NO. 422: ARMAGEDDON

No. 422

In these days we hear much about Armageddon being imminent, although many of the Lord’s people knew about Armageddon long before now – already in 1897 Pastor Russell had pub­lished the fourth book of the Studies in the Scriptures, “The Battle of Armageddon.” This book is so descriptive of our day, it is as though it were written by some one observ­ing the turmoil that is now upon us. Of course, the Jehovah’s Witnesses have been pre­dicting Armageddon for many years, and have prophesied dates for it to occur. However, as Armageddon didn’t occur at the times predicted, the Witnesses were so disappointed they have not set another date since 1975, when Armageddon did not begin as they had ex­pected.

Pastor Russell predicted that the great Time of Trouble would begin in 1914 with the World War. He predicted the World War 25 years before 1914 – in 1889 – and many people laughed at this “preacher of doom.” But he had arrived at the date 1914 from Bible chronology, Bible prophecies and the parallel dispensations. However, when the world seemed so calm in 1913, a World War seemed unthinkable, so he and several other capable scholars went over the chronology very carefully to see if there might be some mistake. They couldn’t find a thing wrong, so Pastor Russell let his prediction stand, and continued to proclaim 1914 as the date for the World War, as well as the end of the Gentile Times.

But when the World War broke out in 1914, many unbelievers became believers. How­ever, after 1918, when conditions became more stable, quite a few believers became un­believers. Many will say that we still have the Gentile governments, social systems, etc. Which we do! But their lease expired in 1914; and the present turmoil in every nation today is due to the fact that these govern­ments are being evicted.

Pastor Russell taught a very different Armageddon than do the Witnesses today. They teach that Armageddon will be the end of the Gentile Rule – and after that Christ’s benevolent Kingdom will be established, with their Great Crowd as earthly rulers of that Kingdom. Pastor Russell taught that there would be other Gentile governments estab­lished after Armageddon – a socialistic or Communistic regime – but the Gentile govern­ments will not be fully destroyed until Anarchy, which will set in shortly after Arma­geddon. The Witnesses not only teach error on the Time of Trouble, but also error on Christ’s Kingdom and its benevolent purposes for all mankind.

It does not surprise us that the world is waking up to realize that something is now happening that cannot be stopped by human hands, even though this Time of Trouble was taught and predicted in practically every country in the world long before 1914. But it was not the time for the world to wake up, as this message was to enlighten and encour­age the Lord’s faithful people. The prediction then was that the world would not re­ceive it until it reached a crisis – extreme disorder, crime and social unrest in every country in the world as it is today. So many people are waking up, including quite a few clergy today who are preaching an imminent Armageddon – talking as though they were the first to see it from their study and search of the Bible. Surely most people know that the Witnesses have made Armageddon prominent in their world-wide ministry! But the cler­gy don’t mention that, or them.  And they (the clergy) are “profiting” by their proph­ecies! When Pastor Russell taught these things they were for those who had “an ear to hear.” He spent not only his time, energy and health, but all of his large fortune to “bear witness to the Truth,” in which there were other capable people who joined him. These clergymen today are educated men, but they seemingly haven’t had time to read a book published long before 1914 – the Battle of Armageddon – which is still distributed and sold to all interested people. In fact, there are groups of Christians today who are studying this book in class studies. But these educated clergy are too busy with their own ideas to bother with the Truth as given in this informative book written by Pastor Rus­sell, just as the Scribes and Pharisees were too busy with the “traditions of men” to be bothered to learn of that “Carpenter,” when Jesus was here teaching the Truth to all who had an “ear to hear.”

So 37 years after His crucifixion (in 70 A.D.), their city was taken by the Romans and their beautiful temple demolished. And so it will be today with those who are ignor­ing the Truth: they, too, will have the same experience of those Jews who did not have an “ear to hear.”! They, too, will have their “temples” destroyed. The Witnesses will also witness the destruction of their errors – especially when Christ’s Kingdom is estab­lished. They are more responsible for their errors, as they have received more light than have these clergy. The Witnesses still claim Pastor Russell as their founder, while dis­carding many of the fundamental Truths he left them. His message to the world was indeed “Good Tidings of Great Joy,” while theirs is bad tidings of great misery to all who do not join with them before Armageddon. Pastor Russell is not the founder of their errors, but he is the founder of their organization, which they unlawfully seized after his demise in 1916.

THE HISTORICAL RECORDS

The word Armageddon occurs only once in the Bible – Rev. 16:16: “He gathered them together into that place which is called in Hebrew Armageddon.” Here is the descrip­tion given of it by one writer: “(Mountain of Destruction) a place in Samaria, east of Caesarea; the Mountain of Mageddon, or Megiddo, a city at the foot of Mount Carmel, and noted for scenes of carnage. The Canaanites and Philistines, Jews and Egyptians, Chal­deans and Persians, Greeks and Romans, Moslems and Christians, of almost every age and nation, have encamped around Megiddo, because of its commanding position, its abundant supply of water and rich pastures, ... In the Apocalypse this place is referred to prob­ably as a symbolical name for great slaughter.”

Another writer, who spells the name as Har-Magedon, says this: “A prophetic battle­field, where the kings of the whole world gather together unto the war of the great day of God. The name is framed with evident reference to the sanguinary contests which took place near the town of Megiddo; the first, that in which Sisera and the Canaanites were defeated at the waters of Megiddo (Judg. 5:19); the 2nd, that which resulted in the death of Ahaziah, King of Judah, at Megiddo (2 Kgs. 9:27); and the third, that in which King Josiah, was killed when in conflict with the army of Pharaoh Nechoh (2 Kgs. 23:29; Zech. 12:11).  The historical associations with Megiddo in the past were seized upon by the prophet to supply a name appropriate in a description of the future sorrows and tri­umphs of God’s people.”

And this further comment from another source: “The fact that the tell of Megiddo was about 70 feet high in John’s day, and was in the vicinity of Carmel Range, justified the use of Hebrew ‘har,’ used loosely in the Old Testament for ‘hill’ and ‘hill country.’ The ‘waters of Megiddo’ (Judg. 5:19) and the ‘valley-plain of Megiddo’ (2 Chron. 35:22) have witnessed important battles, from one fought by Tuthmosis III in 1468 B.C. to that of Lord Allenby of Megiddo in 1917. The ‘mountains of Israel’ witness Gog’s defeat in Ezek. 39:1-4.  This may be in the writer’s mind.”

THE BOOM IN DOOM

A few months back there came to us an article captioned as above; and we believe our readers will appreciate reading quite a lot of it, interspersed with some remarks of our own, for which reason we shall avoid much of the quotation marks:

“Fear No Evil,” a new horror film about Lucifer battling three archangels over the second coming of the Creator, was only two weeks into its shooting schedule when trag­edy struck: A mobile home used as a makeup and wardrobe studio exploded in the middle of the night and burned to the ground. The next morning, hair stylist Frank Montesanto searched the rubble for salvage. All he could find was a Bible. “It was slightly charred, but mostly intact,” he said. “The plastic cover had been melted, and fused to the Bible was a charred copy of the ‘Fear No Evil’ script. I couldn’t believe it.”

Montesanto thinks the episode might have been some sort of omen. For those who seek them, portents of catastrophe are not hard to find these days. Fascination with fini­tude is spreading.  Fundamentalist Bible believers who take prophecies of the end of days quite literally number in the tens of millions, according to polls. And there are signs that the public at large is detecting omens.  “Impending disaster has become an everyday concern,” says historian Christopher Lasch, who believes that humanity has lost faith in the future and awaits some kind of ending.

Armageddon is a growth industry as well as a box office draw. In addition to ‘Fear No Evil’ the latest in a spate of devil and disaster mania films is ‘The Final Conflict,’ the last chapter in the ‘Omen’ trilogy. The chilling saga of Damien Thorn, son of Satan, as an adult is said by production consultant Robert Munger to be “part of a mission to warn the world of what is coming.” A burgeoning array of books on apocalyptic themes are selling briskly in supermarkets, drugstores and airports as well as in Bible book­stores.

Hal Lindsay, chief apostle of biblical future fright, has sold 18 million copies of his “The Late Great Planet Earth,” the New York Times No. 1 best-selling non-fictional book of the 1970s.  Lindsey’s update “the 1980s – Countdown to Armageddon,” is expected to land quickly on topseller lists. And now, to keep pace with prophetic events, Lind­sey is offering a monthly cassette service, “Prophecy Hotline.”

Jim McKeever, an Oregon investment counselor, Bible teacher and futurologist, is urg­ing the discerning to join – at once – the 250,000 subscribers who already read his End­Times News Digest.  And, for those who can’t wait for the mail, Salem Kirban of Pennsyl­vania offers a weekly recorded prophecy message over a toll-free line (for a donation of $10 or more).

Television preachers Jerry Falwell, Billy Graham, Pat Robertson (of “the 700 Club”) and others are keying on Armageddon apprehension. They preach that Jesus will return very soon and they warn believers to get ready for grim worldwide and personal adversity.

The staples of the modern-day fundamentalist interpreters of the Bible prophets are the rise of the Antichrist and Jesus’ imminent return to and judgment of America.

Based on a patchwork of passages from the Old and New Testament, the most popular scenario for the Second Coming unfolds along these lines:

After the Israelites return to the ancient land and set up a government, Israel’s neighbors and other nations turn against her. Their hostile armies move on Jerusalem, the capital city, and conquer half of it, looting houses and raping women. At that point God intervenes, and the attackers, alarmed by supernatural signs, fall back to Megiddo, or Armageddon (a site southeast of modern Haifa).  There, a climactic and incredibly gory war involving the entire world takes place. (Same of these “prophets” have heard the real Truth on these things, but they have heard a bell ringing, but can’t locate the bell.

At some point – prophecy scholars disagree about exactly when – Jesus visibly par­ticipates (his visibility will become more and more apparent as He ejects the present powers in a more pronounced manner—JJH), leading an army out of heaven, and touching down on the Mount of Olives just outside of Jerusalem. He destroys the remaining armies and establishes a reign of a thousand years of utopia and peace – the Millennium. (With all the ignorance of that blessed Millennium, it will far surpass the prediction of the imagination of the worldly-minded. They, too, will appreciate God’s Great Plan of Salva­tion if they are in harmony with righteousness and justice, when they see the wonderful works of Christ’s Kingdom for all mankind.

The Second-Coming scenario includes the rise of a “one-world” dictator who, as the Antichrist, heads a 10-nation confederacy in the Middle East and leads the world to nu­clear holocaust. (It will indeed be a “one-world” dictator – The Christ – who will head all nations.

Most of those who hold this view believe that Jesus will snatch up believing Chris­tians to heaven just before the terrible tribulation breaks out. Or, at least, he will give true believers supernatural strength to endure until he returns. Why apocalypse now? Told that all previous predictions of the Second Coming – and there have been many through the centuries – have been wrong, fundamentalists counting down to Armageddon reply that never before have all the elements described in Bible prophecies occurred to­gether. “All is falling into a predicted-plan,” says Lindsey, 51, who is in great de­mand on talk shows and the prophecy lecture circuit. “Today’s dramatic international events conform exactly to the Bible’s signs of the last days.”

Lindsey, a mustachioed, muscular man whose expression sometime conveys a hint of impishness, quotes Matthew 24:34, in which Jesus says: “Truly, I say to you, this gen­eration will not pass away until all these things take place.” What things? In his books and in personal interviews, Lindsey lists the following:

“Israel has been miraculously reborn as a nation,” the United States is fading as a superpower and the Red Chinese “continue to build their awesome army.” All of the world’s powers appear ready to involve themselves in a Middle East war because of their need for oil. Meanwhile, Arabs and the world’s Moslems threaten a war that would de­stroy the state of Israel. The European Common Market community of 10 nations grows stronger and begins to doubt the effectiveness of the United States as an ally. Nuclear holocaust “seems more possible every day”: Famine spreads as population explodes; pol­lution threatens survival; and earthquakes, volcanic activity and droughts increase. Told that leading scientists disagree with some of his observations about natural dis­asters, Lindsey shrugs and says: “I don’t major in that aspect of prophecy..... Hal Lindsey may be wrong, but the Bible can never be wrong.”

Lindsey, who promotes biblical prophecy theories that he learned when he was a stu­dent at Dallas Theological Seminary about 20 years ago, denies that he possesses super­natural insight or that he is a prophet. (Pastor Russell denied that he possessed “super­natural” insight, too, before 1897 and was only proclaiming prophesies taught in the Bible; and these prophecies concerning a World War in 1914, etc., were fulfilled accordingly ­and much more accurate of the events transpiring today than those of present-day “prophets”.

Though he (Lindsey) may be a non-prophet, his products are not non-profit. The hard­cover edition of Lindsey’s “Countdown to Armageddon,” has sold 360,000 copies in nine months. With 50 cents’ royalty per copy, it has brought Lindsey $180,000. And with 8 percent royalties on the first printing of the new Bantam paperback “Countdown,” Lind­sey will be counting up at least as much.  His prophecy cassette tape service grosses another $150,000 a month.

McKeever, the economist, advertises his books and newsletters widely in Christian pub­lications. His End-Times News Digest, grossing $3 million annually in subscription fees, capitalizes on disaster mania: “I see a time of famine, earth upheaval, persecution, wars and economic calamity coming,” McKeever predicts. “God has laid it on my heart to warn the Body of Christ about this coming period of intense turmoil that will precede his re­turn, and to encourage Christians to get ready.”

Salem Kirban, head of Second Coming Inc. in Huntington Valley, Pa., advertises, “the first toll-free prophecy hotline in the United States” and sells by mail the 35 books he has written. Titles include “Guide to Survival,” “666,” “The Rise of the Antichrist” and “Satan’s Angels exposed!” The latter, one of “two extra bonuses” sent to persons who contribute $25 or more, is anti-Catholic in tone and reveals “how secret organizations, whose threads of horror reach back centuries ago, are carefully weaving their power plot to control the world for Satan.”

