NO. 354B: RETROSPECT AND PROSPECT - PART TWO

No. 354B

REVIVAL OF THE DEAD SEA, by Dr. Claude Duvernoy

“Many are those, including Jews, who reject the fact that Israel is a chosen people. The fact that Israel was chosen by G‑d has nothing to do with racial, national or even religious superiority. However, Israel was chosen for a purpose: to reveal G‑d’s will to a world of superstition, greed and violence, mostly through her prophets. This means that  Israel’s history was linked with the divine revelation of establishing the Kingdom of  Heaven on earth. And this is why Israel remains an indestructible nation.

“One of the consequences of being a chosen people – and this is a privilege which Israeli politicians apparently ignore – is that Israel’s history has been programmed, black on white, by biblical prophecies: the Temple was destroyed, the Jews were dispersed, yet they started to come back under the pressures of tribulations and  persecutions and the State of Israel was established in spite of ferocious opposition. In the 21st chapter of Luke in the New Testament, Jesus himself  prophesied the reunification of Jerusalem a perfect parallel to the prophecy of  Zechariah (chapter 2) which was read in the synagogues in June 1967.

“But world politicians, church leaders and theologians remain blind. The  government of Israel has adopted a project which has just been launched to link the Mediterranean to the Dead Sea. It will take seven years, cost well over $700m. and  create enormous problems in many fields, including the ecological balance of the  region – not to mention the opposition of the Arabs in the area.

“Yet Prophet Ezekiel, in chapter 47, verses 1‑12, presents another plan, this one free of charge. He tells us that soon, a huge tremor will shake the Jordan Valley and the Mount of Olives, and a stream of fresh water will spring forth from  the Temple Mount and revive the Dead Sea – all this, as I said, free of charge.”

THE MISSIONARIES COME OUT, by Haim Shapiro

“Israel’s Christian missionaries, or as they prefer to be called, evangelicals, who bear witness to the Jews about Jesus, are coming out of the closet and openly stating their intentions for the first time. ....Rev. Ole Kvarme is unhappy about the  words ‘missionary ‘ ‘proselytizing’ and ‘conversion.’ ....Kvarme rejects a recent statement by American TV evangelist Jerry Falwell of the Moral Majority that there should be more freedom for missionaries in Israel. ...Kvarme, whose institute runs a study program for Jewish believers which in some cases could lead to a full‑time ministry, estimates that there are between 1,000 and 1,500 adult Hebrew Christians in  Israel. ...Dr. George Iankumakis said, ‘As a historian and scholar however, he views the growth of the Christians of Jewish background with interest. For the first time since the early Church, they want to keep their Jewish identity as much as they can,  he says. In the five years that he has lived in Jerusalem, he has observed the Jewish  Christians becoming bolder. ‘At first they were fearful of any form of confrontation. Now they are more open as to what they believe. ....

“Jews do not try to convert others, says Lippel, and others should understand such feelings and not try to convert. ‘I am happy to say that practically the entire Christian establishment in Israel understands this. I am sorry that a few Jewish converts and foreigners work to destroy this understanding.

“Dr. Geoffrey Wigoder says, ‘On the world scene, there is the tendency of the Church to drop its missionary stance, especially in view of the Holocaust. Such changes have been made by the Catholics, the Anglicans and more recently to  some extent, the Lutherans.’ ....

“‘In conclusion, ‘ Wigoder says, ‘it is important to keep a sense of  proportion. A tiny number of Jews accept Christianity while hundreds of Christians  convert to Judaism in Israel every year.”‘

The above reminds us that some of those nations who claim to be Christian  persecute, and in some cases slaughter the Jews. This is not the teaching of Jesus  as is clearly set out in the New Testament. We all know what happened to the Jews during the Dark Ages at the hands of professing Christians, which should have been a  lesson to all Christians in this enlightened age. They – the so‑called Christian nations during the Dark Ages – did the same to many faithful Christians.

In THE SHALOM LETTER FOR NOVEMBER 1984, there is this: “It has been parroted with incessant fury that the Jews stole Palestine from the Arabs. Joan Peters’ widely‑read book From Time Immemorial (Harper & Row, 1984) has devastated that lie. Palestine was never an Arab nation nor was Jerusalem ever the capital of an Arab  country. Jews have simply clung to the land from time immemorial and, even under the  boot of cruel oppressors and subjugated as ‘DHIMMIS’ (protected pagans) by the Muslims, Jews have always lived in Israel. They are the only people to have achieved independent sovereignty there. Peters points out that it was AFTER large Jewish immigration into Palestine in the past one hundred years that Arabs migrated into Jewish developed areas in search of a higher living standard. Rather than being banished by Jews, a great number of Arabs are newcomers in comparison with Jewish pioneers. This neglected fact needs to be heard from pulpit, bema, political platform, and professorial lecture.

“And what was the catalyst that brought about Israel’s rebirth? Certainly not the British who controlled Palestine, currying Arab leaders’ favor and deliberately preventing Jews fleeing Nazi‑controlled Europe from reaching the only land where they would have been safe from Hitler’s genocide. While Great Britain locked Jews out of Palestine and the world locked them out of safe sanctuary, Hitler locked them into the mobile killing vans, gas chambers and  ovens. And most of the world’s clergy, politicians and citizens remained silent  while Jews burned’ One‑third of the world’s Jewish population disappeared from  the earth. Over six million Gentiles were also slaughtered, proving that those who kill Jews today always choose other people tomorrow.

“Many Jews did survive and no longer looked to the world for help. They  knew they would have to fight for their freedom, and perhaps that is why many  people have never forgiven Menachem Begin and organizations like the Irgun  Zvel Leumi for daring to fight – especially the mighty British. And to beat them? After the British had armed the Arabs and deliberately disarmed the  Jews? This was not being a ‘good Jew.’ A wandering Jew would be accepted. A  frightened and lonely Jew walking to slaughter was also accepted. But a determined band of fighting Jews waging war against one of the greatest  military powers on earth? What chutzpah’

“So they labeled Begin a ‘terrorist’ and used Deir Yassin to ‘prove’  their point. The constant harping on that incident merely magnified the fact  that Jewish fighters primarily aimed at military targets – not helpless civilians – which are the primary targets of the PLO.

“Worn down by Jewish courage and bulldog tenacity, the British backed  down – and out. After the war of independence, the infant nation of Israel was attacked by five invading armies. She won against all odds. Thus began her neighbors ‘war of attrition,’ with the major crisis being the 1956 Suez affair where the Jews again came out on top.”

“For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.” (Isa. 41:13) “I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in his Word do I hope.” (Psa. 130:5)

NOTE: This article could not have been written without the help of our good brethren. Not only have whole items been contributed, but also many of the news items were furnished by our brethren. The Bible House Ecclesia wishes to  express appreciation and gratitude to our brethren who gave us this good  help.

KIND WORDS FOR MILLENNIAL DAWN, VOL. V

THE NEW BEDFORD (MASS.) STANDARD SAYS: “Charles T. Russell, editor of  ZION’S WATCH TOWER, and author of several volumes of theological writings, five of which are included in his MILLENNIAL DAWN series, has issued a new volume of Bible study, THE AT‑ONE‑MENT BETWEEN GOD AND MAN. Mr. Russell clings close to the Bible, as he interprets it, and endeavors to offset the theory of the evolutionists that, as no fall occurred, no redemption and atonement are necessary, by teaching the cross of Christ.”

THE JACKSONVILLE (FLA.) TIMES UNION‑CITIZEN SAYS: “In this neat volume of  five hundred pages we have a most reverent treatment of profound subjects,  respecting which many Christians have wondered and prayed, in a clear and  lucid style which even a child may understand. The author’s loyalty to the Bible is pronounced and inspiring, and we do not wonder that some have denominated his books Bible Keys. In the volume under review the author examines his subjects from both the human and the divine standpoints – the necessity for atonement on man’s part, and why it is demanded on God’s part, and then what are its grand possibilities for all the race of Adam – ‘Whosoever will.’ The writer’s scope embraces the doctrine of the divine trinity.”

THE WORCESTER (MASS.) EVENING POST SAYS: “Among the most notable of the recent works on religious subjects is a publication from the press of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Allegheny, Pa., THE AT‑ONE‑MENT BETWEEN GOD AND MAN. The book is one that treats of theological subjects in an entirely new and decidedly attractive manner. It advances no new dogmas nor seeks to combat old ones in any but a spirit of truth seeking. It makes plain in a particularly clear and helpful light many things that have heretofore puzzled students of the Bible and Biblical lore. It teaches the universal fatherhood of God and teems with the expression of his loving kindness for the creatures he has made. At the same time it is a text book of theological science and dissects its truths and principles in a logical and reasonable, yet reverent manner.

“No single chapter of any recent book is‑more notable than the section of this work which deals with the ever‑confusing mystery of the divine trinity. It must be said that a more convincing explanation of this axiomatic doctrine of theology has never yet presented itself, yet it is strictly along the lines of orthodox thought. The general effect of the book on the average reader who seeks for light on the subjects that to him have dark meaning, is most gratifying. It quickens faith and makes strong hopes that are dear to every serious and thinking mind. The tone of the book is reverent and wholesome, and it seems destined to bring happiness to many a doubt‑laden heart.”

THE GRAND RAPIDS (MICH.) HERALD SAYS: “Pastor Russell’s new book, THE AT‑ONE‑MENT BETWEEN GOD AND MAN is of the sort that awakens Christians to do some thinking along theological lines. It is one of those epoch‑making books destined to influence thought not merely for the hour of their perusal, but for life – and for centuries. The book will make its author foes as well as friends, for there are people ready to fight for their dogmas, however unscriptural and unreasonable. However, many thinking Christian people, who hold to the Bible as the inspired Word of God and who have all their lives been troubled in their endeavors to harmonize it with their consciences and with facts, will surely welcome this volume as ‘a helping hand,’ and praise God for the light it sheds on MANY subjects hitherto dark to all except theologians, and possibly to many of them also. One thing is certain, and that is that every lover of the Bible must admire the author’s loyalty to the Scriptures and his reverential style of dealing with church dogmas, which he rejects as being contrary to the divine Word, character and plan.”

THE NEW HAVEN (CONN.) COURIER JOURNAL SAYS: “The reverential spirit of the work, its earnestness, its clearness of statement, impress the reader. It is a strong, forcible and logical setting forth of the doctrine of atonement for sin through Christ, the Mediator, and of the orthodox Christian belief in general regarding the great foundation of the Christian faith and scope of salvation. It is a work that appeals to all on a subject of such paramount importance.”

THE PITTSBURGH TIMES SAYS: “The title explains the object of the book. The author, as is usual with him, fortifies his opinions and assertions by a close adherence to the Scriptures. He writes with great enthusiasm and with an apparent sense of strong conviction, and the book will be of considerable aid to those who find occasion to study the points treated.”

THE SYRACUSE (N.Y.) HERALD SAYS: “Mr. Russell is an able as well as an exceedingly voluminous writer on religious questions. The present bulky volume is the fifth of a series of books under the general title of MILLENNIAL DAWN. It discusses the fall of man, the penalty or curse upon him, his redemption and the terms of his ‘At‑one‑ment.’ It undertakes to explain the perplexing doctrine of the trinity and to render it simple and reasonable. The author is loyal to the Scriptures, but not always to church dogmas, which he deals with according to their agreement with the divine Word. All Bible students will find matter for thought in Mr. Russell’s writings.”‘

THE INDIANAPOLIS (IND.) SENTINEL SAYS: “This book is sublimely comprehensive, and unquestionable its treatment will be pronounced a masterly one by many Bible students. ‘The fear of the Lord’ is the only fear in evidence in this volume; but although ‘traditions of men’ are treated fearlessly, they are kindly handled, and even partisan sticklers for exploded errors must concede the author’s Christian spirit and courtesy, while all must admit his honesty, and his fidelity to the Scriptures. If human creeds suffer, it is in the interest of the Bible, which the author accepts as his only creed, in the interest also of love and justice and Christian common sense – all important considerations as against nonsense of the ‘dark ages,’ often mislabeled ‘orthodoxy.’

“After reading this book and comparing its numerous Bible citations, intelligent Christians will often say to themselves: Where have I been? What have I been thinking of? What poor use have I made of my Bible and my reason for years that I did not see the beauty, harmony and reasonableness of the divine Word’ But the author lays no claim to superior ability or inspiration, merely claiming that God has a ‘due time’ for everything, and that now is God’s due time for shedding light upon his Word in the interest of all his faithful people, and his aspiration is to be a humble servant of the Lord’s flock, dispensing to them the ‘meat in due season.”‘

THE ST. LOUIS CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE SAYS: “Concerning this volume, a recent reviewer has said: ‘Pastor Russell’s new book, THE AT‑ONE‑MENT BETWEEN GOD AND MAN, is remarkable in fact, if not in its title. It is sure to make a stir among the dry bones of fossilized orthodoxy, as well as amongst the higher critics. Not that it is agnostic for it is decidedly Biblical; nor that it is bitter and drastic and cutting toward those theories of the dark ages which have barnacled the good ship Zion – for it handles them gently, courteously, though thoroughly. Its strength lies in the gentle persistence with which the writer uses his Biblical dynamics.’”

THE NEW YORK MERCHANTS’ REVIEW SAYS: “A NOTABLE WORK. – A hell of fire and brimstone has no place in the belief of some intelligent Christians, man’s folly and wickedness providing hell enough on earth, according to their views of the matter, but Pastor Charles T. Russell, in THE AT‑ONE‑MENT BETWEEN GOD AND MAN, of the MILLENNIAL DAWN series, presents many arguments to show that hell, sheol or hades, has no existence at all as a place of punishment, the word in its different forms meaning simply the sleep which the human race passes into, to be awakened from at Christ’s second coming.

