NO. 443: THE BIBLE – BELIEVERS AND UNBELIEVERS

No. 443

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

One of the Nation’s most popular magazines produced eight pages of com­ment on the Bible, with opinions of quite a variety of learned men, a number of whom revealed how unlearned they are on the Sacred Writings of Jew and Christian. It occurs to us that it will profit our readers if we analyze these various expressions.

Even among those who claim to be true believers in the Bible, there is a wide variety of thought, based in large part upon faulty transla­tions, which go completely unnoticed by those who would offer comment. As an example, let us consider first the translation most commonly used in Christendom, known as the King James ver­sion, which was translated about AD 1610 at the instigation of King James of England. His motives were undoubtedly of the highest; he wished his subjects to have something in English that all the people could read. And, while the translation itself is grievously faulty, the work is in fine literary style, having been produced by some of the best minds then residing in England. However, when the King James version is referred to as The Bible, we should ever be mindful that it is not the Bible but a translation, which must necessarily carry with it the limitations of the men who did the translating.

Some would-be full believers often delight themselves with the expression: I believe the Bible from “kiver to kiver”; and they have the King James version in mind when they say that. They ignore completely more than 20,000 mistakes that are contained in that book, none of which are inspired. These mistakes are not the good “Word of God” (Heb. 6:5) at all. Therefore, if they believe the book as it appears in the King James version, it is not the Bible they believe but the fallacies of man.

In the opening statements of the article, the advent of Jesus is discussed with the misleading observation: “God became man.” They are justified in this con­clusion if they rely upon the King James version of the Apostle John’s opening state­ment in his Gospel: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God.” Consider now an exact translation of that text: “In a beginning was the Logos [Greek for Word], and the Logos was with the God, and the Logos was a God. This was in a beginning with the God.” This latter reveals an entirely different meaning than does the erroneous King James translation.

Then the magazine article proceeds: “Faced with mounting scientific evidence for evo­lution, many biblical critics long ago moved away from belief in the ‘six days’ of creation in Genesis.” The ‘science’ that attempts to substantiate Evolution is de­scribed by St. Paul as “oppositions of science falsely so called.” (1 Tim. 6:20) Many of our leading scientists are now emphatic in their denial of the evolution the­ory. We are told that one of the Universities in the United States is offering a course that exposes the error of evolution. It is not our pur­pose to give details against evolution here, other than to say that the science of Mathe­matics proves evolution to be an impossible piece of nonsense as it pertains to man. We agree that the first life on this earth appeared in the water and that a certain specialized evolution is admitted in the Genesis account when it states, “Let the earth bring forth grass.” (Gen. 1:11)

Further, the Genesis account offers direct contradiction to the belief that the six creative days are twenty‑four‑hour days. In Gen. 1:16-19 we are told that the sun and the moon did not appear at all until the fourth day. Consequently, the three preced­ing days were not regulated by the sun and the moon at all; and must be construed as periods of time. Even with the present favorable conditions for producing grass, it is not possible to bring forth one blade of it in twenty-four hours. And this divergence would be even more pronounced if we consider bushes, flowers, and trees.

The article continues: “Nor was Jonah actually swallowed by a ‘great fish.’“ In Matt. 12:40 Jesus said, “As Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” The word whale in this text is from the Greek ketos, and actually means a “great sea monster.” It is a matter of record that such monsters have been found dur­ing this century; and, if we wish to attack the truth of what Jesus said, we must log­ically denounce Him as an unreliable and untrustworthy teacher in all His other sayings. If the Bible is wrong on any one point, it cannot be “the word of truth.” (2 Tim. 2:15)

Some of these people are also rejecting the belief that Christ was born of a vir­gin; yet they are now forced to admit that “in 100 licensed sites in Israel archaeolog­ical digging continues to turn up new evidence that the Bible is often surprisingly ac­curate in historical particulars, more so than earlier generations of scholars ever sus­pected. By establishing physical settings of Scriptural accounts and certain details of corroboration (finding horned altars like those mentioned in 1 Kings 1:50, for ex­ample) recent archaeology has enhanced the credibility of the Bible.”

As stated above, many of the Bible’s most ardent believers and supporters exhibit much unreasonable confusion by accepting wrong translations; but their confusion be­comes even more apparent when they attempt to take figurative statements and give them a literal interpretation. One outstanding example of such folly in the distant past – ­one which all now recognize to have been errant nonsense – was the belief that the earth was flat. This conclusion was based upon the statement in Isa. 11:12: “The Lord shall gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.” How could the earth have four corners if it were not flat, they argued.

One outstanding antagonist of this foolish belief was Galileo, who lived from 1564 to 1642. His controversy with the Roman Catholic Church became so heated, and aroused so much public fanaticism that Galileo was eventually tried for heresy and was sentenced to be hanged. One writer records it something like this: As they were placing the noose around Galileo’s neck a friend said to him: Galileo, all you need to do is say the earth is flat, and you can go on living. Whereupon, Galileo said, Yes, the world is flat, and the hanging was abandoned. The Roman Church itself is now so humiliated by that episode that they prefer not to mention it at all; and, if they do, they say it was all the result of the stupidity of the churchmen of that time. (For an update on this matter see page seven of our January-February 1993 paper.)

But other “dark sayings” of the Bible are not so easily settled. Science has in­deed proven that the earth is substantially round, but it has been unable to unravel the many parables spoken by Jesus; and there is sound reason for this. In Mark 4:11,12 He said to the Disciples: “To them that are without, all these things are done in parables: that seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand.” We would stress here that in a parable the thing said is never the thing meant. This is apparent enough to the general public in such parables as The Wheat and The Tares (Matt. 13:24-30); and in The Sheep and The Goats (Matt. 25:31-46). And, while it is universally conceded that Jesus did not mean literal Sheep and Goats, they still insist that the “everlasting fire” of v. 41 must be taken literally. Many who accept this position claim to be the Bible’s best friends, when in fact they are among its worst enemies, because science itself can pretty well explain away “ever­lasting fire” as unsupported myth – which indeed is true if a literal application is made of the text.

In v. 46 it is stated: These [the goats] shall go away into everlasting punish­ment.” In one of the more exact translations it is given this way: “These shall go forth to the aionian [age-lasting] cutting-off,” and the footnote has the following to say about it: “That is, in the fire mentioned in verse 41. The Common Version, and many modern ones, render kolasin aionioon, everlasting punishment, conveying the idea, as generally interpreted, of basinos, torment. Kolassin in its various forms only occurs in three other places in the New Testament – Acts 4:21; 2 Pet. 2:9; 1 John 4: 18. It is derived from kolazoo, which signifies, (1) To cut off, as lopping off branches of trees, to prune. (2) To restrain, to repress. The Greeks write – ‘The charioteer (kalazei) restrains his fiery steeds.’ (3) To chastise, to punish. To cut off an individual from life, or society, or even to restrain, is esteemed as ‘pun­ishment’; hence has arisen this third metaphorical use of the word. The primary signification has been adopted, because it agrees better with the second member of the sentence, thus preserving the force and beauty of the antithesis. The righteous go to life, the wicked to the cutting off from life, or death.” (See 2 Thes. 1:9) The foregoing is in exact keeping with Rom. 6:23: “The wages of sin is death [a severance of life]; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Further from the article under review: “How do you preserve faith in the Bible in a world that seems increasingly faithless? For Protestants it is an especially poignant question. Besides the Scriptures, the Roman Catholics have the authority of tradition [it requires a good imagination to accept tradition as authority. “Ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.” – Matt. 15:6], the Jews the guidance of the Talmud. But Protestantism bases its faith on the Bible alone. Its truth is essential; if the Bible falls, faith topples.”

Yes, the Bible is essential to a true faith; but let us be sure we are taking the Bible, and not the fallacious versions of erring men. All of this is in true keeping with the query of Jesus: “When the Son of Man cometh, will He find faith in the earth?” (Luke 18:8) The magazine writer says further: “An occasionally fallible Bible, therefore is a Bible that paradoxically seems more authentic.” When they say, “It seems more au­thentic,” they are coming a little closer to the truth!

In a later issue of this same magazine there is this statement: “All religions are equally valid; the choice among them is not a matter of conviction about truth but only of personal preference or life‑style.” According to their position, believe anything you want to believe; it really doesn’t make any difference. This is quite a sharp difference from what St. Paul teaches in Eph. 4:5: “There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism.”

More now from the first article of the magazine: “In the 17th century the Dutch Philosopher Baruch (“Benedict”) Spinoza, an excommunicated Jew, used a method that would be widely emulated by rationalist critics during the Enlightenment: he treated the Bible as a human rather than a divine work and thus subject to investigation of its books according to date, authorship, composition and setting.” Here we are force­fully reminded of St. Paul’s words in 1 Cor. 3:19: “The wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.” A few points of proof: The Law given through Moses is eminently su­perior to anything that existed in the heathen world at that time. Also, some of the prophecies in the Bible were indisputably written hundreds of years before their fulfillment, which would be impossible if they were strictly of human origin. The 53rd Chapter of Isaiah is a prime example.

Jesus Himself prophesied: “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations: and then shall the end come.” (Matt. 24:14) The Bible has now been translated into more than 1,500 languages – despite the determined efforts of men and devils to destroy it, and it is presently being bought by or sent to more people than ever before. In the U.S., seven noteworthy new versions have come out since 1966; and all have sold well. One of the largest publishing houses reports that sales of all editions in 1974 are five times as great as they were four years ago. This is in keeping with a recent Gallup Poll: “A far smaller proportion of Americans today than in 1957 believe religion can answer all or most of the problems of the day, with the change in attitudes most pronounced among young persons and Catholics... Bible reading shows no evidence of decreasing.”

HISTORICAL CORROBORATION

Some vehement critics of the Bible’s inspiration contend that history does not give sufficient evidence for conclusive opinion in the case. “We cannot write a biog­raphy of Jesus,” they say; “there are too few facts in the New Testament. All we can say about Jesus is what Christians believed.” Let us now quote from Josephus’ Antiq­uities of the Jews, Book 18, Section 3, Paragraph 3: “Now, there was about this time, Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man, for he was a doer of wonderful works – a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many of the Jews, and many of the Gentiles. He was (the) Christ; and when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men amongst us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him, for he appeared to them alive again the third day, as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him; and the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct at this day.”

Flavius Josephus was born in AD 37 or 38, died in AD 100. Thus he was con­temporary with all the Apostles – probably knew some of them very well. He writes of himself in this manner: “The family from which I am derived is not an ignoble one, but hath descended all along from the priests... I am not only sprung from a sacer­dotal family in general, but from the first of the twenty-four courses... of the chief family of the first course; nay, further, by my mother I am of the royal blood... When I was a child, and about fourteen years of age, I was commended by all for the love I had to learning, on account of which the high priests and principal men of the city came then frequently together, in order to know my opinion about the accurate understanding of points of the law; and when I was about sixteen years old, I had a mind to make trial of the several sects that were among us... the Pharisees... the Saducees... the Essenes... When I was twenty‑six years of age I took a voyage to Rome.”

Commenting upon this intellectual Jew, Bishop Porteus says this: “This history is spoken of in the highest terms by men of the greatest learning and the soundest judgment, from its first publication to the present time.

“The fidelity, the veracity, and the probity of Josephus, are universally allowed; and Scaliger in particular declares that, not only in the affairs of the Jews, but even of foreign nations, he deserves more credit than all the Greek and Roman writers put together. Certain at least it is, that he had the most essential qualification for a historian – a perfect and accurate knowledge of all the transactions which he relates; and had no prejudices to mislead him in the representation of them; and that, above all, he meant no favor to the Christian cause. For even allowing the so much controverted passage, in which he is supposed to bear testimony to Christ, to be genuine, it does not appear that he ever became a convert to His religion, but continued prob­ably a zealous Jew to the end of his life.”

While the foregoing from, and about, Josephus would not furnish sufficient infor­mation to write a biography of Jesus, it would seem it should be sufficient to place Him definitely on earth at the time claimed in the New Testament. Furthermore, the Book of Acts is more or less a historical recitation of events after Jesus’ resurrec­tion to the end of the Jewish nation in AD 70. And, while the Book of Acts has been accused of historical errors for certain details, it has since been proved by archaeologists and historians to be correct.

It is now generally admitted, too, that believers and non-believers alike have today a purer, more accurate text, for example, closer to the original than scholars or laymen have enjoyed since antiquity. We have a more accurate understanding of its meaning, made possible by the abundance of excellent translations. We have given a few of such instances aforegoing. The article under review ends with this commend­able statement: “Both in the Jewish and Christian Bibles it is irreducible, some time, some where, God intervened in history to help man. Whether it was at the time of the Exodus, the giving of the Law, the Incarnation or the Resurrection, or any of those many smaller interven­tions that are still so cherished, ordinary human history was in­terrupted, and has never since been the same.”

In keeping with the confusion in some of the aforegoing, we would mention a prom­inent evangelist who offered the statement that “we were created spiritual beings.” Nowhere does the Bible even hint at such a condition. While it is true that phrenologists are in agreement that man is inherently a religious creature, that his religi­ous qualities are found in the highest part of his mind, this in no way warrants the conclusion that he is spiritual. Digressing just a little here, we would say that the religious qualities have been badly warped by the centuries of sin in man’s background. Thus, with some of them the top of the head is too high for normal thinking. These are caricatured as the “egg heads” – something just tells such people that man is spiritual. At the other extreme we find the flat heads – caricatured as the “roof tops” – and something tells them that man is only animal. Sound thinking finds a balance between these two extremes.

As stated, nowhere does the Bible teach that man is spirit; and, when such people as the evangelist mentioned above offer such teaching, declaring that they believe the Bible, it produces the logical conclusion in thinking people that the Bible is not reliable. Thus, some of its would‑be friends are in truth some of its worst enemies, unwittingly so, of course. There are many Scriptures that directly contradict that man is a spirit, but we quote just one by Solomon, wisest of men: “That which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast... all go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again. Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward [Where do you find such an un­reasonable teaching?], and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?” (Eccl. 3:19‑21)

There now exists one outstanding difference between man and beast: Man is prom­ised a resurrection from the dead. “God hath appointed a day, in which He will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom He hath ordained [Jesus]; whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised him from the dead.” (Acts 17:31) The fact that God raised Jesus from the dead offers assurance that “all men” shall also be raised from the dead; but, until that time arrives, the dead “sleep in the dust of the earth” (Dan. 12:2) – just as do the beasts. But until that time of resur­rection: “The dead know not anything.” (Eccl. 9:5)

PRESENT-DAY THINKING

Anent the skepticism that is now so prevalent regarding the Bible’s authenticity, we quote the following from one of the more prominent columnists: “If there should be, on Christmas night, a second coming, would there not soon be a second crucifixion? And this time, not by the Romans or the Jews, but by those who proudly call themselves Christians?