Here we would emphasize: “Prophets and Profits usually go together!”.

Then the paper goes on: If Armageddon is inevitable, why fight it? As Radio Bible preacher Vernon McGee has said, “You don’t polish brass on a sinking ship, a capsule rationale for not wasting time and effort on political activism or improving the social order. Most historians believe that pre-millennialism, the doctrine that Jesus’ return is imminent, has inhibited social action by fundamentalists. But surprisingly, perhaps, many religious leaders who stress a Second Coming, soon manage to harmonize their social action and apocalyptic views.

Jerry Falwell, who heads the new right political and religious coalition called Moral Majority, preaches about Jesus’ imminent return. His apocalyptic message appar­ently heightens his urgency to transform American culture. He warns godly people to keep their thumb in the moral dike or “we may have only a few years left.”

Our comment on the foregoing: With many of these preachers, their preaching is so saturated with error that it is a wonder indeed that they can attract any substantial following at all. They often quote the Bible for their authority, but every false relig­ion in existence does that. They all have some Truth in them; otherwise, no one would believe them. However, we believe the words of St. Paul are most appropriate here: “When for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God.” (Heb. 5:12)

Some months back one of these uplifters (?) told his television audience that if one million of them would each send him just $12 per month (only 12 million a month, or 144 million a year), he would not only explain the intricacies of prophecy to them, would make Christians of enough of the social ax-wielders that Armageddon could be avoided here in the United States. Surely the words of St. Peter loom largely here: “They shall make merchandise of you.” (2 Pet. 2:3) And it is certainly in order here to note that Jesus or the Apostles never at any time took up a collection to help them make more Christians! “Judge” Rutherford, one-time president of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, told his trusting ‘ded­icated’ supporters that, if he could obtain a million dollars, he would break the Devil’s back in one year’s time. His deluded devotees went to work with unstinted vim and vigor and secured the million for him. But, even though he got the million, the Devil is more ac­tive and more mischievous than ever to any unbiased mind.

Then the article continues: Lindsey, credited with being the most influential person in the current prophecy movement, is fully convinced that Armageddon cannot be stopped – ­only temporarily delayed at best. On the one hand, Lindsey says the Antichrist is al­ready alive, thus making the final conflict less than a lifetime away. On the other hand, he advocates a massive U.S. armament buildup to stop the Soviet Union from taking over the world. This hawkishness, coupled with his call for America to return to moral right­eousness, is an effort to insure that the nation is spared “until the Lord comes to evac­uate His people.” (Note now the words of St. Paul: “Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.”—2 Tim. 3:13) In other words, Lind­sey hopes this generation of American Christians will be spared from seeing the destruc­tion of their country. They would be gone – raptured – before the holocaust.

McKeever has a different slant on the end times, combining prophecy and pragmatism. He teaches that Christians will live under the reign of the Antichrist and must endure famine, persecution and nuclear war before Jesus returns to end the great tribulation. In his survival handbook, “Christians will go through The Tribulation,” McKeever tells Christians how to build bomb shelters, live without utility and food distribution systems and get along without police, fire and other services.

Sitting snugly in their solar-powered, radiation-proof underground homes, Christians must nonetheless face a knotty ethical problem, McKeever warns: What if, during a fam­ine, a Christian householder’s ample food supply is threatened by takeover from others? McKeever’s answer: “You must do whatever God tells you to do at the moment .... I be­lieve that God might lead one Christian family to protect their food with all their might, even to the point of killing those who would attempt to steal it. I also believe that God would lead other Christians to give most or all of it away. (Remember, our confidence is not in the food we have stored, but in God!)

Some religious observers say that today’s purveyors of doom, lacking a clear scrip­tural blueprint, seem to base their projections more on secular news, military pessimism and right-wing political tracts.

If this is so, Lindsey’s opening sentence in the final chapter of “Countdown to Armageddon” may be telling: “Even if I didn’t know anything about prophecy, I would know enough from studying what is going on in our world to see that we are headed toward catastrophe. In any case, millenarian fever is likely to spread as the end of true mil­lennium the year 2000 – approaches.” (Jesus’ words are appropriate here: ‘‘Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven (the present ecclesiastical systems) shall be shaken.”—Luke 21:26.

THE TRUTH ON THE SUBJECT

All of the foregoing “prophets” freely admit that they are somewhat in a fog about this Armaged­don matter; but the Bible gives us a very vivid preview of the whole sit­uation in 1 Kgs. 19:11,12, where the great War, Armageddon, and Anarchy are portrayed in symbolic language as “a great and strong wind” (war), after the wind an earthquake (Armageddon – certainly a world revolution will cause the earth – present society – to quake); “and after the earthquake fire” (Anarchy – Fire in the Bible is usually used to describe destructive force of some kind; and when the Bible tells us that the final spasms of this trouble will bring “every man’s hand against his neighbor”—Zech. 14:13 – that will be the final great destructive force).

In connection with the above, we quote St. Paul in 1 Thes. 5:2,4: “Yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night .. But ye, breth­ren are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.” From other Scriptures we know definitely that we are “in the time of the end” (Dan. 12:4); there can be no guesswork about it! For more than 25 years before 1914 the “watchers” were well informed about the approaching holocaust, and made public declaration of it, but they received the scorn and ridicule of most of the wiseacres. The idea was pure non­sense, they said.  Follows now a quote from Reprints 5659 (written April 1915):

“The Battle of Armageddon, to which this war is leading, will be a contest between right and wrong, and will signify the complete and everlasting overthrow of the wrong, and the permanent establishment of Messiah’s righteous kingdom for the blessing of the world. All these things are probably easier to be seen from this side of the ocean than by the dear friends who are nearer to, and more directly influenced by the war and their national and personal interest ... Our hope is broad enough and deep enough to include all in the great blessings which our Master and His Millennial Kingdom are about to bring to the world.”

Further now from Reprints 5735 (written July 1915): “The Lord’s faithful, watching people, guided by the Word of Truth, will have an understanding of temporal affairs. As St. Paul has assured us, though this day shall come as a snare upon the whole world, it shall not so come upon God’s children who are living up to their privileges. ‘When these things begin to come to pass, then look up and lift up your heads; for your deliv­erance draweth nigh;’ ‘When ye see these things ... know that the Kingdom of God is nigh at hand.’ (Luke 21:28,31) The Master does not say, When ye see all these things, but When ye see the beginning of them (In World War One the Lord’s faithful people saw the beginning of these things, and lifted up their heads and rejoiced, gladly proclaiming the “good news” of the Kingdom to others. – not rejoicing in the trouble, nor in the sufferings of others, but in the fact that these things are the foretold signs that the present order is about to be succeeded by a new order, which will be far better, and more advantageous and desirable for all.

“Now we who are living in this day see the beginning of these foretold events. We see the prelude to the great Battle of Armageddon. Our thought is that Armageddon it­self will be the mighty ‘Earthquake’ spoken of in Rev. 16:16-18 (and enacted in panto­mime in 1 Kgs. 19:11,12). In this great revolution and in the succeeding anarchy all earthly institutions will be swept away. The result of the anger, hatred and strife – if permitted to continue indefinitely – would be so terrible that it would bring about the total destruction of the race; but for the elect’s sake (“on account of the chosen” —Matt. 24:22, Dia.), they may begin their glorious reign, God will cut short the carnage, and will set up His own Kingdom under Christ and His elect Church. Christ and His bride will take over the kingdoms of this world, and thus will hinder the strife of men from going to the extreme that it would otherwise go. But it will not be stopped until the present order shall have been wholly dissolved.

“With the uproar so prevalent everywhere, our readers are admonished to be peace-­makers and not strife breeders. When all around men’s souls give way, a special oppor­tunity comes to the people of God for pointing their distressed fellow-creatures to the great blessing which God has provided for the near future, and for re-establishing faith in the Creator and in the future life, and for pointing out that it is to be attained only by those who learn the true lesson of life and who come to love righteousness and hate iniquity. We would be inclined to expect this great trouble to break out very soon were it not that the Scriptures apparently indicate that it will be preceded by a very powerful Church Federation, which will flourish outwardly in unrighteousness and will be the first to succumb.”

“You know the Bible gives us the symbols of the loosing of the ‘winds,’ which is the Great War. Then comes the ‘earthquake,’ which is the great Revolution (Armageddon) to follow. Then comes the ‘fire,’ the Anarchy-Armageddon experiences. I think the Church, the Bride Class, will be gone before that Armageddon experience, but we cannot be sure. We will leave the subject here.” (Question Book, p. 617, middle)

Our comments: In all this Armageddon hullabaloo the Jehovah’s Witnesses take first rank, and have accumulated considerable resources in the things of this world and in the very large following they have amassed; and it is quite some spectacle now to see the leaders in Babylon joining the procession, and making it pay well, as evidence the many citations listed in the earlier pages of this article.  So here we would quote also the Apostle James (5:3, Dia.): “Your gold and silver have become rusted; and the rust of them will be for a testimony against you, and will consume your bodies like fire. You have laid up treasures for the last days.”

Now from reprints 5456: “Emphasizing the suddenness with which the calamity will overtake the world, Jesus said on the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained down fire and brimstone from heaven; and He declared that thus it will be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed. (World War One – the reference here is to Christendom, “the great city, which is called spiritually Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified”—Rev. 11:8) The Greek text shows the difference between the Parousia, or presence, of Christ before the Time of Trouble (before the World War One) and the later Epiphania, or revealing.” (The “revealing” began with the outbreak of the Great War, and is becoming increasingly manifest ever since; and will become much more pro­nounced in the very near future.

Further now from Reprints 5523: “The judgments of the Lord will begin to be mani­fest in the world (which began in 1914 with the world War), and will run counter to many of their interests. This manifestation of the presence is Scripturally called the Epiphania, the shining forth, the revealment, of the King of Glory. (To the world in the Time of Trouble – the Epiphany) ‘He shall be revealed in flaming fire, taking ven­geance on them that know not God, and obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.’ (2 Thes. 1:7-10)

“These Bible students call our attention to the fact that the Bible distinctly dif­ferentiates between the Parousia of Christ and His Epiphania, at His second coming. The word Parousia signifies presence, without in any sense of the word indicating that the presence is visible. The word Epiphania signifies the revealing of one who is al­ready present, invisible to men, during a period of forty years (1874 to 1914—JJH), do­ing a work especially in His church – rewarding the faithful, as shown in the parables of the Pounds and the Talents, and receiving the ‘wise virgins,’ as in the parable of Matt. 25:1-13 ... In other words, the revelation of Christ to the world will be subse­quent to His revelation of Himself to the ‘wise virgin’ class. The world will know that He has taken His great power and begun His reign of righteousness, not by seeing Jesus in the flesh, but by seeing the great Time of Trouble which then will break upon the world – ‘a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation.’—Dan. 12:1; Matt. 24:21.” (May 1915) (The great World War of 1914 was something the world had never wit­nessed before – the greatest calamity up to that time.

As to those who are making merchandise of their “prophecies,” our Lord said to those of His Day as He drove them out of the temple: “Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise.” (John 2:16) “The Lord shall have them in deri­sion.” (Psa. 2:4) “Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion ... Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance.” (Psa. 2:6,8) Also, “Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”

At His first Advent Jesus “went about preaching the gospel of the kingdom.” (Mark 1:14) The “gospel” means “good news,” and we emphasize the good news that is to fol­low “this evil day.” (Eph. 6:13) Isaiah Chapter 35 gives us a beautiful picture of the Kingdom. “And an highway (an easy way of traveling) shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men (the world of mankind), though fools (atheists – see Psa. 14:1), shall not err therein.” (Isa. 35:8) The reason no one will err therein is because, “When thy judgments (instructions) are in the earth, the inhabitants will learn righteous­ness.” (Isa. 26:9) And further: “They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” (Isa. 11:9)

All will surely agree that the “knowledge of the Lord” is not abroad in the earth today. We are indeed living in that “evil day” when erroneous teaching is more ac­ceptable to the masses than the Truth – even though the “gospel” is indeed good news and the error not palatable. But all that will be changed in the Kingdom: No error will be taught there. All who wish to learn righteousness can do so, and they will be given the ability to do righteously if that is their hearts’ desire. So we who have believed continue to preach the “good tidings” to all who have an “ear to hear,” because we know God is faithful that promised. (Heb. 10:23)

Much more could be written on this subject; but we believe we have made sufficient­ly clear the real meaning and import of Armageddon – what it will accomplish, and also what it will not accomplish. The Jehovah’s Witnesses are presently teaching a very different explanation of this subject from what the founder of their organization taught, as is readily apparent from the many quotations we have presented from what he taught about it. We continue to believe and teach the Truth as he gave it to us, as “the truth of the Lord endureth for ever.” (Psa. 117:2) The Lord has promised to give the faithful a “mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.” (Luke 21:15) And verily we have found it so!

It is not our wish to overly dramatize present conditions; but being forewarned is being forearmed; and it is our fond hope that our readers will accept this article from that standpoint. “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me.” (Jer. 9:23,24)

(Brother Hoefle, Reprint 317, November 1981

The above Armageddon article was written in 1981, but it is more timely in 1991 be­cause of the Middle East war. Many books have been written predicting Armageddon in the Middle East followed by Christ’s Kingdom. Many of these Prophets have not preached the Kingdom as did Jesus when He was on the earth (Matt. 4:23; Luke 8:1). Much money has been made on these prophecies. Prophets and Profits! Religion is big business! Jesus did not approve of moneychangers (Matt. 21:12,13).

We did not believe this Time of Trouble (Dan. 12:1; Matt. 24:21) would end with the Middle East conflict because it is not taught in Scriptural prophecy. We are not proph­ets but students of prophecy. “We have a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed.” (2 Peter 1:19) “But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief ... We are not of the night, nor of darkness.” (I Thes. 5:4,5)

The Scriptures give us four violent phases of this Time of Trouble: (1) Wars and rumors of wars, “but the end is not yet.” – (Matt. 24:6) (2) Armageddon, worldwide revo­lution – 1 Kings 19:11; Heb. 12:26; Rev. 16:18; Nahum 1:3. (3) Anarchy, fire, destruc­tion – I Kings 19:12; Zech. 8:10. (4) Jacob’s last trouble – Ezekiel, chapters 38, 39; Zech. 14:1-3. We are told to Watch! (I Thes. 5:6) We watch for the fulfillment’s of these prophecies. These prophecies are portrayed in the Bible as earthquakes, whirl­winds, fire, storms, etc.

