NO. 435: THE LAW OF MOSES - Part Two

No. 435

The Scriptural analysis of The Law of Moses is much more extensive than we had an­ticipated, believing at the outset that one paper would be sufficient; later events have determined us to now offer the second paper on the subject. So we proceed with an analysis of the 2nd Chapter of Galatians:

“I went up (to Jerusalem) by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preached among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation (the other Apostles), lest by any means I should run or had run, in vain. (v. 2) But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised (not be­ing under the Law of Moses): (v. 3)

“And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus (freedom from the Law of Moses), that they might bring us into bondage. (v.4) ‘To whom not even for an hour did we yield by sub­mission; in order that the truth of the glad tidings might remain with you, not entan­gled again with the yoke of bondage’ (yoke of the Law of Moses – v. 5, Diaglott transla­tion: also see Gal. 5:1,13)

“Those who seemed to be ... somewhat in conference added nothing to me: (v. 6) But contrariwise, when they saw the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me (freedom from the Law of Moses), as the gospel of circumcision was unto Peter; (v. 7) For he – the Lord – that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circum­cision – the Jews – the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles): (v. 8)

“And when James, Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship (knowing that these two were preaching freedom from the Law of Moses); that we should go unto the Gentiles, and they unto the circumcision. (v. 9)

“When Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face in that he was to be blamed (v.11 – for trying to make distinction between the Jews – under the law – and the Gentiles, who were not under the Law). Before certain persons came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated him­self (forgetting the truths he learned at the time of the conversion of Cornelius—­Acts 10:44-48), fearing them which were of the circumcision. (v. 12)

And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was car­ried away with their dissimulation. (v. 13) But when I saw that they walked not up­rightly according to the truth of the gospel (that the Gentiles were not then, and never had been under the Law), I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews? (v. 14 – Paul had a very fine logical mind, and he was emphat­ically demonstrating it here)

“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even as we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. (v. 16 – There could be no plainer words to express this truth) I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. (v. 19 – “We walk by faith”) I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me (“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me”); and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me. (v. 20) I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” (v. 21 – No need for a savior if we are al­ready justified by the works of the Law)

There are numerous other Scriptures that could be given here, but we believe the foregoing are quite sufficient to any one reading without prejudice. Jesus and the Apostles are very clear in enumerating what our conduct should be – covering the moral concepts of the Ten Commandments – but they never at any time said that we should keep the Ten Commandments, which would have all the sins we should not commit. Nor is our purpose to tell any one they should not keep the moral laws of the Ten Commandments (ten words) as best they can, just as did the faithful Jews, because it is a perfect law. However, keeping Saturday, or the Sabbath, is not a moral law – although it would be well for us to keep a day out of every seven to rest and have more time for the wor­ship and study of God’s word. There is no emphasis by Jesus or the Apostles to “keep the sabbath day holy” – although Jesus was born under the Law and He kept the Sabbath, as well as all the Ten Commandments, as only a perfect man could do. But the Pharisees criticized Him, saying that He broke the Sabbath.

CONCERNING THE SABBATH

In the fourth “Word” of the decalogue we are told, “Remember the Sabbath Day, to keep it holy.” (Ex. 20:8-11) Thus, it needs no argument that the Sabbath is an indis­pensable part of the Ten Words. And, if the other nine “Words” are binding upon us (Gentiles and Christianized Jews), then this fourth “Word” is also binding upon us. But here again, we find no place in the New Testament where we are commanded to keep the Sabbath. Nor is there any record that the Apostles kept it after the departure of Jesus. In fact, no Commandment was given by Jesus or the Apostles to the Church to keep the Sabbath.

But the record is very clear that the Apostles and others did observe Sunday in much the same manner as the Jews attempted to keep the Sabbath, although, even here, none of them advocated the exacting restrictions for Sunday that the Jews had been doing for Saturday. However, it is very clearly of record that this fourth “Word” was cre­ating some uproar among the early Christians, which prompted the Apostle Paul to write: “Let no man judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holy day ... or of the sabbath days.” (Col. 2:16) In 1 Cor. 16:2 there is something that clearly militates against the Saturday Sabbath: “The first day of the week (Sunday) let every one of you lay by him in store,” etc. Also, Acts 20:7: “The first day of the week (Sunday) the disciples came together to break bread.”

Furthermore, Rom. 14:5: “One man esteemeth one day above another: another es­teemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.” Some Chris­tians have what is almost a fanatical obsession about observing Saturday as the Sabbath; but it should be clear enough from these Scriptures that the Apostle Paul was not one of them. However, we would not advise vituperative wrangling with those who hold to Saturday; rather, we would lay hold upon Paul’s words “esteem every day alike.” We believe this is sound solid ground for all who name the name of Christ in sincerity and in Truth, although we are very much in favor of having at least one day each week – Satur­day if you like; Sunday if you like – for rest from physical labor or business a rec­ognized arrangement throughout every sect of Christendom

So strongly had this Sunday observance become fixed in the minds of the Christian world, that it had become impossible to dislodge it. After the French Revolution ­which followed rapidly upon the heels of the American Revolution – the atheistic revo­lutionairies determined to obliterate every vestige of Christianity, so they decreed a ten-day week; but they soon learned that their ten-day week was fully unworkable; and the French are now back on the seven-day week and the general observance of Sunday as the day of rest.

Not only do we have seven days in a week, but we also have seven churches and seven spirits (Rev. 1:4; 3:1); seven seals (Rev. 5:1); seven horns and seven eyes (Rev. 5:6); seven trumpets (Rev. 8:2; seven thunders (Rev. 10:3); seven last plagues (Rev. 15:1); and seven vials (Rev. 21:9). From all these citations it should be apparent that the figure seven is a Divine number, and should not quickly be set aside in any of our calculations.

And, in a final effort to stop all argument about this matter, we now quote Rev. 1:10: “I (John the Apostle) was in the spirit on the Lord’s day” – not Saturday, but Sunday. And this is that “disciple whom Jesus loved,” who was reclining in His bosom on that last night when He gave those sweeping instructions to His “friends.” Indeed, to the Christian every day is Sabbath, every day should be used as holy to the Lord, and nothing should at any time be done contrary to the Divine will or the principles of right­eousness and the Divine government. Jesus’ declaration that He was Lord of the Sabbath reminds us afresh of St. Paul’s declaration that God the Father rested from His work on the seventh day; He left the work entirely for Jesus to do. The seventh day of Jeho­vah’s rest was one of the great days of the creative weeks – each being seven thousand years long. “For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.” (Heb. 4:10) And those who have thus entered will have “The peace of God, which passeth all understanding” – and He shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Phil. 4:7)

SOME TELLING COMPARISONS

It needs little argument that the Law of Moses is among the most prominent of Old Testament teachings, the Ten Commandments being the central point of this Law. And with this great truth staring us in the face, is it not most strange that the Ten Command­ments – as such – are not even mentioned in the New Testament? It is true that Jesus referred to them when He speaks of the Law; and they are indirectly recognized in a few other instances, but without specific declaration of the Ten Commandments. Is it indeed not strange that Jesus would have definitely stressed them, had it been the Divine purpose that we are now judged by the Ten Commandments as was true with the Jews in the Old Testament? Yet we have this in John 14:21: “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them he it is that loveth me.” And the question properly injects itself here: What are His Commandments?

Before discussing His Commandments, we would stress once more that the Law given to Israel at Mount Sinai – and summarized in the Ten ‘Words’ – was not given to any other nation or people. However, we would emphasize that it is upon the Jew still (ex­cepting those that have accepted Jesus and become Christians), and is a bondage upon them only because it was made a part of God’s Covenant with that nation. That Covenant was to give them certain special and exclusive blessings – if they would keep it; and certain punishments if they would not keep it. As to the Gentiles, they have been more or less a Law unto themselves, regulated somewhat by the exacting laws of nature, and the sins of the fathers have been visited upon the third and fourth generation. (Ex. 20:5) Most of us have witnessed some of the terrible results of such visitation, but we shall not discuss them here.

However, we make note here once more that none of the Jews received the blessings promised by that Law – because none of them could keep it, try as some of them honestly did. St. Paul says of himself that he was “a Pharisee of the Pharisees”; and of the three prominent sects in Israel – the Pharisees, the Saducees and the Essenes – the Pharisees were most zealous in their attempt to keep the Law. But, as the great Apostle says of himself – What he thought was life unto life for him, proved death unto death un­to him. Thus, we find in his writings, as above described, why he was so outspoken in his discussions regarding the inability of the Jews to keep that Law. And Jesus Himself had said unto them, “Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law?” (John 7:19) But we would add here also that those Ancient Worthies who strove faithfully and loyally to keep the Law will in due time receive their reward therefor. (Heb. 11:38-40)

THREE COMMANDMENTS FOR CHRISTIANS

Followers of Jesus from amongst the Gentiles – true Christians – never were under the Law of Moses. Such come into God’s family under a different covenant – the one which reads, “Gather my saints together unto me, those who have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.” (Psa. 50:5) Jesus, after keeping fully all the conditions and require­ments of the Law Covenant – under which He was born – was permitted to respond to this Covenant of Sacrifice. He was the first, the Chief, the Head of the Household of Saints who entered into this covenant of sacrifice with God – agreeing to sacrifice His earthly life and all its rights in the doing of the Father’s will even unto death. It was His faithfulness in this that gained for Him the better resurrection to glory, honor and immortality.

THE FIRST AND SECOND COMMANDS

Speaking of the spirit of the Law, applicable to angels, to the world of mankind, and to Christians, Jesus declared it to be briefly comprehended in two commandments. The first of these is, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, mind, being and strength.” The second is, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” Every Chris­tian and every angel recognizes that law and feels a responsibility to it to the extent of his ability; but neither angels nor Christians are under the Law Covenant – that Cov­enant was made only with the nation of Israel.

Every follower of Jesus should realize that if he has enlisted under the banner of Divine righteousness and truth, he has pledged his very life in this service as a soldier of the cross. How then could he do less than his very best in loving and serving his heavenly Father with all his mind, being and strength? How could he decline the Divine requirement to love his neighbor as himself – to be kind, generous, and not selfish? True, he may find difficulty in devoting all of his mind and strength to the Lord, and in dealing in perfect fairness with all his fellow-creatures. But this is the true Christian’s desire and intention; and to accomplish this he must strive daily, and war a good warfare against his inherited and acquired weakness.

OUR THIRD COMMANDMENT

At first it might appear that the two commandments mentioned above include every­thing that could be required by justice; and so they do. Justice requires nothing more than what these two commands include. Why then a third one – a new one over and above anything required by justice? In answer we would reply that this third command­ment is only to those who become the disciples of Jesus. He voluntarily put this regu­lation upon Himself, and offered His life sacrificially – something that was not justly required of Him.

Jesus, therefore, did more than the Mosaic Law required of Him. Therefore, when ex­plaining to His disciples what would be required of them – something which would grant them a share in His kingdom – He declared a third commandment: “A new commandment I give unto you – that ye love one another as I have loved you.” (John 13:34) This was a part of His last comments to them the night before He died on the cross. St. Paul points out that Christ loved us to the extent of dying for us – “Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” – and “Ye are my friends.” Thus all of the true followers of Jesus – Christians to the fullest degree – should likewise count it a joy and a privilege to lay down their lives in the service of their brethren. “Christ suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow in his steps.” (1 Pet. 2:21); “We ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” (1 John 3:16)

This commandment goes far beyond the requirements of the Mosaic Law – a law of strict justice toward all men. But toward those of our brethren in the Household of Faith we must go beyond the strict requirements of justice: We are to love them, as He loved us, and gave Himself for us. This may at first seem an easy matter; but, when we consider that “not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called (to be “footstep followers”) .... but God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty” (l Cor. 1:26, 27); then it becomes much easier for us to understand this third commandment. Jesus Himself was far superior to those humble fishermen He had attracted unto Himself; yet St. Paul tells us, “He is not ashamed to call them brethren.” (Heb. 2:11) “Hereby we know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren.” (1 John 3:14) This sort of conduct is not even mentioned in the Law at all. The Ten Commandments are a very far step be­low the “new commandment,” which Jesus gave the night before He died; and a proper appraisal of this point will enable us readily to analyze properly the Law of Moses and place it in proper perspective with the “new commandment” given us by Jesus. We must remember that a faithful Christian not only keeps the moral laws of the Ten Commandments to the best of his ability, but in addition to that he should live above the Law of justice, sacrificing his all in the service of the Lord, the Truth and the breth­ren. No one is commanded to do that except those who have made a “covenant by sacrifice” with God.

GOD’S GREAT COVENANTS

The Old Testament offers three great covenants between God and man. The first of these was the oath-bound covenant made with Abraham: “By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, because ... thou hast not withheld thy son ... In blessing I will bless thee, .... thy seed as the stars of heaven, and as the sand of the seashore ... And in thy seed shall all nations of the earth be blessed.” (Gen. 22:15-18) Of the three covenants, this one is the only unilateral covenant. Herein God promises to do certain things without demanding any agreement of price or cooperation. Also, we should keep in mind that at the time this covenant was declared there was no written Bible. That did not come until Sinai, the Law Covenant made with Moses as Mediator. And the third is the New Covenant (Jer. 31:31-34). Thus, Abraham had no written precedent for what he did ­simply because the angel of God told him to do it.

St. Paul writes of Abraham that he was “the father of the faithful” (Rom. 4:16), and that faith would be the justifier of all who followed in his steps. Also in Rom. 4:15 the same Apostle says “the Law (of Moses) worketh wrath” to all who seek justifica­tion under it. Paul eulogizes this unilateral covenant with Abraham (which should even­tually bless us all through faith): “When God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he swear by himself, saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee.” (Heb. 6:13, 14)

But there was some purpose in the Law Covenant, and let us not overlook that: It not only manifested the pathetic weakness of the Jews, but it also provided certain typ­ical transactions and prophecies, which benefited the Jews; but benefited even moreso those who would accept Jesus – become Christians – during this Gospel Age.

The Abrahamic Covenant needed no mediator; it was unilateral and self-sufficient. But such was not the case with the Law Covenant. Moses mediated that covenant, because it offered certain advantages to the Jews, as it also required from them certain compli­ances – which they promised to do, but were unable to comply because of their inherited weaknesses. Moses – great intellect and grand character that he was – recognized this vaguely; and St. Peter comments on this in Acts 3:22,23: “Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like un­to me (Jesus primarily, and those who would truthfully and faithfully join His Chris­tian army); him shall ye hear.” That “prophet” has been developing during this Gospel Age, but will not become operative in its grandest fullest sense until the New Covenant is established, with the Christ as Mediator a better, a perfect antitype of Moses at Sinai.

The New Covenant will have a Mediator until all Adam’s race will have been per­fected physically. At the beginning of the Little Season the Mediator will step out and the perfected race will stand trial for life or death as did Adam. All found worthy of eternal life will be a king – “inherit the kingdom.” (Matt. 25:34) That Kingdom which begins at the start of the Millennial reign under the New Covenant, will continue throughout all eternity. There will be no need of an additional New Covenant after the earth is restored to its Edenic condition – just as there would have been no need of any other Covenants if Adam had not violated his obligation in Eden; God had emphatically told him, “In the day thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely die.” But when the New Covenant has accomplished its purpose, “there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, or crying ... for the former things are passed away.” (Rev. 21:4)

However, during the progress of that reign, until it has fully accomplished its purposes the world will be under a Mediator – exactly as was the case with Israel – except that the Mediator will accomplish what Moses could not do. Then, “The spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” (Rev. 22:17) During the Mediatorial reign the Mediator – better than Moses – will have absolute control of the whole human family. It will be an absolute monarchy; but a benevolent monarchy. “There shall be no night (error) there ... The Lord giveth them light.” (Rev. 22:5)

BY ONE MAN’S DISOBEDIENCE

“By one man (Adam) sin entered into the world, and death by sin, so death passed upon all men.” Here is a clear statement that we are all dying, but not because of anything specially that we have done; it is something we have inherited. Therefore, the Apostle states further, “Death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression.” Adam knowingly invited the sentence of death – something none of us have done. But there is provided a way of es­cape for all of us: “By one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedi­ence of one (Jesus) shall many be made righteous.” (Rom. 5:19)

Clearly enough, each of us will have an individual chance, a trial for everlast­ing life – free from the injury that “passed-upon us” through the transgression in Eden. Full provision has been made for this – Christ tasted “death for every man.” (Heb. 2:9) The “due time” for some for this has been in this Gospel (Good News) Age; but for the large majority it will be in the next Age – when the Kingdom reign will eliminate all the evil that has been passed on to us.