“His arguments are based upon copious texts from Scripture, as also is his attempt to prove that the orthodox view of the holy trinity has no foundation in the Bible. The Scriptures, and nothing but the Scriptures, are the guide of the author in his search for the truth in the various problems examined by him in his interesting book, and naturally he opposes ‘Evolution.”‘

THE ST. ALBANS (VT.) DAILY MESSENGER SAYS: “This volume, like all others from this writer, differs from other theological writings in several particulars. (1) It is simple in style, easily understood by any Christian making abstruse subjects plain to even the wayfaring man if he be of the class addressed by the author – the justified in Christ. (2) It entirely ignores all creeds and theories of men and appeals solely to the Scriptures and treats their testimony as inspired, authoritative, decisive – citing as well as quoting them freely. (3) It is logical as well as Scriptural, and whoever reads without prejudice is sure to be convinced. (4) Those who read and accept the presentations of this volume will not only know what they believe, but why they believe it; and will ‘be ready to give a reason for the hope that is in them’ – which cannot be said even of clergymen respecting the dogmas of the several denominations.” (Reprints 2551, 2552 – December 15, 1899)

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LETTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST

Epiphany Bible Students Ass’n

Please send me the following additional free literature: No.3 – Resurrection of the Dead; No.4 – The Three Babylons; No.5 – Two Distinct Salvations; No.6 – God’s Great Sabbath Day; No.7 – The Great Reformer; No.8 – The Permission of Evil; No.9 – The Judgment Day; No. 10. – God’s Standard; No.121 – The Roman Church and Its Little “Twin.” Thank you! ------- (NORTH CAROLINA)

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Epiphany Bible Students Ass’n

To Whom It May Concern:

Could you please send some literature concerning the beliefs of your organization?

Thank You! ------- (CANADA)

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Epiphany Bible Students:

Please send Nos. 1, 2, 6, 10, 11, 121 and 130. Thank

you’ ------- (CALIFORNIA)

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Dear Brethren:

I would like you to send me your monthly magazine. I am enclosing $5. I know you are a non‑profit Movement, and as soon as I can I will send you more. I think you are doing a good and truthful work and have brought understanding to many people on the true Word of God. Thank you very much! With Christian love, ------- (ARIZONA)

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Dear Sister Emily: Loving Christian Greetings to you and others helping you!

Am sending you this check as usual, at this time of the year. Please use it as you see fit. I would be happy if you used it for your own needs.

We think it is wonderful the way the Bible House Brethren have carried on the Lord’s work. We marvel at the way the papers are gotten out on time and the content of them.

We know you miss Brother Hoefle, but we rejoice in knowing his labor is over and that he did it well. We know you feel the same way. With loving Season’s Greetings to all at your house, I am Most Sincerely ------- (OHIO)

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My Dear Sister Emily: Warm Christian Greetings!

I have not been writing to you because I felt that you were still feeling like a steam‑roller had run over you and you needed a vacation from the deluge of letters you must be getting.

I enjoyed the United Israel Bulletin. It has been many years since I last saw you and I was glad to get a peep at you. Thank you also for the July/August Memorabilia. Both articles did Bro. Hoefle proud. How proud you must be of him!

I hope you are physically better. The years fly away with our vitality. .... You wanted to know something about Bro. Gough and the funeral. He had been living for some years in the country and we met, except for one brief time which does not count, only at Conventions……. At the last Convention at Kingston he made no mention to what class he spiritually belonged ….... Bro. Gough did say a few words in a testimony of his love for the Lord. God knows the heart, and will reward him with whatever is his due. He always acted like a Great Company. He had a lovely funeral. It was short and sweet as he had expressed in his Will that it should be. .... They didn’t specifically mention to what class they thought he belonged – only said he was asleep in Jesus. I hear that Bro. Hall is the new representative. He is one of the Quasi‑elect – Consecrated Epiphany Campers.

I am enclosing a copy of my latest poem, and I hope that you like it.

Grace, Mercy and Peace be unto you – Sincerely, ------- (JAMAICA)

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Dear Brethren: Loving Christian greetings!

I recently ordered the six Parousia Volumes and a Manna book from the LHMM. I am very much disappointed in these books, to say the least. In 1960 RGJ republished the Volumes and did not make any changes in what Bro. Johnson had originally published. Then in 1977 he republished the six volumes again and found it necessary to omit the questions, which renders them useless for class study. He also deleted Bro. Johnson’s comments as well as his foreword. I assume this was done to make them suitable for his Consecrated Epiphany Campers.

However, so far as I know RGJ did not change the Manna book, but the present Executive Trustee, who is a prospective Youthful Worthy, has seen fit to do so. Some changes may be considered insignificant, except that it is actually altering Pastor Russell’s and Bro. Johnson’s word, which is distasteful to me. But in some cases, I believe they are serious. For instance: (l) In many cases where New Creatures are discussed, the words “we,” “us,” “our” are changed to “they,” them,” etc. To my mind this leaves Pastor Russell and Bro. Johnson out of the “We” class, since it is they who are speaking. It is like the Apostles use of those terms when speaking of themselves and others in the Church. A case in point is the August 25 comments where the text is 1 John 3:2, which reads: “We know that when He shall appear we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.” (2) The text for August 11 is Rev. 2:10: “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a Crown of Life.” There is a substitution made for Pastor Russell’s entire comments, which speaks of the Body of Christ, the Elijah class, etc. But the substitution comments are from a source which refers to the same text, and a small portion is omitted, which is indicated. The words omitted are “the chief blessing, joint-heirship.” Then in Bro. Johnson’s comments there is this sentence: “For such, the highest of all forms of life, immortality, the crown of life, is reserved as a gift reward.” And in the next sentence “crown of life” is changed to “life everlasting.” Does the Crown in this text refer to anything other than immortality, “the chief blessing, joint‑heirship?” (3) On October 11 Bro. Johnson’s comments say that the “priests” should “wash themselves in the water of Truth contained in the laver of the Bible.” In the new version “priests” is changed to “God’s people” and the words “laver of” are omitted, without indication of omission. How can the consecrated, priests or not, use the Bible without using the Laver since it types the Bible?

Bro. Johnson never found it necessary to change Pastor Russell’s comments in the Manna – and his own comments were in harmony with Pastor Russell’s, even though he was well aware that all new consecrators would be prospective Youthful Worthies and a prominent class during the Epiphany.

“I hesitate to touch things which involve so much,” but I am reminded that the JWs translated the Bible to suit their “new doctrine” – the Great Multitude – and I am wondering if the LHMM will do likewise and make a translation of the Bible to support their Consecrated Epiphany Campers. There are other changes up to this date, but I have not read ahead, so there may be more.

The Lord bless and guide the Bible House Brethren as they strive to uphold “the     faith once delivered unto the Saints.” Warm Christian love, ------- (NORTH CAROLINA)

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The Bible House brethren wish to express their appreciation and thanks for the many beautiful Christmas cards. Also, special thanks and gratitude for the assurance of their love and prayers, and for our efforts in sending out the unpublished articles of Brother Hoefle’s as well as of some timely reprints of his papers. We thank the Lord for the help and support of our faithful brethren, as we could not “carry on” the work without such support. “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and do his good pleasure,” (Phil. 2:13) “My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:19)

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ANNOUNCEMENT: The proper date for the Memorial this year is any time after 6 p. m. April 2.

  

NO. 354A: RETROSPECT AND PROSPECT - PART ONE

No. 354A

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, 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. (This is  taken from what Brother Hoefle gave in No. 307, January 1981, which is just as timely for 1985.

IN FINANCE

A noted economist has stated, “Financially the United States economy is at a most crucial cross roads. Present  government policy could either abort the present recovery or refuel inflation within six months to a year.”

We do not know at this point in time how long it will take for the bubble to burst – because we are headed for the  worst financial crash of the 20th century. We are faced with a convergence of negative events, both unprecedented in  scope and almost terrifying in their implication. The U. S. debt and interest on the debt are so astronomical in size that most  economists predict that they will never be paid. A similar condition prevails in almost every country in the world. Even  individuals are abusing credit – some purchasing items that they never hope (desire or expect) to pay for. This is all in disobedience to the admonition given in Rom. 13:8: “Owe no man anything, but to love one another.”

This is what private economists are saying in their news letters: “Unless all economic laws have been repealed  – which  they have not been and cannot be – the U. S. is now entering one of the greatest periods of inflation in its history. The invisible enemy is present! – Economic Depression, omnipresent, but you can’t see him – He lurks in unpaid bills, the ravaged checking accounts – bankruptcy court proceedings, bank failures, increased feelings of uncertainty and anxiety of millions of Americans. The economy is declining and could turn into recession in 1985. In the last nine years, the cost of living in the U. S. doubled.  In the next nine years it could again double.

“France is now the 4th most indebted country in the world, and conditions will get worse. Unemployment and  poverty are soaring. U. S. $ is bolstered by huge foreign capital flows attracted by high interest rates – unlikely to come down in 1985. Foreign debtor nations will default on their loans and will be bailed out by the Federal Reserve System. 

“Banks are actually weaker today than they were during the Great Depression. In 1929, banks had capital equal to 14% of assets. Today the capital  to asset ratio is under 8%. The financial world is in turmoil. The economy will  slide into recession by the end of this year, and into depression next year. Possibilities for double digit inflation next year: (1) Budget deficit; (2)  National Debt Interest; (3) Social Security; (4) Bad Foreign Loans; (5) Banks  Non equity; (6) Foreign Trade Deficit; (7) Farm Bankruptcies.

“The impending collapse of the dollar will be the big economic news of 1985. The banking crisis is not easing. It will get much worse, but no major bank will be allowed to fail and this will be highly inflationary.

“Government plans to issue new multi‑colored currency to replace present ‘greenbacks’. This is supposed to deter counterfeiting.” Luke 21:26: “Men’s hearts failing them for fear and looking after those things which are coming  on the earth.” Zeph. 2:3: “Seek righteousness, seek meekness, it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord’s anger.” (Contributed)

IN POLITICS

The people have demonstrated their confidence in President Reagan by giving him a landslide election for another four‑year term. Since many prominent Protestants and Catholics are supporting him, he has a good send‑off for a successful term for another four years. In this campaign for President, religion has played a large part. Especially has Armageddon been made  prominent. Time magazine reports: “For the first time in history, the end of  the world has become a campaign issue. It arose... when Ronald Reagan was asked if he truly believes that the world is headed for a ‘nuclear Armageddon.’...  The commander in chief insisted that he has never said that ‘we must plan according to Armageddon.’ Reagan’s answer, however, did not close the case... ‘How much of all this Ronald Reagan believes is known only to him.’... But last  week even Jerry Falwell was calling on the candidates of both parties to ‘repudiate....any extremist world view which demands a nuclear Armageddon.”‘

Under the heading of ARMAGEDDON AND THE END TIME, the Times reports what Professor A. Berkeley Mickelsen says: “When Christ really does break into this scene, there will be a lot of surprised people.”

Another press report says, “In Washington at a heated news conference, more than 100 national religious authorities and leaders Tuesday petitioned President Reagan and Democratic challenger Walter Mondale to repudiate a  belief that the Bible predicts inevitable nuclear warfare in the near future... Reagan and Falwell both denied their belief in such a prospective.”

Under the heading, RELIGION HAS A PLACE BUT NOT IN POLITICS, the press  reports: “Reagan and his Democratic opponents would do well to keep religion out of this fall’s campaign.”

WORLD CONDITIONS

Crime continues the world over – murder, rape, thievery and bank robberies. Nikki Meredith has an article in the Science magazine for December 1984  entitled: THE MURDER EPIDEMIC. She reports, “One American kills another every 23 minutes. Homicide doubled in this country in the past 20 years and is now claiming more than 20,000 lives a year. Many of our law enforcement agents have  given up trying to figure out why. ........

“An epidemic is defined as a condition occurring at a rate exceeding its  natural occurrence. American homicide qualifies because it has increased so dramatically since the 1960s. At least 80 percent of the countries that report  homicide statistics to the United Nations have rates lower than the U.S. rate of almost 10 for every 100,000 citizens. The few countries with higher rates include South Africa, Nicaragua, and Mexico. Mexico, at 17 per 100,000 population, has one of the highest in the world, whereas Canada has a mere two per 100,000 population.” 

“World War 111 May Be Terrorism Vs. Civilization” is the heading of a press report: “Logic suggests that sooner or later the terrorists’ bombs will be nuclear. So far, this has been the stuff of page‑turners, but just as science‑fiction writers predicted routine space flights, the scary stories of today’s paperbacks presage tomorrow’s real crises. A generation from now, the Reagan presidency will be remembered for sinking the socialistic Law of the Sea and for launching the world’s counter terror space defense. How many of us will be able to say we supported him in his greatest moves?”

“Suit Attacks Formal U.S. Tie To Vatican. Religious leaders Wednesday challenged the United States’ formal diplomatic ties with the Vatican with a suit in federal court.... The religious leaders include some who support President Reagan for re‑election. They said their chances for winning are excellent. ... The lawsuit also says that granting special status to one religious faith entangles the U.S. government in the internal affairs of the  Roman Catholic Church, in violation of the Constitution.”

“Ambassador To Vatican Still On Penzoil Board – William Wilson, U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican and a friend of President Reagan’s has been allowed to remain on a corporate board despite a general government policy against the practice, officials said Thursday. ... Wilson had served as the president’s unpaid personal envoy to the Vatican until the United States and the Holy See established formal relations this year.”

“Says Rev. Jerry Falwell: ‘If we do not awaken from our religious stupor and get involved, we’re going to lose this country.’ As he told about 150  ministers and church activists meeting in Orlando. Falwell, 50, said he hopes to add 85,000 Christian voters in Florida, although state‑church leaders said Tuesday they could double that number.”

It is apropos to quote Brother Hoefle’s No. 307, January 1981 paper,  p. 3, par. 5: “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, et al) 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’”

Some banks are tottering. “U.S.Steps In To Save Big Illinois Bank. The government Thursday put together a bailout of Continental Illinois National  Bank & Trust Co., whose high‑flying lending practices had it teetering with  huge portfolio of bad loans.”

