NO. 412: A MAGNIFICENT TYPE – Part One

No. 412

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

 “Now all these things happened unto them [the Jews] for ensamples [types –see margin]: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world [the Ages] are come.” (1 Cor. 10:11) The various types described by St. Paul in this particular chapter of Corinthians have to do with the Jews after they left Egypt – during their forty years of wandering in the Wilderness of Sin, which we have discussed in a previous paper. But their delivery from the Egyptian army in the Red Sea is perhaps the grandest, most interesting and most instructive of all the Old Testament types, because it offers much detail and illumination about the delivery of the “sheep” and the destruction of the “goats” at the full end of the Little Season. (Matt. 25:31-46; 1 Cor. 15:24) The destruction in the Red Sea has to do with the final elimination of sin from the earth.

Before treating of the type proper it would seem to be in order to relate the circumstances leading up to its full accomplishment. “The children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled [swarmed] with them.” (Ex. 1:7) However, some years before this became fact, “Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation. There arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.” (Ex. 1:6,8)

The first fourteen chapters of Exodus give typical information on the time from the end of the flood until the Age following the Little Season – that Age that will be entirely free from sin, with no evil personages to be found anywhere in it. “And Israel [typical of the “sheep” at that time] saw that great work which the Lord had done upon the Egyptians [by destroying the entire Egyptian army in the Red Sea]: and the people feared the Lord, and believed the Lord, and his servant Moses.” (Ex 14:31)

The bulk of these chapters is typical of conditions during the second world – “this present evil world” – from the end of the flood until the establishment of the earthly phase of the Kingdom, with chapters 14 and 15 typing Millennial and post Millennial conditions. Egypt, as a land, in this picture types “this present evil world” from the flood to the Millennium. “And their dead bodies [the Old and New Testaments] shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.” (Rev. 11:8) Pharaoh, king of Egypt, types Satan as “the god of this world.” (Eph. 2:2; 2 Cor. 4:4) The Israelites type God’s people during the Patriarchal, the Jewish, the Gospel Ages, and those who will yet become God’s people in the next Age. Israel’s oppression represents the oppression of the race under the curse of sin and death; whereas, the Egyptians type Satan’s servants, their nobles typing the fallen angels and prominent leaders among the human race, the balance of the Egyptians typing the generality of Satan’s servants. The “taskmasters” (Ex. 1:11) that Pharaoh placed over them type sin, error and death.

It is stated that the Israelites “increased abundantly” (swarmed). It is scientifically true that the air of Egypt is specially favorable to such rapid increase. If the Jews doubled in number every fifteen years, as it may easily have done at that time, the increase of seventy men (Ex. 1:5), with their wives, would amount to as many as 2,293,700 in two hundred years. During the Patriarchal Age, from the flood to the death of Jacob, God’s people were few. Their increase really began when they “multiplied” in Egypt, and has continued during the Jewish and Gospel Ages. Especially has this been true during the Gospel Age, with the Christians literally swarming in the more enlightened Caucasian countries.

The rise of “a new king, which knew not Joseph” types Satan in his capacity of not showing affection for, and benefaction toward God’s servants. The more eminent and capable and righteous their leaders were, the more Satan developed a dislike for them; and this prompted him to take a more oppressive attitude toward them. Pharaoh’s concern over the great increase of the Jews types Satan’s activity against Christians, especially during the Dark Ages, and up to the present time. The very word Christian was anathema to the millions of Chinese, Japanese, Mohammedan, etc., although  these have now assumed a more tolerant attitude toward Christian countries because of their greater artistic and inventive genius. Almost all of the great inventions that have appeared since “the time of the end” began in 1799 (Dan. 12:4) have been produced by the Caucasian race – the first Bible Society in 1804, the steamboat in 1807, the steam locomotive in 1813, and so on with the typewriter, the telephone, the automobile, the airplane, etc.

And just as Pharaoh counseled his subjects to put the pressure on the Jews to prevent their increase, so has Satan done against true Christians. But, “the more they afflicted the Jews, the more they multiplied and grew.” (Ex. 1:12) The same has been true of Christians in the Gospel Age – “the blood of the martyrs has been the seed of the Church!” The persecutions have simply stimulated their spiritual might. The failure of harsh methods to retard the increase of the Jews then prompted Pharaoh to order the death of all male children at birth. (Ex. 1:16) However, the midwives “feared God” (v. 17), and did not carry out the order, which angered the king, and he gave orders that “every son that is born ye shall cast into the river.” (v. 22) This types Satan’s attempt to corrupt especially the leaders of the Jews after they left Egypt, and continued increasingly so during the Jewish Age and the Gospel Age.

It is historical fact that the plagues of the wilderness experiences, the spread of disease, famine, calamities and wars greatly increased the rigors of the dying process during the Jewish Age. The same has also been evident during the Gospel Age. Sin especially began to oppress God’s people during their wilderness journey, as is evident in the five great plagues as explained by St. Paul in 1 Cor. 10:1-11. After their entrance into Canaan their afflictions increased greatly – increasingly so whenever they had bad leadership, which was true a great part of the time, particularly after the rebellion of the ten tribes, when many of their kings forsook the Law and the counsel of the true prophets. And all of this was typical of what would follow in the Gospel Age, as the Christian leaders became more and more corrupt and fell into grievous errors of teaching and practice. This was one great factor contributing to the outbreak of the World War in 1914. It requires no elaboration to state that sin, error and death in this “evil day” are increasing at a tremendous rate since 1914.

The war in 1914 was the culmination of developed evils during the Gospel Age. St. Paul had predicted that there would be a “falling away” (2 Thes. 2:3), that it was already working in his day (2 Thes. 2:7). It really had developed in a pronounced way by about AD 315, when it was considered proper to unite the Church with the Roman Empire, which union quickly developed a debasing and secularizing spirit in teaching and practice. In chapters 17-19 of Revelation this union is blamed for all the false doctrines and secular spirit that gradually engulfed the church as a nauseating flood, embracing as it did the theoretical and practical elements of heathen religions – under Christian names. The revelator styled this combination as Babylon (confusion), which indeed it was.

This Babylonish union incited the leaders in civil and religious position to annihilate any leaders that might arise to oppose this contagion. Previous to AD 313 the Roman government had acted individually to rid itself of the Christians, the last pronounced effort of its kind being under Emperor Diocletian from 303 to 313 – the final years of the Smyrna period of the church. Smyrna means “bitter” and it fittingly describes the experiences of the church during that time. “The devil shall cast some of you into prison... and ye shall have tribulation ten [symbolic] days.” (Rev. 2:10) This would be ten literal years from 303 to 313.

MOSES ARRIVES

“He was a goodly child, she hid him three months... she took for him an ark of bulrushes... laid it in the flags by the river’s brink.” (Ex. 2:2, 3) Moses’ fine features and precociousness type our Lord’s splendid qualities of body, heart and mind from His temple presentation when He was forty days old (“present him to the Lord” – Luke 2:22) until He was twelve years old. The ark of bulrushes made waterproof types the careful religious teaching and character training that Mary, Joseph and the Levites bestowed upon the boy Jesus especially as He was approaching His twelfth year when He would soon undergo His “bar mitzvah” (Hebrew for “son of the commandment”), after which He would be considered an adult, responsible for His moral and religious duties.

“When Jesus was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast [the Passover].” (Luke 2:42) The story relates that Joseph and Mary then started back home, and did not miss the boy until they were a day’s journey gone. When they returned, they found Him in the temple “in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.” (Luke 2:46,47)

It is pertinent here to state that many of the better minds among the Jews memorized the entire Old Testament as a part of their religious education. In fact, in the early days of the Christian Church no one could be elected an elder in the church unless he had memorized the Old Testament. The historian Josephus relates of himself that, when he was only fourteen years of age, the priests often consulted him on certain features of the Law; and we may be sure that Jesus had a better mind than did Josephus. So it is probable that the boy Jesus had committed the entire Old Testament to memory by the time He was twelve years old.

In those days Jewish sectarianism was always on the lookout for brilliant young men to bolster their system; the same has been true of Christian sectarians during the Gospel Age. Of course, all sectarianism is of Satanic origin, because it so often closes the mind to the Truth. And Pharaoh’s daughter would well type these systems, since her father typed Satan himself. Moses being in shallow water would typify these systems being on the fringe of “this present world,” the Nile River as an overall picture representing the peoples of this world. Inasmuch as those Jewish leaders were rabidly sectarian at that time, they would enthusiastically embrace such a brilliant boy as Jesus then was.

The mother of Moses being called to nurse the baby was exactly what his parents had hoped to secure. In those days it was oriental custom to nurse an only child, or the youngest, for five years; and Moses’ bright mind would readily absorb this Jewish religious training, and lead him away from Egypt’s idolatry. As he continued in Pharaoh’s court for a total of forty years, but did not succumb to Egypt’s religion, so Jesus, after twelve years of age, did not become contaminated with Jewish sectarianism. Instead, He “increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” (Luke 2:52)

When Moses was forty years old he visited his people – “refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter... esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt.” (Heb. 11:24-26) And as he resented the “taskmaster” of Egypt, so our Lord, when He was come to full manhood and seeing the taskmaster death afflicting the human race, refused to join with Jewish sectarianism. “He was bruised for our iniquities.” (Isa. 53:5) “He was touched with the feeling of our infirmities” – physical, mental, artistic, moral and religious respects. (Heb. 4:15)

When Moses “slew the Egyptian,” and was forced to flee for his life (Ex. 2:12–15), he became completely separated from Egypt. So also our Lord, after His baptism in Jordan, completely separated Himself from the peoples of antitypical Egypt, represented by Moses losing himself in Midian for forty years, after which Moses was told by God to go back to Egypt to deliver Israel from Egyptian bondage. Jesus likewise realized that His mission was to “bear witness to the Truth” (John 18:37), to free those who desired freedom from the bondage of antitypical Egypt – “if ye continue in my word... ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:31, 32)

Before treating of the actual deliverance, it would seem in order here to discuss somewhat the plagues that were sent upon the Egyptians. The first was the water of the river turned into blood. (Ex. 7:20-25) “He smote the waters that were in the river... and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood.” (v. 20) The second was the plague of frogs (Ex. 8:5-15). “The frogs came up, and covered the land.” (v. 6) Third came the plague of lice (Ex. 8:16-19). “Smote the dust of the earth, and it became lice in man, and in beast.” (v. 17) Fourth, the plague of flies. (Ex. 8:21-24) “And Yahweh brought a grievous gad–fly into the house of Pharaoh, and the houses of his servants and in all the land of Egypt, and the land was laid waste by reason of the gadfly.” (v. 24, Rotherham) The gad–fly is much more vicious than the ordinary house fly, being defined by Webster as “a horsefly, botfly, or warble fly – that bite or annoy livestock.” Of course, such flies would be no respecter of persons – no reason to select the Egyptians instead of the Jews, unless restrained by some unseen power. Thus, this “first” of the seven last plagues must be described as a miracle of the first order; and only a befogged brain such as Pharaoh apparently possessed at the time would not be fully persuaded that he was making a fool of himself to continue his obdurate course.

The plagues were divided into two general groups – the first three, and the seven last plagues. Thus, the plague of flies is the first of the “seven last plagues.” Came then the fifth – No. 2 of the seven last plagues. (Ex. 9:3-7) “Upon thy cattle which is in the field, upon the horses, upon the asses, upon the camels, upon the oxen, and upon the sheep... a very grievous murrain” (v. 3), the same being a pestilence affecting domestic animals or plants. Next the plague of boils (Ex. 9:9-12) – “A boil breaking forth with brains upon man, and upon beast.” (v. 9) – (The third of the seven last plagues.) Then follows the plague of hail (Ex. 9:18-21) –“A very grievous hail, such as hath not been in Egypt since the foundation thereof.” (v. 18) – (Type No. 4 of the seven last plagues.) Came next the plague of locusts (Ex. 10:4-7) – “Tomorrow will I bring the locusts into thy coast; and they shall cover the face of the earth.” (vs. 4,5) (Type No. 5 of the seven last plagues.) The sixth of the seven last plagues was a plague of darkness: “Darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt.” (v. 21)

There is special significance in the expressions “first three plagues, and the seven last plagues.” The first three were general over Jews and Egyptians, but the seven last plagues were upon the Egyptians only; they did not plague the Jews at all. “I will sever in that day the land of Goshen, in which my people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there... and I will put a division between my people and thy people: tomorrow shall this sign be.” (Ex. 8:22,23) This significant protection was in itself a miracle, and should have taught Pharaoh a lesson, but “whom the gods would destroy they first strike blind.” although  the Jews were markedly involved in the tenth plague – the death of the firstborn – they were not harmed by it.

THE DELIVERANCE

The foregoing is a very limited introduction to the actual deliverance of the Jews from Egypt (thru the tenth, or the last of the plagues), so we consider now some thoughts on Chapter 11 of Exodus, leading up to the institution of the Passover, and the beginning of the Law, with its wealth of types, the actual deliverance through the Red Sea being perhaps the grandest of them all. “The Lord gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians.” (11:3) This first clause of v. 3 is poorly rendered in the King James version. The oldest Hebrew manuscript extant states it as follows: “For I will give the favor of the people in the sight of the Egyptians.”

Also, Ex. 11:2 is a very misleading rendition: “Let every man borrow of his neighbor, and every woman of her neighbor, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold.” Critics have pounced upon this text, declaring the Jews had no intention of ever repaying the Egyptians; therefore, they were defrauding them, and that God encouraged them in this evil. However, this text should be rendered. “Let every man ask,” etc. (from the Hebrew word “shaal,” which actually means “ask”). It is a historical fact that in the Orient, at the time we are discussing, it was common practice for a departing servant if he had been faithful – to “ask” for some reasonable compensation; and his employer was obligated to grant his request. Inasmuch as the Jews had been in Egypt about two hundred years as servants of the Egyptians, they were fully entitled to ask compensation for the work they had done.

Moses had spoken prophetically of the havoc, chagrin and sorrow that would result from the operation of the tenth plague: “About midnight I will go out into the midst of Egypt: and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sitteth upon his throne, even unto the firstborn of the maidservant that is behind the mill; and all the firstborn of beasts. And there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there was none like it... But against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue, against man or beast: that ye may know how that the Lord cloth put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel.” (Ex. 11:4-7)

After the tenth plague had done its appalling work, the Egyptians were more than willing to comply with the Jews’ request for compensation, and they gave them generously of their silver and their gold. This is evident from the fact that, when Moses wished to construct the tabernacle in the wilderness, and asked the Jews for contributions of those precious metals to build the various pieces of furniture in the Holy and the Most Holy, they brought more than was necessary for the task at hand.

After the plague of locusts (Ex. 10:1-7) – plague No. 5 of the seven last plagues the Egyptians had had more than enough of the torments that had come upon them. “And Pharaoh’s servants said unto him, How long shall this man be a snare unto us? let the men go, that they may serve the Lord their God: knowest thou not yet that Egypt is destroyed?” (v. 7) Having had about all they could take after plague No. 8, we may readily understand why, after the next two – and especially so after the tenth plague which had killed all the firstborn of men and beasts – the Egyptians were more than willing to pay the Jews just to be gone, and leave them thenceforth alone. “There shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there was none like it, nor shall be like it any more.” (11:6)

PREPARATION FOR THE TENTH PLAGUE

The punishment that came upon all in Egypt – from the least unto the greatest – was typical of the punishment that came upon Christendom in 1914, when the great tribulation began, was intensified by the great world-wide depression from 1929 to 1933; and increased yet more in the second World War and the minor wars that have followed. The antitypical “taskmasters” have been doing their deadly work. All the religious sects in Christendom have been severely punished by these various features of the great tribulation, and this will be increased in the very near future.

