NO. 528 LOOSING THE FOUR WINDS OF HEAVEN - PART TWO

As stated in Part One of this subject, it is our intention to use mostly quotations from That Servant, and we now proceed on that basis. Our first offering is from Reprints 5168, column 2 (written January 15, 1913 – just one and one half years before the outbreak of the Great War):

“The fact that so many have been thus accepted since 1878 seems to imply that there has been a considerable vacancy in the list of the elect, and that it is gradually filling up. It is not for us to say how much of a vacancy remains, or when it will be filled. We fully believe, that it will be filled before the close of ‘the Times of the Gentiles,’ which we think will end with October, 1914.

“As for others who have not yet consecrated themselves, we can say with St. Paul, “I beseech you... brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice.’ (Rom. 12:1) Do your best. It may be that there is an opening and you may get in. Consecrate your time, your talents, all that you have, to the service of God. He is a good paymaster; whatever reward He may give you will be a prize.”

KINGDOM WORK THIS SIDE THE VEIL

From Reprint 5631, column 2: “We are not surprised at these conditions; for long ago they were foretold in the Word of God. We were assured that our day would witness the fulfillment of the prophecies along these lines. Wherever we look, we witness the disintegration of the present order, whether we view the conditions from a social, or religious, or a financial standpoint. The lease of power to the Kingdoms of this word has expired. [It expired at the end of the Gentile Times when the day of God’s special wrath came – in the Epiphany, the great Time of Trouble.] It was foretold by the Prophet Daniel that ‘in the days of these kings,’ before their utter overthrow, the God of heaven would set up a kingdom [when the last saint had been selected, the Kingdom was “set up”] which should smite and break in pieces all the kingdoms of men, the beastly kingdoms of Daniel’s dream. When these kingdoms would be given to ‘the people of the saints of the Most High,’ they were to ‘smite them in pieces as a potter’s vessel.’ This intimates that in some sense of the word the Lord will take possession of these before they have been completely overthrown; that some of the kingdoms represented in the Gentile image will be remaining at that time.

“What time, then, is signified by the expression ‘in the days of these kings,’ when the Kingdom of God was to be set up in power? To our understanding the first step in the setting up of this Kingdom was the raising of the sleeping saints of the Gospel Age, which we believe was in the Spring of 1878. Then began the glorification of the Church. The work of setting up the Kingdom has, we understand, been progressing from that date, arid is now merely lacking the last members of the Church class. When these shall have taken their places as members of the Church in glory, the Kingdom will be fully set up.

“This does not signify that there may not be a part of the Kingdom work begun while some of the members of Christ are still in the flesh. Indeed some Scriptures seem to imply that there will be a Kingdom work done this side the veil, while a work of still greater magnitude and authority is progressing on the other side of the veil. We read, ‘Let the saints be joyful in glory; let them sing aloud upon their beds.’ (Psa. 149:5) This seems to imply, as we have mentioned before, that there is a special work to be done while these saints still have beds, while they are in a condition of repose – not ‘tossed to and fro, and carried about by every wind of doctrine’ (Eph. 4:14), but fully at rest in God’s great plan. The Scriptures go on to say that they have a two‑edged sword in their hands – which is the Word of God. They use it as the sword of the Spirit. This would not be true of them on the other side of the veil. They would have no use for a sword there. The Scriptures also declare that the high‑sounding praises of God are upon their lips. This, too, seems to be applicable to those this side the veil.” (Written February 15, 1915)

Then from Reprint 5632: “The final phase, ‘to execute the judgments written,’ would seem to imply that there would be something for the saints on this side of the veil to do in connection with the execution of the judgments upon the nations. As to just what this means, we have not yet fully learned. But we see nothing here to conflict with the thought that the Lord’s Kingdom may be properly understood to have begun operations and that the present smiting of the nations is under Kingdom control. The fact that some of the members of the Kingdom class are still in the flesh does not militate at all against this thought. We see the kingdoms of this world now being dashed to pieces, and we axe expecting to see the process continued until they are completely ground to powder. ‘They shall become as the chaff of the summer threshing‑floor, and the wind shall carry them away. Then shall they be found no more at all.’ (Dan. 2:35) [“And this honor have all the saints.” – Psa. 149:9]

“THE KINGDOM OF GOD SET UP: Because certain ‘important things are to be accomplished, we see that God is permitting what to others might seem to be purely human devilishness. For a wise purpose He permits this reign of lawlessness, this condition which evokes universal odium. Our thought is that we should look for still further evidences day by day that the Gentile Times have ended, and that God’s Kingdom has begun its work. [God’s Kingdom is the Christ Company]... The present step is the war of the nations. The next step will be Socialism – an attempted Socialism – among the people. Then the third step, Anarchy, will gradually come on. When this symbolic fire shall prevail, then the world will realize what we are trying to tell them now; namely, that God’s Kingdom is taking control, and that these various demonstrations are evidences that our Lord is taking His great power. [Armageddon, or world‑wide Revolution, is the final step, according to the Jehovah’s Witnesses.]

“At the sounding of the seventh trumpet Messiah was to take unto Himself His great power and reign. That trumpet is now sounding! ‘And the nations were angry and thy wrath [the great Time of Trouble starting in 1914] is come.’ (Rev. 11:18) Surely the nations are angry now! They act as if they were bereft of common sense. We see readily enough that the spirit of selfishness has prevailed there right along, but that some hindrance or fear heretofore held them back. But finally, when the Lord’s ‘due time’ has come to permit it, they broke through their restraint. The Lord has at this particular time especially to do with the affairs of the nations. And this war was allowed to occur at about the end of the Gentile Times, at the appropriate time when they are to be dashed to pieces with the iron rod of the iron rule (Psa. 2:6‑12). It is our judgment that we shall see more of this iron rule and its breaking influence, not only upon the nations, but upon society at large. Now in this great day of the Lord everything that can be shaken is to be shaken to pieces and shaken out, to the intent that nothing unrighteous or unworthy shall remain. God Himself is doing the shaking (Hag. 2:6,7).

“THE TIME FOR JUDGMENT IS RIPE: We believe that the Times of the Gentiles ended just on time, as shown in Volume 2 of Studies in the Scriptures. The hand of justice is now doing the breaking – the nations shall be broken as a ‘potter’s vessel.’ The whole cataclysm of trouble may be upon the world during the next ten months, or it may be longer deferred. We believe that the time for the setting up of the Kingdom was on September 21, 1914. [Otherwise the “judgment written” (Psa. 149:9) would not have been pronounced; the ejection is now going on.] At that time, when it was due for our Lord to take His great power and reign, the nations were already angry. They were at war over a month in advance of the time, because so angry.

“The due time for the ‘wrath’ was September 21, 1914. We are expecting to see this wrath still more manifest. The nations have been in just this same unloving spirit one toward another for a number of years, but apparently they have been under some forcible restraint. We believe that God’s time had not yet come. We wondered, and many people wondered, how their anger could be restrained much longer; much has been written about it in the newspapers. When the Balkan war came [1912‑1913], it was because the nations were angry; and it very nearly led to this conflagration. Austria tried to precipitate the trouble at that time, but the German Kaiser held back. Now the restraining hand has been removed. The time is ripe.” (Reprint 5632, February 15, 1915)

In 1914‑16 the first smiting of Jordan was taking place, although Brother Russell did not then fully realize it. However, we should keep in mind that the River Jordan in some instances types the human race under the curse; and its rapid fall in a very short space from the clear water of the mountains to the “sea of salt” the Dead Sea graphically portrays the downward course of the human race under the curse of sin and death. As the Jordan empties into the Dead Sea, it ends in the lowest body of water on earth’s surface 1296 feet below sea level.

From a second viewpoint the Jordan types Christendom, which also has experienced a tragic fall from the pristine purity of the early Church under the Apostles to its present depraved position of Babylon. And it is this latter picture that is represented in the first smiting of Jordan. As the war progressed after its commencement in 1914, the people of Christendom became more and more divided into two very distinct classes – the Conservatives and the Radicals. Those of us who had personal experience with that first smiting recall very vividly how pronounced the cleavage became. We had some of the radicals tell us personally, “Just wait till the war is over, and we’ll then show the Uppercrust what this is all about.” And the turmoil everywhere in evidence now offers pronounced testimony to the seriousness of that division.

And of that first smiting we have the clear Scripture – “This honor have all his saints.” (Psa. 149:9) Under this latter heading Brother Russell quotes more from the same Psalm:

“‘Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two‑edged sword in their hand; to execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people; to bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; to execute upon them the judgment written: this honor have all his saints.’ (Psa. 149:5‑9)

“We are frequently asked whether we understand that there is to come a time when the Lord’s people, the saintly ones, while still in the flesh, will have a full understanding of the entire Word of God, including the dark expressions of Ezekiel, Zechariah, Revelation, etc. In reply we usually remind the questioners that eighteen hundred years ago St. Paul wrote, ‘Take unto you the whole armor of God’ (Eph. 6:13,17), including ‘the sword of the spirit, which is the Word of God’; and that we are therefore to understand that St. Paul himself and other Christians of his time had the ‘Sword of the Spirit.’ We are sure, however, that they did not understand certain portions of the Word of God which were not then due to be understood; for instance, that portion of Daniel’s prophecy which the angel said was to be sealed up until ‘the time of the end,’ and many other prophecies which were not then unfolded. This has always been more or less true ever since. Prophecy unfolds gradually. Today more is due to be understood than ever before.” (Reprint 5803, bottom, November 15, 1915)

We are convinced that there were quite a few saints in the various Truth groups after Brother Russell’s demise who disagreed with one another on certain Scriptures; but during the smiting – when That Servant was with us – they were all in harmony on the work then due to be done, and in one group. “Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion.” (Isa. 52:8) And we do know there was complete harmony in the Truth group about the work they were to do then. The “gathering” of the saints was complete after they were sealed in their foreheads with Present Truth. As That Servant has said, prophecy unfolds gradually. Today more is to be understood than ever before. Today we know some things that Jesus Himself did not know when He was on earth. “Of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” (Matt. 24:36) We know that we are in “that day.”

“We are not to understand that the Bible will have no value in the incoming Age, but rather to the contrary of this. Our thought is that the Bible will be used then. not so much as a sole means of communicating God’s will, but as a source of information, much as we now use histories. It will enlighten men respecting God’s laws, etc. There is nothing to indicate that every matter that the Bible treats will be seen clearly by the Church while we are on this side the veil. The Apostle says that ‘now we see through a glass obscurely’; but that beyond the veil we shall see ‘face to face.’ We shall see clearly; for we shall then be like our Lord. Now we know in part, but then ‘we shall know even as we are known.’ (1 Cor. 13:12)” (Bottom of Reprint 5803, and top of 5804)

Indeed, we believe that the Restitutionists – the obedient – will understand more of the Bible than we do now. The faithful Restitutionists will be able to understand all the doctrines of the Bible, we believe – including the two salvations, the “Great” and the “Common.” The only thing that the “natural man” cannot now appreciate is spirit-begettal – “the things of the spirit” – nor will it be necessary for them, as they will not be of the heavenly class. And it is true now of the fully consecrated unbegotten, they understand the doctrines of the Bible – all necessary for the work the Lord gives them to do, and all that is necessary to be of the Worthy Class. In fact, all now in Present Truth understand much more than any of the saints before the Harvest period; and some understand more than some spirit‑begotten. However, it is also true of the spirit-begotten – the Little Flock and the Great Company – that they will understand enough to continue in their class standing. However, the Worthies are different from the Restitutionists in that the faithful will be spirit‑begotten at the end of the Kingdom and receive a heavenly reward. The Restitutionists will not have this opportunity, nor will they have heavenly aspirations. They will be happy with “paradise on earth.”

“THE WORK NOW GOING ON: In speaking of this present time [1915], as we think, the Prophet David says, ‘Let the saints be joyful in glory, let them sing aloud upon their beds.’ The children of God should be joyful at all times – even in tribulation – knowing that these experiences work out for us a development of character and a preparation for the Kingdom glories. The Psalmist here foretells that the saints at this time are at rest upon their beds, while they sing God’s praise. This statement might be meaningless to us until we understand from other Scriptures that these beds represent creed or the sum total of one’s religious belief.

“While some are reclining on a short creed bed, which cramps and fetters them, and the narrow covers of which cannot give them warmth and comfort, the true saints of God have at this time beds of full and proper size, and a cover which is warm and ample. They are shown in this prophetic picture as taking their ease, resting in faith, while others are restless and uncomfortable. But while thus resting in these good beds, representing their mental attitude and heart condition, and while praising the Lord, they are using skillfully the ‘two‑edged sword.’ This sword in their hands is the Bible. The thought is not necessarily that God’s people have absolute knowledge of every feature of God’s Word; but that they have all the knowledge needful to the efficient use of the sword at this time, all the knowledge designed for the saints now, when this prophecy applies.

“‘Let the high‑sounding praises of God be in their mouths’ (Psa. 149:6), urges the Psalmist. We believe that this is more and more becoming true. The saints can praise God more intelligently and fully now than ever before. We can see our Lord’s character better, because much of the ignorance, misconception, mysteries and obscurity have fled away. God’s Word is shining out with more brightness than ever. We cannot see that our Brother John Calvin could have had very much of the ‘high‑sounding praise of God’ in his mouth, for it is surely not a high‑sounding praise to declare that our God would assign thousands of millions of humanity to an eternity of torture. Nor can it be said of people today who teach this same horrible doctrine, that they have the ‘high‑sounding praise of God in their mouths.’

“God’s name is blasphemed, and His glorious character traduced and misrepresented every day. The world is told that God has a devilish plan – that He has made a hell in which to torture a very large part of humanity; and that He has the devils there already doing the torturing, and that this will go on throughout eternity. There are no high‑sounding praises connected with any such beliefs and teachings. But the Lord’s people who keep close to His Word are now able to tell forth the wondrous Story of God’s love. wisdom, justice and power as never before. And the Truth is surely accomplishing a work in the binding and fettering of error. We believe that the words of the Psalmist in this text are being fulfilled at this time. To some extent at least we are already engaging in the great work here depicted.”

(Reprint top of 5804, columns 1 and 2, November 15, 1915)

The Epiphany Messenger has elaborated on the above truths, as well as the 40‑year Harvest and the two and a half years overlapping from the Parousia into the Epiphany period. When he taught that the Epiphany and the Time of Trouble are identical – one and the same period – he was not bringing out any advancing Truth, because That Servant had also taught that the Epiphany and the great Time of Trouble are one and the same.

“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 significations. 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 gathering of the elect, we understand, has been in progress since 1874. It will continue until all of the ‘elect’ shall have been gathered and glorified. [The quotations of a later date show where That Servant changed his mind about the glorification of all the saints by 1914.] 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 apokalypsis 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. ‘When he shall thus appear we also shall appear with him in glory,’ the Apostle declares. (Col. 3:4)”

(Reprints 4543, bottom, column 1 and 2, January 1, 1910)

“AN ASTOUNDING STATEMENT: At the epiphaneia, or bright shining, of the Lord’s manifestation, God will have completed His present work of directing the Church, and the world will be informed that they are under a different dispensation. When the world shall have come to understand the matter fully they will know the truth of our Lord’s words in His last prayer with His disciples, that the Father loves the Church as He loves the Lord Jesus Christ. This is a very astounding statement. It shows that there is nothing selfish in our Lord. He did not say, ‘They will always be inferior to me. They will never have the glory that I shall have.’“

(Reprints 5359, top, column 1, par. 2. December 1, 1913)

There is much more by That Servant on the Parousia and Epiphany, but the above will suffice for now. We all know that Brother Johnson’s expectancy for the duration of the Time of Trouble – or Epiphany – did not mature; but the duration of this Epiphany has continued much longer than That Servant also expected. And some of the Lord’s people have stumbled over these miscalculations, which we believe were permitted by the Lord for the testing of His people. However, those very mistakes did energize the Lord’s people to continue with zeal to “preach the Gospel.” At the First Advent the disciples did not realize that the Kingdom was about 2,000 years in the future. Had they known, it would have discouraged many of the believers at that time.

Some of the Lord’s faithful people today, who believe they consecrated when the High Calling was still open, cannot give up their hope of being of the Christ Company. Of those who still entertain that belief we believe they number far more than the 144,000 who will constitute that select group. But we maintain a tender sympathy for such, because of our own experience along the same line. It is probably well to recall here that none in the Truth Movement believed the High Calling was closed until Passover 1918 – almost four years after it had been an accomplished fact: Thus, considerable effort was put forth to win others to that Company – when, in fact, it was an impossibility. However, the many errors that were produced by the Society after 1916 caused us to leave them; although we feel indebted yet for the solid truths we learned before leaving them, which they were teaching at that time. And, while some of our very good friends stayed with the Society, it is our opinion now that they made their calling and election sure.

