NO. 446: THE ADAMIC DEATH

No. 446

It is our intention to offer a clear analysis of the Adamic Death; and by way of introduction we would say this death is the one which Adam experienced as a result of his transgression in Eden. God had told him, “In the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” (Gen. 2:17) The marginal comment offers a little help here by say­ing, “dying thou shalt die.”

Different Days – It should first be noted that the word day in the Bible has a number of different meanings: A day of our week – twenty‑four hours; a forty‑year day – “The day of tempta­tion in the wilderness... forty years” (Heb. 3:8,9); a thousand‑­year day – “One day is with the Lord as a thousand years.” (2 Pet. 3:8) “A thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.” (Psa. 90:4) And there are other days which we shall not examine here. Self‑evidently Adam’s day in Gen. 2:17 was not a twenty‑four‑hour day, because he continued to live for 930 years. “Adam lived nine hundred and thirty years; and he died.” (Gen. 5:5) Adam was really not living in the full sense; and this will become clearer if we state it as it really was: “Adam was dying for nine hundred and thirty years; when he finally died.”

However, it should be stressed here that none of us are dying for the same reason that Adam died; Adam died because of his wilful sin against God; the rest of us are dying from the death penalty inherited from him. Whether good or bad, this sentence rests upon all of us, as we can see from the procession to the cemeteries. “By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; so death passed upon all men.” (Rom.5:12) Thus, we are dying because of our inheritance – what was transmitted to us by Adam. None of us asked for it; and none of us can escape it. Before the Flood men lived much longer than they do now, the oldest being Methuselah, 969 years (Gen. 5:27). All thus died within the thousand‑year day. After the Flood men’s lives were much shortened: “The days of our years are threescore years and ten.” (Psa. 90:10) And with much sor­row have we eaten of our bread during those years. Gradually a Messiah began to be revealed through the Prophets; and, when Jesus appeared, this hope was mightily energized, so that much of the civilized world now “looks to Jesus” for escape from our wretched condition – sickness, sorrow, pain and death.

SALVATION

Throughout the Christian world the doctrine of salvation is taught with emphasis; but the meaning of salvation among the various segments of Christendom is a tragedy to be­hold! Some teach that the chosen few are predestinated to salvation (John Calvin and his adherents); with the remainder determined to an eternity of torture in a burning lake of Hell. Another extreme contends that since God “will have” all men to be saved that all will be saved whether or not they wish it.

This conglomeration is the result of a very erroneous understanding of the purpose of salvation. Luke 3:6 tells us, “All flesh shall see the salvation of God”; but seeing it does not mean that all shall receive it. However, as stated above, none of us are dying because of any evil we may have committed; therefore, God will save us from that for which we are not responsible; viz., the condemnation that has come upon us thru Adam’s disobedience. St. Paul makes this quite clear when he says in Acts 24:15, “There shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.”

That resurrection will save all who receive it from the penalty of the Adamic Death state, after which they shall “come to an accurate knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim. 2:4, Diaglott); and that will enable them to decide if they wish to live under an absolute monarchy of righteousness, or, if they wish they can return to the grave from which they have been saved. From that standpoint God desires all men to be saved – saved from the Adamic‑Death state, and from the gross ignorance that now engulfs the entire world. The Prophet tells us (Isa. 60:2): “Darkness shall cover the earth [the present social order], and gross darkness the people.” And it will be necessary for all men to be saved from that if they are to be changed from their present position to a better one. And once having reached that position, if they – of their own volition – determine they do not wish to live under that benign reign, they will then die the “second death” – “Death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.” (Rev. 20:14)

Some believers who contend that God wills definitely that all are to be eternally saved go to the extreme and teach that even Satan and the fallen angels will also be saved. If not, God would suffer loss, which is an impossibility; but the record is clear enough in Heb. 2:14: “Through death He [Jesus] might destroy him that hath the power of death, that is, the devil.” He is “the god of this world who has blinded the minds of those that believe not.” (2 Cor. 4:4) He has led men in his present condition, and he will eventually pay the price for it; he will be annihilated – destroyed.

It has been our privilege over the years to engage in written and oral discussions of this subject with those deluded by this error – which, according to God’s Word, is transparent nonsense. Some contend that if man and devils were completely destroyed that this would mean that God suffers loss; but this has no substance or bottom to it. In Gen. 2:7 we are told that “the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground”; and Gen. 3:19 states “dust thou art, and unto dust shall thou return.” Thus, if this is true – and we accept it as Truth – then, if man returns unto dust, God will have suffered no loss; He will have the dust which He had before he created man.

Others say that the “everlasting fire” of Matt. 25:41 (the punishment of the wicked) is simply to be “aionian”; that is, “age‑lasting,” after which they are to be given another chance. However, we have answered by stating that the same sort of bliss is given to the righteous; therefore, it also will be only “age‑lasting”; and this com­pletely silenced them. Following is the footnote from the Emphatic Diaglott:

“The common version, and many modern ones, render kolasin aionioon everlasting punishment, conveying the idea, as generally interpreted of basinos, torment. Kolasin in its various forms only occurs in three other places in the New Testament – Act 4:21; 2 Pet. 2:9; 1 John 4:18. It is derived from kolazoo, which signifies, (1) To cut off; as lopping branches of trees, to prune; (2) To restrain, to repress. The Greeks write – ‘The charioteer (kolazei) 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 from the cutting off from life, or death. See 2 Thes. 1:9.”

From what then is man to be saved? (1) He is to be saved from the Adamic‑Death state (those in the tomb) which he inherited from Adam through no fault of his own: “Death passed upon all men.” (Rom. 5:12) (2) He will be saved from the “gross darkness” – the error which now engulfs most of the human race, those who have been “blinded by the god of this world” (2 Cor. 4:4), Satan. When man is eventually saved from these two conditions, we are assured that “there shall be no night there” – error as we now see it. (Rev. 22:5) Those who willfully refuse to accept that New Order of things “shall be destroyed from among the people.” (Acts 3:23) Jesus emphatically told us, “All that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and come forth.” (John 5:28,29) They will then be able to accept or reject the Truth, as they wish. However, no one that is awakened will any longer be subject to the Adamic Death: Jesus purchased the world with His own blood, and when they are awakened by Him they will have been redeemed from the Adamic Death state. “There shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.” (Acts 24:15) Why awaken the unjust if they have already been sentenced to a Hell of torment? We answer that the “the wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23); and “the dead know not anything.” (Ec. 9:5) God is not judging the unsaved world now, “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)

We are assured in Zech. 13:8 that some will survive this Time of Trouble, but all of them will be subject to the Adamic‑Death state until they come under the New Covenant (Jer. 31:31‑33) and receive the “judgments” (in­structions) of the Kingdom. However, all those who are awakened by our Lord will be subject to the New Covenant regulations and no longer subject to the Adamic‑Death state from which they have been delivered. At present it would be impossible for many to re­ceive the Kingdom instructions due to their physical and mental lacks. Most of these will go, or already have gone, into the Adamic‑Death state, from which they will be awakened ‘in due time,’ and be physically and mentally able to receive the benevolent instructions of the Kingdom. When they are awakened they will have opportunity to walk up the Highway of Holiness (Isa. 35:8) and gain eternal life if obedient. If not obedi­ent, they will eventually go into the Second Death (Rev. 20:14), from which there is no recovery. “Christ dieth no more.” (Rom. 6:9) They shall then be “as though they had not been.” (Ob. 1:16) But all the awakened will have the ability to receive the instructions of the Kingdom; and it will be due to their own willfulness if they are sent into the Second Death. “In those days they shall say no more, the fathers have eaten a sour grape [the sins of the fathers visited upon the children to the third and fourth generation], and the children’s teeth are set on edge. But every one shall die for his own iniquity; every man that eateth the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge.” (Jer. 31:29,30)

THE ADAMIC-DEATH PROCESS

The Adamic Death and the Adamic‑Death process are closely related, yet there is a wide divergence in them in some respects. The Adamic‑Death process will still be with us for years, perhaps a few hundred years, after the Adamic death itself has forever disappeared. When the last one has been recovered from the Adamic‑Death state, that will be the end of the Adamic death; but it should be clearly apparent that the evils that have been spawned by the Adamic‑Death process now working in all men will still be prominently with those just returned from the tomb. “In the place where the tree falleth, there shall it be.” (Ec. 11:3) All will be awakened with the character they had at the time of death. The expression is often heard, I am living in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, etc., but actually we are all dying in those places; and, regardless of wealth, social standing, etc., the death toll is certain to have its way. Thus, all those that are in their graves, shall hear the voice of the Son of Man and come forth – some to a resurrection of life, and others to a resurrection of judgment (John 5:28,29).

The question properly arises, What is the Adamic‑Death process? We answer that it is every evil in man whether inherited or acquired. A few men reduce the Adamic‑Death process they have inherited by receiving the instruction of the Holy Spirit, and resolutely resolving to improve their undone condition. Some of these have devel­oped into the “saints” (Rom. 1:7,8); at Corinth “called to be saints” (1 Cor. 1:2); “to the saints which are at Ephesus” (Eph. 1:1); “to all the saints at Philippi” (Phil. 1:1); “to the saints and faithful brethren at Colosse” (Col. 1:2).

Note the words of the Apostle John in Rev. 20:14: “Death and hell were cast into the lake of fire,” a symbol of the utter destruction of these two enemies of mankind. Death in this text is from the Greek thanatos, meaning ‘death, literal or figurative’; and hell is from the Greek hades, meaning the death state, oblivion. Consider now the Berean Comment on this text: “Death ... Including aches, pains, mental and moral imperfections of every sort; Hell ... Hades, oblivion, the great prison-house of the tomb in which mankind awaits a resurrection; Were cast ... Gradually, from the beginning of the Millennial Age to its close; The lake of fire ... Gehenna, utter destruction – there shall be no more death; The Second Death ... So‑called, in contradistinction to the first or Adamic Death: the devil, death and hell are never destroyed but once, yet their destruction is for them the Second Death, death everlast­ing.” We have quoted this Berean Comment because we ourselves cannot improve upon it; it is an excellent definition of Adamic‑Death and the Adamic‑Death process.

