NO. 400: “HATED OF HIS BRETHREN”

No. 400

 (Genesis 37:5‑28)

The Bible story of Joseph is one of the most interesting known to literature in any age and in any language. The portion which is here discussed might easily be termed a tragedy. It illustrates human nature good and bad, and in its various types and incidents furnishes valuable lessons, prominent among which is the oft‑repeated one referred to in James 3:16 – that envy is one of the principal roots of human depravity – selfishness – and that from this root have sprung some of the most injurious influences and experiences known to man – “every evil work.”

As we study the present article let us have this thought in mind, and apply each to himself the moral. If in our fallen condition envy can produce such terrible fruitage, how much on guard against it every true follower of the Lord should be. How each should realize that to permit the growth of even the smallest shoot of this root in his daily life might lead on to most disastrous consequences to him as a New Creature. Realizing this, each should be on guard for the extermination of this weed from the garden of his own heart. One writer has even said, “There is but one man who can believe himself free from envy, and it is he who has never examined his own heart.” Undoubtedly this evil root of selfishness is to be found in every imperfect son and daughter of Adam, whether it is flourishing under favorable conditions or dormant for lack of them, or from the overmastering power of grace. Only the heart that is aflame with love for God supreme and for his neighbor as himself is in a condition so sterile as respects envy that the latter has no opportunity for development.

With an abatement of our love for God and man comes a corresponding increase of favorable influence for the development of this root of envy and its concomitants of anger hatred, strife and every evil work – yea, murder – all of which the Apostle tells us are works of the flesh and of the devil, and hence to be shunned by all those who now and by and by would have the Master’s approval. Whatever may have been the natural tendency of our flesh, the new nature begotten of the holy Spirit of the Lord, the spirit of love, is expected by the Father to dominate and render sterile to envy all whom he recognizes as children of God. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.”

At the time of our study Joseph was about seventeen years old, next to the youngest of Jacob’s twelve sons, and his father’s favorite. He was the son of the gentle Rachel, the specially loved wife of Jacob. Evidently he partook in large measure of his mother’s gentleness as well as of his father’s courage and faith, as all of his subsequent history shows. His elder brothers were of coarser type, so that all the circumstances and conditions justified Jacob in having a preference for Joseph, in considering him his specially beloved son. His father procured for him what in the common version is called a coat of many colors, and in the revised version a coat of extremes. It is presumed that the extremes were not of colors but of lengths – that the coat was long and had long sleeves, thus differing from the ordinary coats of the working people and corresponding to the style worn by the aristocratic. It is suggested, however, that the coat may have been of many colors, because upon some of the ancient monuments of Egypt such long coats are pictured as having been made of material of bright colors joined together in a kind of patchwork; thus it is possible that both translation are correct.

In any case the coat was a distinct one, and, in conjunction with Jacob’s acknowledged preference for Joseph, it helped to fix the jealousy and bitterness of his brethren, who in it saw the suggestion that in their father’s opinion Joseph would eventually be a ruler amongst his brethren – his father’s successor as the chief of the household, the tribe. We need not here stop to criticize the part of the father in manifesting so pronounced a favoritism. We can, however, realize that Joseph had such peculiarities as justified favoritism and special love. In this, as well as in many other respects, the Scriptures clearly indicate that Joseph was primarily a type of Jesus. The latter was the heavenly Father’s beloved Son, and He similarly was rejected by His brethren, He similarly was sold for silver, He similarly was delivered, we are told, for envy. (Matt. 27:18; Mark 15:10) More than this, Joseph typified the entire body of Christ, especially the star‑members, every member of which is to some extent represented in his experiences – to every member of which our Lord’s words apply, “The Father Himself loveth you.” (John 16:27) This is glory beyond thought.

Certain dreams which Joseph had and which evidently were in some manner inspired by the Lord, and prophetic, tended to further embitter his brethren, serving to fertilize the root of bitterness and envy which was in their hearts. One of these dreams represented a wheat‑field in which were twelve sheaves, one of which arose and stood upright while the others fell before it, as though doing homage. Joseph without evil thought, apparently, told the dream to his brethren, and they, lacking faith in the Lord and submission to the Divine will, were angered by the very suggestion that their younger brother should ever be their superior – “And they hated him the more for his dreams and for his words.” The words referred to Joseph’s report of misconduct on the part of some of his brethren. Righteousness, justice, seems to have been an integral part of Joseph’s natural character, and his report of his brethren was not a slander but merely what he considered to be proper, that his father should know the manner in which his business was conducted. (v. 2)

Another of Joseph’s dreams enkindled the anger of his brethren, and even drew a protest from his father, as though Joseph’s ambitions were the groundwork of his dreams. Nevertheless, Jacob pondered these things in his heart, and doubtless wondered how great his favorite boy might some day be. This second dream pictured the sun, the moon and the stars bowing to one star, and was interpreted to mean that the whole family would some day acknowledge Joseph as their superior. How preposterous this must have seemed to them all, including Joseph. Poor boy! His subsequent lessons in life doubtless taught him to be more secretive, not to tell every dream and hope, not to cast his pearls to those who could not appreciate them, but who would be angered thereby. How necessary to us all is the lesson of wisdom along the lines of secretiveness. Our Lord illustrates this, saying, “I have many things to tell you, but ye cannot bear them now.” There is a time to tell and a time to refrain – we all need to watch and to pray, “Set a guard, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.” (Ps. 141:3)

With the Scriptural record of inspired dreams before us it would be folly to denounce them and to declare them unworthy of any consideration. We remember the other miraculous dreams that Joseph interpreted, also Jacob’s, Peter’s, Paul’s, etc. On the other hand we need to guard ourselves lest dreams should be given undue importance. We are to remember that there was an appropriate necessity for dreams in the olden times which does not exist at the present time; because the Gospel Church is expected to walk by faith and not by sight – is expected to listen to the voice behind them saying, “This is the way,” rather than to expect a miracle or a dream to indicate the path of righteousness. The path beyond us is shown by the Divine Word, and we are to cultivate the ears of our hearts that we may have the proper direction. In harmony with this the Scriptures say, “He that hath a dream let him tell a dream, but he that hath my Word let him speak my Word.” (Jer. 23:28) Here the Lord indicates that a dream might be told if we have nothing better to tell – nothing more direct, nothing more authoritative; but that the Lord’s Word, His revelation, His inspired testimony is to be put far above all dreams of our own and of others. If a dream, therefore, corroborates some plain statement of the Word of God it may be used and appreciated in the same sense that we use and appreciate a type – not to teach a doctrine or duty, but to illustrate and call attention to the statements [of God’s inspired Words].

Joseph’s faithfulness in reporting facts led Jacob to make him a kind of overseer, and it was probably in this capacity that he was again sent to his brethren to Shechem, a three day’s journey – to carry to them some home delicacies and to bring word again to Jacob of the general conditions prevailing, the prosperity of the flocks, condition of the pasturage, etc. Not finding his brethren at Shechem Joseph followed directions to Dothan, manifesting in the whole procedure a considerable degree of courage and self reliance, sleeping outdoors at night as was the custom of the time and braving the dangers of the way. This shows us, too, that Jacob’s love for his favorite son did not lead him to spoil him entirely, and that the boy himself was recognized as one who could be trusted in a general way to care for himself. Many parents today are less wise, and fail to cultivate courage, determination, etc., in the children they favor – sometimes shielding them from difficulties in a manner which proves ultimately very prejudicial to their interests. The brethren as shepherds were accustomed to keeping a sharp look‑out for wild beasts likely to injure the flock, and discerned their brother at a distance. Forthwith the circumstances and conditions tended to a rapid germination of their root of envy and bitterness, and in a few moments had sprouted and brought forth in their hearts the spirit of murder. Nine of the ten at once agreed to kill their brother. The only one to object, and he covertly, was Reuben, who knew too well the bitterness of his brethren to venture to oppose them, and as a counter‑suggestion he urged that they do not murder him but put him into one of the dry cisterns of those parts, intending in his heart to return subsequently and secretly deliver his brother.

In these brethren we see illustrated the heart of the natural man, which might at one moment fight for justice and shortly thereafter violate every principle of justice. Was it not these same men who now, in violation of all brotherly love, were planning their brother’s murder, who only a short time before had avenged the dishonor of their sister by slaying the population of a whole village – in what they considered a righteous indignation against sin? The transforming influence of the Holy Spirit is necessary to correct these violent extremes of the fallen flesh; hence the Scriptures tell us that those who are begotten again of the Holy Spirit alone have the “spirit of a sound mind.” (2 Tim. 1:7) Truly in the natural man pride is an important factor, and often leads to murders and lynchings, ostensibly in the defense of righteousness – really in the gratification of an element of selfishness. It was then similarly pride, one of the roots of selfishness, that led to that wholesale murdering; and it was envy, another root of selfishness, which now led them to attempt to murder their brother.

Reuben’s plea was effective. Joseph was put into a pit and the brethren sat down to eat bread, doubtless consuming some of the very delicacies that Joseph had brought to them from home, while the poor boy’s cries and entreaties and appeals rang in their ears. They were stony‑hearted, unmerciful, as well as unjust: and indeed the natural heart is usually unmerciful. Mercy is often extended through shame or fear or policy amongst worldly people, but mercy in itself is an element of love which, although it originally belonged to human nature, has very generally been lost, and is principally in evidence amongst those who have been begotten again in heart likeness to their Lord. Our text does not mention the cries and entreaties and pleadings of the imprisoned Joseph, but another Scripture does when later these same brethren were forced by the famine in Canaan to go to Egypt to buy wheat.

Their brother Joseph was governor there, and he, affecting to consider them spies, put them in jail three days. It was while they were there that their minds were more or less awakened to the wrong doings of previous years, and they said to another, “We are verily guilty concerning our brother in that we saw the anguish of his soul when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us.” Reuben’s reply to them was, “Spake I not unto you saying, Do not sin against the child; and ye would not hear? Therefore, behold, also his blood is required.” Apparently Reuben departed from that vicinity after Joseph was imprisoned, intending to return later for his deliverance, but upon his return he found that his brethren had sold him to a company of merchantmen who had taken him as a slave into Egypt. (The Epiphany Messenger, The Present Truth, January 1, 1947, pp. 6, 7)

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QUESTIONS OF GENERAL INTEREST

QUESTION: Is it important that we believe in Tentative Justification? Some Bible Students believe in Tentative Justification, and some do not.

ANSWER: We believe that Tentative Justification is very important and is a fundamental doctrine. In Rom. 12:1, the unconsecrated are called brethren: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God [having received Tentative Justification], that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, your reasonable service.” The truly “repentant and believing” receive Tentative Justification. Brother Hoefle wrote a paper on Justification which is very informative. We quote excerpts from this article as follows:

JUSTIFICATION IN THIS AGE AND THE NEXT

The primary power of God’s real people is THE TRUTH, and their secondary power is God’s Arrangement for the proper use of that Truth. Thus, the counsel to “give attendance to doctrine” (1 Tim. 4:13) is sound advice for every time of the Age. And we believe it is the proper observation that a clear and comprehensive understanding of the doctrine of JUSTIFICATION will enable us to “continue in the faith” – never to stray away from the general Truth structure.

There are two kinds of Justification taught in the Bible – Justification by Faith and Justification by Works. Inasmuch as our present Bible is specifically designed for those of God’s people who “live by faith,” it is only proper that Justification by Faith should receive preponderance of favor for the past, present and future – until Justification by Works gains the ascendancy during our Lord’s Mediatorial Kingdom.

Since the time that “Christ brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel” (2 Tim. 1:10), Justification by Faith has had two component divisions – a Tentative Justification, and a Vitalized Justification. And it is herein that much controversy has arisen among God’s people, some claiming there is no such thing as “Tentative Justification”; others claiming it not only operates now but will continue to operate even during the period of Justification by Works. It is our opinion that those who deny completely a Tentative Justification for this Faith Age are thus forced to abandon large sections of that Truth which made them clean. It forced JFR to discard completely Tabernacle Shadows of the Better Sacrifices, so that Jehovah’s Witnesses no longer include that book in their course of study. And it is difficult to determine just what interpretation those people now give to Jesus’ words: “I say to you, Till Heaven and earth pass away, one iota or one tip of a letter shall by no means pass from the Law, till all be accomplished [fulfilled].” (Matt. 5:18, Dia.) Clearly enough, Jesus was thus telling us that the entire Law arrangement – of which the Tabernacle with its ceremonies was the central feature – was typical, and that all those types must continue until the antitypes appeared to fulfill them – fill them full to a completion.

In a flimsy attempt to justify his rejection of Tentative Justification, JFR made the false claim that Brother Russell rejected the teaching of Tentative Justification before he died; but this claim is directly disputed in the foreword of Vol. 6, Oct. 1, 1916. There Brother Russell sets forth Tentative Justification and Vitalized Justification as separate and distinct, as he also does in the 1909 Watch Tower, p. 360; the 1910 WT, pp. 12, 13, 93 and 246; the 1911, p. 394; the 1912, p. 152; the 1913, pp. 92‑94; the 1914, p. 67; the 1915, pp. 103, 104 and pp. 292, 293; the 1916, p. 281.

These citations leave no doubt about Brother Russell’s conviction about the teaching of Tentative Justification. Many others have joined JFR in the denial of Tentative Justification; and, since this teaching is a fundamental part of the Old and New Testaments, we are justified in concluding that those who once accepted it before October, 1916, but now deny it, must come under the classification of 2 Thes. 2:10, 11, Dia.: “They admitted not the love of the Truth... And on this account God will send to them an energy of delusion.” In our Lord’s announcement of the sentence upon the “unprofitable servant” (the Great Company) of Matt. 25:30, Jesus stated that he would be “cast into outer darkness” – the “darkness” meaning in this text, as it also does in 1 Thes. 5:5,6 and other Scriptures, “giving over to error.” (See especially the Berean Comment on 2 Thes. 2:11.)

