NO. 488: THE BEGINNING AND ENDING OF THE “TIME OF THE END” – Part Three

No. 488

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

In our August 1997 paper, Part Two, we were discussing the High Calling, and we will now give

MORE ON THE HIGH CALLING

“And I saw [mentally and physically] another angel [God’s people in their capac­ity of ministering the Truth to their brethren not yet in the Truth (C 303; Rev. 7:3 – “until we have sealed” – Ezek. 9:2‑5,11), and not Jesus alone, as Vol. VII teaches] as­cending from the east [Jesus and the Church (The Christ) are the Sun, Light, of the world, John 9:5; Matt. 5:14] and having the seal [the Truth as due], of the Living God [given in the Scriptures], and he cried with a loud voice to [as the Salt of the earth, the Light of the world, and the City set upon a hill (Matt. 5:13‑16), the faithful have with a great message, reproved the world for sin, righteousness and judg­ment to come (John 16:8‑11), this work having had a wholesome effect upon the world and having inculcated such principles as, measurably imbibed, have measurably restrained the selfishness of mankind from giving way to the full will of the fallen angels and thus arrested these unholy beings, who if unchecked by] the four angels [the four groups of mankind, as above, would long ago have brought the ruin of the Time of Trouble upon the race] to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea [evidently from this clause it can be seen that these four angels do not, as Vol. VII teaches represent the Little Flock, whose work in the flesh is not to injure organized society, nor the lawless, rebellious people, nor themselves, nor the earth’s great ones, the symbolic trees of v. 3. The symbolic “great trees” are the Lord’s faithful people].”

The Bible teaches that all of the saints, the entire 144,000, would be given the honor of executing (spiritual) vengeance upon the nations, and (spiritual) punishment upon the people, of binding the kings and princes, and executing upon them the judgment written (Psa. 149:5‑9). This was done from the Fall of 1914 to that of 1916.

“That Servant” was made Steward of all the Lord’s goods for the whole of the reaping time following his appointment, and ruler over the whole household, according to Matt. 24:45-­47 and Luke 12:42‑44. Therefore, he must have set forth on the table all the meat for the reaping time, and controlled the entire work for the whole household during the reaping time following his appointment. Consequently, before his death every one of the Elect was working in harmony with his teachings and under his direction of the work. Hence, before his death, October 31, 1916, all of the Elect had been reaped, sealed in the forehead, and were engaged in serving others under that Servant’s general direc­tion.

According to the Bible (Rev. 7:1‑3) the Elect of each country must all be sealed before the war would strike that country. Therefore there could be no unsealed Elect in any war‑involved country after the war involved that country. This refutes the assumed, but unfactual, view that the Lord abruptly ended the war, and that in order to seal the war‑involved countries’ supposedly unsealed Elect whose sealing could ostensibly not be done during the war. To escape this conclusion the article under review, contradicting our Pastor’s known definitions of the winds and the wind of v. 1 (see Berean Com­ments),confuses a number of things: (a) the winds of v. 1, which are the fallen angels, with its wind, which is the World War (1 Kings 19:11; Psa. 48:7; 107:25; (b) the winds, which are the fallen angels, but which are in the article falsely defined as destructive power, with the whirlwind, which is the revolution and anarchy of the Time of Trouble (Jer. 25:30‑38); and (c) the four winds of Jer. 49:32‑36; Ezek. 5:10‑12; 17:21; Dan. 11:4, which stand for the four points of the compass with its falsely defined symbolic winds, wind and whirlwind. (3) The Bible also teaches that the reaping would end shortly before the war would reach the reaper. See Studies, Vol. III, 387‑404.

MORE FROM THAT SERVANT

In Reprint 5631, col. 2, Feb. 15, 1915, there is a subheading KINGDOM WORK THIS SIDE THE VEIL: “What time, then is signified by the expression ‘in the days of these kings,’ when the kingdom of God was to be set up in power? To our understanding the first step in the setting up of this kingdom was the raising of the sleeping saints of the Gospel Age, which we believe was in the Spring of 1878. Then began the glorification of the church. The work of setting up the kingdom has, we understand, been progressing from that date, and is now lacking the last members of the church class. When these shall have taken their places as members of the church in glory, the kingdom will be fully set up.”

Regarding the foregoing, it is our understanding that as each one of the Christ completed his earthly journey, that person then joined the Lord in glory – and which was the “marriage of the Lamb.” Then was fulfilled the words of Rev. 19:7, Dia.: “The marriage of the Lamb came, and his wife prepared herself.” Then was completed “a stone cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet.” (Dan. 2:34) That stone could not begin its work until complete. While those still on earth could have fallen out, yet the foreknowledge of God recognized that they would not do so – just as was true of the twelve Apostles after being spirit‑begotten could have fallen from their position in the Body, yet none of them did.

“This does not signify, that there may not be a part of the kingdom work begun while some of the members of Christ are still in the flesh. Indeed some Scriptures seem to imply that there will be a kingdom work done this side of the veil. We read, ‘Let the saints be joyful in glory; let them sing aloud upon their beds.’ This seems to imply, as we have mentioned before, that there is a special work to be done while these saints still have beds, while they are in a condition of repose — not ‘tossed to and fro, and carried about by every wind of doctrine’ (Eph. 4:14), but fully at rest in God’s great plan. The Scripture goes on to say that they have a two‑edged sword in their hands – this is the Word of God... This would not be true of them on the other side of the veil.” (Reprint 5631, col. 2, par. 5, Feb. 15, 1915)

“Our thought is that we should look for still further evidences day by day that the Gentiles Times have ended, and that God’s Kingdom has begun its work... The present step is the war of the nations. The next step will be Socialism – an attempted Socialism [after Revolution] – among the people. Then the third step, anarchy, will gradually come on. When this symbolic fire shall prevail, then the world will realize what we are trying to tell them now; namely, that God’s Kingdom is taking control, and that these various demonstrations are evidences that our Lord is taking His great power. But the many will not begin to see until the flaming fire is revealed.

“Now the time has come for God’s Kingdom to displace them; but they will not willingly resign their crowns and scepters; they are in defiance. Therefore force is required to destroy them. Their 2520 years of rule are in the past, and they must now submit to a complete overthrow.” (Reprint 5632, col. 1, Feb. 15, 1915)

“We believe that the Times of the Gentiles ended just on time, as shown in Vol. 2... The hand of justice is now doing the breaking – the nations shall be broken as ‘a potter’s vessel.’ The whole cataclysm of trouble may be upon the world during the next ten months or it may be longer deferred. We believe that the time for the setting up of the kingdom was on September 21, 1914. At that time, when it was due for our Lord to take up His great power and reign, the nations were already angry. They were at war over a month in advance of the time, because so angry.

“The due time for the ‘wrath’ [the “great tribulation”] was September 21, 1914. We are expecting to see this wrath still more manifest. The nations have been in just this same unloving spirit one toward another for a number of years, but apparently they have been under some forcible restraint. We believe that God’s time has not yet come.” (Reprint 5632, col. 2, pars. 4 and 5, Feb. 15, 1915)

Yes, the ‘wrath’ is still more manifest today, but God’s time has not yet come for the second phase of the trouble – Armageddon. The Jehovah’s Witnesses predicted Armageddon for 1975, but self‑evidently, that was not God’s time. But we may be sure that it will come in God’s due time. God’s faithful people need not be disturbed as they see these things coming to pass. However, we do indeed pity the ‘groaning creation’ as we see these things coming on them, but we “lift up our heads and rejoice,” knowing our deliverance is near – not only ours but that of all mankind.

We see no reason to depart from the Truth on the Time of Trouble, or the Epiphany, that Brother Russell taught us. If we cast his teaching aside, we might as well say he was far from knowing the Plan of the Ages.

We now will quote and expound passages that prove that the Epiphany will end with the Anarchy and Jacob’s trouble, i.e., will end with the end of the trouble. A passage that proves this with reference to Anarchy, though it also refers to the War, Revolution, Famine and Pestilence, is 2 Thes.1:7, 8: ‘The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels [the agents whereby He will pour out vengeance] in flaming fire [destructive troubles – War, Revolution, Famine, Pestilence and Anarchy], taking vengeance on them [the Second Deathers in the Nominal Church] that know not God and [on them, the Second Deathers in the Truth] that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.’ Accordingly, this passage proves that the Epiphany will be completed by the Anarchy.

A passage that proves this with reference to Jacob’s trouble, so far as the Lord’s revelation of Himself to Israel is concerned, is Zech. 12:9,10: “It shall come to pass in that day that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem [in the time of Jacob’s trouble, Zech. 12:1‑8; Ezek. 38; 39]; and I will pour upon the House of David and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem the spirit of grace and of supplication, and they shall look upon Me whom they have pierced [Rev. 1:7]; and they shall mourn for it [the piercing, I.V.],” etc. All Truth people recognize at once that this passage refers to the end of Jacob’s trouble, and that it proves our Lord’s revelation of Himself to Israel as their long rejected Messiah. Hence these two verses prove that the Time of Trouble and the Epiphany are identical.

JUDGMENT FOR ALL THE ELECT

In 1 Pet. 4:17,18, Dia., there is this: “The season is coming for the judgment to begin from the house of God. (Berean Comment: “Krisma, final decision”)... And if the righteous person scarcely is safe, where will the impious and the sinner appear?” Three classes are mentioned in this text: “the righteous” – the Little Flock; “the impious” – the Second Deathers; “the sinner” – the Great Company. Note the Berean Comment on James 5:20: “He that was once a member of the Royal Priesthood.” We are now in “the evil day,” the day in which we should expect to see the fulfillment of Mal. 3:3: “The sons of Levi” – typical of all believers (see Berean Comment); “gold” – the Little Flock; “silver” – the Great Company. All of this was much emphasized by That Servant as occurring in the Time of Trouble – this Epiphany day.

Malachi 3:2 raises the question, “Who may abide the day of his coming? [the Parousia day from 1874 to 1914] and who shall stand when he appeareth [when he maketh manifest by the bright shining of the Epiphany day].” The Epiphany is called a period of time in the Bible: “This know also that in the last days [the Parousia and the Epiphany days] perilous times shall come.” (2 Tim. 3:1,8,9) Psa. 91:6 speaks of “the pestilence [destructive error] that walketh in darkness.” The Epiphany is also described as a night; and the pestilence that is so rampant in so many quarters is visible evidence that we are in that dark time. Recently a paper came to us, which has a sub‑heading “False Prophets” – then it describes Brother Russell as follows:

“He was particularly interested in the second coming of Christ, as were a few others at that time. He had aligned the prophecies pertaining to the Lord’s coming fairly accurately; but made the mistake of applying them prematurely. His error of assuming that Christ had arrived in 1874 was the basis for all his false claims relative to the Lord’s coming.”

It will be recalled that, shortly after Brother Russell’s death, the claim came forth that he had made a 19‑year mistake in the Chronology – that the Gentile Times would not end until 1933. Of course time itself made clearly manifest the error of that claim; nothing at all happened in 1933 to give any semblance of Truth to that figure.

As may be expected, that contention created a great furor; and J. F. Rutherford entered into the controversy. And it is our opinion that he offered a very good defense of the true chronology – just as Pastor Russell had given it to us. However, at that very time he presented some rank error on the Jubilee cycles and the time involved there, during which he came up with the prediction that Millions Now Living Will Never Die – after 1925. Of course, he was one hundred per cent wrong on that. He also produced the error that the door to the High Calling closed at Passover 1918, which he later changed two or three times; and as of this writing it would seem that the Jehovah’s Witnesses are not certain about it yet. Also, in view of other statements they have made – such as Armageddon beginning in 1975 – they don’t know where they are with the chronology; they are simply floating around in space.

In its wide sense the Time of Trouble began in 1874. After that date the radical elements of society became much more radical. And it was during the time after 1874 that the Triple Alliance and the Triple Entente were formed – each glaring at the other, and was one of the principal causes for the outbreak of the great war in 1914. At this date the Time of Trouble began in its real violent stage; and the war in 1914 was up to that time the world’s greatest calamity. It put all involved nations into financial insolvency; and this has continued to grow worse each year since 1933. Just before this last great war began the national debt of the United States was about forty billion dollars; and one leading Washington publication made the statement then that no one with any real financial judgment believes this will ever be paid. At this writing it is now about twenty times that amount – with the situation growing alarmingly worse each year.

The 1914 war broke out in one day that year, with the assassination of the Austrian Archduke in Servia; and it brought sharply to mind the great prophecy of Jesus in Luke 17:26,27: “As it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of Man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.” It will be noted that this text refers to “days” (plural), indicating more than one day. It is our understanding that there are two days in the end of the Age – the Parousia day that commenced in 1874 and ended in 1914, at which time the great tribulation began, corresponding to the flood that burst upon the world immediately after Noah entered into the ark. However, Luke 17:30 speaks of only one day: “Thus shall it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed [uncovered, from the Greek apok­alupto, having the same root as the apocalypse, or the book of Revelation].”

This “revelation” is still in process, and we do not now know how long it will continue; but its presence is apparent to those in the Lord’s Household who have been enlightened to perceive it. However, it is also apparent to some in the world ­– in a rather foggy way, of course. One speaker at a conclave we attended a few years back made the statement that the world’s money situation has never been the same since the outbreak of the great war in 1914 – “men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things coming on the earth [the present social order].” (Luke 21:26)

Says the Apostle Paul in 1 Thes. 5:1,2: “Of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night [quietly, stealthily, and after it has come many will not know they are in it].” This statement is as true now as it was when Paul wrote it. The first of these seasons was the small Parousia, which began in 1874 and continued during the Harvest to 1914; the second, the Epiphaneia; and the third the Basileia (Kingdom). All of these are a part of, and run concurrently with the large Parousia day (1874‑2874); but none of them run concurrently with each other; and there is good reason for this. In each of those periods there is a main, though not exclusive, objective. The small Parousia was for the purpose of reaping; and that day and that work ended at exactly the same time — September 1914. “Thrust in thy sickle, and reap, for the time is come for thee to reap.” (Rev. 14:15) Second is the Epiphaneia (the revealment “in flaming fire”); and third the Basileia (the Kingdom).

When the small Parousia ended, the Epiphany immediately began, although there was a small overlapping of around two years. There was a threefold main objective: (1) “To execute upon them [the kings, nobles and people in general] the judgment written” (Psa. 149:9); (2) to judge “the quick”(2 Tim. 4:1); and (3) “devour all the earth [the present social order] with the fire of my jealousy” (Zeph. 3:8) – in the time of violence which began in 1914, and which will continue to the end of Jacob’s Trouble, just preceding the end of Anarchy. As soon as the Epiphany arrived all three of these objectives began to operate: Jordan was smitten in 1914‑16 (“bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron” – Psa. 149:8); the “manifestation” (epiphanizing) of the “quick” in their various classes began to appear; and “the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come.” (Rev. 11:18)

The Basileia (the Kingdom) will have as its main objective Restitution (Acts 3:19­23); and it will appear also as soon as “the word of the Lord goes forth from Jerusalem.” (Isa. 2:3) There was a 25‑month overlapping of the Parousia into the Epiphany (Sept. 1914 to Oct. 1916); but that did not deter in the least the beginning of the Epiphany work exactly on time. However, it is well to note here that of all the erstwhile Truth groups only two contend that the Basileia is already with us; namely, the Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Laymen’s Home Missionary Movement. But instead of observing any of the benign influences of the Kingdom, worse things are coming upon the world – crime and misery worse than at any time in history, but the Word of the Lord tells us that the Kingdom is to “wipe away all tears.” It seems unbelievable that brethren who were once blessed with the logical and sober teachings of That Servant could swallow such errors; and it simply proves that “they received not the truth in the love of it, and on this account God will send them an energy of delusion, to their believing the falsehood.” (2 Thes. 2:10,11, Dia.)