“I WONDER! I wonder how we today would regard and treat this man with His strange and frightening and ‘impractical’ doctrines of human behavior and relationships. Would we believe and follow any more than the masses of people in His day believed and followed?

“Would not the militarists among us assail Him as a cowardly pacifist because He urges us not to resist evil? Would not the nationalists among us attack Him as a dangerous internationalist because He tells us we are all of one flesh? Would not the wealthy among us castigate Him as a troublemaking radical because He bars the rich from entering the kingdom of heaven?

“Would not the liberals among us dismiss Him as a dreamy vagabond because He advises us to take no thought for the morrow, to lay up no treasures upon earth? Would not the ecclesiastics among us denounce Him as a ranting heretic because He cuts through the cords of ritual and commands us only to love God and our neighbors?

“Would not the sentimentalists among us deride Him as a cynic because He warns us that the way to salvation is narrow and difficult? Would not the Puritans among us despise and reject Him because He eats and drinks with publicans and sinners, pre­ferring the company of winebibbers and harlots to that of ‘respectable,’ church mem­bers?

“Would not the sensual among us scorn Him because He fasts for forty days in the desert, neglecting the needs of the body? Would not the proud and important among us laugh at Him when He instructs the twelve disciples that he who would be ‘first’ should be the one to take the role of the least and serve all?

“Would not the worldly-wise and educated among us be aghast to hear that we can­not be saved except as we become as children, and that a little child shall lead us? Would not each of us in his own way find some part of this man’s saying and doing to be so threatening to our ways of life, so much at odds with our rooted beliefs, that we could not tolerate Him for long? I wonder!”

Several of the above questions carry an inference that is definitely wrong, but that is due to the poor interpretation that the writer makes, rather than any fault with the Bible itself.

THE BIBLE’S INSPIRATION

Many of the Bible’s critics regard it as a superior book — if not all, at least certain parts. Gibbon, himself an unbeliever, declares the book of Job to be the fin­est piece of literature in existence. And all men agree that the Golden Rule – “Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them” (Matt. 7:12) – spoken by Jesus, is a lofty altruistic ideal, the best that has ever been spoken by men; but they counter with the observation that so very few even try to keep it, that it is pretty well lost in everyday life.

Also, we gladly admit that some of the Bible critics are people of considerable intellect and learning; and many of these agree that there is a natural revelation ­which reveals man’s undone condition, the sinfulness and depravity of the human race. The Bible also very pointedly declares the same thoughts; it also praises the order, beauty, harmony, utility and sublimity in the various features of the heavens and of the earth.

As stated previously, the critics come to conclusions about the Bible which are totally wrong, erroneous, because some of the Bible’s friends attribute to it many things which are not taught there. One of the most deadly of these errors is that man is a dual being – that is, that he has a body and a soul which are separated at death, the body returning to the earth whence it came, with the soul floating off into space as a spirit. But the scientific fraternity has been unable to produce one scintilla of evidence to substantiate this belief; in fact, science is forced to contradict it – as the Bible also does. The Bible stresses a resurrection of the dead. This word resurrection is from the Greek anastasis, which means a raising up to life again. But if man does not die at death, what need have we for a resurrection? And St. Paul tells us in 1 Cor. 15:19: “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.”

Whence comes this misleading belief? It is to be found in Gen. 3:4: “The serpent [Satan] said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die”; and this original false­hood has become solidly implanted in all the religions of the heathen and Christian world. Concerning the devil, Jesus said this: “He was a murderer from the beginning [in the Garden of Eden]... he is a liar, and the father of it.” (John 8:44) “Because I tell you the truth, ye believe Me not [the truth being that the dead are dead, that Jesus is the resurrection and the life, that through Him “All that are in their graves shall hear His voice, and shall come forth.” – John 5:28,29].”

The Bible in its Old Testament, as it was increasingly given, has been accepted by the Jewish people generally for more than 3,500 years as a Divine revelation and cherished as such – just as the New Testament has been equally regarded by the Chris­tian world for almost 1,900 years. And it is in order here to state that the minds that have accepted the Bible as a Divine revelation have been decidedly superior to the minds of the people that have rejected it. We would mention the Apostle Paul (died AD 67 ); Augustine (AD 430), regarded by eminent scholars as the greatest intel­lect of the entire human race; Thomas Aquinas (the poor little “rich man” – who dis­posed of his great wealth, and ministered to the poor because he thought the Bible so required him to do); Martin Luther; Sir Isaac Newton, who discovered the law of gravity; Alfred the Great, King of England; and John Wesley, probably the greatest evangelist that ever lived.

AN IDEAL PLAN OF SALVATION

The Bible reveals the only “ideal plan of salvation” for all mankind. This great Plan of Salvation revealed therein commends itself most strongly as of Divine origin, and not the design of man. It is the embodiment of God’s four great attributes: Justice, Wisdom, Love and Power. No one else could come up with anything so sublime. “God is love” (1 John 4:8), and “He is faithful that promised.” (Heb. 10:23) “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; who will have all men to be saved, and come unto the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Tim. 2:3,4) This does not mean that all men will be saved eternally. Some believe that not only all men will be saved, but even the Devil also will be saved. Those of us who have the “spirit of truth” also know the “spirit of error” (1 John 4:6). We know that the Devil, as well as all evil doers who do not turn from their “path of error” will be destroyed. “That through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is the devil.” (Heb. 2:14) All those who will not obey when they “come to a knowledge of the Truth” in the Kingdom will be “destroyed from among the people.” (Acts 3:23)

So when God tells us He will have “all men to be saved,” we need to “rightly di­vide the word of Truth” (2 Tim. 2:15) in order to understand that from which “all men” will be saved. All men will be saved from the curse that came upon all through the disobedience of Father Adam; and He will save all men from ignorance of the Divine Plan. “The god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not” (2 Cor. 4:4) during this Faith Age – but during the next Age, the World to come – when “thy judg­ments [correct instructions — the knowledge of the Truth] are in the earth, the inhab­itants of the world will learn righteousness.” (Isa. 26:9)

There are many who do not know there are Two Distinct Salvations — one for the elect during this Faith Age, and one for the non-elect (all others – the Restitutionists) during the next Age, the World to come. God’s Plan is in evidence in the var­ious Dispensations and Ages. In the first world (Kosmos), from the fall to the flood, the intention evidently was not to “save all men.” Had God attempted to save all men, He would have done so, because God never fails of any of His purposes. (Isa. 55:10,11) There are two worlds thus far, but there are three Ages in this second world: (1) the Patriarchal Age, (2) the Jewish Age, and (3) the Gospel Age – the Age in which we are now.

God’s purposes in all of these Ages have been elective, but in each Age along different lines from those of the others. Instead of dealing on cov­enant basis with all men during these Ages, He selected out of the world certain ones with whom He has so dealt. This selection or election was not done arbitrarily, as Calvinism teaches, for God never acts arbitrarily, but always in harmony with His char­acter — the blending of Wisdom, Justice, Love and Power. Broadly speaking, the human family consists of two classes: those who trust Him (by faith), even when they cannot trace Him, and those who will not trust Him out of sight – that is, a faith class and an unbelief class. This faith class can stand the trialsome training necessary to qualify them for their work of uplifting the non-elect in “the world to come.” (Eph. 1:21) The non-elect who lack sufficient faith to be put on trial under present unfavorable conditions, will then have their trial in the “World to come” (Heb. 6:5) under most advantageous conditions. There are some of the non-elect who have faith in God, but not sufficient faith to do the Lord’s will during the time when sin and evil are in the ascendancy. We all know such noble worldlings, and we know that God is not unmindful of their good qualities. “The Lord looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men. From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth. Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy.” (Psa. 33:13,14,18) So He has “appointed a Day in which He will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.” (Acts 17:31) We believe we are nearer that Day than when we first believed – so we continue to pray: “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”

The third world will be the order of affairs that God will establish after the destruction of the present order of affairs in this second world. Thus there will be in the World to come new heavens (new ecclesiastical ruling powers) and a new earth (new social order) in which righteousness will be established. (2 Pet. 3:7,13) Thus the completed Plan of Salvation for all men – the elect and the non-elect – ­will result to God’s glory, and the blessing of eternal life for all mankind who love righteous­ness. They will have full opportunity – an “accurate knowledge of the truth,” and the ability to walk in the paths of righteousness, if they so desire.

“And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be bless­ed.” (Gal. 3:8) This “plan” is so ideal and sublime that it is beyond the realm of human imagination. Some say it is too good to be true; we say, It is too good not to be true! Thus it is conceived as a Divine inspiration.

Sincerely your brother, John J. Hoefle, Pilgrim

(Reprint No. 240, June 1975)

========================

BIBLE STUDENTS TOUR OF ISRAEL – DATE CHANGED

In the October 1992 issue of this publication we announced a tour of Israel which was to have been held in March of 1993. Due to the fact that the Israeli tour guide was not able to meet his commitment for this date, the tour has been rescheduled. The new date is October 18 – November 3, 1993.

This 17-day Biblically oriented tour of the Holy Land is being led by Elva Lanowick and Dennis Thorfeldt. Included in the price is round trip transportation to Tel Aviv on El Al Airlines, first class hotels throughout, all breakfasts and dinners, and three lunches.

Because the tour is now taking place in the more desirable early Fall season when the weather is warmer, the prices have been revised as follows:

From New York $2,595

From Los Angeles  $2,795

Air add-ons available from most cities.

If you would like to receive a brochure or more information regarding this trip, call 708-969-5489 or write to:

Dennis Thorfeldt

c/o Ship ‘n Shore Travel

612 Crescent Drive

Downers Grove, IL 60516

========================

LETTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST

Dear Sister Emily,

Thank you so much for your lovely letter. I thank God always for knowing such a kind servant of the Lord as you.

At this time of the year may all of our hearts turn forward to our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus. Wishing you God’s Grace always.

Your brother in Christ, ------- (MICHIGAN)

------------------------------------

Dear Brethren in Christ,

We appreciate your publications and we would like to help in its publication. Enclosed $... Thank you and the Lord’s blessings. ------- (NEW YORK)

=======

NO. 442: THE ROOTS OF OUR FAITH

No. 442

“I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets.” (Acts 24:14)

IS THE OLD TESTAMENT STILL THE WORD OF GOD TODAY?

Messianic terms and/or abbreviations used in this teaching: Yeshua = Jesus; Messiah = Christ; Tanach = Old Testament.

God’s Shalom to you from Jerusalem! The Holy Scriptures contain warnings that in the last days many deceptions and winds of false doctrines would blow against the congregation of Yeshua. In Romans 11, Paul described us as part of an olive tree. Since that is the case, we need to develop strong, deep roots. A tree without a well‑developed root system is easily felled by strong winds. Therefore, in order not to be swayed by every wind of doctrine, let us allow the Holy Spirit to strengthen the roots of the faith, in our theology as well as in our daily walk.

If we view ourselves as the Olive Tree, then the Spirit of God is the life‑bearing sap which brings nourishment and water from our roots in the Tanach to the fruit‑filled branches of the New Testament body. Without roots a tree is cut off from its source of life. This fact mirrors the state of the organized Christian Church during its history. (Many old and resurgent heresies, such as Gnosticism and Replacement “theology” come from a misunderstanding or a misuse of the Word of God in the Tanach.) The recognition of the current validity of the Old Testament to our walk with God today, is of the utmost importance to keep us scripturally balanced.

 When our Messiah walked the earth, there was no New Testament! When Peter preached to the Jews on the day of Pentecost (Shavuot), he preached from the Tanach! When Yeshua defeated Satan in the wilderness, He quoted the “Law of Moses” (Deuteronomy) three times, and the devil fled! Paul preaching to the Gentiles used the Tanach. In fact, in the letter to the Romans, Paul uses Old Testament verses as his proof texts about 50 times to validate New Testament doctrines. This shows that the basis of Paul’s doctrine and revelation of Messiah was found in the Tanach.

Consider the following questions: Do we really believe in the same Scriptures that Yeshua and the apostles based their faith upon? If the Tanach was the Word of God then, is it still the Word of God today? Is it as much the Word of God for us today as is the New Testament?

The answers to these questions need to be settled in our minds and hearts so we can understand the total revelation of Himself that God has given to us. How often have you heard someone say, or said yourself, “I’m a New Testament believer.” We prefer not to claim to be cut off from our roots! We are Bible believers. We recognize that the written revelation of God begins at Genesis 1:1 and goes to the end of the book of Revelation. In fact, if Genesis 1:1 is not the tent-peg of our faith, that is, faith in God Who is the Creator of all, then everything else we believe is built on sand!

Realizing, then, that the New Testament refers to the Old Testament when using the term “Scriptures” consider these verses:

John 10:35 “...the scripture cannot be broken...”

John 5:39 “Search the scriptures; for in them you think you have eternal life and they... testify of Me.”

2 Timothy 3:16,17 “All scripture given by inspiration of God is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”

There are two fundamental questions we can answer which will fully convince us of the truth that the Tanach is still God’s Word for us today. 1. “What is the New Testament view of the Tanach?” and 2. “How did Yeshua view the Tanach?”

1. What is the New Testament view of the Tanach?

According to Walter Kaiser Jr., in his excellent book Toward Rediscovering the Old Testament, there are approximately 300 direct verse citations, 200 unacknowledged and 1,100 reworded or paraphrased verses used in the New Testament from the Tanach. Thus, about 1,600 verses found in the New Testament for doctrine, to teach and encourage, to warn and prove that Yeshua is the Messiah are taken from the Old Testament.

Consider that the New Testament does not make a distinction between what God says and what the Tanach says. If the Tanach states something, the New Testament writers assume that it is God Himself who states it, even if it is not directly credited to Him. Here are a couple of examples.

In Acts 4:24‑25 the apostles are praying, “Lord, You are God... who by the mouth of Your servant David has said, why did the nations rage...”, etc. They are thinking of Psalms 2 which was written by David. They correctly assume that it was God Himself who wrote this through David, His servant.

Paul, in Gal. 3:8 states, “The scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.” Notice, Paul claims that the Scripture says this when, in the original account (Gen. 12:1-3), it is God Himself speaking. Here are other examples: Matt. 19:4,5 with Gen. 1:27; 2:23,24; Rom.9:17 with Exodus 9:16.