Jesus had told the Disciples in John 15:3: “Now are ye clean through the words which I have spoken unto you”; and the conclusion must automatically follow that those who reject “the words” which once made them clean would then self‑evidently become unclean they become afflicted with antitypical leprosy – “he shall be defiled; he is ‘unclean”’ (Lev. 13:46). And this uncleanness will remain with that Class until the full end of the Gospel‑Age – “until the even” (Lev. 14:46). The cleansing will be accomplished with such in “the great tribulation” of Rev. 7:14, at which time they shall experience “the weeping and gnashing of teeth” of Matt. 25:30. And until this cleansing is accomplished, we may reasonably expect such unclean ones to cast out (refuse to fellowship) God’s fully faithful people who resist such rebellion (revolutionism). Let us keep in mind that it is always THE TRUTH that produces the separation between the Fully Faithful and the Measurably Faithful. Thus, the “hail” (the hard convincing Truth) sweeps away “the refuge of lies,” revealing those who have received the Truth in the love of it, and those who receive the punishment of “outer darkness” – ERROR and REVOLUTIONISM – LEPROUS UNCLEANNESS. Thus, we should “think it not strange” as we see this separating influence operate to a completion – “until the even.”

BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES

While we have great respect for the teachings of Brother Russell, yet we believe that a doctrine so weighty as Tentative versus Vitalized Justification should also be taught in the Bible, and that we should be able to produce a clear “thus saith the Lord” to substantiate our position – and not by one text only, but by at least two or three witnesses. And it is the failure to consider all that is written on various doctrines that has produced the great falling away since Apostolic times. Therefore, if we find our thoughts disputed by even a single text, we may be sure of three things: Either the text is spurious; we have a faulty translation; or we ourselves have the wrong interpretation. “It is impossible for God to lie” (Heb. 6:18); and, since the Bible is the inspired word of God, it likewise cannot lie – cannot contradict itself.

The first “witness” we shall consider in proof is 1 Cor. 7:14, Dia.: “The unbelieving husband is sanctified in the believing wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in the brother; otherwise, indeed your children were impure, but now they are holy.” The word “holy” in the text is from the Greek word “hagios,” which means set apart, separate, holy. It is the same word that is translated “saints” more than sixty times. Clearly enough, a newborn infant could not possibly be a saint, but they receive a reckoned saintly standing because of their saintly parentage; and, since their parents are in the antitypical Tabernacle Court, their children would self‑evidently have to be there with them until such time as those children reach an age of accountability and can determine for themselves whether or not they wish to retain their Faith Justification and continue in the saintly footsteps of their parents.

Sometime ago a booklet came into our possession, in which the writer is very positive that there can be no Tentative Justification, because, says he, justification must be an instantaneous work. This brother also claims – as did JFR – that Brother Russell changed his mind on Tentative Justification. This contention is simply a ruse in a shabby attempt to gain support for his error – an error that will be clearly exposed and refuted in full, as our further comments herein will demonstrate.

Surely no one with the faintest understanding of Faith Justification would claim that the justification of infants is vitalized! Therefore, 1 Cor. 7:14 indisputably proves a Tentative Justification; and it is well to note in final summation that we are also clearly faced with two kinds of Tentative Justification – one acquired by the intelligent desire and cooperation of the recipient, and the other by infants acquired through no will or cooperation of their own. Also, it is that justification described in Rom. 5:1,2, Dia.: “Having been justified, therefore, by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ; through whom also we have been introduced into this favor in which we stand.” This Tentative Justification – standing – is our “introduction” to God, which gives us “peace with God,” but does not give us the “peace of God” until we offer ourselves in accordance with Rom. 12:1 – to do the will of God, which, if accepted, then gives to us “the peace of God which passeth [human] understanding.” Only after that do we actually possess a “living” (zeal‑inspiring) faith.

As our second “witness” we consider Romans 4, starting with verse 3 (Dia.): “What says the Scripture? Abraham believed [had faith in] God, and it was accounted [reckoned] to him for righteousness.” Here again, it is clearly stated Abraham’s Faith Justification did not actually make him right; it merely accounted, or reckoned, him righteous. Thus, v. 7 – “Happy are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered” – no longer held against them because of their Faith Justification. Certainly no one who was ever in Present Truth would contend that Abraham and David had justification similar to the justification held by those of this Gospel‑Age who had come into the Body of Christ – vitalizedly, through a real imputation of Christ’s merit.

But note now particularly vs. 10 and 11: “How then was it accounted [to Abraham]? When he was in circumcision or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. And he received the symbol of circumcision, as a seal of the righteousness of that faith which he had while in uncircumcision; in order that he might be the father of all uncircumcised believers; that the righteousness may be accounted [reckoned] to them.”

All who were ever schooled in Present Truth are well aware that ancient circumcision was a type of the Gospel‑Age consecration, the physical circumcision typing that figurative circumcision of the heart that is made when one offers his heart and will to God in consecration. But St. Paul clearly states that Abraham’s righteousness was accounted, reckoned, to him before circumcision – that he might be the father of all who believe – all who experience a Faith Justification before they present themselves to God in consecration – before they experience the antitypical circumcision of the heart. St. Paul was truly a great logician, and his reasoning is so clear and direct in this fourth chapter, that it seems unbelievable that any who were once in Present Truth could cast it aside and then attempt to besmirch Brother Russell by saying he had also cast aside these compelling Scriptures.

Following his clear exposition of a tentative reckoning, St. Paul then proceeds to say in Rom. 5:1,2 that this Faith Justification arranges our “introduction” to God – not an intimate close family relationship, but merely an introduction, which will enable us to gain intimacy of soul with our Heavenly Father if we follow his appeal in Rom. 12:1 to “present your bodies a living sacrifice” – in consecration, which we are now in position to do as a result of our tentative, reckoned, Faith Justification – to “transform yourselves by the renovation of your mind.” (12:2, Dia.)

As our third “witness” we offer what we consider the most compelling proof for Tentative Justification, the same being the Atonement Day type of the wilderness Tabernacle as given in Lev. 16. The pattern given to Moses in the mount was emphatic that all animals used in that service must be “without blemish” (Lev. 1:3) – no visible flaws of any kind. But we now ask, did those animals have their physical perfection as a result of their presentation to Aaron in sacrifice, or were they offered up that day because they were previously found to be perfect? The answer need no elaboration: They were already “without blemish” when they were selected from among the children of Israel, and were brought into the Court, before they were tied at the door of the Tabernacle – their being tied there representing the consecration and presentation of those who were about to enter the Holy “in newness of life” through an instantaneous vitalization of that reckoned perfection which was already theirs before consecration. And it is this tentative faith justification, this reckoned perfection, that is our “introduction to God” (Rom. 5:2) – enabling us to enter into the Holy – into Divine sanctum – in vitalized justification – a condition exclusive to this Gospel Faith Age and exclusive to those only who are “begotten to newness of life” through direct imputation of the merit of Jesus.

Reverting to earlier statements in the above paragraph, we also point out that every antitype is pronouncedly greater than its type. Thus, Jesus as the antitype of the Atonement‑Day bullock was infinitely greater than was the type, requiring only the one sacrifice of Himself to cleanse from all sin forever all those who come to the Father by Him. And the members of His Body were also far greater than their Atonement‑Day type as represented in the Lord’s goat. Therefore, if those animals in the type must be “without blemish” (typically perfect) before presentation at the door of the Tabernacle, how much more must this be true of their Gospel‑Age antitypes? God cannot look upon sin with any degree of allowance, thus could never enter into a “covenant by sacrifice” with fallen beings unless the sin barrier were first removed. Therefore, it should be self evident that He must first provide a way – an “introduction” – for fallen man to come to Him; and this He has accomplished by arranging for a tentative, a reckoned perfection a Tentative Justification by Faith.

NO MAN COMETH UNTO THE FATHER BUT BY ME

No fallen human being could arrange for this “introduction” to God by his own skill or merit; it must come through an intercessor, through one who could give him a reckoned perfection – and this He arranged through Jesus – “that He might be just, and yet be the justifier of him who believeth on Jesus.” (Rom. 3:26) And here again the Tabernacle type gives clear confirmation of this by the linen curtain which surrounded the Tabernacle structure and its surrounding plot of ground. The Divine Presence was portrayed by the Shekinah Light and shone forth from between the Cherubim in the Most Holy of the Tabernacle; and none could ever reach that presence except through Jesus – by first coming through the Gate into the Court, and inside the linen curtain, there to be reckoned perfect, righteous (“the fine Linen is the righteousness of saints”– Rev. 19:8), to provide proper “introduction” to God at the first veil, and for progress through life’s pilgrimage through the Holy to the Most Holy, where “we shall be ever with the Lord.”

Some may ask how such arrangement could be true of Abraham, who lived before the typical Tabernacle was erected at Sinai. We answer: It was reckoned to him, and to all with “the faith of Abraham” from Abel to John the Baptist. “Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it, and was glad.” (John 8:56) And, while none of the Ancients ever had more than a tentative, a reckoned justification, all that they did have came to them through a reckoned standing inside that linen curtain – which gave them a righteousness they could never attain of themselves. “Mine own righteousness is as filthy rags.” (Isa. 64:6)

“The Youthful Worthies, from the standpoint of having ‘the faith of Abraham,’ (Gal. 3:7, 9) are, of course, like him, of the Household of Faith. They are, however, somewhat different from the Tentatively Justified who do not now consecrate. The latter during the Epiphany cease altogether to be in the Household of Faith, having used the Grace of God in vain [for Gospel‑Age purposes].” (E‑4‑406)

After That Servant’s death JFR denied the doctrine of Tentative Justification altogether because it stood in the way of his “new light.” The Epiphany Messenger clearly refuted his “new light,” and established the doctrine of Tentative Justification in the Scriptures so unmistakably that no Epiphany‑enlightened brethren need be deceived now. In Epiphany Volume 4, p. 342, Brother Johnson says that “those faithful consecrators from 1881 until Restitution sets in, for whom there are no crowns available, and hence no Spirit‑begetting for Gospel‑Age purposes possible, will be the Millennial Associates of the Ancient Worthies in reward and service.”

And in conclusion let us consider that advancing Truth does not set aside the Truth already established, as some deceivers seem to think; all advancing Truth must be based upon the Truth already established from the Good Word of God. (Excerpts from No. 255, September, 1976)

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QUESTION OF GENERAL INTEREST

QUESTION: – A TV Evangelist said that he would be happy to see God when he dies and goes to heaven, although he was afraid to face God. He said, ‘It is proper for us to be afraid of God,’ and quoted Psa. 111:10: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” Is it proper to be afraid of God?

ANSWER: – No, it is not proper for us to be afraid of God. We should have supreme reverence for God and be fearful of displeasing Him by intentional wrongdoing. Fear in the Bible has two meanings – one meaning reverence and one meaning fearful, being afraid. The Evangelist does not “rightly divide the word of truth.” (2 Tim. 2:15) Had he consulted a Concordance for the meaning of ‘fear’ in the text he quoted, he could have given the correct interpretation of ‘fear.’

“God is love.” (1 John 4:8) “There is no fear [dread] in love; but perfect love casteth out fear [slavish fearfulness]; because fear has torment. He that has fear is not made perfect in love [for God].” (1 John 4:18) “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death [during this “evil world”– Gal. 1:4], I will fear no evil: For thou art with me; thy rod [corrections] and thy staff [God’s promises] they comfort me.” (Psa. 23:4) “God is a spirit; and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:24)

“For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we Christ.” (2 Cor. 2:17) God does not frighten people into serving him as many have taught. All who love Him must have fear (filial reverence) for Him. He is a God of Love, Justice, Wisdom and Power, and plenteous in mercy. “But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, long suffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.” (Psa. 86:15)

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LETTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST

Dear Emily,

Thank you for your kind personal letter to me. I have received the material sent to me. The nearest Bible Students are in Wilmington, Delaware.

I will be happy to receive your tracts. Thank you. With my best wishes for a healthy and happy New Year in God’s service. ------- (MARYLAND)

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Dear Emily Hoefle,

Thank you for your letter and for the papers and the book about “An Early American Christian Zionist.” This is very helpful. If you would send me THE DIVINE PLAN OF THE AGES, I would appreciate it.

I was with the Witnesses for a time, but am not now. I have learned much about the past history of the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Many things I had not heard before, and I would like to verify the information that I am getting by the Witness, Inc. It is by an ex‑Jehovah’s Witness. Some of this information is about Charles Taze Russell, and I am interested in the Truth of these matters. I don’t want to take some one’s word without verifying it. ...

You are giving me a side of C. T. Russell that I never knew. ... Years ago the only date I ever heard of was 1914, and that was because I was getting information from Jehovah’s Witnesses. Their explanation was that 1914 was significant because they now understood it to be the time Jesus started His Kingdom rulership over the earth.

Any information you can give me will be much appreciated. Thank you. ------- (OHIO)

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Dear Sirs:

I would like to request any information that you could supply me with in regard to your religious movement. I am interested in your movement and would appreciate this very much -------        (CANADA)

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Dear Sirs:

I would appreciate it if you would please add me to your mailing list. A copy of one of your publications was given to me. Thank you very much.