“Let us reason together, saith the Lord” (Isa. 1:18), if there were enough saints in at 1881, then all who came in after that time would be those who had taken the crown of those who lost their crowns after that date; and those who took those crowns then lost them were also filled by others. Isn’t it reasonable that the vacancy was filled by 1914? Isn’t it reasonable to believe that there could be no more spirit‑begettals after that date? We believe that all the saints had been sealed in the forehead before That Servant’s demise, although those who were begotten by 1914 did not receive the forehead sealing of Present Truth at that time – but all of them did receive the forehead sealing in time to participate in Jordan’s first smiting. (See Psalms 149:9)

The faithful Ancient Worthies would have been eligible candidates for the High Calling, but they lived too soon for that. The glowing words of Jesus concerning John the Baptist eloquently confirm this: “Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven [the 144,000 members of the Christ Company] is greater than he.” (Matt. 11:11) Much the same situation now prevails here in the end of the Age. We believe there are Youthful Worthies today who would have been eligible for the Christ Company, but they were born too late. They make the same consecration as did the saints – to be dead to self and the world and alive to God.

That Servant saw the truth of this condition – and so expressed it – although he did not use the name Youthful Worthies. He simply referred to them as a “class” who would be accounted worthy to share with the Ancient Worthies “in honor and service” in the Kingdom arrangement. Some of the Ancient Worthies probably suffered more than did some of the saints of this Age; and we believe we have already seen some of this same condition as respects the Youthful Worthies, and we may yet see more of this.

That Servant thought he might die a martyr’s death (although we are told he prayed to be delivered from such an experience), and the Epiphany Messenger was fully convinced he would be “violently seized.” However, both of them died in bed. Brother Johnson believed as he did because he expected to see at least the beginning of Anarchy. He has been dead now about 31 years [51 years in 2001], and we have not yet experienced Armageddon. This latter could begin any day now, which is sure to produce many casualties and shedding of blood. Then the prophecy of Ezek. 7:19 will apply: “They shall cast their silver in the streets, and their gold shall be removed: their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the Lord.”

However, our readers may seek solace in the prophecy of Zeph. 2:3: “Seek righteousness, seek humility, peradventure ye shall be concealed, in the day of the anger of Yahweh.” (Rotherham) Present generosity will probably receive some consideration at that time; only the very hardened criminals will abuse those who have befriended them.

It is stated of the Ancient Worthies that “these all obtained a good report through faith.” (Heb. 11:39) Thus, any others who share “in honor and service” with them will also “obtain a good report through faith.” The eleventh Chapter of Hebrews contains a refreshing history of those Ancients, and St. Paul tells us in Heb. 12:1‑3 that their examples should stimulate us to better things. God does all things for the good of all, and He knows what is best for us. “Wherefore... let us run with patience the race that is set before us.” Presently, those of us who will be of that Class have a greater knowledge of God’s Plan of Salvation than did any of those Ancients. Some of them did not even understand what they wrote (Dan. 8:27; 12:8,9) – although we now understand much of what they wrote.

It is our hope and prayer that we have refreshed the minds of the Lord’s people by reproducing some of the salient Truths given to us by the faithful Mouthpieces of God. “Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.” (2 Peter 1:12)

“Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy. Let thy mercy, 0 Lord, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.” (Psa. 33:18,22) (John J. Hoefle, Reprint No. 411, June 1990)

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AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE SPEAKS OUT AGAINST UN ON ISRAEL

Last week, the American Jewish Committee issued a strong statement criticizing the “sad fate” that befell Israel in UN history. In comparison to 188 of the 189 UN members who served in the Security Council and other UN organs, the only exception until very recently was Israel. The AJC revealed the following shocking facts:

“On November 29, 1947, the UN took what the New York Herald‑Tribune described as ‘one of the few great acts of courageous collective statesmanship which our shattered postwar world has been able to achieve.’

“What was it? On that momentous day, the General Assembly voted to divide the bitterly disputed territory of the Palestine mandate between two new states – one Arab and one Jewish.

“For the democracies of the world, this was a major victory. The vote promised, or so it seemed at the time, to open up new possibilities for the UN and for Israel – a country that has much to contribute to the world.

“But, sad to say, that is not what happened! At the UN today, Israel remains what Israel has been for many years – a second‑class citizen.

“How bad is it? Consider this: Of the 189 member nations of the UN, 188 may be elected to serve a term on the powerful Security Council. Libya, for example, may serve on the Council. So may North Korea and Iran. So, in fact, may Saddam Hussein’s Iraq.

“But one country in the world – and one country only – may not sit on the Security Council. That country is the State of Israel. An outrage? Absolutely.

“The American Jewish Committee (has) led the fight to end the demeaning insulting treatment to which Israel has been constantly subjected at the UN.

“Recently we scored a major victory in that fight. Here’s the situation: In order to be eligible to serve on the Security Council, a country must be a member of one of the UN’s five regional groups.

“In geographical terms, Israel is part of the Asian group. But for years, Arab and Islamic countries denied Israel the right to be a member of this grouping.

“Israel stood alone. In all the world, it was the only country that did not have the required affiliation. Literally dozens of times, we met behind closed doors with top-ranking diplomats from around the world. We demanded an end to this injustice in the most public forums. We placed full‑page advertisements in The New York Times. These ads galvanized world attention and forced WEOG nations to act.

“Perhaps most important of all, thousands and thousands of supporters of the American Jewish Committee made their voices heard in postcards to top officials of Western European nations.

“And recently, the Western European and Others Group extended an invitation to Israel to join its caucus on a temporary basis. The New York Times attributed this victory to the American Jewish Committee’s relentless diplomatic and public relations campaign.

“This move marks an important step forward out of Israel’s isolation at the UN. But there’s a catch. Israel’s invitation is only temporary. It was extended on the condition that Israel not seek membership on the Security Council.

“Nor, under the restrictive terms of this invitation, may Israel be present at UN posts in Rome, Vienna, Nairobi or – importantly – Geneva, the meeting place of the UN Human Rights Commission, a perennial bastion of Israel‑bashing.

“In essence, Israel has been told: You may finally join the community of nations, but only if you stay in the back of the room and keep quiet.”

(By David Horowitz, The Jewish Press, February 16, 2001)

PALESTINIANS ELECTED SHARON

Charley Reese’s assertion that “the Israelis have voted for war and against peace” (Feb. 13) contains a tiny kernel of truth. By a landslide margin Israelis did vote against the so‑called peace process.

Why? Not because they oppose peace – the people of Israel desperately desire peace – but because of the growing recognition that the process itself was flawed; that it is simply impossible to achieve peace with those who refuse peace if it requires any concessions on their part.

In reality, it would be just as accurate to say that it was the Palestinians who elected Ariel Sharon. The sobering truth is that Ehud Barak offered the Palestinians almost everything they asked for: He offered them a Palestinian State; he offered them the territory that was roughly equivalent to the return of the 1949 borders; he offered them a capital in Jerusalem; he offered them, amazingly, even shared control of the Temple Mount.

Yet, not only did they turn Barak down, they responded to his incredible offer with personal vilification and the worst display of violence and anti‑Semitic rhetoric seen since the start of the Oslo Accords.

With Ariel Sharon, Yasser Arafat and his henchmen are getting exactly what they deserve – a man who may very well match their own political and ideological rigidity. A man who, just like them, may very well say “no” to proposals thought fair and evenhanded by the United States.

To be sure, in the face of ongoing Arab violence and terrorism, Sharon will not be nearly as flexible and as willing to make compromises as was Barak. It has been the nonstop Palestinian hostility during these past five months that convinced 62 percent of Israelis – including many who had been in the “peace camp” – that Barak’s way would prove disastrous for Israel.

So, sorry, Charley, but let’s be honest: It was the Palestinians who, once again, missed the opportunity.

Still, peace may one day come to the Middle East. But it will come only when Israel finds a genuine partner for peace; it will come when Israeli concessions will be matched by, at least, some concessions on the part of the Palestinians; it will come when those who sit opposite Israel at the peace table will not revert back to bloodshed whenever they cannot get what they want through negotiations.

Until that time, the Palestinians may well have to learn to live with Ariel Sharon, a man who, because of Palestinian intransigence and virulent hatred of Israel, they themselves put into office.

(By Aaron D. Rubinger, rabbi of Congregation Ohev Shalom In Orlando, FL, Orlando Sentinel, February 20, 2001)

NO. 527 LOOSING THE FOUR WINDS OF HEAVEN - PART ONE

The subject for this paper is to be found in Revelation 7:1‑3, which we quote from the Diaglott: “After this I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, restraining the four winds of the earth, so that no wind might blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. And I saw another angel ascending from the sun‑rising, having the seal of the living God; and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to injure the earth and the sea, saying, ‘Injure not the earth, nor the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the bond‑servants of our God on their foreheads.

Companion to the foregoing is Daniel 7:2: “The four winds of heaven strove upon the great sea.” And related to these two is Daniel 3:19: “Then the form of Nebuchadnezzar’s vision was changed against Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego... he commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated.”

It is our understanding that the “four winds of heaven” in these texts refer to the fallen angels – the evil spirits of Jesus’ day, which are counterfeited in the Greek and Roman heathen teachings of the “demigods” ‑ creatures that were assumed to be half God and half man. They are the “giants” (the Nephilim) of Genesis 6:4 and Numbers 13:33 the demons that were formed through the union of “the sons of God and the daughters of men” – “giants [Nephilim] in the earth in those days... mighty men, men of renown.” The ten spies that brought back the evil report said, “There we saw the giants (Nephilim), the sons of Anak... we were in our own sight as grasshoppers.” “And the people wept that night” (Num. 14:1), for they were terrorized at the mere mention of those demigods, which permeated most of the heathen religions of that day.

First, to explain the incident in Daniel 3:19‑25: The golden image represented militarism in the end of this Age, which demanded obeisance from all sections and groups in the various nations. Of course, many of the Truth boys refused to do this; and the treatment accorded many of them was something to contemplate. It is stated that the fiery furnace was heated‑seven times worse than had ever been done before, and those of us who were involved have vivid memory of the truth of that statement. Quite a few of the Truth brethren were put to death in some European countries; and, as we recall, a couple of them were slain here in the United States. But many others here were given most inhumane treatment. When some of the objectors came into that detachment they were so bruised they could not sit down, a few of them having to stand while eating for several days. It is difficult to believe that such abuse went on here in this great United States. But it did!

Names given to the people in the Old Testament often revealed certain characteristics or positions among the Lord’s people, and we believe the names of the three Hebrew youths are some of these. They represent three classes living in the end of this Age – the Little Flock, the Great Company and the Youthful Worthies – all of whom had to cope with Militarism, Sectarianism and religious hatred in the warring nations. Shadrach means “royal,” and offers a strong hint to the “royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9); Meshach means “guest,” with allusion to those who are to be “guests” at the marriage of the Lamb (Rev. 19:9); and Abednego means “servant of the prophet,” referring to the Youthfuls who are in the same class with the Ancients (Moses faithful in all his house as a servant – Heb. 3:5). Much could be said about the treatment accorded to all three classes during the first World War, but that is not the purpose of this article.

However, we would emphasize here that the meaning of the Hebrew names is strongly indicative of the truth of these types here in the end of the Age, because there have been only three such classes in the end of the age, the Ancient Worthies having no part whatever in the events that have taken place, because they were not here. Nevertheless, we have other very strong types that prove four elect classes – The Little Flock, the Great Company, the Ancient and the Youthful Worthies. These types are to be found in the Tabernacle picture; and especially so in Noah’s Ark, which are definitely and clearly pictured there: Noah and his wife ‑ Christ and His Church; Shem and his wife ‑the Ancient Worthy leaders and the lesser lights among them; Japheth and his wife – the Great Company leaders and ledlings; and Ham and his wife ‑ the Youthful Worthy leaders and ledlings.

Also 2 Timothy 2:20 is a very clear picture of the four elect classes: “But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.” The gold, the Little Flock; the silver, the Great Company (see Berean comments on Mal. 3:3 and 2 Tim. 2:20); the wood, the Ancient Worthies; and the earth, the Youthful Worthies. The great house of typical Aaron (Lev. 16:6; Num. 17:2,3; 3:6‑9,17‑20) consisted of his sons and the three typical classes of Levites; accordingly, in the Great House of our Great High Priest, there are four classes antitypical of these, and (additionally) vessels of honor and dishonor – less honor – representing faithful Restitutionists including Jews and Gentiles.

It should be remembered here that That Servant emphasized that the six volumes of Studies in the Scriptures are a direct outgrowth of the Truth to be found in the Tabernacle. Also, that the Ark types Christ and the power in Him which will replenish and reorganize society. The great deluge was a type of the Time of Trouble here in the end of this Age; and, just as Noah and his family began an entirely new Society after the flood, so these four elect classes will also develop an entirely new social order – “which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people.” (Dan. 2:44) The four elect classes mentioned above shall be the benevolent absolute rulers of that Kingdom.

Revelation 7:1‑3 – Much confusing error has been produced by faulty interpretations of this text. As example, The Finished Mystery (JFR, et al) explains “the four angels of the earth” as God’s chosen people; but v. 2 says of these four angels “to whom it was given to hurt the earth [the present social order] and the sea [the restless masses].” At no time under present evil conditions are the Lord’s people ordered, or permitted, to hurt the earth. They are never messengers of wrath; but rather, they are told to “follow peace with all men” (Heb. 12:14); and in Galatians 5:22 we are told that one of the fruits of the spirit is peace.

It is our understanding that these four angels of destruction represent four classes of humanity, the same having been led into destructive error by a false teaching: (1) the Divine right of kings; (2) the Divine right of the clergy; (3) the Divine right of the aristocracy; (4) and the Divine right of labor. Our readers are all probably familiar with the Divine right of kings, and the evils that have resulted from that obsession. Then with the clergy that same evil has produced the BIG I and the Little You. Don’t try to read your Bible; let us do it, and tell you what it means. We ourselves have known some Catholic priests who have gone into quite a flutter when some member of his congregation dared to ask some questions the priest could not answer. Also, in some countries, the aristocrats consider themselves the stewards and almoners of the earth, whose duty and privilege it is to mark out the domestic course of their hirelings. And with Labor, their outstanding fault is their belief that earth’s products belong to their producers.

But these very evils did restrain the “four winds” (the fallen angels) from precipitating the nations into destructive combat before the “due time”; namely, 1914 when the time had come for the glorified Lord to take to Himself His great power and to “rule the nations with an iron sceptre; as the earthen vessels it is breaking them together.” (Rev. 2:27, Dia.)

However, it should be carefully noted that this restraint was to be only “that no wind (the great war] might blow on the earth... till we have sealed the bondservants of our God in their foreheads” (Rev. 1:1‑3) – giving them sufficient knowledge of “Present Truth” to enable them to “come out of her, My people.” (Rev. 18:4) But as each respective nation became involved in the war either directly or devastatingly indirectly – then the words of Jesus became painstakingly obvious: “The night cometh, when no man can work.” (John 9:4) It should not be difficult to understand that when the three Hebrews (God’s Harvest workers) were cast into the fiery furnace, the thought of any more Harvest work was definitely forced from their minds; they had more than enough to “Hold fast that which thou hast.” (Rev. 3:11) The time had indeed arrived “That the plowman [the Time of Trouble] shall overtake the reaper... and the mountains [autocratic governments] shall drop sweet wine, and the hills [liberal democracies] shall melt. (Amos 9:13) And the progress continues with ever‑increasing fury to this day.

THAT SERVANT’S COMMENTS

At the outset it had been our intention to use mainly in this paper quotations from That Servant. The foregoing introduction has been much longer than we anticipated; but we now offer the following from the Watch Tower of May 15, 1911, keeping in mind that the world at that time seemed in such a peaceful condition that only a handful of earnest believers accepted the idea of a world conflagration in 1914, which probably caused the following comments:

“Our recent visit to Europe revealed no more unrest amongst the people than our previous one. Indeed, we were surprised to find so many evidences of prosperity everywhere and so few manifestations of violent discontent. Some residents confirmed this view, while others thought that there is a deep undercurrent of discontent not manifest on the surface. Our readers know that for some years we have been expecting this Age to close with an awful time of trouble, and we expect it to break out with suddenness and force not long after October 1914, which, so far as we can understand the Scriptures, is the date at which the Times of the Gentiles – the lease of earth’s dominions to the Gentiles – will expire; the time, therefore, when Messiah’s Kingdom will be due to begin its exercise of power, which the Scriptures declare will dash the nations in pieces as a potter’s vessel. By that time we think the Scriptures indicate that the Church will be complete and will have passed beyond the second veil into the ‘most holy’ and to perfection of spirit nature by a share in the First Resurrection. Nevertheless, how this is all to come about, as we have heretofore declared, Is not plain to us – how it will be that all the Church class will die before that date, changed in the moment of their dying, ‘in the twinkling of an eye.’

