NO. 202: THREE PARABLES

No. 202

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

In the 25th Chapter of Matthew there is recorded three parables by Jesus, the same being some of the last expressions before His death. In verses 1‑13 we have a recitation about the Little Flock and the Great Company – the “wise” and awake Little Flock versus the “foolish” and sleepy Great Company. Verses 14‑30 treat also of the Little Flock and the Great Company – the “good and faithful Little Flock” compared with the “wicked and slothful” Great Company (the “unprofitable servant”). And verses 31‑46 describe the two classes of Restitutionists – the faithful and obedient “sheep” on the right hand, and the disobedient and wicked “goats” on the left hand. A proper analysis of these three parables requires a clear understanding of “rightly dividing the word of Truth” (2 Tim. 2:15) – giving to each one its proper time setting; and this we shall now endeavor to undertake.

WISE VIRGINS – FOOLISH VIRGINS

This parable has proper application only to the end of this Age, and has to do with the Little Flock and the Great Company in Big Babylon just prior to and shortly after the Lord’s Second Advent. Although the “wise virgins” have their part in the recital, the elab­oration is more with the “foolish virgins,” their conduct and their failures. However, in Matt. 7:21‑27 Jesus contrasts these two classes during the entire Gospel Age, classi­fying them there as “wise men” and “foolish men”; and this parable applies to every mem­ber of the Little Flock and every member of the Great Company. Thus, we are justified in referring to every one of the Little Flock as “wise,” and every one of the Great Company as “foolish.”

In the Matthew Seven version we are told the reason for the wise and the foolish – one class is wise because he “heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them”; but the other class is foolish because he “heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not.” Those that hear and do “built his house upon a rock”; whereas those that hear and do not “built his house upon the sand.” And of both classes it is said that “the rain de­scended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house” – with the one upon the rock remaining firm and impregnable, with the one upon the sand toppling over, “and great was the fall of it.” And upon these statements we now offer some expla­nation.

All four of the above parables had almost no explanation at all until the Harvest time, when “a faithful and wise servant... gave them meat in due season” (Matt. 24:45) – when the Lord clearly distinguished between the Little Flock and the Great Company. Thus, we find the Parousia Truth replete with finely detailed comment on the Great Company. Espe­cially was this true during the final twenty years of the reaping period. During this period three explanations were given for the Matthew Seven parable: First, the “wise man who built his house upon a rock” is the entire Little Flock, and the House is the true Church (built up – perfected in every good word and work); and the “foolish man who built his house upon the sand” is the nominal church, with the house thereof being Babylon. The fall of this Babylonish house began in 1914, and is continuing ever since.

Only those acquainted with the history of events since 1914 will fully appreciate this conclusion. In the Fall of 1917, when the Bolsheviks toppled over the Czarist re­gime in Russia, they gave the Greek Catholic Church a lethal blow, because the Czar was the titular head of that church. Therefore, since that date the Greek Church has been without a head – just as the Jewish House has been without a High Priest since the dis­persion in AD 70. Czarist Russia was one of the greatest and strongest of empires in all history, which made the Greek Church also a very powerful influence in world affairs. In many of the churches was to be found the supposed dead bodies of the saints that had never decayed – encased in glass containers about the rostrum of those churches. When the Bolsheviks took over, they took those bodies onto the front steps of the churches, picked them apart before the gazing public, and demonstrated that they were nothing but cotton frauds. Thus, that “house built upon the sand” has been falling ever since; and its complete collapse will be very much in evidence when the “burning flame” of Arma­geddon accomplishes its devastating work.

The second interpretation, which dovetails with the first and is in harmony with it, defines the wise builder as the Little Flock as a class – building upon gold, silver and precious stones – while the foolish builder is the Great Company that built upon wood, hay and stubble. It is common knowledge that the Great Company always courted the un­clean public – to gain great numbers, do great works, according to their own idea of things. This is graphically described in Ezek. 44:10,11: “The Levites [typical of the Great Com­pany]... went astray away from Me after their idols; they shall even bear their iniquity. Yet they shall be ministers in My sanctuary [serving before the throne]... they shall slay the burnt offering and the sacrifice for the people... Because they ministered unto them before their idols, and caused the house of Israel to fall into iniquity.” The basic mistake in all this is given in Ezek. 44:7: “Ye have brought into My sanctuary strangers [not the elect Little Flock], uncircumcised in heart [not consecrated to do the Lord’s “good and acceptable and perfect will”]... to pollute it.” All during the Age the crown‑lost leaders – men of great intellect, such as St. Augustine, John Calvin, etc. – have devoted their energies to construction of the systems; and we have now come to “the day when every man’s work will be made manifest, because the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire [the destructive influences now at work on all hands]”. (1 Cor. 3:13) Their house “built upon the sand” is rapidly crum­bling to ruin.

The third interpretation is a moderation of the second above, making individuals of the “wise man” and the “foolish man,” with the houses representing the individual faith and character structures of the builders. This is shown in Matt. 7:21‑23, where the introduction to the builder parable is given: “Not every one [individual] that saith un­to Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in Heaven. Many will say to Me... have we not in Thy name done many wonderful works [many of the structures in Babylon are among the finest and most impressive in the entire world]? Then I will profess unto them, I never approved of you.” (See Diaglott)

It is well to note here that the word hear has three meanings in the Bible: (1) to take in sound through the physical hearing organ, the ear; (2) to understand; and (3) to obey. Clearly enough, the first meaning could not apply here, because many hear who do not understand, and who have no desire whatever to obey. They are represented in the Sower Parable as that “seed which fell by the wayside, and the fowls came and devoured them up.” (Matt. 13:4) Therefore, we conclude that the second meaning is the one to be applied in the parable, because all who give themselves to the Lord during this Age understand suf­ficiently to know what they are doing; but these are eventually divided into two clas­ses – those who hear and obey, and those who hear, obey for a time, but become “weary in well doing,” then become classed with the “foolish man.” Thus, we conclude that every one of the Great Company may be described as “foolish”; and, while there have been many such individuals all during the Age, it is only in the end of the Age that they appear as a special class; and Jesus says we may recognize them by the building they have erected: “By their fruits [their building – character structure, etc.] you will discover them.” (Matt. 7:16, Dia.)

THE ROCK – THE SAND

In 1 Cor. 3:11‑13, Dia., St. Paul states this: “No one can lay another founda­tion besides that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. And if, on this foundation, any one build up gold, silver, costly stones; wood, hay, straw; the work of each will become manifest.” Here also the house built upon the rock, and the house built upon the sand are stated in other words. At one time every member of the Great Company was of the Little Flock; consequently, all began building on the rock – Jesus became the foundation for their character structure, but this is in no sense a reflection upon His character. “He left us an example,” which the “few” followed to the end, even as the “many” (a “great multitude”) did not do so. But, as in the natural building process, when the foundation be faulty, the superstructure may appear beautiful, thus highly de­ceptive to the unskilled eye, yet it will not stand the ravages of time and tide. This is presently being manifested on all sides. The central feature of every good character is agape love; but this feature is not found in sufficiency in those who build upon wood, hay, straw – in those who build their house upon the sand. And, “because they admitted not the love of the Truth... God will send to them an energy of delusion.” (2 Thes. 2:10,11, Dia.) Thus, it is their faulty foundation that fails them when “the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew.” The work of those who build upon Christ as the rock survives; whereas, the work of those who build upon Christ as the sand is destroyed when the test is applied – all de­pending upon the quality of the builders.

While the rock and the sand in the parable both represent Christ, they do not represent Him from a character standpoint, because His character has no “sand holes” in it; He has no weaknesses. He is ever the rock and fortress of the faithful – im­pregnable and secure. Therefore, we must conclude that attitudes and activities of the builders are represented by the rock and the sand. Thus we would understand the rock to represent Jesus as the Stayer, the Supporter, the Helper and the Strengthener of the faithful in their trial periods; and the sand to represent Him not as such to the mea­surably faithful (the Great Company), but their Forsaker, their Abandoner, the One who leaves them to their own weak resources during trials. Jude 22,23, Dia., is directly to the point: “Some indeed do you pity; but others save by fear, snatching them out of the fire, hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.” While their works are being burned, they themselves are saved so as by fire.

This is set out in another form in 1 Cor. 1:30, Dia.: “You are in the Anointed Jesus, Who became our wisdom from God, righteousness also, and sanctification and redemption.” The manner in which these four features is used determines what kind of build­ing is developed. First, as to wisdom, “the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.” (Psa. 19:7) This wisdom comes through Christ as the rock (the Truth), our Teacher, causing us to know the Truth and to develop the spirit of the Truth. “The meek will He guide in judgment; the meek will He teach His way.” (Psa. 25:9) Some acquire a head knowledge ­– often an impressive head knowledge – without “admitting the love [spirit] of the Truth.” Thus, their structure is defective; their house is built upon the sand. Because of their flimsy foundation the Lord permits them to imbibe more or less of error, even though they may be constant attendants in Truth circles. Their bad heart condition automati­cally distorts their thinking; usually they become easy prey for ambitious leaders who lead them astray. They use such overly much as a crutch, which causes their house of sand to collapse tragically once the crutch is removed. We have been witness to very much of this during this time of trouble, which has been upon us since 1914.

Secondly, Christ is made unto us righteousness – justification. “Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Rom. 5:1) But, “faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Rom. 10:17) Therefore, wisdom (by instruction) must first appear to develop even a little faith, which, when sufficiently developed, brings the hearer to righteousness – ­justification. Both those who build upon the rock, and those who build upon the sand, have Christ as their justifier. However, here again both classes receive the same com­plete and perfect justification when they fully accept Christ as their Savior. He is made unto us righteousness. But this justification will not be fully maintained unless a determined and continual effort is made to practice justice. This the wise man does, but the foolish man does not. In this matter also the wise build upon Him as the rock; whereas, the foolish build upon Him as the sand. This violation of justice may appear in some very early in their Christian walk; in others it may be years in appearing. Instead of developing a “good conscience,” they display a bad conscience, and thus “the end of the commandment” (1 Tim. 1:5) is lost to them in small or large degree.

Thirdly, “Christ is made unto us sanctification” – setting apart for a holy pur­pose. Here again, at the outset both those who steadfastly build upon Christ as rock and those who build upon Him as sand began with perfect sanctification, which perfec­tion the one class eventually allows to deteriorate. They are those who “draw back” and cause the Lord to lose His pleasure in them. Some eventually draw back to complete destruction of their building; they cease all effort to build at all. This would not be true of any who ultimately gain “palms of victory” – those who continue to make some effort to build. While their house will fall in this trial time, they themselves will finally be saved “so as by fire,” although their works will be burned.

All who come into the Household in this faith Age have three activities required of them. The first, and most important, is a work in themselves – perfecting them­selves in every good word and work. The second, and next important, is helping those of like precious faith to do the same thing. “We ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” (1 John 3:16) The third, and least important, is witnessing to the world “for sin, for righteousness, and judgment to come.” Those who build upon the rock view these requirements in proper perspective, giving to each its proper rating, and pursuing them with all diligence. But those who build upon the sand have generally reversed the or­der, placing most stress upon the third, next upon the second, and least of all upon the first. Thus the crown‑losers all during the Age have busied themselves with gaining great numbers and doing great works, which has made them more or less reprehensible – especially to those who had sufficient of the Holy Spirit to analyze the situation properly.

It is they also who “hated their brethren, and cast them out.” (Isa. 66:5) In this they have openly said, “Let the Lord be glorified” — and have been hailed by “the unstable and the unlearned” for “their much speaking.” Many who have built upon Christ as the sand have been great orators – great stage performers — and have often molded public opinion as they would clay in the hand. Yet all of them are classified as FOOLISH! Jesus gave special warning against such actions in Matt. 6:2: “When thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.” Hypocrite in this text is from the Greek hypokritai, meaning an actor. Many who have built upon the sand have been quite expert at putting on an act – to be seen of men; and, since they have accomplished their purpose, Jesus says of them that “they have their reward.” They have done “many wonderful works,” (Matt. 7:22) but the final judgment of the Lord is, “I never approved of you.” Here is the footnote in the Diaglott concerning this text: “The phrase of sounding a trumpet before them seems only a figurative expression to represent their doing it in a noisy, ostentatious way. Erasmus and Beza justly ob­serve that theathandi in verse 1 is a theatrical word; that hypokritai signifies disguised players in masks; and that sounding a trumpet may allude to music of the stage.” Upon such conduct the Lord voices emphatic disapproval; and those who resort to such tactics must justly be classified as those who build their house upon the sand.

Fourthly, “Christ is made unto us deliverance.” This means saving us from our enemies; and it has two applications – one during our earthly course, and the second in deliverance from the death state. “I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day [the resurrection day].” (2 Tim. 1:12) In this present life the Lord always delivers those who build their house upon the rock. He delivers them from the snares of the world, the flesh and the Devil; and gives them victory over them. “God will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” (1 Cor. 10:13) As He rescues us from such evils, He is indeed our Deliverer! But this He does only for those who build upon the rock, allowing those who build upon the sand to reap the rewards of their sowing. This is markedly revealed in King Saul of Israel, who is a type of the crown‑lost leaders during most of this Age. He and both his sons suffered defeat and death in one day at the hands of his enemies – typical of the Armageddon day here in the end of the Age.