“Butcher Indicted On Fraud Charges” is the heading of a press report. “Financier Jake Butcher, who once headed the $1.5 billion chain of United  American Banks, was indicted Tuesday on 44 counts of diverting millions in bank funds to his personal use in connection with the failure of the banks in Knoxville and Chattanooga. Also indicted were financial consultant, Jesse Barr, 47, and Jack Patrick, 46, a vice president of the now‑defunct United American Bank of Knoxville. The charges include bank fraud, conspiracy and  making false bank entries. ...If convicted, Butcher and Barr would face up to 220 years in prison and fines of $225,000 each. Patrick would face 160 years in prison and a $165,000 fine. ... Butcher and his family moved last  year to a $675,000 home in an exclusive subdivision in southwest Seminole County, Fla. His wife, Sonya, purchased the home with cash.”

IN RELIGION

Religion continues to be a money‑making pursuit. A Charlotte press  report says: “PTL President Jim Bakker and his wife, Tammy, have acquired a  $449,000 house near Palm Springs, Calif., and a Mercedes and Rolls Royce  costing about $100,000 while continuing pleas to get their television  ministry out of debt. ...Mrs. Bakker said in a telecast Aug. 1 that supporters of PTL, which stands for ‘People That Love,’ must pay the bills  for the organization. ‘Jim and I can’t,’ she said, ‘We’ve given everything  we have. And literally we have given everything.’” 

“Tv Preachers Don’t Let Up In Money Crusades,” is the heading of an article by Bruce Buurama: “Money may talk anywhere, but it seems about resoundingly and unceasingly on most religious television broadcasts in this  country. .... The average figure .... means a viewer who watches two hours of  television religion every day can expect to be asked for $138,350 over the course of a year, a sum that is thought to exceed the annual salaries of even  the big‑name evangelists. .... The best known television evangelists included  in the study, all of them Protestants, were Jimmy Swaggart, Jerry Falwell, Oral Roberts, Robert Schuller, Rex Humbard, Jim Bakker, M. G. ‘Pat’ Robertson,  Kenneth Copeland, Jack VanImpe and Ernest Angley.”

“Gallop Baffled By A ‘Giant Paradox’ – Churchgoing, interest in religion rise along with ‘immoral behavior.’ The man who measures the mood of the nation, pollster George Gallup Jr., has charted confusing and even conflicting  trends before, but none that seem so utterly contradictory as the current  upsurge in America’s religious interest and similar swing toward ‘immoral behavior.’ It is, he said, a profound and ‘giant paradox’ that religion is showing clear signs of revival even as the country is ridden with crime and other problems regarded as antithetical to religious piety.

“‘There is no doubt that religion is growing,’ Gallup told a national seminar of Southern Baptist leaders that concluded Wednesday in Arlington. But we find that there is very little difference in ‘ethical behavior’ between  churchgoers and those who are not active in religious matters. The levels of  lying, cheating and stealing, he added, are remarkably similar in both groups. Eighty percent of Americans consider themselves Christians, said Gallup, yet only about half of the self‑designated believers could identify the person who delivered the biblical Sermon on the Mount (Jesus Christ), and fewer still  could recall as many as five of the Ten Commandments. ...’The Bible for many, is inaccessible,’ said Gallup. ‘We revere the Bible but we don’t read it.’ Pollster George Gallup said, ‘Surveys show most Americans are religious but  their faith often tends to be a superficial sort of feel goodism.”‘

There is an article in Time magazine with the heading “I Was Beheaded In The 1700s. Underneath is “Reincarnation is alive and well in Hollywood.” It is questionable to treat of reincarnation as religion. However, the article states that many stars believe they have lived before. “Sensing the market the National Inquirer hired Pittsburgh Hypnotist Ralph Grossi for flights to Hollywood, where he unfurled the past lives of actors through trances... Says  he: ‘Stars are easy to hypnotize, simply because they are such positive thinkers.’ Loretta Lynn says she wishes she had not learned about previous lives because ‘one life is plenty enough for anybody.”‘

Jehovah’s Witnesses ‑ Time magazine reports: “A secret Michael Jackson cult spreads within Jehovah’s Witnesses, splitting the sect and embarrassing its most famous disciple.

“Witness For The Millennium – According to longtime Witnesses, the movement founded by Charles Taze Russell, a Pennsylvania haberdasher  preoccupied with cosmology and Biblical prophecy, was a joyful band of  religious separatist. ...Russell died in 1916, and his autocratic successor,  Judge Joseph Rutherford, saw to it that no matter how many prophecies failed, the Watch Tower Society would survive as God’s own publishing house.  ...Indeed, unless the end comes soon, time will run out for the Witnesses. ... They have mathematical arguments to put off the date of Armageddon until the early decades of the next century, perhaps, but no further.”

Pastor Russell was That Wise and Faithful Servant of Matt. 24:45‑47 – and as such had no successor. However, the Lord has raised up faithful servants who continue to teach in harmony with the Truth that Pastor Russell taught. He was the founder of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, an organization he used to dispense the Truth as given in God’s Word. He never  claimed that organization was “God’s own publishing house,” although during his  lifetime he did use it to glorify God and His Word. But he was not the  founder of the gross errors that are promulgated by the Jehovah’s Witnesses, nor is he responsible for the unrighteous use of that organization as being used today. The Jehovah’s Witnesses have discarded the six volumes of the Studies in the Scriptures, and many of his teachings. They boast of Pastor Russell as their founder when  it suits their purpose.

When Pastor Russell was alive many professed Christians and the clergy, slandered, vilified and falsely accused him when they could not meet the Truth he presented. These were the only weapons they could use, as our laws prohibited them from using physical violence. During the Dark Ages the religionists burned many faithful at the stake, or banished them. Because many faithful Bible students are distributing thousands of the six volumes of the Studies in the Scriptures here in the U. S. as well as in foreign countries, the same kind of religionists continue to slander ant vilify him – a man who has been dead over 68 years! His works do follow him, Just as promised to the faithful:  “Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow  them.” (Rev. 14:13)

In “due time” Pastor Russell’s character will be fully vindicated, although his slanderers and false accusers will be long gone. He was loved and admired by many faithful Christians and Jews. One man said to him, “You are the most loved man in the  world.” “Perhaps – and the most hated,” he replied. He predicted that the Jews would be planted back in Jerusalem after 1914 as a nation – never to be plucked up anymore. They are still having their troubles the same as the Gentile nations are having their troubles. Indeed, we are living in the “Time of Trouble” spoken of by the Prophet Daniel  in 12:1.

However in Jacob’s last trouble, when the anarchists try to crush the Jews in Jerusalem, they will cry unto the Lord, and He will rescue them – fight for them as in the days of old. After their last trouble is over, a new order will be established: “And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills: and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of  his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion (the spiritual phase of the Kingdom) shall go forth the law, and word of the Lord from Jerusalem (the earthly phase  of the Kingdom).”(Isa. 2:2,3) Of course all will accept Jesus as the promised Messiah at  that time. All peoples will have to become Israelites if they get the blessings of the New Covenant (Jer. 31:31‑33). The New Covenant will be made with the Jews, and therefore  will be Israelitish.

Pastor Russell never tried to convert the Jews to Christianity, knowing that God’s promises were made to the faithful Jews who believe in the Mosaic Law, and God’s promises to them. So he predicted that the Jews would be planted back in Jerusalem  before they recognized Jesus as their Messiah. Pastor Russell was indeed That Wise and  Faithful Servant referred to in Matt. 24:45‑47’ “The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.” (Prov. 3:35)

Pastor Russell is mentioned in several dictionaries and encyclopedias as an American Pastor. However, he gave discourses in many foreign countries including Jerusalem. He was more than an “American” Pastor, as his ministry was world‑wide. In these same dictionaries and encyclopedias Judge Rutherford is mentioned as an  American leader of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Knowing that God has a Plan of Salvation for all mankind, Pastor Russell diligently  searched the Scriptures to learn that Plan: “According to a Plan of the Ages, which he formed for the Anointed Jesus our Lord.” (Eph. 3:11, Dia.) The title of his first volume of the Studies in the Scriptures is taken from that text – THE DIVINE PLAN OF THE AGES.  This book is a veritable key to the understanding of the Scriptures. As said, these volumes are being distributed all over the world by faithful Bible students. However, these volumes, as well as much of Pastor Russell’s teachings, have been set aside by the  Jehovah’s Witnesses. (Contributed) 

It is marvelous to see so many Christians working for the prosperity of the Jews and Jerusalem. Some of these Christians do not fully see God’s Plan and Purpose for all  mankind, but nevertheless the Lord, as He promised, will reward them for their faithful  work in seeking to restore Jerusalem to peace and prosperity. We well realize that a  few who claim to be working for the Jews are doing so for political or other selfish  reasons, but God is overruling all things for the good of His Chosen people, Israel.

A. E. Norden, Jerusalem Post Reporter, On Ishmael And His Brother, gives the  following: “For the Palestinians are only those Arabs and Moslems most hurt by Jewish return to the Promised Land, dispiriting as it may be, the prophetic fact is that the Arabs and we Jews are fated to keep fighting over this sliver of real estate until one side wins and the other loses, or the Messiah comes. ....Upon the final outcome of the battle between these two peoples, representing two opposed principles, the fate of the entire world will depend. ....Ishmael and Isaac, the Arabs and the Jews, aren’t cousins. We’re closer than that – we’re actually half‑brothers. And we have unfinished family business. ....The Old Testament says Ishmael will be ‘a great nation,’ but nevertheless  ‘a wild man’; his hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him. In  any case, the inheritance – the Promised Land – will not be his. .... Hagar’s son will always nurse a fearful grievance. ....As soon as the Jews started coming back with big ideas, Arabs such as Azoury understood what was going on: the formerly favored  half‑brother was coming back from his wanderings to reclaim his inheritance. Isaac would try to elbow Ishmael across the river and into the desert again, at precisely the moment when the Ishmaelites were getting big, nationalistic ideas of their own. ....The Arabs  already have 21 nation‑states of their own, and the Moslems another 21.”

Behind The Scenes At The United Nations ‑ David Horowitz – 5 April 1984 – “The President is not unmindful or ignorant of biblical prophecy which he quotes occasionally. The writer would advise him to open his concordance and check what it has to say under the  word ‘Jerusalem.’ There’s especially one reference which is relative to the day, namely,  Zechariah 12:2‑4: ‘Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of staggering, to all the peoples  round about ....And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will make Jerusalem a stone of burden for all the peoples. All that burden themselves with it (against Israel) shall be sore wounded ...And I will open My eyes upon the House of Judah…

“Tom Lantos, who is the ranking majority member of the Europe and Middle East Subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and – note well – the author of  H.B. 4877, the Jerusalem Bill to move the American Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, took special pleasure in citing the phrase ‘standing still’ which he said, the ‘President likes to use.’ It has ‘many meanings,’ Lantos notes. ‘In fact, its only meaning is standing on principles. Politics based on appeasement cannot succeed,’ he  emphasizes. ‘We should abandon the hypocrisy of keeping our embassy out of Israel’s capital. It is time to stand tall – on Jerusalem.’”

NO. 353: JESUS A POWERFUL SAVIOR

No. 353

“Thou shalt call His name Jesus; for He shall save His people from their sins.” (Matt. 1:21) In olden times it was customary for parents to give their children names which would represent their wishes or desires or hopes for the child’s destiny, and which would therefore be in measure prophetic of their future. The Bible mentions a few instances in which God Himself indicated the name, and thus prophetically marked the child in advance. One of these cases is the name in our text. Through His angel God had directed that the babe, miraculously born of the Virgin Mary, should be named Jesus, signifying deliverer, savior. In the Hebrew language this name is Joshua, or Yeshua. Thus the angel’s message was a prophecy that the babe to be named Jesus was the One appointed of God to deliver His people from their sins. It should be noted that Mary was not told to name him Jesus Christ. The word Christ means ‘anointed’ – and he did not become the Christ until He was ‘anointed’ with the Holy Spirit after His baptism by John in the River Jordan.

The more we consider the statement, “for He shall save His people from their sins,” the more wonderful it seems; and naturally we ask ourselves, “Who are His people?” It is true that at the time of our Lord’s birth the Jews were still the people of God, and that no other nation has ever had this distinction. For more than sixteen centuries He had dealt exclusively with the nation of Israel. (Amos 3:2) “You only have I known of all the families of the earth.” But it was not the Divine purpose to ignore all other nations forever. The promises of the Scriptures set forth this fact; for they declare that in due time God would make provision for all mankind, so all those who desire might become His people.

After His resurrection Jesus had gone into Galilee to meet the Disciples (Matt. 26:32); and there He spoke to them what is commonly declared to be “The Great Commission” (Matt. 28:19,20): “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.” The Diaglott gives this much better: “Go, disciple all the nations, immersing them (submerging them in water) into the name (the heart and mind, the disposition) of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” (See also Acts 19:3‑5, Dia.) This opportunity for returning to harmony with God was embodied in the promise which He made to Abraham, saying, “In thy Seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.” (Gen. 12:3)

The question naturally arises: Who are the “Seed”? The Seed are the “called out ones” whom He has been selecting in this Faith Age for His Name’s sake, to be the blessers of “all the families of the earth.” The Apostle Paul assures us, “And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise,” (Gal. 3:29) So all the faithful footstep followers of Jesus will be part of the “seed” of Abraham they will be the blessers of all nations. The Seed has blessed quite a few during this Faith Age, but not with the blessing they will be privileged to do during the Messianic reign when “They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” (Isa. 11:9) We know that is far from the case in this present “evil world.” Nor can they eliminate the suffering of the “groaning creation” during this Age: “For we know that the Whole Creation groans together and travails in pain together till the present time. And not only it, but ourselves also, possessing the First‑Fruit of the spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for Sonship – the redemption of our Body.” (Rom. 8:22-23, Dia.) Not only will His footstep followers suffer the physical infirmities of the “groaning creation,” but in addition have had to endure persecutions, as well as physical violence in many cases, in “bearing witness to the truth.” (See Matt. 5:10‑12; 24:9) “Hear the word of the Lord, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, and cast you out for my name’s sake, said, Let the Lord be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy and they shall be ashamed.” (Isa. 66:5 – also see John 12:42)

In “due time” the Seed that has been so unpopular during the reign of sin and evil will bless mankind – will help and bless those who have persecuted them, and give them an opportunity to repent and believe, and turn away from their sins. God sent His honored Representative, the Logos (Jesus), into the world in order that He might deliver all mankind from the curse pronounced upon Father Adam and transmitted by the Law of heredity to all his posterity. “By one man sin entered into the world, and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” All of us have inherited a sentence of death – through no fault of our own.