We have already mentioned 2 Tim. 3:16,17 which is the New Testament statement on the relevance of the Tanach for believers. Do we really grasp what God’s Spirit is saying here about the benefits of “the Old Testament”? Let us examine this verse in detail.

“All scripture given by inspiration of God is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good-works.” Now consider:

“All scripture...” – that means both the Old and the New Testament.

“All scripture given by inspiration of God...” – is Godbreathed by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:20,21) and just as accurate as if God Himself used the pen.

“All scripture... is profitable for doctrine...” – profitable means useful; doctrine means teaching. Paul is urging the church to study the Tanach to get her doctrine and teaching material! He knew we cannot have solid doctrine without this part of God’s Word. For example, we cannot fully understand salvation and what occurred at the cross without understanding Leviticus 16 (Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement), Isaiah 53 (the Suffering Servant), and many other pictures in the Tanach that fully reveal Calvary.

“...profitable [useful] for... reproof [rebuke]...” – this is an act of mercy on God’s part. (See Prov. 1:23; 3:11.) Has God ever rebuked you using the Tanach?

“profitable for... correction...” – correction literally means “restoration to an upright position or right state; setting straight that which has become bent or twisted.” The Tanach can be used as a tool in the hand of God to restore us to Himself after we sin.

“...profitable for... instruction in righteousness...” – this pictures the submission of a disciple to the rules of instruction given by his teacher. It implies growth from childhood to maturity, from weakness to strength. Note also that this righteousness is a righteousness which is by faith. The New Testament constantly uses Old Testament saints and/or verses to prove that “the just shall live by his faith,” a verse originally found in Habakkuk 2:4. (See Rom. 1:16,17; Gal. 3:11; Heb. 10:38. Also Rom. 4:3 and 10:5,6. In Rom. 10: 6, Paul uses Deut. 30:12‑14 to describe “the righteous­ness which is of faith.”)

“That the man of God may be perfect [mature], thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” In this chapter, verses 14 and 15, Paul encourages Timothy to “continue in all the things you have learned.” This includes “The Holy Scriptures [Paul’s name for “the Old Testament”] which are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith which is in Messiah Yeshua.” Hallelujah! People can get saved by reading and/or hearing God’s Word in the Tanach and seeing that Yeshua is the promised Messiah! We can preach the Gospel out of the Old Testament, just like Peter on the Day of Pentecost! Can you, using only the Tanach, present the gospel message of Yeshua the Messiah? It is amazing how many Jewish people will listen to Scriptures from “their” Bible! (see Acts 28:23)

2. How Did Yeshua View the Tanach?

Yeshua saw the Tanach as the Word of God. In Matt. 5:17,18 He warns us against even thinking that He has come to do away with the Tanach. He states that it will stand as God’s Word until all has been fulfilled, which means until there is a new heaven and earth (Isa. 65:17).

In Mark 7:1-13 Yeshua reveals that a lack of respect for God’s Word revealed in the Tanach is the basis for the Pharisees’ hypocrisy. In Verses 7‑10, He accuses them of teaching man’s tradition as opposed to “the commandments of God... making the Word of God of no effect...” Consider in what ways we in the church may be guilty of the same thing. Here are other verses where Yeshua says that the Tanach is God’s Word: Mark 12:24, 29‑31,36; Luke 10:25‑28; 16:29‑31; John 10:35.

Yeshua also used the Tanach to settle arguments. In Matt. 12:1‑7, when some Pharisees saw His disciples on the Sabbath plucking heads of grain to eat, Yeshua’s defense was the story of David using the shewbread to feed his hungry men. Also see Matt. 21:15,16; 22:29-46; John 5:39, 45-47.

Yeshua had faith in God’s Tanach! When tested by Satan in the wilderness, He defended Himself by quoting verses from Deuteronomy. Yeshua actually used “the Law of Moses” as a sword to defeat the enemy (Luke 4:1-13)!

His teaching used Tanach quotes frequently, both directly and indirectly. For example, His teaching on His return (Matt. 24:29‑31) is taken from many Tanach Scriptures: Isa. 53:10; 34:4; Dan. 7:13; Zech. 12:12; Isa. 27:13; Deut. 30:4 and Zech. 2:6. Even His ethical teachings are rooted in this same soil. See Matt. 7:12 and 19:16-19 as classic examples.

Finally, the basis of His own role as the Messiah depended entirely on the conviction that He must fulfill the Tanach. There are so many Scriptures in the Gospels to support this that we will cite only three and list a few others. In Matt.11:3-6, in answer to John the Baptist’s question as to whether He was the one who should come, Yeshua says ‘yes’ by telling John’s disciples to report what works they see Him do – works listed in several prophecies from Isaiah 29:18,19 and 34:5,6. In Luke 4:16-19 Yeshua announcing His ministry, while in a synagogue, quoted Isa. 61:1-2. Then He said, “This day is this Scripture fulfilled in your ears” (Luke 4:21). And in John 5:37‑39 Yeshua declares that we need to “search the Scriptures [the Old Testament] for... they testify of Me.” That is where He points us for proof of His Messiahship.

Here are a few of the many other examples: Matt. 22:41ff; 23:37‑39; 26:24; 27:46; Luke 12:49‑53; 18:31‑34; 22:22,37; 24:25-27, 44-49.

CONCLUSION

There is no doubt that the New Testament authors viewed the Old Testament as the Word of God, which was still valid for them in their walk with the Lord. There is not one sermon or teaching in the New Testament lacking a solid doctrinal foundation in that soil. In future lessons we will explore the basics of the Gospel and show how all of the Gospel is rooted and grounded in God’s Word as found in the Tanach. That is where the seeds were planted, the tree watered and weeded, pruned back and watched until the fullness of time. Then the fruit was ripe – and our Messiah appeared – “a light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of Thy people Israel.” (Luke 2:32)

(Christian Friends of Israel, May 1992, written by Chuck and Karen Cohen)

========================

Excerpt from May 7, 1992 letter written from Israel to Eva Merrill and friends in Scottsdale, Arizona.

We would like to share with you a most surprising phenomenon! Just before his passing, Jack Campbell and his wife Connie got into phone and letter contact with Emek Ha‑Shalom and Herman Bezner, though they never met. Upon Jack’s passing, Connie handed us a map she had been sent and urged us to look them up. Finally we had a map of sorts, as in the past we were always confused as to the location of Emek Ha-Shalom.

We had some free afternoons and took the chance to really try to find Emek Ha-Shalom. Even the map was quite vague, but finally we turned off on a dirt side road in the foothills of Mt. Carmel, southeast of Haifa and north of Megiddo. It was not the best road but wound beautifully through a national pine forest and then tumbled over creamy hillsides like those around Butte College in northern California. We met a group of hiking young Israelis back in there, who helped by directing us on further – without which we may have given up and turned back. They had just come from Emek Ha-Shalom.

So we continued, and then suddenly, as we came over the brow of a hill, there in the valley, snuggled in the base of the hills, like a Western rancho – there it was – several red-tiled roof-tops amid huge gardens and groves of trees and orchards, all by itself - a most unusual sight – such a private place in Israel!

Upon driving up the tree-lined road to a little clearing bordered by machine sheds filled with several tractors, and past several houses, Joseph, companion of Herman, came out to meet us. When he heard our names he embraced us warmly – speak­ing most in Hebrew. We were ushered into a beautiful covered terrace engulfed with large flowering tropical plants. We were served a tropical drink from their own fruit and soon Herman, aged 92, came out! An amazing, spry little man, who had been removing rocks from a field earlier that day with Joseph, who in his early forties has been with Herman a long time, and translates for him since Herman speaks only German.

We talked warmly and shared for some hours together and were very surprised by the things we heard. It seems that Herman and his family read the writings of Charles Russell and they left the Methodist Church in Germany and came into the ‘Truth’ when he was age 18. Herman told us that Hitler persecuted the Bible Students as well, and all of his family were exterminated by the Nazis. Only Herman escaped, ran away to Austria and helped set up a small retreat, for hiding Bible Students in the southern Austr­ian Alps, which was never discovered by the Nazis.

Over 30 years ago the Lord indicated to Herman that he had to come to Israel and comfort the Jewish people. He came in 1962 and was able somehow to purchase 40 acres, at which time he started to build several small houses, all alone! After several years the Israel Government said he was a missionary and he was forced to leave the country here, even though he owned the land and all. So he returned to Germany for a short time.

But again the Lord indicated that his place was Israel, so he returned and when his case came up before the Government, a number of prominent Israelis spoke out on his behalf and he received permanent residency status. His companion Joseph even received citizen-ship, which Herman declined.

Since the beginning hundreds of trees and plants have been planted where there was nothing, even though the soil is sandy. Several more houses have been built and the original one expanded. Even one was built for a family with children they thought were coming to help them – which sits empty, waiting. A small dairy was built for cows, which they once had. It is quite an estate. All the building, planting and caretaking have been done alone, by hand, by Herman and Joseph.

They have become very well known over the years among Israelis. He showed us a huge stack of write‑ups in the Israeli press and they spoke of the endless stream of Israeli groups who come to visit – from school children to groups of army soldiers. They showed us scrapbook photo albums full of pictures of their many visitors – sometimes 10 groups a day – and no day passes without groups.

They are quite self-sufficient there, with eggs, fruit and vegetables for their daily needs; and because of the groups, they never leave for any length of time. They have been to Jerusalem only once! Just two days before we visited them they had a group headed by the head of army general commander Raphael Eitan. Herman speaks in German and Joseph translates in Hebrew. They both looked quite tired but their eyes were lively, active and sparkled!

We asked Herman what he spoke to them about and he said, “Israel’s prophetic destiny, the coming Kingdom and rulership of Christ as Messiah!” Remember, Israelis go clear in there to him. Wow, is he a staunch supporter of Israel in every sense of the word, and he has very negative reactions to Bush/Baker, etc.

We asked him what reactions he got from all these Israelis and he said they had many questions and were very open always and that they keep coming. It is all rather mind- boggling, indeed. We prayed and shared Scripture together.

They also built an octagonal-shaped meeting hall to seat over 100 where they can speak to groups indoors. It has an adjacent dining room and kitchen where groups can meet and also have their meals. It is breathtaking, the setting and all! They are growing wheat on their farm land which Joseph himself harvests.

They were also anxious to hear about us and asked many questions. They were shocked to learn that we had been in Israel for 18 years already and that we had never met each other. They were even more amazed to hear we had been 13 years in Nes Ammim. Herman Bezner brought out a paper showing us that he was originally involved in the first Nes Ammim move­ment in Europe! But then when the original Swiss and Americans backed away due to disagreements over the idea, Herman said he already saw it starting to go wrong and he stopped his involve­ment. We related some of our experiences there and how it started to move in the direction of the “New Age.” Neither Herman nor Joseph were surprised.

They were so very glad we finally found them and came to visit. They had never heard of Stuart or Jean Livermore. Herman and Joseph want us to get together more often. So we promised that when Connie comes up, we will get together again. They have no telephone and really can hardly leave the place there due to all their groups and visitors. They don’t even have a watch dog! Yet they are not located far from the camp where those Arabs surprised and savagely killed those soldiers.

But they are not afraid. At times, they say, the army helicopters fly over them at night to see if all is all right there. Isn’t it amazing that the Bible Students have had a beautiful center in Israel for over 30 years and most of the movement has not even known about it!

Pray for Herman and Joseph, who are so dedicated to Israel but seem to be running out of strength.

Faithfully, Lev and Hava Bausch

========================

QUESTION OF GENERAL INTEREST

QUESTION – If any consecrated now and failed to be begotten of the Holy Spirit, where would the Lord place them?

ANSWER – We would presume that if they were faithful, to the extent of laying down, their lives in the service of righteousness and truth, that God would give them a share some way with the Ancient Worthies. In other words, that if such should pass into the time of trouble to a considerable degree, and there lose their lives because of faithfulness to the Lord, that he would do just the same for them that he will do for the Ancient Worthies – they will be counted in with the ancient worthy class.

(Question Book, p. 152)

========================

LETTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST

Dear Sister Hoefle: Grace and peace through our dear Lord and Savior!

Let me first apologize for the delay in acknowledging your letter, which was received with much appreciation. As you mentioned, the changes in the Manna are not too important. Nevertheless, as I have told the brethren long before they appeared, that judging from what Rutherford did with that book after the demise of Brother Russell, we should never trust any changes of the books written by That Servant. Anyway, we know that those who trust in the Lord shall never be removed or stumbled.

I was privileged to visit the brethren in Kingston on Sunday last. All were in attendance and we all enjoyed each moment. One of the subjects dealt with was when Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the ten commandments to communicate with Israel his face shone; therefore, he had to put a veil on his face while communicating (Ex. 34:30-33). This types The Christ, head and body, at His Second Advent when giving the world the New Covenant.

There is much significance given in this type, both in time and manner, which is worthy of note. God has always given His faithful people ahead of time these shadows or types of His Plan as it relates to the restoration of all the human family through natural Israel. By careful study of these types and anti-types we are able to discern much of the errors given by those who pervert the Truth.

Another point which relates to Moses’ veil are the Worthies – Ancient and Youthful – who will be made Princes in all the earth (Psa. 45:16) through whom The Christ will administer to the world of mankind (Micah 4:2). These and more are revealed by the pen product of the Laodicean Star. To them we own much gratitude for their labor of love.

Being at the close of another year, let us look to the dear Lord as we renew our consecration vows by making new resolution for the year ahead (Psa. 116:12-14).

We are in receipt of our bi-monthly papers, and do enjoy reading same. Thanks for such labors of love, Be reminded of our prayers for you all at the Bible House – praying that the dear Lord will give you renewed strength to continue the good work.

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

------------------------------------

Dear Brethren,

Many thanks for the Newsletter that you send monthly. We do appreciate them very much. They are well written concerning God’s Truth (Bible). I pass them on to our class. Enclosed is a check for our appreciation for your kindness and trouble. We are looking forward to more.

Wishing you and your class a very Blessed New Year and may you continue in His service through 1993 with God’s Blessings.

Much love, ------- (CANADA)

------------------------------------

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

Please send me 4 copies of #440. I enjoyed it so much. It was splendid and says so much better than I can, and beyond what I can. I am sending to several sisters and brethren who are beginning to see beyond 1916. It is human nature to sit down, or stand still, on the last message of our leader and guide. So did thousands in the Reformation.

The Pastor says to “go on” walking in the light and fulfillment of the Divine Plan. Blessed are our eyes for they see.

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

------------------------------------

Dear Emily Hoefle,

Thank you so much for sending the booklet THE TIME TO FAVOR ZION IS COME. I enjoyed and have shared it with my brothers. As I told you before, we have none of your books. I would be glad to receive the book Pastor Charles Taze Russell.