The battle ground is mainly the mind of new creatures, and continues until it over­whelms the unfaithful, partially defeats the measurably faithful, but gains full victory for the fully faithful – who are “faithful until death.” This complete victory is not just one battle; it is one battle after another, some of which may be lost, but they arise to battle anew, repairing the break in the battle line until they “possess the gate [place of chief prominence] of his enemies.” (Gen. 22:17) Such victory comes to those who build upon the rock because of their faith, loyalty and obedience, and their endur­ance of hardness as good soldiers. Such never allow the thorns (the cares of this life) to choke them. But the foolish who build upon the sand allow the cares of this life, along with surfeiting and drunkenness (figurative and literal) to weaken their combative qualities to such a degree that defeat becomes more or less a habit with them – much the same as a prize fighter loses his endurance and skill through physical dissipation. Many of them become good runners, rather than good soldiers, thus disgracing their Captain and adding to the burdens of their faithful fellow soldiers, as they leave holes in the line of battle. The Lord guarantees to give the meek (Psa. 25:9), the hungry (Matt. 5:6), the humble (Matt. 18:4), the honest and good (Luke 8:15) His Truth; but He will not give it to others.

Time has demonstrated that the majority in the Parousia Truth Movement built upon Christ as sand, imbibing more or less of error, which revealed their glaring deficiencies once the restraining hand of the Parousia Messenger was removed. And the same may be said for those in the Epiphany Movement also. “By their fruits you will discover them” – the wise having built their characters through application of the Truth; whereas, the foolish built their characters – such as they are – through imbibing vicious and destructive errors. This building upon Christ as sand does not at all reflect upon the character of their great Captain, who is without sin. Their description is so very well set forth in Isa. 4:1: “We will eat our own bread [erroneous teachings]), and wear our own apparel [their spotted robes]: only let us be called by Thy name [Christians], to take away our re­proach.” Thus they build upon Christ as sand. The entire matter is determined by the doing or not doing “these sayings of mine.”

RAIN DESCENDED – FLOODS CAME – WINDS BLEW

While the entire Gospel Age had those who build upon the sand, they were never separated as a class until the end of the Age. This is typified in the Tabernacle pic­ture, which nowhere reveals a Great Company class. The last work of the High Priest on the Atonement Day was leading Azazel’s Goat to the Gate and delivering it to the fit man, thus forcing the conclusion that such would not appear as a distinct class until the end of this Age. And the sub‑heading above states how each class would be tested here at the end of the Age.

Rain in Bible usage designates the Truth. “My doctrine shall drop as the rain... as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass.” (Deut.32:2) And certainly the Truth has appeared in great volume here in the end of the Age to test each house for the quality of its building. Especially in the years just prior to 1914 That Servant stressed the truth on the Great Company, demolishing all their arguments, and causing rampant confusion in the camp of the antitypical Midianites. And during the period since 1916 the same statement may be made about those who have built their house upon the sand. Instead of being “good soldiers,” they have all become good run­ners. The “rain” has been beating upon their house with great force. “The hail [hard cutting truth] shall sweep away the refuge of lies.” (Isa. 28:17)

In like manner “the floods came.” Floods are water mixed with discoloring soil – the same being expressive of error mixed in with the Truth. This also has made its appearance – especially since 1916, from which time the clear Parousia Harvest Truth has had all sorts of error mixed into it, more perhaps than at any time during the Age in so short a time. During this period some have rejected completely Tabernacle Shadows, and have put repulsive error in its place; others have rejected the chronology; others have rejected in full or in part the teaching that the Jews will have preeminence dur­ing the Kingdom reign; others teach that the Epiphany as a period of time is already past, and this despite the fact that St. Paul clearly teaches that the “man of Sin” would be annihilated with the Epiphany of His Parousia (2 Thes. 2:8,Dia.). The floods of error have produced trying times for those who have built upon Christ as the sand.

Also, the “winds blew.” Biblical winds often represent wars – either physical or spiritual. Since 1914 we have seen plenty of evidence of physical wars; but there has also been plenty of spiritual wars during the Parousia between the Truth Movement and the sects of Big Babylon; and since 1916 between those who have retained Parousia Truth and those who have attempted to ravish it. Indeed the spiritual wars since 1916 have been very prominent among those who once claimed to embrace the Parousia Harvest Truth; and many is the house that has thus fallen during this time. The “foolish man” is even more apparent now than was true before the 1914 physical “wind” began to blow. The phys­ical evidence on all hands abundantly corroborated the presence of the wise and foolish virgins, and the truth of the Lord’s statements concerning both.

THE TALENTS PARABLE

In Matt. 25:14‑30 Jesus gave this parable, giving to one servant five talents, to another two talents, and to another one talent. The interpretation of this story is well explained in the Berean Comments, so we shall not repeat it here other than to deal with the ser­vant who neglected to use his one talent, thus receiving the Lord’s criticism and His description as the “unprofitable servant,” for which he was sentenced to “outer darkness” – error. This parable is an impressive companion with the one explained aforegoing. When the “floods came,” they depicted the same thing as the “outer darkness” of the parable now being considered. In both instances they create havoc for the “foolish man” who built his house upon the sand.

Whatever excuses we may be inclined to make for the “foolish man” and the “unprofitable servant,” some of whom at one time had five talents, and others two talents, the Lord makes very clear that having just one talent is not to be accepted as such excuse. The Lord never calls the worthless or the indolent to the elective salvation; or per­haps it would be better stated that the worthless or indolent find no appeal in the elec­tive salvation, because they are “weary in well doing” before they even start. Thus the point is stressed that all who were called in the “one hope of their calling” had suffi­cient ability to make that calling and election sure had they but used the means at their disposal. The meaning of this parable also was reserved for the end of the Age, when the “good and faithful servant” and the “unprofitable servant” were so clearly classified.

THE SHEEP AND THE GOATS

While the application of this parable (Matt. 25:31‑46) does not apply now, its meaning has been made quite plain, a thing not done until the end of the Age. But this parable also has been distorted out of all recognition to the interpretation given it by the Parousia Messenger. He properly gave it a Kingdom setting; whereas, some now attempt to apply it to the present, with its attendant confusion. The failure to “rightly divide the word of Truth” has been the cause of great bedlam all during the Age. In the past many have been trying to preach, “The spirit and the bride say, Come,” when there was no bride. The Witnesses are attempting to separate the sheep and the goats now, but out of the other side of their mouth they tell us that the bride is not yet completed – more than 10,000 of their “remnant” are still living. And other features of the Gospel‑Age program are yet clearly not completed. Therefore, there is no bride in the sense of Rev. 22:17 – “the water of life” is therefore not yet available to the Millennial sheep. Thus, here again the “rain and the floods” are beating upon the house of the “foolish man”; and its fall will become convincingly apparent when Armageddon will make known “their folly to all.” These people proclaim Pastor Russell as their founder, but they have distorted Restitution out of all resemblance to the way he taught it.

Often we hear it said that consecration is always in order, but this truth must be in harmony with God’s purposes before proper application can be made of it. Cor­nelius was in a consecrating attitude, but his presentation of himself was not accept­able until the “due time” for the Gentiles to come into the Body of Christ. Likewise now, any of the Restitution class wanting to consecrate before the Highway of Holiness is opened up for them, would be in a corresponding position – because the spirit and the bride are not yet saying, Come. This is elementary Parousia Truth, which should need no elaboration for those who have “continued in My Word.”

Another group perverting Restitution is the Laymen’s Home Missionary Movement – ­these two being the only groups, so far as we know, who have gone awry on this doctrine. All who have a sound understanding of Harvest Truth know there can be no mixing of the elective and the free‑grace salvations; and the confusion of these two groups forces them into other errors to substantiate their teaching. The Witnesses have eliminated the Jews entirely in their plan, consigning them to eternal annihilation. The LHMM merely remands them to a secondary position in the Kingdom (replacing them with Campers Consecrated as the “first” and chief restitutionists), grossly revolutionizing against the Apostle Paul’s teaching and the teaching of the Parousia and Epiphany Messengers – ­namely, the restitution blessings to the Jew first. Here is a clear illustration of a “house built upon the sand”; and we may rest in the calm conviction that “great will be the fall of it.”

“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free [those who build upon the rock]. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day [those who build upon the sand].” (John 8:31,32; 12:48)

Sincerely your brother, John J. Hoefle, Pilgrim

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LETTER OF GENERAL INTEREST

Dear Brother Hoefle:

Glad to get your letter. I have my stenographer answering this for me. I am visiting in Ambridge at my granddaughter’s. Thank you for answering my question on Psychiatrists and Spiritism,

Your messages are just like the Star Members’s writings, as you hold to the Truth.

I am sorry to hear about your Aunt. You may write me here if you like, as I am not sure how long I will stay. The Lord bless you and all with you!

                                                Your sister by His Grace,….(PENNSYLVANIA)

………………………..

Dear Brother Hoefle:

Please place my name on your mailing list once again. My new address is posted on the envelope. The fellowship enjoyed through your letters is greatly needed and appreciated in these troublous times.                                                                       Sincerely your brother , ……. (CALIFORNIA)

………………………..

Epiphany Bible Students Ass’n:

Thank you for The Herald of the Epiphany – the Editions you sent to me. They are most interesting and I would like to get God’s Great Sabbath Day you suggested

                                                Very truly yours, …..(KANSAS)

NO. 201: SOME THOUGHTS FOR THE MEMORIAL

No. 201

Comes again the Memorial of our Lord’s crucifixion, the correct time this year 1972 being after 6 p.m. March 27. The date is determined after this manner: The moon nearest the Vernal Equinox comes new at the Thirtieth Meridian East, Jerusalem time, at 1:35 p.m. March 15, thus establishing 6 p.m. March 14 as Nisan 1, Bible reckoning. Counting to Nisan 14, we arrive at 6 p.m. March 27; and any time that evening after 6 p.m. would be proper for the celebration. We here at Mount Dora shall commence the service at 7:30 p.m.; and we issue a cordial invitation to any one in this vicinity to join with us if they be of one mind on the matter.

THE MEMORIAL’S MEANINGS

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

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

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

THE SPECIFIC SYMBOLS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Serene, I fold my hands and wait,

Nor care for wind nor tide nor sea;

I rave no more ‘gainst time or fate,

For lo! my own shall come to me.

What matter if I stand alone?

I wait with joy the coming years;

My heart shall reap where it has sown,

And garner up its fruit of tears.

The stars come nightly to the sky;

The tidal wave unto the sea;

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

Can keep my own away from me.

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

However, this matter probably needs some clarification – the spirit of a sound mind. It is quite possible to bring disrepute upon ourselves through our own foolish acts – things that appear right at the time, but which are motivated by poor judgment. Perhaps none of us are without some of these experiences – some more, some less.

Often such situations are the manipulations of Satan We know he tried that on Jesus Himself, when he told Him to jump from the Temple and that God would bear Him up. Had he heeded this unsound suggestion, and found Himself disadvantaged physically because of it, His suffering would not have been ‘for righteousness,’ but for foolishness, an act of sheer presumption. The years should teach us all something; the chastenings of the past should sober us for the present – and they will to those who are rightly exercised thereby. Such stabilizing influences usually keep pace with our growth in knowledge and in grace.

THIS IS MY BODY ‑ IS MY BLOOD

In Matthew 26 and in Mark 14 we find the recording of the institution of the Lord’s Supper. Among Christians – many of them sincere and honest men – there has been conducted the sharpest controversy about the meaning of the words that head this section of our article. Satan has spread error on almost all Scripture; but espec­ially has this been true of the words given above. The worst of all these errors has been the one concerning the Mass, being the basis of the doctrine of transubstantia­tion, the same being the central feature of the “abomination that maketh desolate.”

In a broad sense there are two general views on the meaning of these words: (1) Those who teach the real presence of the body and the blood in the loaf and the cup; and (2) those who hold to the representative meaning of those expressions. Much ingenuity has been displayed in the defense of both positions; some of the ablest of Christian minds have been on both sides of the controversy. As most of our readers know, our own view is that there is no actual Presence of His Body and Blood in the bread and the wine; we regard them merely as representations of the same.

TRANSUBSTANTIATION

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

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

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

CONSUBSTANTIATION ‑ INSTRUMENTENTALIZATION

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

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

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

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

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

THE UNDERLYING ERROR

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

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

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

Some Biblical institutions are representative things; and, whenever the Bible explains them and uses the verb ‘to be’ to predicate the interpretation, it always means ‘to represent.’ “He (Abraham) received the sign of circumcision” (Rom. 4:12); and Gen. 17:10 says “This (circumcision) is (represents) My covenant.” Clearly enough here, circumcision could be nothing more than a representation when it uses the word ‘is’; and much the same may be said of the Passover. When the Jews in subsequent years would be asked by their children what mean these things, the head of the house was to tell them, “It is (represents) the sacrifice of the Lord’s Passover.”

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

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

A STILL DEEPER THOUGHT

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

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

Much of what has been presented herein has been gleaned from the writings of others, with some of our own thoughts interspersed herein; and it is our hope that our effort will prove a blessing to all who endeavor to “walk in newness of life.” Also, we would stress that it is not our intention herein to supplant the Passover article in Volume 6, the reading of which we heartily recommend to all. Thus, we pray for all a special blessing in the preparation for, and participation in this 1972 service, as we “do this in remembrance.” The Lord lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace!

“This is my body,” the Master said,

“Which is broken for you this day;

And this my blood, which is being shed

To open for you the way.”

Oh, the pain that the Savior bore,

And the grief that the Pure one knew!

By men depraved He was bruised sore‑­

Though not for Himself, but you.

