NO. 495A GOD, THE AUTHOR OF THE ATONEMENT AND THE MILLENNIAL REIGN - PART ONE

The doctrine of the Atonement and the Messianic era lies at the very foundation of Judaism and Christianity. Having thus the most important place in both theologies, a clear understanding of these subjects is very essential. The Atonement, though believed in, is little understood; the various ideas respecting it are disconnected as well as vague; and faith built upon disconnected and vague ideas of the foundation doctrine must, of necessity, be proportionately weak and unstable. On the contrary, if the Atonement, which is the basic principle of these two religious systems, be clearly understood, it not only will firmly establish faith upon correct principles, but it will serve as a guide in discriminating between truth and error regarding the Millennium. When the foundation is firmly established, and every item of doctrine built upon it is kept in alignment with that foundation, the entire faith superstructure will be perfect. But before we present the facts and philosophy that this is the Millennium, let us first establish faith in the Atonement, and in God’s Word.

The first five books of the Old Testament are known as the Five Books of Moses, though they nowhere mention his name as their author. That they were written by Moses, or under his supervision, is a reasonable inference, the account of his death and burial being properly added by his secretary. The omission of the positive statement that these books were written by Moses is no proof against the thought; for had another written them to impersonate Moses, to deceive and commit a fraud, he would surely have claimed that they were written by the great leader and statesman of Israel, in order to make good his imposition. (Deut. 31:9‑27) Of one thing we are certain, Moses did lead the Hebrew people out of Egypt. He did organize them as a nation under the laws set forth in these books; and the Hebrew people, for over three thousand years, have claimed these books as a gift to them from Moses, and have held them so sacred that a jot or tittle must not be altered.

The writings of Moses contain the only credible history extant of the epoch which it traverses. The account given in Genesis, the first book of the Old Testament, starts with the reasonable assumption that a God, an intelligent Creator, already existed. It treats not of God having a beginning, but of his work and of its beginning and its systematic, orderly progress – “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” (Gen. 1:1) Then stepping over the origin of the earth without detail or explanation, the narrative of the six day epochs of preparing it for man proceeds. That account is substantially corroborated by the accumulating light of science of four thousand years; hence it is far more reasonable to accept the claim that its author, Moses, was Divinely inspired, than to assume that the intelligence of one man was superior to the combined intelligence and research of the rest of the race in three thousand years since, aided by modern methods and millions of dollars in the last hundred years.

The system of laws laid down in Moses’ writings was without an equal, either in their day or since. The laws of this century are based upon the principles laid down in the Mosaic Law, and framed, in the main, by men who acknowledged the Mosaic Law to be of Divine origin.

The government of Israel instituted by Moses differed from all others, ancient and modern, in that it claimed to be that of the Creator Himself, and the people were held accountable to God; their laws and institutions, civil and religious, claimed to emanate from the great Jehovah. An order of priests was established, which had complete charge of the Tabernacle, and through them alone access and communion with God was permitted with regard to the proper administration of their affairs as a nation.

The first thought of a skeptic in this connection might be: “Ah! I see the object of that organization; the priests ruled and controlled the people; they imposed upon their credulity, and excited their fears for their own honor and profit.”

But no one should assume anything where there is such good opportunity for proving the matter by the facts. The unanswerable evidence is contrary to such a supposition. The rights and privileges of the priests were limited; they were given no civil power whatever, and wholly lacked opportunity for using their office to impose upon the rights or consciences of the people; and this arrangement was made by Moses, a member of the priestly line.

Moses was God’s representative in bringing Israel out of Egyptian bondage, thus the force of circumstances centralized the government in his hand. This made Moses an autocrat in power and authority, though, from the meekness of his disposition, he was the overworked servant of the people, whose very life was being exhausted by the onerous cares of his position. Israel’s government, regarded in the light of its own claim, was a theocracy, that is, a Divine government; for the laws given by God, through Moses, permitted of no amendments; they must neither add to nor take from their code of ‑laws. Thus Israel’s government was different from any other civil government, either before or since. “The Lord said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be elders of the common people and bring them unto the Tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee. And I will come down and talk with thee there, and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee and will put it upon them, and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not alone.” (Num. 11 :16,17) Moses, rehearsing the matter, says, “So I took the chief of your tribes, wise ‑men, and known [of influence], and made them heads over you: captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, and captains over fifties, and captains over tens, and officers among your tribes.” (Deut. 1:15; Exod. 18:13‑26)

Thus the distinguished lawgiver, Moses, so far from seeking to perpetuate or increase his own power by placing the government of the people under the control of his direct relatives of the priestly class, to use their religious authority to fetter the rights and liberties of the people, on the contrary introduced to Israel a form of government calculated to cultivate the spirit of liberty. The histories of Gentile rulers show no parallel to this. In almost every case the ruler has sought his own aggrandizement and greater power. Even in instances where such have aided in establishing republics, it has usually appeared from subsequent events that they were activated through policy, to obtain favor with the people, and to perpetuate their own power.

Circumstanced as Moses was, any ambitious man, governed by policy and attempting to perpetuate a fraud upon the people, would have worked for greater centralization of power in himself and in his family. This would have been an easy task since the religious authority was already vested in that tribe, and from the claim of that nation to be governed by God. Nor is it supposable that a man capable of forming such laws, and of ruling such a people, would be so dull of comprehension as not to see the possibilities and advantages which he might accrue to himself. So completely was the government of the people put into the peoples, own hands, that though it was stipulated that the weightier cases which the governors could not decide were to be brought unto Moses, yet the governors themselves were the judges as to what cases went before Moses. “The cause which is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it,” said Moses. (Deut. 1:17)

Thus seen, Israel was a republic whose officers acted under a Divine commission. And to the confusion of those who ignorantly claim that the Bible sanctions an established empire rule over the people, instead of “a government of the people by the people,” be it noted that this republican form of civil government continued for over four hundred years. It was finally changed for that of a King‑rule at the request of the people, without God’s approval, who said to Samuel, then acting as a sort of informal president, “Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they shall say unto thee, for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.” (1 Sam. 8:7) At God’s instance Samuel explained to the people how their rights and liberties would be disregarded, and how they would become servants by such a change; but Israel had become infatuated with the popular idea, illustrated all around them in Gentile nations (1 Sam. 8:6‑22). In considering this account of their desire for a king, is one not impressed with the thought that Moses could have firmly established himself at the head of a great empire without difficulty?

While Israel, as a whole, constituted one nation, yet tribal divisions were ever recognized after Jacob’s death. Each family, or tribe, by common consent, elected certain members as its representatives, or chiefs. This custom continued even throughout their long slavery in Egypt. It was to these that Moses delivered the honor and power of civil government; whereas, had he desired to centralize power in himself and in his family, these would have been the last men to honor with power and office.

The instructions which were given by Moses to those appointed to civil rulership were a model of simplicity and purity. He declared to the people, in the presence and in the hearing of these governors or judges: “I charged your judges at that time, saying, Hear the causes between your brethren, and judge righteously between every man and his brother and the stranger [foreigner] that is with him. Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man, for the judgment is God’s; and the cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it.” (Deut. 1:15‑17)

In view of these facts, what would one think of a theory which suggests that these laws were written by knavish priests to secure to themselves influence and power over the people? Would such men for such a purpose make laws destructive to the very aims they sought to advance? The record proves conclusively that Moses, the great Ruler of Israel, a member of the tribe of Levi, and brother of Aaron, the priest, cut off the Levites and the priesthood from all civil power by placing that power in the hands of the people.

Again it is worthy of note that the laws of the most advanced civilization, in this twentieth century, do not more carefully provide that rich and poor shall stand on a common level in accountability before the civil law. Absolutely no distinction was made by Moses, law. And as for the protection of the people from the dangers incident to some becoming very poor and others becoming excessively wealthy and powerful, no other national law has ever been enacted which so carefully guarded this point. Moses’ law provided for a restoration of all property every fiftieth year – The Jubilee Year. This law, by preventing the permanent sale and absolute alienation of property, thereby prevented its accumulation in the hands of a few. (Lev. 25:9,13‑23,27‑30)

All the laws were made public, thus preventing designing men from successfully tampering with the rights of the people. The laws were exposed in such a manner that anyone who chose might copy them; and in order that the poorest and most unlearned might not be ignorant of them, it was made the duty of the priests to read them to the people at their septennial festivals (Deut. 31:10‑13). Is it reasonable to suppose that such laws and arrangements were designed by men scheming to defraud the people of their liberties and happiness? Such an assumption would be unreasonable.

In its regard for the rights and interest of foreigners, and of enemies, it is doubtful if the laws of the most civilized nation today equal the Mosaic law in fairness and benevolence. We read:

“Ye shall have one manner of law as well for the stranger [foreigner] as for one of your own country; for I am the Lord your God.” (Exod. 12:49; Lev. 24:22) “And if a stranger [foreigner] sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall not vex him; but the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shall love him as thyself; for ye were strangers [foreigners] in the land of Egypt.” (Lev. 19:33‑34)

“If thou meet thine enemy’s ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again. If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burden, wouldst thou cease to leave thy business and help him? Thou shalt leave it, to join with [assist] him.” (Exod. 23:4‑5, margin)

Even the dumb animals were not forgotten. Cruelty to these as well as to human beings was strictly prohibited. An ox must not be muzzled while threshing the grain, for the good reason that any laborer is worthy of his food. Even the ox and the ass must not plow together, because so unequal in strength and tread, it would be cruelty. Their rest was also provided for. (Deut. 25:4; 22:10; Exod. 23:12).

The priesthood may be claimed by some to have been a selfish institution, because the priestly tribe – the tribe of Levi – was supported by the annual tenth, or tithe, of the individual produce of their brethren of the other tribes. This fact, stated thus, is an unfair presentation common to skeptics who misrepresent one of the most remarkable evidences of God’s part An the organization of that system of government. It was not the work of a selfish and scheming priesthood; it was founded upon the strictest equality and justice, as we shall show: When Israel came into possession of the land of Canaan, the priestly tribe, the Levites, had as much right to a share of the land as the other tribes; yet, by God’s express command, they got none of it except in certain cities or villages for residences, scattered among the various tribes whom they were to serve in religious matters. Instead of the land, it was only just that some equivalent should be provided for them, and the tithe was therefore this reasonable and just provision. And be it noted, that the tithe, though, as we have seen, a just debt, was not enforced as a tax, but was to be paid as a voluntary contribution. And no threat bound them to make those contributions; all depended upon their conscientiousness. The only exhortations to the people on the subject are as follows:

“Take heed to thyself that thou forsake not the Levite as long as thou livest upon the earth.” (Deut. 12:19) “And the Levite that is within thy gates, thou shalt not forsake him; for he hath no part nor inheritance (in the land] with thee.” (Deut. 14:27)

Is it reasonable to suppose that this order of things would have been thus arranged by selfish and ambitious priests – an arrangement to disinherit themselves and to make them dependent for support upon their brethren for whatever their brethren felt disposed to give them? Does not reason teach us to the contrary?

Consistent with this, is the further fact that no special provision was made for honoring the priesthood. In nothing would impostors be more careful than to provide reverence and respect for themselves, and severest punishments and penalties upon those who mistreated and misused them. But nothing of the kind appears; no special honor, no special reverence or immunity from violence or insult, is provided. The common law, which made no distinction between classes, was their only protection. This is the more remarkable because the treatment of servants, and strangers, and the aged, was the subject of special legislation. For instance: “Thou shalt not vex nor oppress a stranger, or widow, or fatherless child; for if they cry at all unto me (God] I will surely hear their cry; and my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall be widows and your children fatherless.” (Exod. 22:21‑24; 23:9; Lev. 19:33‑34) “Thou shalt not oppress an hired servant that is poor and needy, whether he be of thy brethren, or of strangers that are in thy land, within thy gates. At his day thou shalt give him his hire, neither shall the sun go down upon it, for he is poor, and setteth his heart upon it; lest he cry against thee unto the Lord and it be sin unto thee.” (Lev. 19:13; Deut. 24:14‑15) “Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head and honor the face of the old man.” (Lev. 19:32) All this, yet no special provision for priests or their tithes. Would not a selfish, scheming priesthood have provided for themselves?

Our hasty glance has furnished overwhelming evidence that this law, which constitutes the framework of the entire system of revealed religion, is a marvelous display of equity and justice. In the light of reason, we must admit that it bears no evidence of being the work of wicked, designing men, but that it corresponds exactly with what reason teaches to be the character of God. And further, the pious and noble lawgiver, Moses, states emphatically that the laws were not his own, and attributes them to God. (Exod. 24:12; Deut. 9:9‑11; Lev. 1:1)

Let us glance now at the general character of the prophets of the Bible and their testimonies. A remarkable fact is that the prophets, with few exceptions, were not of the priestly class; and in their day their prophecies were generally repugnant to the then degenerating and time‑serving priesthood, as well as to the idolatrously inclined people. The burden of their message from God to the people was generally reproof for sin, coupled with warnings of coming punishments, intertwined with which were promises of future blessings, after they should be cleansed from sin and should return to favor with God. The experiences of the prophets were far from enviable; they were generally reviled, many of them being imprisoned and put to violent deaths. (I Kings 18:4,17,18,19; Jer. 38:6; Heb. 11:32‑36) In some instances it was years after their death before their true character as God’s prophets was recognized. (We refer exclusively to the Biblical prophets.)

When it is remembered that these prophets were mainly laymen, drawing no support from the tithes of the priestly tribe, and when, added to this, is the fact that they were frequently not only the reprovers of kings and judges, but also of the personal sins of the priests, it becomes evident that we could not reasonably conclude that these prophets were parties to any league of priests, or others, to fabricate falsehood in the name of God. Reason in the light of facts contradicts such a suspicion.