Perhaps it should be stressed here that when the voice of Jesus in the established Kingdom calls forth the human race from the death state they will still have their in­herited and acquired weaknesses which they possessed when they went into the tomb. They will have the same personality and character they had when they went into the tomb. Of course, they won’t have the same diseased bodies. If they did, the man consumed by vicious cancer would immediately die again; the man with his head shot off would never know he had been awakened from the grave, etc. However, they will then have sufficient physical and mental ability to understand the requirements of the “New Covenant.” (Jer. 31:31)

The Berean Comments on John.5:25 are to the point: “When the dead ... Whether ac­tually in the cells or the prison yard: “Let the dead bury their dead”; Shall hear the voice ... Gradually, line upon line, precept upon precept: Calling them to awake and come to a full knowledge of God and to a full opportunity of everlasting life: When the last one has thus heard, Hades, the tomb, will have been destroyed, but death [the Adamic‑Death process] will still remain as long as there is any imperfection; Of the Son of God ... Not of the jargon of conflicting creeds; And they that hear ... Obey; Shall live ... In due time reach perfection of life.”

As Rev. 20:13 declares that all men shall be brought out of these conditions in due time for trial, so this verse declares that Adamic Death, and the sleep in oblivion consequent to it, shall be no more after the Millennial Age and in that future no one will die for Adam’s sin; it will be out of view as a factor in the trial of the future. The only death thereafter will be the Second Death, from which there will be no recovery: “Christ dieth no more.” (Rom. 6:9) “The soul that sinneth it shall die.” (Ezek. 18:4) That is not true of all who die now: Infants who die are not dying for their own sins. In the previous verses of this 18th Chapter, Ezekiel says much the same as does Jere­miah in what we have quoted from him. So we have here at least “two witnesses” to sub­stantiate our statements herein. Though such will have the weakness of the Adamic fallen condition, from which they will never recover if they refuse to use the means and op­portunities placed within their reach, yet under that New Covenant inherited weaknesses will not be reckoned against them so long as they use the means to overcome them, be­cause they are covered by the sacrifice of the Redeemer. As said, they then will have opportunity to gain eternal life if they choose righteousness. If they refuse the be­nevolent rules of the Kingdom, they will be subject to the Second Death – not the Adamic Death. There will be no recovery for those who go into the Second Death; but all those who have been subject to the Adamic Death will have an awakening. “God is faithful that promised.” (Heb. 10:23)

ASLEEP IN JESUS

The question has recently come to us: Is the general run of the world of mankind asleep in Jesus – the same as is true of the footstep followers of our Lord? This is a very delicate question; and we hope our analysis of it may have the essence of Truth in it. When Jesus said, “Let the dead bury their dead” (Matt. 8:22 – “Leave the dead ones to inter their own dead,” Diaglott translation) it should be clear enough that Jesus reckoned all the unbelieving world – whether in the tomb, or those still alive now – as dead in God’s sight. However, in this particular statement He was referring only to those whom we consider now to be living, those not yet in the tomb. Those, of course, could not possibly be “asleep in Jesus”; nor would they be so considered up to the time of their actual physical death. But we believe that at that very instant their status will change. Henceforth they would be “asleep in Jesus.” Why do we say this? Because their only hope for life thereafter would be through the power of Jesus; and thus He is described by the Prophet, “the everlasting father.” (Isa. 9:6)

Often do we refer to Adam as the father of our race; and so the Scriptures say: “God hath made of one blood all nations of men to dwell on the face of the earth.” (Acts 17:26) But Adam brought death upon the human race instead of life; and he is now powerless to give them life. But Jesus can do this; thus the dead are now asleep in Him. “He is the propitiation for our sins [the faith classes during the reign of sin and death]: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” (1 John 2:2) By virtue of His sacrifice all men are now asleep in Him, because He will eventually give them an awakening from the death state, which no other could do. (l Tim. 2:4‑6)

Much of what follows has been taken from Parousia Vol. 5, with some comments of our own interspersed therein. First, let us understand that all the Elect will have a special resurrection – instantaneous one – whereas the world will be resurrected gradually – a resurrection by judgment. The first part of the resurrection of the world will be the awakening of them. They will not be awakened with disease and emaciation, but will be awakened with what we call normal health – the start of a full raising up to life again. Then the Christ will have provisions made for their return with proper instructions given them to know right from wrong. After that it will be up to them to obey or disobey. But they will not be permitted to harm any one: “They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” (Isa. 11:9)

But the goats, those who do not even outwardly obey, will be “cut off” from among the people after receiving 100 years of instruction and trial. (Isa. 65:20) Some of the goats will outwardly obey, but will not be in heart‑harmony with righteousness, so they will be permitted to live until the Little Season (Rev. 20:3), at which time they will be manifested as such. They will be manifested by the tests of the Little Season after the iron rule of the Mediatorial reign will be lifted. However, during the Mediatorial reign, “The eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be un­stopped. And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.” (Isa. 35:5,8) Now “the fool [the atheist] hath said in his heart, There is no God” (Psa. 14:1); but even he will then learn and appreciate there is a God.

Through the resurrection, God has arranged to show His love for the world. It is written, “When the fullness of time was come [exactly at the time stated by the Prophets in the Old Testament], God sent forth His son... made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we [Gospel‑Age believers] might receive the adoption of sons [brethren of Jesus].” (Gal. 4:4,5) “Who gave himself a ransom for all” – for every man. (1 Tim. 2:6; Heb. 2:9) Thus, St. Paul says, “Since by man [Adam] came death, by man [the man Christ Jesus] came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order.” (1 Cor. 15:21‑23)

In the morning of that glorious day when the Sun of Righteousness shall rise “with healing in his wings” (Mal. 4:2), all that God has promised for that blessed time will come to pass. “All that are in the graves shall hear his voice [the voice of the Son of Man] and shall come forth.” (John 5:28,29) In this sense, therefore, we speak of the dead as asleep.

Heavenly Phase Of The Resurrection – The Scriptures tell us there will be several classes in the resurrection – Heavenly and Earthly classes. The chief resurrection, or the First Resurrection (Rev. 20:5,6) is the resurrection of saints. The Apostle Paul said, “We [the saints] shall not all sleep.” (1 Cor. 15:51) The inference here is clear enough that the Apostle himself expected to sleep. Of course, he did not know how long he would sleep, nor did the others of that time know.

Earthly Phase Of The Resurrection – In the Scriptures a class of faithful servants of God are mentioned. Many of these are mentioned by name in the eleventh Chapter of Paul’s epistle to the Hebrews. We classify them as Ancient Worthies, who lived and were found faithful prior to the coming of Jesus. It was not their privilege to walk in the footsteps of Jesus (1 Pet. 2:21), because “the example” (Jesus) had not yet appeared upon the earth. But it is written that they will have “a better resurrection” than the remainder of mankind (Heb. 11:35) – not to be raised on the spirit plane as are the saints; but they will be raised in human perfection – which the remainder of the race will not have as they come forth from the tomb. The world in general will have a gradual raising up to life again; and this will undoubtedly require years for many of them.

At the beginning of the reign of Christ, the “Ancients” (Psa. 119:100; Isa. 3:14; 24:23) will come forth perfect human beings – perfect mentally and physically – that their bodies may correspond with their moral development. If they had scars when they went into the tomb, or if they are blemished in any way, they will be gone. It is not easy for us to picture to ourselves a perfect man, for we have never seen one, and all around us are in various degrees of imperfection. But we know that a perfect human being will be perfect in form, features, voice, sight, hearing, taste, and in all other organs, as well as in mind. “God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good.” (Gen. 1: 31)

However, none of the Restitutionists will come forth physically perfect; they will have to develop physical perfection as they obey. The residue of men (Acts 15:17) will come forth every man in his own order. (1 Cor. 15:23) Their awakening will merely bring them forth from the tomb in the condition in which they entered – minus, of course, whatever of disease or violence that had put them there; for “in the grave there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom.” (Ec. 9:10) This awakening will not be the real resurrection (a full raising up to life again), but merely the preliminary step toward it. The Greek word rendered resurrection is anastasis, and means literally a standing up again. Adam fell, and ever since that fall the world lieth in wickedness – literally, in the wicked one. (1 John 5:19) The standing up again is, therefore, a return to the perfection lost in Eden; for the world of mankind the resurrection is RESTITUTION. (Acts 3:21)

During the thousand years of Messiah’s reign the resurrection of the world will be in progress. The work will not be done by the Father directly, but will be committed to the Lord Jesus (John 5:22), and will require the whole thousand years for its completion. At the end of that Millennial reign the world of mankind will be perfect, as was Adam in his creation. All God’s work is perfect. (Deu. 32:4; Gen. 1:31)

During the Millennium God will not recognize the people because of their imperfec­tion, their weakness; but all of their dealings will be through the Mediator until they shall have been brought up to perfection. At the end of the thousand years they will be delivered up to the Father, faultless before Him. (1 Cor. 15:24) God will then receive them as sons, just as was Adam (Luke 3:38), heirs of the earthly blessings which He has provided for mankind, the things given to Adam. The very moment when the merit of Jesus is applied for the world in that same moment they will be turned over to the Mediator. Then they will be in covenant relationship with God, but only through the Mediator, until they shall have reached human perfection and shall enter into relationship directly with the Father.

The New Covenant will continue everlastingly; and as it is proper to say that Moses mediated the Law Covenant, so we may say that Christ will mediate the New Covenant. But it would not be proper to say that Moses is now the Mediator of the Law Cov­enant; for a covenant does not need a mediator after it has been mediated. So the New Covenant will need no Mediator after the thousand years. But the title Mediator may belong to Christ to all eternity, just as the one who has been a judge, ever after receives the title of Judge – continues to be called Judge.