THE WIND, FOUR WINDS, WHIRLWIND

In Rev. 7:1‑3 we are told that the four angels should “hold the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth... till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.” The four winds in this text are the fallen angels (see also Dan. 7:2); the wind is the great war that started in 1914; and the forehead sealing refers to the administration of the Truth to those who came into the Truth before that war began in each country. It should be noted here that all the saints were spirit‑begot­ten by 1914, but all of them had not been sealed in their foreheads with present Truth. They were saints (wheat) that had not come out of Babylon, just as most of the saints were in Babylon during the Parousia. But all of them were “sealed in the forehead” in time to take part in the first “Smiting of Jordan” during the time of 1914­-1916. (Psa. 149:8)

Some have the mistaken idea that the above is Epiphany Truth; but the Berean Comments show this view was held as far back as 1898: “The four winds” – Which are to constitute the whirlwind of the time of trouble [Anarchy]; “That the wind” – The great wars between nations which are to be expected shortly; “Blow on the earth” – Society; “Nor on the sea” – The restless, anarchistic masses of men; “Hurt not the earth” – The present favored time, with its liberties and advantages, divinely arranged; “Until we” – The Lord’s saints on this side of the veil; “Have sealed” – Marked, separated, distinguished; “In their foreheads” – Given them an intellectual appreciation of the Plan of God, with its time features, etc., as a comfort, shield, and mark, seal, or evidence of their sonship.

EPIPHANEIA — APOKALYPSIS

That Servant defined these terms as synonymous (as an act and as a period of time). However, they are not synonymous in the strict sense of the word. Many translators give Epiphaneia as “bright shining,” “forthshining,” “uncovering,” etc.; whereas they offer “revelation” as the meaning of Apokalypsis. The Diaglott labels the last book in the Bible THE APOKALYPSIS. Viewed critically, it is impossible to have one without the other, which explains why they are synonymous as an act and as a period of time. Thus, it requires the bright shining to produce the revelation. The Book of Revelation, for instance, has been with us since the Apostle John wrote it; but it cannot possibly be understood – revealed, uncovered – until the bright shining (Epiphaneia) makes it clear. While Martin Luther saw the explanation for some parts of Revelation, other parts of it he could not possibly understand because the “bright shining” had not arrived to reveal it – in the “due time.” Just one instance: The 1260 days (1260 literal years) in Rev. 13:5 could not possibly be clear to him because those years did not end until 1799, and prophecy cannot be clearly understood in detail until it has been fulfilled, or is in the process of fulfillment. And those years did not end until 1799 – about 250 years after Luther’s death.

Thus, it will be seen that the “bright shining” and the “revelation” have contin­ued in limited measure throughout the Gospel Age; but there is also an Epiphaneia – Apokalypsis – designated as a special period of time here in the end of the Age; but it cannot be truthfully stated that there is a special Apokalypsis period apart from the Epiphaneia – or the Epiphany, as we call it.

THE EPIPHANY DAY OF JUDGMENT

In 2 Tim. 4:1 it is stated that the Lord Jesus Christ shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing (Epiphaneia) and at his kingdom (Basileia). There is no mention of His judging in the Apokalypsis, as a period apart from the Epiphaneia. And we believe all Bible Students will surely admit that we are yet in the judging period of the Elect and of the world – the world in the sense of the “judgments of the nations” (not individuals).

Regardless of how little time that judging would consume, it must be evident that it is nevertheless a special period of time. When we paraphrase 2 Tim. 4:1, the text becomes much clearer: “He shall judge the quick at His Epiphaneia, and the dead at His Basileia.” The judging of the Basileia has not yet started at all; but we think the judging of the Epiphaneia began when the Time of Trouble began in 1914.

Not only did the judging begin then, but it brought special trials on all the true Household of Faith. It stirred up a rabid patriotism in each country involved; and a great rage was unloosed against those who were not in harmony with such an attitude. In the third Chapter of Daniel we have the story of Nebuchadnezzar and his golden image, which the three Hebrews (Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego) refused to recognize. This made the King furious, and he ordered that they be cast into a fiery furnace – “that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated.” (v. 19) That furnace typified the extreme fury that was unleashed then through militarism and the church federations. Those of us who were involved at that time know only too well of the truth of this conclusion, and it is still vividly recalled by some of us. Some of the Objectors were actually killed, and many were brutally tortured.

Here are some of the details: We were closely and intimately acquainted with three brethren who were inducted into the army early in 1917 – right after the United States entered the great war. In January of 1918, with the temperature at zero, those three were taken into the shower room, alternately showered with hot and cold water, then scrubbed with a rough floor brush until they bled; and this was continued until they fell over in a faint. One brother died as a result of that treatment; and another lost his mind, was sent to a mental institution and recovered after two years of treatment. But, when he eventually came out, he could not remember ever having seen us, although we were closely associated with him in the army. He has been dead for some years now. Yes, the furnace was heated “seven times hotter than it was wont to be heated.” All of this is now ancient history, completely unknown to most of our readers; and not known at all to those too young to remember World War One. But we know personally what happened then, and we can give an accurate account of it. The Epiphany has indeed been a time for judging “the quick.”

ELIJAH AND ELISHA

In the second chapter of 2 Kings there is related the last association of Elijah and Elisha — how they left Gilgal, went from there to Bethel, then to Jericho, then to Jordan (at which place Elijah wrapped his mantle, smote the River, which divided it into two parts and the “two went over on dry ground”). “And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire... and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw it, and he cried, my father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof.” In Bible symbolisms chariots often typify organizations; and that is its meaning in verse 12.

Many of our readers know that Pastor Russell said the time would come when there would be a clear separation of Elijah and Elisha here in the end of the Age: and that separation became an established fact in the summer of 1917. One of the very big issues then was the contention over “the channel, The Society” (Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society) – the antitypical “chariot” over which Elisha lamented, “my father, my father, the chariot of Israel [God’s Household at that time – the organization founded by That Servant], and the horsemen [the leaders, the guides of that chariot] thereof.” The Berean Comments on v. 11: “of fire” – Probably signifying severe persecutions on the last members of the Elijah class.

The fulfilled facts antitypical of 1 Kings 19:19-21 and 2 Kings 2:1-25, prove that antitypical Elijah, after functioning for many centuries, called antitypical Elisha in 1846, afterwards journeyed with him to antitypical Gilgal, 1874, to antitypical Bethel, 1878, to antitypical Jericho, 1881, to antitypical Jordan, 1914, and separated from him in 1917, since which time antitypical Elisha functions without antitypical Elijah.

Follows now something from Tower Reprint 5772, Col. 2, bottom, and 5773, top: “It was while the two went on, with no knowledge of how far they would go, that Elijah said to Elisha, ‘What would you like as a reward for your faithfulness in journeying with me?’ Elisha responded that he would most prefer a large measure of the Spirit of the Lord, which so notably was manifested in Elijah. The reply was that he could get this great blessing only under special conditions; namely, that he would continue faithful in cooperation until the last – until Elijah would be taken. This would be a hard matter; for, if Elisha’s attention was permitted to wander, he would not get so rich a blessing.

“As they went on, behold, a chariot of fire parted them asunder! In symbolic language, this seems to signify that the Elijah class would be involved in very fiery trouble, persecutions, and will thus be separated from their fellows. The next symbol of a whirlwind taking Elijah to heaven also implies further trouble. Prophecies are generally understood after their fulfillment — and only vaguely before. It was thus at our Lord’s first advent in respect to the prophecies then being fulfilled.

 “We may not hope to clearly understand in advance the full import of the fiery chariot nor of the whirlwind. To some the thought of being taken away from the present life suddenly, violently, in fiery troubles, etc., would be a terrible prospect; not so will it be with the members of the Elijah class. Waiting for their change, and living in daily readiness of heart, therefore, they go on without trepidation. On the contrary, in whatever way they shall be taken, it will be the culmination of their hopes for which they so long have waited and prayed – their deliverance.”

Then this from Reprint 5846, col. 1, pars. 1 and 2; col. 2, pars. 1 and 3: “But here is the way the Lord pictures the matter: First, there will be the chariot of fire. We do not know what this will be; but we understand that some fiery experience will cause a separation between the two classes of the Lord’s people. Then will develop the whirlwind of anarchy. Perhaps this will be mobs that will destroy the lives of the faithful ones. We do not know...

“This picture is not given for nothing. ‘What does it mean?’ you ask. Ah, we know that most prophecies are understood only after they are fulfilled!

“‘Do you think that this has not yet taken place?’ may be a question in your minds. We think it has not yet fully taken place. ‘Do you think that the PHOTO-DRAMA OF CREATION has had a part in this?’ It may be...

“So, then, you see what we are looking for. Whether this will take place in a few months or in a few years more we may not be sure. But we think that we shall see something that will bring a division in the sentiments of the people before we get into the fiery chariot.”

That 1917 separation has continued to pyramid over the years, with more and more of antitypical Elijah leaving the Society, and associating themselves with various Truth movements. But whether these superior brethren left the Society, or whether they stayed, it is our conviction that all of them had their fiery chariot trials. We have known quite a few of them since 1917, so we speak from personal experience.

Many brethren attempted to interpret the account in the second chapter of 2 Kings; but, so far as we know, none of them were harmonious if they departed from That Servant’s general interpretation. While the brethren were in prison in 1918, Vice‑President Wise supervised the work of the Society. On one occasion he came to Dayton, Ohio, where we then lived; and during one of his discourses he said he had been bombarded with about 400 Bible articles in a few months’ time – most of them on Elijah and Elisha; but quiet reflection now convinces us that That Servant gave the correct generalities, and any correct interpretation would have to harmonize with his thoughts. During 1917‑1920 many of the brethren – those that stayed, and those that left – were truly in the furnace of affliction.

It is our fond hope that these papers will convince all our readers that we are now in the “Time of the End,” and have been so since 1799. But one writer has expressed himself very well: “Carry a cross patiently, and with perfect submission; and in the end it shall carry you.”

(John J. Hoefle, Reprint No. 293, November 1979)

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LETTER OF GENERAL INTEREST

Precious Emily,

Please make sure to send me Part Two, etc. of “The Beginning and Ending of the Time of the End” (No. 485). I want to keep checking out the insights and conclusions. The chapter on “Knowledge Shall be Increased” was amazing.

Praying for the Lord to guide and guard your life. Thanks for all the study materials. We love you. Frank and Norma Eiklor(CALIFORNIA)

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Dear Herman and Joseph:

Your letter of June 3, 1997, with the news that a Jewish movement had contacted you was good news. We are sure that the development will be positive for Emek ha Shalom.

I have sent copies of your letter to all friends of the truth here in Sweden and to Julius Nielsen, Skjern, Denmark.

All the best and many king regards.

Your friend, Anders Karlen (SWEDEN)

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NO. 487: THE BEGINNING AND ENDING OF THE “TIME OF THE END” — Part Two

No. 487

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

The Epiphany Messenger tells us that the seventy years’ desolation of Christendom began in 1914 (typed by the seventy years’ desolation of the land of Israel during their Babylonish captivity), which seems reasonable. If the type works out, it will bring us to 1984; and if the prophesied events occur in the next five years, then we can have the strong assurance that it is a true type “for our admonition and learning, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.” (1 Cor. 10:11) Surely no one instructed in Harvest Truth will deny that Christendom is now being desolated. But the Lord’s faithful people have no need for apprehension, because the Lord is mindful of His people. He has a time for all His purposes, and He will reveal them to His faithful servants in their time of need. (Amos 3:7) Indeed if this type doesn’t work out, there is no reason for us to lose faith in God, for “He is faithful that promised.” (Heb. 10:23)

FURTHER COMMENT

“The Time of the End is a long‑drawn‑out period, because it began, as just proved, October 1799, and will end just before Daniel’s resurrection and reward as an Ancient Worthy (Dan. 12:13) – ‘he will stand in his lot at the end of the days.’ This has not yet occurred, nor will it occur for years yet. Hence this disproves ‘approximately October 1, 1914,’ as the Time of the End. When our Pastor wrote Volume III, he believed that the trouble would all be over by Oct. 1914, and that the earthly phase of the Kingdom would then be established, and therefore in that volume he taught that the Time of the End, while beginning Oct. 1799, would end Oct. 1914. But when in 1904 he came to the conclusion that the trouble would begin in 1914 and refused thereafter to set a date for its end, he implied that the end of the Time of the End would come later than 1914.

“In the Time of the End Michael stands up (Dan. 12:1). This set in at Nisan 10, 1878 (paralleling His riding into Jerusalem 1845 years before and casting off Israel and cleansing the temple) when He began to exercise executive authority in casting off Babylon, and when by the first Harvest sifting He began by the Truth to drive out from His temple class the unworthy. It continued by His awakening the sleeping saints Nisan 16, 1878, and associating them with Him in the Kingdom.

“His standing up – then proceeded in a Truth attack upon Satan’s empire (Satan, the individual, having been bound from 1874‑1878 preparatory to the spoiling of his house, Matt. 12:29), in its religious, aristocratic, political and industrial features, which attack made such a division in Satan’s empire between the conservative classes and the radical masses as to threaten it with an overthrow by a revolution of the dissatisfied masses. To avert this threatening revolution and preserve his empire, Satan mustered the nations in two rival alliances for a war in which he hoped to wipe out the division between the conservatives and radicals by making them believe, in each set of nations, that the other set sought their national destruction. Hence the World War.... Michael did not begin to stand up about October 1, 1914; though about that time an important phase of His standing up did set in. His standing up began in 1878 and will continue as against Satan’s empire until the end of anarchy and Jacob’s trouble.

“During the Time of the End the whole trouble is to occur. Dan. 12:1 does not say, just the early stage of the war part of it, but the entire Time of Trouble, occurs in the Time of the End, including all its stages: war, revolution, anarchy and Jacob’s Trouble, with famines and pestilences interspersed; for the reason of the trouble is Michael’s standing up in an attack on Satan’s empire from 1878 onward, in order utterly to destroy it thru the troubles above‑mentioned... Jesus says that the great tribulation would be greater than anything that had yet occurred up to His time or anything that would occur after His time: ‘Then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world unto this time [the time of His speaking], no, nor ever shall be.’ (Matt. 24:21) Since Dan. 12:1 teaches that in the Time of the End the entire trouble will occur, evidently the Time of the End is not identical with the end of the Gentile Times, which occurred in 1914. It began before and ends later.” (E‑6-453‑2)

CONFLICTING OPINIONS

It should be clear enough to any studious mind that we have been in the Time of Trouble in its violent stages since 1914. However, more and worse upheavals are still ahead of us. This is not merely our opinion; it is the combined thought of both Messengers – both of whom taught that the Epiphany and the Time of Trouble in its violent stages are identical. Therefore, it should be apparent that those who teach we are in the Apocalypse or the Basileia are confused and indulging in rampant error. Of those who embrace those errors one of them contends that the Epiphany as a period of time ended completely in 1954; the other says it ended in a “restricted sense” in 1954. Even at this late date – over 24 years [over 43 years now] after 1954 – we have not witnessed even the sec­ond of the two fierce violent features that both Messengers taught we would see in the Epiphany – the Epiphany being the last special period of the Gospel Age.

In 2 Thes. 2:8 St. Paul tells us that the Man of Sin will be annihilated by the Epiphany of the Lord’s presence. Therefore, those who now tamper with the Epiphany not only cast aside the clear teachings of both Messengers, but they also dispense with the inspired Word of God. Thus they come under the condem­nation of Rev. 16:6, Dia.: “Thou gavest them also blood [error] to drink; they deserve it.” We suggest to our readers that they search the Parousia or Epiphany volumes, as well as the Berean Comments for the faintest semblance of proof that these teachings are correct. We know such proof is not there, so that the leaders of both groups are not now “contending for the faith that was once delivered unto the saints,” but are openly rejecting it. We refer espec­ially to the bottom of page 12 in the Instructor’s Guide, where the Parousia vs. Epiphania and Apokalupsis are thoroughly analyzed, which analysis definitely rejects these teachings. Thus we quote here from Rev. 22:18,19: “If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things that are written in this book.”