Chapter twelve of Exodus gives exacting detail of how the Passover should be kept. “Speak ye unto the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb... without blemish, a male of the first year... from the sheep, or from the goats... keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month; and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening. And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side–posts and on the upper door post of the houses... and the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood I will pass over you.” (Ex. 12:3-13)

Here we have the origin of the Passover and the underlying meaning of the name. It is well to emphasize here that there was but one Passover – the one described above; the subsequent observances even to this day are but a “memorial” of that one Passover. “Ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons forever.” (v. 24) So also there is but one antitype – “Christ our passover” (1 Cor. 5:7). As we partake of the bread and the wine we are but keeping a memorial of the antitype – “This do in remembrance of me.” (Luke 22:19)

The exact date (Nisan 14), and the particular time of day (in the evening) are an exact guide for keeping the Memorial; also, the exact time for selecting the lamb (the tenth day of this month – v. 3), but it was not to be killed until the 14th day of that month. This is typical of Jesus presenting Himself to the Jews four days before He was crucified – observed throughout Christendom as Palm Sunday, although  Jesus actually rode into Jerusalem on Monday, not Sunday.

Furthermore, the command to set the lamb aside on Nisan 10 must have been given to Moses some days before the tenth, as there was no means of quick communication at that time, and many of the Jews were housed some considerable distance away. Likewise, Ex. 12:2 (“this month shall be unto you the beginning of months”) infers that the command was given at the latest on Nisan 1. There is no particular significance to this so far as we know.

Nisan being indicated as the first month of the year involved a change in the Jewish calendar. Previously, the first month of the Fall – the month Tishri – had been the first month of the year. Consequently, thenceforth the Jews had a two–fold year, a secular year beginning in the Fall with the month Tishri, and an ecclesiastical year beginning in the Spring with the first month, Nisan, first called Abib.

There was an antitype in this change, which antitype is suggested in the name given to these two kinds of years, the secular year suggesting the earthly character of the dispensation before the present one, and the ecclesiastical year suggesting the spiritual character of the present dispensation. Thus, we understand the change from the secular to the ecclesiastical year to type the change from the previous dealings – especially from the Law through the Jewish Age to God’s dealings by grace during this Gospel Age. It is well established that God’s dealings with His people previous to this Age were along earthly, secular, lines; whereas, they have been along spiritual lines during the Gospel Age. Inasmuch as this change all hinged with the Passover, these conclusions seem to be entirely logical; they all forecast the events concerning “Christ our Passover.”

In the type (“a lamb for an house” – v. 3) a lamb was to serve for each house, each family. Thus each family was used to type the entire household of faith, and each lamb was used to type Jesus, our Lamb. Also, a lamb would very fittingly type Jesus’ innocence, purity and harmlessness – “a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1: 19). The unblemished condition of the lamb (v. 5) was required to type our Lord as perfect in His physical, mental, artistic, moral and religious faculties, as well as in His human character. Thus the freedom in His humanity from sin and error, and His perfection in every good thing were typed. “He hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Cor. 5:21)

The lamb’s being a male was to type Christ’s perfect character strength as a human being; and its being a yearling was to guarantee its being a lamb, so that not as a sheep, but as a genuine lamb it might represent our Lord as the Lamb of God, not as the sheep of God. The stipulation that it might be the young of the sheep or goats was for the convenience of the Israelites, some having only the young of sheep, others having the young of goats, the provision being made broad enough to accommodate the actual possession of every Israelitish family; hence, nothing typical in this liberty of choice.

The order to keep the lamb for four days before killing it on Nisan 14 has two significant features, we think: So far as the Jews were concerned, having the lamb set aside for four days would surely impress the solemnity of the ceremony upon their minds and upon their hearts, thus putting them into the proper attitude for the awesome occasion; and there is nothing in the record to indicate that a single Jew did not adhere meticulously to every detail as it was told them through their elders – after they had received the instructions from Moses. (Ex. 12:21)

Secondly, though Jesus was marked for death on Nisan 10, AD 33, He was actually not put to death until Nisan 14. The charge that the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel should kill it, not before, but on the evening of the 14th, types Jesus so acting from Nisan 10 to Nisan 14 in His activities with the Jews during those four days that He gave them no opportunity to seize Him before the exact time that He was to be delivered up. His willing submission to them on the evening of Nisan 14 (the day actually began at 6 p.m. on Thursday evening), His forbidding the disciples to resist His accusers – and so on during that night through the trial before Pilate early Friday morning, then the cross itself – designate Him very emphatically as “the Lamb of God” to be put to death on Nisan 14. The whole house of nominal fleshly Israel became guilty through their leaders for His crucifixion; and His blood was upon all of them, as shown by the treatment they received at the hands of Roman Emperor Titus in 70 AD, when Jerusalem was almost completely obliterated, and the “wandering Jew” began the tribulation at the hands of the Gentiles.

The Jews at that time had two evenings, the first beginning about 3 p.m., and the second at 6 p.m. and ending at 9 p.m. Thus, slaying the lamb between the “two evenings” would place it at 6 p.m. This harmonizes the seeming difference in the statements of Matt. 14:15 and Matt. 14:23. Thus also was shown the end of the Jewish Age (which Age began at the death of Jacob 1812 BC), and the beginning of the Gospel Age. From this viewpoint the night of Nisan 14 would represent the entire Gospel Age – with each Jewish house and its occupants typing the entire Household of Faith during that time.

The sprinkling of the blood on the doorposts and on the lintel by the Jews types for us in this Gospel Age the “blood of Jesus Christ, which cleanseth us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7) It also reckons to all who come “under the blood” a righteousness they cannot attain on their own merit – “there is none righteous, no, not one.” (Rom. 3:10) Thus it provides for us forgiveness of sins. Therefore, the charge to eat the lamb’s flesh the night of Nisan 14 types the charge throughout the Gospel Age to partake by faith of Christ’s perfect humanity – His right to life, and His life-rights

That night the Jews were to eat the lamb with “loins girded, shoes on, staff in hand – eat it in haste.” (v. 11) Thus they would be ready for departure as soon as the command was given – for “against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment.” (v. 12) And this eventually occurred exactly as spoken.

Having given very briefly the events leading up to the Passover, and the actual act itself, we leave for a future article a discussion of the miracle destroying the Egyptian firstborn, then the grand finale of the great type – the destruction of the entire Egyptian army in the Red Sea, and what it tells us about the future. We pray the Lord’s blessing upon all who have read this far. “No trial has assailed you except what belongs to man. Wherefore, my beloved, flee away from image–worship.” (1 Cor. 10:13, 14, Dia.)

Sincerely your brother, John J. Hoefle, Pilgrim

(Reprint No. 265, July 1977)

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ISRAEL’S GREAT REGATHERING

St. Paul tells us that just as soon as the Gospel Church shall be completed, God’s favor will return to the Jews – return in the full sense. “Blindness in part is happened to Israel until the fulness of the Gentiles [the full predestined number of the Church to be gathered from the Gentile nations] be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved. As it is written, There shall come out of Zion [the glorified Gospel Church, spiritual Zion] the Deliverer [The Christ, Head and Body, Jesus and His Bride], and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob [Natural Israel]: for this is My Covenant unto them when I take away their sins.” (Rom. 11:1-33)

The Lord purposed to take away all sins – the sins of Israel, the sins of those who were to constitute the Gospel Church, and the sins of the whole world. For this cause Christ was manifested, for this cause He died. This cancellation, or doing away with the sins of the whole world, will progress as each shall recognize the Heavenly gift of forgiveness and obey the Government.

The orthodox Jews, those who still hold to the teachings of the Law and Prophets, and have faith in God, will be the first to receive the blessings of the New Age. “As concerning the Gospel they are enemies for your [the Church’s] sakes; but as touching the election [the natural election], they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes.” So, then, this condition of affliction in which the Jews have been throughout the Gospel Age, in addition to the overthrow of their nation in AD 70, has really been a favor from God. All the tribulation through which this people have passed during the entire “Seven Times” of chastisement will be finally found to have been to their advantage, preparing them for the blessings of Messiah’s Kingdom. The Church will be the first in the Kingdom, Natural Israel with the Ancient Worthies at their head will be the second. Subsequently all nations will come into Divine favor and blessing, becoming members of Israel. All will be blessed through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (What Pastor Russell Said, pp. 357, 358)

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LETTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST

Dear Emily,

As always, to get a letter from you is sheer joy! Thank you dearly for your kind letter. I am happy to see that your cataract operation is now behind you and that you are recuperating! And, too, I hope, of course, that the flu you were writing about, is now also as good as over and forgotten!

How is your eyesight now – and is your vision again as clear as it should be after such an operation? We keep our fingers crossed that things will further improve and that by now you are your own self again – active, forward-looking, doing and working and seeing the good and beautiful side of things in life!

Yes, I did receive your January paper. I am always amazed how much material you can put into such a relatively small space – and with such substance, which is the thing that matters! Yishar ko’ach! – i.e., more power to you!

You asked about my book [FAITH AND FULFILMENT], as far as I know, it still ought to be available... The German translation is scheduled to come out this coming fall.

As you know from the news-media, things here are far from easy in every respect. There is now a ‘care-taker’ Government which somehow ‘muddles through.’ I think we deserve better. Changes will come soon, I hope and pray – God willing.

Be well and take care. You have our blessing.

Cordially, Michael ------- (ISRAEL)

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Dear Sister Emily: Greetings in the Name of our Savior!

Today I have been so blessed with No. 409, about the Tabernacle. Please send me another to send to a sister I correspond with. This is my way to share and leave one free to subscribe if they want it. For if they don’t want it and just throw it away, it is such a waste to send several.

Those Consecrating Between the Ages to be accepted on the earthly plane, is exactly as I have come to believe. I rejected it for so long. This truth has grown slowly over several years. I do not accept new ideas without much pondering and prayer. You made reference to Reprint 4836. In my notes I also have “Share with the Great Company,” Reprint 4607, “Spirit-born after Millennium,” Reprint 4389, “Typified by Elisha,” Reprint 2341, and Second Volume 265, 266.

In “Construction of the Tabernacle,” p. 2, it was a new idea to me: the boards standing up, being alive and growing (or being alive and groaning as we all are – Ha!) The boards were stood on end, well seasoned to be as light as possible for moving. This was not green wood unsuitable for construction. It took me a couple of readings to understand the beauty of the thought. On p. 3 “more people came into the Truth than there were crowns available.” O yes! The earthly work of restitution will be where the sincere ones can serve.

This changeable weather has caused so many to have colds. I finished reading the Reprints. Will be looking for “Loosing the Four Winds of Heaven.” Yes, I believe the Church is complete.

Love and prayers, ------- (SOUTH CAROLINA)

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NO. 411: LOOSING THE FOUR WINDS OF HEAVEN – Part Two

No. 411

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

As stated in Part One of this subject, it is our intention to use mostly quotations from That Servant, and we now proceed on that basis. Our first offering is from Reprints 5168, col. 2 (written Jan. 15, 1913 – just 1 1/2 years before the outbreak of the Great War):

“The fact that so many have been thus accepted since 1878 seems to imply that there has been a considerable vacancy in the list of the elect, and that it is gradually filling up. It is not for us to say how much of a vacancy remains, or when it will be filled. We fully believe, however, that it will be filled before the close of ‘the Times of the Gentiles,’ which we think will end with October, 1914.

“As for others who have not yet consecrated themselves, we can say with St. Paul, ‘I beseech you... brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice.’ (Rom. 12:1) Do your best. It may be that there is an opening and you may get in. Consecrate your time, your talents, all that you have, to the service of God. He is a good paymaster; whatever reward He may give you will be a prize.”

KINGDOM WORK THIS SIDE THE VEIL

From Reprints 5631, col. 2: “We are not surprised at these conditions; for long ago they were foretold in the Word of God. We were assured that our day would witness the fulfillment of the prophecies along these lines. Wherever we look, we witness the disintegration of the present order, whether we view the conditions from a social, or religious, or a financial standpoint. The lease of power to the Kingdoms of this world has expired. [It expired at the end of the Gentile Times when the day of God’s special wrath came – in the Epiphany, the great Time of Trouble.] It was foretold by the Prophet Daniel that ‘in the days of these kings,’ before their utter overthrow, the God of heaven would set up a kingdom [when the last saint had been selected, the Kingdom was ‘set up’] which should smite and break in pieces all the kingdoms of men, the beastly kingdoms of Daniel’s dream. When these kingdoms would be given to ‘the people of the saints of the Most High,’ they were to ‘smite them in pieces as a potter’s vessel.’ This intimates that in some sense of the word the Lord will take possession of these before they have been completely overthrown; that some of the kingdoms represented in the Gentile image will be remaining at that time.

“What time, then, is signified by the expression ‘in the days of these kings,’ when the Kingdom of God was to be set up in power? To our understanding, the first step in the setting up of this Kingdom was the raising of the sleeping saints of the Gospel Age, which we believe was in the Spring of 1878. Then began the glorification of the Church. The work of setting up the Kingdom has, we understand, been progressing from that date, and is now merely lacking the last members of the Church class. When these shall have taken their places as members of the Church in glory, the Kingdom will be fully set up.

“This does not signify that there may not be a part of the Kingdom work begun while some of the members of Christ are still in the flesh. Indeed some Scriptures seem to imply that there will be a Kingdom work done this side the veil, while a work of still greater magnitude and authority is progressing on the other side of the veil. We read, ‘Let the saints be joyful in glory; let them sing aloud upon their beds.’ This seems to imply, as we have mentioned before, that there is a special work to be done while these saints still have beds, while they are in a condition of repose – not ‘tossed to and fro, and carried about by every wind of doctrine,’ but fully at rest in God’s great plan. The Scriptures go on to say that they have a two-edged sword in their hands which is the Word of God. They use it as the sword of the Spirit. This would not be true of them on the other side of the veil. They would have no use for a sword there. The Scriptures also declare that the high-sounding praises of God are upon their lips. This, too, seems to be applicable to those this side the veil.” (Written Feb. 15, 1915)

Then from Reprints 5632: “The final phase, ‘to execute the judgments written,’ would seem to imply that there would be something for the saints on this side of the veil to do in connection with the execution of the judgments upon the nations. As to just what this means, we have not yet fully learned. But we see nothing here to conflict with the thought that the Lord’s Kingdom may be properly understood to have begun operations and that the present smiting of the nations is under Kingdom control. The fact that some of the members of the Kingdom class are still in the flesh does not militate at all against this thought. We see the kingdoms of this world now being dashed to pieces, and we are expecting to see the process continued until they are completely ground to powder. ‘They shall become as the chaff of the summer threshing-floor, and the wind shall carry them away. Then shall they be found no more at all.’ (Dan. 2:35) [‘And this honor have all the saints.’ – Psa. 149:9]

“The Kingdom Of God Set Up: Because certain important things are to be accom­plished, we see that God is permitting what to others might seem to be purely human devilishness. For a wise purpose He permits this reign of lawlessness, this condition which evokes universal odium. Our thought is that we should look for still further evidences day by day that the Gentile Times have ended, and that God’s Kingdom has begun its work. [God’s Kingdom is the Christ Company]... The present step is the war of the nations. The next step will be Socialism – an attempted Socialism – among the people. Then the third step, Anarchy [Armageddon, or world–wide Revolution, is the final step, according to the Jehovah’s Witnesses], will gradually come on. When this symbolic fire shall prevail, then the world will realize what we are trying to tell them now; namely, that God’s Kingdom is taking control, and that these various demonstrations are evidences that our Lord is taking His great power.

“At the sounding of the seventh trumpet Messiah was to take unto Himself His great power and reign. That trumpet is now sounding! ‘And the nations were angry and thy wrath [the great Time of Trouble starting in 1914] is come.’ (Rev. 11:18) Surely the nations are angry now! They act as if they were bereft of common sense. We see readily enough that the spirit of selfishness has prevailed there right along, but that some hindrance or fear heretofore held them back. But finally, when the Lord’s ‘due time’ has come to permit it, they broke through their restraint. The Lord has at this particular time especially to do with the affairs of the nations. And this war was allowed to occur at about the end of the Gentile Times, at the appropriate time when they are to be dashed to pieces with the iron rod of the iron rule. (Psa. 2:6–12) It is our judgment that we shall see more of this iron rule and its breaking influence, not only upon the nations, but upon society at large. Now in this great day of the Lord everything that can be shaken is to be shaken to pieces and shaken out, to the intent that nothing unrighteous or unworthy shall remain. God Himself is doing the shaking.