Man could not grasp His wondrous thought,

Nor the matchless love that was shown.

It was an unfriendly race He sought;

He suffered and died alone.

And now comes the call to His faithful few:

“You may share what is left behind

Of the grief and suffering the Loved one Knew

For the blessing of all mankind.”

So may each to the table worthily come‑­

Nor earthly loss bemoan

Till he finally hear that sweet ‘swell done!

Sit down in my Father’s throne.”

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LETTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST

Dear Brother John:

We wish to express our thanks to you for the inspiring service you gave at Aunt Nan’s funeral. I wrote but I wanted to write you personally. We are enjoying your tracts, also. Haven’t studied them close enough yet, but hope to soon. I have read through them, but didn’t look up the Scriptures on them.

Tell all Hello for us. I will write them later. We were drawn closer together with our Mother’s people under these pathetic circumstances. We wanted to send you a small token of our appreciation.

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

………………………………….

Dear Brother Hoefle: Grace and peace!

Just a few lines to tell you how very much all of us here in the Ecclesia appreciated your services in the deaths of our beloved Aunt Nan and Sister Mary. Some of the relatives and friends knew something of their faith in God’s Plan of Salvation, and His promised Kingdom – and knew that they had specially requested that such Truths and the “comfort of the Scriptures” be given at their funerals. The services were well received, and quite a few made favorable comments – saying it was very clear and understandable. We trust your efforts will result in lasting blessing to all those who are seeking to “know the Lord.” We here hope to do what we can to bless and help those who are further interested.

His Truth is indeed our shield and buckler, and a wonderful strength at such times as funerals are a pronounced indication that the “curse” is still with us. How wonderful it will be when that blessed Kingdom is established, and as you quoted – when “there shall be no more curse”....”And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death.”

May the Lord continue to bless your efforts to spread the good Word! Your brethren by His Grace,

THE WINSTON‑SALEM ECCLESIA ------- (NORTH CAROLINA)

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“IN THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW”

During the month of December we had much cause for sorrow in the death of two loved ones of our own family.

NANCY ELLEN CRATER HOLCOMB, of North Carolina, our beloved Aunt, died Dec. 2, 1971, after a prolonged illness. We visited her a few weeks before she died, and at that time she knew she was dying, and expressed her submission to the Lord’s will, and her firm faith in God and His promised Kingdom. She requested then, as she had done on many previous occasions, that the Truth on the Kingdom, and “times of restitution” be given at her funeral as a “witness” to her faith. We mourn with all those that mourn, especially with the loved ones who so lovingly ministered unto her in her dying hours.

MARY HORN CAMPBELL, also of North Carolina, a beloved sister in the flesh and in the spirit, died December 17, 1971, who also made special request for our services at her funeral. She, too, had abiding hope and faith in the approaching Kingdom; and all who knew her well heard from her about her beliefs. As with the Prophet Jeremiah, “His word was in mine heart as a burning fire” (Jer. 20:9), so she witnessed at every opportunity. Although we “sorrow not even as others who have no hope,” yet we “mourn with those that mourn,” but rejoice in the prospect of seeing and being with her again in the Kingdom.

When some great sorrow, like a mighty river,

Flows through your life, with peace‑destroying power,

And dearest things are swept away forever,

Say to your heart each hour,

This, too, shall pass away!

NO. 200: TRUTH FOREVER ON THE SCAFFOLD

No. 200

During this Gospel Age the Truth has risen and been trampled under foot in each successive epoch of the Church. In the Jewish Harvest there was a specially bright shining, as “the light of life” brought “life and immortality to light through the Gospel” which bright shining was continued by the inspired Apostles, although “the mystery of in­iquity” was already manifesting itself in their day. We find much the same situation was manifest during the life of the Parousia Messenger and the power-graspers associ­ated with him. Once the restraining hand was gone, then a bedlam of turmoil and error arose in both instances, so that some features of the Truth were completely obliterated after the Apostles fell asleep, one instance being the doctrine of Restitution. Much the same has occurred since Brother Russell's death with respect to the High Calling, so that the organization he left behind is in utter confusion on this doctrine and teach­ings related to it. Even the doctrine of Restitution has been perverted out of all sem­blance to the way That Servant taught it.

FIRST LEVITICAL GROUP

As many of us know, J. F. Rutherford flitted from one change to another under the deft defense of the Truth by the Epiphany Messenger – a defense which forced JFR to abandon one truth after another to support each new error he promulgated; so that the Jehovah's Witnesses are now so far from the sound and sober teachings of That Servant that he would be unable to recognize them were he to return now (except, i.e., of course, as he has observed their course from beyond the veil). But, having once de­termined that the High Calling is closed (even though they do not have the right date for it), the Jehovah's Witnesses are forced to provide a place for their new converts. And where are they putting them? Why, in the “great crowd” of Rev. 19:1,6. As all Epiphany­-enlightened brethren know, both Messengers correctly taught there is but “one calling” (Eph. 4:4), the       same being the “high call–ing,” and the “great crowd” are the aftermath – the fall-outs of that calling. They are those who failed to make the grade, lost their standing became crown-losers – but were graciously given a secondary position in the great Plan of Salvation.

Nowhere do the Scriptures designate a “call” to the membership in the “great crowd.” Insofar as the High Calling is concerned, they are failures; and God never calls any one to be a failure. These people are designated the Measurably Faithful, because it was lack of faithfulness that caused them to lose their position among the Fully Faith­ful – the crown retainers. These Measurably Faithful are those who allowed their robes to become “spotted” – some more, some less, but all sufficiently enough to lose their standing among the Very Elect. In some the spots are so vague as to be almost invis­ible, even to those who were closely associated with them (they lost the High Calling “by the skin of their teeth”); in others the spots are so numerous and black that the white is almost obliterated. Some will miss the Second Death by “the skin of their teeth,” and some will lose their standing in the Great Company completely. But all of them through “fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage” (Heb. 2:15); and this will be true of all crown-losers until their cleansing, at which time they will receive their deliverance from such bondage. “These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” (Rev. 7:14) The words of St. Paul apply to the entire “large crowd”: if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.” (Heb. 10:38)

Once any one falls from the High Calling, no amount of wailing and gnashing of teeth will then avail to gain reinstatement therein. When once ejected from the Holy they are not permitted to re-enter – nor offer incense on the Golden Altar. Once it is lost, the High Calling never opens a second time to such Measurably Faithful people. Like Esau, they find “no place for repentance” (so far as the High Calling is concerned), though they may “seek it carefully with tears”; they have forever parted with title to their “birthright,” as did Esau – even though he secured for it only a mess of pottage. It should be remembered that in those days of Isaac it was required of the eldest son that he fast on the birthday of a respected and prominent ancestor, while the youngest son feasted on that same day. Thus, Esau, with a sharp appetite prodding him, offered to trade (barter) places with Jacob – that he might feast while Jacob fasted in his place. His profligacy was considered an act of sacrilege in those days, and would arouse the contempt of all well-disciplined and honorable men. This explains why “Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated” (loved less). Such flagrant disregard for their coven­ant of sacrifice has ever drawn the sharp criticism, disapproval, and chastening rod of Jehovah against those thus guilty (although He does not “hate” them – they are those “saved with fear,” making a difference) – and this observation will eventually be found to be true concerning the measurably faithful Youthful Worthies as it has been true concerning the Great Company; the extreme end of this Age will make this acutely manifest. How­ever, the Youthful Worthies – those consecrating between the Ages, after the High Call­ing is closed and before the Highway of Holiness is opened, as taught by That Servant and the Epiphany Messenger (E-4:342) – are not spirit-begotten, and are not in danger of losing life itself; but they are in danger of losing their class standing before God.

It is very pertinent to consider here that the present “large crowd” that the Je­hovah's Witnesses are fostering is to be of the earth, earthy – a class without hope of a spiritual reward. It is the first time in history that such a class as this has ever been presented. However, That Servant correctly taught that the “large crowd” is a New Creation, a part of the “church of the firstborn” (Heb. 12:23), whose ultimate stand­ing will be as spirit beings “before the throne” (not “in the throne” where the Elect Bride will be).

In Parousia Vol. 6, p. 93, par. 1, there is this: “Neither is there a second call during this Gospel Age, though there is a second class of saved ones selected during this Age – the Great Company (Rev. 7:9-13)” – the same as the “large crowd” of Rev. 19:1,6. In furtherance of this position is the footnote on p. 707 of Vol. 6:

“The Great Company, although they cannot be counted in as participants of the First Resurrection, and sharers of its glory, honor and immortality, nor counted in with the Ancient Worthies, must, nevertheless, be counted as overcomers even though the overcom­ing be through great tribulation. And as overcomers, they must be esteemed to pass from death unto life, and, therefore, to be subjects of an instantaneous resur–rection, and not a gradual one, as in the case of the world, whose trial is future.”

The Jehovah's Witnesses accepted fully the above teachings for a number of years after Brother Russell's death, claiming that many who left them after 1916 were the Great Company – a class fallen from the Truth, a class fallen from the High Calling (the “one calling” of the Gospel Age), who “went out from us because they were not all of us.” (1 Jno. 2:19). Presently there is very little said about the Great Company in the various Truth groups, although That Servant gave us extensive elucidation about that Class. Even the Jehovah's Witnesses are talking about an entirely different Class, when they offer a “call” to their “large crowd”; but they are conspicuously silent an the real “large crowd” which Brother Russell expounded so clearly from the Scriptures. The real “large crowd” are to be scourged by Armageddon for their cleansing; whereas, the “large crowd” of the Jehovah's Witnesses are to receive a shadowing protection dur­ing that time. This is a revolutionism against the Truth taught by That Servant – and they have no Scripture to support their claim.

THE 60th LEVITICAL GROUP

While the LHMM takes some cognizance of the Great Company, this is due in part, at least, to the fact that their leader is the only leader of the Truth groups in this Epi­phany period emanating from the Harvest Truth who self-admittedly is one of the Great Company Class – a crown-lost leader. It is commendable that he recognizes his position in this respect, but is regrettable that he now claims that his position, as well as that of all other crown-losers, is superior to all others. This he teaches because of his efforts to teach that all the Very Elect are gone; that this is true because of the Epiphany Messenger's death in 1950 (although he taught that some of the Little Flock would be here on earth after that date). He has perverted much of the Truth on this Great Company Class, as presented by the Star Members, since 1950 – now claiming that all should be subject to their leadership. And some of his public oral teachings concerning the humanity of the Great Company is sadly ridiculous. Also, he claims that he himself was cleansed without being abandoned to Azazel, a revolutionism against the Epiphany Truth as given in E-15:525, E-4:209,210 and other places. The Epiphany Messenger taught that all crown-losers, including those who lost Littleflockship by the “skin of their teeth,” must be fully abandoned to Azazel before their cleansing could be effected.

Also, RGJ often stresses the ‘superior class' of the Great Company – and this he does as he tells us from the other side of his mouth that the majority of them are not yet cleansed! And once more he elaborates in the Nov-Dec. 1971 Present Truth his 'proof' that there are no members of the Little Flock on earth; but his main proof is simply a parallel that did not 'parallel.' He well knows that Brother Johnson expected to leave us in 1956 – just forty years after the death of Brother Russell. But, when he died in 1950, RGJ proceeded to put himself in Brother Russell's parallels – especially in his efforts in 1954 with his Bible films – to parallel the Photo Drama in 1914. All are witness to his failure in that effort. Brother Russell's Photo Drama was from 1914 to 1916, and was an outstanding success with the general public; RGJ's films are from 1954 to an indefinite future period – with very few taking notice of it other than his own group. It is not even recognized by other Truth groups. Did we not attend his Conventions, we wouldn't even be cognizant of its existence. Thus, his efforts are not a “parallel” in time or in accomplishment. Brother Russell died in 1916; RGJ is still here – sixteen years after 1956 – and still insisting upon the parallel! As the Epiphany Messenger so well states, When these crown-losers fall into the hands of Azazel they talk all sorts of nonsense.

Throughout the Age the Fully Faithful have gladly been “beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God” (Rev. 20:4), have “chosen rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt” (Heb. 11:25,26); whereas, the Measurably Faithful have chosen rather the green plains of Sodom, “Well watered every­where, as the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt.” (Gen. 13:10) Many of them have labored under the “strong delusion” that they could be the “rich man” in this world and “Lazarus” in the next world. (See Luke 16:19:31)

YOUTHFUL WORTHIES SIMILARLY CLASSIFIED

It is in order here also, we believe, to entertain such a concept for the Youthful Worthies. They are much the same people as those who embraced the High Calling during its term, and some of them are actually the children of such people – some of whose par­ents have “finished their course with Joy” among the Very Elect, with others being found among the Measurably Faithful. Therefore, it is hardly a stretch of the imagination to assume that at least some of the children would be like their progenitors; it would seem a reasonable certainty to find fully faithful and measurably faithful ones among the Youthful Worthies. The Epiphany is a special time for “making manifest the coun­sels of hearts”; and it would be folly extreme to believe this will not also occur with those in the LHMM after the Epiphany Messenger's death. During his lifetime his re­straining hand withheld many from a contrary course, just as was true with Brother Rus­sell, and just as occurred when the restraint of the Apostles was removed from the early Church. Therefore, it is a reasonable conclusion that many of the measurably faithful among them will be found among the quasi-elect in later calculations, while those who be­come badly reprobate will receive nothing more than the “resurrection to shame and age-lasting contempt.” (Dan. 12:2) “If any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.” Just as the Measurably Faithful lost completely their standing in the Very Elect, so also can we expect the Measurably Faithful among the Youthful Worthies to lose their standing in their Class.