THE DESTRUCTIVE FEATURES

The question now arises – If the Time of the End began in 1799, when will it end? We do not now have any definite answer to that question; however, we know that the Time of the End includes all the destructive features of this Old Order – the World War, Armageddon and Anarchy. Also, we know that the Time of Trouble and the Epiphany are identical. In the broad sense we might say that there is only one period of time – the Time of the End – but included in that period are the Parousia from 1874 to 1914, and the Epiphany – the Time of Trouble in its violent features – from 1914 to the end of Jacob’s Trouble. Thus the Time of the End runs concurrently with all of them – and the Epiphany and the Time of Trouble in its violent features are identical. When we say one, we mean either one as a period of time. The Scriptural proof for the Time of Trouble is to be found in Dan. 12:1; Matt. 24:15; Mark 13:14. Of course, the two periods just mentioned are of much shorter duration than the Time of the End: the Parousia did not begin until 1874, and the Epiphany, or the Great Tribulation, did not begin until 1914 – and is ever increasing in intensity until the grand smash comes. Toward the end of the Epiphany will come Jacob’s Trouble: “That day is great, so that none is like it; it is even the time of Jacob’s Trouble.” (Jer. 30:7) “Jacob’s Trouble” will terminate with the final throes of Anarchy, at which time “there will be no hire for man, nor any hire for beast; neither any peace to him that goeth out, or cometh in, because of the affliction: for I will set all men every one against his neighbor.” (Zech. 8:10) The Epiphany and the Time of Trouble in its narrow sense are identical; both began in 1914 and both will end with the last phase of the trouble. This is clear Scriptural teaching.

TWO JUDGMENTS

Two judgments are described in the Bible: (1) the judgment of the quick, and (2) the judgment of the dead. In 2 Tim. 4:1 it is stated that our Lord Jesus “shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and kingdom.” The nominal church has concluded that the “quick” in this text are those who are walking about and alive as we see them, and the “dead” are those in the tomb. This is a wrong conclusion; and we now offer the text from the Emphatic Diaglott: “Christ Jesus is about to judge the living and the dead, by his appearing and by his kingdom.” His appearing in this text is the Epiphany; and the living at that time are certain members of the Household of Faith – members of His Church. “You hath he quickened together with him” (Col. 2:13), who were “dead in trespasses and sins.” The remainder of the human race – whether in the tomb, or out of it, are reckoned as dead. This is plainly stated by Jesus in Matt. 8:22, Dia., “Leave the dead ones to inter their own dead.” Thus, 2 Tim. 4:1 becomes much clearer if we paraphrase it: “He will judge the living during his Epiphany, and the dead ones [the world of mankind, whether in their graves or living] during his Kingdom.” “Because he hath appointed a day [a thousand‑year day – Christ’s Kingdom], 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)

IS THERE AN EPIPHANY?

Did That Servant teach an Epiphany period? Quite a few of the Lord’s good people think – and say – they are faithfully adhering to his teachings as they deny an Epiphany period, as well as a class of consecrators between the “closing of the door” and until Restitution begins. But we would say there are two meanings to the word – a condition (bright shining) and a period of time. Both of these are taught in 2 Thes. 2:8, which we quote from the Diaglott: “Then will be revealed the lawless one [the man of sin]: whom the Lord Jesus will consume with the breath of his mouth [His sharp pertinent teachings], and annihilate by the appearing [Epiphaneia] of his presence [Parousia].”

That this is the thought of That Servant we now prove from the following quotations, which we hope will persuade all our readers on this point: “At [or during] the epiphania, or bright shining, of the Lord’s manifestation, God will have completed his present work of directing the church [in bringing in the 144,000], and the world will be informed that they are under a different dispensation.” (Reprint 5359, top, col. 1, par. 2)

“The Scriptures speak of a great time of trouble in the conclusion of this Gospel Age. Our Lord in the prophecy recorded in Matthew 24 mentions this great time of trouble... In connection with it He says, ‘When ye see these things begin to come to pass, then lift up your heads and rejoice; for your redemption draweth nigh’ (Luke 21:28) – linking this great climax to the deliverance of the Church, their change from earthly nature to heavenly nature... Our Lord speaks of this same time of trouble and says that Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled (Luke 21:24). These ‘times of the Gentiles’ represent a period during which the world was to be ruled by Gentile nations... A stone was to smite the image upon the feet, which were iron and clay, and break them to pieces (Dan. 2:44,45). This crushing of the feet of the image was to come in the end of the Age, and would be the preparatory step to the establishment of Messiah’s kingdom (Dan. 2:31‑45)... The present terrible war is not the great time of trouble in the fullest sense of the word, but merely its forerunner. The great time of trouble of Scriptures will be brought on by Anarchy – the general uprising of the people.” (Reprint 5526, col. 1)

“The Scriptures indicate that the Gentile governments will receive from their own people their first notice that their lease of power has expired. The people will take note of the sign of the Son of Man in the heavens. The judgments of the Lord will begin to be manifest in the world, and run counter to many of their interests. This manifestation of His presence is Scripturally called the epiphaneia, the shining forth, the revealment, of the King of Glory. ‘He shall be revealed in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.’ (2 Thes. 1:7‑10) As a result, the nations of the earth will be broken to pieces like a potter’s vessel. (Psa. 2:8,9; Rev. 2:27)... The picture given of the end of Gentile Times is that of a stone striking the image of Gentile supremacy in its feet (Dan. 2:34,35). The impact will be so sharp and so thorough as to leave nothing of them. Having had their day, they will cease to be – ‘become like the chaff of the summer threshing floor.’ The next event [after the Epiphany] will be the Messianic Kingdom of which it is writ­ten, ‘The desire of all people shall come.’“ (Reprint 5527, col. 2, pars. 2,3, Sept. 1, 1914)

And from Reprint 5456, col. 1, par. 2: “Emphasizing the suddenness with which the calamity will overtake the world, Jesus said on the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained down fire and brimstone from heaven; and He declared that thus it will be when the Son of Man is revealed. The Greek text shows a difference between the Parousia, or presence, of Christ before the time of trouble, and the later epiphaneia, or REVEALING. [The Epiphany, or Apoka­lypse, and the Time of Trouble are one and the same period of time. There would be no necessity of a “bright shining” if it didn’t reveal something. In other words, there is no Epiphany without an Apokalypse].”

“We are now in the beginning of this great day [the Epiphany day, April 15, 1914] of the Lord. All the forces which are to play a part in this mighty upheaval which is to introduce the reign of Messiah are rapidly gathering. The nations of the earth and all the various elements which form society as at present organized – political institutions, financial institutions, ecclesias­tical systems, etc. – are now before the bar of judgment [in 1914 at the end o£ the Gentile times and the beginning of World War One], and are being found wanting. All Christendom is trembling before the mighty forces that are coming in today. Morals are at a low ebb.” (Reprint 5442, col. l, par. 7, April 15, 1914)

“The earlier part of the judgment upon Christendom [in the Epiphany] will be upon the antitypical sons of Levi, the silver class... The fire of this great day [the Epiphany] shall ‘try every man’s work, of what sort it is.’ It will likewise discover who have built upon a foundation of sand (1 Cor. 3:11‑15).” (Reprint 5442, col. 2, pars 2 and 3)

The above quotations should certainly convince any open mind that That Servant recognized the Epiphany as a period of time; and present‑day events certainly attest mightily that we are indeed in that period of time – the time of trouble, the Epiphany.

SOME EPIPHANY OBSERVATIONS

“Doubtless the Adversary knew that a modern war would weaken his empire; but he preferred a weakened empire to none. He invented through perverted human brains the horrible weapons and munitions of the World War, whose destructiveness doubtless convinced him that the war would be short. To Satan’s ruthlessness God opposed a ‘so far, and no farther.’ Therefore God did not permit Satan to end the war with a speedy and easy victory for the Central Powers... Thus the war had two results directly opposite to those that Satan had planned: (1) the side that he favored was ultimately defeated; and (2) his empire was weakened and debt‑burdened almost to collapse. Moreover, the Lord overruled to the complete frustration of Satan’s purpose of making each nation emerge from the war with the masses and the classes thoroughly united with each other, instead of their being divided against each other as they had been before the war. This purpose of Satan was frustrated by the Lord’s making known, not only the human, but also the Satanic causes of the war, particularly as these were connected with the doctrines of the Divine Right of Kings, Aristocrats and Clerics, which doctrine and its resultant practices were the basic human causes of the war. The making of these things known has had various results: (1) the almost complete abolition of autocracy – a child of the Divine Right doctrine; (2) in some countries a large abolition, and in other countries a large limitation of aristocracy; (3) greatly decreased belief in the Divine Right of the Clergy and a correspondingly immense decrease of their influence; (4) greatly increased embitterment and opposition of the Radicals to what is Satan’s order of affairs; (5) greatly increased demands for more liberty from State, Aristocracy and Clergy; (6) most threatening imminence of world‑wide revolution. Thus in a deeper sense than most people recognize Satan emerged from his adventure in the World War as the worst defeated sovereign of all history.” (See E-2, pp. 136, 137 and 138)

“The World War was no usual war. From the above description it will be seen it was a greater conflict, with larger issues involved, than mankind in general recognizes. As a matter of fact the World War was the great war of prophecy – the war that, according to the Scriptures, would precede Armageddon, the war that would be the first part of the great Day of the Lord, the Day of Vengeance. In many places the Bible refers to it. The following are among the more important of these references: Joel 3:9‑14; Dan. 12:1; Matt. 24:21,22; 1 Thes. 5:1‑3. This war, and the very year – 1914 – in which it was to begin, were forecast from the Bible by Pastor Russell years before it began. According to the Bible it is after an ever increasingly stormy interval, to be followed by sudden world‑wide Revolution, which will overthrow the present form of Satan’s empire in state, aristocracy and religion. And according to the Scriptures even greater famines and pestilences than those that accompanied the World War will accompany the World Revolution. According to the Scriptural delineations, the Radicals, in the coming Revolution, will attack the present order with crushing and relentless blows, under which it will collapse with but scant resistance, due to its greatly weakened condition resulting from the wounds received in the World War and its aftermath. This is another great blunder Satan made in bringing about that war; for by greatly weakening his empire it will have prepared that empire to become an easy prey to the attacks of the Radicals in the coming World Revolution. Events on all hands indicate that we are rapidly sweeping toward this great social upheaval.” (E‑2,-138,139)

“Of the coming upheaval, the following are some of the Biblical descriptions, clothed in figurative language: ‘The Battle of the Great Day of God Almighty’ (Rev. 16:14; Zeph. 3:8; Isa. 13:4,5), ‘Armageddon’ (Rev. 16:16), ‘a great earthquake’ (Rev. 16:18; Heb. 12:26), ‘the fire of Jehovah’s Jealousy’ (Zeph. 3:8; 2 Peter 3:10,11,12; Mal. 4:1), ‘a whirlwind’ and a ‘storm’ (Nahum 1:3,6,7), ‘a tempest of hail,’ ‘a destroying storm,’ and ‘a flood of mighty waters’ (Isa. 28:2; Nahum 1:4,5,8), ‘the besom of destruction’ (Isa. 14:23), ‘a furnace of fire’ (Matt. 13:42), ‘a lake of fire’ (Rev. 19:20), and ‘the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God (Rev. 19:15).”

“As one reads these many terms descriptive of one and the same event, the conclusion is irresistible that they set forth in symbolic language an appalling calamity just ahead of the race.

“The present European powers are symbolized in their entirety in the seven‑headed Beast of Rev. 17:7‑12... We look for the coming of another (symbolic) Beast, which seems to represent the form of European government to be set up after the Revolution [Armageddon], and which, we opine, will probably be socialistic in form. This being a part of the ‘present evil world,’ Satan, of course, will be its invisible ruler.” (E‑2-139)

“The Scriptures teach that after this government shall but briefly pilot the ship of State amid the storms of the social sea, Anarchy will set in, and like a devouring fire will completely destroy every vestige of Satan’s empire. More severe famines and pestilences than those accompanying the Revolution will accompany Anarchy. Fire is the most frequent Biblical term describing the Anarchistic phase of the Great Tribulation. The prophet Elijah was given a vision of the three great phases of this Trouble – war, revolution, and anarchy – by the wind, earthquake and fire of 1 Kings 19:11,12. Using Jerusalem as a figure of Christendom, the prophet Ezekiel by the term ‘sword’ describes the War and Revolution, and by the figure of the noisome beast (a beast is opposed to law and order) fittingly describes the Anarchy of the Time of Trouble (Ezek. 14:21). Additionally, in the same passage, he shows that famines and pestilences will play their part in these troubles, as we by observation know they played their part in the war.” (E‑2-140)

“Satan will, after the Anarchy, attempt but one final effort against God’s people, and that not against His spiritual, but against His fleshly Israel. One of the signs of our times as a fulfillment of prophecy has been Israel’s returning to Palestine. This has had several stages... Arab opposition has given a temporary setback, but in due time this obstacle will be removed. Present world‑wide conditions have influenced many wealthy Israelites to divert vast millions of treasure to their Home Land, and the land is being richly built up... All this is in fulfillment of prophecy relating to our times (Ezek. 36:8,12). Satan, beholding these prosperous Israelites, and realizing that his days of mischief are about over, will, after anarchy has destroyed the future socialistic governments, in hatred against Israel stir up the anarchistic remnants of all nations to plunder the Israelites in Palestine. These plunderers, as described in Ezek. 38 and 39 and in Zech. 12:1‑9 and 14:1‑3, will be gathered by Satan from among all nations and will sorely afflict Israel in what the Bible calls Jacob’s Trouble (Jer. 30:1‑9). This will be a very severe trouble, according to the prophetic description given in the above citations, and will be Israel’s final chastisement. It will effectually turn them to the Lord Jesus in thorough conversion, when they in the complete overthrow of their plunderers by the Lord Jesus, will remember that their trouble and their troublers’ were forecast to them by the Truth people. And their affliction and the overthrow of their anarchistic plunderers will be the last act of Satanic oppression as the god of this evil world. With that wicked effort his days as man’s supreme oppressor will be over, for which we thank God.” (E‑2-142)

Yes, in the last effort of Satan the Jews will call upon the Lord and He will answer their prayers: “Fools because of their transgression [crucifying the Lord of Glory], and because of their iniquities [their violations of the Mosaic Law], are afflicted. Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death. Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses. He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction. Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!” (Psa. 107:17‑21) “Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.” (Zech. 14:3)

MORE ON THE HIGH CALLING

“This night [the great Time of Trouble] began in each country as it was involved in the World War, the first part of the great tribulation, which began when the first countries entered the war in August 1914. Accordingly, we recognize that the night began in 1914. But this symbolic night, just like the natural night, did not set in everywhere at the same instant of time, rather it reached each country only as it became involved in the war. While every government did not declare war, every one of the nations was involved therein; because every one of them was afflicted by the war. Now every nation is in the night, and has been since the war afflicted, and thus involved all nations, even those that did not declare war. Therefore the reaping is complete the world over; the Elects’ forehead sealing is finished.

“Closely connected with our text in thought is Rev. 7:1‑3, which we offer as a second proof that the forehead sealing of the Elect is complete. As these verses have, we think, been greatly misinterpreted in Vol. VII, we will introduce and ex­pound them briefly: ‘And after [seeing] these things [in Chap. 6] I [the Little Flock] saw [with both physical and mental eyes] four angels [the messengers of wrath, C-165, i.e., (1) rulers, (2) aristocrats, (3) proprietary business men and proprietary farmers and (4) laborers, who bring about the trouble, and thus pour out the sufferings, the wrath of the Time of Trouble; the Harvest workers are not the messengers of wrath, as Vol. VII claims, but are messengers of peace, announcing and working for real peace (Isa. 52:7; Eph. 6:15)] standing [each group stationed in the section of society to which it belongs] on the four corners of the earth [the symbolic earth, society (the symbolic heavens are not here included), is divided into four sections, each one corresponding to one of the four messengers of wrath: (1) government, (2) aristocracy, (3) bourgeoisie, (4) labor] holding [these groups, prompted more or less by their selfishness, which worked in different forms in the various groups, followed a course that restrained the fallen angels from bringing the great tribulation sooner than the due time] the four winds of the [fallen angels, who seem to be divided into four classes (Rom. 8:38; Eph. 6:12), and who are ruling over the symbolic] earth [society] [so] that the wind [the World War, 1 Kings 19:11; see Berean comments, also on Rev. 7:2. This ‘wind’ is not the ‘whirlwind,’ which will only then come when the fallen angels are more fully loosed than they were when causing the war, and as such meet in great conflicts among them­selves and produce among mankind the symbolic whirlwind, revolution and anarchy (Jer. 25:29-33, especially v. 32; 2 Kings 2:1,11, etc.). The wind, as this text implies, must precede the whirlwind, which occurs as a result of the hostile meeting of the fallen angels, after ‘the wind,’ 1 Kings 19:11,12] should not blow [bring tribulation] on the earth [society], nor on the sea [the restless, rebellious, lawless masses] nor on any tree [great one: the Lord’s people are counted great ones by Him; and the leaders among the four sections of society are also by their partisans].’“ (E‑5-147,148)

There will be more on the High Calling in Part 3. We trust that the first two parts of this series have blessed and strengthened the Lord’s people to a better understanding of the “Times and Seasons” in which we are now living.

