NO. 212: THE PROGRESSIVE TABERNACLE PICTURE

No. 212

In the Sept.-Oct. 1972 Present Truth there is an article with the above caption, the same occupying almost the entire paper. In this presentation there is recourse to profuse jugglery and “sleight-of-hand” by the editor in a devious effort to en­mesh Brothers Russell and Johnson in his quagmire of error – in an elaborate attempt to deceive unwary brethren. Those of us familiar with the situation know that That Evil Servant did the same thing exactly with That Servant’s writings when he was in the clutches of Azazel. If this observation seems too harsh, we would answer that an honest presentation of any subject should first offer a clear definition of the thing to be discussed before any other comment is given. And it seems now we are called upon to present the real Truth on Tentative Justification and Tabernacle Shad­ows, just as the Epiphany Messenger had to do with J. F. Rutherford – if we would be faithful to the Lord, the Truth and the brethren. In discussing the present-day Tab­ernacle, the elementary truth on the subject is given in E-11:591 as follows:

“There is a threefold set of antitypes of the tabernacle types: (1) the Gospel ­Age antitype, (2) the Epiphany antitype, and (3) the Millennial Age antitype. ONLY ONE of these three antitypes operates at a time, i.e., only one can be visible as working at any one time, and the other two are kept out of sight at such a time.”

Thus, the question logically arises – Which tabernacle is now operating? Our own answer to this query is that the Epiphany Tabernacle is now the only one in sight. In previous papers we have presented this same premise; but RGJ persistently ignores it and for good reason. If he contends that the “finished picture” of the Epiphany is now operating since 1954, he has a problem, because his present picture of the Holy, Most Holy, Court and Camp are far different from what Brother Johnson taught. On. p. 13 of the 1940 Present Truth we are given a clear definition of the Gospel-Age, Epi­phany or transitional, and the Millennium and post Millennium tabernacles – to which RGJ no longer refers in his present perversions. We shall concern ourselves herein with the Epiphany Tabernacle only:

“For the Most Holy we have Divine beings; for the Holy crown-retaining new creatures only; for the Court the Great Company and Youthful Worthies; for the Camp the formerly faith-justified who hold to the Ransom and practice righteousness, and converted Israel.” This is the “finished picture” of the last special period of the Gospel Age – namely, the Epiphany. It will be noted that there is not the slightest hint of a consecrated class in the Camp in that picture; and, if there is any question regarding Brother Johnson’s meaning, we need only to quote from E-10:209:

“The Gospel-Age Camp is the condition of the unjustified people of God, while the Epiphany in the finished picture is the condition of truly repentant and believ­ing, but not consecrated Jews and Gentiles.”

If RGJ is forced to admit the Epiphany Tabernacle is now operating, then we have a clear picture of what is contained in the Camp – “the repentant and believing, but not consecrated.” Of course, if we accept the teachings of Brother Johnson, we have sufficient foundation for rejecting the whole effort of the article under review. The whole purpose of the article is to justify a non-existent class of consecrated per­sons in the Camp after 1954 – just as J. F. Rutherford contended for his non-existent class of Jonadabs, or Great Multitude, after 1914.

With equal emphasis we may add that Brother Russell never once hinted at a conse­crated class in the Camp here in the end of the Age – although he did see an unbegotten consecrated class “between the Ages” who would be rewarded in partnership with the Ancient Worthies – a class we designate as Youthful Worthies in the Court. This “new light” on the Camp is pure invention by RGJ; and we now quote from E-7:138:

“The Levites (especially crown-losers here in the end of the Age—JJH) are not to seek to discover ‘new light’ and spread it before the Church, as this would be at­tempting to go into the Holy, from which they have been excluded, and would result in their offering strange fire.”

By his own admission, RGJ was ejected from the Holy about 35 years ago; but that doesn’t bother him now as he persistently revolutionizes against this clear Epiphany teaching. But to those of us who still adhere to Epiphany Truth, we shall be suffi­ciently alerted against such revolutionism, and not be led astray by any Azazelian trickery, regardless of who may attempt it.

On p. 71, col. 2, top, he quotes a “‘sifting errorist” (meaning JJH, of course) to the effect that “the Camp in the Gospel Age Tabernacle and Epiphany Tabernacle is assigned to the unjustified by both Star Members.” When we are told, as quoted above, that the Camp is for the “formerly faith-justified,” it should be clear enough to any one not befuddled by Azazel that those people in the Camp in the finished pic­ture would lack the justification they “‘formerly” possessed – as they are in the Camp awaiting their works-justification. This is their condition, of course, in the “finished picture” – and not a place. They can be in Timbuktu, or any other place, literally, but if they are “repentant and believing” they are in the Camp condition; and, if they are tentatively justified they are in the Court condition, no matter where they might be on earth. If they consecrate, and the Lord accepts that consecra­tion, they will remain in the Court, if faithful. In this connection we quote fur­ther from E-7:186-187:

“All Great Company leaders, as graspers for power and lords over God’s heritage, have the same spirit, and, like their kindred-spirited brethren in the nominal church all through the Gospel Age... have found fault with the faithful shepherds of God’s flock (just as RGJ found fault with the Epiphany Messenger—JJH), and perse­cuted them because of their interfering with their selfish plans... They change things (by offering a “progressive taber­nacle picture,” etc.—JJH) to give them a false set­ting and they invent things to make their theory of things seem plausible.”

CONCERNING TENTATIVE JUSTIFICATION

It is almost unbelievable that we should have to reassert the Truth on Tentative Justification to Epiphany-enlightened brethren – particularly to RGJ, since he himself once contended for Tentative Justification in refutation of JFR’s errors, just as we now contend for Tentative Justification against his (RGJ’s) errors in kind. To bol­ster his invention as described aforegoing, RGJ then quotes Brother Russell to this effect (p. 73, col. 2, top): “The world’s justification will not be instantaneous, but will progress during the thousand years – the Millennium. The world tight then be said to be TENTATIVELY JUSTIFIED through the Mediator and his kingdom, but their justi­fication will be accomplished only in their absolute perfection at the close of the Millennium when they will be presented to the Father and accepted by him... They will be approaching gradual justification, and every one of that time who will be in the right way, and seeking to be in harmony with the Lord, will be said to be tentatively justified.”

From this, any reader would be forced to the conclusion that RGJ is now teaching, contrary to the clear Epiphany Truth as given to us by Brother Johnson, that tentative justification, as it now prevails, will continue right on through the Millennium.

If that is his belief, and it would seem to be such from his emphasis in the above quotation, then we have here just one more example of the “strong delusion” (2 Thes. 2:10) that is meted out to crown-losers as a part of their fit-man experiences. The tentative justification that exists now is a faith justification; but the tentative justification mentioned by Brother Russell for the Millennium is a works justification; and any attempt to merge the two can result only in spiritual bedlam. The tentative justification of the Millennium will result in actual justification to all who apply themselves properly; whereas, the tentative justification that prevails now will never bring any class to actual justification in this life – regardless of how long or how ardently they apply themselves to gain perfection. The tentative justification of the Gospel Age and the Epiphany is a tentative imputation of Jesus’ merit; but in the Millennial Age there will no longer be an imputation of the merit. Nor can there be any imputation of the merit in the Camp during the Gospel Age, the Epiphany or the Millennial Age. Why? Because the merit as an imputable thing is in the Court – for the Household of Faith. And Brother Johnson clearly teaches that when the tentative­ly justified fail to consecrate in the “finished picture,” they are remanded to the Camp, and cease altogether to be of the Household of Faith; while those who do conse­crate and prove faithful, retain their Tentative Justification, and are thus of the elect Gospel-Age Household of Faith who persist into and during the Epiphany. (See Epiphany Vol. 4, p. 406)

A quotation from E-11:169 is directly to the point: “There will be no more faith justification working during the Millennium, no more Gospel-Age study, spread and prac­tice of the Truth then, nor will there be any more suffering for righteousness and truth during the Millennium. It must, therefore, be completed before the Millennium begins, i.e., we must finish our faith justification feast while it is yet the Gospel Age...... When this Age ends Christ’s merit will cease to be an imputable thing.”

In harmony with this thought we now quote from E-11:473, top: “We understand that Jesus’ pertinent work as Executive for the antitypical tabernacle and its appurtenances will continue with the Little Flock, Great Company and Youthful Worthies until they re­spectively finish their courses, but will cease with the faith-justified when their faith-justification lapses, which seemingly will occur in every case by Oct. 1954, according to Rev. 22:11.”

The “faith-justification” mentioned above will lapse when its possessors are ejected from the Court into the Camp in the “‘finished picture.” And to the Epiphany Messenger that would ‘seemingly’ occur in Oct. 1954, because he firmly believed we would have had Armageddon, and the beginning, at least, of Anarchy would be upon us by 1956. But the “signs of the times” in 1954 did not corroborate this, nor did the “signs of the times” after 1914 indicate that the world as individuals were on trial. But that didn’t faze JFR, nor does it faze RGJ in his present efforts to dis­tort the Truth as given to us by the two Messengers, in his attempt to offer consecra­tion to the Restitutionist “between the Ages,” instead of offering it to those Youth­ful Worthies who are assured they will have an opportunity, if faithful, to receive a reward in partnership with the Ancient Worthies. The above quotation by Brother John­son should leave no doubt in unbiased minds that it was definitely not his idea that present tentative faith-justification would extend to the Camp after 1954 and would go right on through the Millennium. This is further emphasized in E-11:480-482:

“Faith justification reckons to its beneficiaries all the Millennial blessings of restitution, hence rest or freedom from the curse... This rest separate from the curse is a reckoned one – the rest of faith-justification – and will be an actual one – ­the rest of the Millennium, the rest of works justification.”

In harmony with the foregoing, we now quote from Brother Russell himself: “Those who never go on... make a consecration, never get justification in full in the present life. Their hope will be the same as that of the world – a hope of actual justifica­tion.” (Reprint 4656, col. 1, bottom – August 1, 1910)

Then further from Question Book, p. 414: “Now, the Court represents all the be­liever’s experiences in justification, from the time he enters the gate, coming into the Court passing the Brazen Altar, till he comes to the door of the Tabernacle.. He begins to draw near to God just as he passes through the gate to the Brazen Altar. He draws still nearer while he is washing at the Laver, and still nearer when he ties himself up at the Door of the Tabernacle. When he has done this, he has done every­thing he can do. Next thing must be done by the Lord, represented by the High Priest of Israel.” (Up to 1881 all faithful consecrators were admitted to the Holy by spirit­-begettal; but after that date there were individual faithful consecrators who were not spirit-begotten—JJH)

In E-8:384 there is this: “Justification by faith makes one no more than a nom­inal Christian.” This is true of those in the Court condition but fail to consecrate – their eventual standing will be in the Camp with the nominal Christians. At the end of this Age they will be remanded to the Camp to await their opportunity to enter the Highway of Holiness. In corroboration of this, we quote from E-11:182,183:

“The charge not to leave the house (the Household of Faith as repre­sented in the Court—JJH) until morning means that entirely throughout the Gospel Age, until this Age completely ends, i.e., so long as there is yet a faith justification operating, God’s people must remain under the imputed merit (in the Court, the place picturing the condition where Christ’s merit is imputed – JJH)”

Again RGJ attempts to fit E-10:114 into his revolutionism; but each effort at this only reveals his folly more acutely. We have repeatedly quoted from this same citation on p. 114: “After 1954 no more persons will enter the tentatively-justified state.” In the present P.T. he stresses that this should be considered as applying “only for Gospel-Age purposes.” Well, in the same paragraph on p. 114 we are also told (“seemingly after 1954”): “It would be useless to exhort sinners to repent.” (But RGJ continues to “exhort sinners to repent.”)

In the “finished picture” Brother Johnson tells us that the Camp will contain the “repentant and believing, but not consecrated.” Those repentant and believing Campers will be awakened with the unjustified world: they will receive the Resurrection of the UNJUST – a resurrection by judgment. RGJ admits that his ‘consecrated’ Campers will not receive the ‘better resurrection’ of the Worthies – instantaneous physical perfection. It is self-evident that RGJ is still advising sinners to repent and be­lieve, which would be useless, if we accept the Epiphany Messenger’s teaching, after the gate to the Court is closed. A converted sinner “arises higher” than he was before his conversion; and according to RGJ’s teaching, Campers Consecrated “arise higher in their standing before God” – precede the Jews in honor and service in the Kingdom. However, we continue to teach “to the Jew first,” even as did That Servant, the Epi­phany Messenger and the Apostle Paul.

In the “Progressive Tabernacle picture” in this Present Truth magazine, his Camp is neither the Gospel Age, the Epiphany (finished picture), or the Millennial Camp. His presentation finds no corroboration anywhere in the writings of That Servant or the Epiphany Messenger. It would seem, from his present gymnastics in error, that he has lost sight of an important elementary truth – namely, that a place in the taber­nacle types represents a condition in the antitype. Where is the condition of tenta­tive faith justification shown in the type? In the Court – a place in the type, but a condition in the antitype. All this is set out very clearly in Tabernacle Shadows. In this P.T. he contends it doesn’t matter where they are – in the Camp or in the Court – just so long as they are tentatively justified and consecrated! However, we accept the teachings of the two Messengers, in preference to that of a crown-lost leader, that it isn’t possible to obtain tentative faith justification without being in the Court condition; neither of them ever taught such a thing. And, if we decide to reject their teachings on the Tabernacle Camp, why call it a Camp at all? JFR did not place his non-existent Jonadabs in the Camp: he rejected Tabernacle Shadows altogether. The Epiphany Messenger gives a clear picture of the Camp condition for the Gospel Age, the Epiphany and the Millennial Age as follows:

“For the Gospel-Age... the camp represents the condition of the nominal as dis­tinct from the real people of God.... (2) For the Epiphany... the camp in the fin­ished picture represents the formerly faith-justified ones who hold to the Ransom and practice righteousness, and converted Israel... (3) For the Millennial Age... the camp represents the condition of the world undergoing restitution.” (1940 PT, pp.13, 14)

If our readers will firmly grasp the truth that a place in the type represents a condition in the antitype, they will have no difficulty in recognizing the perver­sions of the Witnesses, the Laymen’s Home Missionary Movement, or any other perver­sions presented on Tabernacle Shadows.

Concerning these attempted changes by RGJ, it is directly to the point here to quote what was said about J. F. Rutherford, when he attempted similar changes after Brother Russell died:

“More than once have we noted the fact that, when JFR wants to introduce a ‘new view,’ he either intimates that our Pastor had doubts on the sub­ject, or that he changed his opinion, or that he taught thus and so, when he did neither. According to this wrong practice, he is claiming that our Pastor changed his opinion on Tentative Justification (and so is RGJ as he teaches tentative justi­fication it the Camp—JJH), so that his final thought, according to JFR, was that there is no tentative justification.”

Thus, RGJ now tries to tell us that Brother Russell changed his view on Tenta­tive Justification, and that Brother Johnson changed his view on the “finished pic­ture” of the Epiphany Camp – to the effect that it will contain only “the repentant and believing but not consecrated” Jews and Gentiles. He would be well advised to consider seriously and prayerfully Psa. 1:1: “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly.”