If, then, we find no reason to impeach the motives of the writers of the Old Testament, but find that the spirit of its various parts is righteousness and truth, let us next proceed to investigate whether there exists any singleness of pattern, any common link, or bond of union, between the record of Moses, those of the other prophets, and those of the New Testament writers. If we shall find one pattern, one purpose, one aim and one common line of thought interwoven throughout the law and the prophets and the New Testament writing, which cover a period of fifteen hundred years, this, taken in connection with the character of the writers, will be a good reason for admitting their claim ‑ that they are Divinely inspired ‑ particularly if the theme common to all of them is a grand and noble one, comporting well with what reason and common sense teaches regarding the character and attributes of God.

We find that the New Testament throughout constantly points and refers to one prominent character, Jesus of Nazareth who, it claims, was the Son of God. From beginning to end His name, office, and work are made prominent. That a man called Jesus of Nazareth lived, and was somewhat noted, about the time indicated by the writers of the New Testament, is a fact of history outside the New Testament, and it is variously and fully corroborated. That this Jesus was crucified because He had rendered Himself offensive to the Jews and their priesthood is. a further fact established by history outside the evidence furnished by the New Testament writers. We also find that the writers of the New Testament (except Paul and Luke) were the personal acquaintances of Jesus of Nazareth, whose doctrines their writings set forth.

The existence of any book implies motive on the part of the writer. We therefore inquire, What motive inspired the writers of the New Testament to espouse the cause of this man “who was made of no reputation,” who was condemned as a blasphemer and crucified as a malefactor, the most religious ones among the Jews demanding His death as one unfit to live? And in espousing His cause, and promulgating His doctrines, we find that these writers braved contempt, deprivation and bitter persecution, risked life itself and in some cases even suffered martyrdom. Let us admit that while Jesus lived He was a remarkable person in both His life and His teaching, but what motive could there have been for any one to espouse His cause after He was dead ‑ especially when His death was so ignominious? And if we suppose that these writers invented their narratives, and that Jesus was their imaginary or ideal hero, how absurd to suppose that sane men, after making a claim that He was the Son of God, that He had been begotten in a supernatural way, had supernatural powers by which He had healed lepers, restored sight to those born blind, caused the deaf to hear, and even raised the dead – how absurd to suppose that they would wind up the story of such a great and marvelous character by stating that a band of His enemies got together and executed Him as a felon, while all His friends and His disciples, and among them the writers themselves, forsook Him and fled in the trying moment. The writers themselves frankly acknowledge that they were perplexed by the apparent inconsistency of the situation and they expressed their sore disappointment, saying, “We trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel.” (Luke 24:21)

It was not until after they had carefully examined the Old Testament Scriptures that they were able to understand and clarify the seeming inconsistency regarding the tragic death of one who, Himself, manifested the power to raise others from the dead. After a careful study of the Old Testament prophecies, they then furnished a Scriptural and logical reason for their faith and trust; and all the writers without exception were perseveringly faithful to those reasonable convictions down to their very death. And nothing connected with the Gospel Narrative of the New Testament appeals to human judgment more forcibly than does its simplicity. The fact that the blunderings, weaknesses, failures, and shortcomings of the Apostles themselves are faithfully narrated, and that without apologies or excuses or attempts to gloss over the defects and imperfections, shows a sincerity of purpose and a truthfulness of intention. The record reveals the shameless perfidy of Judas, and the weakness of the remaining eleven, who, in Jesus’ darkest hours, forsook Him, and fled, seeking personal safety, one of them subsequently denying Him. The writers of the New Testament would have been excusable had they interjected explanations and excuses for their weak course and shameful conduct; but the narrative is stronger as it stands, for we might be loath to accept‑ excuses had they offered them for themselves.

And what we have here noticed, we found likewise applicable to the various writers of the Old Testament. We found that they too were men notable for their fidelity to the Lord; and the Old Testament as impartially records and reproves their weaknesses and shortcomings as it commends their virtues and faithfulness. Thus there is a straightforwardness about the Old and New Testaments which stamps them as truth.

Having then found that both the Old and New Testaments were written by men whose motives we see no reason to impugn, but which, on the contrary, we see reason to approve, let us next examine the writings claimed as inspired,. to see whether their teachings correspond with the character we have reasonably imputed to God, and whether they bear internal evidence of their truthfulness.

This we do find: One plan, pattern, spirit, aim and purpose pervades‑the entire Old and New Testaments. The opening pages of the Old Testament record the creation and fall of man; the closing pages of the New Testament tell of man’s recovery from the fall; and its intervening pages show the successive steps of the plan of God for the accomplishment of that purpose. The harmony, yet contrast, of the first three chapters of the Old Testament and the last three chapters of the New, is striking. The Old Testament describes the creation of man and his fall into sin, the new describes how the creation is to be restored, with sin and its penal‑curse removed; the one shows Satan and evil entering the world to deceive and to cause death, the other shows how his work is to be undone, the dead restored to life, evil extinguished and Satan destroyed; the one shows the dominion of I earth lost by Adam, the other shows how it will be restored and forever established by Jesus Christ, the Messiah, and God’s will “done on earth as it is done in heaven”; the one shows sin the producing cause of degradation, shame and death; the other shows the reward of righteousness to be glory, honor and life.

(To be continued)

NO. 494 "THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING"

“They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain [kingdom].” (Isa. 11:9) Accustomed as all mankind have been to misrule and misgovernment, it was necessary that assurance should be given to Israel that the kingdom of Messiah which God would one day set up in the earth would not only have good motives and intentions, but would also possess superior power of knowledge and judgment. And this is what the Prophet Isaiah pointed out. The new King will not need to rely upon the common channels of information in the giving of His blessings and in the administering of his reproofs and chastisements, but will have a superhuman endowment of power by which He will know the very thought and intents of the heart. He will not need to judge after the hearing of the ear or by the sight of the eye, as must all earthly rulers, however well intention­ed. (Isaiah 11:3,4)

It was proper also that Israel and all others should know that the kingdom of God to be established would be absolutely just and impartial; for their experiences have demonstrated that even the wisest and best of their rulers, lawmakers, judges, etc., have been largely governed by selfishness. The world’s great ones have amassed wealth at the expense of their subjects, and have made their special friends wealthy and have granted them special privileges, oftentimes at the expense of the poor, the helpless, the despised. Hence the Lord through the Prophet assures us that the earth’s new King will administer equity toward all; that the meek, the backward, the modest and unassuming, those who are indisposed to press their claims and to assert their rights, will have His particular assistance; and that the poor, who have few to sympathize with them or to encourage or help them, will find in the new King a Friend.

MILLENNIUM NOT THROUGH EVOLUTION

Those who expect the Millennial kingdom to come as a result of present efforts, under the order of society now prevailing, and who believe that the world is gradually approaching the Millennium by an evolu­tionary process, should carefully consider this Word of the Lord through the Prophet, as shown in our text and context. The Prophet declared that when Messiah shall take the reins of government, His first step will be to judge the poor, and to reprove the rich in equity, in the interests of the meek of the earth. How could this be possible, if equity had already prevailed by a gradual process, so that there were no poor and no rich, and so that all had become meek?

Other Scriptures in harmony with this testimony of the Prophet Isaiah, show that the very work which our Lord is to do at the beginning of His reign will be to correct the wrongs then prevailing. Our Lord Himself implies that the earth will be far from being a blessed condition at His Second Advent, when He asks the question, “When the Son of Man cometh, shall He find the faith [Truth] on the earth?” (Luke 18:8) The Revelator also gives no uncertain testimony on this subject. He says: ‘‘And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdom of our Lord and His Christ; and He shall reign forever and ever ... And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward to thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and to them that fear [reverence] thy name, small and great, and shouldest destroy them that corrupt the earth.” (Rev. 11:15‑18)

BIBLE HARMONIOUS AND CONSISTENT

Many Scriptures are of like import. The position of the Bible is throughout harmonious and consistent. It describes the present time, while sin is prevailing, as “the present evil world” (Gal. 1:4), in which “the prince of this world”  (John 14:30) rules, and in which the Lord’s true people, the body of Christ, the heirs of the kingdom, “suffer violence,” and declares that this violence is working out for those who are rightly exercised by it a character which will be approved by the Lord. The Scriptures point out that to God’s faithful saints who suffer now will be granted this glorious new kingdom in Joint heirship with Messiah. They shall be given the dominion “under the whole heavens,” as declared by the angel to Daniel the Prophet. (Daniel 7:27) This dominion Jehovah will wrest by force from the “prince of this world,” Satan (2 Cor. 4:4), and will give it to His Son, whose bride will share her Bridegroom’s kingdom. This transfer will be accomplished in a great time of trouble, which is to end this present world, the present social order.

In our context the Prophet goes on to say, “He shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of His lips shall He slay the wicked.” (Isa. 11:4) It is very evident, then, that at the time of the establishment of the kingdom there will not only be poor needing assistance and succor, but there will be the wicked also. The rod of Messiah’s mouth signifies the judgments which He has already expressed, and which have very largely gone unheeded by Christen­dom. We remember His declaration: “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath One that judgeth him; the Word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.” (John 12:48) – the day of judgment, now present, since 1874. Christendom in general has admitted the righteousness of the Lord’s Word, but those who attempt to live in harmony with that Word are remarkably few. Consequently, when the time shall come that “judgment shall be laid to the line and righteousness to the plummet” Isa. 8:17), and when this judgment shall begin at the nominal house of God, the nominal systems will fall – condemned by that Word.

Only the faithful few, the Lord’s Jewels, shall “be accounted worthy to escape those things coming upon the world” (Luke 21:36), when, as elsewhere described, “He [the Lord] shall speak to them [the world] in His wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure” when He shall render vengeance to His enemies, and recom­pense to those who have known the Master’s will, yet have done it not. “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord.” “Wait ye upon Me, saith Jehovah, until the day that I rise up to the prey; for My determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them Mine indignation, even all my fierce anger; for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy. For then will I turn to the people a pure language [message] that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve him with one consent.” (Zephaniah 3:8, 9) “Righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.” (Isaiah 11:5) The girdle represents diligence, service, and the proclamation here is that Messiah will be a faithful, diligent Servant of God, accomplishing all the work entrusted to His care.

GREAT CHANGES IN ANIMAL CREATION

The reference in this 11th chapter of Isaiah to the change of disposition in the animal kingdom, so that the wolf and the lamb, the leopard and the kid, the calf and the lion, will dwell in harmony, is in full accord with the general Scriptural outlines of “the times of restitution of all things.” Not only is mankind to be restored, to be brought back to his primeval condition of human perfection and harmony with his Maker, but the lower animals will also share in the blessing and the restoration of order to be accomplished by the Reign of Christ, now, we believe, very near at hand.

In the Genesis account there is no intimation that the animals over which Adam had control were wild, vicious, at enmity with man. On the contrary, the implication is that they were in complete subjection to their perfect master. We may reasonably suppose that while the race, under the disintegrating influence of man’s death sentence, gradually lost more and more of the likeness of their Maker in which the first man was created, they at the same time lost the power of control over the lower animals.

The nature of the power possessed by the perfect Adam may still be imperfectly traced in the superior ability of certain of the fallen race to control the brute creation. Thus we see that some men can exercise mental force and control, not only over wild horses, but also over the ferocious beasts of the jungle. Adam was declared by the Lord to be the king of earth, and as such he was recognized by the lower orders of creation. After mankind had lost his original mental power to control the lower animals, a warfare sprang up between them, in which man has been compelled to pit force against force, as he has lost his hold upon the animal creation.

The restoration of mankind to that exalted position which was lost by sin implies naturally, therefore, a restoration of the brute creation to primeval conditions, such as is suggested in the prophecy which we are considering. The same thought is conveyed in the statement that “a little child shall lead” (Isa. 11:6), or control, the wild beasts, when these are brought into their proper relationship with mankind. In Verse 65:25 of Isaiah’s prophecy, it is stated of the Millennial conditions that “the wolf and the lamb shall feed together.” The reference may be to men who were formerly of wolf like and of lamb like dispositions, or character; or it may refer to animals, or both. The expression in either case signifies a blessed reign of peace. The Prophet continues, “And the lion shall eat straw like the bullock, and the dust shall be the serpent’s meat.” If this refers to literal lions, it would imply that they will lose their carnivorous dispositions, and that they will undergo some change which will make them herbivorous, as animals were originally created. (Genesis 1:30) It would seem to imply that animals will not prey upon one another.

DAWN OF HOPE FOR THE WORLD

The expression “Dust shall be the serpent’s meat” (Gen. 2:7), is similar to the statement in Psalm 72:9, regarding Messiah’s coming dominion: “His enemies shall lick the dust,” signifying the destruction of the serpent, or rather of the great adversary, Satan, whom the serpent symbolizes. “They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain [kingdom], saith the Lord.” (Isa. 11:9)

The birth of the true Zion, the church of Christ, will be the cause of rejoicing among all who truly love righteousness; for, though it will at first dash in pieces all their long‑cherished hopes, it will be the dawn of a real hope for all the world. It will humble their pride and despoil them of all their cherished possessions and of what they have come to consider their rights. It will break down their boasted institutions, civil, social and religious, and completely wreck the present social order. Yet it will be the necessary prelude to the establishment of the grand New Order, which will come to be “the desire of all nations” (Hag. 2:6,7), as soon as they shall see its vast superiority to the old order.

TWO CLASSES BORN OUT OF ZION

In describing the birth of the “Man‑child,” The Christ, whose head was born more than eighteen hundred years ago, and the body of whom is now soon to be born, the Prophet Isaiah exclaims (Isa. 66:7, 8), “Before she travailed she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man‑child! Who hath heard such a thing? Who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? Or shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion travailed she brought forth her children.” The especially marvelous thing that the Prophet here records is that a “man‑child” is to be born out of Zion before Zion travails. This is a striking reference to the fact, elsewhere clearly taught, that the ripe “wheat” of the Gospel church are to be separated from the unripe wheat and the “tares” at the end of this Age, that they are to be exalted and glorified before the burning, the consuming, trouble shall come.

