NO. 176: BIBLICAL NAMES AND THEIR MEANINGS

No. 176

Special names in the Bible have special meanings. Attributes or characteristics are often revealed in names. As most of our readers know, the four main attributes of God are: Justice, Wisdom, Power and Love. Justice is the duty love, the good will, that by right is owed to God and others. It is a matter of obligation, duty, to give it. It is “required.” (Micah 6:8) By His wisdom God created the universe and all creation – and devised the “Plan of the Ages” for mankind. (Eph. 3:11, Dia.) His Divine wisdom planned two distinct salvations for mankind – the elective and the non elective – the elective called from among mankind during the reign of sin and evil; the non-elective for the residue of mankind during Christ’s Kingdom. (Acts 15:17) His foreknowledge informed Him there would be believers and non-believers – and it is by this foreknowledge that Wisdom and Love provided such a marvelous Plan of Salvation for all who will in their “due time” came into harmony with Him – and delight in right­eousness and well-doing.  His Power will accomplish His Plan, all in harmony with Jus­tice. Justice must be met, as Justice is the foundation of God’s throne. (Psa. 89:14; Prov. 21:3)

However, inquiries have come to us about the many different names of the Devil, and their Biblical meanings. Although it is not a pleasant subject, it is an important subject – something we should understand if we would be able to resist his evils; it is a distinct Bible teaching. Nor did God describe the Adversary’s evils in much de­tail in His Word except for our admonition, profit and protection, and to arouse our abhorrence. (2 Cor. 2:11) The Bible names for the “god of this world” (2 Cor. 4:4) and the “prince of the power of the air” (Eph. 2:2) are such as those described in Rev. 20:2, “the dragon, that old serpent, the Devil and Satan”; also, Beelzebub, Azazel, etc. We know these different names have special meanings, otherwise the Bible would not use them. God is known to us by His four Holy attributes – Justice, Wisdom, Power and Love; and Satan is known to us by his four unholy attributes, which are hid­den in the four names of Rev. 20:2. In Rev. 12:3 the dragon means the Pagan Roman Gov­ernment, ‘‘which is to rule all nations with a rod of iron” (Rev. 12:5); and that govern­ment was the instrument used by the invisible spirit “Dragon” through his unholy use of Power to ‘,wear out the saints of the Most High” (Dan. 7:25). The word dragon is from the Greek drakon, and occurs 13 times in the New Testament – all in Revelation.

Then, ‘‘serpent’’ means the deceiver; and the “devil” as the “accuser of the brethren” “Satan” means the Evil One, the Adversary, the opposer of God’s fully faithful people. Beelzebub means ‘lord of the fly’ – the destroyer; and ‘‘Azazel,’’ perverter, averter, as he perverts the Truth. The six names describe certain evil qualities of the “evil one”: Dragon, Serpent, Devil, Satan, Beelzebub and Azazel, which we now treat in some detail.

THE SERPENT

As the “serpent” he appears in the Garden of Eden as “deceiver.” None who accept God’s Word will deny that he was indeed a “deceiver” of Eve in that episode. “Now the serpent was more crafty than any living thing” (Gen. 3:—Rotherham); and St. Paul tells us that “The woman was deceived” (1 Tim. 2:14). By his superior intellect, and a tricky use of it, the Serpent used his sagacious mind for evil – just the opposite of “the knowledge of God,” who gives His people the “pure wisdom from above” (Jas. 3:17), that ‘knowledge’ that has saved His faithful people during the Ages from falling under “the snare of the devil” (1 Tim. 3:7; 2 Tim. 2:26) and “the deceitfulness of sin” (Heb. 3:13). The serpent used his superior intellect and perverted knowledge in craftiness to “deceive the nations” (Rev. 20:3) and to “blind the minds of them that believe not” (2 Cor. 4:4). As such, he has been, and is, the “serpent” – the arch deceiver. God had told them they would “surely die’’; ‘‘And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die.”

It may be that the “serpent” (the devil) first deceived himself – that he himself believed what he told them, even as many first deceive themselves, then others. To fool others successfully, one must first fool himself. As “deceiver” he has deceived the nations and many of God’s people. Even today we have evangelists trying to teach that we don’t die – that we only appear to die. And they do this even while quoting Rom. 6: 23: “The wages of sin is death.” They tell us that the body dies, but the soul, spirit, or something in us “never dies.” We must either accept Christ and go to Heaven, or reject Him and go to Eternal Torment – according to them. This is blasphemy! The Bible teaches us that the “dead know not anything” (Ec. 9:5). Whether wittingly or unwittingly, when they perpetuate the Devil’s first lie in Eden, they are the Devil’s emissaries. They be­lieve God meant they would die in a 24-hour day, and that they did die spiritually in that day in the sense of losing fellowship with God. But the Scriptures tell us that “a day with the Lord is as a thousand years” (2 Pet. 3:8); and Adam and Eve died in that thousand-year day. God placed life and death before man – not Heaven and Eternal Torment. If Adam died spiritually in the “day” he ate the fruit, and died physically 930 years later, just what was then left of him to continue to live?

We are living in that “evil day” when “Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived” (2 Tim. 3:13). Many of God’s people who have come to a knowledge of the truth on the “wages of sin,” etc., have become enmeshed in other false doctrines – have become “deceivers” of the brethren and others. The Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that all must join up with them or be annihilated in Armageddon; and another group (the LHMM) teach that Campers can consecrate now and walk a “narrow way” with the elect, for which they will be rewarded in partnership with the residue of man­kind in walking up the Highway of Holiness in the Kingdom. Yes, there are many “deceiv­ing, and being deceived.”

AS THE “DEVIL”

The “devil” is from the Greek diabolos – the calumniator – which, according to Web­ster, means ‘to accuse falsely and maliciously of a crime or offense.’ Certainly it needs no elaboration that the devil has used his chief human agency, as well as all the lesser lights that he could enroll, to malign, vilify and calumniate God’s faithful people.  In 2 Tim. 3:1-9 St. Paul describes the Parousia and Epiphany sifters – Jannes and Jambres – and the evils that he attaches to them might just as well have been writ­ten about the devil himself. And the slander, lying, false statements, misrepresenta­tions, bad conscience, etc., that have worked against the fully faithful are a clear manifestation of “in”-justice – just the opposite of that Justice which is the foundation of God’s throne, which “giveth freely, and upbraideth not.” (Jas. 1:5) One secular writer designates the devil as – Mephisto, That spirit that always says No! He always takes the contrary view of any subject where truth and righteousness (justice) are in­volved.

AS SATAN

As “Satan” he is the Evil One, the adversary, the opposer of God’s fully faithful people – often using the measurably faithful to oppose the fully faithful – the “buck­wheat” class meddling in the affairs of the wheat class, attempting to usurp their office powers, frequently using the Truth given by God through His faithful mouthpieces to their own advantage, often palming it off as their own. Such people have been “lame in both their feet” – lacking in Love toward God and man. They are those who “received not the Truth in the love of it” (2 Thes. 2:10), and who have received as punishment an “energy of delusion” in return. “Thou gavest them also blood (error) to drink; they deserve it.” (Rev. 16:6, Dia.) Thus, they are unlovely, measurably loveless! This is just the opposite of the One “altogether lovely” Who “provokes to love and good works” (Heb. 10:24). A similar spirit may be observed in the world today by the radical groups: Their motto is, Find out what they (the present ‘establishment’) want; then vote against it! Similarly stated above: That spirit that always says No!

AS BEELZEBUB – A fifth name to consider is “Beelzebub,” meaning ‘lord of the fly,’ the God of Ekron (destruction—2 Kgs. 1:3-6), symbolic of his cantankerous disposition through errors (flies) on militarism, encouraging men to slaughter each other for fame, glory and country on the field of battle. He was the idol of the Philistines, typical of sectarians, who are also often very troublesome because of their errors in teaching and practice. In the Kings passage the word is spelled Baalzebub, an alteration of the Canaan­ite Baalzebul. The God Baal himself is typical of power-graspers in the Lord’s House; and Lucifer’s action in Eden is a clear-cut example of grasping for power. His ultimate humiliation and annihilation are graphically stated: “Thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit” (Isa. 14:15) – “cast out of thy grave like an abominable branch... as a carcass trodden under feet” (v. 19). “I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth.... and never shalt thou be any more” (Eze. 28:18, 19).

The Jews regarded Beelzebub as “the Prince of Devils” (Matt. 12:24), and accused Jesus of being his tool. Although Jesus effectively answered their charge, there is little doubt but that Satan is the leader of “the angels that sinned’ (2 Pet. 2:4); and a sober appraisal of his iniquities and his ultimate end should be warning sufficient to all not “to go and do likewise.”

AS “AZAZEL”

Another appellation is “Azazel”; and occurs but four times in the Bible – all in Leviticus 16, where it is translated ‘scapegoat.’ There is no justification whatever for such a translation, as there is nothing in the word itself that even hints at such a mean­ing. It is derived from ‘azaz’ (to be strong) and ‘el’ (God); thus, a strong or mighty God.  And few will deny that the Evil One is such. Its underlying meaning is ‘Perverter’ “one who has turned to error, especially in religion,” Webster. Most of our readers know that the ‘scapegoat,’ the one “for Azazel,” typifies the crown-losers during this Age ­those who have become ‘sinners’ in a very special way – became measurably faithful to their vows and resolves to God; and as such have been cast out of the Holy, and have suc­cumbed to devious and sundry errors – “one who has turned to error.” This connects very well with St. James’ statement: “He who turns back a sinner (a crown-loser, one who sins against his Covenant by Sacrifice) from his path of error will save his soul from death, and will cover a multitude of sins” (the sins of the flesh and mind, somewhat described in 1 Cor. 5:1-5) – Jas. 5:20, Dia.

While this class of people have done many good and valiant works, as typified in Numbers 7, it is their evil works that are stressed when they are said to be “for Azazel,” because Azazel is the “father of lies” – the “perverter” of the Truth. Once this is clearly understood, there is likely to be much less chance of deception from such “per­verters.” “The one begotten of God guards himself and the evil one does not lay hold of him” (1 Jn. 5:18, Dia.) – does not lead him astray through perversions of the Truth.

Lest any receive false impressions of those “for Azazel,” it should be kept in mind that many of them have been examples of good morals and clean living in every respect; and they have preached much on righteousness – what man should do, and what he should not do. Thus, the world has been deceived into believing them to be the real “examples of the believers,” even as the Jews shouted of King Saul, “Long live the King!” Their prototype is to be found in Jn. 12:42, 43: “Among the chief rulers also (the ‘good’ people in Jewry) many believed on Him; but because of the Pharisees they did not con­fess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.”

All during the Age those “for Azazel” have tended to do as did the chief rulers: They have striven for “the praise of men, more than the praise of God.” This is one of their besetting sins. This is clearly typified in Eze. 44:9-14: “The Levites (typical of crown-losers) that are gone away far from Me.... shall even bear their iniquity.... and sacrifice for the people, and shall stand before them.... because they caused the House of Israel to fall into iniquity (by persuading them that their good morals, etc., were sufficient unto salvation – even though their hearts were far from the Lord)... They shall not come near unto Me to do the office of a priest unto Me, nor come near to any of the holy things (such as trying to bring forth new doctrines, or approaching the lamp stand in the Holy in an effort to bring forth new Truth).... but I will make them keepers of the charge of the house.”

Note now the sharp contrast between those “for Azazel” and the real priesthood – those who have been “beheaded for the witness of Jesus” and “despised and rejected of men”: “But the priests... the sons of Zadok, that kept the charge of My sanctuary when the chil­dren of Israel went astray from Me, they shall come near to Me to minister unto Me, and they shall stand before Me” (in the Holy, before the lamp stand, the shewbread and the golden altar... They shall enter into My sanctuary” (to bring forth the Truth as due)—Eze. 44:15,16. We emphasize here that it was only the priests who were to “enter into My sanctuary”; and, when those “for Azazel” have attempted to violate this clear prohibi­tion, they have been afflicted with antitypical “leprosy.”

A case in point is here in order. In 2 Chr. 26:16-20 is related the incident of King Uzziah: “When he was strong, he lifted up his heart to destruction.... went into the temple of the Lord to burn incense upon the altar of incense (corresponding to the Holy of the Tabernacle).... And Azariah the priest.... withstood Uzziah.... It appertaineth not unto thee, Uzziah, to burn incense unto the Lord, but to the priests the sons of Aaron (typical of the Little Flock in the Gospel Age).... Then Uzziah was wroth.... and while he was wroth with the priests the leprosy rose up in his forehead.... And all the priests looked upon him, and, behold, he was leprous in his forehead, and they thrust him out from thence.... Uzziah the king was a leper unto the day of his death.” And being a leper “unto the day of his death,” he would be typical of such as go into the second death, so we do not set him forth herein as a type of those “for Azazel” – although he was such at one time; but merely as an illustration. Many of those “for Azazel” have attempted to re-enter the Holy after they were throughst out, and they have invariably gone into error as they did so have become afflicted with antitypical leprosy – although not to the extent of the second-­deathers, the antitypical Uzziah class.

And it is to be noted that the leprosy was in Uzziah’s forehead; hence, he could not see it himself, although it was plainly visible to the priests about him. Also, being in his forehead indicates that the intellect would be defiled, meaning that such as be­come leprous in their foreheads must of necessity go into more or less of error – their minds become unclean – fleshly – and it is because of this that they are delivered to Azazel “for the destruction of the flesh” (1 Cor. 5:5), their fleshly, “leprous” minds, “that the spirit (their new creature) may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus (this Epiphany period).

Almost invariably during the Gospel Age those “for Azazel” have attempted to “sac­rifice for the people” – they have been strong crusaders for moral uplift, for various reforms, which would naturally bring them into the limelight, gain for them “the praise of men.” Usually those thus deceived have been enmeshed in the delusion that they would accomplish great works, win great numbers, gain great  favor. As  the  most  outstanding example of this in the Truth movements we offer the case of JFR, who boasted that he             could break the Devil’s back in one year if he had a million dollars. It  would  seem  that the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ assets today must be many times one million; yet the “children of Belial” are noticeably more in everything today than they were fifty years ago. Also, about that same time JFR conceived The Golden Age, a monthly magazine; and he told the Convention at Cedar Point in 1919 that he expected to have four million subscribers with­in one year. Instead, at the end of one year many newsstands would no longer give it space because there was almost no demand for it. We offer this summation from our own personal experience with the paper, so we are not talking hearsay.

Such experiences do not come to those “for Azazel” while they are still in the com­pany of the priests (have the restraining hand of God’s true Mouthpieces upon them), but only after they have been “delivered to Satan for the destruction of the flesh” (fleshly mind). And we emphasize again that their “deliverance to Satan” is not for the destruc­tion of their fleshly bodies, but of their fleshly minds – although their bodies also often suffer through persecuting persons. On this particular feature the Executive Trustee of the LHMM is in much confusion: he is now teaching it is the actual destruction of their fleshly bodies that is meant by “delivering them to Satan for the destruction of the flesh.” Any one not befuddled by Azazel – who has not lost the Truth on this subject ­would readily realize that this interpretation cannot possibly be correct. In corrobora­tion, we offer something from E-15:526:

“As with the prodigal son, their untoward experiences will eventually lead them to came to themselves; and resolving to return to the Father (and to the Truth they once embraced and recognized as Truth—JJH) they will make efforts to retrace their steps. (This they could not do if their humanity were destroyed by Azazel—JJH) It is this for which the Father longed, and for which He allowed them to suffer persecution, unfavor­able circumstances and buffeting at Satan’s hands. Seeing them at a distance painfully and humbly seeking to return, He runs forward to meet them by favoring providences and the presentation of appropriate portions of His Word through His faithful Little Flock mem­bers.... He saves them out of all the spiritual and earthly distresses into which they were brought by their willfulness, rebelliousness and waywardness (Psa. 107:13).... By these delivering acts God will have freed their Holy Spirit, His disposition in them.... and they will come to their rightful place as the suppressers of the evil and the devel­opers of the good in them. Thus we see the Holy Spirit enthroned in them as it was be­fore they began to turn unfaithful.”

Then some more from E-15:527, after they have cleansed their fleshly minds, and are resolved to do what they should have done in their original “covenant by sacrifice”: “They will be forever done with sin, error, selfishness and worldliness and their double mind. Henceforth their Holy Spirit, God’s disposition in them, will cleanse them from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit and enable them to perfect holiness in the rever­ence of the Lord (2 Cor. 7:1). Renewing their covenant of sacrifice, they will remain dead to self and the world and alive to God by the Holy Spirit, God’s disposition in them.... will practice self-denial and world-denial... faithfully meditate on the Truth... They will by their holy wills, minds and hearts faithfully scrutinize their dispositions, motives, thoughts, words, acts, surroundings and influences operating on or out of them... will cultivate the prayer spirit and practice.... become faithful witnesses of the Truth... The Holy Spirit will enable them to do these things amid pleasant and unpleasant, easy and hard, toward and untoward experiences.... will demonstrate that the Holy Spirit is God’s disposition in them.”

While the above procedure has been operative all during the Gospel Age in perhaps Millions of individuals, it is only in the end of the Age – in which we now are – that this will become apparent in them as a Class “after they have came out of great tribula­tion, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” (Rev. 7:14) It is then that they will have a fruitful ministry – after Armageddon has accom­plished the destruction of the Man of Sin, thus removing his deceptive influence. Then those that were “for Azazel” will no longer be such; and they will be blessed with a mighty message concerning the coming Kingdom, will be privileged to study, spread and practice the Truth as true “examples of the believers.” God speed this time!

The Epiphany is the last special period of the Gospel Age; it is also identical with the Time of Trouble in its violent features, having its beginning in 1914; and it will continue to the end of Jacob’s Trouble. One of the outstanding items for this per­iod is the elimination of the “Mystery of iniquity,” whom the Lord “shall destroy with the brightness of His coming” (2 Thes. 2:8) – “annihilate by the appearing (epiphaneia) of His presence” (Parousia).” A second outstanding item for this period is the mani­festation of those “for Azazel” as a Class, an event yet future. All during the Age there have been individuals of this Class – just as there have been individual members of the Little Flock; but neither of them was revealed as a Class since Apostolic times, as they were scattered throughout the various sects of Christendom.