In the next Age those only will die who have had a full trial, based upon their own cooperation and choosing. They will be the unconverted, those who willfully and knowingly prefer evil to good. But none will die because of ignorance – as is the case with so many now. And along with their education will come the ability to obey – which to obey perfectly is beyond all of us in this Age. One of the finest intellects of this Age said of himself, “When I would do good, evil is present with me.” (Rom. 7:21) And all of us may say the same!

The same Apostle also wrote, “God desires all men to be saved, and to come to an accurate knowledge of the truth.” (1 Tim. 2:4, Dia.) In Isa. 65:20 we are told that “the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed.” Thus all will be given a hundred years to make some progress toward perfection; but those who reject that hundred-­years trial will be considered hopeless – “shall be accursed.” There are still many in Christendom who believe that those “accursed” ones will be sentenced to an eternity of torment in the fires of Hell, but a little reflection will dislodge that belief. None of us are here because of anything we have done – “the gift of God is life” (Ram. 6:23). To offer a practical example easy of understanding, we might suggest that a wealthy man would give a poor one $25,000, which he would expect the recipient to use wisely. But, instead, the recipient embarks upon a spree of hilarity and debauchery ­very displeasing to the donor. However, since the $25,000 was not invited by the poor man, the only reasonable and fair way for the giver would be to ask for the return of what is left of the $25,000. And that is exactly what the Lord will do with willful sinners: “The wages of sin is death,” (Rom. 6:23) This statement leaves no logical argument against it!

Such willful sinners are described as the messengers of Satan and sin; and all such will go into eternal extinction – they will die the second death, from which there will be no resurrection. The whole “plan” of salvation is designed to rescue all who will be amenable to it. “According to the eternal purpose which he hath purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Eph. 3:11) Note now the Diaglott translation of this same text: “According to a plan of the ages, which he formed for the anointed Jesus our Lord.”

SUMMARY OF THE THREE GREAT COVENANTS

As stated, the Abrahamic Covenant is first in order of time and importance. This covenant has two parts. The first applies to the spiritual seed of Abraham, the Christ, head and body – the antitype of Isaac (“We, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise” (Gal. 4:28); or, in another figure, of Isaac and Rebecca. These are the seed of Abraham – the seed of promise – not fleshly, but spiritual.

The second part of that covenant applies to the world of mankind – “all the fami­lies of the earth.” These are to be blessed by the spiritual seed with an opportunity of becoming Abraham’s natural seed, and heirs with him, of the earth and the fullness thereof. The conditions upon which they may obtain God’s favor, and a restitution to all that was lost, are that they shall exercise faith, and render obedience to the Divine provision which shall be represented in Messiah’s kingdom, when it shall be inaugurated.

The seed of Abraham – Jesus and the Church, His Body – is the legitimate heir of this Abrahamic Covenant, wholly regardless of the Law Covenant, which was made with Is­rael at Sinai, or of the New Law Covenant that is to be made with Israel at the close of the Gospel Age – after Jacob’s Trouble has run its full course, and the new Kingdom is officially declared at Jerusalem. As stated, the Law Covenant and the New Covenant are essentially different from the Abrahamic Covenant, in that the Abrahamic Covenant – the first covenant – is unilateral, whereas the last two are bilateral – a fact that is well to keep in mind at all times. Also, the Abrahamic Covenant had no mediator; but the Law Covenant had Moses as its mediator, and the New Law Covenant will have Messiah – the spir­itual heir of the Abrahamic Covenant – as its Mediator.

The Abrahamic Covenant needed no mediator; for there are no terms and conditions upon which to base a mediation. In it God merely declared His purpose to develop a seed of Abraham, by certain selective processes of His own, and to bless and honor this seed in connection with the remainder of mankind. This selective seed of Abraham, as the Apostle points out, is Christ and the Church – God’s elect. (Gal. 3:8,16, 29; Rom. 8:29, 30) This selective process has been proceeding during this entire Gospel Age; and is now nearing its final declaration and completion.

SECOND AND THIRD COVENANTS – TYPE AND ANTITYPE

The second covenant, in order of time, was the Law Covenant. (Ex. 19:3-8) It was an addition to the Abrahamic Covenant, which addition, however, did not interfere with the original covenant. It was typical – typical mediator (Moses) – typical sacrifices of Bulls and goats, a typical Atonement Day, a typical Holy and Most Holy in the taber­nacle made with hands.

The third and last is the New Law Covenant – to be instituted in the future. (Heb. 8:6-13) This will not set aside, or make null or void, the original Abrahamic Cove­nant of grace, any more than could the Law Covenant of Sinai. However, the New Law Covenant cannot be introduced, sealed, made operative, until the Abrahamic Covenant shall have produced the seed of Abraham and invested Him with glory, honor and Divine majesty. Then this antitypical Moses – the Christ complete, Head and Body – will mediate between God and the world of mankind for a thousand years. (Rev. 20:4) The basis of this New Covenant’s blessings will be the merit of Jesus (the Messiah) – as against the blood of bulls and goats in the Law Covenant. But this merit will not become operative and insti­tute restitution (Acts 3:19-21) until first the entire seed of Abraham – Head and Body ­shall be complete; and it cannot be completed until all the sacrificing has been com­pleted – in exact duplication of the sacrifices of the Law Covenant. In this New Cove­nant the Head was completed over nineteen hundred years ago – typified by the bullock of the Atonement Day sacrifices of Israel. The sacrifice of the antitypical goat (Lev. 16:8 – “one goat for the Lord” – the Little Flock, His body) has been going on all during this Age since the year 33 A.D., and is just about completed.

Very shortly after this sacrificing has been completed there will be ushered in the blessings of the Messianic Kingdom – “Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.” These blessings will be secured to mankind by the great Mediator’s ap­plication of His sacrifice on their behalf. Then the “Lord’s Prayer” will have its an­swer! “Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it. Then indeed it will be, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

More On The Seventh Day – Reasonable people, regardless of their religious convic­tions, are ready to admit the wisdom, the expediency, yea, the necessity, for a Sabbath day, a day of rest once a week. But those of us who are not Jews by nature and not under the Law Covenant are not bound by its limitation that the Sabbath should be on the seventh day of the week. Indeed, neither Jesus nor the Apostles ever placed the Gospel Church under the Law Covenant at all. They tell us that those under it were the “house of ser­vants” in bondage, and that we are the “house of sons,” if we “stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free.”

This does not mean liberty or freedom to do wrong. But since Christians are not limited to the land of Palestine, it leaves us free to follow the spirit of the Law rather than its letter. This is true of the entire Ten Commandments, as well as of the fourth. The Heavenly Father does not address His children of the Gospel Age with commandments not to kill, not to steal, etc., because such commandments to them would be unnecessary. They love God and reverence Him alone, and would not think of homaging images, nor of profaning the Holy Name, nor of doing injury to a neighbor or a brother. Faithful Christians’ love for God would lead them to honor His Name, to serve His Cause. And their love for their neighbor as for themselves would prompt them to render him service – “doing good unto all men as we have opportunity, especially to the Household of Faith.” (Gal. 6:10) All the faithful in other groups also are of the Household of Faith, and therefore are our breth­ren, regardless of our differences of opinion regarding the Word of God. This love, the Apostle assures us, is the fulfillment of the Law, so far as we are concerned – the ful­filling of the spirit of the Law – for “ye are not under the Law (Covenant), but under (the) Grace (Covenant).” (Rom. 6:14; Gal. 3:29)

There is this in the Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. One, p. 45: “The Decalogue is a brief synopsis of the whole law. Those Ten Commandments enjoin a code of worship and morals that must strike every student as remarkable; and if never before known, and now found among the ruins and relics of Greece, or Rome, or Babylon (nations which have risen and fallen again, long since those laws were given), they would be regarded as marvelous if not supernatural. But familiarity with them and their claims has begotten measurable indifference, so that their real greatness is unnoticed except by the few. True, those commandments do not teach of Christ; but they were given, not to Christians, but to the Hebrews; not to teach faith in a ransom, but to convince men of their sinful state, and need of a ransom. And the substance of those commandments was grandly epitomized by the illustrious founder of Christianity, in the words: ‘Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy mind, and with all thy strength’; and ‘Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.’ (Mark 12:30,31)”

In this connection, we consider a little more from Col. 2:14, Dia.: “ordinances which was against us.” We stress here that the “us” in this text refers exclusively to the Jews, and to no others. But to those who accepted Christ that “handwriting” was lifted from them, although it did not do so to those Jews who refused to accept Him. Thus those Ten Commandments were not abolished, nor will they ever be abolished. When the New Covenant is inaugurated, those same ten “Words” will be the basis for that Covenant. Dur­ing that Kingdom, “He shall send Jesus Christ...... Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.” (see Acts 3:19-21) Mankind will then be fully able to keep that Law, because they will have perfect bodies and minds before they are required to do so – exactly as was Adam before his transgression, and exactly as was Jesus when He was here. So when He said, I come to “fulfill the Law,” He was telling us that He could do it; but at no time did He ever tell His Disciples that they too should keep the Law, because He knew they were unable to do so.

It is our fond hope that our two articles on the Law of Moses have been informative and a blessing to all our readers. “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean NOT TO THINE OWN UNDERSTANDING.” (Prov. 3:5)

Sincerely your brother, John J. Hoefle, Pilgrim

(Reprint No. 310, April 1981)

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NO. 434: THE LAW OF MOSES – Part One

No. 434

In Luke 24:44 Jesus expresses the three component parts of the Old Testament: the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms. By “the Law” Jesus meant the writings of Moses – the Pentateuch, or the first five books of the Old Testament. By “the Prophets” He meant the prophecies of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, etc. (the Prophets being sub­divided into the Major and the Minor prophets). And by “the Psalms” He meant the Psalms, The Book of Job, Proverbs, etc., the same being the more or less sentimental writings; and we believe that all of us will agree that there is much of sentiment in those writings.

To digress here just a little, we would offer the four component parts of the New Testament: the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John); the Acts of the Apostles; the Epistles (beginning with Romans and ending with the letter by Jude); and the Apoca­lypse – Revelation. Thus we have pointed out to us the seven parts of the Bible, the “seven” revealing the Divine origin of the inspired writings, which we designate as the Bible.

MORE SPECIFIC DETAIL

Many good Christian people regard “the Law” as a reference to the Ten Commandments given to Moses by God, as set out in the 20th Chapter of Exodus, vs. 2 through 17. This is definitely true, of course; but in Psa. 119:97 there is this: “O how I love thy law! It is my meditation all the day.” “The Law” here, however, embraces much more than the Ten Commandments: It refers to the entire Bible, which is indeed the “medita­tion” of all true believers. Next, it would refer to that part of the Bible as ex­pressed by Jesus – the first five books of the Bible; then in the very narrow sense, the Ten Commandments. The revelatory and strictly religious features of the Law have their beginning in Exodus 12, where the Passover was instituted, and which definitely ends that period from the Covenant with Abraham to the Exodus – a period of four hundred and thirty years. (Gal. 3:17) The minute exactness of this period is stressed in Ex. 12:51: “It came to pass the selfsame day, that the Lord did bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their armies.” And here we have the beginning of the Law ­begun by the Passover and elaborated in great detail in the remainder of the Pentateuch. It is well we keep this in mind in all our studies of this subject.

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

Many sincere people consider the Ten Commandments as the Law of Moses; but they are just the nucleus of that Law. The Ten Commandments are the mandatory feature of the Law of Moses – divided into parts, “Thou shalt” and “Thou shalt not.” The secon­dary part of the Law of Moses is the Ceremonial features – much more extensive, much more complicated, and much less understood – although we would stress here that the manda­tory features of that Law are also greatly misunderstood by many sincere people.

In Lev. 18:5 the Lord said unto Moses: “Ye shall therefore keep my statutes: which if a man do, he shall live in them.” This was certainly welcome news to the Jews: they would continue to live if they kept that law, and that they promised to do. They did not realize that this was a perfect Law, which as imperfect beings, they were total­ly unable to keep. When Jesus began His ministry at the age of thirty, the Jews shortly began to accuse Him of ignoring, or setting aside, this Law which was so sacred to them. And in response, Jesus said, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.” (Matt. 5:17) And this He did “fulfill” (fill full that Law); but the Jews did not recognize that He was perfect, and could keep that perfect law, which they were unable to do. Thus, the best of them, those who very earnestly endeavored to keep that law, continued to die; and this is a vivid proof to the unbiased mind that they were unable to keep that Law.

The Law is set forth in the 20th Chapter of Exodus, vs. 2 through 17. In referring to this section of Scripture the word “commandment” is not strictly correct. In Hebrew it is properly given as “word”; thus, the first word, the second word, etc. As a brief summary, we would express the first “word” thus: “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” And the second “word”: “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image.” The third “word”: “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy god in vain.” The fourth: “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.”

The second table of the Law begins with the fifth “word”: “Honor thy father and thy mother”; the sixth “word,” “Thou shalt not kill”; the seventh, “Thou shalt not com­mit adultery”; the eighth, “Thou shalt not steal”; the ninth, “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor”; and the tenth, “Thou shalt not covet.” Much elab­oration could be offered on the foregoing, but that is not primarily the purpose of this writing.

As most of our readers know, we often become involved in extensive controversy re­garding our understanding of the interpretation of the Scriptures; and these ten “words” are no exception. Just recently we became involved with a Brother about these words, and especially so on the one concerning “The sabbath day.” And our main reason now for writing this article is to help our readers to a better understanding of this subject. Thus we reproduce some of the questions involved, with our answers, in the hope that our readers will profit thereby. But before proceeding, we would offer the opinion that the Ten Commandments (“words”) are a grand law of justice, since they embrace every duty of God’s creatures to Him and to one another – perfection from every standpoint – and this does indeed prove them to be the inspired word of God. And believing this, it should immediately become apparent that in nowise do we wish to abrogate – or even miti­gate – any part of those ten “words.”

Now, for some of the questions: “Doesn’t your belief in the Creation Week help the evolution­ists in their false teachings, since it does away with the Sabbath?”

Answer: “Regarding the Ten Commandments, it seems we have a little different under­standing on that – although you believe in them, even as I do. But no man has been able to keep the Ten Commandments – neither the Jew nor the Christian. Only the perfect man Jesus was able to keep a perfect law. Paul says, ‘having blotted out what was written by hand (the two tables of the Law, the Ten Commandments) in ordinances which were against us, and removed it from our midst, having nailed it to the cross.’ (Col. 2:14, Dia.) We know the Jews were able to keep the ceremonial features, because the High Priest was told to do it all exactly as Moses gave it – that he die not. And there is no record that any of the High Priests died because of failure to perform the ceremon­ial features – regardless of their moral delinquencies. However, the Ten Commandments were the ‘written Law,’ but not the ceremonial features. The latter were all given orally to Moses.”

