NO. 452: SOME THOUGHTS FOR THE MEMORIAL

No. 452

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

Comes again the Memorial of Him who perished on the cross, the time this year 1994 being any time after six p.m. the evening of Thursday, March 24. The time is determined as follows: The moon becomes new this year nearest the Spring Equinox (using Jerusalem as the proper location) at 9:27 a.m., March 12, making Nisan 1 at 6 p.m., March 11; and counting from that time, we arrive at six p.m., March 24. We have offered much more detail on this calculation in some of our previous Memorial papers.

“THIS do in remembrance of me.” These are among the last words of Jesus to His Disciples on the evening before He died on the cross; and we believe a clear understand­ing of these words will dissipate much of the cobweb of error that now appears in so many sections regarding the Lord’s Supper. When Jesus made this statement they had just finished eating the Memorial of the great Passover that occurred in Egypt just 3,609 years before this Nisan 14 (March 24, 1994). When Jesus said “this do,” He was telling them that from then on they were to partake of the bread and wine instead of the Jewish Passover Memorial. And how often did the Jews keep that Memorial? Why, once each year, of course! And, if that Memorial was to be replaced with the bread and the wine, then it should be used just once each year.

It is our understanding that there are now about 200 different views in Christendom concerning this ceremony; but, if we accept the clear and concise words of Jesus, there can be but one date on which we should keep it – namely, on the same date that the Jews keep the memory of the Passover in Egypt. And the Bible is very clear about this date: “Ye shall keep it [the lamb] up until the fourteenth day of the same month [Nisan]: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.” (Ex. 12:6) Jesus and the Disciples followed this command by the Lord to the Jews that night in Egypt; and He then told them very clearly that the bread and wine should henceforth be substituted for the Passover lamb. “Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.” (1 Cor. 5:7)

THE BEGINNING OF MONTHS

“The Lord spake unto Moses... This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.” (Ex. 12:2) In Ex. 13:4 we are told that the name of that month was Abib, meaning “an ear of corn.” The harvest began in it; and the Jewish people began in that month to be a nation separate and distinct – set apart –– from all the nations of the earth. It was not until after the return from the captivity in Babylon, after the Jews had come under Gentile rule, and the Gentile Times had begun, that Abib became known as Nisan (Neb. 2:1); and its meaning is also very suggestive ­opening, or beginning. It approximates our month of March; and is identified by some as the beginning of the Jewish religious year, as opposed to the beginning of the business year, which is about our October 10. To this day the Jews still take some recognition of the month of Tishri, which was the beginning of their year until the time they left Egypt, and the Lord then told them to observe Nisan as the beginning of months.

The feast of unleavened bread – or the feast of the Passover – began in Nisan; but the Passover itself and the feast of the Passover should not be confused. The entire service lasted eight days; but the real Passover was only the first of those eight days. At the Passover Memorial the roasted lamb was the thing emphasized; whereas, in the following seven days – the feast of unleavened bread – the unleavened bread was emphasized. During those seven days the Jews were permitted to eat any kind of meat not forbidden by the Law; but it was a grave offense to eat any leavened bread during those seven days. At one time it was believed that Jesus and the Apostles ate the Passover a day ahead of the Jews in general – based upon John 18:28; but the passover mentioned in that text refers to the feast of the passover, and not the actual eating of the Passover lamb.

It is probably well here to mention also that each Jewish month began with the coming of the new moon. Thus, the Jewish year is properly styled a lunar year; whereas, our year is known as a solar year, which makes a difference of five days or so between the two years. This has been reconciled by the adoption of the Metonic cycle, which the Pagan philosopher Meton devised about AD 360. In his calculation he has seven intercalated months in every nineteen years. This twelfth month of the Jewish year is Adar; and the added month in those seven years of the Metonic cycle is Ve-Adar. This has reconciled the two methods so closely that the difference between when Jesus was on earth until now is only a few weeks – not enough to cause any heated argument.

It might fit in here, also, to state that the Day of Atonement occurs on the tenth day of the seventh month, the month Tishri; although we should bear in mind that the Jews had no Day of Atonement at all until they left Egypt, and the ceremony was given to them by God through Moses at Mount Sinai. With this so clearly marked in Bible and secular history, we have a very delicate sympathy with the Jews for not wanting to give up their land in their altercations with the Arabs. The whole foundation for their religion was given to them at Sinai. The same applies to Christians, too, except that we have built upon the Law and the prophets to form the superstructure of the Christian religion. Without the inspired writings of the Old Testament, Jesus’ disciples could not have recognized Him as the Messiah. Jesus Himself said of the Old Testament Scriptures: “They are they which testify of me.” (John 5:39)

As stated foregoing, each Jewish month began when the moon became new; and it was from that new moon that they began the reckoning of the various days. But when the clear command is given that the Passover was to be on the fourteenth day of Nisan, the moon is not even mentioned there. The Jews and some Christians think the moon must be full before the Passover is kept, but the moon does not become full on occasion until two or three days after Nisan 14; but this should not influence us because the record is very clear that the 14th of Nisan is the proper date for the Memorial. And this we ourselves try to follow; and the only way we will go wrong on it is if we fail properly to calculate when Nisan arrives. And, since all of this reckoning was given the Jews right there in Israel, it makes no allowance at all for any one to use some other locality for the exact beginning of Nisan 1 and Nisan 14.

REMEMBER THIS DAY (EX. 13:3)

It is not necessary that we strain our imaginations to ponder the great grip that the Passover had upon the Jewish mind. The miracle of their deliverance from Egyptian bondage was indeed a living thing to almost all of them – after their entry into Canaan and up until their dispersion from that land in the year AD 70. And to this day it is a very solemn occasion with the orthodox Jews. When Jesus said to them, “Your house is left unto you desolate” (Matt. 23:38), none of them then realized how far-reaching and absolute this sentence would eventually become. But their High Priest had to come from the Tribe of Levi; and that tribe was so completely lost in the dispersion that they no longer know which of them are of that tribe. Their house is now indeed “desolate.”

Nevertheless, those Jews who still try to keep the Law make strenuous effort to ob­serve the Passover in every intricate detail. “This day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the Lord throughout your generations.” (Ex. 12:14) “And when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service? Then shall ye say, It is the sacrifice of the Lord’s passover.” (Ex. 12:26,27) And to be sure that this injunction was scrupulously observed, the oldest son of each family – if he were thirteen years of age or older – was required to fast on the day leading up to the Passover table.

And when all were seated at that table, with the food carefully arranged, with the cups or glasses set for wine for each one present, there would be one extra cup “for Elias.” Had not the last lines of inspired Jewish Scripture warned them, “I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord?” (Mal. 4:5,6) And not realizing that this was one of those “dark sayings,” every serious-minded Jew was alerted to the possibility of Elijah’s visitation “in an hour when ye think not” – possibly into his own house. Thus, he would not be overtaken unawares.

Then to be sure the question would be asked, “What mean ye by this service?” the eldest son would ask the father the question, at which the father would explain in con­siderable detail those awesome happenings that night in Egypt. And by repeating this ceremony every year, the lesson would be indelibly impressed upon all present that a great miracle from on high had been performed for them that night. And we may be sure of the promise that those faithful orthodox Jews will eventually accept Jesus as their Messiah and be the “first” to receive the blessings of the New Covenant.

But one outstanding difference should here be emphasized between the actual perform­ance in Egypt and the subsequent memorials. There is nothing said in the Bible about anything to drink that night as they feasted upon the lamb, although they would almost cer­tainly need some liquid – not only for that night during the eating, but for the day following when they would be traveling afoot in the desert sun. If they drank any wine that night, it is not recorded. But the subsequent memorials were not to be observed with doleful face; it was to be a time of rejoicing in memory of their great delivery from bondage.

And the Jewish fathers reasoned, What could cheer them better than wine? Thus, four cups of wine entered into that memorial – one before any food was taken, and the fourth after the entire meal had been completed. If any Jews were too poor to bear such expense, the wine was supplied to them out of the public funds. Thus there would be measurably identical ritual in every house; each would rest in the assurance that his brethren throughout Jewry were in physical and heart accord with him that momentous night.

Nor was this arrangement without purpose. After the first cup – and before any food – the Small Hallel was chanted or sung, after which the meal itself was consumed, with two more cups of wine during the eating. When the eating was done, the fourth cup was had, with the chanting of the Great Hallel. Here it may be well to define the Hallel: It was composed of the 113-118 Psalms. The first two – Psalms 113 and 114 – are the Small Hallel; and 115 through 118 the Great Hallel. The word itself is of great significance: Hal means praise, and El means God – the whole meaning being praise to God. It is the root of our English word hallelujah, which, according to Webster, means Praise ye the Lord.

It is also probable that the Jews at the Passover in Egypt ate it standing up – “your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste.” (Ex. 12:11) But when Jesus ate it with them the night before He was crucified, they were reclining on couches, or the like, about the table as becometh free men. Note the record in John 13:23: “There was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples.” This could not have occurred if they were standing up, or sitting in chairs.

In medieval times King Arthur’s Knights of the Round Table often set forth in quest of the Holy Grail, the same being that mythical golden cup which Jesus supposedly used as He said to the Disciples: “This cup is the New Testament in my blood.” (Luke 22:20) That Holy Grail was never found, of course; and there exists no real proof that there ever was one. Certainly Jesus used a cup that night, but no place does it say that it was a golden cup. Could that cup be produced with sufficient proof, it would be the most priceless treasure in Christendom. But God did provide that we should be heir to the exact words in Psalms 113-118; and we do well to include some parts of that Scripture in our Memorial service.

“GO TO HIM WITHOUT THE CAMP”

In Ex. 33: 7 we read, “And Moses proceeded to take a tent and pitch it by itself outside the camp afar off from the camp, and he called it the tent of meeting – and so it came to pass that whosoever was seeking Yahweh went out unto the tent of meeting, which was on the outside of the camp.” (Rotherham) Moses in this instance types our Lord as He arranged to remove the Star Members and His fully faithful people from the midst of the measurably faithful and the tare class, beginning in the Pergamos epoch of the Gospel-Age church, which began in the fourth century AD It was early in that century that Roman Emperor Constantine the Great embraced Christianity because he thought it would help him politically; and it was he who called the Council of Nice in AD 325 at which time the Apostles Creed was formulated, and Arius (who held the Truth that there is but one God as opposed to the then growing belief in the Trinity error) was banished from the Roman Empire – “afar off from the Camp.”

The stinging charge is recorded against that Pergamos Church (Pergamos means earthly elevation – and the church then was certainly elevated when the Roman Emperor himself openly embraced the Christian religion) is this: “Where Satan’s seat is... thou hast them there that hold the doctrine of Balaam.” (Rev. 2:13,14) In Num. 22:5-41 we are told of the mercenary Balaam; and in that episode he was a type of those who teach error for profit in this Gospel Age. This odious practice came very much into evidence during the Pergamos period of the church; and developed very noticeably during the following years – until AD 799, when Charlemagne relinquished his regal power to the Pope of Rome which was the beginning of the real Holy Roman Empire.

It was during the fourth epoch of the church, beginning in 799 that the charge is recorded against them: “Thou sufferest that woman Jezebel [the Roman Church]... to teach and to seduce my servants... to eat things sacrificed unto idols” (Rev. 2:20) on the outside of the Camp (apostate Christendom). Following is a quotation from Epiphany Volume 11, p. 430:

“God had our Lord do another thing indicative of His displeasure with His nominal people, i.e., remove the faithful servants of the Truth and its spirit from places of prominence and influence in the nominal Church – caused the symbolic woman, the Covenant promises and the servants who apply them to the brethren to go into the wilderness condition (Rev. 12:6) – to the Tent of Meeting (not the Tabernacle, but Moses’ official residence) – and that but not slightly away from erroneous doctrines, organization and disciplines of the nominal church, but very far from these, and made the Truth and the servants who applied it to the brethren, as well as these last, the place where God resided, met with His people and blessed them. Henceforth every one who in heart’s loyalty sought fellowship with the Lord in spirit, truth, righteousness and holiness went forth from the nominal church to such truth, its applying servants and the others of His real people, apart from the nominal church (without the camp)... When our Lord busied Himself with Truth matters, its applying servants, etc., the Truth and its spirit as due became manifest (the cloudy pillar descended – Ex. 33:9), and remained at the entrance, consecration, where God revealed truths to Jesus in the star members.”

The foregoing dove-tails so very beautifully with St. Paul’s admonition in Hebrews 13:13, “Let us, then, now go forth to him outside of the Camp, bearing reproach for him.” (Dia.) And it is such a very clear-cut and definite course of procedure for all elect “to follow in his steps.” (1 Pet. 2:21) Such indeed is one very appropriate thought for the Memorial. In principle, this arrangement is as true today as it ever was.

“WHAT MEAN YE BY THIS SERVICE?”

As previously stated, all the details of the original Passover in Egypt were prearranged with meticulous care and execution, even to its future remembrance “throughout your generations,” and the instruction of the Jewish children during future observances.

It was properly anticipated that inquiring and curious children would ask, “What mean ye by this service?” (Ex. 12:26), thus providing the opportunity to instruct them in the niceties and the solemn responsibility of every Jew participating in it. And this exac­tion so thoroughly gripped the Jewish conscience and imagination that the Passover obser­vance today is almost identical to what it was in the day of Christ, excepting only the temple sacrifices which can no longer be performed. However, they yet make very elaborate preparations for the festival. After minute search for all leaven in each house was completed into the napkin or cloth, the whole was then cast into the fire, and the master of the house declared in Aramaic that any further leaven that may have been in his house, and of which he was unaware, was to him no more than dust.

As stated, the eldest son of each family (thirteen years old, or more) was required to fast on the day leading to the evening service. Then on the evening of the 14th before partaking of the Passover meal and ceremony all the male members of the house betook themselves to the synagogue, attired in their best apparel. on their return they would find the house lit up, and the “Seder” or paschal table in readiness for all to partake. The master of the house took his place at the head of the table, to partake of the Seder, or Haggadah, as some Jews designate it.