But, when the Harvest came, there was definitely a Little Flock movement, and all of the saints came into that movement; and now before the Epiphany is over, those “for Azazel” will also be revealed as a Class separate and distinct. All the Little Flock developing truths were cleansed from all error before the Parousia was fully ended ­just as the developing truths of those “for Azazel” have now been cleansed from all error in this Epiphany period. But it does not necessarily follow that every member of that Class – even after the Class has been fully manifested – will be cleansed from all error; because some of them – such as those with the Jehovah’s Witnesses – have become so in­volved in the quagmire of error that it will probably be impossible for them to rid them­selves of all of it. However, we may safely conclude that by that time – after Armaged­don, when they will be saying, “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved” (Jer. 8:20), they will imbibe enough of Present Truth to give them a clear direc­tive of the course they should follow as they then “offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness” (Mal. 3:3). They will have sufficiency of the Truth to make their elec­tive salvation, just as all the saints received enough of the Truth to make their “call­ing and election sure.”

Much of the foregoing is not precisely bearing on the names of Satan and their mean­ings, but the comment on those persons involved in the machinations of Satan as Azazel is so closely related that we have felt justified in giving the details we have thereon.

These six names of the Evil One – Dragon, Serpent, Devil, Satan, Beelzebub and Azazel surely have special significance, even as many names in the Bible have special meanings – such as Jesus, Jesus Christ, Son of Man; Jacob, Israel, etc.

LUCIFER - This name occurs only once in the Bible – in Isa. 14:12, and means ‘light bearer.’ This name does not signify any of the evils described in the six names treated above, because this was the name given him before he sinned. It was the Latin name for the planet Venus, the brightest object in the sky apart from the sun and moon.  Inasmuch as Isaiah styles him “son of the morning,” it might well be concluded that as Lucifer he was exceeded in rank and brilliance in the heavenly realm only by the Lord God and the Logos. In any event, Eze. 28:11-19 tells us that he was a cherub, one of the highest of all angels. In this Scripture the Prophet eulogizes him in superlative phrase –physically, mentally, morally, religiously perfect before his defection. He was fig­uratively covered with “every precious stone” – language used similarly of the glorified Bride of Christ as the “new Jerusalem” (Rev. 21:11-21), and of the stones set in the high priest’s breastplate (Ex. 39:10-13). Strictly speaking, Lucifer as such, should not be grouped with the foregoing six derogatory names, but we present it here for in­formative reasons. After his fall he was no longer the ‘light bearer’ but rather be­came ‘darkness bearer’ (error bearer), and is no longer known by the name of Lucifer. And this is also true of many of his emissaries; they were once ‘light bearers,’ but became teachers of darkness (error) when they fell from God’s favor.

We know that it is for our good that we understand the characteristics of the Devil; otherwise God would not have had them in His Word – “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices” (2 Cor. 2:11). Our meditation, however, should be on God’s glorious attributes – Justice, Wisdom, Power and Love.  God is supreme in His being, character, plan and works incomparably superior to all other beings in these respects. His supremacy was acknowledged by every creature in heaven, until Luci­fer rebelled and later led off some of the angels from subjection to God.  But even these must submit to the metes and bounds that God has appointed them. So,  too, mankind is also now in rebellion against God, yet is subject to the metes and bounds placed by God upon the race under the curse. None of God’s faithful people would be able to con­tinue in the “narrow way” if this were not true. But nothing happens to God’s faithful people except by His permission. However, those people who have not in this life had the opportunity of making God supreme in their lives, due to Satanic influence and hin­drances, will be given an opportunity to do so in the Kingdom when Satan is bound (Rev. 20:2). Many will then avail themselves fruitfully of that opportunity, and will in the Ages to come eternally make God supreme in their lives. But all who refuse so to do ­both human and angelic beings – will be “destroyed from among the people” (Acts 3:23), will be annihilated in the second death, from which there is no recovery. Thus the “Kindness and the severity of God; Severity, indeed towards those having fallen, but kindness of God towards thee, if thou continue in that kindness; for otherwise thou even shalt be cut off.” (Rom. 11:22, Dia.)

And surely our consideration of the attributes of God’s being should enhance Him in our appreciation and should prompt us to trust, reverence, love, adore and worship Him as altogether worthy. O! How great our God is in His attributes of being! “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.” (2 Cor. 2:14)

Sincerely your brother,

John J. Hoefle, Pilgrim

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SPECIAL EFFORT – ANTITYPICAL GIDEON’S SECOND BATTLE

Our Memorial for this year is March 20 after 6:00 p. m., and we suggest for our Special Effort in Antitypical Gideon’s Second Battle Sunday, March 8 through Sunday, April 5 for our volunteer and sharpshooting in the slaying of the two King Errors ­Zebah (Eternal Torment), and Zalmunna (Consciousness of the Dead). The Adversary is still very busy “blinding the eyes” of many with these blasphemous doctrines. The Battle is not over.  We believe all faithful brethren who desire to continue in this Arrangement made by the Epiphany Messenger for this Epiphany period, will be happy to participate, if time and circumstances will permit – even though few in number, but “faint yet pursuing.” Please order your literature in time. All our literature is free, pos­tage paid – and our Nos. 1, 2 and 3 Gideon tracts, and the books, L-D-H and The Divine Plan of the Ages are very good for this purpose.

Be assured of our prayers for all in this special season – that they may receive blessed experiences and special blessings as they seek to “study, spread and practice the truth” in “sincerity and in truth.”

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LETTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST

Dear John J. Hoefle:

Your literature just obtained at the Post Office. Thank you for your nice letter. I shall write you later when the literature has been read.

Sincerely ------- (CALIFORNIA)

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Gentlemen:

We have been receiving your letters for some time, and since no one reads them, we are returning them to you each time unread. It is possible that the P. 0. Dept. will not return them to you. Since I know all about your belief, having been in Bethel in the early part of 1923 and on, we will not continue to return them, but from now on will not bother the P. O., but will burn them as they come in. You might save yourself a lot of postage if you removed this one address.

If you would spend your time preaching the Good News of the Established Kingdom instead of preaching a doctrine of hate toward the Witnesses, you might regain Jehovah’s favor.

Yours very truly ------- (ARKANSAS)

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Our answer to above letter:

Dear Brother ........... :  Christian greetings!

In accordance with your request, we are removing your name from our mailing list. You say you “know all about my belief,” but I’m quite certain you do not; otherwise, you would not have written me as you have. At one time I attended the Roman Catholic Church; then I accepted the Lutheran beliefs, from which I graduated to affiliation with the International Bible Students Ass’n (now called Jehovah’s Witnesses). I knew J. F. Rutherford well enough that he proposed that I become his private secretary in 1919. I spent many days going from house to house securing names in a petition to secure his release from Atlanta penitentiary in 1919. Thus, when I tell you that I know all about your belief, you should readily recognize that I know whereof I speak.

It was with a heavy heart that I severed my relations with so many brethren I had come to love very much; but I had taken a resolve and vow to be “faithful to the Lord, the Truth, and the brethren,” so there was no other course left to me. When you say I spend my time “preaching a doctrine of hate toward the Witnesses,” you judge me un­justly. You and your organization go to great lengths in almost every paper you pub­lish to expose the errors of Catholicism and Protestantism. Are you also preaching “a doctrine of hate”? I assume you are a member of the Household of Faith; there­fore, I consider it my Christian obligation to address you as a brother. We are both in the same Household, although it would seem you do not recognize that.

Over the years I have followed the teachings of your Organization very closely; have watched the followers accept one error after another. I suppose you won’t ac­cept this sentiment; but you will be forced to accept it when Armageddon clearly re­veals how wrong are your present teachings. Thus, it is just a matter of time, and I shall bide the time, safe in the conviction that you will eventually see my position is the correct one – especially when you see that many of those who have faithfully adhered to the organization’s teachings will not survive, while many who have refused to accept the Jehovah’s Witnesses will survive Armageddon. So I close by extending to you my cordial good wishes for your spiritual welfare, and the assurance that I am yet, as I have always been, and hope always to be

Your servant and brother,  John J. Hoefle

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Dear Friends:

Thanks for the literature received today and in the past, which I have enjoyed.  Have recently come in contact with ------- and I am definitely interested in the Modern (Youthful) Worthies. I suppose you hold to the Truth concerning this Class. I was immersed in 1921, and desire to know where the Lord will place me in His King­dom. I do, of course, realize that Brother C. T. Russell was “That Wise and Faithful Servant ............ Hoping to hear from you about the Youthful Worthies, I am

Your brother by His favor ------- (CANADA)

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Dear Sirs:  Please send me one copy each of your free literature:

No. 1 – Where Are the Dead?
No. 2 – What Is the Soul?
No. 3 – The Resurrection of the Dead
No. 4 – The  Three  Babylons
No. 5 – Two Distinct Salvations
No. 6 – God’s Great Sabbath Day  – Thank you!

Yours  in  Christ ------- (FLORIDA)

NO. 175: RETROSPECT AND PROSPECT

No. 175

Another year gone – with the outstanding secular event being undoubtedly the land­ing on the moon. This event was so phenomenal that words are not adequate to portray it clearly to man’s mind. In fact, there seems to be quite a few people here in the United States who refuse to believe the fact; they surmise it was simply a monstrous hoax to overly impress the general public. This thinking, of course, is semi-moronic; there is no real reason to doubt that those astronauts did traverse part of the moon’s surface; and the ingenuity and precision which entered into the performance are staggering to behold. As one professor put it: We are living in an age that overwhelms mere mortals. When those men returned to earth’s atmosphere, they were traveling at the rate of about 18 miles per second. Assuming that the gravitational pull extends for about 100 miles up, it would mean they would reach earth’s surface in about six seconds. At such terrific speed, it was necessary to hit the air cushion at precisely the right angle, or they would plunge into land or water to precipitate disaster. Or, if they hit it at too slanting a contact, it would have set them off into space again to certain dis­aster also. Such absolute contact could only have been made with the aid of the most delicate instruments – instruments which have only recently been developed. Thus, even ten years ago the mission could not have been successfully manipulated, because the in­struments were not then available. Truly, “in the time of the end..... knowledge shall be increased.” (Dan. 12:4)

The same awesome “increase in knowledge” is to be noted also in agriculture, and in the invention of useful and destructive instruments – although the pace here has been of a more gradual rate, so that the average man has accepted it as part of every-day life. At present in the United States it is stated that one skilled farm worker, with up-to-­date equipment can produce enough food for about 45 other people. As we reflect upon this, we readily conclude that we are living in the best of times and the worst of times some have too much, some have too little. And the have-nots cast hungry and greedy eyes at those with more than they need, so that social unrest is pyramiding upon every hand.  Well do we recall that as a boy on the farm in Ohio we faced back-breaking labor from dawn to dusk and without complaint; all our neighbors were doing the same thing, and it was the accepted order of the times. Today most of that strenuous “sweat of the brow” is no more; the crops are perhaps three times as plenteous; with the price of the pro­duce perhaps three times what it was then. This also because “knowledge has been in­creased.” The progress in agriculture has been one of the marvels of this generation.

Another feature of progress has been in air travel. We were resident of Dayton, Ohio when the airplane was invented, and we were reasonably well acquainted with Orville Wright, one of the brothers who invented it – just as we were quite well acquainted with Charles F. Kettering, who invented the self-starter for the automobile, and many other useful items. These men worked in sheds in their backyards, little realizing as they did so what they were contributing to the vast sum total of knowledge. Vividly do we recall the afternoon that the first airplane flight was to occur over Dayton – in a con­traption that looked somewhat like a large orange crate, with a motor inside, the pilot sitting on a board in the open air. And many were the men who sacrificed their lives to bring the airplane to its present grandiose state, with travel now at the safe and luxurious pace of 600 miles per hour for ordinary commercial travel. Indeed, “Truth shall spring out of the earth (the present social order); and righteousness shall look down from heaven.” (Psa. 85:11)

Much the same may be said for the automobile. In fact, “knowledge has been in­creased” along general encyclopedic lines, embracing great details on the greatest vari­ety of topics, and comprehending the sphere of theoretical and practical subjects.  Especially has this been true of useful appliances and destructive implements and agen­cies. As one pundit has stated it, Never before has man had such enormous power placed in his hands by technology to injure himself, his fellow man and our society in general. All of which offers unanswerable proof that we are “in the time of the end.” And with it all comes a corresponding increase in selfishness and hatred between the classes, leading to violence unparalleled, and a proportionate diminution of the joys that should accompany such progress. Truly, “a morning cometh, and also the night.” (Isa. 21:12)

IN FINANCE

The deterioration of the financial structure has been in direct reverse ratio to the progress in inventive, agricultural and scientific genius. The overall debt in the United States today is estimated at 1½ trillion dollars. This includes the Federal, State, Municipal, corporate and private debt. Much of this is merely paper, with nothing more to guarantee its eventual dissolution than the “promise to pay.” Many are the debtors who rely upon these paper promises, and who will eventually find themselves in much the same position as the one who “built his house upon the sand... it fell: and great was the fall of it.” (Matt. 7:27)

This past year the fragile condition of our paper money was glaringly revealed by a jury trial to foreclose on a certain mortgage, in which the Justice refused to accept two $1 Federal notes. He said they were not acceptable because there was “no consideration” involved in their intrinsic value. The Federal Reserve System “wrote off” the $14,000 mortgage, rather than try to prove to a Justice how two American bills can qualify as money under the law. The Justice proceeded with this comment: “Federal Reserve notes are already counterfeit, and ‘in contemplation of law’ the same as if they never existed.  The truth is that U.S. money comes forth out of nowhere (being merely a product of the printing press—JJH). It needs only pen and ink, some engraving plates, and Aladdin’s lamp.” Certainly a very sorry evaluation of those $20 bills you may now have in your wallet, believing they are “sound.” In this connection, one commentator said it this way: “We face a repetition of 1929.  Some delay is possible.  Don’t count on it, tho.”

“GIANTS IN THE EARTH” – “As the days of Noe were, so also shall the presence (see the Diaglott translation) of the Son of Man be.... they were eating, and drinking.... and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away.” (Matt. 24:36-39) The emphasis Jesus was intending here was the ignorance – “knew not” – of humanity in general as to the real significance of the great “Time of Trouble”; but other things also merit our consideration. In Gen. 6:4, it is related: “There were giants in the earth in those days” – just before the great flood – and “the wickedness of man was great in the earth.” It is a historical fact that man is readily corrupted by an easy life; and an easy life usually comes with plenty of money. And today we see financial “giants” on every hand; millionaires today are regarded as very ordinary people. It is only the billionaires, or those with hundreds of millions that elicit much public attention today. And, since “money is a defense” (Ecc. 7:12) – a fact readily recognized by those that have it – it is only logical that those possessing it would have their appetites whetted for more of that “defense.”

Such ambition cannot fall to bring the money makers into the Government business; and we are told of one national figure who accepted a one-dollar-a-year position as adviser to President Wilson at the outbreak of World War 1, who had then just one mil­lion dollars, but who came out of that war’s end with two hundred million.  And, concerning the crash in October 1929, one writer states it this way: “It was not as financial writers often comment, ‘a sharp technical reaction,’ resulting from an over­bought position. It was the long-incoming housecleaning. Actually, it was the cal­culated ‘shearing’ of the public by the World-money powers, triggered by the planned sudden shortage of the supply of call money in the New York market.” And says this same writer about conditions today: “Let us not fool ourselves. The wealth, freedom and liberty of the American people are being stolen and nibbled away. Today, as easy suckers, we are buying many over-priced political ‘benefits’ – all paid for, of course, with our own hard-earned money.”

Then this writer continues: “Obviously, the real objectives of the One-world Gov­ernment leaders and their ever-close bankers, are most devious. They have now acquired full control of the money and credit machinery of the United States of America, via the creation and establishment of the privately owned Federal Reserve Bank. They now plan to uproot and to gradually destroy the Spiritual background of all peoples.  Initially, Christianity is the prime target, then Judaism, then all other religions. That bleak program is absolutely necessary for them to complete, if possible, before they can reach godless power – aimed to benefit a few, but to make assembly-line puppets out of us, the many “

Then further: “I was not surprised also, when Mr. ------- gradually became the best symbol of vast world money power. Even when sitting on an open bench in a public park, feeding pigeons, while dispensing advice, his observations could readily mold long-range Government policy. His words reflected great financial power – power of such magnitude and extent that is seldom heard of – not even dreamed of by most Americans.” Yes, “money is power”!

Another paragraph: “What a fine team the two turned out to be in our (US) Treas­ury.  What a perfect ‘front’ they made as a financial figure! It couldn’t have been worked out better for the powerful New York and Overseas bank group. They successful­ly managed to have them and their close associates to hit ‘pay dirt.’ Over a period of time, this situation caused the loss of most of our gold reserve in Ft.  Knox. It was planned toward that end before March 4, 1933.” And this is how well they have succeeded by January 1, 1970: We have about ten billions of gold left in Fort Knox; and there are at this time at least forty billions of foreign deposits in the United States – PAYABLE IN GOLD. Thus, the money system could erupt any time within a few hours.

And more of the same: “What sort of plan might be evolved whereby the U.S., acting under ‘War Emergency Powers,’ even after the war’s close (in 1945), could make a selected group of Europeans very rich, along with many of their close friends here in this country? Such a plan, of course, must be so designed that the American taxpayer would not be aler­ted to the dilution of his money and to the contemplated heavy raid on the US Treasury thereby uttering loud cries of protest. This high-level ‘money-plate plan’ was doubtless one reason the US was maneuvered into World War II, when most US citizens wanted no part of it. It was a clever deal – a costly one for you!”

For the information of our readers, this same group of money men planned and built up “the revolutionary-tinged NAACP, cleverly designed to distort racial issues to create civil discord, resulting in occasional violence among segments of our citizens ­the deception employed in the health of FDR (the late President Roosevelt), and, finally, Pearl Harbor.... exploiting Negro citizens, often using them as ground breakers for a planned one-world program. Money-control, in underprivileged nations and other purposes are not overlooked by that group.... the effective control of World Money World Poli­tics, and most necessary in that aim is the elimination of all religions

One more quote from this same writer: “The final act of Bretton Woods, which gave birth to the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, the Dumbarton Oaks Conference which created the United Nations and all its agencies, the Havana Conference which pro­duced the General Agreement in Tariffs and Trade, and many similar assemblies of hand­picked functionaries were not incubated by hard-pressed Governments engaged in waging war, but by a Supra-National Money-Power which could afford to look ahead to the shap­ing of a post-war world that would serve its interest.”