As things stand now, in this Present Truth he has done a pretty good job of eliminating the Tabernacle types in his Camp. Since he closed the gate to the Court in 1954 – some eighteen years ago – he is forced to tell newcomers something like this: The Tabernacle is over there, but you cannot become a part of it, and it cannot become a part of you. Thus, viewed in proper perspective, his “Progressive” Tabernacle picture is making much the same “progress” as That Evil Servant accomplished when he began to tamper with the Tabernacle Shadow types. His “progress” did not go forward; it went backward – so far backward that he was forced to reject the Taber­nacle entirely in its typical aspects – just as RGJ is forced to set aside the typi­cal aspects of the Epiphany of his present Camp. And let us not forget that Arma­geddon is still future – and that the Epiphany Messenger told us in E-10:672 (middle) that new Youthful Worthies would be won after Armageddon. Thus the question prop­erly arises, Will those new ones be won in the Camp, and be forced to remain there, or just what will their position be? And, when that time comes, will his present Consecrated Campers be allowed to became Youthful Worthies, or will they remain where he now has them? Indeed, his “progress” is developing an ironic confusion. The “signs of the times” will be the determining factor in this matter; the night has not yet come wherein no man can work to win new consecrations.

And we are distinctly taught by both Messengers that those who come to the Lord in consecration “between the Ages,” and before the New Covenant is inaugurated ­while sin is still in the ascendancy – will have opportunity to receive a reward in honor and service with the Ancient Worthies. But the time will come when “the signs of the times” (the violent features of the Time of Trouble) automatically inform us that the “time is at hand.” The world will be in such turmoil that it will be im­possible for worldlings to receive the Truth, consecrate and walk a narrow way under such conditions. However, so long as any of the elect are here, they will be able to make their calling and election sure.

In 1913, when all was calm and serene in the world, Brother Russell was much dis­turbed about his predictions for 1914, so he arranged for a thorough and critical exami­nation of his chronology; but he could find nothing wrong. However, had 1914 come and gone with just nothing of importance occurring (as is the case with 1954), we may be sure he would then have declared there was something wrong; but the “signs of the times” amply verified his calculations for that date. But there is just no such com­parison to be offered for 1954. RGJ, like JFR, is going along as though we are in the beginning of the Basileia – manufacturing “new light” so that Restitutionists can ‘ded­icate’ their lives to Jehovah, replacing the Jews in the Kingdom arrangement.

A REFUTATION OF HIS PRESENT ERRORS FROM RGJ HIMSELF

“In the March 23, 1920, issue of the New Era Enterprise is a report of J.F.R.’s discourse delivered March 1, at the St. Louis Convention, in which occurs the follow­ing statement: ‘The moment Jehovah accepts you under these conditions you are justi­fied, begotten. Justification is not a progressive work. It is an instantaneous mat­ter. You are accepted instantaneously, accepted as a sacrifice. Tentative justifica­tion impossible. Tentative means probation. Pastor Russell at first thought there was a tentative justification; but after studying into the matter more closely, changed his mind.’

“In view of J.F.R.’s denying clearly established doctrines given us by the Lord through that Servant, it is not surprising to me to see him also going blind on Tenta­tive Justification. Nor is it unusual to see him endeavoring to support his position by belying dear Bro. Russell, and trying to drag him in as a party to the same error. Alas, for many unwary sheep who are being so easily blown around by every wind of doc­trine! In the interests of these, permit me to call your attention to the following statements from pen (and mouth) of that Servant just before he left us, with the hope that they may be of use to you in arousing those of the lord’s dear sheep who are sleeping under the spell of that newly invented ‘Channel’ which in so many ways con­tradicts and repudiates the teaching of the true Channel (Luke 12:42).

“In the Sep. 15, Tower, 1916, page 281, Bro. Russell gives his last Tower article on Justification, in which he says (col. 1, par. 5), ‘We describe the person who has taken this course (represented by progress from the gate of the court to the door of the tabernacle) as being tentatively justified; that is to say, he is in the right course, doing what he is able to do to attain (vitalized) Justification.’ (This is clear and to the point.)

“Does J.F.R. refer to September 15, 1916, at the time when Pastor Russell (was still in the mental condition in which he) first thought there was a tentative justi­fication? If so, then at what date would he say that Bro. Russell, ‘after studying into the matter more closely, changed his mind,’ seeing that Sep. 15, 1916, was only a few weeks before his death? How grossly he misrepresents Bro. Russell is further evidenced by the latter’s comment on this very Tower article, just a few days before he was taken from our midst, as recorded in the Question Book, What Pastor Russell Said, p. 418, in answer to the following question: ‘Comparing articles on Justifi­cation in Vol. VI, Tabernacle Shadows and Sep. 15, 1916 Tower: Do these harmonize? Has Bro. Russell changed his views on Justification? Answer: Bro. Russell has not changed his views on Justification. Justification is justification, has always been justification, and will always be justifi­cation, and Bro. Russell could not change justification for himself or for anybody else.’ (In part of the rest of the answer he shows how one must be in the Court, walk up to the door of the Tabernacle and consecrate himself before his Justification is vitalized through Christ’s imputed merit.)

“Whom shall we believe, Bro. Russell, who just before his death claimed that he had not changed his views on Justification, or J.F.R., who now claims that he did? Doubtless some would prefer to believe J.F.R....

“These and other similar statements made during his last few days with us, should convince any open-minded Truth seeker beyond any doubt that Bro. Russell never denied the doctrine of Tentative Justification. To deny this doctrine would be to deny and to become confused on many Scriptures and to repudiate important features of Taber­nacle Shadows. How could anyone appreciate the Brazen Altar, wash himself at the Laver and be tied at the door of the Tabernacle in consecration, and have his Justi­fication vitalized, without first being in the Court, the place of Tentative Justifi­cation (T 19, 20)? Surely the Brazen Altar and the Laver were not taken into the Camp in order that those not tentatively justified might use them preparatory to making a consecration!.... But what consolation that the Very Elect shall be manifested as not being deceived! May the Lord continue to use you in His blessed work of delivering His Little Flock ‘from the snare of the fowler’, and from the noisome pestilence.

Your brother in Him,  (Signed) R. G. Jolly”

The above letter is recorded in E-6:166-68, and is a clear and correct presenta­tion of the truth an tentative justification. Thus we see him revolutionizing against his own teachings, which painfully reminds us of the following in E-11:383:

“If one who, having an evil heart condition, and consequently having lost Little Flockship and its Truth on doctrine and practice, has thus depastur­ized the Truth for his followers... God will put such an one into such controversial disadvantages that amid them to defend his error he will be continually surrendering formerly held truths that impinge against his new errors... Thus does God punish such invasions, which are usurpations.”

It will be noted that RGJ thought he was still numbered among the priests in the Holy when he wrote the above letter to Brother Johnson – and he was more capable of discerning between “truth and error” then than he is now, since he became a manifested crown-loser, and has been abandoned to Azazel. But to eliminate all doubt in the minds of our readers, we now quote from E-15:261:

“Let us see the conditions of Justification that will prevail during the Millen­nial Age. During that Age there will be neither a tentative nor a vitalized justifi­cation, since both of these kinds of justification operate on the basis of the imputed ransom merit, as distinct from the applied ransom merit.”

If we are now in the Basileia Camp, as this PT would imply, and Consecrated Camp­ers have tentative justification, it would logically follow that all restitutionists will have tentative justification also. But the teachings of both Star Members clearly contradict such a thought. It will be recalled that JFR prevented many from entering tentative justification by his false teaching (E-10:392); and, as RGJ now joins hands with him in revolutionizing against the truths given by That Servant and the Epiphany Messenger, we are reminded of the statement in E-4:276: “The Great Company teach error to the justified.” And, we would use the statement in E-11:169: “No faith justifica­tion in the Millennium”; and one in E-6:713: “Tentative justification will cease after the Gospel Age.”

CONSECRATED CAMPERS AND THE JEWS

Despite the fact that we have quoted copiously from That Servant and the Epiphany Messenger that the Jews would be first in the Kingdom arrangement, RGJ has the effront­ery to reiterate his gross revolutionism against that Truth, citing Brother Johnson as his ‘proof’ and companion in his sins of practice and teaching. In the Sept.-Oct. 1972 PT, there is this on p. 75, col. 1 (45):

“Because of being consecrated while sin is still in the ascendancy, and being faithful thereto and thus coming more closely into harmony with God and His principles than any of the rest of the quasi-elect, and because they may, in some of their members, live through the Time of Trouble, the Con­secrated Epiphany Campers, like the Ancient and Youthful Worthies, will be among ‘the first to come under the terms of the New Covenant, and that just before the earthly phase of the Kingdom is established over the Jews’ (P ‘38,p.158,last par.; ‘50,p.15, par. 7; ‘58, p.6).”

The part we underscored above is what is quoted from Brother Johnson as though Brother Johnson supports the false doctrine of Campers Consecrated. So we now quote what the Epiphany Messenger actually said in the 1938 PT, pp. 158-159:

“Question: When the Ancient Worthies are resurrected under what covenant will they be raised? Answer: They will be raised under certain earthly features of the Oath-bound Covenant by merit of the blood of the New Covenant; for while the Oath­bound Covenant promised them a better resur­rection (Heb. 11:35), it is through the blood of the New Covenant that God will fulfill that promise to them. Then shortly after their resurrection they will come under the New Covenant, which will a little later be made with the Jews. This latter matter is to be shortly after the Kingdom’s earthly phase is initiated; for the Ancient and Youthful Worthies will be the first to come under the terms of the New Covenant, and that just before the earthly phase of the Kingdom is established over the Jews.”

As our readers can see, Brother Johnson did not include Campers Consecrated, nor any of the Restitutionists as coming in under the “earthly phase of the King­dom” (the Worthies) but the Jews. The “earthly phase of the Kingdom” is vested with the Worthies. So we now quote RGJ’s own words hurled against JFR for similar sins of teaching and practice, as quoted herein from his letter in E-6:166-68:

“Nor is it unusual to see him endeavoring to support his position by belying dear Bro. Johnson, and trying to drag him in as a party to the same error. Alas, for many unwary sheep who are being so easily blown around by every wind of doctrine!”

The two Messengers taught there would be a class of consecrators here in the end of the Age, before Restitution sets in, who would be rewarded in honor and ser­vice in partnership with the Ancient Worthies. According to RGJ’s “Progressive Tab­ernacle,” his Campers Consecrated are right in with the Worthies! Apparently, the only difference in them and the Youthful Worthies is the name. JFR chose another name, too, for his non-existent class. However, not only will Campers Consecrated NOT BE FIRST in the Kingdom blessings and favor, but they won’t be there at all as such – because there is no such a class. There may be many truly consecrated among the Jehovah’s Witnesses Great Multitude and among RGJ’s Campers Consecrated, who are now being deceived; but we are assured that “The Lord knoweth them that are His.”

We now quote what the two Messengers taught us about the Jews: “The New Coven­ant is not to be made with any other than the Jews, for no others were in Covenant relationship with God. The words ‘New Covenant’ seem, therefore, to indicate the repetition of God’s favor to Israel under the better Mediator.” (Question Book, p. 205)

“Having seen so many features of God’s plan successfully carried out by God’s zeal, he has the full assurance of faith that the unfulfilled parts as due will be zealously carried out by God... He confidently looks for the zeal of God to establish God’s Kingdom at the hand of His Elect under Christ, on the ruins of Satan’s Empire, to offer the Kingdom blessings, first to the living Jews, then to the Gentiles.” (E-1:302)

“So the Millennial favors will be to the Jews first, even as by reason of the Covenants, etc., the Gospel favors were offered to them first. And so it shall be finally as Simeon prophesied: ‘This child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel.’ And the time for raising up that nation, so long fallen from favor, is at hand.” (Parousia Vol. 3, p. 256)

It is our fond hope that all our readers will continue in that Wisdom from Above, which was so apparent in the Parousia and Epiphany Messengers. “The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand forever.” (Isa. 40:8)

Sincerely your brother,

John J. Hoefle, Pilgrim

NO. 211: RETROSPECT AND PROSPECT

No. 211

During the year just past scientific achievements rank high on the list of cur­rent events. We are told that radar can now be employed to detect crop blight in plants before the farmer is able to see it, thus allowing for corrective action much sooner than could formerly be done. Also, consideration is now being given to the installation of windmills on our high buildings, which would aid much in the solution of our power problems.

It is sound logic that necessity is the mother of invention; and the efforts in outer space have played quite a role in this respect. On one television inter­view Wernher Von Braun, who heads this Government Department, illustrated the inven­tion of fireproof paper. He displayed one sheet of paper, half of which was the reg­ular fibre, touched a match to it and allowed it to burn away; but the other half ­the fireproof half – was not affected by the flame at all. The fire simply went out when the first half had been consumed. Along this same line, a material has been developed which will nullify lightning activity; but there is a deterrent here – ­this material interferes with radar, so it cannot be used in cities, or where air­planes operate.

But the moon shot last April (written Nov. 20, 1972) was once again the stellar scientific performance of the year. It attained a speed of 26,000 miles per hour, and the men involved were able to talk to their colleagues on earth almost as clear­ly as if they were simply calling on the telephone in the same city. Also, they landed almost to the minute, and at the exact spot in the ocean they had marked be­fore leaving the earth.

The President’s trip to China also is entitled to mention in this respect. The television coverage of his visit there revealed it as clearly as if he had been right in his own neighborhood – which events tend to bring the human race in much closer relationship in this “time of the end.” (Dan. 12:1,4) This is a direct reversal of conditions of the past. In Gen. 11:1-9 there is related the attempt to build the Tower of Babel – at which time “the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech.” The confusion of tongues which resulted then tended to scatter the races; and the language barrier effectively kept the various nations pretty well sep­arated. But Zeph. 3:8,9 tells us that in the “time of the end” this situation would be reversed – “My determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the king­doms.” Thus, the “United Nations” assembly in New York is well named for this time. The enormous increase in speed of travel, and the easing of the language barriers have made their imprint upon human relations in a manner readily determined when we make comparison with events and conditions as they existed at the beginning of this century. The tragedy in all this is that the human race has not advanced in quality with the in­ventive genius that has done so much for the people of earth. In fact, it would seem that many of the luxuries that have resulted from the tremendous inventive efforts have hurt many persons more than they have helped them, so that the solid integrity is dis­appearing, which tended to maintain law and order among men.

IN FINANCE

The financial structure of the nations continues to “reel to and fro like a drunkard.” The amount of worthless paper now in existence is beyond the grasp of most men. The national debt of the United States is fast approaching the half tril­lion level – with no end in sight. Presently there is approximately fifty billion of foreign bank deposits in this country that are payable in gold upon demand; but there is only about ten billions of gold at Fort Knox with which to meet this situation. And some skeptics contend that even the ten billion is an exaggerated figure. If our Gov­ernment bank examiners came upon any bank in that condition, that bank would not be al­lowed to open for business the next day.

In this connection, we offer some comments from one writer, who has a pretty good grasp of the situation, although he tends to be extreme in some of his statements:

“We keep electing new Presidents who seemingly promise faithfully to halt the world-wide Communist advance, put the blocks to extravagant spending, douse the fires of inflation, put the economy on an even keel, reverse the trend which is turning the country into a moral sewer, and toss the criminals into the hoosegow where they belong. Yet, despite high hopes and glittering campaign promises, these problems continue to worsen no matter who is in the office...

“The chief liberal gains in the past generally remain on the statute books when the conservatives recover power... liberalism grows constantly more liberal, and by the same token conservatism grows less conservative.”