As stated, to be sure the question would properly arise, the oldest son was previously coached to ask, after they were seated at the table, why on this night above all other nights do they eat bitter herbs, unleavened bread, etc., at which the head of the house would relate the story of the original Passover and the deliverance of the Jewish firstborn on that fateful night in Egypt. Then proceeded the feast, which had been elaborately and meticulously prepared – the bitter herbs such as parsley and horseradish, and a kind of sop with charoseth consisting of various fruits compounded into a sort of mucilage and mixed with vinegar and salt water – each arranged in its own vessel. At the outset the master took some of the bitter herbs, dipped them into the charoseth, and gave to each one present to be eaten along with the first cup of wine. Thus the feast continued throughout the evening until the fourth cup of wine and the recitation of the Great Hallel – after which, in the case of Jesus and the Disciples, “they went out into the Mount of Olives.” (Matt. 26:30)

Many of the requirements of the original Passover were subsequently ignored, and properly so. The Lord had told them in Egypt, “Thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand – so shall ye eat it in haste, it is Yahweh’s passing over.” Every minute detail in these instructions is fraught with grave significance to those who would commemorate the memorial of “Christ our Passover who is sacrificed for us.” The girdle in the Bible symbols represents the serving features of those who would be servants in God’s Household. “He that is chief among you, let him be your servant.” (Matt. 20:27) Jesus Himself illustrated this on His last night by “girding” Himself, taking a towel and washing the Apostles’ feet. “I am among you as one that serveth,” He had told them. Then, the sandals on their feet were a representation of the Gospel-Age fact that “we have here no abiding city”; always should God’s people be alert to “move on” as occasion dictated, ever willing to follow the fiery-cloudy pillar – the Truth as due; and to remember always that “The king’s business requires haste” – no time to linger and ‘change clothes’ when the occasion should arise to journey on. And all this should be done with “your staff in your hand,” the staff typifying God’s precious promises. Without leaning on those promises no one could ever make the journey from antitypical Egypt (the world of sin) to the Heavenly Canaan.

It is in order here to mention that some things in the original Passover were not followed by the Jews in their memorial, nor do we follow them in ours. In the Jewish celebration the lamb was chosen on the tenth day, nor do we now set aside the bread and the wine on the tenth day in readiness for the evening of the fourteenth. It would seem in the original that the Jews were told to do this to bring them into the proper mental attitude for that great miracle that would be performed for them on that awesome night. But we believe it is in order for us to “think on these things” for some days before our Nisan 14 – not only thinking, but also reading pertinent scripture on the subject in the days preceding the participation.

Also, in the Jewish memorial the lamb’s blood was not sprinkled on the lintels and door posts, even as in the Lord’s Supper we do nothing to correspond to this. Nor did the Jews “eat it in haste” as we have shown aforegoing; they reclined leisurely, but with full mental concentration of the thing they were remembering – as we also do as we partake of the bread and the wine. Thus, “this thing” has special reference to the delivery of the firstborn through the slain lamb, the eating of his flesh, and the sprinkled blood. Hence, the death of the lamb, the feasting on its flesh and the deliverance of the firstborn, were the things to celebrate in the annual antitypical feast, and the Gospel-Age antitypes of these by the bread and the wine. It. also bespeaks our participation with Him in His sufferings – with some a part of the sin offering, and with others a representation of this solemn event. Of course, this is not at all portrayed in the annual Jewish celebration; it has exclusively a Christian meaning; and thus we consider it. However, it is implied in minor degree by the eating of the bitters along with the Jewish meal. And here is solid proof that the lamb typed Jesus only, and not the participants during the Jewish or this Gospel Age. Jesus only is the “Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.”

And, not only was Israel to observe the annual Passover during their wilderness journey (Num. 9:1–15), but they were to observe it after entering Canaan, which they scrupulously did – in like manner as did Jesus and the Apostles on the night before He died. And this we also do in our annual Memorial of “Christ our Passover.” And in our annual celebration we portray our journey from the wilderness of sin to our antitypical heavenly Canaan. This is very much emphasized in Parousia Volume 6, and we commend it to all our readers. The annual Passover supper of the Jews thus types our annual participation in the bread and the wine.

THE TRUE AND THE FALSE

As most of us know, so many features of the true religion have been coun­terfeited by Satan, which prompted the Apostle to write, “the whole world lieth in wickedness.” (1 John 5:19) This was even true of Jesus’ death and resurrection. In Ezek. 8:14 it is stated, “There sat women weeping for Tammuz.” Tammuz was the sun god of the Babylonians, consort of Ishtar. He was identical with Adonis, the same as Baal of the Canaanites. Tammuz supposedly died each year, descended into the lower world, and was brought back to life by the weeping and lamentation of Ishtar, who was joined in her weeping by the women of Babylon. Thus, as Jesus was being led to the cross and He saw women weeping along His journey, He mildly admonished them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.” (Luke 23:28) It is also related in Ezekiel 8:17 that the Jews “put the branch to their nose,” in keeping with the custom of the Persian sunworshipers holding before them a branch of date, pomegranate or tamarisk that their breath might not contaminate the risen deity. All of these sacrilegious practices by the Jews brought forth the scathing denunciation of God by the mouth of His prophets; and is a warning to all God’s people to “have no other Gods before thee.”

Moses charging Israel to remember Nisan 15 (the first day of the Passover Festival) as the day that they went forth from Egypt from the house of servants, types our Lord’s charging the Gospel-Age Church in general – and the Church here in the end of the Age in particular – to remember antitypical Nisan 15 as their deliverance time from the house of the servants to sin, and our instruction into the Present Truth. Israel in general remembered their typical deliverance at all times, but especially so in their keeping of the Passover Memorial. So we, as antitypical Israel, remember our deliverance from the bondage of sin at all times, but especially so as we keep the Memorial of Christ our Passover.

That Wise and Faithful Servant had charge of the gathering “My saints together unto Me, those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice” (Psa. 50:5); and with the help of faithful brethren, we believe that work was completed with his ministry. However, he taught there would be an unbegotten class [which we call Youthful Worthies] gathered “between the ages,” and his teaching to the saints has a secondary application to them –– edifying and strengthening their faith. Such consecrators who have the faith of Abraham and faithfully serve God while sin is in the ascendancy, will be rewarded in honor and service in the earthly phase of the Kingdom with the Ancient Worthies (Hebrews, Chapter 11) – made “Princes in all the earth.” (Psa. 45:16)

Do they partake of the Lord’s Supper? Most certainly they do – but with some reservations. They are not “suffering with Christ,” nor will they “reign with Christ”; therefore, they partake of the wine and bread symbolizing our Lord’s death as the Lamb of God, as well as symbolizing their tentative justification. Although their trial is for faith and obedience, and not for life, they make the same kind of consecration as did the spirit-begotten. “Ye shall have one manner of law, as well for the stranger [the unbegotten], as for one of your own country [the spirit-begotten]. (Lev. 24:22)

Much more could be included here, but we believe the foregoing will suffice to bring forcefully to mind once more our obligations to “do this in remembrance of Me”; and it is our hope and prayer that all our readers may be richly blessed in their preparation for and participation in this year’s Memorial as they “consider Him who endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself.”

This year we shall observe the Memorial at 2501 Morningside Drive, Sylvan Shores, Mount Dora, Fla., at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, March 24; and we invite all of “like mind”, who may be in our vicinity, to join with us in this service.

Sincerely your brother, John J. Hoefle, Pilgrim

(Reprint No. 297, March 1980)

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LETTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST

Dear Sister Hoefle,

Thank you very much for your letter and magazines. I’m still studying electronic engineering in the University in Kassel, and I have little time for writing. I like to read your magazines. Please send me all the issues after No. 444, June 1993.

Do you have a copy of the revised edition of “Pastor Charles Taze Russell...” Please send me a copy surface-mail. Enclosed $...

I have contact with some Bible Students in Germany, but there is no ecclesia in my area. I have collected all German Watch Tower magazines of 1904-1916, and most of the other German literature from Pastor Russell. I am searching for some old German booklets and for old tracts.

Thank you very much for your help! With Christian Greetings.

Your brother, ------- (GERMANY)

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My dear Sister Emily: Loving greetings in His Name!

I don’t think olive told you that her daughter Carole has gotten her a telephone. The number is ... I had a birthday October 29 – and as usual I feel very much under the weather at this time. But it will pass. I know, like myself, that your body has many surprises for you, with all sorts of sensations, aches and pains. I know you are a survivor. So although we chiefly operate in Jesus’ strength we need to exercise a lot of will power to get us through the day.

I was able to go to the Smith’s October 31. Brother Mahoney and his brother, Sisters Nora and McKenzie came from Crofts Hill and we had a lovely time in fellowship and the Word. Thank God for those two Servants. You are an inspiration to me, and I get a lot of encouragement just knowing you are there. Keep on keeping on! God bless and keep you.

Love from Sister ------- (JAMAICA)

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Dear Sister Emily: Grace and peace!

No, I didn’t receive the November-December papers. Please do send me those. The Tulsa Convention was a blessing. Sister ------- was in the hospital and didn’t get to come. The talks were real good.

Your brother by His grace, ------- (TEXAS)

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Dear Sister Hoefle,

Greetings in the Name of our Lord and thank you for your kind letter. I have placed you on our mailing list under the Organization section. Please do place The Association for Biblical Christianity on your mailing list. I appreciate the kind of Christian Love and unity you’ve expressed. I feel God is about to close the door on some of the disunity that we have experienced in the Faith. Our own mailing list is growing a lot faster than I thought it ever would. I did not design our doctrinal position just to attract a lot of people. Any differences we may have in understanding is minor to the Great Truth’s we do share. You or I may be right or wrong on some points, but the beauty of exchanging notes is more than bound to help all of us together.

I’ve enclosed December’s mailout which includes “The PENN” which we publish quarterly. If you would like any kind of announcement in “The PENN” just let us know and we’ll be happy to run it. Likewise if you have any questions about anything put out by us, let us know your view. We are here to grow! May the Grace of our Father and Jesus Christ be with you all.

IN HIS CITIZENSHIP, ------- (WASHINGTON)

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Dear Sister Emily,

Warm Christian greetings in our Beloved Savior! Thank you so much for your lovely card as well as your kind letter which was much appreciated.

I am happy you enjoyed the warmth of your family during this blessed time of year. My family, as you know, consists of a younger brother and my father – now 76 years of age. Since both of them are still involved with the Jehovah’s Witnesses, there is no celebration of Christmas – no sending of cards or giving gifts. It is a very sad approach to the joyful time of the year when at least some of the nominal churches attempt to reflect on the birth of our dear Lord Jesus. Of course I do not regret leaving my fleshly family behind (Matthew 19:29), for I have come to rejoice many times over with my new Bible Student family.

Our class this morning was faith-strengthening, as always. We are studying volume number one, “Permission of Evil,” and volume VI, “Tithing.” Our class is growing it seems. We have some wonderful teachers. A brother visiting from Columbia who hadn’t been with us for over a year, said since his last visit with us we had doubled in size.

December 26th, Jehovah’s Witnesses came to my door. They wanted to renew my six-­months’ subscription to the Watchtower and Awake. Like yourself, I read to see what current distortions they are printing. They offered me a Bible study. I told them I loved God’s Word and would be glad to study with them if they would use Pastor Russell’s six volumes as a help in a better understanding of the Bible. They were perplexed. one said, “I see you have an understanding of the history of Jehovah’s Witnesses and the older books we used to use.”

What a frightened, mind-controlled group they are! How sad for them. Thanks be to God and His Holy Spirit I am on the road to real truth (James 8:32).

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

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To the Epiphany Bible Students:

Please send me information concerning your organization. And please place my name on your mailing list to receive literature. Thank you, ------- (KENTUCKY)

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Dear Friends,

I have heard of Epiphany Bible Students (having read back issues of the LHMM “Present Truth”), and also seen references to your organization in the United Israel Bulletin. You seem to be great supporters of the Pastor. I would be interested to know more about the EBSA. Do you have a list of publications? I look forward to hearing from you.

Fraternal greetings, ------- (ENGLAND)

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NO. 451B: RETROSPECT AND PROSPECT - PART TWO

No. 451B

THE JEWS

"ISRAEL VS. THE VATICAN - 'Agreeing to Disagree' - But: The small heading grabbed me. It was a small news item appearing in many newspapers around the world. Its importance escaped the attention of most readers - it seemed rather insignificant. One reason: It was just a caption under an indistinct picture of Prime Minister Shimon Peres of Israel and Pope John Paul II of the Vatican. The heading read, 'Agreeing to Disagree. ' "The Israeli Prime Minister expressed the hope that a meeting might be arranged for the discussion and consideration of the Vatican's recognition of the State of Israel. The Pope made it clear this was not possible. Nothing more was reported. In the picture caption, Prime Minister Peres stated they would just 'agree to disagree and separate the religious from the political.'

"What IS the Issue? The chief reason for the Vatican's denial is that the Roman Catholic Church and many protestant denominations hold to the 'replacement theology,' i.e., by and large, the church has replaced Israel in God's economy, that Israel is no longer the people of God under the 'everlasting' Abrahamic Covenant - which includes the land of Israel as an 'everlasting possession' (Gen. 17:8). This 'Christian' theology is the corner-stone of anti-Semitism, as stated by Dr. Franklin Littell.

"This is also the reason for the feverish missionary activity. And many denominations and religious groups carrying on missionary activities in Arab lands are themselves anti-Israel and teach hostilities toward Israel and Jews. Yet All Muslin law under which missionaries operate, have the death penalty for Muslims who convert to other faiths.

"Rejecting Israel spiritually also rejects them nationally and politically. This will determine the end-time consummation of all things, the final conflict between the 'Sons of Light and the Sons of Darkness.'

"'Therefore thus saith the Lord God: Now will I bring again the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel, and will be jealous for my holy name … Then shall they know I am the LORD their God, which caused them to be led into captivity among the heathen: but I have gathered them unto their own land, and have left none of them any more there. Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my Spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord God.' (Ezek. 39:25,28-29) Read also Zephaniah 3:8-9, 14-20."

(By Elmer Josephson - Bible Light Star, Vol, 25, No.1, p. 13)

The Jehovah's Witnesses now discard the Jews and join the "replacement theology." All God's promises to the Jews belong to them. Their first president, Judge Rutherford, wrote a book, Comfort to the Jews, which is exactly as taught by Pastor Russell. But he and the Witnesses changed all that. They overlook what the Apostle Paul wrote, "to the Jew first," as well as what Pastor Russell taught. He was the first Christian minister to give comfort to the Jews. As all denominations taught the "replacement theology," they persecuted Pastor Russell and his followers for his love for the Jews as well as for his refutation of other errors they taught. The Jews loved him, and many fondly called him their Pastor.

"75 YEARS AGO - The Deliverance of Jerusalem: The City of Peace - Jerusalem - has fallen before the bloodless advance of Britain's victorious army. The Eternal City, magnificent even in its neglect, rises in beauty as of yore on its hills and above its valleys, a resplendent symbol of peace, as above the Tower of David the British Lion is unfurled. Fellow Jews! Eighteen centuries and a half have passed since the enemy drove our forefathers from our native land; like lions did they fight and defend our Jerusalem. Their hearts were rent asunder by the mere thought that they might in the end have to leave it. But Rome, in its cruelty, could not extinguish the fire of love which the fugitives bore away in their hearts and handed down from generation to generation with a solemn injunction: No Jew shall laugh aloud until Jerusalem is once more free and astir life. (Dr. Tchlenow's last article before his death.)"

