NO. 387: “THE GIFTS AND CALLINGS OF GOD”

No. 387

(Genesis 12:1‑8)

“I will bless thee and make thy name great, and thou shalt be a blessing.” Our lesson relates to the call of Abram (high father), whom God renamed Abraham (father of a multitude), although indirectly the special point of the lesson refers to the calling of Abraham’s seed, natural and spiritual, and the Divine bestowments to them, constituting them the centers of hope to the world of mankind. Already they have been greatly used of the Lord, but the Scriptures indicate that their influence and usefulness toward their fellow‑creatures have only begun, and will reach their glorious culmination during the Millennium.

Abraham’s early life was spent at Ur of Chaldea, the ruins of which (now known by the name of Mugheir) are being excavated and explored. They indicate that it was once a seat of business activity, and Professor Sayce says that the name Abram (Abu‑Ramu) is found on early Babylonian contract tablets, and some tablets recently unearthed at Ur contain part of the story of the deluge. Scholars are hoping to find in these ruins the Babylonian library, containing the original tablets from which the narratives of the creation and flood were copied for the library at Ninevah.

We are to remember that Abraham was born two years after the death of Noah, and that Noah’s father, Lamech, was born fifty‑six years before Adam’s death – hence the chain of tradition had few links up to Abraham’s time, even though the period was nearly 2,000 years long. It is not strange, therefore, that the story of the creation and of the flood are found in the land of the Chaldeans at a date prior to Moses’ writings the Pentateuch. It should always be borne in mind that the Scriptures make no claim that Moses was present at the time of creation or at the time of the flood, nor that the writer was a witness of the other incidents recorded in Genesis. Moses was merely the recorder who, under Divine supervision and direction that enabled him to be the Law‑giver and commander of typical Israel, was used as God’s amanuensis in recording for our benefit such events in the lives of individuals, as well as their chronologies, as would help to perfect the chain of previous history. We should remember, also, that the records of God’s doings would be appreciated by those who are loyal to him, amongst whom must be included Noah and his family, and that Abraham, as we have seen, was directly in this line – a scion of one of the best branches of Noah’s immediate posterity.

THE REIGN OF SIN

The indications are that idolatry and immorality had taken firm hold upon that branch of Noah’s family (Shem) of which Abraham came, and which is recognized to this day as the highest and noblest branch and the one most favored by the Almighty. The assumption is not unreasonable, therefore, that Abraham’s father, Terah, and his two elder brothers, Haran and Nahor, were considerably influenced by this spirit of idolatry. The record is that God first communicated with Abram while he resided at Ur, indicating the propriety of a change of residence to Canaan. Apparently he (Abram) had considerable influence with the family, so that they all removed from Ur, a distance of about six hundred miles northward to Haran, possibly a place of their own establishment and named after Terah’s eldest son, who died about that time.

Whether it was God’s revelation to Abraham or the death of his son Haran that influenced Terah and the family to remove from Ur we cannot know – possibly both incidents had their influence. However, it was not God’s design to call Abraham’s entire family but merely himself. Hence, apparently with the Lord’s approval, Abraham remained in Haran for five years, until the death of Terah. Then, with his share of the property, with his wife Sarah, who was also his half sister, and with Lot, the son of his deceased brother Haran, Abraham carried out the Divine arrangement by removing from Haran into the land of Canaan, a journey of about three hundred miles more. The clear intimation of the Scriptures is that in this matter Abraham acted in harmony with God’s directions, along the lines of faith and obedience. We may infer that this obedience was rendered at the cost of earthly name and fame, and that Abraham must have been out of record with the idolatry and licentiousness and immorality of his native place, as well as full of faith in God and fully in harmony with the Divine principles of righteousness, and glad to be obedient to the Lord.

ABRAHAM WAS WEALTHY AND POWERFUL

A lesson for us here is, God first, righteousness first – before earthly prosperity, especially that which might be obtained through evil methods or other fellowship with the unrighteous. True, as the Apostle says, to have no dealings with the unrighteous might imply that we need to go out of the world, since unrighteousness is so prevalent; but as in Abraham’s case the Lord’s invitation to us to separate ourselves as much as possible from people and circumstances and conditions whose tendency is downward toward sin, and to affiliate ourselves as much as possible with those influences which would help us to a closer walk with God. Although Abraham had no children he had a large number of persons under his care. These were his servants, and how numerous they were may be judged from the fact that a little later Abraham was able to muster 318 fighting men amongst them – the company who went after those who had taken Lot’s property. This number of fighting men would imply a considerably larger number in the aggregate. It would appear, therefore, that Abraham was a very powerful sheik or prince of the time, the number of whose flocks and herds, requiring so many servants, must have been large indeed. No wonder his servant was able to tell Rebecca that Abraham was very rich. Much of those riches, of course, was gained in Canaan, but a considerable portion of it evidently went with him into Canaan.

FURTHER SEPARATION FROM IDOLATRY

When Abraham and his company had come into the land of Canaan under the Lord’s direction, he settled for awhile at Shechem, that portion subsequently known as Samaria. But he did not remain there long, for, as we read, the Canaanite was still in the land. It was doubtless to be free from the immoral influences of the Canaanites, and to have his people separated from these, that Abraham removed subsequently to the mountainous country near Bethel. There he established his home, there he reared an altar to the Lord and prayed. Would that each head of a family were thus careful to look out for the interests of those under his charge, that these interests should be advantageous to their welfare everywhere! Would that more could realize how indispensable it is to have an altar to the Lord in their home, where the prayer incense would ascend to the Father through the merit of the Redeemer. The true altar not having been provided of the Lord, Abraham and others of his time reared altars of stone for use in the Lord’s worship. But we have the golden altar of the Holy, and are permitted to offer thereupon, as members of the body of the great High Priest, under Him as our Head and glorious representative.

THE DIVINE PROMISE

Whenever God calls any for any purpose He sets before the called ones an object, a reason, a motive, and this He did with Abraham. He not only called him out of his own country to a life of separation from sin, but He attached to that a great promise, which had a mighty influence upon the mind of Abraham and his children and all the Jewish nation, and since then upon all the Spiritual Israelites, the Israelites indeed. The promise was that not only would Abraham receive a blessing, but that in and through him “all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” This must have seemed a very obscure promise to Abraham, and his obedience to it was the more remarkable, so that he is held up to be an example of a proper unquestioning faith in the Word and Wisdom of the Almighty – “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness.” He might have objected that he could do more good in Ur, where wickedness prevailed, than he could accomplish in the mountains of Palestine, where he and others under his godly influence were comparatively separate from others in the world. His faith was shown in that he did not attempt to argue the matter with the Lord, but obeyed implicitly. So it is with many of God’s Spiritual Israel of the present time: the call of the Lord comes, and His direction of Word and Providence seems perhaps from our standpoint to be not in harmony with our anticipations respecting His will and the attainment of His purposes.

And alas! how few of nominal Spiritual Israel take Abraham’s course and get Abraham’s blessing. The obedient are only “a little flock,” to whom it will be the Father’s good pleasure to give the Kingdom and its great work of blessing all the families of the earth. Many of them are inclined to resist God’s providences, not exercising a sufficiency of faith. Some determine that it is their mission to convert the world; others that they must engage in political reform; others that their efforts must be used in temperance work, thus bringing about a reign of righteousness. We are not disputing that all of these are good works, and that good motives are behind them; but we do claim that many of the dear friends who are zealous in these ways are not sufficiently attentive to the Word of God to be obedient to it. As a consequence, many of them are disappointed and numbers are sidetracked.

How many temperance workers have become discouraged at the paucity of results they are able to attain! How many interested in foreign missions are disappointed that, whereas the number of heathen a century ago was estimated at about 600,000,000, statistics today tell us that they now number 1,200,000,000. We appreciate, and feel sure that God appreciates, their good intentions, their good endeavors; yet they are liable to make shipwreck of their faith because not heeding with sufficient care the voice of Him that speaketh from heaven and who directs us.

“THIS IS THE WAY, WALK YE IN IT”

The spiritual lesson in the story of Abraham is that God is pleased to honor faith, and that the experiences of life which He permits to come to the faithful are intended for their development in faith and in the graces of the holy Spirit, and that these all are unitedly a preparation for God’s still greater work of the future.

Abraham was not sent as a missionary back to Haran or to Ur, nor indeed to the people who surrounded him. The Lord’s message was, “Walk thou before me and be thou perfect.” God, of course, knew that Abraham was actually imperfect, tainted by the fall, and this command, therefore, signified that his heart should be perfect – his will, his intentions, and his conduct as nearly as possible in harmony with God’s perfect will. The Apostle Paul shows us that he was not justified on account of any righteousness of his own, for he puts Abraham with the list of Ancient Worthies who were justified not by the works of the Law but by faith, and who, because of their faith, “had this testimony that they pleased God.” It was his faith that led Abraham into a strange country away from his kindred, because he trusted God; it was faith that enabled him to stand various tests by the way, including the command to offer up his son as a sacrifice, his only son, in whom centered all the promises.

It was his faith in the promise of God – that in a future time through his seed a reign of righteousness would be established in the earth – that led Abraham to look for that city (government) of sure foundation upon principles of righteousness – the heavenly city, the government or kingdom of God’s dear Son, which is to put down all insubordination and bring everything into subjection to the Divine will. The seed of Abraham, the elect church of this Gospel age, is to exercise Divine power in the earth and cause every knee to bow and every tongue to confess; and after instituting a reign of righteousness and blessings thereby to all the families of the earth, is to deliver up the kingdom, perfect and complete, to God, even the Father, at the close of the Millennial age. This was the promise made to Abraham, “In thee and thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.” And he was willing to waive his share in the governmental position and power of the present time under present adverse conditions, that he might have some share in the glorious Messianic Kingdom of the future.

“YE SHALL SEE ABRAHAM, ISAAC AND JACOB”

When Messiah’s kingdom, itself invisible, shall establish a reign of righteousness in the earth, it will have amongst men visible representatives, “princes in the earth.” (Psa. 45:16) We are assured that Abraham will be one of these (Heb. 11:17), and will thus have to do actively, prominently, with the establishment of the reign of righteousness and the demonstrations of justice and mercy and love to the world of mankind, “to all the families of the earth.” He is mentioned as one of this class in Hebrews 11:39,40. At one time, in company with others, we surmised that Abraham would have been placed in the heavenly Kingdom of the spiritual class; but a more careful consideration of the matter shows us, to the contrary, that he belongs to the class of Ancient Worthies of whom the Apostle declares that God has provided some better thing for us than for them, although their blessing shall be a great one. Abraham, styled the father of the faithful, the Redeemer says, “rejoiced to see my day: and saw it and was glad.” (John 8:56) By faith he saw the Millennial day, the kingdom well founded; by faith he rejoiced in the glorious reign of righteousness then to be established.

But while this blessing is to come to the world through the seed of Abraham, the Scriptures indicate that a great change takes place by which the seed, the child of Abraham, Christ, becomes greater than Abraham, as it is written, “Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children, whom thou mayest make princes in all the earth.” (Psa. 45:16)

Abraham, instead of being viewed any longer as the father of Messiah, will be recognized as one of His children, perfect on the earthly plane and made a prince amongst men, to be used as an active agent of the glorified Christ in dispensing the blessings secured by the great redemptive sacrifice. Referring to the matter, our Lord points out the fact that these Ancient Worthies will be visible to men, but properly enough says not a word about Himself and the Apostles or any of the bride class being visible. The statement is, “Ye shall see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and all the prophets.” The fact that the still more notable ones in the kingdom are not referred to is an evidence that they will not be seen by the world, and this comports with the Lord’s statement to some of His day, “Yet a little while and the world seeth me no more.” It agrees also with the declaration, “We shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.” Only those changed from human to spirit nature, under the terms of the Lord’s arrangement of this Gospel age, will be spirit beings, and they alone therefore will be able to see, discern, the Lord and other spirit beings.

“WHICH SEED IS CHRIST”

The Apostle points out to us most distinctly that the seed of Abraham according to the flesh was Jesus, our Lord, who is now of the flesh no more, having sacrificed it and received the begetting of the spirit to the new nature. He is now the glorified one, the Christ, Abraham’s Lord and David’s Lord. And the Apostle points out to us as a great mystery the fact that God during this Gospel Age is selecting from amongst mankind some to be joint‑heirs with Jesus in the Kingdom – to be members of the seed of Abraham (Eph. 3:9; Acts 15:17; Rom. 8:17) We ask how could this be, since the Law Covenant was added, and since Jesus alone fulfilled the terms of the Law Covenant and ended all the hopes and prospects it contained? Surely no Jew preceded our Lord in the matter, and surely, since our Lord has finished His course, the offer of the Law Covenant is no longer open to the Jew, as it never was open to a Gentile. Where, then, is the prospect for either Jew or Gentile being joined with Christ, in joint‑heirship with Christ in this Abrahamic Covenant?

We reply that we are accepted of the Lord, as the “bride of Christ,” the “Lamb’s wife.” The Church, composed in the beginning exclusively of Jews, and subsequently almost exclusively of Gentiles, is as a whole accepted by the Lord as His bride, and by becoming joined to Him and by union or marriage with Him these, whether Jews or Gentiles, are made His joint‑heirs. This is the Apostle’s clear statement of the matter, for after telling that Christ is the seed of Abraham (Gal. 3:16) he adds a word respecting the Church, his prospective bride, saying “If ye be Christ’s then are ye Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.” (Gal. 3:29) In the one figure we are accepted as members of the Lord’s body, that is, when the Apostle says, “Ye brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise;” in another figure we are accepted as members of His bride.

THE WIFE MADE READY

As our Lord was tested in all points yet without sin, so all of these who are counted worthy to be His members must similarly stand the testing to demonstrate their character‑likeness to Him and their worthiness of a share in His glorious Kingdom. Hence it does not surprise us that everywhere throughout the Scriptures appeals are made to the Lord’s people, not so much respecting what they shall do for others as what they shall do for themselves and for each other. We are not opposing the thought of doing good unto all men as we have opportunity, but emphasizing the other thought that we are to do good “especially to the household of faith.” We are to “build one another up in the most holy faith,” we are to “lay down our lives for the brethren,” we are to “comfort one another,” – “edify one another.” In a word the bride, the Lamb’s wife, is to “make herself ready” – not without the Bridegroom’s supervision and assistance, but with it and as a part of it.

As the trial of faith was the most prominent feature of Abraham’s testing, so it must needs be with us, His true children. It is the trial of your faith that is much more precious than gold, as the Apostle says, and he assures us that “without faith it is impossible to please God.” For this reason it is required of those who now walk in the narrow way that they shall walk by faith and not by sight. When the time comes for the shining forth of the Sun of Righteousness and the scattering of the darkness and mystery that surrounds the Divine character and Word and the permission of evil, there will be plenty ready and able to walk by sight; but the Lord is now looking for the few, the little flock, able and willing to walk by faith, through evil report and good report, to trust Him where they cannot trace Him, and to demonstrate their loyalty by their faithfulness and their endurance even unto death. The trials of the present time upon the Gospel Church are with a view to testing the character, with a view to determining who are worthy and who are unworthy to constitute the seed of Abraham, which God promised shall ultimately bless all the families of the earth.

SURE TO BOTH THE SEEDS

The Apostle declares that God promised not the blessing through the seeds of Abraham, as of many, but “in thy seed,” as of one. We have already seen that this one seed is the Christ, but we now notice that while there are not many seeds there is another seed beside this Messianic class – a seed’s seed, as it were. The Apostle clearly intimates this in his declaration respecting the Law and Gospel, that the object was “that the promise might be sure to both seeds,” not only that which is according to the spirit, but also that which is according to the Law. This was intimated also in the fact that a promise was made to Ishmael as well as to Isaac. But the promise to Ishmael proceeded through Isaac, the one seed of promise. Similarly the Lord’s blessing on all the families of the earth must proceed through the one seed, which is Christ – the Messianic seed of Abraham.