It is estimated that it required forty million dollars to elect Mr. Nixon to the US Presidency, so the “giants” are in politics, too – certainly not for glory or love of the country. But perhaps the greatest “giant” of them all now is the Vatican Empire, whose worth is estimated at 4½ billion dollars, with a strangle hold on much of Italy’s utilities, courts, and giant industries – of which we may say more in a future paper.

IN POLITICS – It is well to remember that politics and money are always closely allied, and as one goes, so goes the other. As stated aforegoing, there is now about forty billions of foreign accounts in the United States that are payable in gold upon demand – with only a little more than ten billions of gold with which to pay. Self-evi­dently, a call for gold by these foreigners would be embarrassment no end, so the politi­cians have manipulated the interest rates to abnormally high figures to assuage the for­eigners from asking for gold. Of course, these high interest rates result in just that much more paper accumulating each year, with the end nowhere in sight.

Over the past ten years or so this has been the easy way out – the way the politicians always take. They reason they will be either dead or out of office before the crisis comes; and – politicians seldom act before a crisis develops. How long this can continue is any­body’s guess; but the high interest rates are rapidly bringing the building of homes and investment properties to a standstill. Thus, the words of the Wise Man are well consid­ered: “In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him... Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the City.” (Ec. 7:14,19)

As one commentator has put it, For the past two thousand years politicians have been the lowest form of insect life. When one politician was asked just what is the differ­ence here in the US between the Republicans and the Democrats, he answered, All the dif­ference in the world – They’re in, and we’re out! It is accepted policy for political speakers to deceive their listeners; and the one most skilled in this respect is the one most likely to be elected. Thus, it is simply raw burlesque to conclude that the voice of the people is the voice of God. Never was this more clearly proven than when the Jew­ish mob yelled, Crucify Him, and give unto us Barabbas!

Most of our readers have at least some knowledge of the conflict between England and Rhodesia – a difficulty precipitated by the white segment in Rhodesia insisting upon re­taining their ruling powers over the black majority. When Rhodesia cast off the English rule, the United Nations voted sanctions against that African country; a trade boycott was agreed upon by most of the member nations, including Russia. The only real reason for this move was so the politicians could mollify the black minorities in their respec­tive countries – especially so, here in the United States. In due course it became known that Russia and Rhodesia were the principal producers of the world’s chromium. Almost immediately Russia raised the price o f chromium 44%; then stealthily ‘bootlegged’ Rho­desia’s chromium through a roundabout route in East Africa. Thus, the boycott boomeranged upon those countries that needed chromium in their industries; they simply hit themselves in their own pocketbooks by a 44% raise in the price of the metal. Yet, in the speeches on the floor of the United Nations the palaver is often heard, Gentlemen, Gentlemen, let us be gentlemen!

IN ITALY – The Italian political picture is so closely related to the Church of Rome that it could just as easily be examined under the heading of Religion. We now offer a few excerpts from an article dated July 23, 1969: Today Communists can claim support of 8½ million votes, nearly 27% of the total electorate. They have been growing so rapidly that it is now very difficult to form any kind of government there without their cooper­ation.  Says one 33-year-old waiter: “I’m fed up. Any government is better than no government, but the politicians we now have are crooks. At least the Communists are hon­est. They worry about little people like me.” Perhaps the Communists are concerned more about the little man because they know that is the surest way to win his vote.

Adding other radical parties to the Communists, they have about one-third of the Italian total; whereas, the Christian Democrats hold only 39%. This latter is the Roman Catholic party;’ and the Papacy is not unmindful of the growing surge of radicalism. Says one of them who was once prime minister, “no government can ignore them”; and he favors some form of cooperation between the radicals and his own Christian Democrats. Of course, the two are as far apart as the north and south poles; and the Communists will ‘cooperate’ only until such time as they are strong enough to rule without cooper­ation from the Papal party. “The people are asserting their will,” says the editor of Italy’s most important Communist daily newspaper, and he has not the least doubt that the rising tide will sweep the reds into power.

The waiter mentioned above complains that his cigarettes have gone up 25% lately, and he is afraid to eat chicken because they may be fattened on illegal hormones.  Gen­erally he leaves churchgoing to the females in his family, and he takes a cynical, al­most anti-clerical, view of the church and what it might do for him. “For months I wait for my money back from the government for doctor bills,” he says, “and I am still wait­ing.” He says his employer is a slave driver, who forces him to work 60 hours a week. Thus, he never makes a mistake on his meal checks that is not in his favor. He already has four children, and he would like very much to have a Fiat 600 for his own; but he cannot have the auto if he has any more children. The wife says avoiding more children is contrary to the rules of the Roman Church, but she is willing to go along with it if her husband finds out from the Communist Clinic what the procedure should be. That way she will not have to hear her confessor accuse her of sin; and her husband won’t hear about it either, because he does not visit the confessor. Birth control clinics are il­legal in Italy, as might be expected under Catholic rule; but the “pill” is advertised in some magazines as a “cure for acne.” It is estimated that 10% of the Italian women resort to the pill; and, if it prevents child birth, that is a bonus that can be accep­ted without violating Roman Catholic regulations, as they find a cure for their “acne.”

A decade ago the Catholic Church condemned Communists in no uncertain terms.  Today that attitude has softened considerably, and most confessors in Italy no longer tell people it is a sin to vote Communist. Here again we have Jezebel in the beauty parlor (See our tract No. 7); the Church readily adapts itself to any situation that seems expedient – whether religious, political or social. The Pope is ready enough to take lessons from the Communists if it seems politically ‘proper.’ In May of 1969 the Pope celebrated Mass with 134 cardinals (the basic number should be 70, in keeping with the 70 who aided Moses—Num. 11:16,17; and the 70 of the Jewish Sanhedrin, but here again the Pope considers it politically expedient to have more than 70). During that Mass the Pope stressed the necessity to help the poor and needy – as the Communists are already doing, and winning more votes all the time away from the Catholic Church.

IN RELIGION

THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH – From reports that reach us from all parts of the world, it is quite apparent that this institution is rapidly coming apart at the seams. In May a news item said this: “The Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines is in a restless, revolutionary mood. The clamor for reforms within the church has reached its highest crescendo since Spain brought Christianity into the palm tree islands 400 years ago and made the tropical Philippines the only Roman Catholic country in Asia. Roman Catholic university students have exchanged their books for placards to demon­strate in front of the office of Cardinal Rufino J. Santos, the archbishop of Manila. A group of priests has formed a corporation aimed at launching dialogue among the church hierarchy, the clergy and the faithful.... The church appeared an inevitable target for students because of its role in Philippine society as the nation’s single most powerful unifying force apart from the government itself.”

HOLLAND – And much the same is reported from Holland: “The most startling revo­lution in the Roman Catholic Church is raging in tiny Holland. Almost everything that Catholicism has meant to millions of people for hundreds of years is being overturned, questioned or given new meaning in the Netherlands. The nature of Christ, the virgin birth, the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist, the authority of the Pope – all are under scrutiny in Holland. Private confession, the rosary and forms of Marian wor­ship have largely gone by the board. The Mass has been radically transformed, priests have put on business suits and many are clamoring for the right to marry.... This has drawn the Dutch church into the most potentially dramatic conflict with the Vatican since Martin Luther flung down his challenge to the church of Rome in the 16th century and launched the Protestant Reformation.”

In the UNITED STATES similar things are occurring. It is reported that cookies and coke are now being used for the wafer and the wine in home gatherings among Catho­lics; and in Detroit the Catholics are rising in open revolt against some of the pol­icies of their newly-appointed Cardinal Dierden. Many of them are refusing to make further contributions to the church there, and are very open and emphatic in their an­tagonism.

And, recognizing the trend of the times, some priests and nuns have joined hands with “the beggarly elements” in their lawless activities. We cite just one instance in Detroit: Eighteen grape boycott demonstrators, including a nun, a priest and nine chil­dren, were arrested Saturday (July 18) and charged with taking groceries from a super­market as part of a “reparations” action. The group took the groceries from the Kroger market in retaliation for what they called the store’s breaking of the nation-wide boy­cott of California grapes. They just went in and told the manager that if he didn’t take the grapes off the shelves, they would take some merchandise.... They were to appear before Recorder’s Court on Monday to face possible charges of conspiracy to commit lar­ceny.

Much the same criticism may be charged to PROTESTANTISM. In the General Assembly of the Southern Presbyterian Church at Mobile, Ala., the news report says:

‘‘A surprisingly subdued debate showed how far the church had come from more funda­mentalist days. Four previous assemblies, dating back to 1886, had vigorously denied that man could claim animals for ancestors. But with little opposition, the commission­ers approved a judicious statement acknowledging that the Genesis account of creation and the theory of evolution are ‘non-contradictory.’ Sighed one progressive church official: ‘We had to wipe the embarrassment from our books.’”

Perhaps some comment here is also in order regarding Martin Luther King. The man was assassinated in 1968, and it is certainly not our wish to detract one whit from his stature as a man, a minister or a reformer. We shall let the facts speak for themselves. If we are correctly informed, he received a salary of $75,000 per year, plus expenses, from the NAACP, and it is not difficult to imagine most men to be willing “crusaders” for such compensation. We allow others to speak, quoting small parts from one paper under the heading, POLITICAL HYPOCRISY:

“The assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., on April 4, 1968, and the aftermath, constituted a sordid chapter in the history of the United States of America. Uncon­trolled violence begets violence, as events proved to be true. The Negroes aspire to equality with the white man, but by rioting, burning and looting, following King’s death, they only demonstrated their inequality with the white race. President John Kennedy was also assassinated, but white people did not react by demonstrations of un­controlled thievery and destruction.... King, whom a number of substantial politicians made a show of honoring by their presence at his funeral, was a known associate of Com­munists. In the Congressional record for September 13, 1962, a detailed account of the background of Martin Luther King, Jr., was given and this was quoted in the editorial entitled ‘The Rising Flood’ in DESTINY for December 1962 (p247). Ample evidence was therefore a matter of official record and readily available to our governmental lead­ers.... King – known to associate with Communists, having as his chief lieutenants sex perverts and identified Communists – an ordained Baptist minister who openly denied in The National Observer the Baptist doctrines he said, when ordained, that he believed. He went on record as not believing the doctrines of the virgin birth, the Deity of Jesus Christ, the substitutionary atonement of Christ, the literal resurrection of Christ and other basic doctrines he confessed before Almighty God to believe and accept...

It is little wonder that we find the Christian world in turmoil!

A little nearer ‘home’ we give passing notice to the Truth section of the Levites, especially the LHMM and its self-admitted crown-lost leader. As Brother Johnson ob­served concerning some of these same people earlier in the Epiphany, They inherited gold, and quickly turned it into ashes. The Present Truth was quick to come out with “Brother Russell’s Epiphany Parallels” after the demise of the Epiphany Messenger; but not one single thing emphasized in that article came to fulfillment as expected. In fact, there is not the slightest evidence of any fulfillment at all, so it is little wonder the whole idea is quickly forgotten – just as the Roman Catholics and others are glad to forget their past sins of teaching and practice, and to plead for ‘brotherly love,’ as they ignore the wretched past. In fact, after the Chicago Convention we ob­served that it was not beyond consideration that RGJ was willfully deceiving his audience on the ‘‘Abandonment process,” and who the “unprofitable servant” is, and other items. If so, he is thus not only a part of the Epiphany Jambres, but he would also be included in the Parousia Jannes, which name carries the meaning of “he deceives.” We sincerely hope for his sake that the impression he created is not his heart’s attitude, because we would then be forced to conclude that all hope for him is gone.

It would seem that almost all the Levites who were one time indoctrinated with Present Truth have gone astray on the chronology in some form or other. First, the PBI, very early in the Epiphany, determined that Brother Russell had made a 19-year mistake ­a ‘correction’ which they borrowed from a “foolish virgin.” At that time the Society (now the Jehovah’s Witnesses) made valiant defense of the Truth against that error; but by this time they are now so far astray they do not seem certain of anything that has chronology connected with it. “The 6,000 years are almost up,” according to them. This would prompt the logical conclusion that our Lord’s Parousia has not yet occurred; then must follow the second step that there has not yet been a Harvest. Yet they are now heralding Brother Russell as their founder, whose entire ministry was primarily the Harvest work.

Back there the PBI error was not only refuted by the Society, it was also more thoroughly disproven in the Present Truth published by the Epiphany Messenger – so com­pletely, in fact, that every mouth was stopped. Yet they continued right on with their error, which logically moved the end of the Gentile Times 19 years further along – to 1933.  Well, 1933 came and went – and not one scintilla of proof appeared to support their ‘correction.’ Yet they went blithely on, allowing those who had accepted their ‘correction’ to provide their own answer to the vacuum that appeared.

More lately, the LHMM offered the foolish conclusion that they were ‘paralleling’ the overlapping of the Parousia into the Epiphany – a period of 25 months. But their ‘overlapping’ is just transparent nonsense to all except those who are so blind they simply will not see. For a few years after Brother Johnson’s death – and before the parallel should begin to operate – both the “cousins” (RGJ & JWK) made great play upon the approaching parallel; but it seems, now that time has annihilated every vestige of their predictions, they too would be most willing to have the whole thing forgotten ­just as was true of the PBI and others in 1933. Indeed, the mills of the Gods grind slow, but they grind exceeding fine. The merciless barometer of time itself is making glaringly ‘‘manifest the counsels of hearts,” as the Epiphany continues to manifest per­sons, principles and things in very exacting fashion.

GENERAL

One bit of most interesting news has come to us this past year; namely, it is now quite clearly determined that the Bering Straits that lie between Alaska and Siberia were one time more dry than the Isthmus of Panama is now; and it is now defi­nitely concluded that the North American Indians came to America across those then dry Straits. It has been our belief for a number of years that the “ten lost tribes of Israel” were the ancestors of the North American Indians; and this opinion would now seem to find confirmation in the news item we herein repeat.

“The Harvest is the end of the ‘‘world’’ (Matt. 13:39); and we offered copious proof on page 1 that we have come to that “end.” Therefore, we have the strong assurance of Scripture that the Truth will triumph over all its opponents; and those who have the Truth may abide in the comforting thought, “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper.” Thus, we may rejoice as we ‘‘meditate on thee in the night watches.” But there is the opposite viewpoint also that “Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of Harvest.” (Josh. 3:15) Jordan was a type of the curse upon the world in sin; and its rapid downward course to the Dead Sea gives a clear picture of the deeper and deeper depravity of the human race over the centuries, which is accentuated “in the time of harvest” – “overfloweth all his banks.”

Just one instance of this is to be noted in the intense hatred that is developing among the various classes in the larger cities of America. This cannot be fully appre­ciated unless one is present and gains a close-up familiarity through personal contacts. It is not enough that men are robbed in midday on the principal streets; they are also usually brutally beaten along with it – for no reason at all, as many of the victims make no attempt at resistance. We have known personally perhaps half a dozen of such cases, so we do not repeat hearsay. Truly, “The land is full of bloody crimes, and the city is full of violence.... destruction cometh: they shall seek peace, and there shall be none.... mischief.... and the hands of the people of the land shall be troubled.” (Eze. 7:23-27)

To all our readers we extend cordial good wishes for the year 1970, and we recipro­cate also all the expressions of good will that have come to us over the Holidays.  “The tie that binds” is indeed blessed, and we give assurance once more that we are your brother and servant as occasion may arise. If any be overtaken in the tumults of the times, we offer the heavenly consolation, “In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.” (Isa. 30:15) “The wicked flee when none pursueth,” but – they make better time when somebody’s after them. This condition will never befall any of the Lord’s fully faithful, for we have the firm promise, “Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory (over death and the grave) through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Sincerely your brother,

John J. Hoefle, Pilgrim

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LETTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST

Epiphany Bible Students Ass’n

Gentlemen: Please be advised that my new address is ........ Would like to have your magazine as before, please. Thank you! God bless your Association and magazine!

Sincerely yours ------- (CALIFORNIA)

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Dear Sirs: In reading The Herald of the Epiphany, I became very much interested in the Scriptures you quoted, and would be very much pleased to continue reading more on this subject. Will you please send me the following copies: The Resurrection of the Dead, The Three Babylons, Where Are the Dead, What is the Soul. I have been studying the Bible for some time, and I am trying to gain as much knowledge as possible about our Father which art in Heaven. Thank you very much!

Respectfully ------- (KANSAS)

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Dear Sir:  Would you please send to the above address - Where Are the Dead, The Resurrection of the Dead, Two Distinct Salvations and The Three Babylons?

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

NO. 174: 1 COR. 15:24 AGAIN

No. 174

(Reprint of No. 148, Oct. 1, 1967, with additions)

On page 56 of the July-August Present Truth RGJ attempts to answer our presenta­tion on the above text in our paper No. 144, July 1967. And revealing once more his “bad conscience” (E-10:585), he resorts to his usual name-calling, slander and railing accusations. It may seem strange to some that he does not resort to such tactics when discussing !he errors of Jehovah’s Witnesses; but there is sound explanation for this: Against the Witnesses he has the Truth, and is refuting error, so he has no need for mud-slinging – the Truth is more than sufficient for his purposes. But, in his alter­cations with us the situation is reversed – so much so that vilification is about the only weapon left to him, as he attempts to defend his errors.

All of our readers will readily admit that Brother Russell and Brother Johnson were not infallible; but they both had the humility and nobility of character to admit mistakes when they made them – just as David and other outstanding Bible personages did with their failings. But do we find RGJ admitting any of his mistakes? Certainly he has made plenty of them since 1950, so that he comes well within the scope of Brother Johnson’s declaration that “Bungling is the usual and natural activity of the Great Company.” In proof of this we offer just one instance – the 1954 Attestatorial Ser­vice. This activity was begun with much fanfare, even producing Volumes 18 and 19 (mis-numbering them 16 and 17 ahead of the order in which the Epiphany Messenger had arranged them) as special material for the occasion. It would be most interesting to know if he has sold enough of these two books even to pay for the original cost of set­ting the type. Will he answer this? It will be a pleasant surprise if he does!