Sincerely, ------- (COLORADO)

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NO. 399: THE GOSPEL AGE TRUMPETS

No. 399

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

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

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

In Num. 10:8 it is stated that “the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow with the trumpets”; and it is worthy of note that in each of the seven epochs of the Gospel‑Age Church it was the priests ‑ the leaders in the Church, the Star Members – who began to blow the trumpets. In the first epoch (the church of Ephesus) it was the Lord and the Apostles, and they were quickly joined by the lesser lights in the Church as they embarked on their march toward the Heavenly Canaan. And this same condition prevailed with each Star Member during the Age. When Luther began to trumpet “Justification by faith” (early in the Philadelphia ‑ sixth ‑ epoch), he was soon joined by many capable brethren. This was pointedly true also after 1874 (when the Laodicean period began), when the seventh trumpet began to sound. That Servant soon attracted to him quite an assembly of able men and women ‑ some of them skilled in Hebrew and in Greek and other branches of secular learning. This situation is clearly emphasized in Joshua 3:6: “Joshua spoke unto the priests, saying, Take up the ark of the covenant, and pass over before the people.” This typified the final march of the Church into the Heavenly Canaan during the sounding of the seventh trumpet.

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

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

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

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

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

THE CALL TO BATTLE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

AS “GOOD SOLDIERS”

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

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

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

A “BAD SPIRIT”

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

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

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

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

The feature of response to the trumpet’s sound throughout this Gospel Age may be stressed in the good fight against sins of teaching and practice in entrenched strongholds of error. The fight against sin, selfishness and worldliness, individually considered, has been more of the head and the heart within the “good soldiers” themselves; but the conflict with errors of teaching and practice is the phase of battle that has made voluminous record in the pages of history. It was Jesus’ faithful “witness to the Truth” against Jewish priestcraft that cost Him His life. (John 18:37, see Berean Comment) It was exposure of errors by the faithful against the papal system that brought upon them the excruciating persecutions, indescribable for their heinous cruelty, and which spilled “the blood of the prophets and of saints.” (Rev. 18:24) It was That Servant’s attacks against the Midianite strongholds of eternal torment and inherent human immortality that brought upon him the venom and slander of Christendom – so much so that when one brother once said to him, “Brother, you are the most loved man on earth,” to which he replied, “Yes, and the most hated!” The same may be said for Brother Johnson. When he discomfited the crown‑lost errorists, and put them to complete silence, they then proceeded to whisper, “He hath a Devil – He is Satanized – He is an insane usurper.” And, since “The disciple is not above his Lord,” need it concern any of us if we receive the same treatment, we who are counted among His disciples? All thus abused have the strong assurance of our Lord’s interceding prayer on our behalf, “Rise up, and let thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee” (Num. 10:35) – let the errorists do the running, as the faithful “good soldiers” do the pursuing with the Truth at their disposal, as their shield and buckler.

“GIVING ALL DILIGENCE”

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

(Reprint No. 254, August 1976)

Sincerely your brother, John J. Hoefle, Pilgrim

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LETTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST

Dear Friends,

I wish herewith to express my very great thanks for the papers you are sending me constantly – with a knowledge quite in line with the Divine Plan of the Ages.

I enclose a check to cover some of the postage costs.

Sincerely your brother, ------- (SWEDEN)

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Dear Sister Hoefle: Greetings in our Saviour’s Name!

Thank you for your letter. Brother E. Martin who conducted the activities of the Institute until his death June last year did have a copy of the book on Brother Russell and Zionism a year or two back and passed it around among the brethren in this country. However, I don’t know its present whereabouts and a further copy will be welcome.

I don’t recall ever seeing the Bulletins of Brother David Horowitz and these could be rather interesting. I would be glad to receive a copy which could be passed around as appropriate. I can make copies here (assuming it is the usual bulletin form), likewise with your own monthly paper.

The Berean Bible Institute was set up about the same time as the Pastoral Bible Institute in the U.S. and the Bible Fellowship Union in England, and with similar objectives. It collaborates with these and the Dawn Bible Students in the U.S. It is independent of, but supported by brethren and Bible classes in this country.

The various Bible classes in Australia choose to take their studies direct from the Scriptures, though appreciating as you do the Volumes and other helpful literature available. The Melbourne Bible Class which my wife and I attend is presently studying ACTS in our morning service and the gospel of JOHN in the afternoon. The latter in particular is a rich study.

Thank you again for your letter and good wishes, which are heartily reciprocated. May the Lord bless us each and every one as we seek by His grace to remain faithful to His call – “not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer.”

With warm Christian love, Your brother in Him, ------- (AUSTRALIA)

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Dear Sister,

I needed your cheery letter, as I have been feeling “down” for months now. You wrote that you missed hearing from me. Others were neglected too. I did not send out any Christmas cards – only a few at the start of the season. I felt bogged down with things that needed to be done and lacked the ability to accomplish more than to take care of myself – prepare and eat what was needed.

I knew Elva’s husband, Casimir. He was a “live wire” re Israel. Your mention of Brother Kenneth Rawson going to Poland was the only thing I had read in it at the time. Please remember me to David and Nan if they do visit you in March. Do you think they would like the King James version of the Bible on cassette tapes?

Felt sort of “wooden” for months, but am feeling better now, with the Lord’s help. Yes, may we “keep up the good fight of faith,” and not let Satan beat our courage down. The Lord be near you to “bless, guide and comfort you,” also.

Thanks again for your letter.   Christian love, ------- (CONNECTICUT)

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My dear Sister Hoefle: Greetings in our dear Redeemer’s Name!

We were very happy to receive the January‑February paper news letter with the announcement of the Memorial date for this year.

My chief reason for writing now is to kindly request that Sister Bastien’s son be listed to receive the newsletters. I was of the opinion that he was receiving them, but in conversation with him I realized that he does not receive them. He symbolized his consecration by baptism a few years ago, but was never regular at meetings. However, he has been trying now to attend general meeting on first Sundays.

He has a problem with his sight, but he tries. He is a school principal at a Primary school. He says that his children read for him. I shall be grateful if you will send him the January‑February edition.

I have not had the opportunity to visit Sister Rajnauth yet for the New Year, but I shall do so as soon as possible. In the Ecclesia the friends are reasonably well. Sister Jacobson has not been in the best of health but attends the meetings whenever possible. Sister Erelda Walcott is not experiencing the best of health, and seems always plagued with domestic problems.

At home we are reasonably in fair health. Vinessa has her pains with arthritis and circulatory problems in her legs, but she is coping. As for me, I am quite fair and coping with all my problems health‑wise and other‑wise, but am greatly assisted by trusting implicitly in the Lord. I can always find a reading from the ‘Daily Manna’ or Pastor Russell’s writings that strengthens and encourages me. We can truly say that we are blessed by having the Truth!

We all remember you in our prayers and thank the Lord for your service. With our Christian love and best wishes for a fruitful year.

Yours, ------- (TRINIDAD)

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Dear Sir (s),

Greetings! I have heard that your organization helps others and has the answers for the people of this world. Through interacting briefly with other people and by studying a little I came in contact with your address.

I am looking at different groups. I have chosen your group because it has particular interest for me. Can you help me by sending information from your group?

In closing, I appreciate your response to this letter in advance. Thank you!

Sincerely, ------- (CANADA)

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Dear Friend,

You are such a faithful and patient correspondent ‑ and friend! The mail today brought me/us your lovely letter of the 5th: It was such a pleasure to have it and to learn from it that you are as lively and devoted as ever and that you refuse to let “old age catch up with you”! God bless you! More power to you!

And I wish to assure you that I did read the Jan‑Feb. bulletin you enclosed, every word of it: Once again, it is a superb publication, very well edited and of arresting interest. I for one learned a lot from it. One example: On p. 6 you reprint the call for the recovery of Jewish manuscripts from the Vatican’s hold. The very fact of the existence of such a traveling exhibit was unknown to me; I am obligated to you for keeping me up‑to‑date!

I am happy to report that it is now definite that there will be a German translation of my book. [FAITH AND FULFILMENT] It’ll be somewhat abridged, but in substance will remain intact. (E.g., the chapter on the Mormons I have instructed to eliminate) The book is scheduled to be out either late this year, or in the spring of ‘90. (I think it’ll do the Germans good to read it. ...)

On the other hand, there is still nothing new re an American P/B re‑issue. But by temperament – and faith – I never give up!

We are well, Dina and self, as is the family. Thank you for inquiring! And I wish the same for you! Keep well and take care! And I am so grateful to you for your encouragement re the current situation here arounds: The Bible verses you quote are, indeed, pertinent. I wish you’d be able to read and know them in the original: They are a real shot in the arm!

With cordial regards and every good wish, Michael ------- (ISRAEL)

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Dear Friend,

Again it is my privilege to congratulate you and for putting out that splen­did Jan/Feb. 1989 issue, #396, of your EBSA paper. You are courageous in unveiling untruth and revealing the TRUTH as it was or is.

The teachings of the THEOSOPHICAL Soc., whose original members were gifted with the power of “Inner vision” postulate the idea that man, as a species, first appeared on planet earth about 18 million years ago. The Rosicrucian teachings claim that the consciousness of man evolved through many stages of “unfoldment” from the primitive state to the present “sophisticated” state.

The portion on “THE JEWS” is intelligent and fair and, I do believe, much closer to the truth. As far back as my recollection can stretch, it has been said that the Vatican has many books and original MSS that were confiscated from the Jews, and that they do not want the world to know about.

About 30 years ago, I knew a very intelligent, sincere man, Dr. Harold Davis Emerson, a former bishop of the R.C. Church, who told me that while he was a bishop, he had access to the secret archives of the Church. As a Latin student, he said, he once spent three months searching through those forbidden books and papers, and could not find a single acceptable evidence of the actual physical existence of so‑called Jeshua, the highly vaunted “Christ.” When he began asking questions of his Church superiors, he was excommunicated. The Rosicrucians, however, postulate a “Mystical Christ” and have woven a beautiful tapestry of mystical interpretations around the central idea.

Some time ago I read somewhere that when the Jewish people were again settling in the region of Palestine, an internationally prominent Jewish leader approached the then Pope to ask his “blessing” on the idea of a Jewish homeland in that area. The Pope’s reply was, “Sure, let them all go there, and we will have many priests to receive them and baptize them to Catholicism.”

However, the first purpose of this letter was to ask you to send me your papers No. 390 and 391 – “IN THE BEGINNING.” To help you cover your actual expense, you will find a check enclosed.

Thank you, profoundly, and again, congratulations on the wonderful work you are doing.

As ever, ------- – (NEW YORK)

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NO. 398: TO THE JEW FIRST

No. 398

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

In Rom. 2:10 St. Paul makes this statement: “Glory, honor, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile.” Since we entered the tribulation period in 1914 the Jews have been the object of much and varied con­troversy; and we may logically expect more of it before lasting peace is established in the earth.

This uproar has not only been by way of armed conflict, but the lit­erary conflict has kept pace with it. And, as should be expected, much of the liter­ature has been badly tainted with error – an epidemic of it; so it seems timely to offer an analysis of some of these contentions.

Anglo-Israelism: The Theories of this organization have received rather wide ac­ceptance in some parts of society, the kernel of the teaching being briefly this: The real Jews are not those claiming to be such, but the real ones are actually the Brit­ish nation. They tell us that the name is from two Hebrew words – Brith and Ish ­the meaning of which is Chosen Man, which is a fitting description of the British peo­ple. And, as may be expected, they produce Scripture to ‘prove’ their point:

“Whereas thou has been forsaken and hated, so that no man went through thee (this was especially true after the Reformation uprising shook off the papal yoke, and England became one of the chief targets of Roman opposition), I will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations. Thou also shalt suck the milk of the Gentiles, and shalt suck the breast of kings (Up to 1914 it could be properly stated that England’s sun never sets. Its far-flung empire was a special source of pride to the English people; they were a dominating force throughout the world.); and thou shalt know that I the Lord am thy Savior and thy Redeemer, the mighty one of Jacob. For brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver (the revenue from places such as India, South Africa, etc., was exceptionally great), and for wood brass, and for stones iron: I will also make thy officers peace, and thine exactors (revenue collectors) righteousness.” (Isa. 60: 15–17) Rotherham’s translation of verse 16 is even more emphatic: “Thou shalt derive sweet nourishment from the nations, Yea on the bounty of kings thou shalt be sustained.”

Additional ‘proof’ is produced from Isa. 61:6: “Ye shall be named the priests of the Lord: men shall call you the ministers of our God: Ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.” It needs no argument that the general import of these Scriptures did seem pertinent to England up to 1914; London was the financial center of the world. Most of the financing of the nations was done through English banks; none dared offend them lest their credit be cut off.

Be it noted that the Anglo-Israelites do not claim that the English represent the whole twelve tribes of Israel, but merely the ten “lost” tribes – that part called Is­rael after the revolt separated the ten tribes from the two tribes of Judah and Benja­min when Solomon died. Jeroboam was the first king of the ten tribes, and he pro­ceeded immediately to corrupt their religion; and he and succeeding kings proceeded to deprave the ten tribes much more than was true in the two tribes. Therefore, the Lord finally sent Shalmaneser, King of Assyria, to wage war against them; and he com­pletely defeated them in 739 B. C., at which time most of the ten tribes were carried away into Assyrian captivity. (2 Kgs. 18:9–11) To replace the captives  the Assyrian King sent a horde of heathen Babylonians, who corrupted the Jews that remained and introduced their heathenish religion in the land. This conglomerate multitude became known as Samaritans; and were much detested by the two tribes.

By the time the two tribes were carried off captive to Babylon (133 years later) the ten tribes had become widely scattered – so much so that history does not give a clear account of what became of them. Thus, they became “lost”; and the contention is that they finally settled in what is now England, that the English people presently are the true descendants of those ten lost tribes; and are in fact the real Jews. The word Jews occurs for the first time in the Bible in 2 Kgs. 16:6. It is a distortion of the word Judah, which eventually was pronounced Joods, then Jews. Thus the two tribes are Jews, not Israelites; and, say some, Jesus made this clear distinction to the Apos­tles in Matt. 10:5: “Go not in the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samar­itans enter ye not; but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” From this Scripture they contend Jesus was telling His disciples to find the ten “lost” tribes (lost sheep of Israel).