St. Paul makes very clear that there is a double allotment of Divine mercy and provision – one portion to the spiritual seed and another portion to the natural seed of Abraham. In Romans Chapter 11, where, after describing the rejection of the natural seed of Abraham and the acceptance of the spiritual seed, he points to the fact that at the end of this Gospel Age the spiritual seed will be complete, and then he declares that the Divine blessing shall go to the natural seed of Abraham again – to those who were broken off, rejected and blinded because they were unable to realize and appreciate the spiritual part of the promise. For them then remains an earthly or natural part, and blessing will surely come to them, because God has already declared that “the Deliverer shall come out of Zion and turn away ungodliness from Jacob, because this is my covenant with them, when I shall take away their sins. As concerning the Gospel they are enemies for your sakes, but as touching the promises of God they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes; for the gifts and callings of God are things not to be repented of.” (Rom. 11:26‑29)

After thus most clearly specifying that God’s gifts and callings from the remote past included the restoration of the Jews to Divine favor at the close of this Gospel Age, the Apostle proceeds to show how this blessing must come through the spiritual seed, saying, “They shall obtain mercy through your mercy” – through the mercy of the Gospel Church, the spiritual seed of Abraham, under Christ their Head.

“ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE EARTH”

The turning of God’s blessing to Israel at the close of this Gospel Age will include the exaltation to honorable service of the worthy ones of the past dispensation, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and all the prophets – “princes in all the earth” – ensamples of perfect manhood, leaders of the people. But it will mean more than this, for the promise was not merely that through the seed of Abraham, spiritual, the natural seed of Abraham shall be blessed, but “In thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. Hence, as the Apostle points out, the Gospel Church is a “first‑fruits unto God of his creatures” in one sense, a first‑fruits on a spirit plane, and natural Israel will be a first‑fruits of His creatures on an earthly plane; and in proportion to their willingness, under the guidance of the Ancient Worthies, they may be helpful to all the families of the earth in spreading knowledge of the great Messiah and the rules and regulations of His Kingdom, for the blessing and uplifting of all the families of the earth.

Mark how the Apostle declared that if the rejections of Israel meant a blessing to the Gentiles, will not the re-gathering of Israel signify life from the dead to the world in general. (Rom. 11:15) It surely will. In order for the seed of Abraham according to the flesh to realize the blessings God has promised, an awakening from the sleep of death will be necessary, since God is no respecter of persons. In a general sense it follows that these blessings which He has covenanted to give first to Israel, He is equally willing and able to give to all mankind in due time. O, how much of goodness and mercy God can crowd into a few words! How little Abraham was able to comprehend the lengths and breadths and heights and depths of Divine blessing that was conferred upon him when the Lord said, “Because thou hast done this, in blessing I will bless thee and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed, and it shall be as the stars of heaven and the sand upon the seashore.”

How little Abraham could have understood that the seed that was to be as the stars of heaven is the spiritual seed, and that the seed that shall be as the sand upon the seashore is the natural seed. In a word, not only those of fleshly Israel who accepted the blessings and favors of the Kingdom, but humanity in general, all the families of the earth will be privileged to become the seed of Abraham through faith and obedience, even as we of this Gospel Age who are Gentiles have been privileged through faith and obedience to become joint‑heirs in spiritual Israel with those Jews who were Israelites indeed at the first advent.

THE GOLDEN TEXT

God’s promise to Abraham was abundantly fulfilled in his own person: it was fulfilled also in his natural seed and his spiritual seed. Surely, of all, the latter is the most blessed. What more could God say to us or do for us than He has already said and done? Lifting us from the horrible pit and miry clay of sin and condemnation, He has placed our feet upon the Rock, Christ Jesus, and put a new song in our mouths. Yea, more, He has adopted us into His family and made us heirs of God, joint‑heirs with Jesus Christ our Lord “to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1 Pet. 1:4,5)

The declaration is added, “I will bless them that bless thee, and I will curse him that curseth thee.” This does not refer to blessing by the lips or cursing by the lips merely, but rather appertains to conduct – he that does good to you, who favors you, I will favor; he that injures you I will permit to be injured. How this has been fulfilled in the case of the natural Jew, even in his outcast condition! Those nations which have maltreated the Jew have suffered, those which have treated him with kindness have been more or less blessed. And if we apply this to the spiritual seed of Abraham, does it not fit even better? Has there not come a blessing of the Lord to all those who have either said or done kindness to His faithful? and has not blight followed upon those who in any sense of the word have sought to do injury to the Lord’s Anointed? “If God be for us who can be against us?” (Pastor Russell – Reprints 3935‑3938, February 1, 1907)

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QUESTION OF GENERAL INTEREST

QUESTION: – Will the heathen and others be saved by their ignorance?

ANSWER: – We believe not; for there is no power or anything else good in ignorance to save anyone. Instead of ignorance being Scripturally a ground for salvation it is Scripturally set forth as a reason for alienation from God. (Eph. 4:18; Hos. 4:6; Rom. 2:12) Furthermore, the Scriptures show that knowledge is essential to faith and salvation.(Rom. 10:14‑17; Acts 4:12) This is likewise implied in the fact that obtaining salvation presupposes personal acts by the intellect, sensibilities and will, i.e., a matter pertaining to the domain of character, requiring, as it does, on our part the steps of repentance, faith and consecration. It is for this reason that the Church was commanded to teach, i. e., make others know, that those taught might by their knowledge gain salvation. (Matt. 28:18‑20 – also see 2 Pet. 1:2,3; 2:2‑21)

Indeed the theory that the heathen and others are saved by their ignorance is a patent absurdity – although some good people want to believe they will be thus saved believing as they do that they will have no opportunity of salvation otherwise. But, why send missionaries to teach them salvation, if they are saved by ignorance? According to this theory to teach them would cause most of them – those who will not believe to be lost who otherwise would have been saved by their ignorance. So all through the generations of the Gospel Age to preach to them would have been the cause of perdition to almost all who heard the message. Are we to believe that God who desires that the people may gain life (Ezek. 18:32) is so lacking in common sense and practicability as to institute the office of teaching the Word of God as the means of saving people – when only a comparatively few are saved by that method – when leaving them in ignorance would have resulted in the salvation of all of them. Manifestly the thought that the heathen are saved by ignorance is unbiblical, unreasonable and unfactual.

Actually the purpose of the Gospel Age is to take out a people for His name. (See Acts 15:14) There are comparatively few who become “footstep followers of Jesus,” as He has said: “Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” (Matt. 7:14) The only ‘way’ open for salvation in this Age is a “narrow way” – becoming footstep followers of Jesus, and bearing “witness to the Truth” as did Jesus. (See John 18:37) Our Lord said, “Blessed are ye when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.” (Matt. 5:11) Not many are able to “drink of His cup”: they don’t have sufficient faith; “For all men have not faith.” (2 Thes. 3:2)

After He has selected a people for His Name, He will return, “and will build again the tabernacle of David... That the residue of men might seek after the Lord.” (Acts 15:14‑17) This “people” will bless the residue of mankind, which includes the heathen: “And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.” (Gal.3:8) And the seed is expressly mentioned in Gal. 3:29: “And if we be Christ’s then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (Gal. 3:29) Instead of a “narrow way” unto life as it is in this Age, there will be a Highway of Holiness. (Isa. 35:8) “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped.” (Isa. 35:5) It will be the reverse of what it is today when “The god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not.” (2 Cor. 4:4) “Darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness [error] the people.” (Isa. 60:2)

In the Kingdom there will be no error there: “For when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.” His way of saving the residue of mankind in the Millennial Age will be by the power of teaching – and by such teaching enabling them to use for their uplift the restitution processes (Acts 3:21) whereby all may be saved – but only the willing and obedient – and no others – will be saved. There will be no “night” (error) there. (Rev. 22:5)

(John J. Hoefle – Reprint No. 258, December 1, 1976)

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LETTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST

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

Recently I received a copy of the January‑February, 1988 EBSA publication and came across a letter from Mr. Jack Zilch of Minnesota. I would be interested in acquiring Mr. Zilch’s address, phone number, or any information you might be able to provide would be greatly appreciated.

I have read and thoroughly enjoyed the book of PASTOR CHARLES TAZE RUSSELL. I also read “Crisis of Conscience” and have provided copies to some Jehovah’s Witnesses. What a revealing documentary of the JW organization! It should serve as a reminder to all Bible Students the danger of following men rather than our Head. As the Apostle Paul says, “For no other foundation can we lay than that which is [already] laid, which is Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed One.” (1 Cor. 3:11 – Amplified)

Our class is presently studying Vol. 6 and Matt. 24. Both are such interesting and worthwhile studies. We are a small group... but we are all aware of our Master’s words, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” May our Heavenly Father continue to bless your studies and your walk!

Warm Christian love, ------- (MINNESOTA)

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Dear Sister Hoefle,

Thank you so much for the Numbered papers that you have been sending. We are truly rejoicing in the Lord and His Truth.

Do you still have any books left about PASTOR CHARLES TAZE RUSSELL? If so, would you please send me a copy? Also, would you please put me on your mailing list to receive your monthly articles? We’d appreciate this.

Everything is fine with us here. We are in the “New Beginning,” non‑denominational church, so we are growing spiritually.

We love you all. Love, ------- (CONNECTICUT)

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My dear Emily,

No word from me does not mean that you have not been in my thoughts. You have been very much so! Thank you for sending along the packet of literature.

A couple of Sundays ago a little 15‑year‑old girl popped in with my granddaughter. She wanted to learn how to “find out more about God.” She goes to the Lutheran church with her parents – but is not satisfied. She lives in Iowa City about 200 miles southeast of here. I told her to read the Bible just to learn the stories first of all, and then I would send her other literature. So I shall choose from among the Epiphany newsletters which you so kindly sent me – will make copies and send them to her. It is an unusual experience to have one so young to show such interest.

My son and his family moved to another town and have not been able to spend time with the young woman whose father took his life. Added to the grief over her father’s death, was the worry about eternal torment. But they will see her often and will pass along the articles. Thank you very much!

But in spite of the bitter cold, cruelty and sorrow, there’s still a “wonderful world of happiness” out there – even at the door! Have you noticed the number 6 seems to belong to man and his affairs? Six days of work – 6000 years of the Adamic rule and death, six pieces of armor on Goliath, six musical instruments to play as a command to worship the image which Nebuchadnezzar caused to be built, etc. And I am wondering 6 wars of Israel, 1948, 1956, 1967, 1973 and 1982 – whether Ezekiel 38 and 39 is the next one, which will lead to God’s victory!

The present rioting is orchestrated by the PLO – to regain their dying power, and disrupt the many, many tours and conferences planned for Israel’s 40th Anniversary. What assurance we have in knowing our Lord is sovereign!

Elva left California just ahead of the rough weather. She is at Boynton Beach with her sister. God bless!

With love, --------- (IOWA)

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NO. 386: SOME THOUGHTS FOR THE MEMORIAL

No. 386

Comes again the Memorial of our Lord’s crucifixion, the correct time this year 1988 being after 6 p.m. March 30. The date is determined after this manner: The moon nearest the Vernal Equinox comes new at the Thirtieth Meridian East, Jerusalem time, at 4:02 a.m. March 18, thus establishing 6 p.m. March 17 as Nisan 1, Bible reckoning. Counting to Nisan 14, we arrive at 6 p.m. March 30; and any time that evening after 6 p.m. would be proper for the celebration. We here at Mount Dora shall commence the service at 7:30 p.m.; and we issue a cordial invitation to any one in this vicinity to join with us if they be of one mind on the matter.

THE MEMORIAL’S MEANINGS

In this Memorial, commonly known throughout  Christendom as the Lord’s Supper, we have one of the sacraments. The Roman Catholic and some eastern churches recognize seven different services as sacraments: baptism, confirmation, the Eucharist, penance, extreme unction, holy orders, and matrimony. Protestants hold to only two: baptism and the Lord’s Supper. The word ‘sacrament’ is from the Latin sacramentum, and in early ecclesiastical usage was used in a wide sense to denote any ritual observance or sacred thing. In everyday usage it had been applied in two ways: (1) as a pledge deposited in public keeping by the parties in a lawsuit and forfeited to a sacred purpose; (2) as the oath taken by a Roman soldier to the emperor, and thence to any oath. These ideas later combined to produce the concept of a sacred rite which was a pledge or token – an oath of loyalty – which in time led to limiting the word to baptism and the Lord’s Supper.

While the Roman Church observes seven sacraments, we believe the Protestant concept to be more in harmony with the Scriptures, because the Lord’s Supper and baptism are the antitypes of the two Old Testament sacraments; namely, the Passover and circumcision. In Matt. 28:19,20, the risen Jesus specifically gave the disciples “the great commission” – to “baptize into [according to the Diaglott] the name of the Father, and of the Son, and by the Holy Spirit”; and in His last words to those same disciples on the night before He died He commanded them to “do this in remembrance of Me.” This latter is stressed by St. Paul in the 11th chapter of 1 Corinthians as obligatory upon all who clearly recognize that “Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us,” which sacrifice is declared every time we partake of the bread and the wine in the Lord’s Supper.

When the sacraments mentioned foregoing are rightly and sincerely observed, they bring rich spiritual blessing to those who participate. The elements themselves – the bread and wine – in the Lord’s Supper are of themselves only dead material; thus, it is only their faithful and sincere use that have any efficacy at all for the participants. The same would be true of the water used in baptism. It is only when we are “buried with Him in baptism” (Col. 2:12) that the water takes on an added significance not discernible to the ordinary onlooker.

THE SPECIFIC SYMBOLS

In the Lord’s Supper there are especially three thoughts symbolized, and they prove to be the three most important things to the Lord’s people in this life: (1) by our breaking the bread we symbolize our dear Lord’s Ransom‑sacrificial death on behalf of the Church and the World; (2) by our partaking of the bread and wine we in the first place symbolize faith‑appropriating Justification through the death of Jesus; and (3) by partaking of the bread and wine in the second place we symbolize our consecrated humanity and our pledge to “walk as He walked.” It is readily self‑evident that these three things are the main things to us in this life; and these three things should be kept acutely in mind in our preparation for and participation in the service just as did the Jews in their scrupulous preparation to observe the Passover. In this latter, the day before the Passover the head of each house took a feather brush and a napkin and very carefully swept every evidence of leaven from the corners and remote places of the residence, which, when completed, he then burned the napkin and its contents – to be sure there would be no leaven remaining anywhere. With us, we do not scrutinize our home; rather, we adhere to St. Paul’s counsel, “Let a man examine himself,” rather than the structure in which we abide.

St. Paul stresses the first of the above points when he tells us, “As oft as ye eat of that bread and drink of that cup ye shew the Lord’s death till He come.” The words “as oft as ye eat” do not obligate us to do this often, as some mistakenly think, any more than observance of a birthday should be celebrated every day, or week, or month, even though we might say of such an occasion that we also show forth our birth as often as we perform a celebration of the event. Any memorial should be kept on its anniversary once a year. Nowhere does the Bible tell us to celebrate the Lord’s birthday (which would occur but once each year), but we are directly commanded to observe the date of His death – which also can occur but once each year. By our participation in the Memorial of our Lord’s death we declare, or preach His sacrifice, which is one meaning of the word ‘shew’ in the text. However, it is in order here to mention that we ‘shew’ the Lord’s death in the Memorial by act rather than by words, because we maintain a silence during the sharing of the loaf and the cup.

And by what act do we ‘shew’ His death? After blessing of the bread, it is stated that it was broken; and, since all of the accounts make mention of this, it must be an essential part of the performance. Indeed, the breaking of the bread is the very act that declares the breaking of our Lord in death; “He hath poured out His soul unto death.” Once this is clearly seen, we can immediately recognize that the giving of the individual wafers to the participants, or the breaking of the bread before it is passed about by the one conducting the service, must be contrary to the underlying spirit of the service. The breaking of the bread by each individual says by that act that he is willing to be broken with Him in like manner as He was. “As He was, so are we in the world.” And as often as we engage in the service, just that often do we ‘shew’ forth the Lord’s death till He come – shew His Ransom‑sacrifice for us, which is truly the rock foundation of our faith. Without it we would be as the heathen – without God and without hope in the world.