According to the flesh, the Jewish people, to whom our Lord Jesus had come, were His people, for they had entered into covenant relationship with God at Mount Sinai with Moses as mediator. From the Scriptures we learn, however, that only a few of them received our Lord, and that the remainder of the nation were cast off from special relationship to Him. “He came unto His own, but His own received Him not: But as many as received Him to them gave He power (privilege) to become the sons of God, even to them that believed on His NAME.” (John 1:12) He saved this remnant of Israel from their sins in the sense that by faith they were able to understand that their sins were forgiven them; that they were no longer under the domination of sinful injustice; that they were reckoned dead according to the flesh, but alive according to the spirit. (Rom. 6:11) The sins of the flesh would not be accounted against them; but they would be covered by the imputed merit of Jesus, their Savior, their Deliverer. Thus from Pentecost all down through the Gospel Age our Lord has saved all those who have believed upon Him. Their deliverance in full will be accomplished through the power of the First Resurrection. (See Rev. 20:6)

Even though the First (chief) Resurrection is for His Body – the Saints, the Very Elect – there are others who have been justified by faith who had no opportunity to be of the High Calling. The Ancients mentioned in the 11th chapter of Hebrews are one Class – a special “faith” class. Although they will have no part in the First Resurrection, they are promised a ‘better resurrection’ than the world of mankind. They, too, will have part in blessing all the families of the earth. Their resurrection will be glorious, but not so glorious as that of the Little Flock. The Seed is primarily Christ and the Saints. “Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world?” (1 Cor. 6:2) “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) All know that a large number have died who not only did not believe in Him, but they didn’t even know about Him – never heard of Him at all.

When He came to the Jews and they received Him not, they knew something about a Messiah and should have recognized Him as their Messiah. But the majority did not recognize Him as their Messiah. Acts 3:17 tells us that “through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers,” even though they had “Much (advantage) every way: chiefly because unto them were committed the oracles of God.” (Rom. 3:1‑2) It is clear that the Jews are not cast off forever. “What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.” (Rom. 11:7) “Blindness in part is happened to Israel.” (Rom. 11:25) “And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn ungodliness from Jacob; For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.” (Rom. 11:26)

And as the Jews were blinded, so is the world in general today: “In whom the god (Satan) 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) “For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all. O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!” (Rom. 11:32, 33)

When we consider the evil influences so prevalent today, it is small wonder that so many of the people succumb to it – either from necessity, or from the thought that this is the only way to succeed. Some begin to think that Satan and evil are more powerful than the Lord. However, that will not always be the case, because Satan will be bound to deceive the nations no more during His Messianic Kingdom. (Rev. 20:2) At that time “the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.” (Isa. 35:5) “They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” (Isa. 11:9) “And it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.” (Isa. 35:8) The “wayfaring” men in this text are those who are not “justified by faith” during this Age when sin and evil are in the ascendancy.

SAVED FROM WHAT?

“The son of man is come to save that which was lost.” (Matt. 18:11) The question arises, What was lost? We would answer that four things were lost, things which man once had in his pristine purity. First of all, after the transgression in the Garden of Eden, he lost his intimate and friendly relationship with his Creator – Fellowship with God. Second, he lost his perfect home in that Garden. “The Lord sent him forth from the Garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. So He drove the man out.” (Gen. 3:23, 24) Third, man’s dominion was lost. “Let man have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the cattle, and over the fowl of the air...and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.” (Gen. 1:26‑28)

In Heb. 2:8 St. Paul quotes from Psa. 8:4‑8: “Thou has put all things in subjection under his feet ... But now we see not yet all things put under him.” It surely needs no argument that man has lost his dominion; animals often trample man under foot, instead of man dominating them. We have been told that the Kodiak bear (a brown bear larger than the grizzly) is so ferocious that it is not necessary for the hunter to look for him; once the bear knows he is being hunted, he will come looking for the hunter, often with a deadly result for the hunter.

And the fourth thing that man lost is his life. “Lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever.”’ (Gen. 3:22) Man was not created to die; he was created to live; and the Scripture is clear enough that he would have continued to “live forever” had he remained in his perfect Edenic home, It is a common expression for men to say, We are living in London, New York, or wherever; but the raucous truth is we are all dying in those places. The dying process is a matter of years, but it eventually exacts its terrible toll from all. “In the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” (Gen. 2:17) Note the marginal reading of this text: “dying thou shalt die.” And in all four of these things Jesus, a Powerful Savior, said He came to “seek and to save.”

SAVIOR OF THAT WHICH WAS LOST

Just as there were four things lost, so our blessed Savior uses four component parts to accomplish the Restitution, the restoration. (Acts 3:19‑21) These are clearly set forth in Psa. 103:2‑5: “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: (1) Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; (2) Who healeth all thy diseases; (3) Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; (4) Who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies... Thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”

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

CORROBORATING TESTIMONIES FROM THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS

Because of Adam’s transgression the sentence was pronounced against him – “For the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” (Gen. 2:17 – “dying thou shalt die.”) After Adam’s transgression, he and his wife were driven from the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:23) to toil the ground among thorns and thistles. (Gen. 3:17‑19) Adam did surely die in that day: “Beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” (2 Pet. 3:8) “For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and a watch in the night.” (Psa. 90:4) Adam died in that thousand‑year day, and all his posterity have been dying ever since that time. “Adam lived Nine Hundred and Thirty years; and he died” – seventy years before his “day” had expired. (Gen. 5:5) But the Apostle Paul tells us, “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” (1 Cor. 15:21‑22)

The Scriptures teach that all will “know the Lord” – meaning, of course, they will be properly instructed: “They shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. In that he saith, A New Covenant, he hath made the first old, Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.” (Heb. 8:11‑13) The ‘old’ is the Law Covenant which the Jews could not keep because it was a perfect Law, and they were imperfect. Only a perfect man could fulfil this Law Covenant, which Jesus did.

Also Jer. 31:31‑34 gives us a clear picture of the New Covenant: “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord: but this shall be the covenant that I will make with the House of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

“The Lord executeth righteousness and judgment (instruction) for all that are oppressed. He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel. The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger forever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear (reverence) him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear (reverence) him.” (Psa. 103:6‑13)

Although God’s great attributes are WISDOM, JUSTICE, POWER AND LOVE, the Scriptures do not say God is Wisdom, God is Justice, God is Power – but the Apostle John tells us “God is Love.” (1 John 4:16) “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16, 17) David’s description of our great Jehovah certainly attests to a “God of love.”

TWO SALVATIONS

Not many people know there are two salvations taught in the Scriptures. Most of us have been taught that all are on trial now – and all the unsaved of this life will be lost forever. The majority of the world is not saved, according to the standard the Lord sets for His people – to be footstep followers of Jesus during this Age. However, there are two Salvations taught in the Bible – a ‘great’ salvation (Heb. 2:3), and a ‘common’ salvation. (Jude 3) The common salvation is future – for all the unsaved of the past and present – all Restitutionists. But the ‘great’ salvation is for this Faith Age. All who have part in the “great salvation” will be part of the “Seed” of Abraham that will bless all the families of the earth in the Kingdom. They are those “justified by faith” – the footstep followers of Jesus during this Faith Age when sin and evil are in the ascendancy. “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him.” (Heb. 2:3) “And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (Gal. 3:29) “For as many as are led by the spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” (Rom. 8:14)

But there is also a common salvation – a salvation for all the Restitutionists for the world of mankind. “For all men have not faith.” (2 Thes. 3:2) “And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.” (Gal. 3:8) It is through the faithfulness of Jesus and His footstep followers that they will have the privilege of blessing all nations in His Kingdom – those who have not come to a “knowledge of the Truth” during this Age. “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” (Jude 3) We are not to forget the ‘common’ salvation that will bless the world, because the Lord loved the world. (John 3:16)

These two salvations are separate and distinct and cannot be mixed in either Age, one for the Faith Age and one for the Kingdom, when the residue of mankind will receive their salvation – their judgment and their instruction: “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth.” Indeed, there is a ‘common’ salvation – common to all men not of the Faith‑Age salvation. “And he is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” (1 John 2:2)

The faith “which was once delivered unto the saints” is clearly taught in Acts 24:15: “And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.” The ‘just’ are those who are “justified by faith” during the Faith Age – footstep followers of Jesus; and the ‘unjust’ are those who are not “justified by faith” (Rom. 5:1) during this Age.

Our Lord makes this very clear in John 5:28, 29: “Marvel not at this; for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good unto the resurrection of life; And they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” The word ‘damnation’ in this text is from the Greek word Krisis, which means judgment. ‘Damnation’ is a misleading translation and has caused a lot of misunderstanding. So they who have done evil – all those who have not been “justified by faith” during this Age, whether they are good‑intentioned or bad‑intentioned, God counts “them all in unbelief that He might have mercy upon all.” (Rom. 11:32) The ‘good’ are those who will have a “resurrection unto life” – the footstep followers of Jesus; they are of the Household of Faith. The resurrection of the Evil, or Unjust, is for the very purpose of giving them an opportunity of coming to a knowledge of the Truth – the truth of the Divine Plan for human salvation. This will be a much less difficult way, because the Highway of Holiness will be there (Isa, 35:8): there will be no error there – the Truth, and only the Truth will be taught. Those who are fully submissive to the Lord will be privileged to become His people. However, there will be no compulsion – each individual must decide for himself whether or not he will obey and live, or disobey and die – be destroyed from among the people. (Acts 3:23)

The presence of the Lord will continue throughout the thousand years of the Messianic Kingdom – on earth. All who will take advantage of the opportunity then offered them will have a full deliverance from the curse of sin and death. Those who will neglect that opportunity will not be forced to come into harmony with the Divine arrangement, but they will be destroyed in the Second Death, from which there will be no recovery. (See Rev. 20:14‑15) Their destruction will be for their own good as well as for the good of mankind in general. It is because they prefer sin to righteousness that they will be accounted better off to be destroyed, as the Scriptures declare.

All who are saved from their sins during the Millennium will be the people of Christ by reason of being His children; for they will receive life from Him, “the Everlasting Father” of the race. (Isa. 9:6) They will be given the right to everlasting life on the human plane, which our Lord Jesus surrendered on behalf of the Adamic race, when He became the Redeemer of Adam, and thus indirectly the Redeemer of Adam’s posterity. Those who lost life in Adam will be privileged to receive it again in Christ.

Thus Jesus will save His people from their sins – not merely His Church of the Gospel Age, His Bride and Joint‑heir, but also all those of the world of mankind, the children of Adam, who will accept of His grace during the thousand years of earth’s coming glory, and became His people by the process of regeneration. They will be regenerated on the human plane; for our Lord will give them the life‑rights and the right to life which Adam lost in Eden, but which Jesus redeemed on Calvary. The earth was made for man: “The earth abideth forever.” (Eccl. 1:4) “Thus said the Lord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool.” (Isa. 66:1) “I will make the place of my feet glorious.” (Isa. 60:13)

However, this cannot become true in the full sense of things until the causes that now send men to the grave have been eliminated. St. John states this very graphically in Rev. 21:3‑5: “I heard a great voice out of Heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men ... And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” And the Angel who gave those words to John evidently realized the disbelief with which the message would be received by the present sick and dying race, for he then emphasized it with these words: “Write: for these words are true.”

This forces the logical conclusion that the Restitution processes will eliminate all crime – all thievery, physical violence, moral depravity, sickness; no more need for locks on doors; no more destructive armies; no more rigid police protection; no more jails, and no more criminals. “And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” (Isa. 2:4) “They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” (Isa. 11:9)

The question is asked, “Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.” (Isa. 28:9) The Bible is not a text Book, as so many people think, but is a book of texts. “For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little and there a little.” (Isa. 28:10) But, “The secret of the Lord is with them that fear (reverence) him; and he will shew them his covenant.”

JESUS A POWERFUL SAVIOR indeed! “Fear not; for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.”(Luke 2:10) “He shall save his people from their sins.”

Sincerely your brother, John J. Hoefle, Pilgrim

This is a reprint of No, 258, December 1976 with some editing.

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LETTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST

Dear Mrs. Hoefle,

I thank you for sending us copies of your husband’s writings. I have almost finished reading Part One and I find it very well written. I am sure that his being and writings will be missed by all. We are sorry that we never had the opportunity to meet with you both and to share our feelings.

In this world of struggle and strife it is heart‑warming to know that there are people still concerned with peace and love between all of G‑d’s children.

Sincerely, Dr. & Mrs. ------- (FLORIDA)

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Dear Sr. Hoefle: Grace and peace!

I was very glad to receive the Sept‑Oct papers today, which I have just read with great interest and profit. You may be sure that I agree with it 100%. I surely hope that the paper on Cornelius will do some good among the LHMM. When Bro. & Sr. ------- used to live in Richland, MI which was eight miles from where I used to live, Bro. Pierson and us used to go to the meetings when the Pilgrims came. Never once was the Epiphany Campers mentioned in their discourses. When Bro. Johnson stated that the Youthful Worthy call would not end until Restitution times began, or about to anyway, should have been sufficient – never to tamper with to my mind.

It sure seems good to hear from you again and to receive the papers. Sure hope they will be a blessing to all!

I have been alone the past couple of weeks, as Myrtle’s son and wife are on vacation. They drove to state of Washington to see their son Glen. He is in the Truth and enjoys it. I saw Myrtle just once before they left and she seems a lot better and more contented there.....

Oh yes, did you not have a paper called “The Third Watch” you published years ago? There has been a lot of favorable comments on it as various brethren have commented on it to me. Will you please send one extra copy, as I have displaced mine? Also, I think it would be a very good idea to reprint it, as it was a very timely article. ....