 

NO. 421: WAITING FOR MESSIAH

No. 421

(Malachi 3:1; 4:3)

“Behold he shall come, saith the Lord, even the Messenger of the Covenant, whom ye delight in. But who may abide the day of his coming? for he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap.” – Malachi 3:1,2.

Malachi’s prophecy, the most striking features of which constitute the lesson, con­cludes the Old Testament canon. It contains not only a Divine rebuke for sin, but also a Divine promise of rescue. It fits well to the time generally assigned to it – Nehemi­ah’s period. It remained for Israel to show thorough repentance and to institute thor­ough reforms. The needed reformation fits equally well to our day. In their professed devotions they were robbing God and impoverishing themselves. It rested upon them to note what great blessings would be theirs if they rendered a whole-heart service to the King of kings.

The Jews, comparing themselves with other nations, perceived that as a result of being God’s people they had been held to a more strict account than other nations, so that although their nationality was superior, it was through repeated and severe chas­tisements. They were even questioning the profitableness of being “God’s chosen peo­ple.” The arrogant, proud nations around them flourished in temporalities more than they. They could not stand this; they forgot that they were a people for a purpose and that to fit them for Divine service in the future trying experiences were permitted, and were really evidences of Divine favor. “What son is he whom the father chasteneth not? If ye be without chastisement, then are ye not sons.” (Heb. 12:7,8)

This lesson of a future reward is brought forward by the words, “They that feared the Lord spake often one to another, and the Lord harkened and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord and thought upon his Name. They shall be mine, saith the Lord of Hosts, in that day when I make up my jew­els.” (Mal. 3:16,17)

ISRAEL – TYPICAL AND ANTITYPICAL

The foregoing has revealed very much of all prophecies respecting Israel’s favors to be fulfilled – a portion in Spiritual Israel’s experiences and another portion in Natural Israel’s. The faithful of the Jewish Age, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets, will surely have a great reward. When Messiah’s Kingdom shall be inaugurated on the spirit plane, invisible to men, those Ancient Worthies, who were once called the fathers, will have a very high rank of service in connection with the Kingdom, in that they will be its earthly representatives and exponents. “Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children [of Messiah], whom thou [Messiah] mayest make princes [rulers] in all the earth.” (Psa. 45:16)

Spiritual Israel, as history shows us, is the great Messiah for whom the Jews have so long waited. This Messiah has many members – Jesus is its Head, the Church are His members. This Messiah, Jesus and His members or Bride, constitute the spiritual seed of Abraham – “as the stars of heaven.” (Gen. 22:17) These must first be completed, and will be glorified in Kingdom power before the Ancient Worthies can receive their bless­ing on the earthly plane, and before natural Israel can be gathered to them as the nu­cleus of the Kingdom of God on earth, to which ultimately all nations, peoples, kindred and tongues shall flow for a share in Israel’s New Covenant blessings. Of these St. Paul says, “If ye be Christ’s then are ye Abraham’s seed [typified by Isaac], and heirs according to the promise.” (Gal. 3:29) These are to be God’s jewels on the spirit plane, as the faithful Jews of the past are to be the jewels on the earthly plane, marked or enrolled for distinguished honor in connection with Messiah’s Kingdom.

“MESSENGER OF THE COVENANT”

The Israelites, discouraged with their failure to keep the Law and to get the blessings promised therefrom, were encouraged by the Lord with the promise that some day a great Messiah would appear – greater than Moses, with whom God would make a New Cove­nant on their behalf. The New Covenant would be superior to the old one in that it would have a better Mediator, for Israel already had God’s perfect law. The New Media­tor would not relax the law, either. The advantage to accrue through Him would be that somehow His covenant and sin–offering would be more efficacious than that which Moses instituted, because it would put away sin forever and give willing Israelites a new heart, a heart of flesh, after which they would be given everlasting life on condition of their maintaining their relationship with the Almighty.

Jeremiah particularized this, saying: “It shall come to pass after those days, saith the Lord, that I will make a New Covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not according to the covenant which I made with their fathers when I led them out of Egypt... but their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.” (Jer. 31:31)

Israel’s hope thenceforth was in the Messiah, whose coming would bring to them the New Covenant blessings. They have waited for Him since. Who can help admiring the per­sistency of the Jewish faith – their loyalty to God! Who can help noticing how sharply it is in contrast with their previous unbelief and idolatry! Who can doubt that God still loves His people whom He foreknew and whom He has promised shall be regathered ­back to their own land and back to His favor under the New Covenant! (Rom. 11:25)

But the Prophet Malachi clearly intimates that there might be disappointment in connection with the much longed for Messenger or Mediator of the New Covenant, in whom the Jews so delighted and hoped. The declaration is that His day will be a strenuous one: “Who shall stand when he appeareth?” “Who will abide the day of his coming?” (Mal. 3:2) The intimation is that not many will abide, not many will stand – the major­ity will fall.

The reason is given. He will require such purity, such holiness, that few will come up to His requirements. The tests He will impose will be like fullers’ soap, which is the foe of every spot upon a garment white. His requirements will be like those of a refiner of silver – all the dross must be eliminated, in a furnace hot enough to insure its separation. The test will last a considerable time, for He will sit as a refiner sits, giving close inspection, that the heat be neither too great nor too little, the time neither too long nor too short.

This great Messiah, the Messenger of the New Covenant, began His refining and pu­rifying work more than eighteen centuries ago. He followed the Divine rule, “To the Jew first.” He began to refine and purify a priestly class for association with Himself in the glorious Messianic work. To the Jew first came the privilege of being the antityp­ical Levites. Thousands of them responded at Pentecost, and subsequently, but not enough to complete the foreordained number of spiritual Israelites, members of the body of Messiah.

Since then the selecting work has been in progress for eighteen centuries. God has been calling and drawing from all nations, and as many as respond the great Refiner has been purifying; and if these suffer afflictions for righteousness they are sharing in the sufferings of Messiah that they may be accounted worthy also of a share in His glo­ries to follow. Soon the “elect” number will be completed; the blood of the New Cove­nant will be made efficacious for Israel and for all the families of the earth, and on that basis the Messianic Kingdom or reign of righteousness will begin. (Pastor Russell, Reprints 4930–4931, December 1, 1911)

JUDGMENT OF THE NATIONS

(Matthew 25:31-46)

“Inasmuch as ye did it not unto one of the least of these, ye did it not unto me.” (Verse 45)

Having given His disciples many parables illustrating the experiences of the Church, the Kingdom class, in their development and preparation for Kingdom honor, it was emi­nently proper that Jesus should give the parable of this lesson to illustrate the work of this Kingdom after its establishment – to show its purpose and its effect upon the world of mankind.

Many of us have in the past read the Bible too carelessly. Our minds were sluggish respecting spiritual things. For instance, this lesson was at one time applied to the Church. We failed altogether to notice that it says not a word respecting the Church, but is entirely applied to the world, to the nations, the heathen. For centuries the Jews had been accustomed to think of themselves as God’s nation, God’s people. All others they styled heathen, Gentiles, the people, the nations; and in the prophecies God treated the matter from this standpoint. So when spiritual Israel was received in­to Divine favor as the Royal Priesthood, the Holy Nation, the peculiar people, all the remainder of mankind were properly enough to be thought of and described as “the na­tions” – “the Gentiles.”

In line with this, our Lord in this parable tells what is to befall after His King­dom shall have been set up – after the selection of the true Church class to be the Bride, the Lamb’s Wife, the joint–heir in His Kingdom, in His throne. This, we notice, is very clearly stated by the Master, saying “When the Son of Man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory.” Who, after proper consideration, will say that this is a matter of the past? Who will dispute that this is a description of Messiah’s Kingdom following His Parousia and His Epiphania [the Epiphania and the Time of Trouble are one and the same] at His Second Advent?

APPLICATION OF THIS PARABLE

Then follows a description of the work of the Millennial Age. “Before him shall be gathered all nations.” This means all the people of the world outside of the Lord’s holy nation, His peculiar people, the Church. Everybody except the Church will be be­fore His great white throne of justice, mercy and love; that will be their judgment time.

Six thousand years ago, Adam and his entire race were judged in Eden, and the sen­tence was death. None of the race are worthy of everlasting life. They are all sin­ners. In due time God sent His Son to die for Adam’s sin, in order that, “as by a man came death [of the entire race), by a man [Jesus] also will come the resurrection of the dead [the entire race]. For as all in Adam die, even so all in Christ shall be made alive. Every man in his own order.” (I Cor. 15:21–23)

The first order to be made alive in Christ is the Church, called out of the world, separated, “begotten again” of the Holy Spirit. These pass their judgment, their trial, for life everlasting or death everlasting in the present time. Hence the worthy ones, with characters formed pleasing and acceptable to God, will be quite ready to be Messi­ah’s Bride class, joint–heirs with Him in His Kingdom and in His work of judging the world. He has promised that all the faithful shall sit with Him in His throne – the very throne pictured in the words of our text – the throne before which all the nations, all the people outside of the Church, will be gathered.

The gathering of the world will be the result of knowledge. The Time of Trouble will lead on to great enlightenment, in which all the blind eyes will be opened, all the deaf ears will be unstopped (Isa. 35:5), and the knowledge of the glory of God will fill the whole earth. Some there will be those who, resisting this knowledge, will decline

to accept Christ and will not come into this judgment; but after a hundred years of re­sistance these will be destroyed. (Isa. 65:20)

Those in the parable are such as have accepted Christ’s terms and desire to be on judgment, or on trial, for everlasting life. This will include all in their graves, who, the Master tells us, will come forth, not all at once, but gradually. Messiah’s Kingdom will exercise its power and disseminate the knowledge of God and of righteous­ness, with a view to encouraging, helping and uplifting all the willing and obedient. All such may rise more and more out of sin and death conditions – out of imperfection of mind and body and out of immoral conduct to the full image of God, as possessed by fa­ther Adam in the beginning.

It will be the work of the entire Millennial Age to bring this about. Righteous­ness will reign then, as sin reigns now. That is to say, it will be in control, in the ascendency; and whosoever will sin then will suffer promptly. Hence all the nations will be avoiding sin. Then the world in general will be a grand place, where “nothing shall hurt or destroy” (Isa. 11:9); where “the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick” (Isa. 33:24); where the curse shall be gradually rolled away, and there shall be no more crying, no more sighing, no more dying; and where the blessing of God, bringing perfection, will prevail. “O happy day!” we exclaim. And surely it will be such; for all who live through those thousand years will have a great blessing.

THE LAW OF RETRIBUTION OPERATIVE

But, some inquire, what about the sins of the world? Will there be no chastise­ments, no punishments, for these? We answer that it will be equally as just for God to forgive the sins of the world for Christ’s sake as it has been just for Him to forgive the sins of the Church for Christ’s sake. If the one is just, so will be the other; for God is no respecter of persons, and is equally as willing to forgive the sins of the world as the sins of the Church, when the world, repenting of sin, will turn from it, accepting Christ as their Redeemer.

This does not mean, however, that justice is to be ignored. In the case of the Church, note how the sins of youth may leave their scar and sting to the end of life. And so we may reasonably assume that certain stripes, or punishments, will be permitted to follow the world in just the same manner. It will be from these weaknesses and frail­ties that they will be gradually raised up to perfection during those blessed thousand years of Christ’s Kingdom, when Satan will be bound and not be permitted to deceive any during that period.

But what about heart condition? If conformity to the Divine Law in an outward way will bring blessings to all, will there not still be a difference between the people ­some coming heartily into accord with the Father, and others merely outwardly into har­mony, because this outward harmony will be the way to restitution, perfection?

Undoubtedly this is correct reasoning. It is along this line that the parable be­fore us teaches; namely, that outwardly the “sheep” and the “goats” will have much the same appearance and demeanor, except to the Judge, the King, who will read the, heart and ultimately will manifest to all that there has been a real heart-difference between the two classes, all of whom will have been on trial for a thousand years, receiving bless­ings of the Kingdom.

THE BASIS OF JUDGMENT

All the while each individual will be making character. This character will be fully appreciated by the great Judge, and the individual will be rated either as a “sheep” or as a “goat.” All the sheep class will thus be received at the right hand of the great Jehovah; and all the goat class will be rated as out of favor with Him, even though all the while they will be receiving the blessings of the Millennial Kingdom and outwardly rendering obedience to its laws.

Not until the conclusion of the Millennium will the decision of the Judge be mani­fested. Then great surprise will be shown at His decision – by both parties. To the “sheep” at His right hand He will say, “Come, ye blessed of my Father [the kind that my Father is pleased to bless and to grant everlasting life! Come,] inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” When God laid the foundation of the earth and planned its human habitation, it was His design to give it to you. Now the time has come for you to enter into this kingdom and to possess it.

This is not the same kingdom as the Messianic Kingdom. On the contrary, it is the kingdom which God gave to Adam, which Adam lost through his disobedience and which Christ redeemed by the sacrifice of Himself. It will be given only to those who will have de­veloped the God-like character – those who will have become the Lord’s “sheep” during the Millennium.