But further – and more important – relating to the same in his own record for that Attestatorial Service: According to his Annual Report for 1954 (see page 11 of the January 1955 PT), he had 1422 subscribers to the Present Truth; and for 1966 (see p. 10 of the January 1967 PT – the Annual Report) he had only 934 subscribers to his paper. So, for that “special effort” he lost ‘only’ 488 subscribers to the Present Truth, or almost 30% of his readers. It is probably in order here to say that we have gained much more than 30% in the readers of our paper that we have been issuing since that time. Is it any wonder that he has an inordinate urge to talk – to talk when he has just nothing to say? “Loquacious and repetitious” (E-10:591) – repeat, repeat, repeat! His Attestatorial Service since 1954 should cause him to hang his head in shame for “running ahead of the Lord” – if he has any shame in him.

SOME PROPER QUESTIONS

In his answer to our presentation on 1 Cor. 15:24, RGJ offers copious citations from Brother Russell and Brother Johnson, coupled with his usual name-calling of us, and his own profuse comments to prove us wrong. Did he know all this in 1949, or is this something just new to him? And, if he did know it back there – and Brother John­son knew it, too (as he now claims) – why did the both of them make such a tragic over­sight when they proofread the Herald of the Epiphany for November 15, 1949. Since Bro. Johnson is not here, RGJ will have the privilege of speaking for himself on this query. Will he do it? And why is it that he was completely silent on our analysis of Revelation 20:13, 14: “Death and Hell were cast into the lake of fire”? Can it possibly be that he just overlooked it (although we allowed a copious paragraph for it on the first page of our paper No. 144); or is it that he has no answer, leaving silence as his only retreat? Here is a clear Scripture with a direct bearing on the discussion – a Scrip­ture necessary to the analysis if the whole truth on the item is to be obtained. There­fore, will we now hear from him on it?

FURTHER ANALYSIS

“Death and Hell cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death”—Rev. 20:14. In a broad and accommodated sense it may properly be stated that the “lake of fire” has existed all during this Age, and that a certain specific few have been cast into it –beginning with Judas. The same situation will also prevail under the Kingdom reign with those “sinners a humdred years old, who shall be accursed.” (Isa. 65:20) But “the lake of fire prepared for the Devil and his angels” (Matt. 25:41) is much more exclusive, having only one time setting – at the very extreme end of the Little Season. And the Scripture is very explicit that “death and Hell” are also cast therein at the same time. And, so far as we know, there is only one type, or other Old Testament reference, to this grand drama, the same being the destruction of Pharaoh and his Egyptian hosts in the Red Sea as they were pursuing Israel.

This is all very graphically and detailedly explained in E-11:245-296; and at the bottom of page 252 there is this statement: “Satan will use this doctrine deceptively, by ignoring the fact that the thousand years will end lappingly just as they began lap­pingly, in various stages 1874, 1878, 1881, and 1914, and by reiterating in his temp­ting suggestions that it ended in 2874” – just as one now in Azazel’s clutches is also contending for 2874. On page 250 it is stated that Satan, the fallen angels and apos­tate restitutionists will enter the Little Season with perfect faculties, but not perfect characters. Before 2874 the “sheep” will not recognize the “goats” – just as was true during the Parousia for the Great Company as such. It was then not known which were Little Flock and which were Great Company so long as they conformed outwardly at least to the Harvest Truth; and this will be the identical situation between the good and bad restitutionists up to 2874. But the testings of the Little Season will make this reve­lation; and will gradually educate the faithful for the antitypical Red Sea experience which will annihilate the unfaithful at the full end of the Little Season.

But their destruction is not what is meant by “death and Hell” being cast into the lake of fire, the antitypical Red Sea – although these will occur simultaneously – at the full end of the Little Season. In this connection, Volume E-8, pp. 603-620 present an excellent analysis of the Gospel-Age and Millennial-Age Passovers, with their pertinent applications and meanings to the firstborns and the afterborns. The afterborns are clas­sified as the “defiled” ones during this Gospel Age (Num. 9:9 14), who must cleanse them selves during the next Age – must have this cleansing completed before the start of the Little Season – otherwise, they will fall in the Little Season test.

On p. 608 is the following: “The defilement and its condemnation lasting seven days types the fact that one must undergo actual or reckoned cleansing of the Millen­nial Age, the antitypical seventh day, in order to be rid of the Adamic defilement and condemnation” – the Adamic death process (sin, error and selfishness). And further on P. 616: “If he (the defiled one) leaves any of these (Christ’s right to life and life rights) unappropriated, he enters the Little Season with an imperfect character and thus will fall in the final trial during the Little Season” – he will be cast into the lake of fire, the antitypical Red Sea, along with the Devil and his angels at the full end of the Little Season. Note, please, how clear it is from the foregoing quotation that Brother Johnson considered the “defiled” ones as entering the Little Season still con­taminated with the Adamic death process (sin, error, selfishness) – which, therefore, cannot be destroyed until its possessor is also destroyed. “That final trial will be the last stand that Satan, sin and error and all in sympathy with them will ever make; for oppression (of Satan, sin and error, with their concomitants of dying and death – ­the Adamic death process—JJH) shall not rise again.” (E-11:268)

Lest any misunderstand us, we emphasize that 1874 is clearly marked in the Bible, as is also 2874, and would properly be designated as the Kingdom day – the time during which “all that are in their graves shall hear the voice of the Son of Man, and come forth” (John 5:28, 29). It was Brother Russell’s surmise that the awakening of all the dead race might occur within the first five hundred years of that Day. This we do not attempt to dispute, but merely to observe that it will perforce have to be fully accom­plished by 2774 (100 years ahead of 2874) if “the sinner a hundred years old” is to have his hundred-year opportunity. However, at whatever time, when the last one leaves the tomb, that day will also mark the end of Adamic death state; no more will be con­tained in the Adamic death state, no more can ever enter it. That enemy will be de­stroyed that identical day – many years before 2874. That being true, and since it oc­curs at least a hundred years before the start of the Little Season, it should be readily apparent to all that the tomb, the death state, cannot possibly be the “last enemy” to be destroyed. Thus, there is left only one other fleshly enemy – and that is the Adam­ic death process – that last enemy to be destroyed.

On p. 57, col. 2 (top), of the article under discussion, RGJ quotes from an early PT by Brother Johnson:

“The Present Truth stands squarely and sincerely for the Parousia Truth, as basic for all further develop­ment of the Truth. Thus it heartily embraces the system of Truth which is presented in the writings of our beloved Pastor, as well as holds to its principles and spirit. Whenever he gives two or more harmonious views of a Scriptural passage or doctrine, we accept all; whenever, as in a few instances in the great system of Truth which he pre­sented, these cannot be harmonized, we accept the latest expressions, unless they are manifestly not so harmonious with the Scriptures, reason and facts as earlier ones.” Then RGJ says for himself, “This is still the policy of THE PRESENT TRUTH, and we apply the same rule to Brother Johnson’s writings.”

It will be noted that on the previous page we quoted from Epiphany Vol. 8, p. 608; and we call attention to the fact that the first nine volumes of Epiphany Studies (in­cluding Vol. 8, of course) were first published in 1938. Would RGJ tell us now that this Vol. 8 is also a “later expression not harmonious with the Scriptures,” and that this is his reason for rejecting also this part of Vol. 8 – as he also now tries to do with the Herald of the Epiphany of Nov. 15, 1949?

MORE FROM THE MESSENGERS

First of all, we offer again the Nov. 15, 1949 Herald, identically as we gave it in our paper No. 144:

“He (Christ) shall have put down all rule and all authority and all power (every vestige of the governorship and of the pretended authority and of the pre­tended might of Satan, all of this will be put down by the almighty hand of Christ, the head, and the Church, the Body, using God’s power as that almighty power in their hand). For He must reign until He hath put all enemies under His feet (thus we see that not only persons are these enemies, but also things. The Adamic death in the sense of the dying process is this last great enemy; and, because of his faithfulness, Jesus became the One who will after the close of the Millennium finally destroy it.”

If we should now agree with RGJ about that ‘faulty’ disc, and change the “of” to “is” as he demands, just what difference would it make in the above statement of expla­nation by Brother Johnson? The only logical change to be made here – if indeed a change is required – would be to eliminate the entire statement we have just quoted, and declare that statement to be the real mistake. Clearly enough, he didn’t dare do that – even some of his sleeping readers might then have become aroused.

But we offer some more from E-11, Chap. IV, wherein is described the deliverance of the afterborn, the full accomplishment of which occurs at the full end of the Little Season. On p. 274 Brother Johnson treats of Rev. 20:10, 14 and 15. We gave a detailed analysis of some of this in our paper No. 144, declaring that “death” in Rev. 20:13, 14 refers not to the Adamic death state, but the ADAMIC DEATH PROCESS; and on p. 274 Bro. Johnson offers exactly the same interpretation that we do. And let us keep in mind that this Revelation Scripture is probably the outstanding companion text of 1 Cor. 15:24, because the “death” in both texts is from the Greek ‘thanatos’; and means the same in both texts. Therefore, we now ask – Is RGJ also now casting aside Rev. 20: 13, 14, and branding Brother Johnson’s interpretation on that text wrong, too? Vol. 11 was published in 1948 – at least a year before the Nov. 15, 1949 Herald; and we all know the material had to be prepared for publication sometime before 1948.

Next we offer another quotation from Brother Russell (Reprints 5293, col. 1, par. 2):

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

Here is some more that RGJ is now ready to toss into the waste basket. Certainly, it needs no large amount of Present Truth to know that the “wicked” of the foregoing are the “goats” that will be destroyed at the end of the Little Season, along with their defilements of the Adamic death process (sin, error and selfishness). And, since RGJ has branded our presentation in No. 144 as “sifting literature.... from Satan,” it would seem he must now also do the same thing with large parts of Brother Russell’s and Brother Johnson’s writings. He should certainly make himself clear here.

Inasmuch as the Adamic death state will be eliminated by 2774 at the very latest, it should be clear to all that it cannot possibly be the “last enemy” of 1 Cor. 15:24. Israel’s escape across the Red Sea makes this all crystal clear: With Pharaoh typing Satan, the Egyptians type the “wicked” mentioned above by Brother Russell; they are the typical “goats” of the parable, even as the fleeing Israelites are the typical “sheep” of the parable; and the Red Sea saving the “sheep,” and at the same time de­stroying the “goats” is the typical Lake of Fire of Rev. 20:14. Speaking of those “goats,” Brother Johnson says on p. 125 of Vol. 17:

“By the trial during the Little Season at the Millennium’s close, their (the ‘goats’—JJH) unholy heart’s condition (the Adamic death process—JJH) will become manifest, and they will perish in the Second Death – everlasting destruction (Rev. 20:7-9, 15).”

Inasmuch as those entering the Little Season do so with perfect faculties, it should require no great argument that the “unholy heart’s condition” of the “goats” is the Adamic death process still present with them. That is why the Adamic death process is “the last enemy”: Those persons “defiled” with it must first be destroyed before the thing can be annihilated. Thus, Brother Johnson’s statement in the Nov. 15, 1949 Herald that “not only persons are these enemies, but also things” is correct, and must stand as he gave it. The “persons” in his statement are the same as “the wicked” in Brother Russell’s statement, the same as the “goats” in the parable – to be destroyed when “cometh the end” – the “end of the Little Season.

It should also be evident from the foregoing that the “goats,” with their per­fect faculties, could have rid themselves of their “unholy heart’s condition” – which they were physically able to do, but simply willfully refused to do it. This is in strict keeping with the Harvest of the Jewish Age: the “wheat” accepted Christ, and were physically able to make their “calling and election sure,” even as the “chaff” of that nation were consumed in the fire of destruction by the Roman Army in the year 70 AD. The “wheat” were physically able to gain salvation; thus, the “chaff” also could have gained it had they willed to do so. And in the Harvest of this Age the “tares” are to be burned, as the “wheat” is gathered into the Heavenly barn. The “wheat” were physically able to do what was required of them to gain their objective; and, while the Great Company were also physically able to do the same thing (to do all that the Lord required of them), they refused through measurable “unholy heart’s condition,” and must also pass through the ‘fire’ of this Age – though not to their destruction, but to their cleansing. This they will also be physically able to do; and those who do not do it act from choice – just as will the “goats” who choose to go into the Lake of Fire at the full end of the Little Season.

In view of the foregoing, it should be evident to any ‘babe’ in the Truth that the pursuing Egyptians were the Jews’ enemies, and that those enemies are antityped by the wicked, the “goats” that go into the antitypical Red Sea – the Lake of Fire – the Second Death at the full end of the Little Season. This then makes the Lake of Fire, the Sec­ond Death, the friend of the “sheep,” because it forever separates them from their ene­mies. It is well to remember, however, that, while Satan and his angels also go into the Lake of Fire, it may not be strictly correct to speak of them going in a second death, because they never came under the Adamic condemnation. However, if we view the Second Death as a sentence, it would mean the same thing – utter destruction from among the people. The consummate result is the same – they go into eternal annihilation, just as do the “goats,” who may properly be described as going into the second death. Once more this analysis sets out the “last enemy” as the Adamic death process operating in the “goats” because of their unruly heart’s condition – impregnated with sin, error and selfishness, which would actually do violence to the “sheep,” and probably will really do so with the Worthies by perhaps murdering them. It would appear that the “goats” will perish in exact manner as did Nadab and Abihu, when “there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them.” (Lev. 10:1-2)

JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES, TOO

In the August 15, 1967 Watch Tower the Witnesses also treat 1 Cor. 15:24, giving it the exact interpretation offered by RGJ in his August 1967 Present Truth – although in this instance the Witnesses simply present their views without calling others “sifting errorists,” etc., who may differ with them. However, the Witnesses are em­phatic that they are “The Channel” for the Truth – the same claim that is made also by “cousin” Krewson. Therefore, RGJ has two “Channels” in full agreement with him, and he should be able to answer our views with greater ease, now having the assistance of these two great “Mouthpieces.”

A SOBER APPRAISAL

In closing, we would say to our readers that we do not consider an incorrect under­standing of 1 Cor. 15:24 to be a sifting error. Such a mistake will not cause any one to lose his Class standing – anymore than would the improper date for the Memorial cause any one to lose his Class standing. A few years back, when we were diligently endeavoring to present the correct method to determine the Memorial date – to keep it as a Spring festival, as the Jews have always done with their Passover the “cousins” (Jolly-Krewson) offered much ridicule in their attacks against us. However, at no time did we suggest dire consequences for them – or for any one else – who did not agree with us; nor did we recommend disfellowshiping any one because of it. That is also our attitude on 1 Cor. 15:24. Not so, however, with RGJ! He, true to his past record ­“loquacious, repetitious and false accusing” (E-10:591) – is profuse in his name-calling: “sifting errorist – sifting literature – from Satan.” Brother Russell and Brother John­son were never forced to stoop to such tactics. Almost invariably, during this Epi­phany period, when intricate texts have come under examination, the real sifters never have the Truth on them – the Lord does not show them such favor. (See 2 Thes. 2:11 ­Berean Comment)

Although we feel none of us are warranted in disfellowshiping others because of a differing opinion on either of the above subjects, nevertheless we, as Truth people, should seek to know the Truth on every Bible passage, and particularly on such teach­ings as prominent as are “the last enemy” and the correct Memorial date. It is for this reason we go into quite some detail to offer the Truth on these teachings, believing that by so doing it will enable our readers to grow in Grace and in the knowledge of our Beloved Lord Jesus. Our fond wish to all on these, and on all Truth matters, is that “thou mayest prosper, and be in health” – Spiritually and physically – “even as thy soul prospereth.” (3 John 2)

Sincerely your Brother,

John J. Hoefle, Pilgrim

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THE THOUSAND-YEAR REIGN

The Sept-Oct. 1969 PT has prompted us to reproduce our paper No. 148 as above set out. Further comment, however, is apropos: On p. 78, col. 1, second-last paragraph, RGJ says, “we have from Scriptures, reason and facts thoroughly refuted the ‘sophistry’ of the teaching respecting the saints’ reign,” etc. The citations he offers in support of his contention are found in P 156, 30-32 and P ‘57, 9-11 – his own writings. Espec­ially on p. 10, col. 2, of the latter does he lay great stress upon “the end” of 1 Cor. 15:24 in his attempt to refute our own writings on this subject, saying that this “end” is 2874 – “and immediately thereafter comes the Little Season.”

In E-17:124 Brother Johnson says, “Then cometh the end (the end of the Little Sea­son),” which statement, if accepted as it stands completely annihilates RGJ’s position. To get around this, he claims a ‘faulty disc’ was misread – that the statement should read, “The end is the Little Season.” However, this same statement is to be found else­where, so there must have been more than one ‘faulty disc’ if RGJ’s conclusion is the truth. We quote: “For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death (thus we see that not only persons are these enemies, but also things. The Adamic death in the sense of the dying process is this last great enemy; and, because of His faithfulness, Jesus became the One who will after the close of the Millennium finally destroy it).” Note well, “after the Millennium” ­that is, during the Little Season.” Thus, RGJ’s ‘faulty’ disc is clearly revealed as nothing more than a flimsy fabrication – walking in the footsteps of typical King Saul in his endeavor to falsify his way out of an embarrassing situation.

However, in the above reprint, issued over two years ago, we gave his contention such a crushing refutation that he has not dared even mention 1 Cor. 15:24 in his writ­ings since that time – although in answer to a question on 1 Cor. 15:24 at one of his Con­vention Question Meetings, he agreed with us. Yet he is now brazen enough again to falsify that he “thoroughly refuted” us. This is a claim that both “cousins” often make, with just nothing to support their claims. Perhaps they think by “much speaking” they will sway “the unstable and the unlearned.” But viewed from God’s standpoint, and His Word, they are “words to no profit.”