It is well that we keep always in mind the events of 1914. The date was right, but the expectations were very much wrong as respects the disposition of God's people. Although Brother Russell himself was telling the Household two years before that they had been expecting much too much for 1914, many of them stopped their ears to his warnings. And, when 1914 came and their hopes were dashed, many became offended – their weaknesses be­came acutely apparent. “Judgment must begin at the house of God... And if the righteous (the Saints) scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly (second-deathers) and the sinner (the Great Company) appear?” (1 Pet. 4:17,18) “The Covenant by sacrifice” is unto death, and not to any special date; only the Lord Himself is to say “It is enough”; and those who serve the Lord “with all the heart, mind, soul and strength” are fully content to accept this arrangement.

And, with 1954 came a similar situation. The date was right insofar as the Great Company developing truths were concerned, but it was also very much wrong as regards other expectations – with things similar to 1914 occurring since that time. As the Measurably Faithful were given over to “strong delusions” various, sundry and accentu­ated after 1914, so we are now witness to the same again since 1950. The Epiphany Mes­senger emphatically taught that the quasi-elect would be the unconsecrated – that the unconsecrated would be the residents in the Epiphany Camp in the finished picture ­that Tentative Justification would cease when the Gospel Age ceases. This latter Bro. Russell also taught. Yet the Measurably Faithful are setting aside these clear and reasonable teachings to make way for their Consecrated Epiphany Campers, or quasi-elect Consecrated – just as others have done with their antitypical Ammonites and Moabites – ­the Jonadabs, and now a “large crowd,” which is not the culls from the High Calling, but a class all their own who are to live right through Armageddon and on into the Kingdom. Because the Measurably Faithful “received not the love of the Truth... God shall send them strong delusion.” (2 Thes. 2:10,11).

And, as might be expected, they are saying almost nothing about the “great tribu­lation” that lies ahead for this “large crowd.” (Rev. 7:14) But we may happily and wholeheartedly join with St. Paul in 2 Thes. 2:13-17 (Dia.) in his warm encouragement to the Fully Faithful, “We are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren be­loved of the Lord, because God chose you a firstfruit for salvation, in sanctification of Spirit and belief of Truth... so then, Brethren, stand firm, and retain the instruc­tions you were taught (by the Star Member teachers appointed by the Lord)... and Jesus Christ Himself will establish you in every good work and word.” “Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest.” (Josh. 3:15) Not only have gross evils and injustice accentuated the curse since 1874, but we now also witness an overflowing scourge of abortive classes the likes of which was never before seen in human history. “As it was in the days of Noah” – the whole earth was then infested with physical hy­brids; now it is infested with spiritual hybrids.

A STRIKING CONTRAST BETWEEN THE FAITHFUL AND MEASURABLY FAITHFUL

At the Chicago Convention last October RGJ was asked for his proof for the things he is contending for 1954; and he went into profuse detail about the 'parallel' be­tween 1914 and 1954. We would stress, first of all, that parallels are teachings that are identical – “like in essential parts,” according to Webster. Thus, we now present a true parallel that is an exact duplication of 1954 – even to the words and events con­sidered therein. We refer to the Epiphany Messenger's expectation of Armageddon in June 1932. When that date came and went without any hint of Armageddon, he graciously admitted his mistake, and we now quote some of what he then said about it:

“Please note the similarities between our mistake in this matter and that of our Pastor on the deliverance of the Church by October 1914: In both cases the involved thoughts contained partial truths. In both cases the time forecasts were made as prob­able, not as certain (just as the events forecast for 1954 were “inferred,” and not cer­tain—JJH). In both cases mistakes were made as to the undue things... But please note how differently real false prophets have acted as to a mistakenly forecast date. When Mr. Barbour's dogmatic forecast on the Church's leaving the world Nisan 16, 1878, failed, instead of humbly acknowledging and correcting it; lest he might lose his influence as a teacher he sought to divert the Church's attention from the mistake by involving it into the no-ransomism controversy.

“When J. F. Rutherford's dogmatic forecasts as to 1925 failed, he sought even as late as 1926 to make his pertinent teaching seem true by intimating that the Ancient Worthies had returned and were in hiding in some Palestinian cave as a test to the So­cietyites! The Lord did not leave us holding the bag until after the forecast date was passed, as He did with Mr. Barbour, J. F. Rutherford, Zion's Messenger, Elijah's Voice, etc..... We approached June 11, 1932, not dogmatically, but tentatively, in faith.”

In like fashion, we may be certain that the Epiphany Messenger would have treated 1954 in identical 'parallel' manner when it came and went, and no evidence of Armaged­don appeared; and 1956, with no evidence of Anarchy. But RGJ is following the identi­cal footsteps of the Barbour-Rutherford renegades, as he clings to the 1954 date; and insists on using that parallel that didn't parallel for the fulfillment of Rev. 22:10,11. Thus, he associates himself with superior company; and, were we not witness to it, we would have much difficulty in believing that his trusting supporters could be so gullible and wanting in understanding as to accept such foolish contentions. When they do so they are not honoring the Epiphany Messenger, nor are they really helping RGJ as they support him in “his path of error.” (James 5:20, Dia.)

TWO GREAT LEADERS

In Reprints 5427, col. 2, Brother Russell has something on the subject: “Undoubt­edly, the principal remains always true that there are but two great captains in the warfare between sin and righteousness; namely Christ and Satan. It remains true also that whoever is fighting for the one is fighting against the other. It is for us to make sure, first of all, that we are on the Lord's side. There is still a further step to make sure that we are fighting as our Captain would have us fight... 'This is the will of God (concerning you), even your sanctification.' Thus our personal salvation comes first, in God's order. What is the next step? The answer comes, 'Feed my sheep; feed my lambs.' At first we might be disposed to demur, to say, Lord, should we not rather go after the straying, after the lost sheep? The answer is given by the Lord, Do good unto all men as we have opportunity, especially unto the Household of Faith. If, there­fore, the Household of Faith demands all of our time when we have the opportunity, we may do nothing for the lost sheep, but only helping to perfect those whom the Lord has already found..”

This advice has always been difficult for the crown-lost leaders all down the Age ­because it has always been these leaders who have wanted great numbers, popularity, etc. That is a characteristic of the Saul Class. He, too, wanted to please the people (1 Sam. 15:24). During That Servant's day even the weakest were able to give to every man a reason for the hope they cherished. “One shall chase a thousand, and two shall put ten thousand to flight.” Today, it is much the reverse with RGJ and his lieuten­ants. They now counsel their adherents to flee from the 'wolves' – even as King Saul fled from the Philistines (1 Sam. 31:1) – no longer are they able to “refute the gain­sayers.” Thus, instead of having an army of 'good soldiers,' willing to face every foe for the cause, he is developing an army of runners – an exact duplication of the army of Jehovah's Witnesses, who also spread the word quickly to “avoid” contact with us – who still retain the Truth as given us in this Laodicean period. We are not to forget that RGJ also was of those who did not run when under the restraining hand of the Epiphany Messenger – when he had the Truth on his side. But, true to his type now, King Saul typed the crown-lost leaders of this Gospel Age up to Armageddon, he has changed his tactics; and, just as Saul led Israel into defeat at the hands of the Philis­tines, so antitypical Saul has also repeatedly led trusting followers into defeat by those who hold the Word 'in sincerity and in truth.'

It is a tragic truth that all during this Age the people have hearkened more to antitypical Saul than they have to antitypical Samuel. The condemnation of Israel re­ceives little or no recognition at this time: “They have not rejected thee, but they have rejected Me.” Thus, many members of antitypical Samuel have received shameful treatment at their hands. We need mention only a few, such as Arius, Servetus, Zwingli, Cranmer, et al.

A SUMMATION

We have heard some say that they could never have made the High Calling anyway when they were told that they were crown-losers after Brother Johnson's death, whether they had revolutionized against the Truth and its Arrangements or not – they thought they were not good enough. This is foolish and unscriptural. God never calls any of us to be a failure, so He also never calls any to do anything they are not physically or mentally able to do. “Your Father knoweth what things ye have need of” (Matt. 6:8); this text carries the thought that God “sympathetically appreciates” our needs. Thus, He is able to put Himself fully and exactly in our position, and to evaluate perfectly the physical and mental capacity of any task we face. “Take my yoke upon you,” He told His Disciples. Here He was contrasting His yoke with the Law yoke under which they were laboring, and which they had found impossible to bear; they were indeed unequal yokefellows in that Law yoke. The Law had forbidden them to place an ox and an ass to­gether in the same yoke, because the dissimiliarity of those animals placed an unequal and exhausting burden upon one of them (Deu. 22:10 – see Berean Comment). But, when Jesus supplanted the Law with His yoke, He appreciated in perfection the strength of each one to bear his part of that yoke. Thus, if one could bear but ten percent of that yoke, His Lord would bear the other ninety percent, and so on. Therefore, He never asks any to bear more than his ability to do.

Nor should any of us be too hasty in our judgment of ourselves or others as to our weak and fallen human vessels. The Epiphany Messenger has summarized this matter in E-4:132-133 (13): “We earnestly caution against making character blemishes the ground of declaring brethren to be levites (Great Company members, although the same caution would apply to Youthful Worthies—JJH). It is revolutionism or its partisan support and its arrangements, that manifests crown-losers as such. The great touchstone of manifesting Leviteship is revolutionism or its partisan support, and nothing else.   The reason that misconduct cannot be the touchstone for us is that we do not know how to decide what vary­ing degrees of misconduct in various brethren forfeit their crowns. Therefore, such judg­ing is forbidden.”

In view of this clear and correct elucidation by the Epiphany Messenger, we urge that none – New Creatures, or Youthfuls – become discouraged if overtaken in faults, even repeated faults, faults that may vex or shock others in high degree, so long as they have not persistently cast away that Truth (or its arrangements) which they have understood and which has made them “clean.” “Now are ye clean through the words (the Truth) which I have spoken unto you,” said Jesus in John 15:3, and only the casting away of that cleansing Truth can be trustworthy evidence that any have fallen from their Class. As both Messengers have truly taught, when any are not worthy of the Truth the Lord will not permit them to retain it. We are not the heart-searchers, but God is – and when He makes manifest His judgment by permitting some to depart from the Truth, then we know that there was something wrong with their hearts that we could not know about be­forehand. Nor should this encourage us to the other extreme – that we need not fight all evil in ourselves to the extent of our ability. We are never to float listlessly downstream, because if we do so we will certainly lose the Truth and our Class stand­ing – although it is only the Lord who is to say when “sin is finished to bring forth death.” (James 1:15) Therefore, let us continue to “fight the good fight of faith” unto ultimate victory.

The last two Messengers were profuse in their writings of the Faithful and the Measurably Faithful. What we have given herein are quotations, or based upon what they have written. “Love is not easily provoked,” says St. Paul in 1 Cor. 13:5, but the translation is misleading. It would be better stated, “Love (agape) is not easily enraged, or infuriated,” because he specifically counsels in Heb. 10:24 that we should “consider one another to provoke unto love and good works: not forsaking the assemb­ling of yourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more as ye see the day approaching.” Thus our purpose herein is to provoke to “love and good works,” for which “the assembling of yourselves together” is essential the moreso since we “are in the evil day.”

In Ex. 3:10, when God said unto Moses, “Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt” – the beloved man of God shrank back from such a seemingly impossible task... “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh,” said he; and he protested further, “They won't believe me.” In final protest Moses said, “I am not eloquent... but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.” But, after exhausting all protest, Moses accomplished what God had told him to do. Indeed, it is a common trait among the meek of the earth to under­estimate themselves, and often to overrate their adversaries out of all proportion to their intrinsic strength. Even the impulsive Peter was taken aback when Jesus told him “by what death he should glorify God.” (John 21:19) Perhaps all this is as it should be – that the Fully Faithful should ever realize that their strength rests not in the “arm of flesh” – “not by power, nor by might, but by my spirit, saith the Lord.” And in the very realization of their limitations they “can do all things through Christ Who strength­eneth them.” And may this “strength” be ever present with all who endeavor to serve Him “in good and honest hearts.”

“Good and upright is the Lord; therefore will He teach sinners in the way. The meek will He guide in judgment; and the meek will He teach His way. All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.” (Psa. 25:8-10)

Sincerely your brother,

John J Hoefle, Pilgrim

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LETTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST

Dear Members of Christ:

Praise the Lord for the privilege of living and loving the Savior and the members of the Household of Faith! I think of you dear ones so often.... I talked to Sister C ------- Monday. She was cheerful as usual – and we talked of our faith and the Word of the Lord. I would be a very lonesome person if it were not for Sister C ------- and our visits over the phone.

I enjoy the papers each month. Sometimes I have to ask Sister C ------- to fill me in on some of the writings. I am praying and trusting in the Lord – and I desire your prayers. My warm Christian love to you and all with you.

Your sister by His Grace, ------- (NORTH CAROLINA)

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Dear Brother Hoefle: Grace and peace!

I am sending our Christmas cards out early this year – as we plan to fly to Ari­zona to spend the Holidays.... We are rather fearful to go away, as there has been so much burglary, etc., going on, although not much in our part of the city. The Time of Trouble is getting more severe!...... We visited Brother and Sister ------- recently .... Their address for the next few months will be........ They will probably be back in May.