“But while considering these perplexities, and considering also the fact that we have no fault to find with the chronological features of the Bible, our mind is directed to an old Scripture which suddenly seems to have a new importance. We refer to the statement, ‘I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth that the wind [the World War] should not blow on the earth, nor the sea, nor on any tree... Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.’ (Rev. 7:1‑3)”

Here we would inject the thought that the war did not break out in any country until the saints there had been “sealed in their foreheads.” Although the United States did not become officially involved until April 7, 1917, all the plans had been made by the middle of 1916 to become officially involved, and all our industrial resources were engaged in helping our friends to carry on. President Wilson was wholeheartedly on the side of the Allies, but he used the slogan “He kept us out of war” to gain re‑election in November 1916. Then almost immediately after his second inauguration in March 1917 he declared war on the Central Powers.

Now more from the Tower quotation: “We have long seen that these symbolic winds represent strife, anarchy, the great Time of Trouble which is held in check by Divine power until the completion of the harvest work ‑ the sealing of the living members of the elect class with Present Truth. We long ago pointed out that these four winds, let loose, coming together, will constitute a whirlwind, which is the symbolical figure used in the Bible to represent the great Time of Trouble approaching. And this whirlwind corresponds to the typical one by which Elijah, the prototype of the Church, was taken away. Winds also represent false doctrines. (Eph. 4:14)

‘THE PRINCE OF THE POWER OF THE AIR’

“Nothing that we see further contradicts any of the foregoing, but rather, corroborating it, throws a light upon it. The additional thought is that these winds or powers of the air, held in restraint, represent the fallen angels, whose prince is Satan, ‘the prince of the power of the air.’ Our thought is that the evil angels would long ago have done injury on the symbolic earth, sea and trees, had it not been for the restraint of Divine power. Symbolically, the earth represents organized society; the sea represents the disorganized masses, and the trees represent the Household of Faith [or prominent ones in organized society]. The letting loose suddenly of the fallen angels will account well for the suddenness of the coming trouble, which everywhere in the Scriptures is one of its particular features – ‘in one hour’; ‘suddenly as travail upon a woman’; ‘as it was in the days of Noah,’ and ‘as it was in the days of Lot.’

“Again there is a resemblance between the days of Noah and days of Lot [the flood burst suddenly upon ‘the world that was’ ‑just as the fire and brimstone fell suddenly upon the Cities of the Plain], not merely in respect to the suddenness of the calamity which came, but also in regard to the violence and licentiousness of those periods. Already human prejudice and passions are manifesting a heat such as never before was known – and this, notwithstanding the much greater provision of army and police regulations for the control of society. If discontent, selfishness, passion, frenzy, can sway mankind under present conditions, what may we expect when the ‘powers of the air, shall be allowed to gain a temporary liberty for the very purpose of manifesting the evil tendencies of the unregenerate heart; for the very purpose of demonstrating that no liberty can bring true happiness, except that which is in full accord with the Divine requirement.” (Reprints 4822,4823, May 15, 1911)

When That Servant emphasizes the suddenness with which the war would come, he did not fully realize just how suddenly it would be. The Archduke of Austria and his wife were driving through the quiet peaceful countryside of Servia, when they were both assassinated. Within two days the armies of Germany, Austria, Russia, England and France were being mobilized. Then Germany gave Russia twenty‑four hours to explain why they were mobilizing; and, receiving no answer, Germany then declared war on Russia, and in a few days England, Austria and France all declared war. The armies of Germany swept through France and Belgium with unbelievable rapidity; the whole European world was precipitated into a holocaust never before seen (“a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation”); the New York Stock Exchange was closed for ninety days; no one could buy or sell regardless of how pressing that necessity might be. And here it might be well to state that the date 1914 clearly pointed the finger to That Servant as the one mentioned in Jeremiah 1:5: “1 ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.”

It should be noted here that “God spared not the angels that sinned, but... delivered them into chains of darkness [the atmosphere about this earth], to be reserved unto judgment (the great day of wrath].” (2 Peter 2:4) Since which time they have been abusing their freedom; will abuse it yet more in Armageddon, and will abuse it yet more in the fire of the great day, when Anarchy will prevail – “no hire for man, nor any hire for beast; neither was there any peace to him that went out or came in because of the affliction.” (Zech. 8: 10) At the end of this tribulation the Devil will be spirited away. “And he seized the dragon, the old serpent, who is an enemy and the Adversary, and bound him a thousand years.” (Rev. 20:2, Dia.) The Epiphany (the Epiphaneia) means bright shining and is manifesting persons, principles and things, which we see happening every day.

MORE FROM THE WATCH TOWER

“Spared In The Day Of Trouble – ‘They shall be mine, saith the Lord of Hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.’ (Mal. 3:17) Like many other prophecies, the words of the Prophet Malachi seem to have a general application throughout the Gospel Age and a particular one at the close of the Age. Eighteen hundred years ago the Lord Jehovah began to make up His jewels. The first of these jewels was our Lord Jesus Christ, who was polished, perfected and taken up on high. Jehovah did not cease His work with the perfection of His Son, our Lord. He has arranged that other jewels be cut and polished after the similitude of His Son, that they may shine with Him in the heavenly glory and Kingdom; as it is written, ‘We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works.’ (Eph. 2:10)

“The Messenger of the Covenant is, primarily, our Lord Jesus, Who came more than eighteen hundred years ago and presented Himself to those who were heirs of the New Covenant ‑ the Jews.

THE PRESENT A WONDERFUL TIME

“The closing scenes of the Gospel Age will be the most remarkable of the world’s history, the Church will then be completed. We are not at liberty to guess when the end of the trouble will be. Whether all of the trouble will come in the next two or three years we do not know. But we think that the most serious part of the trouble will occupy a very short time.

“Let us remember that we are living in most wonderful times. More can be accomplished in one month now than could have been done in years sometime ago ‑ more in one hour than in days formerly. (The cruising speed of our present‑day passenger airplanes is about 625 miles per hour. When Jesus was here the finest of horses could do little more than ten miles per hour, and that they could not continue for more than an hour or two.] We are still in the waiting attitude, so that the Lord can indicate His will in the matter for us. We believe that the year 1915 will be even more wonderful than the present. We fully believe that the year 1914 will see the end of the Gentile Times for we cannot find even one flaw in our Bible chronology. [Because of the great calm that prevailed in 1913, we were told by some brethren that Brother Russell selected some of his leading helpers, and asked them to check the chronology minutely as compiled in Parousia Volume 2; but they could find nothing wrong with it.]

“We do not claim infallibility. To err is human. If, therefore, the Father permits us to blunder in respect to His Word in this matter, nevertheless, He will undoubtedly have a great blessing for us. And if it should be that the year 1914 should not mark the close of the Gentile Times, we would still believe that the time could not be far distant; for the nearer we come to that time, the nearer we see the fulfillment of the things which the Scriptures indicate will then occur.” (Reprints 5119, October 15, 1912)

And in Parousia Volume 2, p. 101, par. 1, there is this: “Be not surprised then when in subsequent chapters we present proofs that the setting up of the Kingdom of God is already begun, and it is pointed out in prophecy as due to begin the exercise of power in AD 1878, and that the battle of the great day of God Almighty’ (Rev. 16:14), will begin in AD 1914, and that it will end in the complete overthrow of earth’s present rulership. The gathering of the armies is plainly visible from the standpoint of God’s Word.”

“Since the Church of Christ, which has been developing during the Gospel Age, is to be associated with her Lord in the great restitution work of the Millennial Age, the first work of Christ at the Second Advent must be the gathering of His elect Church, to which reference is made by the Prophet (Psa. 50:5), saying, ‘Gather my saints together unto me, those who have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.’ This gathering or harvesting time is in the lapping period of the two Ages. As will be shown, it is a period of forty years, which both ends the Gospel Age and introduces the Millennial Age. (Vol. 1, pp. 219‑221; 234‑237; and Chart of the Ages) This harvest period not only accomplishes the separation of wheat from tares in the nominal Gospel Church, and the gathering and glorification of the wheat class, but it is also to accomplish the burning (destruction) of the tares, or imitation wheat, not as individuals (the fire is symbolic as well as the tares), and the gathering and destruction of the corrupt fruitage of the Vine of the Earth (human ambition, greed and selfishness), which has been growing and ripening for centuries in the kingdoms of this world and in the civil and social organizations among men.” (Parousia Volume 2, pp. 104‑105)

Also from Parousia Volume 2, p. 77, par. 5: “Fifthly, that by that date [the end of the Gentile Times], or sooner, Israel’s blindness will begin to be turned away [published in 1889]; because their ‘blindness in part’ was to continue only ‘until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in’ (Rom. 11:25), or, in other words, until the full number from among the Gentiles, who are to be members of the Body or Bride of Christ, would be probationally selected.”

Further from p. 78, par. 1: “Seventhly, it will prove that before that date [emphasis by That Servant] God’s Kingdom, organized in power, will be in the earth and then smite and crush the Gentile image (Dan. 2:34) – and fully consume the power of these kings. Its own power and dominion will be established as fast as by its varied influences and agencies it crushes and scatters the powers that be, civil and ecclesiastical, iron and clay.”

From the above it is clear enough that Brother Russell believed when first publishing Volume 2 in 1889 (25 years before 1914) that all the saints would be selected by the end of the Gentile Times. However, after 1914 he did say the High Calling was still open. He came to that conclusion because so many were then coming into the Truth; but he did not realize that most of those were members of antitypical Lot, who began to flee from that “great City, which spiritually is called Sodom” (Rev. 11:8) when the fire and brimstone began to fall on Christendom with the outbreak of World War One. We are told of quite a few who had been waiting to see if Brother Russell’s 1914 date would prove correct – and they then left Babylon when the happenings did prove the date to be correct.

Here we should keep in mind, however, that not all of such were of antitypical Lot, as some of the saints did not come into the Truth until Passover 1916; but those saints were all sealed in the forehead before their native country was engulfed in the War; but the “night wherein no man could work” arrived when the respective countries became involved, at which time “the plowman [the plowshare of Trouble] overtook the reapers.” (Amos 9:13)

But Brother Russell still taught that the Kingdom began to be set up in the Spring of 1878, and we agree with that conclusion. Most of our readers know that the “stone” is the Little Flock, and Brother Russell says this in Parousia Volume 1, p. 255:

“The stone cut out of the mountain without hands, which smites and scatters the Gentile powers, represents the true Church, the Kingdom of God. During the Gospel Age this ‘stone’ kingdom is being formed, ‘cut out, I carved and shaped for its future position and greatness – not by human hands, but by the power or spirit of the truth, the invisible power of Jehovah. When complete, when entirely cut out, it will smite and destroy the kingdoms of this world. Not the people, but the governments, are symbolized by the image, and these are to be destroyed that the people may be delivered. Our Lord Jesus came not to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. (John 3:17)”

In view of the fact that the kingdoms of this world are being scattered and smitten after the end of the Gentile Times – 1914 after World War One began ‑ we conclude that the reaping part of the Harvest was indeed a forty‑year period ‑ from 1874 to 1914. (To be concluded in Part Two.)

“Therefore, Beloved, seeing ye know these things... Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and for ever.” (2 Peter 3:17,18)

(John J. Hoefle, Reprint No. 410, May 1990)

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QUESTIONS OF GENERAL INTEREST

QUESTION – John 6:44 says “No man can come to me, except the Father... draw him.” By what method does the Father do the drawing?

ANSWER – He draws us by the Truth. “Everyone that is of the Truth heareth my voice.” (John 18:37) During this Gospel Age the Father draws the prospective elect, but during the Millennial Age the Christ will do the drawing for all Restitutionists and that drawing also will be by the Truth. However, during the Faith Age, the rest of this text reveals that He is speaking only of the elect in John 6:44: “And I will raise him up at the last day.” The Berean Comments on this text are also instructive: “Draw him... Draw him to me; Will raise him up... Exalt him; At the last day... Early in the Millennial Day.” It is clear from this text that God is not “drawing” Restitutionists during this Faith Age ‑ nor will He do the drawing in the next Age. Jesus also said, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” (John 12:32) And the Berean Comment on this text is quite clear, too, that the Restitutionists are meant, – also it is the Truth that will draw them.

That Servant tells us in Reprint 2925, col. 2, top: “The special drawing which the Father accomplishes is in connection with what is called ‘the election according to favor, I while the drawing which Christ will accomplish in the next Age will be the operation of free grace, upon all and for‑the benefit of all.”

Also in Reprint 4049, col. 1, par. 1, top: “Similarly our Lord informs us that as a result of His being lifted up at Calvary He shall ultimately exercise a drawing power upon all mankind. Not that He is exercising this drawing power now, however, for He declares respecting those who now come unto Him that they are drawn of the Father.”

Before Jesus can exercise His power to draw Restitutionists, His merit on embargo in the Court must be released. His merit will not be applied to the world of mankind outside the Court until all the elect are in – all who are to be “exalted early in the Millennium.”

To teach that those in the Camp now have the merit of Christ and are on trial now for faith and obedience, is not only mixing the Two Salvations, but also dividing the merit of Christ for the elect and the Restitutionists. The only two groups who are mixing the two Salvations are, so far as we know, the Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Laymen’s Home Missionary Movement.

I have been thinking about 1 Cor. 15:24‑26, but I think 1 Cor. 15:28 tells the tale clearly: “And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.”

During the Little Season Christ and the Church will still be in charge, just the same as they were during the Mediatorial reign – the only exception being that the iron rule will be lifted. But they will deliver and protect the sheep, pronounce the same judgment they had been pronouncing upon the goats who did not outwardly obey during the Kingdom. It was the Father’s Law all the time, but put into the hands of the Christ. God doesn’t individually deliver the sheep – it is the Christ. So it will not be the same as it will be when the Restitutionists are subject to God. When they are Kings of the earth, they will no longer be subject to the Christ, but to God the same as all living creatures, including Christ – only they will have a much higher standing, of course.

“Those who have been teaching error [on Christ’s merit and the Two Salvations] will soon be ashamed (Isaiah 66:5), while the fire of this day will only manifest the truth to all. No power, no tongue, no pen, can successfully contradict the truth, the great Divine Plan of the Ages. It is strong before its enemies and before all who make assaults upon it, and ere long the folly of its foes shall be made known to the whole world. ‘There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’” (Reprint 5916, col. 2. par. 3, June 1, 1916) (By John J. Hoefle)

QUESTION – Does everyone have an opportunity to go to heaven?

ANSWER – No, everyone does not have an opportunity to go to heaven. God had a right, if he chose, to make us merely the creatures of a brief space of time, even if we had never sinned. Thus he has made some of His lower creatures. He might have permitted us to enjoy His blessings for a season, and then, without injustice, might have blotted us all out of existence. In fact, even so brief an existence would be a favor. It is only of His favor that we have an existence at all. How much greater favor is the redemption of the existence once forfeited by sin! Further, it is of God’s favor that we are men and not beasts; it is purely of God’s favor that angels are by nature a little higher than men; and it is also of God’s favor that the Lord Jesus and His bride become partakers of the Divine nature. It becomes all His intelligent creatures, therefore, to receive with gratitude whatever God bestows. Any other spirit justly merits condemnation, and, if indulged, will end in abasement and destruction. A man has no right to aspire to be an angel, never having been invited to that position. Uninvited thereto an angel had no right to aspire to the Divine nature.

It was the aspiration of Satan’s pride which brought his abasement, and will end in his destruction. (Isa. 14:14) “Whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted” (Luke 14:11), but not necessarily to the highest position.

“Thus saith the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, his [man’s] maker: Ask me of things to come. Concerning my children, and concerning the work of my hands, command ye me? I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded.” “Thus saith the Lord that created the heavens, God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the Lord, and there is none else.” (Isa. 45:11,12,18) None have a right to dictate to God. If He established the earth, and if He formed it not in vain, but made it to be inhabited by restored, perfect men, who are we that we should reply against God, and say that it is unjust not to change their nature and make them all partakers of a spiritual nature either like unto the angels, or like unto His own Divine nature? How much more becoming to come humbly to God’s Word and to “ask” concerning things to come, than to “command” or to assert that he must carry out our ideas? Lord, keep back thy servants from presumptuous sins: let then not have dominion over us. None of God’s children, we believe, would knowingly dictate to the Lord; yet how easily and almost unconsciously many fall into this error.