(B'nai B'rith Messenger, July 16, 1993)

"PEACE NOW IS ON THE MARCH AGAIN: Americans for Peace Now has launched an all-out propaganda offensive intended to win American Jewish support for PLO control of Judea, Samaria and Gaza. The campaign has been dubbed 'Operation Peace with Security,' an Orwellian title if there ever was one, since Peace Now's idea of 'security' includes forcing Israel back to the 'Auschwitz lines' of 1967 and setting up a PLO state with Jerusalem as its capital. The six-month long campaign will, according to its sponsors, 'finance speaker tours, publications, and public opinion polls, among other things, to demonstrate broad support for the agreements.' Leave it to the dishonest Jewish left to plan public opinion polls whose results have been determined in advance. The most disturbing news, however, is that Peace Now has already received $300,000 in donations for the campaign, and expects to bring in one million dollars in all. If Jews are so devoted to the PLO's agenda can raise millions of dollars, then Jews who are devoted to Israel's well-being must do no less. Now is the time for friends of Israel to redouble their efforts on behalf of the Jewish State - before the left triumphs and Israel goes up in flames."

(Outpost, October 1993, page 2)

Israel will never go up in flames. The Lord will fight for them as "in the day of battle." (Zech. 14:1-3)

QUOTES: "During the 1930's, Albert Einstein and his wife fled Germany for the United States. They arrived in Princeton, New Jersey, where Dr. Einstein would take up a teaching and research position at the university. Their home was in the immediate neighborhood of Princeton Theological Seminary, a Presbyterian school. One of the seminary professors was planning a trip to Palestine in 1934 and he wondered if the great physicist could provide him with letters of introduction to Zionist friends or Biblical scholars in the Holy Land. When the professor's wife approached Mrs. Einstein with this request, she exclaimed: 'But my darling, I did not know you are Jews!' The professor's wife said they weren't, they were Christians. Mrs. Einstein then demanded earnestly, why did they wish to meet with Zionists or with Jewish leaders of any sort? The two of them had a long talk about the roots of Christian faith in the Old Testament. 'Besides,' the professor's wife said, 'Jesus was a Jew.' Mrs. Einstein's amazement increased: 'Never in my life has a Christian said that to me!' And she hugged the Christian lady affectionately. (J. R. Blackwood, 'The Einsteins as Princeton neighbors,'

(Princeton Seminary Bulletin, Vol. 3, 1980, p. 66)" (YASHAR, No. 24, April 1993, p. 8)

"THE GREAT 'PEACE' DECEPTION: SECRET. PLAN TO SPLIT JERUSALEM: The euphoria associated with the September 13 signing of the 'peace agreement' between Rabin and Arafat on the White House lawn, has quickly given way to dismay and deep dissatisfaction in vast sections of the Jewish, as well as the non-Jewish, community. The Labor-Meretz team had the element of total surprise in their favor in the beginning, for since all their negotiations - through shadowy leftists, some European, some Israeli - were carried on in stealth, no one had a chance to express criticism. In order to guarantee this secrecy, they did not consult military experts with responsibility for the security of Jews in Israel, and then they railroaded through terms and conditions, with total impunity, and without regard for public opinion. Their advantage of stealth and surprise, however, can no longer be maintained.

"The utter flaws in the peace plan are clear for all to see, especially as demonstrated by recent tragic events, not the least of them being the brutal murder in broad daylight of two Jewish youths near Jericho, an area allotted to the PLO. It does not take much logic to conclude that if such murders take place while the Jewish police and army are still in place, imagine how much more violence can be expected, G-d forbid, when they are removed and Jews are dependent on Palestinian 'police' recruited from the ranks of seasoned murderers and terrorists.

"Large groups are emerging which are totally opposed to the PLO deal as it stands today. These groups are growing daily and will soon be a very substantial factor to be reckoned with, not only in Israel, but in Washington, too.

"The Jerusalem Deception: While Rabin has been repeating his assurance that Jerusalem is not even on the agenda and will never be given up, a secret report is now leaking out, which tells us the opposite. The secret report covers a meeting aimed at formulating a 'Metropolitan Jerusalem,' composed of 17 experts in city planning, along with one representative of the Jewish National Fund (JNF) , Raanan Weiz, who was invited to give the main proposals.

"The meeting took place on September 7, a few days before the signing ceremony in Washington. Here are excerpts from this absolutely mind-boggling and shocking meeting:

"The meeting opened with a description of the need for fundamental changes in the city planning for Jerusalem 'on the heels of the political developments.' The plans call for new construction to house some 300,000 returning Arab refugees, and placing the Old City under international control."

(By Dr. Manfred R. Lehmann - B'nai B'rith Messenger)

"ADVERTISEMENT IN JERUSALEM POST TELL VISITING STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS: JERUSALEM NOT NEGOTIABLE: NEW YORK, NY - The team of State Department officials visiting Israel were greeted upon their arrival by a large advertisement in the Jerusalem Post headlined 'Jerusalem is Not Negotiable.'

"The advertisement was sponsored by American Jewish and Christian organizations that are critical of U.S. pressure on Israel and urge that all of Jerusalem remain under Israel sovereignty.

"The signatories included: The Zionist Organization of America, the Jewish War Veterans of the USA, Americans For a Safe Israel, the Coalition For Israel, B'rith Shalom, Poalei Agudath Israel of America, the Christians' Israel Political Action Campaign, the International Christian Embassy-Jerusalem, Christians United for Israel, Christian Evangelical Zionist Congress of America and the National Christian Leadership Conference for Israel.

"'All Israelis and all good friends of Israel abroad are united in the belief that all of Jerusalem must remain under exclusive Israeli sovereignty,' warns Herbert Zweibon, chairman of Americans For a Safe Israel. 'If the State Department intends to pressure Israel on the Jerusalem issue, it is setting the stage for a major confrontation between supporters of Israel and the Clinton administration.' Zweibon recalled that during the 1992 presidential campaign, both Bill Clinton and Al Gore expressed support for moving the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. 'What happened to that promise?' Zweibon asked."

(Las Vegas Israelite, July 23, 1993, p. 4)

"RABIN, 'HOOKED' IN A CHRISTOPHER-PLO-MUBARAK SCENARIO: Now that all the heads of the 184 UN delegations have spoken and enunciated their nations' foreign policies in the opening general debate, one can, to a certain extent, sum up where this World Organization stands on the major issues facing mankind - Yugoslavia, Iraq, Somalia, Libya, Cyprus, Haiti, etc., let alone the troublesome problems of finances, human rights, armaments, environment and a host of other problems bedeviling Secretary-General Boutros-Ghali, whose burdens and responsibilities are greater than any of those his predecessors had to bear. It stands almost deadlocked.

"This is something to which your correspondent can bear witness. Unfortunately, Mr. Boutros-Ghali is not receiving the support he is asking from the member states - financial and otherwise.

"But such are the eruptive Messianic times in which we live. And this brings us to the most troublesome spot on this planet - the Middle East - an issue, including Jerusalem, soon to be bitterly debated here at the UN when the items on 'Palestine and the Middle East' come up. These debates will now have a new meaning, since the recent Washington world-shaking event which saw President Clinton host and celebrate a 'reconciliation' between terrorist Yasir Arafat and Israel's Six-Day War hero Yitzhak Rabin. No one will ever forget that 'impossible' handshake.

"'Never forget?' Indeed! The original euphoria it created is vanishing - "Because things are not turning out as had been expected from that American-sponsored handshake.

"Violence still continues – both PLO and Hamas murderers are killing innocent Israelis, and not all the Arabs are joining the PLO bandwagon; the boycott of Israel remains in force while Arafat's promises are not being kept. In one of this writer's columns last month, entitled 'A Messianic Eruption? Yes! But … ' I stated: "Despite Arafat's commitments made before the world, this writer has not changed his view. 'G-d works in mysterious ways, His wonders to perform.' And we have here such a 'wonder.' The wonder lies in the fact that Rabin and Peres agreed to turn Gaza and Jericho over to Arafat and PLO, giving the former murderer of Israeli men, women and children, the courage to publicly declare that his PLO flag will fly over Jerusalem in the future. This action by Peres and Rabin, 'traitorous' in the eyes of many lovers of Zion, is a 'wonder' because it will undoubtedly lead to the fulfillment of prophecy relating to a final conflict depicted in Zechariah, chapter 14 and Ezekiel 38-39. This is Messianism. Zechariah speaks about nations going to battle against Jerusalem 'only to find their grave there.'

"This writer was not alone in questioning Arafat's sincerity. He was joined by other journalists, including Bill Safire of the New York Times and colleagues of THE JEWISH PRESS who voiced dismay at the great deception being played out. In a talk with ShimonPeres, Safire got Rabin's man to confess that the PLO and the Arabs are not living up to their commitments. 'We view peace as a process of give and take.' Safire is quoting Peres as having told him: 'Israel has given, it decided to stop settlements. The Arabs said they would put an end to the boycott in return. Israel lived up to its commitments. The Arabs did not. The Arabs then argued that - should Israel recognize the PLO - they would stop turning their back on Israel. No such thing happened … '

 "This is Shimon Peres speaking, as cited by Safire. In brief, therefore, the Gaza- Jericho peace agreement is a failure and it is incumbent upon Israel to institute new elections.

"What prompted your correspondent to refer to the UN general debate at this critical time, following, the latest Russian 'revolution-a-la-Yeltsin,' was a prominent A.P. photo published on the front page of The New York Times on October 7, captioned 'Israeli- Palestinian Talks Begun in Cairo.' It caught the three, Hosni Mubarak, Arafat and Rabin, in a tell-tale and most revealing posture. Their facial expressions spoke volumes.

"Mubarak, in the center and turning to Rabin, is holding his hands out in a sort of begging gesture as if to say: 'Come on now, Yitzhak, let well enough alone, Arafat knows what he is doing.' Giving the impression of a person hooked and licked, Rabin, with his hands tightly clasped over his crossed legs, appears stunned and dumb. As for Arafat himself, sitting comfortable at the right of Mubarak in a sort of self-righteous mood, with his hands held tight to the sofa, proudly grins as if to say: 'At last, thanks to Christopher and Mubarak, we've got Israel where we wanted them and, in addition, we are helped to dwarf the Jewish State with two billion dollars of aid from the U.S., the West and others.'

"Safire's revelation should give the Labor Party much to be concerned about."

(By David Horowitz of the UN Press - The Jewish Press, October 22, 1993)

"THE DAY OF JERUSALEM - Luke 21:24: 'And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.'

"Jerusalem, the city of peace, has in fact witnessed wars and desolations more than any other city. Quite honestly, given her locality and sad history, she should not be in existence. The lesson of history clearly reveals this. No other city has suffered so many desolations and wars, and survived. Jerusalem has been and is now a thriving city of some 600,000 people. Indeed at the turn of the century no one would have believed that she would ever again become the possession of King David's ancient people. Yet in 1967 against all odds she again became the possession of her rightful owners. This too is a miracle and it is wonderful in our eyes.

"THE DAY OF PRESERVATION - Jeremiah 31:35-36: 'Thus saith Jehovah, who giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and the stars for a light by night, who stirreth up the sea, so that the waves thereof roar; Jehovah of hosts is his name: if these ordinances depart from me, saith Jehovah, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me forever.'

"The survival of the Jewish people in the Diaspora [dispersion] and in their ancient home land is also a miracle without precedent.

"Nevertheless, Israel is still with us and will continue to be. This is another miracle and it is a testimony to the eternal God of Israel.

"At no time in history has Israel soil bloomed and blossomed as it does today … This too is an unprecedented miracle and those, like the writer, who have seen it, can only marvel at the accuracy of the prophetic Word."

(CIA Newsletter - 2nd Quarter 1993)

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We wish for all our readers that they will grow in Grace and Knowledge of the Lord for a blessed New Year, as "The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day." (Prov. 4:18)

ANNOUNCEMENT: The date of our Memorial is March 24, 1994, after six p.m.

NO. 451A: RETROSPECT AND PROSPECT - PART ONE

No. 451A

At the beginning of another year we reflect upon our experiences of the past year, thank God and give praises to Him for the blessings bestowed upon us. In the words of David: "Praise ye the Lord: for it is good to sing praises unto God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely." (Psa. 147:1) "Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!" (Psa. 107:31)

During the year past many have endured much sorrow and heartache due to the flooding, tornadoes, earthquakes and riots, with armed conflict and much bloodshed in many countries. We "weep with them that weep" with heartfelt sympathy for those in the stricken areas, and especially do we sympathize with those who have lost their loved ones and homes. It has been a rugged and hazardous time for all who have endured these disasters. It has brought out the best in many people who have gone to help the needy in these areas. Sad to say, it has brought out the worst in some people, leading to rioting and looting. God beholds the good and the evil. "Verily there is a reward for the righteous." (Psa. 58:11)

Crime has escalated the world over with murder, rape, thievery, bank robberies, etc.Law enforcement officers are doing their best to protect us, with some losing their lives in pursuit of criminals. Our prisons are already overloaded with criminals that are caught. Drive-by shootings by those who have no regard for life, makes no one feel safe in their homes, their cars, or in the streets.

The brighter side is for us to look forward to the Kingdom when our Lord will bring peace and safety to the people (Acts 17:31). Man cannot bring about peace and safety, but our Lord can and will. He taught us to pray, "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." (Matt. 6:10) Our prayers are not in vain, for "He is faithful that promised." (Heb. 10:23)

There are so many religious systems of error in this "evil day." (Eph. 6:13) We are living in the day when people are not able to "endure sound doctrine." (2 Tim. 4:3) In Luke 18:8 the Lord indicated that the faith (the Truth) will be scarce in our day. He also promises that "Heaven and earth shall pass away [the present ruling power], but my words shall not pass away." (Matt. 24:35) So we know that His Word abides with some.

"For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come." (Hab. 2: 3) So "we hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord." (Lam. 3:26) "For then will I turn to the people a pure language [unadulterated Truth, which all will understand], that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve him with one consent." (Zeph. 3:9) All of us that believe in God's promises have good tidings of great joy, and it is great joy to those who have an "ear to hear." The whole world in the Kingdom will be recipients of the "good tidings of great joy" (Luke 2:10) and of "peace, good will toward men." (v. 14) In that Kingdom "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 that cover the sea." (Isa. 11:9) "Yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness." (Isa. 26:9)

"ITALY'S 'VELVET REVOLUTION' IS TURNING UGLY: Ever since a two-bit political hack in Milan was caught trying to flush $4,400 in bribe money down his toilet 18 months ago, Italians have been loudly cheering the country's sweeping anticorruption campaign. Italy's 'velvet revolution' seemed to promise a smooth transition from an entrenched and corrupt system to a clean, transparent democracy.