I sure appreciated the December paper! You sure did defend the Truth – and I hope you will be able to do so for a long time to come. I am enclosing a check for $--- ­as a little offering to the work, and to show my appreciation of your efforts, which I have done for the past 16 years. Hoping you all will have a Happy Holiday season, and to hear from you soon.

With much Christian love, Brother ------- (MICHIGAN)

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Dear Brother Hoefle:

It is about time that I sent you a few lines. We must not forget to adapt the men­tal and spiritual part of our life – especially now at Christmas time.

Trust you and yours are in excellent health, and I wish all of you a wonderful Christmas and a real happy 1972. I am awaiting a new paper from you soon. There is always wonderful writing and spiritual understanding in your magazine. I trust that 1972 will bring us all a better understanding of life – its meaning and unfolding. It is always a real joy to read your excellent spiritual magazine. Therefore, the best to you and yours for the coming Holiday Season. God-recommended and happy 1972!

Sincerely yours ------- Col. (CALIFORNIA)

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Dear Friends:

I have read with interest your June copy of “The Herald of Epiphany” – and would like to receive the other publications listed at the bottom of the copy. It is my understanding there is no cost or obligation connected with this request.

Also, would you give me some information concerning your organization.

Respectfully yours ------- (TEXAS)

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Dear Sir:

Please send me the following booklets – The Resurrection of the Dead, What is the Soul, Where are the Dead, Two Distinct Salvations, The Three Babylons, God's Great Sab­bath Day and The Great Reformer. Thank you very much!

Sincerely ------- (NORTH CAROLINA)

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SPECIAL EFFORT

Our Memorial date for this year is March 27 – and we suggest for our Special Effort in Antitypical Gideon's Second Battle Sunday, March 19 through Sunday, April 9, for our volunteer and sharpshooting in this Battle against Eternal Torment and the Consciousness of the Dead. The Battle is not over yet. Our tracts are free and postage paid; and the books, L-D-H and The Divine Plan of the Ages, are available also, and most appropriate for this Special Effort. We request that all who desire to participate with us in this Special Effort, to please order your literature in time.

Let us continue in this Arrangement made by the Epiphany Messenger until the Battle is won. We pray a special blessing on all those who participate, and trust they will receive many blessed experiences; and for those who are unable to participate – whose hearts are with us in this “good fight” – we pray for them also the blessing that maketh rich!

NO. 199: RETROSPECT AND PROSPECT

No. 199

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

During 1971 the outstanding scientific achievement was the walk on the moon for several days by the three US astronauts. Although the event had great popular appeal, it is possible that the performance will have little intrinsic worth. However, it did reveal the great skill that had been developed by the men involved – through the use of computers. Twenty years ago the feat could not have been accomplished at all. When the men returned to earth’s atmosphere – about 100 miles up from the earth’s sur­face, that contact had to be made at exactly the right angle. Had they hit that cush­ion at too much of a slant, they would have glanced off into outer space again, and on to destruction. On the other hand, had they hit it too sharply, they would have imme­diately plunged into the earth itself, and sudden death. All things considered, the whole feat did emphasize the prophecy, “In the time of the end knowledge shall be in­creased”; and certainly it did require both knowledge and courage in this instance. In this same talk about computers, it is now being predicted that it won’t be too many years ahead until we see them paying the house bills, vacuuming the house, itself – thus relieving the housewife of practically all drudgery.

A second noteworthy item is the fact that it is now possible for any one living in Paris, France, to telephone any one in the United States by direct dialing – at a cost of only $6.95 for three minutes. The man who told us about this said his son-in-law has a business in Paris, so he asked him to try it out. He said he could hear him as clearly as if he had been making the call right in Detroit where the man lives. Again another prophecy, “My determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms”; and such performances as this telephone call certainly do bring the nations closer to­gether, and tend to make the world so very much smaller.

And in agriculture the same tremendous advancement is apparent in many sectors. A potato-harvesting machine is now available, which claims to work much faster than pre­vious methods, and produces a better quality of potato. And one skilled farm worker now feeds and clothes 47 other people, as against 26 a few years ago. Another prophecy also comes to view here: “The earth shall yield her increase.” The first hybrid corn was de­veloped in 1935. Up to that time the average corn yield per acre in the United States was 26 bushels. Since 1950 the increase has grown phenomenally; and between 1960 and 1970 the average yield almost doubled. The average yield per acre was 82 bushels in 1970; and the prediction prevails that that figure will be bettered for 1971.

In reverse ratio, however, the morale of the human race itself is deteriorating in­stead of improving. In 1971 cigarette smoking is on the increase by about two per cent despite the rigorous campaign against it; the increase in violent crimes in the larger cities is showing staggering and discouraging increase; and this promises to become even worse in the months ahead – with some of the crimes revealing an appalling brutal­ity and disregard for all moral codes and ethics. In addition, at January 1, 1972, all eighteen-year-olds in the United States will receive all adult privileges. This will allow them to purchase liquor by the drink in the bars; and, if we think the turmoil has been bad in our colleges, etc., our prediction is that we may be sure to see much worse with this new license prevailing. In fact, a Detroit lawyer whom we have known very well for the past twenty years told us just recently that in one of the large Mich­igan universities, it is now common practice – with consent of the management – that unwed boys and girls are now permitted to live together, that if conception occurs, the Management Committee arranges to send the girl to some state where abortion operations are legal; which simply brings to mind Sodom and Gomorrah: “Pride, fullness of bread, and abundance of idleness was found in her.” “As it was in the days of Noah (when the earth was filled with violence), so shall it be in the days of the presence of the Son of Man.” The signs of the times themselves presage great changes just ahead. “As for My people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. They which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.” (Isa. 3:12)

In much of this license there is intermingled, going hand in hand, spiritism, sex orgies and narcotics. Here are a few comments from an article by one writer on the whole matter:

“We know what is happening. Nudity is happening. Nature and Be-ins and acid philosophy and communes are all happening... Significantly in a world where some say God is dead or dying, something even bigger is happening. YOUTH is happening. The young live mystically and in depth. Today, witch covens are being formed across the land. Secret magic societies are flourishing. All sorts of people are experimenting with magic or putting themselves in touch with those who claim magical powers. Books on the history and practice of magic and witchcraft have joined Rosemary’s Baby and the Lord of the Rings as popular sellers. In apparent seriousness they embrace supernatural concepts that have been generally considered pure fantasy since science replaced Black Magic back in the Middle Ages... The rites are conducted by a sorcerer, and the liturgy is always weird, col­orful, often erotically grotesque (the search for complete sexual freedom seems to form a basic part of most far-out occult practices)... The fact that most of them are opting for religions from the Far East (especially Buddhism) and from our own native American In­dian beliefs, has become a matter of serious concern to Western Christianity official­dom.”

IN FINANCE

Finance seems to be eroding even more rapidly than ideals and morals. It is vari­ously estimated that the United States deficit for 1971 will be somewhere between twenty and thirty billions of dollars. Of course, this means the printing of more paper – paper with nothing back of it but the mere promise to pay. Often before we have expressed this thought; but it was not until 1971 that certain actions by the United States Government corroborated our opinion. On August 30 the dollar was devaluated by giving notice to all nations that we would no longer pay gold in exchange for our currency – the dollar is now afloat in a mirage. At the same time a IO% surcharge was put upon almost all foreign imports in an attempt to stifle the influx of foreign goods into the United States. This caused the Japanese Stock Exchange to drop 200 points in one day – the greatest single drop in history.

As things stand now, the currencies of all countries are in open competition with the American dollar; and it is a matter of individual choice which country’s currency is the more desirable. However, in a desperate attempt to avoid flight from the dollar by American citizens, any export of funds of $1,000 or more must be recorded by the bank making the transaction; and all citizens are now required to state in their annual tax return what foreign holdings of securities or monies they own in foreign countries. This is financial dictatorship – although this should not be said loud enough so that offi­cials can hear it.

The 10% ‘surcharge’ is simply another way of saying it is a tariff; but in recent years the word tariff has become an unclean word – it is no longer polite to say it that way. Those of us who can remember back far enough know that, before 1914, the main difference between the Republican and Democratic parties was their stand on the tariff question. And about every twenty years, when the tariff bars were lowered, the United States experienced a panic, a bad business depression, as the cheap goods from foreign countries closed the factories here, and threw vast numbers out of work. Already in 1914 there were free soup lines in many major cities across the United States; and it was only the outbreak of the World War then that dissipated that. Since that time other wars have provided a measure of prosperity; but that influence is now pretty well overcome. Cheap foreign goods is once more afflicting American industry. As instance, a steel worker in Germany hardly earns as much in one week as does an Ameri­can steel worker in one day. The disparity with Japan is even greater than that; and we are told that in both those countries their equipment for producing steel is more modern and efficient than is that in the United States. Thus, it requires no great math­ematical skill to recognize that such competition will very soon submerge our own. There­fore, the 10% surcharge, which is actually a 10% tariff on imports; but the latter is now a bad word, so we shouldn’t use it in polite company.

As one monetary expert has stated it – We are now in the 57th year of monetary dis­order – since 1914, when the World War began. As we reflect upon this financial erosion, we are once more forcefully reminded of St. Paul’s prediction concerning present insti­tutions: “They shall all wax old as doth a garment; and as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed.” No one should doubt – who has received Harvest Truth – that we are in the Epiphany, the “Time of Trouble” foretold by That Servant, since 1914.

One financier had this to say about money: Allow me to control the money of a country, and I care not who makes the laws. There is a volume that deals directly with this situation, and we now offer some quotations from it:

“There actually exists a relatively small but powerful group which has succeeded in acquiring a choke-hold on the affairs of practically the entire human race... In time they brought into their financial network the provincial banking centers, organized as commercial banks and savings banks, as well as insurance companies, to form all of these into a single financial system on an international scale which manipulated the quantity and flow of money so that they were able to influence, if not control governments on one side and industries on the other. The men who did this aspired to establish dynasties of international bankers and were at least as successful at this as were many of the dy­nastic political rulers...

“The greatest of these dynasties, of course, were the descendants of Amschel Roth­schild... His five sons, established at branches in Vienna, London, Naples and Paris as well as Frankfort, cooperated together in ways which other international banking dynas­ties copied but rarely excelled ... However, in studying the global conspiracy it is im­portant to keep in mind that it was not any particular race or religion but the passion for money and power which has drawn the tycoons of world finance into a tightly-knit mutual aid society, described as international bankers...

“The influence of financial capitalism and of the international bankers who created it was exercised both on business and on governments, but could have done neither if it had not been able to persuade both of these to accept two axioms of its own ideology. Both of these were based on the assumption that politicians were too weak and too sub­ject to temporary popular pressures to be trusted with control of the money system..... To do this it was necessary to conceal, or even to mislead, both governments and people about the nature of money and its methods of operation.

“Eventually the private bankers decided to set up the Bank of England as a means of creating credit out of nothing... The founding of the Bank of England by William Patterson and his friends in 1694 is one of the great dates in world history. For generations men had sought to avoid the one draw-back of gold, its heaviness, by using pieces of paper to represent specific pieces of gold. Today we call such pieces of paper gold certificates. Such a certificate entitles its bearer to exchange it for its piece of gold on demand, but in view of the convenience of paper, only a small frac­tion of certificate holders ever did make such demands. It early became clear that gold need be held on hand ONLY to the amount needed to cover the FRACTION of certificates likely to be presented for payment; accordingly, the rest of the gold could be used for business purposes, or, what amounts to the same thing, a volume of certificates could be issued GREATER than the volume of gold reserved for payment. Such an excess volume of paper claims we now call bank notes.

“In effect, this creation of paper claims greater than the reserves available means that bankers were creating money out of nothing. The same thing could be done in another way – Deposit bankers discovered that orders and checks drawn against DEPOSITS by depositors and given to a third person were often not cashed by the latter but were deposited to their own accounts. Thus there were no actual movements of funds, and pay­ments were made simply by bookkeeping transactions on the accounts... William Patterson, however, on obtaining the charter of the Bank of England in 1694, to use the moneys he had won in privateering, said, ‘The bank hath benefit of interest on all moneys which it creates out of nothing.’

“The hinge of the whole situation was this: The government itself was not to be a substantive power in matters of Finance, but was to leave the Money Power supreme and unquestioned.... The ordinary citizen will not like to be told that the banks can, and do, create money. And they who control the credit of the nation direct the policy of Govern­ments and hold in the hollow of their hands THE DESTINY OF THE PEOPLE.

“In the United States the number of billion-dollar corporations rose from ONE in 1909 (United States Steel controlled by Morgan) to fifteen in 1930. The share of all corporation assets held by the 200 largest corporations rose from 32 per cent in 1909 to 49 percent in 1930, and reached 57 percent in 1939. By 1930 these 200 largest cor­porations held 49.2 percent of the assets of all 40,000 corporations in the country ($81 billion out of $165 billion). In fact, in 1930, one corporation (American Telephone and Telegraph, controlled by Morgan) had greater assets than the total wealth in twenty-­one states of the Union.

“The dynastic ‘banker families’ in England had established their monopoly control over finance by setting up the Bank of England as a privately controlled institution. Similar centers of financial control had been set up in France, Germany, Italy and Swit­zerland. Many of these European banking families had inter-married or bought their way into the American banking dynasties so it was inevitable that eventually the same device for centralized control would be set up in the United States as that which had worked so well in various European countries. The formula called for a scheme which would look like the Government was taking over when in reality, the control would be solidified in the same secret group which had always held it....