Then the other class, the goats of the parable, will be sentenced: “Depart, ye accursed ones [doomed ones], into everlasting punishment.” Granted all the privileges, blessings and experiences of a thousand years of contact with righteousness, truth and the Spirit of God, you indeed render an outward obedience, but at heart you have not come into harmony with God. I cannot recognize you as My sheep. I cannot present you to the Father blameless and irreprovable. You must be destroyed; the punishment is the Second Death, “everlasting destruction.” The penalty upon you is an everlasting one be­cause there will be no further provision made for your redemption or for your resurrec­tion from the Second Death. You will be as though you had never been. You have failed utterly to appreciate the goodness of God and to copy His Character-likeness. Eternal life is only for those who have God’s likeness and God’s Spirit. “The Father seeketh such to worship him as worship him in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:23)

Both classes, the “sheep” and the “goats,” were surprised at what the King, the Judge, declared to be the basis of His judgment. To the sheep He said, “I was an hun­gered, and ye gave me meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in; naked, and ye clothed me; I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye came unto me.” To the goat class He said, “I was an hungered, and ye gave me no meat; I was thirsty and ye gave me no drink; was a stranger, and ye took me not in; naked, and ye clothed me not; sick and in prison, and ye visited me not.”

Both “sheep” and “goats” claimed that they had no knowledge of any such experiences. When did we minister unto Thee? When did we fail to minister unto Thee? The answer was, Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of the least of My brethren, or did it not unto him, ye did it, or did it not, unto Me.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SHEEP CLASS

Now, who are these respecting whom there will be a test upon the sheep class and upon the goat class? Will there be people sick, hungry and in prison during the Millen­nium? Does the Lord wish us to understand that there will be such? We have, on the contrary, always assumed that sickness, poverty, hunger and prisons will then be gone forever. What does it all mean?

The meaning is plain. With the establishment of the Millennial Kingdom all who come into harmony with it will have the great privilege of doing something to help others. The world is blind and starved now, for lack of spiritual food and the anoint­ing eye-salve of the truth. While the Millennial blessings will be showered upon those who accept the Lord’s terms, there will be others who will need assistance. Those who have the Spirit of God, the spirit of love, will be glad to carry the heavenly message of reconciliation to all humanity, glad to apply the eye-salve to the blind, glad to unstop the ears of the deaf, glad to help the sin-sick back into harmony with God – to the blessings of Messiah’s Kingdom, to the way in which these may be obtained – helping them to cover their nakedness with the merit of Christ.

All who will take pleasure in this work will thus be manifesting that they have God’s Spirit and are co–laborers with Him. All these will be the sheep. On the other hand, those who will be careless in respect to their vow, and merely enjoy the Millen­nial blessings themselves, will be of the goat class and will thus be marking themselves as “goat,” and correspondingly will be out of favor with the great King of kings, their Judge, the Lord of Glory.

THE WORLD’S RESURRECTION

The prison referred to in the parable is undoubtedly the great prison-house of death, into which approximately twenty thousand millions already have gone. All these are to come forth. But the Scriptures declare that they will not all come forth at once, but “every man in his own order.” (1 Cor. 15:23) Only the Church will be in the First Resurrection.

During the Millennium the awakening from the sleep of death, the prison-house, will come about by Divine Power, of course, but we believe in answer to prayer. Each family circle, as it can prepare for another and another member, will be glad to do so, and will make request for his return. Thus the race will come out of the “prison-house” in reverse order to that in which they entered, and will be acquainted with, identified by, and prepared for by their friends, their relatives.

While the blessing of the Lord will provide an abundance for all, nevertheless we may safely assume that the provision will be in the hands of their fellows. It will be the “sheep” that will be especially interested in praying for and preparing for those who are in the great prison-house of death. Any by so engaging their time and energy these “sheep” will be manifesting a purpose, a will, in harmony with that of the Cre­ator. God has willed that all who are in their graves shall come forth at the command of Jesus (John 5:28,29), and those in sympathy with God and Christ will be co–laborers with God in accomplishing the work for which Christ died. Any not interested in that work will be lacking in God’s Spirit; and this is exactly what is charged against the goat class.

He who sits upon the throne, having redeemed the world of mankind and having pro­vided for the resurrection of all these redeemed ones, counts them as in a certain sense representing Himself – as He says in the parable: “I was an hungered, and ye fed me; I was sick and in prison, and ye visited me,” ministered unto Me and helped Me.

Likewise the reproof to the goat class: to these He said, You were not interested in the things of God. Your interest was merely personal, a selfish one. You have en­joyed the blessings of these glorious thousand years, and that is all that God has pro­vided for you. You are not of the kind of whom He is pleased to grant everlasting life. You will therefore die. You have more or less of the selfish spirit, which is the spirit of Satan, and as God’s provision for all who will not be in fellowship with Him in spirit is destruction, this is to be your portion – the Second Death. (Rev. 21:8)

The eternal fire is the fire of God’s jealousy or anger, which burns against and destroys everything antagonistic to His righteousness. (Zeph. 1:18; 3:8) It is, of course, merely a figurative expression representing complete destruction.

(Pastor Russell, Reprints 5530–5532, September 1, 1914)

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LETTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST

Dear Sister Hoefle: Grace and peace in the Name of our Beloved Savior!

I received the tracts and the Divine Plan of the Ages in very good condition. But there was a delay in the Post Office for two months. The man in the Post Office went on a two-months holiday and I didn’t get the package until he returned. But all things work together for good to those who love the Lord.

I am now seeing about my passage to go to St. Lucia just for a few days, either by plane or by boat, and I will start giving out the tracts and the Divine Plan of the Ages.

The Lord bless you in all your efforts to serve Him. Give my love to all those in the Bible House.

Your brother by His Grace ------- (ST. VINCENT)

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Dear Sister Hoefle,

Someone must have sent you our name, as we have been getting your papers for sev­eral years. Before that we didn’t know of the existence of the movement of EBSA.

We came into the truth in 1940. I live with my wife on the farm I was born on. We have two daughters who are married – one lives in Grand Rapids and the other in Den­ver, Colorado.

When God aroused my interest in His Word I found several JW books and read them. One of the books was “The Harp of God.” Not too long afterwards, however, I was told about the Studies in the Scriptures. We found a set of them in Seattle, Washington, and came home and studied them carefully. We found there is a great difference between the teaching of the Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Studies in the Scripture. We have ac­cepted the truth taught in the Studies in the Scripture and believe in the truth to this day.

I am 74 and my wife is 73. We have met a number of brethren of the Johnson group. In Grand Rapids we met Brother and Sister ------------- and Sister -------------- of Muske­gon. Sister ----- and Brother ----------- visited us about two years ago. We keep in touch with many of the brethren we have met at conventions. We keep a list of their names.

More and more we are able to grasp the true meaning of the Grace of God. How it thrills our hearts to be able to comprehend the heights and depths of the love of God with all the saints. As St. Paul said, “I live, yet not I but Christ in me.” It is clear to me that the greatest message we should proclaim is the Gospel of Grace [the Plan of Salvation for all mankind]. That is because we have submitted ourselves to His keeping. We are His workmanship through the Holy Spirit.

If you care to publish this letter we would be grateful. This is only an intro­duction. Hope to hear from you. Christian love, --------------(Michigan

PS – When you publish our letter, please add that we would be glad to hear from any of the brethren. We would like to get acquainted with as many brethren as possible.

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Dear Sr. Hoefle: Greetings in our Redeemer’s Name!

I appreciate your prompt answer to my letter requesting more information about the Epiphany Bible Students’ articles you have been sending me; and I gratefully ac­cept your offer to keep sending them. I believe I have received all of the 1990 papers, and after reading them I share them with two other sisters in our class. So, at the moment I don’t have any of the back issues in my possession. Please just keep on go­ing from here on.

Also, I thank you for your offer of the Charles Taze Russell book. I shall read it with great interest and also let others get the benefit of it.

Our class numbers 9 or 10 at present and varies from week to week. All of our members are older. We don’t have any young people anymore.

I was glad to learn a little more about the Epiphany Bible Students Ass’n and the good work you are doing in supplying the brethren with these articles. I pray the Lord’s rich blessing on you.

Yours in His service, ------- (INDIANA)

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Dear Sister Emily: Peace and Blessing in Jesus dear Name!

At last I am writing you a letter. I hope this finds you feeling well. I am in quite good health.

The war has started and we wonder how it will end. We feel for the downed pilots and all our boys stationed in the Middle East. It is another tragic event that it would seem bring things closer to the end of this present evil world.

Sr. Rose Suk Michalek’s daughter Joan wrote me that Sr. Krewson died around Christ­mas time. She was 84. I hadn’t heard from Joan for quite some number of years. Sr. Rose Suk had a stroke several years ago and doesn’t write. She is around 86 years, I think.

Thank you for all your good letters to me and also for the interesting and informa­tive January/February paper. I sent part of it to my granddaughter. She lives north of San Francisco. I hope David and Nan are feeling stronger. David keeps going. His news releases are informative, and gives news that we wouldn’t get otherwise.

A few months ago I wrote a letter to Santa Barbara News Press. Their articles of the news of Israel seems slanted to me. I told them I was a Christian who cared about Israel. Also sent them copies of Bill Dunnagan’s letter and articles by David Horowitz which contained Bill Dunnagan’s letter but had something different in it. There were also some good letters from local Jewish people explaining Israel’s side of the ques­tion. It’s about time for the mail to come, so I will close with love ------- (CALIFORNIA)

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Dear Emily,

Your January 1st letter and the Jan-Feb bulletin arrived a few days before the out­break of the Gulf war against Iraq. Firstly, let me thank you for your thoughts and warm concern: Your letters are always so encouraging and so supportive. We appreciate your friendship more than I can put in words.

I read the Bulletin from A to Z and once again I wish to compliment you on a superb job!  (Even though the first item on p. 9 must be understood rather as a way of think­ing and praying – of belief but not a realistic appraisal for people who live here and who right now go through extremely trying times.)

The Gulf war is now 6 days old. Here in Israel it dominates every aspect of our life... The missiles wrought horrible material damage but did not kill anybody, although 600 people lost their homes – after going through moments of traumatic shock none of them will ever forget. The children among them will bear marks of that night of fear and havoc for the rest of their lives.

As you know, we here in Israel knew all along what the inexhaustible supply of the most sophisticated modern arms by the Soviet Union and the major Western nations to the Iraqi dictatorship would produce in the end.

When in 1981 the Iraqi nuclear power plant was wiped out by Israeli pilots, Israel was universally blamed. Now – years too late – Israel is praised for that action. But now – incredible as it may sound – Americans fight lethal war arsenals in Iraq, supplied by US! British pilots face British-trained Iraqi pilots. The French are up against huge stockpiles of modern weaponry supplied by them over the years to Iraq; and, of course, all – ALL the ‘coalition’ partners have to fight the unbelivable number of Sov­iet-supplied airplanes, guns, missiles and vast assemblies of sundry modern war-and-death machines bearing the Communist trade mark. I put ‘coalition’ between ‘  ‘ be­cause to everyone here and all those who have as much as an inkling of the true nature of this ‘coalition’ know very well that it’s just lip-service. When the chips are down, Syria, Saudia, et al, will prove to be “staff of a broken reed,” as Isaiah so aptly puts it (36:6).

It is all so sad and so painful, but we here will have to stand up to every con­ceivable challenge – come what may. We pray and hope that we won’t be alone and that, even if very hard times are ahead, the Rock of Israel (2 Sam. 23:3) will stand by us ­and perhaps some men, too.

Be well and accept our best wishes and hearty blessings! -----------------(ISRAEL)

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Dear Brethren: Greetings in the Name of our Beloved Redeemer!

Just wanted to tell you that we appreciated the March/April papers, especially the Special about Israel. It is very informative, especially with the map giving the God-given promises to the Jews of their homeland.

Our Christian love and prayers are with you. The Lord bless and guide you as you continue to serve Him.

Your brother and sister ------- (NORTH CAROLINA)

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NO. 420: CONSECRATION FROM 1881 UNTIL RESTITUTION SETS IN

No. 420

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

All who are familiar with Harvest Truth know that the general call for entrance into the High Calling ended in 1881—that thereafter entrance into that select company could occur only as one dropped out. All who accept this great truth agree also that a time would come when the door to the High Calling would eventually be forever shut (Luke 13:25) – that the 144,000 would be fully and fixedly complete. However, there is divergence of views as to when that time would occur; and it is not our wish at this time to discuss when that would be.

But when that time would come – from then until Restitution sets in, as That Ser­vant taught – there would almost certainly be those among the human family who would wish to do God’s will to the extent of their understanding and ability – just as there were those who wished to do God’s will before the High Calling was available. (See He­brews, Chapter 11) Such consecrators – between the Ages – will have to walk a ‘narrow way’ while we are yet in “the evil day” (Eph. 6:13) – and, if faithful, they will bring upon themselves the adversities that all have experienced who have chosen to “follow in His steps.” (1 Pet. 2:21) And to such the attributes of God would prompt bestowal of a reward higher than that which will come to the world in general—something higher than Restitution.

That Servant recognized this fact – that there would be such a class of consecra­tors – even though he gave us no Scripture to prove it. He came to that conclusion pure­ly from his clear and logical intellect. We believe this is another proof that he was made “ruler over all his goods” (Matt. 24:47); and that he could say, with the Apostle Paul, “For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.” (Acts 20:27)

We offer now some quotations from Brother Russell’s writings to substantiate these statements: The first one of these is to be found in Reprints 3418, the year being 1904: “We would be sure that Divine love and care would be over them just as surely, and that failing a place in the elect church through no fault of theirs, these would be given some good portion which would much more than reward and satisfy them.”

In that same year 1904, Reprints 3445, the teaching is presented that the Ancient Worthies would be a higher class than the Great Company, because they were a fully faithful class. He further stated that, being a higher class, they would precede the Great Company in the resurrection – that the Ancient Worthies would be first to be res­urrected after the Little Flock. That this is a wrong conclusion is apparent from the fact that the Great Company class is a part of the Gospel-Age “church of the firstborn” (Heb. 12:23); whereas, the Ancient Worthies are the “church of the firstborn” of the Millennial Age – and Brother Russell eventually came to see the matter in this way.