"But the euphoria is turning to confusion and trauma. Many Italians took the suicides of two of their most important business figures in late July to mean the process may be out of control and becoming ugly. First came the shocking death of 67-year-old Gabriele Cagliari, former chairman of the huge, state-owned energy combine ENI. He was found in his jail cell with a plastic bag over his head on July 20. Then, 72 hours later, Raul Gardini, 60, Italy's top financial wizard of the 1980s, blew his brains out in his 18th century mansion in Milan.

"The growing sense of unease was heightened by the three car bombs that rocked Rome and Milan on July 28, killing five people and badly damaging deeply prized historic monuments. While it is unclear who was responsible for these explosions and for bombings earlier this year, they are seen as a violent protest against the investigations. Throughout Europe, they are also viewed as warning signals that Italy could return to the dark days of terrorism of the 1970s.

"'Bribesville.' Italians are now wondering out loud whether the country can take much more of this national psychodrama. But the agony is likely to continue many more months - if not years - as the complex political and economic upheaval triggered by the investigations rumbles ahead.

"Prosecutors continue to unearth evidence of outrageous corruption... Similar revelations have already destroyed the careers of hundreds of leading politicians and businessmen and brought about the sharp decline of the Socialists and Christian Democrats who have governed Italy since 1946. But new political structures and leaders have not yet appeared to fill the vacuum. In fact, parliamentarians, 20% of whom are under investigation, are using their power to block serious reform.

"Tax Revolt. New elections are likely to be held by year end, but they will not necessarily provide solutions ... The League's recent calls for an anti-Rome tax revolt are adding to the central government's woes. Property-tax increases of as much as 500% this year are-stoking Boosi’s appeal even if many Italians find the League’s chief idealogue,  Gianfranco Miglio, recently sneered at the Italian elite.

"The rest of Europe is watching with trepidation as the Italian situation unravels. One witticism often heard in European political circles is that Yugoslavia is the plague outside the borders - while Italy is the cancer within. An exaggeration, perhaps, but finding a cure is going to be long and difficult."

(By John Rossant in Rome - Business Week, August 9, 1993)

Not only Europe is watching how the Italian situation unravels, some of us in the United States are watching the Italian situation, especially Bible Students.

"GERMANY IS ON A ROLL - DOWNHILL: For months, the German government has been assuring citizens that the recession gripping the nation was ending. But the confident talk has stopped. In late October, Germans were buffeted by a string of frightening reports of mounting job layoffs, falling output, and declining consumer spending. That forced a chastened Chancellor Helmut Kohl to admit the obvious: The bottom is still not in sight.

"The most dramatic job losses are occurring at Volkswagen, Europe's biggest carmaker. It announced on Oct. 25 that it will go to a four-day work week next year to cut costs - a move that signifies another crack in Germany's social pact, as unions are forced to make unprecedented concessions. VW's new cutback follows an agreement with its unions to eliminate 15,000 jobs.

"Of course, Germany's neighbors also are eyeing export growth to boost their economies, and many of them have an edge in the form of depreciated currencies. That's why a weaker mark may be inevitable if Germany is to get back on its feet.

"When Germany's veteran leader sounds worried, when its top auto maker slashes jobs, and when its rigid central bank even hints that the vaunted German mark might have to come down a peg, you know the economy's in bad shape. But if Germany doesn't swallow its pride and make some drastic changes, better times will be a long time in coming."

(By John Templeman with Bill Javetski - Business Week, November 8, 1993)

IN FINANCE

In Daniel 2: 34,35 we have the prophecy of the metallic image and how it was destroyed; and in verse 44 it is mentioned that the present order of things would be replaced by God's Kingdom which would never be destroyed. The present order of things is deteriorating rapidly.

However, we will consider this deterioration from the Financial aspect. The stock market has been "churning" during the past year due to uncertainties. The public has been pouring billions into mutual funds. People want to invest with a minimum of risk and keep ahead of inflation. There are now 4300 mutual funds. Money in mutual funds has doubled in three years.

The average American is concerned about his or her job. The layoff statistics are relentless with each week bringing news of additional thousands of layoffs.

One of the biggest issues before the Americans is the national debt. In a recent best seller, Bankruptcy 1995, the author presents the facts to show that, unless we reverse the "tax and spend" policy of our government, by 1995 we will be bankrupt. Many will say, "We will never payoff the national debt." Politicians say, "Yes we wil1." It will be paid off with newly freshly minted legal tender paper dollars with lowered purchasing power. In the final analysis, all paper money will be measured against gold. Gold is the ultimate standard - the final measure of money.

All debts must ultimately be settled. Debt can be paid off but can also be reneged (bankruptcy) or forgiven as the U.S.. did for Egypt.

Regarding the proposed health care program one writer of a popular newsletter says, "The President may have achieved in one bill something that could finally bankrupt the government and destroy the greatest medical care system in the world. We are back in the old game of promise stuff we can't deliver."

Another well known and respected newsletter writer states, "Altogether, the .U.S. government IOUs in the form of U.S. Treasury Bonds, Notes and Bills add up to some $4.3 trillion. And as candidate Ross Perot was fond of telling us the interest on these IOUs is mounting fast. At the current rate of growth, by 1995 it will take the income taxes of all American citizens just to pay the interest. By that time, nearly all operations of the federal government will have to be financed with more debt." More comment from this writer: "It doesn't take a genius to see that the federal debt can't and won't be paid off. Nor does it take a rocket scientist to see that things can't continue going in this same direction for 'very long.'"

It has been known for sometime that the government has the facilities to produce "New Money." Originally they called the New Money an anti-counterfeiting measure. But private counterfeiting is dwindling (not counting the Federal Reserve). Now they claim the New Money will rob launderers and drug dealers, but the prime target is you. The politicians and bureaucrats want to tax and control every dime the middle class has and the New Money will make it possible.

While the immediate prospect is one of gloom and doom, we have the Word of the Lord that assures us that the present evil order must be removed before the dawning of that Day for which we have been praying for so long, Thy Kingdom Come. "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you." (James 4:8)        (Contributed)

1994 will show how the new tax rate will affect the economy. The fears are that the tax bite will hurt the economy. The wealthy will pay much of the new tax. Not since the early 1920' s have peace time tax rates on individuals been raised so dramatically. Large, major companies are laying off people and cutting back. Also there is the worry about NAFTA. Only time will tell how that will affect the u.s. government. A good example is the u.s. ship builder's merchant fleet, which since 1960 has shrunk from 900 ships to 300 ships. Two large cargo carriers, CXX and Sealand, have asked the Department of Transportation for approval to operate their main vessels under authority of other countries. Sealand said it would cost so much for insurance and maintenance along with the strong, stringent safety regulations of the U.S.A. that it would make it difficult to compete with foreign vessels.

1994 is a difficult year to predict. There is no reason for the country to be laying off people. The stock market is high; gold prices are down; the economy is like a ship without a rudder. With companies cutting back one would think that there is going to be a recession, but the stock market is still up. However, the stock market can came down awfully fast as it did in the 1930's.

IN RELIGION

LUTHERANS: "Lutheran report urges church to accept a wider sense of sexuality: Masturbation is healthy, the Bible supports homosexual unions and teaching teens how to use condoms to prevent disease is a moral imperative, says a task force leading the nation's largest Lutheran body into the sex wars.

"Four years in the making, a draft statement going before the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America declares that the core of human sexuality should be loving, committed relationships - and not limited to heterosexual marriages.

"The report begins with a confession that the church has too often overlooked 'the created goodness of sexuality.' For example, the task force urges people to learn the pleasures of masturbation.

"It cited sex education including the use of condoms as a 'moral imperative' and said 'responsible biblical interpretation' strongly supports the acceptance and even the blessing of committed same-sex unions.

"The report attacks adultery, promiscuity, sexual abuse, prostitution, anti-gay violence, pornography and the exploitation of sexuality in advertising and entertainment. 'This is not anything goes. There are some things we stand against,' the Rev. Karen Bloomquist, director of the sexuality study, said Tuesday."

(Excerpts from The Orlando Sentinel, October 20, 1993)

It seems the Lutherans should have cited the Scriptures that teach "responsible biblical interpretation" which strongly supports the acceptance and even the blessing of committed same-sex unions.

The Bible says, "Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is an abomination." (Lev. 18:22)

"And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves recommence of their error which was meet." (Rom. 1:27)

"For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature." (Rom. 1:26)

It is sad to note that some of the churches in Christendom have discarded much of the Bible, and claim that such immorality is approved of God and that they have Scriptural support for their gross errors.

BAPTISTS: "Baptists' estimate of doomed souls stirs up controversy: A church estimate of people in Alabama who won't get into heaven angers many believers.

"Birmingham, Ala. - Only God knows who gets to heaven, but Southern Baptists estimate 46.1 percent of people in Alabama are bound for hell unless they change their ways.

"Since the figure from in-house church research on potentially doomed souls was made public, however, it has been Baptists who have felt the fire.

"The Southern Baptist Convention's county-by-county breakdown of who's bound for heaven and who isn't – unless they are born again and accept Jesus Christ as their savior – hit The Birmingham News on September 5. It's been the buzz in some Alabama pews since.

"Under the headline: 'Baptists count the lost,' the front-page story included a detailed map and box listing the 1.86 million 'unsaved' in precise percentages by county. But some of the faithful, Baptists as well as others, are incensed.

"'It is the pinnacle of presumptuousness to construct a formula for quantifying the unsaved,' Jack Denver of Homewood, a self-described 'practicing Christian,' wrote in a letter that was among about a dozen the newspaper published from irate readers.

"The study took each county's population and subtracted from it membership of all churches. After that, Baptist researchers used a secret formula to estimate how many people from different denominations and faiths were probably going to heaven.

"King said estimates of the unsaved from other creeds were based on how closely those groups' beliefs matched Southern Baptist doctrine. That means, for instance, that a higher percentage of Methodists are saved than are Roman Catholics.

"The index applied the traditional Baptist view that Jews, Hindus, Buddhists and members of other non-Christian religion's are not saved, the paper said.

"The Rev. Thomas Rainer, pastor of the Green Valley Baptist Church in Hoover, said he was amazed by the fuss. 'It has a good motive behind it, and that is not one of judging, but of teaching.' he said."

(Excerpts from the Associated Press)

It would be wise for the Baptists and other denominations to search the Scriptures for answers instead of their creeds. Acts 15:14 tells us that God is selecting a people for His Name during the Gospel Age. He is not selecting denominations, only individuals, for the purpose of blessing the world during the Kingdom. At present "The god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them." (2 Cor. 4:4) The Scriptures tell us that "God is love." Would a God of love torture them that "believe not" when He permitted the "god of this-world" to blind them that believe not? "For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all." (Rom. 11:32) That mercy is future, "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)

Hell in the Old Testament is translated 31 times from the Hebrew word sheol which means oblivion, or the death state. However, the word sheol is found in the Old Testament 65 times. It is translated hell thirty-one times, grave thirty-one times and pit three times. "The dead know not anything." (Ecc. 9:5)

In the New Testament the word hell occurs 23 times. Eleven times it is translated from the Greek word hades, which is identical in meaning with the Hebrew word sheol. "The wages of sin is death" (Rom. 6:23), and "the soul that sinneth it shall die." (Ezek. 18:20) Jesus' soul was not left in hell - the death state (Acts 2:27). "And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written~ There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob." (Rom. 11:26) Not only Israel, but the whole world will be saved from the Adamic-Death, as all will be resurrected in the Kingdom. (John 5:28,29 and Acts 24:15)

Many of our readers know these things but some of them may not. So these things are written for their admonition. "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved" (John 3:17) in the Kingdom. All who obey will be saved: "And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear [obey] that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people." (Acts 3:23) Life is a blessing and death is a punishment. "Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away everyone of you from his iniquities." (Acts 3:26) The High Calling was "to the Jew first." He then visited the Gentiles to pick out a people for His Name. The name wasn't Baptist nor any other denomination but His Name.

"HEAVEN AND HELL: Alabama census of lost souls counts who's going where. The Southern Baptist in Alabama know exactly how many state citizens are going to hell and sent out a press release to say so.

"When the media message didn't go over big with some of the designated sinners, the Baptists blamed the whole business on the messenger.

"'It has amazed me how few Southern Baptists are willing to stand by their beliefs and not defend them,' says Greg Garrison, the newspaper reporter who first wrote about an audacious Baptist study called 'The Saved and The Lost.'

"Garrison reported that the 'church research found 46.1 percent of Alabamians were 'lost,' that is, 'unsaved,' ipso facto, hell bound.

"On its front page, The Birmingham News used the Baptists' 'entire statistical compendium' to illustrate Garrison's story with a county-by-county breakdown of sheep and goats. In other words, the newspaper used the Baptists' own rope to hang 'em.

"Using a secret formula to compute 'the lost,' the Baptist evidently began with the 25 percent state base of Southern Baptists. One can only assume most of them made the cut.

"Then, the other kinds of Baptists - Missionary, Primitive, etc, - were counted and considered, as well as mainstream Protestant denominations like Methodist, Presbyterian and Lutheran.

"'The farther you get away from the Baptist doctrine, the fewer 'saved' you had,' explained Garrison, a mild-mannered veteran of the religious beat who thus far has been approached by angry preachers, the BBC and 'Harpers' magazine about his story.

"By the time Alabama's Catholics, Jews and Hindus were counted, it's a good guess that the Baptist bus bound for heaven was full. No room at the inn. Outta here.

"Well, well, it's one thing to presume such a study, but it's quite another to see it illustrated on the front page and written about in plain language. Thus began the shouting - and the Baptist retreat.

"The study was supposed to be used internally only, the Baptists declared, to help churches know where to stress evangelical outreach. The Baptist Home Mission Board did the study in all states, but only Alabama Baptists made the mistake of announcing it. (I suspect it'll disappear altogether after this hubbub.)

"One pastor telephoned and chastised Garrison for 'making' the Baptist look 'judgmental.' Not all Baptists even believe in a literal hell, he said. Saving souls is the whole point, he insisted.

"I grew up in the Southern Baptist church and: believe me, for Baptists, going to hell was as real as going to Tallahassee. One of us is mistaken about the theology.