An interruption to the quotation is properly in order here. The Assyrians under Nebuchadnezzar were waging war with Judah, in which they were increasingly victorious; and the conflict ended in complete triumph when they finally captured Jerusalem in August of 607 B.C., at which time they destroyed the temple that Solomon had built and carried away to Babylon the gold and silver vessels. (2 Kings 25:8-21) The Assyrians in that victory were typical of the radicals today that are attacking Christendom it their determination to wreck the present “establishment,” which they will eventually succeed in doing. The various successes of the Assyrians against the Jewish nation bare close analogy to the radicals of today in their onslaughts against the institu­tions of Christendom. If we keep this in mind, it will aid greatly in understanding the turmoil we see now in every quarter of Christendom.

Much of what this writer has to say may be classified as political, but it has a direct bearing on the financial establishment, so we use it under the latter caption: “Socialism is usually defined as government ownership – control over the basic means of production and distribution of goods and services. When analyzed, this means govern­ment control over everything, including you. All controls are ‘people’ controls. If the government controls these areas, it can eventually do just exactly as Marx set out to do – destroy the right to private property, eliminate the family and wipe out relig­ion.....  You know, the one thing I can never figure out is why all these very, very wealthy people like the Kennedys, the Fords, the Rockefellers and others are for so­cialism. Don’t they have the most to lose?... Men like Rockefeller, Ford and Kennedy are for every socialist program known to man which will increase your taxes. Yet they pay little, if anything, in taxes themselves. An article published by the North Amer­ican Newspaper Alliance in August of 1967 tells how the Rockefellers pay practically no income taxes despite their vast wealth. The article reveals that one of the Rocke­fellers paid the grand total of $685 personal income tax during a recent year. The Kennedys have their Chicago Merchandise Mart, their mansions, yachts, planes, etc., all owned by their myriads of family foundations and trusts. Taxes are for peons! Yet hypocrites like Rockefeller, Ford and Kennedy pose as great champions of the ‘down­trodden’....

“In order to understand the conspiracy it is necessary to have some rudimentary knowledge of banking and, particularly, of international bankers. While it would be an over-simplification to ascribe the entire conspiracy to international bankers, they themselves have played a key role. Think of the conspiracy as a hand with one finger labeled ‘international banking,’ others ‘foundations,’ ‘the anti-religion movement,’ ‘Fabian Socialism’ and ‘Communism.’ But it was the international bankers of whom the Professor was speaking when we quoted him earlier as stating that their aim was nothing less than control of the world through finance.

“Where do governments get the enormous amounts of money they need? Most, of course, comes from taxation; but governments often spend more than they are willing to tax from their citizens and so are forced to borrow. Our national debt is now $455 billion (written more than a year ago—JJH) – every cent of it borrowed at inter­est from somewhere.

“The Public is led to believe that our government borrows from ‘the people’ through savings bonds.   Actually, only the smallest percentage of the national debt is held by individuals in this form. Most government bonds, except those owned by the govern­ment itself through its trust funds, are held by vast banking firms known as international banks.”

Once more we would inject a few thoughts of our own: These international bankers are the very people who know very well that the money policies of the various nations are thoroughly unsound; but they never utter a word of protest about it because they themselves are continually growing richer – and without any risk at all on their part by the unsound course now being followed. This policy tends to encourage do-nothing by the very wealthy. Why should they risk their funds in various business ventures when they can garner enormous income from government bonds, which are as safe as the banks of those governments? The banks will stand so long as the government stands. Thus, it should be quite clear to even the ordinary reader that it is not the govern­ment in the money business; it is rather the money in the government business!

At the time Rothschild established his European banking system he placed one of his five sons in the central bank of five ranking nations – Germany, Austria, Eng­land, France and Italy. However, whenever a war broke out between any of those five countries, it mattered not to Rothschild which country won it – because he would reap a handsome profit from both sides. Thus, the Rothschilds became incredibly wealthy during the nineteenth century by financing governments to fight each other. As one com­mentator puts it:

“If you will look back at every war in Europe during the nineteenth century, you will see that they always ended with the establishment of a ‘balance of power.’ With every re-shuffling there was a balance of power in a new grouping around the House of Rothschild in England, France or Austria.    They grouped nations so that if any king got out of line a war would break out and the war would be decided by which way the financing went. Researching the debt positions of the warring nations will usually indicate who was to be punished.”

One outstanding instance of the foregoing is the feud between England and Ger­many. When Napoleon was overrunning Europe it was England and Germany that combined to defeat him; and the German histories claim it was actually Von Bleucher with his elite German army that actually turned the tide at Waterloo in 1815; but the Duke of Wellington reaped the glory for the victory. But regardless of that, in the last two great wars it was England and France against Germany. As one Rothschild once said it, “Let me control the money, and I care not who makes the laws.”

Thus it could properly be said of them that they remained different from ordi­nary bankers in several ways: they were cosmopolitan and international; they were close to governments and were particularly concerned with government debts, including foreign government debts; these bankers came to be called ‘international bankers.’ After the outbreak of the great war in 1914 Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany made the re­mark that he had made one great mistake before that war began: The House of Morgan in New York had offered to lend Germany a half billion dollars, which the Germans de­clined because they did not then need the money. However, said the Kaiser, had he accepted that loan, the United States would then not have been influenced to enter on the side of England, without which help the Allied cause would have been lost. It is a matter of record that during our Civil War the North was financed by the Roths­childs through their American agent August Belmont, and the American South through the Erlang­ers, Rothschild relatives. Also, in the Fall of 1931 – when the great depression was at its worst – the Austrian Reichsbank failed, forcing England off the gold standard. And in that manipulation the Rothschild in charge ‘legally’ swindled the Austrian people out of $105 million dollars. Then, when Hitler annexed Austria to Germany, he imme­diately seized Rothschild and exposed him to such punishment that in 24 hours he agreed to repay that $105 million. That one event had a very far-reaching effect in the out­come of the 1939-1945 war; and probably more than any other one thing contributed to the defeat of Germany.

But, while wars and revolutions have been useful to international bankers in gaining or increasing control over governments, the key to such control has always been control of money; a creditor is in position to demand the privileges of monop­oly from the sovereign. Solomon understood this matter very well: “The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.” (Prov. 22:7) In keeping with this thought, money-seeking governments have granted monopolies in state bank­ing, natural resources, oil concessions and transportation. However, the monopoly which the international financiers most covet is control over a nation’s money.

It is pretty much common knowledge that in the 1912 Presidential campaign Woodrow Wilson and Teddy Roosevelt proceeded to whistle-stop the country trying to out-do each other in florid (and hypocritical) denunciations of the Wall Street ‘money trust’ ­the same group of insiders which was financing the campaigns of both. Back in the twenties Morgan & Co. on one occasion advanced ‘credit’ to the President to subscribe to 2,000 shares of a certain stock they were promoting; but by the time the issue came to the general public, it had gone up twenty points, netting a clear profit of $40,000 to the President – without the investment of one dollar by him. Such gratuities make it very difficult later on to refuse any request of the ‘philanthropist’ who had thrown such a windfall into his lap.

Quoting further from the above-mentioned writer: “Neither Presidents, Congress­men nor Secretaries of the Treasury direct the Federal Reserve. In the matters of money the Federal Reserve directs them! This power was admitted by Secretary of the Treasury David M. Kennedy in an interview on May 5, 1969... How successful has the Fed­eral Reserve been? It depends on your point of view. Since Woodrow Wilson took his oath of office the national debt has risen from $1 billion to $455 billion. (It is even higher than that now—JJH) The total amount of interest paid since then to the international bankers holding that debt is staggering, with interest having become the third largest item in the federal budget. Interest on the national debt is now $22 billion every year, and climbing steeply as inflation pushes up the interest rate on government bonds. Meanwhile, our gold is mortgaged to European central banks, and our silver has all been sold. With economic catastrophe imminent, only a blind dis­ciple of the ‘accidental theory of history’ could believe that all this has occurred by coincidence...

“As a concrete example – During the ‘war to end all wars’ (1914-1918), Insider banker Bernard Baruch was made absolute dictator over American business when President Wilson appointed him Chairman of the War Industries Board, where he had control of all domestic contracts for Allied war materials. Baruch made lots of friends while plac­ing tens of billions in government contracts, and it was widely rumored in Wall Street that out of the war to make the world safe for international bankers he netted $200 million for himself....

“The farther a government goes into debt, the more interest is paid to the power­ful Insiders who ‘create’ money to buy government bonds by the simple expedient of bookkeeping entries... The man who campaigned as Mr. Frugal in 1968 is, in his third year of office, out-spending by $80 to $100 billion what he said his predecessor should spend... While it took LBJ five years to run up a $55 billion deficit, Sen­ator Harry Byrd notes that the accumulated deficit for Mr. Nixon’s first three years will reach at least $88 billion. Congressional experts are now predicting Richard Nixon could well pour on the red ink to a total of $124 billion in this term of office alone...

“When the government runs a deficit, brand new money in the amount of the defi­cit is put into circulation. As the new money percolates through the economy it bids up wages and prices... You could not have a wage price spiral if you did not have an in­crease in the money supply with which to pay it. This is not just economics, it is physics. You can’t fill a quart bottle with a pint of milk. To say that the wage-­price spiral causes inflation is like saying wet streets cause rain... Now we see that Nixon has repudiated his own promises and carried out those of his opponent... There is little difference between the leadership of the two major parties.”

Perhaps more than enough has been given herein on the financial situation to give our readers a clear understanding of the trend of things, and to take whatever steps are possible for them to protect themselves in ‘this evil day.” Thus, we shall now offer a few comments:

IN POLITICS

The election in the United States in 1972 is now a matter of history, suffici­ently detailed in the newspaper to need no elaboration here. However, while the President received a landslide approval, both houses of Congress are still Democratic, so there is certain to be plenty of friction in the sessions ahead. This time there was not much promised by the incumbent President; he simply won on his record of the past four years, coupled with the evident weakness of the opposition. However, some­time back one commentator summed things up pretty well when he said an election plat­form is like a railroad station platform; it is simply used to get into the train, but not to ride on. Considering the promises made by some of the candidates, one is forced to conclude that their chief stock in trade is their unlimited gall.

In this connection, one writer puts it this way: “In 1972, the Republicans will try to make you forget that Richard Nixon was elected on George Wallace’s platform, but has been carrying out Hubert Humphrey’s. The pitch will be ‘party unity.’ if not Nixon, then who?’ will be the typical response to complaints about Nixon’s actions. But unity with evil is evil. During the campaign of 1972, Nixon will again talk con­servatively while the Democratic candidate will sound frighteningly radical to stam­pede you into accepting the lesser of two evils... The watchdogs tend to go to sleep with a Republican in office... The Insiders want the issues between the parties to be cloudy and gray, centering on personalities, not principles... In the near future we may anticipate restrictions on taking money out of the country and on the establish­ment or retention of a foreign bank account by an American citizen... Laws limiting the number of people allowed to meet in a private home.”

The above comments are simply the predictions of one individual; time itself will demonstrate how sound they are. As for ourselves, we try to be alert and in­formed on all important issues, although we are often limited by our inability to secure the correct information. Our studied observation concerning the political situation in all civilized countries is that it has deteriorated to the point of no return. It is presently impossible for any individual or group of individuals to restore order from the chaos that is so apparent on every hand. But, even if a Solomon should ap­pear with a program that is 100% sound, the temperament of the people is such that they would not have the moral fibre to allow sufficient time for its demonstration. “The earth (the present social order) shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again.” (Isa. 24:20) One news item puts it this way: “The amazing thing about anybody arrested for disturbing the peace is that he found any.”

IN RELIGION

The religious morale continues to decline in keeping with the financial and poli­tical. In August a news bulletin discussed the Quadrennial Conference of the United Methodist Church, held in Atlanta April 16-29, 1972:

“The United Methodist Church is a case of great American success story that is going bad.  Once a movement that leaped like brush fire along the 19th century fron­tier, the UMC has suffered a net loss of 518,000 members in the past four years – the biggest of any church in U.S. history. Over a longer time span Sunday school atten­dance has slid by one-fourth, the once-prized foreign missionary force by one-fifth. A recent survey by UMC program planners found that grass-roots Methodists bitterly dis­trust church officials.”

In contrast to the foregoing, we would now quote John Wesley, whom we consider one of the finest Christians that ever lived:

“I am not afraid that the people called Metho­dists should ever cease to exist either in Europe or America. But I am afraid, lest they should only exist as a dead sect, having the form of religion without the power. And this undoubtedly will be the case, unless they hold fast both the doctrine, spirit, and discipline with which they first set out.”

ITALY – Here is a news item concerning the Roman Catholic Church in Italy:

“A group of 33 progressive Roman Catholic theologians from seven countries have at­tacked the leadership of the church and called on all Catholics to resist the misuse of authority by the hierarchy... They said the church was going through a complex crisis of confidence and authority... It was signed by theologians from Holland, West Germany, Switzerland, Spain, the United States, Austria and Canada... ‘The credibility of the church is dissolving in a disquieting manner,’ they asserted... Justice and peace are preached where they cost nothing to the church and its hierarchy... The manifesto urged Catholics to speak up against decisions by the hierarchy which they considered wrong or harmful, and to adopt a policy of collective protest.”

Such talk would have been adjudged extreme heresy in the Roman church a hundred years ago. Follows now another news item:

ITALY DOWN THE DRAIN: “In recent months the flow of capital has reached the proportions of a tidal wave. Those in the know are preparing safe havens for the day when the country goes under. The threat of a Communist takeover in Italy has fright­ened more and more Italians into joining the renascent facist movement in the belief that this will protect them from the Reds. In the not-too-distant future the two move­ments are bound to collide. If the Reds take control, everyone with money or prop­erty is bound to be despoiled, even if he gets through alive. Meanwhile, civil warfare between the Communists and their fascist opposition is inevitable. So Italians with money are buying property and apartments across the nearest border in order to have a place to hide when disaster comes.”

Another news comment discusses various sects: “When Vatican II opened the doors to modern scholarship, especially biblical research, theologians were quick to seize their new opportunities. Within a few short years, some of them were questioning everything from the church’s teachings on sexual ethics to papal infallibility – even such root doctrines as the nature of the Eucharist and the divinity of Jesus Christ.. It lets students decide for themselves, for instance, whether Jesus was God; it offers the resurrection as an inspiring belief rather than historical fact. The authors are convinced that this open-minded approach is the best way to reach question­ing teenagers.”

EPISCOPALIANS – “The Rt. Rev. John E. Hines recently startled a meeting of San Francisco priests when he called himself ‘the worst administrator of any Episcopal Pre­siding Bishop in history.’ Last fortnight his fellow Episcopal Bishops got a greater shock in the mail: a letter from Hines outlining his plan to retire as presiding bishop in the Spring of 1974, after the triennial general convention next Fall can elect a successor. Hines is the first Presiding Bishop in the church’s history to quit early for reasons other than illness, but he may have good cause to step down. His years in office have been marked by factional dissension, especially over a ‘Special Program’ which he proposed in 1967... has since paid out some $6.5 million in grants for ‘minor­ity group empowerment.’ Some of the money went to groups that were non-Christian or were too radical for local Episcopalians. In some cases, congregations retaliated by cutting off contributions to the national church. Church financial receipts have since rebounded, but statistics of the Hines years reveal attrition in other areas. Membership has dropped from 3,616,000 in 1965 to 3,445,000 in 1971; church school en­rollment is down 24%, confirmations are down 26%, infant baptisms 21%, adult baptisms 44%.”