Therefore, we once more direct the attention of our readers to Brother Johnson’s record of RGJ in E-10:585, to the effect that he has “a bad conscience”; and all of us know that one of the chief things that makes for a “bad conscience” in people is that they are chronic falsifiers; they readily resort to falsehood whenever it suits their convenience. And this has been RGJ’s course on numerous occasions. Nor should we be surprised at this, because Lev. 16:8 (margin) says the one goat was to be “for Azazel.” Azazel is just another name for the Devil, and Jesus tells us that the Devil is “the father of lies” (John 8:44). Thus, it is “only logical” here to conclude that those in his clutches – as all crown-losers are at one time or another – would resort to his lying tactics, as is now being done in this Sept.-Oct. PT. Please see Isa. 59:13 and Prov. 6:18. No one will be able to falsify himself into the Kingdom Class, even if they do gain temporary advantage now in this “present evil world.”

This malevolence of character is so strikingly shown in King Saul (type of the crown-lost leaders up to Armageddon). He readily resorted to falsehood when Samuel con­fronted him with his “rebellion” and “stubbornness.” Said Saul: “I have performed the commandment of the Lord,” which statement was just a raw falsehood. (1 Sam. 15:13) He later stressed the falsehood: “Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the Lord” (v. 20); but under the stern and unyielding pressure of Samuel, he was forced to admit, “I have sinned.” (v. 24) If this type is carried out in minute detail, we may take some present consola­tion in the anticipation that these falsifying crown-lost leaders will eventually come to admit their guilt in their sins of teachings and practice – although it will take force and pressure. For now, our counsel to RGJ and all his kinsmen would be to take heed to the Scripture: “Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.” (Psalms 32:9)

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LETTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST

Epiphany Bible Students Association

Mount Dora, Florida

Gentlemen:

July 14 I led the worship for the memorial service of Mr. and Mrs. ------- of ------- They were killed in an auto accident. Shortly after the funeral the family received two copies of “The Herald of the Epiphany.” The titles were “What is the Soul?” and “Where Are the Dead?”

I deeply wish to believe your intentions were to be helpful to this family in this deep loss. Please be assured, however, this was not the result. During such a time per­sons do not need the kind of material you send. To “take advantage” of such a situation is both sadistic and foreign to the God who loves and cares. The result of your litera­ture has been to anger and harden an already difficult situation.

If your type of ministry is needed at all it is not in this area. There are many areas of vital need – it is most unfortunate you have not chosen more carefully. I ser­iously hope your efforts will be directed into a more understanding and effective ministry.

Sincerely,

Pastor of First Baptist Church (Florida)

Our answer:

Dear Pastor ------- : Christian greetings!

This is in response to your letter of August 22, in which you characterize our efforts to preach “the good word of God” as “sadistic.” In those papers the Hebrew word “sheol” and the Greek word “hades” are analyzed to reveal the state of the dead; but it seems you are not only ignorant of the meaning of those words (which are synony­mous with each other), but you are even now unable to grasp their meaning after they are clearly explained to you. I admit it disturbs me that a supposedly educated man – such as you appear to be – cannot comprehend my presentation. But you are the first one to present that problem.

Jesus said, “Ye shall know the Truth, and the Truth shall make you free.” But for preaching the Truth the Scribes and Pharisees (the preachers of that time) placed Him on the cross. Later, however, St. Peter explained: “I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.” (Acts 3:17) This same generous consideration I now extend you.

It may interest you to know we have some Baptist ministers on our mailing list, a gratuitous courtesy they receive at their own request. Apparently these men did not at­tend the same school you did. It would rather seem that you still cling to the Dark-­Age belief that the unsaved persons of this and past Ages must endure eternal torment in the “Lake of Fire”; and you are presumably disturbed that we here see something much better in store for them – “Good Tidings of Great Joy, which shall be to all people,” as taught In the Scriptures.

If you are in this vicinity any time (1901 Morningside Drive), I would welcome a visit with you. You may be assured of a Christian reception – “without partiality and without hypocrisy.” I am persuaded you will not find anything “sadistic” about me or any of my assistants, all of whom give their services without consideration of “filthy lucre.” Thus, none of us are actuated by selfish motives.

Yours in the Master’s service,

John J. Hoefle

Executive Director

PS – Enclosed is my paper – “Two Distinct Salvations” – which is in keeping with Acts 24:15: “There shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust.” This paper complements the two you already have, and I am interested to know if you con­sider this “sadistic,” too.

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Dear Bro. Hoefle: Grace and peace in the Lord!

I was at Manchester for the Hyde Convention. I wrote Bro. Jolly and told him the Tabernacle shows that consecration in the Gospel Age is to death. Any in Camp must come into the court, which the Bible shows. I told him Camp consecration is to life and in the next Age. The Kingdom is to the Jew first. The Ancient and Youthful Worthies will be back for the purpose of the New Covenant. I think it did some good, for I said you worked with Brothers Russell and Johnson, and you want to pray to see things right for the Truth. God does not make Truth to fit our plans, but His.

At the Convention no one said anything about Camp consecration. The first day I had a talk with Brother ....... about Camp consecration. This was at tea time. After they all saw this they kept away from me. I had to sit by myself most of the time...

Christian love to you both.    Yours by His Grace ------- (ENGLAND)

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Dear Brother & Sister Hoefle:

Christian love and greetings in the name of our Redeemer!

Received your letter and appreciated it very much. Don’t know whether I mentioned it to you, but I had a light stroke in my left sight ....... But we are trusting in the dear Lord. Hymn 94.

There are several groups of Bible Students here, including Dawnites. They have a Bible Study, claiming that the Authorities do not allow them to have one in the “Volumes.” How wonderful would it be for all to abandon their partisan ideas and instead unite their efforts to uphold the Lord’s Truth as given to us through our dear Lord’s own choice – our dear Brother Russell. If Brother Paul were here today he would use the same rebuke (and even stronger to the various divisions (carnal) of Bible Students as he did to the Corinthian brethren (1 Cor. 1:10-13). Don’t you think so?

We are thankful to the Lord that we have been kept by His Grace (Manna Jan. 1), and striving to defend it to the best of our ability (without mixing any one else’ ideas).

Trusting this finds you both, dear Brother and Sister, rejoicing in our blessed Hope. Please convey our warm Christian love to all the dear brethren in the dear Class ­holding a good measure for yourselves.

In the One Hope by His Grace, Bro. & Sr. ------- (GREECE)

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Epiphany Bible Students Ass’n

Please send me free copies of “Where Are the Dead” and “The Resurrection of the Dead.” Thank you!

------- (PENNSYLVANIA)

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ADDENDA TO NO. 174

MORE ON THE-SEPT-OCT. 1969 PRESENT TRUTH

 On pp. 66-76 the above paper carries an article on Habakkuk, which is mostly an excellent presentation, because it is mainly by Brother Johnson; but it seems almost impossible for RGJ to handle the writings of either Brother Russell or Brother Johnson without injecting some of his errors into them. That is his responsibility, of course, and he can expect to reap the rewards of his sowing – as will also all those who en­courage him in his evil ways.

As a case in point, we mention p. 72, col. 2, par. 1: “It is only logical to expect that he (Brother Johnson), a prominent member of the Little Flock, would have the honor of being the last Little Flock member to leave the earth.” We offer the ob­servation here that what is “only logical” to a mind such as RGJ has may be errant non­sense to other minds. It should be noted that Brother Johnson told us that when these crown-losers fall into the hands of Azazel they talk all sorts of nonsense. Therefore, it behooves us to be wary of any “logical” statements that may come from them. People who talk nonsense are apt to be very illogical; thus, the words of Solomon, “in all thy getting, get understanding.”

 As all of our readers know, Moses led Israel from Egypt (type of the world in sin) to Canaan (typing for Gospel-Age purposes the sphere of the Truth and the Spirit of the Truth, and in the larger sense a type of the Heavenly Canaan). In that journey Israel typed the Gospel-Age spiritual Israel as they have journeyed from antitypical Egypt to antitypical Canaan; and Moses as their leader typed the Star Members (the leaders) who have led spiritual Israel in their Gospel-Age journey. Who of us would question that Brother Russell was not such a leader! He was as much in command of the Harvest work and the Lord’s “good soldier” as was any general who ever lived at the head of his army. But Moses did not lead Israel over Jordan into Canaan; it was Josh­ua who did this; and Joshua was not of the Tribe of Levi, he was of the Tribe of Eph­raim. Thus, for the first time since leaving Egypt Israel was under the command of one not of the Tribe of Levi; and be it noted that it was Joshua who commanded the priests and all the people in every minute detail of that crossing. “Joshua spake unto the priests, saying, Take up the ark of the covenant, and pass over before the people. And they took up the ark of the covenant, and went before the people.? (Joshua 3:6) There­fore, when a Levite in Azazel’s clutches tells us it is “only logical” that a Star Mem­ber would be “the last Little Flock member to leave the earth,” we would reply that here in Joshua is a very clear Scripture that shows us how illogical is such a conclu­sion.

DUE TRUTH FOR ALL GOD’S CONSECRATED PEOPLE

On p. 78, col. 2, bottom par., there is this statement: “The Scriptures teach that for all times the due Truth is for all God’s consecrated people to discern, by the aid of His Holy Spirit.” This is another “logical” conclusion that is shallow in the very extreme; and is directly contradicted by Volume E-4, p. 129: “Whatever the Lord may give during the Epiphany for the priests alone will be for them alone.” But, lest we lean too much on Brother Johnson, let us ask: During the Parousia did “all God’s consecrated people” discern the due Truth? It may be argued that the Six Volumes of Scripture Studies were for them; but those volumes were also available to all Christen­dom. Yet we know that the vast majority of the people never read them at all; and, of those who did, many violently opposed them. The great bulk of crown-losers in Big Baby­lon did not “discern the due Truth by the aid of His Holy Spirit.”

 And we inquire further, Did “all God’s consecrated people” discern the due Truth in the Epiphany? We know they did not, for many of the Little Flock in the various groups would have no part of the Epiphany writings, believing as they did that their writer was In the second death.

But harking back to the Philadelphia epoch, did any one of the saints there dis­cern all the due Truth? We all know they did not, as they were scattered throughout the sects of Christendom, and often in extreme opposition to each other. We may carry this point even further, and say that the Star Members themselves did not discern nearly all the due Truth of their time. Martin Luther, hero of the Reformation, gave very determined opposition to the Truth on the Lord’s Supper as presented by Zwingli, although the latter made a special visit to him to discuss that and other truths. and what about Calvin and Servetus? Calvin was so much in opposition to the due Truth that there is but one God that he actually had Servetus burned at the stake, as he proceeded on his way nursing his error on the Trinity and absolute predestination. For one capa­ble of perpetrating the horrible crime that Calvin committed it is “only logical” that the Lord would not favor him with the due Truth.

Our position here is further corroborated by the parable of the “unprofitable ser­vant” (the Great Company class – see Berean comment on Matt. 25:30). We are told that his punishment was to be “cast into outer darkness” – error. It is impossible to be cast into error, and be blessed with the due Truth at the same time – although such trans­parent nonsense seems “only logical” to RGJ. Here is something more from E-13:41 that is exactly to the point:

“So far as the old truths were concerned, they (the Great Company) became increas­ingly unclear thereon, and so far as the advancing Truth in its blessing the part of the cleansed Sanctuary that was separate from Babylon was concerned, they were entirely blind.”

The foregoing had an exact duplication during the Epiphany with most of the Parou­sia crown-losers; and it is now becoming quite apparent with RGJ himself. In this con­nection, we quote further from E-7:277:

“With the organizational leaders of the Great Company deadness to self and the world and aliveness to God are not complete (Jas. 1:8). Their selfish propensities, especially exercised in self-will, grasping for power, lording it over God’s heritage, dividing the flock (as did RGJ immediately after Brother Johnson’s demise—JJH) and desiring to shine before others as able teachers and executives are so uncurbed by themselves, that not one of them alone can be trusted by the Lord with an unrestricted General Ministry.”

Does RGJ still accept that Epiphany Truth, or is this just one more instance for him where an old Truth is becoming increasingly unclear? During Brother Johnson’s life – especially before RGJ was a manifested crown-loser – we heard RGJ stress this important truth. Will he now give us his present understanding of it? Of course, in all of this he is treading the identical footsteps of That Evil Servant, of whom Brother Johnson wrote the following in E-6:377:

“Almost never does he allude to or quote a passage in an article on his pet views but he corrupts its sense. Yet he says he has not changed our Pastor’s teachings, has only clarified them.”

 Almost the exact words RGJ uses when he injects errors into Parousia or Epiphany writings!

“UNPROFITABLE SERVANT...... OUTER DARKNESS”

On Oct. 31–Nov. 2 we attended the Chicago Convention of the LHMM – with much the same experience as in times past. RGJ had his usual “profusion of words” in the Ques­tion Meeting. Some one – apparently charitably inclined – asked if the “sifters” might be wrong in the head, but still have a good heart – believe they were serving God. He proceeded to explain that we cannot read the heart, and that one sifter – apparently influenced by his wife, somewhat after the manner that Jezebel stirred up Ahab – had made the statement that he wondered if he was doing right in his oppositional activities. As usual, he did not have the courage to mention any name, so no one can be certain of whom he spoke. Of course, he and others there knew that many there would believe he referred to us; but we wish to make it very clear to all that we never offered such a statement. He is ever ready to present a new “Grimm’s Fairy Tale,” as was his habit dur­the Parousia (See his letter in the Nov. 15, 1910 Watch Tower); and anything he says must be tempered with that knowledge. He also compared us to Judas.

Another question: Bro. Johnson teaches all Great Company members must be fully abandoned to Azazel before they can be cleansed – and that all brotherly fellowship must be withdrawn before they can be fully abandoned. At what time were you and other Great Company members in the Epiphany Movement fully abandoned to Azazel? He gave no answer at all as to when they were abandoned, although he attempted to explain that the abandonment was only the abandonment of the humanity. He never attempted to cite the teachings of the Epiphany Messenger on the abandonment process as given in E-4:210, E-15:525, and many other places – nor did he cite any references to Brother Russell’s teaching. Be it noted, that none of the Great Company members in the LHMM were fully abandoned to Azazel during Brother Johnson’s life, because all those who remained with him continued to receive brotherly fellowship and help from him, even after they were manifested crown-losers and all priestly fellowship had been withdrawn from them. Also note, that when they are fully abandoned all brotherly fellowship and favor of the priesthood are withdrawn from them – they are left to their own devices – much the same as J. F. Rutherford was some time after Brother Russell’s death when he got full control of the Society, and true of RGJ after the Epiphany Messenger’s death and he got full control of the LHMM. He had no restraining hand upon him then, although his fleshly mind had not been destroyed. He offered the inane remark that we don’t need to care about our humanity, because it is to be de­stroyed; so we now offer the question: With what would he or any of his kinsmen have to make an “offering in righteousness” after they are cleansed if all their humanity is de­stroyed?

 He stated also that the questioner was confused, having failed to differentiate be­tween the humanity and the new creature of such crown-losers. We have always understood that the difference between the Little Flock and the Great Company is the Great Company’s double mind (fleshly) and the single mind of the Little Flock. Clearly enough, from the expression on his face, and the jumbled manner of his answer, he was the one confused, as he resorted again to his usual “profusion of words” to no profit – some of which no doubt caused even some of his most partisan supporters embarrassment – that is, if they have re­tained even a smattering of the faithful teachings given us by the Epiphany Messenger. One simple question here should suffice: When the Corinthians “delivered such an one unto Satan” (1 Cor. 5:1-5), did they cast his humanity from their midst, or his new creature, or both? While it is true that “the destruction of the flesh” (fleshly mind) must par­tially include the destruction of the humanity while they are being “buffeted by Azazel,” yet this is only partial. If the destruction of their humanity were complete before their fleshly mind is completely destroyed, there would no longer be a way for them to make an “offering in righteousness” to the Lord. The very purpose of the abandonment is to destroy their fleshly minds – their double minds (James 1:8); and we hope to make it indisputably clear in our subsequent remarks that this cleansing has not yet occurred with RGJ – in fact, if he spoke what he really believes, then he does not yet know what the abandon­ment process is – which is in harmony with Brother Johnson’s teachings of that Class, that none of them fully know the methods which the Lord uses on them while in their uncleansed condition.

Then this question: If tentative justification is available in the Camp, does it mean consecration is available for all mankind in the Camp now before the Kingdom is established and the New Covenant inaugurated? To this he replied, It doesn’t mean that. at all! The questioner has lost sight of the fact that only the tentatively justified can consecrate. The Heathen and Mohammedans can’t consecrate. To this we would add a simple question of our own: Since when are the Heathen and the Mohammedans in the Camp? Even the merest babe in the Truth knows that the Camp types Christendom – the nominal rebellious people of God – and in the finished picture of the Epiphany, the repentant and believing, but unconsecrated, Jews and Gentiles. These people have not been sufficiently strong enough to come into the Court – the only place either Messenger ever taught for any kind of justification in this faith Age – and to do “that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.” (Rom. 12:1-3) Also see RGJ’s letter in E-6:166/168, which is the correct teaching on Tentative Justification. This was while he was under the benign in­fluence and restraining hand of the Epiphany Messenger.

Also this: Is there enough material on hand for the 21 volumes promised by Brother Johnson? Here again he said the questioner was confused – that Bro. Johnson never said there would be 21 volumes. He expected 21 or the equivalent; he has done this. Here is what Brother Johnson said in the 1950 PT, P. 10-11: “As we stated in the Nov. 1949 Truth, p. 175, we trust, D.v., to publish perhaps three more of the last seven Epiphany Studies in the Scriptures in 1950, if the necessary funds come to hand... However, we have full assurance of faith that the Lord will enable us to complete the writing of the rest of the 21 volumes. The last two of these 21 volumes, D.v., will be on the book of Reve­lation (practically every part of which is now clear to us).”