Coming down to 1911 (Reprints 4836) there is this: “But suppose that some should present themselves after the close of the acceptable time, what would be their status and God’s dealing with them? Since God is unchangeable, we must assume that He would always be pleased to have His creatures devote their lives wholly and unreservedly to the doing of His will, as He was pleased with the faithfulness of the Ancient Worthies to lay down their lives before a covenant of sacrifice was in force. We may reason that as God has promised human perfection to those Ancient Worthies who laid down their lives, He would be willing similarly to reward any who might follow the same course after the completion of the Church – after the ending of the acceptable time of sacri­fice. [God’s character forbids accepting sacrifice from any one without giving suitable reward for such service.]

“Quite likely, therefore, there will be some in the end of this Age who, although faithful unto death, will not have been begotten of the Holy Spirit and not attain the spirit plane of being in the resurrection, but who will come forth members of the same class as the Ancient Worthies, who were developed before this Age began.

“In view of these facts, our advice to all who love the Lord and who desire to be in complete fellowship with Him is the same message that has gone forth throughout this Age – ‘We beseech you, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies living sacrifices’... We can tell them, too, that, to our understanding the Scriptures teach that the Ancient Worthy class (of which they may be a part if they fail to be accepted to the new nature) will be highly honored of God, perfect on the human plane and made ‘princes in all the earth.’ (Psa. 45:16)”

In the Feb. 15, 1913 Tower (Reprints 5182) it is stated that the Ancient Worthies are of the Tribe of Levi, and therefore would have no inheritance in the land (as would the Restitutionists). And, as he has said before, the unbegotten class of consecrators would receive the reward and honor that will be given the Ancient Worthies; which means a higher reward than will come to the Restitutionists. These would be typed by the Ger­shonites, of which more later on. In the Nov. 1, 1913 Tower (Reprints 5344 – top of col. 2) we are told that the eventual glorious reward of the Ancient Worthies – after the Millennium has come to a close – would be on the spirit plane.

Coming now to Sept. 1, 1915 Tower (Reprints 5761) there is the following, under the caption, “The Two Parts of the Harvest Work” – and under the sub–heading, “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 yet being opened, and the restitution opportunities not open. But they freely gave themselves up to God without knowing what blessings their consecration would bring, except that they had the intimation that they would, in the future life, have a ‘better resurrection’ than would the remainder of the world.

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

Inasmuch as the Time of Trouble had broken upon the world in 1914 – as predicted by Brother Russell – there existed the general conviction among Truth people that the Kingdom would be established within a matter of but a few years. “The stone” (Dan. 2:45) had already begun its smiting, and was increasing in severity with each passing month. At that time none of the Truth people had the slightest notion that things would be as they are today – some sixty years later. Had that thought then been enter­tained, we may safely conclude that Brother Russell would have been much more positive and voluble than he was about that class that “would consecrate between the Ages.”

However, even with the small amount that he did say, the Harvest group generally was so inoculated with the idea, that the Society under J. F. Rutherford came out em­phatically that the High Calling would definitely be closed at Passover 1918 – after which time a new class of consecrators would appear whom they labeled as “Modern Wor­thies” – to emphasize their grouping with the Ancient Worthies. This was maintained for a number of years – until JFR rejected tentative justification. Once that was done, it was impossible to harmonize Modern Worthies without any justification, without which they could have no standing before God. Eventually they invented a class of their own – the Jonadabs – which was later fused with their present “Great Crowd,” of which more later.

Other Truth groups mostly ignored the expressions of Brother Russell as we have quoted them; and prior to 1950 the Laymen’s Home Missionary Movement was the only Truth organization – so far as we know – that championed such a class. But failing to do this, these others are now left in a very awkward and vulnerable position. The Society eventually had to re-open the High Calling, changing the dates for its close on several occasions, as the “penny” became too hot for them to hold, and too important to drop. In some of their 1975 editions of the Watchtower they are forced to the con­clusion that the High Calling may not even yet be closed. And other Truth groups are forced to the same conclusion.

But embracing such a view is now making their position ridiculously untenable. So far as we know, all Truth groups accept the position that there can be only 144,000 in the Christ Body. Yet, if we reflect upon the number of persons in all the groups who consider themselves in that select company, there would almost certainly be more than 144,000 that have had that conviction since 1914. And, if there are more than that many since 1914, what shall we say of the entire Gospel Age? Most Truth groups think there was a “Harvest” following 1874. A Harvest of what? Why, of the last members of the 144,000, of course! Manifestly, these various conclusions produce such a bedlam that no one of sound mind can bring himself to believe them all. And, even if they reject some of them, yet “the bed is shorter than that a man can stretch himself on it; and the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself in it.” (Isa. 28:20)

SCRIPTURAL PROOF

As stated foregoing, Brother Russell offered no Scripture to prove his conclusions – nor did he attempt to give a name to such persons. It was the Society – after his death – that produced the name Modern Worthies. Nor do we now offer too much criticism for their selection of the name. Up to that time no Scripture had been produced which might suggest a Biblical name. It remained for the Epiphany Messenger to offer a name more suited to our place on the stream of time. However, we would emphasize here that the term Ancient Worthy is not in the Bible either; but they are referred to as Ancients a number of times in the Old Testament, and St. Paul tells us in the 11th chapter of He­brews that the world was not “worthy” of them. Consequently, the name Ancient Worthies comes easily enough. We believe the same will apply to the Youthful Worthies, as we now examine some Scriptures to this end.

The clearest of such Scriptures is found in Joel 2:28,29. In Joel 2:29 the ref­erence is to the Little Flock and Great Company: “And also upon the servants (the Little Flock) and upon the handmaids (the Great Company) in those days (the Gospel Age) will I pour out my spirit.” Thus far, Brother Russell saw the truth on the text as expressed here: but the remainder he could not see because it was not the “due time.” (See Berean Comments) Then Joel 2:28: “And it shall come to pass afterward (after the Gospel Age, during which the Lord pours out His spirit for His servants, the Little Flock, and handmaidens, the Great Company – compare Joel 2:28 with 2 Cor. 6:17, 18) that I will pour out My Spirit for all flesh; and your (the Christ’s) sons (converted flesh­ly Israel and the persevering, but unconsecrated believers of the Gospel Age) and your daughters (converted Gentiles of the Millennial Age, Isa. 60:4 – all the repentant hea­then) shall prophecy (teach the Truth to those of mankind who then will not know it—­Matt. 25:35, 37, 40); your old men (Ancient Worthies) shall dream dreams (will be given new and inspired deeper revelations as a part of “another book... of life” – a third “Testament” of the Bible, Rev. 20:12) and your young men (Youthful Worthies) shall see visions” [will be given inspired less deep representations, clarifying and elaborating for themselves and the people the teachings of the Old and New Testaments, as well as producing “another book of life”].

All classes from among mankind savingly associated with the Plan of God are thus treated of in Joel 2:28,29 – six in all. These and the repentant fallen angels will constitute the seven (perfect Divine number) classes of those whom Christ delivers from sin and condemnation unto perfection and everlasting life in His work as Savior. (See E–4:317–322) We would direct attention here to the Hebrew “zaqen,” from which “old men” is translated. This word is translated “ancients” thirteen times in the Old Testa­ment, and once as “ancient men.” We offer just two of these—Psa. 119:100: “I under­stand more than the ancients” (zaqen). Also, Isa. 24:23: “The Lord of hosts shall reign in Mount Zion (thru the Christ Company), and in Jerusalem (thru the Worthies), and before His ancients (zaqen) gloriously.” And “your young men” would be better trans­lated “young, choice, unmarried men – youthfuls.” This Joel text is clear enough that there are two classes of men who would be specially inspired for the benefit of the re­mainder of restitutionists – Ancients and Youthfuls – Ancient Worthies and Youthful Wor­thies.

Next we consider 2 Tim. 2:20: “In a great house (the great house of the typical Aaron—Lev. 16:6; Num. 17:2, 3:6-9, 17-20, consisted of his sons and the three typical classes of Levites—the Kohathites, Merarites and the Gershonites; accordingly, in the great House of our Great High Priest there are four classes antitypical of these) there are not only vessels of gold (the Little Flock—Mal. 3:3), and of silver (the Great Com­pany—Mal. 3:3—See Berean Comments on Mal. 3:3 and 2 Tim. 2:20), but also of wood (the Ancient Worthies) and earth (The Youthful Worthies, who with the Ancient Worthies will be, during the Millennium, the human members of antitypical Aaron’s House, as they were or are also human before the Millennium), and (additionally) vessels of honor (the faith­ful Restitutionists) and dishonor (the Goats of the next Age).”

Thirdly, Ps. 72:3: “The mountains shall bring peace to the people; and the little hills by righteousness.” This entire Psalm describes the Millennial reign of Christ, implying that symbolic Jerusalem will be the seat of Government (v. 16). Literal Jeru­salem was built upon two mountains, Zion and Moriah, and upon two hills, Akra and Be­zetha. Zion and Moria represent the heavenly and the earthly phases of the Kingdom re­spectively – i.e., The Christ and the Ancient Worthies as the two higher powers of the Kingdom. (See v. 16, “top of the mountains,” etc.) Akra and Bezetha represent the trib­utary (subordinate) powers of the Kingdom, i.e., the Great Company and the Youthful Wor­thies. (See Berean Comments on the “hills.”)... And as the hill Bezetha was the fourth and last height of Jerusalem to be built by the Israelites, so the Youthful Worthies are the last one of the powers (the other subordinate power) of the Kingdom to be developed.

The world of mankind are symbolized by the valley sections of literal Jerusalem. The thought of this passage seems to be that the two phases of the Kingdom, receiving cooperation from the subordinate powers of the Kingdom (the Great Company and the Youth­ful Worthies), will be used by Jehovah to bless the world of mankind with peace and pros­perity through righteousness during the Millennium.

The fourth text is Isa. 60:13: “The Glory of Lebanon (Lebanon means white, and its evergreen trees, the glory of Lebanon, represent the righteous as antitypical Levites—­Psa. 92:12,13) shall come to thee (the antitypical Levites will he brought to Christ and the Church—Num. 3:6-9), the fir tree (Ancient Worthies), the pine tree (the Great Com­pany) and the box (Youthful Worthies) together (rendering a cooperative service), to beautify the place of my sanctuary.” It was a Levitical work (Num. 3:6-9) to beautify the sanctuary of the Lord.

In this connection, Isa. 35:2 tells us that “the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it.... they shall see the glory of the Lord, and the excellency of our God.” The cedars of Lebanon are tall and stately, the timber was much prized for the construction of palaces and temples; pillars, beams and planks were cut from it, and masts were made for ships. The timber of these trees was aromatic, impervious to rot, decay and infestation by termites. The roof for the Temple of Diana (one of the seven wonders of the ancient world) was made from cedar planks, and continued for 400 years without appar­ent wear from the elements. To this day these trees are reverently described by the Arabs as “the cedars of the Lord.”

ANTITYPICAL ELEAZAR

Those who are familiar with Parousia Truth, and who hold to the truth that Brother Russell was That Servant, whom “the Lord made ruler over His House­hold” (Matt. 24:45), recognize that the “household” is much the same as the Gospel-Age Tabernacle (the true church). He occupied much the same position here in the end of the Age as did the twelve Apostles at the beginning of the Age. As such, they then, and he here in the end of the Age, antityped Eleazar, son of Aaron, of whom it is recorded: “And to the office of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest pertaineth the oil for the light, and the sweet incense, and the daily meat offering, and the anointing oil, and the oversight of all the tabernacle, and of all that therein is, in the sanctuary, and in the vessels thereof.” (Num. 4:16)

Therefore, it is only logical that he should write Tabernacle Shadows, which book was foundational for the Six Volumes of Parousia Studies in the Scriptures. When writ­ing Tabernacle Shadows in 1879 he set forth the antitypical designation of the Levites: The Amram Levites to the east of the Tabernacle typified the Gospel-Age Royal Priest­hood; the Kohathites to the south the Ancient Worthies; the Merarites to the north the Great Company; and the Gershonites to the west the saved world of mankind. But he was quite emphatic that the Levites were not to have any inheritance in the Land of Canaan; thus, the antitypical Levites would have no inheritance in the Millennial Canaan.  This produced the question: If the restitutionists were to have no inheritance in the Mil­lennial Canaan, then they would all eventually become spirit beings – a thing Brother Russell realized just could not be. He wrestled with the question, but could not pro­vide any satisfactory answer because it was not the “due time” for the truth to become known.

ANTITYPICAL ITHAMAR

It remained for the Epiphany Messenger to produce a logical picture here; and this he did by showing that the Gershonites typified the Youthful Worthies, who would share in honor and service and reward with the Ancient Worthies. This picture is well set forth in the Jews crossing Jordan to inherit Canaan. It will be recalled that be­cause the Jews refused to enter Canaan – believing the evil report of  the ten spies in­stead of the good report of Caleb and Joshua – that the Lord pronounced this sentence upon them: “Your carcasses shall fall in this wilderness... according to your whole num­ber from twenty years old and upward... ye shall not come into the land... save Caleb... and Joshua.” (Num. 14:29,30)   It is well to note that all the males who entered Ca­naan were young men. Joshua, of the Tribe of Ephraim, could not be a priest (only those of the Tribe of Levi were eligible to be priests), was given the honor of leading the Jews over Jordan and possessing goodly Canaan land. Joshua in that picture typed the Lord Jesus, and Caleb typed the true Church; but they were supported by an entirely new generation that had grown up in the wilderness wanderings; and that group would well represent an unbegotten class here in the end of this Age who are fully loyal to antityp­ical Joshua (Jesus). Once we see this picture clearly, all obstacles are removed. This gives us four elect classes, with two non-elect classes – as explained foregoing – and the picture becomes harmonious with all parts of the Bible.

It will be recalled that Aaron had four sons – Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar ­the first two of whom were destroyed in their rebellion. (See Lev. 10–1–7) Eleazar and Ithamar, the third and fourth sons of Aaron, then became eligible for the  priest­hood, Eleazar being the one who succeeded his father Aaron to that office, being the oldest son living when his father died at Mount Hor. Thus, he would fittingly typify the twelve Apostles (the Lord’s mouthpieces during the first epoch of the Gospel-Age Church), and That Servant in the seventh epoch of the Gospel-Age Church.