No, I don’t want you to put my brother’s name back on your mailing list. It would be a waste of your money. We enjoy sharing and talking about what we read. I’m afraid we know no one around here who even understands what we believe. My oldest brother was asked if it didn’t bother him that he was different than others. His reply (I thought was good), so was Noah.

Thank you again for your material, ------- (MISSOURI)

------------------------------------

Dear Brethren,

Enclosed is a check for the material you have been sending me. Your material is very much appreciated. Yours in Christ, ------- (VIRGINIA)

------------------------------------

Dear Brethren: Grace and peace!

The September paper on Keturah’s Six Sons was most interesting. If the LHMM still teaches that the Epiphany ended in 1954 and we are entering the Basileia, then why should they call their non-existent class Consecrated Epiphany Campers? Why not Basileia Campers? What distinction do they make between Youthful Worthies and Epiphany Campers? Where is Consecrated Epiphany Campers taught in the Bible? So far as I know, nowhere except in their manufactured types. As we should know, types don’t teach a doctrine, only supports a doctrine that is given in clear terms in the Bible.

Our class has been studying the great falling away that occurred in the church during the Gospel Age which resulted in the formation of Babylon – confusion. Since the demise of That Servant there has been a great falling away among Truth groups, which has resulted in much confusion where the Lord’s people left the Society and founded groups of their own. This is a far cry from what it was under Brother Russell. There was a unity of faith in his group that there hasn’t been in Truth groups since. Teaching a consecrated class in the Camp undermines Brother Russell’s teaching in Tabernacle Shadows, and his teaching on the Jews and their place in the Kingdom. Other groups teach the door to the High Calling is open, while some teach the door to the High Calling is closed which caused confusion among the Truth groups. It seems to me the number of people in these groups would make more than the 144,000, a fixed group in Scripture, not to mention the Little Flock developed over the eighteen centuries of the Gospel Age. These deviations in the Truth groups make the “Wise and Faithful Servant” look like the “Confused and Mistaken Servant.”

Brother Ekroth’s article on A Prophet Unto The Nations contained much material that was new to me. It was an interesting article.

My Christian love and prayers, ------- (NORTH CAROLINA)

------------------------------------

Dear Sister Hoefle: Greetings and love in our Beloved Savior!

In answer to your kind letter, I had cataracts in my right eye, so my writing is not clear. You will understand. I have been consecrated sixty years. I am here living with my daughter who is not consecrated who was brought up in the Truth, but she is good. I was taken ill thirteen years ago, so I need care. I had a pacemaker implant for a heart blockage last December, and had a rare kind of flu and almost died.

I meet with the Clearwater Bible Students in Palm Harbor who are studying the 4th volume. It is very timely. We are nearing the end of the Harvest to Armageddon. I got the Truth from my mother and lived in North Jersey. We attended the Dawn meetings at Brother Woodworth’s home until a class opened up in Paterson, NJ I am a widow five years now.

I am so glad to hear from you, Sister, and appreciate it. I thank God for guiding me in the Truth. I don’t know what I would do without it. It’s a blessing! Praise the Lord!

I am very much interested in Israel, as you are. I am waiting for God’s Kingdom to be established. There is so much sorrow in this world of trouble.

Remembering you in my prayers. The Lord bless you and make His face to shine upon you. By His Grace, Sister, ------- (FLORIDA)

------------------------------------

Dear Sister Hoefle,

Thanks for your good letter recently received which I have read with much interest. I did receive, too, the recent issues of Epiphany, and appreciated them very much.

You asked me some questions regarding my religious association before I went with the Witnesses, and I am glad to give you some information. As all Italian people, I was born as Catholic. My parents were Catholics, my grandparents were Catholics, too. I was baptized as a Catholic in my first months of life. I received the so-called sacraments and remained in the Church until my twenties. At 21 I was contacted by the Latter Day Saints (the Mormons), and this was the first time I had contact with a sect. Then two people came to my home, Witnesses who spoke with my mother on the resurrection hope. I was studying at the university at that time. In my heart I felt much love for Christ and for His Word, the Bible. Unfortunately, however, my knowledge of it was poor, because during my association with the Catholic Church I never learned the Bible books at all. So it was easy for these two women to take my interest and that of my mother, too.

So began my “career” with the Witnesses. It was a brilliant career, indeed! For a twenty-year period I was so occupied with many things related to my service in the organization, that I didn’t have enough time to think, to reflect. I find it would be much too difficult to speak of all my life among this people, but in the last years I was shocked to learn some things, to see some things, and because my knowledge of English was good enough, I wrote to the United States to ask (secretly) a copy of Crisis of Conscience by Ray Franz. This happened in 1987. Only five months after that I resigned from the organization together with 70 other people who left the Witnesses.

Now I’m a Christian, or supposed to be one. This means I believe in Christ’s Ransom and His Word of Truth. I believe though, it isn’t necessary to be affiliated with a specific group, because to be of “Apollo” or of “Christ” is a divisive force. I believe all men of good will are my brothers and I search in them for the evidence of the goodness of God. Sure, some men have a peculiar gift from God. I am not able to say what of them. But I expect to be a friend of the people, which, as you, serve the Lord with all their hearts. My work at present is to write and to talk.

I have written some books on the Witnesses, one of them is titled, Jehovah’s Witnesses and Politics; and in it I explain the truth about their apparent “neutrality,” and the story of their compromise with the Nazi power at the Rutherford time in WWII. Another book well sold was The Jehovah’s Witnesses Between Myth and Reality. At present my last book is almost ready, The People of the Apocalypse.

Moreover, I travel through Italy to release talks, and my presence is requested in many conferences. So my time is filled with many engagements. I am very happy now to have regained my family, because when we were Witnesses we weren’t for each other, but for the Society. My wife and I and our two children (16 and 21) are a free family now – a family which has returned to old, good sentiments. We thank God for that, as He was the One who worked it out for us.

Now must close, but wish you many blessings. Thanks for your kind interest and help.

Warm regards, ------- (ITALY)

------------------------------------

Dear Sir.

I am a keen Bible Student and am interested in obtaining a subscription to your magazine – also in obtaining a price list of your books.

If you would send me the cost of subscription, plus postage, to Australia I would be pleased to send you payment.

Yours faithfully, ------- (AUSTRALIA)

------------------------------------

Dear Brethren,

Thank you for sending me the Epiphany studies. I do look forward to receiving them. As I am working I think of you in Florida doing the Lord’s work. But when we think about it, all work becomes His Work if we make it an act of service.

I have Tabernacle Shadows and the six volumes. I would love to have a copy of Brother Russell’s book.

Thank you, ------- (ENGLAND)

=======

NO. 441: SOME THOUGHTS FOR THE MEMORIAL

No. 441

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

Comes again the Memorial of our Lord’s death, the correct time this year being after 6 p. m., April 4. The date is determined in this fashion: The 1993 Vernal Equinox arrives in Jerusalem at 5:02 p.m., March 20; and the moon following that comes new at 9:36 a.m., March 23, thus establishing Nisan 1 at 6 p.m., March 22. This brings Nisan 14 at 6 p.m., April 4; and any time that evening would be the proper time for what is commonly designated as The Lord’s Supper. We here at Mount Dora shall com­mence the service at 7:30 p.m.; and we extend a cordial invitation to any one who hap­pens to be in this vicinity to join with us who are of one mind on the matter.

THE CORRECT DATE

While the absolute time for observance is not a requirement, we should certainly have the right time if we can determine it. This is in keeping with St. Paul’s coun­sel in 1 Cor. 14:40: “Let all things be done decently and in order.” However, as v. 38 says, “If any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant” – on non‑essential teachings. It is an established fact that most of the truest and best of the Household of Faith dur­ing the entire Gospel Age have kept the Memorial on the wrong date; and this was true for some years after 1874 – when the Harvest Truth began to clarify many of the mistakes in teaching and practice that had accumulated after the demise of the Apostles. There­fore, we would emphasize that observance on the wrong date should never be a test of fellowship. “Let every man be persuaded in his own mind.”

However, with those who are guided somewhat by the newness of the moon, once Nisan 1 is properly determined, the Bible is then emphatic that the observance should be on Nisan 14. “Ye shall keep the lamb up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening” – between the two evenings (see margin of Ex. 12:6). The Jews, as well as some Truth groups, usually try to hold the service when the moon comes full; but the moon this year does not come full until April 6, making such participants a day or two late with the service.

Also, some groups use a location other than Jerusalem as their starting time, ­some using Greenwich, England, and others Philadelphia, Pa., etc. However, this is simply an arbitrary conclusion. The Bible was all written in Palestine; and the locations just mentioned were not named until hundreds of years later. Therefore, it would be exactly proper to use Jerusalem as the correct place for reckoning the time. The moon may have been at the full on the evening that Jesus and the Apostles ate the Passover together for the last time, because the moon is typical of the Jewish nation; and their polity began immediately to wane after they crucified Jesus, and it passed completely out of existence A. D. 70, when the Romans destroyed the temple and either killed or dispersed all Jews from Jerusalem.

It might be well here to explain how the confusion for reckoning this date had its beginning. Innocently enough, the Christians under the Apostles began to assem­ble on the first day of the week to break bread and fellowship together in memory of the resurrection of Jesus on the first day of the week. This eventually made a dis­tinct cleavage between Jew and Gentile on the Sabbath. Thus, Sunday eventually be­came firmly established as the Christian Sabbath, and some countries even at this time are very rigid in holding to Sunday, although there is no Biblical support for it other than what we have just mentioned. And, as the early Christians were breaking bread together, they in no sense were attempting to commemorate the death of Jesus (the cup is not mentioned on those Sundays); and it is His death that is the crux of the Memo­rial, and not His resurrection.

Along this line, we might digress somewhat, and state that similar confusion has arisen on the date of Jesus’ birth. Nowhere in the Bible are we told to celebrate His birth, although much ado is made over Christmas in Christian countries. The correct date of His birth is the tenth day of the seventh month (Tishri), which corresponds approx­imately to our October 10 ‑ more than two months before December 25. How came this situation to exist? We answer that as the Papal system grew in numbers and influence, and with the “wandering Jew” universally in disrepute, the observance of Christmas on the same date as the Jewish Day of Atonement became decidedly objectionable, so the Papal system produced a cunningly devised fable for December 25 by a reasoning devious and intricate: They began with the premise that the Vernal Equinox is the time for all vegetable life to spring forth, about March 25; therefore, that must be the time the life in Mary’s womb had its animation. And, counting nine months from March 25 we have December 25. Here again was given a blow to Jewish prestige – although there is just noth­ing in the Bible to support the theory.

It will be readily recognized that great respect would accrue to the Jews if we now celebrated the birth of Jesus on the very day when they sit in sackcloth and ashes, fasting and repentant for the sins of the year on the Day of Atonement. Such action would certainly incite much comment and inquiry to determine this phenomenal coincidence – even as it now goes by unnoticed under present arrangements. On this point also there is no command to make special celebration of Jesus’ birthday; in fact, we are not told even to notice it at all, so we have no particular quarrel with those who choose to do so on December 25. As the Manna says, “Upon this day, so generally celebrated, we may properly enough join with all whose hearts are in the attitude of love and appreciation toward God and toward the Saviour.”

How, then, is the date for Good Friday determined? Here again the Papal system produced an arbitrary decision which would always have Good Friday on Friday. Good Friday would be the first Friday after the first full moon after the Spring Equinox, ­with Easter the following Sunday. There is also no Bible support for this; and it not only has the effect of having Good Friday on Friday, but it also tends to sever all relationship between Good Friday and the Passover, so that these two dates are some­times separated by almost a full month. Rarely do they occur on the same date. With this arrangement Easter could come as late as April 23; but it would never be possible for the Passover to come as late as that.

The institution of the Passover as given in Exodus 12 emphatically states that the lamb must be killed and eaten on Nisan 14, and that the “memorial throughout your genera­tions” should be kept on the same date – that Nisan should begin when the moon comes new nearest the Vernal Equinox. This would always make the Passover festival a cere­mony in the Spring, with the Day of Atonement a festival in the Fall. Thus, the Jewish Encyclopedia clearly states that the Passover is a Spring festival.

THE SERVICE

As there was but one Passover in type, so there is but one “Lamb of God” in anti­type. But, just as the Jews were told to keep the Passover each year “as a memorial throughout your generations,” so we are told to observe the feast each year “in remem­brance of Me.” And the service for the occasion is unique; there is no other service like it in Christian ritual throughout the earth. When our Lord gave command that we ob­serve it, He did so in simplicity of speech, and with few words. “He took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is My body which is given for you: THIS DO in remembrance of Me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, this cup is the New Testament in My blood, which is shed for you.” (Luke 22:19,20) Yet, upon these two forthright and uncomplicated sentences great rituals have been erected by the various sects of Christendom – some more, some less, so there are now about 200 different ideas of when, how and why the service should be conducted. Fundamentally, no more would be required of us than our Lord’s statement; although it is cer­tainly in keeping with decorum and orderly procedure that a preparatory foundation be laid for partaking of the bread and the wine by reading and explaining the various ele­ments involved when more than one person keeps the feast. However, it is equally good decorum and orderly procedure that we avoid the pompous play upon words and “stage” performance, which is to be found in some quarters.

The solemnity of the occasion should be stressed, however, that all be done “de­cently and in order” – not shabbily, nonchalantly, as of some “common thing.” It is commendable that the Christian world overemphasize the feast with impressive service, and sedate and select speech, rather than by the other extreme of no propriety at all. The Roman Catholic system requires each participant to attend “confession” – usually the previous afternoon or evening before receiving the emblems; and, until recently, nothing was to be eaten or drunk on the morning of the service. While this in itself stresses the great regard the system attempts to display for the service, it also over­awes those present in a manner never intended by Jesus when He instituted it.

Here we need not discuss the errors that have been superimposed over the centuries by such nicety of display and demand, as that feature has been well set forth by both Messengers. Blessed are we if we may arrive at that balance of mind and heart that does not overdo or under-do the service – greatness in simplicity, inspiration in solem­nity, uplift and virtue in a “good and honest” participation.

GENERALITIES

They who approach the service as aforementioned are they of whom St. Paul writes – they who judge themselves that they be not judged and chastened of the Lord (1 Cor. 11:31) – the fully faithful in whatever Elect Class they may abide. Such are “more than conquerors,” (Rom 8:37) “buried with Him,” (Rom. 6:4) “dead unto sin, but alive toward God.” (Rom. 6:11) To such obedient and watchful, as “little children,” the promise is sure, “I will guide thee with mine eye.” (Psa. 32:8) “Thou shalt guide me with Thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.” (Psa. 73:24) And to these the promise is sure, “No good thing will He with­hold from them that walk uprightly.” (Psa. 84:11) Strengthened by such assurances, each worthy participant may confidently review the year past and anticipate the year ahead “in newness of life.”