"And what exactly are you saving people from, if not hell, Garrison, asked the preacher.'Baptists need to come to grips with their own theology,' he concludes.

"Garrison also denies he sensationalized or skewed the study results. After all 46.1 percent is pretty exact and reflects somebody's willingness to make a judgment call. The lost-and-found may be secret, but it sure exists.

"Southern Baptists were different when I was a girl. That is, they were more like all other denominations. Sure, they believed in heaven and hell, lost and saved, but it had nothing to do with political parties or statistical breakdowns. We went to church, heard a sermon, and then mixed it up with the Methodists at Morrison's Cafeteria.

"Baptists today are forever whining that they are portrayed as intolerant. Maybe it's because they are intolerant. You cannot commission a study to decide who is saved and who is lost without somebody, somewhere taking offense at the labels. Especially those told they're going to hell. Especially after you send out a press release."

(By Rheta Grimsley Johnson, a syndicated columnist - The Island Packet, Sept. 27, 1993)

As for going to hell, all will go to hell, the good and the bad. God told Adam he would die in the day he ate the forbidden fruit. A day with the Lord is 1,000 years (2 Peter 3:8), and Adam died at the age of 930, within the thousand-year day. We inherited that curse from Adam. Death is a sleep. All are asleep in Jesus, as they will all be resurrected (John 5:28,29 and Acts 24:15). When our Lord said to go to all nations and make disciples, He meant for us to disciple all who were "of the truth." (John 18:37) This is a Faith Age, the Kingdom is a Work's Age (Rev. 20:12; 22:12). We are Judged now by our Faith, altho we demonstrate our faith by our works. In the Kingdom people will have faith, but will be judged by their work - the work of obeying "that prophet" (Acts 3:23). But this obedience from the heart will give them eternal life on this earth, when His will is done in the earth as it is in heaven.

JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES: The December 1993 Watchtower treats on humility, and cites Pastor Russell as their first president who was-humble. Also, they cited Rutherford, their second president as demonstrating his humility about the 1925 debacle. When time proved his predications were false, he had no other choice but to apologize for his mistake, as all knew his predictions were false. They cite the humility that their presidents have manifested up to their present one. They mentioned the six volumes of the Studies in the Scriptures, which they abandoned completely and no longer use in their study meetings. The reason for not using these volumes is because the JWs teachings do not resemble anything Pastor Russell taught. All their predictions of the future have been false, so their presidents were forced to appear humble when they apologized for their mistakes. It was apparent to all when time itself revealed their false predictions. Many have concluded that their organization's teachings are unreliable and their claim to be God's organization is false, for God makes no mistakes.

The November 1993 Watchtower continues to claim that Jehovah is God's Name, while we all know it is a hybrid obtained by adding vowels to YHVH. Jehovah was not used for the Creator until 1520 when it was introduced by Galatinus. Since that time the name Jehovah has been recognized by all Christendom, as well as by Bible Students. See our No. 447 paper, September 1993 for further details on the name Jehovah.

Jehovah's Witnesses is a sectarian name selected for their followers after Brother Russell's demise to distinguish themselves from Bible Students. Bible Students is used by all groups who to this day still use Brother Russell's books in their class studies, and is the proper name for all who are seeking to abide by God's inspired word. The sectarian name Jehovah's Witnesses is condemnatory of themselves.

In the November 1, 1993 Watchtower, there is this: "Without any doubt at all, it was the small body of anointed brothers of Jesus who in 1914 were known as Bible Students but since 1931 have been identified as Jehovah's Witnesses. (Isaiah 43: 10) Only they have publicized the restored Kingdom in the line of David. (Matthew 24:14) Only they have remained separate from the world and magnified Jehovah's [a mongrel expression] name. (John 17:6,14) And only on them have Bible prophecies [false prophecies] relating to God's people in the last days been fulfilled. Among these prophecies is the series of prophetic periods listed in Daniel chapter 12 that includes the 1,335 days that would bring happiness." (P. 9, column 1, par. 1)

"Who would represent on earth the restored Davidic Kingdom? Not Daniel's fleshly brothers, the Jews. They had been rejected because they lacked faith and stumbled over the Messiah. (Romans 9:31-33) In no way was the faithful slave found in the organizations of Christendom! Their wicked works proved that Jesus did not know them. (Matthew 7: 21-23) (November 1, 1993 Watchtower, pp. 8, 9)

The Jews have been returned to Israel as God promised them. The New Covenant will be made with the Jews after the Lord cleanses them. Jeremiah 31:31 proves that. In Jacob's last trouble He will fight for them as "in the day of battle" (Zech. 14:1-3).

The Witnesses have followed some of the nominal churches who claim they are under the New Covenant - having replaced the Jews. It is strange that they make much ado about the errors in the nominal people, but embrace many of their errors. These churches claim that they are God's Kingdom by their acts of trying to save all now while Satan is the god of this world. The Witnesses are doing the same, by claiming to be God's Kingdom.

PINT-SIZE PEDDLERS: If they're barely tall enough to reach the doorbell, why are they there at all? I opened the front door and looked out - make that down. Two little girls in blue jeans …couldn't have been older than 8 or 9 ... A week later when Girl Scouts came to my door … It's not that I don't empathize with the Girl Scouts' need to raise money... But what I take offense at is the soliciting is being done by kids. Whether the product is cookies, raffle tickets or Watchtower pamphlets, using children as miniature sales ploys seems unfair to both the kids and the adults they're entreating.

"Sure, when the peddler is a small child I feel particularly mean and crotchety for saying no. I say it gently, and hope they don't take it personally. Nevertheless, the bottom line is, tots shouldn't be sent out to do grown-ups' work. And when they are, I don't choose to support the practice." (By Paula Spencer - Woman's Day, July 20, 1993)

"DEAD END FOR THE MAINLINE? Religion: The mightiest Protestants are running out of money. members and meaning. To join it, one would never know that the Community Church of Joy in Glendale, Ariz., is Lutheran - or that Pastor Walther Kallestad had been educated in a traditional Lutheran family, college and seminary. From the Steven Spielberg-like Sunday-school gimmicks to the generic, Amy Grant music at worship services, everything is designed to 'meet the needs' of his nondenominational baby boomers. 'Be quick' is the first commandment. Moving faster than a Wendy's at lunch hour, the Church of Joy needs only five minutes to distribute communion to 1,000 worshipers. Still Pastor Kallestad insists, 'It's a very meaningful moment for our people.' Sermons take a bit longer because Terey Summers, Arizona's Actress of the Year, likes to stage skits in the sanctuary instead of having ministers preach from the pulpit. 'People today aren't interested in traditional doctrines like justification, sanctification and redemption,' the pastor has concluded.

"Whatever it is, it works. The Church of Joy has over 6,000 members and another 6,000 who participate in the more than 100 recovery and other special-interest programs that keep the church doors turning seven days a week. That's not what Martin Luther may have had in mind when he set out to reform Christianity - but that's the point. There's a new Reformation in American religion, and this time it is not the Church of Rome but Lutheran and other mainline Protestant denominations that are under siege. Like the officers of beleaguered IBM and other seemingly solid American institutions, the leaders of the once robust Protestant establishment face the loss of brand name loyalty.

"Aging flocks: For 25 consecutive years, liberal Protestantism's seven-sister denominations have watched their collective membership decline. Although the number of Protestants in general is growing - an evangelical church is opening somewhere almost daily-the mainline denominations are not. They now account for just 24 percent of the American population. Their flocks are aging, their budgets shrinking. Morale is low. Many local congregations are rejecting control by denominational leaders and cutting back on funds to support their national programs. From every angle, mainline Protestantism is gripped by crisis; of identity and loyalty, membership and money, leadership and organization, culture and belief.

"Across the mainline this summer, there's a mood of embattled introspection. The Bishops on the United Methodist Church's Executive Committee pushed aside their position papers and for three hours simply searched their souls. 'What does it mean to be a United Methodist?' they asked each other ... 'Churches without any self-understanding lose members,' acknowledges the Rev. Jim Andrews, head of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), which recently eliminated 175 staff positions for lack of sufficient funds from its declining flock.

"Now they are struggling to define themselves in a world where adjectives like 'Methodist' or 'Presbyterian' no longer mean anything to most Americans."

A footnote in this article says: "The Episcopal Church, The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the United Methodist Church, the American Baptist Churches, the United Church of Christ, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America: Presbyterian Membership 1965: 4.2 million, Membership 1992: 2.8 million; American Baptist Membership 1965: 1.3 million, Membership 1993: 1.2 million; Lutheran Membership 1965: 5.7 million, Membership 1992: 5.2 million."

(By Kenneth L. Woodward - Newsweek, August 9, 1993)

God is taking out a people for His Name (Acts 15: 14) to bless the world in His Kingdom (Acts 17:31). He is not selecting Lutherans, Presbyterians, Catholics and Baptists. However, there may have been some in all the churches. God knows who are His (2 Tim. 2:19). We want our names written in heaven. We are not anxious to get our name on church books. However, in times past they did a lot of good, and had members that God recognized as His own. But now it seems that members and money are getting scarce with many of them. Religion is a big business these days; When people fail in other things, a few of them resort to religion with many of them successful in getting money they couldn't otherwise get.

NO. 450: “THE PRINCE OF PEACE”

No. 450

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

Even though Christmas day is not the real anniversary of our Lord’s birth, but more properly an annunciation day or date of His human begetting (Luke 1:28), nevertheless, since the celebration of our Lord’s birth is not a matter of Divine appointment or injunction, but merely a tribute of respect to Him, it is not necessary for us to quibble particularly about the date. We can join with the civilized world in celebrating the grand event on the day which the majority celebrate “Christmas Day.” The lesson for the occasion is a most happy choice, fitting well to the series of lessons it follows.

“THE PRINCE OF PEACE”

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end.” (Isa. 9:6,7)

The standpoint of the Prophet in Isa. 9:2‑7 is the dawn of the Millennial Age, and in v. 2, “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light.” The reference here is to the world of mankind, all of whom will at that time recognize the presence of the Lord and His kingdom established; for it is written that “every eye shall see him” (Rev. 1:7) The world that has walked in the darkness of ignorance and superstition for six thousand years will then begin to see the glorious light of truth and righteousness, and in the earthly phase of the kingdom they will see the grand illustrations and rewards of righteousness.

They that dwell in the land of the shadow of death (i.e., fleshly Israel under the condemnation of their Law Covenant), “a light shineth brightly over them.” Yes, the light will shine with special brilliancy upon fleshly Israel: then their blindness will be turned away and the favors of the new dispensation will again be – “to the Jew first, and also (afterward) to the Gentile;” and thru the secondary instrumentality of the fleshly seed of Abraham shall all the nations of the world be blessed. The Ancient Worthies of that nation will be the visible rulers of the world, and their new work will begin at Jerusalem, bringing order out of confusion, peace out of discord and making Jerusalem a praise in the whole world. It was with reference to this that the Prophet wrote again, saying: “Arise, give light, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is shining forth over thee. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people; but over thee the Lord will shine forth, and his glory will be seen over thee. And nations shall walk by thy light, and kings by the brightness of thy shining… And the sons of the stranger shall build up thy walls, and their kings shall minister unto thee.” (Isa. 60:1‑3,10)

“Thou hast multiplied the nation (Israel – a reference to their gathering together again as a nation after the long dispersion of nearly two thousand years as fugitives among all the nations; and also to their reinforcement by the resurrection of their Ancient Worthies and heroes), made great their joy: they rejoice before thee as with joy in harvest, as men are glad when they divide the spoil.” (Isa. 9:3) Such, indeed, will be the joy of Israel when the blessings of their restoration to Divine favor begin to be realized.

“For the yoke of their burden, and the staff on their shoulder, the rod of their oppressor (the heavy burdens of oppression imposed upon them and the persecutions inflicted by their Gentile enemies during the long period of their blindness and exile), hast thou broken, as on the day of Midian – when a great victory was won for them by Gideon’s little band of 300 under the Lord’s direction, without bloodshed and without strife. (Judges 7:1‑23) Even so shall it be when the Lord shall again fight for Israel; it will not be by their own power that the victory of the final battle will be secured. (See Ezek. 38:11, 15, 23 – also compare verse 4 with Ezek. 39:8‑15)

Isa, 9:6: Why is all this return of Divine favor to Israel? Is it because of worthiness in them? Surely not; for to this day they are a stiff‑necked people, and their blindness and hardness of heart continue, although we are within only a few more years of the time all these things shall be fulfilled. The reason for it is that the Lord hath remembered His Covenant with their fathers (Lev. 26:42,45; Jer. 31:34), and that in fulfillment of that Covenant a child has been born unto them who was destined to be a light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of Israel; and now (at the time indicated in the prophecy) “the government is placed upon his shoulders.” Dimly this light of the world shone upon Israel at the First Advent of Messiah; but when “the light shined in the darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.” (John 1:5) “He came unto his own, but his own received him not.” (verse 11) It is only at the Second Advent that they recognize Him as the promised seed of Abraham and their long‑looked for Messiah. They shall look upon Him whom they have pierced, and shall mourn for Him. (Zech. 12:10)

“And his name is called Wonderful (What a wonder indeed to Israel specially, that the despised Nazarene, the man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, whom they hated and crucified and reviled, even to this day, was indeed their Messiah, and they knew Him not. What a wonder, too, to them specially, will be the forgiving love that so meekly bore their reproaches and sacrificed even unto death to redeem them from the curse of the Law, and that now returns to restore and bless them’ Wonderful, wonderful love, wonderful condes­cension and grace, and wonderful exaltation and glory and power!) Counselor (not counselor of the mighty God, as some translators rendered it; for Paul significantly inquires concerning Jehovah, “Who hath been his counselor?” (Rom. 11:34) He needed no counselor, but poor fallen humanity does need such a wise counselor, and He will teach them and they shall walk in His ways. (Isa. 2:3) The mighty God (“a Savior and a great one” – Isa. 19:20), The Everlasting Father (the new life‑giver to our dead race – the second Adam – 1 Cor. 15:46). The Prince of Peace (whose glorious reign shall be one of righteousness, bringing with it all the blessed fruits of righteousness – peace and joy and satisfaction and everlasting rest).

And in verse 7 of Isaiah Chapter 9: His dominion shall increase until all things are subdued under Him. It shall extend, not only to the ends of the earth, but eventually all things in heaven and in earth are to be united under His headship as the representative of Jehovah, who would have all men honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. (Psa. 72:7; Eph. 1:10; John 5:23)

“The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.” (Isa. 37:32) Such is Jehovah’s purpose, and thus He declares that it shall be accomplished; and our hearts leap for joy as we realize, not only the glorious import of this prophecy, but also the fact that the time is at hand, and that a score or so of years future will see the kingdom established and its blessings beginning.