The human race are God’s children by creation ‑ the work of His hands – and His plan with reference to them is clearly revealed in His Word. Paul says that the first man (who was a sample of what the race will be when perfect) was of the earth, earthy; and his posterity, with the exception of the Gospel Church, will in the resurrection still be earthy, human, adapted to the earth (1 Cor. 15:38,44). David declares that man was made only a little lower than the angels, and crowned with glory, honor, dominion, etc. (Psa. 8:4‑8) And Peter, our Lord, and all the prophets since the world began, declare that the human race is to be restored to that glorious perfection, and is again to have dominion over earth, as its representative, Adam, had. (Acts 3:19‑21)

In selecting the Little Flock, God makes a very general call – “many are called.” All are not called. The Call was confined at first, during our Lord’s ministry, to Israel after the flesh; but now, as many as the servants of God meet (Luke 14:23) are to be urged or constrained (not compelled) to come to this special feast of favor. But even of those who hear and come, all are not worthy. Wedding garments (the imputed righteousness of Christ) are provided, but some will not wear them, and must be rejected; and of those who do put on the robes of justification, and who receive the honor of being begotten to a new nature, some fail to make their calling and election sure by faithfulness to their covenant. of those worthy to appear with the Lamb in glory, it is declared, “They are called and chosen and faithful.” (Rev. 14:1; 17:14)

(Excerpts from Volume 1, pages 189,190,195)

NO. 526 THE ANTITYPICAL LAMB

Once more we come to the Memorial, the observance of our Lord’s death as the antitypical Passover Lamb – “the lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” (Rev. 13:8) The date this year arrives on April 6, 2001, at 6:00 p.m. We here at Mount Dora, Florida will observe this great event at 7 p.m. All in this vicinity who are of like mind and wish to meet with us will be welcome.

Christ Our Passover – “Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.” (1 Cor. 5: 7) When St. Paul says Christ is “our Passover,” he is telling us very plainly that the miracle in Egypt 3016 years ago was a type of our Christ.

“When the time was come that he should be received up, he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem.” (Luke 9:51) The determination of Jesus as expressed in this text offers an example in perfection of the grace of patience in its true biblical meaning – cheerful continuance in well doing amid contrary circumstances. His course herein was against all human concept as viewed by the natural man; hence, Peter said to Him, “Be it far from thee, Lord; this shall not be unto thee.”; and Jesus gave him appropriate correction: “Get thee behind me, Adversary: thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.” (Matt. 16:22,23) Jesus knew full well that the “fullness of time” had come – that it was not the time to wait for His enemies to come to Him (which had He done, would have displayed only the passive grace of longsuffering) – that the active aggressive grace of patience should now be perfectly revealed in and by Him. And, “hereunto were you called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps.” (1 Peter 2:21)

Jesus, knowing in the final hours of that awful night that He had “finished the work Thou gave me to do,” (John 17:4) resigned Himself to what was to be. The time for controversy had passed – “this is your hour, and power of darkness”; (Luke 22:53) so He “held his peace.” “No man taketh my life from me; I lay it down of myself.” (John 10: 18) There is in this a lesson for us, too: The day previous and the day following our observance of the Memorial should be a time of calm meditation insofar as lieth in us. If any wish to be contentious at that time, let them go their way for the time being; there will come more suitable occasions to answer such.

Nor should we allow the maddening maze of things as tossed by storm and flood make us bitter or morose or hateful. It is a time at which we should lift our minds to the highest spiritual level possible ­– to repose in the sublime reflections of the past, to “consider him who endured such contradiction of sinners against himself.” (Heb. 12:3) “To be spiritually minded is life and peace.” And again, “The kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness and joy and peace in the holy spirit.” (Rom. 14:17) As we have now come into “the evil day” when “the end of all things is at hand,” let us embrace with full determination the Apostle’s words: “Above all things, have fervent love among yourselves.” (1 Peter 4:7,8) Jesus stated of this time in which we live: “Because iniquity shall abound, the love of many will wax cold” (Matt. 24:12); but “he that endureth unto the end, the same shall be saved.” (Matt. 10:22) “The leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy” (Luke 12:1), abounds in all quarters; but God’s faithful people will accept and do, particularly at this season, what St. Paul admonishes: “Purge out the old leaven.” (1 Cor. 5:7)

In the type the lamb was taken up five days before it was killed; and that was typical of Jesus, the Greater Lamb, presenting Himself to the Jews on Palm Sunday, five days before He was “lifted up.” But there was another compelling reason for the five‑day interval. That most memorable night, when the Angel of death would “pass over” the Jewish firstborn, was not to be approached flippantly or carelessly. As each family took up its own lamb, removed all the leaven from the home, the course of these five days would put them into a proper mental attitude and contrition of heart for that awesome night. And this is well in keeping with St. Paul’s words to all who commemorate the antitype: “Let a man examine himself” (1 Cor. 11:28) – not five minutes before the service, perhaps in public confessionals; not just an hour before the service; but let each do so in “sincerity and in truth” during the days preceding it. The reading of Brother Russell’s treatise of the Passover in Volume 6, and reading of the pertinent writings of the Gospels five days before the Memorial will prove most refreshing and helpful.

The deliverance of typical Israel from Egypt illustrates the deliverance from sin and its bondage of all who desire to be God’s servants and have the promised blessing, as it shall be fulfilled after the plagues (Rev. 16), in the utter destruction of all the systems born of sin and selfishness which would hinder human prosperity and advancement toward God. The overthrow of Pharaoh’s army by the sea corresponds to the fact that many of the present enslaving agencies will be overthrown by anarchy in the great “time of trouble,” now so near at hand. Already the storm is approaching which will eventually overthrow all evildoers; but a way of escape is provided for all who seek God and put their trust in Him, following the course which His wisdom has marked out.

When Jesus was thirty three and a half years old, the “fullness of time” had come for fulfillment of the type that was established in Egypt. He was to be our Passover Lamb. By faith the merit of His sacrifice was to be sprinkled on the doorposts of His people’s hearts; and His flesh, the merit of His earthly human perfection, was to be eaten or appropriated by them in their minds. When we see that it was the pure, spotless 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 that He laid down for us we are to “eat, if appropriate to ourselves; that is to say, His perfect human life was given to redeem all the race 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 Savoir from death.

Blessed are those whose eyes of faith 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 effected by the payment of Adam’s penalty; that as the whole world lost the favor of God and came under the Divine sentence of death, with its concomitants of sorrow and pain, it was necessary before this sentence or curse could be removed that a satisfaction of justice should be made; and that therefore, as the Apostle declares, Christ died for our sins ‑ the just for the unjust, that He might bring us back to God (1 Peter 3:18). Thus He opened up “a new and living way” – a way to life everlasting. (Heb. 10:20)

Jesus, the Lamb of God, the antitypical Passover Lamb, was slain 2000 years ago – on the exact anniversary of the killing of the typical lambs. The sacrifice of Jesus needs not to be repeated, for by faith we all sprinkle this same blood today, and in our hearts feed upon the merit of the same earthly sacrifice.

Our Lord as a Jew was obliged to keep the typical remembrance – eating of the literal lamb, etc., first; but after that had been done, He instituted with bread and the fruit of the vine His substitutionary Memorial of Himself, saying, “Take eat; this is [represents] my body. And He took the cup; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them; and they all drank of it.” And He said... “But I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s Kingdom” (Matt. 26:29) – until His second coming in power and great glory to receive the Church as His elect Bride and joint‑heirs in His Kingdom and to shower blessings richly upon Israel, and through Israel upon the whole world of mankind. The initial preparation for this is now being manifested in the turmoil of the Middle East, and Israel in particular.

After the Master and His disciples, as Jews, had celebrated the Passover Supper and after He had subsequently instituted the Memorial of His death, with the bread and the cup, and after Judas had gone out to betray Him, Jesus and the remaining eleven left the upper room in Jerusalem, crossed the Valley Kidron and ascended the sloping side of the Mount of Olives toward the Garden of Gethsemane.

This was the most memorable night of the Master’s experience. He knew perfectly the meaning of every feature of the Passover. He knew that He was the Lamb of God, antitypically, whose death was to be accomplished on the following day by crucifixion. Yet His thoughts were for His dear disciples. He must give them final words of encouragement and instruction. And so He did. Three chapters of St. John’s Gospel record the incidents of the intervening time between the leaving of the upper room and the arriving at Gethsemane, the place of the oil‑press. “And Judas also, who betrayed him, knew the place, for Jesus oftentimes resorted thither with his disciples.” (John 18:2) In St. John 14 the Master told His disciples about the place He would go to prepare for them, but He would send the Spirit of Truth to be their Comforter, and it would show them things to come. In the fifteenth chapter He gave them the parable of the Vine and Branches, and assured them that no longer should they be servants, but friends, “For all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.” (John 15:15) In the sixteenth chapter He explained to them that persecution must be expected, if they would share His sufferings and be prepared to share His glory.

The Scriptures show us, however, that 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 impute the sacrificial merit of His death deposited in the hands of Justice on our behalf and receive from the Father the position of exercising “all power in Heaven and earth.” As relates to the world, it was necessary also that in the Father’s due time He should come again to earth, 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 privileges then to be offered to all mankind – dead and living.

A little while and they would not see Him; then again in a little while and they would see Him. The entire period of His absence from the Divine standpoint, as compared to eternity, would be but a little while. Then, by virtue of the resurrection “change,” they would see Him, because made like Him. “In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. These things I have spoken unto you that in me ye might have peace.” (John 16:33) In the seventeenth chapter is recorded His wonderful prayer to the Father on behalf of His followers – not for the Apostles only, but for all those also who would believe on Him through their word.

After reaching the Garden, Jesus went alone deep into the Garden to speak to the Father. If some have inquired why the Master preferred to be alone in prayer so frequently, the answer is, “I have trodden the wine‑press alone, and of the people there is none with me.” (Isa. 63:3) His disciples and followers loved Him dearly. Still He was alone, because He alone had been begotten of the Holy Spirit. His followers could not feel so blessed nor be Spirit‑begotten until after His sacrifice had been finished nor until He would appear in the presence of God for them to apply His merit imputable to them; to permit them to join with Him sacrificially in the sufferings of the Gospel Age, that they might share with Him also in the Glories to follow.

St. Peter referring to our Lord’s experience in the Garden declares that He offered up strong crying and tears unto Him that was able to save Him from death, and was heard in respect to that which He feared. Why did He fear? Do not all humanity face death, and some of them with great courage and some with bravado? Ah, there is a vast difference between the Master’s standpoint and ours as respects death. We were born dying. We never knew perfect life. We have always known that there is no escape from death. It was different with Him. His experiences on the spirit plane before coming into the world were all in association with life, perfection of life. “In him was life” uncontaminated, because He was holy, harmless, undefiled and separate from sinners (Heb. 7:26); His life was not from Adam.

He knew that in His perfection He had a right to life, if He would live in perfect accordance with the Divine requirements. But He knew also that by special Covenant with God, “a covenant of sacrifice,” He had agreed to surrender all His earthly right and to allow His life to be taken from Him. The Father had promised Him a great reward of glory, honor and immortality through resurrection from the dead, but this was dependent upon His absolute obedience in every particular – in word, in thought, in deed. The question was, Had he been absolutely loyal to God in every particular? If not, death would mean to Him an eternal extinction of being, not only the loss of heavenly glory promises as a reward, but the loss of everything. Can we wonder that He was perplexed? The hour seemed so dark, and He said, “My soul is exceeding sorrowful.” (Matt. 26:38) He knew that He was to die. He knew that death was necessary. But here, now, looming up before Him on the morrow was a shameful execution as a blasphemer, as a criminal, as a violator of Divine law. Could it be possible that in anything, even slightly, He had taken to Himself the honor due to the Father? Could it be possible that in any degree He had held back, even in His mind, from full obedience to the Father’s will? Did this crucifixion as a criminal possibly mean the loss of Divine favor? Was it necessary that He should die thus? Might not this cup of ignominy pass? So He prayed in great agony. And although the old Greek manuscripts do not contain the statement that He sweat great drops of blood, medical science tells us that such an experience would not have been at all impossible in a nervous, strained, mental agony. But we note the beautiful simplicity with which His prayer concluded: “Nevertheless, my Father, not my will, but thy will, be done.” (Luke 22:42) How childlike and beautiful the faith and trust, even amidst strenuous agitation!

As Stated above, St. Paul clearly and positively identifies the Passover lamb with our Lord Jesus: “Christ our Passover is slain for us; therefore, let us keep the feast.” (1 Cor. 5:7,8) And as the Jews were to keep their Passover once a year, so it is with the antitype – it is also to be celebrated once a year. It goes without saying that all who come into the Lord’s “house” need the blood of sprinkling, not upon our residences, but upon the tables of our hearts. “The blood of Jesus Christ his son cleanseth us from all sin.” (1 John 1: 7) And, as the Jews ate literal unleavened bread with their lamb that night, so we also partake of our Lamb with the unleavened bread of “sincerity and truth.” (1 Cor. 5:8) Thus, we “put on Christ” as we grow in grace and the knowledge of our Lord Jesus. As the Jews ate the lamb that night with “bitter herbs” (which whetted their appetites for more lamb), so the Christian partakes of his Lamb with symbolic bitter herbs – the punishing trials of life through the sins of ourselves and those of others.

Our Lord Jesus also personally identified Himself with the Jewish Passover lamb at the last Supper before He died. He gathered His disciples together in the upper room, saying, “With desire have I desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.” (Luke 22:15) As Jews, it was necessary that they should celebrate the Passover supper on that night – the saving of the typical first‑born from the typical prince of this world. However, as soon as they had finished eating the lamb with all the pertinencies, Jesus instituted a new Memorial upon the old foundation, saying, “As oft as you do this do it in remembrance of me.” (1 Cor. 11:24,25) Their Jewish neighbors, who did not accept “our lamb,” would go on keeping the typical arrangement each year, as the faithful covenant-keeping Jews still do today. But that was the last typical Passover for the disciples; henceforth they would partake of the bread and wine “in newness of life” each year – with eating of the actual lamb, etc. only a memory of the past with them.

Jesus was emphatic that the disciples should no longer keep the typical celebration, as He took the bread and the wine and told them to use these “in remembrance of me.” His blood would be shed the next morning; and the cup – the wine – would be a fitting reminder of what they had done that night. Of course, the apostles knew very well what their future Passovers would be: the bread and the wine once each year on the typical Passover date.

Christians generally have misconstrued the Lord’s words, “As oft as ye do this,” to mean, Do this as often as you please; whereas the words really signify, You, My disciples [all Jews are accustomed to keeping the Passover once each year], keep this antitypical Memorial once each year on the same day and hour as you have done for the typical Memorial of the Passover in Egypt.

Who then should partake of the Memorial? We answer: all who have consecrated themselves to God and are continuing in the Word. “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples.” (John 8:31) And how should we partake of it? We offer St. Paul’s answer: “Let a man examine himself.” (1 Cor. 11:28) This does not mean we are to examine others; it does not mean we should allow others to examine us. It means exactly what it says ‑ Let a man examine himself.

A substantial part of this self‑examination may well be devoted to an introspection of our Christian courage. From the time of Jesus on down through the Age many have loved right ways, but have lacked the courage to stand for the right. “Among the chief rulers also many believed on Him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue. For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.” (John 12:42,43) One of these was Joseph of Arimathea – “being a disciple of Jesus, but a concealed one through fear of the Jews” (John 19:38, Dia.) – who waited until Jesus was dead before rendering to Him that “cup of cold water” He so sorely craved and needed during those last turbulent days. Then there was the youth (Mark 14:51) standing in the Garden that awful night, clothed in a linen garment, who also fled naked and in terror at the first evidence of trouble for himself. He apparently represented many at that time who lost their tentative justification (represented in his leaving behind the linen covering) by forsaking Him who alone could justify him. And this youth forsaking his linen garment probably pictures a class of Truth people in the end of this Age who also will lose their tentative justification because they forsake those who courageously “witness to the Truth” under present adverse circumstances. “Because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” (Matt. 24:12) Thus for all who attempt an honest self‑examination, these cases just cited may well serve as pertinent examples. And such self‑examination cannot do other than bring us to the table in a condition to “eat and drink worthily.” Therefore, let us keep the festival, not with the old leaven, nor with the leaven of vice and wickedness, but with the unleavened principles of sincerity and Truth (1 Cor. 5:8).