Moses told the Jews that they would live if they kept the Law (Lev. 18:5); but they soon learned that they could not keep the Ten Commandments, because they all con­tinued to die. Jesus, being perfect, was able to keep the Law, and proved it by what He did; He knew that we could not keep it – thus He nailed it to His cross. St. Paul writes, “I was alive without the Law once (in the Abrahamic covenant); but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.” (Rom. 7:9) St. Paul says, “We do not make void the law through faith.” (Rom. 3:31) In answer to this we quote from Rom. 10:4: “Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” Also, “Love is the fulfilling of the law.” (Rom. 13:10) If our life is motivated by that love – love for God and love for man – we are fulfilling the law, which is the same for all who “walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” (Rom. 8:1)

We are in full agreement that we should keep the Law to the best of our ability, because it is a perfect law. All these moral laws are incorporated in the New Testa­ment, however, but there is nothing said about keeping the Ten Commandments. Should we fall short on any of them through weakness of the flesh, we should immediately go to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in the time of need. (Heb. 4:16) At the same time we are fully convinced that none of us have the ability to keep a perfect law – although we can keep it in spirit. As Gentiles, we were never under the Mosaic law; therefore, when Jesus “nailed it to His cross” it was only for the Jews that He did that; and He did that only for those Jews that became Christians ­footstep followers of Him. All other believing Jews are still under that law, but none of them can keep it; that is why they all continue to die. “Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments; which if a man do he shall live in them: I am the Lord.” (Lev. 18:5) And those Jews who kept the Law as best they could were blessed.

Some of those Jewish heroes are mentioned in Chapter 11 of Hebrews, but there is nothing said about their having kept the Law. In fact, some of them lived many years before the law even appeared. It is clearly stressed that they were victors “by faith.” Also, some of them mentioned grossly violated the law, but later repented. Consider, for instance, the case of David. The Law was then here – and David knew it – yet he grievously violated it. But the Apostle Paul includes his name with the heroes of the Old Testament. David’s heart was always right before God, but not toward man. (1 Kgs. 11:4; 15:5; 1 Sam. 13:14) But there is no doubt that he had that “godly sorrow that worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of.” (2 Cor. 7:10) The same with Rahab, the harlot, whose life was a gross violation of the law, yet her faith in the God of the Hebrews places her in the select company of the Old Testament heroes. (Heb. 11:31) So they lived “above the Law” in many respects, and “by faith” and repentance because of their fleshly weakness in violating the perfect law, were reinstated in the “Household of Faith.”

In the third and fourth chapters of Galatians St. Paul treats of this subject in some detail; and in Gal. 3:22–24 he tells us that we are saved by faith, not by keep­ing the Law. “The law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ.... then (v. 25): “But after faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.” Here is a very clear and plain statement by a onetime Jew, that “we are (the Jews who accept Christ by faith) no longer under a schoolmaster.” However, those faithful Jews who are mentioned in Hebrews Chapter 11 lived above the law: they lived by faith – although punished where they violated the Law they did not keep, as in the case of David.

Here we cite Martin Luther’s fundamental doctrine (by which he mutilated the Roman Church): “Being justified by faith, we have peace with God.” (Rom. 5:1) He had the same difference with the Roman Catholic Church that we have with those who believe they can be saved by works. That Church contended that we are saved by works; whereas, Luther correctly contended we are saved “by faith” and no longer under a schoolmaster (the Law).

Note also this very pertinent Scripture on this subject: “Sin shall not have do­minion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” (Rom. 6:13–18) And 1 Kgs. 8:6–9: “The priests brought in the ark of the Covenant unto his place... There was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone, which Moses put there at Horeb, when the Lord made a covenant with the children of Israel.” And so it will be under the New Covenant when it is inaugurated in Christ’s Kingdom. (Jer. 31:31–33) This Scripture (1 gs. 8:6–9) relates to the dedication of Solomon’s Temple; and makes very clear what St. Paul meant when he stated what he did in Col. 2:14 – “the handwrit­ing of ordinances.” He is referring clearly and specifically to the two tables of the Law that ONLY were in the Ark when the Temple was dedicated.

Today many sincere people believe they are saved by works for a good cause. And many unsavory characters are highly praised for their “works of charity.” The Jehovah’s Witnesses tell their dedicated devotees (many of whom have our good opinion) that if they are faithful in serving so many hours a day or week, they will be chiefs in the Kingdom. At one time they told them they will live right on through to the Kingdom, but have softened that somewhat, as many of their faithful followers have since died.

By the foregoing statements we would not have our readers believe that those who have faith are to sit idly down and do nothing but have faith in our Lord and in God. “I will shew thee my faith by my works.” (Jas. 2:18) And that is our position, as all who have true animated faith will do with their might what their hands find to do: They will demonstrate their faith by their works. But faith cometh first! Every man should be able to give every man that asketh you a reason for the hope that is in you with meek­ness and fear (reverence). (1 Pet. 3:15)

During this Gospel Age it is a “narrow way” that leadeth unto life; and, as Jesus said, “Few there be that find it.” (Matt. 7:14) But, when the New Covenant is inaugu­rated (Jer. 31:31) – made with the Jews just as the Law Covenant was made – all will be given a chance to walk up the Highway (an easy way compared with the “narrow way” now operating). And all nations will be blessed by this Covenant as soon as they come under it and comply with its terms. The “narrow way” during the Gospel Age is a call: “But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wis­dom of God.” (1 Cor. 1:24 – also see verses 25–30) In the Kingdom it will not be a “call” but a command, if they get life.

Question: “When St. Paul told the Jews ‘we are free’ in Christ, is there anything here that says the Jews were not obligated to keep the Law – the Ten Commandments? Or was he referring to the Ceremonial Law?”

Answer: “By this question we would not infer that the Brother is not sincere in his query, but sincerity alone is not sufficient. When the nations went at each others’ throats – as they did in 1914 – there is no doubt at all in our mind that many were sin­cere on both sides. However, at least one side had to be wrong; and some prominent individuals have contended that both sides were wrong. But the latter point we do not ar­gue. We now confine ourselves specifically to one expression by St. Paul in Col. 2:14: ‘Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that are against us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross.’”

Now follows this same text from a more exact translation: “Having blotted out what was written by hand in ordinances which was against us, and has removed it from our midst, having nailed it to the cross.” Let us stress here that the ONLY part of the Law that was written by God’s hand was the Ten Commandments – contained on two tables of stone – and nothing else. The ceremonial law was all given orally to Moses; none of it was written by God’s hand. (Ex. 31:18; 24:12; Deut. 9:10)

As said above, when the ark was placed in Solomon’s Temple, the only thing it con­tained was the two tables of the Law – written by God’s hand. (1 Kgs. 8:6–9) Aaron’s rod that budded, and the golden pot of manna were no longer in the Ark. This is to tell us that God’s eternal law – the Ten Commandments – will be perfectly implanted into human hearts and minds “in due time.” (Jer. 31:33) Solomon’s Temple in this picture is a replica of what shall be when the “living temple” of God is established in the earth. But for the present – and because of our frailty – it is “removed from our midst.” Certainly this statement by St. Paul is plain enough and positive enough for a child to understand it.

When the lawyer wanted to know what he should do to inherit eternal life, Jesus said, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.” (Luke 10: 25,27) So it is love for God and man that will eventually give us eternal life. This applies now in this Age, and will apply toward all men in the next Age.

Question: “When the Commandment says, ‘Remember the sabbath day to keep it holy.’ is not this a perpetual obligation?”

Answer: “Yes, to those who have put themselves under it; but Gentiles have never done that – have never been asked to do it – so there is no obligation on their part to try to keep it. However, that same Commandment says, “In it thou shalt not do any work, thou ... nor thy manservant, nor thy maidservant.” Can any seventh Sabbath Day adher­ent honestly say he is keeping this command­ment? Does their manservant leave them a newspaper on Saturday? Does their manservant leave them milk on Saturday? Does their manservant operate a bus that carries them to church on Saturday? Many years ago we lived next door to a very religious Jew, who scrupulously tried to keep the Sabbath; so, every Friday evening at six o’clock – when his Sabbath began – he gave us a penny to come into his kitchen, strike a match and light his stove fire. Seemingly, he did not real­ize that in hiring us for that penny he was having his “manservant” – or boyservant – do some work for him. This general thought of the Ten Commandments – handwriting of ordi­nances – is further emphasized in Ex. 31:18: “God gave to Moses ... two tables of testi­mony, tables of stone (the Ten Commandments are the only “tables of stone”), written with the finger of God.”

And to emphasize the superiority of the Ten Commandments (written by the finger of God), note now the record in Deut. 31:24–26: “When Moses had made an end of writing the words of this law (the ceremonial features, written by Moses – in contrast to the Ten Commandments written by God) upon a scroll (not on tables of stone) ... Moses commanded the Levites ... Take this scroll of the law, and put it at the side of the ark (not in the ark – as was done with the two tables of stone, written by the finger of God) of the covenant of Yahweh your God.” (Rotherham translation)

When Jesus said, “A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another” (John 13:34), that terse statement embraced everything in the great addition problem set forth by St. Peter in 2 Pet. 1:5–7: “Add to your faith virtue (fortitude); and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance (self–control); and to temperance pa­tience (stick–to–itiveness); and to patience godliness (piety); and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity (love). And this addition cir­cumvents all the ethical, ceremonial and mandatory elements of the Christian religion. If any of us could keep the mandatory law of Moses, we could not improve on what St. Peter has instructed us. However, be it emphasized here that no one of the fallen hu­man race has ever been able to do perfectly what St. Peter has prescribed. In not one of these seven character qualities have any of us been able to reach perfection – just as none of the Jews could reach perfection in keeping the law of Moses; but it is the ideal set before us – “that we should follow in his steps.” (1 Pet. 2:21)

In no place does Jesus insist that His followers should keep the law of Moses; on the contrary, He tells us, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me ... for my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matt. 11:29,30) Here He was making a clear distinc­tion between the yoke of the Law – which no Jew had been able to keep – and His yoke (“follow in His steps”), which we keep imperfectly, but, if faithfully, satisfactory to God, because Jesus is with us in that yoke, bearing the heavier part of it – a help the Jews did not have in their attempt to keep the Law of Moses.

Solomon’s Temple should be considered here in connection with this discussion. It was an elegant structure – one of the finest then in existence. And in this it was typical of the grander Temple, the spiritual temple that will appear when the Kingdom is established. At the dedication of Solomon’s Temple we are told, “The priests brought in the ark of the covenant (the golden ark from the Most Holy of the Tabernacle) of the Lord unto his place, into the oracle of the house, to the most holy place (which now supplanted the Most Holy of the Tabernacle), even under the wings of the cherubims. (1 Kgs. 8:6); then verse 9, “There was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone, which Moses put there at Horeb (where the Jewish ritual was first established after they left Egypt), when the Lord made a covenant with the children of Israel.”

All during the Jews’ journey through the Wilderness of Sin, on their journey to Canaan, the golden ark in the Most Holy of the Tabernacle had contained the two tables of stone, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the golden pot of Manna that never decayed; but two of these items were no longer there when the golden ark was transferred to Solomon’s Temple – showing us very clearly that when the antitypical Temple appears in the Kingdom, there will no longer be need for the Rod or the Pot of Manna. Only the eternal law of God will be there – the “words” engraved on the two tables of stone by the finger of God, which Jesus temporarily suspended, “Nailing it to His cross,” because no one had been able to keep it; but its presence in the Temple tells us very clearly that in the Kingdom all the willing and obedient will then be able to keep that Law – just as Jesus Himself kept it when He was with us at His first Advent – being a perfect man could keep a perfect Law.

Question: “In Matt. 5:17 not one word is said about Jesus nailing the Law to His cross; why, then, do you quote it now?”

Answer: “He does not say anything in Matt. 5:17 about nailing the Ceremonial law to the cross either. He had disposed of that in Matt. 23:38 – as we pointed out fore­going. And, as for the mandatory feature of the Law (the Ten Commandments) certainly He did not nail that to His cross for Himself: He had no need to do that, because He Himself kept that Law perfectly – something we cannot do. Therefore, at His crucifix­ion He nailed it to His cross to remove that ‘schoolmaster’ that had afflicted the Jews for centuries. ‘For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.’ (Rom. 8:3,4) That statement about ‘nailing it to His cross’ applied only to those Jews who had agreed to keep that Law; but it does not apply to any Gentiles, because they never were under that Law – had made no covenant with God to keep it. This is no ‘private interpretation’ on our part: it is just simple logic applied to a very much circulated illogical interpretation that quite a few good people mistakenly try to place upon it.”

However, we would emphasize that both the Law Covenant and the New Covenant are regulated by the same eternal Law of God, the Ten Commandments; and these must eventu­ally be kept perfectly by all who will gain eternal life under the New Covenant – when “Satan is bound, that he should deceive the nations no more.” (Rev. 20:2,3)

Question: “If we are caught stealing, and plead exemption from prosecution because the Law was nailed to the cross, would the judge accept that excuse?”

Answer: “No, of course he would not! There are some features of the Law Covenant that we can keep ­such as stealing, thou shalt not kill, commit adultery, etc., but that is a far cry from including the entire Law. The Gentiles who were not under the Law had enough light not to do those things, if they were motivated by right and wrong. ‘But glory, honour, and peace to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile.’ (Rom. 2:10)”

Question: “Why do you make so complicated the plain and simple statement of Jesus in Matt. 5:17,18?”

Answer: “We do not make it complicated; the question complicates it when it tries to put Gentiles in the same category with Jesus Himself. In that text Jesus says, ‘I come not to destroy the law.’ Neither do we come to destroy it. But He also said, ‘I am come to fulfill it’ – which we do not do because we lack the ability and the heredity to do that.”

THE CURSE: “As many as are of the works of the law are under the curse.” (Gal. 3:10) “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law ... for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.” (Gal. 3:13) The whole human family is now under the curse of sin and death; but, when the Jews covenanted to keep the law, but were not able to do so, it put them under a double curse. Thus, Jesus had to “hang upon a tree” – the cross – to redeem the Jews from the double curse which rested upon them – the curse inherited from Adam, and the curse of the works of the Law.

Question: “What about Matt. 5:19 – ‘Whosoever shall break one of these least com­mandments shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven?”

Answer: “Jesus had said that if–any one break the least of the commandments, he is guilty of all. Yes, here He says that even the “least” will be in the Kingdom of heaven. Coupled with this, we have His statement about John the Baptist, a Jew who was scrupulously trying to keep the Law: ‘There hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the Kingdom of heaven is greater than he.’ (Matt. 11:11) Here is a clear statement that John the Baptist will not be in the King­dom of Heaven (the heavenly phase of the Kingdom), although he painstakingly tried to keep the Law to the best of his ability, which he could not do. By our Lord’s statement, we know that he will be included among the faithful, honored Ancients, mentioned by the Apostle Paul in the llth Chapter of Hebrews – his reward being the earthly phase of the Kingdom and not the Spiritual phase, which is the Kingdom of Heaven.”