The common interpretation of this prophecy regards it as fulfilled upon Israel at the First Advent, and the Kingdom of God as established then in the Gospel Church; and the great increase in the numbers and powers of the nominal church of all denominations, Papal and Protestant, as the predicted increase of Christ’s government. (v.7)

Such a fulfillment would not be worthy of the record. Christ does not reign in Christendom; its general character is anti‑ Christian. The only sense in which Christ’s kingdom was begun at the First Advent was in its embryo condition; and this, the only true kingdom of Christ in the world, has, like the Lord, been unrecognized in the world, except, like Him, to be despised and forsaken and to suffer violence. Its numbers have always been small and its circumstances humble; for not many rich and great, etc., are called. (1 Cor. 1:26‑29; Jas. 2:5)

Nor did the nation of Israel at the First Advent see or comprehend the light of Christ, nor did He at that time break their yoke or deliver them from the rod of their oppressor; for in consequence of their failure to recognize the light when it began to shine upon them, they were blinded, the rod of the oppressor came upon them with increased force and they have never yet been relieved, nor will they be until their Messiah is recognized as having come again, a Second Time; this time without a sin‑offering unto salvation. (Heb. 9:28)

Let us rejoice for them and for all mankind that the blessed day is nigh, even at the door. Rightly viewed, this prophecy is full of rapturous inspiration.

JACOB’S RESCUE NEAR

But evidently the Prophet’s vision, while it glanced upon the preaching of our Lord and the apostles in Galilee, and glanced down thru the Gospel Age and noted how this light glinted here and there as a wonderful “lamp,” never­theless rested not until it reached the very end of this Age. There in prophetic vision Isaiah seems to see the end of Jacob’s trouble – Israel’s deliverance from the blindness that has been upon her, her acceptance of the Lord as the Messiah the time mentioned by another prophet, when the Lord would pour upon them the spirit of prayer and supplication and they should look upon Him whom they had pierced and mourn for Him – at the time mentioned by the Apostle Paul, when the fullness of the Gentiles having come in (the full number of the Gentiles to complete the elect number of the church), Divine mercy shall go forth from the church to bless the world and shall first of all rest upon Israel according to the flesh, “They shall obtain mercy thru your mercy.” (Rom. 11:3)

The third and fourth verses of Isaiah Chapter 9, we believe, are near fulfillment. In the Revised Version it reads, “Thou hast multiplied the nation, thou hast increased her joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil. For the yoke of his burden and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, thou hast broken in the day of Midian.” The nation of Israel is very much increased today, but their joy is not yet accomplished because this great deliverance here mentioned has not yet been accomplished. It is to be accomplished in the “Day of Trouble” which began in 1914, and is now recognized by many.

The fifth verse of Isaiah, Chapter 9 seems to be more intelligently rendered in the Revised version: “For all the armor of the armed man in the tumult, and the garments rolled in blood, shall even be for burning, for fuel of fire.” The thought seems to be that at that time will come the end of warfare, as the Scriptures have declared. The Time of Trouble with which the Millennium will be introduced is the means by which the Lord will overthrow all the powers of evil, as it is written, “He shall cause wars to cease unto the ends of the earth.” Under the righteous reign which will then follow, men will learn war no more, but will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. At the present time the reverse of all this is in operation, nor can we hope for a change such as the Lord’s Word here and elsewhere predicts by any other power than from above. Hence our prayer as our Lord instructed and in harmony with our hopes, “Thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is done in heaven.”

THE GOVERNMENT UPON HIS SHOULDERS

As the verses thru five indicate the coming joys and blessings and cessation of war, verse six points out how this would be accomplished. This is shown by its introduction with the word “for.” This verse goes back of the promised blessings to point out how they will be introduced. (1) A child will be born – a son will be given – a gift from God. (2) Passing over his earthly ministry and faithfulness, whereby the Lord Jesus was tested and proven worthy of the favors here prophetically assured Him as the overcomer, we have the declaration that the government will be upon His shoulders. This is an old‑style figurative way of declaring that the authority and honor will be laid upon the Lord Jesus. The same thought is still carried out in the armies of the world, whose generals have upon their shoulders epaulets in which the dignity of their rank is noted, is indicated. So upon our Lord Jesus the heavenly Father has placed the dignity and responsibility of being the great King who in due time, as the Father’s representative, as the great glorified Mediator, shall reign for a thousand years to restore order in the world, to put down all insubordination, to destroy every enemy of righteousness and truth and to exalt every one who is the friend of these Divine principles.

It is worthy to note that this authority or government is conferred upon our Lord before He assumes the various offices subsequently made: remarkably few recognize the authority of this great Captain of our Salvation whom God has set forth. Only comparatively few recognize Him truly and render Him obedience and refuse not Him who speaketh from heaven. These few have the eyes of their understanding opened and see what the others do not see; and the ears of their understanding opened that they hear and comprehend what others do not comprehend. To them the Master is the Father’s representative and all in all even now – even before the time has come for Him to take His great power and reign, even before He has established truth and righteousness in the world. By the eye of faith they see Him, worship, adore, obey and follow Him.

KNOWLEDGE OF HIS GLORY WORLD‑WIDE

But it implies much more than such an acknowledgment of our Lord Jesus by the Church. It implies a world‑wide knowledge, as it is written, “Unto him every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess, to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil. 2:9‑11) The government or authority is not laid upon His shoulders in vain, and the fact that He has not exercised this authority in now nearly two thousand years’ triumph and ascension up on high is merely in accord with the Scriptural declaration that the Father has a “due time” (1 Tim. 2:3‑6) set at which the Son shall take unto Himself His great power and reign, and in association with Himself the Church, the Little Flock, gathered out from the world during this Gospel Age.

The time when the Lord shall manifest to the world His government, His authority, His rule, is represented in Daniel 12:1, 2 by the words, “stand up.” “At that time shall Michael (another name for our glorious Lord) will stand up, and there shall be a Time of Trouble such as was not since there was a nation; and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one found written in the book.” Our Lord will not only have the authority He will use it, and one of the first works, we are assured, will be the suppression of evil – not only the suppression of Satan, the prince of this world, who now worketh in the hearts of the children of disobedience, and who, we are assured, will be bound at the beginning of that Millennial reign, but additionally all the works of the devil, all institutions of evil, moral, social, financial, that are now injuring the world of mankind and co‑operating in effecting the groaning and travailing of the whole creation. All these will be suppressed as soon as the proper time shall come, and He upon whose shoulders the power and authority have been placed shall take unto Himself His great power and shall begin to reign. No longer, we may be sure, will any evil be licensed; no longer will the making of spirituous liquors be permitted, authorized and licensed, nor the sale of these nor any other harmful thing be allowed to do injury in God’s holy kingdom. (Isa. 11:9)

It will be then, at that time, that the whole world shall begin to recognize the great King whom God will thus set in the throne of the world’s dominion to rule it, to order it, to subdue it, to lift it up out of sin and degradation and to bring it into harmony again with God as it was before sin entered.

“COUNSELOR,” MIGHTY ONE, FATHER

The great Mediator, the Christ, “Prophet, Priest and King,” Judge, the Seed of Abraham in whom all the families of the earth shall be blessed, shall have various names; His character and work shall be recognized from various standpoints. He will be the Wonderful One that in Himself He will manifest more than others the Father’s character and likeness and nature. He will be Counselor, Teacher, Instructor, Helper, Guide, for the whole world of mankind. He will be the Mighty God – the One with all power and authority to deal with mankind thruout the Millennial Age.

There will be no appeal from His righteous laws, regulations and decisions, because the Father hath committed all judgment unto the Son: the whole matter will be left in His hands. From another standpoint He will be “Everlasting Father.” Having purchased the life of Adam and His race with the sacrifice of His own Human life, our Lord having been granted a new life in His resurrection, will have at His disposal the life which He bought in the sacrificing of His own in such measure as will be sufficient to apply to every member of Adam’s race. Each member of our race as he shall respond to the knowledge that shall then be filling the whole earth, may receive life more and more abundantly from the glorified Christ – everlasting life, the life that was lost in Adam’s disobedience and that was redeemed by Christ’s sacrifice of Himself.

The one from whom all life for the world must proceed is fitly called the father of the world, since the word father signifies life‑giver; and since this father gives life everlasting, it is eminently proper that He should be called the father of everlasting life or the everlasting father. Prince of Peace is another of His titles, but this one evidently will not be appropriate to Him until, toward the close of the Millennial Age, He shall have accomplished the putting down of everything obnoxious to Divine righteousness, the subju­gation of all things to Himself – until He shall have finished the use of the iron rod in smiting the nations, in dashing them to pieces as a potter’s vessel. Then it will be seen that the motive beyond all this activity against unright­eousness was the bringing in of everlasting righteousness, the bringing in of everlasting peace, and it will be seen that the title well fits our great King, Prince of Peace.

THE LAW OF RETRIBUTION OPERATIVE

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

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

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

Undoubtedly this is correct reasoning. It is along this line that the parable of the Sheep and the Goats (Matt. 25:31‑46) teaches; namely, that outwardly the “sheep” and “goats” will have much the same appearance and demeanor, except to the Judge, the King, who will read the heart and ultimately will manifest to all that there has been a real heart‑difference between the two classes, all of whom will have been on trial for a thousand years, receiving blessings from the kingdom.

BASIS OF THE JUDGMENT

All the while each individual will be making character. This character will be fully appreciated by the great Judge, and the individual will be rated either as a “sheep” or as a “goat.” Not until the conclusion of the Millennium will the decision of the Judge be manifested. To the “sheep” at His right hand He will say, “Come ye blessed of my Father (the kind that my Father is pleased to bless and to grant everlasting life’), inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”

Then the other class, the goats of the parable will be sentenced: “Depart, ye accursed ones (doomed ones) into everlasting punish­ment.”

Some think that those who live unrighteous lives, and are very wicked, should not receive a resurrection. But our Lord tells us there will be a resurrection of the good and the evil – the evil to a resurrection of judgment (mistranslated damnation) – John 5:28,29; and He is faithful that promised’ (Heb. 10:23) “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow.. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land.” (Isa. 1:18, 19) “When the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he has committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die. ...For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God; wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.” (Ezek. 18:27, 32)

Just as the Millennial Age is for the world, the Gospel Age is for those who consecrate and are seeking to “walk in His steps” during the time when sin is in the ascension. They are being judged daily, and if some apparently are breaking their vows in their daily walk, but have not denied the Ransom, we are not to judge them as unfit for the Kingdom, even though we know what is right and what is wrong. “We shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.” (Rom. 14:10) So we should be content to await the unerring and righteous judgment of Christ. Let us “Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.” (Rom. 13:14) “For if we would judge (examine) ourselves, we shall not be judged (condemned – corrected and punished of the Lord) (1 Cor 11:31)

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SHEEP CLASS

With the establishment of the kingdom all who come into harmony with it will have the great privilege of doing something to help others. While the Millennial blessings will be showered upon those who accept the Lord’s terms, there will be others who will need assistance. Those who have the spirit of God, the spirit of love, will be glad to carry the heavenly message of reconciliation to all humanity, glad to apply the eye‑salve to the blind, glad to unstop the ears of the deaf, glad to help the sin‑sick back into harmony with God.

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

NO END OF RIGHTEOUS GOVERNMENT

The seventh verse of our lesson gives another precious assurance, and that is that this kingdom once being attained by our Lord will never be surrendered to another, never pass into other hands. Of His government and of His peace which He will establish there will be no end. (Luke 1:33) Not only Israel, but all mankind will have been witnesses that the best of kings as well as the worst of kings have at times surrendered their dominion, and that the best of kings might be followed by the worst. How appropriate then the suggestion that when the kingdom of this great King of kings and Lord of lords shall have conquered the world and have subdued all things into harmony with the Divine will, it shall never again be overturned by evil.

The expression “upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom to establish it and to uphold it with judgment and righteousness from henceforth even forever; the zeal of the Lord shall perform this,” signifies that this great kingdom which our Lord Jesus at His Second Advent will establish – His Church as members of His body, members of His kingdom class, His bride associated with Him – will be the outcome, the antitype of that which was typically presented to Israel in the kingdom, the government of David. As previously seen, the name David signifies “Beloved,” and the David who was the first king on Israel’s throne, and of whom it was said that he sat upon the throne of the Lord, was merely a type, a figure of the greater David, the Anointed, the Messiah. Jesus Christ, the first Lord of all, and the Church His body associated with him, constitute the antipycal David, the antitypical Beloved of the Lord, whose kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, “henceforth even forevermore.”

UNENDING KINGDOM TRANSFERRED

The Apostle points out (1 Cor. 15:28) that, at the close of His thousand‑year reign, our Lord (His Church associated with Him) will abdicate the throne of earth. Having accomplished the work which the Father has set apart to be accomplished by the Anointed in this Millennial reign, at its close the entire authority, with the world in complete subjection to the Divine law and fully restored to the Divine likeness and all willful transgressors cut off, will be surrendered to the Father’s hands, and in accordance with His pre‑arrangement will be redelivered to mankind, that the perfect human family, in the image and likeness of God, may rule the world in harmony with the Divine regulations. But the government will never cease, because the government with Christ will be even more particularly associated with the Father in His throne in the general government of the universe, it will be in that particular sense under the supervision of the glorified Christ.

The zeal of the Lord shall perform this. It will not be the arm of man nor the zeal of man, however good or well meaning, which could bring to pass such wonderful changes as those which the Lord has pointed out. Thee Lord Himself will accomplish it, He will put all things into subjection to the Son ‑ all things, the Apostle explains, except Himself, for He is excepted who thus puts all things under the Son. (1 Cor. 15:27)

From this standpoint, looking back over the history of the world, we get a grand view of the Divine Power and Wisdom, Justice and Love, We see how God has been continually overruling in respect to the efforts of man, to the intent that ultimately without interfering with the free moral agency of any, every man of the whole race of Adam shall be fully and thoroly tested and proven respecting his loyalty to the Lord, and thus respecting his worthiness of life eternal. How glorious is the Divine Plan2 What wonder is there that with its accomp­lishment every voice in heaven and in earth shall be heard expressing praise end thank­fulness, glory, honor, dominion and might to Him that sitteth upon the throne and to the Lamb’

It is our hope and prayer that what is given herein will increase the love and appreciation of our great Redeemer – and will give us pleasure in the contemplation of the prayer, Thy Kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is done in heaven. Hallelujah, what a Savior’ He is mighty to save’ Our best wishes to all our readers for a peaceful and blessed Holiday Season.