At the end of the thousand years, when the Messiah will have accomplished His work of Restitution, He will cease to act as Mediator. But the covenant will continue to stand; for if that relationship with God were to be removed from the people, they would have no blessing of everlasting life. Under the favorable conditions of the New Covenant, whoever will may have an opportunity to become the children of the Christ, the seed of Abraham. At the conclusion of the thousand years, the willing and obedient receive the commendation, “Well done,” and will be accepted as fit for the condition of everlasting life on the human plane. Those who prove to be unworthy of life will be destroyed in the Second Death.

Adamic Death State Vs. Adamic Death Process – Although we have treated on this subject, we repeat that while the two are closely related, there is a wide divergence of meaning between the two. Here are the Berean Comments on Rev. 20:14: “Death [from the Greek thanatos] ... Including aches, pains, mental and moral imperfections of every sort.” This is the detailed description of the Adamic Death process. It is the cause of bringing the human race to the Adamic Death state – ­that has put them in the tomb. When people have entered the grave, the Adamic Death state would eternally end for them when they “hear the voice of the Son of Man, and come forth.”

But not so the death process. Within limits, this will take up where it left off – will continue to harass its possessors until they fully eliminate it, or it eliminates them in the Second Death. We are informed that Brother Russell ventured the thought that the entire race might be freed from the tomb in the first 500 years of the Kingdom reign. If that be true, the Adamic Death process will occupy a much longer period of the Kingdom than the Adamic Death state – the second 500 years, plus the Little Season. We have no argument with this; but we are emphatic that the “last enemy to be destroyed is death” (1 Cor. 15:26) – the Adamic Death process, some of which will continue in the goats until the last of them is destroyed at the end of the Little Season.

Asleep In Jesus – The very fact that it is Jesus who awakens the human race from the sleep of death offers indisputable proof that they are now “asleep in Jesus.” That is the first part to them of the New Covenant blessing. They belong to Jesus, as He purchased them with His own precious blood; therefore at their awakening they are under the New Covenant arrangements even before they have received the instructions of the Kingdom laws: they are no longer under Adamic condemnation, no longer subject to the Adamic Death. Jesus is now their only hope of life, the One who will give them the initial impetus to Restitution, and who will “heal all their diseases,” etc., which have come upon them through the transgression of their original father – Adam. After their return from the tomb, it will be up to them as to what they do with it. But Adam will have nothing to do with it. While we owe to him the little spark of life we have enjoyed, yet all have faced the awful sen­tence, “In sorrow shalt thou eat of it [the daily bread] all the days of thy life.” (Gen. 3:17‑19)

During the Mediatorial reign even the Goats, who have outwardly obeyed, will receive great blessings, although the Christ will know even then that they have not rid themselves of the Adamic Death process. But when the “iron rule” is lifted in the Little Season, they will outwardly manifest themselves. It will be true of all those who emerge from the tomb; they will immediately come under the blessings and restraints of that Covenant – even before they are properly instructed thereunder. None will ever again die the Adamic Death, even though they refuse to accept the conditions of the New Covenant.

With this comes the hope and prayer that we have made this subject clear to all our readers. “Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord; that walketh in his ways.” (Psa. 128:1)

Sincerely your brother, John J. Hoefle, Pilgrim

(Reprint No. 322, April 1982)

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LETTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST

Dear Sister Emily,

Again, receiving your warm letter was an uplifting blessing. Thank you! I am pleased too, that you had a pleasant birthday. It is always heartwarming to be remembered. Our Heavenly Father always remembers us, and it is something we can do for each other.

The beloved sister I went to Grand Rapids to visit, died Thursday. I’m grateful I could see her before she left “this vale of tears.” She was very faithful and laid down her life for her family and the Lord’s people. I am grateful she no longer suffers.

Yes the Lord always supplies our needs. I stayed with friends in Grand Rapids, who were so good to me; and the Memorial in Grand Rapids was a highlight of my visit. “My cup runneth over.”

I appreciate your May/June papers. Grace especially enjoyed the “Covenants” article, as I did. And the article on the authenticity of the Bible is real faith food. One article stated there were four elections. I understand there is the Church, the Great Company and the Ancient Worthies. Could you please give me more information on a fourth class and the Scriptures for it? It is a new thought to me.

I know David Horowitz writes a newspaper column and published the book about Brother Russell (which I have), but I didn’t know he published a Bulletin. Is it something I could subscribe to? If so, what is the address, and how much is it?

Enclosed is a wee check to help in your work. I hope this finds you feeling well. Hope, too, that the blizzards bypassed you. Thank you, dear Sister, for your love and prayers. You daily have my warm thoughts of you, and my prayers, too.

The Lord’s rich blessings be with you always! Lovingly,  ------- (ARIZONA)

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Dear Brethren,

My name is ... I am a believing Christian. I got your name from Mr. Voygt of Kirchlengen. I am very much interested to learn what you believe, about your activities and publications. How many believe as you do?

Thank you very much for your kind efforts! Hoping to hear from you soon. The Grace of God be with you. God bless your group! Remain in love, ------- (GERMANY)

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Dear Sister Hoefle: Greetings in Jesus dear Name!

Thank you for your letter of April 16. I notice you said I could celebrate the Memorial on May 4, which would be one month later than the primary date. I talked to Brother ------- and later to Brother ------- and they said it was up to me what I wanted to do. I didn’t feel ready to celebrate April 4, but I read the Matthew account of Jesus’ institution of the Memorial, His trial and crucifixion, and last night I read the Mark account and sang Hymn 2. Last night my roommate was out of the room for awhile so it was easier to do this. Brother ------- told me one should not celebrate if he believes the door is closed. I have always understood the door is still open. My mind will be made up next year, D.v. I was told the brethren would have been able to bring me back by the 10:00 p.m. curfew.

My mother died on February 6, 1987, and she was 94 years old. No, the friends don’t visit me now except once when I broke my ankle. They come in a car to take me to the meeting sometimes. I am not in touch with the LHMM.

God bless you and be with you! Sincerely, ------- (CONNECTICUT)

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Dear Sister: Love and Blessing in Jesus’ dear Name!

I feel stronger today. I have made myself rest more often... I am thankful I am not in a convalescent home and I am still on my feet and don’t hurt anywhere to speak of. A person just has to realize how limited the strength of a senior person is.

I read the article about Netanyahu, by David Horowitz. It was good! His articles are in the Jewish Press... Today on the news, more former employees going back to work place and shooting people. Even at work people aren’t safe. I hope you will be well.

With love to all, ------- (CALIFORNIA)

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NO. 445: THE BIBLE CHRONOLOGY

No. 445

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

Some of our readers – a few not actively associated with us – have requested that we present a brief analysis of the Bible Chronology. This controversial subject has attracted the attention of some outstanding theological minds, a few of whom we shall discuss herein.

BISHOP JAMES USSHER – “(b. Jan. 4, 1581, Dublin – d. March 21, 1656, Reigate, Surrey) scholar and Archbishop of Armagh. He devised the system of chronology that became the source for the dates printed in the margin of many Bible editions, includ­ing the later‑criticized placing of the date of creation at 4004 BC Became profes­sor of theological controversies and twice vice chancellor of his alma mater, Trinity Col­lege, Dublin. From 1640 to the time of his death he resided in England. From 1647 to 1654 he was preacher at Lincoln’s Inn, a London Law Academy. An expert in Semitic lan­guages – collected manuscripts both from the Orient and from Irish history.”

There are a number of bad air-holes in his chronology calculations, which we shall discuss briefly later on. He lived during the time King James had the Bible translated into English (1610). Quite a few intellectuals have made comment on Ussher’s chronology; and, of those we have read, almost all of them say he has made important mistakes. Follows the comment from one of them:

“There is more or less uncertainty about all dates earlier than David and Solomon. Ussher’s dates in the margins of most of our Bibles, are not authoritative, but are convenient for keeping the order and succession of events. He finds the date of Adam, the first man, by a computation from the list of ages of the patriarchs given in Gen. 5, and they would be correct, if he had interpreted the record rightly. But it may be – as even conservatives think – that many links have been omitted, and only the more marked ones enumerated... The chronology of the United Kingdom has been tested and modified by the Assyrian Eponym cannon found on slabs discovered in the ruins of Nineveh.”

However, some of Ussher’s critics, in attempting to correct him, make a worse mess of it than he did. As most of our readers know, Josephus gives us very good informa­tion about the Jews and contemporary occurrences in neighboring nations; but his dates are very unreliable. And, where the cold figures of mathematics are involved, it cannot be almost, it must be exact. If the foundation is fragile, the whole structure will also be fragile. Similar confusion exists on the life, work and time of Jesus; but here Josephus is very emphatic that Jesus was the Messiah. The historian was contemporary with Jesus; and had first‑hand information of many of His miracles, which works convinced him that Jesus was the Christ.

This from another source: “The nations of antiquity did not have a uniform system of chronology; nor did they entertain the same notions and feel the same need of an exact and unvarying chronological method as does the modern world. The Assyrians and Babylonians appear to have been confident of their ability to date events of remote antiquity; but, as far as known, they did not have an era serving as a fixed standard from which to reckon all occurrences, but named each year after a public official (epo­nym or limmu). A list of these annual eponyms was kept... In Babylonian, Pales­tine and Egypt documents were frequently dated by the regnal year of the reigning mon­arch. Unfortunately the scribes did not always reckon uniformly; but under the same king some reckoned the accession year on the first regnal year, while others considered the civil twelve‑month which followed the accession as the first year of the reign. Furthermore, the son was not infrequently associated with his father on the throne, and some scribes treated the first year of association with the father, and others the first of the sole reign, as the first regnal year.”

From this it is readily apparent that ancient history is not at all reliable in its dates; and this is undoubtedly the reason we are given very exact dates in the Bible. “On the selfsame day” (Ex. 12:17) the Jews left Egypt for Canaan.