Quite often, immediately before or after doing this “in remembrance,” the Fully Faithful are made specially mindful, through having to drink of His cup, that the bread and the wine carry weighty implications for them. As our Lord “poured out His soul un­to death, and was numbered with the transgressors,” so have His faithful followers done during the Age. “I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand” (2 Tim. 4:6), wrote St. Paul to his “son” Timothy; and the Diaglott makes this even more emphatic, “I am already being poured out, and the time of my dissolution has come near.” Thus, this “good soldier” realized with full clarity and calm anticipation that his own life would soon be “poured out” – when the Roman executioner would chop off his head, just as one might pour water from a pitcher – as he drank to the full that “cup” which the Lord had given him. And in this we find not the slightest evidence of whin­ing or reviling of his persecutors – no scheming to escape. “Theirs not to make reply; theirs not to question why; theirs but to do and die.” And having reached that grand pinnacle of victory, he could say with all confidence, “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day.” (2 Tim. 4:8)

“CONSIDER HIM”

In all of this, particularly at this Memorial season, the words of St. Paul are most timely: “Consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds... faint not when thou art rebuked of Him.” (Heb. 12:3,5) In that eloquent and touching discourse which He gave His disciples on the same night in which He instituted the Memorial of His death, He had said among other things, “They hated Me without a cause.” (John 15:25) And let us never forget that “they” who thus hated Him were the so‑called “good people” of that day – those who claimed to be longing for the appearance of their Messiah – Him whom they hated “with­out a cause” when “He came to His own,” but His own received Him not. “He [the Jewish High Priest Caiphas] that delivered Me unto thee hath the greater sin.” (John 19:11) And be it remembered that He whose speech was “full of grace and truth,” so that never man spake like this man, said exactly the right thing, in the right place and at the right time; so that there was in truth no cause for any to hate Him. Yet, hate Him they did, as He wept over their undone hypocritical condition.

And in all this “He left us an example that we should follow in His steps,” (1 Pet. 2:21), bearing ever in mind that it is often the Measurably Faithful who add to the af­flictions of the righteous – “your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for My name’s sake.” (Isa. 66:5) Concerning such the Scriptures exhort us: “Let not thine heart envy sinners, but be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long.” (Prov. 23:17)

THE BREAD — THE CUP

The institution of the “Lord’s Supper” is succinctly stated in Matt. 26:26‑28, in Mark 14:22‑24, and in Luke 22:19,20, the first of which verses we now quote: “As they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disci­ples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, drink ye all of it; for this is my blood of the new testa­ment, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”

The meaning of no other Biblical words have caused more and sharper con­troversies than those quoted above. As on all other Scriptural doctrines, so on this, Satan has produced cunning error from one extreme to the other. The Ro­man Catholic Church is among the foremost of such perverters in its creation of the Mass, the basis of which is transubstantiation, the performance of which by the offi­ciating priest supposedly actually turns the bread and the wine into the body and blood of Jesus.

Although there are about 200 different views on various features of the Lord’s Sup­per, broadly speaking, there are two general views on the meaning of the words, “This is my body – this is my blood”: (1) that group of views that teach the real presence of the body and blood of Jesus in the Supper; and (2) that group which teach the rep­resentative meaning of the bread and wine. The Roman Catholic Church has had some of the ablest minds of the Age in their organization; and they have presented very inge­nious arguments in their support of the Mass and transubstantiation.

As most of our readers know, we ourselves do not believe that there is any real presence of the body and blood of Christ; but we regard them as representations of those items. Let us take a brief look at both views: Those who accept the Mass con­tend that the actual presence of Christ is contained in the bread and the wine; in fact, they contend that the emblems are no longer bread and wine at all. The Roman Church concedes however, that the bread and the wine retain what they term “the accidents” – the appearance, form, taste, color, weight, etc., of bread and wine after the supposed transubstantiation; but, say they, the elements actually lose the essence of bread and wine, and take on the essence of the body and blood of Christ. The body and blood of Christ, so created, the priest proceeds in the Mass to sacrifice afresh for the sins of the living and the dead. Thus we have the basic relation of transubstantiation to the Mass. Against this view we offer the following refutation:

The Romanist view implies a change in the words of Jesus, which means the language should read, if their view is correct, “This has been changed into my body; this has been changed into my blood.” The fact that they must make a change in the wording to make their view acceptable is in itself an admission of error.

Further, the Bible contradicts their view. If they are correct, it would then be wrong, after the consecration of the elements, to speak of partaking of bread and wine, as the Bible does. They should then speak of partaking of the body and blood of Christ. But the Bible five times calls one of the elements bread after its consecration and dur­ing its eating (1 Cor. 10:16,17; 11:26‑28); and in all of these passages, except the second, using the familiar figure of the container for the thing contained, it calls the other element “the cup”; and elsewhere defines the contents of the cup, after its con­secration and during its drinking, as the fruit of the vine, i.e., wine (Matt. 26:29; Mark 14:25). Therefore, the Bible, by calling the elements bread and wine after their consecration, and during their appropriation, contradicts the doctrine of transubstanti­ation and proves it to be false.

Again, facts prove that the bread and wine remain bread and wine after the conse­cration of the elements – some of which are as follows: Blood does not make a person drunk, but wine does. Priests in their frequent masses must drink so much wine that they often become drunk. No amount of blood would do this; therefore, it must be wine they drink. Further, chemical analysis will demonstrate that there are exactly the same amount and same proportion of certain chemical elements in a given amount of bread after consecration as there were before; while the same amount, proportion and kinds of chemical elements will not be found in a human body. The chemical analysis of the wine proves the same thing. Hence these facts prove that there has been no change in the substance of the bread and wine after consecration by the priest.

OTHER ERRORS

Somewhat akin to the transubstantiation error is the one held by some Oriental Christian sects, which hold to the view of consubstantiation – a mingling of the bread and body and the wine and blood. The Lutheran Church and some Episcopalians teach what may be defined as instrumentalization, although they do not use that exact word. Their idea is that by means of the bread and wine – which they believe remain bread and wine throughout the service – the actual body and blood of Jesus are administered to the communicant. Thus it will be seen that all three of these views have the mutual error of “real presence.” Therefore, the following applies equally against all of them:

The Bible account of the original supper the night before Jesus died proves that He did not pass His actual blood, because His blood was yet in His veins, so it could not be in the cup which He offered the disciples. The same applies to the bread. When He blessed it and said, “This is My body,” He was not yet dead; His body was intact. He did not go around the table and put Himself into the hand of each dis­ciple; rather, He remained reclining on the couch, with the Apostle John reclining in His bosom. Thus, the disciples did not handle His body and blood, for all of them re­mained in their respective places about the table. Therefore, it is very clear that they did not receive His actual body and blood.

There is not the slightest suggestion in the entire ceremony that night that any of the disciples or Jesus thought there was an actual giving of His body and blood to them. Had they entertained such a thought we may be sure that some of them, especially Peter, would have presented questions to be answered before they could have intelli­gently participated in the service. Hence the conclusion is unavoidable that in the original Lord’s Supper Jesus did not give His actual body and blood to the Apostles to eat and drink. Therefore, it properly follows that this was not done in any of the sub­sequent observances ‑ only what was given them that night did they receive in the years that followed. And to claim that they did receive actual body and blood in later years implies that they are not the same as the original; they are not the Lord’s Supper at all.

These three views of the “real presence” contradict certain Scriptural doctrines, especially the central doctrine of the Ransom. “The Son of Man came not to be minis­tered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Matt. 20:28; Mark 10:45; 1 Tim. 2:6) The doctrine of the “real presence” would imply that Jesus had taken back His body and blood (His humanity), thus voiding the ransom price. Also, these doctrines of the real presence dispute our Lord’s resurrection as a spirit being (1 Cor. 15:45‑49; 2 Cor. 3:17; 1 Pet. 3:18), for they imply He arose a human being. Since the ransom is the hub – the central foundation – of the great Plan of the Ages, that great Plan would be nullified by elimination of the Ransom. Hence the idea of real presence is rank error.

Belief in the real presence contains other unscriptural implications. First, it places Jesus’ body and blood in many places at the same time – every place on earth where the Mass, etc., are performed at the same time of day. Wherever the Lord’s Sup­per would be observed the actual body and blood of Jesus would necessarily have to be present. This is self‑evident impossibility. Also, this doctrine implies that Jesus has millions of bodies and rivers of blood; for, according to it, each communicant re­ceives the complete body of Jesus and some of His blood. Thus, billions have received them, millions of them at the same time, implying that Jesus had millions of bodies and rivers of blood. Hence the “real presence” is self‑evident absurdity.

The doctrine of the real presence is contrary to facts. Not one fact in connec­tion with the original supper or its subsequent celebrations implies it; but all the facts connected with them contradict it. Also, it is contrary to reason: There is nothing reasonable about it; there is nothing reasonable that favors it; reason must be suspended to believe it. It therefore belongs to the “mystery of iniquity” (2 Thes. 2:7), not to the mystery of God; and is a counterfeit.

Further, it contradicts our five senses, especially in transubstantiation and con­substantiation. And, since these five senses were given us to help us ascertain cer­tain facts (Isa. 1:18; Luke 24:39,40), the “real presence” must be untrue, and should be rejected.

THE UNDERLYING ERROR

All who claim the real presence in the body and the blood base their conclusion, they say, upon a literal acceptance of Jesus’ words; but they fail to recognize that the word “is” – like many other words – has more than one meaning. The verb “to be” has especially two literal meanings: (1) it is the predicate to express actual existence; (2) it is the predicate to express actual representation; but in both cases the meaning is literal. So, if we should say, A dog is an animal, the word “is” would be literal, designating actual existence. And, if we would say of a photograph, This is my father, that statement also would be literal, but meaning actual representation. In both statements “is” may be taken literally.

Therefore, when Jesus said, “This is my body; this is my blood,” He certainly did not mean actual existence; but He meant those things represented His body and blood. The Scriptures are in full agreement with this conclusion; and, when we understand that the Lord’s Supper is the antitype of the annual Passover, we have Biblical proof of the matter. If we keep in mind that there was only one Passover – the one slain in Egypt – with all subsequent ones being symbolic, we can readily see the beauty and symmetry of the antitype. There was but one antitypical Passover Lamb – “Christ our Passover” (1 Cor. 5:7) – with our partaking of the bread and the wine being simply a re­membrance of that one Passover: “This do in remembrance of Me.” (Luke 22:19) The Jews have never been confused in their observance of the annual Passover; they know it is merely “a memorial... throughout your generations.” (Ex. 12:14)

Another emphatic proof that the above is correct is to be found in the statements of Luke 22:20 and 1 Cor. 11:25: “This cup [the wine] is the new testament in my blood.” In these texts the word “is” cannot mean actual existence; for the New Testament is not a cup at all. Therefore, we are forced to conclude that the cup was merely a rep­resentation: “This cup represents the new testament in my blood.”

In this connection we do well to consider St. Paul’s explanation of the service as given in 1 Cor. 11:26. Immediately after quoting our Lord’s language in explana­tion of the bread and wine, he relates our participation in it with these words: “For as often as [whenever] ye eat this bread and drink this cup, ye do shew forth the Lord’s death.” The Greek word here translated “shew” means to announce, as for ex­ample, to announce the Lord’s word. (Acts 13:5; 15:36; 1 Cor. 9:14, etc.) Announce­ments are made in two ways – in words and in acts. When we partake of the bread and the wine we do not speak at all; therefore the “announcement” must be in the acts them­selves, in pantomime, which we do in the breaking of the bread and the pouring of the wine – a representation of something else. Since the breaking of the bread and the pouring of the wine “shew forth His death,” they must represent His body and blood.

WHO MAY PARTAKE?

There is also much difference of opinion on who may partake. The Roman Catholic Church is most rigid that one must be a member in good standing; must make confession before partaking, and usually a member of that particular church in which the service is being held. At the other extreme, some sects make no exactions at all. Often do we see the sign before some church: The Lord’s Supper – All welcome. Thus the man in the street may come in and partake if he wishes. We do not subscribe to either of these positions. We take rather St. Paul’s words in 1 Cor. 11:27,28: “Whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. Let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.” We believe this is a most commendable and just requirement. We need not pass judgment upon the person sitting next to us. There are only two rea­sons why we should object to any one partaking: They are gross immorality, or gross doctrinal deflection. Either of these, but only these, are grounds for disfellow­shipping any one. In all other things we may accept St. Paul’s statement: “Let a man examine himself.” This places the responsibility squarely where it belongs – on each individual participant.

WHEN

Much confusion also exists on the proper time for observing the Lord’s Supper. Some churches say once a week on Sunday which, they say, is the way the early church observed it. Others have once a month, or once every three or four months. The Roman Catholic Church says it should be done when any one of their seven sacra­ments is performed. Thus, when people are married in the church, the Mass is always performed. This means it might be used two, three, perhaps four times in one day. And, since they contend that the Mass contains the actual body and blood of Jesus, the participants are forbidden to masticate the wafer; and they do not partake of the wine at all – lest in passing the cup from one to the other something might occur to spill some of it – now actually the “precious blood,” which would be a major calamity. Therefore, the priest drinks the entire goblet of wine himself, which accounts for many of them becoming intoxicated. In fact, the report is current that about ten per cent of the priests in the United States are pretty much alcoholics.

When we remember that the Lord’s Supper is the antitype of the Jewish Passover, then we have no difficulty at all in seeing that the service should be but once each year. “As often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew forth the Lord’s death till He come.” (1 Cor. 11:26) The Lord’s death occurred on a certain day of the year; and it should be “remembered” by the special service but once each year on that particular day. The Lord left no instructions at all for remembering His birthday; but Christendom generally makes no effort to commemorate His birth more than once a year; therefore, it should logically follow that His death, which we are specifical­ly told to remember, should be observed but once each year; and this is our practice.

THE WINE — There is considerable divergence of thought respecting “the cup” also. In the annual commemoration of the Passover the Jews used intoxicating wine of excel­lent quality, beginning with a cup before any food was taken, continuing with two more cups during the meal; then a fourth cup “after supper” (Luke 22:20). This fourth cup was the one the Lord used to establish the Memorial. Most of the Christian churches today, and especially so the Roman Catholic Church, use intoxicating wine of excel­lent quality; but some, being opposed to alcohol in every way, use simply “the fruit of the vine” without fermentation. Should any resent this latter custom, as contrary to what Jesus and the Apostles did, we would say that a teaspoonful of alcoholic wine could be poured into the cup. This should satisfy every one, as there is no Scriptural law on the amount of alcohol the cup should contain.