“The Time For Judgment Is Ripe: We believe that the Times of the Gentiles ended just on time, as shown in Volume 2 of Studies in the Scriptures. The hand of justice is now doing the breaking – the nations shall be broken as a ‘potter’s vessel.’ The whole cataclysm of trouble may be upon the world during the next ten months, or it may be longer deferred. We believe that the time for the setting up of the Kingdom was on September 21, 1914. [Otherwise the ‘judgment written’ (Psa. 149:9) would not have been pronounced; the ejection is now going on.] At that time, when it was due for our Lord to take His great power and reign, the nations were already angry. They were at war over a month in advance of the time, because so angry.

“The due time for the ‘wrath’ was September 21, 1914. We are expecting to see this wrath still more manifest. The nations have been in just this same unloving spirit one toward another for a number of years, but apparently they have been under some forcible restraint. We believe that God’s time had not yet come. We wondered, and many people wondered, how their anger could be restrained much longer; much has been written about it in the newspapers. When the Balkan war came [1912–1913], it was because the nations were angry; and it very nearly led to this conflagration. Austria tried to precipitate the trouble at that time, but the German Kaiser held back. Now the restraining hand has been removed. The time is ripe.” (Reprints 5632, February 15, 1915)

In 1914-16 the first smiting of Jordan was taking place, although Brother Russell did not then fully realize it. However, we should keep in mind that the River Jordan in some instances types the human race under the curse; and its rapid fall in a very short space from the clear water of the mountains to the “sea of salt” – the Dead Sea – graphically portrays the downward course of the human race under the curse of sin and death. As the Jordan empties into the Dead Sea, it ends in the lowest body of water on earth’s surface – 1296 feet below sea level.

From a second viewpoint the Jordan typifies Christendom, which also has experienced a tragic fall from the pristine purity of the early Church under the Apostles to its present depraved position of Babylon. And it is this latter picture that is represented in the first smiting of Jordan. As the war progressed after its commencement in 1914, the people of Christendom became more and more divided into two very distinct classes the Conservatives and the Radicals. Those of us who had personal experience with that first smiting recall very vividly how pronounced the cleavage became. We had some of the radicals tell us personally, “Just wait till the war is over, and we’ll then show the uppercrust what this is all about.” And the turmoil everywhere in evidence now offers pronounced testimony to the seriousness of that division.

And of that first smiting we have the clear Scripture – “This honor have all his saints.” (Psa. 149:9) Under this latter heading Brother Russell quotes more from the same Psalm:

“‘Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand; to execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people; to bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; to execute upon them the judgment written: This honor have all his saints.’ (Psa. 149:5–9)

“We are frequently asked whether we understand that there is to come a time when the Lord’s people – the saintly ones – while still in the flesh, will have a full understanding of the entire Word of God, including the dark expressions of Ezekiel, Zechariah, Revelation, etc. In reply we usually remind the questioners that eighteen hundred years ago St. Paul wrote, ‘Take unto you the whole armor of God,’ including ‘the sword of the spirit, which is the Word of God’; and that we are therefore to understand that St. Paul himself and other Christians of his time had the ‘sword of the Spirit.’ We are sure, however, that they did not understand certain portions of the Word of God which were not then due to be understood; for instance, that portion of Daniel’s prophecy which the angel said was to be sealed up until ‘the time of the end,’ and many other prophecies which were not then unfolded. This has always been more or less true ever since. Prophecy unfolds gradually. Today more is due to be understood than ever before.” (Reprints 5803, bottom, November 15, 1915)

We are convinced that there were quite a few saints in the various Truth groups after Brother Russell’s demise who disagreed with one another on certain Scriptures; but during the smiting – when That Servant was with us – they were all in harmony on the work then due to be done, and in one group. “Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion.” (Isa. 52:8) And we do know there was complete harmony in the Truth group about the work they were to do then. The “gathering” of the saints was complete after they were sealed in their foreheads with Present Truth. As That Servant has said, prophecy unfolds gradually. Today more is to be understood than ever before. Today we know some things that Jesus Himself did not know when He was on earth. “Of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” (Matt. 24:36) We know that we are in “that day.”

“We are not to understand that the Bible will have no value in the incoming Age, but rather to the contrary of this. Our thought is that the Bible will be used then, not so much as a sole means of communicating God’s will, but as a source of information, much as we now use histories. It will enlighten men respecting God’s laws, etc. There is nothing to indicate that every matter that the Bible treats will be seen clearly by the Church while we are on this side the veil. The Apostle says that ‘now we see through a glass obscurely’; but that beyond the veil we shall see ‘face to face.’ We shall see clearly; for we shall then be like our Lord. Now we know in part, but then ‘we shall know even as we are known.’ (1 Cor. 13:12)” (Bottom of Reprints 5803, and top of 5804)

Indeed, we believe that the Restitutionists – the obedient – will understand more of the Bible than we do now. The faithful Restitutionists will be able to understand all the doctrines of the Bible, we believe – including the two salvations, the “Great” and the “Common.” The only thing that the “natural man” cannot now appreciate is spirit begettal – “the things of the spirit” – nor will it be necessary for them, as they will not be of the heavenly class. And it is true now of the fully consecrated unbegotten, they understand the doctrines of the Bible – all necessary for the work the Lord gives them to do, and all that is necessary to be of the Worthy Class. In fact, all now in Present Truth understand much more than any of the saints before the Harvest period; and some understand more than some spirit–begotten. However, it is also true of the spirit–begotten – the Little Flock and the Great Company – that they will understand enough to continue in their class standing. However, the Worthies are different from the Restitutionists in that the faithful will be spirit–begotten at the end of the Kingdom and receive a heavenly reward. The Restitutionists will not have this opportunity, nor will they have heavenly aspirations. They will be happy with “paradise on earth.”

“The Work Now Going On: In speaking of this present time [1915], as we think, the Prophet David says, ‘Let the saints be joyful in glory, let them sing aloud upon their beds.’ The children of God should be joyful at all times – even in tribulation – knowing that these experiences work out for us a development of character and a preparation for the Kingdom glories. The Psalmist here foretells that the saints at this time are at rest upon their beds, while they sing God’s praise. This statement might be meaningless to us until we understand from other Scriptures that these beds represent creeds or the sum total of one’s religious belief.

“While some are reclining on a short creed bed, which cramps and fetters them, and the narrow covers of which cannot give them warmth and comfort, the true saints of God have at this time beds of full and proper size, and a cover which is warm and ample. They are shown in this prophetic picture as taking their ease, resting in faith, while others are restless and uncomfortable. But while thus resting in these good beds, representing their mental attitude and heart condition, and while praising the Lord, they are using skillfully the ‘two–edged sword.’ This sword in their hands is the Bible. The thought is not necessarily that God’s people have absolute knowledge of every feature of God’s Word; but that they have all the knowledge needful to the efficient use of the sword at this time, all the knowledge designed for the saints now, when this prophecy applies.

“‘Let the high-sounding praises of God be in their mouths,’ urges the Psalmist. We believe that this is more and more becoming true. The saints can praise God more intelligently and fully now than ever before. We can see our Lord’s character better, because much of the ignorance, misconception, mysteries and obscurity have fled away. God’s Word is shining out with more brightness than ever. We cannot see that our Brother John Calvin could have had very much of the ‘high-sounding praise of God’ in his mouth, for it is surely not a high-sounding praise to declare that our God would assign thousands of millions of humanity to an eternity of torture. Nor can it be said of people today who teach this same horrible doctrine, that they have the ‘high-sounding praise of God in their mouths.’

“God’s name is blasphemed, and His glorious character traduced and misrepresented every day. The world is told that God has a devilish plan – that He has made a hell in which to torture a very large part of humanity; and that He has the devils there already doing the torturing, and that this will go on throughout eternity. There are no high sounding praises connected with any such beliefs and teachings. But the Lord’s people who keep close to His Word are now able to tell forth the wondrous story of God’s love, wisdom, justice and power as never before. And the Truth is surely accomplishing a work in the binding and fettering of error. We believe that the words of the Psalmist in this text are being fulfilled at this time. To some extent at least we are already engaging in the great work here depicted.” (Reprints top of 5804, cols. 1 and 2, November 15, 1915)

The Epiphany Messenger has elaborated on the above truths, as well as the 40–year Harvest and the 2 1/2 years overlapping from the Parousia into the Epiphany period. When he taught that the Epiphany and the Time of Trouble are identical – one and the same period – he was not bringing out any advancing Truth, because That Servant had also taught that the Epiphany and the great Time of Trouble are one and the same.

“To the very best of our ability we have endeavored to make clear that the parousia of our Lord is wholly different from His epiphaneia. Both of these Greek words are translated coming in our common Bible, but in the Greek they have very different significations. The word parousia signifies presence, but does not signify any outward manifestation of that presence. It is used in respect to the first stage of the Second Advent, in which our Lord is said to come ‘as a thief in the night’ to reckon with His own servants and to take the faithful of them with Him to the heavenly mansion or condition prepared for them.

“Our Lord’s parousia and gathering of the elect, we understand, has been in progress since 1874. It will continue until all of the ‘elect’ shall have been gathered and glorified. [The quotations of a later date show where That Servant changed his mind about the glorification of all the saints by 1914.] In one sense our Lord will continue to be present as the world’s King to the conclusion of the Millennial Age; but His parousia in the sense of secrecy of presence, will terminate when, as the Scriptures declare, ‘He shall be revealed in flaming fire [judgments], taking vengeance on all who will not obey the truth,’ but enlightening and revivifying all who will hear and, to the extent of their opportunity, obey His message. The parousia is to the Church and for the Church only. The epiphaneia or apokalypsis of the Lord in power and great glory is not to the Church nor for the Church, but to the world and for the world. ‘When he shall thus appear we also shall appear with him in glory,’ the Apostle declares. (Col. 3:4)” (Reprints 4543, bottom, colt 1 and 2, January 1, 1910)

“An Astounding Statement: At the epiphaneia, or bright shining, of the Lord’s manifestation, God will have completed His present work of directing the Church, and the world will be informed that they are under a different dispensation. When the world shall have come to understand the matter fully, they will know the truth of our Lord’s words, in His last prayer with His disciples, that the Father loves the Church as He loves the Lord Jesus Christ. This is a very astounding statement. It shows that there is nothing selfish in our Lord. He did not say, ‘They will always be inferior to me. They will never have the glory that I shall have.”’ (Reprints 5359, top, col. 1, par. 2, December 1, 1913)

There is much more by That Servant on the Parousia and Epiphany, but the above will suffice for now. We all know that Brother Johnson’s expectancy for the duration of the Time of Trouble – or Epiphany – did not mature; but the duration of this Epiphany has continued much longer than That Servant also expected. And some of the Lord’s people have stumbled over these miscalculations, which we believe were permitted by the Lord for the testing of His people. However, those very mistakes did energize the Lord’s people to continue with zeal to “preach the Gospel.” At the first Advent the disciples did not realize that the Kingdom was about 2,000 years in the future. Had they known, it would have discouraged many of the believers at that time.

And with some of the Lord’s faithful people today, who believe they consecrated when the High Calling was still open, they cannot give up their hope of being of the Christ company. Of those who still entertain that belief we believe they number far more than the 144,000 who will constitute that select group. But we maintain a tender sympathy for such, because of our own experience along the same line. It is probably well to recall here that none in the Truth Movement believed the High Calling was closed until Passover 1918 – almost four years after it had been an accomplished fact. Thus, considerable effort was put forth to win others to that Company – when, in fact, it was an impossibility. However, the many errors that were produced by the Society after 1916 caused us to leave them; although we feel indebted yet for the solid truths we learned before leaving them, which they were teaching at that time. And, while some of our very good friends stayed with the Society, it is our opinion now that they made their calling and election sure.

“Let us reason together, saith the Lord,” (Isa. 1:18) if there were enough saints in at 1881, then all who came in after that time would be those who had taken the crown of those who lost their crowns after that date; and those who took those crowns who lost them were also filled by others. Isn’t it reasonable that the vacancy was filled by 1914? Isn’t it reasonable to believe that there could be no more spirit–begettals after that date? We believe that all the saints had been sealed in the forehead before That Servant’s demise, although those who were begotten by 1914 did not receive the forehead sealing of Present Truth at that time – but all of them did receive the forehead sealing in time to participate in Jordan’s first smiting. (See Psalms 149:9)

The faithful Ancient Worthies would have been eligible candidates for the High Calling, but they lived too soon for that. The glowing words of Jesus concerning John the Baptist eloquently confirm this: “Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven [the 144,000 members of the Christ Company] is greater than he.” (Matt. 11:11) Much the same situation now prevails here in the end of the Age. We believe there are Youthful Worthies today who would have been eligible for the Christ Company, but they were born too late. They make the same consecration as did the saints – to be dead to self and the world and alive to God.

That Servant saw the truth of this condition – and so expressed it – although he did not use the name Youthful Worthies. He simply referred to them as a “class” who would be accounted worthy to share with the Ancient Worthies “in honor and service” in the Kingdom arrangement. Some of the Ancient Worthies probably suffered more than did some of the saints of this Age; and we believe we have already seen some of this same condition as respects the Youthful Worthies, and we may yet see more of this.

That Servant thought he might die a martyr’s death (although we are told he prayed to be delivered from such an experience), and the Epiphany Messenger was fully convinced he would be “violently seized.” However, both of them died in bed. Brother Johnson believed as he did because he expected to see at least the beginning of Anarchy. He has been dead now about 31 years [40 years in 1990], and we have not yet experienced Armageddon. This latter could begin any day now – at which time the fallen angels will be “loosed” with still more power for evil. That is sure to produce many casualties and shedding of blood. Then the prophecy of Ezek. 7:19 will apply: “They shall cast their silver in the streets, and their gold shall be removed: their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the Lord.”

However, our readers may seek solace in the prophecy of Zeph. 2:3: “Seek righteousness, seek humility, peradventure ye shall be concealed, in the day of the anger of Yahweh.” (Rotherham) Present generosity will probably receive some consideration at that time; only the very hardened criminals will abuse those who have befriended them.

It is stated of the Ancient Worthies that “these all obtained a good report through faith.” (Heb. 11:39) Thus, any others who share “in honor and service” with them will also “obtain a good report through faith.” The eleventh Chapter of Hebrews contains a refreshing history of those Ancients, and St. Paul tells us in Heb. 12:1-3 that their examples should stimulate us to better things. God does all things for the good of all, and He knows what is best for us. “Wherefore... let us run with patience the race that is set before us.” Presently, those of us who will be of that Class have a greater knowledge of God’s Plan of Salvation than did any of those Ancients. Some of them did not even understand what they wrote (Dan. 8:27; 12:8, 9) – although we now understand much of what they wrote.

It is our hope and prayer that we have refreshed the minds of the Lord’s people by reproducing some of the salient Truths given to us by the faithful Mouthpieces of God. “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.” (2 Peter 1:12)

“Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy. Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.” (Psa. 33:18,22)

Sincerely your brother, John J. Hoefle, Pilgrim

(Reprint No. 313, July 1981)

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LETTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST

Dear Sister Hoefle,

I really found the literature you sent me to be informative and edifying, as it hath a mental and spiritual way. I would like to keep receiving it.

This time can you please send me some literature that deals with Roman Catholicism? I was raised Roman Catholic, and, although I now reject the claims of Rome, my family is still in bondage to them.

Also, I have been trying to find a copy of Pastor Russell’s Convention discourses. Do you know where I may be able to find a copy?

Yours in Christ. ------- (LOUISIANA)

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Dear Sister Hoefle: Loving greetings in our dear Redeemer’s Name!

Your good and kind letter is received February 9. I was very glad to hear from you but knowing the pile of letters you have before you to answer, I am just writing because I wanted you to hear from me. I thank you for your good help to me.

Dear Sister, since I last wrote to you some things are much higher in prices, and there are many with large families without jobs. If we didn’t know that we are under God’s protection, we would fear to go to bed for being robbed or killed, or damaged.

I got a letter from Minnie written in big words because her eyes are so bad. I am hoping by now she has them looked after. My eyes are better than they were a few years ago. I am now 78, but I can see very well – cannot read but for short periods. I thank God that I can make a bed, sweep and go without help. Brother McKenzie will be 87 in May. He looks well, and if you could see him you wouldn’t believe he is that age. However, he has bladder trouble and his legs won’t take him very far, but he is still strong and gives us good thoughts at our service. His prayers are beautiful. Our class agrees with one mind on the precious faith.