Also, according to the questioner’s reasoning, the Apostles Paul, Peter, James and others will also be least in the Kingdom of Heaven, because they taught that the follow­ers of Jesus – Jews or Gentiles – were not under the Law, as noted by the following Scriptures: “By him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the Law of Moses.” (Acts 13:39) “By the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified..” (Gal. 2:16)

More now from Acts 15:5–20: “There rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. (v. 5) And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. (v. 6) And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the Gospel, and believe. (v.7)

“And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Spirit (Gentile believers), even as he did unto us (v.8); And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. (v.9)

“Now, therefore, why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers or we were able to bear? (v. 11) (The fathers were able to bear the ceremonial: many of the fathers had very little to do with the ceremonial fea­tures, although they were faced daily with the mandatory yoke – the Ten Commandments—JJH) Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them. (v. 12)

“And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me. (v. 13) Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gen­tiles, to take out of them people for his name. (v. 14)

“And to this agree the words of the prophets, as it is written. (v. 15) After this (after selecting a people for His Name among the Gentiles), I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David (the earthly phase of the Kingdom), which is fallen down (since 70 A. D., when the Jews and their temple were devastated); and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up (v. 16): That the residue of men (the world during the Kingdom) might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.” (v. 17) (After selecting a “people for His name” among the Gentiles, these saints will bless the residue of mankind in the Kingdom: “Know ye not that the saints will judge the world?” – l Cor. 6:2—JJH)

“Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. (v. 18) Where­fore, my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God. (v. 19); But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.” (v.20)

Also Acts 15:24–26: “Forasmuch we have heard that certain which went from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying ye must be circumcised, and keep the law, to whom we gave no such commandment (v. 24); It seemed good unto us, being as­sembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul (v.25), Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (v.26)

“For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if you keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.” (Act 15:28,29)

Note there is not one word here about those converts keeping the Law of Moses. Nor do they criticize them for coming together on Sunday instead of Saturday. The Apostles were readily agreeable with the Sunday meetings, inasmuch as the Lord had risen from the dead on that day, which would cause those assembled to manifest a sober and a happy atti­tude in their worship.

It should also be noted that from all the foregoing Scriptures there is not one word of criticism against the Apostles for accepting and preaching Jesus; their whole contention is against the teaching that the Apostles were then relieving Jew and Gentile of the burden of the Law yoke – “which our fathers were not able to bear,” the Law of Moses.

Note now 1 John 5:3: “This is the love of God, that We keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous” – not unbearable, as was the Law of Moses. “For Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to every one (Jew and Gentile) that believeth.” (Ram. 10:4) “And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is of God by faith.” (Phil. 3:9)

More will be given on The Law of Moses in Part Two, D.v. For now it would be well for us to follow the Apostle’s advice in 2 Tim. 2:15: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” “The fear (reverence) of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.” (Psa. 111:10)

Sincerely your brother, John J. Hoefle, Pilgrim

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LETTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST

Dear Sister Hoefle: Christian greetings in our dear Lord and Master Jesus’ Name!

Thanks for your friendly letter of February 23, 1992. I was thirty years in active service with the Jehovah’s Witnesses. I left the Witnesses in 1990, together with my wife and daughter, of our own free will.

In the meantime, I value the wonderful literature of Brother Russell which I get from the Dawn in Germany, the six Studies in the Scriptures. It will be a pleasure to get the book by David Horowitz – “PASTOR CHARLES TAZE RUSSELL, An Early American Christian Zionist.” Thanks for the offer.

I was thankful to receive Nos. 430 and 431, the Epiphany publications, which I read with much interest. The light of truth always shines clearer. I am sending you two names for your mailing list.

Also, I would like to know the address of Brother Hermann Bezner in Israel. I want to write to him as he is also an Austrian the same as I.

I greet all the brethren in America with Christian love.

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

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Dear Brethren:

Please continue sending your publications. I truly enjoy studying them. There is great depth to them.

I enclose a check to help with your postage cost. Thank you so very much!

Sincerely, In His Name, ------- (WISCONSIN)

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Dear Sister Hoefle,

Please send me a list of the publications you distribute. Put me on the list for your monthly newsletter.

Thank you! ------- (WISCONSIN)

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NO. 433: THE BIBLE

No. 433

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

The request has come to us that we offer a treatise on the Bible, and it is our fond hope that all our readers may benefit from the effort. We have acted upon the suggestion because we believe a clear understanding about the Bible is perhaps as confused and misleading with the majority in Christendom as an understanding of the things taught in the Bible. The word Bible is from the Greek biblia, meaning little books, of which there are 66 in the Protestant Bible – and 80 in the Catholic Bible, which includes the 14 Apocryphal books. Thus, when it states in Rev. 20: 12 “The books were opened,” it may just as properly be said, “The Bible was opened” – that is, the Bible was explained, made clear.

The most popular work among English-speaking people of Christendom is what is com­monly designated the King James Version, which is an elegant piece of work from a literary standpoint, but is admitted by scholars to have about 20,000 mistakes in it. Therefore, it is not the Bible, but a translation of the Bible; and this conclusion may be recorded of every other translation, although some translations show much less defect than others. It was about 1610 that King James of England (whose name attaches to the King James Version) selected 56 outstanding scholars in England, divided them into seven or eight groups, and assigned to each group a certain section of the Bible for translation. Before they had finished seven or eight of them had died, but the work was finally completed. And, considering the material at hand, the difficulties of the times, the deep-rooted errors in the minds of the men involved in the work (such as eternal torment as the wages of sin, the immortality of the soul, etc.), we would conclude that they did a commendable piece of work. The King James Version of the Bible is yet today the world’s best seller of all publications.

The decree of King James was probably instigated by the effort of the Roman Catholics to introduce a Bible of their own – known as the Douay (France) Version – the first edition of which appeared in 1582, reprinted at Antwerp in 1600, and again in 1621, with a fourth edition coming off the press in 1633 at Rouen. The fifth edition – much the same as the previous four – appeared in 1728; but a sweeping revision was attempted by Bishop Challoner in 1749-52. His purpose was “to meet the practical want felt by the Catholics of his day of a Bible with notes more suitable to the time.” His changes were so many and so much different than the original Douay attempt, that Cardinal Newman declared it to be almost a new edition entirely – no longer sensible to refer to it as the Douay Version. Said he: “It has been altered and modified until scarcely any verse is as it was when originally published.” And in all of their editions there are copious footnotes to give the Catholic interpretation of the Scripture involved; but these, too, have had to be revised along with their translation of the text itself.

Akin to the foregoing is the course of Jehovah’s Witnesses with their Bible, which they have translated to fit their own ideas of what they wish the text to say. A classic example of this is their book copyrighted in 1963, and titled All Scripture Is Inspired of God And Beneficial – a pseudo-translation of 2 Tim. 3:16, 17. Even the veriest novice should know that the word “is” is not in the original text at all – because the word “is” is in italics, indicating no corresponding word in the original. Furthermore, Webster’s first definition of scripture is “anything written”; and in later detail he says “Any sacred writing; as Buddhist scripture.” We assume the Witnesses would in no sense consider the Buddhist scripture as “inspired of God and beneficial,” yet their caption on the 1963 book would indicate they do believe it. A proper translation of 2 Tim. 3:16,17 is this: “All Scripture that is God-inbreathed is beneficial.” That is, inspired Scripture – that which results from the Holy Spirit in the sense given by St. Peter, “Holy men of old spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit,” – is profitable. This leaves no doubt about the real meaning and purpose of St. Paul’s word.

There are very many translations of the Bible, some much better than others. Many of them have fewer mistakes than the King James Version, but none of them equal the King James in literary style and fluency of reading. The best of modern translations for both the Old and the New Testament is probably the one by Dr. Joseph Bryant Rotherham. The honesty and humility of the learned Doctor are revealed beautifully in his prefaced statement: “It must be obvious to all, that just in proportion to the importance of these documents must be the obligation to translate them as accurately and adequately as possible; and since in the very nature of things no translation can be perfect, improvement is always possible... It remains only to render in hearty thanks to the scholars whose labors have made this work possible... but first and last – especially in view of preserved life and eyesight and mental freshness – to Him from whom all blessings flow.”

As an example of Doctor Rotherham’s intention to be scrupulously honest in his work, we cite his translation of the word Hell. This word occurs 31 times in the Old Testament of the King James Version. Each time it is translated from the Hebrew Sheol; but this same word Sheol is also translated 31 times by the word Grave, and three times by the word Pit. Thus, Sheol occurs 65 times in all in the Old Testament. In the New Testament the word Hell occurs 23 times – eleven times from the Greek Hades, eleven times from the Greek Gehenna, and once from the Greek Tartaroo. The Hebrew Sheol is the exact equivalent of the Greek Hades; and recognizing the prevailing confusion about the meaning of the sub­ject of Hell (his translation was copyrighted in 1897, after about twenty years of work in its preparation), he did not attempt to provide an English word for it in his Bible. Thus, in the 65 times that Sheol occurs in the Old Testament the Doctor simply uses the Greek word Hades, which is exactly the same in meaning as the Hebrew Sheol; it means oblivion, or the death state. In the New Testament he leaves the eleven occurrences of Hades just as it is in the original, as he also does with Gehenna; although he does give some English words for the Greek Tartaroo: “pits of gloom in the lowest Hades.” (2 Pet. 2:4) From this example it will be noted that he did not attempt to read his own beliefs into his translation, and this tends to make it a superior piece of work.

THE BIBLE WRITERS – OLD TESTAMENT

For the 39 books of the Old Testament (not counting the 14 apocryphal books, which are not in the King James, but are included in the Douay Version) there are 24 writers, the same being styled the “24 elders” in Rev. 4:4, etc. St. Peter says of them that they were “holy men of God who spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Pet. 1:21) It should be noted that all of them were Jews, and some of them were among the finest intellects ever to appear among the entire human race. We shall consider only a few of them:

MOSES – Just a little reflection should convince us that he was one of the greatest intellects of all time. He spent forty days in Mount Sinai with God, receiving instructions of a wide variety. He could be counted remarkable if we consider only the tabernacle construction, the dimensions, style, construction and material with which the different items of furniture were to be made; and all of these Moses remembered in finest detail – did all exactly according to “the pattern showed him in the Mount.” We need but to read those instructions in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy; then reflect how long it might require of us to fix those things clearly in mind after having them before us on the written page. But Moses remembered all without anything written out for him. As an executive, a law–giver, and administrator he was also among the foremost of all time. And even in his death he was phenomenal. “Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.” (Deu. 34:7) And the poet gives sublime expression to that final event in his life:

By Nebo’s lonely mountain,

On this side Jordan’s wave,

In a vale in the land of Moab

There lies a lonely grave;

And no man knows that sepulchre,

And no man saw it e’er;

For angels of God upturned the sod

And laid the dead man there.

That was the grandest funeral

That ever passed on earth;

But no man heard the trampling

Or saw the train go forth;

Noiselessly as the daylight

Comes when the night is done,

And the crimson streak on ocean’s cheek

Grows into the great sun.

This was the truest warrior

That ever buckled sword;

This the most gifted poet

That ever breathed a word;

And never earth’s philosopher traced,

With his golden pen,

On the deathless page, truths half so sage

As he wrote down for man.

God hath His mysteries to grace

Ways, that we cannot tell,

He hides them deep like the hidden sleep

Of him He loved so well.

He may well be regarded as perhaps the grandest character that ever lived, and the Jews have a saying that God kissed him there that final night.

DAVID – He is the greatest religious poet ever to be found in Israel and probably in the entire world. The Psalms which he wrote are in poetry in the Hebrew. Next to Moses, he is probably the greatest intellect among the Jewish race – a great general, a gifted ruler and administrator – a very versatile man. And this is all the more remark­able when we consider his humble boyhood and his phenomenal rise to power. “I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people, over Israel ... and have made thee a great name, like unto the name of the great men that are in the earth.” (2 Sam. 7:8,9) Unlike Moses, who was reared in the palatial surroundings of the Egyptian court, David’s early life was spent in the peaceful hills of Palestine as a lowly sheep boy. To arise from such surroundings to the pinnacle of his nation would self­evidently place him head and shoulders above his fellows, many of whom had greatly supe­rior advantages of physique, birth, family, wealth, etc. He is one not to be easily dis­counted from whatever angle we view him.

SOLOMON – Solomon is familiarly known as “The wise man,” and for good cause. “God said, Lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. God gave Solo­mon wisdom and understanding exceeding much... Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt. For he was wiser than all men... his fame was in all the nations round about. And he spake three thousand prov­erbs: and his songs were a thousand and five. And he spake of trees ... of beasts, and of fowl, of creeping things, of fishes. And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all the kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom. “ (1 Kgs. 3: 12; 4:29–34) While the Proverbs of Solomon are most familiar to the general public, his masterpiece of expression is to be found in the Book of Job, which many scholars regard as the finest piece of poetry in existence. Even Gibbon, an unbeliever, ascribes the supreme place of all literature to the book of Job. It is so superb in the Hebrew that it cannot be properly translated into English; therefore, the poetic force of Job is lost to the English reader. Thus, in some respects Solomon outshone his illustrious father David.

ISAIAH – He is regarded by many as the gentleman of the Old Testament, which is re­flected in his scholarly writings. According to tradition, he was of royal blood – at least of noble descent, but there is no certainty about this. However, the quality of his writings reflect a finely–tuned intellect.  Some of his statements offer proof apparent that he was indeed one of those “holy men of old who spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit,” as evidence Isa. 44:28: “Cyrus, he is My shepherd, and shall perform all My pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.” This Scripture was written about 200 years before King Cyrus was born; therefore, it can only be attributed to inspiration. And the same may be said about the 53rd chapter of the book, which offers the very minute details of Jesus’ exper­iences when He was on earth – even forecasting that he would die in company with criminals. “He hath poured out His soul unto death: and He was numbered with the transgressors.” This was written about 800 years before Jesus’ appearance on earth, and could have been predicted only through inspiration, as the writer was “moved by the Holy Spirit.” Isaiah, too, must be counted with the great intellects of all time.

THE NEW TESTAMENT WRITERS

As stated, the 39 books of the Old Testament were all written by Jews; and all of the 27 books of the New Testament were also written by Jews – excepting only the Gospel by Luke. And when we consider that St. Paul dictated that book to Luke, then we may say with assurance that all 27 of the books were written by Jews. Thus, the entire Bible of 66 books has come to us through Jewish writers. And this poses an intriguing theory: Either the New Testament writers also “spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit,” or they were rank frauds. As we examine the record, it is not too difficult to determine which supposition is the correct one. While it is true that most of the Apostles were “ignorant and unlearned men” (Acts 4:13), there is no evidence of this at all in their writings. Thus, their coarse exterior must have received a speedy overhaul, or they wrote what they did by inspiration. But the question logically arises, if they were frauds, what benefit did they receive from their knavery? We know that all of them suffered much privation, and most of them came to a violent end – extremely so in the case of Peter, who is reported to have been crucified head down; Paul who had his head chopped off in Rome; and James was killed with a sword in Jerusalem. It is also rumored that John was thrown into a kettle of boiling oil. However, we shall offer detail on only two of the Apostles:

ST. PAUL – This Apostle was a master logician, a lawyer, a Pharisee, from a wealthy and influential family in Israel – a man who had everything according to the standards of this world. Hear, then, his own statement of his estimation of it: “I esteem all things to be a loss, an account of the excellency of the knowledge of the Anointed Jesus my Lord; on whose account I suffered the loss of all things, and consider them to be vile refuse, so that I may gain Christ.” (Phil. 3:8, Dia.) If this statement be true – and even his critics do not dispute it – then his sincerity is not to be doubted. It is contrary to all human logic and thinking that a man should perpetrate fraud to bring great loss upon himself; so we are forced to the evident conclusion that Paul must be classed with those “holy men of old who spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”

ST. JOHN – He is described as “that disciple whom Jesus loved” because of his warm affability and open sincerity. Next to St. Paul, he is the most copious writer of the New Testament – although the Gospel that bears his name, and the Revelation are presumed to have been written during the last ten years of the first century AD That would be about sixty years after Jesus had died and would put John close to 100 years of age. Yes, even at that advanced age, he has given us in minute and fluent detail the happenings of the last night before Jesus died – chapters 13 through 19 of the Gospel bearing his name; and he provides in those chapters an exact reproduction of the prayer given by Jesus that night, along with some of the most sublime and appealing of all Scripture. This, too, we conclude would have been impossible at his advanced age had he not written by inspiration.