And further from the same author: “Dates were placed in the margin of the Autho­rized Version in 1701. They represent the chronological scheme of Ussher, archbishop of Armagh, which he published in his “Annales Veteria et Novi Testamenti in 1650‑1654. His work was careful and scholarly, and served a useful purpose for two and a half centuries. It gives only one of several possible arrangements. It is based in crucial points on Ussher’s private interpretation of disputed passages, in some of which he clearly erred, as has been proved in recent years. His system was worked out from the standpoint of modern chronological conceptions, and fails to do justice to the different notions which pre­vailed in antiquity. It was constructed without the invaluable aid of data which have been brought to light by modern research... A few dates are fixed, and the chronology of certain periods is established... Much is tentative and is useful only for observing the sequence of events.”

WILLIAM MILLER – “(1782‑1849), American religious enthusiast who began preaching in 1831 that the present world would end approximately in 1843 with the bodily arrival (“ad­vent”) of Christ. The Millerite movement declined after 1845, but elements of the group later organized the present Advent Christian Church (1860) and the larger Society of Seventh‑Day Adventists (1863).”

It is our opinion that William Miller had an excellent mathematical mind, a man of high scruples and great sincerity in what he believed. He received much ridicule and persecution from other religious groups; but we ourselves are persuaded that his dates were mostly quite sound, but his expectations for those dates were wrong. We may some­time give detail and our own comments on some of his calculations.

“RUSSELL, CHARLES TAZE, popularly called Pastor Russell. (b. Feb. 16, 1852, Pitts­burgh, Pa. – d. Oct. 31, 1916, Pampa, Texas), founder of the International Bible Students Association, forerunner of Jehovah’s Witnesses (q.v.). Of Presbyterian and Congrega­tional background, Russell renounced the creeds of orthodox Christian denominations and in 1872 organized an independent Bible study class in Pittsburgh. From 1877 he preached that Christ’s second advent would be invisible, that the end of the Gentile times would come in 1914, followed by war between capitalism and communism or socialism, after which God’s Kingdom by Christ would rule the whole earth. Russell (who was never ordained) dedicated his life and his considerable fortune to preaching Christ’s millennial reign. In 1879 he started a Bible journal later called the Watchtower, and in 1884 founded the Watchtower Bible & Tract Society, which became a flourishing publishing business. His own books and booklets (notably six Volumes of Studies in the Scriptures) reached a cir­culation of sixteen million copies in 35 languages, and 2,000 newspapers published his weekly sermons.” (From Encyclopedia Britannica)

It is our opinion that Pastor Russell gave us the correct chronology in the second volume of his Studies in the Scriptures – The Time Is At Hand – and we shall offer brief comments and figures from that book, with perhaps some of our own comments added. Therefore, we shall omit quotation marks; but we would emphasize that we are not at­tempting to palm any of his conclusions off as our own.

In this chapter we present the Bible evidence which indicates that six thousand years from the creation of Adam were complete with AD 1872; and hence that, since AD 1872, we are chronologically entered upon the seventh thousand, or the Millennium, the forepart of which, the Day of the Lord, the day of trouble, is to witness the break­ing into pieces of the kingdoms of this world and the establishment of the Kingdom of God under the whole heavens.

While an understanding of chronology is not essential to salvation (some of the very best of Christians throughout the Age did not have a clear understanding of it), yet a cor­rect knowledge of it is of tremendous assistance to understanding the present “signs of the times,” the parallel dispensations, and many prophecies that apply especially to our time. We must ascertain first of all where we are on the stream of time. At present there are all sorts of “strong delusions” being bandied about – talking about a hundred thousand or a million years back in the history of man; but a proper understanding of chronology will quickly demonstrate the nonsense of such wild ideas. Chronology as it pertains to man must of necessity reveal to us a date for the beginning of man.

It should be readily apparent from what we have written thus far that we place little confidence in the efforts of the “smart boys” to give us this knowledge; but we are persuaded that the Bible does just that, so we shall confine ourselves to the Bible. Jesus said the Bible is “the word of Truth” (2 Cor. 6:7); also, it is very much void of flippant talk or window‑dressing in what it contains. Therefore, the dates given us in Genesis 5 must be there for a purpose; and the first line in that chapter states it this way: “This is the book of the generations of Adam.” Also, the Bible tells us in Acts 17:26, “God hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on the face of the earth.” This being true, then we all have a common ancestry, even though we may appear vastly different from our fellows, which has been caused by privations, climactic conditions, var­iation of diet, etc. The extremes of heat and cold have in themselves made great differ­ence in appearance, habits of life, diet, etc., which we shall not detail here. However, there is one outstanding feature of being which separates man from beast: None of the beasts have any chin; whereas, we do not find a man anywhere without one, although the size and shape of the chin reveal much to the experts on physiognomy.

While there is much difference of opinion among those who accept the Bible record, the difference is limited to hundreds of years only; and not to millions, or even thousands of years as among evolutionists, atheists, et al. Of course, there can be but one true answer to the years from Adam’s creation; and it is the purpose of this paper to demonstrate the truth of that conviction – not about the number of those years, but the exact number of years from creation to where we now are.

There is much sound logic in the theory that the great flood of Noah’s day was caused by the breaking of a great water ring about the earth, beginning at the North and South Poles, and immediately putting into deep freeze all plant and animal life there. Just in recent years animals such as the deer, moose, etc., have been found near the North Pole with undigested grass in their stomachs, which is surely clear evidence that part of the world was at one time verdant and sustained the life of herbivorous animals. There is no guesswork about this piece of knowledge, no necessity to “estimate” its import.

If we examine the records of the Gentile nations, there is just no reliability for more than about three thousand years; the first date in history on which the Gentile “experts” can agree is 536 BC It was in that year that Cyrus the Great al­lowed the Jews to return to Israel from their Babylonian captivity. That was about 2500 years back. Thus we can readily see how empty are the guesses of the evolution­ists, etc., when they talk about a hundred thousand or a million years back. They are relying merely on untrustworthy tradition – loud talk which impresses some people who do not stop to examine it. The great Roman empire dates back only about 2800 years to its beginning, and even the first centuries of that are wrapped in uncertain records for three thousand years ago. If we consider Greece – at one time the intel­lectual center of the world – their dates are very sketchy prior to about 600 BC

Thus, we are left with the Bible record, which is very positive in its statements about the origin of man a little more than six thousand years ago, of which more detail later on. The statement is very clear that the men who wrote that book wrote “as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Pet. 1:21)

As with history, so with chronology, the world has no reliable means of tracing back more than about twenty‑eight hundred years. Says Prof. Fisher, of Yale Univer­sity: “An exact method of establishing dates was slowly reached. The invention of eras was indispensable to this end. The earliest definite time for the dating of events was established by Babylon, the era of Nabonassar, 747 BC The Greeks (from about 300 BC) dated events from the first recorded victory at the Olympic games, 776 BC These games occurred every fourth year. Each Olympiad was thus a period of four years. The Romans, though not for some centuries after the founding of Rome, dated from that event; i.e., from 753 BC”

The history of the remote past is so filled with vagaries and mythical traditions as to make them valueless for chronological data and unworthy of consideration. Says the American Cyclopedia: “The history of ancient nations, unless we make an exception in the case of the Hebrews, goes back for mythical periods of thousands or millions of years; and even after the records begin to assume a historical aspect, the discrepan­cies are very great... The Assyrian, Babylonian and Egyptian inscriptions are in ex­tinct languages, and in characters long obsolete... Greek and Roman dates are authen­ticated to the first Olympiad, 776 BC, and the establishment of the Consulate, 510 BC, previous to which they are legendary. Herodotus is valuable only as to events of his own time, about 450 BC, and those of a century or two earlier.

There are many other reliable writings, but we consider the foregoing to be suffi­cient. However, we add this comment from Clinton: “The history contained in the He­brew Scriptures presents a contrast to the early accounts of the Greeks. In the latter we trace with difficulty a few obscure facts preserved to us by the poets, who trans­mitted, with all the embellishments of poetry and fable, what they had received from oral tradition. In the annals of the Hebrew nation, we have authentic narratives writ­ten by contemporaries under the guidance of inspiration. What they have delivered to us comes accordingly under a double sanction. They were aided by divine inspiration, in recording facts upon which, as mere human witnesses, their evidence would be valid.”

The Bible, our God‑provided history of the first three thousand years, is the only work in the world which, beginning with Adam, the first man mentioned in history, monument or inscription, whose name, the time of his creation and death are recorded, and from whom his descendants can be traced by name and age in successive links for near­ly four thousand years, furnishes us a clear and connected history down to a period where secular history can be accepted as reliable. As we have often stated, this date is 536 BC, which is a well accepted and established date. From that date the Bible is pretty well silent, God undoubtedly realizing no further need for it; we may accept secular records from that date on. Thus we have a clear and connected record down to the pres­ent time. However, if we accept the prophecies in the Bible, we are carried on through the next thousand years from now, not in a detailed way, but generally clear enough to give us a good idea of what lies ahead of us. Taken together, the true history and prophecies of the Bible provide us with an overall picture of the whole course of events from creation to the “restitution of all things” (Acts 3:19‑23) and is thus a chart of all history.

From this record we have the evidence that from the creation of Adam to AD 1873 is six thousand years. The seventh thousand‑year day began then, so that we are now already over one hundred years in that seventh day. And before this day is completed, we may expect the great healing of the human race that is so vividly shown in John 5:1‑9, where the cripple was healed on the “sabbath day.”