You are in our prayers – not only you but the whole Bible House family. We need your prayers. I love you very much. Be strong in the Lord and all the brethren with you. Love again.

Yours by His Grace, ------- (JAMAICA)

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Dear Emily,

First of all, I want to thank you for the cards and for your newsletter which I found both interesting and very informative. As far as world affairs are concerned, the time is growing shorter for these evil governments – and they will all come down in the future..

Will say I remember one time when talking to Sister ------- I made the remark that there are some who believe the door to the High Calling was shut. She replied that “they” had tried to tell her that over 40 years ago, but she didn’t become discouraged, so neither will I.

Again, thank you very much for your wonderful newsletter. Keep up the good work and keep us informed.

With warm Christian love, your friend always ------- (KENTUCKY)

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Dear Sister Hoefle: Grace unto you and peace be multiplied!

I received the Jan-Feb paper the same evening of our telephone conversation. It was a real pleasure to hear your voice and to be reassured of God’s rich blessings and promises to His faithful.

We read from day to day the many problems besetting the world in its present time of great tribulation. It is very sobering to see these problems – crimes, finance, disease, religion, wars, calamities, etc. brought together in the one Jan-Feb paper. What a blessing it is also to read of the many prophecies being fulfilled daily, providing the hope to see us through these troubled times.

Thank you for your support of the brethren through your letters and literature. If you have a few Jan-Feb papers left, I would appreciate receiving them for distribution to friends.

Please use the enclosed check in any way you see fit. Please be assured of our continued prayers for you and yours.

With Christian love, ------- (CALIFORNIA)

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Dear Sister Hoefle: Grace and peace!

We are pleased to receive your letter of February 3 on the 12th, but rather saddened about your eye problem. ... We remember you, dear Sister, at the Throne of Grace, and we are confident that all things will work together for those that love the Lord, the called according to His purpose.

Please do not worry about any special reply. We understand and await with patience to hear good news from you in due course. [The good news is I am seeing much better, and will soon have my good vision back. EH]

Thank you for the replacement papers of Nos. 392-393 and 401, which I had forwarded to Margaret. ...

We continue much as usual and have recovered fairly well from the “flu,” etc. We rejoice always in the Lord, and give thanks and praise to Him for all things. There has not been any response from our philosopher friend so far. May be E-Vol. 1 takes a little bit of digestion. However, we had a very nice chat with a friend at her house for about two hours. We left her a Divine Plan, and she did say she would like to arrange another meeting in the near future. Her husband was a colleague of mine before I retired. Actually I was his assistant.

As to my eye problem, the doctor thinks that the clouds on my right eye has resulted from a ruptured blood vessel. ... As new blood vessels are formed the shadows will disappear. ... I still drive, but have to be careful about distances. ... It is the closer reading that can be a nuisance. ... As a matter of fact, as a sort of habit, I am writing this with one eye shut. Enough of me!

We join together in sending our best wishes. With Christian love, ------- (ENGLAND)

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Dear Brethren: Christian greetings to you in the Name of the Lord!

A friend recently loaned me two editions of your periodicals, namely, No. 401, dated July 1, 1989 and No. 402, dated August 1, 1989. These dealt with “The Three Worlds. I would like very much to receive these if they are available.

Sincerely yours, ------- (ILLINOIS)

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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. Thank you.

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

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NO. 410: LOOSING THE FOUR WINDS OF HEAVEN

No. 410

The subject for this paper is to be found in Rev. 7:1-3, which we quote from the Diaglott: “After this I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, re­straining the four winds of the earth, so that no wind might blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. And I saw another angel ascending from the sunrising, having the seal of the living God; and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to injure the earth and the sea, saying ‘injure not the earth, nor the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the bond-servants of our God in their foreheads.”’

Companion to the foregoing is Dan. 7:2: “The four winds of heaven strove upon the great sea.” And related to these two is Dan. 3:19: “Then the form of Nebuchadnezzar’s vision was changed against Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego ... he commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated.”

It is our understanding that the “four winds of heaven” in these texts refer to the fallen angels – the evil spirits of Jesus’ day, which are counterfeited in the Greek and Roman heathen teachings of the “demigods” – creatures that were assumed to be half God and half man. They are the “giants” (the Nephilim) of Gen. 6:3 and Num. 13:33 ­the demons that were formed through the union of “the sons of God and the daughters of men” – “giants (Nephilim) in the earth in those days ... mighty men – men of renown.” The ten spies that brought back the evil report said, “There we saw the giants (Nephilim), the sons of Anak ... we were in our own sight as grasshoppers.” “And the people wept that night” (Num. 14:1), for they were terrorized at the mere mention of those demigods, which permeated most of the heathen religions of that day.

First, to explain the incident in Dan. 3:19-25: The golden image represented mil­itarism in the end of this Age, which demanded obeisance from all sections and groups in the various nations. Of course, many of the Truth boys refused to do this; and the treatment accorded many of them was something to contemplate. It is stated that the fiery furnace was heated seven times worse than had ever been done before; and those of us who were involved have vivid memory of the truth of that statement. Quite a few of the Truth brethren were put to death in some European countries; and, as we recall, a couple of them were slain here in the United States. But many others here were given most inhuman treatment. When some of the objectors came into that detachment they were so bruised they could not sit down, a few of them having to stand while eating for sev­eral days. It is difficult to believe that such abuse went on here in this great United States; but it did!

Names given to the people in the Old Testament often revealed certain characteris­tics or positions among the Lord’s people; and we believe the names of the three Hebrew youths are some of these, and they represent three classes living in the end of this Age the Little Flock, the Great Company and the Youthful Worthies – all of whom had to cope with Militarism, Sectarianism and religious hatred in the warring nations: Shadrach means ‘royal,’ and offers a strong hint to the “royal priesthood” (1 Pet. 2:9); Meshach means ‘guest,’ with allusion to those who are to be “guests” at the marriage of the Lamb (Rev. 19:9); and Abed-nego means ‘servant of the prophet,’ referring to the Youthfuls who are in the same class with the Ancients (Moses faithful in all his house as a ser­vant – Heb. 3:5). Much could be said about the treatment accorded to all three class­es during the first World War, but that is not the purpose of this article.

However, we would emphasize here that the meaning of the Hebrew names is strongly indicative of the truth of these types here in the end of the Age, because there have been Only Three such classes in the END OF THE AGE, the Ancient Worthies having no part whatever in the events that have taken place, because they were not here. Never­theless, we have other very strong types that prove four elect classes – the Little Flock, the Great Company, the Ancient and the Youthful Worthies. These types are to be found in the Tabernacle picture; and especially so in Noah’s Ark, which are defi­nitely and clearly pictured there: Noah and his wife – Christ and His Church; Shem and his wife – the Ancient Worthy leaders and the lesser lights among them; Japheth and his wife – the Great Company leaders and ledlings; and Ham and his wife – the Youthful Wor­thy leaders and ledlings.

Also 2 Tim. 2:20 is a very clear picture of the four elect classes: “But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.” The gold – the Little Flock ­and the silver – the Great Company (see Berean comments on Mal. 3:3 and 2 Tim. 2:20); the wood – the Ancient Worthies and the earth – the Youthful Worthies. The great House of typical Aaron, Lev. 16:6; Num. 17:2, 3; 3:6-9, 17-20, consisted of his sons and the three typical class of Levites; accordingly, in the great House of our Great High Priest, there are four classes antitypical of these. And (additionally) vessels of honor (the faithful Restitutionists) and dishonor (the Goats of the next age).

It should be remembered here that That Servant emphasized that the six volumes of Studies in the Scriptures are a direct outgrowth of the Truth to be found in the Taber­nacle. Also, that the Ark types “Christ and the power in Him which will replenish and reorganize society.” The great deluge was a type of the Time of Trouble here in the end of this Age; and, just as Noah and his family began an entirely new Society after the flood, so these four elect classes will also develop an entirely new social order ­“which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people” (Dan. 2:44) – the four elect classes mentioned above shall be the benevolent absolute rulers of that Kingdom.

REV. 7:1-3 – Much confusing error has been produced by faulty interpretations of this text. As example, The Finished Mystery (JFR, et al) explain “the four angels of the earth” as God’s chosen people; but v. 2 says of these four angels “to whom it was given to hurt the earth (the present social order) and the sea” (the restless masses). At no time under present evil conditions are the Lord’s people ordered – or permitted ­to hurt the earth. They are never messengers of wrath; but rather, they are told to “follow peace with all men” (Heb. 12:14); and in Gal. 5:22 we are told that one of the fruits of the spirit is peace.

It is our understanding that these four angels of destruction represent four class­es of humanity, the same having been led into destructive error by a false teaching: (1) the Divine right of kings; (2) the Divine right of the clergy; (3) the Divine right of the aristocracy; (4) and the Divine right of labor. Our readers are all prob­ably familiar with the Divine right of kings, and the evils that have resulted from that obsession. Then with the clergy that same evil has produced the BIG I and the Little You. Don’t try to read your Bible; let us do it, and tell you what it means. We our­selves have known some Catholic priests who have gone into quite a flutter when some member of his congregation dared to ask some questions the priest could not answer. Also, in some countries, the aristocrats consider themselves the stewards and almoners of the earth, whose duty and privilege it is to mark out the domestic course of their hirelings. And with Labor, their outstanding fault is their belief that earth’s prod­ucts belong to their producers.

But these very evils did restrain the “four winds” (the fallen angels) from precip­itating the nations into destructive combat before the “due time”; namely, 1914 ­when the time had come for the glorified Lord to take to Himself His great power and to “rule the nations with an iron sceptre – as the earthen vessels it is breaking them to­gether.” (Rev. 2:27, Dia.)

However, it should be carefully noted that this restraint was to be only “that no wind (the great war) might blow on the earth ... till we have sealed the bondservants of our God on their foreheads” (7:1-3) – giving them sufficient knowledge of “Present Truth” to enable them to “come out of her, My people” (Rev. 18:4). But as each respective nation became involved in that war either directly or devastatingly indirectly – then the words of Jesus became painstakingly obvious: “The night cometh, when no man can work.” (John 9:4) It should not be difficult to understand that when the three Hebrews (God’s Harvest work­ers) were cast into the fiery furnace, the thought of any more Harvest work was definitely forced from their minds; they had more than enough to “Hold fast that which thou hast.” The time had indeed arrived “That the plowman (the Time of Trouble) shall overtake the reaper ...; and the mountains (autocratic governments) shall drop sweet wine, and the hills (liberal democracies) shall melt.” (Amos 9:13) And the progress continues with ever-increasing fury to this day.

THAT SERVANT’S COMMENTS

At the outset it had been our intention to use mainly in this paper quotations from That Servant; and the foregoing introduction has been much longer than we anticipated; but we now offer the following from the Watchtower of May 15, 1911, keeping in mind that the world at that time seemed in such a peaceful condition that only a handful of earnest believers accepted the idea of a world conflagration in 1914, which probably caused the following comments:

“Our recent visit to Europe revealed no more unrest amongst the people than our previous one. Indeed, we were surprised to find so many evidences of prosper­ity everywhere and so few manifestations of violent discontent. Some residents con­firmed this view, while others thought that there is a deep undercurrent of discontent not manifest on the surface. Our readers know that for some years we have been expecting this Age to close with an awful time of trouble, and we expect it to break out with sud­denness and force not long after October 1914, which, so far as we can understand the Scriptures, is the date at which the Times of the Gentiles – the lease of earth’s domin­ions to the Gentiles – will expire; the time, therefor, when Messiah’s Kingdom will be due to begin its exercise of power, which the Scriptures declare will dash the nations in pieces as a potter’s vessel. By that time we think the Scriptures indicate that the Church will be complete and will have passed beyond the second veil into the “most holy” and to perfection of spirit nature by a share in the First Resurrection. Nevertheless, how this is all to come about, as we have heretofore declared, is not plain to us – how it will be that all of the Church class will die before that date, changed in the moment of their dying – “in the twinkling of an eye.”

“But while considering these perplexities, and considering also the fact that we have no fault to find with the chronological features of the Bible, our mind is directed to an old Scripture which suddenly seems to have a new importance. We refer to the statement, “I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth that the wind (the World War—JJH) should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree ... Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.” (Rev. 7:1-3)”

Here we would inject the thought that the war did not break out in any country until the saints there had been “sealed in their foreheads.” although   the United States did not become officially involved until April 7, 1917, all the plans had been made by the middle of 1916 to become officially involved, and all our industrial resources were engaged in helping our friends to carry on. President Wilson was wholeheartedly on the side of the Allies, but he used the slogan “He kept us out of war” to gain re-election in November 1916; then almost immediately after his second inauguration in March 1917 he declared war on the Central Powers.

Now more from the Tower quotation: “We have long seen that these symbolic winds rep­resent strife, anarchy, the great Time of Trouble which is held in check by Divine power until the completion of the harvest work, sealing of the living members of the elect class with Present Truth. We long ago pointed out that these four winds let loose, coming together, will constitute a whirlwind, which is the symbolical figure used in the Bible to represent the great Time of Trouble approaching. And this whirlwind corresponds to the typical one by which Elijah, the prototype of the Church, was taken away. Winds always represent false doctrines. (Eph. 4:14)

THE PRINCE OF THE POWER OF THE AIR

“Nothing that we see further contradicts any of the foregoing, but rather, corrob­orating it, throws a light upon it. The additional thought is that these winds or pow­ers of the air, held in restraint, represent the fallen angels, whose prince is Satan, “the prince of the power of the air.” Our thought is that the evil angels would long ago have done injury to the symbolic earth, sea and trees, had it not been for the re­straint of Divine power. Symbolically, the earth represents organized society; the sea represents the disorganized masses, and the trees represent the Household of Faith (or prominent ones in organized society—JJH). The letting loose suddenly of the fallen an­gels will account well for the suddenness of the coming trouble, which everywhere in the Scriptures is one of its particular features – ‘in one hour’ – ; ‘suddenly as travail upon a woman’; ‘as it was in the days of Noah,’ and ‘as it was in the days of Lot.’

“Again there is a resemblance between the days of Noah and the days of Lot (the flood burst suddenly upon ‘the world that was’ – just as the fire and brimstone fell sud­denly upon the Cities of the Plain—JJH), not merely in respect to the suddenness of the calamity which came, but also in regard to the violence of the calamity which came, but also in regard to the violence and licentious­ness of those periods. Already human prej­udice and passions are manifesting a heat such as never before was known – and this, not­withstanding the much greater provision of army and police regulations for the control of society. If discontent, selfishness, passion, frenzy, can sway mankind under present conditions, what may we expect when the ‘powers of the air’ shall be allowed to gain a temporary liberty for the very purpose of manifesting the evil tendencies of the unregen­erate heart; for the very purpose of demonstrating that no liberty can bring true happi­ness, except that which is in full accord with the Divine requirement.” (Reprints 4822, 4823 – May 15, 1911)

When That Servant emphasizes the suddenness with which the war would come, he did not fully realize just how suddenly it would be. The Archduke of Austria and his wife were driving thru the quiet peaceful countryside of Servia, when they were both assassinated. Within two days the armies of Germany, Austria, Russia, England and France were being mobilized. Then Germany gave Russia twenty-four hours to explain why they were mobilizing; and, receiving no answer, Germany then declared war on Russia; and in a few days England, Austria and France all declared war. The armies of Germany swept through France and Belgium with unbelievable rapidity; the whole European world was precipitated into a holocaust never before seen (“a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation”); the New York Stock Exchange was closed for ninety days; no one could buy or sell regardless of how pressing that necessity might be. And here it might be well to state that the date 1914 clearly pointed the finger to that Servant as the one mentioned in Jer. 1:5: “I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.”

It should be noted here that “God spared not the angels that sinned, but... deliv­ered them into chains of darkness [the atmosphere about this earth], to be reserved unto judgment [the great day of wrath]” – 2 Pet. 2:4. Since which time they have been abus­ing their freedom; will abuse it yet more in Armageddon; and will abuse it yet more in the fire of the great day, when Anarchy will prevail – “no hire for man, nor any hire for beast; neither peace to him that went out or came in because of the affliction.” (Zech. 8:10) At the end of this tribulation the Devil will be spirited away. “And he seized the dragon, the old serpent, who is an enemy and the Adversary, and bound him a thousand years.” (Rev. 20:2, Dia.) The Epiphany (the Epiphaneia) means brignt shining and is manifesting persons, principles and things, which we see happening ever day.