Just a superficial examination of this last text should convince any unbiased mind that Jesus did not mean anything like what this cult now tries to read into it, because not one of the Apostles ever went to England; and some of them certainly would have done so had Jesus told them to do it. In fact, about the first authentic date in his­tory for England is established at 55 BC, at which time Julius Caesar invaded the Is­land; and that was just 85 years before Jesus began His ministry. Furthermore, the undisputed records tell us that the first conversion to Christianity in England was in Kent in 597 AD by St. Augustine. That was about 500 years after the last of the Apostles died. Therefore, any one who would try to use Matt. 10:5 to prove Anglo-Is­raelism must be in desperate straits for something to say concerning the error.

Here is a quotation from one authority on the subject: “Jew – One belonging to the tribe or to the Kingdom of Judah. Then the meaning was extended, and the word was applied to any one of the Hebrew race who returned from the Captivity (in 536 BC – ­JJH); and finally it comprehended all persons of that race throughout the world (Matt. 2:2).” Matt. 2:2 says Jesus was “King of the Jews” – not King of the Israelites. And Rom. 2:10 says “to the Jew first” – not to the Israelite first. Thus, if we would make any discrimination at all between the ten tribes and the two tribes, we would be forced to conclude that it is the Israelites who are not Jews. But it is well estab­lished that parts of all twelve tribes returned from the Captivity in 536 BC, although the larger number were from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin.

OTHER VAGARIES

Another publication attacks the Jews from a different angle: “Any student of the Scripture knows that Jesus Christ was not a Jew. He is a Galilean and an Israelite. The apostates which crucified our Lord and perpetuate the hate for our Lord were identi­fied by Jesus when He said: “If ye were the children of Abraham, ye would do the works of Abraham, but ye are of your father the Devil, a liar from the foundation of the earth.” Taking figurative statements of the Bible and attempting to apply them liter­ally has wrought no end of confusion throughout Christendom during the entire Gospel Age. Certainly, those people who were bantering Jesus did not actually have the Devil as their father; they were human beings the same as the rest of us, except with different characters. Rev. 5:5 specifically says Jesus is “The lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David”; and Heb. 7:14, Dia. is even more to the point: “It is very plain that our Lord has sprung from Judah.” Thus, when they say “any student of the Scripture knows that Jesus Christ was not a Jew,” it is clear enough that they study only such Scriptures as can be applied to their own ideas. Any Scripture that contradicts them is blithely ignored – as though it did not exist.

These same people also declare that Jesus Himself was an outstanding Jew hater; so we offer another pertinent Scripture that directly contradicts that thought: “Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that you may be the children of your Father which is in Heaven.... If you love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?” (Matt. 5:43–45) And further in 1 Cor. 2:8: “Had they (the Jews) known, they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory.”

Yet more: This same group contends that the Jews are the Antichrist. Clearly enough, they do not understand the meaning of this word, which actually means “in place of Christ,” rather than “against Christ.” Once the real meaning of the word is understood, we then have no difficulty in connecting it with St. Paul’s words in 2 Thes. 2:3,4: “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God... so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.”

Of course, St. Paul wrote the foregoing many years after Jesus had been crucified, so it could not possibly refer to the Jews. He does say that this great Apostasy (this mystery of iniquity) “doth already work,” yet its real force would not be felt un­til some future time. This same publication leans heavily upon Martin Luther in sup­port of their anti–Jewish contentions; yet here is what Martin Luther himself said con­cerning Antichrist: “The faith and the Church are at stake. I rejoice to suffer in so noble a cause. I am not worthy of so holy a trial. I feel much freer now that I am certain the pope is Antichrist... I hope none but the papists will stain their hands in my blood. Antichrist reigns... All the articles of John Huss were condemned by Anti­christ and his apostles in the synagogue of Satan... On the left Christ is washing the disciples’ feet. On the right Antichrist, the pope, is having his toes kissed by mon­archs.”

Jehovah’s Witnesses – This organization also adds its loud voice toward castiga­tion of the Jews, because the Jews generally will have no part of their teachings. They do not advocate violence against the Jews, or revile them politically, but they do pre­dict extreme violence for them in the approaching Armageddon – at which time they fore­cast the extermination of all people – including the Jews specifically – that have not joined their organization by the time the holocaust arrives.

In this the Witnesses mimic the Antichrist, who also contends the Roman Catholic Church is the one true church; and during their counterfeit reign from 799 to 1799 they were very vociferous that there could be no salvation outside their church. And we may ob­serve here that those who make such claims go more and more into error – “outer dark­ness.” This is well typified in the attempted construction of the Tower of Babel. Men said, “Let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto Heaven” (Gen. 11:4). They would have insurance against another flood (in spite of the promise that “the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh” – Gen. 9:15); they would build Bab-EL (Gateway to God). As retribution for this affront, the Lord confused their tongues; they could no longer understand each other.

Thus, the effort became known as Babyl, meaning confusion – the same being typical of the efforts of the Roman Church, and presently in our day of the Witnesses, to build a “Gateway to God”; that is, WE are the one true church – no salvation outside of us – no other access to God. And just as the Roman Church lost all important Biblical truths as presented by St. Peter, so the Witnesses have also lost the great majority of that system of truths that was left with them by their so-called founder, Pastor Russell.

The time is now with us for the manifestation of persons, principles and things in a way never before done in the history of the human race. “The Lord will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of hearts.” (1 Cor. 4:5) And, while we have no thought of success in stopping present inequali­ties and erroneous teachings, we can warn those who have “an ear to hear” not to be partakers of such sins. The evils of “this present evil world” (Gal. 1:4) will contin­ue apace with the sound exposures until the Lord’s Prayer is fulfilled: “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is done in Heaven.”  “Expecting and hastening the presence of the Day of God, on account of which the Heavens (the present ecclesias­tical order) being on fire will be dissolved, and the elements (various political, labor and social organizations) burning intensely will melt. But we, according to His prom­ise, are looking for new Heavens (a universal truth-motivated religious order) and a new earth (new social order), in which dwells righteousness.” (2 Peter 3:12,13, Dia.)

THE TRUTH ON THE JEWISH SITUATION

Beginning with p. 243 in Parousia Vol. 3 of Studies In The Scriptures, there is a chapter on The Restoration of Israel, some of which we shall quote, or paraphrase, with some additions of our own:

Among the relics of antiquity that have come down to our day, there is no other object of so great interest as the Jewish people. The Adversary and his blinded dupes have sought to destroy and eliminate the Jews – just as many of them have also tried to do with the Bible (“My two witnesses – the Old and the New Testament – shall prophecy a thousand two hundred and threescore days – the papal supremacy from 539 to 1799 –­ in sackcloth”––Rev. 11:3) suppressed and depressed as those that mourn for the dead. But the very fact that the Jews are here today, as a people distinguished from other peoples (in keeping with the commandment of the Lord given to them more than 2,500 years ago: “Separate yourselves from the people of the land” (Ezra 10:11), should cause any God-fearing person to realize that even in their “cast-off” condition God has overruled their preservation – just as He has preserved His inspired Word

Let us emphasize once more that all the Bible writers were Jews; and St. Paul makes a capital point of this in Rom. 3:1,2: “What advantage then hath the Jew?..... Much every way; chiefly, because unto them were committed the oracles of God.” And this statement is complemented in Rom. 3:29: “Is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also of the Gentiles?” Further in  Gal. 2:15: “We who are Jews by nature.” Here St. Paul tells us that he himself is a  Jew; and he wrote a large part of the New Testa­ment.

Let us emphasize also that at the  time of the Exodus from Egypt the Jews were the only nation that worshipped but one God. “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord.” (Deut. 6:4) The various heathen nations had a multiplicity of Gods – a god of war , a god for love, a god for vegetation, etc. And with all of their gods combined they could not even remotely approach the idealism that came to the Jews through their “one Lord.”

The searchers after ancient lore have untiringly questioned every inanimate ob­ject that could give a mite of historic or scientific information. Monuments, altars, tombs, relics of public and private edifices, paintings, sculptures, hieroglyphs and dead languages have all been appealed to; and some have even tried patiently to dis­cover the line of actual truth that probably inspired the many fanciful traditions, legends, songs, etc., that have come floating down the centuries in order to learn all that is possible to know of human origin, history and destiny. But a most interesting relic, and one whose history can be most easily deciphered and understood, is the Jew­ish people. In them we have a monument of antiquity of inestimable value, upon which are recorded, in clearly legible characters, the origin, the progress and final destiny of the whole human race – a living and intelligent witness of the gradual outworking of a wonderful purpose in human affairs.

As a people, they are marked as distinct and peculiar by every circumstance of their history, and by their common religious faith, as well as by every element of their manners and customs. A forceful proof of this was to be observed in the war that began in the Fall of 1973 on their Atonement Day – a day in which ordinarily the orthodox Jews refrain from food and water. Under the heat and the strain of the battle that day many of the Jewish soldiers became dehydrated and well-nigh exhausted, yet they persisted in their abstinence – although their leaders had granted them freedom from the age-old cus­tom. Thus, some of them at least still try to adhere to the Law of Moses and the Cov­enant which Moses mediated for that nation almost four thousand years ago. The national characteristics of many centuries ago are still prominent, even to their fondness for the leeks and onions and garlic of Egypt, and their stiff–necked obstinacy. As a people, they truly had much advantage every way, in having committed unto them “the oracles of God,” developing among them poets, lawyers, statesmen and philosophers, and leading them up step by step from being a nation of slaves in Egypt to be – as in the time of Solomon (the zenith of their glory) – a people distinguished and honored among the nations, attracting the wonder and admiration of the world. (1 Kgs. 4:30-34; 10: 1-29)

Since they cast off and condemned the Just One and said, “His blood be upon us, and upon our children” (Matt. 27:25), they have again suffered, even more so in many in­stances, than they did in their Old Testament stripings. This had its horrible begin­ning in the year 70 AD, when the Roman Army under Titus captured Jerusalem, destroyed their temple, and scattered them throughout the Gentile world. In their treatment of Jesus, God took the Jews at their word: When Jerusalem finally fell into the hands of the Romans, there was a circle of crosses around the City, with a dead Jew hanging on every one of them. Prophetically it has been written of them, “Fools because of their transgression (when they crucified the Lord of Glory), and because of their iniquities (their violations of the Mosaic Law), are afflicted.” (Psa. 107:17) Present-day in­stances of this are to be seen in the terrible treatment they have received in Germany, Russia, etc.

Israel has been a nation scattered and peeled – driven as exiles from country to country, from province to province, and have been deprived of almost every right and privilege which other men enjoyed. Rejecting Christianity – in its corrupted as well as in its true form – they became the objects of the contempt and relentless persecu­tion of the Church of Rome. Thus estranged from God and from their fellow-men of every nation, sad and pitiable indeed has been their miserable condition. During the relentless Papal persecutions of the Dark Ages, they have suffered in common with the saints and martyrs of Jesus – the Christian for his rejection of Antichrist, the Jew for his rejection of both Christ and Antichrist.

The treatment accorded them forced a marked change in their way of life. Canaan was a goodly land – “a land flowing with milk and honey” – so  that a large segment of that people were engaged in farming and animal husbandry. But such things could not be carried with them as they were chased from nation to nation; and this forced them into businesses of various kinds, and into the money markets. In this manner their “quick assets” (stocks, bonds, cash, etc.) could be carried with  them, so that today it is an oddity of the first rank to see a Jewish farmer. Almost all of them are in the cities, pursuing their professions or marketing their various wares; they no longer take the chance of having to leave their farms behind  them as they moved on.

Nevertheless, whether they are still blinded to God’s promise to deliver them once more, as He did from Egypt, and from their various captivities, God is faithful that promised: “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a New Covenant with the house of Israel, and with the House of Judah (this certainly includes all twelve tribes): Not according to the covenant I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord: But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” (Jer. 31:31–33)

God has not made this new covenant with Israel yet, but we can be sure that they never again will be entirely driven out from Jerusalem. He has planted them back in their own soil – in the land promised to Abraham, to him and to his seed after him for­ever – and even though we see them greatly oppressed, we can be sure that no one will drive them out of that land. The promise of God is to natural Israel – to be planted again in their homeland; but “all Israel” includes only those faithful covenant-keeping Jews: the others are counted as the heathen. And it will be through those faithful Jews that all the families of the earth will be blessed.

“The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel (the good news) unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.” (Gal. 3:8) And we may be sure that those faithful covenant-keeping Jews who have continued in their faith during the harrowing experiences meted out to them during their “cast-off” condition, will with alacrity and joy walk up the Highway of Holiness (Isa. 35:8) under their New Covenant meliorating conditions.

Up to the time of their casting off by Jesus, the Jews were the only nation that had covenant relationship with God. “O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt. You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.” (Amos 3:1,2) Any of the people of other nations who would come into relationship with God had first to become proselyte Jews. And the same conditions will apply when the New Covenant is instituted – any who will be the recipient of those blessings must first become Jews.

So it was with the ministry of Jesus and the Apostles – the gospel was first pre­sented to the Jewish nation; and the message of Christian salvation has come to us through them. Cornelius was the first Gentile convert (Acts Chapter 10); but he had to wait for 3½ years after Jesus’ death before God would give to him the Holy Spirit. Since that time the gospel has been open alike to Jew and Gentile, although very few of the Jews have become Christians. “Blindness in part has happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in.” (Rom. 11:25) Nevertheless, it should be empha­sized here that the blessings and privileges of the Mosaic Law were offered “to the Jew first”; likewise, the blessings and privileges of Christianity were also offered “to the Jew first.” Also, the blessings and privileges of the New Covenant will be “to the Jew first.”