PRESBYTERIANS – “For several years now, the Presbyterian Church in the U.S. (Southern Presbyterians) has been rumbling with rumors and threats of schism. The mildly liberal majority of the 960,000-member denomination favor a merger with the United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. (Northern Presbyterians), which would heal a breach reaching back to the Civil War... Courts in Georgia have recently allowed congregations to take their property with them, and now six of the seven defecting Southern Presbyterian congregations (scattered from Virginia to Alabama) are trying to do just that by simply renouncing their ties with the national church. The 843-­member West End Church of Hopewell, Va., however, is going through channels and has pe­titioned its district presbytery to ‘dismiss us with our property.’“

Our readers may not grasp the full import of the “minority group empowerment,” because it is composed of mild words which seem rather tame on the surface. But these “minority groups” include Communists, Black Panthers, the NAACP, etc. One church con­tributed $10,000 to the defense of Angela Davis; and her acquittal has caused acute resentment in a large segment of the American population. In fact, this was so pro­nounced in Detroit that the Roman Catholic University of Detroit was forced to cancel a proposed speech by her in their auditorium. Protesting parents informed the offi­cials there that they would withdraw their children from the University, and cancel further financial support if the meeting were allowed; so it was called off.

Also, we have a news report from Rome that a new group of Roman Catholic priests and laymen, Protestants and unaffiliated intellectuals have warned (in July) that anti-­Semitism was being revived in Italy. Some of the literature was said to be circulated by information services of Arab states, but printed in Italy, and disguised as left-­wing material. Other anti-Jewish pamphlets were traced to marginal Roman Catholic factions and to neo-Fascist and Neo-Nazi groups. Jewish groups have lately protested against the desecration of synagogues and Jewish cemeteries in various places in Italy. Jews have lately complained in Rome and in other cities that they had been attacked or were being threatened by anonymous letters and phone calls. The Italian Jewish commun­ity numbers about 40,000 in a nation of 55 million. A few hundred Italian Jews have emigrated to Israel during each of the last few years.

JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES AND LHMM – These organizations continue their downward path of error, and this aberration becomes more glaringly noticeable with each passing year. Their leaders are becoming increasingly confused and unclear on a number of subjects on which they once clearly had the Truth. This is in keeping with certain Old Testament types, which give the picture that the leaders of such groups would be given error to defend as a punishment from God in their Fit Man experiences. “Because they poured out the blood of saints and prophets (especially enlightened teachers in the Gospel-Age church), Thou gavest them also blood (error) to drink; they deserve it.” And, as they produce their errors, those teachers with the Truth expose their igno­rance and their failures. “An exhortation will go out to invade the teaching, spirit and service of the Great Company in the Truth (and especially their leaders—JJH) as guilty of double rebellion – once in the nominal church, then in the Truth – and against the exposed ones. God charges that these spheres be utterly destroyed, and that they keep His pertinent charge.” (E-14:472, bottom)

In this treatise mention is made of the “attrition” that is now so apparent in some of the sects in Christendom; and it is well to note how this has occurred. For sometime they prospered in both members and money (“rich and increased with goods, and have need of nothing”—Rev. 3:17); but at that very time they were becoming ­“wretched, and miserable, and poor (spiritually), and blind (were embracing error which “blinded” them), and naked” (they were losing, or had lost, the fine Christian principles of the founders of their Movements – by forbidding to “prove all things,” and by disfellowshiping those who tried to “prove all things”).” “Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name’s sake, said, Let the Lord be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.” (Isa. 66:5)

The Witnesses have made great progress in numbers, influence and “increase of goods” – as has also the LHMM, although in a much less degree, of course – even as they tread the path of their “big brothers” in Christendom – “blind and naked” in doctrine and Christian principles. And because of this, God has especially “given them blood (error) to drink – they deserve it.” (Rev. 16:6) The “attrition” in these groups is also glaringly apparent in many areas.

THE JEWS – The Black September Band is a group of about two or three hundred fanatical Arabs who are dedicated to torment the Jews. It was members of this band that were responsible for the Munich massacre at the Olympic Games. They are young fatalists whose parents were displaced from their homes in Palestine; and they feel they have nothing to lose. This gives them a reckless bravado that is extremely dif­ficult to subdue. Undoubtedly, they are playing a part – which will increase in the months ahead – in the second phase of “Jacob’s Trouble.” But, when “they (the Jews) cry unto the Lord in their trouble, He saveth them out of their distresses. He sent His word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.” (Psalms 107:19,20)

Observing the gloom and confusion so prevalent in many quarters, it gives us much pleasure to report that our own work in spreading the Truth has steadily pro­gressed during 1972 – and the witness work has been more far-reaching than in prev­ious years. Our activities at the Bible House are efficiently organized, which en­ables us to accomplish a maximum amount of work with a very small group of willing and devoted helpers. We are most grateful for the physical and financial strength that has been ours in accordance with His promise: ‘And my God will fully supply all your need, according to his glorious wealth by Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:19, Dia.)

“Now, thanks be to that God, who always leads us forth to triumph with the Anointed One, and who diffuses by us the fragrance of the knowledge of Him in every place. Because we are a sweet odor of Christ to God, among those who are being saved, and among those who are perishing; To these, indeed, an odor of death to death, and to those, an odor of life to life; and for these things who is qualified? For we are not like the many, trafficking the Word of God; but really from sincerity, and as from God, in the presence of God, we speak concerning Christ.” (2 Cor. 2:14-17, Dia.)

With the coming of another year we send cordial good wishes to all our readers for their physical and spiritual health; and we reciprocate with much appreciation and thanks the many expressions of good will that have come to us during the Holidays. “The God of all Grace, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.”

Sincerely your brother, John J. Hoefle, Pilgrim

NO. 210: LABOR DAY CONVENTION 1972

No. 210

In the Question Meeting at the above Convention this question was presented: “Death and Hell were cast into the Lake of fire. This is the second death (Rev. 20:14). When does this take place, during the Kingdom, or in the Little Season?” With RGJ’s usual “profusion of words” he placed great emphasis upon the Berean Com­ment by “That Servant himself”: “Were cast – Gradually, from the beginning of the Millennial Age to its close.” Then he proceeded to elaborate that the Millennial Age began in 1874 and will end in 2874; and that one of the Epiphany ‘sifters’ is now teaching contrary to this sound doctrine. Since he was resorting to Berean Com­ments to demonstrate his point, why did he not also use the Comment on 1 Cor. 15:24: “Then – Having finished the work of redeeming the race, of bringing many sons to glory, of destroying the reprobate and of filling the earth with perfect human beings.”

Is he now telling us the destruction of the reprobate (goats) will be an accom­plished fact by 2874? If he meant what he said on Labor Day morning, then it is very clear that he does not understand the meaning of these texts at all – or the Berean Comments that explain them. The Comment on Rev. 20:14 (to which RGJ resorted with much verbosity) says “gradually, from the beginning of the Millennial Age to its close.” We are now almost 100 years into the Millennium; and none of this has had an infinitesimal beginning, Thus, its beginning is still future. But, if RGJ under­stands the text, why did he not explain that “death” means the Adamic death process, and that “hell” means the Adamic death state? “Hell” is the exact Greek equivalent in the New Testament of the Hebrew “Sheol” in the Old Testament.

And when will Hell (Hades) be destroyed? We are told that Brother Russell once offered the surmise that all would be raised from the grave in the first 500 years of the Mediatorial reign. There is no proof for this, so we do not argue the point; but we do know it will be an accomplished fact at least 100 years before 2874. How­ever, whenever any human being is raised from the dead, in that very instant “Hell” (the Adamic death state) is cast into the lake of fire insofar as he is concerned. And, once the last person is raised from the tomb, at that very instant Hades will have been cast into the lake of fire. The Adamic death state will have been forever eliminated. This is a gradual process.

The Adamic death process – death – will also be a gradual process with the sheep class, but they will have the Adamic death process plagued out of them by the begin­ning of the Little Season. In the case of the “‘goats” that condition will continue with most of them until the end of the Little Season – although many of the “sheep” will have eliminated it as individuals some hundreds of years before the Little Season even starts. The Adamic death process will be plagued out of the willing and obedient, but not out of the incorrigible. Had RGJ understood this, he would have explained; but he apparently is in a fog concerning these terms, and he confuses his hearers as much, or more, as he himself is confused. This is clearly revealed by the way he contradicts himself from one session to the next. On this subject he is “‘reeling to and fro like a drunkard” even as he screams “sophistry” at JJH for giving the Truth on it.

All the descendants of Adam have been born with the Adamic death process in their very beings (“I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.” – ­Psa. 51:5), which consigns almost all of them to Hades (the Adamic death state) in due time. Ecc. 9:10 tells us “there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wis­dom in the grave (Sheol – the Adamic death state), whither thou goest.” One transla­tion says “whither thou art hastening.” The Adamic death process, which all have in­herited, “hastens” to place all into Hades, the Adamic death state, from which condi­tion all will be saved in the Mediatorial reign. This will indeed be a gradual pro­cess for the entire race; but an instantaneous event for each individual. At each awakening Hades will be cast into the lake of fire for that particular person, although the Adamic death process will continue with each one until perfection of physical being and of character is reached, or the punish­ment of the goats is meted out – to some during the Mediatorial reign (the “sinner a hundred years old, who is accursed”), but to the majority at the end of the Little Season, when “death” (the Adamic death process) is cast into the lake of fire – wiped out of existence forever through destruction of the goat class at that time.

In line with the foregoing we now offer his statement in May-June 1971 Present Truth, p. 36, col. 1:

“Mankind’s dominion over earth will not be fully restored to them by Christ until the end of the Millennial Age, after the ‘little season,’ when He will say to the righteous of mankind, ‘Come ye blessed of My Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”

And on the same page, col. 1, par. 4 is this: “This restoration of the obedient of mankind will not be completed until at the end of Christ’s mediatorial reign, ‘for He must reign, till he hath put all enemies under His feet.’ Then He will deliver up the kingdom to God. (1 Cor. 15:24-28).”

Considering both of these statements together, it would seem RGJ is in this May-June 1971 Present Truth teaching that the Mediatorial reign will continue until the end of the Little Season. Will he make himself clear here? In our September 1, 1971 paper we asked this question, but we have no answer as yet.

In the January-February 1970 Present Truth, RGJ has this to say: “The Adamic death process (emphasis by RGJ) was not in Adam when he was created, nor will it be in mankind when fully restored. This was provided for in Christ’s Ransom.”

We fully agree with this statement, because all the Restitutionists when fully restored will have perfect characters, and will receive eternal life. However, the goats of the Little Season – and those who die during the Mediatorial reign – will not be fully restored; will not have the Adamic death process eliminated from their characters. “Hades” will have been cast into the lake of fire for them, but not “death” (the Adamic death process) – but all of the goats in the Little Season will be fully restored physically, and have perfect faculties, but they will not have perfect heart condition – perfect characters – not having the Adamic death process plagued out of them. Only the willing and obedient will have these evils plagued out of them.

He also quotes from Brother Johnson on this same page, col. 2, top of page:

“Our Lord will operate restitution processes on the race so powerfully during those thousand years as to bring ALL THE OBEDIENT to PERFECTION – those obeying only ex­ternally, and not from the heart, to perfection of physical, mental, moral and relig­ious faculty, but not to perfection of character (will not have the Adamic Death Proc­ess eliminated from their hearts – JJH); and those who obey externally and also from the heart to perfection of both faculty and character. Thus the entire race will be perfect when the Millennium is over (in 2874 – JJH), and it will be in a better posi­tion to be tested for fitness or unfitness for everlasting life than inexperienced Adam and Eve were when they were put on trial for life in Eden. (E 2, p. 145)”

He emphasizes that the Adamic death process was not in Adam when he was created ­with which we are in full agreement. Is he here contending that all will be restored to Adam’s condition before he sinned, including the goats of the Mediatorial reign and the goats of the Little Season, by the beginning of the Little Season? Brother Johnson says, “The human salvation implies actual justification, or restitution to all that was lost in Adam and redeemed in Christ.” (E-8, p. 662) It is an elementary truth that all will have opportunity to receive actual justification, or full restitution, but the goats of the Mediatorial reign and of the Little Season will not avail themselves of that opportunity – they will not submit to having the Adamic death process plagued out of their characters. It will be plagued out of the willing and the obedient by the be­ginning of the Little Season, and the sheep will enter the Little Season with perfect faculties and perfect characters; but the goats will enter the Little Season with un­holy hearts (the Adamic death process still in their characters). They will not re­ceive full actual justification, or full restitution.

If what RGJ now contends is the truth about the Adamic Death process – that those who possess it will be dying the Adamic death – then the Adamic Death Process will be eliminated from each individual as soon as he is delivered from the tomb – delivered from Hell (Hades) – because we know that none of the Restitutionists will die the Adamic death after they are resuscitated from Hell (Hades). So, with such reasoning, we will have to set aside Brother Johnson’s teaching that the Adamic Death Process will be plagued out of the willing and the obedient but not out of the unwilling and disobedient.

In his January-Feb. 1970 magazine, RGJ cites many references from That Servant. We now quote from Reprint 5031: “It is understood that people will be more or less in the Adamic death during the thousand years and will rise gradually out of Adamic imper­fection and death to the perfection of human nature.” Also he cites Reprint 5780, par. 1, from which we now quote:

“It will be a grand work. The promise of Jesus is that eventually there shall be no more sighing, no more crying, no more dying; for the former things of sin and death will have passed away and He will have made all things new, as the great King of kings and Lord of lords. – Rev. 21:4,5; 19:16; 1 Cor. 15:26,54.”

As we all know, there will be another siege of sin and evil during the Little Season. And during that siege there will be sighing, crying, grief and sorrow. Certainly, not until the end of the Little Season can it be said, “there shall be no more sighing, no more crying, no more dying; for the former things of sin and death will have passed away and He will have made all things new, as the great King of kings and Lord of lords.”

In our December 1969, No. 174 paper we quoted from E-8:608 as follows: “The de­filement and its condemnation lasting seven days types the fact that one must undergo actual or reckoned cleansing of the Millennial Age, the antitypical seventh day, in order to be rid of the Adamic defilement and condemnation (the Adamic death process, sin, error and selfishness—JJH).”

And further on p. 616: “If he (the defiled ones—JJH) leaves any part of these (Christ’s right to life and life rights—JJH) unappropriated, he enters the Little Season with an imperfect character (hasn’t been willing to have the Adamic Death Process plagued out of him—JJH) and thus will fall in the final trial during the Little Season (he will be cast into the lake of fire, the antitypical Red Sea, along with the Devil and his angels at the full end of the Little Season—JJH).”