MORE FROM THE WATCH TOWER

“SPARED IN THE DAY OF TROUBLE – ‘They shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.’ Like many other prophecies, the words of the Prophet Malachi seem to have a general application throughout  the Gospel Age and a particular one at the close of the Age. Eighteen hundred years ago the Lord Jehovah began to make up His jewels. The first of these jewels was our Lord Jesus Christ, who was polished, perfected and taken on high. Jehovah did not cease His work with the perfection of His Son, our Lord. He has arranged that other jewels be cut and polished after the similitude of His Son, that they may shine with Him in the heavenly glory and Kingdom; as it is written, ‘We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works.’ (Eph. 2:10)

“The Messenger of the Covenant is, primarily, our Lord Jesus, Who came more than eighteen hundred years ago and presented Himself to those who were heirs of the New Cov­enant – the Jews.

THE PRESENT WONDERFUL TIME

“In the closing scenes of the Gospel Age will be the most remarkable of the world’s history, the Church will then be completed. We are not at liberty to guess when the end of the trouble will be. Whether all of the trouble will come in the next two or three years we do not know. But we think that he most serious part of the trouble will occupy a very short time.

“Let us remember that we are living in most wonderful times. More can be accom­plished in one month now than could have been done in years sometime ago – more in one hour than in days formerly. (The cruising speed of our present-day passenger airplanes is about 625 miles per hour. When Jesus was here the finest of horses could do little more than ten miles per hour; and that they could not continue for more than an hour or two—JJH) We are still in the waiting attitude, so that the Lord can indicate His will in the matter for us. We believe that the year 1915 will be even more wonderful than the present. We fully believe that the year 1914 will see the end of the Gentile Times for we cannot find even one flaw in our Bible chronology. [Because of the great calm that prevailed in 1913, we were told by some brethren that Brother Russell selected some of his leading helpers, and asked them to check minutely as it is compiled in Parousia Vol. 2; but they could find nothing wrong with it.]

“We do not claim infallibility. To err is human. If, therefore, the Father per­mits us to blunder in respect to His word in this matter, nevertheless, He will undoubt­edly have a great blessing for us. And if it should be that the year 1914 should not mark the close of the Gentile Times, we would still believe that the time could not be far distant; for the nearer we come to that time, the nearer we see the fulfillment of the things which the Scriptures indicate will then occur.” (Reprints 5119, Oct. 15, 1912)

And in Parousia Vol. 2, p. 101, par. 1, there is this: “Be not surprised then when in subsequent chapters we present proofs that the setting up of the Kingdom of God is already begun, and it is pointed out in prophecy as due to begin the exercise of power in A. D. 1878, and that the battle of the great day of God Almighty (Rev. 16:14) will begin in A. D. 1914, and that it will end in the complete overthrow of earth’s present ruler­ship. The gathering of the armies is plainly visible from the standpoint of God’s Word.”

“Since the Church of Christ, which has been developing during the Gospel Age, is to be associated with her Lord in the great restitution work of the Millennial Age, the first work of Christ at the Second Advent must be the gathering of His elect Church, to which reference is made by the Prophet (Psa. 50:5), saying, ‘Gather my saints together unto me, those who have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.’ This gathering or harvest­ing time is in the lapping period of the two Ages. As will be shown, it is a period of forty years, which both ends the Gospel Age and introduces the Millennial Age. (Vol. 1, pp. 219-221, & Chart of the Ages) This harvest period not only accomplishes the separa­tion of wheat from tares in the nominal Gospel Church, and the gathering and glorification of the wheat class, but it is also to accomplish the burning ‘destruction) of the tares, or imitation wheat, not as individuals (the fire is symbolic as well as the tares), and the gathering and destruction of the corrupt fruitage of the Vine of the Earth (human ambition, greed and selfishness), which has been growing and ripening for centuries in the kingdoms of this world and in the civil and social organizations among men.” (Par. Vol. 2, pp. 104-105)

Also from Par. Vol. 2, p. 77, par. 5: “Fifthly, that by that date (the end of the Gentile Times—JJH), or sooner, Israel’s blindness will begin to be turned away (pub­lished in 1889—JJH); because their ‘blindness in part’ was to continue only ‘until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in’ (Rom. 11:25), or, in other words, until the full num­ber from among the Gentiles, who are to be members of the Body of Christ, would be proba­tionally selected.”

Further from p. 78, par. 1: “Seventhly, it will prove that before that date (em­phasis by That Servant—JJH) God’s Kingdom, organized in power, will be in the earth and then smite and crush the Gentile image (Dan. 2:34) – and fully consume the power of these kings. Its own power and dominion will be established as fast as by its varied influ­ences and agencies it crushes and scatters the powers that be, civil and ecclesiastical­ly, iron and clay.”

From the above it is clear enough that Brother Russell believed when first publish­ing Vol. 2 in 1889 (25 years before 1914) that all the saints would be selected by the end of the Gentile Times. However, after 1914 he did say the High Calling was still open. He came to that conclusion because so many were then coming into the Truth; but he did not realize that most of those were members of antitypical Lot, who began to flee from that “great city, which spiritually is called Sodom” (Rev. 11:8) when the fire and brimstone began to fall on Christendom with the outbreak of World War One. We are told of quite a few who had been waiting to see if Brother Russell’s 1914 date would prove correct – and they then left Babylon when the happenings did prove the date to be correct.

Here we should keep in mind, however, that not all of such were of antitypical Lot, as some of the saints did not come into the Truth until Passover 1916; but those saints were all sealed in the forehead before their native country was engulfed in the War; but the “night wherein no man could work” arrived when the respective countries became in­volved, at which time “the plowman (the plowshare of Trouble) overtook the reapers.”

But Brother Russell still taught that the Kingdom began to be set up in the Spring of 1878; and we agree with that conclusion. Most of our readers know than the “stone” is the Little Flock; and Brother Russell says this in Par. Vol. 1, p. 255:

“The stone cut out of the mountain without hands, which smites and scatters the Gentile powers, represents the true Church, the Kingdom of God. During the Gospel Age this ‘stone’ kingdom is being formed, ‘cut out,’ carved and shaped for its future posi­tion and greatness – not by human hands, but by the power or spirit of the truth, the invisible power of Jehovah. When complete, when entirely cut out, it will smite and de­stroy the kingdoms of this world. Not the people, but the governments, are symbolized by the image, and these are to be destroyed that the people may be delivered. Our Lord Jesus came not to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.—John 3:17.”

In view of the fact that the kingdoms of this world are being scattered and smitten after the end of the Gentile Times – 1914 after World War One began – we conclude that the reaping part of the Harvest was indeed a forty-year period – from 1874 to 1914.

(To be concluded in Part Two.)

“Therefore, Beloved, seeing ye know these things Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever.” (2 Pet. 3:17,18)

Sincerely your brother, John J. Hoefle, Pilgrim

(Reprint No. 311, May 1981)

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QUESTION OF GENERAL INTEREST

QUESTION – Who exposed the falsehood of the trinity, immortality of the human soul, and hellfire? Who warned of the dangers of evolution and spiritism?

ANSWER – The above question was posed in the March 15, 1990 Watchtower. Their answer:

“The facts show that it was a group of Anointed Christians associated with the publishers of the magazine Zion’s Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence, now called the Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom.”

Their above answer, which they claim are the facts, would lead their readers to believe that a “group of Anointed Christians” gave them the above–mentioned truths and that this same “group of Anointed Christians” were the founder of their organization. In times past they have stated that Pastor Russell was the founder of their organization. He was the founder of their organization but not the founder of Jehovah’s Witnesses and their false teaching. However, they have retained the basic truths above-mentioned, because these fundamental doctrines lure people who believe in God’s Word. They accept these doctrines because they are Scripturally proven. This lulls them into believing that all their teachings are doctrinally true. So they close their eyes, open their mouths and swallow all their errors without question.

The truth is that Brother Russell was the editor of Zion’s Watch Tower and gave us the truths that they falsely claim were given to them by a “group of Anointed Christians.” Brother Russell was the author of the Studies in the Scriptures in which these truths were given, as well as the author of many other books. Bible Student groups reprint the Watch Towers, the Studies in the Scriptures, as well as his other books. Bible students distribute thousands of the Studies in the Scriptures yearly. Their public messages bring Glad Tidings of Great Joy to many people, while the messages of the Witnesses bring Bad Tidings of Great Misery to all those who do not join them.

For a time after Brother Russell’s demise, the Society used the Studies in the Scriptures in their meetings. Quite a few learned the truth from these books, and were quick to recognize the errors the Society began to promulgate. They are no longer Bible Students but are recognized by the name of Jehovah’s Witnesses since the 1930s when they were given this sectarian name. The Bible Student groups give a comforting message to all people just as did Brother Russell. Jehovah’s Witnesses are the only group to emanate from the movement of Brother Russell that predict dire consequences to those who do not join them.

Papacy is a prototype of the Witnesses. The Roman Catholic Church branded all who did not agree with them as heretics. History is replete with the hideous crimes they committed in their hey-day. The Witnesses are saying substantially the same things, although   in our day they cannot commit the crimes the Catholics did in the Dark Ages. Nor do they consign their opposers to eternal torment – just death with no chance of a resurrection.

They once taught that their “Great Crowd” would not die but live to the Kingdom. But so many of their devotees have since died, they had to change their teaching. They change their teaching to suit their purposes just as the chameleon changes its color.

The Papacy and the Witnesses boast of their large numbers as their strength, but their numbers are their weakness. Our Lord intimated by His question in Luke 18:8 that the truth would be scarce in our day, which indeed it is! “The earth [the present social structure] shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again.” (Isa. 24:20) We see the reeling to and fro today but are comforted by our Lord’s Words in Matt. 24:35: “Heaven and earth [the present ecclesiastical and social order] shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.”

The Witnesses predicted “Millions Now Living Will Never Die” after 1925. That was a fiasco as all know. Also, they predicted Armageddon for 1975, which did not mature. They now preach that millions will die and never be resurrected if they don’t join them before Armageddon. They gain many simple-minded people to join them through fear, just as their prototype, Papacy, gained numbers to join them through fear of hellfire. We are reminded of the counsel given in Deu. 18:22: “When a prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken, but the prophet has spoken presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.”

Brother Russell gave us the truth of God’s inspired Word as no other man has done since the days of the Apostles. It was because it was the “due time” for the truth to be revealed on His Plan of Salvation for all mankind. He never claimed perfection nor inspiration as the Apostles had. He never taught that his movement was God’s organization on earth – nor that all had to join him to get salvation. He always advised the brethren to prove any teaching he presented by God’s Word. He did not use fear to gain numbers, but most of the people went with him because of the love of God and appreciation of His “goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!” (Psa. 107:31)

Advancing light does not cast away former truth, but advancing error does. The Witnesses have cast away most of the teachings of Brother Russell – the Studies in the Scriptures, the Zion’s Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s presence, and the Watch Towers edited by him. Those who have retained these truths have abided by the Apostle Paul’s counsel to Timothy: “But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them.” (2 Tim. 3:14)

J. F. Rutherford, the Witnesses’ first president, eulogized and praised Brother Russell – said he was one of the greatest men that ever lived. He said that millions of the Studies in the Scriptures were distributed during his ministry from 1881 to 1914. He was the author of the “Photo-Drama of Creation,” which prior to his death, had been distributed to about twelve millions of people. JFR also referred to That Wise and Faithful Servant of Luke 12:42-44 and Matt. 25:45-47, saying that thousands of readers of Pastor Russell’s writings believe he filled the office of ‘that faithful and wise servant in his great work of the giving to the Household ‘meat in due season.’ (For further comments by “Judge” Rutherford about Pastor Russell see 1916 Watch Tower and Overland Monthly.)

However, it was not long until he changed his mind. Now the new light (?) the Jehovah’s Witnesses present have no resemblance to Brother Russell’s teaching. If they were God’s Kingdom on earth as they claim, they would make no false predictions nor would they need to change their teachings to suit their purposes.

In this “evil world” (Gal. 1:4) the “god of this world hath blinded the minds of them that believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” (2 Cor. 4:4) The Witnesses are trying to get these “blind” people to join them. They have succeeded in getting them to join them, as there are many blind people in their organization. There are many good people in their organization the same as there are good people in other systems of error. People will accept any kind of hocus-pocus rather than the truth. But when God turns over a “pure language” (Zeph. 3:9) to the people in the Kingdom, the “inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.” (Isa. 26:9)

It is a misnomer to classify Jehovah’s Witnesses as “Truth People.” They are more responsible to God than other systems of error because they inherited the truth and cast it out. We can’t be sure that the Witnesses now teach a firm date for the close of the door to the High Calling. At one time they said the door was closed in 1918, but since that time some of their remnant became unfaithful and they had to open the door for others to take their place. So we can’t be sure what their position is now.

NO. 409: THE TABERNACLE

No. 409

In Matt. 5:17,18 we have these words of Jesus: “Think not that I am come to destroy the Law, or the prophets; I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill... I say unto you, Till Heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in nowise pass from the Law, till all be fulfilled.” Complementing this statement is one by St. Paul in Heb. 10:1: “The Law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices.... make the comers there­unto perfect.” Here then are clear Scriptures that tell us in direct words that every feature of the Law was typical; and the Law in the broad sense is the Pente­teuch – the first five books of the Bible (Luke 24:44), although the Law in the strict sense does not appear before Exodus. It is thus a sound conclusion that every person, principle and thing mentioned therein are typical, and must have an antitype to be fulfilled.

Of those things given to Moses in Sinai the Tabernacle is the central figure. It became the foundation premise for the entire Jewish religion; and it may be prop­erly concluded that every important feature of the Plan of the Ages is somewhere re­vealed in the Tabernacle and the rituals pertinent thereto. Therefore, if any one has a good clear grasp of the Tabernacle, as it is presented in Tabernacle Shadows, and retains that truth structure, he is not likely ever to go out of the Truth; where­as, if we see any one losing the Tabernacle truths, we may conclude that something has gone badly wrong with that person, and we should be governed accordingly.

A close analysis of most religions will reveal that they began with a priesthood, then deteriorated to priestcraft, then degraded to priestgraft. This is strikingly true of the Jewish priesthood. When the Tabernacle had been set up, and Aaron was called of God (Heb. 5:4) to officiate, there was then given the Jews a religious sys­tem in its pristine purity; every detail was the embodiment of perfection – ‘‘The true tabernacle, which the Lord fixed, not man... divine service for a symbol and shadow (typical) of the heavenlies; even as Moses, when about to construct the tabernacle, was divinely admonished; for, See, says He, that thou make all things according to that pattern shown to thee on the Mount.” (Heb. 8:2-5, Dia.) “And Moses, indeed, was faithful in his whole house, as a servant, for a testimony of the things to be spoken.” (Heb. 3:5, Dia.) And this same Scripture could be applied in like manner to Aaron as Priest. “Like the precious ointment (typical of the Holy Spirit) upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his gar­ments.” (Psa. 133:2) Tradition has it that Aaron’s beard reached almost to his knees; and his anointing with the holy oil is a fitting picture of the anointing of the true church during this Age with the Holy Spirit, which came first upon the Head Jesus, then continued down to the last members of His Body here in the end of the Age.