“The motivation for such a scheme can be better appreciated when it is realized that loaning money to governments can be a very lucrative business, especially loans to the United States Government. The U.S. presently owes more money (most of it to the international banking institutions) than all the money owed by the rest of the nations in the world combined. The U.S. national debt is presently 372 billion dollars. EVERY YEAR American taxpayers are required to contribute 20 billion dollars to pay the interest on this indebtedness. It is the third largest item in the Federal budget. It can be readily seen why those who are appointed to the key positions in the U.S. Federal Re­serve System (where loans are negotiated and interest rates fixed) occupy possibly the most critically influential spot in the entire world... These secret centers of control are seldom in dictatorial positions where they can actually take direct, decisive poli­tical action; but their financial stranglehold on the world allows them to INFLUENCE and MANIPULATE the affairs of various nations to an amazing degree and to suit their own purposes. Therefore, whatever the purposes and goals of this group happen to be are of monumental importance to the rest of the world....

“There is a growing volume of evidence that the highest centers of political and economic power have been forcing the entire human race toward a global, socialist, dicta­torial-oriented society. And what has been most baffling about it has been the fact that this drift toward dictatorship with its inevitable obliteration of a thousand years of struggle toward human freedom, is being plotted, promoted and implemented by the leaders of free nations and the super-rich of those nations whose positions of affluence would seem to make them the foremost beneficiaries of the free-enterprise, property-oriented, open society in which so much progress has been made. Certainly they, above all men, should know that in order for this system to survive, freedom of action and the integrity of property rights must be preserved. Then why are the super-capitalists trying to destroy them?... The answer is that the world hierarchy of the dynastic super-rich is out to take over the entire planet, doing it with Socialistic legislation where possible, but having no reluctance to use Communist revolution where necessary... Ramifications were established in politics, high finance, Oxford and London universities, periodicals, the civil service, and tax-exempt foundations.

“The international bankers who had set out to remake the world were perfectly con­fident that they could use their money to acquire the cooperation and eventual control of the Communist-Socialist conspiratorial groups. In fact, the Rhodes-Milner Round Table Groups of Oxford had been persuaded that the way to federate the world was along socialistic lines, i.e., by having all property, industry, agriculture, communications, transportation, education and political affairs in the hands of a small cadre of finan­cially-controlled political leaders who would organize the world and its peoples in a way which would compel everyone to do what was good for the new, world-society. It may seem somewhat contradictory that the very people whom Marx identified as the epitome of ‘Capitalism’ should be conspiring with the followers of Marx to overthrow traditional Capitalism and replace it with Socialism. But that is precisely what has been happen­ing. The reason is rather simple.

“Power from any source tends to create an appetite for additional power. Power coming from wealth tends to create an appetite for political power and visa versa. It was almost inevitable that the super-rich would one day aspire to control not only their own wealth, but the wealth of the whole world. To achieve this, they were per­fectly willing to feed the ambitions of the power-hungry political conspirators who were committed to the overthrow of all existing governments and the establishment of a central world-wide dictatorship along Socialist lines.

“It was this group of people, whose wealth and influence so exceeded their experience and understanding, who provided much of the framework of influence which the Com­munist sympathizers and fellow travelers took over in the United States in the 1930’s. IT MUST BE RECOGNIZED THAT THE POWER THAT THESE ENERGETIC LEFT-WINGERS EXERCISED WAS NEVER THEIR OWN POWER OR COMMUNIST POWER BUT WAS ULTIMATELY THE POWER OF THE INTERNAT­IONAL FINANCIAL COTERIE... Already, wherever they have taken over the educational sys­tem, we see the worst of their products – intellectual guerrillas emerging from the uni­versities trained in ‘participatory mobocracy.’

“Official Ford Foundation reports show that millions upon millions are being poured into revolutionary, Communist-dominated or global collectivist organizations under the direction of McGeorge Bundy. Here are a few samples from recent reports. Anyone familiar with the Congressional reports on un-American activities will appre­ciate the significance of these organizations:

“Council on Foreign Relations - $1,000,000

Adlai E. Stevenson Institute of International Affairs - $1,000,000

Institute of International Education - $1,625,000

World Affairs Council - $102,000

The National Committee on US-China (Red China) relations - $250,000

The United Nations Association - $150,000

Foreign Policy Research - $275,000

American Friends Service Committee (pro-Vietcong) - $100,000

Southern Regional Council (Communist staffed) - $648,000

National Student Association - $315,000

Southwest Council of La Raza (headed by identified Communist

Maclevie R. Barraza) - $630,000

National Educational Television & Radio Center (N.E.T.) - $6,000,000

Public Broadcasting Laboratory - $7,900,000”

We have gone into more than usual detail on the financial situation in order that our readers may have at least a brief concept of what goes on behind the scenes – facts which never appear in our daily newspapers. Much of the foregoing is a strong reminder of what Senator Long was thinking when he resorted to the fantastic and radical capers that he did. We were told by a substantial New Orleans business man, shortly after Mr. Long had been assassinated, that the Senator had become convinced that the United States would follow the way of Communist Russia, so he was going to be the ‘Kingfish’ in the new order. It is possible, of course, that he may have read something from the Jehovah’s Witnesses concerning the approaching Armageddon; and the same may be true of these deluded financiers who seem to have leanings similar to what the Senator had. How­ever, it seems to us to be a sound conclusion that it will be the collapse of the finan­cial order that will precipitate Armageddon, so it is well that we watch closely the financial gyrations as they appear before us. All of us are familiar with the potent advertising that is given to United States Savings Bonds; and many workmen allow a cer­tain amount of their pay to be deducted each month for purchase of such bonds as their ‘umbrella’ for a rainy day. Should they wake up some morning to find that they need that umbrella, but that it is not there, we may well imagine what their reactions would be.

IN POLITICS

In politics the battle between the radicals (the liberals) and the conservatives goes vehemently on, with the radicals winning most of the battles, although the avalanche is often stayed somewhat by a sober mind here and there. It is our opinion that our President is honestly trying to produce some stability out of the accumulated financial and moral bedlam that is rapidly gripping the United States; and, while he may slow it up a bit, that is all we need expect. The accumulated rubbish is already beyond any human remedy. However, among the commendable things he has said, and put into practice, is the one concerning his Supreme Court appointments. He is trying to give the abused persons at least equal opportunity with their abusers (the criminals). Generally speak­ing, by far more of the sympathy today is with the ‘poor misguided criminal’ than with those they wrong. “Jordan overfloweth all his banks in time of harvest”; and this is pointedly displayed by setting aside so much of the Law as given to Moses at Sinai. That Law was very definite that all heinous crimes should be punished with death; and it was not necessary to bring in six psychiatrists to determine if the culprit were capable of committing the crime he did. All they needed was to be sure he had done it “by the mouth of two or three witnesses” – that was enough. Were this law followed to­day. we would not see the devastating prison riots so prevalent in our country; those who now foster such disorders would have been executed if the Law of Moses had been followed. Much of this is due to the low caliber of men in public office – men who advance any sort of idiocy that they think will win them the office they seek. When one pedes­trian was asked by the sidewalk interviewer what he thought of the two men who were run­ning for office in his town, he replied, “I’m just thankful that both of them can’t be elected.”

One writer offers some sage observations on the situation: “Many fine, well ­meaning people support the broad ramifications of social legislation because they think they are supporting ‘a good cause.’ On first view, and at close range, they seem to be right, but as time has gone by year after year it has gradually become alarmingly apparent what all this social legislation is doing to us. Americans are losing control of their destiny. Furthermore, many of the people whom we have been calling our nation­al problem-solvers have been secretly engaged in problem making. As this reviewer has watched the deterioration of the American political structure during the past several decades, it has been absolutely amazing to see how many of our so-called ‘problems’ have been literally manufactured by Washington meddling and manipulating.

“For example, we had the problem of racial minorities and the need to expose these minorities to greater opportunities to share in the good things of life. That problem needed to be solved. But what happened? Washington meddling practically promoted it into the explosive tinder for another civil war.

“We had the problem of rising crime rates. These needed to be stopped. Establish­ment mentalities flooded the country with elaborate social schemes and grossly permis­sive judicial decisions which multiplied the crime rate and set the stage for the great­est wave of violence and lawlessness this country has ever known.

“We had the problem of providing an adequate educational opportunity for all our children. Washington came up with a conglomerate of money and policies which have seriously discredited the public schools in many parts of the country and caused pri­vate schools to spring up like mushrooms.

“We had the problem of moral decay and something needed to be done about it. The Establishment brain-busters came up with a combination of sex education and so-called sensitivity training which is exploding the problem into a contagion of totally permis­sive decadence and moral degeneracy.”

The foregoing writer has much more of the same, but we believe we have offered enough to alert our readers to an acute appreciation of St. Paul’s words, quoted earlier in this paper, “They shall wax old as doth a garment; and as a vesture shalt thou fold up .”

IN RELIGION

The religious fiber and the high ideals of the early Christian Church have also skidded downhill with the financial and political structure. As one writer has stated it, Nations, like trees, die in the top first. “Where no counsel is the people fall.” And with this comes the effort to combine the various bodies of churches. Here is one news item to the point:

“Dr. Donald Coggan, Anglican archbishop of York, has urged the Anglican and Methodist Churches of Britain to unite ‘as quickly as possible.’ ‘It would be a matter of the greatest gravity if anything were done to delay further the consum­mation of that union to which we have come so close,’ he said.”

Prior to 1914 most Christian religious bodies held firmly to the words of St. Paul, “There is one faith”; and they usually contended that their creed was that one faith; but very little is heard of “contending for the faith” at this time. We are indeed liv­ing in that “evil day” (the “Time of Trouble” – Dan. 12:1) when so very few will “endure sound doctrine” (2 Tim. 4:3). However, the command is still in order: “Preach the word, “ reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine.”

Great stress is placed on ‘good works,’ with very little regard for the faith (the Truth) which was once delivered unto the saints. “Do all the good you can, and be mor­ally upright – it doesn’t matter what you believe,” is the motto of many. We would em­phasize, however, that good works are essential to good faith (sound doctrine), if we would “follow in His steps.” But our primary consideration should be to gain and re­tain the proper faith (the Truth): “Study to show thyself approved unto God,.... rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Tim. 2:15) Good works will naturally follow a proper faith, if one is rightly exercised (developed). So in all our efforts to “preach the ward,” let us do what we can to assist those in distress that come within our scope and ability.

However, it should be emphasized that our Lord was not crucified for healing the sick, and feeding the multitudes – for doing “good works.” He was crucified because of His chief mission – to “bear witness to the truth.” That Truth was what proved to be violently distasteful to the religious leaders of His day. The same has been true of all His faithful followers: they, too, are not persecuted for the good works they do in relieving the oppressed, the sick and unfortunate; they are persecuted and ‘cast out’ of the synagogues because of the truth they uphold and defend. Thus, we attempt to ad­here closely to Him in this respect. Note His words on the subject: “To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the Truth. And every one that is of the Truth heareth My voice.” So our main objective also is to teach the Truth to any and all who are “of the Truth”; all other activities are secondary to that purpose.

Of the groups that emanated from the Parousia Truth Movement it seems that the Jeho­vah’s Witnesses and the Laymen’s Home Missionary Movement are now energetically engaged in good works in Africa. Nor do we wish to disparage their efforts along that line to help those unfortunate people – especially where the war has created such havoc. From the reports, it seems that the Roman Catholics and other groups in Christendom are also engaged in the good work of relieving the distress there. And quite a few letters have come to us from Nigeria, asking that we aid them with our literature and our finances. To this we have responded in both respects; and, in return, many let­ters have come to us in appreciation – to the effect that our literature has reached thousands who have heard the Word gladly; and we have had many letters urging us or our representative to visit them. This we may undertake in accordance with the Lord’s will and providence. It is our belief that some of them are earnestly seeking to “know the Truth”; but it is also our conviction that any effort on our part to relieve the physical distress of the world in general will be inadequate now – as the only real and permanent help will come to them during the Kingdom, when the Great Physician and Prince of Peace assumes His great power to “heal the nations.” (Rev. 22:2) However, this does not deter us from doing what we can to relieve their present difficulties. It is of record that Jesus healed the sick, fed the hungry and sympathized with the poor; and we ourselves entertain the same sentiments. But we also adhere closely to Him in that this was not the primary purpose of His ministry here on earth.

Said our Lord, “The poor you have with you always”; and we well realize that with many their chief concern is to do ‘good works’ – which offers a token of present relief, although none of us are able to do now what is properly scheduled for the Kingdom. How­ever, we would not discount altogether the present efforts of Christendom. As That Ser­vant has so well stated, it is much better to be devoted to a good work, than to do noth­ing at all other than the sating of selfish desires. Nevertheless, for those who wish to do God’s will now – during “this present evil world” under the ‘curse’ – in its fullness, their chief mission is to “bear witness to the Truth.” Jesus stated the matter very clearly: “Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name?       and in Thy name cast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works? – And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you” (never approved of you)—Matthew 7:21-23. Our main objective is to teach the Truth to any and all who are “of the Truth” with all other activities secondary to that chief purpose –in order to avoid the con­demnation of this text. Our Lord has said, “Every one that is of the truth heareth My voice.”