This “man‑child”, then, is the little flock, the body of Christ, the true Zion. Out of nominal Zion will come this first‑fruits class, before the nominal system will be overthrown; for she will die in her travail pains, and in dying, will bring forth her later children the great company. In this great day of the Lord, nominal Zion will bring forth the man‑child and these later children.

“Shall I bring to the birth and not cause to bring forth? saith the Lord. Shall I cause to bring forth and shut the womb? saith thy God.” (Isa. 66:9) Ah, no! As surely as the Head was brought forth, so surely shall the body also be born. The birth shall certainly be completed. The great composite Christ shall come forth entire, not one member lacking – and before Zion’s travail has begun. But “who hath heard such a thing? Who hath seen such a thing?” And so, after the man‑child is delivered, the mother system will give birth, when travail pains come on, to a great company of children! This great company is described in the Apocalypse as coming up out of “great tribulation,” and washing their robes, spotted and soiled, and making them white, “in the blood of the Lamb.” (Rev. 7:14)

Following the birth of these two classes of the Lord’s people, will come the birth of the Jewish nation. They shall be awakened from the sleep of hades, in which as a nation they have been for over eighteen centuries. All this will take place in the early dawn of the day of Christ. O what rejoicing there will be! Fleshly Zion and spiritual Zion will rejoice together! Then soon the poor, chastened world will begin to join in the songs of praise to the God of all grace. What wonderful times are just before us! Though clouds and darkness for a brief time obscure the bright beams of the blessed Millennial dawning, soon the glorious “Sun of righteousness” shall rise in splendor, and its beams will rapidly spread over all the earth, scattering the darkness of sin, dispelling the fogs of error and superstition, and bringing the world into the light of the knowledge of the glory of God.

RESTITUTION NOT CHANGE OF NATURE

The entire testimony of Scripture in regard to the blessings to come to the world in the new Age show that they are all to be earthly. The declaration that even the brute creation shall be changed in nature is a promise that in that blessed day there will no more be a condition of antagonism and enmity between mankind and the lower orders of God’s creatures, but all shall be peace and harmony. It would be wholly unnecessary to change the disposition of the animals, to bring them into subjection to man, if all the race were to be changed into spirit beings, and become like the angels. Many prophecies speak of mankind in the times of restitution as human beings, adapted to the earth and enjoying the blessings of the earth. They are to “sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid.” (Micah 4:4) “They shall build houses and inhabit them ... They shall not build and another inhabit ... they shall long enjoy the work of their hands.” (Isa. 65:21‑25)

These promises for the world in general have no reference to the class being chosen out of the world during this Gospel Age. The promises to these are all spiritual. They are to be made like Christ, and “see him as he is.” (1 John 3:2) They are called to the obtaining of His glory. As they “have borne the image of the earthly,” so shall they “also bear the image of the heavenly.” (1 Cor. 15:49) They are promised a share in Christ’s resurrection – the first resurrection. They are to reign as kings and priests in a kingdom which earthly beings cannot inherit. “Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.” (1 Cor. 15:50) They have been called with a heavenly calling. They are not of the world, even as their Lord and Head is not of the world. (John 17:16)

WHY MANY FAIL TO UNDERSTAND THE WORD OF GOD

With many the difficulty in understanding these distinctions is a failure to rightly divide the Scriptures, as St. Paul counseled Timothy, saying, “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15) This process would enable them to discern that the kingdom of God per se consists only of our Lord Jesus and His “little flock” of overcomers, to whom He says, “It is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom.” (Luke 12:32) These are to constitute the reigning class, as many Scriptures point out. At first the world of mankind will be subjects of this spiritual kingdom, and afterward become citizens, or members, if they come into harmony with its laws and regulations and into a condition of reconciliation with God, becoming the children of Christ, who will be the age‑lasting Father of the world during the Mediatorial Age. He will be the One who shall bring the entire race of Adam – both those who have a measure of life and those who have gone down into the tomb – back from the condition of death into full perfection of life, if they then prove willing and obedient. Otherwise they shall be cut off in the second death – everlasting destruction.

The Prophet Daniel, in explaining Nebuchad­nezzar’s dream regarding the Great Image, shows that the kingdom of God when first set up at the introduction of the Millennial Age will be but a small stone, which has been “cut out without hands,” but which will become a “great mountain and fill the whole earth.” (Daniel 2:31‑45) This stone kingdom is quarried out of the “earth” by the Lord. It is at first insignificant in size, and it seems to the world as powerless. But as soon as set up in power, this kingdom will smite the “great image” of earthly rulership, and shall grind it to powder (in the coming trouble), and the wind shall carry it away. This stone kingdom is the holy mountain referred to in Isaiah 11:9. A mountain is the Scriptural symbol of a kingdom. Hills seem to be symbolic of the smaller governments of earth. (See Isaiah 2:2; 40:4; 51:5; 59:18; Psalms 46:2,3; 97:5)

Nothing shall be permitted to do violence or to work injury throughout all God’s Holy kingdom, after it shall have been established. Love will be the law, and Divine power will be the means which will enforce that law. All who do not conform to it will be “cut off from among the people,” as the Lord declared through the Apostle Peter. (Acts 3:23) How evident it is that this kingdom has not yet come, when we see that amongst mankind selfishness is the rule, individually and nationally, and that there are many influences of evil which hurt and destroy throughout the world today. So we continue to pray: “Thy Kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth, as it is done in Heaven.” And we believe that this petition so long offered by the Lord’s saints is very soon to be answered.

After Messiah has crushed the power of evil, after He has overthrown all the great systems of error and vice, and has set the people free, He will accomplish the blessing of humanity by the spread of the knowledge of Jehovah’s character. The Apostle Paul also assures us that it is the will of God that all men shall come to a knowledge of the Truth in order to be saved. He assures us that there can be no salvation without knowledge. None will ever be saved by ignorance. As yet only a comparatively few of earth’s millions have come to such a knowledge of God as to be able to exercise faith in Him and in the great sacrifice which He has provided for the whole world.

COMPREHENSIVENESS OF PLAN OF SALVATION

But the fact that but few in the present life come to this saving knowledge shall in no wise thwart the great Divine Plan, not make the death of Christ on behalf of the entire race of Adam of no avail. The Lord assures us in His Word that, in due time, the true light shall lighten “every man that cometh into the world.” (John 1:9) This includes all the heathen and all those of imbecile mind, who could not in this life grasp the Truth, as well as all infants who have died before reaching the age where they could know of God and His Truth in Christ. It includes the dead, as well as the living. For “there is none other name given under heaven among men whereby they must be saved” (Acts 4:12) by the name of Jesus. God has thus made ample provision for all.

Nor are we to suppose that the knowledge which is to become worldwide during Messiah’s reign is merely a little sprinkling of knowledge, such as has come to a very limited portion of the world here and there in spots, up to the present time. The Lord’s people have received the droppings of grace and truth, but the provision for the next Age will be abundant and universal. The knowledge of the Lord shall be ocean deep like the fulness of the sea. Showers of blessings shall come down upon the world in copious measure. The effect will be “like rain upon the mown grass.” (Psalm 72:6) When the grass has been freshly cut and its roots are thus the more accessible, how quickly it responds to the refreshing showers! And how rapidly does it spring up in renewed vigor! So it will be with mankind, after they have been shorn of all that has encumbered them and prevented the showers of grace from reaching their hearts. How quickly they will respond to the refreshing rains and showers of blessing so copiously bestowed upon them, and will spring up into life and beauty as they drink in the rich supplies of grace! (By That Servant – Reprints 5573‑75, November 15, 1914)

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QUESTION OF GENERAL INTEREST

QUESTION: – Does That Servant teach that the Epiphany and the “Time of Trouble” are one and the same, as does the Epiphany Messenger?

ANSWER: – Yes, That Servant teaches the same as the Epiphany Messenger on the “Time of Trouble.” Both teach that the “Time of Trouble” began in its wide sense in 1874, but in its narrow sense the Time of Trouble began in 1914 when the World War started. In its “narrow sense” – beginning the destruction of Christendom and the Nominal Church – the Epiphany and the “Great Tribulation” are one and the same. As most Truth people know, Sodom types Christendom and the Nominal Church, and Egypt types the world of mankind – this “present evil world.” (Gal. 1:4 – See Rev. 11:8 and Berean Comments)

In “The Battle of Armageddon,” Parousia book 4, is this: “Her destruction will have a beginning by the end of the appointed ‘Time of the Gentiles’ – 1914.” And p. 158 of this book: “These [the Little Flock] have no share in the judgment of great Babylon, but are previously enlightened and called out of her. ” (Rev. 18:4) And from the Reprints we quote the following:

“To the very best of our ability we have endeavored to make clear that the parousia of our Lord is wholly different from His epiphaneia. Both of these Greek words are translated ‘coming’ in our common Bible, but in the Greek they have very different signification. The word parousia signifies presence, but does not signify any outward manifestation of that presence. It is used in respect to the first stage of the second advent, in which our Lord is said to come ‘as a thief in the night’ to reckon with His own servants and to take the faithful of them with Him to the heavenly mansion or condition prepared for them.

“Our Lord’s parousia and the gathering of the elect, we understand, has been in progress since October, 1874. It will continue until all of the ‘elect’ shall have been gathered and glorified. In one sense our Lord will continue to be present as the world’s King to the conclusion of the Millennial Age; but His parousia, in the sense of secrecy of presence, will terminate when, as the Scriptures declare, ‘He shall be revealed in flaming fire (judgments), taking vengeance on all who will not obey the truth,’ but enlightening and revivifying all who will hear and, to the extent of their opportunity, obey His message. The parousia is to the church and for the church only. The epiphaneia or apokalupsis of the Lord in power and great glory is not to the church, nor for the church, but to the world and for the world.” (Reprint 4543, bottom)

“Emphasizing the suddenness with which the calamity will overtake the world, Jesus said that 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 in the day 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.” (Reprint 5456, top, col. 1, par. 2 – May 1, 1914)

“The Scriptures indicate that the Gentile governments will receive from their own peoples 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 will 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 that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.’ (2 Thes. 1:7‑10) As a result, the nations of earth will be broken to pieces like a potter’s vessel. ” (Psa. 2:8,9) (Reprint 5527, col. 1, top – September 1, 1914)

There is more from That Servant that will prove that the Epiphany Messenger simply elaborated on his teachings regarding the Time of Trouble, or the Great Tribulation, as the Epiphany period, but what we have given will suffice for now. Quite a few of the brethren have lost sight of this Truth – even the LHMM, founded by the Epiphany Messenger, now teaches that we are in the beginning Basileia since 1954 – the overlapping of the Epiphany – when three major stages of the Great Tribulation are yet future. One section of the Epiphany brethren teaches that there are four periods – the Parousia, Epiphany, Apokalypse (separate periods) and the Basileia – something never taught by Brothers Russell and Johnson; nor do the Scriptures support this claim. “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing [the Epiphany] and his kingdom [the Basileia].” The way the Apokalypsis brethren teach, this text should read: “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing [the Epiphany] and at his revealing, or Apokalypsis [a separate period from his “appearing”] and his kingdom [Basileia].”

To some extent the LHMM teaches four periods of the Lord’s Second Advent – the Parousia, the Epiphany, the “Overlapping,” which will witness three more severe stages of the Great Tribulation, as well as the annihilation of the Man of Sin (2 Thes. 2:8), and the Basileia. Their “overlapping” has no similarity to the overlapping of the Parousia of 26 months (1914 to Nov. 1916). As it is now more than 44 years overlapping, and we are not yet in Armageddon, the second stage of the Great Tribulation, with Anarchy and Jacob’s trouble still future after that.

We are living in the day when “they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” (2 Tim. 4:3, 4) Some of the Lord’s people who have received present truth are now setting much of it aside for opinions of their own. Some now say the end of the “Times of the Gentiles” is still future, and we are not in the “Time of Trouble” since 1914 although some of the thinking worldlings realize the world is in a “Time of Trouble” such as has never been before. Some deny our Lord’s presence; the Jehovah’s Witnesses are teaching that Armageddon will destroy not only this present system of things, but also annihilate all who do not join with them before Armageddon. This is “bad news” to those whose eyes are blinded (?) and do not accept their teachings. They teach that the world is not so blinded today, as not to be able to recognize their truth (?), which they are now teaching – that when they have had a chance to “learn of them,” and don’t accept them, it will be their last chance. This is much the same as the Papacy has taught: You must accept us, or receive eternal torment! (John J. Hoefle, October, 1977)

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LETTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST

'HONEST BIBI' MAY YET SHINE

Sir, -  Mark Heller  ("Two Outsiders," December 6)  drew an unfortunate parallel between former president Richard Nixon and Israel's current prime minister. Nixon was certainly not an outsider in Washington, since he had served in the House of Representatives in Congress and as a member of the U.S. Senate before becoming vice president to president Eisenhower for eight years. The only "outsider" president was Carter, and he would compare much better to the current leader of the Labor Party, General Ehud Barak.

A very good parallel can, however, be drawn between Bibi Netanyahu and president Abraham Lincoln. Each started as an outsider in their respective capitals, each was elected when the country was very much divided on the platform of "maintaining the integrity and unity of the land." Each had problems with his generals. Each was an intellectual.

Lincoln was eventually successful and became one of the greatest presidents so far, and "Honest Bibi" has a good chance of making the same mark.

                                                                                                            Bernard Linder,                  (LOS ANGELES)

(Jerusalem Post, January 3, 1998)

………………..