When St. Paul told the Corinthians (1 Cor. 2:2), “I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified,” he in effect was saying that the two things uppermost in his mind were Jesus the Christ – who gave Himself a ransom for all and Him crucified. His narrow way began at Jordan and ended in fullness on the cross. “He left us an example that we should follow in His steps.”

In Matt. 26:28 Jesus said His blood was shed “for many for the remission of sins.” Therefore, when we partake of the bread, and especially of the cup (His blood), in clear understanding of their import, we may rest secure that we have forgiveness of sins. “The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin... If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:7,9) And this is our strong assurance regardless of what other men may think of us. It is sound doctrine that “Man looketh on the outward appearance”; and quite often what men see is colored by their prejudices, their selfishness, or their evil minds.

We are justified by faith in His blood; and, as such, we receive His righteousness – vitalized in some, reckoned in others. “Abraham believed God, and it was counted (reckoned) to him for righteousness.” Thus, we no longer have the Adamic condemnation (the disobedience by which many were made sinners), but we are participants of His obedience whereby many are made righteous. Speaking specifically to the saints at Rome and through them to the entire Christ Company during the Gospel Age ‑ St. Paul declares, “We are buried with Him by baptism into death ... in the likeness of His death.” (Rom. 6:4,5) These words some attempt to accept literally, and this causes them to adopt very foolish customs and beliefs. Say they, What was the likeness of His death? And they proceed to reason that He was nailed to the cross; and, with the cross at the back of His head, He could not allow His head to fall backwards, it necessarily must fall upon His chest, as practically all pictures of the crucifixion show Him. Therefore, if they are to be “baptized in the likeness of His death,” they must be baptized face down in the water. Of course, this presents a very contrary view to what baptism should really give.

The third feature relative to drinking of the cup has to do with participation in the sin‑offering, a privilege reserved exclusively for the Christ Company. During the Age many have offered themselves thus, only eventually to fall by the wayside, losing their part in that offering. But to all who partake of that cup in sincerity and in truth we may be certain that the fiery trials of the Great Example will be passed on to them, each according to his ability to bear. During the Dark Ages, when the Roman Church was in its heyday, the participation of the cup was much more severe and brutal than it is today ‑ although much the same spirit still prevails in the world, and may yet touch those who would follow in His steps. But in this we may accept the axiom, We know not what the future holds, but we know Who holds the future; and a few lines from the poet tends to emphasize this:

Serene, I fold my hands and wait,

Nor care for wind nor tide nor sea;

I rave no more ‘gainst time or fate,

For lo! my own shall come to me.

What matter if I stand alone?

I wait with joy the coming years;

My heart shall reap where it has sown,

And garner up its fruit of tears.

The stars come nightly to the sky;

The tidal wave unto the sea;

Nor time, nor space, nor deep, nor high,

Can keep my own away from me.

Let us keep in mind that those who despised our Lord the most were the ‘good’ people of His time. It was because He had such perfect answers to their criticisms that the Scribes and Pharisees came to despise Him so badly. He proved Himself to be their Master at every controversy, they who were putting themselves forth as the teachers of Jewry – who claim to sit in Moses’ seat. And having pampered their pride for so many years, they were sadly lacking in the humility which was necessary for them to receive Him. In addition, He was ever ready to give fellowship to the ‘untouchables’ the publicans and sinners; and this, too, was anathema to the religious leaders of the nation. They were angry because He taught the people, which caused them to ask embarrassing questions of those who had been teaching them previously. And similar conditions exist today in Big and Little Babylon, which should not surprise us. “All that walk godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” If this is not a part of our own experience, then we should begin to question whether or not we actually are following “in His steps.”

However, this matter probably needs some clarification ‑ the spirit of a sound mind. It is quite possible to bring disrepute upon ourselves through our own foolish acts – things that appear right at the time, but which are motivated by poor judgment. Perhaps none of us are without some of these experiences – some more, some less. Often such situations are the manipulations of Satan. We know he tried that on Jesus Himself, when he told Him to jump from the temple and that God would bear Him up. Had He heeded this unsound suggestion, and found Himself disadvantaged physically because of it, His suffering would not have been ‘for righteousness,’ but for foolishness, an act of sheer presumption. The years should teach us all something; the chastenings of the past should sober us for the present – and they will to those who are rightly exercised thereby. Such stabilizing influences usually keep pace with our growth in knowledge and in grace.

THIS IS MY BODY ‑ IS MY BLOOD

In Matthew 26 and in Mark 14 we find the recording of the institution of the Lord’s Supper. Among Christians – many of them sincere and honest – there has been conducted the sharpest controversy about the meaning of the words that head this section of our article. Satan has spread error on almost all Scripture, but especially has this been true of the words given above. The worst of all these errors has been the one concerning the Mass, being the basis of the doctrine of the same being the central feature of the “abomination that desolate.” In a broad sense there are two general views on the meaning of these words: (1) Those who teach the real presence of the body and the blood in the loaf and the cup; and (2) those who hold to the representative meaning of those expressions. Much ingenuity has been displayed in the defense of both positions; some of the ablest of Christian minds have been on both sides of the controversy. As most of our readers know, our own view is that there is no actual presence of His Body and Blood in the bread and the wine; we regard them merely as representations of the same.

TRANSUBSTANTIATION

Let us consider first of all, that view which holds to the real presence – namely, that the words, This is My Body, This is My blood, teach that the actual body and blood of Jesus are present in the bread and wine, and are imbibed by the communicants. There are three main views on this feature of our subject, the first of which is that of the Roman Catholic Church. That system holds to what is commonly known as transubstantiation, which means the actual body and blood of Jesus are substituted, or changed into what before was merely bread and wine. This transformation is produced by the priest performing what is commonly known as the Mass. To make this position at all tenable, Roman teachers admit that the emblems retain what it termed “the accidents” – that is, they still look the same to the human eye, they taste the same (that is, no difference whatever can be noticed after the so‑called change), have the same form, color, weight, etc., of bread and wine. But, despite the “accidents,” they contend the bread and the wine are actually lost and take on the essence of the body and blood of the crucified Lord. And this substitution, this transubstantiation, the priest proceeds in the Mass to sacrifice afresh for the sins of the living and the dead. Thus, “the daily sacrifice was taken away” (Dan. 8:11), and “it cast down the truth to the ground.”

By the way of refutation, we would say of the foregoing view, if it were correct, the wording should be changed to, This has been changed into My Body; this has been changed into My blood. To teach a doctrine which would require a change in wording to make good sense is of itself an admission of something badly wrong with the teaching. Furthermore, the Bible contradicts their view. If they were right, they should no longer speak of the bread and the wine – now changed into the body and the blood – but should then speak of those emblems in new phrase ‑ as the body and blood. But five different times does the Bible itself refer to ‘bread’ after its consecration and during its eating. (See 1 Cor. 10:16,17; 11:26‑28) And in these same verses, using the container for the thing contained, the reference is to the ‘cup,’ describing the cup as “the fruit of the vine” – wine, and not blood. Therefore, by calling the elements bread and wine during their appropriation the Bible itself directly contradicts transubstantiation.

The physical condition of the bread and wine after consecration also contradicts Both still taste exactly the same; and enough of the wine will still intoxicate the drinker, which blood will not do. It is generally known that priests often do become tipsy, or even intoxicated, if they must perform several masses in one morning, drinking a full glass of wine on each occasion. One of the vilification’s that the Roman Catholics hurl at Martin Luther is that he got drunk – which is probably true, and it is probably true of very many other priests for the reason just stated concerning multiple masses in one morning. In that service the priest does not minister any of the wine to the communicants, but drinks it all himself. Chemical analysis also confirms this – not only of the wine, but also of the bread. They are both exactly the same as they were before consecration and this leaves a wide spread between the chemical contents of a human body and the sacramental wafer that is given the communicant. In lesser degree, the same may be said of different kinds of bread – rye bread, white and whole wheat bread, black bread, etc.

CONSUBSTANTIATION–INSTRUMENTALIZATION

Some sections of Christendom teach consubstantiation, which carries the thought of a mingling of the bread and wine with the body and the blood; that is, both are present in the emblems. The Lutherans and Episcopalians teach what may be termed instrumentalization, although they do not use that term itself. Their thought is that by means of the bread and wine – which remain bread and wine during the service – the actual body and blood of Jesus are communicated to those who partake. Thus, it may be properly stated that transubstantiation, consubstantiation and instrumentalization all teach that the real body and the real blood are conveyed to those who partake during the service.

Therefore, the arguments that apply against one of the foregoing would apply against all three, and it is our thought that the Bible directly contradicts all three of them. (1) The Bible account of the original institution of the Lord’s Supper on the night before His death is certainly contrary to these views. The body and blood of Jesus could not possibly have been in the bread and the wine He gave the Disciples because He was not yet dead; He was still very much alive. Thus, when He held in His hand unleavened bread He had taken from the table, it was self‑evidently quite a different thing from His body. Nor did He give any indication in the words He used that any significant change had taken place in that loaf.

With the exception of the two disciples on His right hand and on His left, none of the Disciples even touched Him in that service; nor is there the slightest hint in the wording that His body and His blood were being fused into the bread and wine. Thus, such an assumption is based solely upon pure imagination. There is not the slightest suggestion in the whole event that would indicate that Jesus or the Disciples thought there was actual presence of body and blood in the bread and the wine. Also, the Mosaic Law expressly forbade the Jews from drinking even the blood of animals; and Jesus had told them He had come not to nullify the Law but to fulfill it. We may be certain some of the Disciples would have raised that question immediately, as they were all very scrupulous in their dietetic habits. Therefore, to claim that subsequent observance of the Lord’s Supper should be different from its original would in itself declare that they are not the same thing; that is, they are not the Lord’s Supper at all.

Jesus had told His followers, “My flesh I give for the life of the World.” That being true, the implication would be that He has now taken His flesh to Himself again for this new purpose, and such a procedure would be a contradiction of the Ransom; He would be taking back the Ransom price. The Scriptures also tell us that The Lord is that spirit, which, being true, He is no longer human; that is, He does not now have His human body and blood with Him to disperse in the services mentioned above.

This teaching also has unreasonable implications, one of which is that we must believe that the body and blood of Jesus must be in many places at the same time. On certain occasions, such as Easter, etc., practically the whole Christian world celebrates the Lord’s Supper; and He would have to be present in every one of them if we are to accept the three teachings set out foregoing. Also, when we consider the millions of persons who have observed the Lord’s Supper over the centuries, and even today, we must conclude that His body and His blood are inexhaustible elements if we are to believe these elements are present in every such service. This immediately reveals the absurdity of the teaching. There is nothing at all reasonable about it; we must accept it as one of the great unexplainable ‘mysteries.’ This also is contrary to Scripture which tells us, “Come, let us reason together, saith the Lord.” And, whenever we are asked to accept with blind belief what is contrary to our reason, we may certainly conclude that the Father of Lies must be its author; and not the great Teacher of Truth. Such an attitude always encourages superstition, ignorance and credulity with accompanying degrading results.

THE UNDERLYING ERROR

The chief reason for these errors is that their propounders accept the position that there is but one meaning to the word ‘is.’ But, like many words in our language, it has more than one meaning. However, as noted above, those who hold to but one meaning of the word, have come up with three varying views of it. There are especially two literal meanings of the verb “to be”: (1) it is the predicate to denote actual existence; (2) it is the predicate to denote actual representation; but the meaning is literal in both instances. Thus, if we should say, A dog is an animal, we express actual existence; but, if we should say, as is so often done, of a picture on the wall, This is my father, my mother, brother, or what not, we would then mean an actual representation. And this would be true even if the picture represented one long ago dead.

The question now properly arises, Do other Scriptures substantiate this view? Take, for example, some of the parables. Before giving specific examples, we would stress that in a parable the thing said is never the thing actually meant: In Matthew 13 Jesus gave the parable of the wheat and the tares, which He explained in response to the disciples’ questions. There He repeatedly used the verb ‘to be’ in various of its forms, saying that he who sowed is (represents) the Devil, and the reapers are (represents) angels.

The same may be said of types in the Bible, which are also representative things, presenting hidden meanings. For example, “This is [John the Baptist – represents] Elias [the Church] that is to come.” “That rock was Christ [represented Christ].” (1 Cor. 10:4) “These women [Sarah and Hagar] are [represents] two covenants.” (Gal. 4:24) In each of these examples the verb ‘is’ means ‘represents’ because a representative thing is interpreted.

Some Biblical institutions are representative things; and, whenever the Bible explains them and uses the verb ‘to be’ to predicate the interpretation, it always means ‘to represent.’ “He [Abraham] received the sign of circumcision” (Rom. 4:11); and Gen. 17:10 says “This [circumcision] is [represents] My covenant.” Clearly enough here, circumcision could be nothing more than a representation when it used the word ‘is’; and much the same may be said of the Passover. When the Jews in subsequent years would be asked by their children what mean these things, the head of the house was to tell them, “It is [represents] the sacrifice of the Lord’s Passover.”

Another consideration proves that the word ‘is’ in these texts is used to predicate actual representation and not actual existence: It is the language that Jesus uses in connection with the cup, “This is the New Testament.” (1 Cor. 11:25; Luke 22: 20) Certainly in this expression the word ‘is’ cannot be the predicate of actual existence; the New Testament, or Covenant, is not a cup at all – it will be a contract between God and man, and mediated by The Christ during the Millennium. Hence, the word ‘is’ here means representation, and not actual existence. It would follow, then, that the same meaning is carried in all the places where Jesus discusses the subject of the bread and the wine.

There is yet another point in proof: It is St. Paul’s direct explanation of the meaning of the Lord’s Supper in 1 Cor. 11:26. Immediately after quoting our Lord’s language in explanation of the bread and the wine, he explains it and the Church’s participation in it by these words: “For as often as ye eat this bread and drink this cup, ye do shew [preach, reveal] the Lord’s death.” Preaching, revealing are done in two ways ‑ in words and in acts. When we keep the feast we do not speak; therefore, the announcement must be in acts, not words – in pantomime; and this is done in the breaking of the bread, and in the drinking of the wine. Thus, these acts are a representation of something else. Since the breaking of the bread and the pouring of the wine represent Jesus’ death, the bread and wine must then self‑evidently represent His body and His blood. Therefore, all of the foregoing is clear proof that the word ‘is’ does not mean existence, but actual representation.

STILL DEEPER THOUGHT

The Lord in Luke 22:20, and St. Paul in 1 Cor.10:16,17; 11:25 teach a still deeper meaning to these words. By the language, “We, being many, are one bread, one body,” the Apostle shows that the one bread to be broken represents the Church as well as Jesus, for the Church is the body of Christ. (Rom. 12:4; Eph. 1:22; Col. 1:24) In 1 Cor. 10:17 the Apostle calls the Church both the one bread and the one Body of Christ, which in the preceding verse he says is represented by the bread of blessing. Hence, the bread, in addition to representing the body of Jesus, represents the Church also as Christ’s body. That being true, it would be equally correct to say the bread and wine represent the actual body and blood of the Church, the participants in the service, if that statement were true of our Lord. But no one with the spirit of a sound mind would think to suggest such a meaning to the Apostle’s words.

It is well here to stress the words of Jesus in Luke 22:20, Diaglott: “This cup is the New Covenant in My blood, that in your behalf being poured out.” As the authorized version translates this, the average reader would conclude that the clause, “which is shed for you,” modifies and explains the word blood; but the Greek grammar forbids such a construction. The participle translated ‘poured out’ and its governing article do not modify the Greek word for blood. The participle translated ‘poured out’ with its governing article sustains the same grammatical relation to the word ‘is’ as the Greek words translated New Covenant. Therefore, our Lord’s statement means that the cup by His blood (merit) represents two things: the New Covenant, and that being poured out for us. What is meant by the latter? Since a cup in Biblical symbols represents experiences that the Lord pours out for His people, we would understand that the cup in this connection also represents the sufferings unto death of the Church with Him.