The immense growth of Socialism, Nihilism and Communism since 1873 are unmistakable evidences that we are now in that time when “the God of Heaven is setting up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed... it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms [the present social order], and it shall stand for ever.” (Dan. 2:44) And it is from the chronology that we are enabled to construct this reliable statement, of which we now present a factual framework:

FROM THE CREATION OF ADAM

To the end of the flood---------------------------------------------------------- 1656 years

Thence to the covenant with Abraham-------------------------------------- 427

Thence to the Exodus from Egypt and giving the Law----------------- 430

Thence to the division of Canaan---------------------------------------------- 46

The period of the Judges (the last one being Samuel)----------------- 450

The period of the Kings (the last one being Zedekiah)---------------- 513

The period of the desolation (Babylonian captivity)--------------------- 70

Thence to AD --------------------------------------------------------------------- 1536

Thence to AD 1873--------------------------------------------------------------- 1872

Total--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6000

As we analyze each of these periods, our readers will have little difficulty in confirming our figures from the Divine Record. While there are two breaks in the Old Testament record, these are clarified by the New Testament. Adam lived 130 years and begat a son called Seth.(Gen. 5:3); Seth lived 105 years and begat Enos (5:6); Enos lived 90 years and begat Cainan (5:9); Cainan lived 70 years and begat Mahalaleel (5:12); Mahalaleel lived 65 years and begat Jared (5:15); Jared lived 162 years and begat Enoch (5:18); Enoch lived 65 years and begat Methuselah (5:21); Methusaleh lived 187 years and begat Lamech (5:25); Lamech lived 182 years and begat Noah (5:28); Noah was 600 years old when the flood of waters was upon the earth (Gen. 7:6). Total from the creation of Adam to the day the flood was dried up was 1656 years (Gen. 8:13). In passing, we mention here that “Noah lived after the flood three hundred and fifty years.” (Gen. 9:28) “And all the days of Noah were 950 years.” Thus he lived 600 years “in the world that was,” and 350 years in “this, present evil world” (Gal. 1:4). A very remarkable career!

AFTER THE FLOOD – “Shem begat Arphaxad 2 years after the flood (Gen. 11:10); Ar­phaxad lived 35 years and begat Salah (11:12); Salah lived 30 years and begat Eber (11:14); Eber lived 34 years and begat Peleg (11:16); Peleg lived 30 years and begat Reu (11:18); Reu lived 32 years and begat Serug (11:20); Serug lived 30 years and begat Nahor(11:22); Nahor lived 29 years and begat Terah (11:24); the days of Terah were 205 years and he died (11:32). Total from the flood to the covenant with Abraham at the death of Terah was 427 years.

While the above is all so simple and exact, the next period is not so easily grasped; the direct line of chronology is broken until after the Exodus of Israel from Egypt. This figure could not be obtained at all were it not for the help given us by Paul and Stephen, who wrote and spoke by inspiration. Paul says this period was 430 years (Gal. 3:17). As shown by a comparison of Gen. 12:1-5,7 and Acts 7:2-5, the covenant was made as soon as Abraham had fully complied with the conditions on which he was to receive it – as soon as he had entered Canaan, which he did immediately after his father died, who died in Haran, on the way to Canaan. Having the date of the Covenant thus established by Stephen and Paul’s statement that the Law was 430 years after the Covenant, the break in the Old Testament chronology is thus bridged by the New Testament. The Cove­nant was made just after he entered the land. (Gen. 12:5‑7). Thus we have the date of the Covenant, and the beginning of the 430 years as immediately following Terah’s death, which completes the chain of the chronology to the giving of the Law. The first feature of the Law was the Passover – which was instituted the same day that Israel left Egypt. (Ex. 12:41-43,47,50,51) This then establishes the third period.

FROM THE EXODUS TO THE DIVISION OF CANAAN AMONG THE TRIBES – Israel’s forty years of wandering in the Wilderness of Sin (Heb. 3:8,9) was followed by six years of war in Canaan, and dividing the land among the tribes.

THE PERIOD OF THE JUDGES – This is the most difficult portion of the chronology, from the division of the land to the anointing of Saul as king. It is usually termed the period of the Judges, though judges did not fill that office continuously. The record given in the book of Judges and Samuel gives nineteen periods, approximating a total of 450 years; but they are disconnected, broken, lapped and tangled so much that we can arrive at no definite conclusion from them, and should be obliged to conclude, as others have done, that nothing positive could be known on the subject, were it not that the New Testament supplies the lack. Paul stated that after God divided their land to them by lot “He gave unto then judges about [during] the space of 450 years, until Samuel the Prophet. Afterward they desired a king, and God gave unto them Saul.” (Acts 13:19‑21)

THE PERIOD OF THE KINGS – The record from Saul to Zedekiah is as follows: Saul 40 years (Acts 13:21); David 40 years (I Chr. 29:27); Solomon 40 years (2 Chr. 9:30); Rehoboam 17 years (12:13); Abijah 3 years (13:2); Asa 41 years (16:13); Jehoshapat 25 years (20:31); Jehoram 8 years (21:20); Ahaziah one year (22:2); Athaliah 6 years (22:12); Jehoash 40 years (24:1); Amaziah 29 years (25:1); Ussiah 52 years (26:3); Jotham 16 years (27:1); Ahaz 16 years (28:1); Hezekiah 29 years (29:1); Manasseh 55 years (33:1); Amon 2 years (33:21); Josiah 31 years (34:1); Jehoiakim 11 years (36:5); Zedekiah 11 years (36:11). The total period of the kings was 513 years.

THE SEVENTY YEARS OF DESOLATION – “That the land had enjoyed her sabbaths; for as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath, to fulfil threescore and ten years.” (2 Chr. 36:20‑23) From 536 BC to AD 1 is not covered by the Bible record; but is well established by secular history. Ptolemy, a learned Greek‑Egyptian, a geometer and astronomer, has well established these figures; they are generally accepted by scholars, and known as Ptolemy’s Canon. Combining the foregoing figures, we have from the cre­ation of Adam to the year AD 1 a total of 4128 years; and adding 1872 years of the Christian era, we have an even 6,000 years from the creation of Adam.

USSHER’S CHRONOLOGY AGAIN – This chronology compared with the foregoing is 124 years off – four errors of 18, 4, 2 and 100 years. Ussher dates the beginning of desolation of the land eighteen years earlier – due to the capture of a number of the best Jews (probably including Daniel) before Zedekiah was overthrown. But that event did not start the desolation of the land; that did not come until Zedekiah was dethroned and carried away to Babylon.

Also, he gives the reign of Jehoram as four years; whereas the Bible gives it as eight years. (2 Chr. 21:5; 2 Kgs. 8:17) Of the two years, Ussher makes a mistake of one year in the reign of Ahaz – 15 years, but the Bible gives it as 16 years. All these mistakes are the result of Ussher going elsewhere for his information, instead of accepting the Bible for his authority. He makes another similar mistake of one year in the reign of Jehoash – 39 years, but the Bible gives it as 40 years. Then he makes a mis­take of 100 years in the period of the Judges. 1 Kings 6:1 says the fourth year of Solo­mon’s reign was 480 years from the Exodus from Egypt; but it should read 580 years; due probably to a copyist’s mistake, because the New Testament clearly gives this period as 450 years.

Here we digress a little to say the Jehovah’s Witnesses had the correct computation of the chronology as given in our figures above; but they have now gone back to Ussher’s error, and count the period as 550 years, as he did. Thus, they are now so badly con­fused they do not know where they are. Using these erroneous figures, they came up with 1975 for the beginning of Armageddon; but not a thing happened in 1975 – just as nothing happened in 1925, when they made their first real bad blunder in their figures on the Jubilee cycles. Ussher has 4005 years from the creation of Adam to the year AD 1; where­as, the Bible gives that time as 4128 years; and we accept the Bible above all secular writings.

Here we offer one more digression: The Jewish lunar year is 360 days; and that would make quite a difference with the solar year over a long period of time; but they now follow the Metonic cycle, a calculation which the pagan philosopher Meton produced in AD 360, where he adds seven intercalated years to every nineteen years. The last month of the Jewish year is Adar; and in those seven years he adds Ve-Adar, or the sec­ond Adar. Thus from the year AD 1 to 1982 there is only a few weeks difference in the solar and lunar calculations.

Since 1916 there has been much tampering with the chronology as given us through That Servant, the main offenders being the Jehovah’s Witnesses, although it should be said that some sixty years ago, when they still held to Brother Russell’s chronology, their leaders offered an excellent defense of that chronology against other groups that were contending that Brother Russell had made a 19‑year mistake in his reckoning of the Gen­tile Times. Since that time, however, the Witnesses have rejected their own teachings on many time features; and now they are badly confused with their own reckoning in var­ious ways. But in this paper we have discussed only the chronology as we understand it.

As just stated, other groups were vigorously contending about that 19-year mistake(?). But, when those nineteen years had come and gone in 1933 without the slightest hint anywhere that there was anything special about that date, they have simply dropped the subject without a word of further discussion. They had latched on to their error by accepting the figures of a certain “foolish virgin” (a Doctor H. Gratham Guiness), who had influenced many prominent minds with his error; and we are often impressed with this as we read the comments of some of them, and the dates they give – over a hundred years ago. Thus, it is very easy to become confused on some of their conclusions if we read them lightly – without stopping to determine if they are right or wrong.

SUMMARY – The Chronology, as we have herein presented it, is thoroughly Scriptural, and is proven so by the Bible’s chronological data, the jubilee cycles, the times of the Gentiles (2520 years), the 2520 and 1845‑year parallels, the pyramid and other time features presented by the Edgar Brothers’ time charts. It has stood the test of time, and is impregnable to any assaults that may be made upon it. It is reasonable and mathematically sound.

YEARS BEFORE AND AFTER THE GREAT FLOOD

Many people have questioned the length of the years before and after the flood ­due to the long years of life of many living before the flood; but it is our opinion that the years before and after the flood were solar years of the same length then that they are now. However, we would stress that there was no fermentation before the flood because there had been no rain: “The Lord God had not caused it to rain upon the earth... But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground.” (Gen. 2:5,6) Thus it is probable that the air itself was much different after the flood. The air before the flood was probably 80% oxygen and 20% nitrogen; whereas, it now is about 80% nitrogen and 20% oxygen.