CONCLUSION – With this sort of evidence to guide us, we ask in wonder why the Jews have not raised the same questions. With the many keen and brilliant men in their nation since the dispersion in AD 70, it is one of the marvels of the Age that such overwhelm­ing logic should not have persuaded them to inquire into the matter. St. Paul did recognize this situation, and he offers the proper answer: “Brethren [addressed to the Gen­tiles], that you may not be conceited with yourselves, I wish you not to be ignorant of this secret, that blindness in part is happened to Israel.” (Rom. 11:25) In Psa. 107:17 David has offered a proper appraisal of their situation: “Fools because of their transgression [they crucified the Lord of Glory], and because of their iniquities [sins against the Mosaic Law Covenant], are afflicted.” All plainly in evidence during this entire Age since AD 70.

THE BIBLE’S AUTHENTICITY

There is no original text of the Hebrew Old Testament. The originals had been scrupulously preserved by the Jewish priests, so much so that they would have given their lives to preserve them; but Nebuchadnezzar and his army were more than the priests could withstand. Therefore, when he overcame Jerusalem in the Fall of 607 B.C., the sacred writings suffered at his hands, as did also the sacred vessels of the temple. “He broke down the walls of Jerusalem... And took Seraiah the chief priest, and Zephaniah the second priest, and the three keepers of the door, and the principal scribe... and three–score men of the people... and slew them at Riblah.” (2 Kgs. 25:9–21) This account tells what was done with the sacred vessels: they were demolished and carried away to Babylon for their intrinsic value. But nothing at all is said about the sacred writings.

However, it would seem reasonable that some zealous keeper of those writings did suc­ceed in preserving them, because the Massoretes, who were Hebrew scholars during the years AD 450 to 900, worked on the writings then in existence and produced what is commonly known as the Massoretic text. After they completed their work, they destroyed all other texts, leaving only the product of their own minds. But it seems they did a commendable job, so much so that Dr. C. D. Ginsberg used their work in his recension of the Hebrew Bible, the latter being one of the foremost of Old Testament translations.

Then there is also the Septuagint, which is a Greek version of the Old Testament from the original Hebrew. It is so–called because 70 (actually 72) learned Hebrews at Alexandria, Egypt, undertook in 285 BC to produce the Greek copy. All things consid­ered, it is the most valuable of all translations of the Old Testament – with many margi­nal notes, some of which are valuable, but some self–evidently wrong, in view of informa­tion now available. Jesus and the Apostles quoted from the Septuagint, but they corrected it when necessary – when it contradicted well–established teachings.

A s for the New Testament, the three oldest manuscripts are the Vatican, the Sinaitic and the Alexandrine. The Vatican (dating about AD 250) is in the Vatican Library in Rome and considered the Roman Church’s richest treasure. The other two (about 100 years later than the Vatican) are both in England. There is also the Vulgate (about AD 400), which is the Latin translation, by Jerome. Another very influential translation is the one by Martin Luther. There are many others, of course, but we shall not now detail them.

THE BIBLE’S VERACITY

In view of the foregoing, the question properly arises, What are we to believe? Admitting that the originals were by inspiration, they are now lost, so we know not def­initely what the originals contained. Some atheists, scoffers, etc., attempt to make capital of this, which offers the conclusion that men usually believe what they want to believe. Jesus gave us the “Golden Rule”: “Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.” (Matt. 7:12) Today we find this high ideal so little practiced that the scoffers attempt to discount it because of human frailty; but the fact still stands: A universal practice of this teaching would make immeasurable improvement in human relations. It would indeed end all wars, all violence, robbery, rapine, etc. Thus, the critics must admit the sound philosophy and the general good that it contains.

This Rule by Jesus is the only all–embracing teaching of known religions. Confucius offered a negative in the same direction: Whatsoever ye would not that men do to you, do not to them. But a little analysis reveals the weakness of the statement. In Luke 10:25–37 is given the parable of the Good Samaritan, in which it will be noted that the

Priest and the Levite passed by the man that had been beaten and robbed. The rule of Confucius would absolve them; they did not attempt further abuse upon the victim, which was a negative attitude. But the Rule by Jesus demands a positive response when distress is in evidence, which the Samaritan indeed did proffer.

As presently composed, the normal man is possessed of four appetites: (1) The eliminative, the desire for food and drink; (2) The procreative, the desire for the opposite sex; (3) The acquisitive, the desire to accumulate, to add house to house and field to field; (4) The religious, the desire to worship something higher than himself. All of the brute creation possess the first two of these appetites, some of them possess the third, but none of them possess the fourth. All normal men have an inherent desire to some form of religion, and this is apparent even among the lowest forms of heathen. It his been so since the dawn of history, but without the Bible we would have nothing more to guide us than what our five senses might reveal. Thus, the need for our Bible, which gives us much of the past, foretells much of the future, and offers elaborate laws for man’s physical, mental, moral and religious guidance. Its inherent strength is apparent by its gripping force upon any who come within its influence. This is noticeable even among the lowly and unlearned, who gain some uplift of heart and mind merely from reading it, which demonstrates its inherent magnetic force. It is the product of the Holy Spirit, operating through the finest minds in history, and its Divine origin is evident in that it inspires and enables men to rise above themselves, an attribute not apparent among the heathen.

One of the outstanding reasons for Christendom’s superiority over the heathen is the help received from the Bible. The laws of Moses were far superior to anything then in existence anywhere else on earth, and can logically be said to have been far ahead of their time. In the case of Jesus Himself, He arose far beyond His natural ability after He received the Holy Spirit at Jordan when He was thirty years of age. Before that time He could not heal the sick, raise the dead, turn water into wine, etc., all of which He did after He received the Holy Spirit. And the same may be said for the Apostles. They, too, arose far above their inherited strength and ability after they were “endowed with power from on high.” Viewed from this standpoint, the words of David are given added force: “The entrance of thy word giveth light”! (Psa. 119:130) Thus, in addition to forecasting events many years in advance of their occurrence, we have here a second reason for believing the Bible to be of Divine inspiration – a superhuman revelation. Its immediate effect upon those who accept it is far beyond the influence of any other religious or secular writing.

THE BIBLE PLAN

A third proof of the Bible’s Divine inspiration is the “plan of the ages,” which it has contained since the year A.D. 100, which plan has been working according to outline before and since that date. In Eph. 3:9–11 St. Paul offers a clear reference to this: “To make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God... according to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” This is much clearer in the Emphatic Diaglott: “To enlighten all as to what is the administration of that secret, which has been concealed from the ages ... according to a plan of the ages, which He formed for the Anointed Jesus our Lord.”

It should be noted that St. Paul says this “plan” has been a “secret” during the ages, and none can dispute this statement. The Bible itself is a book of very moderate size, as small or smaller than most textbooks in any university. Yet the brightest minds have been unable to master it until the “due time” arrived for it to be understood. That is because it is “here a little, and there a little” (Isa. 28:10), with the “secret” ex­pertly kept until it should be made plain. Without offering great detail, we notice that the “plan” embraces three “worlds” (from the Greek Kosmos, meaning order of affairs), the first one described in 2 Pet. 3:6 as “the world that was” – that Kosmos, or order of affairs, that existed from creation until it “being overflowed with water, perished.” The world that was lasted for 1656 years.

The second world, or order of affairs (“this present evil world” – Gal. 1:4), began with Noah and his wife, his three sons and their wives (a total of eight persons), emerged from the great deluge, and has been continuing to the present time. According to 2 Pet. 3:7, Dia., “the present heavens and the earth [this Kosmos, or order of affairs], by the same word [The Bible], are treasured up, being kept for fire [destruction] to a day of judgment and destruction of impious men” – this “destruction” being now in progress, as is evidenced on every hand.

Then 2 Pet. 3:13, Dia.: “We, according to His promise, are looking for new heavens and a new earth [a new Kosmos, or order of affairs, the third world – the Kingdom] in which dwells righteousness” – just the opposite of “this present evil world.” Of that third world it is written (Rev. 21:4 – Dia.): “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death will be no more, nor mourning, nor crying; neither will there be any more pain; because the former things passed away.” This third world we now “see dimly, as through a dark glass”; and it is beyond belief except by those who now have the faith to believe it. The forecast is clear enough: If there be no more death or pain, then there must be perpetual youth, with ideal food, water and climate. “And there shall be no more curse... no night [ignorance, error, superstition] there.” (Rev. 22:3–5) In this “present evil world” it is easier to do wrong than right; in the world to come it will be easier to do right than wrong. It is well to keep in mind that all of the Bible was written at some time during “this present evil world”; yet it is the only book that gives a clear and logical record of the happenings of the “world that was” before the flood – just one more proof of its Divine inspiration. Also, skeptics may declare the “plan” briefly discussed herein is too good to be true; but we answer that it is too good not to be true. No secular fiction writer has ever imagined anything half so good; such a plan could result only from Divine inspiration.

SUMMARY: The Plan of the Ages mentioned aforegoing has its introduction in the first three chapters of the Bible, and its conclusion is given in the last three chapters. In the first three chapters of Genesis we are told what man was, what he had, and why and how he lost it. In the last three chapters of Revelation we are given man’s ultimate des­tiny, and how that is to be accomplished – the grand finale being the “restitution of all things” (Acts 3:19–23), restoration of what was lost in Eden.

In between the introduction and conclusion of the Plan we find seven lines of thought: doctrines, precepts, promises, exhortations, prophecies, histories and types. And St. Paul tells us in 2 Tim. 3:15 that these teachings properly understood “are able to make thee wise unto salvation.” He continues in verse 16 to state that these seven lines of thought serve four teaching purposes: “Doctrine, reproof [refuting], correction and instruction in righteousness. “ Mien clearly understood, it becomes apparent that the Apostle has itemized all the essentials in teaching and character development that man needs for his religious welfare. Doctrine is what we believe; refuting (of error) re­veals what we should not believe; correction, when properly received, rids the faults from our character (tells us what we should not do); and instruction (training) in righteousness informs us of the good things we should build into our character (what we should do). And all of this is “profitable... that the man of God may be perfect, thoroly furnished unto all good works.” It is elemental that religion should make us better; otherwise it fails in purpose and becomes merely a ritualistic waste of time.

Of the foregoing Bible subjects, some of them are relatively easy to understand in certain of their parts, while others are intensely difficult of comprehension. In this respect the Bible allows excellent comparison with the ocean, which is deep enough for a whale to swim in it, and shallow enough for a child to wade in it. It is also pertinent that the Bible is not a text book; it is rather a book of texts. Thus, no subject of importance finds complete clarification in any one section; but it is rather “here a little, there a little.” (Isa. 28:10) This has resulted in the apparent confusion evident in the different Christian organizations – a situation akin to the poem:

It was six men of Hinduston,

To learning much inclined,

Went to see the elephant

Though all of them were blind.

Therefore, they had to rely upon their sense of touch; one touched the leg, one the side, one the tail, etc., which resulted in six vastly different opinions of what the elephant was really like, which produced the result:

They argued loud and long,

Though each was partly in the right,

But all of them were wrong.

A safe rule to proper understanding of the Bible is that it cannot contradict itself. It speaks of itself as “the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2: 15) ; and, if this be correct, then it must be truth, and not falsehood. If our opinion of any Scripture is contradicted by other Scripture, then one of three things is wrong: We do not have the right interpreta­tion; or we may have a mistranslation; or the text may even be spurious. It is certain that ambitious men have attempted to impose their own opinions in some places, which has resulted in much mischief and erroneous beliefs. It is well also to note that manifold schemes of mice and men have tried in vain to destroy the Bible, or to distort its meaning; but all of them have failed. The Bible is still a living book, and as sturdy in its application today as it has been over the past. There is very good reason for this: Its Author, who is perfect in Justice, Wisdom and Power, has been its Preserver; and the promise to those who rely upon it, and who have full faith in it, applies with equal force to the book itself: “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper.” (Isa. 54:17)

It might be well here to note how foolish some of the scoffers of this Sacred Book have been, while those who had faith in its Divine inspiration and truthfulness were not so foolish. Sir Isaac Newton, the celebrated astronomer of the seventeenth century, was greatly interested in the words of Daniel: “But thou, 0 Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.” (Dan. 12:4) He declared his belief that in fulfillment of it, human knowledge would so increase that men would possibly travel at the rate of fifty miles an hour. When Voltaire, the noted French infidel, got hold of this statement he scornfully remarked:

“Now look at the mighty mind of Newton, the great philosopher who discovered the law of gravitation: when he became an old man and got in his dotage, he began to study the book called the Bible, and in order to credit its fabulous nonsense he would have us believe that the knowledge of mankind will yet be so increased that we shall by–and–by be able to travel fifty miles an hour! Poor dotard.”

Both of these men died long before the “Time of the End” had brought its wonderful increase of knowledge, which more than fulfils the prediction of the Christian phi­losopher, based upon the Divine revelation. Fifty miles per hour is merely snail’s pace today.

The subject matter herein has been treated very briefly, perhaps too much so, yet it is our hope that enough has been said to generate interest by our readers; and to such we would quote the words of St. Paul: “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15)

Sincerely your brother, John J. Hoefle, Pilgrim

(Reprint No. 284, February 1, 1979)

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NO. 432: HOPE FOR THE SODOMITES

No. 432

Genesis 19:12-17,23-29

“Come ye out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch no unclean thing.” (2 Cor. 6:17 - RV)

When Abraham was ninety-nine years old - about the year 1900 BC - his encampment was at Hebron. There the Lord and two angels appeared to him as men. He knew them not, but entertained them, and they did eat and talk with Abraham. St. Paul, noting this, urges that the Lord’s people should be hospitable to strangers, and reminds us of how Abraham entertained angels unawares. (Hebrews 13:2)

The one in this case called the Lord was doubtless the Logos, chief Messenger of Jehovah, who subsequently was made flesh that he might be man’s redeemer and restorer. The Lord on this occasion told Abraham that Ishmael would not be the heir of the promise, but that very shortly Sarah would have a son, notwithstanding her advanced age. Isaac was born the next year.

It was as Abraham walked with his angelic visitors a little distance that he learned who they really were, and that the destruction of Sodom was imminent. Nobly and gener­ously the heir of the promises petitioned God’s mercy on the Sodomites, to spare them from destruction if there were fifty, forty, twenty or even ten amongst them doing as well as they knew how. The Lord gave assurance that if there were ten in the city thus righteous it would be spared.

THE WICKEDNESS OF SODOM GREAT

God’s policy has been to allow mankind during this reign of sin and death to try their hand at self-government, etc. He has interfered to cut off with destruction only those whose iniquity became very pronounced and whose fond enjoyment of life’s privileges would be injurious to themselves and others. Thus of the Sodomites and the antediluvians God made illustrations of the great lesson, “All the wicked will He destroy.” (Psa. 145:20)

We are to remember, however, that these are not illustrations of eternal torment, but illustrations of destruction. We are to remember, also, that these merely passed into destruction a few years sooner than they would ordinarily have done. We are to remember, further, that the death sentence was upon all of Adam’s race from the time when he was cast out of Eden.

We are to remember, further, that Christ Jesus, by the grace of God, tasted death for every man; and that in him all the families of the earth will be blessed. This means that all of Adam’s children, under the reign of sin and death and the weaknesses of heredity, will eventually come forth from the tomb through the merit of Christ’s sacrifice. And that sacrifice included the Sodomites as truly as it includes any of us, as this lesson will show.

“AND DELIVERED RIGHTEOUS LOT”

The Apostle Peter informs us that Lot was not in sympathy with the evils of Sodom, in the midst of which he lived. (2 Peter 2:7,8) His family apparently had been all girls. These, except two, had intermarried with the Sodomites. Quite possibly it was the thought of marrying the daughters to prosperous husbands that, under the guidance of the mother, induced the family to settle in Sodom. How many others like Lot and his wife have made the serious mistake of claiming more for the physical and temporal interests of their families than for their intellectual and moral welfare! The story of the flight of Lot, his wife and two unmarried daughters is simply told in our lesson.