Dear Sister Emily,

It was good to get your letter of December 9th. When you asked about Sister Jackson that gave me news of Hermann and Joseph, it was not Sister Osceola Jackson but Dorothy Jackson. I do not believe you know her. She, and her husband who has passed away, got the truth here in California about 30 years ago. She is one of the few in the class who accepts Tentative Justification. She has these friends who operate a YMCA camp in Israel and know about Hermann and Joseph. She says they are in the Truth ... Anyway it is good to know that Hermann and Joseph are both better.

I do not have anything to report on the question I was going to ask on the Tentative Justification ...

I have had a blessing in connection with the tapes I am reviewing. There is a Brother Wilburn Poe from Cincinnati, Ohio who got the Truth in 1908. He heard Brother Russell speak, lived through the split off of P.B.I. and then Rutherford. I am sure he would be dead now since the interview was in 1976 and he was 86 then. It was such a blessing to me to know of such a loyal one - like my own mother and dad ...

We are going to begin a study of Volume Two. I voted to study that over Brother Russell's Sermons. There will be a good deal of controversy, I am sure. We have at least two very strong advocates of the P.B.I. view on the Jubilees and many who do not accept Brother Russell's chronology. I am asking the Lord to help me to do His will.

Hope you continue to improve in health and let us pray that the Lord will allow us to help in His Kingdom.

Much Christian love and good wishes,               (CALIFORNIA)

………………..

My Dear Sister Emily,

Grace and Peace be unto youl I'm acknowledging your letter of November 10th. Also want to thank you for your generous gift of the book "Pastor Charles Taze Russell an Early American Christian Zionist." I knew that Brother Hoefle had something to do with the book but didn't know how or-why. I'm glad to be enlightened about it. Thank you very much.

I don't know if I told you that I am 88 years young and live in a complex of three buildings. They are managed by the Quakers. I had to learn a few things about them so I could speak the truth with them. I understand that it was a Quaker that designed our cross and crown that we use so much. They are good people. But I've been to some of their sermons, etc., and they only have milk for the people and we should be thankful that we have "Meat in due season." What a glorious plan our God has for the church and for the rest of the people. I've had many experiences in my life for which I thank the LORD.

If I get any orders for the book I will send them to you. I wanted to write to you before going to the meeting to see the brethren. I enjoy the reprints too.

God bless you always, By His grace … (OHIO)

………………..

Dear Sister Emily,

The open market cost of "The Pastor Russell Anthology" disc is $49.95. However, a friend and I have made arrangements to make it available in lots of 10 @ $25 each. If less than ten - or single copies mailed to different addresses - is desired, the cost is $26 each which includes postage. If you think anyone would be interested in having the disc I will be happy to send ordering instruction.

May the Lord bless thee and keep thee,  

…(OREGON)

………………..

Dear Friends,

We believe that the heat from 700 oil wells burning at once put so much heat into the atmosphere it probably changed the weather pattern (wrecked it). Never has the world' experienced so much terrible weather. The Gulf war was a curse.

Why would Israel want to give Arafat more land? That is unbelievable. Hope they don't do that.

Love, your Colorado Friends. God Bless you …   (COLORADO)

NO. 493 SOME THOUGHTS FOR THE MEMORIAL

The annual observance of our Lord's death occurs this year after six p.m., April 9. This date is calculated as follows: The Vernal Equinox this year arrives at 9:76 p.m., March 20 at the 30th Meridian East. Thus Nisan 1 occurs at 6 p.m. March 27, Bible reckoning. The proper date for the Passover would thus be fourteen days later. We will observe this service at 7:30 p.m., 2501 Morningside Drive, Mount Dora, FL. We invite all of 'like mind' to join with us.

This date is exactly 3613 years since the typical Passover was kept in Egypt; and we would stress that the annual observance of that event is simply a memorial. for that awesome occurrence. There was only one real Passover; and the Jews were instructed: "Ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and thy sons forever." (Ex. 12:24) And this the orthodox Jews have scrupulously done every year since that time.

But we are told that "Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us." (1 Cor. 5: 7) However, instead of using the lamb and unleavened bread, we use the symbols that Jesus Himself instituted the night before He died -the unleavened bread and the wine, being substituted for the lamb and bread. Some may object to this course, but there is no record at all that the early Christians ever again used the lamb and bread; it was always the bread and wine!

But the date should be the same for the Jewish Passover and our Memorial of Christ our Passover. The reason this is not done is because the Jews often allow the condition of the moon to govern their date; whereas, the Bible is very positive that the date should be Nisan 14, regardless of the condition of the moon on that date. And we use Jerusalem time because the Bible was written in that district. America was not known to the civilized world when the original and its subsequent memorial of the death of Jesus were kept in harmony with that truth; and it would be a mistake for us to depart from that established fact. Julius Caesar did not invade England until 55 B.C. However, the errancy of Jews, or any others, on the date should not be regarded as sacrilege on their part. All during this Gospel Age the majority of Christians usually used the wrong date for this service.

As we keep the Lord's Supper as the antitype of the Great Passover, it is well that we keep in mind that we commemorate the greatest event of all history, the sacrificial death of the Savior of the world. And, while there is extensive and elaborate observance of Passover and Easter, few people engaging in that memorial appreciate the real significance of the ceremony. Could their minds be thoroughly awakened to its true significance, there would undoubtedly be a religious revival such as the world has ever yet known. But, as St. Paul has written, "The god of this world has blinded the minds" (2 Cor. 4:4) of many; and even with some who are partially awakened, St. Peter says they are "blind and cannot see afar off." (2 Peter 1: 9) They do not fully appreciate things related to this ceremony, which has been observed now in type and antitype for more than three thousand years.

The Israelites were commanded to celebrate the Passover as the first feature of the Law and as one of their greatest memorials as a nation. And this has been scrupulously done by Jews in all parts of the world, even by renegades and agnostics. Respect for this ancient service is in their very blood, so it is one feature of the Law that has not been violated.

And they were told to keep this memorial joyfully. And thus they concluded that nothing could cheer them better than wine. Consequently, four cups of wine were used during the evening, the first before any food was eaten, and the last after the meal had been completed. So seriously was this followed at the time Jesus ate the last Passover with His disciples that poor Jews were provided wine from the public coffer if they could not afford it, because it was not only to be just wine, but good wine, the best there was to be had.

Of course, in the original Passover there is no record that wine was used. If any was used at all, we may be sure it was not done to the same degree that subsequent memorials used it. That night was a very solemn night, no rejoicing, but a sober readiness for departure from Egypt the next morning. But God had specifically said that they eat the lamb, and with bitter herbs and unleavened bread. with their loins girded, their sandals on their feet. and "ye shall eat it in haste; it is the Lord's Passover." (Ex. 12: 11)

With a reasonable God, all His instructions must be reasonable; and, while many do not now understand the reasonableness of the various features of the Passover. in "due time" they will be taught to all the people in a clear and understandable manner. The Jews do now realize that some features of their Law carried great significance. As instance, their sabbath day every seventh day was a foregleam of a rest from the labor of sin and death. They were told that those who kept the Law would live in it. The Jews did not want to die any more than the heathen, so they speedily answered, "All these things will we do, and live!"

FIRST-FRUITS AND AFTER-FRUITS

Blessed are those whose eyes can see that Jesus was indeed "the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29); that the cancellation of the world's sin is to be effected by the payment of man's penalty, by the application of Jesus' sacrificial merit in due time for the sins of all mankind. Only faithful believers have as yet received of the merit of Jesus' death. Greatly favored are those who can see that as the whole world lost Divine favor and came under Divine sentence of death, with its concomitant of sorrow and pain, so it was necessary that a satisfaction of justice should be made before this sentence, or curse, could be removed; and that therefore, as the Apostle declares, "Christ died for our sins" -"the just for the unjust." (1 Peter 3:18) Thus He opened up a new and living way -a way of life everlasting, not only for us, but for the whole world of mankind in that glorious Kingdom.

The Scriptures call the Church of Christ "the Church of the firstborn," "a kind of first-fruits of his creatures," "the first-fruits unto God and the Lamb." (Heb. 12:23; James 1:18; Rev. 14:4) These expressions imply that ultimately there will be others of God's family – later born; they imply after-fruits. Christian people in general seem to have overlooked these Scriptures, so far as making application of them is concerned, and have generally come to believe that only those who are ever to be saved are designated in the Bible as the first-fruits – that there will be no after-fruits.

But the Passover type indicates that it was God's purpose to save all Israelites; and that as a nation they represented all of mankind that will ever come into harmony with God and be granted everlasting life in the Land of Promise. Let us note that there was more than one passing over – the one in which only the first-born were passed over; and  another greater one at the Red Sea, when by Divine power the whole nation of Israel was miraculously delivered and led across the channel of the Sea – especially prepared for them by the accentuation of winds and tides. These passed over dry shod and were saved; while the hosts of Pharaoh, representing all who will eventually go into annihilation, were overwhelmed in the Sea. The passing over at the Red Sea pictures the ultimate deliverance from the power of sin and death of every creature of Adam's race who desires to come into accord with the Lord and to render Him worship, all who will ever become a part of Israel; for not one Israelite was left behind in Egyptian bondage.

But this secondary passing over is not the one we are about to celebrate. We shall celebrate the antitype of the passing over of the first-born of Israel by the angel of death that night in Egypt. Only the first-born ones of Israel were in danger that night, though the deliverance of the entire nation depended upon the salvation, the passing over, of those first-born. And of the first-born there is no record that anyone of them died that night; they were safe so long as they remained "under the blood." Thus the first­born of the human family, the true Christians, were to be passed over during this night of the Gospel Age; only these would be in danger of the destroying angel – but would be safe so long as they remained "under the blood" of Jesus – they were all under the sprinkled blood.

In harmony with all the Scriptures, we see "the first-fruits unto God of his creatures," "the church of the firstborn," alone would be spared, passed over, during the present Age. But the remainder of mankind who may desire to follow the great antitypical Moses in the Age to follow this one shall be led forth from the bondage of sin and death, typified by the bondage of the Jews while they were in Egypt. As the Jews were told to remain under the blood that night, or they too would suffer death, so the first-born of this Age are now also told to remain "under the blood of Jesus," or they will suffer death. Some of them have gone out from under the blood, and have suffered extinction as, for instance, Judas. "It were better for that man if he had never been born." (Mark 14:21) Divine mercy no longer applies to them.

In "due time" the night of sin and death will merge into the Millennial morning. Then the Christ, the antitypical Moses, will lead forth, will deliver, all the people of God – all who, when they shall come to know, will be glad to reverence, honor and obey the will of God. That "day" of deliverance will be the entire Millennial Age, at the close of which all evil and evil-doers, symbolized by the hosts of Egypt, will be utterly cut off in the Second Death – annihilation. "They shall be as though they had not been" (Obad. 1:16) -cut off in the antitypical Red Sea.

The Apostle Paul clearly and positively identifies the Passover Lamb with our Lord Jesus, saying, "Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us; therefore, let us keep the feast." (1 Cor. 5:7, 8) He informs us that we all need the blood of sprinkling, not upon our houses, but upon our hearts. We are to partake of the Lamb: we must also eat of the unleavened bread of truth, if we would be strong and prepared for the deliverance in the morning of the new dispensation. Thus "we put on" Christ – not merely by faith, but more and more we put on His character and are transformed into His glorious image in our hearts and lives.

We feed on Christ as the Jews fed on the literal lamb. Instead of bitter herbs, which aided and whetted their appetites, we have bitter experiences and trials which the Lord prepares for us, and which help to wean our affections from earthly things and give us increased appetites to feed upon the Lamb and the unleavened Bread of Truth. We, too, are to remember that "we have here no continuing city" (Heb. 13:14); but as pilgrims, strangers, staff in hand, we are to gird ourselves for our journey to the Kingdom.

Our Lord Jesus also fully identified Himself with the Passover Lamb. On the same night of His betrayal, just preceding His crucifixion, He gathered His apostles in the upper room, saying, "I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer." (Luke 22: 15, Dia.) It was necessary that as Jews they should celebrate the Passover Supper on that night – the night of the anniversary of the slaying of the passover lamb of Egypt, of the saving of the typical first-born from the typical "prince of this world" – Pharaoh – the same date on which the real Passover Lamb was to be slain. But as soon as the requirements of the type had been fulfilled, our Lord Jesus instituted a new Memorial upon the old foundation, saying, "This do in remembrance of me." (Luke 22:1) It is here properly in order to emphasize that in both Passover episodes not one first-born Jew in Egypt died that night, and not one first-born Egyptian escaped death. The same in the Red Sea; not one Jew died; and not one Egyptian remained alive. And in the Kingdom only Israelites will live, as all who refuse the Kingdom blessings will die. Little wonder that Moses and Miriam sang their songs of victory after that phenomenal performance (Ex. 15:1-21)

PRIMARY SIGNIFICANCE OF THE BREAD AND THE CUP

We recall the circumstances of the first Memorial -the blessing of the bread and of the cup, the fruit of the vine; and our Lord's declaration that these represented His broken body and shed blood, and that all His followers should participate, not only feeding upon Him but being broken with Him; not only partaking of the merit of His blood, His sacrifice, but also laying down their lives in His service, in cooperating with Him in every and any manner, that they might later share His honor and glory in the Kingdom. How precious are these thoughts to those who are rightly in tune with our Lord!