Much of what has been presented herein has been gleaned from the writings of others, with some of our own thoughts interspersed; and it is our hope that our effort will prove a blessing to all who endeavor to “walk in newness of life.” Also, we would stress that it is not our intention to supplant the Passover article in Volume 6, the reading of which we heartily recommend to all. Thus, we pray for all a special blessing in the preparation for, and participation in this 1988 service, as we “do this in remembrance.” The Lord lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace!

Sincerely your brother, John J. Hoefle, Pilgrim

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“This is my body,” the Master said,

“Which is broken for you this day;

And this is my blood, which is being shed

To open for you the way.”

Oh, the pain that the Savior bore,

And the grief that the Pure One knew!

By men depraved He was bruised sore‑­

Though not for Himself, but you.

Man could not grasp His wondrous thought,

Nor the matchless love that was shown.

It was an unfriendly race He sought;

He suffered and died alone.

And now comes the call to His faithful few:

“You may share what is left behind

Of the grief and suffering the Loved One knew

For the blessing of all mankind.”

So may each to the table worthily come‑­

Nor earthly loss bemoan

Till he finally hear that sweet “Well done!

Sit down in my Father’s throne.”

(Reprint of No. 201, March, 1972 with the exception of dates)

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LETTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST

Dear Sister Hoefle: Greetings through His dear Name!

Was very glad to learn of your successful operation – and now we all anxiously await, in God’s due time, your recovery as this is permitted. Be assured of our warm Christian love for you all! God bless and care for you in His own way and due time.

Your brother in His Name ------- (TRINIDAD)

PS ‑ Sister especially sends her wishes for your early recovery.

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Dear Sister Hoefle: Grace and peace through our Beloved Redeemer!

Hoping this letter finds you in good health. My aunt (Mrs. Florence Warnock) has had surgery recently and is making good progress.

All here are enjoying good health and are looking forward to a family fellowship for the holidays. I don’t believe that I told you that the Fresno Free Library accepted 12 additional CHARLES TAZE RUSSELL BOOKS for distribution in their other branches. After reading the Epiphany Bible Students articles and David Horowitz’ writings, it seems the book is still receiving widespread acceptance.

The Epiphany articles continue to bless and give us a spiritual boost of encouragement. In these troubled times we find many reasons to be discouraged, especially when we find so few to share the Truth with ‑ and fewer yet that appreciate it when they hear it. [Our Lord indicated a scarcity of Truth by His question: “Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find the faith (the Truth) on the earth?” – Luke 18:8]

How we long for the day when the Good Tidings of Great Joy which shall be to all people, will be appreciated by all.

Our Christian love and prayers go with you and yours through this holiday season and coming New Year. Please use the enclosed check in any way you see fit.

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

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Dear Emily,

What a lovely surprise to receive your letter. .... The Lord bless you for your generosity. To answer your questions ‑ I did in fact write you that I was receiving David Horowitz’ Bulletins which I have taken time to read. Also Bible Light Star. I have read Michael Pragai’s FAITH AND FULFILMENT and have recommended it to many.

Malcolm Hedding who wrote For The World’s Sake and For Zion’s Sake which we sent you – has been appointed Honorary Chaplain of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem. I have been doing a lot of traveling including two recent overseas trips. The year seems to have passed very quickly but we Praise God for His provisions and in His keeping power upon our lives and ministry.

May the Lord richly bless and encourage you as you enter 1988.

With kind regards, ------- (AFRICA)

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Dear Sister: Peace and blessing in Jesus’ dear Name!

Thank you for your lovely card and also for your good letter of January 4. I haven’t received the January Epiphany paper yet. ...

I received a good letter from Michael Pragai. He said he was back home (Dec.13) “after a lengthy hospital stay for major surgery”... He said he appreciated my letter and card – said though he was back home he was not yet fully recovered.

The enclosed news article is about Prof. Ivan F. Martinov, a non‑Jew living in Israel who suffered much in Russia. I thought it interesting. His address is at the end of the article. ... I was wondering if he would like a Pastor Russell book and a Divine Plan of the Ages. Step One is interesting ‑ the work is a little like Michael Pragai wrote about ‑ only Prof. Martinov is especially dealing with Russian Christians. ...

The media is really into “Israel bashing” as to the unrest in Israel, etc. Tonight Ted Kopel on NiteLine has Arafat. NBC is one of the channels that has a lot of anti‑Israel commentary.

I seem to feel quite good most of the time. I am trying to keep going to be a better person. I pray God will watch over you and bless you in Jesus’ dear Name. Amen.

With love from your sister in the Truth, ------- (CALIFORNIA)

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Dear Sister,

Please correct my address. I wish you all Blessings and Health, dear Sister.

Thank you for the papers. Please send me two issues each mailing if possible. Thank you!

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

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NO. 385: RETROSPECT AND PROSPECT (PART TWO)

No. 385B

THE JEWS

“Jews Laud Pope’s Remarks On Homeland, Holocaust: The Pope sat on an upholstered armchair next to Mordecai Waxman, the spokesman for the Jewish leadership. ‘After the tragic extermination of Shoah [Holocaust], the Jewish people began a new period of history,’ John Paul said. ‘They have a right to a homeland, as does any civil nation, according to international law.’

“‘What has been said about a right to a homeland, also applies to the Palestinian people,’ he continued. ‘While all concerned must honestly reflect on the past – Muslims no less than the Jew and Christians – it is time to forge these solutions which will lead to a just, complete and lasting peace in that area.”‘ (Orlando Sentinel, September 12, 1987)

Yes, the Jews have a right to a homeland ‑ the homeland that God gave to them, and not to just any homeland. Any ‘civil nation, according to international law’ if able to give other nations and peoples a homeland, we are sure it will be agreeable to all concerned. God’s promise to the Jews is stronger than what any nation can give to any other peoples or nations ‘according to international law.’ They have an unbreakable claim to their homeland. When any one says that other nations have equal rights with the Jews to the homeland that God gave to them, they are doing despite to God’s Word, whether knowingly and willfully, or ignorantly.

God’s promises to the Jews are unconditional: “For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean [a proof that the Jews will be regathered into their homeland in an unclean condition]: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will put my spirit within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.” (Ezek. 36:24‑28)

Self‑evidently, the Pope is not a racist. When God selected the Jews from all the heathen nations around them to be their God and bless them, was God a racist? “You only have I known of all the families of the earth: Therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.” (Amos 3:2) God’s punishment of 1845 years to the Jewish nation is over. He has pardoned all their sins and iniquities of the past. The Jews’ difficulties – whatever they may be – are nothing more than what is common to all nations in this time of the “great tribulation.” (Matt. 24:21) They are still imperfect the same as all mankind. Isa. 63:4 describes this situation: “The day of vengeance is in mine heart.”

God is faithful that promised.(Heb. 10:23) “I will bring them again to this land: and I will build them and not pull them down; and I will plant them, and not pluck them up.” (Jer. 24:6)

The Pope suggests that ‘all concerned must honestly reflect on the past,’ so we will reflect a little on Papacy’s past: During the reign of the Papal system, when the Popes claimed to be the vicar of Jesus even as they continue to teach, the Jews were hunted, hated, tortured and murdered. The Papacy tried to eliminate the Jews altogether, but God would not permit them to do that. The Bible, too, was burned, but its Author preserved it. The Bible is still the world’s best seller. Not only were the Jews tortured and murdered, but faithful Christian who were called heretics, were also persecuted, some being burned at the stake while others were banished. The Dark Ages under the Papal dominion was indeed a bloody and disgraceful history.

The Inquisition first established by Pope Innocent III, in 1204, was only a part of the bloody history of the Papacy. Torquemada gloats over their success as he records, “Men and women burnt alive, 10,220; burnt in effigy, 6,840.” Diego Desa, Cardinal Jimminez de Cisneros and Adrian de Florencia, adds to Torquemada’s list which brings the number to 347,704.

The New Covenant (Jer. 31:31) will be made with the Jews who will bless all the families of the earth. Christians who become Jews at the beginning of the Kingdom will join the natural Jews in their missionary work to the world. Christ’s Kingdom will be Israelitish. As our Lord said, “Salvation is of the Jews.” (John 4:22) When the real Kingdom is established: “They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters that cover the sea.” (Isa. 11:9)

“Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.” (Isa. 60:1,3)

“And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.” (Isa. 2:3)

“Vatican Recognition Of Israel – Missed Opportunity In Miami: The rabbis smiled and the pope smiled, but they were thinking different thoughts.

“For a while it looked as though the Jewish delegation might boycott Friday’s meeting with Pope John Paul II in Miami. Jews were hurt and angry because the pope had received Kurt Waldheim, Austria’s president who stands accused of Nazi activities during World War II, with full ceremony at the Vatican. ...

“Was anybody satisfied in Miami? Would John Paul choose this occasion to announce that Vatican City state, which has diplomatic relations with 51 countries, finally had decided to recognize the state of Israel?

“The answer was a crushing disappointment to Jews and to Christians who do not understand the intricacies of Vatican diplomacy. ...

“But instead of granting diplomatic recognition, which has been anxiously sought moments earlier in an address to the pope by Rabbi Mordecai Waxman, chairman of the International Jewish Committee, John Paul II repeated a longstanding observation that both Palestinians and Jews need a homeland.

“This came after Rabbi Waxman had said candidly that the Waldheim disagreements had not been ‘totally resolved.’ He said that ‘hatred of Jews and Judaism is on the rise in some part of the world,’ but he did not speak of the hostility of the Arab countries with which the Vatican does exchange ambassadors. They include Iran and Syria.

“The Miami confrontation, friendly in the face of disagreement, was more than a public‑relations exercise. But it points up some of the difficulty of interfaith dialogue. ...

“The Roman Catholic Church is first a religion, but not much like religious denominations familiar to non‑Catholics. It is a church and state. Most churches do not issue passports, operate a postal system, exchange ambassadors with other states, engage in international banking and enter directly in diplomatic negotiations, as in Central America.

“Anti‑Semitism now is officially and convincingly denounced by the Catholic Church, but that has not always been so. ...

“It is why‑many Christians are embarrassed and befuddled by the reasons, still unknown, for a popular pope to pass up an opportunity for reconciliation that existed for a hopeful hour in Miami.” (A.E.P. Wall, Orlando Sentinel, September 16, 1987)

“Cardinal’s Anti‑Jewish Utterances Jeopardized Repeal Of UN Anti‑Israel Draft: While the Zionism‑racism’ or ‘hate‑the Jew’ resolution is still on the books here at the UN and efforts are made by some Member States to have it erased, some delegations influenced by rigid Catholic doctrine in the spirit of the anti‑Jewish remarks which the Vatican’s Joseph Cardinal Ratainger recently made are likely to withhold their support for such a move.

“The Cardinal, known as having a great deal of influence on Pope John Paul II, is quoted as having declared that, in dialogue with the Jews, Christians should pursue the ‘theological line’ that Judaism finds its fulfillment in Christianity and, for Jews to be ‘saved,’ they have to accept the cross.

“No wonder Rabbi Marc Tanenbaum of the American Jewish Committee reacted in anger by stating that the Cardinal had failed to acknowledge ‘the vitality and autonomy of Judaism. He simply provides no place for Judaism and hence no space for dialogue.’ Tullia Zavi, president of the Union of Italian Jewish communities in Italy, reacted in a similar vein. ‘The Cardinal’s remarks,’ she declared, ‘appeared to be an invitation to conversation’ rather than dialogue.

“Jewish leaders, no doubt, are embarrassed by this new manifestation of the leopard never changing his spots and the Pope’s continued propagation of the Faith, i.e., his own contempt for everyone else’s. While only the overly optimistic and unduly submissive of our leaders will be surprised by this reaffirmation of the obvious, it is more important to analyze if this new outbreak of anti‑Jewish directives by the Vatican will also manifest itself here at the UN and elsewhere on the international scene.

“To counteract this ‘evil empire’s’ influence, Christian theologians who are friendly toward Israel and the Jewish people should be mobilized.

“In this context, it is important to note that on the very day that the news of the Cardinal’s provocative statement was reported in the press, your correspondent received a communication from a noted Christian scholar, Kenneth W. Rawson, who heads the Bible Students Congregation of New Brunswick, New Jersey. This communication, touches upon a statement he made at Sukkot at a unique ceremony held in a North New Jersey Sukkah ... Representing the voice of a true Christian, its contents are worth noting, especially in the light of the current negative Vatican message. ‘I have a sense of shame,’ Bible Student Rawson stated, ‘that in the name of Christianity your people were persecuted for centuries. I can only say that this was not true Christianity, but churchianity. I have come to you in the Bible Student tradition of Pastor Charles Taze Russell, whose early Zionist work has been documented in David Horowitz’ book, ‘AN EARLY AMERICAN CHRISTIAN ZIONIST.’ Until his death in 1916, he was held in high esteem by the leaders of American Jewry. The tradition continued as the clouds of the Holocaust began to gather in the late 1930s.

“‘In this era of mass assimilation, I have a dream. Through the audio‑visual media, I want to say to my Jewish friends: don’t convert to Christian denominations, don’t assimilate; rather cherish the Torah, cherish your heritage and support Israel. By Divine Providence, the Star of David is rising in the Middle East. ... Shalom.”‘

“In an effort to clarify the controversial statement he (the Cardinal) had made and which brought sharp reactions from Jewish leaders around the world, the Cardinal via his office released several points of explanation the next day. Among these were: ‘A Christian should acknowledge his heritage from the Old Testament (mazal tof) and know that, according to the Christian faith, ‘the Old Testament was fulfilled in Christ ...When Jews become Christians, they should not forget their Jewish heritage.’ (A missionary appeal!)

“For information about scholar Rawson’s audio‑visual projection, ‘Israel – Appointment With Destiny,’ and his 32‑page pamphlet, ‘The Time to Favor Zion is Come,’ write to Kenneth W. Rawson, 60 Jersey Avenue, Edison, N. J. 08820.” (Behind The Scene At The United Nations, by David Horowitz – 3 December 1987)

Messianic Age Birth Pangs –‘Spark’: During our recent 7‑months’ residency in Jerusalem (marking an aggregate 8‑years residencies) we received a letter from a friend in the U.S. telling us of a CBS TV news special ‘informing’ the public of the situation inside Israel. The producers, no doubt believing themselves to be authorities in such matters, undertook to give a report on the struggle between the secularists and ‘the religious’ within Israel. In so doing they likened the religious revival in Israel to ‘Khomeinism’ in Iran. By such comparison, this CBS news team has revealed their dapple understanding of the people and State of Israel. To make such an assertion explodes a self‑inflicting bomb that to say the least, destroys much of their media credibility.

“NO OTHER people have contributed so much in true knowledge of (and from) Creation, Redemption and the World to come. As Jesus declared, ‘Salvation [deliverance of all types] is of the Jews.’ (John 4:22)

“There is only one authoritative Word and that is the Word of the Almighty. One has to be totally lacking in understanding, or blinded by prejudice, to read the Hebrew Scriptures in the light of today’s happenings and not realize that ‘God has returned to Zion and is uttering His voice from Jerusalem’ (Joel 3). ...

“‘Desire‑to‑be‑like‑the Gentiles’ mentally is engrained in many, especially among the secularists, many of whom are lacking in knowledge of their God‑given heritage. They fear their identity as a Jewish State will be termed ‘racist’ by the rest of the world, and bring on another holocaust from which few might survive.

“BUT THE God‑fearing, Torah (Law)‑observing Jew recognizes God has preserved His people through the ages for such a time as this. There is a great return (repentance) movement on foot whose ranks are swelling to the extent the Yeshivot (Jewish Bible Schools and Seminaries) are bursting their seams. There is a great desire for holiness and to be pleasing in God’s sight (not mere man’s). ...