“By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.” (Heb. 13:15)

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MORE ABOUT LAYMEN’S HOME MISSIONARY MOVEMENT

In our January‑February paper Part One we addressed an error in the November‑December 1999 Present Truth on page 86. On this same page, par. 5 it is stated: “In view of the fact that the ‘high calling’ is closed... what difference would this make in respect to consecration? We answer it would make no difference...”

It would make a lot of difference to the consecrator. As said before, there is a “due time” for each elect class to be accepted, and each elect class has a different work to do. The work for the Saints was to “make their calling and election sure” (2 Peter 1:10) and cooperate in the “gathering of the saints.” (Psa. 50:5) The Ancient Worthies work was to be “faithful and obedient,” and to exhort the Jews to repentance. The Youthful Worthies is much the same as the Ancients, except they are to call the world to repentance, help win more Youthful Worthies “between the ages” and “contend for the faith once delivered to the Saints.” (Jude 3)

There is also a difference in the requirements of those whose trial is for “faith and obedience.” The Youthful Worthies are not on trial for life just as the Ancient Worthies were not, but some did sacrifice unto death. The time may come when some of the Youthful Worthies may have to sacrifice a great deal to be “faithful and obedient,” but others may not.

On page 87 a reference is given for Reprint 5761, which implies that this refers to the Consecrated Epiphany Campers. Brother Russell published this September 1, 1915 and it is plainly stated in that citation that an unbegotten class to be associated with the Ancient Worthies is meant, i.e. Youthful Worthies. Brother Russell did not teach Consecration in the Camp, therefore could not have meant Consecrated Epiphany Campers.

Also on page 87 it is stated: “Neither the Youthful Worthies nor the Consecrated Epiphany Campers have an embargo on Christ’s merit. But we do not expect God to apply the merit for the world until the Youthful Worthies have all gone down into death.”

Our answer: If the Youthful Worthies have no embargo on the merit, why would it be necessary that the application of the merit for the world be delayed until they are dead? The fact of the matter is that they do have a tentative embargo on the merit. Their justification is tentative and so there is a tentative embargo. As long as there is tentative justification there will be an embargo on Christ’s merit. Of course, the Ancient Worthies had an embargo. The very Scripture (Rom. 4:1‑3) cited by the LHMM proves that. “Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.” That is Tentative Justification, which places an embargo.

Again on top of page 87: “One thing is certain: to be acceptable to God in consecration, the Consecrated Epiphany Campers must in every case have the spirit that would be faithful unto death (comp. P ‘55, p. 42).” Here the writer refers to past errors to support present errors.

Let us not forget that we are still in the faith age, and there can be no Consecration in the Camp during the faith age. In the Tabernacle picture the antitype is not a place but a condition. If any of the (so‑called) Epiphany Campers have the same faith as Youthful Worthies, then they are in the Court condition and are prospective Youthful Worthies. Youthful Worthies are to be won until resurrection sets in – or between the Ages. This is taught by the founder of the LHMM and by That Servant. “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto 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) But the LHMM would rather use the faith (?) of a confessed crown‑loser.

In the January 1, 1940 Present Truth, page 13 there is a question and answer on the fourfold Tabernacle picture. The four pictures are of the Gospel Age, the Epiphany, the Millennial Age and the post‑Millennial Age. If it is read carefully it will be noted that in the first two of these pictures there is no suggestion of consecration in the Camp. Those represented in the Camp for the four periods are given as follows: For the Gospel Age: 11 ... the camp represents the condition of the nominal as distinct from the real people of God... 11 For the Epiphany: 11 ... the camp in the finished picture represents formerly faith‑justified ones who hold to the Ransom and practice righteousness, and converted Israel... “For the Millennial Age:”... the camp represents the condition of the world undergoing Restitution...” For the post‑Millennial Age: It “... the camp represents restored humanity and the new orders of perfect beings created in the Ages of Glory...” Here the founder of the LHMM does not teach consecration in the Camp during the faith Age.

On page 30 of the March‑April Present Truth it is stated: Both of these classes of goats, as we shall see, will have a part in the atonement work – in bringing the world into complete harmony with God and his law when this ‘Day of Atonement,’ the Gospel Age is ended.”

The Day of Atonement includes both the Gospel Age and the Millennial Age. See What Pastor Russell Said, page 27 top, line 10: “...because the Day of Atonement not only includes the day of sacrifice, but also the day of using that sacrifice in the work of blessing. In other words, the whole thousand years of Christ’s reign also belong to this atonement work, because the construction of the word means at‑one‑ment.” (See also Note II, page 130 of Tabernacle Shadows.)

On the same page, col. 2, par. 2: “Every believer, every Justified one (Levite) in the ‘court’ who presents himself during the Atonement Day, the Gospel Age, is acceptable as a sacrifice. Now is the acceptable time.”

The Ancient and Youthful Worthies do sacrifice when it is necessary in order to keep their covenant of faith and obedience. But the Saints sacrifices are perfect, because covered by the imputed merit of Christ. The Worthies have a faith justification, also, but it is Tentative and can be lost. But that means that as long as there is Tentative Justification there will be an embargo on Christ’s merit, that is, until the Kingdom is inaugurated and God applies His merit for the world.

In the February 2000 Bible Standard, page 12, col. 2, bottom is this: “There is yet another class, associated with the four – the quasi‑elect, especially the Consecrated Epiphany Campers. They are pictured in the other half tribe of Manasseh that settled west of Jordan. They make up a fifth class, which comprises thousands of Christians in and out of denominational Christianity – all believers in the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior.”

According to Joel 2:28,29 and 2 Timothy 2:20 there are four elect classes and four only, and any attempt to inject a fifth class is adding to the Scriptures, a thing forbidden (Prov. 30:5,6; Rev. 22:18). These along with two non‑elect classes, also shown in these two passages, make up the six saved classes from among mankind. The founder of the LHMM did not teach a fifth elect class for the Gospel Age.

See the Berean comments on Joel 2:28, which in part says: “Your sons ‑ in the receiving of those earthly sons, Israel will be the first. God will pour upon them ‘the spirit of grace and of supplication.’ (Zech. 12:10)” The passage says they, along with the daughters (converted Gentiles), will prophesy “teach under the supervision of the glorified Christ.” (Berean Comments)

The LHMM forgets or ignores the Scriptures stating that the blessings of the Kingdom are to come to the Jew first. “The days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah.” (Jer. 31:31) If God’s Word means anything to us at all, it means that the New Covenant will come through the Jews. The Jews under the Law Covenant were found in the twelve tribes of that nation. Likewise, spiritual Israel of this Gospel Age also is comprised of twelve tribes (Rev. 7:4‑9), although the vast majority of those twelve tribes came into this world as Gentiles; but they were considered spiritual Israelites once they became members of the Body of Christ – the 144,000 mentioned in v. 4.

However, when that Law Covenant was given to fleshly Israel, the only way any Gentile could receive any of its blessings was to become a proselyte Jew – have himself circumcised, adopt the Law and thenceforth live as a Jew. The same rule has applied during the Gospel Age with the spiritual Israelites; and the same rule will apply in the Millennial Age. All restitutionists will have to become proselyte Jews if they are to receive the New Covenant blessings, as the New Covenant is made for the Jews and with the Jews. Are Campers Consecrated Spiritual Israelites, or are they proselyte (natural) Jews, the Jews to whom the promise is made “to the Jew first.” “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” (Rom 1:16 – see also Rom. 2:10; John.4:22)

As for the half tribe of Manasseh, see Epiphany Volume 4, pages 450, 451, question 53. Page 451, top, line 2: “But since they and the Youthful Worthies are the two halves of the class that will obtain the better resurrection and princeship throughout the earth, and since the Youthful Worthies are a part of the Church in the wide sense of that term, they very fittingly would be typed by the half tribe of Manasseh whose inheritance was East of the Jordan; but for the reason given above, we are not to conclude that the other half of Manasseh typed the Ancient Worthies. The other half tribe of Manasseh [those settling west of Jordan and given 10 portions of land – Josh 17:5] and the other nine tribes of Israel, standing for ten tribes, type the entire restitution class [emphasis ours, ten being the number of perfection or completion for natures lower than the Divine. This again shows that the founder of the LHMM did not teach a fifth elect class.

And there is this in E‑10‑209 written by the founder of the LHMM: “The Epiphany Camp in the finished picture is the condition of the truly repentant and believing, but not consecrated Jews and Gentiles.” This definitely shows there is no consecration in the Camp.

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LETTER OF GENERAL INTEREST

Dear Sister Emily,

The holidays are over and I am glad. It is a very lonesome period for me. Glad to get your note and copies of the brother’s letter and your answer. I will be looking forward to hearing what could have happened to one who recently symbolized his consecration. The advice he received to burn the Epiphany papers sounds like the old Nominal Church in Brother Russell’s day.

One of the members of the class here has set up a website about the Truth aiming at Jews who have accepted the Messiah and offering the first volume free. They said they were overwhelmed with the questions and response. I volunteered to help by giving answers to questions which they could transmit and was given one letter. I don’t remember the date but the brother said he had been asked this question and did not have time to look it up. He asked for the answer and the first volume. The question was: “How can Christ have come yet when Jesus clearly shows that he doesn’t even arrive until after the tribulation (Matt. 24:22‑31).”

My answer which I gave to them was: “Matt. 24:29 says ‘Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, etc. The tribulation ‘of those days’ does not refer to the trouble at the close of the Gospel Age, but to the persecutions of the early Church from AD 539 to AD 1799 (1260 years of the Daniel 12 prophecy) which is examined in Volume 3, pp. 61‑94. After that tribulation which Jesus refers to, the sign or evidence, proof, of the Lord’s presence would occur in the darkening of the sun and moon, etc., which are symbolically being fulfilled during the present time. We have found a valuable reference on this question in Chapter 12 of Volume 4 of the ‘Studies in the Scriptures’ by Pastor Russell. Particular attention is called to pages 583‑584. The symbolic fulfillment of Matt. 24:29‑31 is examined from pages 590-602 of the same book.”

I have not received anymore from the class member to answer. Perhaps they thought I did not do a very good job. I would welcome any suggestions you may have. I felt that if the brother did not have a Volume 3 or 4, he should get the set. I did not mention to them that I knew of him through any other source.

Our study last Sunday was on Romans 12:1 and there is such resistance to the thought of tentative justification. I have found Reprint 5422 written in 1914 where Brother Russell writes on this Scripture, and I intend to mention it next Sunday. I think some do see it, but are afraid to go against the majority. It’s hard not to be discouraged. It seems so clear once you understand it.

I shouldn’t have started this sheet since the letter is long enough. Am looking forward to the coming papers. Keep up the good work, Sister. We want to be faithful, until death.

If you need a little encouragement sometime read Reprint 5181 on the general view of the Kingdom. It’s one I keep for reference.

Much Christian love and good wishes for this new year of service.  (CALIFORNIA)

NO. 525 RETROSPECT AND PROSPECT - PART TWO

JEWS

"EHUD BARAK'S RELIGIOUS REVOLUTION: When Prime Minister Ehud Barak got up to speak at the Knesset podium, no one could have predicted what he would say. Many expected him to announce  his  plans  to  resign as prime minister and declare new elections. [On Decamber 9, 2000 Barak said he will resign, triggering an emergency election within 60 days.] Barak, however, had a surprise up his sleeve. He announced the religious revolution he planned to bring about in the State of Israel.       

 "And this is what Barak said:  'Mr. Speaker, distinguished Knesset: Following profound deliberation, consultation with   friends and the team work of my staff, I have decided to come to the Knesset and present my religious revolution.

"'Israel is first and foremost a Jewish state, and this fact should be reflected in our public lives, not only in our religious institutions.  We would like to see studies in all schools begin with a moment of silence.  The religious schools may of course continue their daily morning prayers as before.  It is, however, unthinkable for non­observant children to grow up  without knowing before whom they stand and before whom they must account for their actions.

"'I have no intention of forcing this religious revolution on secular Jews. People of faith must assure the secular public that 'Our faith is compatible with their freedoms and that our revolution is not an expression of a lack of tolerance, but rather an expression of love.

"'There is nothing in the religious revolution that will in any way interfere with the lives of Israeli citizens of other religions,' said Barak.  'But we must tear down the barriers that separate the members of different faiths, so that we can praise the name of God together.'

"Barak punctuated his speech with quotes from the Bible. ‘It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to put one's confidence in man. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes,' and so on and so forth.

"Barak maintained that Israel's secular legal system and the plan to establish a secular constitution is causing Israel to 'lose its moral message.' He added that 'The laws of human freedom and protection of freedom of religion have come to mean freedom from religion, and this should be changed.'

"In his concluding remarks, Barak said, 'I hope that my plan for a religious revolution will make it possible for every Israeli citizen to speak about his or her faith and religion and I hope that it will bolster the feeling that beats so strongly in my Heart - that there must be a place for faith in public life. We will put God back in our public life.'

"Barak's remarks had an explosive effect. Initially the members of Knesset were stunned.  The first to respond was Tommy Lapid, declaring, 'You have again capitulated to Shas 's primitive clericals. '   Yossi Sarid declared that he would vote for any no confidence motion in the government saying, 'He is worse than Netanyahu.'

"The religious parties praised Barak's speech, but stated that they feared that this was merely another election gimmick.

"When Barak was given the floor to respond, he said, 'I don’t know what you want from me.  The words I have just said are an exact quote from Joe Lieberman, the Democratic candidate for vice president of the United States.  He called for the return of God to public life.  If it's good for America, why isn't it good for Israel?"

(From Makor Rishon, September B, 2000)

"PA TO CONFISCATE HOMES OF ARABS WHO REQUEST ISRAELI CITIZENSHIP:  Faisal Husseini, who holds the Palestinian  Authority's (PA)Jerusalem  portfolio, was  quoted in an  interview in the Al Ayyam newspaper stating that Arabs living in Jerusalem who request Israeli citizenship would have their homes confiscated by the PA.

"Husseini stated that residents of the eastern portions of Jerusalem seeking to obtain Israeli citizenship 'would lose their place among the Palestinian people.’

"The PA continues to operate in the capital illegally and in contradiction to the Oslo agreements, while the government turns a blind eye. Husseini, hailed as the PA's Minister of Jerusalem Affairs, continues to run Orient House in eastern Jerusalem, the PA's official embassy, which among other duties oversees PA interests in the capital and hosts visiting foreign dignitaries.

"In a related matter, Israel Police confirm that several Israeli Arab citizens have over the past few weeks been kidnapped by PA security agents, and the government will do everything possible to ensure their safe return home. The latest victim is a  Lod resident who was visiting family near the autonomous city of Ramallah when grabbed by PA security agents." (From Israel Wire Service, September 4, 2000)

QUOTE, UNQUOTE: "'I opened my brother's coffin and saw what they did to him. Only animals could do what they did, they are the sons of Satan, and with the sons of Satan its impossible to make peace ... But don't stoop to their level, don't carry out lynches.' (Michael Norzhich, at the funeral of his brother, Vadim, 33, an army reservist lynched in Ramallah on October 12.)"

"'Show no mercy to the Jews, anywhere. Kill them wherever you can catch them.  And kill those who are like them - the Americans, who stand with them.' (From the Sermon of an imam at a Gaza mosque, broadcast on Israel TV on October 13.)"

"'Arafat sends children to the front line because their deaths in front of the cameras serve his political purposes.   As long as the West supports him, he will continue this.' (Ex-prime  minister Benjamin Netanyahu)"        

(The Jerusalem Report, November 6, 2000)

"'We don't want peace with you. We want to banish you from our lands, the place where you stand. That land belongs to us. That is Palestinian land and not Israeli land. We will continue fighting you until we reach Jerusalem.' A Hizballah man said, speaking to an Israeli reporter across the Lebanese border following the withdrawal.

(The Jerusalem Report, June 19, 2000)

"MINORITY STUDIES: Jerusalem's Hebrew University has established what is believed to be the first Christian study center at an Israeli university.  "Research at the Center for the Study of Christianity - established with a grant from a Belgian Christian family -will emphasize the role of Christianity in the Holy Land and the historic relationship between Christianity and Torah Judaism." (World  Jewrey, May 2000)

"ISRAEL: PIECEMEAL DESTRUCTION: The latest of many upheavals in and bordering on Israel was planned by Yasser Arafat and his friends in the Arab world. That is what Palestinian political analyst Khalil Shikaki told the October 4 Jordan Times as he observed the Palestine Liberation Organization's Fatah participation in the violence.