In presenting to the disciples the unleavened bread as a memorial, Jesus said, "Take, eat; this is my body." (Matt. 26:26) The evident meaning of His words is: This symbolized or represents my body; for in no sense had His body yet been broken. In no sense would it then have been possible for them to have partaken of Him actually or antitypically, the sacrifice not being as yet finished. But the picture is complete when we recognize that the unleavened (pure, unfermented) bread represented our Lord's sinless flesh -leaven being a symbol of sin under the Law, and especially commanded to be put away at the Passover season. On another occasion Jesus gave a lesson which interprets to us this symbol. He said, "the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world." "I am the bread of life." "I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any man eat of this bread which came down from heaven, he shall live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." (John 6:33, 35, 51)

In order to appreciate how we are to eat, or appropriate, this living bread, it is necessary for us to understand just what the bread signifies. According to our Lord's explanation of the matter, it was His flesh which He sacrificed for us. It was not His pre-human existence as a spirit being that was laid down and its glory laid aside, in order that He might take our human nature. It was the fact that our Lord Jesus was "holy, harmless, undefiled and separate from sinners" (Heb. 7: 26) – without any contamination from Father Adam, and hence free from sin – that enabled Him to become the Redeemer of Adam and his race, that permitted Him to give His life "a ransom for all to be testified in due time." (1 Tim. 2:3-6)

When we see that it was the pure, spotless human nature of our Lord Jesus that was laid down on behalf of sinners, we see what it is that we are privileged to appropriate. The very thing He laid down for us we' are to "eat," appropriate to ourselves; that is to say, His perfect Human life was given to redeem all the race of man from condemnation to death, to enable them to return to human perfection and everlasting life, if they would; and we are to realize this and accept Him as our savior from death. The Scriptures show us, however, that if God would consider all past sins canceled, and should recognize us as having a right to human perfection, this still would not make us perfect, nor give us the right to eternal life.

In order that any of the race of Adam might profit by the sacrifice of Jesus, it was necessary that He should rise from the tomb on the Divine plane of life, that He should " ascend to the Father and deposit the sacrificial merit of His death in the hands of justice, and receive from the Father "all power in heaven and in earth." (Matt. 28: 18) As relates to the world it was necessary also that in the Father's due time Jesus should come again to earth, invisibly, a glorious Divine Being, then to be to the whole world a Mediator, Prophet, Priest and King, to assist back to perfection and to harmony with God all who will avail themselves of the wonderful privilege then to be offered.

It is this same blessing that the Gospel Church of this Age receives by faith in their Redeemer – namely, justification by faith – not justification to a spirit nature, which we never had and never lost, and which Christ did not redeem; but justification to human nature, which Father Adam possessed and lost, and which Christ redeemed by giving His own sinless flesh, His perfect human life, as our ransom sacrifice. The partaking of the unleavened bread at the Memorial season then means to us primarily the appropriation to ourselves, by faith, of justification to human life-right – a right to human life – with all its privileges, which our Lord at His own cost prepared for us. Likewise the fruit of the vine symbolized primarily our Savior's life given for us, His human life, His human being, His soul, poured out unto death on our behalf (Isa. 53:12); and the appropriation of this by us also signifies, primarily our acceptance of restitution rights and privileges secured by our Lord's sacrifice of these.

DEEPER SIGNIFICANCE OF THE LOAF AND THE CUP

Now let us note that God's object in justifying the Church by faith during this Gospel Age, in advance of the justification of the world by works of obedience in the Millennial Age, is for the very purpose of permitting this class who now see and hear, who now appropriate the great sacrifice which love had made on man's behalf, to present their bodies a living sacrifice, and thus to have a part with the Lord Jesus in His sacrifice – as members of His body. This deeper meaning of the Memorial He did not refer to directly. It was doubtless one of the things to which He referred when He said "I have many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now; howbeit, when it, the Spirit of Truth, shall come it will guide you into all truth, and will show you things to come." (John 16:12,13)

This Spirit of Truth -the power and influence of The Father – bestowed through Christ – speaking through the Apostle Paul, clearly explains the very high import of the Memorial; for St. Paul says, writing to the true Church, "The cup of blessing for which we give thanks, is it not the participation of the blood of Christ? The loaf which we break, is it not the participation of the Body of Christ? For we being many are one loaf and one body." (1 Cor. 10: 16,17)

Both views of this impressive ordinance are very important. It is essential, first of all, that we should see that our justification is through our Lord's sacrifice. It is proper then that we should realize that the entire Christ, the entire anointed company, is from the Divine standpoint, a composite body of many members, of which Jesus is the Head (1 Cor. 12:12,13), and that this Body, this Church, as a whole must be broken – that each member of it must become a copy of the Lord Jesus and must walk in the footsteps of His sacrifice. They do this by laying down their lives for the brethren, as Jesus laid down His life – directly for His Jewish brethren, but really for the whole world, according to the Father's purpose.

It is not their spiritual life that they lay down, even as it was not Jesus' spiritual life that He laid down. As He sacrificed His actual, perfect being, His humanity, so they are to sacrifice their justified selves, reckoned perfect through Jesus' merit, but not actually so. Likewise the loaf and the cup represent suffering. Each grain must be crushed and ground before it can become bread for man; they cannot retain their life and individuality as grains. The same with the grapes; they must be crushed to extract their juice, thus losing their identity as grapes.

Our Lord distinctly declares that the cup, the fruit of the vine, represents blood; that is, life – not life retained, but life shed, given, yielded up. He tells us that this life poured out was for the remission of sins; and that all who would be His must drink it, must accept His sacrifice and appropriate it by faith. They must receive life from this source. It will not do to declare that life is the result of obedience to the Law. It will not do that faith in some great teacher and obedience to his instruction will amount to the same thing and bring eternal life. There is no way to attain eternal life other than through the blood once shed as the ransom price for the whole world. "There is none other name given under heaven or amongst men whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)

THE CELEBRATION IN THE KINGDOM

On the occasion of institution of the Memorial Supper, our Lord, as usual, had something to say about the Kingdom, the theme of almost all of His discourses. "Jesus went about preaching the gospel of the kingdom." (Matt. 4:23) Those to whom He had promised a share in the Kingdom, if faithful, He told them again that He would go away to receive a Kingdom and would come again and would receive them to Himself to share in it. He now adds that this Memorial which He was instituting would find its fulfillment in the Kingdom, that He would no more drink of the fruit of the vine until He should drink it anew with them in the Father's Kingdom.

Just what He meant by this statement might be difficult to determine positively, but it seems not inconsistent to understand Him to mean that as a result of the trials and suffering symbolized in His cup, there will be jubilation in the Kingdom. "He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied." (Isa. 53:11) He will look back over the trials and difficulties endured in faithful obedience to the Father's will, and will rejoice in these as He sees the grand outcome – the blessings which will come to all mankind. This justification will be shared by all His disciples who have drunk of this cup – in justification and sacrifice with Him. These have His promise that they shall reign with Him; and when the reign shall have begun, when the Kingdom is eventually established, looking back they shall praise the way that God has led them day by day, even to the end of their earthly course – even though it has been a "narrow way."

Our Master's faith stood the test of all these trying hours which He knew to be so near the time of His apprehension .and death. The fact that He rendered thanks to the Father for the bread and the cup is indicative of a joyful acquiescence in all the sufferings which the breaking of the bread and the crushing of the grapes implied. Already He was satisfied with the Father's arrangement. In line with this spirit was the singing of a hymn (Psalm – part of the Hallel) as they parted, a hymn of praise, thanksgiving to the Father that His course on earth was so nearly finished, and that He had found thus far grace sufficient for His need.

In considering the events of those solemn hours which followed the Memorial Supper, let us follow the Redeemer to Gethsemane, and behold Him with "strong crying and tears" praying "unto him who was able to save him out of death" (Heb. 5:7) – expressive of our Master's fear of death lest in some particular He might have failed to follow out the Father's plan, and therefore be thought unworthy of a resurrection. We note that our Lord was in some way comforted with the assurance that He had faithfully kept His vows, and that He would surely have a resurrection as promised.

We behold how calm He was thereafter, when before the high priest and Pilate, and Herod and Pilate again. "As a lamb before his shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth" (Acts 8:32) – in self-defense. We see Him faithful, courageous to the very last; and we have His assurance that He could have asked of the Father and could have had more than twelve legions of angels for His protection. But instead of petitioning for aid to escape His sacrifice, He petitioned for help to endure it faithfully. What a lesson is here for all His faithful followers!

On the other hand, we recall that even amongst His loyal disciples the most courageous forsook the Master and fled; and that one of them, in his timidity, even denied his Lord. What an occasion is this for examining our own hearts as respects the degree of our own faith, our own courage and our willingness to suffer with Him who redeemed us! What an opportunity is thus afforded for us to buttress the mind with the resolution that we will not deny our Master under any circumstances or conditions – that we will confess Him not only with our lips, but also by our conduct.

Some of this article was taken from That Wise and Faithful Servant who had charge of the Gospel-Age Harvest of the saints: "Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice." (Psa. 50:5) We believe, with the help of faithful brethren, that work was completed during the ministry of That Servant. However, That Servant taught a second Harvest to gather an unbegotten class "between the ages." (Reprint 5761, September 1, 1915) We call that class Youthful Worthies; and they will be rewarded in honor and in service with the Ancient Worthies of Hebrews, Chapter 11, in the Kingdom (Acts 17:31). Such consecrators have the faith of Abraham and will be made "princes in all the earth" (Psa. 45:16) – the visible rulers in the Kingdom.

Do Youthful Worthies partake of the Lord's Supper? Most certainly they do! They are thankful and appreciative of what our Savior has done for them. They do not "suffer with Christ," nor will they "reign with Christ," – therefore they partake of the wine and bread, symbolizing our Lord's death as the Lamb of God and symbolizing their tentative justification. Their trial is for faith and obedience and not for life as was the saints trial, although they make the same kind of consecration as did the spirit-begotten: "Ye shall have one manner of law, as well for the stranger [the unbegotten], as for one of your own country [spirit-begotten]." (Lev. 24:22)

As has been our custom, we shall keep the feast in quietness and confidence – decently, orderly, quietly – without much form or ceremony, even as did Jesus and His disciples that last night.

It is our prayer that this year's remembrance may be profitable to all who partake in sincerity and in Truth. We suggest the Passover chapter in Volume Six; and we pray a rich blessing upon all who partake. We are living in wonderful times, and we know not what a day may bring; but we have the strong assurance that faith can firmly trust Him who "left us an example, that we should follow in His steps." (1 Peter 2:21)

LETTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST

Our dearly beloved Sister Emily: Shalom and Blessings!

Thank you for your good and encouraging letter. We are sorry that you had so much pain in your arm and hand, but it quiets us, that you are getting better and have a lot of help. The Lord also sends us the necessary help we needed so urgently. We are thankful for your understanding, that you rejoice about "the Christians" who joined us in brotherly help – although they do not have the full Truth. (It is a shame for brethren who have the Truth and do not come to help.)

We are glad to be with you in a oneness of heart and mind. We also do not worry about the future. We believe as you, that if we do all the best to serve the LORD now – then we can rest in full faith that HE will take care of every need.

As for ………, we had also the same thought. We too worked hard on a letter to him, but decided as you not to send it.

Thank you heartily for your daily prayers and all your loving care.

Connected in sincere love, Your Brethren from Emek ha Shalom, Hermann Bezner and Joseph Elisha. (ISRAEL)

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Dear Brother Herman and Brother Joseph!

I wish to send this greeting to you with all my prayers and good wishes for your every success in the Name of Our Redeemer.

My prayer is with you and Israel my every waking moment. I love Israel and her people with devotion not unlike the affection I have for the Dear Redeemer. Israel will prevail because God is Jealous for Her and all of His creation.

Satan comes against all of God's creation as the time is shortened. He (Satan) has a particular "like" for Mount Zion!

I enjoy hearing from you and the efforts you are making on behalf of Israel. It is wonderful and I know that it is well received by all brethren of like faith. For many, the road has been long but I believe that God begins now in earnest and His works are being manifest every day. Emek Ha Shalom is a work for God's glory and the people of Israel, I believe, are beginning to see that it is!

I will pray and fast this season and will especially have you and your disciples in mind and heart as the days go by. I only wish that I could be with you in body, but I hope that you know my prayers to our God for His mighty arm and coming Kingdom are resolute.

Please accept the enclosed check as a gift of money which you can use for your needs. I pray that the Lord will give assistance in your plans for Emek Ha Shalom. If you have trouble in handling this check, please advise if there is a better way to send funds.

I do pray that this letter finds you (Brother Bezner) feeling well. Don't forget to rest each day! In His Name, Russell Brown _(TEXAS)

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Dear Emily,

Thank you for your beautiful card. We are very slow in getting mail out, but we want you to know we are thinking of you as the year ahead begins. May it bring us closer to the Kingdom of our Lord. This week we have three holidays together -Christmas, Chanukka and the beginning of Ramadan. Everyone is celebrating.

The next two months do not look so busy, and it does not look good for the tourism in the months ahead, even if it is Israel's 50th year.

It must be God's biggest miracle that Israel has existed as a state for nearly 50 years despite all the odds from day one until now. We are so thankful that God is a "God of miracles"!

Hope you have some of God's miracles in your life in 1998! Do hope you will be able to see Elva while she is in Florida. May you and all there be blessed in the New Year! Love, Lev and Hava Bausch (ISRAEL)

P.S. Times are changing in Israel! The statement below boldly appeared in all Israeli papers over a week ago, supported by all Messianic Jewish Fellowships across the country.

WHO IS THE MESSIAH?

The Messiah our righteousness has turned from us, we have been smitten and there is none to justify us.

Our iniquities and the yoke of our transgressions takes upon himself and he is smitten for our transgressions.

He lays on his own shoulder our sins to find forgiveness for our iniquities. By his stripes we are healed, that he might create an eternal new creation.

(From the Yom Kippur Musaf, Eshkol Publishing, Jerusalem. Compare Isaiah chapter 53.)

If our Jewish tradition attributes Isaiah chapter 53 to the Messiah – why should we claim otherwise?