But in the interim the Lord also had prominent mouthpieces such as Martin Luther, John Wesley, Thomas Cranmer, etc. – 35 in all. These would be well depicted by Ele­azar’s younger brother Ithamar. And after the departure of the Parousia Eleazar (That Servant) we should logically expect to see an antitypical Ithamar; and this we find in the person of Brother Johnson. Num. 4:28 is definitely pertinent: “This is the ser­vice of the families of the sons of Gershon in the tabernacle of the congregation; and their charge shall be under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.” And just as Brother Russell clearly and correctly gave details about the Gospel-Age Little Flock, so Brother Johnson gave similar description of the antitypical Gershonites – the Youthful Worthies. To him came the privilege of interpreting the Scriptures concerning this Class; and the Youthful Worthies occupied a large place in his writings.

It is well to remember here that he did not set aside any of Brother Russell’s teachings about an unbegotten class here in the end of the Age. He simply interpreted the pertinent Scriptures to prove what Brother Russell has taught, but without offer­ing any Scripture to prove his thought.

“If Truth people generally knew that this method was being used (of setting aside the truth on tentative justification—JJH) by at least two of the Tower editors, they would be more on their guard against various errors that JFR and some of his associates have been holding, and are ‘privily’ bringing in among the unsuspecting sheep. If our dear readers will keep in mind that the Tower’s denial of Tentative Justification dur­ing this Age is the foundation of its rejecting the Scriptural doctrine that those faithful consecrators from 1881 until Restitution sets in, for whom there are no crowns available, and hence no spirit-begetting for Gospel-Age purposes, will be the Millen­nial associates of the Ancient Worthies in reward and service, they will be able by Scriptural, reasonable and factual thinking completely to overthrow every argument that the article under review presents to defend its thesis; for through Tentative Justifi­cation alone can God now deal with this class in preparing them for association with the Ancient Worthies.” (By Brother Johnson)

And we say the same of others who have perverted Tentative Justification and have set aside the teaching of both Messengers as given above on the faithful consecrators from 1881 until Restitution sets in. To reverse himself on his “Modern Worthies,” JFR was logically forced to reject Tentative Justification; and eventually to discard the entire book on Tabernacle Shad­ows, which book had been basic for a large part of the Parousia Truth. This accounts for much of the flood of error that subsequently appeared in the Towers. In the Taber­nacle picture the Levites type the tentatively justified during the Gospel Age, as well as in this last special period of the Gospel Age – the Epiphany. In the type the Le­vites were the teachers of the people (See Ezek. 44:9-14); and eliminating them from the Tabernacle picture makes the book a lopsided and unintelligible presentation. This readily accounts for JFR’s rejection of the book after he had rejected tentative justi­fication.

ANOTHER PERVERSION

In the March 15, 1913 Tower (Reprint 5207), col. 2, par. 7, we find this:

“Tentative Justification, then, is for the purpose of giving a standing with God [“being justified by faith, we have peace with God”—Rom. 5:1], from which a believer in our Lord’s ransom-sacrifice as his only hope of salvation may ascertain whether he has that spirit of sacrifice which will lead him to full consecration. The believer is at liberty to choose which course he will take. He may offer himself in consecration, or he may decide not to do so. But should he decide to wait for restitu­tion, he thereby proves that he has not appreciated God’s offer.”

Certainly the above would now apply to Youthful Worthies – and to no other class ­if we accept our Pastor’s teaching that “those consecrating and proving faithful in the interval between the close of the General Call in 1881 and the inauguration of the earthly phase of the Kingdom (for whom no crowns are available) will become associated in reward and honor with the Ancient Worthies in the Kingdom.” (F 156; Z ‘11,181; Z ‘15, 269; Question Book pp. 151-152.  See also E-4:337)

It is reasonable and Scriptural to expect for the Youthful Worthies, as well as for the Ancient Worthies, that they will receive ultimately a higher reward than they could have on this earth. If the Ancient and Youthful Worthies would remain on the earth, they would not be everlastingly rewarded for their Millennial service, post-Millennial service and their suffering for righteousness in the Little Season at the hands of the Second-Death class. For since all Restitutionists found worthy of everlasting life will henceforth be equal (Matt. 25:34; Rev. 21:24), it would follow that the Ancient and Youthful Worthies, instead of being the Millennial superiors, would be the eternal equals of the world of mankind. The Worthies would be demoted instead of rewarded. During the Kingdom the Worthies will be "Princes in all the earth." (Psa. 45:16) The Divine Attri­butes will not fail to reward such faithfulness.

The Lord will make the earth beautiful as it was in the Garden of Eden. The earth is God's footstool. The Restitutionists are not required to "suffer for righteousness," as were the faithful consecrators during the ascendancy of sin and evil. If the Resti­tutionists during the Kingdom learn to love righteousness and hate iniquity, they will gain eternal life on earth. But those who "suffer for righteousness" will be rewarded above restitution blessings.

But the matter of a Mediator makes transparent nonsense of a justification of any kind – except a gradual works justification, which will only be completed by the end of the Mediatorial reign. Justification during the Gospel Age does not make one right, it merely reckons him right. And when one is reckoned right, this gives him a standing be­fore God, which eliminates the necessity for a Mediator. Thus, those in the 1908-1911 sifting who claimed the Church is under the New Covenant revealed a foolish foundation. If they were under the New Covenant, then they would also be under the Mediator – as the restitutionists will be when the Kingdom reign begins. None of the Tentatively Justi­fied during this Age have needed a mediator; they stood before God in reckoned per­fection.

In view of the faithful teachings of both Messengers as given herein, we reiterate that Youthful Worthiship is available as long as Tentative Justification is available between the Ages – until restitution sets in. And we would qualify this statement by saying there will come a time when sound doctrine will not be endured by any one not already established in Present Truth; and when that time arrives it is doubtful that any one would be able to receive “sound doctrine” sufficiently enough to make an ac­ceptable consecration. However, tentative justification will continue for the faith­ful consecrators. That Servant corroborates this thought: “The question is May not this statement of the Revelator (Rev. 13:17—JJH) mean more than is now experienced? Like the Apostle Paul’s statement, may it not imply a time will come, in the last days, when sound doctrine will not be endured at all?” (Parousia Vol. 2, p. 259, bottom)

If Restitutionists want to consecrate for Restitution purposes now, that is their privilege, just as it was the privilege of Cornelius before his consecration was ac­cepted; and if such consecrators are sincere it will doubtless make them more amenable for the Highway of Holiness when the “way” is opened up for them. Their standing will be before The Christ until their works justification is completed – at the end of the Millennium. Such a Restitution Class walking a ‘narrow way’ in this last special period of the Gospel Age is an absurdity, but “Every absurdity has a champion to defend it, for error is always talkative.”

“For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds... And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.” (Hebrews 12:3, 13,14)

(Brother Hoefle, Reprint No. 252, June 1976)

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LETTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST

Dear Sister Hoefle:  Grace and peace!

Hoping this finds you in good health. All here are doing well with the exception of a few colds and sniffles. The present conflict with Iraq is causing much grief and concern with many that have loved ones serving in the military. My heart goes out to these families.

This conflict seems to be a 'no win' situation economically or militarily for the country. If a negotiated settlement is reached, Saddam Hussein's military machine will remain intact with a threat of future invasions in that area.

If we have an all-out war with its horrible destruction, together with a terrible loss of civilian and military lives, this will surely unite the Moslem religious funda­mentalists with even more of the Arab world turning against us.

My concern is that the United States may compromise its support of Israel and try to force them into giving up occupied land as a means of extricating ourselves from the mess we are in.

Clarence Wagner's Commentary (in the Dispatch from Jerusalem – 1990, Vol. 15, No. 3) is very clear on why the occupation of Kuwait is an Arab problem and should not be linked to the Israeli occupied land in any negotiations with Saddam Hussein.

The No. 416 EBSA paper with the David Horowitz article and the excerpts of Brother Dunnagan's April 27th talk to the Jews at their synagogue on Hilton Island, was most timely and edifying. What a blessing it is to be reminded of the rich promises given to Israel, and to know that whatever takes place in the world today, these promises will be fulfilled. If you have five extra copies of No. 416 1 would appreciate receiving them for distribution to friends

Please use the enclosed contribution in any way you see fit. Also, please be as­sured of our continued prayers for you and yours through this Holiday Season and the coming New Year.

May the Lord bless and keep you. Your brother in His Name, ------- (CALIFORNIA)

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Dear Sister Emily:  Loving greetings in our Precious Savior's Name!

Thank you for your loving kindness to us. We are doing quite well – rejoicing and very thankful to the Lord for His keeping power, and Grace and Strength sufficient. The Lord truly does not send an experience to us greater than we can bear.

I have a plate and five pins that will probably come out after the first of the year. Will the Persian Gulf fulfill Zeph. 3:8,9? Is it the gathering of the nations and assembling of the kingdoms? Will it be the last phase of the trouble that will turn to worldwide Anarchy? The potential seems to be all there.

We have such a tremendous national debt. Taxing is unlimited. It surely is all a part of the dissolving process.

We trust this finds you reasonably well and rejoicing in the prospects of the Kingdom, for which we earnestly pray.

May the Lord bless and keep you in His  loving  care  in  this  Holiday  Season  and  in the New Year.

Our  warm  Christian  love, -------   (MASSACHUSETTS)

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Dear Ms. Hoefle,

Your kind gift of both An Early American Zionist and the Studies in the Scriptures were received in good order. On behalf of the Student Body, I would like to express our appreciation.

I am personally interested in the ongoing development of the Watch Tower theology away from the original teaching of Charles Russell. The studies series will help me pursue this.

Your letter included an invitation to receive your bimonthly newsletter and pertinent back copies.  Again, these would be deeply appreciated.

Thank you for your time and efforts. In Christ, Professor ------- (CANADA)

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NO. 419: SOME THOUGHTS FOR THE MEMORIAL

No. 419

Comes again the Memorial of Him who perished on the cross, the correct hour this year being after 6 p.m., March 28, the time being determined as follows: The Vernal Equinox arrives at the 30th Meridian (the one nearest Jerusalem) at 5:24 a.m., March 21; and the moon coming new nearest that date does so at 10:32 a.m., March 16, thus starting Nisan 1 at 6 p.m., March 15, Bible reckoning. Counting fourteen days from that, Nisan 14 begins at 6 p.m., March 28; and any time after that hour that evening would be appropriate for the service. We shall hold it at Mount Dora, Florida, at 7:30 p.m.; and all who wish to join with us then “in sincerity and in truth” will have cordial welcome and fellowship.

EAT THE FLESH – DRINK THE BLOOD

“Indeed, I assure you, if you do not eat the flesh of the Son of Man, and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves... My flesh is the true food, and my blood is the true drink... This is that bread which has descended from Heaven... he who eats this bread shall live to the Age.” (John 6:53-58, Dia.) These words are among the most commonly used throughout Christendom, particularly at the Lord’s Supper; and they are certainly intimately familiar to all our readers. Yet that very familiarity often causes us to overlook some of the vital details so necessary to a comprehensive understanding.

Jesus had said to the Jews, “Your fathers ate the Manna in the desert, and died. This is that bread descending from Heaven, so that any one may eat of it, and not die... The Jews therefore were contending with each other, saying, How can He give us His flesh to eat?” (vs. 49-52) “These things He said, teaching in a synagogue, in Capernaum. Many, therefore, of His disciples, hearing, said, Hard is this saying; who can hear it?” (vs. 59, 60) The full impact of this recitation can be fully realized only as we keep in mind that the diet of the religious Jew at that time was much more rigid than it is today; they then adhered scrupulously to the ritual given them thru Moses. This is forcefully revealed in Acts 10:9-16, wherein Peter was in a trance, saw the great sheet lowered to the earth from Heaven, wherein were all manner of beasts, and he was commanded to rise, kill and eat. His answer was quick and positive: “I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” And this same statement was true of the majority of Jesus’ listeners that day. Thus, their sensibilities were shockingly mutilated when “this man” said they must eat him if they would gain life. The very thought of it would nauseate and repel them. Little wonder that they complained, This is a hard saying!

Knowing as we do that Jesus would clarify this matter on the night in which He was betrayed by offering the loaf and the cup as representing His flesh and His blood, His comment offers no problem to us. But we suggest here that this particular portion of Scripture offers the strongest refutation against infant baptism. What salvation can possibly come from that ‘sacrament’ when the infant does not partake of the bread and the wine – nor does he do so representatively by those who present him for the ceremony. If there can be no life without those two things, then what saving feature could be conveyed in the sprinkling of the water on the infant?

“From this time many of His disciples withdrew, and walked no longer with Him.” (v. 66) Yet Jesus, “knowing that His disciples were murmuring,” made no effort to explain – made no effort at all to soothe their abhorrence at His suggested cannibalism. But this also is explained, “Jesus knew from the beginning who those were that did not believe” (v. 64); they were probably some of those who would believe only if one of the prophets should return from the dead. They were not of the leadable and teachable that Jesus was then seeking to be “heirs of the Kingdom,” so it was just as well that they should not clutter up His audience further by their presence. And as these walked away, Jesus said to those remaining, “Will ye also go away?” To which Peter was quick to respond, “Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that Thou art that Christ, the Son of the Living God.” (vs. 68, 69)

Peter was undoubtedly puzzled by what Jesus had told them, because he had been thoroughly schooled in the Law, and knew that blood was a forbidden thing: “Whatsoever man there be of the House of Israel... that eateth any manner of blood; I will set My face against that soul that eateth blood, and will cut him off from among his people. For the life of the flesh is in the blood... Whatsoever man hunteth and catcheth any beast or fowl that may be eaten; he shall even pour out the blood thereof, and cover it with dust. For it is the life of all flesh... whosoever eateth it shall be cut off.” (Lev. 17:10-14) Actuated by this prohibition, we find the Jews to this day most meticulous to drain all the blood possible from the animals they kill for food.