Geologists declare that the region of the Dead Sea, the former site of Sodom and Gomorrah, was a gas and oil and asphalt deposit, with a deep crevice which led down to subterranean fires; and that the connection established between these by an earthquake or by a lightning bolt would have resulted in the manner described as the experiences of Sodom. The gas, throwing burning oil and asphalt into the air, would have produced a rain of fire and brimstone - a death-dealing terror. But had there been no such reservoir of inflammables, the Lord would have been quite able to accomplish the same results by other means, or in such a case perhaps accomplished the destruction in another way.

The intimation of the 29th verse is that God’s mercy toward Lot was because of his relationship to Abraham. This view is consistent with all the Bible statements, Adam’s entire race was condemned to death because of his disobedience. Hence Divine justice owed nothing to any of them. Divine mercy entered into a special covenant of favor with Abraham, after he had demonstrated his faith, loyalty and obedience; but the covenant did not extend to any others except to his seed. There was therefore no reason why Lot should be considered more than others except as stated - that God would show favor to him because of his relationship to Abraham.

“THERE’S A WIDENESS IN GOD’S MERCY”

This does not signify that God is merciless to our race, but merely that, having provided a way, or channel, through which he will exercise his mercy, he will but rarely exercise it outside of that foreordained channel.

The channel of all of God’s mercy is Christ Jesus, who declared, “No man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6) Of Him also St. Peter said, “Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name under heaven given amongst men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12) Since no one could be saved except through Jesus, it follows that no one was saved before Jesus came. To some this may at first seem astounding, until they perceive that it is the clear teaching of the Bible, and the key which unlocks the wonders of God’s grace.

In proof of this, note St. Paul’s words respecting the salvation which God has sent to mankind through Jesus. He says, “Which salvation began to be preached by our Lord and was confirmed unto us by those who heard him.” (Heb. 2:3) Again, we read that Jesus “brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel.” (2 Timothy 1:10)

Abraham and all the Hebrews had the intimation of coming blessing through the promises made to Abraham; but an intimation is one thing, and the blessing itself another. The promise said that the people’s blessing would come through Abraham’s seed. (Gal. 3:16,29) Hence it could not come before. We should rid our minds of the thought that Abraham, Moses, David and others of the holy ones of the past went to heaven, and the remainder of mankind to eternal torture. The Bible most distinctly declares that the ancients, good and bad, were gathered to their fathers and slept with their fathers. They are sleeping still, waiting for the time when Abraham’s seed will be complete, and will set up God’s kingdom in the earth, overthrow all the powers of sin and death, and deliver all the captives from the prison-house of the tomb.

THE FIRST, OR CHIEF RESURRECTION

The first resurrection began with our Lord Jesus and is not yet completed, because all of the faithful elect Bride Class are called to share in his sacrificial death, and to share also in his glorious resurrection to the Divine nature. All sharing in that first resurrection, the Bible declares, will reign with Christ a thousand years, and as the seed of Abraham, fully empowered, will bless all those redeemed by the precious blood of Calvary.-(Rev. 20:4)

St. Paul emphasizes this point in Hebrews 11:38-40, declaring that, while Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the holy ones of the past received indications of God’s favor, nevertheless that favor can come only through Christ.  Consequently they cannot reach perfection in the flesh and everlasting life until the Body of Christ, the spiritual seed of Abraham, shall be completed - “that they, without us, should not be made perfect.” Jesus also attested that the Ancient Worthies had not gone to heaven, saying, “No man hath ascended up to heaven.” (John 3:13) St. Peter specializes in the Prophet David’s case, and declares, “David is not ascended into the heavens.” (Acts 2::34)

HOPE FOR THE SODOMITES

The hope for the Sodomites is exactly the same as the hope for all the remainder of Adam’s race, except a few who, during this Gospel Age, have come into relationship with Christ as members of the spiritual seed. The hope of all the world is the Messianic Kingdom, and the deliverance from the power of sin and death which it will effect. With the setting up of that kingdom the work of salvation will begin, so far as the world is concerned, for the salvation of the Church to a heavenly condition is a separate salvation from that which God has provided for the world in general. The sacrifice at Calvary, however, is one sacrifice for all – the basis of all our hopes. We were all condemned to death through Adam; and justification to life can come to none except through the Redeemer.

Jesus tells us that it will be more tolerable for the people of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment (the thousand years of His Messianic reign) than for the people of His day who heard His message and rejected it – the people of Capernaum, Bethsaida, Chorazin. (Matthew 11:20-24) It will not be intolerable for the people who rejected Jesus; but it will be more tolerable, the Master said, for the Sodomites, because, He explains, “if the mighty works had been done in Sodom and Gomorrah, they would have repented,” and would not have been overwhelmed.

This shows us clearly that the eternal fate of the Sodomites is not sealed. When we turn to the Word of the Lord through Ezekiel the Prophet, 16:46-63, we have abundant testimony that the Sodomites will not only be awakened from the sleep of death, but when awakened will be brought to a knowledge of God and to an opportunity of obtaining everlasting life, through The Messiah, by willing obedience.

For the love of God is broader

Than the measure of man’s mind;

And the heart of the Eternal

Is most wonderfully kind.

(Pastor Russell, Reprints 5178-5179, February 1, 1913)

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THE WORLD CALLED TO REPENTANCE

“God now commandeth men everywhere to repent; because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained.” (Acts 17:30,31)

When God sentenced Father Adam to death He very properly said nothing about repentance, for He offered Adam no hope of a future life. If, then, no hope of a future life was known to Adam or revealed to him, why should God deal with him at all? Adam was sentenced to death, to destruction. There is no basis upon which to command a man to repent unless something is offered him as a reward for repentance.

God had put upon Adam the sentence of death, which could be removed only by the payment of a ransom price. God fully intended that some day all mankind should have an opportunity of coming into harmony with Him and of having another trial, or judgment, for life; but it was not His due time to explain His program. Therefore, Adam lived and died without any command whatever to repent. And so did his children.

The first intimation of what God might do was given by the Prophet Enoch. But the revelation made by Enoch was not a sufficient basis for offering hope to mankind nor for telling them to repent. (Jude 14,15)

A SUGGESTION OF HOPE FOR THE WORLD

So years passed by until the time of Abraham. Then God told Abraham that He would reveal a secret to him, because Abraham was His friend. That secret was not a message to be preached, but to be believed by himself and by those who would be heirs of that promise, which was not yet applicable to any outside of Abraham’s descendants. The secret was, “In thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.” (Gen. 28:14) I intend to bless the world, Abraham. If you are obedient to my instructions, your seed will get the blessing and transmit it to the world in general. It was only by implication, therefore, that Abraham had any suggestion that a life of repentance would be rewarded.

In due time God called the children of Israel and dealt with them through Moses. Practically he said, “Do you wish to be my people? If so, come now, enter into a covenant with me; I will be your God and you shall be my people.” (Lev. 26:12)

Israel was not commanded to repent, nor were any of the rest of the world. It was an invitation, not a command. God was ready to make a covenant with them. That covenant was that they were to obey the Law, and that by their obedience to the Ten Commandments and the spirit of their covenant they would become God’s people. But when they tried to keep the Law they found that they could not do so, because of inherited weakness. Hence there was nothing more to be said to them along that line. They had had their opportunity and they had failed.

THE CALL TO REPENTANCE

When Jesus came he kept the Law, and inherited all the promises of the Law Covenant. Then He offered a share of the Kingdom which God had promised to set up (Dan. 2:44), and blessing, honor and glory to as many of the Jews as would come into harmony with Him, as many as would walk in His steps of self-sacrifice and thus have God’s favor. (John 1: 12) In substance He said, “This is the way. Trust in Me and walk in My steps. Thus you shall be My disciples. You shall share in My sufferings now, and by and by in My glory and Kingdom.”

In due time, after a certain number had been gathered from the Jews, this message was extended to all the Gentiles who were in the right condition of heart. The Gentiles not having indicated their desire to come back into harmony with God as the Jewish nation had done, God then commanded them everywhere to repent. (Acts 17:30) This He did through those who were the representatives of His teaching, the Apostles and the Church. In proportion as they understood the plan of God and were in harmony with it, they could tell their neighbors that a new condition had been established and that God would deal henceforth with the Gentiles.

THE RANSOM THE BASIS OF HOPE FOR THE WORLD

Why should God deal with the Gentiles now, when he had refused to deal with them before? The explanation of this new condition is that Christ had died, and God’s great plan had now matured enough to be made applicable to all men everywhere. God had appointed a day in which to judge the world in righteousness. (Acts 17:30,31) That great day is the next age, the day of Christ, the day of Messiah’s Kingdom. God has made this provision for the redemption of all through the death of Christ. Mankind were all under the death sentence, and God could not deal with them until that sentence was lifted, or until provision was made for lifting it. He has not annulled the death sentence, but has provided a ransom for all. (1 Tim. 2:6)

Whoever knows of this plan of redemption knows that God intends to give every individual of Adam’s race an individual trial for life. That trial will not be merely to determine whether mankind will try to do right and battle against all the evil influences of the world, but God will subdue sin and uplift all of Adam’s race who are desirous of being uplifted. God has declared that no member of Adam’s race need die.

Everyone who will may return to God through the great Atonement to be effected by the Redeemer. He has not completed this work yet, but to those who have an ear to hear, the word has gone out that there is to be a future trial, and that the manner of one’s life now will have a bearing upon that trial. It is proper to tell this now, because the provision has been made through Christ’s death.

THE PRESENT MESSAGE TO THE WORLD

Prior to the Gospel Age it was of no use to tell the people to come into harmony with God. But now the whole world is to be brought into a trial to help them and not to condemn them - a trial to see whether they are worthy to have the everlasting life that God will provide for them and assist the willing to attain. Wherever people are willing to hear, the message is, Repent! repent! Cease from sin, and this reformation of character will have an influence upon your everlasting life.

If one is not of the Church class he is not on trial for life or death. But it will be to his advantage to live uprightly, for there is a time of reckoning coming. God has provided for this day of trial in the death of Christ. Beforehand, however, the Lord is selecting a Church class. The Lord is thus preparing a great class of missionaries who will do everything possible to assist men out of sin and degradation back to harmony with God.

In times past God acted as though He did not notice when sin was committed - unless it was a grievous sin.  Then he merely took the lives of the sinner, under unpleasant conditions – they went to sleep. The Prophet Ezekiel says that God took all of the Sodomites away as he saw good.” (Ezek. 16:50) After the Church’s trial, or judgment, shall have been finished and the overcomers shall have been found worthy, then, in that time of the world’s judgment, the Sodomites will have an opportunity as had the Jews who heard Jesus at the First Advent. And it will be much more tolerable then for the people of Tyre and Sidon and Sodom and Gomorrah than it will be for the people of Chorazin, Bethsaida, Capernaum, etc.; for the latter had had opportunities of knowledge, against which they sinned; they therefore had more willfulness in the matter than did the Sodomites. (See Matt. 11:21-24.)

At that time God had sent no command to the Sodomites to repent. So God merely “winked at” (overlooked) the ignorance and sin of that time. (Acts 17:30) He neither threatened nor did anything else in the matter. He merely blotted the Sodomites out of existence. Their fate served as a foreshadowing, as the Apostle says, that God will not forever permit mankind to remain in sin, but that he will destroy the sinner. None shall be destroyed, however, until first he shall have had the opportunity for everlasting life, secured for every member of Adam’s race, through our Lord Jesus Christ.

JESUS’ RESURRECTION THE ASSURANCE OF GOD’S FAVOR

The Apostle recognizes the fact that the judgment had not begun in his day. He points forward to the day of Christ and declares that God’s assurance now set before the world of mankind is that there will be a future time of judgment. Through Christ’s sacrificial death the opportunity for everlasting life will come to all. All mankind have already been condemned in Adam. They could not have another trial until the condemnation of the first trial was lifted. Therefore, not until God had provided a Redeemer would he command any to repent. The Apostle says that God’s assurance to mankind in this matter is based upon the fact that He had raised Christ from the dead. (Acts 17:31)

When God had raised Jesus from the dead it became a testimony that His was a sacrificial death, an acceptable offering. And Jesus’ ascension was a still further demonstration that this One whom the Father had raised from the dead by His own power, was to be the great King to rule, the great Priest to succor, assist and instruct, and the great Judge to direct and order the affairs of the world and to give proper rewards in the great day of God.

Whoever therefore hears about Jesus’ death and resurrection should understand that this was God’s redemption arrangement. They should also be informed that mankind are all sinners and that death is the penalty of sin. If any should ask, How does affect humanity? we show that God has highly exalted Him to be a Savior. time, as soon as the elect class shall have been completed and the reign of years of sin and evil shall have ended, then He will grant redemption from to the Jews first and afterwards to the Gentiles.

As many as hear now should repent; but as many as do not hear in the are not commanded by God to repent. St. Paul’s thought seems to be, Repent influence your future conditions, even if you do not wish to become a member of the Body of Christ. Thousands of millions of mankind have gone down into death. When they are awakened during the period of Messiah’s reign, this will be the great message – “God has opened up a fountain for cleansing from sin and uncleanness. Whosoever will may partake of the blessing and reconciliation with God and thereby attain everlasting life.” (See Zech. 13:1; Rev. 22:17.)

At present the god of this world hath blinded the world’s eyes of understanding (2 Cor. 4:4), but soon their eyes will be opened. The time is coming when all shall see and hear, and when none, from the least to the greatest, will need to say, Know ye the Lord, for all shall know him. Then when they know, each will be responsible. At the end of the Millennial Age when they shall have received their full blessing through the Mediator they will be required to do God’s will on earth even as it is done in heaven. (Jer. 31:33,34)

FUTURE LIFE INFLUENCED BY PRESENT CONDUCT

It is a very important feature of our work to let our light so shine that men may see our good works and glorify our Father which is in heaven - not their Father, but our Father. (1 Pet. 2:12) The present time is not the worlds, but the Church’s visitation. God is seeking the people who are in a voluntary condition of righteousness. This is not the time for dealing with the world, but for God’s people, as burning and shining lights, to reprove all sins. In proportion as the light shines out it will reprove darkness.

If we speak at all about a future age it is a special part of our duty to make clear to our hearers that the conduct of life at the present time will have a bearing on the future life. To say that there are two chances - a chance now and a chance by and by ­is wholly wrong. We say to them that during this Gospel Age there is only one chance, and the only way to get that chance is to walk in the footsteps of Jesus.

But for those who are by and by to be under the Mediatorial Kingdom it is proper to tell them that a life of obedience to God in harmony with the principles of righteousness will be a blessing to themselves in the present, and also in the future. There are a great many people who are living upright and honorable lives and who are doing a great deal of good in this present time. If they thought they were not doing good, they would be discouraged. An incentive to a high standard of life would be taken from them; for they believe that righteous living now has a bearing on the future. In this they are right. But their standard is not so high as that set forth in the Scriptures for the Church. That standard is necessarily high; for Saints, and Saints alone, are to be joint-heirs with Christ and members of the Bride class.

A great mistake was made in the past when Brother Calvin declared that the non-elect were to be roasted to all eternity. On the contrary, we find the teaching of God’s Word to be that the non-elect are to be blessed by the elect with the opportunity for reconciliation to God – blessed with an opportunity for life on the earthly plane. God will use the elect class for the purpose of blessing the world of mankind. God has a loving, sympathetic plan for all of His creatures, which will be revealed to them in His own due time.

(Pastor Russell, Reprints 5083-5084, August 15, 1912)

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LETTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST

Dear and appreciated Sister Emily Hoefle!