Sincerely your brother, John J. Hoefle, Pilgrim

(Reprint No. 330, December 1982)

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LETTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST

To my dear friends who are mutual lovers of Israel – SHALOM!

Just as I was preparing to go out and have copies made of several letters received from Brothers ....... and .........., I received  a letter from .........., in which they write, among other things:

“Don’t think we told you that we were at Emek HaShalom in June (the 14th) as ......called to say that they had many apricots and no time to pick them. So we went over, had a visit, and picked two big boxes of apricots. I ...., made ....a pie and froze some.

...... and ....... were okay, but ....... for the first time seemed to be losing his strength. He said he could not go so long at 93 years. ...... also is so thin. They really need help with the out-of-doors work. ...... did a couple of lifting jobs with ....... One was to put big stones near the grave .......... is chiseling out of the stony earth for himself. Yes, he is really preparing it.”

Later in the ....... letter of July 16, they wrote: “We planned to go to Brother .........’s yesterday, and out of the blue our Associate Director of the Jerusalem YMCA came up… so that took the morning and we never got to go to Emek HaSahlom, but had a nice swim with .......... instead. It was really a nice time when ........ visited there recently. ........ seems happy, adjusting, and getting along OK… ......, ..... and the baby are a real encouragement and joy to her.” 

Dear Friends, I wonder if we realize the importance of what these Brothers ..... and ...... have accomplished and are continuing to do in Israel. It is not that their efforts are in vain – instead the results are simply astonishing. If you feel moved to send something to them on a regular basis, it seems to me it would be most pleasing to the Lord. I feel embarrassed making such a suggestion when I am not able to assist ..... and ...... By the way, their reference to my letter and the difficulties ......... and I had carrying on  pretty much alone in the work for Israel for some years was not meant to complain but merely to assure these dear ones that I understand their own loneliness in trying to work for Israel in God’s great Plan.

“For Zion’s sake I will not be silent. And for Jerusalem’s sake I will not keep quite. Until her righteousness goes forth like brightness, and her salvation’s torch that is burning.” (Isa. 62:1) “For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem: thou shalt weep no more: he will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry.” (Isa. 30:19). Their address: ..............

                                                                        Lovingly in Him, .........    (CALIFORNIA)

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Dear Emily,

To receive a letter from you is always a great pleasure! Thank you cordially for your good words of July 30th. I hasten to respond since otherwise, if I just put your letter aside for “later” responding, I just wouldn’t be sure when its “turn” would come.

It is real good to learn that your eyes are well and serving you the way they are expected to. Let’s hope they’ll serve you this way many more years! You certainly need them, and they carry their full share of the burden you continue so devotedly to carry.

The very tense days of severe fighting north of the border are behind us, thank G-d, and all will be back to “normal,” more or less. Fully normal things will be here only after our neighbors will finally understand that we are here to stay, come what may. And until then it’ll take some more time, I think.

I am much encouraged by your citing the Bible, the prophets and the sages. Your erudition is most impressive! You seem to have it all at your fingertips. Beautiful! You know, of course, that Scriptures are taught here as from the second grade in the Hebrew original. ....., my wife, till this day, knows substantial portions of the Bible by heart – so that we are actually living with the Bible every day! It’s so good to know that you – all the way across the globe down in Florida – share with us this greatest of all treasures!

Be well and take care! With every good wish from Jerusalem, also in behalf of .........

Sincerely, .............          (ISRAEL)

NO. 449: “THINK IT NOT STRANGE"

No. 449

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

“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you," is the counsel of the Apostle Peter in First Peter 4:12; and in verse 16 he appeals further, “If any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.” It is often most helpful to the proper understanding of any text to discern its background, the basis which prompted its expression; and such is definitely true in the present instance. It will be noted in verse I, chapter 1, that the Apostle is addressing his letter to "the strangers" of the Black Sea Provinces. The Diaglott expresses it much clearer: "Peter, an Apostle of Jesus Christ, to the sojourners of the dispersion." Who were these "sojourners of the dispersion"? Apparently, they were such Jews as had been exiled from or about Jerusalem, or those who had left because conditions there were more or less unbearable for them. It would seem these are the same ones mentioned in John 7:35, when the Jews who were hearing Jesus, "said among themselves, Whither will he go, that we shall not find him? Will he go unto the dispersed among the Gentiles?"

Among such dispersed ones, those who had suffered afflictions for some cause or other, there would certainly be found some who were ready listeners to the message that Jesus was indeed the Christ, their Messiah; and it would seem St. Peter had been among them, had convinced some, and was striving to "establish them in the Present Truth." Of a certainty, those Jews had never seen Jesus personally; therefore, their acceptance of Him had been prompted by the testimonies of St. Peter or others. (1 Peter 1: 8) The prophecy (Isa. 8: 14) that "He shall be for a stone of stumbling, and. for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel" was not without purpose. Those Jews who received Him gladly did so from the heart; but those Jews who rejected Him likewise hated Him from the heart -hated also their former brethren who then accepted Him. To some He was the savor of life unto life; to some the savor of death unto death; and the latter snarled the opprobrious name "Christian" at their former fellows, as they spat upon the ground in the same breath, the worst of all insults they could express toward the new converts. Thus, St. Peter was telling such who had become His disciples that if they suffered under the offensive name "Christian" to be not ashamed, but to "Glorify God in this name."

The expression "fiery trial" in our text is from the Greek purosis, meaning literally "a burning," being the same word found, also in Rev. 18:9 and 18:18 (the word occurs but three times in the Bible), where the "burning" of that Great City which is called spiritually Sodom is described. This may be regarded as a fitting sarcasm in contrast that the same word should be used to describe the "sweet-smelling savor unto the Lord" which comes from the "burning," the sharp and faith-developing trials, .of the true Christians on the one hand, and the "burning," the utter destruction, of the "vine of the earth" on the other hand. And all of this is emphasized further by St. Peter in verse 17 of chapter 4: "Because the season is coming for the judgment to begin from the house of God; and if it begin first from us, what the end of those who are disobedient to the glad tidings of God?"

Today the name Christian is often spoken with respect, even by many Jews in the more enlightened countries; the name itself is no longer "a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense." Now Christians in name only must find other insulting terms for "Christians indeed ["Israelites indeed" -John 1:47]." To many who received "Present Truth" under That Servant, to be a "Russellite" was the most insulting term to apply to those "Christians indeed." To some, who believed Brother Johnson and his ardent adherents were in the Second Death, the epithet "Johnson-ite" would bear similar meaning to their fellows as did the name "Christian" in Apostolic times. Thus, we might substitute the words, "If any man suffer as a Johnson-ite, let him not be ashamed" -that is, if he suffers such epithets as a faithful footstep follower of Jesus Christ. Let us keep in mind that if we "suffer as a Christian," because of the Truth, we need never be ashamed - whether it be labelled Russellism, Hoefleism, or whatever opprobrium erstwhile brethren may use in contempt the same as did the Jewish brethren of Jesus in contemptuous use of the name "Christian." "As He was in this world, so are we."

"THAT OLD SERPENT THE DEVIL"

All of the "burning" -fiery trials -of God's people under the reign of evil have been instigated by "the God of this world," the evil one; and this has been markedly true of the difficulties of all new creatures during this Gospel Age. This is apparent at the very outset of the Age, when "the Apostle and High Priest of our Profession, Christ Jesus" (Heb. 3: 1) was "led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the Devil." (Matt. 4: 1) The word here translated "Devil" is from the Greek diabolos, and is a specific name for the individual Satan -the Devil. It is the same word as found in Rev. 20:2: "He laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the devil, and Satan."

We believe the words dragon, serpent, Devil and Satan portray the four unholy attributes of Azazel -the personification of evil in completeness -just as Power, Wisdom, Justice and Love describe the four character attributes of Jehovah -the personification of Goodness and true Holiness in perfection. As the "dragon," the Evil One, has attempted to devour the Gospel-Age saints by the unholy use of power, just as he through Pagan Rome actually did "devour the child." (Rev. 12: 4) Honest opponents are devoured and crushed by the unholy use of power, just as that great apostate "woman Jezebe1" used unholy power to become "drunken with the blood of the saints." (Rev. 17:6) But in all of this seeming victory, God's holy use of power has preserved the fully faithful, has "laid up for them a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give them in that day … to all those who love His appearing." (2 Tim. 4:8) As the "serpent," the evil one has been the deceiver, the beguiling tempter, of the Age in a perverted use of wisdom -Azazel means perverter. "Now the serpent was more crafty than any living thing" (Gen. 3:1, Rotherham); and "the woman was deceived." (1 Tim. 2:14) But the "pure wisdom which is from above" has kept the fully faithful during the Age from being "hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." (Heb. 3: 13)

As the "devil," the Evil One has been the false accuser, the calumniator (so the Greek) of God's people, especially so in the Parousia-Epiphany in the persons of antitypical Jannes and Jambres, the slanderous false-accusing sifters described by St. Paul in 2 Tim. 3:1-9. And slander, lying, false statements, misrepresentations, bad conscience manifested toward the fully faithful, are they not all an abuse of justice, i.e., "in"-justice? But here again, the "justice that is laid to the line" has spoken, or will eventually speak, in vindication of all those "whose righteousness is of Me, saith the Lord." Then, finally as "Satan," the Evil One is the adversary, or opposer of God's fully faithful people. He often uses the measurably faithful, the "buckwheat" class, to oppose the fully faithful, causing them to meddle in the affairs of the wheat class in attempts to usurp their office powers. They frequently use the Truth given by God through His faithful mouthpieces to their own advantage, often palming it off as their own. They are all motivated through a lack of love and are those persons "who received not the Truth in the love of it," and who have been given an "energy of delusion" in return. "Thou hast given them blood [error] to drink" (Rev. 16:6) But the true love, coming from the One "altogether lovely" provokes to good works (Heb. 10:24) just as the lack of it opposes such good works, and attempts to promote evil works. Thus, there is clearly depicted the "High and Lofty One, who inhabiteth eternity, whose Name is Holy" (Isa. 57:15), as contrasted with the Evil One who will be "bound a thousand years, cast into the bottomless pit, that he should deceive the nations no more" (Rev. 20:2,3), and eventually annihilated.

THE PATTERN OF TEMPTATIONS WELL DEFINED

If we "consider Him," it becomes clear enough that Jesus had His most severe trials at the very outset, and then at the end of His walk on the "narrow way." After His anointing "with the spirit without measure" at Jordan, He was possessed of a consuming zeal, which so engrossed Him He did not even stop to eat for forty days. It would seem reasonable to believe that, knowing the great import of His mission on earth, and that "the King's business required haste," He memorized the entire Old Testament in those forty days, as well as to "rightly divide the word of Truth" on the various Tabernacle types, etc., of which He Himself would be the central figure in the antitype. According to His own words a little later, He had instructed those who have followed Him during the Age that every Tabernacle type had to continue until its antitype appeared -"Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled." (Matt. 5: 18; Luke 16: 17) Then, at the extreme end of His earthly ministry came the most severe trial of all -Gethsemane and the Cross; and this pattern is also clearly marked in the experiences of the Apostles -much persecution immediately after Pentecost, with greater climax toward the end of their lives. James was killed with the sword (Acts 12:2), Peter crucified head downward, John thrown into a vat of boiling oil, Paul having his head chopped off, etc. -with all of them having their most severe testings at the beginning and at the end of their narrow-way experiences.

And Satan, master of psychology, makes his boldest and strongest attempts when his intended victims are weakest. This he did in the case of Jesus, when He was weakened from His fast and arduous concentration at the end of the forty days. And this Satan did by evidencing real concern for His physical welfare. "You are hungry and weak," he had implied, "but you have received the Holy Spirit without measure; you have power to provide your every need; command that these stones be made bread." This would not only tryout the new power He had received, but would provide His temporal necessities at the same time. It might even decide Satan to repent and be converted, to join hands with Him in the work He was about to undertake.

Inasmuch as "He was tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin," we may be certain His followers all during the Age would be similarly tried -tempted to use the power of the Truth to their own present advantage; yet accomplish just as readily the work given them to do. Numerous are the examples along this line: Balaam, who succumbed to the temptation (Num. 22); St. Peter was "offered money" for the power he had, but emphatically resp0.nded that "the gift of God is not to be purchased with money" (Acts 8: 18-20); the Gospel-Age builders of Great Babylon becoming "rich, and increased of good, and in need of nothing" (Rev. 3:17) foolishly determined to bring to earth the Kingdom of God before "due time" -"my Lord delayeth." "Money is power," says Solomon; but it does not bring the power that maketh wise unto salvation; yet it has deceived many into believing they could be the "rich man" in this world, and "Lazarus" in the next. Just a cursory look at our Lord's course should convince them of their fallacious reasoning.

TEMPTATION TO USE UNLAWFUL METHODS

At Jesus' prompt rejection of Satan's first bit of sophistry, he took up a second mode of attack: "If thou be the son of God, cast thyself down" from the pinnacle of the temple. (Matt. 4:6) This task of redeeming, uplifting mankind from the mire of sin, from relieving the poverty and human frailty, so apparent on every hand, just could not be done without some sensational methods; and this has been the thinking of the minds of worldly men throughout the Age. One outstanding weakness of the "great multitude" all during the Age has been this very mistake; thus, they become "doubleminded" -a mind to serve the Lord while using Satan's methods. They would do great works, win great numbers, gain great favor with their fellows, yet bask in the smile of Heaven at the same time -a combination never parried by the fully faithful, but readily grasped by those befuddled by Azazel, attempting to juggle the "pearl of great price" (Matt. 13:46) with one hand, as they juggle "the pleasures of sin for a season" (Heb. 11:25) with the other hand. "They that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare." (1 Tim. 6: 9) "The Kingdom of  Heaven cometh not with outward show," said Jesus, and He set us the example of being "meek and lowly of heart." There can be no argument with the statement, "The entrance of thy word giveth light," and the great "quickening" that comes upon entrance of the Truth into the human mind has caused the large majority to "think more highly of themselves than they ought to think." But the jester spoke a great truth when he declared, "O, if you would only know how much you have to know that you don't know nuthin."