It gives us much pleasure to report that in 1971 we distributed a larger number of tracts and more monthly papers than in any previous year; and we have had very encour­aging response therefrom. These results were accomplished by a relatively small group of zealous and faithful co-laborers; and we wish to express our warm gratitude for these dear brethren who continue in faithfulness and zeal to send us names, etc., and who have contributed much to our growing success over the years. Thus, we note with thankful heart and mind St. Paul’s words: “Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.. beloved brethren, steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for as much as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”

With this paper comes our cordial good wishes to all our readers for the year 1972, as we gratefully reciprocate the many expressions of good will that have come to us over the Holidays. And it is our fervent hope that the words of Jesus may apply to all ­“Ye shall know the Truth, and the Truth shall make you free indeed.”

Sincerely your brother,

John J. Hoefle, Pilgrim

NO. 198: THE ENDING OF THE EPIPHANY PERIOD

No. 198

On pp. 61-63 of the July-August Present Truth, R. G. Jolly treats of the above in a Question of General Interest; and in his statements he engages in quite some harangue and vituperation against us for exposing his errors on the subject. He accuses us of contradicting Brother Johnson, although he himself is the one directly guilty of doing just that. Of course, such a course of power-grasping and falsifying leaders is nothing new. The Jewish priesthood accused Jesus and the Apostles of doing the very things they them­selves were doing; the Man of Sin accused Martin Luther and other faithful reformers in like manner; and That Evil Servant accused in similar fashion those who left him. All who are familiar with events among Truth people after 1917 know that JFR accused those who forsook him of being That Evil Servant, of causing divisions among the brethren, etc.; yet these things were all properly placed at his own doorstep. Therefore, it should occa­sion no great surprise to see history now repeating itself; in fact, we should be sur­prised if it did not occur during this last special period of the Gospel Age, when persons, principles and things are being manifested in all quarters.

To offer refutation of the diatribe in this Present Truth we now quote parts from E-4:53-56:

“The people eating, drinking, etc., during the Parousia before the outbreak of the great tribulation; were in their activities likened to the people in the ‘period before the flood in their activities; and the people during the great tribulation are likened in their overwhelming to the people being destroyed during the flood. For these two sets of two activities the expression ‘the days’ is used in Luke 17:26, 27, while in v. 30 the expression ‘day,’ and not ‘days,’ is used to represent the period of the great tribulation. Since according to vs. 26 and 27 the expression, ‘the days of the San of Man,’ is limited to the two periods – the one just before the trouble and the trouble period itself – we conclude that this expression refers to two and only two periods. Since v. 30 refers to the second of these as a day, but such a day as the faithful would not especially desire, because of its sufferings; since v. 22 refers to a day of the Son of Man’s days especially desirable to the Church; since the Parousia as the day of His coming has always been desired by the Church; and since no other than these two days are mentioned in the connection, we conclude from these facts as a second reason, that the expression ‘the days of the San of Man’ refers to two and only two periods....

“The expression, The Time of Trouble, Is used in two senses. In its wide sense it covers the period from 1874 until the end of Anarchy and of Jacob’s trouble. In its narrow sense it covers the period from the beginning of the World War in 1914 until the end of Anarchy and of Jacob’s trouble. It is in the narrow – the second – sense of the term that we use it in our subject. We understand that the special tribulation per­iod and the Epiphany as a period are one and the same thing... The Epiphany and the Time of Trouble are identical...... The World War was in the Epiphany; yea, it was the begin­ning of the Epiphany.... Matt. 26:64 proves that the Epiphany will progress through Revo­lution...... The Nominal Church and the powers of spiritual control – will be destroyed in completion during, yea, early, in the Revolution, and hence will be out of existence before the Anarchy... We will now quote and expound passages that prove that the Epiphany will end with Anarchy and Jacob’s Trouble, i.e., will end with the end of the trouble.”

In all the foregoing there isn’t the slightest hint that the Epiphany will end “in its restricted sense” in 1954, or any other time before it ends fully – at the end of the Time of Trouble. Note also the statement that the “narrow sense” is from 1914 to the end of the trouble. Now, “restricted” and “narrow” mean the same thing according to Web­ster’s dictionary. Why, then, does RGJ inject a word of his own choosing here? Manifest­ly, it is only for the purpose of hoodwinking his unwary readers. If he had used “narrow sense” as Brother Johnson used in the above quotation, even the least alert among his readers would then recognize that the Epiphany Messenger is giving direct contradiction to RGJ’s present contention. Well, let those be hoodwinked by this uncleansed Levite who want it that way. As for us, and our house, we shall “continue in the things we have learned, and been assured of, knowing of whom we have learned them.”

THAT SERVANT’S PRESENTATION

Let us now consider That Servant’s teaching regarding the “times and seasons” of the Second Advent. First, there would come the Parousia (presence) – the small Parousia day; second, the Epiphaneia; and third, the Basileia (Kingdom). All of these are a part of, and run concurrently with the large Parousia Day – the 1000-year-day; but none of them run concurrently with each other; and there is good reason for this. In each of those periods there is a main, though not exclusive, objective. The Parousia was for the purpose of reaping; and that day and that work ended at exactly the same time – Septem­ber 1914. Immediately then the Epiphany appeared (overlapped by a 25-month period) with a threefold main objective: (1) – “To execute upon them (the kings, nobles and people in general) the judgment written”; (2) – to judge “the quick” (2 Tim. 4:1); and (3) – “devour all the earth with the fire of My jealousy” (Zeph. 3:8) in the Time of Trouble starting in 1914, and continuing to the end of Jacob’s Trouble. As soon as the Epiphany arrived all three of these objectives began to operate: Jordan was smitten in 1914-16 (“bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron”—(Psalms 149:8); the “manifestation” of the “quick” in their various classes began to appear; and “the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come.”

The Basileia will have as its main objective Restitution; and it will appear also as soon as “the word of the Lord goes forth from Jerusalem.” As stated above, there was a 25-month overlapping of the Parousia into the Epiphany; but that did not deter in the least the beginning of the Epiphany work exactly on time. Now RGJ is claiming that his Epiphany and Basileia have been overlapping, running concurrently, since 1954, seven­teen years. In proof of his claim, let him point us to just one small item of Restitu­tion work that has been going on since then. On p. 62, col. 1, par. 3, he says this: “God’s faithful had plenty of evidence from Scriptures, reason and facts that the Epi­phany’s first lapping into the Basileia period took place in the Fall of 1954.” (let him give us just one fact to prove what he says.) Then he continues: “The evidences that the Epiphany was ending lappingly in 1954 were more numerous for the Lord’s most devoted watchers living at that time than were the evidences that the Gospel Age was ending in 1874, 1878 and 1881 for the Lord’s most devoted watchers living at these pertinent times.” Yes, all those watchers had back there was the parallel dispensations, the days of Daniel, the chronology, and the no-ransom and infidelism siftings! Just think of it, Brethren, and consider the quality of such a statement. It is little wonder that Brother Johnson wrote of RGJ that he “pours out foolish effusions.” (See E-10:591) Yet, right along with such irresponsible statements, this same RGJ declares himself to be the Pastor and Teacher! “Seducers shall vex worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.”(2 Tim. 3:13)

There is a point here well worth noting. Of all the erstwhile Truth people there are only two groups who contend the Basileia (Kingdom) is now with us; namely, the Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Laymen’s Home Missionary Movement. Thus, when RGJ embraces the errors of the Witnesses, he is aligning himself with real select company indeed. And the farther we advance into their kingdom the worse things became in the world. Yet, the true teaching concerning the Kingdom says it will “wipe away all tears.” It seems unbelievable that brethren who were once blessed with the logical and sober teachings of the two Messengers could swallow such drivel; and it simply proves that “they re­ceived not the Truth in the love of it, and on this account God will send them an energy of delusion, to their believing the falsehood.” (2 Thes. 2:10,11)

MORE OF RGJ’S PERVERSIONS

On p. 62, col. 1, par. 1, RGJ again repeats his timeworn statement concerning us: “The fallacies and absurdities in the opposing statements made by the errorist who teaches what the Epiphany Messenger termed ‘sophistry’ on Christ’s Thousand-year reign.” However, on p. 36, col. 1, last par., of the May-June Present Truth he is now teaching this same ‘sophistry’ himself; but it seems he’s so befuddled by Azazel that he doesn’t even recognize his own present “fallacy and absurdity.” When these people fall into the clutches of Azazel they talk all sorts of nonsense; and this is just one more sample of it.

Let us recall that, when we first quoted Brother Johnson in E-17, p. 124, on 1 Cor. 15:24 to prove our point, RGJ came up with the flimsy excuse that a “faulty disc” was responsible for presenting an erroneous thought. Now the question is properly in order: Was that “faulty disc” story just another of RGJ’s “misrepresentations” (See E-10:585), or is he now also disputing his own conclusion on 1 Cor. 15:24 in the May-June Present Truth?

Then, an the same page of the July-August Present Truth, col. 2, top, he says this: “We pray for him (JJH, that is) whatever mercy God may be pleased to extend to him.” A few years ago at the Philadelphia Labor Day Convention, he was attempting to inflame his deluded devotees in his “avoid them” policy – to be sure none of them might hear some devastating truth from us – and he made this statement: “You wouldn’t shake hands with the Devil, would you, if you met him on the street?” (Of course, such teach­ing about disfellowshiped brethren is a direct revolutionism against both Parousia and Epiphany teaching, and is in exact duplication of what the Jehovah’s Witnesses also now teach their dupes. They, too, have deluded their sectarian devotees into believing we are the Devil.) However, now RGJ is telling us that, while he wouldn’t shake hands with the Devil, he is still praying for him! His play on words here is self-evidently rank hypocrisy – and some more of his nonsense. But, then, we have learned by now not to be surprised at anything these “double minded” crown-losers may spout forth. Just talk – “you can fool some of the people all the time!”

As we observe the confused and unclear condition of RGJ’s mind, which prompts him to ridicule his own teachings, we would suggest he would be well advised to do all his praying for himself. Of course, when we recall that he had to take refuge to a psy­chiatrist in his confusion in 1938, instead of going to the Lord in prayer, we are once more reminded of his empty and insufficient attempts to help himself, or any one else, in his prayer efforts. All this is in exact keeping with Saul going to the Witch of Endor when he could get no response from the Lord. Saul is a type of the Great Company leaders until Armageddon. (See Epiphany Volume 14, p. 5, published in 1949)

THE 1914-1954 PARALLEL

In his confused condition, RGJ continues to stress the 1914-1954 parallel – a par­allel which doesn’t ‘parallel’ at all. If he has the Truth here, why doesn’t he make a list of the 1914-1916 events, and give us the similar parallel events in 1954-56? That is the way both Messengers always handled such subjects; but he isn’t doing it because he can’t do it; there are no parallel events in 1954-56. He says we are silent on Scriptures he offers; but not a one of those Scriptures he cites even hints at a 40 ­year day. The parallel is all he has; and that parallel has produced just nothing. He stresses Luke 17:22,26-30, as Brother Johnson also did; but Brother Johnson clearly states that the Scripture proves the Epiphany is from 1914 to the end of Jacob’s Trouble.

Note E-4:15 (bottom) and p. 16: “A gradual epiphanizing since 1914 will increase and finally come to a climax at the end of the Epiphany (nothing said here about a ‘restricted’ sense—JJH) – the end of the time of trouble.” And further in E-4:51:

“The Epiphany is called a day, notably Luke 17:22-30, and thus proves equal to the Parousia in duration, we infer (emphasis by Brother Johnson) that the Epiphany is a period of forty years.... we think it reasonable to look for the Epiphany to begin to end in 1954 with a probable overlapping of two years and one month into the Basileia Kingdom.”

The small Parousia day came to a complete end in 1916. Yet RGJ now has his Epi­phany day continuing right on for seventeen years – with no suggestion for a time of its ending. Yet he insists he has a parallel here! Any one with even a smattering of Present Truth knows the Epiphany did not begin to end in 1954. In fact, it has done just the reverse; it has intensified since that date, as can be seen by the overthrow of the Government in Cuba, the drastic deterioration of the capitalistic system all over the world, the devastating riots in the United States, etc.

RGJ claims the Lord has been dealing with the world since 1954 – when his “Basileia” begins. Can he point to one physical incident to prove that? Or is he once more just using his Grimm’s-Fairy-tale imagination here? The Lord began to deal with the world in a small beginning in 1874, when the Time of Trouble in its wide sense began. He dealt with the world in a much more pronounced manner in 1914, when the Time of Trouble in its narrow sense began – when also its violent features became apparent to all the watchers. Also, all the saints came into Present Truth within about 18 months after September 1914. Is there the slightest reason whatever to believe all the Great Company came into Present Truth in 18 months after September 1954?

When Brother Johnson died in 1950, RGJ was ready enough to declare that his expected stay with us until 1956 was based only upon a parallel which did not materialize. And in this he was quite right. But the expectation of Armageddon and Anarchy by 1956 was also based just upon the same parallel, which did not materialize either. All of these things demonstrate very clearly that there was no such parallel then. If there is excuse for one part of the mistake, there is excuse for all of it.

In all of this RGJ is determined to make his “strange fire” (false doctrine) of Campers Consecrated prevail. And as usual when any one “gazes,” he is forced to cast aside all logic and much salient Truth he once embraced. We remind our readers of his 27 mathematical calculations in the January 1947 Present Truth, which ‘proved’ the 1956 parallel; but he was ready enough in 1950 to conclude (without confessing his errors to the brethren, however) that the 1956 parallel he had so minutely produced in 1947 was just no parallel at all; it was pure Jambresian folly! But this did not deter him from again producing other intricate mathematical calculations to ‘disprove’ his previous calcula­tions of three short years ago – and just about three months after the Epiphany Messenger’s demise (when all priestly help and favor was withdrawn from him: he was no longer hindered by such, even as JFR was no longer hindered after That Servant’s death), and to ‘prove’ – or make way – for further manipulations and plans. But self-evidently, he cannot produce further ‘parallels’ for his extended overlapping, anymore than he can produce his ‘parallel’ for 1954-56. Or will he try?