Note from the foregoing how clear it is that Brother Johnson considered the “defiled” ones as entering the Little Season still contaminated with the Adamic death process (sin, error, selfishness) – which, therefore, cannot be destroyed until its possessor is also destroyed. “That final trial will be the last stand that Satan, sin and error and all in sympathy with them will ever make; for oppression (of Satan, sin and error, with their concomitants of dying and death (the Adamic death process—­JJH) shall not rise again. The final trial and its outcome will leave a universe forever free from sin, error and their effects.” (E-11:268)

Follows now a very clear statement from the Nov. 15, 1949 Herald of the Epiphany: “He (Christ) shall have put down all rule and all authority and all power (every ves­tige of the governorship and of the pretended authority and of the pretended might of Satan, all of this will be put down by the almighty hand of Christ, the Head, and the Church, the Body, using God’s power as that almighty power in their hand). For He must reign until He hath put all enemies under His feet (thus we see that not only persons are these enemies, but also things. The Adamic death in the sense of the dy­ing process (a thing and not a person—JJH) is this last great enemy; and, because of His faithfulness, Jesus became the One who will after the close of the Millennium finally destroy it.”

And be it noted that the Jehovah’s Witnesses also treat 1 Cor. 15:24, giving it the exact interpretation offered by RGJ, in his August 1967 Present Truth, in their August 15, 1967 Watch Tower, which to say the least is quite a coincidence in timing and in doctrine. However, in this instance the Witnesses simply present their views without calling others “sifting errorists,” etc., who may differ with them.

And in keeping with the above, we quote from E-17:124-125: “Then cometh the end (the end of the Little Season, when He shall have ruled over all the earth and given every man the opportunity to gain eternal life, which His Ransom-sacrifice, a corre­sponding price, enables Him to give), when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father (for God will be the final judge over the earth and will exer­cise His judgment through Christ, the Head, primarily, and secondarily, the Church, His Body, as His Vicegerent); when He shall have put down all rule and all authority and (all) power (every vestige of the governorship and of the pretended authority and pretended might of Satan, all of this will be put down by the almighty hand of Christ, the Head, and the Church, the Body, using God’s power as that almighty power in their hand). The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death (thus we see that not only persons are these enemies, but also things. The Adamic death in the sense of the dying process is this last great enemy; and, because of His faithfulness, Jesus be­came the One who will after the close of the Millennium finally destroy it).”

The Judgment Day for the world of mankind as individuals begins with the inaug­uration of the New Covenant and will end with the Little Season, the Harvest of the Millennial Age. There was a Harvest at the end of the Jewish Age, and a Harvest at the end of the Gospel Age. The Epiphany is the last special period of the Gospel Age. Just as the final separation of the Great Company and the Second-Death class occurs in the Epiphany, the final separation of the Millennial Sheep and Goats will occur in the Little Season. We realize that some of the Lord’s people know these things, but we also realize that “in the last days perilous times shall come” when “evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.” We are assured that all those who have received the “love of the Truth” will appreciate our efforts to reassert the “faith once delivered unto the saints.” We are not discouraged by those who prefer other “‘voices” with “new light” subversive to the true faith.

Another question on Matt. 7:20: “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” Since the Bible says we are not saved by works, how could this be harmonized? RGJ’s answer: “The Bible does not say we are not saved by works.”

However, we would emphasize that the Bible does say, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Eph. 2:8) “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.” (James 2:17) Works in this text refers to character develop­ment, according to the Berean Comments. RGJ refers to the “fruits” of the spirit as service, just as his “cousin” J. W. Krewson referred to it regarding those who continued in their High Calling Hope after the edict “Last Saint Gone” was given by RGJ. JWK said of them that they were not showing any “fruits of the spirit” because they didn’t order tracts and distribute them (service). The same was said about the faithful who did not go along with JFR’s errors. Rutherford immediately disposed of the “‘fruits of the spirit” in his works’ salvation – and to this day the Jehovah’s Witnesses are manifest to one another by their “works” (the hours they spend in ser­vice). This is another elementary Truth, and should have been learned at the outset that the Lord judges His people by their character development and not by how many hours of service they spend in distributing literature from the group they uphold. Brother Russell’s comments on Hosea 6:6 in the September 3 Manna is pertinent to our subject:

“Behold to obey is better than sacrifice, is a lesson which should be deeply en­graved upon the hearts of all the sanctified in Christ Jesus. To have the spirit of obedience is necessary, too, and whoever has the spirit of obedience will not only obey the Divine will, but will seek to know the Divine will more and more that he may obey it. It is of this class that the Scriptures declare, ‘His word was found and I did eat it’; and again, in the words of our Lord, ‘I delight to do Thy Will, 0 My God; Thy Law is written in My heart.”

Matt. 7:21 tells us, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?”

There are quite a few in Big and Little Babylon who can say they have done many “wonderful works” in building up their quarters (sects). The Great Company leaders have always emphasized service – works. They often draw attention to their wonder­ful works – which will eventually be burned. They try to keep their adherents so busy they won’t have time to “study, to show themselves approved before God,” or to question the errors that are being fed to them.

Then this question: Will the Youthful Worthies have to receive their instructions from the erring Great Company leaders after your demise? RGJ answered that he did not think there would be any Great Company living after he dies. It seems he believes he will be the last Great Company member to leave the earth. He also said that the Great Company has a call – and that it is a ‘sifting error’ that there is no call for the Great Company – as the Bible taught they had a call.

Well, this ‘sifting error’ was repeatedly and emphatically taught by That Servant and the Epiphany Messenger, and we have only reasserted their teaching. The Berean Comments on Rev. 7:9 says, “Could number... Is able to tell; not foreordained or fixed number because no one was ever called to be of this company.” One of the be­setting sins of Great Company leaders is to come up with “new light” and spread it among the brethren.

“Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.” (Acts 20:30). Commenting on this text in the September 15, 1897, Reprint 2221, That Servant says: “These, he says, will speak perverse things; that is, they will distort the truth, to make it harmonize with some theory which they have accepted and which they wish to impress upon others, thereby exalting them­selves as the discoverers of new light. No less than five of these false teachers who arose in the Church of Ephesus, some before and some after, are mentioned in the Apostle’s epistles to Timothy, – Hymenus, Alexander, Phygellus, Hermongenes and Phi­letus. (I Tim. 1:20; 2 Tim. 1:15; 2:17)”

The Lord loves the Great Company, and the Great Company love the Lord – although not sufficiently enough to forsake all and faithfully follow in His footsteps. They “re­ceived not the love of the truth, that they might be saved” (2 Thes. 2:10) in the High Calling, to which they were called. Since the Lord gave them every assistance to re­main in that “Call,” there is no excuse for them to become castaways, as Brother Rus­sell so often stressed. In the August 1910, Reprint 4655, there is this: “These are not hypocrites, however, but since the Time of Trouble is properly for the hypocrites, they will have their portion with the hypocrites.” All of them have double minds (E-15:519), which necessitates that they have their fleshly minds destroyed. So the Lord abandons them and permits them to undergo many rough experiences at the hands of the “fit man” – in “great tribulation.” When they become truly repentant, and “wash their (spotted) robes in the blood of the Lamb,” God will then “deliver them who through fear of death (the sacrificial death) were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” (Heb. 2:15) Then God will wipe away their tears, and will provide a place for them. He calls them “blessed” after they have renewed their vows and resolves, which (indeed they are: “Blessed are those who have been invited (not called) to the marriage sup­per of the Lamb.” (Rev. 19:9, Dia.)

We “think it not strange” for RGJ to come up with “new light” on a ‘call’ for the Great Company, since he previously came up with a ‘call’ for Restitutionists to become Campers Consecrated. In both cases his “new light” casts aside the True Light taught by That Servant. He now has two ‘calls’ for the Epiphany. We have quoted Brother Russell’s writings on ‘no call for the Great Company,’ but he complains that this is a ‘sifting error.’ We reassert his teaching because we believe it is required of us, if we would be faithful, and in harmony with the following Manna Comments for Sept. 23:

“Our good fight of faith consists in a considerable measure in our defense of the Word of God... This will mean our willingness to stand for the Truth at any cost and against any number of assailants – against the creeds and theories of men... As the Apostle again says, ‘I am set for the defense of the Gospel.’ We can do no less than defend the Truth. The Truth is God’s representative, Christ’s representative, and hence our standard, and as true soldiers we must defend our standard, even unto death.”

Another question – In Micah 4:2 it says the Word of the Lord will go forth from Jerusalem. Will the Jews receive this ‘Word’ first and become zealous missionaries, or will the Epiphany Campers be there to receive it first?” His answer – Neither one would receive it first – said the Ancient Worthies would be the first to receive the ‘Word,’ and referred to Joel 2:28 for his proof.

The question was on the missionary work – the ‘Word’ going forth from Jerusalem. Of course, with his present error of demoting the Jews, it was a difficult question for him. But with his usual “sleight-of-hand” he came up with the Ancient Worthies. Surely all of us know that God’s earthly representatives receive the ‘Word’ that goes forth through them. It will ‘go forth’ from His Mouthpieces – “to the Jew first.” (Rom. 2:10)

The Berean Comments on Rom. 2:10 are: “To the Jew first – During the Millennium, as a natural result of his training under the Law.” And the Berean Comments on Micah 4:2 are: “The God of Jacob... Natural Israel; Walk in His paths... ‘All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth’... ‘They shall return even to the lord and He shall be entreated of them and shall heal them’.... Go forth of Zion... The spiritual phase of the Kingdom, the glorified Christ, Head and Body... ; Word of the Lord... Divine mes­sages, through the ‘Princes’...; From Jerusalem.... The seat of the earthly representa­tive government in the hands of the ‘Princes.’“

“I will go in the strength of the lord God: I will make mention of thy righteous­ness, even of thine only. I will also praise thee with the psalter, even thy truth, 0 my God: unto thee will I sing with the harp, 0 thou Holy One of Israel.” (Psa. 71:16,22)

Sincerely your brother,

John J. Hoefle, Pilgrim

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LETTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST

Epiphany Bible Students Association

Mount Dora, Florida

Thank you for your Special Edition of What is the Soul? and Where are the Dead?

I would like to have Nos. 3, 4, 9, 10 and 121. You are doing a good work! Thank you again – and God bless you!    Sincerely ------- (NORTH  CAROLINA)

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Dear Brother Hoefle: Grace and peace!

Thank you for the paper. It was the same – and some would believe that the Great Company teaches the Truth as given by the Star Members. Also, thank you for your No. 202. May the Lord bless you all! Hymn 275.

Your brother, ------- (TRINIDAD)

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Dear Brother Hoefle: Grace and peace!

I would like to have your periodical and publications – and please send me free. May the lord continue to bless you! Sincerely your brother, ------- (POLAND)

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Dearly beloved Brother Hoefle: Grace and peace!

The July and August writings came and I really haven’t words to express how good they really are. They are superb, instructive and “Out of this world,” as the saying is. We both think they are really splendid, although ------- hasn’t received hers yet. She read mine.

We hope this will be the end of our company until later. Ralph has inventory and tries to have things quiet at home, since he has to work Saturdays and sometimes on Sundays. But I find time to study, because I entertain the boys while I work forenoons, and they usually go some place afternoons, town or swimming.

Love from all of us to all of you. Sister ------- (KANSAS)

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Dear Brother Hoefle:

Must write you, sending greetings through our dear Lord for the blessings I have received through your writings. I have enjoyed receiving them, and have received much valuable learning from them.

The Lord has been good to me, has helped me through much sickness the past six years and I am enjoying much better health now. I hope all is going well there. Give my love to all the Bible House family. I’m sending a little help for the lord’s work.

Much Christian love, Sister & Brother ------- (OHIO)

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Dear Sir:

I was greatly helped by your articles on What is the Soul and Where are the Dead. May I have a copy of God’s Great Sabbath Day? Thank you!

Sincerely, ------- (TEXAS)

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Dear Brother Hoefle:

May Grace and Peace be your continued portion, as you seek to serve the Lord and His people!

Your monthly papers are excellent and they are eagerly looked forward to! Brother ------- joined us for our meeting. Sister ------- joins me in sending warm Christian love to you all and to all the dear ones with you. Hymn 294.

Your brother by His Grace, ------- (ENGLAND)

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Epiphany Bible Students Association

I am writing for No. 3 – The Resurrection of the Dead – No. 8, The Permission of Evil and No. 5 – Two Distinct Salvations. Thank you! Sincerely, ------- (KANSAS)

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Dear Brother Hoefle:

I send this little donation for the work – and may our dear Lord Jesus bless you! With Christian love, Brother ------- (MASSACHUSETTS)

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Epiphany Bible Students Association

I was given a copy of No. 194, and I would like more information if I may have it. I would like to read literature exposing the Jehovah’s Witnesses – also expos­ing the Watch Tower since Rutherford died.

It is shocking, but worth knowing about. Hope to hear from you. Thank you kindly.

Sincerely ------- (KENTUCKY)

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Dear Brother Hoefle: Christian greetings!

I trust you have my letter in which we requested some books. I forgot to mention that we are completely out of tracts and would like to participate in the Special Effort in Antitypical Gideon’s Second Battle. Kindly let us have an assorted number of tracts suitable for the occasion. You may include others, as we have none here.

Christian love to you and the friends there.

Your sister ------- Secretary ......... (TRINIDAD)

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Dear Brother Hoefle: Loving Christian greetings in His dear Name!

You will never know how happy and thrilled I was to hear your voices Sunday morn­ing. I haven’t words to tell you – and the song sounded so pretty. Every word came through so clearly ........ Of course you had a good time at the Convention, and we were glad to hear about it......

The last portion of Brother ------- recent letter is as follows: Brother Hoefle men­tioned the number of Watchtowers published each month – a little over 15,000,000, but he did not speak of the number of the Awake! magazine published each month, which is also about 15,000,000. Then there are the many books which are published each year and brought out in their summer assemblies. I believe that upwards of 500,000 each of them are published each year.

The JW’s have visited me from time to time for several years. They at first were interested in my Reprints, and the fact that I had been in the Truth in Brother Rus­sell’s time. They have urged me at times to return to “God’s Organization,” that is, to accept their teachings, etc. They are warning that it may soon be too late to ob­tain eternal life in the Kingdom; the world is now being judged, and the Sheep are be­ing separated from the Goats, they say. Also the time of Armageddon draws near, when the evil institutions of the world and the Goat class (all who do not accept the JW’s teachings) will go down to utter destruction. They set that date as 1975. Although they teach that Jesus gave Himself a Ransom for all, it is clear that not “all” will have the opportunity to receive eternal life, except as they see it.

At present the world population is estimated to be 3.7 billion. At their Memorial service in 1971 they reported a world-wide attendance of 3,453,542. And this number is hardly a drop in the bucket compared to the world population. So if they expect any great numbers to pass through Armageddon in 1975 into their New World, they will have to do a lot more witnessing than they are now doing, and bring in many more converts ­which they claim is around 200,000 a year.

May the Lord bless and keep you is my prayer.

With much Christian love, ------- (KANSAS)

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Epiphany Bible Students Association

Please send me your leaflet on Where are the Dead free of charge, as per stated in your Herald. Thank you.  Mrs. ------- (FLORIDA)

NO. 209: "JEWISH HOPES AND PROSPECTS"

No. 209

The above is the title of a book “Compiled by Professor Raymond G. Jolly” some years ago; and the opening statement is, “Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Speak ye comfortingly to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her appointed time (margin) is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the Lord’s hand double for all her sins. (Isa. 40:1,2)” This is the same text used by J. F. Rutherford in 1925 in his book “Comfort For The Jews,” although he uses it to close his book; whereas, RGJ uses it to begin his book. We find no fault with the use of this Scripture, or the use made of it by either of them; but the text now assumes new importance because the both of them have repudiated their inter­pretation of it – JFR has fully repudiated it, with RGJ making only partial reversal of himself.