YESHUA IS ISRAEL'S MESSIAH

The Messianic Congregational Action Committee (The Committee working against the bill for religious censorship in Israel.) For information please contact us at: POB 75, Rishon Le Tsion 75100, Tel. 03-9661898 or any of the following:  POB 31878, Herusalem, 91378

POB 816, Eilat, 88106

POB 180, Beer Sheva, 84101

POB 1174m Tel Aviv, 61111

POB 525, Haifa, 31004

NO. 492B RETROSPECT AND PROSPECT - PART TWO

THE JEWS

The Coming Glorious Kingdom: “’In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians. In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land; Whom the Lord of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance.’ (Isa. 19:23‑25)

“King David looking forward to this day wrote; ‘All the earth shall worship thee and shall sing unto thee, they shall sing to thy name.’ (Psa. 66:4)

“‘Arise, O God, judge the earth for thou shalt inherit all nations.’ (Psa. 82:8)

“‘All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord, and shall glorify thy Name.’ (Psa. 86:9)

“The Book of The Revelation closes with the signature, ‘I, Jesus... am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.’ (Rev. 22:16) – symbolized in the Star of David’s two interlocked triangles: one reaching down to man, and one reaching up to God – the two eternally entwined in the symbol of the Redeemer‑Messiah.

“As the star gave light through the blackness of the earth’s long night, so the ‘Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings’ (Mal. 4:2) for all peoples and will turn the night into one glorious eternal day forever. Hallelujah! Amen!” (Bible Light on the News, Vol. 4, No. 7)

“How Long, Oh, Desert Storm? [Until] ‘ye know that I am the LORD your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain.’ (Joel 3:17)

“At press time, the news was quivering with – ‘What NOW?’ We haven’t seen the end of the first blast of Desert Storm. Our USA troops were in tiptop shape when they went off to the gulf war. Now many of them are plagued with diseases evidently caused by exposure to Iraq’s chemical or biological weapons.

“Who IS This? The Prophet Jeremiah in 46:1 announces a prophecy against Gentiles and then asks, ‘Who is this that cometh as a flood, whose waters are moved as the rivers?’ (V. 7)

“The battleground of – and the reason for – this confrontation is pinpointed in verse 10, ‘For this is the day of the Lord GOD of hosts, a day of vengeance, that he may avenge him of his adversaries... for the Lord GOD of hosts hath a sacrifice... by the river Euphrates.’

“Babylon is still trying to build a tower higher than anyone else, but the self styled Nebuchadnezzar needs to read in THE BOOK what happened to that Babylonian king when he exalted himself above God (Daniel 4).

“Who’s in Control? In the ages of His planning, He has ordained these events that men may know it is ‘not by [military] might, nor by [political and diplomatic] power but by my Spirit saith the LORD of hosts.’ (Zech. 4:6) It is finally admitted that military force cannot destroy these weapons of ‘Babylon.’ There are only ‘bad options.’

“The Scriptures have much to say about judgment upon Babylon and all that is represented in that name. Much paganism from Babylon has been inculcated into Christendom. Saint Peter tells us ‘Judgment begins with the house of God’ – and for some time now the Lord has been shaking this paganism out of believers. As each revelation of these pagan claptraps come to us, we are responsible for walking in the light of that revelation.

“We Christians have a strong tendency to gather prophetic Scriptures all into our neat little boxes, sometimes stretching texts to make them fit into an escape hatch for ourselves! But many times the Lord requires hard things of His servants to get the people’s attention to the message being proclaimed. Some do radical things to get attention to themselves, but if we live close to The Shepherd, we can discern the voice of the ‘hireling.’

“In Jeremiah 45:5 when the Lord spoke to Baruch, He said, ‘Seekest thou great things for thyself? Seek them not: for, behold, I will bring evil upon all flesh, saith the LORD...’ When judgment is about to break, it certainly is not a time for self‑seeking, self‑aggrandizement and self‑ambition.

“The Crux: Make no mistake about it, the real issue is Israel. Ever since 1948 she has been World Center Stage! Scriptures signaling Babylon’s demise are replete. ‘For it is the day of the LORD’s vengeance, and the year of recompenses for the controversy of Zion.’ (Isaiah 34:8)

“In chapter 21 of Isaiah, the prophet sees a frightening desert storm. He eats and drinks for strength that he may be strong for the battle; and he anoints his shield. (Verse 5 – This brings to mind Ephesians 6:10‑18.) Then in verse 6, he sets a watchman to declare what he sees, ‘Babylon is fallen...’ (V. 9)

“This chapter is a very interesting study verse by verse. Notice the watchman’s message and answer in verse 12 to the question, ‘Watchman, what of the night?’ (1) Dawn of a new day is on the way. (2) But first darker night. (3) Search for truth (for in the new world only TRUTH will be allowed). (4) Repent/return – to what? God’s life producing laws; they will rule in the Kingdom. (5) ‘Come’ – about face wholeheartedly, then act! Let us: Watch! Pray! And DO His command.” (By Chris Josephson, Bible Light On The News, Vol. 4, No. 7)

“Apology And The Holocaust: ROME – More than any other Pope in history, Pope John Paul II – leader of the world’s almost one billion Roman Catholics – has asked forgiveness for the sins, crimes and errors committed in the name of his faith.

“He has apologized for the persecution of Protestants, for the crimes of the Crusaders; he has asked forgiveness for the abuses of Europe’s colonial‑era proselytizing around the world; he has voiced regret at the church’s repression of Galileo and condemned its silence regarding Italy’s own murderous Mafia.

“But with only two years to go before Christianity closes the books on its first 2,000 years, the Pope has yet to ask forgiveness of the Jews for the violence they have suffered over the centuries at the hands of the church, its followers and, in some cases, its leaders. Most particularly, he has yet to make a reckoning of what many have condemned as the silence of the Vatican during the systematic slaughter of Europe’s Jews by the Nazis during World War II.

“And it is this apology that weighs most heavily on the church. It was first promised in 1987 by the Pope himself in a meeting with American Jewish leaders in Miami. It has been anticipated in apologies to the Jews by the Catholic bishops of Germany, Poland, Hungary and, most recently, France, for the failure of their local churches to oppose the Holocaust.

“Many Jewish leaders see the long‑awaited papal statement on the church, anti Semitism and the Holocaust – being prepared by the Vatican Commission for Religious Relations with Judaism – as the conclusive test of the willingness of the church to confront its share of guilt for the tragedy that befell the Jews.

“‘It is not so much an apology we are looking for, since this Pope has many times expressed remorse for anti‑Semitism,’ said Rabbi David Rosen, director of the Israel office of the Anti‑Defamation League, the league’s Vatican liaison. ‘But what could resolve the outstanding resentment which is still to be found among Jews is an honest reckoning of the actual role church leaders took during the period of the Holocaust, and to what extent this was impacted on by church teachings on Jews and Judaism.

“‘It is clear,’ he added, ‘that there are some in the Vatican who have reservations about how far it should go.’

“But for many Jews, the Vatican’s failure to make a public accounting of its actions during World War II rankles the most. Its accusers see Pope Pius XII’s general silence as evidence of the church’s indifference to the fate of the Jews. His defenders say the Pope, fearful of Nazi wrath against Catholics, deliberately kept his voice low, while encouraging and even directing efforts to save Jews.” (By Celestine Bohlen, The New York Times, November 30, 1997)

“U.S. to give $29 million to help victims of Nazis: LONDON – The United States plans to give up to $29 million to a new fund designed to help needy victims of wartime Nazi persecution, a senior U.S. official said Tuesday. Undersecretary of State Stuart Eizenstat said Washington hoped the donation would encourage other nations to follow suit. The World War II Allies still hold 5.5 tons of gold looted by the Nazis from countries they occupied and now claimed by 15 countries. Britain and the United States want the claimants to donate all the gold to the fund.” (The Orlando Sentinel, December 2, 1997)

“U.S. Sets Deadline To Return Nazi Loot: LONDON – The United States set an end‑of-the‑century deadline Thursday for distributing cash from looted Nazi gold to Holocaust survivors, who are nearing the end of their lives.

“‘If all of this is not completed by then... we will have failed to do as much justice in an imperfect world as we are capable of doing,’ U.S. Undersecretary of State Stuart Eizenstat said.

“The Vatican, however, remained silent – despite charges this week that it received gold taken from Gypsies in a concentration camp in Croatia during the 1939‑45 war.” (Excerpts from The Orlando Sentinel, December 5, 1997)

“How To Spell ‘Bias’: Sir, we rely on dictionaries for accurate information. It is thus disconcerting to find that in the list of countries and capitals in the 1997 edition of Collins Gem Dictionary and Thesaurus, Tel Aviv is given as the capital of Israel. Though there are political moves abroad to take Jerusalem away from the Jews, it ill behooves dictionary publishers to assume a position and take it upon themselves to produce a fait accompli.” (Leila Cumber, Jerusalem Post, November 1, 1997)

“A New Mood On Capitol Hill: The delegation from Americans For a Safe Israel that visited Capitol Hill in late September (together with the Religious Round table, the Christians’ Israel Public Affairs Committee, and the Women in Green, all member‑groups of the Alliance for Israel) found a markedly different attitude towards Israel, the PLO, and the Oslo accords. The new mood bodes well for Israel – if the Israeli government recognizes the changed situation and acts accordingly.

“Six months earlier, when we visited Washington, most Congressmen were still embracing the Oslo accords as the path to Mideast peace. But by September, the bloody reality of Palestinian Arab terrorism was staring Congress in the face – and not just Hamas bombings. Early in the summer, a group of PLO police officers were caught on their way to carry out a terrorist attack, and they confessed to having carried out a recent drive‑by shooting aimed at a car in which the rabbi of Elon Moreh was riding. Israeli investigators found that the policemen were acting on orders from a senior PLO police official, Ghazi Jabali, and asked the PLO to extradite him; as usual, the PLO ignored the request.

“Then came the Jerusalem marketplace bombing which killed 16 Israelis. Despite the slaughter, Arafat refused to arrest or disarm Hamas. A few weeks later came the Ben Yehuda street bombing. Five more Israelis dead, almost 200 injured. Arafat’s response? A few token arrests, and the shutdown of a Hamas kindergarten. The Clinton administration continued to claim that Israeli housing construction was the real obstacle to peace, but on Capitol Hill, it was becoming obvious that the real problem is Oslo itself.

“During our September mission to Washington, more than 40 of us discussed the dangerous situation that Oslo has created, in over 100 meetings with Senators, Representatives, and Congressional aides, including four members of the crucial Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the chairman of its subcommittee on the Middle East, Senator Sam Brownback of Kansas. We pointed out that Israel has withdrawn from strategic territory and lost much of its counter‑terror capabilities in Judea, Samaria and Gaza, since its operations in those areas are restricted and its network of informers has been eliminated. We stressed that Israel had taken these risks on the assumption that the PLO would fight the terrorists – only to find that the PLO is still the ally and protector of the terrorists. PLO policemen are even participating in the terror. The inevitable result, should Oslo go forward, will be an irredentist PLO‑Hamas state on Israel’s jugular, threatening the stability of the entire region.

“We also emphasized that the State Department’s irrational focus on Israel and the PLO was ignoring other important regional developments that threatened U.S. interests in the Middle East, such as the military buildup and development of chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons by Syria, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, and Libya. And we expressed our concerns about the Clinton administration seeking trade benefits for terror‑sponsoring regimes such as Syria, Sudan, and Iran. We said that the time has come for a reappraisal of American interests in the Mid‑east, and a reshaping of U.S. policy there to focus on fighting the terrorists, isolating and penalizing the pro‑terrorist regimes, and strengthening the U.S.‑Israel alliance.

“Our message was warmly received. Many leading Senators and Representatives are fed up with Oslo. And they reject the Clinton administration’s constant attacks on Israeli housing construction activities. Indeed, shortly after our visit, 11 prominent Congressmen, led by Rep. James Talent of Missouri, signed a letter to Secretary of State Albright affirming ‘that Jewish Israelis have the right to live anywhere in the land of Israel’ and rebuffing the administration’s implication ‘that Jewish citizens residing in a sovereign, democratic Israel are [to be] restricted to certain ‘acceptable’ zones.’

“The Israeli government needs to realize that it has strong friends in Washington. Israel need not surrender to the administration’s pressure and continue making dangerous concessions to the Arabs. Israel does not have to take orders from Madeleine Albright, Dennis Ross and Martin Indyk. The Israelis can say ‘no,’ and explain why, and they will find broad understanding both on Capitol Hill and among the American public. A September 1997 poll by Middle East Quarterly (the journal edited by Dr. Daniel Pipes) found overwhelming support for the Netanyahu government among the American public. The time has come for Israel, with the backing of its friends and supporters, to bury Oslo – before Oslo buries Israel.” (By Herbert Zweibon, Outpost, November 1997)

“Netanyahu Balks At A Pullback: PARIS – The Clinton administration’s drive to have Israel turn over a sizable chunk of the West Bank to Yasser Arafat ran into resistance Friday. ‘We’ve had our problems,’ Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said after rebuffing Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.

“Netanyahu told reporters after a meeting with French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin that he was looking for assurances over the next five months that ‘any territory handed over will not be a base for additional terrorism.’

Albright, who is to meet with Arafat today in Geneva, said she would urge the Palestinian leader to pay close attention to the Cabinet decision. ‘We take it seriously and he should take it seriously. It’s time to start swimming,’ she said.

“She [Albright] said her three‑hour meeting with Netanyahu involved ‘real substance.’ But the prime minister, at a joint news conference, made it clear Albright had not induced him to yield territory.

“‘Did we discuss percentages? Did I pull out my secret maps? The answer is No,’ he said.” (Excerpts from The Orlando Sentinel, December 6, 1997)

In David Horowitz’s column of October 24, 1997 (page 20) entitled “Autonomy Yes, Statehood No – A Traditional U.S. Policy,” due to an unfortunate mechanical error, several paragraphs were omitted that were crucial to the understanding of the last two paragraphs of the article. They read as follows, including part of the preceding paragraph, for clarity:

“And this season also brings to mind an untold number of non‑Jewish individuals in this country and in Canada – millions upon millions who, in their knowledge of the Bible, support Israel and the Jewish people as a whole.