Is RGJ’s mind so befuddled by Azazel that he would unwittingly make such a false statement, or is he willfully making this false statement as a cover-up for his errors? If our readers will refer to the last page of Vol. 15, they will find that all six of these unpublished volumes are listed: Vol. 16 – Genesis – Leviticus – Deuteronomy; Vol. 17 Numbers, Vol. 2; Vol. 18 – The Chart of God’s Plan; Vol. 19 – The Millennium; Vol. 20 Revelation, Vol. 1; Vol. 21 – Revelation, Vol. 2. When RGJ produced Vols. 16 & 17, they were The Chart of God’s Plan and the Millennium – although he did not list other unpub­lished volumes as did the Epiphany Messenger in Volume 15. It is clear enough, however, to all who are familiar with Brother Johnson’s writings, that RGJ has been using much of the material left on Genesis, Numbers and Deuteronomy for articles in his Present Truth –although with his errors injected in places to support his “new light.” This “sleight-of-­hand” may fool the “unstable and the unlearned”; but we may be quite sure that “God is not mocked” by this chicanery.

One other question: “Cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness.” (Matt. 25:30). Who is the unprofitable servant and what is the outer darkness? RGJ was quick to respond that the unprofitable servant were those who denied the Ransom or the sin-offering; and that the ‘outer darkness’ was the second death for them. Note now the clear logic of Brother Russell in the Berean Comment: “Unprofitable servant...The Great Company class. The Lord does not deny that he is a servant, nor does he charge him with being an enemy.” And note also how clearly Brother Russell defines the outer darkness (error) in the comments on 2 Thes. 2:11: “Giving them over to error, which they prefer to the Truth.... Great delusions are just before us, and some of these may come closest upon those possessing the most light of Present Truth.” Certainly, RGJ was indeed favored with the Parousia and Epiphany Truth (the most light of Present Truth); and his answers to these and other questions at that Chicago meeting clearly reveal that he is now flound­ering around in “outer darkness,” as the Lord had predicted of the “unprofitable servant” the crown-losers. We enumerate just a few of these where he has either perverted, or gone completely into outer darkness:

(1) He is now in “outer darkness” on the Abandonment process as given in E Vols. 4 and 15; rejects almost completely the Truth as given by the Epiphany Messenger; (2) “outer darkness” on the Camp when he attempts to put the heathen into it; (3) “outer darkness” on the Epiphany Camp in the finished picture as given in E-10:209, where Bro. Johnson says it will contain the “repentant and believing, but not consecrated”; he is now putting his consecrated into the Epiphany Camp; (4) “outer darkness” on the resur­rection of the Just; (5) “outer darkness” on the Tabernacle Court as the only place for justification in this Faith Age; (6) “outer darkness” on OUTER DARKNESS being error, as manifested by his comments at Chicago.

NO. 173: LAST SAINT - PART TWO (CONTINUED FROM NO. 167)

No. 173

Next we analyze Eph, 4:11-13. The five classes of servants here named – the twelve Apostles, the Prophets (49 Star Members), the Evangelists, Shepherds and teach­ers – for the work of the ministry, etc., are given to the Church for two specific reasons: (1) “Till we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, (2) to a full grown man, to the measure of the full stature of the Anointed Ones.” (Dia.) So we ask first, What is meant by “the unity of-the faith”? If any are inclined to believe it means understanding the entire Bible, then we must admit that Brother Russell and Brother Johnson never came to the ‘unity of the faith,’ because they freely admitted they did not understand the entire Bible – nor does any one else yet understand it, so far as we know. But, if we define “unity of the faith” to be a clear and harmonious understanding of the “ten strings of the Harp of God,” then we must conclude Brother Russell and all who came into, and clearly understood Harvest Present Truth indeed came to “unity of the faith.”

That this is the position God wishes His people now to accept is shown in Isa. 52:8, “Thy watchmen.... shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion.” Note Berean Comments on this: “In the harvest of the Gospel Age, Clearly, Harmoniously.” It was Brother Russell’s Stewardship Doctrine centering about Restitution that brought “unity of the faith” for the first time in history to God’s people as a collective group. It is true that St. Peter preached Restitution (Acts 3:19-23); and it is true that St. Paul was “caught up into Paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter” (2 Cor. 12:4); but it is also true that the General Church of that time had not come to the “unity of the faith,” had not come to a clear understanding of Restitution. Note the Berean Comments on verse 4: “unspeakable words” (the message of Present Truth) – “it is not lawful” (because not yet due). Thus, Brother Russell is in agreement that, though St. Paul himself may have arrived at “unity of the faith,” he made no attempt to convey that knowledge to the General Church then. In support of this, note 2 Tim. 2:18, where some were “saying that the resur­rection is past already”; also 1 Cor. 4:8, where some apparently thought they were al­ready “reigning” (as Papacy claimed). Certainly, in these two instances there could have been no clear concept of Restitution – no “unity of the faith.”

This “unity of the faith” may be summarized tersely as a general good understand­ing by all in the Parousia movement of the Great Plan of the Ages, involving the Two Salvations – for the Elect and the Non-elect – described in Rev. 15:3 as “the Song of Moses and the Lamb.” All who accepted Harvest Truth were reasonably clear on this much of the Truth, the same being true also of the Truth section of the crown-losers (not then manifested), of the tentatively justified and true even of the “mixed multi­tude” who liked the Truth, but not sufficiently enough to give themselves wholeheart­edly to its practice and spread. Such a situation had never before existed In the Gos­pel Age.

Therefore, a “Prophet” (a Star Member – Brother Russell) did accomplish the first of the two purposes for which the servants of the Church were appointed – “till we all attain to the unity of the Faith.” And we in Epiphany Truth believe he also accomplished the second of these purposes – “the measure of the full stature of the anointed one.” When the last one was begotten of the spirit in September 1914 – when they had all come to antitypical Mount Horeb – there also for the first time was reached “the full stature of the anointed one” In that the Body was then fully and irrevocably complete unto that unity which “every joint supplieth, to the effectual working in the measure of every part.” (Eph. 4:16) And, be it noted that once the “unity of the faith” and the “full stature” had been reached, neither Brother Johnson nor a hundred more Star Members could add one Iota to that “full stature.” Therefore, when it be argued that Eph. 4:11-13 teaches a Star Member must be the final Saint, we answer there is nothing in this text to support that contention; all the requirements of the text were met by the time Brother Russell finished his ministry.

We remind our readers that the large majority of the Saints received no personal ministry from a Star Member after Brother Russell’s death, as Brother Johnson himself so freely and often admitted. However, those who attached themselves to Brother Johnson did receive growth in knowledge, and opportunities of service, not given to those in the various Truth groups; but it did no more for them than just that – they all maintained their place in the completed Christ regardless of their locale of activity. The Little Flock developing Truths were all presented and cleansed of all error by October 1914; all the Saints had come into Present Truth by Passover 1916 – which then brought them all Into “unity of the faith,” although they were not then, or by October 1916, or at any time on earth thereafter, endowed with the same degree of knowledge. It is well to note here, too, that the composite Body members never at any time after 1916 reached a “unity of the faith” in the least comparable with that “unity” which they had under Brother Rus­sell. After Brother Russell’s death, and the resultant confusion, they no longer men­tioned “unity” of purpose insofar as their work was concerned. Instead, they once more went into a “dis”-unity of the faith.

SOME PERTINENT TYPES

We now proceed to a consideration of the Zechariah type of 2 Chron. 24:20, 21. Zechariah was High Priest in Israel; therefore, he was a link in the continuation of a Tabernacle type – and it should be emphasized at this point that every type pertinent to the Tabernacle service had to continue until its antitype appeared. This was true of all the Aaronic types that centered in the Tabernacle – chief of which was the office of High Priest. In the strict sense, Israel had only one High Priest – just as Spiritual Israel has only one “Apostle and high priest of our profession” (Heb. 3:1). Aaron was the only High Priest directly called of God and directly anointed into the Priest’s office by God through Moses (Ex. 29:7) – just as Jesus was the only one selected to fill His office, and – “no man taketh this honor unto himself, but he that is called of God as was Aaron” (Heb. 5:4,5). All the High Priests that followed Aaron came to that office by sucession, as a matter of birth – just as the ruling monarchs of England reach their position as a matter of birth. Thus, some of them were weak – as was Eli; and some were sinful – as was Caiaphas. But all of them were probably reasonably accurate in their performance of the Atonement-Day service and similar ceremonies; and, so far as we can recall, none of them ever lost their priestly anointing – the type continued unbroken until the antitype appeared; none of them ever died for improper “sprinkling of the blood” on the Atone­ment Day each year.

It should be observed, too, that the Aaronic Priesthood was the only all-inclusive type of the Gospel-Age Priesthood. All other types pertinent to the Christ had certain limitations – lacked some one or more of the features to be found in the Aaronic order. And just as Aaron was the special eye, hand and mouth of Moses (Ex. 4:10,17; 7:1) – Moses typing Christ – so also was each priest that followed Aaron the special eye, hand and mouth of God in Israel. (See Berean Comments on Jn. 18:13) Reasoning back from the anti­type, had any High Priest violated his anointing, he would have been forever rejected from the priesthood, just as all who lose their priestly anointing in the Gospel Age are barred forever from returning to that office, or of exercising the powers of that office. Los­ing their anointing is identical to losing their crowns; and any who attempt to exer­cise the office of eye, hand and mouth of the Lord, once they lose their priestly anoint­ing, would simply be power-graspers of the worst order. We present this detail to demon­strate the extreme folly of any crown-loser who would attempt to set himself up as Pastor and Teacher before the Lord – especially one who has been schooled in Epiphany Truth, and admits he is a crown-loser. Saul typed the crown-lost leaders up to Armageddon; and once Saul had been rejected by the Lord, “the Lord answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by urim, nor by prophets.” (1 Sam. 28:6)

It is stated Zechariah was “stoned in the court of the house of the Lord”; and Jesus said this occurred “between the temple and the altar” (Matt. 23:35). Certainly, this addition by Jesus was not without purpose. We know the brazen altar in the court types the humanity of the entire Church. And Zechariah was slain between the altar and the temple. Thus, while it is logical enough to conclude that Zechariah types the last eye, mouth and hand (the last Star Member of the Church), it is clear enough from this type that he would pass from the picture while some were still in the sacrificing condition (the brazen altar), with others already in the glorified state (Solomon’s Temple). Therefore, instead of this type proving antitypical Zechariah would be the last Saint, it proves just the reverse – that there would still be some sacrificing Saints after he had gone. It proves also, that those Saints remaining after antitypical Zechariah’s death would never again be served by a special eye, hand and mouth – that God would “supply all their needs” through other sources by His Word and Providences.

In support of this conclusion, we have Brother Johnson’s analysis of Rev. 19:1,2, as given in E-3:132-134. In vs. 1 it is stated John “heard a great crowd in Heaven”; and the words in verse 6 are substantially the same – “heard the voice of a great crowd.” Brother Johnson says verses 1 and 2 refer to the Great Company in the Society smiting Jordan the second time; and at the bottom of page 133 he says: “Whenever John is said to hear this or that the reference always is to the things transpiring at the time of hearing.” Then on page 134: “Therefore, the John Class hears the message of the Great Company delivered while the Little Flock is yet in the flesh” (emphasis by Brother John­son). Either Brother Johnson is wrong in his analysis of verses 1 and 2; or others are wrong in their conclusions re verses 6-9. John “heard” the message of the Great Company in verses 6-9. Therefore, both messages must occur while the John Class is in the flesh if we accept Brother Johnson’s teaching on this. Let us emphasize, too, that Brother Russell and Brother Johnson both taught that this message would be delivered by the “great crown” after Babylon’s fall. (See Berean Comment)

It is well to keep in mind here, too, that the Apostle John was on the Isle of Pat­mos, where he received the entire vision of Revelation. Patmos means ‘suffering, mor­tal’ and is used to symbolize the suffering and mortal condition in which the Church lives while in the flesh. In the January 1950 Present Truth Brother Johnson said that just about the entire book of Revelation had become clear to him that he intended to give us that book in the near future. This he was unable to do his death preventing it. But where are the notes he left on that Interesting book? We are painfully forced to con­clude that they have been craftily concealed by some one – or perhaps through a conspiracy of more than one. And what would be the motive for such concealment? Here again we are forced to conclude that the publication of those notes would annihilate the present con­tention that there are no more saints on earth. We know of our own knowledge that great pressure has been brought to bear on those who were with Brother Johnson during the final months of his Illness to refuse to discuss this subject of the Revelation and Brother Johnson’s teachings on some of it; and some of them have grossly and brazenly told false­hoods about It. “This thing doth the Lord hate.... a lying tongue” (Prov. 6:17); so we need not expect the Lord’s favor to rest upon such persons.

Brother Johnson had believed that his would be a violent end; If he were to be the last Saint this would come logically enough. The first “righteous blood” to be shed oc­curred in the violent death of Abel; and the last “righteous blood” – specifically de­scribed as such by Jesus – came through the violent death of Zechariah. The last righteous blood actually to be shed violently in pre-Gospel-Age times was John the Baptist; and Brother Russell accepted that as a concluding type of the Gospel-Age priesthood in his belief that the last ones would come to a violent end. For Gospel-Age purposes the first righteous blood to be shed was that of Jesus – also violently poured out – just as St. Paul’s blood likewise was violently “poured out” (2 Tim. 4:6, Dia.). And the Scriptural teaching seems clear and indisputable that the last righteous blood of this Age would be violently poured out – as instance, 1 Thes. 4:17: “We which are alive shall be caught up together with them in the clouds.” Brother Johnson’s comment on this in E-6:581 follows:

“The anarchists will terribly persecute spiritual Israel, as indicated by Elijah’s whirlwind ascent, and by the last ones being ‘violently seized by clouds’ – the literal translation of the Greek rendered in the A.V. of 1 Thes. 4:17, ‘caught up in the clouds.’“

The foregoing is exceptionally clear; and cannot be explained away by a mere frac­tured type. Let RGJ – and all others who claim the Saints are no more – give their ex­planation of the above, in harmony with their present position.

Companion to the foregoing Is Brother Johnson’s statement in E-6:630 on Zech. 8:10 ­“The ‘no hire’ for man or beast of Zech. 8:10.... is to occur after the foundation of the church beyond the vail was laid, but before the glorified temple would be completed. Hence it evidently refers to the time of Anarchy after Armageddon.”

Here again is some more doctrine that must be discarded if the fractured type of Zechariah is to prevail. It will be noted that all the types we have presented support the doctrine; and Brother Russell stresses that “a type must not be used to teach a doctrine, but merely to illustrate one that is already taught In plain terms” (See Be­rean Topical Index, p. 25, top),

In further support of our statement that Zechariah could type the last Star Member, but not the last Saint, we offer the Moses type wherein he types the Star Members. Moses did not complete the march of Israel into Canaan, which shows clearly enough that it would not be a Star Member in the end of this Age who would complete the march of spiri­tual Israel into the Heavenly Canaan.

CONCERNING OCTOBER 22, 1950

Shortly after Brother Johnson’s interment the “proof” was produced in the Present Truth that the date October 22, 1950 was shown in the Pyramid; but the fact that the date 1950 is nowhere shown in the Bible is unanswerable proof against that date. Isa. 19:19, 20 states that “the altar to the lord in the midst of the land of Egypt.... is for a sign and a witness.” Thus, it should never be regarded as the source of truth and faith, as these are to be found in the Bible; the Pyramid can only be considered as a “witness” to such Bible Truth. Therefore, those who would ‘prove’ the 1950 date from the Pyramid are fundamentally on “sinking sand” before they start. (See E-4:463-464)

Companion to the above is Paul’s teaching in 2 Tim. 2:18, Dia.: “They missed the mark with respect to the Truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened; and they are perverting (Azazel means Perverter) the faith of some.” And as it was in the beginning of the Age, so we find the duplicate now: Some are now contending that the first resurrection is already past (completed), and are also perverting the faith of some, One error usually begets other error, and such has been the case here. It was the first important error to appear after Brother Johnson’s death, and it was but the be­ginning of many more to follow.

It is indeed a “coincidence” of no trifling sort that we have two sets of crown-­losers at the very beginning of the Gospel Age introducing into the true faith some re­volting errors that now find exact duplication here in the extreme end of the Age by two sets of crown-losers - these crown-losers playing such a prominent part, we cannot over­look them. Nor could St. Paul overlook those in his day. He uses some of his best sar­casm against the one group at Corinth who were contending the “Kingdom had already been established”: “Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us! and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you.” (1 Cor. 4:8) There is an exact duplication of that error now being promulgated by the Jehovah’s Witnesses, who also claim the reign is here, and that their “dedicated” adherents will go right through Armageddon and never see death. Note the Berean Comment on this text: “You imagine that somehow the reign of Christ is in progress.” Could more fitting de­scription of the Jehovah’s Witnesses be offered respecting this situation today? Their deluded followers “imagine that somehow the reign of Christ is in progress.”

The second set of crown-losers at the outset of the Age were advocating that the Resurrection was already past: “The word of Hymenaeus and Philetus doth eat as a can­ker.” (2 Tim. 2:16,18) The margin says, “doth eat as gangrene”; and the Diaglott says, “doth eat as a mortifying sore.” It would be difficult to find more acerbic words than these to define that error; and now in the extreme end of the Age we have another crown-­loser (a self-admitted crown-loser, who claims he is the chief of all crown-lost leaders, and he asserts there are no saints here to dispute his claim) – the Executive Trustee of the Laymen’s Home Missionary Movement – saying also, “that the (First) resurrection is now past already” (fully accomplished). Note also the Berean Comment on verse 17: “Forerunners of the Papacy.” Yes, history is indeed repeating itself in our very pres­ence! And once again we say, What a “coincidence”!

Much stress is also placed upon the Zechariah type by some; but the interpreta­tion certainly did not materialize as had been expected, so we quote once more from E-5:42 (40), respecting such interpretations:

“In all cases of unfulfilled types and prophecies we hold to our Pastor’s thought as the one along whose lines we look for their fulfillment’s. And as he in many cases rejected a former interpretation of a type or prophecy after its fulfillment proved that he misunderstood it, e.g., the deliverance of the Church, the restoration of Israel, the (complete) destruction of organized evil in the world and the establishment of the earthly phase of God’s kingdom at certain times; so only after a type or prophecy is fulfilled differently from his understanding, would we attempt to set aside his inter­pretation.... Like him, we do not believe him to have been infallible.”

And these are exactly our sentiments respecting Brother Johnson: We do not be­lieve him to have been infallible, so that, when the time has come and long since past concerning his predictions that did not materialize for 1954-56, we also look to other sources for the correct understanding of them.