One gifted writer offers this comment about it: “The immense duration of life assigned to these ten Patriarchs (before the flood) has always been the occasion of difficulty. Attempts have been made to explain away the figures. (a) It has been suggested that the names of the Patriarchs represent dynasties. But the mention of the first‑born and of other children obviously refers to personal history. Nor does the transference of these enormous figures to the duration of dynasties greatly diminish the improbability of their literal historicity. (b) It has been suggested that the Hebrew word for ‘year’ (shanah) is used in this chapter (Gen. 5) to denote a shorter period of time. But this arbitrary solution is devoid of any evidence in its favor. Familiar Hebrew words, like “years” in this chapter, must not be supposed, because of our difficulties in interpreta­tion, to require new meanings.

“There is no reason not to interpret the statements respecting the longevity of the ten Antediluvian Patriarchs quite literally. The account of them belongs to the domain of primitive tradition. It would be strange, if the primitive unverifiable tradition were not accompanied by the exaggerations which popular legend weaves around prehistoric names.”

Many of our readers are quite familiar with the chronology as given herein, because we have taken the correct Bible chronology from the Second Volume of Studies in the Scriptures as compiled by That Servant; but we believe the words of St. Peter (2 Peter 1:12,13) are very timely here: “I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the Present Truth.”

Sincerely your brother, John J. Hoefle, Pilgrim

(Reprint No. 327, September 1982)

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LETTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST

Dear Sister Emily: Warm Christian greetings through the Lord!

My apologies for being so late in answering your kind letter. The Memorial observance this year was a very special event for me. A feeling of solemn concentration prevailed among the partakers, with all fixing their minds and hearts on the true meaning of our Lord’s sacrifice. In returning home this warm personal feeling continued into the remaining hours of the evening. It was very moving. We were about 40 in number, and it was right here in my home town, so it was very convenient.

My trip to France was very enjoyable. Life has become very expensive over there. The people continue to groan under the stress of the Time of Trouble. The same problems that plague Americans also affect the French. There are about 5 million unemployed (10% of the population). The government is broke. Racism is growing, especially against the many new immigrants coming in. The French had just held an election to overturn the present socialist administration. Of course we think of Jer. 10:23 and note how feeble are man’s attempts to correct the problems of the present order. Only the change of the future Kingdom New Order will do that.

I was not able to meet with any of the Bible Students. I did, however, visit some of the Jehovah’s Witnesses over there that I have known for over 20 years. Thus I used some of my vacation time to “witness” to them – explaining why I left the “organization” in favor of the original teaching of Pastor Russell, which had become so grossly distorted when Rutherford illegally seized control of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. They listened politely but were very uncomfortable. Few Witnesses ever take the time to examine their own history. If they did – and did so objectively without a closed mind, they would quickly recognize the errors in which they now believe and teach.

I hope you received the post card I sent from France. I am with you in serving our Heavenly Father (Prov. 18:10). God grant you the strength to keep up your works of love.

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

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Dear Brethren,

I sure appreciate the literature you sent. We used to have Bible Study in Denver, but now they are gone – moved away.

The Truth is so wonderful in giving us hope in this dark and dying old world. I believe in the New World government and Kingdom under Christ, and have believed all my life. I used to be a Jehovah’s Witness but no more!

May the Lord continue to bless you. With Christian love, ------- (COLORADO)

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Dear Emily,

What a shame that your lovely letter of December 28, 1992, is still with me here. It was such a pleasure to have it and take in its many expressions of encouragement and hope! Thank you most warmly for your friendship and your continued loyalty!

You said nothing on your health, your eyes, etc. We hope and pray that things are as they should be, and that you are enjoying full health and your usual well-proven energy!

Since you wrote there is a new President in the U.S., and this coming week another ‘round’ on Middle East talks are scheduled to begin. We all hope that this time all concerned and involved will be rational and fully cooperative so as to insure real progress. We all, who live in this area, are so very much looking forward to substantial moves in the right direction.

Meanwhile we enjoy a gorgeous Spring. We are blessed with a plentiful rainfall, and now everything is lusciously green and in full blossom.

This last week we concluded the annual Passover celebration, the reminder of serfdom in Egypt and the beginning of the 40-year long journey to Sinai and the Promised Land!

Be well and take care. With every Good Wish from Jerusalem and a

Warm SHALOM, Michael Pragai (ISRAEL)

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NO. 444: GOD’S GREAT COVENANTS

No. 444

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

 A number of covenants are set forth in the Bible, which may be broadly grouped into two classes – word covenants and blood covenants. While there are a number of word covenants, there are but two blood covenants. After brief comment on the former, we shall offer some detail on the latter. Although the blood covenants find their base along with certain details in some of the word covenants, it is the blood covenants ­– commonly named in the Scriptures the Law Covenant and the New Covenant – that particu­larly concern the great majority of the human race.

 The first word covenant, conveniently styled the ADAMIC COVENANT, is found in the very beginning of the Bible in the first days of human history: “The Lord God com­manded the man, saying, of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it; for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die [“dying thou shalt die” – Gen. 2:16,17 – see Margin].” The man had no choice in the terms of this covenant. He must accept it, and abide by its terms, or receive the inevitable result, experience the “dying process” until the grave eventually claimed him – in Adam’s case 930 years of “dying.” The world is “dead in trespasses and sins” – all are under the death sentence. (Eph. 2:1) A thousand years is one day with the Lord. (See 2 Pet. 3:8 and Psa. 90:4)

 While the Genesis account does not specifically describe this mandate as a coven­ant, the prophet Hosea (6:7) does say so: “But they [the Jewish nation] like men [“like Adam,” see margin] have transgressed the covenant: there have they dealt treacherously against me.” Just as Adam had attempted deceit and shallow argument after his viola­tion of his covenant, so had the Jews done likewise in their attitude toward the Law Cov­enant. It is well to note here, however, that there was no written covenant with Adam, as there was with the Jews at Sinai. Nevertheless, the “treachery” was the same in both cases: both covenants were violated by the human parties thereto falling into sin. A difference, too, may be noted: Adam was perfect, and had no inclination at all toward sin; thus, his was a deliberate act – whereas, the Jews had been “born in sin shapen in iniquity,” of which more later.

 A second covenant is the one with Noah, the RAINBOW COVENANT: “I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between Me and the earth [the human social order]... The waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh... A token of the covenant between Me and all flesh.” (Gen. 9:13,15,17) And further: “With everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee... For have I sworn that the waters of Noah shall no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee. For the mountains shall depart [the autocratic earthly King­doms in the Time of Trouble], and the hills [lesser and more democratic governments] be removed; but My kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of My peace be removed.” (Isa. 54:8‑10)

 The ABRAHANIC COVENANT is another word covenant: “The Lord said to Abram, Get thee out of thy country... unto a land that I will show thee... and I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee; and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” (Gen. 12:1‑4) Within this word covenant is the first intimation of the great Plan of the Ages which would restore to mankind what had been lost by Father Adam. The word Abram means high father; and God presented him with some severe exactions before he could claim the covenant as his: “Get thee out of thy country [Ur of the Chaldees], and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will show thee [Canaan, present‑day Israel, especially that part in the vicinity of Jerusalem.].” The confirmation of this covenant, after Abraham had complied with his requirements, was 430 years before the Law (blood) Covenant was given at Sinai. (Gal. 3:17)

 The foregoing covenant was re‑affirmed and elaborated in Gen. 22:16‑18, which recitation is styled the OATH-BOUND COVENANT because of its wording: “By myself have I sworn [sealed with an oath], saith the Lord... that in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore... and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.” St. Paul refers to this covenant in Heb. 6:13,14: “When God made promise to Abraham, because He could sware by no greater, He swore by Himself, saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.” All of this was the result of Abraham attempting, at God’s command, to sacrifice his son Isaac on Mount Moriah, from which the Angel of the Lord restrained him at the crucial moment. And, while this may also be defined as a word covenant, the near sacrifice of Isaac, and the actual sacrifice of the ram in the thicket (vs. 13) gave a mild hint of things to come later in the blood covenant of Sinai and the still later one of “Mount Zion.” (Heb. 12:18‑24)

 In the Oath‑bound Covenant also came the first intimation that Abraham’s seed would be both heavenly and earthly. “Now, we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of the promise.” (Gal. 4:28) And there appears here a very unusual circumstance: Abraham is titled “the father of them that believe” (Rom. 4:11), and with him was the Oath-­bound Covenant originally made; yet he himself is not to be of the heavenly seed. In Hebrews eleven St. Paul directly includes Abraham by name; then offers the summation: “These all... received not the promise; God having provided some better thing for us [the spiritual Isaac, “the children of the promise”], that they without us should not be made perfect.” Jesus verifies this conclusion in Luke 7:28: “Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist; but he that is least in the Kingdom of God [the Class in which Paul includes himself – the “us” class] is greater than he.” Thus, Abraham will eventually be one of the children of antitypical Isaac.

 There is yet another word covenant, the COVENANT OF SACRIFICE: “Gather My saints together unto Me; those that have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.” (Psa. 50:5) It could properly be stated here that this is a semi‑blood covenant, because it involves the death of each individual who becomes a part of it. The individuals compose the Christ Company, those who “were beheaded for the witness of Jesus and for the word of God.” (Rev. 20:4) Not all of them have come to a violent end (as did Jesus, the Apos­tles, and many others during this Gospel Age), but each one did truly “pour out his soul unto death.” Thus, each one furnishes the blood, his own blood, to seal his part in this Covenant, even as Jesus also “left us an example, that we should follow in His steps.” (1 Pet. 2:21) Thus, we believe the expression semi-blood covenant is proper­ly placed here. None of those involved in this Covenant of Sacrifice had his part there­in sealed by the blood of other men or animals, as do the two real blood covenants, but each one has heeded the appeal of St. Paul: “Present your bodies a living sacri­fice, holy, acceptable unto God.” (Rom. 12:1)

 THE LAW COVENANT

 Comes now a consideration of the Law Covenant, the one at Sinai mediated by Moses, as proposed by God and accepted by all Israel. It is indeed properly described as “the blood of sprinkling,” with the terse summation of it contained in the Ten Commandments (literally, ten words) as given in Exodus 20; and more briefly stated by Jesus Himself: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy mind, with all thy strength, and thy neighbor as thyself.” (Matt. 22:37-39) But in its broad sense it began with the Pass­over in Egypt, when “the blood of sprinkling” of the typical lamb was observed by each Jewish house that awesome night. And, continuing, it embraces practically everything in the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.