“Among these groups are the worldwide followers of the late Pastor Charles Taze Russell who are organized in numerous communities. One of these is directed by Emily Hoefle, at Mount Dora, Florida. Another is Kenneth Rawson, Edison, NJ, and in dozens of other centers. Frank Eiklor, editor of Shalom International, Corona, California; the Bible International, edited by the late Elmer Josephson and his wife Chris who now continues to edit it and a number of pro‑Israel, pro‑Jewish pamphlets from Ottawa, Kansas and Israel. In the current issue of their excellent magazine, lovely and efficient Chris includes a timely article on the current Middle East crisis.

“She writes: ‘In loving memory of a friend and colleague in the love of Zion, Yvonne Lewerke, an Iowan Christian, who departed this life last August’ in Zion’s Heartland: ‘Most of the history of the Jewish people in the land of Israel took place in the mountain area, the so‑called West Bank, the Biblical Judea and Samaria. They entered the land at Jericho and worked their way up through the mountainous regions. The Lord gave the land to them forever by a perpetual covenant. Thus saith the Lord, Who giveth the sun for a light by day and the ordinances of the moon and the stars for a light by night, Who divided the sea when the waves thereof roar; the Lord of hosts is His name; if these ordinances depart from before Me, saith the Lord, then the seed of Israel shall cease from being a nation before Me forever. (Jeremiah 31:36)

“‘Neither the Prime Minister nor anyone else in this world has a right to give away one inch of the land of Israel. It is G‑d‑given – and the Lord was extremely generous to the other sons of Abraham.

“‘Israel is desperately hungry for peace and has always held out the hand of peace to their enemies who surround them.

“‘The infamous handshake with the murderous Yassir Arafat on the White House lawn was not the beginning of a peace process but of division. Immediately after the White House conference, Arafat spoke at a meeting in South Africa in which he boasted of the White House event as being the first phase in the destruction of Israel.

“‘The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: His words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.’ (Psalm 55:21)

“‘Thus Arafat continues to speak and act. The PLO covenant for the destruction of Israel has not been changed.’

“(The article in the issue of October 24 concluded with the following paragraphs:)

“‘The pro‑Jewish, pro‑Israel positions taken by Bible student Lewerke and the millions of other Christians around the world ought to be given serious note of by most of those delegations who usually stand with Arafat’s PLO, but more especially by a professed Bible student and church‑goer, President Clinton, and by a newcomer to Israel’s family, Madeleine Albright, both of whom have failed to recognize in Yassir Arafat’s character a satanic motivation.’

 “One of Elmer Josephson’s books, read in the millions, and entitled Israel ‑ Key to World Redemption, is worthy to note. It’s one of the most powerful pro‑Israel volumes yet published.” (By David Horowitz, The Jewish Press, November 7, 1997)

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“THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW”

BROTHER ROY A. EKROTH of Largo, Florida, died September 24, 1997 after a long illness. His funeral service was held at Hubbell Funeral Home Saturday, September 27, 1997, with Brother Earl Procario officiating. Brother Procario was a frequent visitor to Brother Ekroth while he was in the hospital and a great comfort and help to his wife, Sister Elvira.

Brother Ekroth consecrated in the 1940s and was faithful in his service to the Lord, the truth and the brethren. He served the brethren in many foreign countries, including Israel where he went several times. He also gave several discourses on the Great Pyramid. On one occasion, while on the plane going to Israel, he was asked to give his discourse on the Great Pyramid, which he did while the plane was high in the air. The people on the plane appreciated his efforts very much. He also gave this discourse in Israel and brought his video back and gave it to our class, as well as to others. Brother Ekroth is now “asleep in Jesus,” awaiting his resurrection in the Kingdom. We have confidence that he will be rewarded with a “better Resurrection” (Heb. 11:35), and will be one of the Princes (Psalms 45:16).

We would be remiss if we didn’t give beloved Brother Ekroth the tribute he deserves, and express our appreciation and gratitude for the many services he gave to our Ecclesia and friends. Besides his discourses, he gave several funeral services for the brethren in Mount Dora at the request of Brother Hoefle.

After Brother Hoefle’s death he was considerate of our needs. He requested that we publish a paper he wrote on “WHAT KIND OF A MAN IS SADDAM HUSSEIN?”, which we published in a special, No. 419‑A, March 1, 1992. He also wrote an article on A PROPHET UNTO THE NATIONS, which we published in No. 437, October 1, 1992. When he was complimented on the paper he said Brother Hoefle deserved the credit, as he had taken most of it from Brother Hoefle’s papers. Brother Ekroth had many talents but was humble and meek, and never boastful.

Brother Ekroth and Brother Hoefle were close friends for many years, even after Brother Hoefle was excommunicated from the LHMM. Brother Hoefle for several years continued to go to the LHMM conventions after he was excommunicated. The brethren were warned from the platform by the Executive Trustee of the LHMM not to talk to, or shake hands with, the Hoefles, as it would be like shaking hands with the Devil. However, there were some who did greet us and shake hands with us, and among these was Brother Ekroth. After the meetings were over Brother Ekroth would come to the hotel for a visit with Brother Hoefle.

Our heartfelt thanks and appreciation for the many beautiful Christmas cards expressing love and prayers. Be assured that our warm Christian love and prayers are ever with you. We wish all our readers a blessed and prosperous New Year. “Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.” (Psa. 31:24)

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ANNOUNCEMENT: The Memorial for 1998 is on Thursday, April 9, after six p.m.

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NO. 492A RETROSPECT AND PROSPECT - PART ONE

We look back to last year and with grateful hearts thanking God for all His benefits toward us. We say at the beginning of the New Year, “Praise ye the Lord; 0 give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good; for his mercy endureth forever.” (Psa. 106:1)

Earthquakes, tornadoes, fires and other tragedies have continued. “We weep with them that weep.” (Rom. 12:15) All that have experienced these tragedies have our heartfelt sympathy. Quite a few people have gone to their aid for which we are grateful. “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.” (Prov. 15:3) Crime is in every country – thievery, murder, rape, and child abuse, suicide among the young, terrorism and illegal drugs and alcohol.

We are indeed in the Time of Trouble! Disease, too, is increasing. Medical science is trying to find cures for some of our incurable diseases, and have found some relief. However, when some help is found, new diseases are uncovered. We thank God for our good doctors.

“Aids To Cause Labor Shortages In Places: WASHINGTON ‑ The virus that causes AIDS is likely to cause enough illness and death among adults in the most productive age groups to slow the growth of the labor force in developing countries, according to a recent report...

“‘This report is a call to arms for developed and developing nations alike,’ Atwood said...

“The cost of treating HIV and AIDS can be enough to send many households in developing countries into permanent poverty, and per‑capita income is likely to fall as families spend more time and money caring for the sick or dying, the report said.” (The Orlando Sentinel, December 2, 1997)

“Aids Epidemic Is Worse Than Feared, Experts Say: WASHINGTON – The AIDS epidemic is worse than anyone feared, with HIV virus infecting twice as many people as experts calculated and threatening to orphan more than 40 million children, experts said Monday. Heads of the top agencies fighting AIDS, from the United Nations to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), urged governments to give more to fight the virus and said there was new hope for preventing its spread.” (The Orlando Sentinel, December 2, 1997)

IN FINANCE

The past three years, we have discussed financing and how the present order of things is deteriorating rapidly. Today, the financial condition of the world is very unpredictable. Gold is the lowest it has been in the past 18 years and still we have poverty throughout the world. People talk about the economy being good, yet more large companies are cutting back with layoffs. Unemployment is at an all time low and the stock market is at an all time high. People change jobs more frequently than in the past. For almost three years in a row, the retail sales for Christmas have been lackluster. Factory output is declining, bargain hunters pack the stores and the discount stores are recording the biggest sales.

We quoted years ago that one of our biggest problems in the U.S. today is that we have the most expensive health care system in the world which is a problem that all businesses face – how to handle this problem without government help. It is a necessary benefit that a large employer has to cover to keep his employees, but the cost of health care is growing faster than their salaries.

More companies are hiring temps (contract employees). The employer doesn’t have to worry about Social Security, Workman Compensation or Health Insurance.

Personal debt is at an all time high yet savings and the stock market are at an all time high. “In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury [poverty].” (Prov. 14:23)

There are more billionaires and millionaires today than anytime in history. “For thus saith the Lord, Ye have sold yourselves for nought; and ye shall be redeemed without money.” (Isa. 52:3) “Thou sellest the people for nought, and dost not increase thy wealth by their price.” (Psa. 44:12)

Any economist will tell you that low employment, high debt, low inflation and a high stock market does not make economic sense. “For wisdom is a defense, and money is a defense: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom [truth] giveth life to them that have it.” (Eccl. 7:12)

IN RELIGION

Jehovah’s Witnesses: The Witnesses claim all God’s promises to the Jews belong to them. The Lord says “Salvation is of the Jews.” (John 4:22) St. Paul says, “To the Jew first. “(Rom. 2:10) God will make a “full end” of all the nations whither He has scattered the Jews, but He will never make a “full end” of the Jews (Jer. 30:11). The prototype of the Witnesses is Papacy. The Papacy persecuted the Jews, tortured and killed them during the Dark Ages. God’s Word will always be with us (Isa. 55:11), and so will the Jews. God will not permit the destruction of His Word, nor will He permit the destruction of the Jewish nation. “I am with thee, saith the Lord, to save thee.” (Jer. 30:11) The Jewish nation is still here.

Religion is a big business for the errorists. The witnesses boast about their numbers as their strength, but their numbers are their weakness. Papacy has a much larger number than the Witnesses. However, they will all be destroyed during this Epiphany period to make room for the real Kingdom (Acts 17:31). We mean the systems will be destroyed, not the people, because there will be some good people of the world who will survive into the Kingdom (Matt. 24:22).

The Laymen’s Home Missionary Movement: The LHMM’s magazines are good. As long as they quote from Brother Russell they will be good. Their non‑existent class is not mentioned in their magazines very much. However, we are informed they still teach CONSECRATED EPIPHANY CAMPERS privately. Their trouble is they are teaching Great Company errors instead of the faith once delivered unto the saints.

“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” (Jude 3) That Servant’s comments on this text is “The common salvation – Restitution for the world.” It is our pleasure to bear witness to the world of that Glorious Kingdom (Acts 17:31).

“Bible’s English Beginning: WASHINGTON – The pope didn’t want him to do it. Nor did the King of England. Or the Holy Roman Emperor. Yet, despite their formidable opposition, William Tyndale, an ordained priest, went ahead and did the unthinkable translated the Bible into English.

“In 1526 – ten years after he set out on his quest – Tyndale prevailed over his adversaries and published the first English translation of the New Testament.

“It was, however, an achievement that he would ultimately pay for with his life. Although several thousand were printed at the time, only two complete copies of the 1526 Tyndale Bible, printed in Worms, Germany have survived to this day.

“In 1516, Tyndale appealed to the Bishop of London to produce an English version of the Bible, but his request was turned down. The Catholic Church and English throne were firmly against the creation of a Bible in any language other than Latin or Greek. Their fear was that by making God’s word more accessible, ordinary citizens, armed with independence of faith, might one day revolt against the ruling establishment.

“Undeterred, Tyndale left England for the European continent to continue his efforts. It was to be the last time he ever saw his native land.

“With the church’s religious supremacy under siege by the Reformation, Tyndale’s labors hardly went unnoticed. He soon became a marked man in the eyes of the guardians of the faith, and a target for the acrimonious rhetoric of Sir Thomas More, the chancellor of England, who vilified him as a ‘hell hound’ and a ‘beast.’

“After an attempt to print his English Bible in Cologne, Germany, ended with a raid by authorities in 1525, Tyndale took his manuscript up the Rhine River to a printer in Worms. A year later, as many as 6,000 editions of his New Testament were finally produced.

“A number of Tyndale’s Bibles were smuggled into England. Many were confiscated, however, and ceremoniously burned outside St. Paul’s Cathedral.

“In 1535, Tyndale was betrayed by a confidant in Antwerp, and kidnapped by men loyal to the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V.

. “During his imprisonment, Tyndale worked on translating the Old Testament from Hebrew, which he had started before his capture. Finally, after 16 months of incarceration, Tyndale was convicted of heresy by a secular court and sentenced to death. He was strangled and burned at the stake in Vilvorde, Belgium, on October 6, 1536. (Excerpts by Chuck Myers, The Orlando Sentinel, July 26, 1997)

Catholics: “Vatican Denies Gold Claim And Won’t Open Archives: VATICAN CITY – The Vatican denied Tuesday it had stored money and gold for Croatian fascists after World War II and said it has no plans to open its archives for the period. The Vatican restated its denial in a statement by chief spokesman Joaquin Navarro‑Valls on some of the issues that surfaced at a recent conference on Nazi gold in London. The charges first surfaced in July with news reports of the discovery of a 1946 Treasury Department document charging that the Vatican let the fascists hide gold coins and cash worth about $130 million that had been taken from Serbs and Jews.” (The Orlando Sentinel, December 10, 1997)

The Pope cannot obtain forgiveness for the sins of others, although he can express his sorrow for the misdeeds of the Dark Ages. Those that committed these horrible sins are dead and cannot repent now. But when they are resurrected in the Kingdom (Acts 17:31), if repentant, can ask forgiveness for these hideous crimes against Jews and faithful Christians. They will have to ask God to forgive them and not go to a man.

The Jews individually and as a nation have endured terrible persecutions and tortures. If these people could have killed them as a nation, they would have done so, but God would not let them. Anyone that has faith in God’s Word should realize that the Jews cannot be eliminated.

Not only Jews, but true Christians have also endured terrible cruelties and died for their faith, many being burned at the stake.