After the situation in Israel became more quiet, we want to thank you heartily for your transmitting further our appeal for help. Also, we especially thank our good friend, David Horowitz. He has prestige and is very highly esteemed in Israel as well as in the U.S.

If they would yield to the demands of George Bush and his Secretary of the State, Baker, it is obvious that George Bush would be judged by the Lord. (Should Israel give up the land promised to them by the Lord, it would not receive the Lord’s approval.] Again once more thanks and praise to Him for everyone engaged in this mission. A Minister and his party who have visited us twice already, called Emek ha Shalom fascinating in beauty, and wrote us that he is reading with pleasure the book by David Horowitz about Pastor Russell.

We see more and more that renewed thinking is taking place in Israel and attracts bigger circles. We received with appreciation the two Manna books and the video. We thank you most heartily. Please let us know the cost. With Christian greetings to all our faithful brethren.

Your brethren from Israel, Herman Bezner and Josef Schmidt (ISRAEL)

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Dear highly esteemed Sister Emily Hoefle, SHALOM!

With gratitude and appreciation your note with loving greetings and encouraging assurance was received. Your prayers are escorting us which we urgently need. The brethren from Europe who have visited Emek ha Shalom several times, told us on their last visit, “We are fighting in Israel in the foremost Frontline.” On the other hand, we feel the blessings and perceive how the Lord is preparing the Kingdom.

In one of the five TV programs made in Israel about Emek ha Shalom we were represented as “A group of Bible scholars whose roots originate from the Apostles of Jesus.” The leaders of the groups asked us to show more detailed difference between the true Christians and nominal Christendom. We often had occasion to show that the big Antichrist is the enemy of true Christians and Jewry.

A well known Rabbi and radio commentator told us, “You are God’s Ambassadors and are doing a Holy Work for Him!” And a responsible general for the defense in the Gulf War told us after his visit to Emek ha Shalom where he saw how much the people were impressed said, “I wish you further success in the good influence that you are exerting.” An attendant of one of the ministers who visited Emek ha Shalom said to us, “You are a mirror for me, and you are so pure that I feel your example but still is not in order for me.”

All the growing impression and influence which is going out of Emek ha Shalom is only possible through the Grace of the Lord who is preparing His Kingdom. I see it as an answer and confirmation of the Lord to Brother Bezner’s devoted life full of sacrifice in which he has always been a faithful bearer and a jealous conveyer and realizer of the Truth that Brother Charles Russell presented.

Sincerely and thankfully, Your brother by His Grace, Josef Schmidt (ISRAEL)

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Dear Brethren:

Enclosed is a check for which please send me your “Epiphany” Bulletin. And will you please send me some information about yourselves, and about the subscription price. I will send you more if needed.

I read some about you in David Horowitz’ book about Pastor Russell. I am very much interested in Israel. In fact, I went on a tour there in October. My daughter, Tony Jo Oliver, sent me your January/February paper, plus two issues – the May 1980 and July 1980 papers. I will share them with my cousin, Grace Goings. I also enjoyed the other news and comments in your publication. I saw Brother Jack Campbell in Israel in October.

Thank You! With Christian love, ------- (ARIZONA)

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Dear Emily,

I am an ex-J.W. and for some time a full-time worker for the Watchtower Society. After I left them I joined the Methodist Church, but have had a lot of help from the LHMM. As I am on a small income they send me their magazines free.

Brother Ray Hermann of the New World Bible Students tells me your group is a group that left the LHMM. If that is so could you tell me about it. If you have any literature on Bible study I would be so glad to have it. Thank you for your help. Yours for TRUTH, ------- (ENGLAND)

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 Dear Sister Hoefle: Grace and peace through our Lord Jesus!

Hoping this finds you and yours in good health. What a pleasure it was to have Brother Ekroth with us this past weekend!

My Aunt Florence Warnock and her son Marvin arrived at about 2 p.m. on Saturday the first of February. The four of us sat at the dining room table for about three hours asking Brother Ekroth questions and exchanging experiences and sharing the Word. What a pleasure it was to have a brother in the truth to fellowship with and tell   us about his visits with Brother Hoefle.

There were only 18 of us attending his discourse on the Two Salvations that evening at 7:30 p.m. Most in attendance were family members and a few close friends. Brother Ekroth delivered the message in good style and offered a “here. a little- and there a little” in the Lords due time. Everyone I have talked with enjoyed the discourse - and most say they would like to further discuss the meetings and pamphlets that were handed out. My son David has a computer program with concordance and three Bible translations. He has been studying the pamphlets and tells me he has a lot of questions. I am looking forward to a study with him. Cousin Melvin is making good progress in his study and is now in Pastor Russell’s third volume.

Dear Sister, I cannot thank you enough for asking Brother Ekroth to come to us and for the literature and your prayers. I have thanked Brother Ekroth for his time and love coming all this way to minister to us. And OH how we enjoyed his fellowship! I sent him a check to help with his expenses. Please use the enclosed check in your work as you see fit.

Dear Sister, thank you again and be assured of our continued prayers on your behalf. May the Lord bless and keep you.

Your brother by His Grace, Marvin T. Belden (CALIFORNIA)

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 To Whom it May Concern:

I am a student at a Christian college who is seeking to inform myself about the religious beliefs of various organizations. I recently came across your address in THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF AMERICAN RELIGIONS, and decided that I would like to learn more about your organization. I am a student of both Scripture and history of organizations, and am therefore requesting information about your doctrinal position and historical background.

Any information with which you could provide me would be immeasurably appreciated. I am reasonably familiar with the beliefs of modern-day Jehovah’s Witnesses and would like to know where you disagree with their teachings and why. Also, I would be interested in receiving a copy of your magazine or newsletter which you publish, if that is possible.

Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, ------- (TENNESSEE)

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Dear Brethren:

Please continue to send the EBSA articles to the address shown on the back of this paper.

Your articles are very informative, well thought out and on time. Your information concerning Christian-Jewish relationships are very necessary in this time. We as Christians need to understand our Jewish “Roots” and to stand and pray for Israel and the Jewish people everywhere! God bless you and your work.

Love and Shalom, ------- (COLORADO)

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NO. 431: QUALITIES AND ATTRIBUTES OF GOD

No. 431

The Scriptures declare a “beginning of the creation of God.” His qualities and attributes were the same then that they are now; for the Scriptures also declare His unchangeableness – ‘the same yesterday, today and forever.’ (Heb. 13:8; Psa. 90:1,2)

The completeness of the Divine perfection is such that companionship is not neces­sary to the happiness of God. The One who ‘inhabiteth eternity’ is self–centered. The creation of angels and of man was indeed His pleasure, because, benevolently, he desires to do good, to give capacity for pleasure and to afford it opportunity for gratification. Furthermore, the highest good of his creatures calls for an exhibition to the full of all the elements of Divine character – Divine Justice, Love, Power and Wisdom.

BELIEF IN SATAN LOGICAL

The declaration of the Bible respecting the Father’s Power is that ‘the eyes of the Lord [the intelligence of God] are in every place. beholding the evil and the good.’ (Prov. 15:3) This statement implies that there are things evil as well as good; things which God approves and things which He disapproves. This citation comes the nearest to a suggestion of God’s omnipresence contained in the Scriptures.

The fact that the Lord has knowledge of all conditions of things is not out of harmony with the other facts that He permits conditions which He disapproves, and which He declares that He will ultimately destroy. “All the wicked will he destroy.” (Psa. 145:20)

If we accept the great Divine premise that the Bible is the Word of God, then we are bound to accept the declaration that there is a being called Satan, that he is the “god of this world” (2 Cor. 4:4), and that he now works in the “hearts of the children of disobedience.” (Eph. 2:2) These words imply not only that there are evil principles at work in this world, but that behind them there are evil spirit beings, of whom Satan is the inspirer and through whom he is working.

Certain statements are made respecting Satan which could not be applied properly to a principle of evil, or to a working of error; as, for instance, Jesus declared that Satan was a “murderer” from the beginning – and a “liar.” (John 8:44) Errors and principles are not murderers and liars. It would be a misuse of language to make such application. Only a being with, at least, some reasoning power can be a murderer or a liar.  Hence, the whole tenor of the Scriptures upholds the assertion that there is such a being as Satan and that he is in opposition to God.

If we were to suppose the everlasting continuance of Satan as a being, as an adver­sary of God, the matter would seem strange to us, because it is irreconcilable with our conception of Divine Power. We have the statement of the Scriptures respecting his reign and ultimate destruction. (Heb. 2: 14) With this information we have a reasonable, logical thought on the subject. When we consider the Scriptural presentation further, that originally Satan was not an evil being, but that he made himself evil by the exercise of personal liberty and became the enemy of God, the subject seems to be clear and reasonable. In fact, this is the only rational solution to the problem of his existence.

To suppose that there is no Satan is to suppose that God has permitted his Word to deceive mankind in this respect, or that the devil is a manifestation of God himself ­a position which is unthinkable. Nor is it logical to say that there is a devil, an opponent of God, and at the same time to maintain that God is all in all, and omnipresent, everywhere present. But we do not find this latter statement to be Biblical. The Scriptural proposition is that when Christ shall have conquered sin and Satan, when Satan shall have been destroyed, and when the empire of the universe shall be in absolute harmony, then God will be all in all. (1 Cor. 15:28) To all eternity there will be no opposition to His will. There is opposition now, however, in many places and at many times. But ultimately, God will have full control.

THE OMNIPOTENCE OF GOD

To say that God is all power is sophistry of language which often misleads the one questioning as well as the one attempting to answer him. The statement is not correct. If God is all power then he is not love, justice or wisdom. He would thus be limited to the one great attribute of power, or force. Such cannot be the thought entertained by any logical mind. It is, nevertheless, a form of statement that is often used, perhaps unintentionally, but very injuriously to the reasoning faculties.

The Bible nowhere says God is all power. There is a marked difference between being power and exercising power. God is all–powerful. He has the ability to exercise power in any direction to the extent that He wills. If He had chosen, He could have so created Satan that he could not think or do other than in harmony with the Divine will; or He could have exercised His power to crush the adversary and thus have destroyed him long ago. But He has permitted Satan to exist for six thousand years, in the sense that He does not restrain the devil from doing evil. The Scriptures, however, tell us that God will eventually destroy him.

The scope of the exercise of Divine Power is the universe, but it is difficult for our finite minds to comprehend the meaning of this word – universe. Astronomers tell us there are more than 125,000,000 suns – the centers of solar systems like our own, with supposedly more than a billion of planets more or less like our earth. These, we may assume, are in process of development, are in preparation for inhabitants, whom the great Creator will in due time provide. From the Scriptural standpoint, however, the great work of human creation began with our earth. That a boundless thought we have in the mere suggestion that the billion worlds are to be peopled, and that the lessons of righteous­ness and sin, of life and death eternal, now being taught to humanity, will never need to be repeated

We stand appalled at the immensity of space and at the law and order which every­where reign! We heartily assent to the words of the Prophet David, “Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard.” (Psa. 19:2,3) The person who can look upon this wonderful dis­play of superhuman power and believe that these worlds created themselves, shows to the majority of us that if he has brains they are sadly disordered, unbalanced. Whoever, after mature thought, concludes that there is no God, that everything came to be what it is by chance or by the operation of some blind force – that person is described in the Scriptures in the following words, “The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God.” (Psa. 14:1)

As scientific instruments demonstrate to us the immensity of the universe, we perceive that the Prophet used very moderate language indeed in his description of the majestic power and greatness of the Creator, when he represents Him as weighing the mountains in his balance and holding the seas in the hollow of His hand. (Isa. 40:12) From His standpoint, a thousand years are but as a watch in the night. (Psa. 90:4) How insignificantly small we all feel in the presence of our God! No wonder some great men are inclined to say that humanity is too insignificant from the Divine standpoint to be worthy of the least consideration – much less to be objects of Divine care and providence

THE OMNISCIENCE OF JEHOVAH

To say that God is all knowledge is also an inaccurate statement. If God were all knowledge, how could He be all power? God has all knowledge, possesses all knowledge. But this is a different matter. If we say, ‘The boy has a bicycle,’ we do not mean that he is a bicycle. To be a bicycle and to have a bicycle are not the same. God is omniscient; that is, He knows all things. This very fact proves that He is a personal God. There can be no knowledge without personality. Knowledge implies cognizance of external things. Amongst the things outside the Divine Person are things both good and evil.

When we read that God created man in His own image and likeness (Gen. 1:26,27), we may know that man is not God. He was merely made in the image of God. Because God is perfect, therefore the human being made in His image would be satisfactory to God. That human being had knowledge. But he neglected the Word of God, and thus he learned some­thing by his neglect. What he learned is mentioned in the Scriptures. ‘He is become as one of us [the Elohim], to know good and evil.’ (Gen. 3:22) This statement proves that God knows good and evil.

If God did not know evil from good, then He could not be our Instructor. By His laws, His principles, God sets before our minds that which is right and that which is wrong. Adam knew how to discriminate between right and wrong, but his disobedience increased his knowledge of both good and evil. In his fallen condition man cannot always determine between them. Therefore God gave Israel a law, and man’s knowledge of that law assists him to discriminate between good and evil.

The Prophet Isaiah said, “Thou art a God which hidest thyself.” (Isa. 45:15) How true! As a result the world by wisdom knows not God. He is near in His wisdom and love, yet He can be seen only by those whose eyes of understanding have been opened. But we are glad that the time is coming when all the blind eyes shall see clearly. “As truly as I live,” says God, “all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord.” “The earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” (Num. 14:21; Hab. 2:14) Then all shall see what God hath wrought, and our temporary blindness will but accentuate the glorious brightness of His Wisdom, Justice, Love and Power.

“GOD IS LOVE”

God is love in the sense that the term love represents the central principle of the Divine character. There is nothing contrary to love in God. The Scriptures do not teach that there is nothing except love anywhere – that God is everywhere and love is everywhere. But they teach that God is a loving character. This does not militate against the other statements that God is just, wise and powerful. But this quality of love best of all represents the Divine Being. All of His justice is in harmony with His love. There is no exercise of justice or power in an evil sense, for all His attributes work together for good to all His creatures.

The Scriptures encourage us to reason from the known to the unknown. They tell us that although God is so great, so wise, so powerful, He is also just and loving. And the more we consider the matter, the more reasonable the Bible description of the Almighty appears. His power we see demonstrated. The wisdom of One so great cannot be doubted. When we come to consider, could One so wise and so powerful be unjust or ungenerous? Our hearts answer, No! No one is really great who is devoid of justice and love. So surely as our God is Jehovah, He must possess these qualities.

When we come in contact with the Bible, and particularly after we learn something of its teachings and get rid of the misrepresentations which gathered about it during the Dark Ages – then we begin to recognize it as the message of God to His creatures. it informs us that the great Creator of the universe is not only almighty and all–wise, but loving and kind, with Justice as the foundation of his empire. (Psa. 89:13,14) From the Bible we learn, too, that our Creator has been pleased to make us in His own image, in His own moral likeness, to the intent that we may enjoy Him and the fruits of His righteousness to all eternity.

All the power, all the justice, all the wisdom, of God must be used in accordance with His own character, which is love. It will therefore be loving wisdom, loving justice, which He will use toward all creation in the exercise of His loving power for their good. He created man. He permitted Adam to disobey His law, telling us that He knew in advance what man would do and that he permitted man to do wrong. (Isa. 6:9, 10)

In permitting sin to enter the world, God had two ends in view. He purposed to give an illustration to the angels respecting the results of obedience and of disobedience. He also intended that the human family should gain a lesson from this experience. Thus we know that God’s arrangement from the beginning has been for a resurrection of the dead. ‘As all in Adam die, even so shall all in Christ be made alive.’ (1 Cor. 15:21,22)

If we were to take any fragment of Scripture as a basis for a system of doctrine, we would find ourselves either teaching universalism on the one hand, or claiming that God has no wisdom, or that He purposed the evil, or what not. We would get into all sorts of confusion. But when we see the perfect adjustment of God’s Justice, Wisdom, Love and Power, and realize that He has good purposes respecting the evil, that He has fully marked out what it shall do and what it shall not do, either in its present influence, or its ultimate influence, this gives us confidence in the character of God.