All of us know that Brother Russell made mistakes in forecasting deliverance of the Church, the end of the time of trouble, and the establishment of the Kingdom in Israel in 1914, etc., just as all God’s people have done over the Gospel Age; but, when time itself proved his conclusions wrong, he did not then continue to insist that it did hap­pen, and that he was right. Only the ‘foolish’ would do this – See Matt. 7:24-27, also Epiphany Vol. 5, Chapter 7. Instead, great and humble man that he was, he himself cor­rected those mistakes even before 1914 – although some of the crown-losers (‘foolish’ breth­ren) then living (such as A. H. MacMillan) continued to preach the error right up to the Fall of 1914 – in much the same manner as RGJ has been proclaiming 1954. Had Brother Johnson lived to 1954, we may be sure he too, would have corrected his erroneous con­clusions and mistakes – just as he corrected the mistake he made re Armageddon in 1934, which he had based upon the spurious ‘earthquake’ of Matt. 27:52-54. (See E-5:358-64)

The Epiphany night that followed the Jewish Harvest has lasted for more than 1800 years, so it had no time relation whatever to the 40-year day of the Jewish Harvest. And any one not befuddled by Azazel would readily recognize that some changes in time and calcu­lation are now necessary for 1954-56 for the parallel that has not paralleled. All those Scriptures cited by RGJ from Brother Johnson’s writings simply prove that the Epi­phany and the Time of Trouble are identical – even as That Servant taught also; but not a one of them offers any hint of the duration of the Time of Trouble. The only fact we now have – from the chronology and the signs of the times, etc. – is that it began in 1914. And this is in keeping with what That Servant and the Epiphany Messenger have faithfully taught: prophecies of future dates cannot be fully understood until we are in them, when they are a trial time for the Lord’s people – and many times they cannot be understood until they are finished.

In our paper on The Third Watch we presented the deduction that the first Watch was from 1874 to 1914 (forty years), the second Watch from 1914 to 1954 (forty years), and the third Watch is from 1954 to 1994 (forty years). But on the 1994 date we of­fered no positive conclusions, although we inferred that Armageddon, Anarchy and Jacob’s Trouble would take place some time in that third watch – just as Brother Johnson offered no positive conclusions on the details of 1954: he, too, “inferred” that Anarchy would be here by 1956, if the parallel worked out for the 40-year Epiphany period; but it didn’t work out – so his ‘inference’ was wrong. Any babe in the Truth should be able to see that. Even others not befuddled by Azazel can see that certain events that were predicted didn’t turn out when time itself makes it clear. And, when RGJ can’t see it, it simply reveals to all of us the confused condition of his mind at present.

Once more we direct attention to the fact that only two groups that originated in the Truth Movement now claim we are in the Basileia, the Kingdom. They are the Witnes­ses and the Laymen’s Home Missionary Movement. The one difference between them is their time setting. That Evil Servant has his Kingdom beginning in 1914; whereas, RGJ has his Kingdom beginning in 1954 – exactly forty years later. Here indeed is a parallel based upon fact; and any one with a parallel that fits with that Evil Servant’s conclu­sion should derive great satisfaction in his accomplishment. And with both those ‘King­doms’ that are now presented to us the world has become progressively worse – somewhat similar to the counterfeit kingdom of the Papacy – but the Scriptures clearly teach us that the world will become progressively better once the true Kingdom is established.

Let us now take a further look at Luke 17:20-30: Verse 26 says, “As it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of Man.” RGJ offers this again as ‘proof’ that the Parousia and Epiphany days here in the end of the Age would be of equal length, so we inquire – Were the days of Noah of equal length. The days of Noah represent two periods of time, the one “while the ark was preparing,” when the people ate, drank, and were merry; and the second period of time is the one when the rain came “and destroyed them all.” This latter was a period of forty days (symbolic of a trial time); but the former was many times more than forty days. Surely RGJ is not contending that during the 40 years up to 1954 and the seventeen years up to the present has “destroyed them all”! Thus, there is no time relation whatever to the two days. The time that Noah was building the ark, typed the 40-year Gospel Harvest ­but there is no Scripture to indicate what length of time he was building the ark. Therefore, if the “days of the Son of Man” are of like character, we need expect no time relation here either. RGJ himself admits we are still in the Epiphany day – some fifteen years longer than his Parousia day, even allowing for the 25-month overlapping. Therefore, to contend that these days are parallels in time is self-evident nonsense.

As stated, the first day of Noah, when the ark was being built, was self-evidently many times longer than the second day. The ark was 300 cubits long. If we use the 25” cubit for calculation, that would make the ark 625 feet long; and nobody of sound mind would contend that Noah and his three sons could complete such a structure in 40 days –33 days, because it was ready for occupancy seven days before the rain began to fall. (Gen. 7:7) Although we have nothing definite on how long it did require to build it, it must have been a matter of years, rather than days or months.

The following quotations pose a few questions: “The fallen angels and the new creatures will be judged – separated (Matt. 25:31,32) – during the Epiphany. Scrip­ture, reason and facts prove that during the war (1914-1918) this separation between the new creatures – the Little Flock and the Great Company – began. However, since this is an Epiphany work, according to this passage, the Epiphany was here during the World War; but other Scriptures show that this separation will continue during the Revolution. Probably it will continue until the early part of Anarchy.” (E-4-57) Does RGJ believe this statement, or is this another Epiphany teaching against which he is revolutionizing to make way for his “strange fire” (false doctrine) of Epiphany Con­secrated Campers?

Then, further on p. 59: “Col. 3:4, compared with other Scriptures, teaches that the Epiphany and its work are progressive, having in the War their small beginnings, and in the Revolution their growth and development and reaching at the end of Anarchy and of Jacob’s trouble their grand climax.... This climax is so overshadowingly impor­tant that our Pastor placed by far the most emphasis upon it when treating of the Epi­phany work.” Here again we ask, does RGJ believe what both Messengers taught on the Epiphany? If he does, how can he contend that the Epiphany ended in “a restricted sense” in 1954, when all of this “overshadowingly important Epiphany work” is still future?

Again on p. 65 (63) we are told that during the Epiphany the Lord will be revealed to the Great Company and the Youthful Worthies as their cleanser and deliverer. Has even a good fraction of the Great Company and the Youthful Worthies yet recognized this, or is this still future? And, if it is still future, in what sense has the Epiphany ended in “a restricted sense,” other than RGJ’s “non”-sense?

Let us now inquire into the manner of man who is presently teaching that the Epi­phany has ended in “a restricted sense.” He admits he is a crown-loser, a member of the Great Company, ejected from the Holy and the enlightening features of the golden candlestick. And of such there is this to be found in E-4:87:

“They have accepted and spread various false doctrines (such as Jonadabs, Campers Consecrated, justification outside the linen curtain, etc.—JJH). They have developed sectarian systems (ever ready to disfellow­ship those who will not accept their errors—­JJH).... Their course toward the Lord, the Truth and the remainder of the Lord’s people has not been a praiseworthy one. (p. 93, top) Through false teachings they have corrupted the wells of the Truth. (pp. 93-97)... The errors that they cherish leave their hearts cold and weak and their heads confused and deceived.” (p. 94, top)

And of such the Berean Comment on Matt. 25:30, discussing the “unprofitable ser­vant” described above, says they eventually experience “sorrow, disappointment and cha­grin in every sense.” And in all of this we wish to have no part whatever!

“For thy loving kindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth. I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers.... Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honor dwelleth.” (Psalms 26:3,4,8)

Sincerely your brother,

John J. Hoefle, Pilgrim

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QUESTION OF GENERAL INTEREST

QUESTION: – Should Brother Jolly be condemned and rebuked for calling you a “sifting” errorist,” etc.?

ANSWER: – He should not be rebuked if he is telling the truth. In fact, if he is telling the truth, then he would be subject to criticism if he did not make such exposure. Both Messengers often attacked sifters, mentioning them by name, telling us it was their duty to do so; and with this thought we ourselves are in complete harmony. It is only by that method that they could “take heed to all the flock” (Acts 20:28), as St. Paul admonished all faithful “overseers” to do.

However, if he is not telling the truth, then he is guilty of gross slander, assassination of character. And, “By this standard every slanderer is a murderer” (1 John 3:15, Berean Comment). And any who aid and abet him in his evil course would become a partaker of his sins. Also, let us not forget that most of the real reform­ers during the Age, who were “set for the defense of the Gospel,” were vilified and slandered by the real culprits in the controversy. We have only to consider the case of Martin Luther and the Papacy, and That Servant and the renegades of Babylon, to see this matter fully in its real perspective.

The question then properly arises, How shall we know who is the guilty one in such conflicts? The answer comes clearly enough from Isa. 54:17: “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper.” Martin Luther’s stewardship doctrine was “Justi­fication by faith,” based upon his favorite text, Rom. 5:1; and with it he decimated Papacy’s error of justification by works. The same can be said for That Servant’s en­counter with the Goliath of Evolution during the Harvest reaping period. “Thou camest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield; but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.” (1 Sam. 17:45) Thus, when we see one in conflict suffering one crushing defeat after another, we may safely conclude he is not of that class whose “righteousness is of Me, saith the Lord.” To all those approved of the Lord, the promise is sure: “I will give you eloquence and wisdom, which all your opponents will not be able to gainsay, or resist.” (Luke 21:15, Dia.)

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LETTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST

Mr. Evil Slave Class:

Your God Satan certainly has you in mass confusion! It’s pitiful how Satan blinds the eyes of the unbelievers. What are you fussing about? Jehovah God has given you everything you have! God’s people are Jehovah’s Witnesses and I am happy to be among those ones declaring the “good news” of his Kingdom.

Sincerely, ------- (FLORIDA)

Note: As we have mentioned in this article, this is a sample of what the leaders in the Society teach their sectarian devotees – just as the leaders in the LHMM teach their sectarian devotees, as RGJ instructs them that shaking hands with us is like shaking hands with “the Devil.”

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Dear Brother Hoefle: Grace and peace in His Word of Truth!

Just received No. 194. It is good – and the truth on God’s Kingdom on earth, which is to the Jew first. I have a new job now.

I went to the British Convention at Hyde. In the praise and testimony meeting I got up and said that I received the Truth in 1919 and got the Six Volumes of Brother Russell at the same time..... Brother Rutherford was President and his ‘light’ from the throne was error – just doing away with the old established Truth. I could see this was wrong – to get the world to consecrate during the Gospel Age – and it is to the Jew first. Brother ------- who was in the Chair, said, That is one side of it and passed on to other brethren to testify. There was Brother ------- from Miami and Bro ------- from Warsaw, Poland there. I gave as much as I could while they let me stand.

Your Ends of the Ages is very good – and the Truth! I will send you some money soon. Let me know where to. I will close with Hymns 23, 300, 298, 272 and 182.

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

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Dear Brother Hoefle: Grace and peace!

Just to let you know change of address of Sister ------- She had a slight seizure and was in the hospital for two weeks. She is now walking about and much improved. Sister (her sister in the flesh) has undertaken the charge of the house and thinks Sister ------- will be better in her new house.

Brother ------- joins me in love to you and all the dear ones with you. Assuring you of our continued prayers, and thank you for the timely and refreshing monthly papers.

Sincerely ------- (ENGLAND)

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Dear Brother Hoefle: Greetings in our Lord’s Name!

It was good to get your letter, and about the Brother that just died. I never hear much news here. I live all alone and those I once knew are all gone. All that come to the door now are young girls. But they are not like the old ones that used to come – they take tracts and say that they will read them.

I told you that as long as you preached the Truth I would stay with you – and I must say I continue to like your writings. They are just wonderful! I think of you often and pray for you in all my prayers – and I am so glad that you are coming to the Convention...... My youngest granddaughter is married now a year – husband’s grandfather was with the Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Your sister in the Lord’s great favor, ------- (PENNSYLVANIA)

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Dear Sir:

Enclosed is $ ... to use to spread the Gospel. Thank you for your letters and would appreciate your telling me where we may obtain the six books on the Bible by Pastor Russell, as covered in your December 1, 1970 letter.

Also please accept our thanks for your personal letter to us when we moved to Vermont. We appreciated it very much. Thank you!

Yours ------- (VERMONT)

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Dear Brother Hoefle: Greetings!

Just finished reading No. 194. I believe this is one of the best – so much so you will please send me twenty-five more copies. Also send to Mr ------- and put him on your mailing list.

Enclosed is $ .... If this is not enough, send me your bill.

Sincerely yours, ------- (MISSISSIPPI)

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My dear Brother Hoefle: Grace and peace Divine be yours!

It is a great joy In this Time of Trouble to get your helping hand, as we walk in the Valley of the Shadow of Death. Please find enclosed $ ... Jamaican dollars to use as you see best. In Christian love, and in Jesus’ name, Bro ------- (JAMAICA)

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Dear Brother Hoefle: Grace and peace be with you!

I am sending a little donation for the Lord’s work. Your last Present Truth is very much appreciated by me. May the Lord’s blessings be continually with you.

With Christian love, Brother ------- (MASSACHUSETTS)