“But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them” (2 Tim. 3:14); and “Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.” (Psa. 27:14)

(Reprint No. 291, September 1979)

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The following is an answer to the letter in the June 1997 paper:

Dear Brother ….: Grace and peace thru our Beloved Lord!

Delay in answering your letter of February 23 is due to my illness... My wife has been unable to take care of some of the correspondence. However, I am now regaining my strength.

Your frank expressions on the subject of the Jews are appreciated. I especially appreciate the compliment you give me regarding my knowledge of God’s Word and His “plan of the ages.” I have endeavored to “continue in” the Truth I have learned and been assured of; and our Lord promises, “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:31,32) Also, the Apostle Paul admonishes Timothy to “continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them.” (2 Tim. 3:14)

First of all, I wish to emphasize the fact that I am not a Jew – although I am not unmindful of the wonderful heritage the Jews have, even as I am acutely aware of the objectionable qualities that the renegade Jews have. As the Apostle Paul tells us, “For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly.” (Rom. 2:28) God does not recognize these renegades as Jews: His promises are only to the faithful orthodox Jews who will eventually accept Christ as their Savior. Also, there are many renegade Christians, who outwardly profess Christ but do not so do from the heart.

At our Lord’s First Advent He opened up the way for natural Jews to become Spiritual Israelites, but only a few availed themselves of that opportunity. “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together... and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.” (Matt. 23:37,38)

After our Lord’s crucifixion, in “due time,” the Lord opened up the way for Gentiles to become Spiritual Israelites. But only a small minority of the human race have availed themselves of this opportunity – and quite a few of those who did... have made shipwreck of their profession. I am sure, my Brother, that you recognize this condition.

In the genealogy of Jesus we are clearly told that David was his ancestor. And certainly David was a Jew. And the inspired Scripture gives us what our Lord said: “Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship; for salvation is of the Jews.” (John 4:22) However, the faults of those renegade Jews, who are only Jews according to the flesh, may easily blind us to the overall picture. Ezekiel and Jeremiah are positive in disputing your opinion. I shall quote just one citation from Jer. 16:15: “I will bring them again into the land that I gave unto their fathers.”

As you undoubtedly know, Israel is just another name for Jacob, as he was originally called; and Jacob’s twelve sons are the progenitors of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel; and Jesus is referred to as “the lion of the tribe of Judah.” He was in a class by Himself when conducting His ministry at His First Advent; and at that time He certainly demonstrated that He was the lion (the King) of the tribe of Judah.

Note, too, Zech. 14:1-3: “I will gather all nations to Jerusalem to battle... then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.” I assume I need not cite those ancient outstanding times when the Lord did fight for Israel; and the record tells us of Jesus: “He came unto his own [the Jews], and his own received him not.” Also Zech. 12:10: “They shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and shall mourn because of it.” St. Paul corroborates this in Rom. 1:16: “To the Jew first.”

As footstep followers of Jesus, we should not hate any race because of the evils of some – perhaps many – individuals. Although the Lord beholds the good and the evil (Ec. 12:14), He is not dealing with any individual now but only with those who are in covenant-relationship with Him. “Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness.” (Acts 17:31) “For when thy judgments [instructions] are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.” (Isa. 26:9) “The god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not.” (2 Cor. 4:4) But their eyes will be opened in that Blessed Kingdom: “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.” (Isa. 35:5) “For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.” (Rom. 11:32)

If at any time I can be of assistance to you, do not hesitate to call upon me – as I consider you my brother. We here try to write “in sincerity and in truth,” as we rely upon His inspired Word.

With this comes my Christian love and the assurance of my prayers for your highest welfare. The Lord make His face to shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee.

Sincerely your brother and servant, John J. Hoefle

PS — I am enclosing a tract on The Two Distinct Salvations and our May 1979 paper, which I hope you will find interesting and helpful.

Also, I have a few Jewish-Christians on my mailing list, and have exchanged personal correspondence with them. I find them most generous with those who have departed from the Truth – especially so with the Jehovah’s Witnesses, et al, who no longer teach the Truth on the promises to the Jews: “To the Jew First,” which is clearly taught in the Scriptures, for both the elective salvation as well as the salvation of the world in general in Christ’s Kingdom.

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NO. 486: “FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS” – UNDERSTANDING PURIM

No. 486

By Clarence H. Wagner, Jr., International Director, Bridges For Peace

One of my favorite biblical holidays is Purim, because the story behind the celebration is so exciting, with rich details that grip your attention – a real “page turner.” They could certainly make an epic film of it and keep audiences spellbound, right until the end.

For those who may not be familiar with the details of Purim, I want to begin by summarizing the story of Esther, then draw some practical and spiritual applications for us to consider. (For the full effect, read the Book of Esther for yourself – you won’t be disappointed.)

Two thousand five hundred years ago, King Ahasuerus (Xerxes) ruled his vast Persian kingdom of 127 provinces from India to Ethiopia. In the third year of his reign, he had a great 180-day banquet, in the capital city of Susa, for his princes, nobles, officials, and military leaders. King Ahasuerus summoned his queen, Vashti, to appear in her crown and royal robes. She refused and was banished. King Ahasuerus desired another queen, so his aides proposed a search throughout his entire kingdom for the most beautiful woman to replace Vashti.

Working at the palace was a Jewish man named Mordecai who had come there when the Jews were carried into exile from Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. He had raised his cousin, Hadassah, an orphan, who was a great beauty. So, when Mordecai heard of this search for a new queen, he suggested Hadassah, called Esther, as a candidate. She was accepted. Along with other candidates, she went through 12 months of beauty treatments before being brought before the king. Everyone liked her the best, and when she came before the king, she immediately won his favor, too, and became his queen in Vashti’s place.

About this time, two of the king’s guards plotted his assassination. This was overheard by Mordecai, who passed word via Esther to the king. The plot was exposed, the guards executed, and Mordecai’s good deed was recorded in the royal annals.

Soon, a man named Haman, an Agagite (Amalekite), became the chief of all nobles. He demanded that everyone bow down to him. Mordecai refused to do this. Day after day, only Mordecai refused to pay homage to Haman, which enraged him to the point he wanted to get rid of Mordecai. However, Haman decided not only to destroy Mordecai, but all his people – the Jews of the world.

Haman convinced the king that there was an obstinate and unlawful people who lived in his kingdom that needed to be destroyed. Without telling the king who these people were, Haman offered ten thousand talents of silver to the royal treasury for permission to extermi­nate this unnamed people! The king gave his permission. Lots, or purim, were cast to decide on the day of the execution of all the Jews, and Haman issued a decree throughout the king­dom to annihilate them on Adar 13.

When Mordecai heard of this plot, he put on sackcloth to mourn the fate of his people, the Jewish people. Esther heard of Mordecai’s condition and went to see Mordecai, who challenged her to go before the king to ask for a reprieve for the Jewish people. Well, it wasn’t that easy. One had to be summoned before the king, and if you went to him without that summons and he did not raise his scepter, you would be put to death. It was a risk for Esther to go to the king, even if she were the queen. Mordecai told her that God put her into this position “for such a time as this.” She pondered this calling, and fasted.

Then, Esther took the risk and went to the king. He raised his scepter and with pleasure he accepted her invitation to a special dinner for him and Haman. Haman was more than flattered and hurried to join the king and queen. The king was so happy with the evening that he offered Esther anything she wanted, up to half his kingdom. She asked that the king and Haman return the next day for another banquet, when she would give him her answer.

Meanwhile, on his way out of the palace, Haman saw the hated Mordecai. Seeing him all the time enraged him and so he built a 75-foot gallows in order to hang Mordecai the next day. Then he would never have to look at him again.

That night, the king could not sleep, so he read the royal annals. He realized that Mordecai had never been rewarded for his discovery of the assassination plot, so many years before.

On the following day, Haman was called by the king. Without telling Haman who he wanted to honor, the king asked Haman how he would honor a man who had delighted the king. Haman thought he was that man, so said, “For the man the king delights to honor, have them bring a royal robe the king has worn and a horse the king has ridden... Let them robe the man and lead him on the horse through the city streets, proclaiming before him, ‘This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor.” So the king told Haman to go at once and do this for Mordecai!! Haman choked back his anger, but did what the king asked. The humiliation caused him great frustration.

Haman was then summoned to the second banquet with the king and queen. There, Esther revealed what she wanted from the king. She told the king of the plan to annihilate all her kinsmen, the Jews of his kingdom, including the favored Mordecai. The king was outraged and wanted to know who was behind this plan. Esther said, “The adversary and enemy is this vile Haman.” The king went to the palace garden to decide the fate of Haman. When he returned, he saw Haman fall upon the queen to beg for mercy, and the king thought he was attacking her. Just then, an aide to the king reported that Haman had built a gallows near his house to hang Mordecai, so the king ordered Haman hung on this gallows.

The king gave the Jews a reprieve, gave Esther Haman’s estate, and gave Mordecai Haman’s former position in the king’s court. On the 14th of Adar, “In every province and in every city, wherever the edict of the king went, there was joy and gladness among the Jews with feasting and celebrating.”

SOME PURIM CUSTOMS

So it is today in Israel and in Jewish communities throughout the world. Purim is still celebrated just as Mordecai wished. In Jerusalem and other walled cities, Shushan Purim is celebrated on the 15th of Adar, while in Tel Aviv and other unwalled cities, the holiday is celebrated the day before, on the 14th of Adar (this is usually in March). Throughout the centuries of their oppression, this holiday has served as a release for Jewish tensions and anxieties. It is a time when the Jewish people “let their hair down” and celebrate their deliverance with all their might. However, before the celebration begins, in accordance with the tradition of not leaving any joy or sorrow unadulterated, the day before Purim is a day of fasting. It is reminiscent of the fast mentioned in Esther 4:16 and is called the Fast of Esther. Different from other fasts and holidays in Jewish tradition, this fast begins at sunrise rather than at sundown on the previous evening.

On Purim day, the main feature of the Purim celebration is the reading of the megillah or Scroll (book) of Esther. Because Esther is the only book in the Bible where the name of God is not mentioned, great liberties are taken with the reading, and with the whole celebration for that matter. In contrast to other synagogue services which are often solemn, the Purim service is conducted in an almost frivolous manner.

Because evil Haman was of Amalekite origin, and it is a command of God, in Exodus 17:8‑16 and Deuteronomy 25:17-19, to blot out the memory of the Amalekites, great care is given by everyone, especially the children, to drown out the name of Haman as the story is read. The hearers yell, shout, boo, hiss, stamp their feet and make noises with special hand-held noise-makers, called graggers. Since great attention is paid to the reading of the scroll, the reader may not proceed until the noise has subsided. Needless to say, it takes quite a bit of time to get through the Book of Esther with all the interruptions.

The Purim celebration is known for its plays and parodies. In Israel today, there are also parties and parades. The streets are filled with merrymakers and virtually all the children, and some adults, are in a costume of some sort. You see little Queen Esthers and Mordecais on almost every street in downtown Jerusalem, in a real carnival atmosphere. There are even a few evil Hamans running around, usually being booed and mocked by the crowds. Of course, the costume ideas are by no means limited to the characters from the book of Esther. There are also clowns, spacemen, cowboys, and many other outlandish creations of young Israeli minds – the teenagers going for Madonna or other popular rock stars or even politicians.

As with all Jewish holidays, there are special foods eaten. One special food eaten during this celebration is hamantashen or Haman’s ears. These are tri-cornered dough cookies filled with a sweetened poppy seed or date mixture.

Traditionally, in the afternoon of Purim day, there are Purim feasts, where friends and relatives come together and celebrate. Food is sent to the poor on this day, in accordance with the admonition of Mordecai in Esther 9:22, “...observe the days as days of feasting and joy and giving presents of food to one another and gifts to the poor.”

Purim is not just a dusty, 2,500-year-old story. It has relevance for us as Bible-believers today. Let’s look at three important lessons:

LESSON #1: ANTISEMITISM IS EVERYWHERE

The first lesson we can learn from Purim is that there is an inherent tendency in humans to hate and plot against the Jewish people. This is one of the most amazing and persistent maladies of the human race that is as old as the Bible covenants themselves. This anti-Jewishness, or anti-Semitism, has raised its ugly head in virtually every civilization both ancient and modern, appearing in countless Pharaohs, Hamans, Herods, and Hitlers who have marched across the stage of human history. Today it can even be found in parts of the world where no Jews live!

It seems the sin of anti-Semitism, in the spirit of Amalek, is a spiritual condition created in the pits of hell, which creeps into every society. The spiritual basis for this unnatural hatred for the Jews is the covenant relationship between the Jewish people and God. Because they, as a people, represent something precious to the Lord (Zech. 2:8), they are subject to extraordinary attack...just as Christians have been in many parts of the world. The destruction of the things of God are always a target of satanic forces. Also, in this case, the extermination of all the Jews at this point in history would have cut off the future birth of Yeshua, and thus the salvation of the world.

Nevertheless, God’s arm is not so short that He does not bring retribution upon those who persecute His people. When God made His covenant with Abraham, which included the land of Israel, He said, “I will bless those who bless you, and curse him that curses you...” (Gen. 12:3)

Many nations have found themselves on God’s rubbish heap because they persecuted Israel. One of the first of these protagonists was the ancient nation of Amalek, who oppressed Israel mercilessly on their journey through the wilderness. The Lord instructed Moses that once the people were settled in the land of Israel, they were to blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven:

“Remember what the Amalekites did to you along the way when you came out of Egypt. When you were weary and worn out, they met you on your journey and cut off all who were lagging behind; they had no fear of God. When the Lord your God gives you rest from all the enemies around you in the land He is giving you to possess as an inheritance, you shall blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven. Do not forget!” (Deut. 25:17-19)

In other words, the Israelites were to totally destroy that evil nation... but they didn’t. And sadly, the seed of Amalek (physically and spiritually) seems to have survived even to this day, seething in its hatred toward God’s covenant people and constantly stirring world opinion against Israel.

In later years, King Saul was given this task, but because of his disobedience, Amalek survived. In I Samuel 15:17-19, Samuel says to Saul:

“The Lord anointed you king over Israel. And He sent you on a mission, saying, ‘Go and com­pletely destroy those wicked people, the Amalekites; make war on them until you have wiped them out.’ Why did you not obey the Lord?”

In fact, it happened to be an Amalekite who later took Saul’s life. In II Samuel 1, a prisoner from Saul’s camp came to David and reported the death of Saul. When David asked him how he knew this, he told this story:

“I happened to be on Mt. Gilboa...and there was Saul leaning on his spear with the chariots and riders almost upon him. When he turned around and saw me, he called out to me, and I said ‘What can I do?’ He asked me, ‘Who are you?’ ‘An Amalekite,’ I answered. Then he said to me ‘Stand over me and kill me! I am in the throes of death, but I’m still alive.’ So I stood over him and killed him.” (II Sam. 1:6-10)

Later, in I Samuel 30:18, we read that David “recovered everything the Amalekites had taken, including his two wives.” The Amalekites had apparently raided David’s household as well!

By now, you may be asking yourselves, “What does this have to do with the story of Purim?”

Hundreds of years after King Saul’s disobedience, there was yet another Amalekite who arose to oppress the Jews of Persia whose name was Haman (Esther 3:1). We just heard the story and find that Haman perhaps was the second person to come up with the idea of a “final solution” for the Jewish people (Pharaoh was first). Haman’s rage was not only directed against Mordecai, who had refused to bow to him, but against all of Mordecai’s people, the Jews throughout Ahasuerus’ kingdom (Esther 3:6). This, of course, included all the Jews living in Israel at that time.