"How many more examples of intransigence are necessary before apologists in Israel and enablers in Washington understand that the enemies of Israel want nothing less than the destruction of the Jewish state?

"This has been a piecemeal process and not one that will lead to peace. Israel has given up land it seized for its own protection after wars started by its enemies. Still, Arabists in the State Department and leftists in Israel proceed with the fiction that peace can be achieved between peoples whose outlooks are irreconcilable. 

"It was a mistake to give up land without reciprocity.  It was a mistake to release terrorists from Israeli prisons so they could rejoin their armed comrades.  It was a mistake to allow for the creation of a Palestinian 'police force,' which has been turned into an army. The vandalizing of Joseph's Tomb on the eve of Yom Kippur, while the 'police' did nothing, is proof that the 'police' won't control a  mob determined to carry out Arafat's orders. And the abandonment of that tomb can only encourage Israel’s enemies that the Jewish people's strong resolve may be crumbling .

"Rioting for the benefit of world television cameras has long been an Arafat ploy. He has orchestrated terrorism and unrest to force concessions out of Israeli leaders that could not be won through war.  The visit of Ariel Sharon to the Western Wall was merely a convenient excuse for the rioting to begin. It had been preceded with roadside bombs that killed an Israeli soldier guarding a civilian convoy. Later a Palestinian policeman (terrorist?)  killed his Israeli partner in cold blood while they were on a joint patrol. Arafat explained that the Palestinian was 'unstable.'

 "There's more violence coming. Iraq has taken a ferocious stand against Israel, unmatched by any state in the region. Iraqi Foreign Minister Muhammad al-Sahhaf referred to Israel as a 'midget entity, a usurper and a claw of colonialism...Iraq does not, and will not recognize this usurper entity.'

"On October 3, Iraqi TV broadcast remarks by Saddam Hussein: 'An end must be put to Zionism.  If they cannot, then Iraq alone is able to do so. Let them give us a small adjacent piece of land and let them support us from afar only.  They will see how we put an end to Zionism in a short time.'

"What piece of land might he have in mind?  Some analysts say that Hussein has his eye on Jordan.

"Since the signing of the Oslo Accords in 1993, Congress has appropriated $900 million in foreign aid for the PLO. The speaker of the Palestine National Council says the United States has promised $30 billion to help resettle Palestinian 'refugees,' meaning that they'll be settled in Israel from which, as we are seeing, they will be used by Arafat to undermine the Israeli government.

"There is no evidence that Israel’ s enemies wish to live at peace.  Anti-Jewish incitement in PLO school textbooks continues. The PW Teacher's Guides read: 'The student should learn [that] racist superiority is the  heart of Zionism, Fascism and Nazism.’ Among ,the  'important values' that follow is: 'Wrath unto  the  alien  thief [Israel] who dispersed its people.'

"New leadership is needed in Israel, as is a new policy by both Israel and the United States.  The current one is an obvious failure.  If war comes, Israel had better win this one, too, grabbing as much land as it can and never again letting go of it. There will be no peace between Israel and her enemies.  The best she can hope for is to maintain order." (By  Cal  Thomas,  L.A. Times Syndicate,  November  2000)

"MYTHS OF THE MIDDLE EAST: I've been quiet since Israel erupted in fighting spurred by disputes over the Temple Mount. Until now, I haven't even bothered to say, 'See, I told you so.’  But I can't resist any longer. I feel compelled to remind you of the column I wrote just a couple weeks before the latest uprising.

"Yeah, folks, I predicted it.  That's OK.  Hold your applause.  After all, I wish I had been wrong. More than 80 people [350 on December 26, 2000]  have been killed since the current fighting in and around Jerusalem began.  And for what?

"If you believe what you read in most news sources, Palestinians want a homeland and Muslims want control over sites they consider holy.  Simple, right? 

"Well, as an Arab-American journalist who has spent some time in the Middle East dodging more than my share of rocks and mortar shells, I've got to tell you that these are just phony excuses for the rioting, trouble-making and land-grabbing.

"Isn't it interesting that prior to the 1967 Arab-Israeli war, there was no serious movement for a Palestinian homeland?

"'Well, Farah,' you might say, 'that was before the Israelis seized the West Bank, and Old Jerusalem.' That's true. In  the Six-Day War, Israel captured Judea, Samaria and East Jerusalem. But they didn't capture these territories from Yasser Arafat. They captured them from Jordan's King Hussein. I can't help but wonder why all these Palestinians suddenly discovered their national identity after Israel won the war.

"The truth is that Palestine is no more real than Never-Never Land. The first time the name was used was in 70 A.D. when the Romans committed genocide against the Jews,  smashed the Temple and declared the land of Israel would be no more.  From then on, the Romans promised it would be known as Palestine.

"The name was derived from  the  Phillistines, a Goliathian  peop 1e conquered by the Jews centuries earlier.  It was a way for the Romans to add insult to injury.  They also tried to change the name of Jerusalem to Aelia Capitolina, but that had even less staying power.

"Palestine has never existed - before or since - as an autonomous entity, It was ruled alternately by Rome, by Islamic and Christian crusaders, by the Ottoman Empire and, briefly, by the British after World War I. The British agreed to restore at least part of the land to the Jewish people as their homeland.

"There is no language known as Palestinian.  There is no distinct Palestinian culture.   There has never been a land known as Palestine governed by Palestinians.  Palestinians are Arabs, indistinguishable from Jordanians (another recent invention), Syrians, Lebanese, Iraqis, etc.

"Keep in mind that the Arabs control 99.9 percent of Middle East lands, Israel represents one-tenth of 1 percent of the land mass.  But that's too much for the Arabs.  They want it all. And that is ultimately what the fighting in Israel is about today. Greed. Pride. Envy. Covetousness. No matter how many land concessions the Israelis make, it will never be enough.              

"What about Islam's holy sites? There are none in Jerusalem. Shocked?  You should be. I don't expect you will ever hear this brutal truth from anyone else in the international media.  It's just not politically correct.

I know what you're going to say:  'Farah, the Al Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem represent Islam's third most holy sites.' Not true. In fact, the Koran says nothing about Jerusalem. It mentions Mecca hundreds of times. It mentions Medina countless times. It never mentions Jerusalem. With good reason. There is no historical evidence to suggest Mohammad ever visited Jerusalem.

"So how did Jerusalem become the third holiest site of Islam?  Muslims today cite a vague passage in  Koran, the seventeenth Sura, entitled  'The  Night  Journey.'   It  relates   that in a dream or a vision Mohammed was carried by night 'from  the sacred temple to the temple that is most remote, whose precinct we have blessed, that we might show him our signs ...' In the seventh century, some Muslims identified the two temples mentioned in this verse as being in Mecca and Jerusalem.

"And that's as close as Islam's connection with Jerusalem gets - myth, fantasy, wishful thinking.  Meanwhile, Jews can trace their roots in Jerusalem back to the days of Abraham.

"The latest round of violence in Israel erupted when Likud Party leader Ariel Sharon tried to visit the Temple Mount, the foundation of the Temple built by Solomon. It is the holiest site for Jews.  Sharon and his entourage were met with stones and threats. I know what it's like. I've been there. Can you imagine what it is like for Jews to be threatened, stoned and physically kept out of the holiest site in Judaism?

"So what's the solution to the Middle East mayhem? Well, frankly, I don't think there is a man-made solution to the violence. But, if there is one, it needs to begin with truth. Pretending will only lead to more chaos. Treating a 5,000-year-old birthright backed by overwhelming historical and archaeological evidence equally with illegitimate claims, wishes and wants gives diplomacy and peacekeeping a bad name." (By Joseph Farah, World Net Daily, October 21, 2000

"ISRAEL ADRIFT: Even as Arab hordes rioted, threw rocks, desecrated shrines, and murdered and maimed innocents, Israel's legislators met and declared that there is no alternative to the continuation of 'negotiations.'  What mindset insists on attempting anything but a tough and resolute response to rioting by declared, implacable enemies?

"And so the usual suspects - Barak, Clinton and Arafat- met in Egypt on October 16th, 2000, with Egypt the sullen, hostile host. The choice of Egypt in itself was a craven capitulation, given that nation's virulent anti-Israel rhetoric, and its own  history of having violated the Camp David Accords.  (The meeting itself was at Sharm el Sheikh, a reminder to Israel of its earlier futile Camp David experiment in 'territories for peace.') There has been no normalization, no cultural exchange, no economic cooperation, and no cessation of the anti-Semitic, racist incitements against Israel emanating from the government controlled media. Even Judith Miller, an admirer of Egypt, wrote in the  New York Times of October 15th, that Egypt's government, media, and populace have returned to the virulent anti-Israel rhetoric of the Nasser years.

What bizarre thinking can expect to reconstitute 'negotiations' with Arafat?  What is left to discuss?  Is it the timetable for withdrawal from Haifa?  Is it a newly discovered link between Islam and Tel-Aviv? Is Beersheva to be known as the fourth holiest Moslem city? Is  Barak to turn over to Arafat Nazareth and the Galilee? Israel's government reminds one of lifeguards who can't swim but still urge everyone into the water." (Excerpts By Ruth King, Outpost, November 2000)

"ITALIAN TV APOLOGIZES: As Israeli economist Steven Plaut points out, all the foreign news teams have agreements with the PLO not to embarrass it. Italian TV broke the rules when its film crew filmed shots of the Palestinian mob gouging out the eyes, murdering and mutilating the two IDF reservists and then dipping hands in the blood of the murdered men and waving their bloody hands in triumph. The PLO was furious when the film went round the world.

"Richard Cristiano, the representative of Italian state television, accordingly wrote a letter of apology to the Palestinian Authority (his letter was published on October 16 in Al Hayat al Jedida).  He said he worked under the PA's rules for journalists, blames his competitors in the Italian media for broadcasting the pictures and promises never again to film events liable to cast a negative light on the PA. To underscore the point, Italian TV put large ads in all the  West Bank papers apologizing for inadvertently putting the PA in a bad light.

"Israel's government press office temporality suspended  Christiano's card  in  protest.  Given that all the foreign press works under the same PA rules (ever wonder why CNN and BBC coverage is so ludicrously one-sided?), if Israel were serious, it should be suspending all foreign journalistic credentials.  An added twist to the story:  Barak himself, while wanting the foreign press to see the film, did his best to bar it from Israeli TV;  his attempted ban was circumvented when an Israeli TV station simply copied the video from a foreign channel)."  (From the Editor, Outpost, November 2000)

WHEN   THE   U.S. SENATE   SOUGHT   THE   INDICTMENT   OF   ARAFAT   FOR   MURDER: The following letter, published in a recent issue of "Outpost," the official publication of "Americans For Safe Israel," was sent by 47 U.S. Senators, including Al Gore, to the Department of  Justice in 1986, The letter - dated February 12, 1986, and addressed to  then  Attorney General Edwin Meese III - is of special interest to the UN and speaks for itself:

"Dear Attorney General: We understand that the Department of Justice has received information linking PLO leader Yasir Arafat to the brutal 1973 slaying of Ambassador Cleo Noel and Charge d'Affaires C. Curtis Moore in Khartoum, Sudan.

"The material is reported to include various State Department cables that may confirm Arafat's role in the murders.  It is also reported to include an assertion that the U.S. government has a tape recording of an intercepted message in which Arafat allegedly ordered the assassination of Ambassador Noel and Charge d'Affaires Moore, who were taken hostage when Palestinian terrorist seized the Saudi Arabian Embassy in Khartoum on March 2, 1973.

"As you know, press reports indicate that the eight terrorists involved in the incident identified themselves as members of  Black September.  They demanded the release from prison of Sirhan Sirhan, the Baader-Meinhof gang, and a group of Fatah members held in Jordan.

"Press reports indicate that when their demands were not met, the terrorists selected the three Westerners among the hostages - U.S. Ambassador Cleo Noel, Charge d'Affaires C. Curtis Moore, and Belgian diplomat Guy Eid - and machine-gunned them after first allowing them to write farewell notes to their families and then beating them.  A day later, the terrorists surrendered to Sudanese authorities after a lengthy round of trans­ oceanic communications involving, among others, Arafat and the Vice President of Sudan.

"Press reports indicate that Sudanese President Gaafar Mohammed Nimeiri went public at once with evidence showing that the operation had been run out of the Khartoum office of Fatah.  One month after the slayings, the Washington Post reported that according to western intelligence sources, Arafat was in the Black September radio command center in Beirut when the message to execute three Western diplomats was sent out. The Post also reported that Arafat's voice was monitored  and  recorded. Although according  to the Post's sources, it was unclear if Arafat himself or his deputy gave the order to carry out the executions, Arafat reportedly was present in the operations center when the message was sent and personally congratulated the guerrillas after the execution.

"These allegations, if substantiated, leave little doubt that a warrant for Arafat's arrest should be issued, and a criminal indictment filed against him. To allow other factors to enter into this decision is to make a mockery of our laws and our stated commitment to eradicate terrorism.  As President Reagan told an American Bar Association convention this July, 'We will seek the indictment of Yasir Arafat if the evidence so warrants. We would also ask that you  keep  us advised of  the  progress of your investigation. "Sincerely, Signed by 47  U.S. Senators, including Albert Gore, Democrat of Tenn." (By David Horowitz, The Jewish Press, November 10, 2000)

"HARD TIMES, HARD MAN: Ariel Sharon Built a reputation as one of Israel's canniest generals and gutsiest soldiers. Now, an inside look at his latest daring grab for political power. The heavy scents of bougainvillaea and manure mingle in the hot afternoon air at Shikmim Farm. Ariel Sharon pulls down the brim of his black Australian bush hat - a Jewish Crocodile Dundee. On his thick fingers, he is counting off the names his political enemies hurl at him: 'Hardliner. Extremist.  Rightist.  War criminal.'  His 1,500 acres on the edge of the Negev Desert is one of the few private farms in Israel and a refuge from the controversy that has followed him through 55 years in the military and in polities. Sharon, 72, the leader of Israel's right-wing Likud Party, leans his portly frame against a metal pen, and two  dozen startled Awassi sheep suddenly flee across the straw.  Laughing, Sharon says, 'Even the sheep are afraid of me.'

"It is  not  only  the  sheep  who  are  unnerved. In the    eyes  of  many, it was Sharon who touched off  the Holy  Land's latest crisis  when  he  visited  the  Temple  Mount – Arabs  call it Haram al-Sharif - in September, infuriating Palestinians and triggering a new intifadeh. The visit set off speculation: Did Sharon  know what would happen in reaction to the visit? Did he plan the trip as a way to begin a push for power? Does the old cowboy feel any remorse about what happened in the violent weeks after his stroll? If he does, he hasn't been showing it.

"What he has been showing is his famous attraction to center stage. Amid the latest violence, Israel's opposition Shas Party gave Prime Minister Ehud Barak a one-month 'umbrella' of political support, a temporary reprieve from domestic political pressure. But next week that umbrella is set to close, and Barak must figure out how to hold his government together. He has two choices:  cut a deal with the ultra-Orthodox Shas Party or swallow hard and hold hands with Sharon. It will very probably be Sharon's last bid for  power - the final attempt of a legendary general to grab his country's highest office. If  his sheep are scared, they have reason. Sharon has shown a willingness to sacrifice to get what he wants.

"It is worth stopping for a moment to look at Sharon as more than just the one­dimensional stereotype he has become: the hard-line former Defense Minister who led Israel's invasion of Lebanon in 1982 and still refuses to shake Yasser Arafat's hand. For starters, no one calls him Ariel, Hebrew for lion. He is known universally in Israel by his nickname, Arik.  And though he packs a lot of weight on his shortish frame these days, he was once a slightly bearish but, in some circles, sexy military hero.   A photo of him from the 1973 October War shows him standing next to Israel's Defense Minister Moshe Dayan, both with the satisfied grins of men doing what they were made to do.  And something else; Sharon's head is bandaged, a nice counterpoint to Dayan's patched eye and a reminder that here were two men ready to bleed for their young country.  In private, he is a fan of violin music, known as a generous host with a quick wit. But in the end, to most Israelis, Sharon is a hard man, a man for hard times.