THE PERMISSION OF EVIL

From only one standpoint can Divine Wisdom and Love be discerned in connection with the history of mankind. It must include the Age about to be ushered in – the period of Messiah’s reign of righteousness. This will be the time when every member of Adam’s race, sharing the penalty of sin and death because inheriting weaknesses, will be set free from these; the time when the full knowledge of the glory of God shall be granted to every human being, and when a full opportunity will come to each, by obedience, to gain life everlasting.

The lesson thus far taught is the goodness and the severity of God – His goodness in bringing us into being, and His severity in the punishment of father Adam’s willful transgression; also to both men and angels, justice, unswerving justice. The next lesson to be taught to God’s intelligent creatures is that God is love. The foundation for these lessons is already laid in the ransom–sacrifice of Jesus, through and on account of which he becomes the world’s Redeemer and Restorer. A few can believe this message by faith; but not many have the ear of faith or the eye of faith.

That which is now secret and understood only by the few is shortly to be made manifest to every creature in heaven and in earth. All will then see and be able to appreciate the great fact that the redemption accomplished by the sacrifice of Jesus is world–wide and means a full deliverance from the sin–and–death condemnation which passed upon Adam and his entire race, to all who will accept the same as a gift from God. The remainder will be destroyed in the second death.

THE SECOND DEATH THE ESSENCE OF WISDOM

As for the Second Death, we see easily that if God created man in His own image, man must of necessity be a free moral agent; otherwise, he would not be in God’s image. If man was created a free moral agent, he must have the power or privilege to will wrong as well as right. If he exercises his power in the direction of evil, God has the power to destroy him. On the other hand, if he live in harmony with righteousness God has the power to grant him life to all eternity.

The destruction of the wicked in the Second Death is the essence of wisdom. As to the declaration that God is too pure to behold evil (Hab. 1:13), the thought of the original seems to be that God’s character is so pure and so righteous that He will not continue to behold evil. He will not permit evil to all eternity, for this condition would not be pleasing to Him.

This very thought implies that there is evil to behold. If not so, how could He behold it? But this is all consistent with God’s plan. Ultimately, all creatures shall be destroyed. Ultimately all creatures which are “in heaven and on earth and such as are in the sea        shall be heard saying, Blessing and honor sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever.” (Rev. 5:13) (Pastor Russell, Reprints 5209–5211, April 1, 1913)

QUESTION OF GENERAL INTEREST

QUESTION – Do you believe the Lord is judging individuals of this present generation for eternal life or death?

ANSWER – Our Lord is not judging the individuals of this “evil day” (Eph. 6:13). Instead of the truth being prominent, systems of error are prominent. When Christ judges the world in righteousness (Acts 17:31) there will be no error there. God will turn over to the people a “pure language” (Zeph. 3:9), a language all will understand. Today the people in general do not know what to believe with so many different beliefs. However, God has promised mercy in the Kingdom for the unbelievers (Rom. 11:32).

That Servant gives us the answer to things to be accomplished in the Kingdom:

“With His reign will begin the reign of righteousness, for the Scriptures intimate that sin will be suppressed promptly. Nothing shall hurt, or offend, or destroy, in all God’s Holy Kingdom. (Isa. 11:9) Nothing will be allowed to do so. The Great Judge will know how to inflict such punishments and so promptly as to prevent the reign of evil. Then the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness; for instance, if some one wished to speak evil of his neighbor and a punishment, such as paralysis of the tongue, should come upon him merely for the intention, before he spoke the evil, do you not suppose that he would learn the lesson that he must not think evil? He would not speak the evil, for his tongue would be paralyzed before he even spoke the word. The Bible says that he will learn the lesson. “When the judgments of the Lord are in the earth the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.” (Isa. 26:9) It will not take them long to learn. They will not need to have calamity overtake them many times before they will learn that it would be better for them not to do wrong.

“This will not, of course, affect the heart; but it will enable them to learn to do right, to see the effect of righteousness in the world. Thus, they will have the opportunity of either loving or hating that condition. If they learn to love that condi­tion, they will get into the right attitude of heart, pleasing and acceptable to God. So at the end of Christ’s Millennial reign they will be ready to have the full blessing of eternal life. Even though not permitted to do the wrong thing, if at heart they still love iniquity, with all the knowledge before them and experience behind them, if they will not learn to love righteousness and hate iniquity, they will be of those worthy of cutting off in the Second Death, from which there will be no recovery.” (Rev. 20:14) (What Pastor Russell Said, page 118)

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LETTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST

 Dear precious Brethren in Christ! Greetings in His Name!

Please, please keep my name on your mailing list. Your papers are one of my treasures. I’m isolated 300 miles or so from the nearest ones in Him. I’ve saved all the papers you have sent. They have given me great joy, especially so as the print is easy to read. I have glaucoma but have read some papers over and over and received great comfort! I’ve had to give up reading my reprints, as the print is so small. And oh how I’ve missed the daily articles. My old reprints are underscored in so many places, but I love every article so marked.

I may be isolated, but I’m never lonely. I write to several dear ones in Christ and have saved many letters over the years, and often reread them giving me fellowship and love. Fondest love in Christ to each dear one.

Yours in the one hope, -------- (MAINE)

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 Dear Brethren,

I appreciate receiving your current monthly letters. I would like to continue receiving your current editions only. Since my reading time is limited, I would like to discontinue receiving back issues of your letters. Your letter is very informative and appreciated. Thank you.

By His Grace, ------- (OHIO)

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Dear Emily and the brethren: SHALOM, SHALOM!

We are greeting you very heartily and thank you for sending your circulars. But we are deeply shocked about the godless conduct of President Bush. Not only has He barred Israel from settling and fertilizing the promised Holy Land, but he is urging Israel also to give up the very own central parts – Judea, Samaria and even Jerusalem. This land was built up, developed, and changed into a blossom garden by the Jewish Settlers. But under the Arab dominion the land ran wild and became completely barren after they overgrazed the land with their herds and droves.

His Secretary of State went so far as to promise the Syrian dictator that Israel must also evacuate the Golan Heights, where the Syrians have shot on country people and farmers at their agricultural works.

This behavior of Bush and Baker is so incomprehensible and reveals Bush as a perjurer who breaks with brutality all the Divine promises. In accordance to the European laws he would be punished with seven years penal servitude. These men are unable to represent a Christian America and will bring a tremendous curse upon America.

Israel began to listen to GOD’S message, and even ministers have visited Emek ha Shalom and were refreshed and encouraged by the book of our dear friend, David Horowitz. But now everything is trampled down by Bush and Baker.

But we hope that everyone in America who has heard the wonderful message of our dear Brother Charles Taze Russell will put an end to these godless doings (machinations).

Yesterday came a group from the USA to Emek ha Shalom and told us at the end of the visit that it was the highlight of their whole Israel trip. Please, would you be so kind and send us two Manna Books from Pastor Russell in English.

We stay connected in good confidence and Christian love.

Hermann Bezner, Emek ha Shalom, Jokneam 20600, ISRAEL

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

We acknowledge receipt of Nos. 418 and 422 and assure you we do appreciate your papers. How you got our address we do not know but we seem to have much in common – much more than with the JW’s who seem to be slipping further and further from the truth that Brother Russell expounded up to 1916.

The “Jehovah’s Witnesses” as such were not founded by Brother Russell. He finished his earthly career in 1916, and they did not come into being until 1934 and were the brain child of “Judge” Rutherford. Brother Russell founded the IBSA but they are so far removed from anything he believed and taught, and today they even deny the Ransom, alleging that Adam will never be resurrected.

We believe Brother Russell was permitted to make some mistakes concerning when Arma­geddon would take place and the Kingdom would be established, for the blessing of the world of mankind and in order to test the brethren. It is so easy to follow a man and make an idol of him. Brother Russell always advised Bible Students to prove all things. The six volumes of Studies in the Scriptures were “helping hands for Bible Students.”

We believe there are still some members of the Body of Christ this side of the vail, and we continue to run for the prize of the High Calling in Christ Jesus. It is essential for all of us to be faithful unto death.

With Christian love, your Brethren in Christ, -------- (ENGLAND)

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Dear Sister Hoefle,

I thank you for sending me your Epiphany publications. I noticed that it is the 75th anniversary since the Pastor finished his course (10/31/91). I am 75 years old. Thanks for publishing my short testimony. Our whole lives are to be a testimony to all around us. How we rejoice when we can say, “I delight to do thy will.” What joy fills our heart to know God’s will concerning us, “even your sanctification.” What a joy to serve our brethren... They are God’s dear children... We ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

We commend you for spreading the wonderful truths of the Scriptures. We are glad to cross over our class barriers to reach and contact many who have slowed down in their walking... The Papacy is pushing the plan to exterminate Jerusalem – standing on the edge of it.

Christian love, ------- (MICHIGAN)

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Dear Brethren: Grace and peace!

“But the path of the righteous ones is like the bright light that is getting lighter and lighter until the day is firmly established.” (Proverbs 4:18 – NWT) The Witnesses change the texts of the King James translation and often times change the meaning to harmonize with their teaching. However, in this text they only add words but have not changed the meaning. We believe the King James translation is succinct and correct. The Witnesses use Prov. 4:18 as an excuse for their flip/flop changes of doctrines. Like the chameleon that changes its colors according to its whims, the JW’s change their doctrines according to their whims.

They say that Jehovah by the use of His Holy Spirit has corrected some of their thinking. If Jehovah God is directing their organization, why is there any need of change? In actuality the Witnesses are telling their devotees, “God is not sure of Him­self –– of His purpose and plan for mankind.” The inspired Word assures us that God’s Word does NOT change – nor does Jehovah God change. I won’t argue the point that when we earnestly “search the Scriptures” we will get a better insight and a better understanding of certain verses or Scriptures not noticed before. The Bereans searched the Scriptures daily (Acts 17:11). Yet Jehovah’s Witnesses with their flip/flop doctrines have made Jehovah a God of confusion rather than a God of order. “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace.” (1 Cor. 14:33 – KJ)

In actuality what the Witnesses are saying is that God is not sure of Himself or of His purposes for mankind. How so? Take for example what was taught regarding the Sodomites – Would the Sodomites be resurrected? According to the Watch Tower Society’s founder and first president, Charles Taze Russell, they WOULD BE resurrected. (Zion’s Watch Tower, July 1879, p. 8)

However, in the June 1, 1952 Watchtower, it was stated that the Sodomites WOULD NOT be resurrected. Jehovah by the use of His Holy Spirit had corrected their thinking. This, according to the Witnesses is a form of the bright light getting lighter and lighter. The views of 1879 is now considered old light – error.

The 1965, August 1, Watchtower states that the Sodomites WOULD BE resurrected. Now what? What was considered old light is new light! Is that possible? Wasn’t the first view considered wrong? Had not Jehovah set them straight in 1952? After all Jehovah is directing the Watchtower Society! Isn’t He? (Watchtower, November 1, 1956, p. 370)

In June 1, 1988 Watchtower, it states the Sodomites WILL NOT be resurrected. Yet since then, that view has been changed back and forth. The Watchtower Society has been so bold as to state they are “the only organization on earth that understands the ‘deeper things of God I I” (Watchtower, July 1, 1973, p. 402) How can that be when they don’t even understand the simple things of God?

What the devotees of the JW’s are actually being taught is that Jehovah is not sure Himself what the outcome of the Sodomites will be. The Witnesses are being taught that they have the Truth on the Scriptures. Yet how can that be when the very ones who are teaching them to understand the Scriptures are in the dark themselves? Truly, this is a case of “the blind leading the blind.” (Matt. 15:14)

The issue of the Sodomites is just one of the doctrinal and organizational changes the Society has gone through. Changes have been made on the Ransom, Chronology, Baptism, Hell, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, the New Covenant, Prophecies, Salvation and countless others.

Can this be God’s organization? God’s only channel of communication? Hardly! The Jehovah’s Witnesses are to be commended for their high morals. But unbeknownst to them they are being misguided. Some testify that they are sincere, but I testify according to the Scriptures, they are sincerely wrong. If anything I have written in this letter will be a help to some of them and deliver them from the “snare of the fowler,” my efforts will not be in vain. I understand that you have a few Witnesses on your mailing list. “But continue you in the things thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them.” (2 Tim. 3:14) New light must harmonize with past light, otherwise it is “new error.”

God bless you as you seek to serve the Lord in sincerity and in truth.

With Christian love, Rolando Rodriguez (NEW YORK)

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Dear Sir,

Please send me your magazine. I would like the January–February issue. Please tell me how much is your subscription. I would like to know if you are affiliated with the Dawn.

Thank you! ------- (CALIFORNIA)

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Dear Sister Emily:

Warm greetings in the precious Name of our Savior and Redeemer!

First, a long–overdue thank you for sending the Epiphany Bulletin over a number of years. We feel a kinship for you in your love for Israel and your many contacts in presenting a message of comfort for our dear brethren of the natural seed of Abraham. Heb. 11:20 is so significant. Blessings for both Jacob and Isaac, representing the spiritual and natural seed.

  The point is so well taken – natural Israel, not so–called “Consecrated Epiphany Campers” are promised the Lord’s blessings. I am sending the enclosed labels. We know postage is expensive.

I have indicated the corrected address. We would like to continue receiving the Epiphany newsletter, and will share them with my mother. After receiving the last Bulletin, I wrote Elva Lanowick because I was so impressed with her testimony. She wrote back such a lovely letter and sent a copy of her October trip itinerary. It was a blessing.

May the Lord bless and keep you and may the joy of the Lord be your strength always.

With love in His Name, ------- (FLORIDA

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Dear Friends,

This is the day of the Lord, let us rejoice and be glad. Enjoy the articles you send out. We rejoice in the truth every day. Eye hath not seen nor ears heard – neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him. It will be wonderful when the Church class has been called out. To think our Heavenly Father has opened our eyes to all these wonderful things. We strive to walk day by day, doing the best we can – watering the fruits of the Holy Spirit and serve our master.

May the Lord bless you! You have sent us two articles. I have given the extra article to a friend. Thanks again.

Christian love, ------- (OREGON)

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Dear Brethren,

I have read with interest, and I must add, critically, your mailings Nos. 427 and 428. I find them both helpful and uplifting.

I am always hesitant to accept any new (to me) material without knowing its source. You have been approved by a sister who is no stranger to you; so henceforth I will receive your papers with continued interest and appreciation.

We can never lose our way as long as we hold fast to the truth as dispensed through the Lord’s chosen vessel – That Faithful and Wise Servant.

Warm Christian love in Him, ------- (MICHIGAN)

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BROTHER JOHN DOWNING, Cleveland, England, finished his course September 21, 1991, at the age of 79. His wife, Sister Betty, survives him. They had no children. He was our beloved, loyal and faithful co–worker for many years, together with his beloved wife. We will miss him. We mourn our loss with his widow and friends, but we rejoice in the blessed memory he has left us.

Such faithful brethren cannot be replaced. He is now asleep in Jesus awaiting the resurrection of “the Just.” (Acts 24:15) We repeat for him the Apostle Paul’s words a few days before he was beheaded: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” (2 Tim. 4:7) This expresses everything we believe to be his due. We rejoice in the reflection that he will appear as one of the “princes in all the earth.” (Psa. 45:16)

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