A “New Covenant” necessarily carries the inference of an Old Covenant, the same being the Law Covenant given through Moses, of which the Gentiles were not in any way included. Therefore, a new covenant could not possibly be made with the Gentiles, because they have never had an old one. Any Gentiles wishing to partake of the old covenant had to become Jews; and some of them did just that, as instance ­“Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch.” (Acts 6:5) The same limitation will apply with the New Covenant: Any who wish to receive its blessings will have to become Jews. Salvation is to the Jews.” (John 4:22)

JACOB’S TROUBLE

“These are the words that the Lord spake concerning Israel and concerning Judah (all twelve tribes are included in this). For thus saith the Lord: We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace (which has been occurring since 1948, and will be yet greatly increased)... Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of  Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of  it.” (Jer. 30:4-7)   Jacob is a term often applied  to  the  entire  nation of Israel in the Old Testament; but Jacob is never  used to designate the Christian church.

That ‘great day’ of the foregoing text is described in more detail in Zech. 14: 1–3: “Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when He fought in the day of battle.”

Outstanding instances of the Lord fighting for Israel in ancient times are given in Ex. 17:8-14, where Amalek and his army were decisively defeated by Joshua; and in Judges 7:15-22, where Gideon with a band of 300 men accomplished the destruction of a Midianitish army “as grasshoppers for multitude; both they and their camels were with­out number.” See also 1 Kgs. 20:1–21, where Ben–hadad and “thirty and two kings with him” lost “an hundred thousand footmen in one day.” (v. 29)

“Jacob’s Trouble” is yet some years in the future, so we are now privileged to see only the overall picture; but enough is revealed to give us a fairly good idea of the event – in keeping with the words of St. Peter: “We have also a more sure word of prophecy, whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn” (2 Pet. 1:19), the dawning day here being the inaugura­tion of the New Covenant with Israel.

Lest any of our readers should draw an overly pessimistic conclusion about Jacob’s Trouble, we would remind them of these facts: At the time they were cast off by Jesus just before His death (“Behold, your house is left unto you desolate”––Matt. 23:37) the Jews, as a nation, began their decline; and they lost their national existence com­pletely in the year 70 AD, when the Roman army scattered them throughout the earth. And from that date onward the Gentile supremacy waxed greater and greater. However, since their restoration to their homeland the Jews as a nation have been on a gradual upgrade; whereas, the Gentile nations have become steadily more shaken and distressed. And this disparity will become much more pronounced in the years immediately ahead. The writing of Isa. 60:1–3 is now markedly pertinent; “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.”

SUMMATION: – Those who ignore or openly contradict the foregoing interpretations are rejecting large and important parts of the Bible, whether they realize it or not. As instance, the Jehovah’s Witnesses lay great stress upon their Bible ‘proofs’ for what they teach; yet we cannot recall one instance where they have given any comment at all on Jer. 31:31-34, or Isa. 60:1-3, or upon the various statements of St. Paul concern­ing the Jew.

Neither the Jehovah’s Witnesses nor any groups who have cast out the Jews can produce any Scriptures that support their contentions about the Jews, but we can produce many Scriptures to support our contentions: “And there shall be no more a pricking brier unto the house of Israel, nor any grieving thorn of all that are round about them, that despised them; and they shall know that I am the Lord God. Thus saith the Lord God; When I shall have gathered the house of Israel from the people among whom they are scat­tered, and shall be sanctified in them in the sight of the heathen, then shall they dwell in their land that I have given to my servant Jacob.” (Ezek. 28:25-26)

“Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.  And ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves. And I shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the Lord have spoken it, and performed it, saith the Lord.” (Ezek. 37: 12–14)

Psalms 107:17-22 also applies to natural Israel, and also supports our conten­tion regarding “to the Jew first”: “They cry unto the Lord in their trouble (Jacob’s Trouble – second phase), and he saveth them out of their distresses.” (v. 19) These covenant-keeping Jews in Jerusalem will be the “first” to receive the blessings of the New Covenant, and will naturally become the first able and zealous missionaries of the Kingdom. Many will join them, of course – particularly the “repentant and be­lieving” in the finished picture of the Epiphany. “For thus saith the Lord; Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations: publish ye, praise ye, and say O Lord, save thy people, the remnant of Israel.” (Jer. 31:7)

“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; Micah 4:2) We would emphasize, however, that these promises apply only to the faithful covenant-keeping Jews – all others are counted as heathen.

Since “God is faithful that promised” (Heb. 10:23; 11:11), it is our hope and prayer that all God’s faithful people are in harmony with God’s good and perfect will. “Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together... There are set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee... Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek thy good.” (Psa. 122:3-9)

Sincerely your brother, John J. Hoefle, Pilgrim

(Reprint of No. 238, April 1, 1975

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LETTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST

Dear Person:

Could you please send me information about your organization. I’d be interested in your beliefs, practices and how you operate. This material would be appreciated as soon as possible.        

Thank you, ------- (CANADA)

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Dear Brethren: Grace and peace!

The January paper is quite interesting. After reading about the Jehovah’s Witnesses, I thought you might be interested in some of my experiences with them.

Since moving to my present home in the Missouri Ozarks, I have had several visits from a group of local Jehovah’s Witnesses. When the first group arrived at my house I invited them in to inspect my bound original Watch Towers, beginning with the first one published in the late 1800s and continuing through mid‑1917. I also have copies of Pastor Russell’s volumes published in the late 1800s and early 1900s. They seemed very interested at first, and I invited them to return at their leisure to read any of the material, but refused to allow the Watch Towers or other books to leave my premises.

Since the initial visit other groups have returned at various times who have been most willing to point out the ‘errors’ of MY thinking. I have noticed, during these visits, they are unwilling to receive any information contrary to the JW point of view. As a point to fact, I offered the last two women who visited me a copy of David Horowitz’ book on Pastor Russell and was promptly informed they would not read anything containing negative comments about the JWs. When asked why, both women told me they did not feel precious reading and study time should be wasted in such fashion.

What a shame! the ladies do not have enough confidence in the teachings of their religious organization to allow them to hear any dissenting comment from an outside source. As if this situation was not sad enough, further comments made before the ladies left, made it plain it would not be considered proper by the Church for them to read such material. What are they afraid of? I can only speculate.

The JW ‘witnessing’ would be severely curtailed if all the people they contact would take the same attitude of the Witnesses, and would tell them their Church would not permit them to read any literature on God’s Word written by another organization.

Many have left the Witnesses over the years for this, and other reasons, and many more will do the same. They are having their troubles from within.

Keep up to the good work of “contending for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” (Jude 3) The Lord bless and guide you in all your efforts to serve Him.

Warm Christian love, ------- (MISSOURI)

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Dear Sister Hoefle: Grace and peace be multiplied!

Hoping this finds you and yours in good health. Thank you for your thoughtfulness in sending the lovely Christmas card. We think of you often and are always interested in the work you are doing and how you are getting along.

We enjoyed a beautiful Christmas holiday with most of the family. All here are in good health. The rapid changes in Israel make us watch and wonder how each change will develop in God’s Plan. How we long for the day when all the hidden things of darkness will be revealed. What a blessing it is to have the assurance (through the rich scriptural promises to Israel) that God’s plan will ultimately bless the entire world through Israel. We continue to pray for Jerusalem. Please use the enclosed check in any way you see fit.

May the Lord bless and keep you. Be assured of our thoughts and prayers for you and yours through the coming year. Your brother by His Grace, ------- (CALIFORNIA)

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Dear Sir:

I would like to know what literature is available from you, as well as information regarding your organization’s doctrinal position and history. Thank you.

Sincerely, ------- (MARYLAND)

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TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

I am interested in learning more about your religious movement. I would appreciate it if you would send me any information possible regarding your organization that you would deem of concern or importance to me. Items such as statement of purpose, course of acceptance, and doctrine, would be valuable data. Thank you for your help.

Sincerely, ------- (CANADA)

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NO. 397: SOME THOUGHTS FOR THE MEMORIAL

No 397

Comes again the Memorial of our Lord’s crucifixion, the correct time this year 1989 being after 6 p.m. Thursday March 20. The date is determined after this manner: The moon nearest the Vernal Equinox comes new at the Thirtieth Meridian East, Jerusa­lem time, at 9:24 p.m., March 26, thus establishing 6 p.m. March 26 as Nisan 1, Bible reckoning. Counting to Nisan 14, we arrive at 6 p.m. April 8; 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.

CHRIST OUR PASSOVER

“Even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us,” says St. Paul in 1 Cor. 5:7, thus establishing a direct connection between the Passover lamb in Egypt the night before the Exodus. This in turn reminds us of the words of John the Baptist: “Be­hold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29); and it may be in order here to note the clear distinction between the two statements. Jesus, the “Lamb,” at Jordan had indeed come to take away the world’s guilt, but not so with the lamb in Egypt. The lamb in Egypt served as a protection against death for Israel’s firstborn; and all of them under the blood that night were ‘passed over’ as the Angel of Death wrought destruction on all of Egypt’s firstborn. But there was none of the atoning merit reckoned in the lamb in Egypt for the Egyptians (typical of worldlings in sin) as there was in the Lamb at Jordan; and it is well we keep the distinction clearly in mind. The Lamb at Jordan “taketh away” the sin of all mankind.

Of the lamb killed in Egypt that night it is recorded that each householder should “take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the house” (Ex. 12:7); and the typical significance is this: The two door posts in general type the two parts of Justice, or the Law. The first part of the Law, or Jus­tice, is duty-love to God, which is the thankful good-will that by right we owe to God, with all our hearts, minds, souls, and strength (Matt. 22:37,38). And the other part of the Law, or Justice is duty-love to the neighbor, which is the good-will that we owe him, a good-will that goes out to him in the same degree as we would have him exer­cise toward us in thought, motive, word and act (Matt. 22:39; 7:12). One of the door posts thus sprinkled would represent the imputation of the antitypical Lamb’s merit to that part of Divine Justice which demands the sinner’s death for violations of duty-­love to God; and the sprinkling of the second door post would represent the imputation of the antitypical Lamb’s merit to that part of Divine Justice which demands the sinner’s death for violations of duty-love to his fellows.

But, for Gospel-Age purposes the foregoing is not enough to relieve us of the death sentence which is ours by inheritance; there must also be a reckoned righteous­ness (Abraham’s faith was “counted” – reckoned – to him for righteousness) which would enable us to “stand” in the Household of Faith. Thus, the “upper door post” – the lintel – had to be sprinkled also. The lintel of a door is that crossbeam forming the ceiling of the door, and which forms the foundation for the superstructure of the building immediately above it. Thus, it beautifully types that righteousness that comes to us through the Lamb’s blood, and which enables us to build an acceptable charac­ter. “No one can lay another foundation besides that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ (Christ our Passover). And if, on this foundation, any one build up gold, sil­ver, costly stones; wood, hay, straw; the work of each will become manifest... If the work of any one remain, which he built up (on the lintel above the doorway into God’s House), he will receive a recompense.” (1 Cor. 3:11-14, Dia.) Thus, the sprinkling of the blood on the lintel typifies that “righteousness which is of faith” that comes to those who will avail themselves of it in this faith Age. Thus, the whole work of God and Christ in justifying us is pictured in the sprinkling of the lamb’s blood on the door posts and the lintel. But only the entrance to the house – the door posts and the lintel – were to be sprinkled; and this would typify that faith of the one inside (the firstborn) would suffice to secure for him sufficient satisfaction of justice to spare him from death. “We have passed from death unto life.” (1 John 3:14)

All the firstborn who were “under the blood” that night were secure in their domi­ciles as they ate the lamb and bitter herbs; and the type is certainly a very definite reminder that the same is meticulously true of the antitype. “If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, His son, cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7) This is further stressed by 1 Pet. 1:18, 19 (Dia.): “You were redeemed from your foolish conduct, transmitted from your fathers, not by corruptible things, by silver or gold, but by the precious blood of Christ, as a spotless and unblemished lamb.” Thus, the sprinkling of the lintel most forcefully portrays the antitypical sprinkling; and brings sharp reminder of the Methodist hymn, “There’s power in the blood.” It is indeed the “blood of sprinkling speaking better things than that of Abel.” (Heb. 12:24)

The charge to each house was that they were to eat the lamb’s flesh throughout the night of Nisan 14; and there is no variable allowance whatever from that date. Thus, regardless of whether or not the moon be in its complete fullness, the Passover was to be kept that night – and “throughout your generations.” Consequently, once we determine the proper time for the moon to become new, the determination of Nisan 14 then becomes only a matter of simple addition.

It is well to keep in mind that on that awesome night in Egypt only the firstborns were in danger of death; the others of the family were simply the “innocent bystand­ers,” as it were. But in the remembrance that followed each year thereafter the first­borns were no longer in that precarious state, although the firstborn was always given a proper recognition by the head of the house on each occasion. With all the prepara­tions duly made, the lamb, the wine, and other items all properly placed on the table, the father would then tell the oldest son to ask of the father, “What mean these things,” after which the father would give in finely stated detail the events of the night in Egypt, and the exodus of the Jews from the land of bondage – picturing, of course, our departure from the land of figurative bondage, the bondage of sin and death, from which the blood of the antitypical Lamb frees us. Thus, we may grasp in its grand fullness St. Paul’s statement, “Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.”