"It is that reputation that has shaped how he is operating in the chaos of Israel's current political disequilibrium. In the blink of an eye, Israel has gone from a land pregnant with hope for peace to a place where proponents of the peace process have been all but discredited. Sharon maintains  he  is  in  favor  of peace   talks, but mildly says  his version would continue 'down a different line from all those leftists who never saw the horrors  of real  war  like  I  did. '   In practice, that would  mean      pressing  Arafat  much harder - particularly on  the  issue  of  controlling extremists such as  Hamas - before agreeing to any deal.  But a deal, Sharon insists, would still be part of his plan.

"The  peaceniks don't buy it.  To them, Sharon embodies the old expansionist Israel of  settlements and the Lebanon war. For Palestinians, he's a symbol of  the slaughter that befell them at the hands of Israel's Lebanese Christian militia allies in the Sabra and Shatila refugee area near Beirut. The official government report found that Sharon as Defense Minister had 'indirect responsibility' for the massacres, and that event remains an essential part of the Arab vision of him.  'For  us,' says Ziad Abu Amr, a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council from Gaza, 'he could' never be anything except a murderer and criminal. '

"But though Palestinians on the street scream abuse against Sharon, their leaders know he's not their problem - yet. At a recent meeting with European visitors in Gaza, aides say Arafat mockingly proclaimed himself unfazed by the prospect of Sharon's sitting across the negotiating table; 'Sharon frightens Barak a lot more than he frightens me.' Sharon, Arafat says, could deliver what little he promises, unlike Barak, who in the eyes of many Palestinians seems to overreach at times.

"Barak - a former general himself and commander of Israel's special forces - has been willing to confront Sharon head on.   For two weeks last month, Sharon and Barak haggled over the idea of an emergency coalition between left and right - something Israelis call a national-unity government.  Barak wanted Sharon included to bolster his minority government. But Sharon set out to exact a high price, demanding a  veto over peace-process issues. Barak's team wavered. Two weeks ago, Sharon's chief negotiator, Likud legislator Meir Sheetrit, demanded a decision.  'Let's cut the bulls ----'' he remembers saying.  'I want to do a deal on the veto item. '  Barak wasn't playing.  The next day the Prime Minister moved to cut the ground out from under Sharon, appearing on television to deny that he'd given Sharon a veto.  And in a one-two punch, the Prime Minister blindsided Sharon by striking a deal with Shas.

"Sharon isn't just taking fire from the left. Inside his own party, he is stalked by ex-Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Cleared of corruption charges, Netanyahu is the favorite to unseat Sharon as Likud leader and perhaps to topple Barak. Leading Barak in all the polls, Netanyahu would prefer to see the Prime Minister fall, which would prompt new elections. So Sharon needs to move fast; his ideal play would be to cut a deal with Barak that would lever  him into power and keep Netanyahu out of the picture. Sharon  would stick around  just  long  enough  to  establish  himself firmly as Israel's conservative leader­ in-waiting.  Then he'd pull the plug and seek vindication at the polls.

"In the kitchen of his farmhouse, he pets a bouncy German shepherd named Schwartz and reminisces about his parents.  Samuil and Vera farmed avocados.  When the Zionist movement split in the 1930s, they were ostracized for joining the right wing.  Their resentment still boils within Sharon, as does their determination.  'My parents never surrendered,' he says.  Neither will he.  Barak's chief political negotiator, Communications Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, talked to Sharon each day last week and thinks he can still make a deal. 'I'm very happy with what I heard,' he says. Sharon was just happy to hear the talking at all. It's the music of a man marching closer to power every day.  For the old soldier, halting the march is never an option." (By Matt Rees, Time, November 27, 2000)

SHARON STATES HIS TEMPLE MOUNT CASE TO ALBRIGHT: In a sharp and detailed letter to Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, Arik Sharon made it clear and understandable why, as a Jew and an Israeli, he was justified to tread the sacred Temple Mount of his fore­fathers.

In a recent communication from Robert Barrington, a non-Jewish friend, the full text of Sharon's communication to Albright was enclosed. Entitled "When Will The World Listen To The Truth," it is worth taking note of:  "Dear Secretary Albright: I deeply regret, and I  find  it totally unacceptable, that your spokesman was quick to make a false statement that my visit to The Temple Mount 'may have caused tension,' insinuating that it ignited the riots and disturbances in  Jerusalem that spread to Judea, Samaria and Gaza and later, to the rest of Israel.

"I find it most regrettable and disturbing that your spokesman has been swayed by slanderous propaganda on the part of the Palestinian leaders and  media, intended  to  put pressure on  Israel and the U.S. to  make  additional  concessions  in the negotiations, under threat of violence if their demands are not met.

"I have expressed my concern and regret at the widespread violence and the senseless loss of lives· and injuries on both sides. But it must be clearly understood that it wasn't my visit to The Temple Mount, the holiest site for Jews and  under full Israeli sovereignty - that ignited the current outbreak of violence.

"Israel's Security Establishment has publicly presented its conclusions that the violent riots and armed confrontations are part of a  premeditated and organized campaign initiated by the Palestinian Authority (PA). This campaign began over ten days ago in the Netzarim area in Gaza, starting with stone throwing and escalating to the use of firearms  and explosives  against Israeli  soldiers  and civilians  traveling there.

"These riots have spread out through the deliberate incitement (prior to the visit) by the Tanzim (the armed militia of Chairman Arafat's Fatah organization). Last Friday, Arafat instructed the Tanzim  to  escalate  the riots. Moreover, Palestinian Security Chiefs have been directly involved in inciting the violence and in ordering Palestinian Police to open fire on Israeli soldiers, police and civilians.

"Arab Members of the Knesset have contributed to and joined this violent campaign by repeated incitement, calling Arab Israelis as well as Palestinians to resort to violence prior, during and after my visit to The Temple Mount.

"This is not the first time I'm visiting the Temple Mount. The Inspector General of the police has explained that the large forces which the police deployed to safeguard the  visit, were required due to Palestinian threats prior to the visit to resort to large scale violence in order to take control of the Western Wall area below the Temple Mount.

"I wish  to  emphasize,  Mrs.  Secretary,  that Prime  Minister    Barak has already stated  very clearly that every Israeli citizen, be he Arab or Jew, has a right to visit any place which is under Israeli sovereignty.

"The united city of Jerusalem, which you are all very familiar with, as well as The Temple Mount, are under full Israeli sovereignty. Neither I, nor  any Israeli citizen need to seek permission from the PA or from any foreign entity to visit there or any other site which is sovereign territory of the State of Israel.

"As for  myself", I wish to assure you  that despite the recent violent events, I  remain fully committed to achieving peace with all our Arab neighbors, including the Palestinians.

"I believe we can reach peace, but it must be durable and real peace based first and foremost on complete negation of violence.

"Furthermore, it requires Arab Palestinian recognition and acceptance of the historical inherent rights that Jews have on their land in their undivided capital of Jerusalem, and particularly sovereign rights and free access to our most sacred site on The Temple Mount. This right is granted and  has been safeguarded to every Israeli citizen as well as visitors, regardless of race, creed or religion since Israel united the city in 1967. "Sincerely Yours, Ariel Sharon."

(By David Horowitz, The Jewish Press, November 24, 2000)

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

ANNOUNCEMENT: The Memorial for 2001 is on Friday, April 6, after six p.m.

NO. 524 RETROSPECT AND PROSPECT - PART ONE

Again it is our pleasure to thank the Lord for His overruling Providence which has kept us faithful to Him; and we also give thanks for all the Lord's faithful people. We are grateful for the many blessings we have received during the past year. "They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Zion, which cannot by removed, but abideth forever. As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about his people from henceforth even forever." (Psalms 125:1, 2) "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from ever­lasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen." (Psalms 41:13)

"UNDERSEA EXPLORER FINDS CLUES OF FLOOD: WASHINGTON -The first evidence that humans lived in an area now covered by the Black Sea -perhaps inundated by the biblical flood -has been found by a team of explorers.

"'Artifacts at the site are clearly well preserved, with carved wooden beams, wooden branches and stone tools,' lead researcher Robert Ballard said.

"'We realize the broad significance the discovery has and we' re going to do our best to learn more,' Ballard said in a telephone interview Tuesday from his ship off the northern coast of Turkey.

"Fredrick Hiebert of the University of Pennsylvania, the team's chief archaeologist, said the discovery 'represents the first concrete evidence for occupation of the Black Sea coast prior to its flooding.

"'This is a major discovery that will begin to rewrite the history of the cultures in this key area between Europe. Asia and the ancient Middle East.' Hiebert said.

"The remnants of human habitation were found in more than 300 feet of water about 12 miles off Turkey. Many ancient Middle Eastern cultures have legends of a great flood, including the Bible story of Noah.

"Columbia University researchers William Ryan and Walter Pittman speculated in their 1997 book 'Noah's Flood' that when the European glaciers melted, about 7.000 years ago. the Mediterranean Sea overflowed into a smaller freshwater lake to create the Black Sea.

"Last year Ballard found indications of an ancient coastline miles out from the current Black Sea coast. The new discovery provides evidence that people lived in that now inundated region.

"Ballard,  a National Geographic Society explorer in residence, said he studied shells found along the ancient coastline and found two types. One group is an extinct type of freshwater shell, while the second is from saltwater shellfish.

"'So we know that there was a sudden and dramatic change from a freshwater lake to a saltwater sea 7.000 years ago.' he said Tuesday.

"'And we know that as a result of that flood a vast amount of land went under water. And we now know that that land was inhabited. What we don't know is who these people are, we don't know how broad their settlements were…  but we're expanding our studies to try to determine that.”.. (By Randolph E. Schmid, Winston-Salem Journal, September 13, 2000)

SPACECRAFT SURVIVES BIG HIT: A NASA spacecraft on a seven-year mission to collect comet dust survived a zap from an enormous solar flare this month. The Stardust spacecraft was blinded after it was hit November 9 by a storm of high-energy particles 100,000 times more intense than usual. according to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The spacecraft was 130 million miles away from the sun when it was hit. The flare interfered with the spacecraft’s star cameras, leaving it unable to use its primary method of orienting itself in space until the system was reset two days later." (Orlando Sentinel, November 25, 2000)

"DISCOVERY: An international team of researchers exploring the bottom of the Dead Sea in a submarine has discovered what it believes are the ruins of the biblical cities of Sodom and Gomorrah -described in the Book of Genesis as evil cities which were destroyed with fire and brimstone as Divine punishment.

"The dives -for which the submarine had to be weighted with lead to counteract the buoyancy of the extremely salty water -nearly sparked an international incident, since the Dead Sea is a military zone along the shared border of Israel and Jordan, and military authorities at 'one point ordered the ship out of Jordanian waters."

(World Jewry, April 2000)

"FOSSILS ADD FUEL TO NEW THEORY OF LIFE: Tiny formations discovered in Australian rock add new weight 'to the theory that life on Earth originated not in a 'warm little pond,' as Darwin thought, but in scalding, volcano-heated ocean depths where sunlight never entered.

"The rocks contain what are thought to be fossils of single-celled organisms 3.2 billion years old.

"The cradle of life may have been a sulfurous, subterranean inferno, not unlike a medieval vision of hell,' said Birger Rasmussen, a paleobiologist at the University of Western Australia who reported the find in today's issue of the journal Nature.

"The fossil-like traces are 600 million years younger than the earliest chemical evidence of life on Earth. But the find pushes back by 2.7 billion years the fossil evidence of microbes living around hot springs at the bottom of the sea.

The formations appear to be threadlike organisms, measuring a thousandth of a millimeter in diameter and a tenth of a millimeter long, that would have gotten their energy from chemicals such as sulfur, rather than sunlight, Rasmussen said.

"'Deep beneath the ocean, hot springs would have been attractive habitats for primitive microbes, protected from the effects of early planetary bombardments, and bathed in a rich brew of metals and nutrients,' Rasmussen said. 'Such environments could have provided a safe setting for life hundreds of millions of years before Earth's surface was habitable. '

The findings do not settle the debate about how life started on Earth. The microbes could have migrated from somewhere else." (Associated Press, June 8, 2000)

"OBJECT HAS TINY CHANCE OF COLLIDING WITH EARTH: LOS ANGELES -Scientists have spotted a small asteroid or a piece of space junk that they say has a 1-in-5000 chance of hitting the Earth in 30 years -far greater odds than any similar object ever discovered.  

"If it is an asteroid and it hits the planet, 'it would be equivalent to a fairly sizable nuclear blast,' said Donald Yeomans. For now, though, that is 'fairly low in terms of concern,' he said.

"The orbit -circular, close to the sun and in about the same plane of Earth's -is unusual for an asteroid, leading to suspicions that it might be a used rocket stage, possibly one jettisoned from an Apollo launch in the 1970s, scientists said.

"Such an object would have far less mass and would pose no danger to Earth because it would burn in the atmosphere." (Excerpts from Associated Press, November 4, 2000)

IN FINANCE

2000! What a year. Everybody was expecting a computer glitch that could have fowled up everything from factories to airlines. Many people stayed home for the New Year.

The presidential election, which at this time is in chaos, looks as if for the first time the presidential election will be decided by the Supreme Court. [This has now occurred.]

The next president will preside over a gradually slowing economy according to The Wall Street Journal. GDP gains will eased from four and a half to three and a half in '01. Unemployment is up and the economy is definitely cooling. The Federal Reserve ordered six interest rate hikes this past year. This past week Greenspan, Federal Reserve Chairman, indicated he may suggest lower interest rates. ­

The Stock Market reacted to this with two of the best days this year. The Stock Market is starting to report about profits by the Dot-Com Companies. They have not produced profits as it was expected. Many will fall by the wayside.

After six years of record profits the Bank Stocks are reporting lower profits on bank loans. One of the largest top five banks is reporting a $100 billion loss. This has brought stocks of most large banks skidding to a record low.

Gold was low in the nineties and is still at an all time low now. Gold was once the standard currency of the world.

Recession is starting to surface in conversations on Wall Street and around Washington. The first time since a mild, brief downturn in 1990-1991 there is growing consumer debt, tightening credit, rising bankruptcies and problem bank loans.

The soft-landing forecast is fragile, vulnerable to surprises such as a deeper stock slump, weakness abroad, all-out war in the Mideast, a worsening credit crunch, broader employee layoffs at high-tech firms, a steep decline in consumer confidence from a rising unemployment rate.

In this Time of Trouble we need to watch for the "times and seasons" of the Lord. "But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you." (1 Thes. 5: 1)

IN RELIGION

JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES: The Witnesses often change their teaching as the chameleon changes its color. Their followers swallow what they are told without examining it, since they believe their organization is teaching the Lord's Word. A few of them are question­ing when they are told not to bother looking up the Scriptures, but just accept what their leaders tell them. Jesus said, "Search the scriptures ..... (John 5:39) And the ancient Bereans "searched the scriptures daily" to see if the things told them were so (Acts 17:11).

Shortly after Brother Russell's death the Witnesses were told that he was still running the Society from heaven. That was so foolish, as it seemed like God was no longer bothering to take care of His people. That error didn't last very long. So they changed their teaching again and have changed it many times since. Last year they changed for a little better and are actually teaching some truth. Some people say "maybe the orga­nization is cleansing itself." But the Lord does not cleanse organizations. He does cleanse individuals of these organizations of the errors they had been taught. "Neither do persons put new wine into old skins; for if they do, the skins burst, and the wine is spilled, and the skins are destroyed; but they put new wine into new skins and both are preserved." (Matt. 9:17, Dia., see also verse 16)

THE LAYMENS HOME MISSIONARY MOVEMENT: It is with regret that we see the Laymen's Home Missionary Movement has published some of its errors in three recent magazines. They have not published their errors so freely for some time, but we understand they have continued to teach them privately.

In the November-December Present Truth on page 86 the question is asked: "Is there any difference between consecrations that are made before and those made after the Highway of Holiness (Isa. 35:8) is opened? Answer: So far as the consecrations themselves are concerned, if they are true consecrations, there is no difference. As is pointed out in P'55, pp. 41,42, where this subject is treated in considerable detail, 'The only kind of consecration that has ever been or ever will be acceptable to God is the unreserved laying down or surrender of one's own will in all things, in the same spirit in which Jesus consecrated Himself (Psa. 40:8; Heb. 10:7).’” Both texts refer to Jesus' consecration.

Our answer: Consecration during the Kingdom does not require anything but faith and obedience the same as was required of Adam. There is nothing said about sacrificing. The LHMM say the consecrations in the Kingdom would be in the same spirit of Jesus, and cites Psalms 40:8 and Hebrews 10:7. Only the saints "die with Christ."