Evil Haman’s rage knew no bounds. Haman cast lots (purim) to determine the exact date of this proposed extermination of the Jews throughout the whole empire.

Haman’s plan might have been successful had it not been for Esther risking her own life, approaching the king and skillfully putting an end to Haman’s plot. This madman was then hung on his own gallows, and the awful edict was withdrawn.

The celebrations in Jewish communities around the world commemorate their deliverance from this evil plot of destruction. And above the merrymaking of celebration and the laughter of the crowd, one can almost hear the laughter of God Himself, as if God were laughing Haman to scorn, along with the host of other men and nations who have dared stand against His own beloved people. Psalm 2:1-4 says:

“Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?... ‘Let us break their chains,’ they say, ‘and throw off the fetters’... The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them.”

LESSON #2: GOD DELIVERS HIS PEOPLE

Throughout the ages, we have seen evil plots devised over and over again against the Jews. First there was Pharaoh, then the Amalekites, Haman and his plot, the Syrians under Antiochus Epiphanes, the Romans, the Crusaders, the Inquisition, the pogroms of Russia, a 20th century “final solution” organized by Adolf Hitler and the Nazis, and the incessant jihad (holy war) called by the Moslems of the Middle East to “push the Jews into the sea.”

Yet, the Jewish people have been spared time and again and still exist today, while the perpetrators have eventually vanished.

A remarkable phenomenon, experienced in the history of the Jewish people, is that God has delivered them from other oppressors in history on Purim! In the early 1950s, Joseph Stalin, leader of the USSR, planned a final solution to his “Jewish problem.” He set up barracks in Siberia and Kazakhstan, ready to receive millions of Jews from all over the Soviet Union, who were to be sent there to oblivion and probably death. For many months, Pravda and Izvestia, leading a well-orchestrated campaign, accused the Jews of all sorts of crimes against the Soviet people. The last stroke was to be the March, 1953 publication of a letter, supposedly signed by the leaders of the Jewish community, begging for protection from the legitimate anger of the Soviet people and asking to be sent to the “refuge” in Siberia. The government was poised to fulfill the “humanitarian request.” But, the letter was never published and the Jewish people were saved from deportation. That year, good fortune prevailed. Echoing the events of thousands of years earlier, on Purim, March 5, 1953, Stalin died. Later that spring, Pravda announced its new truth, that the earlier anti‑Jewish campaign had been misguided.

In 1991, the latest such deliverance to come on Purim day was the end of the Gulf War. Saddam Hussein was defeated and the Scud missiles stopped raining down upon Israel. I remember sitting in a sidewalk cafe, on the Ben Yehuda Street pedestrian mall in Jerusalem, watching thousands of Israelis celebrating Purim, 1991, in obvious relief. Gas masks were put away, sealed rooms were opened, and everyone thanked God for His deliverance, once again.

Historically, the Church has Jewish blood on its hands, as many of the attacks against the Jewish people in the last 2,000 years have come from so‑called Christians. These perpetrators of Christian anti-Semitism obviously did not heed Paul’s clear teaching in Romans 9-11. On the relationship between the Church and Israel and the Jewish people, Paul says of the Jews, they are “beloved for the sakes of the fathers” (Rom. 11:28), and to the Church, “...by your mercy they shall receive mercy.” (Rom. 11:31)

The Jewish people are still persecuted today and you will find anti-Semitism even in your own hometown. As a Christian, are you willing, like Queen Esther, to stick your neck out and take the risk of showing mercy to the Jewish people and Israel? As part of expressing our faith in love, and as part of our spiritual connection to Israel, we may be called upon to do this.

Sadly, many Christians are not willing to accept this role enjoined by Paul, and Christian anti-Semitism has permeated Christianity throughout the ages.

Fortunately, in these last days, as Christians read the Word of God themselves and the Holy Spirit reveals God’s will, many true believers understand the spiritual connection between the Church and the Jewish people, which is drawing us together. Ephesians 2:11‑14 tells us:

“Therefore, remember that formerly, you who are Gentiles by birth and called ‘uncircumcised’ by those who call themselves ‘the circumcision’(that done in the body by the hands of men as a sign of the covenant) remember that at that time you were separate from Messiah, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Messiah Yeshua (Jesus) you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Messiah. For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility...”

As adopted sons of Abraham, grafted into the tree of Israel, partakers of the covenants, promises, hopes and even the citizenship of Israel, it is our duty to stand up against evil that might befall the Jewish people, and counteract anti-Semitism wherever it may be found, especially if found in Christian circles. We should affirm as Ruth, the Moabitess, did to her mother-in-law, Naomi:

“Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go l will go, and where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God” (Ruth 1:16).

Through the blood of Messiah, this statement is true for all Christians as well, even if taking this stand is not always easy! Whenever we see our spiritual relatives, the Jewish people, and our spiritual homeland, Israel, in trouble, let us be God’s instrument to seek their protection and deliverance. Let us be willing to take the risk, as Esther did, and watch God work out His prophetic miracles.

LESSON #3: WE MUST TAKE RISKS FOR GOD

This leads us to the third lesson we can learn from the Purim story: we must take risks for God. In Esther 4:13-14, cousin Mordecai told Esther to risk her life to save the Jews:

“Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows, but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?”

It was not God’s intention that Esther tryout for queen simply to “complete twelve months of beauty treatments prescribed for the women, six months with oil of myrrh and six with perfume and cosmetics.” (Esther 2:12) God raised her to this royal position to risk her life to help Him fulfill His will on earth. What Mordecai was telling her is this: God is sovereign and if you don’t act, He will provide relief and deliverance for the Jews from another place. You will not escape, but will perish. He has called you to a special role in His Kingdom plan, “for such a time as this.” Esther had a purpose to fulfill in God’s plan for that important day. The Hebrew concept of meiserat nefesh, to lay one’s life on the line for another, would prevail.

God put Esther there to save her people! God wanted her to be part of the blessing... However, like Esther, we should not imagine that we are to sit in God’s kingdom on earth and be pampered and feel no pain. We may be spared, but there are battles to go through, even though the Lord promises victory and even helps us to win that victory.

God has put us on this earth for the purpose of furthering His kingdom and the redemption of the world. This involves battles, many not of our own doing or choosing. This is why Ephesians 6:10‑18 describes the armor of God, which we must put on for our protection (do read this passage). As the end of days draws closer and Messiah’s return comes near, the things of God and the people of God will come under more and more attack.

This is especially true when we take a public stand for the Lord and the things He loves, including Israel and the Jewish people. Like Esther, we may also be called upon to lay our life on the line, as did many Bible‑believing Christians during World War II who protected Jews from the Nazis. Yeshua said, “Greater love has no man than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command” (John 15:13‑14), and “...whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” (Matt. 10:39).

Are we available to the Lord for Him to use us?

FACING PERSONAL CHALLENGES WITH GOD

While Israel is of great concern to the Lord, both in the past and now, there are also many other challenges we face as we walk out our calling for God. Are you ready for the battle that will come when we stand for the Lord? David, a man after God’s own heart, was promised victory in his battles with the enemies of Israel, but he still had to go out on the battlefield and fight. We should, and can, expect no less. Yeshua said, “No servant is greater than his master. If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you also.” (John 15:20) Our duty in this world is to do God’s will. This may cause us to encounter difficult situations. I can promise you, however, if we remain close to the Lord and in His will, we will ultimately have the victory. As with Queen Esther, God will deliver us. But we have to be willing to seek the Lord with all our might, search the Scriptures and know God’s will for the world and for our own lives. Then, as we walk in the light and encounter the battles, we will be victorious.

We must have a sense of God’s purpose that the world sorely lacks today. The world is seek­ing empty goals of power, wealth, luxury and ease, which can lead to greed, lusts of the flesh, and the egocentric life of “what is in it for me?” It is easy for God’s people also to get caught up in the world’s patterns. The media and advertising world sell the attractiveness of a “go for the gusto” in our “I”-oriented society. Pursuing a life without God and living for the world’s “here and now” lifestyle, will eventually lead to emptiness. Even the Scriptures say, “Without a vision, My people perish.” (Prov. 29:18)

So let me ask again: Are you ready? Do you know and have God’s calling and purpose in your heart? Is it your heart’s desire to take a stand for the Kingdom of God, even if it is risky?

Mordecai told Esther that God would find someone else to fulfil His will, but she would miss the blessing. Will you miss the blessing simply because the task of kingdom living looks too tough and too risky? If we say, “NO” to the challenges God gives to us to show His power and glory, He will still perform it... without us. Then, we are the loser. I really don’t want to miss the blessing. Do you? Remember, Paul teaches, “I can do all things through Messiah who strengthens me.” (Phil. 4:13)

Answering God’s call for our lives requires risk and commitment on our part. Yet when we answer God’s call, He then rushes in to provide the ways and means to perform it, even as He did for Esther.

When I moved to Israel, it was a very hard move to make. It was hard to consider raising a family here and living by faith. In the world’s logic, it seems foolish and risky, not only financially, but physically in this unstable part of the world. Yet this choice was made by the entire overseas staff of Bridges for Peace in Israel, and God has rushed in to meet our needs in every way. It is not always easy, but it is certainly rewarding. The fulfillment we receive in knowing we are exactly where God has chosen for us to be in His eternal plan, brings with it the peace that passes all understanding. We would not have it any other way.

God may have another type of calling for you. Whatever it is, though, let me encourage you to accept it and trust Him to perform it through you. You will never regret your decision.

Remember, there will be the occasional battles to fight. So prepare yourself by putting on the whole armor of God and learn to stand in the face of adversity (notice there is no back protection in the armor of God). I invite you be bold and commit yourselves to seeking the Lord with all your might. Like Jacob, wrestle with the Lord, until you get your answers.

If you are currently facing a battle, seek God for the help you need to get the victory. If you need to reassess your life priorities to find your purpose in the Kingdom of God, ask God and He will be faithful to answer you.

Whatever your need may be today, come before God’s throne of grace to receive His touch. We may be “The Kings Kids,” but as Mordecai said to Esther and I repeat again to you, “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all [God’s people] will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows, but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this.” (Esther 4:13‑14)

Shalom from Jerusalem, Clarence H. Wagner, Jr., International Director, Bridges For Peace

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QUESTION OF GENERAL INTEREST

QUESTION – What are your thoughts on the mass suicide of cult members in Rancho Santa Fe, California?

ANSWER – We understand that many people are mystified by this great tragedy. But a little reflection causes us to realize that this is a result of the Serpent’s big lie in Genesis 3:4: “And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die.” As the “serpent,” the evil one has been the deceiver, the beguiling tempter. “Now the serpent was more crafty than any living thing.” (Gen. 3:1, Rotherham) Our Lord, in speaking of Satan, the Serpent, said, “He was a murderer from the beginning and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh of a lie he speaketh of his own; for he is a liar and father of it.” (John 8:44)

It seems these people believed that they would be taken to a higher station than human in a space ship. This is Satan’s lie altered to suit the technological, space-age-oriented, UFO generation of today.

The Adversary has kept up this false teaching for 6,000 years varying his method to fit the times or people involved. The nominal churches bear a great responsibility in this because for centuries they have taught the errors of inherent immortality of the soul and the consciousness of the dead, which errors lead to such extreme behavior exemplified in this tragic event.

Indeed it has come to be general belief among Christian people that death is a delusion, and not a reality; that people merely seem to die, but do not die; that they merely experience a change to a higher form of being; that so-called “Christian Scientists” are quite correct in saying, “There is no death.”

But they all reject the testimony of God’s Word that “the wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23); that “the soul that sinneth shall die” (Ezek. 18:4); that “death has passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Rom. 5:12); and that the hope of the Church, as well as the hope for the world, lies in the fact that Christ died for our sins and redeemed us from the death sentence, and in the Father’s due time is to effect a resurrection of the dead. (Acts 24:15) Which shall we believe, the serpent’s lie or God’s Word?

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LETTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST

Dear Emily!

Quick greetings from me at the Ben Gurion Airport. I am going home to Sweden after my visit to Herman and Joseph in Emek ha Shalom.

The visitors are still coming, mostly on the Saturday-Sabbath. During my visit a couple from Holland came and they will stay in Emek ha Shalom for at least six months. I will write more when I get home.

Regards, ---------  (SWEDEN)

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Dear Sister Emily: Warm greetings always in the Lord.

Your newsletter was well received. It is so obvious how Israel is fulfilling so many Bible prophecies, all part of God’s Divine Plan. This makes our hearts rejoice – whether we be Christians or Jewish. We are all brethren!

In this state the numerous active Bible Student groups continue to gather here and there those newly consecrated to our dear Lord.

May God bless the ministry you share in for the future glory of the Kingdom.

Warmly, by God’s grace, ------- (MICHIGAN)

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CORRECTION: In our May 1997, No. 484 paper, please correct in the letter from Brother ------ in the third paragraph to read, “We came into the Truth in 1940 and joined the class in Detroit known as the Dawn Brethren, but we are no longer with them only.”

NO. 485: THE BEGINNING AND ENDING OF THE “TIME OF THE END” - PART ONE

No. 485

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

Although all Truth people who have received and continued in Parousia Truth, know when the “ Time of the End” began; we do not know the exact date it will end. “Seal the book, even to the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.” (Dan. 12:4) Many in Christendom hold the view that “the end” will occur in a 24‑hour day; but a little reflection upon this Daniel prophecy should convince any unbiased mind that this is impossible. The question then properly arises, What is the period of “the time of the end?” In Dan. 12:7 we are told that it would be for “a time, times, and an half”; and in v. 11 it is stated that the time for the daily sacrifice to be taken away would be “a thousand two hundred and ninety days.”

The foregoing has reference to certain things concerning the Papacy; and the time feature here had its beginning in AD 539, when Roman Emperor Justinian made certain sweeping concessions to that Church. A “time, times [two times] and a half a time” would be 1260 days, based upon a literal Jewish lunar month of 30 days, twelve of which would amount to 360 days, and 3 and a half times would thus come to 1260 days. Taking these as symbolic days of a “day for a year” (See Num. 14:34), it gives us 1260 literal years, which beginning in AD 539, would come to an end in AD 1799, the beginning of the “Time of the End.” It will be noted in the above Scripture that Daniel was told to “seal the book to the time of the end.” Thus it should be clear that the book would not be clearly understood until “the time of the end.” Although so far as we know, most Truth people believe that 1799 was the beginning of the “Time of the End,” but attempting to forecast the end of the Time of the End has led to some

FAULTY CONCLUSIONS

Following is some of a note on p. 382 of Parousia Volume 3, written in 1890: “Believing at the time of writing the book that 1914 would not only witness the complete annihilation of the kingdoms of this world, but also the full setting up of God’s Kingdom, our Pastor naturally expected the Time of the End to be over by October, 1914, and so presented the matter on page 23. On that page and on the top of the next page he taught that by the close of the Time of the End, state, church and capital as now ex­isting will have been overthrown. On the top of page 48 he states that by its close every vestige of Papacy will be destroyed. He was right in placing these events in the Time of the End; but the facts prove that they did not occur by October 1914. Why not? Because, unknown to our Pastor, the forty years of the reaping time, the Parousia, were to be followed by the forty years of the trouble time, the Epiphany, during which Epiphany those institutions were to be destroyed. Hence the Time of the End is to be forty years longer than our Pastor supposed.”

It will be noted, both Messengers were correct in presenting the events to occur during the Time of the End – but both were wrong in their expectations of the end there­of. Had Brother Johnson lived to 1954 he would certainly have seen that his conclusions about the Time of the End were wrong, as well as the length of the Epiphany, just as he saw Brother Russell’s conclusions were wrong about 1914 – and he would have corrected his wrong conclusions based on parallels and types that didn’t work out. Time itself revealed Brother Russell’s expectations were wrong regarding 1914, just as time itself has revealed that Brother Johnson’s expectations proved wrong. By 1914 and by 1954, state, church and capital were not overthrown – nor was Papacy destroyed – so neither the Time of the End or the Epiphany period ended in any “sense” at 1954.