GOSPEL-AGE DELIVERANCE

The things described above have for this Age been spiritual and not physical, although physical deliverance sometimes accompanies the spiritual. When the Psalmist wrote, “There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwell­ing” (Psa. 91:10), he was speaking of spiritual and not physical things. All of us know that from Jesus on during this Age the noblest and best of Christians have come to all manner of physical evil – burning at the stake, stranglings, ostracisms, cast out by their own brethren, often regarded as the off scouring of the earth, even as He “was despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.” Often the world in general has regarded such misfortune as an evidence of God’s disfavor; whereas, the Apostle James says we should “Count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations.” One translation puts it this way: “Count it all joy when you are hedged about with dif­ficulties.”

Preceding the Passover in Egypt, Moses met such ‘difficulties,’ so that he came to the Lord with the complaint: “Since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Thy name, he hath done evil to this people; neither hast thou delivered Thy people at all.” (Ex. 5:23) Much the same experience came to Jesus; thus, St. Paul writes of Him: “In all things it behooved Him to be made like unto His brethren... was tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin.” (Heb. 2:17; 4:15) In their ministrations both the typical and the antitypical Moses learned well the adage, Hope deferred maketh the heart sick – ­“neither hast Thou delivered Thy people at all.” And these illustrations should impress the lesson well upon us – for ourselves, and for those of the Household who are tempted in like manner: such temporary physical reverses should be expected, because they are permitted for our good – to develop in us that patience amid hope deferred that will en­able us to have confidence in God’s ability and willingness to “save to the uttermost them that come unto Him by Jesus.” And particularly at the Memorial season do such med­itations seem most appropriate. As we consider the Passover – typical and antitypical ­we may well embrace the promise to Moses: “I will take you to Me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the lord your God, which bringeth you out from under the burden of the Egyptians.” (Ex. 6:7)

The assurance to Israel that they would know it was Jehovah who was their God types that God would to antitypical Israel, especially in the Parousia and the Epiphany (when the full Gospel-Age deliverance is to be accomplished), persuade them “in full assur­ance of faith” that He is their God – self-existent and perfect in wisdom, justice, love and power. “Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest.” (Josh. 3:15) As we know, Jordan is a type of the curse – of the downward course of the race under sin; and it is stated that this curse would be magnified “all the time of harvest.” ­Since 1874 we have been “in the time of harvest”; and the visible effects of the curse have surely been magnified during this season. Particularly in the past sixteen years has this been markedly in evidence, as we see so much of the honorable and the vener­able being trodden under foot in shameless fashion. And, if these things tend to dis­courage us, distress, disappoint, cast down in tribulation, we should strive to apply to ourselves “in full assurance of faith” the Covenant promises (Gen. 22:16-18); and to re­member that “As He was in this world, so are we.” Also, that the promise is sure to us: “I will bring you unto the land (“the land” for Gospel-Age purposes being the Truth and the Spirit of the Truth)... I will give it you for an heritage.” (Ex. 6:8) And particu­larly at the Memorial Season is it our privilege to claim these promises as ours – to renew our determination to partake of the paschal lamb “in sincerity and in truth.”

PURIFY THE SONS OF LEVI

In Mal. 3:1-3 is given certain things which “The Messenger of the Covenant” would do at His second advent, one of which is that “He shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in right­eousness.” In this text “the sons of Levi” are the Little Flock and Great Company ­represented in the gold and silver. At Sinai the sons of Levi were divided into two classes – the Priests and Levites, Aaron and his sons being the Priests, with all the other members of that tribe being styled Levites, who were “wholly given” unto the Priests as their assistants in the various ministrations of the Tabernacle. These re­placed the firstborns who had been ‘passed over’ in Egypt, and they typed the “Church of the firstborn” (Heb. 12:23) whom Jesus would purge at His Second Advent.

Perhaps the first feature of that work was to gather them together (“Come ye out of her, My people) by the Truth, which Truth instructed them very clearly as to their status and work to be done. To this end He acted as a refiner and purifier (polisher) of silver, the Truth. The purging of the sons of Levi was also accomplished by their providential experiences – difficulties and trials of various kinds, which touched all of them from the least to the greatest, even including That Servant, the Pilgrims, the Elders. Those who were properly “exercised” (developed) by such experiences were blessed with an increase of the Holy Spirit in their hearts and minds. Of course, such action was carried on all during the Age, but it is especially emphasized in this text as occurring in the end of the Age.

And the text tells us that this would be done “that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness” – literally, “that they may be bringers of a meat offering to Jehovah in righteousness.” Thus, the reason for the previous parts of His work – they should be “purged,” cleansed from faults and developed in good traits to qualify them righteously to serve the Lord in proclaiming the Truth, especially its deeper and more comprehensive features – an antitypical meat offering. The easier features of the Truth would be represented in the drink offering, which is not mentioned here, as it was the Lord’s wish for His own that they be “rooted, grounded, and built up in Him” that they could “give to every man a reason for the hope that was in them.” And this activity was toward both divisions of the antitypical firstborns. Of course, we all know that the “gold” element of those sons profited to the full by the Word, Spirit and Providences which the Lord arranged for them; thus, they became “more than conquerors,” as the others failed, some more, some less, to profit by the purgings meted out to them. These latter did not present a meat offering to the Lord in righteousness; they rather did this in more or less of unrighteousness. In the Parousia the most of these remained with the Truth Movement, however, even though they were not fully “established in the Present Truth.”

But to those who did profit by the purging processes, their sacrifices became ever more acceptable as the years went by, so that many of them have already heard, “Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joys of thy Lord.” These are they who saw the “sickle” of Harvest Truth clearly, made it their own, and ministered it in telling manner to their fellows in the Truth, and to outsiders who had an ear to hear. One of these Truth segments was a vivid understanding of the Passover, type and anti­type; and this knowledge greatly aided them in keeping it “in spirit and in Truth.” Thus, we present these thoughts in the same spirit, and with the same purpose as did St. Peter: “Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the Present Truth. Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance.” (2 Pet. 1:12,13) And our Lord’s final message to His own at His first Advent was “This do in remembrance of Me” – which remembrance we do each year as we partake of the bread and the cup.

To all who were properly exercised by the purgings of the Lord during the Parousia He gave the special opportunities of service, the Penny, which was their privilege in 1914-1916. To those of our readers who participated in that service we would now offer our warm commendation, and the assurance that it is our fond wish that we aid in what­ever way possible that they “continue in the things they have learned, and been assured of.” And that they also at this Memorial Season resolve to continue to present the Truth in righteousness to crown losers and to Youthful Worthies so long as they have an ear to hear.

Often the trials of God’s people are more severe at the Memorial Season than at other times. It was true when the “remembrance” was instituted. The sifting then man­ifested Judas as a complete outcast, and manifested Peter as a measurably faithful one, from which he subsequently recovered. Similar experiences may await God’s people now, or in future Memorials. Of course, we know not what the future holds, but we do know Who holds the future.

WHO MAY PARTAKE

There are over 200 variations in belief and practice of the Memorial among the sects of Christendom, with extremes in both directions, and modifications in between those extremes. Some of the sects simply post a notice in front of their church that the bread and the cup are to be served at a certain hour, with cordial invitation for any and all to participate with them in the service. At the other extreme, none are allowed to receive the emblems who are not specifically one of them – a member on their rolls. In the case of the Roman Catholic Church, one must not only be a Catholic in good standing, but he must also come to confession the day before; and for centuries they were not allowed to eat or drink the morning before the service, although that has now been modified in some countries.

With us, we believe it a proper summation to state that we are both the most gener­ous and the most extreme in our administration of the Memorial. Only those should par­ticipate who understand clearly the meaning of the bread and the wine, and have coven­anted to conform to that understanding. However, if any say that is their condition, we accept that without further ado – unless, of course, we have positive evidence to the contrary. In keeping with St. Paul’s statement, “Let a man examine himself,” we leave it there, not attempting any examination of each other. “And so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup... For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh condemnation to himself, not discerning the lord’s body.” (1 Cor. 11:28,29) Thus, with each one examining himself, and if there should be an unworthy one in our midst, his guilt remains exclusively with him – without contaminating, or attaching guilt, to his fellows who may sit next to him in close relationship. We believe all will recognize the “spirit of a sound mind” in such an arrangement, so we adhere scrup­ulously to it.

THUS SHALL YE EAT IT

“They shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs... with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste; it is the Lord’s Passover.” (Ex. 12:8-11) Inasmuch as the Jews were to be very meticulous in their observance, we may be certain that every word is heavily weighted with typical and antitypical significance. Because of its corruption and corrupting effects, leaven is properly a type of mental, moral and religious corruption; and leavened bread would therefore represent a condition of corruption by sin, error, selfishness and worldliness. Conversely, unleavened bread would represent a condition free from these evils, and inclined toward Truth, justice, love and heavenly-mindedness. And eating unleavened bread would represent the eater’s confession that he is thus minded, with his daily life in harmony therewith.

The “bitter herbs” (literally, bitter things) were also typical, representing the trialsome experiences that attach to those that eat the lamb with unleavened bread; and the entire history of the Gospel-Age Church reveals that there have been trials aplenty as they have kept the antitype of these things. Thus viewed, those things eat­en at the Passover supper that night in Egypt type the entirety of Christian living.

And the lamb must all be consumed that night. If the house were too small for an entire lamb, the Jews were to join with neighbors in their participation. And, if after that, any were left, it should be burned with fire – nothing left until morning, which typed that we as individuals should not leave our justification and consecration feast­ing until the Millennium, because the entire service is one of faith, and there will be no more faith justification in the Millennium. In this Age we are “saved by faith, not by works,” although we know full well that good works must accompany our faith, because “faith without works is dead.” But in the Millennium it will be just the reverse – a justification by works, although those works will be accompanied by a proportionate amount of faith. For the Gospel Age the lamb types the merit of “the Lamb of God” in the antitypical Tabernacle Court, which has been imputed to those who came “under the blood”; but such a course will forever pass away with the full end of the Gospel Age – the merit of “the Lamb of God” will then no longer be an imputable thing.

“Ye shall eat it in haste.” The Jews were to be ready to leave Egypt as quickly as possible, typical of the Christian’s course once he has had enough of Egyptian bondage more than glad to flee the evils of antitypical Egypt, a type of the world in sin. And the girded loins would indicate a desire and willingness to help others to do the same thing – as servants of the Lord and the Truth. “He that would be chief among you, let him be your servant.” “With your staff in your hand.” The staff would represent prin­cipally the precious promises, upon which the Christian leans for support, especially in hilly and rough places; and it may be stressed here that it would be impossible for any to make the journey from Egypt to the Heavenly Canaan without those promises to sustain, encourage and nourish him in that journey. “Your shoes on your feet.” The feet in Scripture represent conduct; and, when we read that “Mephibosheth was lame on both his feet” (2 Sam. 9:13), we are to understand he typed a certain class of people who would be lacking in love toward God and man. And, when the type commanded “shoes on your feet,” it meant that here in the Gospel Age we should have a character properly covered by the Lord’s Spirit, and built and acting in harmony therewith.

Only those who “thus” keep the feast will be able to “hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.” (Heb. 3:6) Only such, with the girded loins, the sandaled feet and the firmly-gripped staff will pursue their course with energy and full determination to the end – all of which is tersely summed up in the drink­ing of the cup. “Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of?” “Hereunto were ye called, because Christ having suffered for us, left us an example (by the cup He drank) that we should follow in his steps.”

And with these thoughts comes our fond hope for the Lord’s rich blessing to all our readers as they prepare and participate in this “remembrance” on the evening of April 8. It certainly is not our wish that any should conclude that by this article we are attempt­ing to avoid, or improve upon, the description of the Passover as it is given in Parousia Volume 6. It is our recommendation that all “renew their minds” by reading once more that chapter. “Ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another... and we beseech you that ye increase more and more... walk honestly toward them that are without, that you may have lack of nothing” (1 Thes. 4:9-12) – with malice toward none, and charity toward all.

Sincerely your Brother, John J. Hoefle, Pilgrim

(Reprint No. 189, March 1971)

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THE RESURRECTION

1 Cor. 15;12‑26

“Thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Cor. 15:57)

1 Cor 15:12‑19 calls attention to the great importance of the doctrine of the resurrection, presenting it as the twin of the other great doctrine which the Apostle set forth “first of all... how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,” (verse 3) to which fundamental doctrine it stands related as effect to cause. So important is this doctrine in the estimation of the inspired Apostle, that he emphatically declares that, if it be not true, then there is no hope for any man beyond the present life; the preaching of the gospel is in vain, and those who preach it are false witnesses; the death of Christ was for naught; the faith of Christians is vain, and their hope delusive; and their life of sacrifice, in view of the resurrection and its rewards, merely robs them of what little enjoyment and advantage they might gain in the present life, which is all they would ever have; and those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. Such indeed is our sad plight if there be no resurrection. If this, which Christ died to secure, is not guaranteed to us, to be realized in due time, we are yet in our sins and under the death penalty, without a ray of hope. And more: if there be no resurrection, although the price was paid to secure it, then God is not fulfilling His part of the contract.

While verses 12‑19 declare the great importance of this twin doctrine of the ransom – the resurrection – verses 20‑26 emphasize its truthfulness. The resurrection of Christ, attested by many infallible proofs (verses 5‑8; Acts 1:3), is the guarantee that all those whom he redeemed by His precious blood shall have not only an awakening from death, but an opportunity to attain a complete resurrection to all the blessings and favors lost in the fall. That was the assurance which God gave to all men (Acts 17: 31) that the ransom for the sins of the whole world given at Calvary was acceptable, a full satisfaction of the claims of Justice against our race, so that now He can be just, and the justifier of all that believe in Jesus. (Rom. 3:26)

In verse 20 let Christians observe what the various creeds of Christendom ignore, and what is in direct antagonism to their teachings, viz., that the risen Christ was “the first fruits of them that slept” – that He was the first one to experience a resurrection in the full sense of the term, viz., to perfection and everlasting life. True, some before him were temporarily awakened, again to relapse into death; for example, Lazarus, Jairus’ daughter, the son of the widow of Nain, the Shunammite’s son, etc., but those were only partial illustrations of resurrection, to assure men of the Divine Power to fully accomplish it in due time – in the day which God has appointed. (Acts 17:31) Now mark the logic of this fact: If Christ was the first one resurrected, none were resurrected before him; and if, as shown in the preceding verses, those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished, except they be restored to life by a resurrection; and if those who die in Christ, “sleep in Jesus,” until Christ’s second coming, it is plain that none of them went to heaven when they died.