Once more we stress Brother Johnson’s teaching that ONLY Revolutionism (the Sixth Slaughter-Weapon Man of Eze. 9:2) can be the touchstone to determine any one a crown-loser:

“It is revolutionism or its partisan support against the Truth and its arrange­ments, and ONLY revolutionism or its partisan support against the Truth and its arrange­ments, that manifests crown-losers as such..... We earnestly exhort the brethren to take heed to the thing that manifests Leviteship, and we earnestly caution them against making character blemishes the ground of declaring brethren to be Levites.... The Lord alone - the heart-searcher – is competent to give such a decision. We have no right to judge any one to Leviteship.” (E-4:132) If the foregoing is still PRESENT TRUTH ­and we do accept it as such – then those who point out crown-losers on any other basis are once more themselves revolutionizing against a clear Epiphany truth.

Be it noted here, however, that many in our day go to the other extreme and con­tend it is gross error to declare any one at all to be a crown-loser. This, they say, is “judging before the time.” Such contention is based upon mere sentiment, and noth­ing else, as evidence the clear statement of St. Paul in Heb. 4:12, Dia.: “The Word (the Truth) of God is living, and energetic, and more cutting than any two-edged-sword.. and is able to judge the thought and intentions of the heart.” According to the words of Jesus, “By their fruits you will discover them” (Dia.) This conclusion is true of all who come into the Household of Faith. Thus, 1 Jn. 5:16, Dia. says, “There is a sin unto death; I do not say that he should ask concerning that.” And the Berean Comment on this text states this: “Even­tually manifesting itself outwardly.” From these Scriptures and from Brother Russell’s statement – it is very evident that we are warranted in reach­ing certain conclusions from what we see physically and with the “eyes of understanding.” Note the Berean Comment on Matt. 7:16: “Some people, like thistles, are always scatter­ing seeds that cause trouble; false doctrines, evil surmisings, errors.” And “the pure in heart” are able to see this just as readily as they are able to see actual thistles growing about them.

A GENERAL RESUME

We present this analysis of The Last Saint for such as care to receive it; but we caution our readers against abusing those who do not agree with us. Such a course would simply place us in the same uncleansed condition as those who malign and denounce such as do believe our presentation; thus, our condition would be no better than theirs – a state to be devoutly avoided. We ourselves do not wish to come under the curse of Luke 17:1, 2: “It is impossible but that offenses will come: but woe unto him through whom they came! It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.” If others wish to in­cur this risk, that is their concern. However, we wish to emphasize that our thoughts herein deal only in generalities; we do not contend that all who say, “Lord, Lord,” will enter in. That is a matter between the Lord and the individual claimants – and we are content to leave it there. If any belie their claims by their “bad fruits” (by gross and persistent Revolutionism against Parousia or Epiphany Truth, or Arrangements), we shall be ready enough to conclude that such are crown-losers; but we shall be equally ready to observe the “good fruits” of those who still retain their saintly hopes. Nevertheless, it should be clearly understood that we here do not charge Revolutionism to any who have mistakenly classified themselves as crown-losers because of Levitical pressure and per­version after 1950, if they continued to maintain their integrity in a “good and honest heart.” As we said previously, mere opinion changes the status of no one – any more than the strong cryings and fears of Jesus in Gethsemane detracted one whit from His final destiny.

In this connection, we believe it well to note the striking similarity in the technique of Azazel from first to last of the Gospel Age. Jesus had said, “Simon, Simon, behold, the Adversary has asked for you, that he may sift you like wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith may not fail.” (Luke 22:31, Dia.) Here is a clear statement that Satan would attempt to destroy the Christ Company at its very out­set by snaring the one to whom was committed “the keys of the Kingdom.” And what was his modus operandi? Why, he used “a certain maid-servant” (Luke 22:56, Dia.) in his attempt to topple over and destroy Peter; but he failed because Jesus had specially prayed for him that his “faith fall not.” And in keeping with his attempt against the first members of the Christ Company at the beginning of the Age, he proceeded in identi­cal fashion at the end of the Age by using a “handmaid” (Joel 2:29) – a Great Company member – to “bruise the heel” of the Body in an effort to destroy the grand Plan of the Ages. This same “handmaid” is actually typed by a maid in his Pilgrim office under That Servant (which office he lost in the Epiphany when manifested a crown-loser):

“The foregoing fourteen brothers, the Sunday pilgrims, saw things of God’s plan through Brother Russell’s eyes..... and there were three other Sunday pilgrims scheduled on the Tower’s last page, who, however, were not members of the Bethel family, but resided at their own homes, the last two doing secular work week days, Bros. (1) Jolly, (2) Stevens and (3) Woodworth (three daughters).” (E:14-282)

All just happenstance, you think? Yes, Satan (Azazel) is a wile deceiver; and “we are not ignorant of his devices” (2 Cor. 2:11) “lest he should get an advantage of us.”

Perhaps it should be stressed here that the saints were directed very pointedly to the faithful course of the Ancient Worthies as an incentive for them to follow faithfully in their footsteps. (Heb. 12:1) And to that “great cloud of witnesses” enumerated by St. Paul in Hebrews 11 we today could add a second great cloud of witnesses, the same being the saints of this Gospel Age. They, too, have been “examples of the believers,” models for us all to emulate. But, is there any such exhortation anywhere in the Scrip­tures that we should follow the steps of crown-losers? Does the Bible anywhere tell us we should emulate the course of Israel’s King Saul? At the present time there is but one leader in any of the groups who openly admits he did go the way of Saul, that he is no longer in that Elect Company of the “more than conquerors.” Would he advise any one even his pseudo Campers Consecrated – to follow the same course he did? It is sage worldly wisdom that we should seek counsel on any facet of finance, science, economics, etc., from those who have made a success in their respective endeavors, and not from those who have made shipwreck of their chosen occupation. This would be equally true with respect to matters pertaining to the Truth. The race isn’t always to the swift, but that’s the place to look for it; nor has total victory always been attained by the Saints, but that’s the place to look for it!

We offer here one more quotation from Brother Johnson (E-8:706): “The end of the Epiphany will end the Priestly part of the journey (from antitypical Sinai to Paran).” Is RGJ now contending that the Epiphany ended in 1950, or is this just one more Epiphany teaching against which he is revolutionizing?

May the Spirit of Grace and understanding abide with each one; may each be blessed with that “wisdom from above, which is without partiality, and without hypocrisy.”

Sincerely your brother,

John H. Hoefle, Pilgrim

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LETTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST

Gentlemen:

Each month I read your magazines. They give inspiring and spiritual informa­tion on various texts. I first got acquainted with your literature when I found one of your “Herald of the Epiphany” in a bus here. I picked it up, and to my amazement it contained various profound answers to many questions. Thank you for forwarding me your magazine.

Please may I have a copy of each of the seven booklets: (1) Where are the Dead? (2) What is the Soul? (3) The Resurrection of the Dead, (4) The Three Babylons, (5) Two Distinct Salvations, (6) God’s Great Sabbath Day, and (7) The Great Reformer.

Thank you and may God bless you richly!

       Sincerely yours ------- (CALIFORNIA)

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Dear Brother Hoefle: Loving Christian Greetings in Jesus’ dear Name!

Please excuse me for waiting so long before writing. All is quite good here. I have had one of those sorts of flue-type colds, but am pretty well recovered by now. I enjoyed the August paper – also I was noticing in Present Truth, June 1, 1945, page 96 (answer to 2nd question, page 95) Brother Johnson speaks of faith justified (after their faith justification lapses at extreme end of Age) being remanded to the Camp. Also page 182 and top page 183, E. Volume 11 is good. You may have noted this. I just send them along as I notice them.

I hope you are all well. Please remember me to Sister Hoefle (Thank you, Sister, for your nice note at end of letter) – also to Sister Moynelo (and I hope she is more recovered from her operation) and Sister Dunnagan.

With Christian love to you all from

Your sister by faith ------- (CALIFORNIA)

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Dear Brother Hoefle: Grace and peace be multiplied!

Your good letter is received, and as always we are very glad to hear from you. Indeed we are very glad to be able to help in the great work in which we are engaged. It is truly the Lord’s work, as you have stated.

As we have said before, your monthly letters are so good, so encouraging and strengthening, and stimulating to Holiness. You say so much in a few lines that is so helpful, and it means so much to us. We are truly with you, dear Brother Hoefle, in your every effort to serve the dear Lord and the brethren. And be assured of our prayers on your behalf, that God will give you the strength to carry on this great and good work. Thank you very much for the contribution to the paper you are prepar­ing. I feel very honored. We thought that statement by our dear Pastor was so timely today.

Sister and I are quite well, and we trust you both are the same. Be assured as we approach the Throne of Heavenly Grace we always ask Him to especially bless you both, and all at Mount Dora. Sister joins with me in sending warmest Christian greet­ings. God bless you!

Your brother and sister, ------- (NEW JERSEY)

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Epiphany Bible Students Ass’n

Mount Dora, Florida

Dear Sirs: Probably two months ago some one gave me your Special Edition of “The Herald of the Epiphany,” the subject, “Where are the Dead?” It is very interesting! What about Enoch and Elijah? And Moses who appeared at the transfigur­ation of the Lord Jesus? Where was and is he?

A copy each of the following will be appreciated: No. 2 – What is the Soul? No. 5 – Two Distinct Salvations – and No. 7 – The Great Reformer. Thanks.

Sincerely ------- (CALIFORNIA)

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Epiphany Bible Students Ass’n

Mount Dora, Florida

Dear Sirs: I received some reading of the Resurrection of the Dead, and I am very much interested. So would like to receive additional copies of What is the Soul? Where are the Dead? and The Three Babylons. I thank you!

Mrs. ------- (OKLAHOMA)

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Dear Brother Hoefle: Greetings in our Redeemer’s Name!

We received all the books you sent, and all in good order. The money will be sent to you through Sister ------- as usual. It is not true that some of the friends are going back to the other class. Although they sent programs to a few of us during RGJ’s visit, no one attended.

Sister ------- did not get your letter. I forgot to mention in my last letter that the elderly Sister who is sick partook of the Memorial with her daughter who cares for her, as it was not possible for her to join us.

The brethren join me in sending warm Christian love to you, Sister Hoefle and the friends there.

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

NO. 172: THE LAODICEAN STAR

No. 172

“One like unto the Son of Man... had in his right hand seven stars”—Rev. 1:13-16. “The Finished Mystery” offered the following explanation for this text, which that book quoted from page 345 of the 1916 Watch Tower:

“This One whom we thus know, thus recog­nize, as the Instructor and Caretaker of the candlesticks, we are also to recognize as having In his right hand – in His favor as well as His power – seven stars, the angels, the messengers, of the seven churches. That they are in His right hand seems to teach us that these should be considered as in some special sense under the Master’s guidance, protection and care in the Interest of the Churches which they represented.” We have offered this quotation from Brother Russell because it fits exactly our own understand­ing of the text.

However, the book then goes on to name the “seven stars” as St. Paul, St. John, Arius, Waldo, Wycliffe, Luther and Russell. This part of the book is not from Brother Russell, but is the private interpretation of the writers of the book which we believe is contrary to sound Bible analysis. We disagree also with most of their time predic­tions, because time itself has demonstrated them to have been nothing more than the imagination of the writers of the book – a sure proof that they were not qualified to write the book at all; and anything they have presented which is not directly from Brother Russell should be given very careful scrutiny. As instance, they say: “The chronology as it appears in the Studies In the Scriptures is accurate.” With this statement we fully agree, but the Witnesses themselves (those claiming to be the “chan­nel” for Divine Truth at the time they wrote the book) are now in complete disagreement with their own teaching in 1917; and we simply offer these few conclusions as an intro­duction to our own analysis of the “seven stars,” etc.

In Rev. 12:1 it is stated that “the woman” (the true Church) “had upon her head a crown of twelve Stars.” That these “twelve stars” are the twelve Apostles needs no elaboration; but we direct attention to the fact that there is just nothing in the statement to indicate that “star differeth from star in glory” – the twelve in the pic­ture appear as equals. And the statement by Jesus to all twelve of them confirms this: “He that heareth you, heareth Me”; they all received the miraculous gifts of the Spirit; they all were empowered to “bind and loose” on earth as occasion might require. There­fore, if the “star” to the Church at Ephesus contained more than one individual, we should be warranted in believing the six succeeding “stars” to those six churches of the Age would also have more than one individual in them.

It is our understanding that the “seven stars” are the same as the seven “angels” (messengers) of Revelation Two and Three; they are the same as the “seven shepherds” of Micah 5:5; and they are the same as the “seven pipes” and the “seven eyes” of Zech. 4:2 and 4:10. Rev. 1:20 directly states “The seven stars are the seven angels of the seven churches.” The Bible seldom uses different words just to be different; there is usually a specific meaning in the different words used, and this seems to be true here. “Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write.” (Rev. 2:1) This might be better stated, “Unto the angel of the church for Ephesus write.” The message to be given was not for the individual benefit of the star who delivered it; it was rather “for” that Messenger at that particular time to deliver to the church. As the “seven shepherds” of Micah 5:5, these same persons would guard and protect the sheep – “take heed unto all the flock, over which the Holy Spirit hath made you overseers.” As the “seven pipes” of Zech. 4:2 they were the channel through which the Holy Spirit was administered to the Church; and as the “seven eyes” they were God’s watchmen – “I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel” (Eze. 3:17), “The watchmen shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion” (Isa. 52:8).

As the “seven stars” those shepherds of the sheep not only gave enlightenment to the Church during the night of sin and death, but they also gave a measure of light to the Christian world in general – “you appear as luminaries in the world” (Phil. 2:15, Dia.). Some of these “luminaries,” such as the Apostles, Martin Luther, John Wesley, and a few others, stand out prominently in the pages of history; but many of them have received only passing notice in the records. We instance particularly Arius, of whom many in the Christian world have never heard at all; yet he is probably one of the very brightest of them all, aside from the Apostles. We give just one example: When he was at the Council of Nice in 325 defending the Truth that there is but “one God,” he was overwhelmingly out­numbered by the bishops assembled from the then Christian world. Yet one of those oppos­ing him shouted forth during the heated debate: This man has the populace so stirred up that if you go into a store and ask the price of bread, the answer you get back from the clerk is, The Father is superior to the Son; the Son is inferior to the Father. While there is little mention made of him today, it is clear enough that Arius was “a burning and a shining light,” a true “luminary” in 325; and this, and similar incidents concern­ing the other “stars” gives us a more vivid conception of Jesus’ words concerning all the fully faithful, “Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the Kingdom of their Father.” Eventually, when the lives and works of such “stars” are skillfully written by capable writers during the Kingdom reign, we can see how the words of Jesus will then be fully understood and appreciated. But considering now the Laodicean Star, it is our understanding it contained two members, the first of whom we discuss as

THE PAROUSIA MESSENGER

This is the title we offer for Brother Russell because he officiated during the small Parousia from 1874 to 1914, and because he made crystal clear the meaning of the Greek Parousia – as PRESENCE, and not COMING, as it is generally given in the King James translation. Once that became clear to him, it began to sweep away many of the accumu­lated errors of the past, leading directly to his understanding of the 16th Chapter of Leviticus, the same being a concise picture of the entire Atonement, which culminates in “the restitution of all things” (Acts 3:19-21).

It is pertinent to our subject to consider here Micah 5:5 as it pertains to Brother Russell. “When the Assyrian shall come into our land (The Assyrians were a very warlike and destructive people, well portraying the errorists of this Gospel Age), and when he shall tread in our palaces (by devastating the Truth and the Spirit of the Truth among God’s true people), then shall we raise up against him seven shepherds, and eight princi­pal men.” The fact that there are “eight principal men” among the “seven shepherds” is additional proof that the seven shepherds were composite groups, and not individuals.

If we view the Bible as the origin of all spiritual Truth, then we must admit that it came first of all; but, if we consider those who have vitiated its teachings (the antitypical Assyrians – the errorists), then it is clear that the error came first, with the Lord sending deliverance through His stars, angels (messengers), eyes, shepherds and eight principal men – who have “wasted the land of Assyria with the sword,” the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of Truth. If we consider Brother Russell as the seventh one of those eight principal men to appear on the Gospel-Age stream of time, all of us who are familiar with his teachings must admit that he did wield the “sword of the spirit” most mightily against the accumulated errors of the past.

It had been prophetically stated of him – “I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations”—Jer. 1:5; and his true calculation of the chronology, with 1914 as the end of the Gentile Times, put the finger of identification upon him as a prophet who had spoken in the name of the Lord. He had predicted the outbreak of a world war by the fall of 1914; and this had received much ridicule from his enemies, who had contended that civilization had advanced much too far to allow of such a conflict. We have been told that when the Gideon’s had their convention in Toronto in 1913 they there openly stated that such an expectation was simply beyond belief, what with the advances in science, medicine, art and culture that had been experienced in this generation. But when the war came exactly on time many of his critics openly confessed that he had indeed spoken the truth, and should receive due recognition for it.

But here we concern ourselves mainly with two of his teachings that still vitally concern us – Tabernacle Shadows and his refutation of Combinationism as it appeared in the Chicago Parliament of World Religions in 1893. When the Parousia Messenger began his min­istry, the erroneous doctrine of eternal torment as the wages of sin was so deeply en­trenched that it was generally considered sacrilege to gainsay it. Many were the promi­nent and forceful orators who appeared as evangelists in their crusades to save the poor sinner from such an awful fate, so that Brother Russell was faced with what seemed an im­possible assignment. This is so graphically revealed in Judges 6:5 and 7:12: “The Mid­ianites and the Amalekites and all the children of the east lay along in the valley like grass­hoppers for multitude; and their camels were without number, as the sand by the sea­side for multitude.

And against this portentous force Gideon was arrayed with his band of 300 – outnum­bered by probably more than a thousand to one. This was precisely the situation when Brother Russell began his attacks on human immortality, the consciousness of the dead, and eternal torment as the wages of sin. His most popular public discourse was, Where Are The Dead, which always included a good exposition on Restitution. When he sent out breth­ren from Bethel for Sunday discourses he always urged them to include a good portion of their public discourse on Restitution; and he himself occasionally remarked to brethren, “That’s the subject!” when he was to speak on Where Are The Dead.