All of our readers are intimately familiar with the fact that the “life is in the blood” – in the blood of Him who gave Himself for us. Our faith in the atoning features of that blood is the foundation for life now and in the life to come – as it will also be for all the human family. And this is emphasized by the pointed statement in Ex. 12: 13: “When I see the blood, I will pass over you.” This is further corroborated in John 19:34: “One of the soldiers with a spear pierced His side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.” Therefore, the same Apostle was prompted to elaborate: “This is He Who came by water and blood – Jesus the Anointed One; not by the water only, but by the water and by the blood... There are three which testify; the Spirit, and the water, and the blood; and the three are of one... This is the testimony that God has given to us aionian life, and this life is in His Son [in His blood].” (1 John 5:6-11, Dia.)

“LOOKING UNTO JESUS”

Having this strong assurance, it is only logical and proper that we should “look unto Jesus” – “looking away to the Leader and Perfecter of the faith, Jesus, Who for the joy set before Him, endured the cross, disregarding the shame... Consider Him attentively Who has endured such opposition from sinners, so that you may not be wearied, being discouraged in your souls. You did not yet resist to blood [as He did], contending against sin.” (Heb. 12:2-4, Dia.) Not only have those in “Present Truth” imbibed intimate knowledge of these facts, but we find many throughout Christendom who have been aroused to finer and better things, and to sublime expressions concerning them. We offer here a few lines from one poet:

I wonder what He charged for chairs at Nazareth!

And did men try to beat Him down,

Then boast about it round the town

I bought it cheap for half a crown

From that mad Carpenter?

And, did they promise and not pay,

Put it off another day?

Oh, did they break His heart that way,

My Lord, the Carpenter?

I wonder, did He have bad debts,

And did He know my fears and frets?

The Gospel writer here forgets

To tell about the Carpenter.

Ah, Christian Glory! Here below

Men cheat and lie to each other so –

It’s hard to be a Carpenter.

 “WITHOUT THE CAMP”

Says St. Paul in Heb. 13:10-13, Dia.: “We have an altar from which those who serve in the tabernacle [the Jewish priesthood] have no right to eat. For the bodies of those animals... are burned outside the camp. Therefore, Jesus, also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood [the life is in the blood], suffered outside of the gate [the gate of Jerusalem, having been crucified on Golgotha Hill outside the City proper]. Let us, then, now go forth to Him outside of the Camp [St. Paul uses interchangeably the City and the Camp, the City having embraced the Temple – just as the Camp had embraced the Tabernacle in its midst], bearing reproach for Him.”

Let us note that the City (Jerusalem) here stands for the nominal people of God; and for Jesus to suffer at Jerusalem just without its gates represents the fact that He was cast off as a blasphemer and a rebel (“He stirreth up the people”), excommunicated and outlawed from among the nominal people of God, and thus died as an outcast from the nation. And all during this Gospel Age God’s faithful people have been “beheaded for the Witness, and for the Word of God” – with the nominal people of God being the instigators of their death. “He [the Papal “horn”] shall speak great words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High.” (Dan. 7:25) “They will expel you from the synagogues [from their assemblies]; but an hour is coming, when every one who kills you will think to offer service to God.” (John 16:2, Dia.) And by enduring such afflictions, we also suffer “outside the gate” – go “forth to Him without the Camp, bearing His reproach” – the shame and disgrace that was heaped upon Him.

And as such, St. Paul declared we have here “no continuing City” (no religious Government) – “your brethren that hated you, that cast you out.” (Isa. 66:5) The main feature of our doing good, and in offering sacrifice that is well pleasing to the Lord, is our faithful witness to the Truth. “For this I have been born; and for this I have come into the world, that I may testify to the Truth.” (John 18:37, Dia.) And note here the Berean comment: “It was this good confession before Pontius Pilate [His witness to the Truth] that cost our Lord His life.” He was indeed “without the gate” – beyond the pale of His Jewish brethren –  “He was numbered with the transgressors.”

“AS HE WAS”

“We know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has imparted to us of His spirit... As He is we also are in this world.” (1 John 4:13, 17, Dia.) Having “His spirit,” we must self–evidently have agape love – disinterested good will toward all men, but especially toward the Household of Faith. “He went about doing good”; and those with “His spirit” during this Age have also gone about doing good as they had opportunity. This in turn has brought upon them the opposition of the organized religion of their time. The Papacy, with its tremendous power through the Roman Government, and with its tenacious determination to annihilate the ‘heretics,’ produced the most heinous crimes against God’s faithful people. And those very sects thus persecuted – once they were well established, and their original good leadership had passed on – joined in to persecute the new reformers, those who were treading the same path that their own leaders had trodden. All of which left a sorry tale – no tribute to Christianity. The Presbyterians persecuted the Baptist and Servetian reforming brethren. The Episcopalians and Presbyterians persecuted the Congregational and Quaker reforming brethren. The Episcopalians moderately persecuted the Methodists. All of these in milder form persecuted the Christians and Adventists. And “in the time of Harvest” the hated “Russellites” were persecuted by Catholics and Protestants of all sects. They were indeed the “spotted birds” during the Parousia period.

And these persecutions were fanned to white heat after the outbreak of World War I, as is so graphically typed by the three Hebrews in the fiery furnace. Then indeed did they “heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated.” (Dan. 3:19) The memory of this is still vivid with some of our readers, as some of the brethren were badly manhandled – some even unto death; but with others experiencing almost miraculous delivery – “the fire had no power, nor was an hair of the head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.” (Dan. 3:27) And in that experience there had appeared a fourth one with them, whose “form is like the Son of God.” “In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the angel of His presence saved them.” (Isa. 63:9) Jesus Himself had much the same experience on various occasions, as His enemies tried to lay hold on Him, but could not because “His time was not yet come.”

The above details are presented as a special “Memorial” lesson – lest we also fall in the same manner of unchristian performance. Almost always during this Age the minority has been right, and the majority wrong. Truth people know of their own knowledge how true this was during the Parousia part of the Harvest; and, when one is fully convinced he is right, it is all the more difficult to exercise proper Christian restraint. There is a special lesson, given right at the Memorial season, of the two thieves on Calvary with Jesus. (Luke 23:39-43) The one of them, in his agony of the cross, “railed on Him, saying, IF thou be Christ, save thyself and us.” But the other one, in the same predicament, took a most commendable attitude, “rebuked him, saying, Dost thou not fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds [what we are getting here we have coming to us]: but this man hath done nothing amiss.”

It has often occurred to us that this one thief must have heard and been close to Jesus many times before he was crucified with Him. As Jesus fed the multitudes, and received gratuities from some of His wealthy admirers, it would be only logical that the flotsam and jetsam of the human race would be drawn to Him as a magnet attracts other metals. If they would become hungry, this Man would produce something; it is well to be around Him, even if we don’t go along with His teachings. Thus, this thief could know that Jesus had violated no human or Divine laws, which he himself had done. But in all this dialogue between the two, Jesus did not join, did not take the occasion to assert how right was the one thief that He was innocent. Here we have an example of perfection of fortitude – of resigning to a most cruel situation, having already said, “Thy will, not mine, be done.”

Jesus was disposed to be winsome. “All bare Him witness, and wondered at the gracious words that proceeded out of His mouth.” (Luke 4:22) He wanted the good opinion of others, so that on one occasion He asked the disciples, “Who do men say that the Son of Man is? They replied, Some, John the Immerser; some, Elijah; and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. Said Jesus to them, But who do you say that I am?” (Matt. 16:13-15, Dia.) He was intent upon knowing what impression He was making upon His listeners. Nor is He to be criticized for that. We often hear people say, “I don’t care what others think about me.” This is indeed a very shallow and unsound summation. If all men looked upon us in disagreeable manner, we would soon be forced outside the limits of human society – to the life of a hermit. And, as such, our opportunities for useful service to the Lord, the Truth and the Brethren would be ended. Of course, Jesus studiously avoided such a situation. He calmed, pacified, conciliated and delighted wherever and whenever He could do so without compromise. Even in the discussion between the thieves He did not attempt at all to answer the one who “railed on Him,” because He realized that nothing would be gained by it. The lesson for the occasion was better taught by allowing the friendly thief to answer. Here He left us an example of perfection – no doubt beyond the reach of any fallen man under the same circumstances.

And in all of this His faithfulness is predominately apparent – perfect loyalty to truth and righteousness, to the persons and things to which He had pledged Himself. “I delight to do Thy will, O my God, Thy law is written in My heart.” (Psa. 40:8) Just the very opposite is apparent on every hand today. Officials in high position are influenced by the “beggarly elements” to compromise their views, their conduct, even often their honesty – all of which has contributed overly much to the turmoil we see on every hand. This is what we should expect, of course, as we come nearer to the complete “time of the end.” But in it all we have again the example of Jesus for our guidance: “Jesus held His peace.” (Matt. 26:63) Apparently He was the most calm of all present on that turbulent night, knowing their intent, and what they would actually do in the morning; yet He kept His poise in perfect manner – so much so that He could turn and look at Peter after the cock crew. (Luke 22:61) It is little wonder that Peter never forgot that look!

IN REMEMBRANCE

It should be emphasized that there was but one Passover. But, “Ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons forever.” (Ex. 12:24) Each subsequent observation over the centuries has been but a “Memorial” of that all-important one that awesome night in Egypt. And there is also but one antitype: “Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.” To this day all orthodox Jews are most meticulous in their observance of the remembrance, although it varies considerably from the original Passover itself. Wine plays an important part in the observance; whereas, there was none with the original. And this apparently was considered proper, because Jesus Himself seemingly followed the custom of the time to use four different cups of wine on the night in which He was betrayed. Note Luke 22:17, 18: “He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves... I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the Kingdom of God shall come.” Then, further, in Luke 22:20: “Likewise also the cup after supper.” It was with this cup – “after supper” – that He instituted our Memorial: “This do in remembrance of Me.”

“And Moses said unto the people, Remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the Lord brought you out from this place.” (Ex. 13:3) The Jews were also commanded that when they would come into goodly Canaan land they should not forget that they were once “in bondage,” and not attempt to inflict such hardship upon their fellows. Canaan for Gospel–Age purposes types the sphere of the Truth and its spirit. And applying this antitypically, we, too, should “remember this day” – when we came from the “house of bondage” (when we were rescued from antitypical Egypt, the world in sin), and brought into goodly Canaan land, into the Truth and the spirit of the Truth. But there are the many who are still in antitypical Egypt, and toward such St. Paul offers the proper course for all of us: “In meekness correcting the opposers; perhaps God may give them a change of mind [even as He did with us] in order to a knowledge of the Truth.” (2 Tim. 2:25, Dia.)

With these comments comes the prayer that each reader may come to a clearer understanding of this service “in remembrance of Me,” that it will enable each one to “gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the Grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:13) And, “Be not anxious, then, about the morrow; for the morrow will claim anxiety for itself. Sufficient for each day is its own trouble.” (Matt. 6:34, Dia.) And complement to this we would add a line by a radio commentator: There are two days in the week we should not worry about – yesterday, and tomorrow!

The Jews were ordered to take up the lamb on Nisan 10, which gave them five days in which to contemplate the solemnity of the occasion, and the enormity of God’s power (“Is there anything too hard for the Lord?”). Antitypical of this the antitypical Lamb of God (Christ our Passover) rode into Jerusalem five days before He was offered up, at which time the people shouted, “Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.” (John 12:13) And it would seem proper for us also to anticipate our Memorial at least five days before its arrival by reading the chapter on the Passover in Parousia Volume 6, with some of the Scriptures pertinent thereto. And to this end we wish all Israel everywhere the Lord’s rich blessing in their preparation for and participation in this year’s Memorial on the evening of March 28.

“Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that Great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ; to Whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” (Heb. 13:20, 21) (Brother Hoefle, Reprint No. 177, March 1970)

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THE NEW MIND VS. THE MIND OF THE FLESH

 “To be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” (Rom. 8:6)

There is a distinction between the new mind and the new will which we all must recognize. The new will is the determination of the new mind. There must be some mind there in order to have a will, in order to reach a determination, and there must be knowledge upon which a will can be intelligently exercised. We are “born in sin, and shapen in iniquity” (Psa. 51:5); we have this natural tendency to begin with. Our minds at first conformed to earthly things, generally take the earthly view of matters, the selfish view. Then the Lord, through His providences, brings certain propositions to our attention and sets before us that there is another way, “a more excellent way”; that God is now holding out a special prize to those who will live contrary to the flesh and according to His will.

When this proposition reaches the individual, our Lord says that he should “sit down and count the cost.” He should not rashly say “Yes, yes”; but he should deliberate as to what this means – the cost in self-denials and the giving up of earthly preferences. After having counted the cost, and after having made the consecration his will or determination should be so set as not to allow it either to favor the flesh or to be guided by the flesh. He should resolve that henceforth whatever is God’s will shall be his will, whether he understand all about that will or not. He must, however, see the outlines of the Divine will and something of the advantages accruing, before he can form the decision. This is the class which the Father accepts and begets of His Holy Spirit.

The new mind may sometimes be misled by false reasoning of the flesh. Our natural minds have their preferences, ambitions, aims and desires and they sometimes argue about certain things, and say, “God never intended that should be given up; God would not expect you to do anything so unreasonable as that!” And so, perhaps, the New Creature is deceived, and allows the flesh to have its way; but Just so surely as it is a New Mind it has not intelligently nor willfully assented to a wrong course; but, as the Apostle says, “Sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me.” (Rom. 7:11) So there is a continual battle on the part of the new will, the New Creature, after being begotten of the Holy Spirit, and he must watch lest the adversary try to make him think that which is wrong to be right, and that which is right to be wrong. These, then, are snares which the adversary places for the feet of the New Creature, and he uses the flesh in connection with its ensnarement; but the New Creature in his will, his intention, must remain loyal to the Lord and to righteousness. If he yield his will to unrighteousness or ignore God’s will, then he has ceased to be a New Creature; the new things are passed away, and all things become old again. This is a condition, we understand, from which he can never be recovered. (Heb. 6:4-6)

In this connection, the Apostle James, in speaking of saving a soul from death, is evidently referring to one who is going into that careless condition where the new mind has become, as it were, stupefied, where the old mind has gotten the ascendancy over it. If we see one of the Lord’s people getting into such a condition, we should seek to restore him, “considering ourselves, lest we also be tempted” (Gal. 6:1); and those who do recover such an one “save a soul from death.” (James 5:20) Thus, brotherly kindness and assistance are specially commended of the Lord. A special blessing comes to all those who have an earnest desire thus to save an erring brother; a great reward is suggested for those who are successful in such an attempt.