They were dead, they slept in Jesus, they rested in hope, they were destroyed, and must remain so until the time appointed for their resurrection – at the Second Advent of Christ when all those that sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. (1 Thes. 4:14) David hath not ascended into the heavens (Acts 2:34): Daniel must wait, and he shall stand in his lot at the end of the days (Dan. 12:13); Abraham must wait his time for the possession of the promised land, of which he never yet owned so much as to set his foot upon (Acts 7:5): Job must tarry until the wrath of this evil day is overpass (Job 14:12‑15, 21); Stephen must wait the realization of his dying vision (Acts 7:56); and Paul, and with him all those that love the Lord’s appearing, must wait the fullness of time when the reward of their faithfulness will be due. (2 Tim. 4:8)

All this Scripture teaching is in perfect accord; but it is in irreconcilable conflict with the current theology of so‑called Christendom, in whose theories there is no place whatever for the doctrine of the resurrection, logically considered. If a man goes to heaven when he dies, and is glad to shuffle off this mortal coil, which some call his prison, although he loves and cherishes it and stays in it as long as possible, why, in the name of reason, should he hope for a reunion with his body? The position is illogical, unscriptural and untenable.

Verse 21 antagonizes the current theology with equal force. It declares that since by man came death, by man ‑ the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom for all came also the resurrection of the dead. Current theology says that our redemption is secured by the sacrifice of a God, not a man: but the Scriptures are very explicit in pointing out an exact equivalent, a human substitute for the human head of our race, whose redemption secures the redemption of his posterity, on precisely the same principle that his fall and condemnation entailed sin and death upon us. It was the man Christ Jesus, who, after He had left the glory of His previous spiritual existence and was made in the likeness of sinful flesh, said, “A body hast thou prepared me for the suffering of death,” that accomplished our redemption by the sacrifice of Himself – His flesh, His humanity, and that in consequence of that sacrifice has been highly exalted, even to the Divine Nature – “Wherefore, God also hath highly exalted Him and given Him a name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven and things in earth, and things under the earth.” (Phil. 2:8‑11)

It was after the resurrection that He said, “All power in heaven and in earth is given unto me.” And if this exaltation and power were granted to Him as a reward for His sacrifice, then it is manifest that, however rich He was in spiritual glory and power before He became a man, He was still more bountifully endowed at His resurrection, after He had sacrificed His humanity, being made a partaker of the Divine Nature and the express image of His Father’s person. (Heb. 1:3)

When the man Christ Jesus gave “His flesh [His humanity] for the life of the world” (John 6:51), He gave it up never to take it again; for it was the price paid for our redemption. And consequently, when He was raised again, His existence was in a new nature, that thus our benefits might not be interfered with, and also that the abundant power of the Divine Nature given unto Him might be exercised in actually reclaiming from the thralldom of sin and death those whom He had legally rescued by His death.

Verses 22,23 show that all who are Christ’s – by faith in His sacrifice – are to receive the benefits of His death in full resurrection to the perfection and lasting life forfeited in Eden. The order of resurrection is to be Christ the first fruits, which includes not only Christ Jesus, the Head and High Priest of our profession, but also all the members of His Body – “Blessed and holy are all they that have part in the first resurrection.” Then, after the resurrection of this glorious Body, follows the resurrection of all “that are His at [during] His [Christ’s] presence [Greek, parousia, presence, not coming].”

The time of His presence is the entire thousand years of His reign. During that period all that are in their graves [good and bad, the just and the unjust] “shall hear His voice and shall come forth: they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life, and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of judgment [Greek, krisis, judgment, not damnation].” (John 5:28,29) The former class enter immediately upon their reward of full resurrection ‑ human perfection, while the latter class awake to a judgment, or trial for everlasting life, which it will be their privilege to gain if they become Christ’s by fully submitting themselves to His discipline and control.

Otherwise their trial will be cut short at a hundred years and they will die the Second Death, from which there is no recovery. Isa. 65:20) None out of Christ will be made alive, fully resurrected, though all experience the awakening from death, which is the first step in the process of resurrection, and a trial to prove their worthiness or unworthiness of the fullness of resurrection, which is actual perfection and everlasting life. “He that hath the Son hath life, and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” (1 John 5:12) “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life, and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him.” (John 3:36)

Verses 24,25 assure us of the victory of Christ, and in what that victory will consist – that it will consist in the complete subjection of every opposing power and authority, and in the putting of all the enemies of this, His purpose, under His feet, whether those enemies be evil conditions, principles, powers or individuals. He will banish all evil conditions by permitting first a great time of trouble (Dan. 12:1), and then by causing conditions of righteousness and peace to supplant them. He will forever banish the evil principles by flooding the world with His light and truth and by effectually renewing a right spirit in the hearts of all the willing and obedient. He will completely overcome every opposing power by the exercise of His own almighty power for their complete and final overthrow. And He will put down every opposing individual by cutting him off in the Second Death, from which there shall be no recovery.

“He must reign till He hath put all enemies under His feet;” and the limited time of that reign is a thousand years (Rev. 20:6‑10), at the expiration of which time all opposing individuals, and the devil who deceived and led them, are to be cast into the lake of fire, which is the Second Death. (Rev. 20:7‑15) The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death – not the Second Death into which the opposers have been cast, else the language would be contradictory, but the Adamic death, which Christ came to destroy by liberating all its subjects, which, to fully accomplish, will require all of His Millennial reign.

In the words of our text, “Thanks be to God who giveth us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

(Pastor Russell, Reprints 1591‑1592, October 15, 1893)

NO. 396B: RETROSPECT AND PROSPECT - PART TWO

No. 396B

THE JEWS

“We Appeal To Pope John Paul II: Return these precious Hebrew Manuscripts to their rightful owners: The Jewish People!

“The traveling exhibition of sacred Hebrew manuscripts held by the Vatican is now, after a year‑long country‑wide tour, reaching New York. The people of New York deserve an insight into the true background of this collection.

“It is well known that the Church, for centuries, as part of her deliberate plan to eradicate Judaism, engaged in a systematic campaign to seize Hebrew books and destroy Jewish libraries. This was done for several reasons. Firstly, to create and maintain the absurd notion that Judaism, after the death of Jesus, was a sterile and unproductive religion. Secondly, to deprive Jews of their means of education and thereby to throttle the unusually high level of Jewish scholarship. Thirdly, to search in Jewish writing for some glib arguments which could be turned against Judaism and force conversions to Christianity. Lastly, while most of the Hebrew manuscripts thus wrested by force from the persecuted Jewish communities were burned at stake, or hidden in churches or monasteries, some were torn apart to be sold, retail, parchment folio by parchment folio, as book binding material – a lucrative business in the Middle Ages.

“Pope Urban II unleashed blood‑thirsty mobs for the First Crusade in 1096 who promptly slaughtered thousands of outstanding Jewish scholars in communities along the Rhine River and destroyed their libraries. In 1244, under Pope Paul Innocent IV, twenty four cart loads of Hebrew manuscripts, mainly copies of the Talmud, were burned in public in Paris. Pope Paul IV, before he died in 1559, destroyed every Hebrew book owned by the Jews of Rome. His successor, Pope Pius V, punished any Jew caught still owning a single book.

“This on‑going cultural genocide was so thorough that only one single hand written copy of the Talmud survived the Popes’ crusade against Jewish writings – the famous Munich Talmud manuscript.

“Can anyone imagine that Jews, thus constantly fighting to preserve their sacred books, would sell or give even one of their precious possessions to some Italian noblemen, to be ‘donated’ by them to the Vatican, as the promoters of the Vatican exhibition want us to believe? NO! Every manuscript in the Vatican has its blood‑drenched roots in pogroms and massacres of Jewish communities throughout the centuries. The heroic and ultimately successful fight for survival of the Jews to preserve their unbelievably rich religious literature, is evidence of their superior intellectual prowess and religious piety and, of course, of Divine Providence.

“In view of the tragic trail of suffering and persecution which these precious books represent in Jewish history, it must be considered highly inappropriate to use them as a kind of traveling circus, for the financial gain of the Vatican and the Reform promoters of the exhibition. Certainly, the whole enterprise betrays gross insensitivity to Jewish suffering and pride.

“Now let us look more closely at the composition of the Vatican collection. The so‑called Palatine Collection of Hebrew books has its roots in the sacking of the Jewish community of Heidelberg in the 14th century.

“Almost two hundred years ago, France, Germany and the Vatican were still fighting over who should hold them. But while neither party could claim title, no one can deny the primary claim to them by the Jews.

“The ‘Reginenses’ collection in the Vatican represents the Hebrew manuscripts which Sweden’s King Gustav II Adolph plundered during the 30‑Year‑War after sacking the Jewish community of Prague. His daughter, Queen Christina, brought them with her to Rome.

“The most sinister group of Hebrew manuscripts is the so‑called Neofiti Collection. These were consigned by the Vatican to a special building where renegade Jews, most of them converted by coercion or bribery, were kept. These manuscripts were not used, as the exhibition promoters want us to believe, to ‘educate’ these disgraced Jews, but to induce them to fabricate ammunition against Judaism in rigged disputations which rabbis were forced to attend.

“The exquisite manuscripts, painstakingly penned by skilled Jewish scribes and artists, were produced generation after generation to be used for religious devotion and Jewish scholarship. The mint condition of most of them proves that they were snatched from their owners before their purpose could be fulfilled for any length of time.

“We call on Pope John Paul II to let them return to their rightful owners, the Jews, to be used again for the purposes for which our ancestors intended them. These manuscripts should be housed in the National Library in Jerusalem, again the center of Jewish scholarship, in the midst of the Jewish capital, again a thriving center of Jewish religious devotion and practice.

“While many other expectations which Jews everywhere had of the Pope have been dashed, this gesture would bring about a small measure of atonement and conciliation which would not be costly to the Vatican in either theological or political terms. While it is impossible for the Church to atone fully for the centuries of persecution of the Jews and Judaism – reaching from early pogroms to the Vatican’s silence or collaboration during the Holocaust – the return of the Hebrew manuscripts now in its custody, would bring a degree of goodwill and honour to the Pope. We sincerely hope the Pope will seize this opportunity to fulfill our hope.

“For From Zion Shall Again Go Out The Torah, And The Word Of God Again From Jerusalem. (Isaiah 2:3; Micah 4:2)” (Committee for the Recovery of Jewish Manuscripts, New York Times, October 12, 1988)

Address for the Committee for the Recovery of Jewish Manuscripts:

6039 Collins Avenue

Miami Beach, Florida 33140

Phone: (305) 861‑3197

“Pope Travels To Death Camp: Mauthausen, Austria – Pope John Paul II on Friday condemned Nazism on the site where 110,000 World War II prisoners died, but the pontiff angered Austria’s chief rabbi by not making a specific reference to Jewish victims.

“On his arrival, six U.S. Jews who were opposed to the pontiff’s meeting Thursday with President Kurt Waldheim scuffled briefly with police outside the camp. The group was kept away from the pope, and it was not known if he saw the altercation.

“The pontiff mentioned Marcel Callo, a Catholic activist who died in Mauthausen, Polish priest St. Maximilian Kolbe, and two other Catholics who died in Nazi camps. But the Roman Catholic leader made no reference specifically to Jews.

“That angered Chaim Eisenberg, Austria’s chief rabbi, who told reporters in Vienna: ‘A visit to Mauthausen without mentioning the word Jews once is not satisfactory.’

“‘The only Jew he mentions who suffered is Jesus Christ, and he didn’t die in Mauthausen,’ Eisenberg said. [It seems the pope didn’t mention that Jesus Christ was a Jew, either.]

“The pontiff met earlier with Austrian Jewish community President Paul Grosz and five other Jewish leaders in Vienna. Grosz appealed to the pope to work with Jewish leaders to ‘seek a way to solve the problem of the Middle East together.’

“‘I regret that full diplomatic relations between Israel and the Holy See have not yet been established,’ Grosz said.

“‘The Jewish people have the right to a homeland, as any other nation has according to international law,’ the pope said. ‘The same goes for the Palestinian people, many of whom have become homeless and refugees.’” (Orlando Sentinel, June 25, 1988)

The pope repeated the same malarkey that he gave in Miami in September, 1987. God is allowing the “international law” to do what it can for the homeless and refugees, but He has not promised them refuge during this “evil world.” (Galatians 1:4) The Lord is pleased with those who are benevolent and merciful to the poor and needy. However, God’s inspired Word has given the Jewish people a specific homeland. Israel is the homeland of the Jews. The Jews have an unbreakable deed to their homeland – God’s promise to them: “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) “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)

Why should the Jews “appeal to the pope” when they could get no help from the popes in the Dark Ages during Papacy’s heyday? The popes of our day cannot give orders to torture and murder the Jews, as our laws at the present time will not allow it. But it is self‑evident that the pope does not abide by God’s inspired Word, although he claims to have respect for “international law.” Doesn’t he know that God’s Law is above any earthly law? However, no doubt the pope doesn’t consult God’s Law. Many Catholics don’t have a Bible in their homes. They depend upon their Catholic priests to give them all the information they need. There must be a Bible in the Vatican, but it is evident that the pope doesn’t consult it. It seems he relies on “international law” instead of God’s inspired Word. The Jehovah’s Witnesses are a counterpart of Papacy. They do not recognize the Jews and God’s promises to them, nor do they recognize the State of Israel.