However, Aaron’s example soon became a lost art. In the strict sense the Jews had only one high priest – Aaron, “called of God” to the office. Others received that office through heredity, the oldest living son aspiring to the office – much the same as the kings in the nations today have come to the throne as successor to their fathers – although the Sanhedrin (counsel of the 70) had altered this somewhat before Jesus’ first Advent. Thus, some of the high priests after Aaron made honest effort to continue his per–formance; some, such as Eli (1 Sam. 3), feebly attempted to give proper service; while some were very much renegades. When we reach the fall of Jerusalem prior to 607 B.C., priestcraft was definitely inevidence. ‘‘The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and My people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof.” (Jer.5:31)

At the time Jesus arrived the priesthood had degenerated to priestgraft – they had reached the very bottom of the dirty barrel. “Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, and said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.” (Matt. 21:12,13) A little from secular records will emphasize this. It had been ordered in the Law that the sacrifices brought to the priest should be ‘‘Without blemish.” Taking advantage of this, the priests in the temple gave minute scrutiny to any animals brought to them. It is said they had as many as seventy different points on which they would reject a lamb – such as a wart on its belly, and the like. Thus, when a penitent and humble Jew came in from the hills to make himself right with God, it was almost a certainty that the priest who examined his lamb would find something wrong with it, which made it unacceptable for sacrifice. So what was the poor man to do?   Must he go all the way back to the hill country for another? Why, no, of course not! The priest had a lamb in the backyard that he could have – if he had the price – ­so much money, plus the lamb he had brought in. Then the priest took the rejected lamb, put it in the backyard and sold it to the next innocent victim. It is little wonder that Jesus was so outraged that He overturned their tables and uttered the con­demnation against them that He did.

And much the same pattern was followed in the Christian Church as we trace it thru the years.  The Christian Church under the Apostles (also called and chosen of God) offered proper comparison to Aaron and his sons. But when Martin Luther appeared on the scene, the sale of indulgences was in full sway, with the repulsive Tetzel raking in the money – almost an exact duplicate of what Jesus saw in the temple. It is not surprising that Luther referred to the Roman Church at that time as “the synagogue of Satan.” Or that we have the prophecy against the reprobate church today, “I will spue thee out of My mouth.” (Rev. 3:16)

CONSTRUCTION OF THE TABERNACLE

“Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.” (1 Cor. 10:11) The Diaglott puts this much clearer: “These things occurred to them typically, and were written for our admonition, on whom the ends of the Ages have come.” St. Paul thus clearly identi­fies “these things” as types, and they have to do with the wilderness journey of the Jews on their way to Canaan, during which time the Tabernacle was the focal point of all their religious activity.

It is not our purpose herein to discuss all the intricate details given to Moses in the Mount, but we believe a few of them will prove quite helpful. Ex. 26:15 says, ‘‘Thou shalt make boards for the tabernacle of shittim wood standing up.” Clearly enough, the Jews were not to gather broken-down logs for construction of the Tabernacle, but trees “standing up” – alive and growing. And is this not exactly what the Apostle says in Rom. 12:1: “Present your bodies a living sacrifice”? During the building of the Gospel-Age Tabernacle the Lord did not want a dead sacrifice; He wanted a “living” one. This is confirmed by St. Peter, 1 Pet. 2:5, Dia.: ‘‘Be you yourselves also built up, as living stones (in the temple, or Gospel-Age Tabernacle), a spiritual house for a holy priesthood (fully faithful and competent, as was Aaron), to offer sacrifices, well-pleasing to God through Jesus Christ.”

St. Paul counsels, “Endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ,” and this characteristic of the “living stones” is well typified in the Shittim wood “standing up.” This timber was plentiful in the wilderness of Sinai, and used in the construction of the Tabernacle, for the woodwork in the Ark, the altars and their staves, the table, the boards, bars and pillars. It was used in Egypt in boat building, and Josephus speaks of its strength and durability. (Antiq. III 6,5) The wood is hard and close-grained.

Some time back the Jehovah’s Witnesses were attempting to revive the study of the Tabernacle in their Watchtower periodical; but it is readily clear enough that, once having lost the Truth on this important edifice, they will have plenty of error in what they send forth. As instance, they quote 1 Pet. 2:5, and they use the King James version, which says we “offer spiritual sacrifices” during this Age. Just a little reflection should reveal the folly of this. In Rom. 12:1 St. Paul says, ‘‘pre­sent your bodies” as a sacrifice. We do not sacrifice our spiritual qualities; rather, we develop them in every good word and work, and we do this at the expense of our human bodies. Thus, we are told to “grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus,” even as St. Paul says of himself and his abused physique, “I die daily.” (1 Cor. 15: 31) He was “putting off the old man with his deeds, and putting on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge” [not sacrificed, but built up, invigorated] (Col. 3:9,10.)

Also, in this same Watch Tower, Dec. 1, 1972, p. 717, col. 1 bottom, there is this statement: “The temple ‘curtain’ illustrating the fleshly barrier, was now indeed passed for the resurrected Jesus Christ, and so on the fortieth day from his resurrec­tion he could ascend to heaven itself and appear before the person of God with the precious value of his sin-atoning blood, to present it at God’s propitiatory throne in behalf of all mankind. With that presentation the great antitypical Day of Atonement came to an end.”

The foregoing is a rank perversion of what That Servant wrote about the antitypi­cal Day of Atonement. He taught that it continued throughout  the entire Gospel and Mil­lennial Ages; and just a little scrutiny should prove that he was right. The real work of the antitypical  Day of Atonement has not yet even begun, which work is to ac­complish the “restitution of all things.” (Acts 3:21) Jesus is simply the antitypi­cal bullock of that day’s sacrifice – “first for His own sins, and then for the peo­ple’s” (Heb. 7:27).

It was not until the bullock and the Lord’s goat had been placed upon the brazen altar in the Court, their blood sprinkled upon the Mercy Seat in the Most Holy, fol­lowed by Azazel’s Goat being delivered to the fit man and led off to the wilderness, that the High Priest (Aaron in the first instance) then appeared in robes of Glory and Beauty and blessed the people. This antitypical blessing – “the times of refresh­ing, restitution of all things” – has not yet even begun; therefore, it should be quite apparent the antitypical Day of Atonement is not nearly at an end. When we re­call the treatment the Watch Tower leaders dispensed to their faithful brethren after Brother Russell’s death, we are painfully forced to apply to them the Scripture ­“Because they poured out the blood of saints and of prophets, Thou gavest them also blood (error) to drink; they deserve it.” They would be well advised to follow Tabernacle Shadows if they attempt further treatise of the subject – to prevent further er­roneous teachings.

When work was to begin on building the Tabernacle, the people were asked to bring the material necessary for the job, ‘‘And they came, both men and women, as many as were willing hearted, and brought bracelets, and earrings, and rings, and tablets, all jewels of gold.” (Ex. 35:22) “And they spake unto Moses, saying, The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work... The stuff  they had was sufficient for all the work to make it, and too much.” (Ex. 36:5-7) The antitype for these verses is to be found here in the end of the Age, when the general call closed in 1881. From that time on more people came into the Truth than there were crowns available – they were bringing “much more than enough” to complete the Gospel-Age Tabernacle. Many still do not recognize this great truth, so they con­tinue to bring more than enough, but this can but result in their eventual chagrin.

While some have been overly ambitious in this respect, others have adopted just the opposite course. When the sad and disturbing conflicts appeared shortly after Brother Russell’s death, many concluded they wanted none of that, so they simply with­drew and did nothing after that. Thus, they were no longer antitypical shittim wood “standing up” (“living sacrifices”); they became as it were ordinary spiritual flot­sam floating about in time and space, with no definite purpose. They completely for­got that their covenant was with God and not with men. We still see that same attitude among quite a few.

THE TABERNACLE AND THE PEOPLE

Much detailed comment is given in Tabernacle Shadows regarding the general con­struction of the Tabernacle, and its typical significance, which we shall review very briefly. The Most Holy typified, or represented the Divine presence; the Holy repre­sented those Gospel-Age believers who were aspiring to the Divine presence (“exceeding great and precious promises, that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature” – 2 Pet. 1:4); the Court represented the tentatively justified of the Gospel Age ­those believers who were progressing toward the Holy. The Court was enclosed by a linen curtain, which was held in place by sixty posts. Tabernacle Shadows very prop­erly explains that those posts type justified believers displaying the righteousness of Christ. These would properly represent sixty sections of the Gospel-Age Levites and their various activities, shown also by the sixty heads of Levite families.

Isa. 52:11 counsels, “Be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord.” When that was written, the Jews recognized it as advice to the priests and Levites who had to do with the Temple, which had replaced the Tabernacle of the Wilderness. Apart from the censers, there were four sets of vessels belonging to the brazen altar in the Court (Num. 4:14; Ex. 38:3), four sets to the golden table in the Holy (Num. 4:7); four to the golden lampstand (Num. 4:9). This may also have been true of the golden altar in the Holy, this conclusion being drawn from the fact that the brazen altar in the Court had four sets of vessels. These four sets of vessels would properly represent the four groups of Bible teachings that are profitable (1) “for teaching (doctrine), (2) for conviction (refuting), (3) for correction, (4) for that discipline which is in righteousness; so that the man of God may be complete, thoroly fitted for every good work.” (2 Tim. 3:16,17, Dia.) Self-evidently, all of these “vessels” would be neces­sary in the life of those who were holding up the linen curtain of Christ’s righteous­ness; and especially would this be true of the leaders in the Gospel-Age church.

Aside from the brazen altar in the Court, there was also the laver, at which the priests washed, as well as the tentatively justified (the Household of Faith ­only for those in the Court). This laver was said to be of copper polished so bright­ly that it served also as a mirror to those standing in front of it. It would proper­ly represent the entire Bible, the base typing the Old Testament, and the upper part containing the water typing the New Testament. “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word.” (Eph. 5:26 – See Berean Comments) During the Gospel Age those progressing from the gate of the Court would pass the brazen altar, then approach and pass the laver on their way to the door of the Holy.

The Tabernacle was situated pretty much in the center of the Jewish Camp. Just outside and around the Court we find the Levites – the Amramites (Moses, Aaron, etc.) directly in front of the Gate to the east, the Kohathites to the south, the Gershonites to the west, and the Merarites to the north. All of this has a Millen­nium significance – the Amramites (no longer Levites in any sense) typing the Gospel-­Age “royal priesthood,” the Kohathites the Ancient Worthies, the Gershonites the Youth­ful Worthies, and the Merarites the Great Company. These four groups type the four elect classes who will bless and uplift the non-elect in the Kingdom.

It will be noted that Tabernacle Shadows states that the Gershonites typified the world of mankind; but this is not a logical deduction, since none of the Levites had any inheritance in the land. A question was put to Brother Russell – If the Gershonites type the saved world, wouldn’t that indicate that the entire saved world would become spiritual, and that this earth would not be man’s eternal home? After some discussion That Servant dropped the matter, but later taught that the Ancient Worthies would become spiritual during the Little Season. He also taught a class of consecra­tors “Between The Ages” who appeared on the scene too late to be of the royal priest­hood, but who would rank in honor, reward and service, with the Ancient Worthies. The only difference between the two classes is that the Ancients lived too soon to be of the royal priesthood; whereas, the Youthful Worthies lived too late to be of that se­lect group. Since 1916 many very pertinent Scriptures to substantiate that teaching have been presented, the Epiphany being the “due time” for them to be understood. That Servant confirms the above in the Sept. 1, 1911, Reprint 5761, which we now quote:

“THOSE CONSECRATING BETWEEN THE AGES”

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

“Our thought is that whoever under such conditions as these will make a full con­secration to the Lord, to leave all to follow in His ways, and will live up faithfully, loyally, to that consecration, may be privileged to be counted as a similar class to those who preceded this Gospel Age. We know of no reason why the Lord would refuse to receive those who would make a consecration after the close of the Gospel Age High Call­ing and before the full opening of the Millennium.”

And continuing from the June 15, 1911, Reprints 4836: “Suppose that some should present themselves after the close of the acceptable time; what would be their status and God’s dealing with them?... Quite likely there will be some in the end of this Age who, although faith­ful unto death, will not have been begotten of the Holy Spirit and not attain the spirit plane of being in the resurrection, but who will come forth members of the same class as the Ancient Worthies, who were developed before this Age began.”

The Jewish Camp encircled the Levites as the Levites encircled the Tabernacle; and they fittingly typed the rebellious nominal people of God in this Gospel Age. Once this picture is fully visualized, much may be deduced from it. Those in the Jew­ish Camp were not allowed in the Court or the Tabernacle, although those immediately con­tiguous to the Levites would have a much better view of it than those farther away; and those at the extreme outskirts of the Camp might barely see it at all.  Beyond the Camp was the heathen world having no knowledge or interest of any kind in the Tabernacle or its ceremonies.

All this would well represent the condition in Christendom during this Age. The “royal priesthood,” as parts of the antitypical Tabernacle, would have an intimate close-up view of the Gospel call, its privileges and obligations. Next comes those in the Court – the tentatively justified unconsecrated who had accepted Jesus as their Savior and practiced righteousness – who were on more or less friendly and intimate terms with the priesthood, and understanding some features of the priestly call. Be­yond this class would come what might be termed noble worldlings – motivated by good principles, and with more or less knowledge of the priestly aims and ambitions. Be­yond these would be the antitypical outskirts of the Camp, consisting of those who had little or no interest in Christian teachings; while the heathen world would be those people beyond the realm of Christendom.

VARIOUS PERVERSIONS

Much of what we have given on the Tabernacle, its appurtenances, its relation to the Camp and to the Jewish people has been gleaned more or less directly or indirect­ly from the writings of Brother Russell. He himself recognized some mistakes in the original Tabernacle Shadows book, most of which he corrected in later Watch Towers; but we are reliably informed that he often stressed the fact that the six volumes of Scripture Studies, which he wrote, were the direct outgrowth of that book, which was first published in 1881. In his Foreword that appeared in subsequent printings he said:

“It was specially intended for the royal priesthood. Many of this class have confessed that as the Lord’s finger it pointed out to them meanings in Old Testament types never before appreciated, leading them to see the true significance of the Scrip­tural declaration – ‘Present your bodies living sacrifices,’ ‘Fill up that which is be­hind of the afflictions of Christ,’ etc.... The author rejoices that this is true... The understanding of the subjects herein set forth seems to have been heaven directed, ‘taught of God,’ at a time when the light was absolutely necessary to the full and clear presentation of the Plan of the Ages...... The author has sought to prove every point and every application by the Word of the Lord, and has taught nothing of himself... The careful student will discern that, the applications of the types herein presented being correct, the entire Plan of the Ages is thereby corroborated – justification, sanctification and glorification first for the Church, and subsequently restitution for whoever will, of all the families of the earth.”

With such a forceful endorsement as the foregoing by Brother Russell himself, it would seem that any and all who still hold any respect for him would tread very soft­ly before attempting to tamper with such an important book. However, it is a matter of record that all during this Age those stewardship truths that were emphasized by the Lord’s special mouthpieces were perverted, and often badly distorted by the crown-lost leaders who followed them. Therefore, we should ‘think it not strange” if the same class of people – crown-lost leaders – should follow in the footsteps of their kinsmen of the past, and pervert the writings of the Lord’s important mouthpiece here in the end of the Age.

And true enough, That Servant was hardly in the tomb before Tabernacle Shadows was attacked by those who succeeded him in administrative office – subtly at first, then openly and boldly – replacing the faithful teachings of this book with ‘‘new light” (?). It was just a matter of a few years before J. F. Rutherford declared the book was entirely worthless, and cast it into the ash can.  However, their treat­ment of Tabernacle Shadows has gone unheeded by others.

From Taber­nacle Shadows, p. 33: “Concerning the natural seed of Abraham... ‘they are enemies for your sakes; but as touching the election they are (still) beloved for the father’s sakes...’ They are to be first (emphasis by Bro. Russell) blessed by the spiritual or true Seed and may later become associate laborers. (Rom. 11:26-29)”

Christ’s merit, as an imputable thing, is not now available in the Camp in the Kingdom, for the Household of Faith. Christ’s merit, as an imputable thing, is not now available in the Camp, nor will it be available in the Camp in the Kingdom. Actual justification will prevail in the Camp under the benevolent Kingdom arrangements for the sheep, enabling them to walk up the Highway of Holiness. Christ’s merit continues to apply only to the House­hold of Faith, and will so long as there is any part of this Household with us. That Servant corroborates this Truth in the May 15, 1911 Reprint 4819, as follows:

‘‘He has not applied the merit of that sacrifice as yet to Adam or his children, but merely to those who, in the type, were represented by the underpriests, and to the Levites, the brethren and servants of the priestly family.”