Hope you are well. Don’t work too hard. May the Lord bless and keep you, dear Sister. With much Christian love, ------- (MICHIGAN)

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My dear Sister Hoefle: Grace and peace through our Beloved Savior!

It was quite a shock to us when we learned of Bro. Hoefle’s passing, and in a moment of weakness I thought “where shall we turn now”? forgetting that the Lord takes care of His work.

Please accept our deepest sympathy in this hour of sadness. We, who have the Truth, sorrow not, as others who have no hope – and we commend to you Hymn 66. This was one of the hymns we sang on Sunday’s meeting as we remembered dear Bro. Hoefle.

We know that you, particularly, and all the others of the Mount Dora Ecclesia will miss him immensely – but you ever have in memory the wonderful and blessed work that he did. I treasure those papers immensely. I would not tire you with a long letter, for I know how taxing, although appreciative, the various expressions of sympathy can be. I cannot end without noting the text for the day that Brother Hoefle’s course was ended. It is rather appropriate.

With Christian love from Eustace and Vinessa, Your sister in Christ, ------- (TRINIDAD)

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My dear Sister Hoefle: Grace and peace be yours through our Blessed Lord & Savior!

The information of Brother Hoefle’s passing came to us as a shock. I thought he would be here with us for some time yet, but it has turned out to be not God’s will that he should continue – so we will have to accept it. I know the great stress you must be experiencing, both from the Bible House and your family tie. But the Lord has promised to give strength to His people and bless them with peace. I trust there will be perfect harmony at the Bible House with the endeavor to carry out Brother Hoefle’s will and instructions. If we look to the Lord it will work good by His control. In thee, O Lord do I put my trust, (Psa. 31 :1) – and the peace of God shall keep your heart and mind through Christ Jesus. (Phil. 4:7) We all share with you in your bereavement, and you can be sure of our continued prayers and support.

May the good Lord keep you and make His face to shine upon you, and be gracious unto you and give you peace. Sincerely yours, ------- (JAMAICA)

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Dear Sister Hoefle: May God’s grace supply thee with abundant fortitude, in this your hour of sorrow!

It was indeed a surprise to receive the information conveyed by your telegram on Monday, April 23 around 1:50 P.M. Remembering that not so long ago Brother sent some Jewish newspaper to be circulated among the friends here – recalling his last birthday anniversary, and the party you had then given in his honour, and suddenly this! Well, what can I say other than that in the Lord’s own time He has been placed to rest – another of His, who has rendered yeoman’s service to Him and the brethren, saying: “Thou good and faithful servant, take thou now, thy rest.”

Please accept the condolences forwarded by Sr. John and myself, as well as those extended on behalf of every member of the Trinidad Ecclesia, in loving memory of our dear Brother Hoefle. May God bless the memory of him in our hearts. “And those who knew thy name put their trust in thee, for thou, O Lord hast not forsaken those who seek thee.” Be assured of our ever constant prayers, uttered with loving thoughts of you both, and especially now in this hour of grief. May God richly bless and strengthen you to continue in His name, we pray in the Savior’s loving name.

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

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Dear Sister Emily,

The biography is excellent – very inspiring. I notice that it says, “that there was nothing left for him to do but expose the “terrorists.” I assume this is a typographical mistake and should be “errorists.” However, I think the word “terrorist” very aptly fits some of the false teachers, for they do use the “spirit of fear” rather than the “spirit of Truth.”

It is rather short, though, for a man who was so productive. Aside from the 348 articles already published, I understand there are a number yet to be published. We will miss his January articles – Retrospect and Prospect – for in those he always gave an astute analysis of conditions in Finance, Politics and Religion. Also, he had copious correspondence with many brethren, as well as some not in the Truth. Some of this was refutative in nature, but some was for the help and encouragement of the brethren. Much of this correspondence would be helpful and interesting to others, if published.

There is mention of his friendship and help toward the Jews. I know that he had regular correspondence with some prominent Jews in this country and elsewhere. Some of these Jews had reproduced Brother Hoefle’s articles in their publications. I remember that a few years back Dr. Malachy, the Minister of Religion in Israel, asked permission to quote from Brother Hoefle in a book he was writing. Unfortunately, Dr. Malachy died without finishing the book.

Much more could have been said in the biography had space and time allowed, but the brevity in no way takes anything from his many accomplishments. So I say, “God Bless his memory”’

Much love, ------- (NORTH CAROLINA)

PS ‑ Brother Hoefle often said he was expecting something important to happen in the year 1984. Well, something important did happen – he finished his course!

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My dear Sister Hoefle:

It was with much sorrow I received the sad news of our Beloved Brother Hoefle on the 3rd day of May. ... I have received the promised detailed account of his departure and burial. This picture is the latest I assume, but I have an earlier one of him. Only two evenings ago I was reading one of his publications.

I have not been able to accept the view that the Great Company completed their course when Bro. Jolly’s course ended. He taught that he was the last GC. Nor have I been able to accept the Epiphany Campers to be the Truth. .....

I am hoping to be of the Youthful Worthies. .. However, the Lord Jesus knows and our Heavenly Father is the judge of us all. I was immersed in the year 1923, and since then I have been pressing on in the narrow way, striving to do His will. .... The prospect is glorious indeed, Sister Hoefle, which prompts us to be faithful. ... Many thanks for sending me the detailed account of the sad news – yet I am glad to know Brother Hoefle has ended his course faithfully. ....

Daily do I give thanks in my prayers for my parents who trained me up in the fear of the Lord. I was 13 years old when the sad news came that Bro. Russell was dead. I wept bitterly, as I loved him so very much!

In closing, Sister, accept my sympathy .... while I pray for you. The Good Lord continue to bless thee and keep thee. (Num. 6:24‑26) Your brother in the Faith. -------

NO. 352: TAKE MY BRETHREN, THE PROPHETS - PART EIGHT

No. 352

NAHUM – As an introduction to his translation of this book, Doctor Rotherham has this to say: “Out of the full‑orbed perfection of Yahweh comes the Twofold manifestation, designed to alarm his foes and assure his friends. From Nineveh proceedeth a wicked schemer against Yahweh.” Then verse 1: “The oracle of Nineveh – the scroll of the vision of Nahum, the Elkoshite.”

In previous papers we have given sketches of Nineveh – how it was started by Nimrod, “A hero of hunting before the Lord.” (Gen. 10:9) In his work he was aided by the reprehensible Semiramis, one of the vilest women that ever lived. From those two sprang depraved religious rites of their devotees, which tended to fill the land with violence and moral corruption, the orgies of dissipation and debauchery.

However, Nineveh eventually was wiped off the face of the earth – so completely that not a trace of it was left on the surface. This then became a rare object for the smart boys – the higher critics – who contended that the Bible was misleading and untrue, that Nineveh was simply a myth and not to be believed. But during the nineteenth century some archeologists unearthed its buried remains, the king’s palace and other confirmatory items that left no doubt that there was indeed once a Nineveh, which completely silenced the wiseacres.

The three chapters of Nahum are replete with criticism and warnings of the evils of that time, but which are more important in the prophecy of this our time, and foretell the destruction of that great city which is “spiritually called Sodom – where also our Lord was crucified.” (Rev. 11:8) “A mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall Be found no more at all.” (Rev. 18:21) Nineveh was truly a striking forecast of the eventual fate of Babylon!

Here we digress a little to repeat the great defeat of Sennacherib, King of Assyria, who had come to take Jerusalem, but here is the record of what actually happened: “For I will defend this city, to save it, for mine own sake, and for my servant David’s sake. And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the Lord went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand (185,000): and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.” (2 Kings 19:34, 35) This is a graphic picture of what will befall those Arabs now who are plotting to spoil Israel; and it is well for our readers to ponder this record carefully, so they will not become discouraged concerning any success or advantage those Arabs seem to have at this time.

Again we quote Gen. 12:3: “I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee.” At the time of the foregoing Nineveh was the capital of Assyria, and the great defeat occured about 700 years BC. This is emphatic assurance to all who accept the Bible as God’s word, and we quote here Isa. 54:17: “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord.” This was the heritage of God’s servants at the time it was written and it is equally the heritage of God’s servants now. “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering, for he is faithful that promised.’’ (Heb. 10:23)

SOME GENERALITIES

The name Nahum means compassionate. He was born at Elkosh, probably a village in Palestine. His prophecy was directed at Judah (1:15), and not to the ten tribes then in captivity. His writing occurred some 600 years BC. It has been suggested he wrote his book about 623 (?) – after the unsuccessful attack of Cyaxeres upon Nineveh. He was the seventh of the Minor Prophets.

The main theme of the book has to do with Nineveh – typical of Christendom here in the end of the Gospel Age. He repeats the very familiar expression that Jehovah is a “jealous God” – a punisher of adversaries, but a stronghold to all those who trust in Him (vs. 2‑8); and he urges the people to turn a deaf ear to the counsel of those who were speaking of Jehovah’s tardiness and advising the abandonment of His service (vs. 9‑11); and he declares the unalterable purpose of the Lord to deliver His people (vs. 12:14); and exhorts them to unswerving loyalty to their God and the faithful observance of His worship. On the basis of his truth Nahum proceeds to describe the overthrow of the worldly power which was then oppressing the kingdom of God. He pictures the siege of the city (2:1‑10), and takes occasion to taunt the city which has been as a den of lions (2:11‑13). In further comment about the siege, he attributes the judgment which befalls the city to the whoredoms of the rulers (3:1‑4). Then he changes the figure and he describes the punishment as the punishment of a harlot (3:5‑7); he then mentions Nineveh, which had gone into captivity (3:8‑10).

The prophet begins his writing with an address that is poetic in character; but it is not an alphabetic Psalm of the ordinary kind. He teaches the ear to listen for certain sounds and to hear them obediently. His recitation is in two parts: Chapter One describes the majesty of God while Chapters 2 & 3 pronounce judgment upon Nineveh. He enunciates a doctrine of Jehovah God of Israel in the first clause of v. 2, a doctrine that forms the basal truth of his prophecy – that Jehovah, though slow to anger, yet takes vengeance on His adversaries. Then he describes the majesty and might of Jehovah in nature: He is in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of His feet. He rebukes the waters that they dry up, and vegetation languishes; the mountains and the hills tremble before Him: the fierceness of His indignation none can withstand. The truth that has been set forth involves the goodness of Jehovah to His people, and His understanding of them. (“Jesus needed not that any should testify of man, for He knew what was in man” – John 2:25) He overthrows evil. Here the climax of doctrine has been reached.

And a new section of the exalted discourse opens in which Nahum bases prediction on the truth that he had already set forth. He reiterates the impotence of opposition to Jehovah – first in the form of a question (v. 5). Next he repeats the conclusion of the doctrinal section. Then he foretells the destruction of God’s foes. (1:10‑13) Then he predicts the deliverance of God’s people, and in view of the truth that has been presented, he exhorts God’s people to continue steadfast and undismayed in His service and worship.

Nahum concentrates his prophetic statements on Ninevah, and for good reason. Nineveh was the hated oppressor, not only of Judah, but upon all the surrounding nations; and his prophecy that Nineveh’s end was in sight was most welcome news to all of them. In a sense the Hebrews and those heathen had become brothers – afflicted by a common cause, Nineveh. Amos, Hosea and Isaiah had foretold their people that they would be besieged and carried into captivity. In their inscriptions the Assyrian kings had boasted of their sieges, conquests, and cruelties. All the heathen gods are depicted as cruel, very cruel. But Nahum prophesied that retribution would come upon Nineveh, and mark her end. Thus, his statements did not bring upon him the sad treatment accorded to many of the prophets. The date and manner of his death are not known. It is written of him that “as a poet he occupies a high place in the first rank of Hebrew literature. His style is clear and uninvolved, though pregnant and forcible; his diction sonorous and rhythmical.”

HABAKKUK

He is the eighth of the Minor Prophets. The date of his birth, and the date and manner of his death are not definitely known. At the time of his prophecy the Chaldeans were a prominent power in that section of the world. It should be noticed here that Chaldea and Babylon were sometimes rival powers; at other times one was subject to the other. Both of those nations were typical of Great Babylon here in the end of the Age. Isaiah referred to them as Assyrians; but which ever name we use, it is evident that God used them to punish Israel, although those nations themselves were wicked heathen.

Here is a quote from Isa. 10:5,6: “0 Assyrian’ the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation. I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.” Note now the close similarity of Hab. 1:5‑10: “Behold ye among the heathen, and regard. and wonder marvelously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you. For lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwelling‑places that are not theirs. They are terrible and dreadful; their judgment and their dignity shall proceed of themselves. Their horses also are swifter than the leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves; and their horsemen shall spread themselves, and their horsemen shall come from far; for they fly as the eagle that hasteth to eat. They shall come all for violence; their faces shall sup up as the east wind, and they shall gather the captivity as the sand, and they shall scoff at the kings, and the princes shall be a scorn unto them, for they shall deride every stronghold; for they shall heap dust and take it.”

The foregoing is certainly a very vivid portrayal of the present‑day radicals – the Communists, the Socialists, the Nihilists, etc. They see the wealth and prosperity of the capitalist nations, which they do not have the ability to gain; thus they are now minded to steal that wealth.

Following we quote from one writer about their religion; “In the Neo‑Babylonian empire the Chaldeans were the prominent race, and doubtless possessed themselves of all offices of influence. So exclusively did they fill ecclesiastical offices at the capital that at Babylon their name became synonymous with priests of Bel‑marduk. These priests were esteemed as possessors of wisdom and equated with magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and diviners.” (Dan. 1:4; 2:2,4)

And further: “The Chaldeans had been long known to the Hebrews. They attracted renewed attention by their successful revolt of the Assyrians some 600 years B. C.; and they began their great career of subjugation and attained to the leading place among the powers of the world on the fall of Nineveh, and by their victory over the Egyptians at Carchemish. From internal evidence it is supposed that Habakkuk prophesied during the reign of Jehoiakim, but it is difficult to fix the precise period. The subjection of Judah had long been predicted by the Hebrew prophets (Isa. 11:11 39:6, 7; Micah 4:10); and their fierce, warlike character, their habitual cruelty and rapacity in war, and their method of battle were known to all nations. There was thus, even before their victory at Carchemish, full justification for the declaration made in Hab. 1:5‑l0. The prophet lamented the carnival of wickedness which he witnessed in Israel or in the world at large.