What has been written herein is in no sense to be taken as a substitute for “The Passover of the New Creation” (Study XI) as found in Parousia Volume Six. Rather, we would urge all our readers to give sober reading to that chapter; and we thus wish all the Lord’s rich blessing in the preparation for and participation in this Memorial on the evening of April 4. “The God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ.” (Heb. 13:20,21)

Sincerely your brother, John J. Hoefle, Pilgrim

(Reprint No. 249, March 1976)

========================

LETTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST

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

This year has gone so fast and I haven’t accomplished nearly as much as I had hoped in the Lord’s work. Retirement is about a year away and I hope to have more time for study and witnessing.

All of the Epiphany articles are profitable for blessing and edification. I especially enjoyed No. 438, November 1, with the recent factual history of the Jewish people’s struggle for peace with the Arabs. How important it is for these facts to be considered before going forth with any kind of peace initiative. Also impressive was Brother Kenneth W. Rawson’s work and ministry to the Jewish people with his audio video presentations. What a joy it is to know that a brother in the Truth is doing such an important work with such success. I will be ordering video tapes of Israel’s Appointment with Destiny from Brother Rawson for distribution to friends.

If you have ten extra copies of No. 438 I would appreciate receiving them. Thank you for your continued support through prayers, papers and letters. We think of you often. May the Lord bless you and yours through this holiday season and the coming year.

With warm Christian love, your Brother in His Name, ------- (CALIFORNIA)

PS — I was so pleased to hear Cousin Melvin Warnock enjoyed his visit with you. I, too, hope to have opportunity to visit with you. After all these years it would be such a blessing to see you and discuss the Lord’s glorious Plan, and what He has in store for those who love Him.

------------------------------------

Dear Brethren of Mount Dora: Greetings in the Lord!

Enclosed is a check to cover cost of mailing and paper of Newsletter which is so informing, and I enjoy them.

We are in the last days of the Harvest and prophecy is fulfilling with changes of governments in Israel and U.S., and others. We are waiting upon the Lord.

Please keep on sending me your Newsletter. Brother Russell was right on chronology. The Lord bless you all and be with you in the work.

Love and prayers, ------- (FLORIDA)

------------------------------------

Dear Sister Emily Hoefle,

I am 83 and a half years old now and my eyes are fading. My right eye is 20/400 and my left eye is 20/200, and I have arthritis in my fingers. So I am writing very briefly. I sure enjoy your literature. Your printing is dark enough for me to read. Everything you write is so true. I’m reliving the same Truth. At the convention I remember Brother Rawson. We must be from the roots of Brother Russell’s teaching and never let go.

Now that there is freedom in Europe all the Bible Students from Brother Russell are coming up. I am reading No. 438 and No. 439. Please keep sending me your precious literature. I am donating for your work. Excuse my handwriting.

May God bless you all for spreading the good news. I have Brother Russell’s six volumes and the volume of his sermons, and all the small booklets to pass around.

Christian love and greetings, ------- (WISCONSIN)

PS — My husband was in the Truth also. He has been gone five years now.

NO. 440B: RETROSPECT AND PROSPECT - PART TWO

No. 440B

THE JEWS

            “Warning! Anti-Semitism Could Be Hazardous To Your Health: ‘It’s a free world; you don’t have to like Jews, but if you don’t, I suggest that you boycott certain Jewish products, like the Wassermann test for syphilis; digitalis, discovered by a Dr. Nuslin; chlorohydrate for convulsions, discovered by Dr. Lifreich; the Schick test for diphtheria; vitamins, discovered by Dr. Funk; streptomycin, discovered by Dr. Z. Woronan; the polio pill by Dr. A. Sabin and the polio vaccine by Dr. Jonas Salk.

            “‘Good! Boycott! Humanitarian consistency requires that my people offer all these gifts to all people of the world. Fanatic consistency requires that all bigots accept syphilis, convulsions, malnutrition, infantile paralysis and tuberculosis as a matter of principle.

            “‘You want to be mad? Be mad! But I’m telling you, you ain’t going to feel so good.’ Shortly after that item ran, I received this one, which I also published:

            “Your recent column, in which you quoted the late, beloved Sam Levenson, contained an error.

            “In listing some outstanding contributions to medical science made by Jews, Levenson credited a Dr. Z. Woronan with the discovery of streptomycin.

            “Abby, I hope the Nobel Committee in Sweden doesn’t hear about this, because in 1952, they awarded the Nobel Prize for medicine to Dr. Selman Abraham Waksman of Rutgers University for discovering streptomycin!

            “However, Dr. Waksman belongs on that list because he, too, was Jewish.” Arthur Isbit, Ph.D., Chula Vista, CA (Dear Abby column, Orlando Sentinel, September 23, 1992)

            “The Time Of Jacob’s Trouble: Israel’s rebirth as a nation and continued survival are proof positive of the literal fulfillment of God’s Word. And almost every day we are reminded in either the print or electronic media of Israel’s role in the world as a nation.

            “But Jeremiah had more to say, ‘Now these are the words which the LORD spoke concerning Israel and Judah. For thus says the LORD: We have heard a voice trembling, of fear and not of peace. Ask now, and see, whether a man is ever in labour with child? So why do I see every man with his hands on his loins like a woman in labour, and all faces turned pale? Alas! For that day is great, so that none is like it; it is the time of Jacob’s trouble, but he shall be saved out of it.’ (30:4-7)

            “Bible scholars link the ‘time of Jacob’s trouble’ with the end-time ‘Great Tribulation’ which concludes this present age with the battle of Armageddon.” (The Vineyard, July 1992)

            “The Judgment Of The Nations: The world is moving towards a day of judgment. Scripture calls this ‘The Day of the Lord’ — Joel reveals that this day will befall the world because the nations have constantly sought to disinherit Israel by dividing up her land. Of course they will do this, as they are at present, with all the crafty political rhetoric couched in cliches like ‘justice for all,’ ‘in the interest of peace’ and ‘a just solution.’

            “In reality the United States of America and the International Community have sealed themselves under the wrath of God. Time will prove this to be true. Israel is not just another nation upon the face of the globe. No, she is God’s light nation. That is — the means by which He brings His revelation and truth to the world. To tamper with Israel is thus to challenge God, and this the nations are now doing in their arrogance.” (Christian Action for Israel, Newsletter, Third Quarter 1992)

            The world is already judged. The ejection is now going on. The people are God’s Great Army. The people are rising up against their governments, asking for justice. Our Lord hath a controversy with the nations (Jer. 25:31). The nations of the earth “shall be removed like a cottage, and shall not rise again” (Isa. 24:20). But Israel will rise, and never fall again. “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.” (Isa. 60:1,3)

IN THE WORDS OF THE PRESIDENTS

            Warren G. Harding: It is impossible for one who has studied at all services of the Hebrew people to avoid the faith that they will one day be restored to their historic national home and there enter on a new and yet greater phase of their contribution to the advance of humanity.

            Calvin Coolidge: I am glad... to express again my sympathy with the deep and intense longing which finds such fine expression in the Jewish National Homeland in Palestine. (p. 12)

            Herbert Hoover: Palestine which, desolate for centuries, is now renewing its youth and vitality through enthusiasm, hard work, and self-sacrifice of the Jewish pioneers who toil there in a spirit of peace and social justice.

            Harry S. Truman: I had faith in Israel before it was established, I have faith in it now. I believe it has a glorious future before it – not just another sovereign nation, but an embodiment of the great ideals of our civilization. [Winston Churchill once said to Harry Truman: You, more than any other man, have saved Western Civilization.]

            John F. Kennedy: This nation, from the time of President Woodrow Wilson, has established and continued a tradition of friendship with Israel because we are committed to all free societies that seek a path to peace and honor individual right. In the prophetic spirit of Zionism all free men today look to a better world and in the experience of Zionism we know that it takes courage and perseverance and dedication to achieve it. (p. 13)

            Lyndon B. Johnson: The United States and Israel share many common objectives ...chief of which is the building of a better world, a world in which every nation can develop its resources and develop them in freedom and peace.

            Gerald Ford: My commitment to the security and future of Israel is based upon basic morality as well as enlightened self-interest. Our role in supporting Israel honors our own heritage.

            Richard M. Nixon: The United States stands by its friends. Israel is one of its friends. (p. 14)

            Jimmy Carter: All of you here know the importance of this country (Israel) to us. Strategically, they mean a great deal to the security of our nation and to the stability in the Middle East. They are our friends in the best sense of the word.

            Ronald Reagon: Since the rebirth of the State of Israel, there has been an ironclad bond between that democracy and this one.

            George Bush: For more than 40 years, the United States and Israel have enjoyed a friendship built on mutual respect and commitment to democratic principles. Our continuing search for peace in the Middle East begins with a recognition that the ties uniting our two countries can never be broken. (p. 15)

            James G. McDonald, the first American Ambassador to Israel, saw the absorption of immigrants as a fulfillment of Biblical prophecy: “I will bring thy seed from the East and gather thee from the West. I will say to the North, give up and to the South, keep not back; bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the end of the earth.” (Isa. 43:5,6) (p. 18) (Quotations from the book, THE BIRTH OF TWO NATIONS)

            Many Jews and Christians are looking forward to see the Messiah and His “little flock” come in the flesh in the Kingdom. But our Lord is immortal now and will be manifested by His great power and Glory, just as God manifests Himself in His great power and Glory. “Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.” (John 14:19,20) “Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Cor. 4:4). The Diaglott gives it, “the likeness of God.”

BUSH-CLINTON – A MODERN SAUL-DAVID

            Having followed the tumultuous U.S. elections with keenest interest, delegates here at the UN – many of whom were interviewed by this writer — seemed not too surprised at the outcome, not because of the many polls which showed President Bush far behind, but mainly due to his low-style demeanor during the campaign. This, they felt had made him unfit to be the head of a superpower. Many of them thought that Mr. Bush had over-reached himself in personal attacks against Bill Clinton.

            However, putting politics aside, in the view of your correspondent, the main reason for the President’s defeat may be found in a Biblical analogy – the rejection of the cocky Saul, the reigning King of Israel, in favor of a little-known simple shepherd, namely, David, the unpopular son among the seven sons of the Bethlehem­ite Jesse, hated and despised by his brethren.

            This is something to ponder. It raises the question: does Providence play a role in the rise and fall of kings and rulers of nations and empires? Who would dare deny this? The writer firmly believes He does – and so should church-going George Bush – especially if we take into consideration ancient history as recorded in the world’s greatest and most accurate history book, the Bible, in its original.

            Let’s take the case of King Cyrus of ancient Persia, who played such a vital role in facilitating the second return of the Israelites to their ancient homeland, of which we have a modern analogy in President Truman’s prophetic recognition of modern Israel’s third and final return in 1948 – an act which stunned the world.

            The Bible records scores of other happenings which, in their significance, defy mortal comprehension. (The case of Cyrus – let his modern descendants, the Iranians, be put to shame – is recorded by the great prophet Isaiah in chapter 45, where he is designated as an anointed – a Messiah.)

            Also, let us not forget Israel’s miraculous victory in 1948. How did they do it in the face of the overwhelming odds against them? And 1967 – the Six-Day war; 1973 – the Yom Kippur War? Was all this due to the power of mortal man? Many Israelis themselves don’t believe it. A Higher Hand was at work, as there was a Higher Hand here at the UN in November 1947 when the decision to vote Israel into statehood – against all odds – was adopted by a slim margin of 33 for, 13 against with 10 abstentions. This writer was there and witnessed this miracle. The number “33” contains much symbolism for the Jewish people. It contains in Hebrew, the two numbers embracing YHVH (26) and the Biblical “seven.”

            Let us further recall the story of Esther and Mordecai – how the Jewish people were saved from annihilation by the Hitler of that day, Haman. To this day, Jews worldwide celebrate Purim to commemorate the event. Then we have the miraculous event of the Maccabean victory over the Romans, also commemorated in the joyous holiday of Channuka, this year, falling in the third week of December.

            Why did Hashem, the G-d of Israel, Who is today as He always was the same – reject the modern “Saul” for the little-known “David” and decided to cast his vote against Saul? History has shown all through the ages, that kings and rulers who aimed at the destruction of the People of the Book suffered the consequences of their actions. It never failed.

            Now, let’s take a look at the plain facts in the case of the American Saul:

            1. At the Republican Convention, all the speakers, including Buchanan and Pat Robertson, as well as the President himself, boasted over the fact that “G-d is with us” implying that He was not with the Democrats. Chutzpah!

            2. As for the loan guarantee, the President used it as a political football game with the Israelis, promising and then reneging. After having helped Labor to regain the government, his promise on the loan guarantee held certain conditions. Hashem did not like his “yes-and no” game in reference to the freezing of the settlements. Poor Yitzchak Rabin. Bush placed him in a dilemma.

            3. Mr. Bush approved weapons to Israel’s enemies.

            4. He views Jerusalem as “occupied territory...” To sum up, he has violated the Biblical injunctions and fought the will of the G-d he worships and, herein, your correspondent holds, we have reason for his rejection.

            Change? Yes! The UN now awaits a new Clinton-Gore-appointed Ambassador. (By David Horowitz — The Jewish Press, November 20, 1992)

            “Editor’s Comment: The time will surely have to come when Israel will trust God more fully for her needs. Whatever we may say about the loan guarantees one thing is sure — the United States government used them as a means to manipulate Israel. This is the price Israel will keep on having to pay if she cannot trust God to give her what she needs! It is a bad place to be in. God is waiting for Israel to trust Him.

            “‘Therefore the Lord will wait, that He may be gracious to you; and therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for Him.’ (Isa. 30:18)” (Christian Action for Israel, Newsletter, Third Quarter 1992)

            Jews Must Remain Jews To Be Saved: Unfortunately, the theology of many Christian churches refuses to recognize the eternal destiny of the Jewish people, in which the covenant dealings of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob with the people of Israel are separate and distinct from His dealing with Christians. Consequently, most Christians believe that eternal damnation will be the lot of every Jew who does not become a Christian.

            Since 1948 most evangelical and fundamental Christians believe that the rebirth of the nation of Israel portends the imminent return of Jesus.

            Missionary activities specifically targeting the Jewish people have reached a frenzied pitch throughout the world.