“Now In The Light of these undeniable truths, for Dan Rather of CBS to compare the religious revival in Israel to Khomeinism, reveals a terrible lack of knowledge, not only of the true situation in Israel, but of the international scene as a whole. Iran has a one‑man, despotic dictatorship. Israel is ruled by law through her parliament, the Knesset. The inner conflict in Israel is the God‑fearing, Bible‑believing versus some rebellious secularists who seek to disregard the order of rule by God’s law for Israel. This can in no way be compared to Iran under Khomeini’s iron fist.

“NOT ONCE in all the Scriptures, including the New Testament, did God ever commission a Gentile to call Jews to repentance. Their own prophets are doing that. This is an internal event, privately conducted by the Lord Himself with His own people, Israel – and no ‘outsiders’ should seek to interfere, or even interpret the events until ‘all facts are in.’

“AS WE APPROACH the establishment of the Messianic Kingdom Age, we will hear more and more clearly the Lord saying, ‘Hands off.’ For ‘all that burden themselves with it [i.e., take upon themselves to judge and call Israel to account] shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it’ (Zechariah 12.3).” (Bible Light Star, Vol. 26, No. 1, pp. 2,31)

“THE ANSWER TO MARK TWAIN’S QUESTION: Mark Twain made no claim to godliness or biblical expertise. Nevertheless, the Jewish people fascinated him like none other. More than that, they left him mind‑boggled. In 1899, Mark Twain wrote an essay called: ‘Concerning the Jews.’ What he wrote is all the more remarkable considering the fact that there would be no Balfour Declaration for nearly twenty years nor an Israel for almost fifty years. Twain said:

“‘If the statistics are right, the Jews constitute but one per cent of the human race. It suggests a nebulous dim puff of star dust lost in the blaze of the Milky Way. Properly the Jew ought hardly to be heard of; but he is heard of, has always been heard of. He is as prominent on the planet as any other people, and his commercial importance is extravagantly out of proportion to the smallness of his bulk. His contributions to the world’s list of great names in literature, science, art, music, finance, medicine and abstruse learning are also way out of proportion to the weakness of his numbers. He has done it with his hands tied behind him. He could be vain of himself, and be excused of it.

“‘The Egyptian, the Babylonian and the Persian rose, filled the planet with sound and splendour, then faded to dream‑stuff and passed away; the Greek and the Roman followed, and made a vast noise, and they are gone; other peoples have sprung up and held their torch high for a time, but it burned out, and they sit in the twilight now, or have vanished. The Jew saw them all, beat them all, and is now what he always was, exhibiting no decadence, no infirmities of age, no weakening of his parts, no slowing of his energies, no dulling of his alert and aggressive mind. All things are mortal but the Jew; all other forces pass, but he remains. What is the secret of his immortality?

“Mark Twain was right. All pass into history except the Jew, who lives on. Jewish contributions continue to enrich the world. Israel survives and even thrives. And new enemies of the Jews still arise to buck the odds. My hope is their numbers will decrease as more Christians like me remind the haters of Mark Twain’s riddle and the biblical answers that a baffled Twain never found!

“But the answer to Mark Twain’s question is simple – emblazoned across the pages of Scripture. The God who gave birth to Israel through its progenitor, Abraham, also guaranteed its preservation and destiny. Prior to Abraham, there was no promised land or chosen people – just self‑destructing pagans whose collective heart was ‘only evil continually.’(Gen. 6:5)” (The Shalom Letter, October, 1987)

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LETTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST

Dear Sister Hoefle,

I received the book, “The Time Is At Hand” about one week ago, and I have finished reading it. I wondered what the Anti‑Christ was, and now I know. I don’t remember whether I told you I want to be put on your mailing list, but I do want to be placed on it.

Also, the book about PASTOR CHARLES TAZE RUSSELL was an eye‑opener [she is a former JW]. I have read it about twice now. I am sending $‑‑ to help with the literature you sent me. Maybe I will be able to send more later on.

Does your organization have a church name or should I send a check to Epiphany Bible Students Ass’n? Thank you so much for the literature. It’s the only thing that has helped me to be able to cope with my daughter’s death.

Sincerely, ------- (MICHIGAN)

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Dear Mr. Horowitz: Greetings in the precious name of Jesus!

Christian Research Institute is an evangelical Christian ministry with branch offices in Canada and Brazil. We publish a magazine three times a year called Christian Research Journal.

Recently we learned about your book, CHARLES TAZE RUSSELL ‑ An Early American Christian Zionist. We would very much be interested in receiving a review copy for review in our journal.

If you are able to supply us with a review copy, please send it to my attention. We will send you a copy of the review when it is published.

Thank you very much, and may God bless you.

Sincerely in Christ, ----------------- (CALIFORNIA)

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My dear Friend David:

Thank you heartily for the latest news in Behind the Scenes at the UN. I have read with much interest your book on Pastor Russell. Many years ago when Mr. Russell was alive he said someone would set him up before the world, and I do believe the Lord made you as that instrument, to have his purpose accomplished, and well written.

I do, with much interest, enjoy your news. Till we both rejoice to see Jerusalem the Capital of Israel, I remain your dear friend. Yours, -------------- ....

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Dear Mr. Horowitz:

I have heard about your book, PASTOR CHARLES TAZE RUSSELL, and am interested in receiving it if possible. I understand the hard cover edition is $15.95, plus $1.50 shipping cost. So I am sending you a check for $17.45.

Thank you very much! Yours sincerely, ---------- (MINNESOTA)

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Dear Friends in Christ:

I have received the literature which you sent me, and I got a lot out of it. I would like to know more about your relationship to other Bible Student groups.

If possible, please send me one of each copy of the last piece of literature that you have. I will be more than happy to reimburse the postage.

Yours in Christ, ------- (LOUISIANA)

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Dear Friends: Greetings!

I am writing to request some information about your organization. First, it would be much appreciated if you could send along some material about your origin and statement of faith.

Also I would be interested in obtaining a catalogue of any tracts, pamphlets, periodicals, books, tape, etc., that you may produce or distribute. Should there be a cost to these catalogues, etc., do feel free to bill me for them.

I would be very grateful for any help you could give me concerning this request.

I look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely, ------- (CANADA)

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We want to express our thanks and appreciation for the many beautiful Christmas cards – especially the assurance of their love and prayers. We wish all our readers a blessed New Year! “The Lord preserveth all them that love Him.” (Psa. 145:20)

THE PROPER DATE for the Memorial for 1988 is March 30, after 6 p.m.

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NO. 385A: RETROSPECT AND PROSPECT (PART ONE)

No. 385A

At the beginning of another year, we thank the Lord for all His benefits toward us, and again express our gratitude in the words of David: “Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness.” (Psa. 65:11) It grieves us that there were so many people during the past year who suffered tragedies from calamities, accidents and diseases. But all these things will be changed in His “due time.” When our Lord says, “Peace be still” (Mark 4:39), there will be a great calm. He will adjust all iniquities and will bring “Good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people” (Luke 2:10) ‑ to all who will learn to love righteousness and hate iniquity. “Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend [stumble] them.” (Psa. 119:165)

Crime is rampant not only in the United States but in all countries: terrorism, robbery, murder, the illegal drugs and alcohol problems. Young people are committing suicide, as well as older people. Their problems are more than they can cope with. There are many good people doing a commendable work for such people and helping the poor and needy ‑ also there are quite a few good organizations reaching out to help people.

Medical science continues to do a noble work in research to find a cure for AIDS and ALZHEIMER, and other incurable diseases. In performing AIDS research, a technician was infected himself in his efforts to help others. Secretary Otis Bowen said, “At least 1.5 million Americans are infected with the AIDS virus but display no symptoms of the disease. More than 40,000 people in the United States have contracted the disease, which killed 28,000 of them. By 1991 the disease will have struck 280,000 people in the United States, and 179,000 of those will have died.” (Orlando Sentinel, October 10, 1987)

“A Rip Van Winkle Waking Today Would Find Few Changes For The Better: Just as a vehicle for putting things into perspective, let’s imagine that the Rip van Winkle story really could happen and that old Rip is just awakening from a 20‑year nap ...

“Rip might be interested to learn that folks are still threatening each other with war and that the major nations of the world have gained enough military might to blow up the Earth several times without having made one inch of progress in relieving the tensions among themselves. And he would find that there is still no danger that peace will break out and throw the world’s military‑industrial economy into chaos. With terrorism on the increase, Rip would find virtually no nation on Earth threatening to wage peace.

“While the past 20 years have brought a few significant inventions, such as smaller computer chips and bigger computers, Rip probably would take more notice of sociological and philosophical changes than industrial advances. ...

“Rip probably would observe that medical science has not found magical cures for diseases like cancer and arthritis during his absence, even though hospital bills and insurance costs might lead him to believe otherwise. And he would learn that the prospects for remedies are mixed: New diseases have appeared, so researchers now have even more problems to solve.

“In some ways Rip might be pleased with what he would learn on awakening. In other ways, he might be led to believe that he died and had gone the wrong way.” (Dick Marlowe, Orlando Sentinel, May 27, 1987)

IN FINANCE

We are in the Time of Trouble as given in Daniel 12:1 and Matthew 24:21. Conditions in the whole world today confirm this. Especially since “Black Monday,” October 19, financial writers are very pessimistic regarding the near future and the long‑range prospects. Many are using the terms such as recession, depression, disaster, chaos and even anarchy.

One newsletter writer states: “Black Monday left Wall Street and Main Street in a state of shock. Nobody has ever seen anything like it. In ferocity it far exceeded any of the three major crash days of 1929 (i.e., October 28 down 12.8%, October 29 down 11.7% and November 6 down 9.9%).”

Writing on this bear market, this same writer continues: “The reason bear markets are deflationary is that during bear markets billions of dollars of assets are lost they disappear into thin air. Already over a trillion dollars in values have been lost in the U.S. markets VIA stocks, bonds, futures, options, mistaken speculative overseas stock exchanges. The U.S. authorities are aware that this nation is so loaded with debt that they see that a recession or depression in the face of the debt‑logged U. S. would be a disaster.”

The U.S. is not alone with these problems. Losses in many foreign markets were severe. The Mexican stock average lost 58% of its value, Australian stock lost 44% from their peak, London was down 33%, Hong Kong 44%, Singapore 48%, Tokyo only 17%.

Another writer states: “Black Monday, October 19 was the largest one‑day percentage decline in the recorded history of the stock market. That is now common knowledge. What has not been recorded is that the day witnessed the most negative daily advance decline ratio in the recorded history of the U.S. stock market. For every stock up that day 38 were down – a 1;4 ratio is normally considered a rout. Black Monday was ten times as bad.”

This same writer states that, “The present condition is only the first phase of the trouble which will proceed to a second phase of deteriorating business conditions and then proceed to a third phase which will witness the final collapse.”

Excerpts from three financial writers follow: (1) “The Great American Stock Market Bubble of the 1970’s has burst, and there is no way to put it back together.” (2) “The U.S. banking system, by most sensible accounting standards, is for the most part broke. This is due mainly to the tremendous loans made to third world countries which will never be paid back.” (3) “At the IMF meeting, no one had any meaningful answers, because there are none ‑ except bankruptcy.”

Such statements make many gloomy, but as Bible Students we know God has a set time for this Time of Trouble; and the Old Order may yet be able to survive longer than any one is able to estimate. However, we know that this Trouble will include War, Revolution, Anarchy and Jacob’s last trouble. Jacob’s last trouble will precede the establishment of Christ’s Mediatorial reign. When Jacob (the Jews in Jerusalem) call upon the Lord in their trouble, “He saveth them out of their distresses.” (See Psa. 107:17‑21)

God has a set time for the duration of this Time of Trouble. We are to wait and be guided by the “signs of the time” for each phase of these troubles. “Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen shine heart.” (Psa. 27:14) “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” (Luke 21:28)

Many financial advisers are recommending to sell stocks, bonds, and securities, and invest in gold, indicating their fear of the future. “Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven [the present ruling powers ‑ ecclesiastical and civil] shall be shaken.” (Luke 21:26) “They shall cast their silver in the streets, and their gold shall be removed: their silver and gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day           of the wrath of the Lord.” Ezek. 7:19) (Contributed)

“Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord’s anger.” (Zeph. 2:3)

“Crash’s Full Impact Will Hit Much Later: Monday began like any other working day ‑ a cup of coffee to my left, a stack of mail to my right. The first envelope proved something of an omen.

“Dow Theory Forecasts, a market letter that polls the nation’s 30 ‘leading advisers,’ revealed that 50 percent of the select group were advising investors to buy common stocks. Twenty‑five percent were advising clients to sell, and 25 percent were advising clients to hold. The first sentence under the digest of opinions said, ‘Despite a volatile market, many advisers remain decidedly bullish.’ It was dated Oct. 19, 1987.

“On Tuesday, Oct. 20, headlines said in the boldface type reserved for world wars and other disasters, ‘DOW DIVED 508.’ Included in the reasoning of experts was one line that is commonly heard but always perplexing: ‘The fact that so many people are worrying about the market is one of the best indicators that life remains in the market.’...

“The stock market had its worst day in history, and only one expert in four saw it coming. One adviser was right on the mark with the comment, ‘The correction is all too real and will be with us a lot longer this year.’

“Lest we be made overconfident by the huge rebound of the market on Tuesday, it might be wise to review history. Alan McConnell, a stock market technical analyst who is president of A‑Mac & Associates, puts it this way: ‘History teaches us that the initial decline is very seldom the final blow. A lower low after a bounce usually takes place some weeks or months later ‑ on consistently less volume.’ ...

“A lot of people have a misconception about the stock market crash of 1929. ... The economy bounced right along for some time following the crash. The soup lines did not form, the Apple Annies did not appear on street corners of the nation’s large cities, and the nation’s depression did not reach disastrous proportions until late 1932. Unemployment, at 3 million in October 1929, reach 10.5 million in March 1933. ...

“The similarity between 1929 and 1987 is well pointed up by a familiar jingle expressing the opinion of common folks in 1930s, that the nation got into the mess it was in by the combination of bad politics, bad banking and a lunatic fringe eager to get in on overnight profits in the stock market.

“It went like this:

‘Hoover blew the whistle

Mellon rung the bell

Wall Street caught the signal

And the country went to hell.’

 “You can still make it work if you insert the words Reagan (Congress if you prefer) and Chemical or Citicorp in the proper places.

 “Not all experts have been wrong. Several warning blasts have been given by people whose opinions should have been respected, among them economist John Galbraith and 1986 Nobel Prize winner James M. Buchanan. Both have sounded alarms that something is wrong with the economy.

“Most timely of the warnings came this month in The Atlantic Monthly in an article titled ‘The Morning After.’ Peter G. Peterson, former U.S. secretary of Commerce, wrote, ‘America is about to wake up to a painful new economic reality, following the biggest binge of borrowing and spending in the history of the nation.’

“Monday ended on a discouraging note. Someone I know had a call at 4 p.m. from someone wanting to sell him an investment. ‘You try to sell me stock on the day when the market is off 500 points!

“‘Geez,’ the caller said. ‘No kidding?”‘ (Dick Marlowe – The Orlando Sentinel, October 25, 1987)

Other Predictions – In our January‑February 1987 article, we stated that the economy in this country and in the world is steadily declining. The United States’ trade deficit has gone from disastrous to catastrophic.

October 19, 1987 will long be remembered as “Black Monday” because the Dow had a 36% drop in one day. In the month of October the Dow dropped from a high of 2722 to a low of 1763. Stock prices fell because they were too high. This was because institutions and individuals had so much cash on hand they didn’t know how to invest it.

Looking back on that day, there was one trillion dollars worth of stock market profits erased in one “whack.” People say these losses were only on paper, but this does not hold up as we continue to have bank failures. This means people are not paying their debts. Building and Loans have been having problems for the past two years. This is due to higher interest rates than people can afford.

It didn’t come out until the first of December that on Tuesday, October 20, the stock market – by extension all the world’s financial markets – faced one of the greatest crises. Stock options and future trading all but stopped during a crucial interval. Many major blue chip stocks, such as IBM, couldn’t be traded. Large and small investors couldn’t sell their stock as there were no buyers.