HOW MAY WE KNOW WHEN WE ARE IN DANGER?

It might be asked how one could know when he was traveling toward that point of danger, so that he might arrest his progress. To one not blinded by the adversary, the point of deflection from harmony with God’s will would be as easily detected as would the border line between two States. The only ground upon which we were granted our present standing was our renouncement of sin and our consecration to the Lord – the giving up of our wills, complete surrender to Him; and thus we came into the position of having the imputation of Christ’s merit. If we should go back again and our will for righteousness become dead, this, of course, would imply that another will is there. We must have a will of some kind. If our will is no longer a righteous will, then it has gone across the border line and, according to the great Apostle, such never retrace their steps. “Christ dieth no more.” (Rom 6:9) There can be no more imputation of Christ’s merit to such. They have had their blessing and if they, as the Apostle says, “return like a dog to his vomit,” the step must prove fatal. (2 Peter 2:21,22)

True, the new mind at first is weak, undeveloped; and so the Scriptures represent the New Creature as being merely “a babe in Christ,” a babe in knowledge and a babe in the development of grace. But the Scriptures tell us that just as we care for a babe specially handle it, specially feed it, specially deal with it, and do not treat it as we would treat an adult – so the Lord proposes that He will deal with all those who are babes in Christ. “He will not suffer them to be tempted above that they are able to bear, but with every temptation will provide a way of escape.” (1 Cor. 10:13) The temptations will be permitted only in proportion to their feeble strength. He will supply for them the milk of the Word, that they may grow thereby, and gives them the assurance that all things shall work together for good to them. (Rom. 8:28)

The trials at the beginning, therefore, are commensurate with the weakness of the New Creatures. It is true in some instances, however, that the New Creature seems to have a great deal of courage and strength at the beginning – perhaps more than is ever exhibited afterward. This, of course, is not a satisfactory condition of things. We ought to go from grace to grace, from knowledge to knowledge; after a time, we ought to be teachers, as the Apostle says, and not need to be taught again the first principles of the doctrines of Christ. God deals with us now as New Creatures under the direction of the Head. He supervises all the interests of each member of the Body. All things, if properly accepted, are overruled of the Lord for good to us individually.

This is one of the great lessons of faith that the Lord’s people need to learn, even after they have been in the way a good while. There are some Christian people who seem to have the impression, or at least give it to others, that they did this and that or saw so and so by their own wisdom. True, we all should use all the wisdom and strength we have; but the Christian who is relying upon himself is in a very dangerous position and quite likely the Lord will find it necessary to give him a lesson. For a while it is his duty to rule his life so as to walk in the right paths, yet he needs continually to exercise faith in God and in the Lord’s oversight and direction of his affairs, for “the steps of a righteous man are ordered of the Lord.” If, in the Father’s providence, some of the circumstances connected with our earthly affairs turn in this or that direction, our hearts should look to the Lord for the lesson to be drawn therefrom, and thus be able to glorify God thereby. The Christian should never view any experience as being lucky or unlucky, but should remember that all things connected with him, if he be living close to the Lord are ordered and directed by the Lord. (Psa. 37:23) (Pastor Russell, Reprint 4628, June 1, 1910)

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THE FIRE OF THE DAY OF THE LORD

The earth . . . and the works therein shall be burned up.” (2 Peter 3:10)

If this text were the only one bearing upon the subject of the fire of this Day of the Lord we would conclude that it should be considered as literal; but it is not the only Scripture. Many other Scriptures which refer to this same fire show clearly that it is a symbolic fire of destruction that is coming. We can see that fire is very properly a symbol of destruction and is so used throughout the Scriptures – the lake of fire, for instance, “which is the second death.” (Rev. 20:14) We find that many Scriptures refer to the coming Time of Trouble. Some refer to it as a whirlwind of trouble; others as a tempest and flood – a flood shall sweep away the hiding places; mountains shall be removed and carried into the midst of the sea, etc. – as though there would be great earthquakes and sinking of the earth and flooding of the whole world. Yet other Scriptures speak of it as a burning fire. Manifestly it cannot be all three of these in a literal sense. Then there are other Scriptures which show that these expressions are used in a symbolic sense; for instance (Zeph. 3:8, 9), “Wait ye upon me, saith the Lord, until the day that I rise up to the prey; for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger; for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.” This seems to be a literal pouring out of something and a consuming of the earth with literal fire. But that it is not literal fire is proven by the very next sentence, which declares, “Then will I turn unto the people a pure language [message] that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve him with one consent.” Evidently the people would not remain if the earth is to be consumed with literal fire. But if, as the Scriptures show, the fire be symbolic, it is plain that people will still be here after the trouble. Then the Lord will, according to His promise, turn to them the pure message.

THE BABEL OF VOICES IN CHRISTENDOM

At the present time the message that the people receive is represented in many creeds, probably hundreds in all; hence the message is a very indistinct one and the Scriptures represent it as “Babel,” or confusion. One tongue or voice cries that the message of the Lord is free grace; another tongue or voice says it is election; a third says that only a few will get salvation; while another declares salvation will be universal; a fifth informs us that election is with water and that without the water no one will be saved. So a variety of voices is heard, and the poor world is not able to determine which is the truth. As a matter of fact they all have so much error that they condemn themselves in the minds of all reasonable people who have not been born in prejudice and steeped in error. When the Lord will turn this pure message to the people, Babylon will no longer be. She will have come to her end. The voice of the Lord will be known through the glorified Church, “And the Spirit and the bride shall say, ‘Come’! And whosoever will may come and drink of the water of life freely!” (Rev. 22:17) The Bride class are now on probation that it may be determined which will eventually be of that class. When the marriage of the Lamb shall have taken place, it will be the work of the “Spirit and the Bride to say ‘Come’... and whosoever will may take of the water of life freely.” This will be after the “burning” time is over; hence it proves that the fire refers to a Time of Trouble – a time of destruction against iniquity. The Lord’s anger will burn against all kinds of injustice and iniquity. Wrong doing, and wrong-doers will then be punished.

The Apostle’s statement respecting the Church implies that this judgment, or testing or fiery trial will begin with the church and extend to the world. If it “begin first with us” what will the end be to those who make no pretense of following the Gospel message? The Apostle again states that the “fire of that day shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.” (1 Cor. 3:13) This we understand to refer especially to the Church. Every one in the church is to be tried; his work is to be tried. However, in great measure it will be a trying time for all the world as well; all iniquity and injustice will be exposed, reprobated and destroyed. We see increasing instances of this of late – in the number of fire insurance presidents, for instance, who have been exposed. Fiery trails come upon them as the result of exposures etc. Some of these men undoubtedly hastened to the tomb, “burned” to death, we might say, by fiery trials. And a great deal of burning, heart-burning, and headaches and prostration are caused today by various exposures of one kind or another as the time advances. No doubt that Day will bring forth further developments and trouble until the prophecies respecting it shall have been completely fulfilled – until the picture of utter destruction of everything evil, both root and branch, is carried out. (Mal. 4:1) (Pastor Russell, Reprints 4627-462 8, June 1, 1910)

NO. 419A: WHAT KIND OF A MAN IS SADDAM HUSSEIN?

SPECIALNo.  419A

Dear Brethren: Grace and peace be multiplied!

Our political and military leaders are asking this question, “What kind of a man are we fighting?” The answer to this question was written in the Bible about 4,000 years ago. Abraham had two sons, Ishmael and Isaac: Ishmael by Hagar, an Egyptian, when Abraham’s wife Sarah was unable to conceive. Some years later God performed a bi­ological miracle and permitted Sarah to give Abraham a son Isaac, the “seed of promise.” These two sons of Abraham each had twelve sons which became two mighty nations which later became known as the nation of Israel and the Arab nation or Ishmaelites.

The Arabs or Ishmaelites are described in Genesis 16:12 (Rotherham): “But he will be a wild ass of a man, his hand against every one, and every one’s hand against him ­yet in presence of all his brethren shall he have his habitation.” In Genesis 16: 10, it states that Ishmael’s seed, the Arabs, “shall not be numbered for multitude.”

The Ishmaelites and posterity have lived by prey and plundering, robbers by land and pirates by sea. Genesis 16:12 states that Ishmael would dwell in the presence of all his brethren – viz., Moabites, Edomites and Israelites. They have been continually at war with the rest of the world and yet never defeated. They did not acknowledge Al­exander the Great as conqueror. Alexander objected to this insult and determined to punish the culprits but died before he could accomplish his mission.

When the Romans invaded the East and subdued adjoining countries they were never able to reduce Arabia to a Roman province. Time after time enemies sought to invade but were always forced out.

About the 7th Century A. D., Mohammed appeared on the scene and set the desert and the Mid East aflame. Ishmaelites under Mohammed strengthened and extended their power. Under his successors these Arabs, imbued with their new and false religion and their hereditary thirst for blood and pillage, developed into a ferocious horde and carried the Islam banner throughout Asia, Africa and even into Spain.

Since the fall of their Muslim empire, the Turks have made repeated attempts to subdue these Arabs, but instead of succeeding they have been obliged for several centu­ries to pay them yearly tribute, to permit the converted Turkish Moslems to have a safe passage to Mecca, the “Holy City” where Mohammed the Ismaelite was born.

Others, Gallas, Trajan, Pompey and Augustus, have been unsuccessful in conquering the Arabs – the Ishmaelites. Emperor Severus, a Roman, laid siege and even made a breach in their defenses, but insurrection broke out in the ranks. As an unseen power protected these Ishmaelites, Emperor Trajan sought to conquer them in about A; D. 110. Whirl­winds, swarms of flies, lightning, thunder, hail, apparitions in the sky, heat and thirst all helped to repulse these Italians every time they attacked.  And so down the stream of time God’s hand seems to have been on the Ishmaelites. In spite of commerce and in­tercourse with others, they remain the same fierce, savage, intractable people like their ancestors.

This people, with the Jews excepted, have for 4,000 years withstood the enmity as a distinct people from their beginning with Ishmael.

Compare Arabs and Jews:

(1) Both descendants of Abraham.

(2) Both practise circumcision.

(3) Both originally had 12 patriarchs or heads of tribes.

(4) Both marry among themselves.

A contrast: Israel scattered – Deut. 28:64; Ishmael stayed at home – Gen. 16:12.

The land promised to Abraham and his seed is given in Genesis 17:6-8: “And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.”

Also in Genesis 22:16-18: “And said By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore: and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.” The stars of the heaven and the sand which is upon the sea shore indicates a heavenly and earthly phase of Christ’s Kingdom. In Jeremiah 31:31 God promised to make a new Covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Ju­dah. When this covenant is established with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, He will bless them and through them “all the families of the earth . “

The Ishmaelites too will be blessed through the nation of Israel. “And as for Ishma­el, I have heard thee: Behold I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.” (Gen. 17:20)

In Isaiah 2:2,3 we read: “And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.”

The Jews are to be gathered from the four corners of the earth where they have been dispersed until God gathers them by the hunters and fishers. (Jer. 16:16) “And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.” (Isa. 11:12)

The headquarters of the Kingdom will be Jerusalem and from there flow throughout the world.

God did not promise Ishmael and his seed the land of Canaan. Isaac and his seed were promised the land from “the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphra­tes.” (Gen. 15:18–21; Ex. 23:31; Deut. 1:7,8; 11:24; Ez. 48:1–29)

A similar picture is presented in the two sons of Isaac: Jacob and Esau. Saddam Hussein will be defeated eventually because God has promised Canaan to the Jews. “He is faithful that promised.” (Heb. 10:23)

Your brother in His service,

Roy Ekroth

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A SAVIOR AND A GREAT ONE!

A ghastly sight shows in the shivering air

On Calvary’s brow:

The Savior of mankind, in love, hangs there;

While followers bow

The head low on the breast and sadly sigh,

“How can he be Messiah – if he die?”

A jeering mob surrounds the cursed knoll

And mocks the Lord;

Yet to his lips comes from his stricken soul

The precious word –

“Father forgive; they know not what they do

E’er o’er his face creeps dissolution’s hue.

“‘Tis finished,” rings in triumph through the sky;

He bows hishead.

And, while the querying soldiers mark the cry,

The Lord isdead.

All anguish past, his triumph doth begin,

The world is saved, a death blow dealt to sin.

A Sabbath’s journey from thecitygate,

With sorrowshod,

Two sad disciples bear their sorry weight

To theirabode.

The Christ appears, while holden are their eyes,

And doth expound wherefor Messiah dies.

Emmaus reached, the Lord would further go.

They gentlychide–

“Thou hast beguiled our weary tears, and so

With usabide.”

He brake their bread, – then vanished from their sight.

Their hearts did burn with holy joy that night.

The tale is old, but ever sweetly new,

Why Jesusdied.

The nail prints, doubting ones, he shows to you,

And in hisside

A spear thrust gapes – a passagerentapart,

For easy access to yourSavior’sheart.

It was for you, my brother, that he shed

His life sofree.

For you, for me, he bowed hisgodlikehead

On Calvary’s tree;

That trusting in the merit ofhisname,

We might be saved from sorrow, sin and shame.

The past sufficeth, surely, to have spent

In sinful deeds.

Come, join our band;  and be our footsteps bent

Where Jesus leads.

So in his righteousness serenely dressed

We’ll meet him face to face among the best.

H. Hardie