It is a common fallacy of professional men - doctors, lawyers, preachers, technicians - to consider others stupid because the general knowledge of their particular vocation is so limited in the general mind. This is a mistake, of course,because many uneducated people could have made excellent doctors, lawyers, etc., had they been given the opportunity. It is a sage observation that the big difference between the professors and the students is that the professors read the books first. Therefore, it is sound counsel to all, and especially to the leaders in the church, to consider St. Paul's words: "Who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? Now, if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?" (1 Cor.4: 7)

TEMPTATION TO COMPROMISE

,With Jesus' positive rejection of Satan's suggestion, there came immediately the third temptation, the temptation of Combinationism, which has overcome vast multitudes throughout the Age, and especially so here in the end of the Age. Satan would have Jesus to join with Him to accomplish His mission. Could not the two of them do it better than one of them alone? Would not two heads be better than one? Satan made it clear, of course, that he himself would be chief of the two heads: "All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me." This temptation of Combinationism to God's people has been among the most alluring all during the Age - not stated in exactly the same words, of course, but with the same underlying principle. "Money is power," says Solomon; and this influence is stronger today than at any time in history, because there is so much more of it in the hands of so many more people of differing ideals and desires. The person today who contributes, say, $10,000 per year to his particular church, will not be lightly considered when he states his wishes to the preacher. One great source of strength with the last two Principal Men was their decision, SEATS FREE -NO COLLECTIONS. Since they asked no one for money, they could afford to tell them the truth; there was no need to compromise. This revives the story of an Admiral from the U.S. Navy: Deciding to go to church one Sunday morning as he returned from the sea, he walked to a pew near the front, occupied by one lone old man. As he joined the party, he was given reproachful glances, which however, he ignored. The old man, not to be thus disregarded, took one of his personal cards from his pocket, wrote on it, "I paid $1,000 for this seat." The Admiral turned the card to the other side, handed it back to its owner with the answer, "You paid too much." And certainly Jesus would have "paid too much" had He succumbed to the tricky deceit of Satan.

TRUTH STRANGER THAN FICTION

It is a sound observation that truth is stranger than fiction; and this is illustrated all about us today. Who wishes to hear the Truth? Even some among former brethren ~ those who once claimed to love the Truth more than life itself -there is very little of the "hearing ear" any more. And this situation is very evident in Churchianity everywhere; they are willing to listen to and receive almost any kind of hokus-pokus just as long as it isn't the Truth. Thus, to the vast majority, the Truth is indeed a "stranger," which emphasizes the truth of Jesus' inquiry: "When the Son of Man cometh, will He find the faith on the earth?" And the Berean Comment is most fitting: "The question implies that at that time the true faith (the Truth) would be almost extinct." (Luke 18:8, Berean Comment) But for those who do have the faith, the Present Truth, there is the comforting assurance of Psa. 89:15: "Blessed are the people that know the joyful sound [that have an ear for the Truth]; they walk, 0 Lord, in the light of thy countenance." Such have meat to eat that others know not of; to such the Aaronic  blessing is sure: "The Lord lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace" ­the peace of God, which passeth understanding.

All of the three temptations of Jesus, which He met and rejected without wavering, have come in principle to all of His followers during the Age, added to which they have also been tempted to sin. It is well to bear in mind that temptation is an appealing suggestion. Without appeal, there can be no temptation. Thus, the statement, "God cannot be tempted of evil" (James 1:13) -evil is distasteful to every pore of His Being; just the reverse of Satan, whose characterization as The Evil One is indicative of the full corruption of evil that pervades every pore of his being. Nor is it any ·sin to be tempted; sin enters only when we are "overcome of evil." Therefore, "be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good." (Rom. 12: 21) In all of their temptations, the fully faithful eventuate as "more than conquerors" -they gain the "crown of righteous­ness" which wins for them a throne. "He that overcometh shall sit with me in my throne, even as I overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne" (Rev. 3:21), is the sure promise of the fully faithful new creatures.

But the Scriptures are very clear that the new creatures who are measurably faithful, a "great multitude, "are not such overcomers; they will never gain a throne. At best, they will serve "before the throne" -the throne being the heritage of their fully faithful brethren. After they have "washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb" (Rev. 7: 14) it will also 'be their privilege to become a kind of police force in the spiritual realm. And we believe it is sound and just observation that everyone of the Great Multitude leaders today has failed in at least two, and probably in all three, of those temptations which came especially upon Jesus -selfishness, error, worldliness -with the additional charge against some of them that they also fall under the fourth temptation, Sin. As the Epiphany Messenger has taught, Sectarianism is a great sin. During the Gospel Age Great Company leaders have built the sects in Big Babylon, and have perverted the Star Members’ teachings they embraced for their sects. The Great Company is one of the elect classes, but as a class they are not counted as overcomers of sectarianism and clericalism, even though they all must overcome their sins of teaching and practice as individuals if they receive the "palms" of victory. (Rev. 7:9) Thus, we offer St. Paul's counsel: "Exhort each other every day, while it is called Today, so that no one among you may be hardened by a delusion of sin." (Heb. 3:13, Dia.)

Another class of faithful overcomers are those who consecrate between the Ages, after the "door is shut" ,to the High Calling and before the full opening of the Millennium, that is, before the New Covenant is inaugurated, and opportunity to consecrate for restitution purposes is available. That Servant taught there would be such a class in the end of the Age when no more crowns would be available - a class that would be similar to the Ancient Worthies, and would receive a "better Resurrection" (Heb. 11:35) and be rewarded in partnership with the Ancient Worthies. He also saw in later years that they would be rewarded with spirit nature at the end of the Kingdom reign. The following respecting "Those Consecrating Between The Ages" is from That Servant's writings in the Sept. 1, 1915 Watch Tower, Reprint 5761:

"It is our thought that with the closing of the 'door' of this Gospel Age there will be no more begetting of the Holy Spirit to the spirit nature. Any afterward coming to God through consecration, before the inauguration of the restitution work, will be accepted by Him, not to the spirit plane of being, but to the earthly plane. Such would come in under the same conditions as the Ancient Worthies who were accepted of God. The Ancient Worthies came in, no call being opened to them -the High Calling not being yet open. But they freely gave themselves up to God without knowing what blessings their consecration would bring, except that they had the intimation that they would, in the future life, have a 'better resurrection' than would the remainder of the world.

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

And it is reasonable to expect a God of Love, Justice, Wisdom and Power to reward such consecrators _above restitutionists -those who are faithful and obedient and walk a narrow way when sin and evil are in the ascendancy. The Epiphany Messenger accepted That Servant's teaching, and was privileged to bring out additional light and much convincing Scriptural support for such a class; and we also "continue in what we have learned and been assured of," and heartily believe that such consecrators between the Ages, after the "door is shut" and before opportunity for consecration for the non-elect, will, if faithful, be rewarded with the Ancient Worthies with a "better resurrection" and become "princes in all the earth." (Psa. 45:16)

Like the Ancient Worthies, the Youthful Worthies are on trial for faith and obedience, and not for life, but they will be tested and proved worthy if they achieve their goal, the visible rulers of the Kingdom, under the invisible Kings and Priests of God. (Rev. 20:6) "Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death." (1 Cor. 15:24-26)

J. F. Rutherford taught in harmony with That Servant at the outset of his career, but later reversed himself. He later produced a class of his own imagination, calling them Jonadabs, which later became the "great Multitude."

We believe that all the Lord's people would be greatly benefited if they would take heed to That Servant's admonitions and warning in the February IS, 1912 Watch Tower, Reprint 4970:

"The Lord's followers are to note how these same temptations are the very ones by which the adversary assails them: (1) He would be their friend and helper and would thereby induce them to violate their covenant of sacrifice by requests for physical healing, physical blessings, which they have agreed to sacrifice. (2) He would suggest to them some wild, foolish way of capturing the world for God by some great exploits or prayer tests. (3) He would have them compromise with the world and its spirit and its methods of church federation and otherwise. We are to resist the adversary courageously that he may leave us permanently, seeing no hope of winning us."

"Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness. Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity." (Eph. 6:13, 14, 24)

Sincerely your brother, John J. Hoefle, Pilgrim (Reprint No. 312, November 1981)

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LETTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST

Dear and very esteemed Sister Emily Hoefle,

Your good letter has been received gratefully and with appreciation. And most especially we want to thank you for your support. We have printed four different pamphlets about present Truth and have already distributed thousands of them. We rejoice that people receive them with extraordinary interest. The district administration organized at one of the Sabbaths a walking tour to Emek Hashalom. 8,000 visitors came by and took thousands of pamphlets in one day.

But otherwise Israel stands in deeply exciting conditions. The Islam shows an abyss deep hatred. Now the fight rages about ancient Jerusalem at the root of the controversy, because it is the Holiest place and the city of the Grand King. The Hagar covenant-people want to destroy the Sarah-covenant people along with all its promise. There are apprehensions that if the outcome of the current Peace talks is without results, it will lead to a Mid-East war.

After Emek Hashalom became a significant factor in Israel, friends and officials concerned for the welfare of the settlement urged us to take the greatest caution and care. They have asked the newspapers to cease writing about Emek Hashalom and told us, "May God provide that you remain unrecognized by the enemies of Israel, otherwise, no power on earth could protect and guard you."

But inevitably it moves and drives towards the last decisions.  Great and many thanks for standing by us and mindfulness in fraternal care.  

Your devoted brethren from Israel by His Grace, ................ and ...........................

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IMPRESSIONS OF VISITORS TO EHEK HASHALOH -THE VALLEY OF PEACE

Members of the local government told us that they know about the good influence of Emek Hashalom to the thousands of visitors, and they wish that Hermann Bezner would be the spiritual leader of Israel.

Rabbis from all over the country have visited Emek Hashalom. A leading Rabbi has declared us God's ambassadors, who engaged in holy work. "God said through you things to the people which they do not come too hear from any other party." Others have expressed their envy at Hermann's living faith.

Many of the people acquainted with Emek Hashalom for a longer time consider Hermann as their prophet, because all the things he foretold on the ground of the Scriptures have become true.

Occasionally, youth leaders bring us special-education juveniles. The last group came yelling and jumping, but already during Brother Hermann's lecture a change in their conduct had become apparent. They left Emek Hashalom quite well-mannered.

The participants in the recently held Seminars Emek Hashalom have told us that the place radiates a spirit of love and warmth. "We admire the work that you perform here," they say.

When the Minister of Agriculture came to visit, Hermann had just returned from the field work with a broken scythe. The Minister took it, went to the tool shed and repaired it personally, and returned it to Hermann, saying: "Now it will hold until the Messiah comes."

The group leaders sincerely say that they made great efforts to bring groups from allover the country because Emek Hasbalom is an example for the spiritual way of life, and also a model for the future in the practical way of life with its agriculture and building work, according to the prophecy.

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Dear Sister ................, Shalom through our Lord!

Thank you heartily for your good letter, which we received with much appreciation. It was again sheer joy to read about your Israel work, and that you succeeded in spite of fierce opposition. It was interesting to hear from you about the difficulties you had, because Brother Hermann had the same experience. As you put it, "When we started our work for Israel (1947) we met with strong opposition from most of our Bible Students. So it proved a lonely work over the years, as you and Brother Bezner also know. But in spite of the lack of interest and negative attitude of most Bible Students, the result of our lecture work about Israel, as related to God's Plan, proved to be phenomenal, reaching lovers of Israel in many countries."

Hermann himself had to pass through enormous difficulties. When he began his Israel work it looked like all the forces had united to hinder and prevent him from continuing the work of Brother Russell in Israel. But he overcame and conquered because he acted in the same devoted spirit as that of Brother Russell, the star of the Laodicea Period.

Brother Russell knew about the importance of the practical and actual building work in Israel. Therefore he visited the Holy Land twice (1891, 1909) and encouraged the young Zionist settlers, making friends with some leaders of the Zionist executive. Brother Hermann himself had already in the year 1918 when he was 18 years old the blessings of meeting with Bible Students in Heilbrom, Wurtenberg, in Germany.

He studied in a very intensive way the Studies in the Scriptures, and already at the age of 20 he was asked to serve the communities of brethren in Germany as a pilgrim. First the work that the Lord was laying out for him led Hermann through all the German cities, and he had the pleasure of meeting thousands of Brethren, as well as the privilege to found new communities.

When the Nazis grabbed the rule of the country, they forbade every activity. Hermann's twin brother was caught distributing literature of the Bible Students and he was imprisoned for one year in a work camp. Before his release when he refused to give up his beliefs, they had performed operations on him. Hermann was able to escape into Austria and continued to evangelize the truth there and in some other European countries.

When the Nazi regime overran Austria, and later parts of Europe, Hermann fled to Southern Austria and took refuge in a mountain farm, where he kept himself hidden until the end of the war, and prepared himself for Israel.

After the establishment of the State of Israel, which he had expected for many years, Hermann had only one wish: "to continue Brother Russell's work in Israel." After surmounting many obstacles, Hermann was able in the year 1962 to purchase a vast and stony piece of land in Israel. He established a small kibbutz and transformed the land with great diligence and assiduity to a blossoming garden. Soon after it had become known and famous, Israel press brought it to the attention of the Israeli public, entitling the farm "Emek Hashalom" meaning "the valley of Peace." Again and again it became the subject of newspaper articles and was covered extensively by local, as well as international media. The largest paper of Israel wrote that the Valley of Peace is a Paradise and the Pearl in the Israeli landscape.

Ten thousand visitors come every year to hear the message in the Valley of Peace. With great wisdom Brother Hermann solved the extremely complicated duty of bringing the good message to the people of Israel. In nearly three thousand addresses and speeches he proclaimed the very near arrival of the Messiah who will erect God's Kingdom and will bring the time of the restitution and fulfilling of all the Divine promises.

"Emek Hashalom" became known even in the Government. Important officials and members of the Government came to visit and expressed their admiration, saying that "Emek Hashalom" is a unique phenomenon in Israel. We even received further terrain in order to erect a pavilion to a capacity of holding the bigger groups of visitors, with the destination of becoming a unique teaching center in Israel.

Many of the visitors expressed that they received a deep feeling of freedom and peace at "Emek Hashalom," and they felt like it was in the days of Messiah and leave the place comforted, encouraged with new hope in their hearts. So Israel is opening up for the true message of the Lord. The message of the Nominal Churches, and denominations are being refused energetically as un-Biblical. What is forbidden for the denominations -for us the doors are being opened. It is the time that His Kingdom will be erected with Might and Glory. To Him be adulation and praise!

We greet all the brethren with you and stay heartily connected in the common faith.

Yours for Zion's sake, Brother .................... (ISRAEL)

P.S. -Hermann had the privilege to give a good witness to all assembled Bible Students at the Jerusalem convention. As a summary, Hermann expressed the hope that the convention will bring an inspiration for the necessary unity and better understanding toward Israel.

Many of the Brethren today do not understand the great responsibility that rests upon us (God's people) to do all that is possible for the People and the Land of Israel to contribute to the fulfillment of the prophecy. Not only to pray for Israel but also support the material need for the building up of the Land of Israel. The Prophet Samuel says that it is a sin not to pray for Israel and not to show Israel the good and the right way (1 Samuel 12:23).