the Law of Moses.” (Acts 13:39) “By the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified..” (Gal. 2:16)

More now from Acts 15:5–20: “There rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. (v. 5) And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. (v. 6) And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the Gospel, and believe. (v.7)

“And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Spirit (Gentile believers), even as he did unto us (v.8); And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. (v.9)

“Now, therefore, why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers or we were able to bear? (v. 11) (The fathers were able to bear the ceremonial: many of the fathers had very little to do with the ceremonial fea­tures, although they were faced daily with the mandatory yoke – the Ten Commandments—JJH) Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them. (v. 12)

“And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me. (v. 13) Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gen­tiles, to take out of them people for his name. (v. 14)

“And to this agree the words of the prophets, as it is written. (v. 15) After this (after selecting a people for His Name among the Gentiles), I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David (the earthly phase of the Kingdom), which is fallen down (since 70 A. D., when the Jews and their temple were devastated); and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up (v. 16): That the residue of men (the world during the Kingdom) might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.” (v. 17) (After selecting a “people for His name” among the Gentiles, these saints will bless the residue of mankind in the Kingdom: “Know ye not that the saints will judge the world?” – l Cor. 6:2—JJH)

“Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. (v. 18) Where­fore, my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God. (v. 19); But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.” (v.20)

Also Acts 15:24–26: “Forasmuch we have heard that certain which went from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying ye must be circumcised, and keep the law, to whom we gave no such commandment (v. 24); It seemed good unto us, being as­sembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul (v.25), Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (v.26)

“For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if you keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.” (Act 15:28,29)

Note there is not one word here about those converts keeping the Law of Moses. Nor do they criticize them for coming together on Sunday instead of Saturday. The Apostles were readily agreeable with the Sunday meetings, inasmuch as the Lord had risen from the dead on that day, which would cause those assembled to manifest a sober and a happy atti­tude in their worship.

It should also be noted that from all the foregoing Scriptures there is not one word of criticism against the Apostles for accepting and preaching Jesus; their whole contention is against the teaching that the Apostles were then relieving Jew and Gentile of the burden of the Law yoke – “which our fathers were not able to bear,” the Law of Moses.

Note now 1 John 5:3: “This is the love of God, that We keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous” – not unbearable, as was the Law of Moses. “For Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to every one (Jew and Gentile) that believeth.” (Ram. 10:4) “And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is of God by faith.” (Phil. 3:9)

More will be given on The Law of Moses in Part Two, D.v. For now it would be well for us to follow the Apostle’s advice in 2 Tim. 2:15: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” “The fear (reverence) of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.” (Psa. 111:10)

Sincerely your brother,

John J. Hoefle, Pilgrim

========================

LETTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST

Dear Brother Hoefle:

If possible could I be put on your mailing list? Please advise concerning subscription, etc.

Sincerely, ------- (ARIZONA)

...........................................................................

Dear Mr. Hoefle:

Would you please send me the name and address of the one that wrote you a letter in the April 1980 paper? I am a Christian who has had similar experiences with the Jehovah’s Witnesses, and I would like to correspond with this person and share with him.

Sincerely, ------- (ALABAMA)

...........................................................................

Dear Bible Students:

While in California I saw you listed in a book by a Dr. Melton. “Epiphany” means Manifestation. How wonderful to know our Lord is now present – soon to be manifested.

Please send me some information about your group.

Sincerely in the Kingdom Hope, ------- (North Carolina)

======================

ANNOUNCEMENT OF GENERAL INTEREST

We suggest for our Fall Special Effort in Antitypical Gideon’s Second Battle – the “good fight” against antitypical Zebah (Eternal Torment), and Zalmunna (Consciousness of the Dead) – Sunday, October 19 through Sunday, November 8. Brothers Russell and Johnson made valiant effort against these two errors, which are the two chief errors of the anti­typical Midianites; and we honor them by continuing in this Battle. All pertinent liter­ature is free, postage paid. We invite all of like mind, and have the opportunity, to join with us in this good work and in the prayer, God bless their memory!