The Dow Jones average was meaningless because there was no trading. Many investment banking firms urged the New York Stock Exchange to close, and only the intervention of the Federal Reserve and the announcement of corporate stock buy‑back programs saved the market from a total melt down. The story of that Tuesday disclosed major weaknesses in the United States’ financial system and raises the specter that such a crises could arise again. The full details on what happened that fateful week are the subject of major inquiries by a Presidential Commission and a Congressional Committee.

Economists are predicting that during 1988 the inflation rate will be about the same as this year ‑ a shade over 5%. The weaker dollar will make imports more expensive (cars, electronics, etc.). A Presidential election year makes political unrest on both sides. Precious metals should hold their own. The consumer price index from December 1986 to December 1987 should be around 4.7% (est.). In 1988 it should be approximately 5.0%, which will be the highest since 1981 when it was 8.9%.

Economists are also predicting 1988 will be a “roller coaster” when it comes to finances. The stock market will edge up the beginning of the year, and then it could drop again during the balance of the year. They do not expect a high rise as it was before October 19.

IN RELIGION

“Old Fight Over Bible Takes On New Intensity: For millions of Christians, a literal belief in the Bible – with all the miracles, bloody battles, inspiring teachings and hymns of praise – is their main defense of God and Jesus, the man they believe was God’s son. ...

“Disagreement over the concept has: Nearly torn apart the nation’s largest Protestant denomination, the 14.6‑million member Southern Baptist Convention.

“Sparked an investigation of three professors at the Christian Reformed Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

“Barred women from the ministry in many churches. Left more than 3 million Lutherans outside the new Lutheran church being formed this year.

“Caused pain and confusion in other denominations. ‘That’s a very bitter debate, and it goes to the very heart of Christianity,’ said the Rev. Truman Dollar, pastor of the 8,000‑member Temple Baptist Church in Redland Township, Michigan. ...

“Rev. R. L. Hymers says, ‘The liberal theological professor, the prostitute, the drug addict, and the murderer – all agree on one thing” – that the Bible is not the Word of God.’ ...

“The Gallop Organization reports about one‑third of all Americans believe the Bible is the literal ‘Word of God,’ but it is dramatically lower since 1963, when two‑thirds of Americans surveyed described it as literal.

“‘The proportion of Americans who have some college education has just about doubled since mid‑1960s and this kind of change is related to that,’ said Jim Castelli, co‑author of a syndicated newspaper column for Gallup...

“Many other Christian denominations, including the Roman Catholic Church, have felt the heat of this battle of the Bible. ...

“‘The increased interest in Bible study has made inerrancy a burning issue for Catholics,’ Rev. Harry Benjamin said.” (Orlando Sentinel, September 12, 1987

Many Christians take symbols, parables and types literally, but they are not literal statements. There are many texts in the Bible that are literal, however. Our Bibles are only the translation of God’s inspired Word – the real Bible. We believe that most of our translators were sincere in their efforts. But all of them were prejudiced because of their belief as to how it should be translated.

The Emphasized translation by Dr. Rotherham, is one of the best. The King James version is one of the most beautiful, although it contains many mistakes. Most all of the translations contain some of God’s inspired Word – enough that we will find God has a Plan of Salvation for all mankind. In Eph. 3:11 the Diaglott translation gives “Plan,” but the King James translation gives “Purpose” in this text.

When a text does not harmonize with God’s character of WISDOM, LOVE, JUSTICE AND POWER, it is either misinterpreted, or spurious. The mistakes are not inspired. Only God’s Word is inspired. There are seven axioms we should follow: (1) A doctrine must harmonize with itself; (2) With all Truth; (3) With all Scriptural doctrine; (4) With God’s character; (5) With the Ransom; (6) With facts; (7) With the purposes of God. There is much confusion on the interpretation of the Bible. God is not the Author of confusion – man is. He is a God of Truth and harmony. We are thankful for these texts: “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” (1 Tim. 2:3‑6) These texts are literal. God is faithful that promised. (Heb. 10:23)

Jehovah’s Witnesses: Upon calling at a house recently, a JW told the lady of the house that the Witnesses no longer objected to the reading of the Studies in the Scriptures by Pastor Russell – that, in fact, they were republishing the Studies in the Scriptures. Whether her information is true or not, there is some implication in their Watchtower that they are continuing the work started by Pastor Russell in 1885: “In 1892 missionary work in foreign countries was considered. Today, the Bible Students (?) – well known as Jehovah’s Witnesses – preach ‘this good news of the kingdom’ in 208 countries and territories and in some 200 languages – Matthew 14:14).” (Watchtower September 15, 1987, page 29)

Pastor Russell taught “Glad Tidings of Great Joy” to all people, whether they joined his organization or not. The Witnesses teach “Bad Tidings of Great Misery” to all who do not join their organization before Armageddon. The majority of people will not join them. The Witnesses claim that they are “God’s organization on earth.” Pastor Russell made no such claim for his organization. He simply used the Watch Tower, and other literature, to teach what he believed to be the Truth. Evidently, the Witnesses have cast Jesus’ Words aside – that there would be a resurrection of the good and evil. (John 5:29) Also they have cast aside Acts 24:15: “There shall be a resurrection of the just and unjust.”

As they continue with their gross errors, they are attempting to “pains their faces” as did Jezebel. (2 Kings 9:30) The Pope, too, is attempting to “paint his face.” Jezebel is a type of the Catholic Church, as well as the Jehovah’s Witnesses – the prototype of the Roman Catholic Church. Antitypical Jezebel will be destroyed from within, and we see this happening in both these “systems of error.”

The JWs advertise their purity by telling us they have disfellowshiped 37,426 of their former brethren – mostly because of “sexual immorality.” Whether they disfellowshiped all these people, or whether they left of their own accord is debatable. Some may have been disfellowshiped because they questioned some of the claims of the Witnesses. (See Watchtower, September 15, 1987, page 13)

When any one was disfellowshiped during Pastor Russell’s day, it was mainly done by the various classes, who were the mistresses in matters pertaining to Matt. 18:17. Pastor Russell did not advertise these disfellowshipment cases in the Watch Tower, even though he no doubt knew about them.

“His punishment is not at all the object. Punishment is not ours but God’s... Indeed, even if the transgressor refused to hear (obey) the decision of the entire Church, no punishment is to be inflicted or even attempted. What then? Merely the Church is to withdraw from him its fellowship and any signs of manifestations of brotherhood.

“At no time in these proceedings are the faults or failings of the offender to be made public property – scandalizing him or the Church. Nor is he to be harshly spoken of even after the separation; just as we are not to berate, or rail against, heathen men and publicans, but are to ‘speak evil of no man’ and to ‘do good unto all men.’ (Titus 3:2; Gal. 6:10)” (Volume 6 of Studies in the Scriptures, p. 290)

The above is quite different from the way the JW’s treat their disfellowshiped brethren. We know of cases where such brethren were persecuted and railed against by the Witnesses. These disfellowshiped brethren are not permitted to visit their families – and some of these families won’t receive the ex‑JWs in their homes, and won’t even speak to their sons, daughters, brothers and sisters who are disfellowshiped. The following letter is more about the JWs and ex‑JWs:

“Dear Andy, Bill and Doug,

Since you say you love Jesus, why do you not obey Him?... In Matt. 6:33 Jesus said ‘Seek ye first the Kingdom.’ So it is sad indeed that you ‘reach out’ to the JWs and others, only to lead them down the path into deeper and deeper pagan darkness. Yes, Bill – I now have 12 Bible studies in ex‑JWs in Ghana and Nigeria, and I am involved with a group who are sending food and clothing to our brethren in Africa. Jesus died to save us and to assure us of life in the Kingdom here on earth. It is a sin to teach the devil’s lie of a ‘soul’ floating off to heaven or hell at the moment of death.

“Have not the JWs suffered enough at the hands of the Watchtower? It is double cruelty to add to this pain. I just want you to know that many are working to help the ex‑JWs – not to hurt them. Joan Ashley, N. H.” (The New Creation, Sept‑Oct 1987, pp. 23 and O)

No doubt our readers are well acquainted with the PTL‑TV Evangelist scandal, but they may appreciate the following reports from our local newspaper which puts the matter in proper perspective:

“TV Holy Wars Are Hardly God’s Work: Those televangelists smiling through their telegenic teeth as they talk of love and knife one another in the back have little to do with religion and everything to do with market shares and cash flow. It is not a holy war over doctrine or even sin. It’s a corporate takeover fight to determine who will get to fleece the sheep. ...

“As entertainment, it is a great show. Jerry Falwell and John Ankerberg make J. R. Ewing and Angela Channing look like benign bunglers. The sincerity that drips from Jim and Tammy Bakker is Emmy‑level acting. ...

“Those who peddle religion for personal profit have done far more harm than picking the pockets of their supporters. In a nation that has an increasing hunger for moral guidance and spiritual comfort, they have made religion a dirty joke. They have exploited the generosity with which their followers have given money and made it seem a foolish naivete.” (Joan Beck, Orlando Sentinel, June 3, 1987)

“Signing Off: The Rev. Jerry Falwell is pulling his Old‑Time Gospel Hour off nearly 50 TV stations. Spokesman Mark DeMoss said donations from viewers were down $5.3 million over the past six months, apparently because of the publicity about the PTL scandal.” (Orlando Sentinel, October 6, 1987)

“He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.” (Psa. 2:4) “The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand and seek God.” (Psa. 14:2)

“The Time Has Come For Prayer Tower World: Oral Roberts’ award‑winning evangelistical  rendition of P. T. Barnum – ‘a sucker is born every minute’ – is causing more than casual interest in prayer towers.

“Roberts climbed his Oklahoma prayer tower to fast until the faithful poured into the coffers of Oral Roberts University. Therefore, I predict a flourish in the construction of prayer tower time‑share condos around the country. Moreover, Disney World; make room for Prayer Tower World. ...

“Full page ads in newspapers and magazines could boast: ‘Buy one week or more of this innovative lifestyle. First 10 buyers receive lifetime subscription to syndicated Jim and Tammy or Jimmy and Oral programs.

“When Prayer Tower World is complete, Oral Roberts – for a nominal donation, of course – might consider coming to cut the ribbon during the grand opening. Or better, he could buy one of the units – say the last week in March – and perform an annual reenactment of his now famous ‘God will kill or else routine.”‘ (Bill Bond, Orlando Sentinel, March 27, 1987)

“Takeover Talk Makes TV Religion Sound More Than Ever Like Big Business: The  argument over whether some religion is big business in disguise has been going on a long time, and those who argue that it is are getting a lot of ammunition as the electronic‑evangelist wars gain momentum. But recent events are showing us that cable TV evangelism should never be confused with pious religion. ...

“Oral Roberts sees a lot of visions these days, including a 900‑foot Jesus. Oral also revealed that he once wrestled with the devil in his own home. He didn’t say who won.

“And then there is Pat Robertson, the great soldier and hernia healer who once changed the direction of a hurricane. Pat doesn’t want to spoil and damage his budding political career by taking sides in the Jim and Tammy vs. Swaggart & Falwell tag match. Honestly, Folks, I didn’t make up this stuff. I only know what I read in the newspapers and what I see on television. ...

“The more ludicrous the plot gets, the more money people send in to keep the ‘ministries’ going so that the devils can be chased away from the safe deposit box. ... (Dick Marlowe, Orlando Sentinel, March 27, 1987)

NO. 384: BABE OF BETHLEHEM

November‑December 1987

No. 384

"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger."  —Luke 2:11,12)

WHY WAS THIS BABE EXPECTED?

Why were all men in expectation of him at the time of his birth? What was to be peculiar about him to lead Israel to expect his birth? The answer to this question is that God had made a certain promise centuries before and the promise had not been ful­filled. This promise contained the thought that a holy child would be born, and that in some way, not explained in the promise, this child would bring the blessing the world needed. Therefore every mother amongst the Israelites was very solicitous that she might be the mother of a son rather than a daughter, that perchance she might be the mother of this promised child. Thus the matter went on for years until, finally, the child was born.

The promise back of the expectation was that which God made to Abraham, saying, "In thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed." From that time forward Abraham began to look for the promised Seed – the promised child. He looked first of all to his own children, and was finally informed that it would not be one of his children direct, but through their children, at some remote date, this child should be born – the Seed of Abraham. From that time onward, all the Israelites were waiting for the birth of the child that should bring the blessing.

But why was a Messiah necessary? Why wait at all for the birth of the child? The answer to this question is that sin had come into the world; that God had placed our first parents – holy, pure and free from sin – in the glorious conditions of the Garden of Eden with every favorable prospect and everlasting life at their command if they con­tinued in harmony with God. But by reason of their disobedience they came under Divine displeasure and sentence of death. This sentence of death has brought in its wake aches, pains, sorrows, tears, sighing, crying, dying and death – all of these experiences as the result of sin.

Our Heavenly Father said to our first parents – and this was the first intimation that He gave them of a deliverance – that "The seed of the woman shall bruise the ser­pent's head." The serpent in this expression means Satan ‑ all the powers of evil, everything adverse to humanity, everything adverse to the blessings which God had given them, and which they had lost by disobedience. But the promise was vague and they under­stood little about the "seed of the woman" and "bruising the serpent's head." It merely meant in an allegorical way a great victory over sin and Satan, without explaining how it should come.

So mankind continued to die; they continued to have aches and pains and sorrows; they continued going down to the tomb. They realized that what they needed was some Savior to come and deliver them from the power of sin, to deliver them from the death penalty of sin – a Savior who would be, in other words, a Life‑giver. They were dying and needed new life. This is the meaning of the word Savior in the language used by our Lord and the apostles. They were hoping and expecting that God would send a Life‑giver.

It was on this account that they were so greatly concerned regarding the promise made to Abraham ‑ "In thee and in thy Seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed" – they shall be granted a release from sin and death. In no other way could mankind be blessed. It would be impossible to bless mankind except by releasing them from sin and death. Hence, the Scriptures tell us of God's sympathy; that God looked down from His holy habitation, and beheld our sorrow, and heard, figuratively, "the groaning of the prisoners" – humanity – all groaning and travailing under this penalty of death – some with few aches and pains, and some with more aches and pains; some with few sorrows and some with greater sorrows, but all groaning and travailing in pain.

But God's sympathy was manifested; and we read that, "He looked down and beheld that there was no eye to pity and no arm to save" and with "his own arm he brought salvation." This is what was promised to Abraham – that one should come from his posterity who would be the Savior of the world; and because this promise was made to Abraham and to his seed, they were marked out as separate from all other nations and peoples. To the Jewish nation alone belonged this great honor – that through them should come this salvation. Hence, from that time onward the Jews spoke of themselves as God's chosen people, the people whom God had promised to bless, and through whom He would bring a blessing to all others. Therefore, all other people were called heathen (or nations, which the word means). Israel was thus separated because God's covenant was with them, and not with the others. But God's covenant with Israel was for the blessing of all the others: "In thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed." Now we have the "why" of this wonderful babe's being born.

HOW WAS THIS BABE PECULIAR ‑ HOLY, HARMLESS, UNDEFILED?

How could he be a Savior? In what way could he be different from any other babe? Why not use some other babe as the one through whom salvation should come? The answer of the Bible is that salvation could not come to mankind unless there should be a satisfaction of justice on account of original sin. That must be the first consideration. The penalty, "Dying, thou shalt die," pronounced against the first man, must be met before the world could be blessed.

Why not let any man die? Because all were under the sentence of the original condemnation, and none could be a ransom‑price or a substitute. Hence the necessity for a specially born babe, different from any other babe. In what way was this One differently born? The Bible explains to us very distinctly that he was not begotten of an earthly father. Although Joseph was espoused to Mary, yet this child was not the child of Joseph. The Bible explains that this child was specially begotten by Divine power, in the mother, though she was still a "virgin" when she brought forth the child.

This is the Scriptural proposition; and while it may not seem clear to some, yet the Word of God standeth sure. If the Redeemer was not perfect then He could not be the Savior of the world. The promised redemption implied that Jesus would be perfect; it implied that He would be as the first man was before he sinned. "For since by man came death, by man shall come also the resurrection of the dead"; "As all in Adam die, even so shall all in Christ be made alive."