In order that our readers may have a clear concept of our analysis, we now offer a very brief summary of “Jewish Hopes and Prospects” – just as we did of “Comfort For The Jews” in our paper No. 205:

“The long-promised time of Israel’s exaltation as the channel of Messianic blessing to mankind is near (p. 4). First in order of the King­dom work is the binding of Satan – the work of a heavenly, and not of an earthly kind.. the Son in His glorious majesty.... being entrusted with the pouring out of the Divine blessing upon Israel, and through Israel, extending that blessing to every nation.(p.5)

“Eventually all mankind, blessed under the Messianic reign, will become Israel­ites – of the seed of Abraham in the widest sense—Gal. 3:7 (p. 8). At that time the blessing that has been taken from Israel for many centuries will return to them. (p. 9) We see that the Great Messiah of Glory, Jesus, in His Second Advent as King of kings and Lord of lords, fills absolutely every demand of Jewish expectation and of prophetic outline. Some can see, but others cannot as yet, that He who was pierced (Psa. 22:16; Zech. 12:10) is the same One who, as the Son of God, in great glory is shortly to bless Israel – and the Gentiles through them. (p. 16) Then the blessing of Israel as Abraham’s seed, and of all nations through Israel, will take place... All the families of the earth will be privileged to become ‘Israelites indeed’ through faithfulness to the great Mediator of Israel and of all earth’s families. (p. 20) Messiah’s reign will not only bless and uplift Israel, but through Israel the blessing will extend to every nation... in full accord with the Divine promise and oath made to Abraham many centuries ago (Gen. 12:3; 22:18). (p. 23) Through Abraham’s seed all nations shall be blessed. (p. 30)

“Thus as a nation in their homeland, they will be the nucleus of the world of man­kind, fitted for, and waiting to receive the earthly phase of the Millennial kingdom which is to be set up first in their midst. (p. 48) Abraham’s seed is to bless all the families of the earth.” (p. 49)

The foregoing offers a terse representation of RGJ’s views – and we are in full accord with them, because he is indeed telling the Jews the truth! But from the Con­vention platform and in his Present Truth he is repudiating much of the truth he is presenting to the Jews. He is telling his, Consecrated Epiphany Campers that they will have the Kingdom preeminence – not only over the Jews but above all other quasi-elect. So here we have a vivid example of “a double minded man, unstable in all his ways.” (Jas. 1:8) The Witnesses say their Great Multitude is to have preeminence, as they survive Armageddon, then go on living forever. The LHMM offer this probable “comfort” to their Campers Consecrated, that they may survive Armageddon (no positive promise, of course). However, if they do not survive, RGJ correctly teaches they will have no part in the “better resurrection” – the “resurrection of the just.” The conclusion logically follows, then, that the Jews living in Palestine will be the first and chief ones to receive the Kingdom blessing, with none of the deceased Campers Consecrated yet awakened. Just how Campers Consecrated will have the chief honor and preeminence trans­ferred to them from the Jews in Palestine, is something that should be explained by RGJ if he has an explanation. So far as we know, he has offered not the slightest hint to the Jews – either publicly or privately – that the Scriptures which formerly the two Messengers taught applied to fleshly Israel now apply to his Campers Consecrated. JFR was much bolder in his displacement of the Jews in Kingdom standing: he gave it to the Jews boldly and publicly, leaving no doubt in the minds of his followers, or in the minds of the Jews, that he had set aside That Servant’s teaching on the Jewish Hopes and Prospects.

SOME PAROUSIA AND EPIPHANY COMMENTS

In the 1909 Convention Report, p. 14, col. 1, we find this statement by Brother Russell: “We are glad the time is coming when God’s favor will return to the Jews, when He will bless all the world through the Jews, and you and I are glad that now, during this Gospel Age, God is taking us out of the world as representatives of that stone kingdom. (Luke 12:32).... And these 2520 years of the times of the Gentiles we believe will ex­pire with October, 1914; at that time we believe the Gentile lease of power will expire and that the God of Heaven will set up His kingdom in Israel.”

And on the same page there is this further comment: ‘We do not expect universal peace to ensue immediately, because Christ is styled the Prince of Peace. On the con­trary, to our understanding, the collapse of the nations will be through fierce strife, ‘a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation,’ because God will set every man’s hand against his neighbor (during this Epiphany – the ‘time of trouble’—­JJH). Our belief is that the warfare between capital and labor, emperors and peoples, will be short, sharp, decisive, and bring untold calamity upon all concerned. If people could only discern it, they would avoid it, but their eyes are holden; they see not, neither do they understand.”

It will be noted from the foregoing that Brother Russell expected the great Time of Trouble would be of short duration. Had any one suggested to him in 1909 that things would be as they are now in 1972, he would probably have offered sharp rebuke to such persons. Commenting on Ex. 19:21-23, regarding the forbidden “gazing,” there is this on p. 342 of E-11: “These two (the Parousia and Epiphany Messengers) have done such study without its being speculation.... If, however, they should attempt to open an un­due Scripture, they, too, would make mistakes therein and produce error, as both of them in minor details have done.” It seems to us that some of their mistakes along this line are of major proportions, because of the severe trial of faith the Lord’s people have undergone when their expectations and predictions failed to mature. Brother Russell lived to correct some of his miscalculations for 1914 – some before and some afterward. And, had Brother Johnson lived two years beyond 1954, we may be sure he would have corrected some of his calculations. If Brother Russell and Brother Johnson were right in stating that the Epiphany and the Great Tribulation are identi­cal (and we believe they were), then it would be proper to use the terms interchange­ably. Therefore, if the Epiphany ended in a ‘restricted sense’ in 1954, we could with equal propriety say the Great Tribulation ended in 1954 in a ‘restricted sense.’ And any one attempting such ridiculous talk would right soon be accused of talking nonsense.

In the Souvenir Report, p. 232, col. 2, some one asked Brother Russell how long the time of trouble would last; and this is what he said: My dear friends, it will last with some people a good while. The time of trouble lasts according to the degree of the disposition of God in the heart of man. The Scriptures speak of the fire of that day, which shall burn up the wicked and leave them neither root nor branch. What does it mean? I presume that the fire of God’s indignation will burn against unrighteousness during the day of Christ until every root and branch of sin is thoroughly consumed. If any one holds on, he himself will be destroyed in the second death. But, as to the time of national trouble, such as has not been before, no one knows how long it will last. I may guess, and you may also. You may take in more things than I. My thought would be that the severest period could not last more than a year. How sud­denly it may come upon the world, or how gradually it may pass away, I do not know, and I think no one can.”

It will be noted that Brother Russell thought “the severest period” of the trouble could not last more than a year. Inasmuch as that has not yet occurred, it would hardly seem prudent that we should approve or dispute it – although it would seem at this time that it will be more than a year. However, this situation does affect Jewish Hopes and Prospects, inasmuch as we expect it will be toward the end of that severest period that the Jews will recognize their Messiah – Him whom they pierced, and shall mourn because of it. And those of them that survive that ordeal will be the first to receive Restitution blessings. This situation has been stressed by both Messengers; yet now comes a Levite to tell us this is all wrong. Well, we shall continue with some of their statements, then allow our readers to make up their own minds which in­struction they wish to accept. Here is a paragraph from Reprints 5101, col. 2:

“Nevertheless the Scriptures most clearly declare that the natural seed of Abraham (the faithful Jews holding to the promises of God – the quasi-elect into which the Gen­tile quasi-elect will merge—JJH), the Jews, are still heirs of certain promises of God, which in due time will come to them. To their nation will come the great privi­lege of being the foremost nation among men during Messiah’s glorious reign... Natural Israel will receive blessings from spiritual Israel. ‘They shall obtain mercy through your mercy.’—Rom. 11:25-34”

Follows now something from E-1:302, par. 1: “Having seen so many features of God’s plan successfully carried out by God’s zeal, he has the full assurance of faith that the unfulfilled parts as due will be zealously carried out by God. The prophetic Word assures him that the zeal of the Lord will shortly overthrow Satan’s Empire, in its governments, religions, aristocracies and bourgeoisies, in the time of wrath, which had its start in the World War (the ‘time of wrath’ – the Epiphany period—JJH). He confidently looks for the zeal of God to establish God’s Kingdom at the hands of His Elect under Christ, on the ruins of Satan’s Empire, to offer the Kingdom blessings, first to the living Jews, then to the living Gentiles, then to the non-elect dead from our times even to Adam’s time, by canceling the death sentence.”

Complementing the foregoing, we quote from E-15:733: “Soon after the awakening of their faithful prophets of old, and the faithful Youthful Worthies, the Jews then liv­ing, who still retain their faith in the New Covenant promises made to them (Jer. 31: 31-34; Heb. 8:7-12), and who have waited for their Messiah, will begin to see clearly, and will join themselves to these Worthies. Then the world will gradually come to see, and will also come under the terms of Israel’s New Law Covenant by becoming a part of Israel, a part of Abraham’s earthly seed (Rom. 4:17,18; Isa. 49:6-12).”

In harmony with the above is the following from Reprints 5721, July 1, 1915: “The orthodox Jews, those who still hold to the teachings of the law and the Prophets, and have faith in God, will be the first to receive the blessings of the new Age... So, then, this condition of affliction in which the Jews have been throughout the Gospel Age, in addition to the overthrow of their nation in the year 70 AD., has really been a favor from God. All the tabulation through which this people have passed during the entire ‘seven times’ of chastisement, will be finally found to have been to their ad­vantage, preparing them for the blessings of Messiah’s Kingdom. The Elect Church will be the first in the Kingdom, natural Israel with the Ancient Worthies at their head will be the second. Subsequently all nations will came into Divine favor and bless­ing, becoming members of Israel.”

This subject is treated in considerable detail in Parousia Vol. 3, pp. 243-300; and our readers would do well to read it all. We offer here just one small paragraph: “As concerning the Gospel (the ‘good news’ of the High Calling), they are enemies (cast off temporarily until the ‘fullness of the Gentiles be come in’), they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes.’ God has promised to Abraham ‘the land for an everlasting possess­ion, to thee, and to thy seed after thee’; and we may be sure this promise will be ful­filled in minute detail.”

On P. 249 of this same volume, there is this: “In most other respects the Mosaic requirements are yet observed among the Orthodox Jews. Their worship consists in the reading of Scripture, prayer and praise... Then they blow the trumpet and pray that God would bring them to Jerusalem... That class, no doubt, will be re-gathered and blessed when Messiah comes a second time... The time is fast approaching when God will speak peace to Israel.... No special favor (emphasis by That Servant) will come to the infidel Jews at the time of returning favor... The Jews recognized by God as children of Abraham are those who hold to Abraham’s faith.”

And from p. 256 is the following: “We see, then, that God’s prediction, that Israel (except the faithful few) would be blinded by their Law (Rom. 11:9), was fulfilled in a natural way and to result from reasonable causes. So the Millennial favors will be to the Jew first, even as by reason of the covenants, etc., the Gospel favors were offered to them first... Their gathering again and their re-establishment in the land of promise mark another step in the great Divine Plan: They declare that the restitution of all things, ‘to the Jew first;’ but ultimately to ‘all the families of the earth,’ is about to begin.... of which fleshly Israel is the first fruit.”

 Just a little more from pp. 292,293: “What we do claim is that the Great Teacher was right when He declared that ‘Salvation is of the Jew,’ and that the Great Apostle was right when he stated that God’s order is, ‘Glory, honor and peace to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile’... The restitution work of the future, fleshly Israel, recovered from blindness, shall be used as a medium through whom streams of salvation, issuing from glorified, spiritual Israel, shall flow to all the families of the earth; as it is written, ‘Out of Zion (the Gospel Church, spiritual Israel glorified) shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem (the re-established fleshly Israel – Isa. 2:3).”

THE THREE GREAT COVENANTS - GRACE - LAW - WORKS

On pp. 4318-22 of the Jan. 15, 1909 Reprints is an article captioned as above, which is quite pertinent to our subject; so we shall use large parts of it, with some of our own comments interspersed:

St. Paul pointed out to us most distinctly that the original covenant made with an oath to Abraham was in every way the superior one and that it, being a one-sided cov­enant, an unconditional promise, has no mediator. The Apostle tells us further that the Law Covenant was “added” to the Abrahamic Covenant in God’s dealing with the nation of Israel. It is called a Law Covenant because the benefits of that Covenant were offered only to those who would keep the Law in all its requirements – inviolate. He calls it the Hagar Covenant, because it was a bondage and because its offspring, the Jewish nation, could not inherit the promised blessings and privileges. He tells us that it made nothing perfect, brought nothing to perfection. Although faith had a place and the grace of God had some manifestation towards Israel; yet neither faith nor grace affected their covenant, which was hard and fast and demanded obedience to the works of the Law – “He that doeth these things shall live by them.” Since none could do per­fectly, that Covenant of Works brought only condemnation of their imperfect works. It had a mediator, Moses, but he was unable to accomplish anything for the people, because of their imperfection through heredity. We properly call this the Law Covenant.

The Apostle states that as Hagar’s child was born before Isaac, who represented the Christ, head and body, the “new Creation,” so the nation of Israel, Moses and all the people baptized into him in the sea and in the cloud, “The house of servants,” would be developed before spiritual Israel, the new nation – Christ and all the members of the house of sons of spirit-begetting. As the Covenant of Grace (Sarah) existed before the Law Covenant was added to it, so it continued to exist after the Law Covenant was set aside as a Covenant, its prize of life eternal having been won by “the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all.” So, then, the Covenant of Grace (Sarah), which preceded the Law Covenant (Hagar) 430 years, continued alive during the whole period of the Law Covenant, but without children, and then brought forth the Head of the Seed, Jesus. The Law Covenant was then cast aside – “Cast out the bond-woman and her son; for the son of the bond-woman shall not be heir with the son of the free woman” – The Christ, the heir of the original promise, now being developed. “Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac.” (Gen. 25:10)

“If ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed.” This is the mystery – the selec­tion of the Church during this Gospel Age to be sharers with the Redeemer in the suffer­ings of this present time, and also in the glory that shall follow. Not until that First Resurrection is finished will the Seed of the Sarah Covenant be fully born. So surely as Jesus, the Head of the Body, was brought forth in the resurrection, born from the dead, so surely will all the members of the Body share with Him His glorious change from mortality to immortality.

What about the Jews under the Law (Hagar) Covenant? Were they on that account cut off from the very privileges and blessings which they so desired – of being Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise? We answer, Yes. The Apostle shows that the children of the bond-woman could not be heirs with the children of the free woman. How, then, did the Apostles and others, who were of Israel according to the flesh, come into relationship with Christ and the Sarah Covenant (of grace)? The Apostle tells us that as a human marriage is dissolved by the death of one of the parties, so those of the Jews who could recognize by faith that Christ’s death had fulfilled the terms of the Law Cov­enant could realize that Covenant was dead, and hence, that they were freed from it and could become married to another – united to Christ. On the contrary, any Jew who does not recognize that Christ, by His death, has ‘bade an end of the Law, nailing it to His cross;” and who still continues to believe in that Covenant, is as firmly bound thereby as though the Covenant were still alive; just as a woman whose husband was really dead, but she thought him alive, could not conscientiously marry another.