Now follows more from p. 382: “The Time of Trouble and the Epiphany are one and the same thing. During the Epiphany Papacy is to be destroyed (2 Thes. 2:8) as well as the kingdoms of this world and Babylon (Rev. 16:18‑20; 18:21), if we can prove that the Epiphany is a period of forty years, it will follow that the Time of Trouble, with which the Time of the End closes, is a period of forty years, and consequently that the Time of the End lasts from 1799 to 1954.”

Time itself has proven that the Time of Trouble, as well as the Time of the End, is lasting much longer than forty years. As most Truth people know, forty represents a special trial period, whether of forty years duration or longer. The 40‑year reign of Saul represented the Jewish Age, which was much longer than 40 years; David’s 40-­year reign represented the Gospel Age – Solomon’s 40‑year reign represents the Millen­nial Age, according to the Reprints, which sounds reasonable. Just as with a Day and Night in symbology, the Night is not the same length as the Day. The Gospel‑Age is a night of 1845 years, and the Parousia day is only 40 years; therefore, the Epiphany night would not necessarily have to be of the same duration of the Parousia day.

However, we offer a suggestion regarding the forty days and forty nights of rain during the great deluge, which most Truth people accept as representing the Time of Trouble with which this Age ends. As most of our readers know, the Bible is a very con­cise and efficient book; it seldom uses words without purpose or merely for decoration. Hence, if the 40 days of the deluge represent the years from 1914 to 1954 and the 40 nights also represent 40 years, the Time of Trouble would have ended by 1994. But we recognize the Time of Trouble is still with us, as we are still watching for Armageddon and Anarchy. Certainly the Time of Trouble has been greatly augmented since 1954 – the seizure of Cuba by the radicals; the overthrow of the “mountains” (strong autocratic governments), many civil wars around the world and even anarchy in some areas, increase of vicious crime, terrorism, anti-Semitism, disease, etc. All this convinces us that the Night of the Epiphany began in 1954 and is continuing to escalate.

That Servant’s expectation of the duration of the Time of Trouble and the establishment of the Kingdom thereafter, seemed reasonable enough at the time – to him as well as to the brethren. The types and parallels corroborating that expectation led them to believe that they had something from the Scriptures to rely upon. But when we place too much faith in a parallel or type that involves future events, ofttimes there is disappointment, as has been manifested by time itself, time and time again. So we are not making any positive predictions for future events based solely on parallels and types. If the Lord wants us to know about future events, He will make it clear to us: “Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.” (Amos 3:7) And we all know the “times and seasons” and the events to trans­pire – even though we are not yet informed the exact date of future events.

The Epiphany Messenger placed too much confidence in parallels and types that seemed to “prove” the Epiphany would be of 40 years duration – but time has “dis”proved his expectation. The Epiphany and the Time of Trouble are one and the same – and surely no one will say the Time of Trouble ended in 1914, 1954, or 1994! The Epiphany Messenger was convinced by Parallels and Types – and none of us, including the Epiphany Messenger, heeded the admonition that types and parallels do not teach a doctrine, but are given to corroborate and illustrate a doctrine clearly taught in the Scriptures. Both Messengers emphasized this Truth – that a parallel, type, or the Pyramid, do not teach a doctrine, but only illustrate and corroborate what is already clearly taught in the Scriptures. So when they had strong expectations, they welcomed a type, parallel, or pyramid findings, that substantiated such expectations; and when RGJ came up with his Pyramid “figures” the Epiphany Messenger readily accepted them as a further corroboration of his expectations.

However, when the Epiphany Messenger died in 1950, RGJ had to cast his Pyramid “figures” in the trash heap. But he immediately presented JWK’s Pyramid “figures” in the January 1951 Present Truth to “prove” Brother Johnson was scheduled to die in 1950 instead of 1956.

NAPOLEON AND 1799

What happened in 1799? It was in that year that Napoleon broke the papal power. Here’s what we find in Parousia Volume 3, p. 54: “The influence of the French infidels was carried over Europe by the armies of Napoleon, and greatly undermined the power of kings and priests. But the rough handling of Papacy by Napoleon, acting as the head and representative of Infidel France, capped the climax, and more than all else helped to break the fetters of superstitious veneration, by which the clergy class has so long held the “common people” under them. But when the intrepid Napoleon not only defied the anathema of Pope Pius VI, but laid penalties upon him for violation of his orders, and finally compelled him to cede back to France the papal territories granted a thousand years before by Charlemagne (whose successor Napoleon claimed to be), it opened the eyes of the people as well as of the monarchs of Europe to the falsity of Papacy’s claim to authority.

“The great revolution of public opinion at this time, regarding papal authority, may be seen in the fact that Napoleon, upon assuming the title and proclaiming himself Roman Emperor as successor of Charlemagne, did not go to Rome to have the pope crown him, as did Charlemagne and others, but commanded the pope to come to France to at­tend his coronation. Even then the successful chief, who more than once had pillaged, impoverished and humbled the Papacy, did not consent to be crowned by the pope, and thus accept the imperial dignity with any acknowledgment of papal authority, but merely had Pope Pius VII present, to sanction and acknowledge the ceremony, and to bless the crown that Napoleon then took from the altar and put upon his own head. The historian then says, ‘He then put the diadem on the head of his empress, as if to show that his authority was the child of his own actions,’ the result of his own civil and military successes. Nor has the pope since been requested to bestow the crown of the Roman Empire.

“A Romanist writer says of this coronation: ‘Acting differently from Charlemagne and other monarchs, who had repaired to Rome on similar occasions, he insisted in his arrogance that the holy father should come to Paris to crown him. The pope felt extreme reluctance to depart thus from the ancient usage. In fact, he considered it derogatory to his exalted office.’

“Concerning the humiliations heaped upon Papacy, history says: ‘An armistice was concluded [June 23, 1796] with the pope [Pius VI], the terms of which were sufficiently humiliating to the head of the church, once the most power­ful sovereign in Europe. The pontiff, who once trod on the necks of kings, made and un­made sovereigns, disposed of states and kingdoms, and, as the great high‑priest and vicegerent of the Almighty on earth, established an authority as lord paramount, and reigned over the heads of other sovereigns, was constrained to drink to the very dregs the cup of humiliation. If the draught was bitter, it was one which his predecessors had liber­ally dealt out to others. He was compelled to open his ports to French vessels, and to exclude the flags of all nations at war with that Republic; to permit the French army to continue in possession of the legations of Bologna and Ferrara; to surrender the cit­adel of Ancona; to give to the French 100 paintings, busts, vases or statues to be se­lected by the commissioners sent from Paris to Rome; also 500 (ancient and valuable) manuscripts to be selected in the same way; and, to sweeten the whole, his holiness was to pay to the Republic 21,000,000 French livres, most of which was to be in specie, or gold and silver ingots.’

“For the nonfulfilment of these penalties promptly, the money fine was increased to 50,000,000 livres, and certain papal territories were compelled to be ceded to France; and the pope was finally made a prisoner and taken to France where he died.

“Even Plus VII, who had been restored to pontifical honors, and who in 1804 at­tended the crowning of Napoleon, was afterward by decree of Napoleon (1808‑1809) bereft of every shred of temporal power; and the monuments and art treasures of Rome were taken under French protection. The language used by Napoleon was that ‘the donations of territories by our illustrious predecessor, Charlemagne, to the Holy See... Urbino, Ancona, Macerata, be forever united to the kingdom of Italy.’

“The import is told by a Roman Catholic writer: ‘To this it was added, that the pope should continue to be the bishop of Rome, exercising his spiritual functions as his predecessors had done in the early ages, down to the reign of Charlemagne. The following year, emboldened by the successes of his arms, the Emperor resolved that the pope should be deprived of his now nominal sovereignty – the mere shadow of temporal power, that still remained to him in his capital and the adjacent districts. [These Papacy held for years before Charlemagne’s gift – from AD 539]. Accordingly he issued a new decree, from the palace of the Austrian Caesars, that Rome should be an imperial Free City; that its civil administration should be conducted by a council then nominated by the Emperor; that its monuments and art treasures should be taken under French protection; and that the pope, having ceased to reign, an income should be settled on his holiness.’

“Following this, Pius VII issued a bull of excommunication against Napoleon, and was taken a prisoner to France, where he finally signed the Concordat of Fontainebleau, dated Jan. 25, 1813, in which he placed in Napoleon’s hands the nomination of Bishops and Metropolitans, and virtually rescinded his own authority to veto such appointments.”

The foregoing is quite an elaboration establishing the beginning of the Time of the End; and we know that many of our readers are very familiar with it. But we also know that we have quite a few readers who know little or nothing about these details, and it is for them that we have expounded the subject in detail. We might add here that Napoleon is regarded by scholars as one of the most self‑willed men that ever lived – a fitting tool indeed to do what the Lord wanted done, even though he himself was unaware of the history he was making. But once Napoleon had accomplished the Lord’s will in these matters, “He shall come to his end, and none shall help him.” (Dan. 11:45) He died a lonesome exile on St. Helena Island in the year 1821, having spent about six years there after his defeat at Waterloo in 1815. He is one man in secular history that is accurately described in the Bible.

THREE PERIODS OF TIME

As stated, the time of the end began in 1799 and the Time of Trouble in its wide sense began in 1874 – and in its narrow sense in 1914. Since the Time of Trouble in its narrow sense and the Epiphany being the same, both began in 1914 when World War One began; they are now contemporaneously continuing with the last part of the Time of the End: and all three will end when Jacob’s Trouble ends, then the Great Tribulation ends.

“KNOWLEDGE SHALL BE INCREASED” (Dan. 12:4)

In Dan. 12:4 the prophet is told to “seal up the book, even to the time of the end,” the inference being that the “book” would be understood in the time of the end. As we analyze the happenings of the past, we think there is much evidence to prove that this has been proving true since 1799. In 1803 or 1804 the first American Bible Society was formed, the purpose being to see that every one would have a Bible who wanted one; and the prophecy is clearly stated: “The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.” (Psa. 119:130)

In almost 6,000 years prior to 1799 there were only three inventions of any note that appeared: (1) the wheel; (2) gunpowder (about A.D.1,000); and the printing press. All the other prominent inventions came after 1799. In 1807 the first steamboat by Robert Fulton; followed quickly by the steam railroad engine. It needs no argument that the steam railroad contributed enormously to the growth and development of the U.S. While it may be argued that the cotton gin by Eli Whitney appeared in 1793, and made a great contribution to the cotton‑raising in the South, it is such a simple device that it was easily copied, although protected by U.S. patents.

While some very valuable devices appeared shortly after 1799, it was not until after 1874 that the great avalanche of most valuable inventions began to come along. There was not even a carpet sweeper of any note until after 1874 (a small hand sweeper was produced in 1869). The first commercial typewriter came in 1874, which speeded up business tremendously. Any reasonably good typist can produce four times as much work with a machine than can a man just writing by hand.

Came next the telephone in 1876 by Alexander Graham Bell; and, while it is now a very commonplace and widely used instrument, we seldom stop to consider what a great time saver it is. After the completion of the first telephone call, Mr. Bell exclaimed, “What hath God wrought!” His telephone – like almost all our outstanding inventions – has been greatly improved, with direct dialing on long‑distance calls over the breadth of the United States and to some foreign countries accomplished almost as quickly as the local calls right in one’s backyard. A call from Detroit to Paris, France, costs but $6.85 for three minutes, and the parties can hear each other as plainly as if they were both in Detroit. [Written in 1979.]

In 1895 the x-ray came in as an absolutely new phenomenon and then came radio­activity, which has shown us that ‘the elements’ are not at all ultimate things, that atoms are continually undergoing change, and are not indestructible. In 1877 Thomas Edison invented the phonograph, which eventually led to development of the television – a wonderful instrument difficult to describe with mere words. Came the electric light in 1879 – considered by some as the most useful and helpful of all inventions for the hu­man race in general.

Then followed rather quickly the automobile and the airplane, with their acceler­ated speed, which has stimulated travel – “many shall run to and fro” (Dan. 12:4). We were living in Dayton, Ohio in 1903 when the Wright Brothers made their first flight at Kitty Hawk, N.C.; and we eventually became rather well acquainted with Orville Wright. We remember very vividly seeing the first flight over Dayton, Ohio. School had been dis­missed so that we could have a real good look; and the plane that was in use that day looked like an orange crate tied together with bailing wire; and it could travel at about 100 miles per hour.

Today’s commercial planes in the regular course of travel have a cruising speed of about 625 miles per hour, and are constructed so well that there is no noise at all where the passengers sit. A few years back it was necessary for us to go to Nassau in the Bahamas. We left Detroit at 9:30 p.m., spent the night in the Miami airport; left the airport about 8:30 the next morning; were in Nassau by about nine a.m.; left shortly af­ternoon, and back in Detroit that night by 8:30. We remarked afterward that when our Lord was on earth, it would have taken Him a year to cover the distance that we made in 23 hours. Indeed, many do “run to and fro.”

The combines and all modern farming equipment have been invented since 1874; and they have produced phenomenal agricultural production – so much so that nine per cent of the population is able to produce more than twice the food the United States needs. We gave some of these results in one of our January papers, so no need to repeat them here. Truly, “knowledge shall be increased”!

As we consider the tremendous increase in knowledge and the great increase in the rate of speed, that should be enough to convince any informed mind that we are in “the time of the end” – even had we no Bible chronology, no prophecies, no parallel dispensa­tions. The “signs of the times” speak most graphically that we are in “the time of the end.”

THE GOSPEL‑AGE HARVEST

That there was a great Harvest work from 1874 to 1914 also was very clearly evident to all whose minds were sufficiently educated to discern and understand it. The follow­ing is from pages 15,16 of Parousia Volume 2:

“We find the end of the Gospel Age, like the end of the Jewish Age, is called a har­vest (Matt. 9:37; 13:24,30,39); like that also, it is a period of forty years; and upon the harvests of the Ages the rays of prophetic testimony are specially concentrated, particularly upon the harvest of this Age, where all the light of the Jewish Age, because of its typical character, converges in a glorious focus. In this light we may now distinctly see the stately steppings of our God, not only in the long vista of the Ages past, but also in the present outworkings of His plan. And not only so, but according to His promise to show us things to come (John 16:13), we see, with wonderful distinctness of vision, His wise policy for the blessing of all in the incoming Millennial Age, even down to its glorious consummation in the restitution of all things... [at the end of the Little Season].

“We find in prophecy the beginning and the ending of this harvest period marked, as well as the events due to occur in it. To call attention to and trace the various lines of prophetic time to the events in which they culminate is, in substance, the object of this volume. To receive its testimony, the reader must have an ear to hear (Rev. 2:7; Matt. 11:15), and must expect meekly to cast away many preconceived opinions as fast as he comes to see their lack of harmony with God’s Word. To such as are thus minded, and as pursue the lessons of this volume with patience and care, and in the order of their arrangement, we doubt not it will be a blessing. If its lessons are received into good and honest hearts, it will be a power to separate them from the world and to ripen them as wheat for the garner. To quicken and ripen and separate the saints, as wheat from the tares, in this time of harvest, is the object for which, we apprehend these prophecies now unfolding were designed by our Lord.”

The question now arises: Is the harvest ended? Our answer to this question is that it is ended so far as spirit begettal is concerned; this latter ended in September 1914. As many of our readers know, there was strong conviction up to 1910 that the com­plete Body of Christ would be in the heavenly garner by the Fall of 1914. When that failed to materialize, it caused quite a few to “walk with Him no more.” However, it is our opinion that other elect classes are still with us, and will so continue for some years yet.

CORROBORATING TESTIMONY

In 1 Kings 19:11,12 we have the record of what Elijah (type of the true Church) saw: “A great and strong wind rent the mountains... and after the wind an earthquake... after the earthquake a fire... after the fire a still small voice.” The Berean Comments inform us that the “great and strong wind” of the text represents World War One, which indeed did rend the mountains (kingdoms of this world), which up to that time had been the greatest calamity of all history. Then the earthquake pictured for the world revo­lution (Armageddon) – now in its formative stage; and next the fire, which represents anarchy, which is to follow Armageddon. Fire in the Bible symbology represents a terribly destructive force. Of this “fire” we are told it will break the nations “to shivers” (completely destroy them – Rev. 2:27).