Now follows the comment of another writer: “The prophecy consists of three chapters, in the first of which he foreshadows the invasion of Judea by the Chaldeans, and in the second he foretells the doom of the Chaldeans. The whole concludes with the magnificent Psalm in Chapter 3, a composition unrivaled for boldness of conception, sublimity of thought and majesty of diction.”

CHAPTER THREE – In view of the excellent compliment given above, we think our readers will benefit from Chapter 3 with some bracketed comments by us:

“O Lord, revive thy work in the midst of the years (in this Time of Trouble); in wrath remember mercy.... He stood and measured the earth (Society as presently organized); the everlasting mountains (strong autocratic governments, such as Russia, etc.) were scattered (by the radical elements); the perpetual hills (the Democratic governments) did bow (in fear and trembling, as they notice the advancing store). Was the Lord’s wrath against the sea (the restless unlawful masses of humanity)? The mountains saw thee, and they trembled (as they are now doing in all quarters). The sun and moon (the Gospel and the Law Covenant) stood still.. Thou didst search through the land in indignation. Thou wentest forth with thine anointed (the Christ company, the true Christians); thou woundedst the head of the wicked (Satan), by discovering the foundation (the complete overthrow) unto the neck... Thou didst walk through the sea (the great masses not at present under religious restraint) with thine horses (various true doctrinal teachings)... I trembled in myself that I might rest in the day of trouble (in this day only those can rest who are built upon the Rock, rooted and grounded in the great Truths that are due at this time, and living up to their privileges).”

In 3:7 there is this: “I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction:” Rotherham tranalates it this way: “I saw the tents of Ethiopia in affliction.” And this is probably the correct way of stating it. Cushan was probably the land where Cush (the Cushites) dwelt. He was the son of Ham and grandson of Noah. In the separation after the great Deluge Cush went into Africa and became the progenitor of the black race, the Ethiopians. In Numbers 12:1 we have this story: “Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married; for he had married an Ethiopian woman.” In the marginal reading it is said “He had married a Cushite” – a descendant of Cush. Cush means darkness; and Africa is still known as the Dark Continent. Thus, when God saw the tents of Cushan in affliction, it simply means God saw the great darkness of Africa, with its attendant evils. Shakespeare states it a little differently: “O conspiracy, shamest thou to show thy dangerous brow by night (in darkness), when evils are most free?” When Habakkuk wrote his book he probably wrote, “but understood not,” just as Daniel had also written some of his prophecy. (Dan. 12:8)

ZEPHANIAH

He is the ninth of the Minor Prophets. And, while he is classified as a “Minor,” he has left us some very potent writings. First, we offer the meaning of his name “He whom Jehovah has hid.” And when he says in v. 1:4, “I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place”, it seems clearly enough that he lived in Jerusalem. Additionally, he was very familiar with the different localities in the City, and with the various classes inhabiting the City. In vs. 4‑8 he makes reference to a number of them.

In v. 1 he tells us that he was the great‑great‑grandson of Hiskiah. Generally, the other prophets of the Old Testament simply give the name of their father, so there is some reason why Zephaniah goes back four generations – a reason not made clear to us. It would seem that he was of royal descent. Thus, he was in position to condemn the members of the royal house without resorting to hear‑say. The Word of the Lord came to him “in the days of Josiah” (v. 1). He describes the religion and manners of his day, the high‑handed injustice of the ruling officials, and the general corruption of all classes.

The general tenor of his book is “the day of the Lord,” the judgment of God upon the whole earth. Therefore, his expressions have emphatic reference to the time in which we now live, and we may make profitable study of it from that standpoint. He tells us this is a day of darkness and supernatural terrors; and our news media carry plenty of this in every day’s editions. It is also “the day of the trumpet”; and we have been hearing of the Seventh Trumpet now since 1874. It will continue to sound throughout the entire Millennium.

“I will punish all those that leap on (over) the threshold.” (v. 1:9) This fact is given because of the very interesting episode recorded in 1 Sam. 5:1‑7. The Philistines had been overly successful in a war with the Hebrews – so much so that they even captured the golden ark that had been built for the Tabernacle in the wilderness at Sinai. They quickly brought this excellent trophy into “the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon.” But when they arose the next morning “Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark.” They then set Dagon in his place again; but when they came early the next morning, Dagon again “was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the Lord”. This struck fear into them – so much so that “neither the priests, nor any that came into Dagon’s house tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod unto this day.” Instead, they leap over the threshold when entering or leaving Dagon’s house. And it seems that some of the Jews had fallen to this pernicious heathen idol; and the Prophet told them, “I will punish those that leap on (over) the threshold, and will fill their masters’ houses with violence and deceit.”

The Philistines after the second morning saw it, and said, “The ark of the God of Israel shall not abide with us: for his hand is sore upon us, and upon Dagon our God” (I Sam. 5:7). The Lord also smote the Philistines “with emerods” (a kind of tumor or boil that came upon those afflicted with the bubonic plague) v. 6. They then sent the ark to Ekron; and those in Ekron were also smitten with emerods. It should be noticed here that God had threatened the Jews with emerods (Deut. 28:27) if they should commit evil before the Lord.

But the Philistines had had enough of the Emerods, so they decided to send it back to the Jews. They were advised by “the priests and diviners” (1 Sam. 6:4) to send along with it a “trespass offering” of five golden Emerods and five golden mice. And “ye shall give glory to the God of Israel... peradventure he will lighten his hand from off you, and from off your gods, and from off your land.” (6:5)

All of the foregoing has had an impressive antitypical fulfillment, but it is quite intricate, and not specially explanatory of the Prophet Zephaniah, so we close this part of our discussion. However, we observe that the mouse is an unclean animal; therefore, an offering not at all acceptable to the God of Israel.

ANOTHER COMMENT – The name Zephaniah, “Yahweh had hidden” may indicate that the prophet was born during the time of the atrocities perpetrated by Manasseh, who, tradition says, ‘sawed asunder’ the prophet. His book is preeminently concerned with the Day of Yahweh, which had earlier appeared as a factor in the prophecies of Amos.

The religious state of the kingdom of Judah deteriorated markedly following the death of Hezekiah. Manasseh, his son, rebuilt the altars of Baal which Hezekiah had destroyed. Religion was debased to the level of crass externalism. The revival of idolatrous worship, common in the days of Ahaz, was from the prophetic viewpoint a rejection of Israelis covenant with Yahweh. His prophecy begins with a message of gloom. He denounced the idolatry which he saw in Jerusalem, where there had been no spiritual revival since the days of Hezekiah. Zephaniah declared that God’s judgment was imminent both on Judah’s idolatrous neighbors, and on Judah and Jerusalem.

However, he is not a total pessimist. Beyond the impending doom he sees a better day. God must bring his people through the afflicting fires in order to prepare them to be a means of blessing to all mankind.

From the above standpoint he has much in common with our own writings of today. Presently, the Messianic Kingdom is the only hope from the terrible mess we see in all the nations. [in effect, Zephaniah was praying, “Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

JONAH

The name means “dove”; but there is very little known about him except that he was the son of Amittai; he was from Gath‑hepher, a Zebulunite town near Nazareth. His Book contains but four short chapters – less than two pages in the Bible.

However, those four short chapters contain two outstanding incidents, in the first of which he openly disobeyed what God told him to do. He was to go to Nineveh, instead, he went to Joppa where he found a ship going to Tarshish – to go with them “from the presence of the Lord.” The Hebrew prophets generally explicitly obeyed what God told them to do; in fact, many of them did as they were told, although they knew it would bring much trouble to them. An outstanding example is the course of Jesus Himself: “When the time had come for him to be delivered up, he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,” knowing exactly what would befall Him when he reached there.

But Jonah was not to escape his disobedience in light fashion. When the ship to Tarshish was well out to sea the Lord sent a “mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was likely to be broken.” At that time most of the sailors were highly superstitious; and those on that ship were no exception. Each one cried to his god, but to no avail. The shipmaster looked about, and found Jonah fast asleep. The sailors had cast lots to discern which one of them was responsible for their plight. The lot fell upon Jonah, and they asked him his occupation and the name of his god. When he told them, they at once asked why he had done this to them, because he had previously told them he was running away from his God.

Jonah then told them to cast him into the sea, which they did; and the sea immediately ceased its raging. Now the Lord had “prepared a great fish” (Jonah 1:17 – not a whale as commonly believed, but a sea monster) to swallow up Jonah; and he was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. Then Jonah prayed, “I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the Lord. And the Lord spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.” (Jonah 2:9,10) Then the Lord told him again to go to Nineveh. Here it is in order to describe Nineveh at that time. Says the encyclopedia: “It had achieved magnificence as the capital of the Assyrian empire,” Assyria then being the overlord of the earth.

Therefore, we make some allowance for Jonah. He reasoned that if he saved Nineveh, the Assyrians would come and take over Judah as they had already done to the surrounding nations. And he was probably afraid to go there in fear of losing his own life.

But man’s reasoning under stress is often very faulty, and this was true of Jonah, In 3:3 we are told that “Nineveh was an exceeding great city”; but Jonah was much surprised at the reception he received. Instead of killing him, they “proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them.” Even the king “arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes ... And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way, and he repented of the evil that he had said he would do unto them,”

This made Jonah very angry; and the Lord said unto him, “Doest thou well to be angry? ... Should I not spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than six score thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand?” But with all that ignorance Jonah had accomplished the impossible – the conversion of all from the king to the least, something no other prophet had ever done.

Follows now some comment from another writer: “The motive that led Jonah to flee was probably a narrow and mistaken patriotism. He feared that Nineveh would repent and that God in his mercy would spare the city. Jonah wished Nineveh to perish, for it was a powerful foe of Israel and, if it were not destroyed, the doom of Israel was sealed.

“Nineveh repented at the preaching of one prophet; whereas, Israel repented not, although many prophets were sent to it. ‘They made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the Lord of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore, came a great wrath from the Lord of hosts.’ (Zech. 7:12) This seems to be a type, related to and looked forward to a general truth – that the Gentiles yield a readier acquiescence to the doctrines of God than Israel had done, not more readily to the moral law indeed, but to the revelation of God as a whole; for example, to his method of salvation as outlined in Hosea, ch. 14.

“Jonah, an Israelite and God’s servant sent to preach to the Gentiles, is an evidence of God’s will that the people of God’s kingdom shall lead the Gentiles to repentance and to God. Jonah was not the only Israelite to whom this truth was exemplified. Elijah was sent to a woman of Zarephath, Elisha cured Naaman the Syrian, Christ talked to a woman of Samaria about the things of God, and healed the daughter of a Syrophoenician woman.

“Jonah, an Israelite and God’s servant fleeing from duty, is cast into the sea, but is delivered in order that he may fulfill his mission. This incident accordingly received an allegorical interpretation: Jonah symbolizes the nation of Israel. Israel, as a nation, had been chosen to be a witness and upholder of divine truth, but Israel often apostacized and failed to execute its mission. It was in consequence swallowed up in Exile by Babylonia, as was Jonah by the fish. In exile, however, the nation, like Jonah, sought the Lord. There followed a return from the Exile; in other words, the nation was disgorged, as was Jonah. Upon the return from Babylon, many Jews were disappointed that the judgment uttered by the prophets did not at once take effect, just as Jonah was displeased that God spared Nineveh. But God’s purposes will be carried out, and the remnant survived, and the Covenant survived to fulfill Israel’s mission.

“The book may be regarded as a great work on foreign missions. It has been observed that the book nowhere claims to have been written by that prophet. However, it should be borne in mind that the spiritual lessons to be derived from the book are far more important than the question whether a large fish could have swallowed Jonah and whether he could have survived three days and three nights in the belly of the fish.”

That the book should be accepted as a genuine and inspired part of the Bible may be shown from the two stacks of shewbread (six each) on the golden table of the Tabernacle, 66 being the correct number of books that should be there. And may the contemplation of the book prove a blessing to all our readers. “The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knoweth them that trust in him.” (Nahum 1:7)

“So shall My Word be that goeth forth out of My mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” (Isa. 58:11)

Sincerely your brother, John J. Hoefle, Pilgrim. Written January & February 1983

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

QUESTION OF GENERAL INTEREST

QUESTION: – Has the plowman overtaken the reaper? (Amos 9:13)

ANSWER: – The following is That Servant’s answer:

“In the text of Scripture which speaks of the plowman overtaking the reaper, we are to remember that the reaper is the Lord, and that the plowman is the great time of trouble. This time of trouble will overtake the reaping work and bring it to a close. But the time of trouble will go on, the plowman will keep on plowing, after all our efforts have ended in respect to the reaping. But meantime, before this dark night fully sets in, we are to go right on with the work which the Lord has put into our hands. The truth is designed, not only to perfect the ‘bride’ of Christ, the chief of the firstborns, but to develop the great company class, and also to be a witness to the whole world. Any carelessness on our part, or any cessation of activity in the service of the truth while opportunity yet remains, would in our estimation be a great mistake. If we are loyal, the Lord will give us far greater opportunities in the future – the blessing of all the nations, all the kindred, all the families of the earth. (Gal. 3:8,16,29)

“THOSE CONSECRATING BETWEEN THE AGES”

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

“Our thought is that whoever under such conditions as these will make a full consecration to the Lord, to leave all to follow in his ways, and will live up faithfully, loyally, to that consecration, may be privileged to be counted as a similar class to those who preceded this Gospel age. We know of no reason why the Lord would refuse to receive those who make a consecration after the close of the Gospel age high calling and before the full opening of the Millennium.” (Reprints 5761, col. 1, 2)

More from That Servant: “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, (emphasis ours) who were developed before this age began.” (Reprint 4836, col. 1)

We trust that our readers will note, when Brother Russell uses a “similar” class, he means the same class with the Ancient Worthies. So this class could not include the Consecrated Epiphany Campers, as they will not have the resurrection of the just.