Are not the Lord’s ways just and equal? Yes, we answer, and the full scope of the Divine purpose when seen is glorious in its harmony. The difficulty in the past is that we have seen as through an obscured glass, and not face to face. Now we perceive that God intends to recognize two seeds of Abraham, the one heavenly, like unto the stars of heaven; the other earthly like unto the sands of the seashore. The attempt of the Law Covenant to bring forth the natural seed first was abortive – a failure. First must come the spiritual Christ, Head and Body, partaker of the Divine nature, heir of all things. Then God’s favor will return to natural Israel. But since the Law Covenant com­pleted its purpose and was demonstrated to be unavailable for them, because of the weak­nesses of the flesh, God purposes to make with that nation, and with that nation alone (no mention whatever here of Consecrated Campers or the Great Multitude being the recip­ients), a New Covenant. Not a single statement of Scripture identifies the New Coven­ant with the Gentiles – and, so far as we know, not one Consecrated Camper or one Great Multitude is a Jew! It will be Israel’s New Covenant given to displace the Old, or Law Covenant. Let us note well that the great mass of the early Church were Hebrews and that the Apostle’s references to the New Covenant are almost exclusively in his epistle to the Hebrews. One exception is in Rom. 11:27, where the Apostle, although addressing Christians of Gentile birth, tells them that natural Israel was cast off for their sakes, but is still beloved for the fathers’ sake, and is again to have Divine favor, under a special covenant. The other (2 Cor. 3:6) refers to the royal priesthood as able (quali­fied) servants of the New Covenant – dying with Christ for its sealing.—Mal. 3:1

The more closely we investigate the New Covenant, the more we must be convinced of this fact – that it belongs to Israel alone, including the two nations into which they divided at the death of Solomon – Israel and Judah. Note the statement of the Prophet, “Behold the days will come, saith the lord, when I will make a New Covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not according to the covenant (the Law Cov­enant) which I made with them when I took them by the hand and led them out of the land of Egypt.” The Apostle, endeavoring to prove to the Jews that they could gain nothing under the Law Covenant, points out this prophecy, and tells them that the fact that God speaks of this as a New Covenant implies that a preceding (Law) Covenant had become old, valueless, and was preparing to pass away – “In that He saith, a New Covenant, he hath made the first old; now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.” (Heb. 8:13)

THE OATH-BOUND COVENANT SURE—HEB. 6:17-20

The New Covenant is to take the place of the old and unsatisfactory one. There were two old covenants, the Grace, or Sarah Covenant, and the Law, or Hagar Covenant. Which did the Apostle mean had grown old, valueless, and would pass away and give place to the New Covenant? Surely there can be no doubt for misunderstanding on this point. He meant the Law Covenant, for he says so. He did not mean the original Grace or Sarah Covenant, for he points out that our claim to relationship to God is under that original covenant, as members of the body of Christ. Our Lord Jesus, by His obedience, became heir of all, heir of the original covenant and heir also of the Law Covenant.

We come now to the other part of the question: What provision has God made for those Jews who bound themselves under the Law Covenant, from Moses’ day down to the First Ad­vent; and for those who since then have not discerned the death of the Law Covenant and who will not be made aware of it until after the spiritual seed shall have been com­pleted and glorified? If they have not lost all share and privileges in connection with God’s special mercies, where do they come in? We answer that Abraham, Isaac, Ja­cob and others before the Law Covenant were not bound by it, yet were not in the fullest sense justified to life until the Abrahamic Covenant had been established at Calvary. Their faith, then, entitled them to a share ‘in the merits of that sacrifice. Likewise, throughout the period of the Law Covenant, before it was annulled at the cross, there were Ancient Worthies who lived above the masses of their time, and who, although bound by the Law, had above it a living faith in the original Oath-Bound (Sarah) Covenant of Grace. These in the Divine records were entitled to their share of that grace, as soon as the merit of Calvary’s sacrifice had been presented on behalf of believers. Although they lived while the Law Covenant was alive, they foresaw its death and trusted not in it, but in the superior Covenant of Grace. Hence, these in due time will come forth to a life resurrection – a “better resurrection.” (Heb. 11:35)

Thus the Scriptures account for the faithful ones of the past under the Covenant of Grace. But what now shall we say respecting those earthly Israelites, who lived not on that higher plane of faith, but of whom the Apostle says, “Our twelve tribes instantly serving God day and night hope to come” into this promise. (Acts 26:7) Were they de­ceived? Will they get those special blessings? Of a surety, they will receive them, because the gifts and calling of God are not to be repented of. (Rom. 11:29-32) He who knew the end from the beginning knew-exactly what Israel would be and do, and was not disappointed, and all of the plans and promises to that nation were made from the stand­point of this pre-knowledge.... Although the chief feature of the Sarah Covenant was se­cured by our Lord Jesus as a trophy of His victory over sin and death, nevertheless, the Divine arrangement is such that the blood of Christ must accrue to the benefit of the natural seed of Abraham, because it all goes to seal the New Covenant - which belongs exclusively to fleshly Israel. The opportunity granted to both Jews and Gentiles to become joint-heirs with the Redeemer was based upon their offering themselves to Him in sacrifice, and His acceptance of their offerings as His own – and God’s acceptance of them; and His death (including ours) seals the New Covenant in His blood.

Thus, while natural Israel had been counted enemies for our sakes, for the Gospel’s sake, our only opportunity for gaining the great prize is in connection with the sealing of a New Covenant between God and Israel. Their loss was our gain, and our gain through sacrifice becomes their gain. However, the New Covenant will not be sealed, rat­ified, until the sacrifices of the Christ shall have been finished. And the finishing of these sacrifices closes the work of this great Day of Sacrifice and Atonement. With the second presentation of the blood of Atonement in the Most Holy – at the end of this Age the New Covenant with Israel will be sealed, and the blessing of the Lord will begin to Israel. “For this is My covenant with them, when I shall take away their sins.” (Rom. 11:27)

Since God’s favors are thus marked out for the heavenly and the earthly Seeds of Abraham – the earthly through the heavenly – it follows that the blessing of the other na­tions will come about through their affiliation with these. The Divine Government estab­lished in Israel in the hands of the Ancient Worthies will be the center of Divine favor, and the people of other nationalities must come to this center for their supplies of truth and grace. Thus the Prophet represents the matter, saying, “Many shall go and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain (kingdom) of the lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and He will teach us His ways, and we will walk in his paths; for the Law shall go forth from Mount Zion (the spiritual kingdom) and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem (the center of the earthly kingdom).” (Isa. 2:3)

There are a number of texts in the New Testament that mention the New Covenant, and we present a few of them. “For this cause He is made mediator of a better covenant (not better than the Grace or Sarah Covenant, but better than the Law Covenant), which was established upon better promises.” (Heb. 8:6) The contrast is between the Law Covenant and its mediator Moses, and the New Covenant, superior because of its better mediator, the Messiah. “In that he saith, A New Covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.” (Heb. 8:13) Here the Apostle is not saying one word about the New Covenant being for the Church of Christ. His read­ers understood full well that they had came in under the Sarah Covenant. But certain Ju­daizing teachers insisted that they must be under the Hagar Covenant, as well as under the Sarah Covenant. And this he is disputing. He is declaring God would make a New Cov­enant with Israel to take the place of the Law Covenant.

In this same Hebrew Epistle St. Paul contrasts the continual sacrifices of the Law Covenant with the eternal once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus and the Church. And he de­clares that once an acceptable sacrifice has been offered to God for sin, the transac­tion is a closed one, the sacrifice needs no repetition. Thus, the sacrifices of the New Covenant are the “better sacrifices,” since they need no repetition; they provide the cancellation of all condemnation. “For this is My covenant with them when I shall take away their sins. As concerning the Gospel they are enemies for your sakes; but as touching the elect they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes.” (Rom. 11:27,28) There is no room to doubt that the Apostle here is referring to Israel’s covenant, the New Covenant, which God will make with them after this Gospel Day. He says the covenant will be made when, or at the time that the Lord will “take away their sins.” That time has not yet come.

Not one of these references to the New Covenant makes the slightest suggestion that it is applicable to the Church. A reference to the original prophecy which the Apostle quotes shows that it could not apply to the Church, for we there read that the Lord “will take away their stony hearts, and give them an heart of flesh.” This is exactly the restitution work which will begin with Israel and extend to all the families of the earth by the inauguration of the New Covenant, sealed, made operative by the merit of the blood of Christ.

We would refer our readers to the references we have given in this treatise on the Jews to verify what That Servant and the Epiphany Messenger taught. There is no reason for any of the Lord’s people to set aside these Truths, as they become clearer and brighter as we go further into the Epiphany. The only reason for any one to deviate from such truths is because of the fact that they cannot harmonize them with the “new light” (?) they have manufactured.

SUMMARY – At one time the leaders of Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Laymen’s Home Missionary Movement fully accepted the teachings set forth herein; but now the lead­ers of both movements are grossly and persistently revolutionizing against these truths. However, we would make it clear that we are not carrying on a personal vendetta against the members of either of these organizations when we offer such resistance to their er­rors. We are well acquainted with many brethren in both groups; and we would be much happier if they were not now revolutionizing against those truths they once accepted and taught; but we are mindful of the words of the Apostle James to “turn such back from their path of error” (Jas. 5:20, Dia.). And we are motivated also by Eze. 33:8: “When I say unto the wicked, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way (of error), that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.”

Thus, we reassert Parousia and Epiphany teachings on Jewish Hopes and Prospects ­not to be contentious, but for the benefit of all who have no wish to become involved in “the path of error” that is so rampant on all sides. While we are strongly moved to be peaceable, yet we are not primarily so. We are primarily pure: “The wisdom from above is indeed first pure, then peaceable.” (Jas. 3:17) “Contending for the faith once delivered to the saints” is not only a duty but a great privilege – if it be done sincerely and charitably; but, sad to note, many who once accepted that posi­tion with zeal and determination, now seem to follow rather those recorded in John 12: 42,43: “Among the chief rulers also many believed on Him; but because of the Phari­sees they did not confess Him... for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.”

It is well established in the records that error is progressive – just as truth is progressive. This is acutely noticeable now that we are in “the evil day.” Of the beautiful system of Truth produced by That Servant almost every important feature of it has been perverted by one group or another, that once wholeheartedly accepted his teach­ings. And to defend a newly acquired error always requires the denial of formerly ac­cepted truths. Thus the error pyramids like a snowball rolling downhill, and enmeshes all who “admitted not the love of the Truth. And on this account God will send to them an energy of delusion... in order that all those may be judged who believed not the Truth, but approved the iniquity.” (2 Thes. 2:10-12, Dia.)

It is definitely not in our province, nor is it our desire, to judge the hearts of God’s people; but once the Lord has made manifest His judgment by permitting some one to lose the truth that he once received and believed, then, as Brother Russell has so often stressed, we know there is something wrong with the heart – otherwise the Lord would not have permitted them to grossly and persistently revolutionize against the Truth and its Arrangements. So when we see some losing the Truth which once made them clean (“Now are ye clean through the word which I have spoken unto you”—John 15:3) we may know of a certainty that there is something wrong with the heart. “For the word of God is living, and energetic, and more cutting than any two-edged Sword, cutting through even to a Separation of Life and Breath, and of Joints and Marrow, and able to judge the Thoughts and Intentions of the Heart.” (Heb. 4:12, Dia.) The heart first be­comes sullied, which then produces a deterioration of the head. Thus, let us “be in­fants no longer, tossed and whirled about with every wind of that teaching which is in the trickery of men, by cunning craftiness in systematic deception.” (Eph. 4:14, Dia.)

“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.” (Prov. 4:23,26,27)

Sincerely your brother,

John J. Hoefle, Pilgrim

NO. 208: IN MEMORIAM OF THAT SERVANT

No. 208

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

In Eph. 4:10-13 the Apostle Paul gives a terse outline of the Gospel-Age Church in its organizational nature; and we offer some of this Scripture from the Diaglott: “He (Jesus) is the one having ascended far above all of the Heavens, so that He may fulfill all things. And He gave indeed the apostles, and the prophets, and the evan­gelists, and shepherds and teachers... for the work of service... to the building up of the body of the Anointed One.” The Apostles in this text refer exclusively to the Twelve, who wrote by inspiration, and were given plenipotentiary powers by Jesus. ‘Whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in Heaven.” (Matt. 16:19)

Next in order, and in rank in the Church are the “prophets.” These cannot be the Old Testament prophets because they are not a part of the Church; therefore, they must be men of rank in the Gospel Age, and we understand them to be included in the “seven stars” of Rev. 1:16: “He (Jesus) had in his right hand seven stars.” On page 345 of the 1916 Watch Tower, there is this comment about them:

“This One whom we thus know, thus recognize, as the Instructor and Caretaker of the candlesticks, we are also to recognize as having in His right hand – in His favor as well as His power – seven stars, the angels, the messengers, of the seven churches. That they are in His right hand seems to teach us that these should be considered as in some special sense under the Master’s guidance, protection and care in the interest of the Churches which they represented.”

So far as we know, That Servant never named seven individuals as these “seven stars”; however, immediately after Brother Russell’s demise, J. F. Rutherford named St. Paul, St. John, Arius, Waldo, Wycliffe, Luther and Brother Russell as the “seven stars.” While we agree that the above seven are a part of the “seven stars,” we be­lieve there were others. This list leaves out Claudius of Turin, the first Protes­tant Reformer, John Wesley, Servetus, Hubmaier, and many other saintly Reformers of the Gospel Age. We believe the “seven stars” are a composite group of forty-nine ­7 X 7 = 49 – just as The Mystery of God, The Christ, is a composite group of 144,001 members. “The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand.... The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches...” (Rev. 1:20) “But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.” (Rev. 10:7)

It is not our purpose here to elaborate upon the “evangelists” (lesser lights in the general church than the “prophets”) or the “shepherds and teachers” (local elders), other than to note that these four classes of leaders constitute the full and complete organization of the Church – and is not an organization made by man. This organiza­tion should not be added to nor taken from. “Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book. For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book.” (Rev. 22:7,18) And, since St. Paul wrote by inspiration, we may accept his outline as being infal­lible. He further defines these two classes of Church leaders in Eph. 2:19,20, Dia.: “You are fellow-citizens with the saints... having been built on the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets.” During the Age many have attempted to add to, or take from this organization, or arrangement, for the Church, which has brought to them the con­demnation of Rev. 22:18,19. They are the class described in Psa. 107:11 – “They re­belled against the words of God (the true Bible doctrines) and contemned the counsel of the Most High (the organization of the Church as given by St. Paul).”

The same Apostle gives the Church organization in slightly different words in 1 Cor. 12:27-29, Dia.: “Now you are a body of Christ, and members in part. And those whom God placed in the congregation, are first Apostles; second, Prophets; third, Teachers... All are not Apostles; all are not Prophets; all are not Teachers.” Here again St. Paul says the Prophets are second to the Apostles, and given their place in the congregation for the work of the ministry, for the perfecting of the saints. And, since God has so placed them, woe be to any who attempt to place themselves into such positions, or to ignore those that God has so placed. When the great apostasy developed, after the demise of the Apostles, the Church of Rome tossed aside completely the organi­zation of the Church – just as they did with all the important teachings of the Bible ­they “rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the Most High.” And in like manner, the Jehovah’s Witnesses have done much the same thing since Brother Russell’s demise. “And on this account God will send to them an energy of delusion, to their believing the falsehood (such as Millions Now Living Will Never Die; and more recently, their establishment of the Kingdom in this “present evil world,” etc.); in order that all those may be judged who believed not the truth, but approved the in­iquity.” (2 Thes. 2:11,12, Dia.)