So this One must be, as the Apostle declares, "holy, harmless, undefiled and separate from sinners." (Heb. 7:26) He must be entirely distinct and separate from humanity so far as sinful features were concerned. If we had time it would be interesting to go into the scientific features – of how a perfect child could be born from an imperfect mother. If we can have a perfect life germ we can have a perfect child from an imperfect mother. If a breeder of stock wishes to raise the standard of his stock, he selects a fine bull, a male goat, or a male ram, and thus he improves the entire herd. And so, if we had perfect fathers, we would soon have a perfect race. But there is no father who can produce a perfect child. Hence it was necessary in this case (and the Scriptures declare it was accomplished) that God should beget this Son by power from on high. Therefore, that which was born of the "virgin" was separate and distinct from all humanity. His life came not from an earthly father, but from His Heavenly Father.

WHO WAS HE THUS BORN?

It is written that before He became flesh Jesus had an existence; as He declared, "Before Abraham was, I am." Again, in one of His prayers He said, "Father glorify thou me with the glory that I had with thee before the world was." The Revelator tells us that "He was the beginning of the creation of God," and Paul says that "by him all things were made." And so our Lord Jesus was not only the beginning, but also the active agent of the Father in all the creative work in the angelic world and in the creation of humanity, and in all things that were created.

The whole matter is summed up by the Apostle John. We will give a more literal translation of "In the beginning was the Word." [This expression, Word, in the Greek is Logos. The thought behind the word Logos is that in olden times a king, instead of speaking his commands directly to his people, sat behind a lattice work, and his Logos, or messenger, or word, or representative, stood before the lattice work, and gave the message of the king to the people in a loud tone of voice. The king himself was not seen. So this is the picture the Scriptures give us of how Jesus was the express representative of the Heavenly Father, the one through whom the Heavenly Father made Himself known ‑ the Word, or the Logos. So we read in the first chapter of John], "In the beginning was the Logos, and the Logos was with the God, and the Logos was a god. The same was in the beginning with the God. By him were all things made, and without him was not anything made."

In other words, Jesus was the direct creator of all things. He was the Divine Power, Agent, Word, Messenger, the Logos of Jehovah. He did all the great work of creation; but He Himself was the first of God's direct creation, the First‑born of all creatures, that in all things He might have the pre‑eminence – the first place.

When the time came that our Heavenly Father made known His great purpose that He would bless the world, He gave opportunity to this First‑begotten One ‑ this One begotten of the Father – to be the servant in this great work He intended to accomplish for mankind. Consequently, the Scriptures state that "for the joy set before him he endured the cross, despising the shame." And now He has sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. He has this great reward because of His obedience even unto death, the death of the cross.

The Apostle speaks of Him as having been rich, but for our sakes becoming poor, that through His poverty we might be made rich. He tells us how He left the glory which He had with the Father and humbled Himself to the human nature. Why? Because, as already stated, it was necessary that some one should become man's Redeemer, an angel could not redeem man, neither could an animal redeem man. The Divine law is "an eye for an eye; a tooth for a tooth; a man's life for a man's life." This was to teach us a great lesson: that perfect human life having been condemned to death, it would require a perfect life to redeem it. It was therefore necessary that Jesus should become the "Man Christ Jesus," in order "that he, by the grace of God, might taste death for every man."

WHAT RESULTS HAVE FOLLOWED?

The results that have followed have been that He Himself proved His own faithfulness. "Being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross" – the most ignominious form of death. It pleased the Father thus to prove Him, not only by death, but by the most ignominious form of death – dying as a culprit, being crucified between two thieves. What a terrible ignominy to die thus!

It would be ignominy enough for us in our imperfection, but for Him, perfect, "holy, harmless, undefiled and separate from sinners," it must have been a cause for deep and poignant sorrow. Having completed the laying down of His life, at the end of the three and half years, He cried, "It is finished!" What? Not His work, for much of that lay before Him! He merely finished this part of the work, finished laying down His life a ransom‑price.

What next? After His death came His resurrection; and we read that "God raised him from the dead on the third day." According to the Scriptures He was raised up from death a glorious being – "sown in corruption, raised in incorruption; sown in dishonor, raised in glory; sown in weakness, raised in power; sown a natural body, raised a spirit body"; "Wherefore God hath highly exalted him and given him a name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, those in heaven, and those on earth, and those under the earth; that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Phil. 2:10)

But we see not yet all knees bowed to Him. Why not? The Scriptures tell us that before He begins His great work for the world of mankind, He first does a work for the elect, the Church, those who desire to walk in His footsteps, to gather out of the world a bride, to be co‑workers with Him in all the great work of the Father. This is the only work yet in process of accomplishment, and this has been going on now for over eighteen centuries. We see how He gathered out the saintly ones from amongst the Jews, "Israelites, indeed, in whom there was no guile." Not finding enough to make the desired number, He proceeded to gather them from all nations, kindreds, tongues and peoples.

The Apostle tells us that when this bride class is united with Him they shall be parts of the seed of Abraham; as we read, "And if ye be Christ's then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs of the promise." (Gal. 3:29) This statement relates to the promise made to Abraham, that through him and his Seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed. Thus we see the work that Christ is accomplishing now.

The invitation to become the bride of Christ is a very special invitation and those who would be His must walk in the "narrow way." If they will sit in His throne, they must suffer with Him. If they suffer with Him they shall also share His glory. So "the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that shall follow," were not only to be accomplished in our Lord Jesus, personally, but He was an example for all the Church who are justified through faith in His blood. They have a share with Him in His sufferings, and will share in His glory; they have also a share in the First Resurrection; as the Revelator declares, "Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection, on such the second death hath no power; but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years." (Rev. 20:6)

Saint Paul says, "I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord," "that I might know him and the power of his resurrection" (the special resurrection) to the Divine nature. How? By being made conformable to His death; for, "If we suffer with him we shall also reign with him."

WHAT ABOUT THE FUTURE?

All families of the earth are to be blessed, as originally promised in Eden: "The seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent's head." Also, as St. Paul states in the 16th chapter of Romans, "The very God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly." So, then, the next thing in order in the outworking of God's plan will be to bruise Satan and destroy sin.

When and how will this be done? Just as soon as this Age shall end; because this Age is merely for the development of the bride class; then will come the promised free grace to all the families of the earth. Messiah's Kingdom shall come. He has promised that when He shall reign, all His faithful shall reign with Him: "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I overcame and am set down with my Father in his throne." All the Church will be associated with Him in His great Messianic Kingdom; and "he shall reign from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth"; and "Unto him every knee shall bow and every tongue confess, to the glory of God the Father"; "The knowledge of the glory of God shall fill the whole earth." The whole earth will become as the Garden of Eden. Paradise Lost will be Paradise Restored. The Divine image lost in Adam will be restored to man. Human nature will be brought to perfection. But the glorious reward to the Church will be the Divine nature, to sit at His right hand, and to bless the world of mankind. Man will become not only perfect, having all that Adam had, but will have additional knowledge and character; and there is every evidence that this shall be an eternal blessing.

SHALL NONE BE LOST?

Yes, the Scriptures tell us that some will be lost, and that the loss they shall sustain will be loss of life, and therefore all the pleasures of life. "They shall be as though they had not been"; "They shall be destroyed from amongst the people." St. Peter says, "They shall be destroyed as brute beasts." (Acts 3:23; 2 Peter 2:12)

When? When the eyes of their understanding shall have been opened to see the Lord and to understand His glorious character, and they shall have had opportunity to appre­ciate and enjoy His blessing. When such intentionally reject the grace of God, they shall die the Second Death, from which there is no resurrection, no hope of recovery. But, thank God, there shall be no knowledge of suffering for them; they shall be de­stroyed as brute beasts.

In proportion as we believe in this babe of Bethlehem shall we rejoice today. In proportion as we believe He was manifested on our behalf; in proportion as we believe He died for our sins; in proportion as we recognize Him as the glorified Savior; in proportion as we have surrendered our hearts to Him and seek to do the things well pleasing to Him shall we have the peace of God.

Our hope on behalf of mankind in general is that in God's due time His blessing shall reach all ‑ not the same as that for the Church, but as St. Peter tells us in Acts 3:19‑21, "Times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord, and he shall send Jesus Christ, who before was preached unto you, whom the heavens must retain until the times of restitution of all things spoken by the mouth of all the holy prophets."

(Pastor Russell, Reprints 4963‑4965, February 1, 1912)

THE PRINCIPLES OF LOVE AND JUSTICE CONTRASTED

Nothing is more necessary to the peace and prosperity of the Church of God than that its members should have a clear understanding and appreciation of moral principles, with a full determination to be controlled by them. Even among Christians there are often differences of opinion with reference to principles of action, which greatly in­terfere with spiritual growth and prosperity. Such difficulties most frequently arise through failure to distinguish between the relative claims of love and justice. There­fore we consider it profitable to examine these principles and their operation among the children of God.

Justice is sometimes represented by a pair of evenly poised balances, and sometimes by a square and compass, both of which are fitting emblems of its character. Justice knows no compromise and no deviation from its fixed rule of action. It is mathemati­cally precise. It gives nothing over for "good weight" or "good measure." There is no grace in it, no heart, no sympathy, no favor of any kind. It is a calculating, exact measure of truth and righteousness. When justice is done, there are no thanks due to the one who metes it out. Such a one has merely done a duty, the neglect of which would have been culpable, and the doing of which merits no favor or praise. And yet, firm and relentless as this principle is, it is declared to be the very foundation of God's throne. It is the principle which underlies all His dealings with His creatures. It is His unchangeable business principle; and how firmly He adheres to it is manifest to every one who understands the plan of salvation, the basis of which is the satisfac­tion of justice against our race. Though the arrangement for the satisfaction of jus­tice cost the life of His Only‑begotten and well‑beloved Son, so important was this principle of Divine justice that God freely gave Him up for us all.

JUSTICE, BEFORE GENEROSITY

The principles of love, unlike that of justice, overflows with tenderness, and longs to bless. It is full of grace, and delights in the bestowment of favor. It is manifest, however, that no action can be rewarded as a favor or a manifestation of love which has not underneath it the substantial foundation of justice. Thus, for instance, if one comes to you with a gift, and at the same time disregards a just debt to you, the gift falls far short of appreciation as an expression of love; and you say, "We should be just before we attempt to be generous."

And this is right; if justice is the foundation principle in all of God's dealings, it should be the same in all of our dealings; and none the less so among brethren in Christ than among those in the world. As brethren in Christ, we have no right to presume upon the favor of one another. All to which we have a right is simple justice, though we may waive those things that are really our rights. But in our own dealings, we should strive always to render justice – justice in the payment of our honest debts to each other, justice in our judgment one of another (which must make due allowance for frailties, etc., because we recognize in ourselves some measure of similar imperfection), and justice in fair and friendly treatment one of another.

As we have just said, there is no obligation to demand justice for ourselves, and we may, if we choose, even suffer injustice uncomplainingly. We must, however, if we are Christ's, render justice so far as we are enabled to recognize it. In other words, we are not responsible for the action of others in this respect, but are responsible for our own. Therefore we are to endeavor earnestly that all our actions, our words and our thoughts may be squared by the exact rule of justice, before we offer even one single act as an expression of love.

JUSTICE, EQUITY, A CHRISTIAN QUALITY

It would appear that many Christian people spend years of their experience without making any great progress. One difficulty leading up to this condition is a failure to recognize the basic principles underlying the Divine laws, which apply to us from the moment we are adopted into the Lord's family. The first of these basic principles is justice. We need to learn more and more clearly what are our own rights and the rights of our fellow creatures in the Church and out of the Church. We need to learn how to measure the affairs of ourselves and of others with the plummet of justice, and to recognize that we must not under any circumstances or conditions infract the rights, interests or liberties of others – that to do so would be wrong, sinful, contrary to the Divine will, and a serious hindrance to our growth in grace. Secondly, we must learn to esteem love next to justice in importance in the Divine code. By love we mean, not amativeness, nor soft sentimentality, but that principle of kindness, sympathy, consideration and benevolence which we see manifested in our Heavenly Father and in our Lord Jesus.

In proportion as we grow up in the Lord, strong in Him, it must be along the lines of these elements of His character. More and more we must appreciate and sympathize with others in their trials and difficulties and afflictions; more and more we must become gentle, patient, kind towards all, but especially toward the household of faith. All the graces of the spirit are elements of love. God is love; and whoever receives of His spirit receives the spirit of love.

These two basic principles must cover all of our conduct in life. Justice tells us that we must cease to do evil ‑ that we must not speak a word nor do an act that would work injustice to another, nor even by look imply such injustice; that we must be as careful of his or her interest and welfare as of our own. Justice may permit us to give them more than justice could require, but justice demands that we must never give them less than due. No matter if they do not require justice at our hands, no matter if they are willing to take less than justice, no matter if they would say nothing if we should take advantage of them, no matter if they would not appreciate our degree of justice, still our course is the same. We have received of the Lord's Spirit, and must act from this standpoint and not from the standpoint of others who have not His spirit or who are more or less blinded and disabled from dealing justly.

LOVE AND JUSTICE BOTH CONTROL

If justice must mark our conduct toward others, so love must be used by us in meas­uring the conduct of others toward us. We may not apply to others the strict rules of justice which we acknowledge as our responsibility to them. Love, generosity, demands that we accept from others less than justice, because we realize that they are fallen, imperfect, not only in their flesh, but also in their judgments. Furthermore, we see that the great mass of the world has not received the spirit of the Lord at all, and therefore cannot appreciate these basic principles of justice and love as we appreciate them. We must in love look sympathetically upon their condition, as we would upon the condition of a sick neighbor, friend, parent or child. We must make allowance for their disordered condition, and think as charitably as possible of their words, conduct, etc.

This does not mean that we are to be blind or oblivious to true conditions, and permit ourselves to be deprived of all that we possess or earn; but it does mean that we should take a kind, sympathetic view of the unrighteousness and injustice of those with whom we have dealings. We should remember that they are fallen, and that they have not received the grace of God as we have received it; and that they are not, therefore, to be measured by the line of strict justice, but rather that their imperfections are to be allowed for reasonably by the elastic cord of love. It is our own conduct that we are to measure by the law of justice, the Golden Rule.

HOW LOVE MAY OVERFLOW THE MEASURE

How clearly the Master sets forth these conditions, urging upon us the Golden Rule as the measure for our conduct toward others, and that in measuring their conduct toward us we shall be as generous as we shall wish our Lord to be in His judgment of ourselves, in harmony with His statement, "With what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged"! A right appreciation of these basic principles, justice and love, by the Lord's people, and worked out in the daily affairs of life, would lift them above the world. It would save many an altercation, many a law suit, many a quarrel, and would make of the Lord's people shining examples of kindness, generosity, love, and at the same time examples of justice, right living, sterling honesty, etc.

Love is not, like justice, an exact principle to be measured and weighed. It is three‑fold in character: it is pitiful; it is sympathetic, in the sense of kinship of soul – affectionate; it is reverential. These different forms of love are exercised according to the object upon which love is centered. Pity‑love is the lowest form of love; it takes cognizance of even the vile and degraded, and is active in measures of relief. Sympathetic love rises higher, and proffers fellowship, comradeship. But the reverential love rises above all these, and delights in the contemplation of the good, the pure and the beautiful. In this latter form we may indeed love God supremely, as the personification of all that is truly worthy of admiration and reverence; and love our fellow men in proportion as they bear His likeness. The Divine law demands love, both to God and to man.

Although we owe to every man, as a duty, love in one of these senses, we may not demand it one of another; but love overflows justice. Love shakes the measure, presses it down, heaps it up. The lack of love is not to be complained of by the Christian, however, but when bestowed it is to be appreciated gratefully and reciprocated gener­ously. Every one who craves love should crave it in its highest sense ‑ in the sense of admiration and reverence. But this form of love is the most costly; and the only way to secure it is to manifest that nobility of character which calls it forth from others who are truly noble, truly like our Lord Jesus.