The following are poems in Brother Hoefle’s memory:

He Told The Truth

“I am not a preacher,” he often said,

But he faithfully taught the Word, instead.

“I take no collections from you,

So I can tell you the Truth, as due.”

He plainly expounded God’s Word,

So it was understood by all who heard.

He used no gesture of flowery phrase

To put his audience in a daze.

But spoke the Truth in language plain

And repeated it to us again and again.

For over our souls a watch he did mount,

As one that must give an account.

So Lord be with us we do pray,

Comfort us in this our sad day.

We grieve greatly for our loved one

Who from our presence now has gone.

Keep us ever in Thy way,

And never let us go astray,

That our lives may ever be

A testimony to his memory!

In Brother Hoefle’s memory – Delta Clinard.

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JOHN J. HOEFLE ‑ PILGRIM

In Memoriam

He has slipped away to a peaceful rest,

With trust in God’s sure Word.

To awaken later, and to be

Forever with his Lord.

Brother Harold Dart

NO. 351: IN MEMORIAM

No. 351

(Reprint of No. 244, October 1, 1975)

As has been our custom for many years to pay tribute to That Servant at this season, we now offer some comment on the Laodicean Star, the first of whom was Brother Russell, whose death on October 31, 1916 we thus commemorate. We do not do this with the thought of “angel worship” – nor do we wish to magnify his talent and character out of keeping with the facts. But we do emphasize that it is our desire to place him in clear focus for what he actually was – That Faithful and Wise Servant. And in keeping with 1 Sam. 2:30 – “Them that honor Me I will honor” – we follow with some analysis on the 16th Chapter of Revelation:

“A VOICE OUT OF THE TEMPLE”

The caption for this treatise is taken from Rev. 16:1, the real thought of which would be better expressed by “A Voice out of the Tabernacle.” To substantiate this conclusion it became necessary first of all to offer an analysis of Brother Russell’s Stewardship Doctrine, which we believe to be: A correct understanding of the Atonement as portrayed in Leviticus 16, the central teaching of which is RESTITUTION.

It should be noted that those Star Members who received special stewardship doctrines received them early in their ministry; quite often those doctrines were the cause of their leaving the religious group with whom they had been associated; and it was the teaching that provided stimulus throughout their entire ministry. For instance, Martin Luther was motivated by Romans 5:1 to break with the Catholic Church, because this text was a direct contradiction of the Catholic belief in justification by works, as opposed to St. Paul’s clear statement that it is justification by faith that brings “peace with God” in this Gospel Age. Luther’s primary objection, of course, was the sale of indulgences, the elimination of which he believed would at least start a cleansing of the Roman system; but it soon became clear to him – after his expulsion from that Church – that it was simply a surface malady, fed and encouraged by justification by works. Thus, his “justification by faith” almost automatically and very quickly became the antithesis of indulgences and their underlying evils.

While the doctrine of Restitution was not directly responsible for Bro. Russell’s leaving his “orthodox” surroundings, it was indeed indirectly responsible for his doing so. His very vitals rebelled at the teaching of eternal torment for the unsaved world; and this revulsion – much the same as Luther’s experiences with indulgences in turn drove him toward the proper explanation, which he received when the Atonement Day ritual was made clear to him in type and antitype. That the doctrine of Restitution sparked Brother Russell’s entire ministry after receiving this Truth surely none will dispute. It is probable he never delivered a public discourse thereafter in which Restitution did not have a large and prominent place. And those who witnessed the Photo Drama will recall the oft‑repeated expressions: “India needs Restitution; China needs Restitution,” etc., etc. We know, too, that his favorite Scripture was John 3:16,17, the mainspring of which is also Restitution: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” And early in his ministry he urged the Pilgrims and Bethel speakers to stress Restitution in their public discourses, as he himself also did.

To avoid argument, it should be here stated that Brother Russell taught all the stewardship doctrines of the past, in addition to Restitution, although he had to remove many a rough spot from those doctrines – taints, impurities and distortions that had been attached to them by the crown‑lost leaders of the past. When the Harvest arrived, the time also arrived to restore “the faith once delivered to the Saints” (Jude 3), so that the “Harp of God” would once more be attuned to its pristine harmonious melody. This Brother Russell accomplished with all the skill of the master artisan! Without Restitution, the “Plan of the Ages” was an empty and unsatisfactory expression, a fact which was recognized by many great and good men of the past. John Wesley chose to stress the love of God rather than the wrath of God; he also was too delicately formed to accept with good appetite the teaching of eternal torment – although he did admit to his belief in it, even though his sensitive and loving disposition caused him inner revulsion. Rather, he stressed “The spirit and the bride say, Come.” He could not then know he was more than two hundred years ahead of his time in using Rev. 22:17, because there was no bride then in the full sense of that term.

The struggles of these good and fully faithful men to reach a satisfying answer is well set forth by the parable of the lost coin in Luke 15:8‑10; and Brother Russell’s peace of mind at finding the answer is well stated in the words, “Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I had lost.” To make this teaching clear to all; we here itemize what seems to be basic truths, the “ten pieces of silver,” or the ten strings of the Harp of God: (1) the Creation – of Adam and Eve; (2) the Condemnation – the fall into sin; (3) the Law – given to Moses at Sinai: (4) the Ransom – the anti‑lutron by Jesus; (5) the Resurrection – Jesus the first‑born from the dead; (6) the High Calling – “a new and living way” (Heb. 10:20); (7) Justification; (8) Sanctification; (9) Restitution – the sounding of the Jubilee trumpet (Lev. 25:9 – See E‑8, p. 659); (10) the Second Death.

But, just as preceding Star Members had their stewardship teachings perverted by the crown‑lost leaders who followed them, so Azazel (the meaning of which is Perverter) immediately led the crown‑lost leaders to pervert Brother Russell’s stewardship doctrine of Restitution. This began in a mild way at first – not so much perversion in its early features, as it was failure to “wait on the Lord.” That Evil Servant and his henchmen determined to “rush” Restitution with their “Millions‑Now‑Living‑Will-Never‑Die.” When time itself proved that teaching to be an abortion, they then produced a real perversion – No restitution at all for Adam, or any who refuse now to accept their teachings! Just as the “Millions” teaching came early after the Star Member was gone, and was then only a mild perversion, so we are probably now seeing a repetition on a smaller scale in the teaching of the “quasi‑elect consecrated” and Epiphany Campers Consecrated.

REVELATION 16

The foregoing elaboration is presented to prepare the explanation of why the temple in Rev. 16:1 is really the Tabernacle. It is the same temple as described in Rev. 11:19 – “The temple (tabernacle) of God was opened (explained) in heaven (among the brethren in the heavenly places – Phil. 3:20), and there was seen in his temple (tabernacle) the ark of his covenant” – the ark representing in its chest the Christ, head and body, and in its mercy seat and two cherubim the four attributes of God, this latter being the explanation given in Tabernacle Shadows. In conversation with Brother Johnson, he told this writer several times that he had no trouble in understanding the volumes, but had some difficulty in understanding certain features of Tabernacle Shadows. When he mentioned this to Brother Russell, he kept repeating to him: “But those volumes all came out of Tabernacle Shadows.” From this we can readily see why Tabernacle Shadows was basic to the understanding of Parousia Truth – just as “Elijah and Elisha” is basic to Epiphany Truth. Thus, the “voice out of the Tabernacle” was in reality the Seven Volumes of Scripture Studies given to the “seven angels” (God’s true Church in the Harvest time), with the instruction: “Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.” (Rev. 16:1) Therefore, we conclude Bro. Russell’s stewardship doctrine to be as aforementioned, as it occupied a large place – a very large place – in Tabernacle Shadows; and we venture the opinion that, aside from the inspired writings, Tabernacle Shadows is the biggest little book ever published.

It should be noted here that it was not many years after Brother Russell’s death that Tabernacle Shadows was cast aside completely by those who took over his executive offices. And not many years after Brother Johnson’s death those who took over his executive office perverted some of the fundamental teachings of Tabernacle Shadows – mainly by putting Justification in the Camp, outside the linen curtain of Christ’s righteousness, and without the cleansing access to the Laver, so vital to Justification of any kind in this Gospel Age.

And from this great little book, bearing Brother Russell’s stewardship doctrine, came the “seven vials of wrath” – better translated by the Diaglott as “seven bowls of wrath.” We say this is a better translation because it was mainly in their controversial features that the seven volumes “plagued” those whose errors they exposed. Bro. Johnson has ably explained in Epiphany Vol. Eight that the bowls, chargers and spoons of Numbers 7 represent refutative, correctional and ethical teachings; thus, these bowls are the same as the “refuting” of 2 Tim. 3:16. And what is it we refute? We refute error! And it is the refutation of error that always arouses the antagonism of errorists. In these seven “bowls” there was much of corrective and ethical teachings, too; but these did not elicit the same savage reprisals as did the refutations of error. Even the members of antitypical Balaam (those who teach error for profit) agree that professing Christians should behave themselves – outwardly, at least; they endorse the correctional and ethical teachings of the Bible with lip service anyway.

It should be borne in mind that those mainly aroused by these refutations were the members of antitypical Saul and their ledlings; and a moderate analysis of their character will disclose why this was so – and still is so. Brother Russell says Saul “manifested considerable hypocrisy” (see Berean Comments on 1 Sam. 15:13); and his antitype is also not lacking in this “dis”grace. Nor were their prototypes lacking in it, as witness the words of Jesus, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.” It should be noted that all of them are inclined to falsehood, and that another of the root evils of hypocrisy is an overweening approbativeness. Note 1 Sam. 15:17: “When thou wast little in thine own sight... the Lord anointed thee king over Israel”; but, having once reached the head of the crowd, he apparently became power‑drunk with his own importance, and resorted to “rebellion” (Revolutionism). And with such characters, the unforgivable sin that incites their hatred (Isa. 66:5 – “Your brethren that hated you.”) is to parade their errors before the gaze of the mob. Therefore, the “bowls” that came out of Tabernacle Shadows were indeed “the wrath of God” to them. To such, Present Truth has always been a “savor of death unto death” (2 Cor. 2:16); whereas, to the Faithful it has even been a “savor of life unto life.” The observation was appropriate in the Parousia concerning the members of antitypical Saul, as it is still appropriate concerning them: They know that we know that they know they don’t know! Thus, they “receive of her plagues.” (Rev. 18:4)

“And the first went, and poured out his bowl on the earth (organized Society), and there came an evil and malignant ulcer on those men having the mark of the beast, and on those worshiping his image.” Volume One was published in 1886, and truly it proved to be a “malignant ulcer” to antitypical Saul and his henchmen; it was a “hot penny”: they could not hold it, and they were afraid to drop it. The stewardship doctrine of Restitution, with which Volume One is replete, made material for a “plan of the ages,” the likes of which had not been known since the days of the Apostles; and it placed Restitution and eternal torment at opposite ends of the measure. It did indeed “spoil the vines” for many a hell‑fire evangelist! Also, Chapter 14 – The Kingdom of God – made a shambles of the teaching that we now have Christendom – Christ’s Kingdom; and it showed the present order to be a far, far cry from “Thy will be done on earth.” Our Lord’s Return, The Permission of Evil, The Day of Judgment, etc., etc., all combined to make this “bowl” a “malignant ulcer” – “a savor of death unto death” to many members of antitypical Saul.

This is pointedly typified in Ex. 4:9: “The water which thou takest out of the river shall become blood upon the dry land.” “The water” in this text is the Truth as contained in the Bible – so excellently presented in Volume One – The Divine Plan of the Ages. The “dry land” typified the withered and sere condition of society as it existed at the time of the book’s appearance. And the “blood” represented the faulty reasoning of Christendom’s religious leaders, who branded the book as error – bloody, repulsive, abhorrent, death‑dealing – whereas, it actually contained the water of life uplifting, life‑giving, to all who were “of the Truth.” It should be noted that at that time many preachers were describing the animal sacrifices of the Law as bloody and barbaric – because they could not see the grand antitype of the “better sacrifices” (Heb. 9:23) that were offered during this Gospel Age by “the Church which is His Body.” (Eph. 1: 22,23)

The second “bowl,” “The Time is at Hand,” made its appearance in 1889; and the third, “Thy Kingdom Come” in 1891 – “and they became blood.” These “bowls” defined clearly “The Man of Sin” and his counterfeit Millennium as a direct contradiction to Restitution. About this time many of the more “cultured” of antitypical Saul were describing the Jewish sacrifices as blood, blood, blood – barbaric and out of place in Christianity; but these bowls pointed to the “better sacrifices” as fundamental and inseparable to Christianity, that “without shedding of blood there is no remission of sins” (Heb. 9:22), that the consummation of the better sacrifices provided the hope for Restitution, and the only hope for “Thy kingdom come.”

And the time features were indeed a powerful refutation of those who were loudly proclaiming “no man knoweth the day nor the hour” and those who were lustily singing, “When my work on earth is ended, and time shall Be no more.” The second “bowl” demonstrated the correct translation of Rev. 10:6 to be, “The time shall be no longer delayed”; that is, the “time is at hand” for God, through the Christ, to carry out His promise of Restitution – that time had arrived for the Blessing of all the families of the earth. Many of us recall the opposition that came when “The Second Coming of Christ” was preached. As instance, the tale of one Brother, long in the Truth: A Pilgrim was coming to a small town in Ohio to preach on the Second Coming; and the brother was trying to rally his neighbors to the meeting. Said one, “You know the Bible teaches no man knoweth the day nor the hour, and I think we ought to rotten‑egg the fraud out of town when he gets here.” The brother, using considerable tact, said, “Well, come on, and bring your eggs; if he’s a fraud, I’ll help throw a few at him myself.” The Pilgrim gave a very masterful presentation, at the conclusion of which the brother went to the rostrum and said to his neighbor, “Well, Joe, you’ve now heard the man; do you want to start throwing your eggs?” The man had been most impressed, and his only answer was, “I guess not.”