However, the faithful Jews consult the Scriptures and rely on God’s promises to them. Even though Israel is in much turmoil today, the faithful Jews know that it will not always be so. In Messiah’s Kingdom, “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)

“They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” (Isa. 11:9) The pope will recognize Israel in that day and so will the Jehovah’s Witnesses – at least outwardly. “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)

God’s promises to the Jews are unconditional. “God is faithful that promised.” (Heb. 10:23) “Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.” (John 4:22)

“Arafat Urges New Policy From Bush, Pushes Demands For Homeland: Algiers, Algeria – PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat on Saturday urged President‑elect George Bush to change Washington’s Middle East policy, and he said Palestinians won’t stop fighting until their flag flies over Jerusalem.

“Support of Palestinians has increased during the 11‑month Arab uprising against Israel’s occupation of the territories. More than 300 Palestinians and 11 Israelis have died.

“Arafat wore fatigues, a headdress and a pistol on his hip.

“‘I urge President Bush to reconsider the American policy in the Middle East and lay down a new one, based on right and justice, not just bias toward Israel,’ Arafat said. ‘Is it logical that 130 member states of the United Nations vote in support of our cause and Israel and the United States vote against?’ he said.

“Arafat repeated his policy of employing military and diplomatic tactics to realize his people’s aspiration for an independent homeland.

“‘This revolution will continue until the Palestinian flag is hoisted over Jerusalem – the guns and the stones and the RPG [rocket‑propelled grenades]. But we also carry the olive branch,’ he said.

“Arafat walked into the heavily guarded hall, 15 miles west of Algiers, arm‑in‑arm with President Chadli Bendjedid of Algeria.” (Orlando Sentinel, November 13, 1988)

Arafat reminds us of the giant Goliath and the youth David. Arafat comes with “fatigues, headdress and a pistol on his hip.” “Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.” (1 Sam. 17:45) We trust President‑elect Bush will have the faith and the courage as did President Truman.

When all nations are gathered against Israel, “Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle” (Zech. 14:3) when He fought for Joshua against the six Amalekite kings at Gibeon, when He fought for David against the Philistines at Perazim, and when He miraculously delivered Israel from the hosts of Midian by Gideon and his band.

After Israel’s deliverance Israel will “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)

“German Official Quits In Hitler Speech Flap: Bonn, West Germany – The president of the West German Parliament resigned Friday, saying he was ‘shocked and depressed’ by the political storm he set off with a speech in which he tried to show how Germans were taken in by Hitler 50 years ago.

“‘My speech was not understood in the way I meant it by many of those who heard it,’ Philip Jenninger, a senior member of the governing Christian Democratic Party, wrote in his letter of resignation as Parliament president. ‘I regret this deeply, and I am very sorry if I wounded anyone’s feelings.’

“Jenninger emphasized his record as a foe of totalitarian regimes, and as a friend of Jews and ‘the vital interests of the state of Israel.’

“After late night deliberations that followed the speech Thursday, government and opposition parties apparently agreed that Jenninger had to step down.

“Although he was not accused of sharing the pro‑Nazi feelings he had tried to describe, the consensus among politicians, newspapers and many Germans was that Jenninger had seriously erred in the style and timing of his presentation.

“‘He had no sense of occasion,’ said Sebastian Haffner, a prominent publicist who has written extensively about German history and identity. ‘He said true things at the wrong moment.’

“Jenninger’s address was the keynote speech of a special session of Parliament on the 50th anniversary of Kristallnacht, the nation‑wide pogrom that first signaled the fury of Nazi Germany’s war on the Jews.

“But Jenninger’s idea, as he said at the opening and conclusion of his statement, was to demonstrate how Germans had been ‘blinded and seduced’ by the Nazis, to remind Germans of the complicity of enthusiasm of their ancestors in the rise of Hitler.

“He described the positive feelings of many Germans in the early Hitler years: ‘Didn’t Hitler bring to reality what [Kaiser] Wilhelm II had only promised, that is to lead the Germans to glorious times?’

“Hans‑Jochen Vogel, leader of the opposition Social Democrats, said after Jenninger’s resignation: ‘This event shows us how the darkest chapter of German history is still a present‑day thing.’

“The leftist Greene said, ‘The background of what happened is the inability of many Germans to stand up to their own past.”‘ (Orlando Sentinel, November 12, 1988)

Behind The Scenes At The United Nations: “President Reagan’s Historic Succoth UN Speech – United Nations – President Ronald W. Reagan delivered a very impressive and meaningful speech here last week, more in the spirit of a sermon stressing the importance of human rights and the imperative need of accepting belief in a Higher Power.

“While this spiritual aspect of his historic address appeared to be its basic theme, he did not fail to touch upon the major political issues facing the world organization in a manner offering some new hope of their eventual resolution.

“In his stress on the violation of human rights, the President reminded the assembled delegates on this first day of Succoth of their own grievous violation in having allowed a number of anti‑Israeli resolutions, some bordering on anti‑Semitism, to be adopted through the maneuvering of the Soviet‑Arab‑third world‑dominated automatic majority.

“Noting that the UN had not done enough in the battle against human rights violations, the President declared: ‘More must be done. The UN must be relentless and unyielding in seeking change... And we must also see to it that the universal declaration itself should not be debased with episodes like the ‘Zionism is Racism’ Resolution. Respect for human rights is the first and fundamental mission of this body, the most elementary obligation of its members.’

“That Mr. Reagan – even during the remaining months of his Presidency – intends to do something about erasing this blemish on the UN face was borne out by a statement made by Secretary of State George Shultz’ assistant Richard Williamson at a recent Conference of Presidents’ briefing to the effect that the U.S. was working with other countries to repeal the ‘outrageous’ 1975 Assembly resolution describing Zionism as a form of racism. He termed the draft ‘a cancer in the soul of the UN.’ which ‘cannot be tolerated.’

“Williamson, who heads the State Department’s Bureau of International Organizations, added: ‘If we can’t do it this year, we will at least have a game plan for the next Administration to implement in seeking passage of a new resolution countermanding the 13‑vear‑old anti‑Zionism resolution.’

“In addition to the President’s stress on human rights, he put great emphasis on ‘freedom of Faith,’ on the acceptance of a Higher Power, a faith and belief he himself has maintained all through his life from childhood, hence his recognition of Israel’s right to the land promised to the People of the Book from the time of Abraham. It might now be understood why he opposes Arafat and the PLO and an independent Palestinian state in the West Bank. His answer is Camp David and the autonomy plan approved by the majority of Israelis.

“One may better understand Mr. Reagan’s inner spirit from this statement he made during the 100th anniversary celebration of the Statue of Liberty: ‘Some have called it mysticism, but I have always thought that a Providential hand had something to do with the founding of this country. That God had His reasons for placing this land here between two oceans to be found by a certain people.’

“And now before the U.N. he elaborated on this strong belief. Declared he: ‘A truth embodied in our Declaration of Independence – that the case for inalienable rights, that the idea of human dignity, that the notion of conscience above compulsion can be made only in the context of a higher law, a higher order. Only in the context of what one of the founders of this organization, Secretary‑General Dag Hammarskjold, has called devotion for Something which is greater and higher than we are ourselves.’

“‘This is the endless cycle, the final truth to which humankind seems always to return. That religion and morality, that faith in something higher, are prerequisites for freedom. And that justice and peace within ourselves is the first step towards justice and peace in the world and for the ages.’

“The great Hebrew Prophet Isaiah was brought before this 43rd session of UN: The President continues, ‘And cannot help but think this morning of other beginnings. Of where and when I first read those words, ‘and they shall beat their swords into plowshares...’ and ‘your young men shall see visions and your old men shall dream dreams...’ This morning, my thoughts go to my mother who gave me many things in life but whose most important gift was the knowledge of the happiness and solace to be gained in prayer. It is the great help I have had in my Presidency and I recall here Lincoln’s words when he said only the most foolish of men would think he could confront the duties of the office I now hold without turning to Someone stronger, a Power above all others...”‘

“To which, this Succoth, let us say Amen!” (By David Horowitz, October 6, 1988)

“A Bright Spot In Poland: In a country that is as drab as its communist philosophy: that is still trying to explain away its complicity in the Holocaust; whose borders encircled more death camps than any other nation; whose anti‑Semitism still continued after World War II upon the few Jews who tried to return; whose propaganda machine continues to grind out anti‑Israel grist; the Bible Students are a beacon of light in Poland.

“I went to Poland on a fact‑finding mission to barometer the Bible Student attitude on Israel and Zionism. I lectured on Zionism to Bible Student congregations in five major cities, including Warsaw. The lecture lasted for one hour and was followed by an enthusiastic question period that varied from 1 1/2 to 3 hours. They couldn’t hear enough about Israel. Although I spoke through an interpreter, the enthusiasm of their questions and eager faces evinced their strong support of Israel. At one point they spontaneously broke into a spirited singing of HATIKVAH. I also visited in their homes and found this same enthusiasm.

“They were thrilled to learn of the high acclaim Benjamin Netanyahu (while yet the Israeli Ambassador to the U.N.) gave to the book PASTOR CHARLES TAZE RUSSELL: AN EARLY AMERICAN CHRISTIAN ZIONIST by David Horowitz. Bible Students in Poland fully embrace the pro‑Zionist, non‑proselytizing position of Pastor Russell, the founder of the Bible Student movement. This position earned him the friendship and trust of the leaders of American Jewry until his death in 1916. A Bible Students’ publishing house in Poland is now in the process of translating and publishing this work.

“It was overwhelming to meet Bible Student families who helped and hid Jews during the Holocaust. They testified that the Polish people knew very early in the Holocaust that the Jews were going to their death.

“One Bible Student family in Bialystock owned a farm that extended to the train station where Jews were herded like cattle into boxcars for the Treblinka death camp. These desperate souls extended their arms through narrow slits holding out watches and jewelry as they pleaded for water in return from curious Poles. Most of the time the gold was snatched without giving anything in return. This Bible Student family tried to give the Jews food and water whenever they could, of course, without taking anything in return. They were also able to save a young Jewish girl from being taken by the Nazi.

“There was a Jewish ghetto in Bialystock. A fact not too well known. A Bible Student family nearby could see the gruesome details from their upstairs window. Although over 40 years have passed, the dastardliness of the Holocaust etched deeply into the memory of Bible Students vivid scenes of horror. At times blood flowed in the streets as Jews were dragged from their homes. It was a time of silent heroism as some Jews cherished the words of the prophet Job, ‘Yea though he slay me yet will I trust him.’ It was also a time of moral pigmies as many Gentiles turned on their Jewish neighbors for personal gain. Unfortunately, Jewish blood has always been cheap. It is still difficult for the few Jews remaining in Poland today. Some try to disguise their Jewish identity by changing their name. However, these are still discriminated against on the job. (By Kenneth W. Rawson)

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LETTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST

Dear Brethren,

Thank you for the publication of Charles Taze Russell and The Divine Plan of the Ages. I would like to order the other five volumes. Also put me on your mailing list. I note that David Horowitz says that Pastor Russell was the ‘second son.’ What was the name of his brother? What is known of him? Did Pastor Russell have any other brothers and sisters?

What do you know of H. B. Rice, Pastor Russell’s early associate who published the Last Trump? Thank you for your help. Sincerely, ------- (CALIFORNIA)

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Dear Brethren,

I would like to thank you for sending me the recent papers on the Evolution Theory. I would be interested in The Divine Plan of the Ages and the book on Pastor Charles Taze Russell. Thank you! ------- (CANADA)

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Dear Madam,

I believe that I have previously sent you a letter asking if you could send me information about your religion. Since then I have come into contact with two books dealing with your founder, as well as with your philosophy. I was wondering if you would send me the books entitled PASTOR CHARLES TAZE RUSSELL, An Early American Christian Zionist by David Horowitz and the book THE DIVINE PLAN OF THE AGES? Could you please send them as soon as possible!! Yours truly, ------- (CANADA)

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TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN,

I would be very much interested to learn about your organization. If you would send me any literature on your beliefs and other facets, it would be greatly appreciated!

Sincerely, ------- (CANADA)

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“IN THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW”

SISTER ADA BASTIEN finished her course October 15, 1988, at the age of 89. She had a long life of faithful service to the Lord, the Truth and the brethren. Her parents came into the Truth under Brother Russell. She was faithful in all her commitments, doing what she could. We will miss her very much, and grieve for her – even as her family and all the friends will miss her.

We cherish her memory, but are persuaded that she is now “asleep in Jesus,” awaiting the resurrection of “the Just.” (Acts 24:15) We repeat for her the words of the Apostle Paul a few days before when he knew the Romans were to chop his head off:

“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” (2 Tim. 4:7) To this we can add nothing, as it expresses everything we believe to be true.

Sister Bastien was secretary of the Trinidad Ecclesia, and faithfully served the brethren for many years. We quote an excerpt of a letter from one of the brethren in Trinidad:

“Sister Bastien was the mother of ten children – was well grounded in the Truth and joyfully survived two siftings. At the end she had no regrets for the many hardships, physical and otherwise, she endured in her service for the Lord, the Truth and the brethren.”

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We wish to express our thanks and appreciation for the many beautiful Christmas cards received – and our special gratitude for the love and prayers of our brethren. Our best wishes to all our readers for a Blessed New Year.

ANNOUNCEMENT: The date for our Memorial is March 20, 1989, after six p. m.