Rev. 7:1‑3 vividly portrays the Harvest work, especially in the years immediately preceding the “wind” – the great war, which was not to start until “we [the Lord’s Saints on this side of the veil] have sealed [marked, separated, distinguished] in their foreheads [given them an intellectual appreciation of the Plan of God, with its time fea­tures, etc., as a comfort, shield and mark, seal, or evidence of their sonship].” Those of us who can remember that far back know how close the great war seemed in 1912; but it was seemingly miraculously avoided. It was not to start until “we have sealed the servants of God in their foreheads.”

Some of these were not reaped into the harvest movement until as late as 1916, before That Servant enacted the toga scene in the railroad Pullman in Texas, with one of his final statements being that, “I have done as thou hast commanded me.” (Ezek 9:11) He had been commanded to “seal the servants of our God in their foreheads”; and, while he certainly did not seal all of them personally, he did supervise the general sealing work, so that when he said, “I have done as thou hast commanded me,” he said in substance one of the last statements of Jesus, “I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.” (John 17:4)

Aside from the miracles of Jesus and the Apostles during the Jewish harvest, the Gospel‑Age harvest from 1874 to 1914 vastly outshone the Jewish Harvest. Before his death in 1916 That Servant’s sermons were carried in 2,000 newspapers, and he had great notoriety. His message had tremendous appeal even among many who never made any effort to associate with him. He had one of the finest intellects ever to appear among fallen men, and he organized and supervised the great harvest work as a master craftsman, attracting some of the finest minds in Christendom to engage actively in the work with him. Indeed, if it may be said that “knowledge increased” in the secular world, this was even more emphatically so in “the knowledge of God.” The prophecy of Psa. 85:11‑13 was unmistakably fulfilled: “Truth shall spring out of the earth [the present social order]... Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the way of his steps.” All who zealously engaged in the harvest movement had the personal experience of this prophecy in their individual lives.

HIGH CALLING CLOSE

Probably all who have been in any Truth Movement for any length of time recognize the fact that the Body of Christ will contain only 144,000 – “the number of them which were sealed.” (Rev. 7:4) Once the “fulness of the Gentiles” had come in, there would no longer be opportunity for any one to join that select company. That Servant recognized this fact many years before 1914. Probably his first written comment on the subject is to be found on p. 157, top, of his Volume 6. Other instances are to be found in the 1911 Watch Tower, Reprint 4836, col. 1, par. 4; 1915, Reprint 5761, col. 2, par. 1; and in Question Book, 151, 152. In these citations he stated that such consecrators between the Ages – after the close of the High Calling and before Restitution begins – would share in honor and service with the Ancient Worthies.

This seems to us to be a reasonable thought. The Ancient Worthies lived too soon to be in the Body of Christ, although many of them showed the same spirit of sacrifice as did those who became members of the Body. And the chief difference between the Ancient Worthies and those consecrating between the Ages is that the Ancients lived too soon, while those consecrating now are living too late. This is very much emphasized on page 152 of the Question Book – and we quote a little from this book:

“Where would the Lord place them (not begotten of the Holy Spirit)?

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

Having seen this so well even before the Bible proof appeared, this one point alone should convince any open mind that he was that “wise and faithful servant.” There is no doubt that he fully believed there would be some consecrators from the time the door to the High Calling closed until restitution begins, although the Bible proof had not yet been produced, and did not appear until after his death. Since his death much proof has been produced to corroborate his teaching – both in clear Scripture and in types. It is not our wish to analyze all these proofs now, although we shall offer terse comment on a few of them. Some of these are Joel 2:28,29; 2 Tim. 2:20; Psa. 72:3; Isa. 60:13; Dan. 3:12, 17,18,19,23 (Shadrach, Meshach, Abed‑nego); 2 Kgs. 2:9,10.

The most emphatic and clearest of these Scriptures is Joel 2:28,29. That Servant gave us the explanation of the words in verse 29: “the servants and the handmaids in those days,” as the servants, the Little Flock – and the handmaids, the Great Company. (Reprint 5066) Then a better translation of verse 28: “your ancients and your youthfuls,” the ancients being the Ancient Worthies who will dream dreams, and the youthfuls being those consecrating now “between the Ages,” who will see visions.

Also see the Berean Comment on 2 Tim. 2:20: “a great house” (the Household of Faith in this Age); “vessels of gold” (the Little Flock); “vessels of silver” (the Great Company); “wood and earth” (those on the human plane). The wood is the ancients, and the earth those who consecrate now between the Ages before restitution begins. Self-evidently this applies only to the Household of Faith. This is well illustrated in the locale of the Levites around the Tabernacle: the Amramites to the east typing the Little Flock; the Kohathites to the south typing the Ancient Worthies; the Merarites to the north typing the Great Company; and the Gershonites to the west typing the Youthfuls – those consecrating between the Ages. None of these Levites had any inheritance in the land, clearly indicating that they would eventually become spirit beings.

Then “the stranger” is given consideration in Ex. 12:19,43,48‑49. We are told there that no stranger should be permitted to partake of the Passover unless he first be circumcised (type of Gospel‑Age consecration). And in Lev. 24:22 there is this: “Ye shall have one manner of law, as well for the stranger, as for one of your own country.” This stranger would represent those consecrating between the Ages, and it tells us that they are “strangers” because they are stranger to the Little Flock, having consecrated themselves too late to be of that select company. However, there is “one manner of law” for the Jews and the strangers – the same kind of consecration for the Little Flock and for the Youthful Worthies – a complete desire to do God’s will.

Also, of that lamb that night none of it was to be left until morning; and, if any should be left, it was to be burned with fire. Here is a clear picture that tells us that none of our “Lamb’s” merit should be carried into the Camp during the Faith Age. When we see this picture in its true light, it then becomes readily ridiculous that there could be such a class as Consecrated Campers having tentative justification in the Camp, because there is no merit there to provide such a standing before the Lord.

This is Part One of a series of articles on “The Time of the End,” and Part Two and other Parts will follow in due course. “This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men. And let us also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.” (Tit. 3:8,14) (Reprint No. 289, July 1979)

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 LETTER OF GENERAL INTEREST

To John Hoefle: Greetings in the Name of Jesus Christ, Saviour of Israel!

Enclosed is a small part of your January issue – and a sheet we’ve distributed recently re the actual identity of the people “who call themselves Jews.” Brother Hoefle, you have seen much truth in the Bible – and you know the “plan of the ages.” Your error is in accepting the words of “fundamentalists” and “Jews,” two groups who are in SERIOUS ERROR on Biblical things, when they both say the “Jews are Israelites.”

The Jews are “in darkness,” according to the plain teaching of the Bible, so their witness to anyone’s identity is suspect. The “fundamentalists,” by and large, are at least partially in darkness, as much of their doctrine is false, i.e., the state of the dead, the rapture, baptism, etc. Therefore, their witness to anyone’s identity is suspect.

Please read the enclosed articles. Once you realize the “jews” are so set on taking over Palestine because it is their ancient homeland (because they are Canaanites), then you can understand not only Israeli, but modern world history with the “jews” being so full of hatred for Jesus Christ and his followers. Although it is true that ancient Israel departed from following God and turned to other religions, they did NOT fight God and refuse his Truth and aid when they were in deep trouble. There is NO RECORD of any “jews” becoming Christians in the concentration camps of Nazi Germany. There is, on the other hand, the record of unknown millions of our Race turning to Jesus Christ at a time of crisis in their lives. Think on these things.

May God bless you in your search for Truth, in Christ. ------- (ARIZONA)

NOTE: Answer to the above letter will be published in our No. 487 paper.

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NO. 484: LIVING WATERS

No. 484

“Whosoever will let him take of the water of life freely.” (Rev. 22:17)

Ezekiel 47:1‑12 – “Afterward he brought me again unto the door of the house: and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward: for the forefront of the house stood toward the east, and the waters came down from under from the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar.

“Then brought he me out of the way of the gate northward, and led me about the way without unto the utter gate by the way that looketh eastward; and, behold, there ran out waters on the right side.

“And when the man that had the line in his hand went forth eastward, he measured a thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the waters were to the ankles.

“Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through the waters; the waters were to the knees. Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through; the waters were to the loins.

“Afterward he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass over: for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over.

“And he said unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen this? Then he brought me, and caused me to return to the brink of the river.

“Now when I had returned, behold, at the bank of the river were very many trees on the one side and on the other.

“Then said he unto me, These waters issue out toward the east country, and go down into the desert, and go into the sea; which being brought forth into the sea, the waters shall be healed.

“And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh.

“And it shall come to pass, that the fishers shall stand upon it from Engedi even unto Eneglaim; they shall be a place to spread forth nets; their fish shall be according to their kinds, as the fish of the great sea, exceeding many.

“But the miry places thereof and the marshes thereof shall not be healed; they shall be given to salt.

“And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine.”

Ezekiel’s prophecy is full of symbolism, and has ap­propriately been termed the apocalypse of the Old Testament. It was written in Babylonia in the Chaldaic language.

Many of the particulars connected with this vision described by Ezekiel are so circumstantial to the land of Israel as to give considerable ground for belief that it will have a literal fulfillment in the future; and in connection with the vision is shown a new division of the land of Canaan amongst the twelve tribes. But whatever literal fulfillment the vision may have, we may be positive that it is to have a grand fulfillment as a symbol, for the life‑giving river here brought to our attention is un­doubtedly the same one described six hundred years later, by John the Revelator, and referred to in our text.

Ezekiel was one of the captives of Judah taken to Babylonia by King Nebuchadnezzar on the occasion of his first invasion, when he placed Zedekiah on the throne, eleven years before his later invasion when the city was destroyed. The captives taken at that time included many of the chief men of the Jewish nation, princes and nobles, the brightest and the best. His object in taking these seems to have been to strengthen his own empire, for the captives were not treated as slaves, but were granted great liberty, some of them, as in the case of Daniel, rising to positions of very high honor in the kingdom. Ezekiel had great liberty, and his prophesying was done for the Jews of the Babylonian captivity – exiles. The Lord’s testimony through this prophet was undoubtedly intended to cheer and comfort those of his people who were Israelites indeed, and to fan the spark of faith which still remained in their hearts – to lead them, as in the case of Daniel, to hope for the return of God’s favor and the end of their captivity with the end of the appointed seventy years’ desolation of the land.

The matter as heard by the Jews in exile undoubtedly was pictured as referring to earthly Jerusalem, and the blessings as appertaining to the Jews as a nation. The restoration of Jerusalem and the Temple are clearly and explicitly foretold, and no doubt the hearts of the captives leaped with joy as they thought of the future blessings, and no doubt, also their faith and hope were encouraged. But so surely as Ezekiel’s prophecy was the Word of the Lord, so surely the prophecy did not relate to blessings to be conferred upon that people at the time of their restoration from the land of Babylon, for the predictions of Ezekiel’s prophecy were never fulfilled. Just so surely they belong to the future. Spiritual Israelites may realize that the prophecy not only related to natural Israel but also to spiritual Israel, not only to a deliverance from literal Babylon but also a deliverance from mystic Babylon, “Babylon the great, the mother of harlots,” whose power is soon to be completely overthrown as precedent to a full deliverance of all who are Israelites indeed and the establishment of the Kingdom. (Rev. 18)

River of Life: Our lesson deals with one of Ezekiel’s visions, which predicted the springing into existence of a wonderful river whose waters would bring to the land of Palestine and to the Dead Sea verdure and life instead of drought, desolation and death. The ordinary interpretation of this lesson is that the Gospel is represented in this river, which now for a considerable time has been flowing onward and bringing life. We cannot accept this interpretation, for several reasons: First, the description is in such close agreement with the Millennial Age blessing of Revelation 21 and 22 as to leave no doubt that the same thing is referred to. In Revelation we see that the Church is the Bride, and the Church glorified is symbolized by the heavenly Jerusalem and the river of the water of life, and whose leaves of the trees are for the healing of the nations and whose fruit is for their sustenance and whose water is the water of life, living water. There can be no doubt that the two rivers are identical.

A Refreshing Picture: Thus seen God has rich blessings in store for mankind in general in the day when His Kingdom shall be established amongst men, in Immanuel’s day. The restitution of that time is pictured in the leaves of the trees; the abundance of instruction and nourishment, mental, moral and physical, is represented in the fruit of the trees. More than this, wherever the water of this river went life resulted, until finally it emptied itself into the Dead Sea with the effect that the waters of the latter were healed. Fishes thrive well in sea water, but the water of the Dead Sea is about nine times as strongly pregnated with salts, and as a consequence fish taken from the Mediterranean and put into the Dead Sea die in a few minutes – hence the name, Dead Sea.

There is no outlet to the Dead Sea, and its low level and warm climate have tended to make this sea the saltiest water on earth. Its main supply of water comes from the Jordan River, which empties into it an average of 6,000,000 gallons of water every 24 hours. The sea is about 47 miles long. It reaches about 1,300 feet depth, so that its own surface level is almost exactly half way between its bottom and the level of the ocean. Like the Jordan River, this sea is also one of the most remarkable bodies of water on earth. No other is known to occupy so deep a hollow on the surface of the globe.

It would not at all surprise us if in the beginning of the Millennial Age, not only the nation of Israel would receive the blessing of the Lord lost at the beginning of this Gospel Age and become His representative people in the world – the Church having been taken from the world, glorified spirit‑beings – but neither would it surprise us if, in the Lord’s providence, some miracle were wrought by which the Dead Sea would become connected with the Mediterranean, possibly refreshed also by some such river as is here described by Ezekiel, a picture of the symbolical river of life flowing from the New Jerusalem. But however interested we might be in the thought of such a literal fulfillment of this prophecy, our interest is still greater in the fulfillment of it as a symbol in accord with the river of Revelation. From this symbolical standpoint the Dead Sea represents the dead world, and the coming of life‑giving waters would represent the resurrection power of the Lord and the Church exercised amongst men during the Millennial Age. As the apostle expressed it, it would mean, for the Gentiles, life from the dead.

Returning to the Prophets’s vision, we note that the waters flowed out from the House of the Lord, from the Temple, and that wherever they went they brought vitality and refreshment, healing, restitution, life – even to the Dead Sea. This to our understanding is a picture of the grace of God during the Millennial Age, when from the Church, the House of God, the Temple, “the habitation of God through the Spirit” (Eph. 2:22), the stream of the water of life, healing, restoring, rejuvenating, shall flow to all the families of the earth, whose condition is represented by the wilderness eastward of Jerusalem. The result will be the blessing and restitution of all the living families of the earth willing to receive the blessing. And it means more: for the Dead Sea fitly represents the vast multitude of mankind which has gone into the tomb, and the water of life shall reach even these, and bring to them also awakening from death, opportunities of restitution.

Jerusalem being twice sea‑level height above the Dead Sea’s surface represents that Jesus and the Church as God’s Kingdom are not simply one nature, i.e., spiritual or angelic nature, higher than human nature, but are two natures higher than it, i.e., are of the Divine nature. It will be recalled (Rev. 22:1‑3) that out of God’s and Christ’s Throne and out of Christ and the Church as God’s Temple and Altar the stream of Millennial Truth will come and will flow into the symbolic Dead Sea, the Adamic death state, bringing forth from the grave all the Adamically dead, and restoring to human perfection all of them, except those who will not reform (Isa. 65:20; Ezek. 47:11), who are represented by the Dead Sea’s miry and marshy places, and who will die again, the Second Death.

Turning to the description of the same symbolic river furnished us in the Book of Revelation (chapter 22), we find abundant evidence that it does not refer to the present time, but to the Millennial Age. For instance, it is symbolically pictured as having trees of life on either side, whose leaves are for the healing of the nations — not for the healing of the Church, which at this time is the glorified temple from which this river proceeds – and the healing of the nations signifies, as plainly as a symbolic picture could indicate it, restitution, the healing of the woes of the groaning creation, its sin and sickness and imperfection.