It should be noted, too, that Volume 3 contained a moderate explanation of the Great Pyramid of Giza, showing from the prophetic statement of Isa. 19:19‑22 that the “altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt” was indeed “a sign and a witness” to the great Plan of the Ages as contained in the Bible. Thus the pertinence of v. 7: “I heard another (angel) out of the altar” – in “the midst of the land of Egypt.” This truth, too, has been completely rejected by some, and distorted by others since Brother Russell’s death.

The fourth bowl appeared in 1897; and it certainly affirmed its title, “The Battle of Armageddon,” in that “power was given to scorch men with fire.” It pointed out the prevalent sins among rulers, clergy, aristocracy and labor; and was a true fulfilment of Jesus’ words in John 16‑8‑11: “When the Holy Spirit is come, it will reprove the world of sin (the wrongs they are committing), of righteousness (point out the right way to do), and of judgment” (warn them of the coming judgment, which in this instance was in its initial phase to be the “battle of the great day of God Almighty”). But, “as it was in the days of Noah,” they neither heeded nor wanted to hear that message – “repented not to give God glory."

It should be noted that the “fourth bowl” described events that are happening today as though the book were written this year; whereas, it was written 78 years ago. The forecasts of that book are in part a fulfilment of Dan. 5:25‑29 – the much‑quoted “handwriting on the wall.” It explained that the statement, “The kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians” (v. 28) indicated that Christendom would be divided into two hostile camps: a conservative camp, consisting of church, state and capital, and a radical camp, consisting of trade unionists, socialists, communists, anarchists and nihilists.

At the time the book was written these antagonistic factions had only a faint beginning, which developed to some degree up to 1914; but it was the outbreak of the war in 1914 that caused a clear cleavage between them, as typified by Elijah smiting Jordan (type of Christendom and the curse) – when the waters (peoples) of that river developed into two distinct warring factions. The terse substance of Volume 4 – “The Battle of‑Armageddon” – gave 1914 as the end of “the times of the Gentiles” (Luke 21: 24); Great Babylon’s judgement and downfall; the overthrow of Satan’s empire, to be followed by God’s kingdom on earth. All of these things were set forth in precise detail and accuracy – so much that, when the great events began to transpire in 1914, it directed the world’s attention to Brother Russell as the outstanding interpreter and Bible lecturer of his time, the greatest religious teacher in Christendom. And in the Fall of 1917 the czarist regime in Russia was overthrown, it being one of the strongest and most absolute monarchies that had ever existed in all human history. There the text began to be fulfilled, “the mountains (strong autocratic governments) carried into the midst of the sea (the lawless elements of society).” This feature of prophecy has now been carried to a completion; the last autocracy being Ethiopia, which was toppled in 1974.

In 1899 came the fifth “bowl” – that “poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness (great portions of the beast’s teachings were proven to be error, superstition and tradition – the “precepts of men”); and they gnawed their tongues for pain” (v. 10). It should not cause much argument when we declare that Volume 5 was Brother Russell’s masterpiece. His analysis of the Holy Spirit, of Life Everlasting and Immortality, of the Trinity, the Soul, of Sheol ‑ Hades ‑ Gehenna, left his opponents “speechless.” Of a truth, “they gnawed their tongues for pain.” So clear and convincing were the presentations of the fifth “bowl” that many segments of the secular press gave it unstinted praise; although antitypical Saul and the lesser lights “repented not” (v. 11)

Then came the sixth “bowl” early in this century, which contained much less of controversial writings than the previous five had done. In fact, its title – “The New Creation” – is well in keeping with verse 12 – “that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared”; its purpose was to instruct the true church (kings of the east) in every good word and work. It was the “law,” the better way, to every one who is “of the truth.” And any one who knows and faithfully abides by the teachings of Volume Six can be assured of the best of present possibilities – “a good and honest heart.”

The seventh vial – titled “The Finished Mystery” – did not appear until 1917; and, as Brother Johnson so aptly stated, it appeared in a vile condition. It had been produced by uncleansed Levites – a “rush” production, at the urging of That Evil Servant in this haste to “eat and drink with the drunken” (Levites drunken with error). However, as the seventh “bowl” (its controversial features), there was not too much fault to be found with it, the reason for this being that the “bowl” portions of “The Finished Mystery” were almost completely paraphrase or exact quotation from the Star Member. It was the injection of their own ideas into what should have been a priestly production that brought those uncleansed Levites eventually to Atlanta Federal Penitentiary. They had run ahead of the Lord to publish the seventh vial; had published it in a vile condition; and the Lord rewarded them “according to their works” – by reducing them to durance vile (prison). In fact, the expression in verse 6 regarding Vol. 3 is also emphatically pertinent here: “Thou gavest them also blood to drink (revulsive error); they deserve it.” (Rev. 16:6, Dia.)

It would seem in order here to declare that the “seventh bowl” not only plagued Big Babylon, but is also produced a severe contagion right in the backyard of those who had Published it: ecclesias in many quarters were split right down the middle over the book; it was made a test of fellowship near and far, It was not enough just to keep quiet if you did not believe all of it; you must openly espouse it. At that time we ourselves were ejected from the colporteur work because we did not offer it for sale, although we were offering the other six volumes to the public.

And as evidence of its “vile condition” and nefarious influence among the brethren, it was not more than 10 or 15 years after its appearance in 1917 that “The Finished Mystery” (the name of the seventh bowl) was placed on the list of forbidden things – in direct contrast to the ruling of 1917. Those who didn’t accept the book in 1917 were disfellowshiped – but anyone caught reading and accepting its teaching at the later date was also disfellowshiped. From one extreme violation of Christian principles to a worse violation – all by the same people in the space of a few short years’ Well may the text apply to them: “Instruments of cruelty are in their habitations.” (Gen. 49:5) Note the marginal reading of the text: “Their swords (use of the Scriptures) are weapons of violence.”

It is timely to mention here that in 1969 the Jehovah’s Witnesses produced a new book – “Then Is Finished The Mystery of God” – which deals with Revelation; whereas, the 1917 Finished Mystery contained a verse by verse comment on both Revelation and Ezekiel. However, this 1969 publication is choked with error also, even more than the 1917 book. And the reason for this is readily understood: The Witnesses have gone from bad to worse and have much more error today than they had in 1917. Will they also place this latest “Finished Mystery” on the forbidden list for another “mystery”? This remains to be seen, of course.

That Fit‑Man experience had a salutary effect upon at least one of the eight who went to Atlanta: George Fisher, who wrote the Ezekiel comments of the Seventh Volume (which part Brother Johnson declared to be far superior to the Revelation part by Clayton Woodworth). Brother Fisher eventually saw “the Judge” in his true colors; and before his death he personally wrote to the writer of this article: Any one who does not see JFR as That Evil Servant is just that much out of Present Truth.

It is worthy of note that it was not the “bowl” features of Volume Seven that brought its writers into trouble; it was their own foolish statements about the war then raging, and their diatribe on Patriotism, which remarks were definitely out of order at the time. Therefore, in their incarceration they did not suffer altogether “as a Christian” (1 Pet. 4:16); rather, they paid for their own folly – although it should be noted that any persecution which came to them because of the true and opportune features of the seventh “bowl” would be counted to them for righteousness’ sake.

Although the Bible is high in praise of the Old Testament Prophets and the New Testament saints, it is equally frank in recording some of their failings and misdeeds. This is one of the things that stamps the Bible as the Word of Truth. In like manner, we would say concerning both members of the Laodicean Star that they made some mistakes, as they were not infallible; but we often pause in amazement at the grand system of Truth they gave to us. This is especially true of Brother Russell, who was faced with a mountain of vicious error that had accumulated during the Age, with some of the best minds in Christendom sponsoring those errors. Thus, it is a tribute to his courage and faithfulness, to his sensitive and brilliant mind, that he prevailed against such an array of antagonists. It should be stressed here that he also had the exalted privilege of being held in the Lord’s hand (“he had in His right hand seven stars” – Rev. 1:16), which gave him “Eloquence and wisdom, which all of your opponents will not be able to gainsay, or resist.” (Luke 21:15, Dia.) We believe all those who knew him intimately will agree with this appraisal.

We offer the foregoing as a help and guide to all God’s people who may be inclined to follow blindly the errors and bad judgment of uncleansed Levites; because they do so at their own peril – “God brought down their heart with labor; they fell down, and there was none to help.” (Psa. 107:12)

We also pay tribute to the Epiphany Messenger who faithfully upheld and defended the Truth given to us by That Servant, refuted the errors and exposed the errorists in keeping with 1 Sam. 2:30: “Them that honor Me I will honor.” And with this writing comes the prayer of the writer that it may prove a Blessing to all our brethren and a means of growing in grace and in the knowledge of our Beloved Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, thereby continuing “in the faith once delivered unto the Saints.”

“Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he will give thee the desires of thine heart. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.” (Psa. 37:3,4,6)

Sincerely your brother, John J. Hoefle, Pilgrim

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LETTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST

Dear Emily,

I am sure you have read the July‑August PT about the great progress the pilgrims and “missionaries” of the LHMM are making in their efforts to gain converts for their Campers Consecrated, a non‑existent class. The JW’s are continuing their great strides to gain converts for their non‑existent class. I am reminded of our Lord’s words in Matt. 23:15 regarding the scribes and Pharisees, whom He called hypocrites: The Berean Comments on this text are appropriate for such efforts: “Compass sea and land... With your missionary activities ‑‑‑ To make one proselyte ... One convert to your false and therefore injurious doctrines.”

However, my main purpose in writing this letter is to quote David’s beautiful letter he wrote me:

“Dear Marjorie, Thank you so much for your goodly letter of July 18 and for the enclosure in aid of our work. Ever since I met beloved John here at the UN a few years back I felt a closeness to him and of course, to Emily, as a family member. Even closer – there was a rare spiritual affinity between us, and I thank God that I had been blessed to know him. What a lovely soul!

“The tribute appearing in the Bulletin will be read in the four continents and especially in Israel. I want the world to know what John really represented – a true Pilgrim! As you note, his passing has left a great void in our lives, but his teachings and cherished memory will live on.

“I was delighted to have ‘met’ you via those nice photos Emily sent to me. Again, many thanks. Heartiest best wishes, David”

This letter was heart‑warming to me, and I know it will be to you.

Lovingly, Marjorie ------- (Florida)

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Dear Sister Emily,

It is with deepest sympathy that we learn of the passing of Brother Hoefle. We have received his pamphlets for many years and they have been a blessing to us, and we thank our Heavenly Father for the knowledge we have gained in the study of them. Bless you all in your endeavors. 

From ------- (CANADA)

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Dear Sister Hoefle,

Thank you for sending No. 349 with news of Brother Hoefle’s passing. Although I’ve never met either of you, I do feel a kinship with all the brethren. I should have acknowledged the many issues you have been so kind to mail me. Some I have pursued, others not gotten to. Many things I could concur with – others I would need to study further, as there were new concepts therein, to me at least. And we are admonished to try and to prove those things we are not familiar with. I do thank you both for I can tell of your devotion to our Lord and His service. M. T. ------- (CANADA)

Dear Emily,

I hope this day finds you well and in good cheer. Your biography of John was quite interesting and inspiring and should serve as a fitting memory of him until the Kingdom. I, too, “marveled at his remarkable memory” and deep understanding of the Truth. As my grandmother once said to him following a Mount Dora class, “You made us all look like dummies.”

Much of what was in the biography was new to me, as I knew very little of John’s early life and experiences in his work. I hope to hear more about him since his faith and dedication to the Lord and the Truth was so worthy of imitation.

Not much to report here except that I’m employed by a Toy & Hobby Dealer and am liking it very much. The Lord’s special blessing be on you always, and I hope to see you very soon.      

Love, ------- (NORTH CAROLINA)

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Dear Sister Hoefle: Greetings in the name of our Redeemer!

The burden of sorrow you carry at this time is an exceedingly heavy one. As you bravely carry on it is evident the Lord is answering your prayers, and the prayers of many others for you, that you be given strength and comfort.

For all who have known Bro. Hoefle and found help and guidance in his writings, it is a sad time. The nourishing spiritual food he provided will be sorely missed. I am delighted it is your intention to publish the various articles he had prepared for future publication.

I do have a question: Did Brother Hoefle think that all the LHMM brethren who have stayed in the movement believe in Consecrated Epiphany Campers. (He knew of some who told him personally that they didn’t believe Campers Consecrated – and he has some letters to that effect – EH)

I ask an interest in your prayers as I remember you in mine. With love and sympathy.

Your sister by His Grace ------- (MISSOURI)

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Dear Emily,

Thanks for sending the picture and special thanks for that most interesting biography of Bro. John. That 89th birthday picture is a wonderful picture of him. He sure didn’t look his age!

Much in his biography, of course, we knew, but some of his experiences with the Laymen’s Home Missionary Movement were really hard to understand – especially when we remember Bro. Russell’s warning that the final test would be love.

It is beautiful that our dear Bro. John accepted it all as “but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus.” Our lives have been blessed by knowing you two dears, and we look forward to the next time we are with you.

I echo the thought expressed in the letter from Canada – “John was a gentleman.” What memories we all have who loved him and what happy hours we have spent together! Bro. John’s biography is a beautiful remembrance of him, and I appreciate your sending it out to the brethren.

We love you and hope to see you soon.

Love, ------- (FLORIDA)

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Dear Sister Emily,

Just a note to tell you that I have been thinking of you both since the Manna tells me this is the day Bro. Hoefle left for the Army in 1917 – and such a comforting verse for him on that day! We miss him but he would not want us to mourn – be happy for him. We wonder how you are getting along and know there are many questions regarding his work you would like to consult him on. Our daily prayers are that you will be guided as Brother would want you to be. The three of us seem to have colds on our chests. We took Gertrude to the hospital for chest x-rays – bronchial trouble, and since then Doris and I have the same thing. But it is not getting us down.

God bless you! ------- (OHIO)