And from the types in Tabernacle Shadows, p. 55: “’And Aaron shall offer his bul­lock of the sin-offering which is for (represents) himself, and make an atonement for himself [the members of his body – the  underpriests] and for his house [all believers, the entire ‘Household of Faith’ – the Levites].’ (Lev. 16:6)”

THE MILLENNIAL TABERNACLE

While the Millennial Tabernacle will differ sharply in some respects from the Gospel Age Tabernacle, the typical features established in the arrangement given to Moses at Sinai are clearly in evidence as we consider its structure. The Most Holy will contain the glorified Christ serving Godward for the people; the Holy will repre­sent the condition of the Christ serving peopleward for God; the Court will contain the other three elect classes – the Ancient Worthies, typified by the Kohathite Levites, the Great Multitude by the Merarites, and the Youthful Worthies by the Gershonites. The Camp in that Tabernacle will contain the world undergoing restitution – actually accom­plishing what the Jews in their Camp expected to do – to gain life by keeping the Law, but failed because of their inherited weakness. The Sheep in that Camp will eventually gain that perfection that was first in Eden; while those outside the Camp will be either those that have not yet made a start toward restitution, or “the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed.” (Isa. 65:20)

And, when that Tabernacle progresses to the end of that Age, another spiritual class will appear; namely, the Worthies who have been ‘‘princes in all the earth” dur­ing the Kingdom reign, but who will leave this earth when their work is done, and join those in the spirit realm.

DEATH AND HELL INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE

“Death and hell (Hades) were cast into the lake of fire.” (Rev. 20:14) For man­kind in general this brief statement makes comprehensive summation of the typical Tab­ernacle and its services on the Day of Atonement as given in Leviticus 16. Since the Bible does not use words indiscriminately, we may conclude that ‘death’ and ‘hell’ do not mean the same thing. It is our understanding that hell (Hades) is the Adamic death state – the grave; whereas, death refers to all those things that send man to the grave. This is clearly taught in Tabernacle Shadows, p. 111, respecting the ashes of the Red Heifer:

‘‘The cleansing of defilement through contact with the dead would seem to teach that this cleansing, effected by and through the experiences of the Ancient Wor­thies, will specially apply to the world of mankind during the Millennial Age, while they are seeking to get rid of all the defilements of Adamic death – seeking to attain human perfection. All the blemishes of the fallen condition are so much of contact with death; all constitutional weaknesses and blemishes through heredity are contacts with death; and from all of these the ashes of the Red Heifer are to be used for the cleans­ing of all who will become the people of God.”

This is emphasized in the Berean Comment on Rev. 20:14: “Death – including aches, pains, mental and moral imperfections of every sort.” In its totality this will not be accomplished until the end of the Little Season – when the antitypical Atonement Day will have come to its full end. Some have thought that the Epiphany Messenger had pro­duced some new teaching with respect to the Millennial performance – also that we are doing the same by copying what he has said; but the only thing new about it is the name coined by the Epiphany Messenger, when he summed all this up as the Adamic death process. However, this expression simply says in one sweeping phrase what Brother Rus­sell states in detail on p. 111 of Tabernacle Shadows, and in the Berean Comment for Rev. 20:14. Our Lord has said of David – and antitypical David – “I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him: With whom my hand shall be estab­lished: mine arm also shall strengthen him.” And of those who have disregarded his teachings: “But thou hast made void the covenant of thy servant: thou hast profaned his crown by casting it to the ground... Thou hast broken down all his hedges; thou hast brought his strong holds to ruin.” (Psa. 89:39,40)

“O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day... I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me.” (Psa. 119:97,102)

Sincerely your brother, John J. Hoefle, Pilgrim

(Reprint No. 215, May 1973)

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LETTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST

Dear Brethren: Grace and peace!

How grateful I am to continue to receive the Newsletter every month! It is a continual source of inspiration and spiritual truth for me. I am so glad there is an organization which promulgates the original and unchanged truths of dear Brother Russell who sought to harmonize Bible truth as given in the Studies in the Scriptures and other truth documents. May God's blessings be on you as you seek to uphold the truth.

Your brother, Jerry Kloss ------- (PENNSYLVANIA)

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Dear Friends,

Please send me a list of literature that you have available. I am especially interested in obtaining a copy of the book, PASTOR CHARLES TAZE RUSSELL, An Early American Christian Zionist, by David Horowitz.

Thank you! Hope to hear from you soon.

Sincerely, ------- (TEXAS)

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Dear Friend:

Received your letter and Christian literature this date. Thank you! Yes, I would like to receive The Divine Plan of the Ages and the book about Pastor Charles Taze Russell.

No, I have not read any of your papers until today. I got your name and address from a publication or letter of Savior of all Fellowship, and it states that a Brother Marotta sent your address to them. These folks believe God will save all. The brief article states, like the Primitive Baptists who support the idea that the great majority of mankind (though not every single individual) will be saved. They are definitely Armenian in viewpoint, emphasizing man's free choice rather than God's sovereign election. This is all the article says.

Hoping to receive the books soon. And thanks so much for putting me on your mailing list to receive the monthly literature.

Sincerely, ------- (NORTH CAROLINA

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Dear Sister Hoefle: Grace and peace!

Your good letter took 10 days to travel. We appreciate your various items of news. Also the volumes have arrived ...

We saw Margaret at the end of last month, and she said she would like to be put on your mailing list. In addition to the Plan she has a copy of the Photo Drama and the LDH, and two of your circulars, Nos. 392 and 393. I will wait a little while longer and send her my copies of Nos. 401 and 402. So you might like to send us these two copies to replace them.

We still keep in touch with Ron Shuttleworth's widow, Ella. She recently stayed a few days with us ... We are always hoping for a spark of interest in the Truth since Ron's sad decease. It may be we will have to wait for the resurrection to open people's hearts and minds. But we live in hope as always.

How nice for your nieces and families to have a chance to visit Israel for three weeks. I know you missed them. We trust you have good news of Nan Horowitz ... Our health continues as well as can be expected, I am glad to say ...

We join in sending our Christian love to you and your co‑helpers. God bless you!

By His Grace, ------- (ENGLAND)

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To Whom it May Concern:

I would like information about the Epiphany Bible Student Association and any available literature. My address is ....

Thank you ------- (VIRGINIA)

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Dear Mrs. Hoefle:

We appreciate receiving your fine letter and the copy of your folksey newsey letter. The Josephsons are good friends and so is David Horowitz at the UN.

I am studying Hebrew and subjects related to Jewish‑Christian relations at the University of Minnesota – and Lois and I are trying to finish the last three programs of our dialogue series. I am enclosing a folder that explains it.

Thank you for your kind letter. We wish you all the best in your work of supporting the people and State of Israel. 

Sincerely, ------- (MINNESOTA

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NO. 408: SOME THOUGHTS FOR THE MEMORIAL

No. 408

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

Comes again the Memorial of our Lord’s death, and with it the realization of the truly sanctified faith-justified that its observance under existing conditions draws nearer and nearer to a finality. This realization should ever determine us to continue in the course we have embraced and to reside in that isolated and privileged place provided for us as we

“Go to Him Without the Camp.”

In Ex. 33:7 we read, “And Moses proceeded to take a tent and pitch it by itself outside the camp afar off from the camp, and he called it the Tent of Meeting, and so it came to pass that whosoever was seeking Yahweh went out unto the tent of meeting, which was on the outside of the camp.” (Rotherham) Moses in this instance types our Lord as He arranged to remove the Star Members and His fully faithful people from the midst of the measurably faithful and the tare class, beginning in the Pergamos epoch of the Gospel-Age Church and continuing until 1799. We quote parts of Brother Johnson’s comments on this from E-11, p. 430 (70):

“God had our Lord do another thing indicative of His displeasure with His nominal people, i.e., remove the faithful servants of the Truth and its Spirit from places of prominence and influence in the nominal church – caused the symbolic woman, the Covenant promises and the servants who apply them to the brethren to go into the wilderness condition (Rev. 12:6) – to the Tent of Meeting, not the Tabernacle, but Moses’ official residence – and that not but slightly away from the erroneous doctrines, practices, organization and disciplines of the nominal church, but very far from these, and made the Truth and the servants who applied it to the brethren, as well as these last, the place where God resided, met with His people and blessed them. Henceforth every one who in heart’s loyalty sought fellowship with the Lord in spirit, truth, righteousness and holiness went forth from the nominal church to such Truth, its applying servants and the others of His real people, apart from the nominal church (without the camp)... When our Lord busied Himself with Truth matters, its applying servants, etc., the Truth and its Spirit as due became manifest (the cloudy pillar descended), and remained at the entrance, consecration, where God revealed truths to Jesus in the star-members.”

The foregoing dovetails so very beautifully with St. Paul’s admonition in Heb. 13:13, “Let us, then, now go forth to Him outside of the camp bearing reproach for Him.” (Dia.) And it is such a very clear-cut and definite course of procedure for all who elect to “follow in His steps.” Such indeed is one very appropriate Thought for the Memorial. In principle, this arrangement is as true today as it ever was, of which we shall offer some elaboration further on.

“What Mean Ye by This Service?”

All the details of the original Passover in Egypt were prearranged with meticulous care and exaction, even to its future remembrance “throughout your generations,” and the instruction of the Jewish children during future observances. It was properly anticipated that inquiring and curious children would ask, “What mean ye by this service?” (Ex. 12:26), thus providing the opportunity to instruct them in the niceties and the solemn responsibility of every Jew participating in it. And this exaction so thoroughly gripped the Jewish conscience and imagination that the Passover observance today is almost identical to what it was in the day of Christ, excepting only the temple sacrifices which are no longer performed. However, they yet make very elaborate preparations for the festival. In previous years we have detailed the search for leaven. After all leaven was collected, it was then cast into the fire, and the master of the house declared in Aramaic that any further leaven that may have been in his house and of which he was unaware was to him no more than dust.

The eldest son of each family, if he were thirteen years or older, was required to fast on the day leading up to the service. Then on the evening of the 14th all the male members of the house betook themselves to the synagogue, attired in their best apparel. On their return they would find the house lit up, and the “Seder” or paschal table prepared. The head of the family took his place at the head of the table, after which all the family, including the servants, were seated around the table, to partake of the Seder, or Haggadah, as some Jews designate it. To be certain the question would properly arise, the oldest son was previously coached to ask, when they came to the table, why on this night above all other nights do they eat bitter herbs, unleavened bread, etc., at which the head of the house would relate the story of the original Passover and the deliverance of the Jewish firstborn on that fateful night in Egypt. Then proceeded the feast, which had been elaborately and meticulously prepared – the bitter herbs such as parsley and horseradish, and a kind of sop with charoseth consisting of various fruits compounded into a sort of mucilage and mixed with vinegar and salt water – each arranged in its own vessel. At the outset the master took some of the bitter herbs, dipped them into the charoseth and gave to each one present to be eaten along with the first cup of wine. Thus the feast continued throughout the evening until the fourth cup and the recitation of the Great Hallel – after which, in the case of Jesus and the Disciples, “They went out into the Mount of Olives.” (Matt. 26:30)

Many of the requirements of the original Passover were subsequently ignored, and properly so. The Lord had told them in Egypt, “Thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand, so shall ye eat it in haste, it is Yahweh’s passing over.” (Ex. 12:11, Rotherham) Every minute detail in these instructions is fraught with grave significance to those who would commemorate the memorial of “Christ our passover Who is sacrificed for us.” The girdle in Bible symbols represents the serving features of those who would be servants in God’s Household. “He that is chief among you, let him be your servant,” – just as Jesus Himself illustrated this on His last night by “girding” Himself, taking a towel and washing the Apostle’s feet. “I am among you as one that serveth,” He had told them. Then, the sandals on their feet were a representation of the Gospel-Age fact that “we have here no abiding city”; always should God’s people be alert to “move on” as occasion dictated, ever willing to follow the cloudy-fiery pillar, the Truth as due, and to remember always that “The King’s business requires haste” – no time to linger and “change clothes” when the occasion should arise to journey on. And all this should be done with “your staff in your hand,” the staff typifying God’s precious promises, without leaning on which no one could ever make the journey from antitypical Egypt (the world in sin) to the Heavenly Canaan.

EVER THE TRUE AND THE FALSE

As most of us know, so many features of the true religion have been counterfeited by Satan. This was even true of Jesus’ death and resurrection. In Ezek. 8:14 it is related, “There sat women weeping for Tammuz.” Tammuz was the Sun God of the Babylonians, consort of Ishtar. He was identical with Adonis, the same as Baal of the Canaanites. Tammuz supposedly died each year, descended into the lower world, and was brought back to life by the weeping and lamentation of Ishtar, who was joined in her weeping by the women of Babylon. Thus, as Jesus was being led to the cross and He saw women weeping along His journey, He mildly admonished them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.” (Luke 23:28) It is also related in Ezek. 8:17 that the Jews “put the branch to their nose,” in keeping with the custom of the Persian sun worshipers holding before them a branch of date, pomegranate or tamarisk that their breath might not contaminate the risen deity. All of these sacrilegious practices by the Jews brought forth the scathing denunciation of God by the mouth of His prophets, and are a warning to all God’s people to “have no other gods before me.” (Ex. 20:3)

While it is our hope and prayer that the foregoing will result in blessing our readers, by no means is it our thought that this should replace the excellent exposition of the Passover in Parousia Volume 6. We believe it also appropriate to offer something from E-11, p. 210 (66):

“Moses’ charging Israel to remember Nisan 15 as the day that they went forth from Egypt from the house of servants, types our Lord’s charging the Gospel Church in general, and the Parousia and Epiphany Church in particular, to remember antitypical Nisan 15 as their deliverance time from the house of servants to sin, error, selfishness and worldliness. This implies a remembering of our justification, sanctification, and deliverance, as well as of our Truth instruction (1 Cor. 1:30; Rom. 8:29, 30). As Israel in general remembered the typical deliverance at all times and in particular at the Passover, so are we as antitypical Israel to remember our deliverance at any and every time, but especially in connection with our Memorial service. We do the antitypical remembering, not only in thought, but also by living out the principles implied in our instruction, justification, sanctification and deliverance. As God’s mighty delivering power exercised on Israel’s behalf deserved their remembering their deliverance day, so the power of God exercised in our deliverance from our taskmasters of sin, error, selfishness and worldliness in our coming out of Satan’s empire, is worthy of our remembrance in motive, thought, word and deed. One way in which Israel was to remember the typical deliverance was to abstain from leaven. Accordingly, we are to commemorate our deliverance, among other ways, by abstaining from antitypical leaven – sin, error, selfishness and worldliness.”

There is much else that could be included here, but we believe the foregoing will suffice to bring forcefully to mind once more our obligations to “do this in remembrance of ME”; and it is our hope and prayer that all our readers may be richly blessed in their preparation for and participation in this year’s Memorial as they “consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself.” (Heb. 12:3) This year we shall commemorate the Memorial at 7:30 p.m., Sunday, April 8, 1990; and we invite all who may be of like mind to join with us in this service.

Sincerely your brother, John J. Hoefle, Pilgrim

(Reprint No. 58, March 1960)

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THE WORK OF THE MESSIANIC KINGDOM

“The creature [creation, Diaglott] itself shall be delivered from bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the sons of God.” (Romans 8:21)

Death, not eternal torment, was the penalty which God placed upon Father Adam when he disobeyed. (Gen. 2:17; 3:17-19) Over four thousand years after the fall of man, our Lord Jesus came into the world to lay down His life to be a payment of that penalty; and thereby with His own life He made arrangements for the ultimate purchase of all mankind. He has laid down the price, and eventually will take over the purchase. He has not yet completed His work. Thus far He has merely used the merit of His sacrificial death to make an imputation on behalf of the Church class. As soon as the Church shall have been completed, they will be glorified as the Body of Christ, His associates in the Heavenly nature, glory, honor, and immortality. Then will come the time for Christ Jesus the Head and the Church His Body – to inaugurate the great Messianic Kingdom, which God has long promised, and for which we pray, “Thy Kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth, as it is done in Heaven.”