The first elect class is in Hebrews, chapter II, and are Ancient Worthies. The Gospel Age elect are the Saints first then the crown-lost (Great Company), who were spirit begotten, but were remanded to the Great Multitude of Revelation 7:9 and are not numbered. The saints were numbered 144,000 in Revelation 7:4, but the other three elect classes are not numbered.

The saints were gathered from all nations during the Harvest of the Gospel Age and in the Gleaning before Brother Russell died. We believe the text of Psalms 50:5 was given to That Servant: "Gather my saints together [in one unit] unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice." Brother Russell went to many nations to "gather the saints." Of course his faithful followers helped him with this mission of gathering the saints. It was the first time that the saints were gathered in one unit. During the time before the Harvest the saints were in the denominations, or alone most of the time in the Dark Ages.

The Ancient and Youthful Worthies are under the faith covenant, which requires Faith and Obedience. However, they have to sacrifice at times when it is required in order to be obedient (See Heb. 11:33, 36, 37). But quite a few were faithful and obedient and did not sacrifice: Abel, Enoch, the harlot Rahab, et al, as shown in Hebrews 11. The Youthful Worthies don't sacrifice unless to be faithful and obedient they have to sacrifice. However, we are now living in a time that the only persecution we get is from some of the truth friends. Of course, we don't consider the organization of Jehovah's Witnesses as Bible Students.

We are living in such a time that the denominations do not persecute us. Brother Russell gave three ways to know the door is closed, the second way fits the time we are now living in: "By such a reversal of public sentiment with reference to the truth, that fidelity and zeal in its service would no longer meet with opposition, and when suffering with Christ for the truth's sake (Rom. 8:17) would be no longer possible." (Volume 3, page 207)

We will discuss other errors that appeared in the magazines of the LHMM last year in a future paper. We do not have the space in this paper.

"EVOLUTION ISSUE TURNS ELECTION INTO SPECTACLE: Kansas rejects candidates who favor creationism. CHICAGO -Voters in Kansas have repudiated the state school board's removal of human evolution from the state science standards, making it almost certain the decision will be overturned.

"In a Republican primary on Tuesday, voters defeated three conservative candidates who supported the decision, made by the Kansas Board of Education a year ago. In the first board election since then, voters chose three moderate Republicans who pledged to return evolution to the science standards. And those three will run in November against Democrats who also support evolution. The election assures a majority on the board supporting evolution.

"'I think parents want their kids to have a strong competitive education,' said Sue Gamble, a moderate Republican who defeated the school board chairwoman, Linda Holloway, a conservative.” The message was that that includes a full set of science standards and that includes evolution.'

"While the board vote last August did not prevent schools from teaching evolution, it effectively removed evolution as the sole explanation for the origin of species, as well as the Big Bang theory of the origin of the universe, from state student assessment tests.

"Last year's 6-4 decision was considered one of the most significant victories for those who believe the species were created by God or conservatives who favor an 'intelligent designer.' Proponents of such theories have stepped up their activism, prompting states like Kentucky and Oklahoma to dilute the teaching of evolution. Many other states, wresting with evolution debates, too, had their eyes on Kansas.

"'Kansas has been sort of ground zero,' said Ralph G. Neas, president of People for the American Way, a civil liberties group that supports the teaching of evolution. 'And a lot of states will be taking a look at this very seriously.'

"The issue has transformed a normally obscure election into a lightning rod for the evolution debate.

"Campaigns that normally raised no more than a few hundred dollars got tens of thousands of dollars in contributions, some from out of state. Candidates ran television commercials.

"And Democrats switched parties just to vote in the Republican primary. In the end, only one of the four conservatives running won, Steve Abrams of Arkansas City, a board member who helped write the standards approved last year.

"Holloway, the former chairwoman, said she 'had no idea it would be that much of a defeat.' Holloway, who believes that evolution can be taught alongside creationism or other theories, said, 'There is clearly still a misunderstanding of what we did.'

"'One thing I'm very elated about is I don't believe the discussion about evolution will ever be the same again,' Holloway said. "'People are looking at it with a more critical eye rather than swallowing it hook, line and sinker.'" (By Pam Belluck, N.Y. Times News Service, August 3, 2000)

CATHOLICS: "POPE PIUS XII: Historians pose new questions to Vatican. VATICAN CITY -Roman Catholic and Jewish historians examining Pope Pius XII's actions during the Holocaust have put the Vatican on the spot.  

"After an 11-month study, they concluded that published Vatican material on World War II leaves many important questions unanswered and urged the Vatican to open up its archives.

"There has been no immediate response from the Vatican. Its chief spokesman, Joaquin Navarro-Valls, said it was premature. He noted the commission of three Catholic and three Jewish scholars, issued its 'preliminary report' only last week.

"The report, and remarks by commission members at a news conference, raised explosive questions about what Pius XII and his top aides were doing as reports of the persecution of Jews across Europe reached the Vatican.

"The panel was formed by the Vatican and Jewish groups to examine accusations that Pius did not speak out forcefully enough against the Holocaust. For Jews, the issue took on urgency when the Vatican appeared to have put Pius on a fast track for beatification, the last step before possible sainthood.

"Since the first controversy surrounding Pius' role during the Holocaust arose in the 1960s with Rolf Hochhuth's play 'The Deputy,' the Vatican has consistently defended its wartime pope. It said he worked prudently for peace and was thanked by Jews for his efforts.

"At a Vatican news conference a year ago, two church representatives denied the Vatican ever received concrete evidence of the extent of Hitler's campaign to exterminate the Jews.

"One of them, Cardinal Pio Laghi, said at that time that while modern satellites Can detect 'a cow in the field in Nicaragua,' it is unfair to judge the World War II era by such standards.

"In posing specific queries to the Vatican, the commission appeared to challenge the Vatican's contention that it was unaware of the extent of the tragedy.

"The report cites 'astonishingly detailed accounts of killings' by the chaplain of a hospital train in 1942. It recalls how a Ukrainian Catholic bishop 'described with sharp clarity the atrocities and mass murder' against Jews and the local population that same year.

"'There is evidence that the Holy See was well-informed by mid-1942 of the accelerating mass murder of Jews,' the report said. 'Questions continue to be asked about the reception of this news and what attention was given to it. How thoroughly informed was the Vatican regarding details of Nazi persecution and extermination? What was the Holy See's reaction, and what discussions followed reports that flowed in describing evidence of the Final Solution."

The Rev. Gumpel, a Jesuit who has been documenting the case for Pius' beatification, called the questions leading and loaded.' Gumpel denied that the beatification has been put on hold. as some have suggested, saying he is still putting together material to make the case.

"'It is absolutely open when and if' the beatification would be approved, Gumpel told The Associated Press. 'I personally think it will.'

"The commission examined documents published by the Vatican in 11 volumes between 1965 and 1981. ..” (By Victor L. Simpson, Winston-Salem Journal, November 4, 2000)

"ROME: New documents have turned up in a Roman flea market confirming that Pope Pius XII was briefed about the Holocaust as early as 1941. A local journalist and book collector,  Fabrizio Coisson. recently bought four volumes that turned out to be file copies of secret reports written for the eyes of the pope by the British ambassador to the Vatican, D'Arcy Osborne. Coisson has no idea how they reached the market stall. Osborne, who spent most of the war inside the Vatican, compiled reports of European news which he picked up on short-wave radio from the BBC in London. He passed these on to the pope, at first once a week, then daily. On 21 September, 1940, for example, Osborne writes: 'Experiments have been made on gassing sick or mentally deficient children in Germany.' On 14 March, 1941, he reports: 'However incredible it may seem, there have been reprisals against the Jews in Nazi territories.' He continued to pass on reports of Nazi atrocities against the Jews and others. The new revelations are expected to reinforce Jewish protests at Vatican plans to declare Pius XII a saint." (The Jerusalem Report, June 19, 2000)

"ROME:  Although they lost the battle to block the beatification of Pope Pius IX, Italian Jews vowed to continue against the anti-Semitism and narrow clericalism represented by the 19th century pontiff. Pius IX enacted laws against the Jews in 1849 and authorized the abduction of a Jewish boy, who became a priest. Pope John Paul II announced the beatification. one stage short of sainthood, in St. Peter's Square on September 3. The president of the Union of Italian Jewish Communities Amoz Luzzato, told The Report they would now concentrate on developing and strengthening the ties they forged with 'the best part' of Italian Catholics, as well as with the Protestant and Muslim minorities. 'The problem,' he said, 'was never to interfere with the internal affairs of the Church, but to make people aware that Pius IX was a racist who opposed the development of Italy into a modern state.  We took the lead, drawing criticism from many sides, but it was worth it.” (The Jerusalem Report, September 25, 2000)

"CARDINAL: Vatican still awaiting Jews' conversion. LONDON -Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, a leader of the Vatican's conservative wing has created a storm by declaring that the Catholic Church is waiting for Israel and Jews to embrace Christianity.

"The statement, contained in a new book by one of the closest aides to Pope John Paul II. is likely to affect Catholic-Jewish relations.

"Ratzinger, who heads the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. the guardian of Vatican orthodoxy, is quoted by the German Magazine Focus as writing: 'Catholics do not want to impose Christ on the Jews, but they are waiting for the moment when Israel also says yes to Christ.'

"The comment is expected to ignite a firestorm among Jews in the Diaspora and cause dismay among those convinced that relations with the Vatican had improved.

"Ratzinger's comment came a week after he issued another Vatican document, Declaration Dominus Jesus, which effectively delegitimized non-Catholic churches by characterizing them as 'gravely deficient.'

"Commenting on last week' s declaration, which carried the authority of the pope, British Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks expressed dismay at the 'mixed messages from the Vatican right now.. the personal initiatives of the pope… [and] this very conservative voice... which does seem to belong to an earlier age.· .. (The Jerusalem Post. September 22, 2000)

"LETTER COULD HURT UNITY: VATICAN CITY -One of Pope John Paul II's closest aides has written to bishops worldwide declaring that the Catholic church is the 'mother' of other Christian churches, a move that could hurt Vatican efforts toward unity with other believers.

"The Vatican had no comment on the document yesterday, which was reported Friday by the Italian religious news agency Adista.

"In the document, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger told the bishops that it was incorrect to refer to Christian churches, ranging from Orthodox to Protestant, as 'sister' churches of the Catholic church. (Winston-Salem Journal Wire Service, September 3, 2000)

"ALL RELIGIONS AREN'T EQUAL, VATICAN SAYS IN STATEMENT: Catholic Church is called only source of salvation. VATICAN CITY -In a declaration carrying the full authority of an infallible teaching, the Vatican said this week that the Roman Catholic Church is the only 'instrument for the salvation of all humanity.'

"The 36-page 'Declaration Dominus Jesus’ ('On the Unicity and Sa1vific Universality of Jesus Christ and the Church') expressed 'sincere respect' for other religions but attacked 'religious relativism which leads to the belief that one religion is as good as another. '

"'If it is true that the followers of other religions can receive divine grace, it is also certain that Objectively speaking they are in a gravely deficient situation in comparison with those who, in the church, have the fullness of the means of salvation, ' the Vatican said of non-Christian religions. It called non-Catholic Christian bodies 'defective. '

"Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, issued the document at a Vatican news conference as part of what appeared to be an ongoing effort by the Vatican to reassert traditional Catholic doctrine.

"Ratzinger said in a recent letter to bishops' conferences throughout the world that the Catholic Church is the 'mother' of all Christian churches and told them to stop referring to the Orthodox Anglican and Protestant churches as 'sister' churches.

"AND LAST SUNDAY, Pope John Paul II beatified Pope Pius IX, a conservative 19th century pontiff who proclaimed the doctrines of papal infallibility and the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary but also fought the unification of Italy, restricted religious freedom and locked Rome's Jews into a ghetto.

"The new declaration raised concern among some other churches. In London, Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey, spiritual leader of the worldwide Anglican Communion, called Ratzinger's statements 'unjustified' and said they did 'not reflect the deep comprehension that has been reached (by Catholics and Anglicans) through ecumenical dialogue and cooperation during the past 30 years.'

"In Geneva, the World Council of Churches warned that the growth of ecumenical dialogue could be 'hindered -or even damaged' by what it called 'language which precludes further discussion of the issues.'

But Cardinal William Keeler of Baltimore, a leader in the Catholic Church's dialogue with both the Orthodox churches and the Jews, said that Ratzinger's pronouncement is 'in full accord with what Vatican II has said.'

Keeler, who attended the Vatican news conference, said he did not expect the new declaration to have a negative effect on ecumenical and interfaith dialogue.

"In England, Archbishop Cormac Murphy-O'Connor of Westminster, the chairman of the department of mission and unity of the Catholic bishops' conference of England and Wales, said that the new document 'does not attempt to change the teaching of the Catholic Church regarding ecumenism.'

"He said its main purpose was to warn against a tendency to regard all religions as equivalent and it was written principally for Catholic bishops and theologians.

"'Certainly no slight is intended by its comments regarding other Christian communities,' he said. 'As Christians we share a common baptism, .and the Catholic Church believes this brings us all into a real, if imperfect, communion. This was made clear in the documents of the Second Vatican Council, where it said that other Christians 'with good reason are accepted as our brothers and sisters.· .. (By Peggy Polk, Religion News Service, September 9, 2000)

BAPTIST: "TEXAS BAPTISTS SEND MESSAGE BY HOLDING BACK $5 MILLION: CORPUS CHRISTI, TX -Texas' 2.7 million Baptists dealt a severe blow to the Southern Baptist Convention on Monday, withdrawing $5 million in funding on the grounds that the denomination is becoming too conservative.

"After a brief, civil debate, the 6,000 representatives of the Texas Baptists approved the move by a sizable majority by holding up voting cards. "Earlier this month, former President Carter severed ties to the Southern Baptist Convention because of its 'increasingly rigid' creed.

"In recent years, the Southern Baptists have barred female pastors, declared that wives should 'submit graciously' to their husbands, boycotted Disney, and issued resolutions condemning homosexuality.

"On Monday, the Texans voted to cut the amount of money they give to Southern Baptist seminaries by about 80 percent next year and send the $4 million instead to three moderate campuses in Texas.

"The Texans will still send about $19 million to the denomination, mostly for missionary work in the United States and abroad.

"The Rev. Claude Thomas of Euless, Texas, who chairs the national body's executive committee, said, 'I am distressed emotionally. I am distressed because of the impact this is going to have on the churches of Texas [that] are going to have to make decisions they don't want to make. , .. (Excerpts from Associated Press, October 31, 2000)

LUTHERAN: "LUTHERANS OFFER AMENDS: BERLIN -Germany' s Lutheran church has acknowledged sharing guilt for the Holocaust in the clearest terms yet and called on its 27 million members to make a fresh start in relations with the Jewish community.

"A national convention of Lutheran leaders passed a resolution late Thursday saying that the church was guilty not only of 'silence and failure' during the Nazi era but also that its 'disastrous tradition of alienation and enmity towards the Jews' helped prepare the ground for the Holocaust.

"That tradition has hampered efforts to rebuild relations with the Jewish community since the end of World War II, the resolution said, even though the Lutheran Church in Germany first acknowledged its guilt 50 years ago." (Wire Service, November 11, 2000)

EPISCOPALIAN: "BISHOPS SLATE CHALLENGE: ROSEMONT, PA -Anglican archbishops from overseas who oppose the Episcopal Church USA's liberal views on homosexuality are challenging the denomination's leadership by staging their own confirmation service here. The presiding bishops of Kenya, Uganda, Congo, and Sydney, Australia, are expected to attend or send delegates to Sunday's confirmation by Archbishop Maurice Sinclair of Argentina. They oppose the practice by the Episcopal Church, the U. S. branch of Anglicanism, of ordaining gay men and lesbians and allowing clergy to bless same-sex unions. (Orlando Sentinel, November 25, 2000)

"EPISCOPAL, LUTHERAN CHURCHES CREATE ALLIANCE: DENVER -Episcopal Church leaders approved a historic pact yesterday with the nation's largest Lutheran denomination, voting to create an alliance in which the churches will share clergy, sacraments and strategy.

"The Episcopal Church's House of Deputies, made up of 832 priests and lay people, overwhelmingly approved the agreement, one day after it won approval from the other chamber of the church's legislature, the House of Bishops.

"Leaders of the 5.2 million-member Evangelical Lutheran Church in America approved the alliance last year. "'It enables our two churches to work together in ,a' shared mission to our broken and hurting wor1d,' said the Rev. Donald Brown, a co-chairman of ecumenical relations for the 2.4 million-member Episcopal Church. 'Both our communities will be living into reality Jesus' prayer that all his followers might be one,' said Brown." (Journal Wire Report, July 9, 2000)