            “Time is of the essence!” the missionaries say. “Every Jew must hear about Jesus.” They believe that those who don’t accept Jesus (the vast majority) will be damned eternally according to the popular “Second-Advent/Battle of Armageddon” scenario.

            These unfortunate large-scale missionary efforts have not yet invaded Israel; but Israel’s Anti-Missionary Law is too weak to be credited with preventing them. The rapid growth of messianic synagogues — whose congregants believe that Jesus is the messiah is proof of the law’s weakness.

            The evangelicals are playing a waiting game. According to them, Jesus cannot return until certain events occur in Israel. Jews returning to Israel within its historic boundaries is one cardinal sign.

            Evangelicals are therefore donating heavily to Zionist projects in order to hasten the time (according to their concept) of the “return of Jesus.” They are also hoping to ingratiate themselves with the Jewish people — while not openly proselytizing. Once Israel reaches a certain prophetic point of development, it will be inundated with Christian missionaries.

            In order to counter the covert missionary work of the present and the anticipated invasion of the future, Israel’s Anti-Missionary Law must be supplemented by the positive approach. Our message to the people of Israel is the same as that given nearly a century ago by Pastor Charles Taze Russell, founder of the Bible Students, a world-wide Christian group.

            That message is reflected in a quote from his pen: “A voice is sounding from the wilderness, and Jews everywhere are hearkening to it. It does not call them to become Christians, but to remain Jews and to realize as Jews the ideal set before them by the Lord in the Law and by the Prophets” (from Comfort to the Jews).

            We have worked with synagogues and other Jewish organizations throughout the U.S. From experience, we have seen that the Jewish people will listen more readily to this message from a Christian than from their fellow Jews. We are honored and very glad to serve the children of Abraham in this vision of their faith.

(Pastor Rawson, a veteran minister from Edison, NJ, actively combats anti-Semitism.)

(Jerusalem Post, November 21, 1992)

========================

            Many thanks and much appreciation for the beautiful Christmas cards received, with special thanks for the love and prayers expressed — which we heartily reciprocate. We wish all our readers a prosperous and Blessed New Year.

ANNOUNCEMENT: The date of our Memorial is April 4, 1993, after six p.m.

=======

NO. 440A: RETROSPECT AND PROSPECT - PART ONE

No. 440A

In the beginning of another year, we praise the Lord and thank God for all His benefits toward us. In the words of David we say: “I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” (Psa. 34:1) We continue to pray for Thy will to be done in earth as it is in heaven. “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for he is faithful that promised.” (Heb. 10:23) In His Kingdom (Acts 17:31), “Then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve him with one consent.” (Zeph. 3:9)

            The disastrous calamity of Hurricane Andrew caused the loss of many homes and much sorrow and heartache to its victims. However, such calamities bring out the best in people. Many good people have gone to their aid with food and medical supplies. “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.” (Prov. 15:3) “Verily there is a reward for the righteous: verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth.” (Psa. 58:11)

            “Typhoon Gay Wreaks Havoc In Majuro, Marshall Islands: nearly 5,000 people lost their homes, and a third of the territory was declared a disaster area after the typhoon struck the northern Marshalls on Friday.” (Orlando Sentinel, November 24, 1992)

            “A Calamitous Plague On All Our Houses: Nicaragua’s Lethal Tsunamis are the latest disaster to Hit the Planet. ‘Natural’ is not a word that links logically with ‘disaster.’ But together the words emphasize how little control humans have over the events they describe. Almost without pause, nature lately has shattered, crushed and flooded the earth with a series of cataclysms that have killed hundreds, caused incalculable damage and left survivors shaken.

            “On the same day in mid-August, a volcano erupted in Alaska, an earthquake hit near Alaska’s Andrean off Islands and another rocked Kyrgyzstan in the former Soviet Union. Two weeks ago Hurricane Andrew hit the Bahamas, then ripped through Florida and Louisiana. Last week the chain of disasters continued. Tropical Storm Polly drenched China and killed as least 150 people. Typhoon Omar, which had earlier raked Guam, headed for the Philippines. In Afghanistan flash floods swept through the valleys of the Hindu Kush, leaving hundreds dead or missing.

            “Probably the most spectacular of the week’s calamities began with a major earthquake under the Pacific Ocean 30 miles off the west coast of Nicaragua. The temblor spawned tsunamis, commonly known as tidal waves, that towered as high as 45 ft. in spots and rolled over dozens of small towns along 200 miles of coast. Surging inland the waves crushed houses and hotels and swept people out to sea. Nicaraguan civil defense officials said 116 were killed and 150 missing.

            “Managua called urgently for international assistance, and several countries, including the U.S., responded with money and supplies. President Violetta Chamorro also asked Washington to resume its assistance program, which was abruptly cut off last spring to underline U.S. displeasure over the continuing political influence of leftist Sandinstas.” (Time Magazine, September 14, 1992)

            Calamities have besieged the human family many times in the past, as well as have wars, crime and disease, but they haven’t been so far reaching as they are today. “For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines and pestilence, and earthquakes, in divers places.” (Matt. 24:7) However, Daniel 12:1 describes the Time of Trouble we will have before Messiah’s Kingdom is inaugurated. Also, Matt. 24:21 describes this same trouble as great tribulation: “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” We thank God for this last clause. We believe this phase of the trouble refers to worldwide anarchy which is the last phase of the trouble, and probably will be short as verse 22 indicates.

            Calamities increase and crime and diseases escalate despite the good efforts of our faithful officers and the search by medical science to find cures for diseases.

            “If The Lira Collapses, Italy Could Follow Suit: As the lira slumped against the all-powerful German mark early this month, wild rumors sped around several Italian cities that the government would freeze bank deposits. Not only were some banks in central Rome besieged by worried depositors but also two small branches inside the Italian Parliament could barely keep up with an unprecedented wave of withdrawals. ‘If they are panicking in Parliament,’ says one Roman, ‘we’re really in the mud.’

            “From London to Lisbon, all Europeans are facing uncertain times as the rosy vision of a prosperous European union has been put on hold. But no place is more uncertain than Italy, where a 54-year-old Columbia University Law School grad named Giuliano Amato is fighting a desperate battle as Prime Minister to keep a battered economy from flying apart. Industrial production is plummeting, while business confidence is at a 15-year low. By Amato’s own admission, Italy is passing through its most dangerous political and economic turbulence since World War II. ‘If I fail now,’ he told BUSINESS WEEK in an interview on October 6, ‘I do not know what will happen to my country.’ [“Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven (present ruling powers, civil and ecclesiastical) shall be shaken.”—Luke 21:26]

            “Italy’s deep crisis is also becoming a big problem for the rest of Europe. The depressed lira, which floated free of other European currencies last month, is a frontal blow to French and German companies that compete head-on with such Italian giants as Fiat, Olivetti, and Benetton. In less than two weeks, for example, Fiat has gained a potential 25% price advantage over arch-rival Volkswagen. And the price for correcting that differential is going to be high: On October 2, Amato asked the European Community for up to $15 billion in standby loan guarantees to help the lira.

            “Crucial Time: If Amato fails, the lira could collapse — and the rest of Italy along with it. In the rich industrial heartland of Northern Italy, threats of a tax revolt are already spreading as voters flock in droves to the Leghe, regional parties that advocate radically reducing, even severing, political and economic ties with Rome. In local elections in Mantua in early October, two Leghe parties walked away with a stunning 42% of the vote. ‘The very unity of Italy risks being destroyed,’ warns Giovanni Spadolini, president of the Italian Senate and a former Prime Minister.

            “Can Amato begin to restore confidence? The next few weeks will be crucial. His strategy hinges on getting quick Parliamentary approval for a tough 1993 budget and a series of structural spending cuts that are unprecedented in postwar Italian history. For example, he has moved swiftly to cut to the bone some of Europe’s most generous pension and health schemes. Despite such efforts, next year’s budget deficit will be around $130 billion at the least — some 10% of gross domestic product.

            “Kickbacks: Amato has a couple of aces up his sleeve. Although Italy’s traditional ruling parties bristle at his attempt to restrain pork-barrel spending, they fear new elections even more. Voters are primed to make a clean sweep. The parties are reeling from snowballing corruption investigations that have thrown scores of politicians and businessmen into jail this year. Almost every day brings fresh arrests. Most recently, 8 of the 12 members of the regional government in Abruzzi were jailed on charges of receiving kickbacks on $310 million in aid from the EC.

            “The threat from organized labor is less than it seems. Italy’s unions, which helped bring Italian industry to its knees in the 1970s, are now weak and divided. Public workers did stage a walkout on October 2, and the three largest union confederations are calling for a nationwide general strike on October 13, but turnout is likely to be low. With unemployment at 11%, hanging on to a job is now more important than making a political point. ‘With the recession, I have to recognize that Fiat is vulnerable,’ says Luigi Mazzone, an official of FIOM, Italy’s metalworkers’ union. Fiat, Italy’s largest private employer, will temporarily lay off 31,000 workers next month.

            “‘It’s hard to be optimistic, but you can’t exclude the possibility that Amato will make it,’ says Stefano Micossi, chief economist at Confindustria, the employers’ federation. Business is starting to rally around Amato. The slump in the lira’s value will fuel inflation, but industrial production in the north could pick up thanks to increased exports. ‘Add to that the possibility that the Germans won’t be able to stick to these high interest rates,’ says Micossi, ‘and I can see a strong psychological shift.’ But before it’s over, Amato may need some even stronger medicine to cure Italy.

            “A Talk With Prime Minister Amato: What happens if you fail and your government collapses? Answer: If I fail, I really don’t know what happens to this country, to the confidence it needs in itself and to the confidence we need to restore with international financial markets. If I fail – not because it’s me, because it could be anybody else — it would be a very difficult blow for the country to sustain. And it would be a blow for Europe as a whole, because Europe needs Italy.” (By John Rossant in Rome — Business Week, October 19, 1992, pp. 49,50)

IN FINANCE

            At the present writing, December 4, 1992, there is a flurry of pre-Christmas buying. In our recent election, the big campaign issue by all parties was for change. With Bill Clinton’s election many are now optimistically looking for a change from our “recession” to prosperous times. But our basic problems are still with us. We are in deep trouble in our country and also the whole world in all phases of society – financial, political, religious, military, social, moral, legal, etc. From a Swiss news-letter we read: “The crucial problems will still be there after the election.” The U.S. federal debt soaring was caused by government spending gone wild. Below are several shocking forecasts from a prominent newsletter:

            1. While the eyes of the world have focused on Russia and Yugoslavia, new explosive rumblings have been building up throughout the Middle East. Tension in the Middle East is building to a crescendo... The ultimate aim of Islam is the destruction of Israel.

            2. Intelligence sources from China and Libya report that radical Islamic factions backed by China intend to impose a strategic raw material blockade on the West in alliance with the South African ANC – once the ANC is installed as the government of South Africa.

            3. Intelligence sources reports an increasing rise in nationalism in Europe... Many of Europe’s boundaries have been drawn arbitrarily by the imperial warlords, and now the price has to be paid. The 1990s will be a decade of rebellion.

            4. With the collapse of Soviet Communism, it is now Europe vs. America. The new anti-American alliance is forming. Information from sources in Paris, Rome, London, Zurich and Moscow has revealed an astonishing new European alliance that could destroy America economically and its potential dominance.

            As we move further into the Time of Trouble, conditions will get worse, with occasional minor upturns before the long sought relief of the Kingdom under Jesus Christ – “Thy Kingdom Come.” We expect worldwide revolution to increase in magnitude, leading into Anarchy and the final phase of Jacob’s trouble, until the still small voice says, “Peace Be Still.” Our continued advice is “Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord’s anger.” (Zeph. 2:3) (Contributed)

            1992 has certainly been a year of changes. Communism fell apart this year. We saw the system of government of one of the world powers, the Soviet Union, collapse. The President of the United States was defeated for re-election, and one year prior he had been rated as doing the best job of any President in recent years. For the first time in many decades, the world is facing a recession. Gold is at an all time low.

            The United States will have a new president in 1993, who has made a lot of promises that will be difficult to keep. 1993 should be a low inflationary year. Interest rates will probably move up 1/2% to 1% depending on what new tax laws are enacted by our new President.

            The United States’ economy affects many other countries in the world. With the collapse of the Soviet Union the United States is curtailing defense spending; and this has created unemployment, which affects all businesses.

            President Clinton is planning to reduce the Federal budget deficit by 50% over four years; but Federal spending programs, known as entitlements, account for more than one-half of all Federal spending; and they are growing faster than the inflation rate of 3.2%. The largest entitlement program, Social Security, has a budget of 302 billion dollars and is larger than our defense budget in 1992. 1993 will be an interesting year for all companies and countries.

IN RELIGION

            Jehovah’s Witnesses: The Witnesses continue to preach “fear” of annihilation in Armageddon to gain more members. They need more members to replace the members that are leaving the Society. They change their doctrines to suit their needs, such as the Great Crowd will live through to the Kingdom. When so many of their faithful devotees died like the rest of the human family, it became necessary to change that teaching, as well as other teachings that time revealed to be false. They are like the chameleon changing its colors.

            There are more systems of error today than there has ever been. People are so confused they don’t know what to believe. The Witnesses have many confused members. “Let us reason together, saith the Lord.” (Isa. 1:18) In Christ’s Kingdom the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord (Isa. 11:9); and the “inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.” (Isa. 26:9) People are learning unrighteousness more than righteousness in this “evil day” (Eph. 6:13), yet the Witnesses claim to be God’s Kingdom and are separating the Sheep and Goats of this present world. God “will have all men [which include the Jehovah’s Witnesses] to be saved [from the Adamic Death], and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Tim. 2:4) The Witnesses teach Christ’s Kingdom in a perverted way. They say their devotees will be the rulers in that Kingdom, but the Remnant tells the Great Crowd what to do now. Since they claim they are to be God’s Kingdom on earth, and are the forerunners of that glorious Kingdom now, they are judging the individuals of this present generation during this Time of Trouble while Satan is still blinding the minds of the people. Knowing that the “god of this world hath blinded the minds of them that believe not” (2 Cor. 4:4), “God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.” (Rom. 11:32) Our Redeemer is full of mercy and compassion, but the Witnesses have no mercy and compassion on the good people who do not join them.