 Jesus said that all of that law was typical – that “one iota or one tip of a let­ter shall by no means pass from the Law, till all be accomplished.” (Matt. 5:18, Dia.) And St. Paul elaborates upon this in Heb. 10:1‑9, Dia., part of which reads: “The Law, having a shadow of the future good things, not the very image of the things, is by no means able with the same annual sacrifices which they offer continually, to perfect those who draw near... Sacrifice and offering and whole burnt offering thou didst not desire, nor didst delight in [which are offered according to the Law]; Then He [Jesus] said, Behold, I come to perform Thy will. He takes away the first [the continual sac­rifices of the Law] that He may establish the second [the “better sacrifices,” of Him­self and all who have joined with Him by “following in His steps” – See Heb. 9:23).” In 1 Cor. 10:11, Dia., this “shadow” is further confirmed: “These things occurred to them [the Jews] typically.”

 The Law, being an institutional type, must continue until its antitype appears ­to “fulfill” it, to fill it full in every minute detail. But, once the antitype does appear, the type is no longer effective or obligatory upon those involved. Therefore, when Jesus “takes away the first... that He may establish the second,” He in one mas­ter stroke eliminated all the animal sacrifices of the Law, which in turn left no more room for the Jewish priesthood or the rituals they performed. However, the “ten words” of the Law still bind those who have not accepted Christ; and that feature of the Law Covenant must continue operative until its antitype, the New Covenant (Jer. 31:31‑34), is inaugurated.

 The various features of the Law are distributed over four whole books of the Pentateuch; but the acceptance by the people is contained in just one simple sentence: “Moses took the book of the covenant and read in the audience of the people; and they said, All that the Lord hath said will we do, and be obedient. And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the Lord hath made with you concerning all these words.” (Ex. 24:7,8)

 We need reminding, however, that the great majority of the people quickly forgot the covenant. Most of them had not even the will to abide by it; but of those few who wished to do so, it soon became apparent that they were unable to do so. They were far removed from the condition of Adam when the Lord’s command was given to him in Eden. He could have done what was asked of him; but even those faithful Jews who earnestly strove to keep their covenant found that what they thought was unto life was really unto death, which prompted St. Paul to write: “I was alive without the Law once; but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.” (Rom. 7:9) He, speaking repre­sentatively for all Israel, had come to realize that the Abrahamic Covenant, which as­sured the blessing of all men, including Paul and all his brethren, had put all of them in the position of eventually attaining life; but, when they placed themselves under an ideal beyond their ability to reach, the Law itself then commanded death for disobedience – whether that disobedience were willful or in spite of their best efforts to avoid disobedience. However, they were blessed when they endeavored to obey the Law. (Josh. 23:3)

 The Law Covenant (the first of the blood covenants) also had attached to it cer­tain offices and intermediary persons not found in any of the word covenants. There was Moses the Mediator; also, a priesthood, prophets and kings who performed certain services that were not parts of the obligations of the people in their promises concern­ing the covenant itself.

 The Law Covenant, with its righteous arrangements for human relations, its supe­rior dietary requirements, and its worship of the one true God in holiness of purpose and avoidance of all superstition and traditional chicanery, was a far step from the religions of Canaan and the east country. Thus, it is little wonder that Satan at­tempted to counterfeit such parts of the Plan of the Ages as he understood. It had been dimly hinted in the transgression in Eden that a deliverer would eventually come to succor men from the disaster he had invited by his willful disobedience. And as more was added to the Divine Revelation, Satan busied himself by not only counterfeit­ing what was revealed, but using also his imagination to concoct features as he considered they might eventually be.

 As stated previously, the Law Covenant was typical in all its details; but parts of it were to be fulfilled during the Gospel Age, and the remainder during the Millen­nial Age. Thus, Jesus was the Gospel‑Age antitype of the Atonement‑Day bullock, and the Church, His Body, has been the Gospel‑Age antitype of the Atonement‑Day goat as typed in Leviticus 16. Inklings of the Ransom and the Sin Offering were gradually revealed as the inspired testimony increased through the writings of the various “elders,” the 24 writers of the Old Testament. (Rev. 4:4; 5:5) As it gradually began to be re­vealed that Jesus would die and then be raised from the dead about the Passover time in the Spring, Satan busied himself with a counterfeit of this in the heathen religions, specially in that of Babylon.

 It will be recalled that Babylon was founded by Nimrod (upstart) – Gen. 10:9,10, whose sinful performances became so obnoxious that he was eventually executed at the instigation of Melchizedek, his body was divided into fourteen pieces, one of which was sent to each section of the then established world, as a warning to others not to continue in his evil ways. But Satan immediately moved Nimrod’s cult survivors to circulate the rumor that he had not really died, that he was too strong to be contained in the tomb, that he was now risen and placed in the sun. This quickly led to sun­ worship under the name of Baal, Tammuz, etc. And by the time Israel was to lose its national individuality in the Fall of 607 B. C., the belief had been well established in Babylon that Tammuz died every Spring, but he was brought back to life again, and his place in the sun, by three days of violent weeping by the women of that city.

 This idea had become so strong by that time that it had captivated certain rene­gades in Jewry, which aroused the Prophet to write: “He brought me to the door of the gate of the Lord’s house which was toward the north; and, behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz.” (Ezek. 8:14) Here was the counterfeit of the experience of Jesus: “Women bewailed and lamented Him. But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jeru­salem, weep not for Me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.” (Luke 23:27,28) By the time Babylon had reached its pinnacle, its Satan‑invented religion had with certain variations infected the whole heathen world, which inspired the expression from Jeremiah (51:7) – “Babylon hath been a golden cup in the Lord’s hand, that made all the earth drunken; the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore, the nations are mad.”

 And this same situation found even greater repetition in the Gospel Age through the manipulations of the Roman Church, of which the Apostle John had written in advance of the occurrence: “I saw a woman... having a golden cup in her hand... upon her fore­head a name written, Mystery, Babylon the Great, the mother of harlots and abominations of the earth.” (Rev. 17:4,5) Note the close similarity between the two recordings. We have offered this slight digression here to show how true types of the Law Covenant have been greatly overshadowed by the earlier inventions of the great “serpent” (de­ceiver) to the extent that most Christians know little or nothing about them.

 THE NEW COVENANT

 Some of the prophets were more or less aware of what had transpired, as evidence the words of Jeremiah (31:31‑34): “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: not accord­ing to the covenant [the Law Covenant] that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake [some of which we have described foregoing], although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord: but this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put My law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts... and they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know Me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” The Prophet Ezekiel (36:26,27) writes more of the same: “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put My spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.”

 The Apostle Paul discusses these Scriptures in the eighth chapter of Hebrews, quot­ing large portions of them, then summing up in this wise: “In that He saith, A new cov­enant, He hath made the first [the Law Covenant] old. Now that which decayeth and wax­eth old is ready to vanish away” – as its various features were fulfilled. The contrast is very incisive in the first verses of this chapter: “We have such an high priest... A minister of the true tabernacle [not the tabernacle made with hands at the time of the Law Covenant], which the Lord pitched, and not man... But now hath Jesus obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also He is the Mediator of a better covenant [the New Covenant] which was established upon better promises.”

 This, the second blood covenant, has been already assured, although its administra­tion is yet future – waiting for the full number of servants to be gathered who shall officiate and mediate it between God and the whole human family. “Ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched... and the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words... but ye are come unto Mount Sion ... the heavenly Jerusalem... to God the Judge of all... to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. See that ye refuse not Him that speaketh... Wherefore, we receive a Kingdom which cannot be moved.” (Heb. 12:18‑28)

 The Mediator of this New Covenant will be primarily Jesus, but joined with Him will be the entire Christ Company. They in turn will be assisted by the Great Multitude (Rev. 7:9), and the Worthies – four elect classes (the “just”) who will administer the bless­ings to those of the “unjust” who will bow with the knee and confess with the tongue that Christ is Lord. (Phil. 2:9‑11) Those who “will not hear that prophet shall be de­stroyed from among the people.” (Acts 3:23)

 It should be noted here that the New Covenant is eminently superior to the Law Covenant, because it will actually accomplish all it is designed to do. We say the New Covenant is superior to the Law Covenant, because the Law Covenant was “weak through the flesh.” (Rom. 8:3) The Law Covenant itself could have no superior if it had been kept by the Jews. “All God’s works are perfect.” The imperfection of the Law Covenant was in the human weaknesses of those who agreed to keep it, but could not do so – their own imperfections making them insufficient to cope with the perfection required in the Law. But the New Covenant, through the better Mediator, will give life to all who will receive it under the easier terms of that covenant. Under the Law Covenant and its Mediator there was no such provision, and it brought the reverse – death.

 Thus, the question properly arises, Why was there a Law Covenant at all if the human acceptors could not possibly adhere to it? St. Paul offers his usual superb logic on the question in Gal. 3:21‑29: “If there had been a law [covenant] given which could have given life, verily righteousness [justification] should have been by the law... But before faith came, we were kept under the law... wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ [by persuading all the persuadable ones of their inability to save themselves by their works under the law], that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.”