Thomas Hawkes was one of the Christians who suffered death at the stake for refusing to accept the Pope’s errors. He was asked about baptism because he refused to have his son baptized in the Catholic church. Hawkes told Bishop Bonner that he had nothing against baptism itself, just against its Catholic embellishments. When Bonner could not convince Hawkes that the Catholic service was as effective as the Protestant one, he called Mr. Harpsfield, the archdeacon of London. “Christ used ceremonies,” Harpsfield began. “Didn’t He take clay from the ground, and spit on it, and make the blind man see?” “I know that,” Hawkes replied. “But He never used it in baptism. If you want to use it, use it as Christ did.”

Hawkes was asked, “Suppose your child should die unchristened? Then both you and your child would be damned.” Hawkes retorted, “Don’t judge further than you may by the Scriptures.” Hawkes was asked, “What do you think about mass?” Hawkes replied, “I say it’s detestable, abominable, and useful for nothing.” The following day Dr. Chedsay and Bishop Bonner talked with Hawkes, asking him what he thought about the Catholic Church. Hawkes’ answer: “It’s a church of vicious cardinals, priests, monks, and friars, which I will never give credit or believe.” Hawkes went on to say that the Catholic Church engaged in the worship of idols, praying to saints, holy bread and holy wine, none of which are found in or commanded by Scriptures. He was condemned as a heretic, and burned at the stake.

Bishop Ridley was also among those faithful Christians who were charged with heresy. On September 30, 1555 he appeared before a panel of bishops to answer the charges of heresy. The Bishop of Lincoln began by urging Ridley to recant and submit himself to the Pope. The Bishop stressed three points: (1) The Pope was descended from Peter, who was the foundation of the Church. (2) That the early Church fathers confessed the Pope’s supremacy in their writings. (3) That Ridley once believed himself.

Ridley replied to the three points: (1) First, he said, it was not Peter who was the Church’s foundation, but Peter’s confession that Christ was the Son of God. This belief is the foundation of the Church, not mere man. (2) Secondly, the Bishop of Rome was supreme in the early Church because the city of Rome was supreme in the world of the day, not because he had any more religious power than the other bishops. As long as the diocese of Rome was true to the gospel, its bishops deserved respect from everyone in the Church, but as soon as they began setting themselves above kings and emperors for their own honor, the bishops of Rome became anti‑Christian. (3) To the last point Ridley admitted he did once believe as they did, just as Paul was once a prosecutor of Christ.

The following articles were then put forward against him (and Latimer): (1) He maintained that the true body of Christ was not present in the bread and wine. (2) He taught that the bread and wine remained bread and wine after consecration. (3) He believed that the mass is not a propitiatory sacrifice for the living and the dead. (4) That Dr. Weston and others declared these beliefs heretical. (5) That all the above is true and well‑known.

Ridley was asked to reply to the charges with simple yes or no answers and was promised that he could amend his answers the next day, when he’d had more time to think about them. Before he answered, Ridley protested that whatever he said, he would be saying it unwillingly and his answering would not indicate that he accepted either the panel’s or the Pope’s authority over him.

To the first charge, he said that Christ’s body and blood were present spiritually in the bread and wine, but not physically. To the second, he replied that the bread and wine remain bread and wine after consecration. To the third, he said that Christ made one perfect sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. Communion was an acceptable sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, but saying it removed man’s sins implied that Christ’s work was not enough. To the fourth, Ridley replied that his beliefs had been declared heretical by Dr. Watson, but unjustly. To the fifth, that he believed exactly what he said, although he didn’t know what everyone thought of his beliefs.

Ridley arrived on October 1 with his answers to the charges written out, asking permission to read them to the crowd that filled St. Mary’s Church. But he was forced to turn his papers over to the bishops first, and they declared them heretical, refusing to read them aloud. In return, Ridley refused to answer their questions, saying all his answers were contained in his written replies. He was condemned as a heretic and turned over to the secular authorities for punishment. Latimer was brought in. He agreed to answer the panel’s charges again, but his answers were the same as the day before and he refused to recant. He was also condemned and turned over to the authorities.

The morning of October 15, the Bishop of Gloucester (Dr. Brooks) and the vice chancellor of Oxford (Dr. Marshall), along with others from the university, arrived at Mayor Irish’s house, where Ridley was being held a prisoner. Ridley was given the opportunity to rejoin the Church. When he refused, they forced him to go through the ceremony expelling him from the priesthood. The ceremony over, Ridley read a petition to the queen asking that she help Ridley’s sister and brother‑in‑law and others who had depended on him for their support. Dr. Brooks promised to forward the petition to the queen, but doubted she would honor it.

That night Ridley’s beard and legs were washed. At supper, he invited everyone in the mayor’s house to his burning, as well as his sister and brother. When the mayor’s wife began to cry, he comforted her by saying, “Quiet yourself. Though my breakfast will be somewhat sharp and painful, I’m sure my supper will be pleasant and sweet.”

Ridley and Latimer were to be burned on the north side of Oxford, in a ditch by Baliol College, well guarded by the queen’s orders. When everything was ready, they were brought out by the mayor and bailiffs. Ridley wore a furred black gown, velvet nightcap, and slippers. Latimer wore a worn frock, a buttoned cap, and new long shroud hanging down to his feet.

Looking back, Ridley saw Latimer following him. “Oh. Are you here? “he called. “Yes. As fast as I can follow,” Latimer answered.

Ridley reached the stake first. Holding up his hands, he first looked toward heaven. When Latimer arrived, Ridley ran to him cheerfully, held him, and kissed him, saying, “Be of good cheer, brother, for God will either assuage the fury of the flame or else strengthen us to bear it.” After they said their prayers, the two men talked quietly together for a little while, but no one knows what they said.

The officers prevented Ridley and Latimer from answering the sermon that was given by Dr. Smith. They would be allowed to speak only if it were to recant.

Ridley cheerfully gave away his clothing and other items he possessed, then asked Lord Williams to do what he could to help those who depended on him for their living. The chain was fastened around the two men. “Good fellow, tie it tight, for the flesh will have its way,” Ridley commented. Then his brother brought him a bag of gunpowder to hang around his neck. “I will take it to be sent by God, therefore I will receive it as sent of Him. And do you have some for my brother?” Told he did, Ridley sent his brother to Latimer before it was too late. Then they brought a torch and laid it at Ridley’s feet. “Be of good comfort, brother Ridley, and play the man,” Latimer called. “We shall this day light such a candle by God’s grace in England, as I trust shall never be put out.”

When Ridley saw the flames leap up, he cried with a loud voice, “Lord, into Thy hands I commend my spirit. Lord, receive my spirit!”

The sight of Ridley and Latimer’s struggle moved hundreds in the crowd to tears, seeing years of study and knowledge, all the godly virtues, so much dignity and honor all consumed in one moment. Well, they are gone, and the rewards of this world they already have. What a reward remains for them in heaven on the day of the Lord’s glory, when He comes with His saints! (From Foxe’s Christian Martyrs, by John Foxe)

Tolerance: “A newly issued Vatican guidebook on how the Roman Catholic faith should be taught urges Catholics to overcome all forms of anti‑Semitism.

“The 300‑page guidebook, prepared for use by religion teachers, tells the teachers to pay particular attention to Judaism and promote ‘tolerance, understanding and dialogue.’” (World Jewry, October 1997)

Hate Campaign: “The Manchester Guardian reports that during the recent national election campaign in Poland, the country’s Catholic radio station – which has five million listeners – was a strong supporter of the Solidarity Party, railing against ‘Jewish Freemason plots’ to take over Poland, and calling for a President who was a Catholic, not a ‘Communist Jew.’” (World Jewry, October 1997)

“Move To Make U.S. Priest A Saint Is Pushing Ahead: HARTFORD, CONN. – A hardworking, Irish‑American priest who died 107 years ago deserves to be made a saint, his supporters said Thursday as a campaign began to evaluate his worthiness for sainthood. The Rev. Michael McGivney, born in Waterbury, Conn., the son of Irish immigrants, founded the Knights of Columbus in New Haven, Conn., in 1882. He died of tuberculosis in 1890, at age 38. If the McGivney movement succeeds, he would be the first U.S.‑born male and the first U.S.‑born parish priest to be canonized, church officials said.” (The Orlando Sentinel, December 19, 1997)

God knows who are His (2 Tim. 2:19). The McGivney movement, the Popes nor any other man has the power to make anyone a saint. Only God can do that! God is the heart searcher.

The following is from That Servant: “A New Dogma: The ‘Assumption’ Of Virgin Mary: It is nearly fifty years since Pope Pius IX decreed the dogma of the Immaculate Conception of our Lord’s mother. The present pope, Pius X, it is said, purposes soon to decree that it shall be the faith of Romanism that the Virgin’s flesh did not corrupt in death – that she was received direct into heaven. It is conceded that the place and time of her death are not certainly known. On the strength of this lack of knowledge the Pope assumes that she experienced ‘Assumption.’

“The dogma of the Virgin’s immaculate conception is not only contrary to the Word of God – that condemnation passed upon all of Adam’s posterity – but it reflects against the Divine character and plan thus: If God could justly and properly so arrange that one of Adam’s race should be born sinless He might have done the same for us all. And if our birth in sin is God’s fault, to that extent He is responsible for all the deformity, mental and physical, with which we are born. In that event Christ’s death as the ransom price for Adamic sin was unnecessary. Let God be true – let His Word stand, though it make every creed and dogma of men appear foolish.

“Similarly the dogma of the Assumption is unscriptural. Ascension to glory is to come by resurrection. Our Lord Himself was the first‑born from the dead, and no member of His Church was to be received into glory with Him until He would ‘come again and receive us unto himself.’ (John 14:3)” Pastor Russell, Reprint 3329, March 1, 1904)

“The Pope’s Hail Mary: Will Mary‑loving Pope John Paul II cap his career by declaring a new dogma? A recent anthology from a small Roman Catholic publisher in Santa Barbara, Calif., predicts that as early as next year, John Paul will exercise his power of infallibility to declare Mary the Co‑Redemptrix of humanity and ‘Mediatrix’ of all graces. That would make her a participant in salvation – along with her son Jesus Christ. There has long been talk of such a move, since devotion to Catholicism’s Queen of Heaven is never far from the heart of this Pontiff.

“Last year the Vatican quietly asked a special international panel of theologians for advice. The Vatican daily newspaper disclosed last week that the advice was unanimous – leave things be. Among the reasons: Popes have shunned Co‑Redemptrix talk for a half century; the bishops of Second Vatican Council (1962‑65) decided not to give Mary any new titles; and such a dogma could raise ‘ecumenical difficulties.’ Translation: Protestants and Orthodox would go into orbit, feeling Christ has been demeaned as the unique Savior. (By Richard N. Time Magazine, June 16, 1997)

Episcopal: “Episcopalians Bolster Law On Ordaining Women: PHILADELPHIA – In a dramatic strengthening of church law permitting women priests, the Episcopal Church moved Friday to crack down on a handful of bishops who have refused to ordain qualified women in their dioceses.

“Bishops who refuse to ordain women would be subject to a church trial if the resolution is approved. The resolution is specifically directed at the church’s four bishops who refuse to ordain women.

“The fact that four Episcopal bishops still will not ordain women more than two decades after church law permitted it has been a sore point within the church.

“Bishop Frederick H. Borsch of Los Angeles said it is time for the church to bring the four bishops into conformity with church law. ‘We’ve been patient for a generation and I think it’s time – slowly, carefully, thoughtfully – to see that... we have the ministries of ordained women,’ he said in an interview before the vote.’” (Excerpts by Larry B. Stammer, The Los Angles Times, July 19, 1997)

“But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.” (1 Tim. 2:12) “Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.” (1 Cor. 14:34)

LUTHERAN: “Lutherans OK Historic Pact With Three Other Denominations: PHILADELPHIA – Leaders of the nation’s largest Lutheran denomination voted on Monday to enter into a historic agreement for close cooperation with three other denominations but narrowly rejected establishing similar ties with the Episcopal Church.

“In approving a document called the Formula of Agreement, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America decided to bridge gaps within Protestantism – ones that have existed nearly since the Reformation – between the faith’s Lutheran and Reformed traditions. Although not a merger, the document calls for ‘full communion’ between the 5.2 million member Lutheran denomination and three other churches, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the United Church of Christ and the Reformed Church in America, which together account for about 5 million baptized members.

“Its practical effect means that the churches retain their creeds and theological traditions, but fully recognize each other’s sacraments and clergy members and can collaborate in missionary work and major social service projects.

“A key provision of the agreement provides for ‘exchangeability’ of clergy members, an important consideration in the case of hundreds of small congregations whose meager finances keep them on the edge of survival. Under this provision, for example, an isolated Lutheran church that could not afford a full‑time pastor could share the services of a minister from a nearby Presbyterian church, thereby possibly freeing up money for purposes like a day‑care program or food pantry.

“For that reason, the Lutherans’ decision to vote down a similar agreement with the 2.5 million‑member Episcopal Church – an action by which Lutherans effectively truncated their role as a unifying Protestant force – came as a bitter blow to some. But the vote on the Lutheran‑Episcopal document, called the Concordat of Agreement, fell a mere six votes short of the necessary majority. Some members wept with disappointment after the vote. Others said the agreement failed because of persistent fears among some Lutherans of binding themselves to a church in which bishops play so large a role.

“Afterwards, Lutheran officials, as well as representatives of the other Protestant churches involved, appeared stunned by the mixed results.

“The Rev. Dan Martensen, director of the Lutherans’ Department of Ecumenical Affairs, said he felt ‘sadness’ over the vote against the Lutheran‑Episcopal agreement. But the Lutherans’ top officer, Presiding Bishop H. George Anderson – who has been widely praised here for supporting the agreements while also allowing their opponents ample opportunity to speak against them – called for respecting the voting results. ‘I really think that what we saw today was a quite honest and accurate reflection of where the Lutheran Church is,’ he said.” (Excerpts by Gustav Niebuhr, The New York Times, August 19, 1997)

“Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me: whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake.” (Isa. 54:15)

(To be continued)