            In the response to the Awake! magazine of September 22, 1992, the Witnesses say it is all right to lie for religious purposes. However, in their Watchtower of December 15, 1992, they say: “Why Be Truthful? Truth is the standard our great Creator has set forth for all. His written Word, the Bible, states at Hebrews 6:18 that ‘it is impossible for God to lie.’ He set a model for us...” (p. 23, col.1) “This truthful God requires us to live by his high standards in order to receive his approval. Revelations 21:8 further says that the portion of ‘all the liars’ is ‘the second death,’ which is eternal destruction. So our accepting God’s view of lying gives us strong reason to speak the truth.” (p. 23, col. 2)

            Of all liars today when Satan is still the “prince of this world” (John 14:30), and continues to “blind the minds of the people” (2 Cor. 4:4), some are lying knowingly and some unwittingly. But all will be resurrected and “come unto the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim. 2:4), as will the Jehovah’s Witnesses.

            While many of the clergy were consigning Brother Russell to eternal torment, he was teaching a blessing for them in the Kingdom. We teach the Kingdom to the world and it will be a panacea to all who have “ears to hear.”

            “Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompense; he will come and save you. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.” (Isa. 35:4,5) “And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” (Isa. 35:10)

            The following are excerpts from a report by an ex-JW — “My response to September 22, 1992 Awake! Magazine, pp. 11-13: I have often encountered claims by various persons that the Watchtower Society is wholly irresponsible and often dishonest when relating accounts that deal with the Society. I was always somewhat skeptical of the extent of this claim until they discussed me and my work in an Awake! article which is deliberately deceptive and misleading. The article begins by stating that ‘Christianity has met with opposition from its inception. In giving instructions to his disciples, Jesus warned: Be on your guard against men; for they will deliver you up to local courts, and they will scourge you in their synagogues. [The Witnesses haven’t been scourged in synagogues nor in churches. However, Pastor Russell was. The Witnesses are seldom mentioned by the clergy in the denominations, contrariwise, the Witnesses “scourge” the Christian organizations many times for their teachings.] Why, you will be hailed before governors and kings for my sake, for a witness to them and the nations.’

            “This is well put, but the Watchtower has grossly misapplied this Scripture. In the custody cases discussed, it is often the Watchtower that is doing the persecuting. Most all of the cases that I have testified in involved a single individual male who is extremely concerned about the welfare of his child or children. In virtually all of them, the Watchtower’s legal staff has been brought in with unlimited resources to fight for the Witness mother against a lone individual, usually a young male in debt with little savings and very limited resources to spend on his case which may cost him $30,000 or more. Even if the Watchtower loses, they have the resources to appeal these cases over and over until they prevail. According to their Duns report, their income in the United States last year [1991], was over a billion dollars. [Money talks in this “evil day.”] As stated in a Canadian appellate court decision by Justice Proudfoot, they often appeal these cases to death. Rarely does the non-Witness have the funds to even put up a half-way defense at the lowest court level.

            “They then falsely claim that ‘A small group of opposers have tried to make religion the key issue in determining child-custody issues when faithful Witnesses of Jehovah are divorced by non-believing mates.’ In virtually all of the cases that I am aware of, the marriage problems were usually caused by the woman becoming a Witness, and in most cases the man did not want a divorce. What he desired was to restore the harmony in his family that existed before the Watchtower entered his life. Thus, it is hardly accurate to state that the Witnesses ‘are divorced by unbelieving mates’ but more accurate to state that the Watchtower intrusion has rendered the marriage asunder, causing a divorce. Further, the problem is not a ‘small group of opposers.’ I have consulted in only about 100 cases or so at most in the past decade, and there are, according to the Watchtower’s own estimates, something like 1,000 or so potential American custody cases each year, and thousands more European cases.

            “The Awake! continues, referencing an Ohio Supreme Court case that stated ‘The eleven-page opinion struck quite a blow to the so-called expert witness, who is actually a disfellowshipped individual claiming to be a psychologist.’ It is difficult to understand why the Society would prefer to deliberately lie here when they could serve their own ends and still be accurate. This paragraph obviously refers to myself, and I am not disfellowshipped, but resigned from the Watchtower on July 20, 1981, by means of a letter sent by registered mail, return receipt requested, which I have, and was dated July 29, 1981, and signed by Paul Maddox of Bethel. The Watchtower Society has this information, yet chooses to lie. Further, the statement ‘claiming to be a psychologist’ is deliberately intended to distort and misrepresent. My background in psychology, as published in my 1992 book on Witness Mental Health, states:

         ‘Dr. Bergman has extensively studied the Jehovah’s Witness faith almost thirty years. He has regularly attended their meetings for almost two decades and has actively involved himself with virtually every phase of the movement. His research on the mental health [and history] of Jehovah’s Witnesses has resulted in a master’s thesis at Bowling Green State University in Ohio, numerous books, articles, book chapters and several papers presented at professional confer­ences. He is now the leading American expert on the psychology of Jehovah’s Witnesses, and has testified in court or was a consultant scores of times as an expert witness on the Jehovah’s Witnesses. A licensed professional clinical counselor, his next publication in this area will be a full length book on the process of doing counseling with the Witnesses.

         ‘The writer has also spent over two decades in research in the area of criminal corrections and psychology. He has also taught psychology, sociology and research methods and techniques at both the undergraduate and graduate levels for over a decade...

         ‘A fellow of the American Scientific Affiliation, his work has been translated into five languages. Dr. Bergman has earned six college degrees, including two masters degrees and two doctorates. He is listed in Who’s Who in the Midwest and in Who’s Who in Science and Religion...

            “The Watchtower then quoted [in the Awake!] the court ruling — which was also grossly inaccurate. This entire section stated:

         ‘One Witness lost custody of her three-year-old son and was restricted from even mentioning religion during periods of visita­tion. The Legal Department of the Watchtower Society appealed this order and lost in the court of appeals. An appeal was then taken to the Ohio State Supreme Court. Happily, on April 15, 1992, the court rules in favor of the liberty of the Witness. The 11-page opinion struck quite a blow to the so-called expert witness, who is actually a disfellowshipped individual claiming to be a psychologist. The court said that he ‘testified, on the basis of a dissertation he had written, that mental illness was more common among Jehovah’s Witnesses than among the general population. This testimony was a blatant attempt to stereotype an entire religion... [T]his one piece of statistical evidence is meaningless.’

            “First of all, one wonders about the wisdom of printing in the Awake! the statement that ‘mental illness was more common among the Jehovah’s Witnesses.’ Millions of Witnesses will read this, and surely many will say to themselves, ‘In my experience this claim is true!’ The Watchtower is letting the cat out of the bag with the admission, and printing it hardly seems in their best interests. Further, the Watchtower is irresponsi­ble at best in printing this statement, one which they must know consists of absolute lies, and they are perpetuating the lies. In this case, Pater versus Pater, I did not testify, as claimed by the court on page 400, on the basis of a dissertation that I wrote because it was not specifically on Witness mental health. I testified on the basis of almost twenty years therapy experience, and my research which involved reviewing approximately 4,000 books, Ph.D. theses and articles which are directly relevant to the Witness belief structure, my experience in working with hundreds of mentally ill Witnesses, and my review of the specific psychological studies which evaluated the mental health of the Witnesses — all of them concluding that it is much higher than the average, as well as my analyzation of the specific Watchtower teachings and authoring over a score of books and articles on the Witnesses. Literally volumes of research exist which show that the Witnesses’ teachings, if adhered to conscientiously as the Watchtower requires, are going to cause emotional problems and some level of maladjustment in a high number of cases. It is generally not difficult to meet the court’s requirement in these cases to show the religious beliefs of the Witnesses will have a specific harmful effect on the child in question, although this requires both exposure and time for the problems to develop. For a three or even six-year-old, this would be rather difficult to show.

            “As to the court’s claim that my testimony stereotypes the Witnesses, it has nothing to do with this concept. The word stereotype is an emotion laden term that means one has judged an entire group by a few cases and implies that I inaccurately described the situation with the Witnesses. They are one of the most homogeneous of all American sects, and their teachings are incredibly consistent throughout the world, partially because of the hierarchal arrangement. All policy in all countries comes from Brooklyn, and must be strictly followed without question in all details. Studies have consistently found – and it is my experience in traveling through Europe and Canada — that an incredible homogeneity in their belief and behavior does exist worldwide. The Witnesses must follow the same rules everywhere, something that the Witnesses actually brag about. It is hardly accurate to state that because the Witnesses teach a doctrine, that enumerating this doctrine or relating the empirical studies which are highly consistent about its effects, is stereotyping.” (Excerpt from the report of Dr. Jerry Bergman, NWT college, Box 246A, Archbold, Ohio 43502)

            The above excerpts are from Dr. Bergman’s report. If any of our readers would like a full report, write to Dr. Bergman and he will be glad to send it to you for a fee of $3.00, which includes postage and Xerox copies.

            “Church Mistaken, Pope Says: Pope John Paul II formally proclaimed yesterday that the Roman Catholic Church erred in condemning the astronomer Galileo for holding that the Earth was not the center of the universe.

            “Galileo’s condemnation resulted from a ‘tragic mutual incomprehension’ and became a symbol for the church’s ‘supposed rejection of scientific progress,’ the pope said in a speech to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences.

            “The speech was the Vatican’s final word on the matter nearly 400 years after Galileo was found guilty of violating church doctrine by contending that the Earth revolved around the sun, and not vise versa. Vatican experts appointed by the pope had studied the case for 13 years.

            “Galileo was forced to recant his beliefs and ordered imprisoned. He died under house arrest, blind but working on his theories to the end.

            “The pope had already admitted church errors in Galileo’s condemnation by the Church.

            “‘Galileo, who practically invented the experimental method, understood why the sun could function as the center of the world,’ the pope told church officials and scholars gathered at the Apostolic Palace.

            “The theologians of the time, in maintaining the ‘centrality of the Earth,’ erred by thinking that the ‘literal sense of sacred Scripture’ explained the physical world.

            “In fact, the pope said, there are two realms of knowledge, ‘one which has its source in Revelation and one which reason can discover by its own power.’ The two realms are distinct but compatible, he said.

            “The president of the Academy of the Lincei in Rome, of which Galileo was a member, said the speech was a long time coming. ‘This is not only about a rehabilitation but about recognition of errors and guilt.’

            “Galileo Gaillel lived from 1564 to 1642. He built the first complete astronomical telescope and used it to gather evidence supporting Copernicus’ theory that the Earth revolves around the sun.

            “The theory already had been denounced in 1616 as dangerous to the faith, and Galileo was warned to stop teaching it. He defied the warning by publishing his Dialogues Concerning the Two Chief World Systems, directed at nonspecialists, in 1632 and was tried a year later as a heretic.

            “He was sentenced to life imprisonment, a penalty later changed to house arrest, where he spent the last eight years of his life.”(Associated Press, November 1, 1992)

            The Catholic Church has made many tragic mistakes, and their victims have been burned at the stake, imprisoned, tortured and banished. The church does this because they believed their popes made no mistakes — were infallible. Not many people believe the pope is infallible today. It seems the popes should have repented of such tragic mistakes and implored God’s forgiveness. Of course, the Catholic Church has some measure of guilt.

            “World Council Urges All Churches To Adopt Creed: Washington — The World Council of Churches, seeking to widen and energize the church unity movement, is asking churches that avoid creeds to adopt one for at least occasional use.

            “In particular, the council is asking non-creedal churches, which include Baptists, to adopt the historic Nicene Creed as a ‘central expression’ of the faith and to incorporate it to some extent into their life.

            “The council is also asking churches that use the Nicene Creed ‘to recognize those now willing to use it as churches in which the apostolic faith is expressed.’

            “The request, expressed in a proposed working paper of the council, is an attempt to draw in churches that have remained on the fringes of the ecumenical movement.

            “The challenge to accept or renew the creed as ‘a focus of the faith grounded in Holy Scripture’ comes at a time when the ecumenical movement and its quest for visible unity confronts new problems and difficulties.

            “‘In certain situations,’ the working paper acknowledges ‘we observe a decrease of ecumenical enthusiasm and commitment to the goal of visible unity.’

            “The Nicene Creed was formulated in 325 at the Council of Nicea and revised in 381 at the Council of Constantinople. Its purpose was to combat a number of heresies. Those considered most serious challenged belief in a trinitarian God by denying either the full godhead of the Holy Spirit or the divinity of Jesus.

            “The creed’s text varies between Eastern Orthodox and Western churches because of so-called ‘flioque clause,’ which says the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father ‘and from the Son.’ The words ‘and from the Son’ added by Western churches, have been rejected for centuries by Orthodox churches.

            “The working paper, known as the Dublin Text, is aimed at the fifth World Conference on Faith and Order, which will convene in Santiago de Composteia, Spain, next August. It has been 30 years since the last such conference, held in Montreal in 1963.

            “Such conferences usually include delegations or observers from churches outside those that are members of the World Council, which includes 322 Protestant and Orthodox groups.

            “The first draft of the Dublin Text, prepared by the World Council’s Faith and Order Commission is currently being circulated among churches for comments. A second draft, incorporating the comments, will be prepared in Stuttgart, Germany, in April.

            “The paper cites a ‘discrepancy’ between agreements achieved by theologians in ecumenical dialogues and the willingness of church leaders to put the agreements into action.

            “It also noted the emergence of new church bodies, especially in Africa, and the continued growth of evangelical and charismatic-pentecostal movements.

            “These churches are often not only non-creedal and outside the ecumenical movement but also sometimes hostile to it. That hostility is at times returned by the mainstream churches.

            “‘Finally, a crisis of authority and different structures of authority also effect ecumenical relations and dialogue,’ the paper said.

            “The 94-paragraph Dublin Text links the concept of koinoia (communion), a central theme of the World Council’s 1991 Canberra assembly, and the Faith and Order Commission’s 10-year study on the apostolic faith. The study urged that all Christian churches strive to carry on the traditions of the ancient church of the Apostles.

            “‘Through our ecumenical dialogues we can all recognize the Ecumenical Creed of Nicea-Constantinople as a central expression of the apostolic faith,’ the paper said.

            “‘But we have also learned to recognize that, in many churches which do not use the Ecumenical Creed, that the same faith is expressed in preaching, worship, sacraments, confessional statements in the life and mission of the church,’ it added.

            “‘Now, at the end of this century, we challenge all churches to find ways to recognize in each other the apostolic faith,’ it said. (By David E. Anderson — SC State Newspaper, September 19, 1992)

            There is only one True Church. God is selecting a people for His Name (Acts 15:14), in and out of all denominations, which comprise the True Church. Their names are written in heaven (Luke 10:20), and not in manmade organizations and churches. However, God approves of any group that teaches the inspired Word, especially witnessing the Kingdom. “Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.” (Acts 17:31)

            It is during this Gospel Age that God is selecting a people for His Name, to witness to the glorious Kingdom, as did Jesus, and it is a panacea for the world, who are not selected (Matt. 4:23).