 The Apostle offers further enlightenment on this in Rom. 10:1‑4: “My heart’s de­sire and prayers to God for Israel is that they might be saved. For I bear them rec­ord that they have a zeal of God [as some of them earnestly endeavored to keep the law], but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, have not submitted themselves to the righteousness of God [by accepting Christ]. For Christ is the end [the fulfillment] of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” But of those who have not accepted Christ, “God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all [in the Kingdom]” (Rom. 11:32); they are to have the broad classification of the “unjust” – unjustified of this Age. See Acts 24:15 and John 5:28,29.

 All of the “just” will have a better resurrection than any of the “unjust.” (Heb. 11:35) The blessing of the nations through Abraham’s seed will come from the “stars of Heaven” (two elect classes raised as spirit beings before the New Covenant can begin to operate) and from the “sand of the seashore” (the two elect classes who will officiate as perfect human beings on earth). “The Law shall go forth from Mount Zion [the Heavenly Jerusalem], and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem [in Israel].” (Micah 4:2) Thus, all four of these elect classes will receive a better resurrection than their former human associates, with those serving from Jerusalem being elevated to the spirit realm after the New Covenant has met all its requirements to make every human being (who will hear the prophet) a king in his own right. But even at that time it will properly be said that all the Covenant’s administrators (the four elect classes) will have received a superior resurrection to that of the residue of men. And this leaves no space at all among the “just”, either at the beginning of the New Cov­enant or at its end, for the non-existent classes taught by the errorists of our day, such as Campers consecrated, quasi-elect consecrated, and Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Jonadabs, or “large crowd.”

 And what shall we say of the non‑elect – all those who will have part in the resurrection of the unjust? All of us know there are many noble people among them, as well as many who are not so noble. However, among the elect, those who have covenanted to walk a ‘narrow way’ during the ascendancy of sin and evil, there are not many “wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.” (1 Cor. 1:26) And what shall we say of these noble ones of the non‑elect? Will their nobil­ity be overlooked? No! They will be greatly blessed, even at the beginning, as they walk up the Highway of Holiness (Isa.35:8), because it will be easy and agreeable for them to conform themselves to the Kingdom’s righteous laws. When they recognize God’s love, His goodness and mercy toward them, they will be glad. They will be among those for whom the promise applies: “Whosoever is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” (Rev. 22:17) And what shall we say of the very wicked? Among them, too, there will be some who will come to love and appreciate God’s love and goodness toward them; and as they seek to extricate their sinful tendencies they will join with those who walk up the Highway of Holiness.

 When God’s Plan is fully understood it clarifies God’s past and present dealings with the children of men. The Bible becomes in its light a book harmonious with it­self, with God’s character, Christ’s Ransom, the Holy Spirit’s work, man’s needs and with the facts. It indeed is thereby demonstrated to be the depository of God’s marvel­ous Plan of the Ages, as well as the glorious expression of His adorable character. He thus becomes loved by us with “Love Divine all love excelling,” and with “Joy of heaven to earth come down.” Let us worship, praise and adore Him, all whose works praise (re­flect credit upon) Him. “Great and marvelous are Thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are Thy ways, Thou King of saints. Who shall not fear [reverence] thee, 0 Lord, and glorify Thy name? For Thou only art holy; for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for Thy righteous acts have been made manifest.” (A.R.V. ‑ Rev. 15:3,4)

 “And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb... And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him.” (Rev. 22:1,3) “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” (Rev. 21:4)

 Some comments on Psa. 103:2‑4 are pertinent as an aid to demonstrate the working of the New Covenant, and to reveal its superiority over the Law Covenant: “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities [by providing the perfect Sin Offering of Christ]; Who healeth all thy diseases [as each one returns from the tomb, he must self‑evidently be rid of the cause that sent him to the grave, otherwise he would immediately succumb once more]; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction [“the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His beams” to “redeem them from death, and ransom them from the power of the grave”]; Who crown­eth thee with loving kindness and tender mercies [physical, mental, moral and religious perfection].” As Job has written, “His flesh will become fresher than a child’s; he shall return to the days of his youth.” (33:25)

These are indeed “Glad tidings of great joy” which shall be for all people – and we send this forth with the prayer that it will bless, uplift and comfort all who re­ceive it – especially those of the Household of Faith. “I will praise thee, 0 Lord, among the people: I will sing unto thee among the nations. For thy mercy is great un­to the Heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds. Be thou exalted, 0 God, above the heav­ens: let thy glory be above all the earth.” (Psa. 57:9‑11)

Sincerely your brother, John J. Hoefle, Pilgrim

(Reprint No. 300, June 1980)

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LETTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST

My dear Emily,

 How time flies! Your letter dated January 13 and now more than a month later I am answering it. Re the contribution, I am sure it costs you more than this to compile or reprint and mail these publications.

 Most of the names I sent you are names of my family, and since each and everyone was dedicated to the Lord before they were born, I have done my best to teach them. I was brought up this way as a Bible Student and I consider myself a true Bible Student and not as a sect Bible Student. I do the best I can and though I receive my share of criticism, I rely on the Lord to be my judge. I say to my children and all who will stand still long enough to hear me, I am not good but I am righteous. I have many failings but I love justice and the good things of the Lord.

 I do truly appreciate your January paper. We are nearer “than when we first believed.” I do not enjoy the infirmities of old age but I rejoice with each new birthday. I have to agree with a comment in Readers Digest, “It is a proven fact that those who have the most birthdays live the longest.”

 I am coming to appreciate more and more you and the work you do. You are an inspiration to me. I wonder how you accomplish so much... The day will come when our youth will be renewed in perfection, and not only us but the whole world will learn to live and rejoice in the Lord’s wonderful Kingdom.

 I am finding it the better part of wisdom to give up my home and move to an apartment in a retirement community which will provide a more protective environment. I am a bit sad but not deeply so. It is a lovely apartment. My children smiled when I said that it was better than being in prison like the Apostle Paul. It certainly did not hinder his writing. We can be confident that the Lord will help us accomplish all that He intends for us. What more do we need?

God bless you always. Warmly, --------------- (IOWA)

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Dear Sister Hoefle,

 Thank you for your nice letter. There are no brethren in my area. I depend upon papers the brethren send me. Before we retired my husband and I attended the Washington class. When we retired we wanted to get away from the congested Washington area... Even though we could not attend the Washington class, we attended conventions. After only three years of retirement my husband passed away and I no longer attend conventions.

 Why did Brother Russell tell the brethren to remain Jews? Thank you for your papers.

In Him, ------- (VIRGINIA)

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Dear Sister Hoefle,

 Thank you very much for the books you sent me as well as the two letters. The enclosed is to help with your work. Many thanks, ... (NEW YORK)

Dear Sister Hoefle: Loving Christian greetings in Jesus’ precious Name!

 Thank you so much for your quick reply. I wrote immediately to Brother... from Paris, that we are in the Truth Movement that began with Brother Russell’s ministry. We will be glad to help him the best we can.

 As I understand the six Volumes of the Studies in the Scriptures and all Brother Russell’s writings are the meat in due season referred to in Matt. 24:45. I have all of them, and deeply appreciate them, taking in account the correcting explanations he published 1915-1916, as for instance, the forewards to the Volumes of October 1916. Presently, in the Class where we meet, we study the Second Volume, along with the Epistle to the Corinthians.

 I know you believe the door of the High Calling is shut. I do not believe so. It seems this is the biggest difference between us.

 I see that doesn’t prevent you of cooperating with us and I appreciate your broadmindedness. I noticed the same broadmindedness on the part of some of the Brethren in the States whom I know (Richard and Shirley Evans and Kenneth Rawson), that cooperate with you in the presentation of Video Films for Jews. That work is a good one. Just for the Jews in our days (Isa. 40:1,2). The same testimony was given in Jerusalem and in other places in Israel, in October 1992.

 I do have a copy of the book by David Horowitz about Brother Russell. I even had the opportunity of meeting David Horowitz at the UN three or four years ago, being introduced with a brother from Poland by Brother ----------. He [David] knows the Old Testament well.

 Up to now I have not received your January paper. My comments about the articles you publish: I appreciate Brother Russell’s articles you publish. I am interested about the news you publish, as for instance about the Jews. But there are points in some of your articles I do not agree with, as for instance the door of the High Calling being shut, the Parousia, Epiphania and Apokalysis as you explain it.

 But I can see your deep and sincere consecration to God. May He keep on blessing you!

Sincerely yours, ------- (FRANCE)

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Dear Emily:

 Many thanks for your letter of December 22, 1992. It is true that after Russell’s death Bible Students in leading positions asked questions about too small details. They extorted answers from types and the Great Pyramid. You must be satisfied with the principal, most important things, mustn’t you?

 “In the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.” (Matt. 18:16) There are today two witnesses who tell us that the time for consecration unto death has come to an end: the state of Israel is re-established and the Grand Gallery gives primarily 1914 as an end of the AGE of Grace. The latest year you can get in the Grand Gallery is 1943-44. According to my opinion we have today to teach these two witnesses. Bible Students must avoid to become a new Pentecostal Movement. “And woe unto them that give suck in those days!” (Matt. 24:19) That is in the end of the Present evil world, isn’t it?

 It is very important that the measurements in Great Pyramid passages corroborated Russell’s chronology for the Bible Students here in Sweden after Russell’s death. They got these corroborations, when they started at the triangle, which give the life of Jesus, and studied the main periods forward and backwards.

 We must be grateful, if we can see and understand what is happening in our day, must we not?

Many kind regards! Warm love and best wishes, ------------- (SWEDEN)

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Dear Brethren: Greetings in the Lord!

 I appreciate your comments from Reprints of Brother Russell — also your comments on the happenings of today in this great Time of Trouble. The Scriptures are fulfilling God’s message. Brother Russell was truly the seventh messenger. I am here for the summer in NJ, but will be in Florida November first.

Warm Christian love, Sister ------- (NEW JERSEY)

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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)

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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

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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Dear Brethren,

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

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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