He kept steadfastly at the subject and its pertinent errors, so that he was able to see certain victory ahead by the time he had finished his ministry. By 1916 it was con­sidered by many intellectuals as a distinct mark of ignorance on the part of those who still regarded eternal torment as the wages of sin. This is probably best stated by repeating what Pilgrim Brother Sidney Morton once told us: He was spending some time at Bethel – as all the pilgrims occasionally did. Brother Russell wanted all the brethren to keep abreast of current events, so he appointed two or three to peruse the leading newspapers each day, and give a resume at the dining room table. This saved the remaining brethren from spend­ing valuable time with the newspapers. On one occasion one of the reviewers began to read:

There is a man in our town

Who thinks he’s wondrous wise;

He fell into a bramble bush

That put out both his eyes.

There were several more similar stanzas, and Brother Russell was beginning to show his annoyance at what seemed to be pretty much on the vaudeville side of things, when the final lines were read:

There is a man in our town

Whose name I need not tell;

I’m sure you all must know him,

For he put the fires out of Hell.

Certainly Brother Russell was the “principal man” of God’s Household in his day; he was the “angel” (messenger) to the Church in Laodicea; he had a message to deliver ­and he delivered it with telling force – until the very day his Great Captain finally said to him, It is enough! But his ministry brought upon him the most vicious attacks from the brightest lights of Satan; and they were legion. When they could not gainsay or resist the Truth he preached, they devised the most vicious sort of slander against him – he was grossly immoral, a thing he could deny, but he could not disprove; and the human mind being as it is today, the advantage was with the slanderers. Many were ready enough to believe the evil side of things. Others referred to him as “That braying Balaam’s Ass!” Here was indeed the antitype of Jeremiah’s being “let down in the dungeon... where there was no water (truth), but mire (filthy words)”—Jer. 38:6. All of this he took in stride, being mindful of Jesus’ words: “It is enough for the disciple that he be as his Master, and the servant as his Lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelze­bub, how much more shall they call them of His Household?”—Matt. 10:25. The Lord Him­self had called him “blessed”; and this more than compensated for the slanders hurled at him by “the workers of iniquity.” (Psa. 37:1)

COMBINATIONISM: He was adamant against the Combinationist sifters, which sifting had become prominent at the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1893. Combina­tionism takes the position that it matters not what one believes so long as he is sincere in his belief. In that Convention in Chicago such an attitude tended to place all the as­sembled heathen dignitaries on equality with Christian ideals. And it might be observed that the quality of Christianity that was displayed at that Convention by some in attend­ance tended to confirm such a conclusion. In fact, some of the heathen were heard to remark that they thought they should be coming to America to convert us to their ways and beliefs, instead of us sending missionaries to them to charge their ideals.

Combinationism is Scriptural fornication – a combining of forbidden things. It finds its type in Num. 25:1-18, where some of the Jews were engaging in illicit union with the heathen round about in direct violation of the sixth Commandment. St. Paul pin­points this situation in 1 Cor. 10:8: “Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.” And in vs. 11 he states that those things happened to them “as types” and “are written for our (special) admoni­tion and learning, upon whom the ends of the Ages are come.” Being in the closing “end” of the Gospel Age and the opening “end” of the Millennial Age (the ‘ends’ of the Ages), St. Paul’s admonition is specially for our benefit in this day, although it was also true in the closing of the Jewish Age and the beginning of the Gospel Age, when Paul wrote about it.

Brother Russell was rigidly opposed to Combinationism, and he made his stand known in no uncertain terms. In this he is individually typed by Phinehas (Num. 25:7,8), who was the chief underpriest at that time. Certainly, those of us who are familiar with the history of the Harvest will offer no argument against the conclusion that Brother Russell was decidedly the chief underpriest in God’s Household during his ministry. Phinehas means “brazen mouth”; and those of us who know the record know there was never any compromise of principles by Brother Russell; and it was his unyielding stand against the Combinationist sifters that revealed him as “That Servant” of Matt. 25:46 for the first time to the brethren generally. For his uncompromising adherence to the “rules” many today still pray, God bless his memory. But this becomes only an empty and meaning­less expression if we fall to follow the grand ideals he left. He was indeed that wonder­ful “man of God” – and “example of – and to – the believers.” And with Combinationism everywhere rampant today, we do well to take heed to ourselves lest we also fall under its deceptive lures.

To start from nothing against tremendous odds – as evidence the case of Gideon with his 300 – and to achieve the success he did, required remarkable ability. It could be said of him that he was versatile, efficient and immensely capable in whatever manner he applied himself. One outstanding business man once remarked that his services would be worth $2,000,000 per year to any corporation large enough to afford that kind of help. Another man once remarked to him, Pastor Russell, you have put the standard of Christian living entirely too high. His answer: I didn’t put it there, Brother; the Lord did.

While his great ability was essential to his ministry, another item contributed much to his success. When he appeared upon the scene there were many in the various sys­tems who were longing for reform – “men in the midst of the City who sigh and cry for all the abominations that be done there.” (Eze. 9:4) Thus, there were some who were not only ready to hear him, but they also joined enthusiastically with him in the work. Over a period of time he attracted to himself quite a number of the best minds in Christendom; and it is elemental to the success of any enterprise that its organizer surround himself with capable assistants. This That Servant did; and, following St. Paul’s counsel to “prefer one another in honor,” he freely delegated authority to any who showed the capac­ity to act accordingly. In this also he was a noble “example of the believers.” But he continued only to promote them so long as they also were uncompromising to principle and fundamental doctrines of the Bible. All during his ministry his shibboleth was, “Come out of her, My people, that ye be not partakers of her sin,, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” (Rev. 18:4) He was a determined and unyielding foe to Combinationism to the end of his ministry.

When That Servant appeared on the scene all of the fundamental doctrines of the Bible except Restitution – were being taught in some section of Christendom; but all of them were either directly cumbered with some error, or were not clearly understood by those at­tempting to teach them. Before he had finished, every one of those doctrines, including Restitution, had been relieved of all rubbish, and had been made crystal clear. This was foretold in Mal. 3:1-3: “The Messenger of the Covenant... shall sit as a refiner and puri­fier of silver.” The word ‘purifier’ in this text would be better rendered ‘polisher’; and who of us will not admit that That Servant did ‘Polish’ the Truth (silver) in admir­able brilliance! And in doing this he never resorted to the tricks of oratory. There were better orators than he, but certainly no better preachers. And in him was a living proof of our Lord’s sure words, “I will give you a mouth (eloquence) and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.” (Luke 21:15) Every one that “was of the Truth” heard his voice gladly.

He was engaged in “the good fight” until the very day he died; and it could be said of him as one historian wrote about Martin Luther: He fell peacefully asleep in Jesus. “Them that honor Me, I will honor, saith the Lord”; and the Lord did honor him greatly. And if we wish to honor him, we can do so in no better way than to adhere to and uphold that Truth that was so dear to him. As Jesus said of Himself: “He who has My command­ments (the Truth) and observes them, that is he who loves Me.” (John 14:21, Dia.) It is our hope and prayer that this brief review may prove a rich blessing to all our readers as we approach now the 53rd anniversary of That Servant’s death.

THE EPIPHANY MESSENGER

The second member of the Laodicean Star was Brother Paul S. L. Johnson, whom we style the Epiphany Messenger because he clarified the Epiphany as an act and as a period of time in a manner never before done by any one else – so far as we know. He clearly demonstrated from the Scriptures that the Epiphany would follow the small Parousia, and would be the last period of the Gospel Age, that this special period would manifest persons, principles and things with a brilliance before unknown. Of course, That Servant had predicted there would be an Epiphany following the small Parousia, which would begin when the Time of Trouble would begin (See Reprints p. 2979) – but he gave no elaborate details about it, although what he did say formed the foundation for what the Epiphany Messenger wrote about it.

While the Greek Epiphaneia occurs six times in the New Testament, we here select only two texts as pointedly pertinent to our present discussion. In 2 Tim. 4:1 it is stated that “the Lord Jesus Christ shall judge the quick and the dead at His appearing and king­dom.” The general concept throughout Christendom is that the “quick” in this text means those human beings still alive, and the “dead” are those in the tomb; but That Servant properly defined these classes as those quickened by the Holy Spirit and the fallen angels, with the dead including all other human beings – whether in the tomb or out of it; that is, those “dead in trespasses and sins.” “God hath appointed a day in the which He will judge the (dead) world,” that “day” being the 1000-year day of His reign – a time that was future when Paul wrote, and is still future for the great mass of persons, although the foundation for its operation began to be laid in 1874. But “the quick” were to be judged in His Epiphaneia. Thus, the text would be more clearly expressed in this manner: He shall judge the quick at His Epiphaneia, and the dead at His Basileia (kingdom).

The various features of these great accomplishments by the Lord were given in lucid detail by the Epiphany Messenger. And the second text to have our attention is 2 Thes. 2:8 (Diaglott): “Then will be revealed the lawless one (whom the Lord Jesus will consume with the breath of His mouth, and annihilate by the appearing of His presence).” “The appearing of His presence” is literally, “the Epiphaneia of His Parousia.” The Epiphaneia (bright shining as an act and as a period of time) has been gradually eroding the very foundation stones of the Man of Sin’s structure, until today it is visibly falling over. But it has not yet fully done so, so we have here a sure proof that we must yet be in the Epiphany, and that this period will continue until the “annihilation” is fully accomplished. This feat is much nearer than many suppose; and it is our intention to say much more about it in the near future.

Another feature of this period, according to That Servant, would be to reveal those who have built their “house upon the Rock” and those who have built their “house upon the sand.” So long as this revealing has not yet been fully accomplished, we have here another proof that we must now still be in the Epiphany. But the Epiphany is definitely a time of separating, and a time of combining. Of His Parousia our Lord had foretold: “In the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares (combine them), and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn.” (Matt. 13:30) Clearly enough, from this text Combinationism would be rampant before the harvest had been completed; and it offers explanation as to why both members of the Lao­dicean Star were so emphatic in their denunciation of it, and their warning for the faith­ful to have none of it.

The Epiphany Messenger had emphasized that the Gospel Age would be repeated here in the Epiphany on a small scale insofar as the Truth is concerned. The chief culprit of the Gospel Age in overthrowing the Truth has been the Man of Sin, that system having per­verted or counterfeited every important feature of the Great Plan of the Ages. And in this Epiphany the Little Man of Sin (the Society, the self-styled “Channel”) has done the same thing with every important feature of the Harvest Truth. Most of our readers know too, how determined was the Epiphany Messenger in exposing the errors of That Evil Ser­vant and his cohorts in the Society.

Tabernacle Shadows was basic for a proper understanding of the Harvest Truth; and Brother Russell himself said that the Six Volumes of Studies in the Scriptures all had their origin in that book. The Epiphany Messenger elaborated considerably on that con­tention, and emphasized that every important feature of God’s Plan was revealed in the typical Tabernacle that Moses constructed. But hardly had That Servant been buried be­fore the Society editors began to demolish the Tabernacle teachings, which brought forth determined exposures by the Epiphany Messenger – so much so that they eventually aban­doned the Tabernacle completely. The heat of exposure became more than they could bear. The Epiphany Messenger contended – very logically – that if Tabernacle Shadows were basic for the Parousia Truth, it must also be basic for the Epiphany Truth; it was the founda­tion stones, and any superstructure must therefore be built upon that solid foundation.

Thus, it became his privilege, and duty, to defend almost every feature of the Har­vest Truth – just as the Gospel-Age reformers were compelled to defend every feature of God’s Plan against the encroaching errors of the Man of Sin. This embroiled all of them in constant warfare – even as their Captain had also been involved in much contro­versy during His 30-year stay on earth. This caused resentment on the part of many who had once been his bosom brethren; and “they walked with him no more.” And many of those who resented him became ready candidates for the evil of Combinationism.

Combinationism is an illicit union or cooperation of God’s people with persons, principles, things and practices not fully approved by God. Examples of it are evident in the union of church and state (probably the worst form of it), of denominations with denominations, of uncleansed Levite movements with other uncleansed Levite movements, of Christian people with religio-secret-societies, of Christendom generally with Judaism, and heathenism. Of all the movements that originated from the Parousia Messenger’s organization, the Jehovah’s Witnesses have been among the most rigid against actually combining with other movements; but they have also been probably the most remiss of all of them in adopting the methods of those people they studiously avoid in actual contact.

After the death of Pastor Russell, J. F. Rutherford decided to ‘modernize’ the organization he had formed, and he introduced a sales campaign to distribute their lit­erature after the same pattern used by business organizations to sell their products. Lest we be misunderstood, we find no fault with secular businesses using their advertis­ing and sales ingenuity to dispose of their wares – so long as they adhere to the Truth; but the use of such methods to disseminate Christian principles, literature, etc., is violently contrary to the high ideals given by Jesus in the fifth, sixth and seventh chap­ters of Matthew. Nor would the Parousia Messenger adopt their technique. But J. F. Ruth­erford had some seasoned business salesmen in his group, and these he persuaded to go from city to city to teach their sales technique toward the sale of his literature. The ideals of his adherents immediately began to decline – until now the high ideals of the Parousia Messenger, based upon sound Bible principles, are almost completely gone from his group.

In a very short time the Epiphany Messenger – who had a strong love for the Parousia Messenger and the ideals he had established – saw the trend of things, and objected so strenuously that a complete and irreparable separation resulted within a matter of months. Others joined themselves to him through the same motives – although the great majority, many of them not too well grounded in the Parousia Truth, remained with the Society. And in a very few years those who remained were so engulfed with the spirit of Combinationism in practice that the Parousia ideals were a lost asset. In much lesser degree, the same thing has resulted in the Laymen’s Home Missionary Movement, which is the organization founded by the Epiphany Messenger – not by R. G. Jolly as reported in the Trinidad newspaper last March. We ourselves say, God bless the memory of both Messengers, as we seek to “continue in the things we have been taught” by the both of them; and we abide in the conclusion of Solomon: “Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.” (Prov. 17:1)

A fitting conclusion to the foregoing is to be found in Parousia Vol. 6, p. 658: “The Sword of the Spirit – the Word of God – is the only offensive armor of the Lord’s little band. The Captain prevailed in His ‘good fight’ against the Adversary, saying, ‘It is written’; and this is the battle-cry of His followers. Others than the true soldiers have fought for the Lord with carnal weapons, and with human philosophies and worldly wisdom and organization (the methods used by the Society and the LHMM, as stated above—JJH), and decrees of councils and synods and presbyteries, but we must de­pend in the struggle of this ‘evil day? upon the Word of God — ‘It is written.’ We must use no darts like Satan’s – anger, malice, hatred, strife. And ‘the Sword of the Spirit’ can only be possessed by careful study and leading of the Spirit after consecration, after enlistment in this army.”

And to the foregoing we would add another paragraph from Parousia Vol. 2, p. 361: “We desire again to impress our readers with the fact that Papacy is the Antichrist, not because of its moral obliquity, but because it is the counterfeit of the true Christ and the true Kingdom. It is because of a failure to realize this fact that many Protestants will be deceived into cooperation with Papacy in opposition to the true King of Glory.”

The above was written some eighty years ago, but it has the ring of yesterday; and persuades us all the more in our conviction that the Parousia Messenger was indeed “the prophet unto the nations,” and that he was That Wise and Faithful Servant of Matt. 24:45. It should also now be given its true evaluation by all who “have an ear to hear what the spirit sayeth unto the Church” at this very time; and to avoid Combinationism for the evil that it is lest we “receive of her plagues.”

“We are a sweet odor of Christ to God... not like the many, which adulterate and negotiate the Word of God for their own lucre and advantage; but really from sincerity, and as from God, in the presence of God, we speak concerning Christ.” (2 Cor. 2:15-17, Diaglott footnote.)

Sincerely your brother,

John J. Hoefle, Pilgrim

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ANNOUNCEMENT OF GENERAL INTEREST

On October 31 it will be 53 years since the Parousia Messenger finished his course; and on October 22 it will be 19 years since the Epiphany Messenger joined him. We would suggest that the various Classes hold a joint memorial service for them some time during the last week of October. Also, to Classes and Individuals we would mention once again the Special Effort in antitypical Gideon’s Second Battle this year from October 12 through November 9 (an arrangement instituted by the Epiphany Messenger for the Epiphany period in the Battle against the Consciousness of the Dead and Eternal Torment for its completion). We have an ample supply of Where Are the Dead and What Is the Soul, as well as other Gideon tracts and literature – available free, postage prepaid to all who wish to engage in this “good fight.” We pray the Lord’s special blessing upon all our readers at this special season. These tracts do contain the Truth that both Messengers taught all during their ministry, and stressed for witness work toward the public – the Truth that maketh free indeed; and we have the strong assurance that victory must surely be ours “if we faint not.” We Invite all those of like mind to join with us in this good work and in the prayer, God bless their memory! (See 1 Sam. 2:30)

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LETTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST

Dear Brother Hoefle and family:

How good to get your card and note of comfort. I appreciate it no end. Yes, the past month has been pretty rough, something to live through, but praise God, I’ve gotten relief in the past week........ Today I feel the best I have for 6 months, so I trust the future is a bit more rosy........

Oh how we need the kingdom, but how fortunate we are to know it is drawing nigh. God haste the day! With Christian love to you “4” – Sr ------- (CONNECTICUT)

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Dear John J. Hoefle:

Thank you for your “No. 168” message. It was my plan to comment on some of the subjects in the former “Special Edition” messages you sent me. Certainly, we see “eye to eye” on some things. There is so much confus­ion and opposition among Bible Teachers and Preachers – and to unbelievers it is a mark that the Bible is not the Word of God – when actually the Bible predicts this confusion, deception and apostasy.

What moved me to write you this morning? Yesterday my next door neighbors told me they saw Billy Graham on a TV program “Laugh-In........ The husband is anti-religious and he said this is another proof that religion is a racket. The wife studies, or rather reads, “metaphysical” literature. Have you heard of the scandalous and irreverent – yes, to me! – sacrilegious TV program? And for a “man of God” to participate in it! Lord, to whom shall we go – you have the Words of Eternal Life.” “If the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.” (John 8:36)

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