The love begotten of sympathy and fellowship is also very precious. But any senti­ment that comes merely in response to a demand, is deprived of love's choicest aroma. Therefore never demand love, but rather by manifestation of it toward others court its reciprocation. The love of pity is not called out by the nobility of the subject, but rather by the nobility of the bestower, whose heart is so full of love that it overflows in generous impulses toward even the unworthy. All of the objects of pity, however, are not unworthy of love in the higher senses; and some such often draw upon our love in every sense.

A SELFISH, ONE‑SIDED VIEW

To demand love's overflow of blessing – which is beyond the claim of justice ‑ is only an exhibition of covetousness. We may act on this principle of love ourselves, but we may not claim it from others. If we do, we manifest a lack of love and the possession of a considerable measure of selfishness. Some seem to see clearly where brotherly love should be extended to themselves, but are slow to see their own obligations in this respect.

For instance, two brethren were once rooming together, and through a failure to consider the relative claims of both love and justice, one presumed upon the brotherly love of the other to the extent of expecting him to pay the entire rent of the room. When the other urged the claim of justice, the first urged the claim of brotherly‑love, and the former reluctantly yielded, not knowing how to refute the claim, yet feeling that somehow some Christians had less principle than many worldly people. How strange that any of God's children should take so narrow, so one‑sided, so selfish a view! Cannot all see that love and justice should work both ways; that it is the duty of each not to oversee others in these respects, but to look well to his own course, to see that he manifests brotherly love; and that if he would teach others, it should be rather by example than by precept?

LET LOVE REIGN SUPREME

Let us beware of a disposition toward covetousness. Let us each remember that he is steward over the Lord's goods entrusted to him, and not over those entrusted to his brother; that each is accountable to the Lord, and not to others, for the right use of that which the Master has placed in his hands. There is nothing much more unbecoming and unlovely in the children of God than a disposition to petty criticism of the individual affairs of one another. It is a business too small for the saints, and manifests a sad lack of that brotherly love which should be especially manifest in broad and generous consideration, which would rather cover a multitude of sins than to magnify one.

The Christian is to have the loving, generous disposition of heart ‑ a copy of the Heavenly Father's disposition. In trivial affairs he is to have so much sympathy and love that he will take no notice, just as God for Christ's sake deals with us and does not impute sin to us, except as it represents knowledge and willfulness. With such a rule operating amongst Christians, a determination not to recognize as an offense anything that is not purposely done, or intended as an offense, would be a great blessing to all, and the proper, God‑like course. The transgressions to which our Lord refers in Matthew 18:15‑17, are not the trivial affairs of no consequence, are not evil surmisings and imaginings, are not rumors, are not fancied insults, but positive wrongs done us, and on account of which it is our duty, kindly and lovingly and wisely, to give some proper rebuke – some intimation that we recognize the wrong and that it has grieved us and hurt us and needs correction.

The disposition to forgive should be with us always, and should be manifested by us at all times. Our loving generosity, our kindness and our desire to think no evil or as little evil as possible, should be manifest by all the words and acts of life. This is God‑like. God had a kind, benevolent, generous sentiment toward us even while we were yet sinners. Nor did He wait for the sinners to ask forgiveness, but promptly manifested His desire for harmony and His readiness to forgive. The whole Gospel message is to this effect: "Be ye reconciled to God." Our hearts should be so full of this disposition toward forgiveness that our faces would not have a hard look, nor our words of reproof a bitter sting. We should manifest the loving forgiveness that we should have in our hearts at all times.

May love and justice find their proper, relative places in the hearts of all of God's people, that so the enemy may have no occasion to glory! The Psalmist said, "O how I love thy law [the law of love whose foundation is justice]! It is my meditation all the day." (Psalms 119:97) Surely, if God's law were the constant meditation of all, there would be fewer and less glaring mistakes than we often see! Let us watch and be sober, that the adversary and our fallen flesh may not gain an advantage over us as new creatures. Let SELF be more and more eliminated and LOVE reign supreme.

(Pastor Russell, Reprints 5883‑5885, April 15, 1916)

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AT EMEK HA'SHALOM HERMANN BEZNER AWAITS THE COMING OF THE MESSIAH

At the foot of Kibbutz Ramat ha'Shofet, bedded into hills, this little garden of Eden is situated. There, amidst lemon trees, the flowers and all the green, they tell you that peace will soon come to Israel and that the Messiah is standing on the threshold ‑ it is only a question of time, and we are extremely near that time.

At a time when Israel still laments the victims of the holocaust and their war dead, Hermann Bezner, the serious Bible‑scholar, speaks about a third catastrophe which is nearing very quickly. However after that period he asserts the madness and amok‑run of mankind will come to an end. The peoples will live with justice and fraternity... as the Prophet Jesaya had prophesied: "They will reforge their weapons into plough shares and they will not learn war anymore."

Hermann is 87 years old. Since twenty years he has been in this small paradise, cut off from the outside world. He leaves the place only if it is absolutely essential, and the people flock to him in thousands to listen to the message which he already recites almost automatically.

His posture is upright and erect, his white hair is carefully combed back. His hearing has greatly deteriorated. There is something in his bearing which does not allow you to interrupt his lecture.

He preaches his message in the German language with closed eyes. He does not understand Hebrew. He does not reply direct to questions. One must listen very carefully to hear the reply out of the lecture. Sometimes the question remains also hanging in the air.

Josef is standing next to him and translates into Hebrew. Josef is 40 years old and has been living for fifteen years in Emek ha'Shalom. He is Hermann's right hand and serves also as his ear and speaker.

Hermann's history with the People of Zion started in the year 1933 with the national‑socialistic Germany. The Nazis hated the Bible scholars more than the Jews, because of their faithful devotion to the Bible.

Together with other Bible scholars, he fled to Austria where he kept himself hidden for seven years in a small mountain farm. During those years Hermann and his friends already prophesied the end of the Nazi rule. Hence also his profound belief that the end of Israel's enemies was nearing. He knows it today as he knew it at that time.

In post‑war Austria he founded a supermarket in Vienna and so he lived until he saw that the moment had come to emigrate to Israel. In this country he met with Oscar Eder, a previous leader of the Hitler Youth who contended having been forced into the movement. At the end of the war, he tried to overcome this nightmare in Austria. However the peace of mind did not come. Burdened with self‑reproaches, he emigrated to Israel, converted to Judaism and his name into Hebrew. Oscar lived as a hermit in a rocky area not far from Yokneam.

Here, in 1967, Hermann decided to buy a plot of land to found the Valley of Peace. Oscar regarded him as mad and thought it would be impossible to make this rocky land fertile. Hermann replied to him that in Israel every square metre could be converted into fertile land. From nothing he started and he did not give up.

Now Hermann says some words to Josef in German. They go into the house, and for a moment it looks as though the interview had come to an end without further explanation. However both reappear, carrying a huge painting and putting it onto an easel. The picture is breath‑taking: green, very green, fruit trees, lions, leopards, sheep together on the pasture. A house with steps leading to a veranda, the columns of which being entwined by vines. We get up and stroll in front of the house through the surrounding gardens and back.

We are spellbound and can no longer distinguish where the painted paradise ceases and the real one begins. As though the painter had painted Emek ha'Shalom today, but this is not the case. A friend had painted the picture 57 years ago in Vienna for Hermann's birthday. So inspired was the painter that six decades ago he had foreseen the State of Israel and that Hermann for twenty years would translate the painting on the canvas into the desert, imperturbably convinced that it was the prophesied future for the whole of Israel.

It seems that it is within the power of this small valley to conquer the hate of the world.

Three events, the Bible scholars say, precede the People of Zion. Two labour pains lie already behind us – the First and the Second World Wars. The third, as a matter of fact, is already very near, or, more exactly, we are amidst its beginnings. Hermann accuses the leaders of the peoples that they keep silent about the new era which has come so near. They are incapable to perceive the time and, as scientists, they are intoxicated by the world spirit. The coming years will open the eyes of these men and will lead to an unpleasant awakening.

Only the coming of the Messiah will lead to the turning point. The prophecies have been disregarded; the earth has been transformed into desert; the rivers have been poisoned; dying forests and polluted air have been created, and wars are the main occupation.

"Ask him," I say to Josef, "why he has chosen such solitude. How can he be influential, if he does not seek contacts with the outside world?" Hermann does not reply, he is already tired and enters the house.

Josef tries hard and brings heavy albums and cuttings of press reports. He shows us that thousands are coming. Also today already more than over a hundred visitors have come. Often on Sabbats many hundreds. Uninterruptedly, numerous cars and busses. As usual, without prior warning. But how can they give prior notice? Admittedly, sometimes it is quite difficult to face these crowds. But always anew they convey the good message from face to face. In 1972 Josef came from Vienna to assist Hermann, joined him and remained. He studied Hebrew at the language course of Ramat ha'Shofet.

The District Administration will establish a training center in Emek ha'Shalom. For this reason, Emek ha'Shalom was transferred into State Ownership. By all means one wants to continue what has begun.

One has to admit that the place is extremely impressive. There is something messianic in these people and this place. If it is at all possible to define what "messianic" means.

According to Hermann's words, the Messiah will be Jesus. Because Jesus as a Jew has sacrificed himself for mankind.

Hermann and Josef do not attribute any significance to external formalities. With a gesture of his hand, Hermann negates all ideas of this kind. One should remove all these human additions, all these religious secondary considerations. The victim remains and the personality of the Messiah.

The evening comes to Emek ha'Shalom. From the house emanates the aroma of the supper which is being prepared by young friends who happen to stay here.

If Hermann's and Josef's prophecies will thus materialize, it remains only to say ''AMEN. I'

On our way home through the garden gate, we have the feeling to have been in a fairy film like "Mary Poppins" and that everything has become reality for a short hour.

It was not the rain on the way back which had

obliterated the vision. The reality did it!

 (Newspaper report from Hermann Bezner)

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LETTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST

Dear Ones: Grace and peace!

I have visited with an "X‑Jehovah's Witness' Group" in Virginia. Their purpose is to offer comfort to the disfellowshipped and to those who are disillusioned with the Witnesses. They place ads in various newspapers, listing phone numbers so that these Ex‑Witnesses can call for personal help, or hear a recorded message.

Their position toward Parousia Truth is not clear, but they have offered kind words about Pastor Russell, and have shown strong interest in his writings. I am doing my best to interest them in reading the Studies in the Scriptures. I gave them the book about Pastor Russell, by David Horowitz, which was well received. I am corresponding with Emily Hood, a member of the group. Below is a copy of the letter I wrote her.

Faithfully, -------------

Dear Emily,

The news articles were interesting and very revealing. You need not consider yourselves "stupid" for joining the Jehovah's Witnesses as they have enough Truth to attract anyone of sincere faith, and enough error to repel anyone of sincere faith once that error is manifest.

In answer to your question about John 1:1, I quote from Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. 5, p. 69, under the heading of "God" and "Lord" in the New Testament:

''In the New Testament the matter is clarified by the use of less words. It may be said that nothing whatever in the words used distinguishes the Father from the Son in the words rendered Lord and God. The matter is left often to the judgment of the reader, and indicated often by the form of the sentence, especially where the word Theos is used contrastedly in a sentence the Greek article is used, so as to give the effect of the God in contrast with a God. An illustration of this is found in John 1: 1 – 'The Word was with the God [ho theos] and the Word was a God [theos]...'"

Although the Scriptures make mention of many "gods" and many “lords" (1 Cor. 8:5; 2 Cor. 4:4; Ps. 97:7,9; Ex. 12:12, 15:11, 18:11; Deut. 10:17; Josh. 22:22; Ps. 95:3, 96:4; Ex. 7:1, 22:28; Ps. 82:6; John 10:34,35; Ps. 110:1) this does not conflict with the doctrine of One God as expressed in Is. 45:18, 46:9, and 45:5. The thought in these verses is that Jehovah alone is the Eternal, Supreme ruler of the universe and no other creature can occupy this position. See also Ps. 83:18.

"Theos" simply means "mighty one" and is a very general term applicable to any spirit being or powerful creature. In 1 Cor. 8:5 "gods" is from "theos" or "Theoi" (plural). In 2 Cor. 4:4 "gods" is also from 'theos’ even though the reference here is to Satan. In John 10:34 Jesus calls the saints "gods" (theoi). From these and similar verses we can see that any "mighty ones" whether human, angelic, or Divine, can properly be called "gods." Therefore it is proper to think of our Lord Jesus as "a God" (theos) since He is surely a “mighty one,” the mightiest next to Jehovah, and much more than a mere angel as the Witnesses believe (Heb. 1:1‑6; Phil. 2:9‑11).

That Jesus received the Divine Nature at His resurrection (John 5:26) is not proof that He is the Eternal God because the Glorified Church also receives the Divine Nature (2 Peter 1:4; 1 Cor. 15:53; 1 John 3:2).

In John 20:28 Thomas does not call Jesus Jehovah but rather, as the context shows, he was startled to learn that Jesus had been resurrected and let out an exclamation similar to "Praise God" or "Hallelujah."

St. Paul summarizes our belief by saying "As there be gods many, and lords many, but to us there is but one [supreme] God, the Father, of whom are all things... and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things..." (1 Cor. 8:5,6)

I am preparing some answers to your "Questions for Jehovah's Witnesses" and hope to send them soon.

Once again, "Grace and Peace to all," -------------- (NORTH CAROLINA)

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Dear Brethren: Grace and peace!

Even though you don't hear from me very often, I keep up with your good work by reading the papers, which I find helpful and interesting. It is a blessing to know the Truth and recognize that we are in that great Time of Trouble forecast in Daniel 12:1 and prophesied by our Lord in Matt. 24:21. So we know why all the crime and calamities are permitted by our Lord, and realize we can have no real peace until that glorious Kingdom is inaugurated.

I note, with pleasure, the book about PASTOR CHARLES TAZE RUSSELL is getting the publicity and acclaim it deserves. It was "due time" for Pastor Russell's name and teaching to be again brought to public knowledge. God always selects the right man for His purposes. It seems most appropriate this time it was a Jew ‑ David Horowitz. The Jews will be more prominent than they are today when the peoples will learn the Truth: The "Word of the Lord" (Is. 2:3) will go forth from Jerusalem for the healing of the nations and all peoples.

It appears that several Bible Student groups have publicized the Pastor Russell book, and also other Christian magazines have publicized the book in their literature. However, the Laymen's Home Missionary Movement has not publicized the book in their magazines – The Present Truth and The Bible Standard. This is surprising as David Horowitz has published articles written by the LHMM brethren. It would seem they would be happy to publicize David Horowitz' book, especially as it is all about Pastor Russell.

Be assured of my warm Christian love and prayers as you "Continue in the things thou hast learned and been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them." (2 Tim. 3:14) The Lord continue to bless and guide you.

Faithfully yours, ------- (MISSOURI)

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Dear Sister Hoefle,

I have finished reading "Thy Kingdom Come" and am looking forward to reading the "Battle of Armageddon, and the last two volumes of Studies in the Scriptures.

Of the two books you sent me about Pastor Russell, I gave one of them to a friend I work with who has been studying with the Jehovah's Witnesses. Also her mother is an ax‑Witness and she found the book helpful to her.

I would also like to receive the United Israel Bulletin, which was referred to often in the Pastor Russell book. I feel Jehovah answered my prayers as to the right road to take. I have been helped by the literature you have sent me. I only wish there was a meeting place in my area. If there are any within 100 miles of my area I would be willing to make the trip.

Also if you have available Nos. 121, 130, and 4, could you send them to me? I am enclosing a little something to help you in your work.

Sincerely, ------- (MICHIGAN)

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Dear Mr. Horowitz:

A friend of mine has loaned me a book – PASTOR CHARLES TAZE RUSSELL, which is very interesting. I would like to add it to my library! If you would be so kind as to send me a couple of copies, I will be most appreciative. You may send them COD, or I will send a check upon receipt.

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

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