Attentively considering the transaction by which Jehovah is to turn over the world to become responsible to His Son Jesus Christ, we perceive that it is pictured in the Jewish Day of Atonement. When the high priest had completed his work of making satisfaction for the sins of the Israelites, he forthwith had the Divine authority to begin to bless the people. (Lev. 9:22-24) So when Christ, the great antitypical high Priest, shall have finished the work of offering the “better sacrifices,” and when the last member of the Body of Christ shall have been glorified, then the merit of those “better sacrifices” will be made applicable to the whole world. (Heb. 9:23) As in the one man Adam all mankind were constituted sinners, so in the one man Christ both Adam and all of his children will be justified from the original condemnation, that which came upon the human race because of Adam’s disobedience. (Rom. 5:12-19)

This squaring off of accounts will be accomplished by the transfer of Adam’s account to the account of Christ. The death of Christ will be found to be the full equivalent for the sin of the whole world; and as far as the Divine judgment is upon the world, mankind will be set free. They will be freed from the sentence which came upon Father Adam in Eden. Forthwith Christ will take possession of the whole world. His Millennial Kingdom is for the very purpose of lifting the Adamic race out of sin, degradation and death, and restoring them to human perfection. But He does not purpose, nor is it in the Father’s Plan, that any one be forced to receive the Divine Blessing. “Whosoever will, let him take the Water of Life freely.” (Rev. 22:17)

Under the beneficent rule of the Messianic Kingdom the light of the glory of the goodness of God will be manifest to all mankind. They will be made to know that restitution to all that was lost in Eden is God’s provision for the world. When they shall have come to the knowledge of the Divine goodness, it will be their part to conform their lives to purity and righteousness. They will retain their own individual will, however, and if any one should will to do otherwise than what is right, he will have the opportunity to do so. But he will not be permitted to do that which is injurious to others; for the power of Messiah will be exercised at such a time, and will not permit any one to work injury. Under the full light and opportunity of that blessed time, a sinner who makes no progress toward perfection will be cut off from life at the end of a hundred years of trial. Having had every possible incentive to do right under that glorious Messianic Reign, he will have no excuse for wrongdoing. If he does not yield to the regulations of that righteous Rule, he will thereby demonstrate that he loves iniquity. (Isa. 11:9; 65:20)

God purposes to give life everlasting only to those who manifest a disposition to become loyal and obedient to Him, and who by patient perseverance will develop a character worthy of being raised up to perfection of life. Those who manifest the right disposition will be lifted up out of their fallen condition to the full standard of human perfection as it was originally in Father Adam. This work of human uplift will be the work of Christ and the Church through the various agencies of that time. The world will then be free from the condemnation which came upon Adam because of his disobedience in Eden. God is willing to give them everlasting life upon condition of obedience to His righteous Law. But they will be expected to cooperate in this matter; and in their endeavor to rise out of sin and degradation they will have His assistance, through Christ. Ultimately the willing and obedient will have everlasting life; but the unwilling and disobedient will be cut off from life – in the Second Death.

Manifestly, then, there will be an interim between the time when mankind are legally forgiven and the time when they will either reach perfection or die the Second Death. During this interim they will still be of the Adamic race. So when the hosts of sleeping dead are awakened, they will not come forth from the tomb as children of Christ, but as children of Adam. Under the arrangements of the Messianic Kingdom they will be given the opportunity of renouncing their relationship to Adam and of accepting the Life everlasting that Christ will give to those who demonstrate their loyalty to God and to the principles of righteousness. So far as the world is concerned, this work of the Christ will continue until the end of the thousand years of the Messianic Reign. Then mankind will be perfect, ready to be turned over to the Father, as the Apostle Paul points out. (1 Cor. 15:21-28) During those thousand years the Father will ignore humanity altogether. He will have turned the whole Adamic race over to the Christ, who will have full charge of mankind. While the Messianic Kingdom is in power, neither the Father Himself nor any one else except the Christ will have anything to do with humanity. At the end of the Millennium, Christ will present the perfected race to the Father.

Speaking of the human family, the Apostle Paul says, “The creation was made subject to vanity [frailty], not willingly.” (Rom. 8:20) That is to say, the Adamic race did not become imperfect through any will of their own. Father Adam got out of touch with his Creator. Sin invaded his domain and he was led astray. Condemnation to death came upon him; and because of being in his loins, through the law of heredity, all of his posterity were involved in his condemnation. But “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

Our Lord Jesus is ready to redeem those who have come unwillingly into sin, if they will accept His terms and conditions. The first-fruits of His work form the Church of the Gospel Age. (James 1:18) The expression first-fruits suggests after-fruits. In other words, the Church are not the only ones who are to be saved, but are a first gathering only. It is theirs to share with their Lord in His Kingdom glory, honor and immortality. Then all mankind will have their opportunity – the creation itself which was made subject to frailty, and which is to be delivered from the bondage of corruption. (Rom. 8:19-22; 1 John 2:2) Eventually the whole world will have the opportunity of getting out from the bondage of death. First there is the legal phase of the condemnation upon the earth. This legal condemnation will be set aside at the beginning of the Millennium. Then there is the actual condemnation – death and all its concomitants. Mankind have become so infected with the virus of death that their minds and bodies have both become diseased. “There is none righteous, no, not one.” Everybody is wrong, imperfect, out of the way, religiously, mentally, morally and physically; and the race will still be in this condition of imperfection after the legal phase of the condemnation is set aside.

When at the beginning of the Millennium Christ presents the merit of His sacrificial death on behalf of the world, forthwith the race will be turned over to Him. But, on being raised from the dead, the world would soon come into condemnation again, were it not in the hands of the “Mediator between God and men.” (1 Tim. 2:4-6) If any one had his sins forgiven and then stood forth in his own strength before God, for even one day, by nightfall he would again be under condemnation, unless he could live sinless for that one day. Because of their inability to stand before God, He will pass the world over to the ministry of Messiah, and will ignore mankind altogether until the end of the Millennium. The work of Christ will be to effect the deliverance of humanity from the bondage of corruption, from which they are unable to deliver themselves. Christ will set the groaning creation free from the power of Sin and Death, and will bring the willing and obedient back into full liberty of sons of God. Whoever will may then become a son of God, on the human plane, perfect as Adam was before he fell from Divine favor.

When Adam was a son of God, he was not “sold under sin”; but on the contrary, he was perfect, the image and likeness of His Creator – “very good.” And so it is with the holy angels. They are the sons of God on the spirit plane. Thus does God design that it shall be with His human sons. They shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the full liberty of the sons of God. (Rom. 8:19-21) Father Adam was originally called a son of God. (Luke 3:38) So when humanity shall have been restored to perfection, the Son will deliver up the Kingdom to God, even the Father, when He shall have put down all insubordination. (1 Cor. 15:24-28) Then all those whom God will receive, after being tested, will enter into the glorious freedom of the children of God. They will be perfect, in the image and likeness of their Heavenly Father, as was Adam. (Brother Johnson, The Herald of the Epiphany, January 15, 1921)

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QUESTIONS OF GENERAL INTEREST

QUESTION: In Rev. 10:6 there is this statement: “There should be time no longer.” Is this a proper statement, or proper translation?

ANSWER: No! it is not. As it occurs in the King James version this is certainly a wrong translation – a most ridiculous statement. There will always be time, regardless of what we may think about the continuance of our earth. However, even as respects our earth, it is clearly stated in Eccl. 1:4: “One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth forever.” The Emphatic Diaglott gives the proper translation for the text: “The time shall be no longer delayed.” Verse 7 speaks of the days of the “Seventh Trumpet”; and it refers to the time in which we are living; and part of the message of the Seventh Trumpet is what is stated in verse 6. It has been properly stated in Acts 3:21 that there would be a “restitution of all things,” which has been postponed for such a long time that few people now pay any attention to the words of St. Peter. But verse 6 says we have come to that time in history that the great Plan of the Ages is now to see important parts of it fulfilled. We have now come to that time in earth’s history that the time should be no longer delayed; the grand procession of the Plan is now to be fulfilled.

The book of Revelation is a very complex part of the Bible – so much so that in the early church some members would not accept it as a part of the Bible; it was not capable of explanation. However, we have now come to understand much of it; and there is no question in good scholarly minds that it is a genuine part of Holy Writ, although verse 1, of Chapter 1 says it was given to the Apostle John in sign language – “He sent and ‘sign’-I-fied it by his angel unto his servant John.” When properly read, Rev. 10:6 is a very enlightening statement.

In our discussion of the various prophets we have stressed the overall import of this statement: “The time should be no longer delayed.” While we can recognize the fulfillment of this prophecy in a limited manner now, it will be much more pronounced in the years immediately ahead. Once these present institutions are removed, and the new order is firmly established, it will be in the daily news: “There shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” (Rev. 21:4) Then, as the Apostle John expresses it, “I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven... Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God,” (Rev. 21:2,3) after the close of the “little season.” (Rev. 20:3)

Here we offer just a few of the prophecies of that time: “His [man’s] flesh shall be fresher than a child’s: he shall return to the days of his youth.” (Job 33:25) “I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction.” (Hosea 13:14) Then, according to the promise to Abraham: “In thee, and thy seed, shall all families of the earth be blessed.” (Gen. 22:18)

Next we offer 1 Tim. 2:4-6: “God will have all men to be saved, and come into the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” Especially do we stress “in due time.” No prophecy can be fully understood until it has been fulfilled, or in course of fulfillment. And even with Jesus Himself, He told the disciples with some of the last words He spoke to them: “No one knows concerning that day and hour [when the Kingdom would be established]; no, not the angels of the heavens, nor the son, but the Father only.” (Matt. 24:36, Diaglott) But here we should recognize that the Son “in due time” did know “the day and hour,” although He did not know it when speaking to His disciples. As for ourselves, we do not pretend to know the day or the hour; but we do know from certain prophecies, by the chronology, the parallel dispensations, and the signs of the times that we have come to that day when “The time shall be no longer delayed.”

Jesus has provided us with a very strong picture of the Kingdom in Luke 20:27–36: The Sadducees, one of the leading cults of that time, who did not believe in any resurrection, came to Jesus with a hypothetical question concerning a woman who married one of seven brothers. The man died leaving no children. At that time it was the custom for his brother to marry the woman in an effort to carry on the family name. In due course, she married all of the seven men, leaving no children, so the Sadducees asked Him: “In the resurrection whose wife will she be?” And His answer: “Those that attain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: neither can they die any more [“There shall be no more death.”––Rev. 21:4] (Brother Hoefle, Reprint No. 337, July 1983)

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QUESTION – Sometime ago someone gave me a Herald of the Epiphany, subject Where are the Dead? It is interesting, but what about Enoch and Elijah – and Moses who appeared at the transfiguration of the Lord Jesus? Where was, and is he? Shouldn’t we conclude that those good men are in Heaven?

ANSWER – The transfiguration recorded in Matt. 17:1-13, and the whirlwind experience of Elijah have misled many Christians into believing these two men must be in Heaven; but Jesus Himself was very emphatic that “no man hath ascended unto heaven, but He that came down from heaven, even the Son of man.” (John 3:13) St. Paul adds strength to this statement in Acts 26:23, “Christ should be the first that should rise from the dead”; and further in 1 Cor. 15:20, “Christ should be the firstfruits of them that slept.” As respects Moses and Elijah in the transfiguration scene, Jesus said it was “a vision” (v. 9); and a vision is somewhat after the manner of a dream where one might see a dead relative. However, such a dream would be no proof at all that the relative was alive, or in heaven.

In 2 Chr. 21:12 it is stated that Elijah wrote a letter to King Jehoram of Judea; and that was about eight years after his whirlwind experience that had taken him from Elisha after they had crossed Jordan. Therefore, the only logical conclusion is that Elijah was removed by the fiery chariot to some remote spot, but not taken into heaven.

In 2 Kgs. 2:12-18 “the sons of the prophets” insisted upon a three-day search for Elijah, lest he be in distress upon “some mountain or valley.” These were educated men, in no wise considered stupid; and they certainly did not believe Elijah had gone up to God’s throne, or they would have known better than to go searching for him. They were persuaded they would be able to find him, although their search proved unsuccessful.

As for Enoch, it is simply related that “he was translated that he would not see death” (Heb. 11:5); but there is no hint here that he was “translated” to God’s throne. And we may be certain that he was not taken there, as the Bible never contradicts itself. If Jesus had been wrong in John 3:13, that “no man hath ascended into heaven,” He could just as easily be wrong in other places, which would make him a fallible teacher, and not worthy of our implicit confidence. St. Paul further says of all three of these men that “they received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for Us [the Christ Company], that they without us should not be made perfect [raised from the dead, perfected in the resurrection].” ––Heb. 11:39, 40 (JJH – No. 168, June 1, 1969)

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QUESTION – In view of the general Scriptural teaching that no man can see God and live (Ex. 33:20), how do we understand Ex. 24:10,11?

ANSWER – In Ex. 33:20 we are told that no one can see the literal face of God and live. The glory-light shining out therefrom is so bright that it would destroy a human being, if he would see it. What was in Ex. 24:10, 11 vouchsafed Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu and the seventy Elders was not a sight of Jehovah’s body, rather they were given a vision, a representation, of His body. Not only is this suggested in verse 10 by the symbolic pavement under His feet, but also by the word in verse 11 which is translated “they saw,” i.e., God. This word is the Hebrew word “chazah” from which the Hebrew words for seer and vision are derived, e.g., “chozeh,” seer, 2 Sam. 24:11; “chazon,” vision, Hab. 2:2,3; “chazoth,” visions, 2 Chron. 9:29; “chazooth,” vision, Isa. 21:2; “chizayon,” vision, Joel 2:28. The Hebrew, therefore, suggests that they saw a vision, a representation of God, but not God Himself. (The Epiphany Messenger – The Present Truth, March 1, 1921)

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LETTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST

Dear Sister Hoefle:

I pray all is well with you at the moment. I received your letter yesterday and so decided to sit down and write you – tell you a bit about myself.

I am 27 years of age. I was born in New York City where I spent my early childhood. My high school years in Puerto Rico – whose people need our prayers at the moment. I spent some time in the United States Marine Corps. When I was discharged I returned to New York, where I lived with various friends and family. I now live alone.

I was born and raised a Catholic, but never lived the life of a Catholic. Although I did go through the ‘routines.’ going to church every Sunday, serving as an alter boy. I was even a leading member of the CYO (Catholic Youth Organization).

I never believed in ‘hellfire’ or ‘purgatory’ or even the ‘trinity’ doctrine for that matter. I certainly don’t believe that the ‘short bald, fat guy in the dress’ at the Vatican is St. Peter.

In 1981 I officially disassociated myself from the Catholic church, which caused a lot of commotion in my family. My mother did not speak to me for almost a year. But she soon snapped out of it. She figured she’d rather have a heathen son than none at all.

As far as my religious background is concerned, I’ve associated with many different organizations. I am an avid book reader and have a large selection of books and religious paraphernalia. That’s how I came across the name of CHARLES TAZE RUSSELL.

It wasn’t until I read the book by Mr. Horowitz that I realized the impact Pastor Russell had on people the world over – and that he still has faithful Bible students throughout the earth.

Next to our Lord and Master, Christ Jesus, I’ve never seen such a division among people because of one man.

But as you stated in your letter, all these individual Bible Student groups believe they adhere close to Pastor Russell’s teaching. And whom am I to argue with them?

I don’t belong to any Bible Student group, church or temple. My goal is to learn the Truth as Pastor Russell revealed it. I enjoy your articles and enjoy the warmth as revealed in your letters.

Many thanks and prayers go to you as you carry on the work.

Your brother in Christ, ------- (NEW YORK)

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Dear Brethren:

Please send me a list of all your publications – books, tracts, booklets, cassettes, videos, etc. If you have a tract describing your organization and its history. I would enjoy reading it very much. I would like to receive your newsletter. Thank you in advance.

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

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Dear Sister Emily:

Enclosed is a small check for all the papers you have sent me, etc. It isn’t much and I know you have never asked for anything. But I think I should give something if it is a nominal amount.

Also, your sent me a list of issues that are no longer available. Would it be possible to get good copies of those? I would like to get a completed set.

Of course, you know Brother Wayne passed away. ... It is sad to see so many of the older brethren leave us. Also, in case you haven’t heard, Brother Gould Jolly just died the other day.

Well, that’s it for now. Continue in the Lord’s providence.

Your brother, ------- (MICHIGAN)

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