We notice also that the proclamation which will then be made will not be restricted, as at the present time, to “even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” (Acts 2:39) It will not be to an “elect” class; it will no longer be said, “No man can came unto me, except the Father draw him.” The call at that time will be general – to every creature – “Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” We notice further that that broad invitation is extended by God through the Holy Spirit and the glorified Church, as it is written, “The spirit and the bride say, Come!” We notice further that this expression, “the bride,” unquestionably places the call in the future, because, although the elect Church of the Gospel Age is called out from the world to become the bride of Christ, she does not become such, does not enter that exalted station, until in the end of the age she is perfected in glory and in the likeness of her Lord. Then will come “the marriage of the Lamb”; and not until after the marriage will there be a Bride; and not until after the Bride has thus been accepted as such can “the spirit and the bride say, Come!” to the nations.

In other words, there is a measure of selection or election as respects the class invited to constitute “the bride, the Lamb’s wife.” “No man taketh this honor unto himself, but he that is called.”

But with the end of the age will come the end of the elective process; then the Divine message will be free grace, an offering and opportunity to every creature of Adam’s race. All blind eyes will be opened that all may see; all deaf ears will be unstopped that all may hear; and the knowledge of the glory of God shall fill the whole earth; none will need to say to his neighbor, “Know the Lord, for all shall know him from the least unto the greatest of them.” (Jer. 31:34)

Here is that glorious city (government), prepared as a bride adorned for her husband (Rev. 21:2), and early in the dawn of the Millennium the nations will begin to walk in the light of it (v. 24). These may bring their glory and honor into it, but “there shall in no wise enter into it [or become a part of it] anything that defileth,” etc (v. 27). Here, from the midst of the throne proceeds a pure river of water of life (truth unmixed with error), and the Spirit and Bride say, Come and take it freely (Rev. 22:17). Here begins the worlds probation, the world’s great judgment day – a thousand years.

This same glorious city (kingdom), the glorified New Jerusalem, the Church and the river of the water of life gushing forth therefrom, are brought to our attention in Psalms 46: “There is a river, the rivulets of which shall spring from the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved. God shall help her early in the morning.” The connections here also show that these rivulets are not to be expected to flow out as a river until the Millennial morning, and the context refers particularly to the Time of Trouble with which the present age shall end and the Millennial morning shall be introduced.

The Outflowing Stream: “Out of the body shall flow a stream of living waters.” (John 7:38) This verse was not fulfilled at Pentecost, where the Lord’s followers merely began to drink of the spiritual truths, and by them to be united into one body of many members, of which Jesus is the head. It is from this one body that ultimately the stream of the water of life shall flow during the Millennial Age for the blessing of the whole world. Our Lord referred to this saying “My word shall judge you in the last day” (John 12:48) – in the great day, the Millennial Day; the world shall be judged by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. The water of life represents the truth, and the amount of the water of life or truth that shall proceed from the mouth of the Lord, from the mouth of the glorified Church, shall be such a stream, such a flow, as will reach to every part of the earth. “The knowledge of the glory of God shall fill the whole earth.” (Hab. 2:14)

A river of water of life is seen and trees of life whose fruit sustains life, and whose foliage heals the people. How this calls our minds back to the paradise from whence Adam was driven on account of sin, and to the tree of life in the midst of Eden, from which he was debarred, and from the lack of whose fruit Adam and his race died.

Oh, what a picture of the “restitution of all things which God hath spoken” — the healing of all the curse, the blotting out of sin, and with it misery, pain, and death, because a ransom has been paid and He who ransomed is the one who gloriously restores.

The water of life which will there flow from the throne is a picture of the future; for not yet has the throne been established on the earth. We still pray “Thy kingdom come,” and not until that prayer is answered, can that river of water of life flow. The water of life is knowledge – truth – for which mankind famishes now. It will flow out bountifully when the tabernacle of God is with men (Rev. 21:3). Then thirsty humanity, groaning in painful bondage to sin and death, will be refreshed and restored.

This river of the water of life represents the blessed influence that will proceed to humanity from the glorified Christ, Head and Body – from the Kingdom of God’s dear Son. When the blessed opportunities of that time are thoroughly open to the world, when the Sun of righteousness shall have scattered all the darkness of ignorance and sin, when Satan shall have been bound (Rev. 20:2), when the river of the water of life shall flow freely, then the invitation that will go forth will no longer be a call of the elect, but an invitation to every creature, every member of the human race, to partake of the blessings and privileges which God has provided in Christ, that they may have the everlasting life and everlasting joy which is to be the portion of those who love righteousness and hate iniquity, and who avail themselves of the gracious provisions in Christ.

It should not be overlooked that the healing and refreshment mentioned in this symbolization does not pertain to the “little flock,” the Church, but to the world, the nations. The Little Flock will have been glorified, perfected in the first resurrection, before this offer of healing and restitution of the world is made. Israel will be the first to be blessed, but subsequently all the families of the earth, as God’s Oath‑bound covenant has promised.

“And there shall be no more curse” (Rev. 22:3) — the curse will be gradually removed and man gradually released under the blessing of that glorious Age.

ANOTHER PICTURE

Realizing their deliverance from bondage, and the Divine Power exercised in their behalf in the overthrow of the Egyptian army, the Israelites were joyful. The journey toward the land of promise began. At length, fatigued and thirsty, they came to a fertile spot, where there was an abundance of water, but alas, it was bitter, or brackish! The disappointment was great. The song of reverence was forgotten; the mighty Power of Jehovah in bringing them through the Red Sea was forgotten; even the taskmasters of Egypt were forgotten. The people murmured against Moses for bringing them away from the fertile fields of Egypt and its abundance of good water. They declared that it would have been better if they had remained in Egypt or even if they had died there. They declared that Moses and Aaron had misled them into leaving the land of plenty, and had brought them into the wilderness, to die there of hunger and thirst (Ex. 16:2,3).

As we consider God’s dealings with Israel, and the instructions given them in the wilderness, we see that these were evidently intended to prepare a nation for self-government – a nation which for nearly two hundred years had been in bondage, almost slavery. The first of this series of wilderness lessons may be designated a lesson of trust; and as we note Israel’s experiences and the Lord’s guidance of their affairs, doubtless we will all find lessons that will be helpful to us.

Three routes led from Egypt toward Canaan, and the Lord chose for His people the most roundabout way of the three. He had in view from the first their need of training. Their long bondage had made them servile and weak, lacking in self‑reliance in the new way and fearful that their leader, in whom they trusted remarkably, might yet prove incompetent for their deliverance. What a resemblance to all this we find in ourselves when first leaving the world and its rudiments – although trusting in Christ, our fully accepted Leader, how apt we are to feel fearful of our ability, even under His guidance, to gain the promised glorious deliverance from sin and its slavery!

The first disappointment in the journey was when the supply of water which they were carrying became exhausted and they had reached the waters of Marah (bitter) and found them brackish and unfit to drink; their disappointment was intense and they murmured against Moses. He in turn cried unto the Lord for help, and in response was shown a tree which being cast into the waters purified them. This was the first lesson of trust, and the Lord impressed it upon them as such (Ex. 15:25,26).

HEALING THE BRACKISH WATERS

Moses, the mediator of the Law Covenant, typified the Christ (Head and Body), the mediator of the New Covenant, and the tree that Moses cast into the waters for their sweetening represented another tree – the one referred to in the statement, “Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.” (Gal. 3:13) The tree represented the cross of Christ, the agency through which the water of truth and Divine Law become waters of grace and blessing for the world of mankind in general when, in the Millennial Age, they shall be delivered from the bondage of Satan and sin, represented by the slavery of Egypt. As the Apostle points out, it will not be possible for God to make a new law under which to bless mankind for the Law given to Israel was good, was perfect, as the Law of God must always be. The Divine promises represented by the water were poisoned by sin – by Adam’s disobedience – and hence were unsuitable and could not give the desired blessing. The cross of Christ, by canceling Adamic sin, canceled also the condemnation of the Divine Law against mankind, and eventually will permit the great antitypical Mediator to make the gracious promises of God good, refreshing, applicable to all who seek to walk in the ways of the Lord. The New Covenant between God and Israel, in which all the families of the earth are to share the benefit, will shortly be sealed with the precious blood – be confirmed, made operative.

But the Lord’s wisdom guided Moses to a certain kind of tree, which, put into the water, made it sweet and palatable. Moses explained to the people that in murmuring against him they were really murmuring against God, for he was merely God’s agent in the matter. A further journey for a season, and they were far from the bitter waters – at Elim, a delightful spot, where they rested and were refreshed.

STILL ANOTHER PICTURE

A certain stream carried brackish water through an otherwise favored district. Elisha took a handful of salt, went to the head of the brook and poured it there, commanding in the name of the Lord that it should henceforth be pure water. Looking for a typical significance of this in the Millennium, we remember that a stream of water represents a stream of truth, and that brackish water would represent impure doctrines. A purification of the stream at its foundation would well represent what the Lord has promised through the Prophet respecting Messiah’s day. “Then will I turn unto the people a pure message, that they may call upon the name of the Lord, to serve him with one consent.” (Zeph. 3:9)

The salt cast into the spring reminds us of the Master’s words respecting His true followers, “Ye are the salt of the earth.” (Matt. 5:13) It will be in and through the glorified salt of the earth that the blessing will come, the streams of truth for human refreshment for a thousand years. The light of the knowledge of the glory of God will be made to fill the whole earth, as the waters cover the great deep. (Isa. 11:9; Hab. 2:14)

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ON A SCALE OF 1 TO 1O JUST HOW DEAD IS IT

The Dead Sea is so dead, it may take a canal from the Red Sea to save it.

It could be the most morally uplifting but environmentally heavy‑handed construction project in the Holy Land since Noah’s Ark: a $5 billion canal through the desert from the Red Sea to the Dead Sea.

As its apostles see it, the 120‑mile canal would be a grand peace project forever linking Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian territories. It would use hydropower to desalinate water, reduce the squabbling over that precious resource – and revive the Dead Sea.

For, alas, the Dead Sea is dying. Already the lowest body of water on Earth (1,344 feet below the mean level of the world’s oceans), the surface of the Dead Sea is steadily dropping as the supersalty water evaporates in the Middle Eastern sun. Since the mid­-1950s, it has fallen 60 feet. In the 1970s, waves lapped against the Lido, a popular seaside restaurant just half an hour from Jerusalem. Today, the Lido is an abandoned shell 500 feet from the shoreline. Busloads of tourists on their way to the sea can read the writing on the restaurant wall, courtesy of existentialist graffitist: “Be­ing\Nothing­ness.”

At current rates of inflow and evaporation, scientists calculate, the Dead Sea will reach equilibrium and stop shrinking in 90 to 150 years. But by that time, it may be 100 to 400 feet lower than it is today. Instead of a great salt lake, it’ll be a glorified salt lick.

Better red than dead: Generations of visionaries have been drawn to the idea of a Dead Sea canal. Theodor Herzl, the founder of modern Zionism, described a hydropower canal from the Mediterranean to the Dead Sea in his 1902 novel Altneuland (“Old New Land”). Israel seriously considered building Herzl’s dream project in the 1980s – and spent millions of dollars on research before deciding that it was economically unsound.

But a new study, completed in September by Harza Engineering of Chicago for the Jordanian and Israeli governments, suggests that the route would be better Red‑Dead. Water would have to be pumped from the Red Sea’s Gulf of Aqaba up 410 vertical feet to the top of the coastal ridge. But from there, it would rush downhill through the Jordan Rift Valley to the Dead Sea, plunging 1,750 vertical feet. Instead of generating electricity, the main purpose would be to desalinate water with the latest reverse osmosis technology: Sea water under pressure would pass through an artificial membrane and fresh water would be left behind.

Harza says the project could deliver 850 million cubic meters of drinking water per year to be shared by Israelis, Jordanians and the Palestinians. That’s roughly 50 percent of Israel’s entire current usage and could immeasurably improve the quality of life in the parched Jordanian capital of Amman, where trucks now deliver water each summer. At the same time, the canal’s salty runoff could create artificial lakes, spur construction of hotels and gradually raise the Dead Sea by about 50 feet, to its 1964 level.

That was the year Israel inaugurated its National Water Carrier and Jordan began building the Ghor Canal, both of which divert water from the Jordan River for drinking and irrigation. Those projects, coupled with Syrian and Jordanian dams on northern tributaries, have reduced the Jordan River to a trickle and are the main reason why the Dead Sea, home of ancient scrolls and pricey mud‑packs, is shriveling so fast. Chemical factories that pump the Dead Sea’s waters into evaporation pods to extract minerals, have accelerated the shrinkage.

Dyeing the sea: The canal project would reverse the drop in sea levels, but at a cost that makes environmentalists nervous. One fear is that salt water could leak from the canal in an earthquake and contaminate underground aquifers before reaching the Dead Sea. Funny things also could happen when two very different types of salt water mix. Some scientist believe that gypsum crystals would form and hang in suspension, turning the Dead Sea from its clear blue to an unappealing (though harmless) milky white. Aharon Oren, professor of microbiology of Hebrew University in Jerusalem says another possibility is that a dilution of the salt content would allow a sudden profusion of the only two life forms known to survive in the Dead Sea: algae and red bacteria, turning the sea first green, then a rather shocking (though also harmless) pink. That actually happened twice in recent memory, in 1980 and 1992, after heavy rains.

More fundamentally, critics say the projects goals are wrongheaded. The Jordanian side, which is pushing hard for the canal, sees it as a backbone for development. “We are looking at the associated projects. The tourist areas in Wadi Araba, hotels, small lakes, agriculture. It is a desert now. The idea is to make the desert bloom,” says Zafer Alem, coordinator of the Jordan Rift Valley steering committee.

But “the notion of making the desert bloom is not sustainable,” counters Gidon Bromberg, executive director of Ecopeace, a consortium of Israeli, Jordanian, Egyptian and Palestinian environmental groups. “About 70 percent of the water in Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian areas goes into agriculture, most of which is exported. What that means is that the Middle East is really a water exporter. Now can anyone explain that to me?”

The canal would hardly make that water any cheaper. The $5 billion project would produce water at an estimated cost of $1.10 to $1.30 per cubic meter, compared with 80 cents per cubic meter for a seaside desalination plant.

Israel and Jordan have agreed to take two months to evaluate the Harza study before deciding whether to proceed. Philip Warburg, director of the Middle East Program at the Environmental Institute in Washington, believes the project is receiving serious consideration only because it follows a political as well as geological fault line. “If you looked rationally at how to spend $5 billion, you could come up with a lot better projects,” he says.

And anyone who thinks that concern for the Dead Sea’s ecological health is the real impetus for the canal ought to take a hike up Kidron Canyon on the sea’s northwest shore. The waterfall you hear from afar sounds beautiful, but as you get up close there’s an odd pungency in the air. It’s a river of raw sewage that begins in East Jerusalem and flows all the way to the sea. “We’ve been screaming about it for years, but [health officials] say the salt concentration in the Dead Sea instantly kills all the bacteria,” says Yossy Cadan, a conservationist with the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel. So the Dead Sea, in its death throes, also faces the indignity of being the world’s biggest chemical toilet.

(By Alan Cooperman in Jerusalem and Amman, US News & World Report, December 9, 1996)

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LETTER OF INTEREST

Dear Sister Emily and the brethren there:

I’m sorry for not writing long before this, but we had you in our heart as well as the many brethren all over this nation and elsewhere. Our brethren are dear to us even as they are to the Lord who purchased them.

We have this evidence that we are the Lord’s elect because we love his dear children. The Lord loves us dearly, and in this we rejoice greatly and our cup runneth over. “God so loved the world.” Yes, our hearts go out even to the lost world for one day He shall judge them in mercy and compassion.

We came into the Truth in 1940 and joined the class in Detroit known as the Dawn Brethren, but we are no longer with them. We attended many conventions over the years, but our travel is now limited since about four years back.

Yes, we do read your “Epiphany” papers which is in harmony with the Harvest message. We try to keep in touch with our brethren by letter as much as possible to encourage them and exhort one another as the Word tells us to do.

We assure you of our prayers, and please do the same on our behalf to the brethren.

Brother and Sister -------  (MICHIGAN)

P.S. If you would like to print this testimony in your issue we would be very thankful as other brethren would hear of our name.

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