“Them that honour Me I will honour” (1 Sam. 2:30); and we do well also to honor those that the Lord honors – not as ‘angel’ worshipers, but in sound and proper ap­praisal of their position in the Household, their service in the Household, and as “ex­amples of the believers” in the Household.   Actuated by this text, we now offer some observations concerning Brother Russell in memory of his passing beyond the vail Oct. 31, 1916.

Some of the Gospel-Age prophets had a special doctrine that they emphasized above all others, and which acted somewhat as the foundation of all their teachings; and we believe this was true of Brother Russell, which we would briefly describe as – ­A correct understanding of the Atonement as portrayed in Leviticus 16, the central teach­ing of which is RESTITUTION.

THE PATH OF THE JUST

“The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.” (Prov. 4:18) This truth has applied all during the Age to the course of the individual believers, and to the Church as a body; and it was pointedly true of Brother Russell in his own endeavors to arrive at the truth on various subjects, same of which we now describe. First, however, we would commend the courage of the man for casting aside the vast accumulation of error that existed in the early days of his min­istry. Many of those errors were firmly entrenched as the truth by the powerful lead­ers of Christendom; and it required not only courage, but unusual brilliance of mind to separate the wheat from the chaff. Even of those truths that were held by the var­ious systems, such as justification by faith, baptism, etc., much polishing was neces­sary to bring them to the clarity with which we now understand them, and which we ac­cept as fact, often not considering the great amount of work that was required to hand them to us as we now accept them in commonplace fashion. And one of these great truths was the doctrine of Restitution, which had been completely lost during the Dark Ages.

Some detail on the subject will clarify this. Brother Russell had been closely associated with Messrs. Barbour and Paton as co-editor of the Herald of the Morning; but in 1878 Mr. Barbour began to develop his errors in denial of the Ransom; and he cunningly stressed Leviticus 16 as proof of his contention. This distressed Brother Russell greatly. He knew the arguments were wrong, but he did not understand the truth clearly enough to refute them. Knowing they had come into the Harvest of the Gospel Age, he logically concluded that any error that appeared would be clearly re­futed by the Truth, because the time had come for “the hail (hard sharp Truth) to sweep away the refuge of lies.” Therefore, he sent word to the foreman of his Pittsburgh store that he would not come that day, and for him to conduct the business as usual in his absence. Knowing that Hebrews discusses more than any other Biblical book the tab­ernacle types, and that St. Paul possessed a very clear understanding of those types, he spent that whole day in study and prayer in a strenuous effort to learn the truth about them. By evening he was still completely in the dark, so he spent the next day in the same manner, and with the same results. He went to his task the third day, and about noon came to Heb. 13:10-16, wherein the Apostle contrasts the sacrifices of the Jewish ritual with those of the Gospel Age – first of all the sacrifice of Jesus as the antitype of the Atonement Day bullock, then the sacrifice of the one goat being handled in precisely the same manner as that of the bullock. Realizing that his prayers and efforts had finally been rewarded, he jubilantly exclaimed to his wife: “I have it! I have it!” To which she answered, “Do not be too sure.” However, going over the verses again with her, he reassured himself that he had the truth, and that Restitution was the logical answer to the types in Leviticus 16.

However, he then became measurably afraid of his own findings, so that, instead of rushing into print with this phenomenal truth, he called a conference of leading breth­ren, and discussed the subject with them for eight days, making notes there that he later published as Tabernacle Shadows of the Better Sacrifices. Excepting Mr. Paton, those leaders were convinced of the truth, and began to preach it to the Allegheny ec­clesia; but they, too, were hesitant about accepting it. But once finally convinced, they heartily began to preach it to others; thus, the light on this great doctrine shone more and more unto the perfect day. The “perfect day” in our text would be better rendered “median day,” meaning the position of the sun at high noon, when it is bright­est and when it seems to stand still in the heavens.

The great truth contained in Tabernacle Shadows immediately swept away the refuge of lies on eternal torment, the consciousness of the dead, confusion on the establish­ment of the Kingdom, etc. However, almost always during the Harvest there was primar­ily a hesitance on the part of those hearing it for the first time to believe it; but persuasion and detailed explanation usually convinced them, after which they, too, ac­cepted it with enthusiasm and then began to preach it to others.

Perhaps a little digression should be injected here. In Ex. 34:29-35 we are told that when Moses came down from Mount Sinai his face shone, “And the children of Israel were afraid to come nigh to him... Moses gave the children of Israel all that the Lord had spoken with him... Till he had done speaking he put a vail on his face.” St. Paul also tells us in Hebrews that those things that occurred at Sinai were typical of the establishment of the Kingdom here in the end of the Age. And the brethren, innoculated as they all were with the colossal errors of the past, at first feared to receive the Truth. Of course, the first to respond fully to the Tabernacle truths was Brother Rus­sell himself, although even he was overwhelmed by its brilliance for a time; but the Lord then used him as the vail between Him and the brethren to buffer the dazzling effect at first experienced. From this standpoint, Brother Russell was the antitypical vail that the Lord used to convey new and radical truths to the Harvest workers.

As stated aforegoing, Leviticus 16 reveals the offerings for sin, which in turn effects atonement, which “in due time” will accomplish “the restitution of all things.” (Acts 3:19-23) After clearly understanding this great truth, Brother Russell repeat­edly preached it in his public lectures; and he urged all the pilgrims to do likewise. This in turn aroused the vicious antagonism of the Hell-fire preachers throughout Chris­tendom; but the more they opposed, the more the message prospered; and by the time Bro. Russell died in 1916 it was considered by many in Christendom as a reflection upon the intelligence of any one who still believed in eternal torment as the wages of sin.

BELOVED OF GOD

Those who knew him well loved Brother Russell as a father – probably loved him more than they did any other human being. And this affection shown toward him was never abused, nor did it mar his humility. He was also greatly beloved of God. We understand he was the antitype of Daniel in

certain of his activities; and three different times (Dan. 9:23; 10:11; 10:19) we are told he was greatly beloved. “O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he had spoken to me, I was strengthened.” (10:19) He was also the antitype of Eldad in Num. 11:26,27; and Eldad means Beloved of God.

His demise in 1916 greatly saddened the entire Truth movement, although it was not long after 1916 before sundry and subtle errors beclouded the minds of many, as they endeavored to take from him what God had given him. But the following from E-9:319 is a glowing tribute still nourished by many who knew him well:

“He will ever occupy in our hearts the large place that his holy character, unsel­fish service and faithful sufferings have won for him. That his memory may still con­tinue fragrant and blest to us, let us together briefly review the activities, achieve­ments and attainments of this eminent saint of God. He certainly was a SCHOLAR in the true sense of that term. Those who require a university diploma as indispensable evi­dence of learning will deny him the merit of scholarship. However, there are not a few cases of scholars that were self-made, gaining their knowledge apart from the schools of the learned world. Among such our Pastor won a high place. Apart from English he was not a linguist, though he learned how to use well for his Biblical work the gains of the best scholarship in Greek and Hebrew. He was deeply versed in history, as his writings attest. So thoroughly did he understand business that able financiers eagerly sought his advice. His writings show that he was at home in the perplexing questions of industry, economics, sociology, capital and labor. The realms of philosophy were deeply explored by him, and he was an expert in theoretical and practical psychology and phrenology. Few have understood the workings of the human intellect and heart so well as he. Human anatomy and physiology were open books to him. His knowledge of these sciences, com­bined with that of medicine, made him a physician; and though he had no medical diploma, he attained better results in healing art than the average physician. However, his real eminence in learning was in the domain of theology, in which he was without a peer since the days of the Apostles. His knowledge of the Bible was phenomenal; and when other theologians will have been discarded, he will be recognized as a standing authority in this the greatest of all sciences.

“Naturally such a scholar would be a writer. Very few human beings have written more than he. His correspondence alone was sufficient for the life work of an indus­trious and talented man.  When it is remembered that some years over 300,000 letters and postals were written to him, and that he supervised the answers to this huge mail, we can realize something of the amount of his correspondence and the time and labor in­volved. As an author he produced six unrivaled books on the Bible whose combined cir­culation during his life aggregated 10,000,000 copies. As a bookleteer he published a number of booklets of great value, one of which, on Hell, has been circulated more widely than any other booklet ever written. He produced over 200 tracts, some of which attained a circulation of over 50,000,000 copies. His sermons, appearing regularly every week for thirteen years, were published part of that time simultaneously in over 2,000 newspapers, having a combined circulation of over 15,000,000 copies. He edited a semi-monthly religious magazine with a circulation of about 45,000 copies.”

The foregoing is the comment of an eminent scholar, a scholar who had the advantage of higher institutional learning; yet his superiority of schooling did not deter him in giving to Brother Russell the glowing tribute reproduced above. He freely admitted that Brother Russell was his intellectual superior, and gladly rendered honor to whom honor was due. And, as respects Brother Russell’s executive ability, we were told that a prominent industrialist once said of Brother Russell that he would be worth two mil­lion dollars a year to any corporation large enough to afford such help.

THE PAROUSIA MESSENGER

It is our opinion that the opening words of the Jeremiah prophecy are well adapted to describing Brother Russell: “The word of the Lord came unto me, saying... I sancti­fied thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. Then said I, Ah, Lord God! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child. But the Lord said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee. Then the Lord put forth His hand, and touched my mouth. And the Lord said unto me, Be­hold, I have put My words in thy mouth. See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.” (Jer. 1:4-10) In his youth Brother Russell was acutely con­scious of his lack of higher learning; thus, he considered other prominent religious leaders more qualified than he to declare the truths that had been given him. But he soon recognized that the task was his – that the Lord had indeed put His words into his mouth.

With the great advances that had come since 1874 in invention, in learning, in the professions, Christendom was basking in the security that no evil could befall them. This was truly a strong deterrent to the preaching of a great world war breaking forth in 1914; and it required exceptional courage and faith to continue to announce it. In fact, we are told that the Gideons (the group that place the Bibles in the Hotels) had a convention in Toronto in 1913, and there made the proclamation that it was non­sense to expect a great war in a year, that Christendom was much too advanced for any such folly. With everything so calm on the surface, the casual observer was inclined to agree with them. It was causing Brother Russell some concern, too, so he made care­ful re-check of the chronology, but could find nothing wrong with it.

When the war did start right on time in 1914 it was like a bolt of lightning from a sunny sky. With the assassination of the Austrian Archduke and his wife, as they were taking a carriage drive through a part of Serbia, the world became a holocaust in twenty-four hours’ time; and it gave loud testimony to the world that Brother Russell had been “ordained a prophet unto the nations.” Inasmuch as he had made crystal clear the meaning of the Lord’s Parousia – over the thousand years, and in its various stages ­Brother Johnson began to refer to him as the Parousia Messenger. This title is not to be found in the Bible by direct statement, but it is easily conceived by considering a few texts. In Psa. 91:11 it is stated, “He will give his angels a charge concerning thee,”; and the Manna comment for November 17 explains that these angels would be hu­man messengers provided for the special oversight and welfare of the church. Thus, Pa­rousia Messenger could aptly be stated Parousia Angel, but Parousia Messenger makes the thought a little clearer to the average reader.

He was not only the Parousia Messenger, but he was That Servant (Matt. 24:45-47), he was the prophet unto the nations (Jer. 1:5), he was “that faithful and wise stew­ard” (Luke 12:42), he was one of the stars (Rev. 1:16), he was one of the prophets in the Gospel-Age Church, and those who knew him intimately would readily testify that he was one of the foundation stones in the Parousia Church (Eph. 2:20), he was a pilgrim, he was a warrior and, as such, he was the antitypical Parousia David. He was also the antitypical Eleazar of the Gospel-Age Harvest. As such he had full charge of the anti­typical Tabernacle, the Church: “He shall make him ruler over all His goods.” (Matt. 24:47) In this he was the parallel of the twelve Apostles in the Jewish Harvest. He was a genteel man, but most of his adult years were spent in fighting – set for the de­fense of the Truth. In Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary, under biographical names, it list Charles Taze Russell (1852-1916) “American Pastor.” And the same dictionary lists Joseph Franklin Rutherford (1869-1942) “Judge” – American leader of Jehovah’s Wit­nesses. It is our hearty recommendation that wherever two or more brethren may meet together that they hold a memorial service the last week in October, which meeting could include testimonies, and perhaps a reading of some sort pertinent to his life, work and character, as we all join in saying, God bless his memory!

THE EPIPHANY MESSENGER

As Pilgrim, Brother Paul S. L. Johnson was Brother Russell’s special helper dur­ing the final years of his life. The title Epiphany Messenger is likewise not found in the Bible; but, using Psa. 91:11, there is no difficulty in coining the expression. He did for the Epiphany what the Parousia Messenger did for the Parousia, although his ministry was not nearly so extensive or compelling. At the death of the Parousia Mes­senger we believe it could truthfully be said that all the living saints had come into his organization, leaving none to be found elsewhere; but this was definitely not the case with the Epiphany Messenger. He often said that there were more saints in the other Truth groups than he had with him – which means it was not necessary for them to come under his direction to retain their saintly standing, although those who did so received special blessings, particularly in service, that did not come to those in the other groups.

He was one of the stars, one of the prophets, but much less important than the Parousia Messenger had been. He was certainly the son of the Parousia David; and this is the record in I Chron. 22:5: “David said, Solomon my son, is young and tender, and the house that is to be builded for the Lord must be exceedingly magnifical, of fame and glory throughout all countries: I will now therefore make preparation for it. So David prepared abundantly before his death.” Indeed, the Parousia David left a good­ly heritage not only to his son Solomon, but to the entire Household, in the clear and logical structure of the Parousia Truth; although many of the former pilgrims began to tamper with that Truth, and it then fell to the lot of the Epiphany Messenger to defend almost every important tenet of Parousia Truth. And now it has become so vitiated by some that it is no longer recognizable for what it once was.

Recognizing the colossal task which faced him, the Epiphany Messenger made special prayer for wisdom and strength sufficient for the job to be done, and this is what 1 Kgs. 4:29-31 has to say about it: “God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceed­ing much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the seashore. And Solo­mon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt. For he was wiser than all men.” Very often did various religious organizations write to him for his analysis of extremely difficult Bible texts; and those of us who were close to him know the skill with which he answered them.

As a young man, before he joined the Harvest Movement, he had gained extensive recognition as a Lutheran minister in Columbus, Ohio, and elsewhere. By intensive study for about three months in 1903 he had been able clearly to see the Truth on the unity of God, human mortality, death as the wages of sin, Papacy as the Beast, identity of the Millennium and the Judgment Day, and 1914 as the end of the Age. Thereafter he made no progress toward understanding Present Truth until he came into the Harvest move­ment. He was a true scholar of Greek and Hebrew, spoke German fluently; and in his earlier years he was able to give an oration in Latin – a feat which very few College professors of Latin are able to do. He graduated from Capital University in Columbus, Ohio, with the highest honors of any one who ever attended that institution. We knew a prominent Lutheran minister in Dayton, Ohio, who had been his classmate, and he said Paul Johnson was known throughout the campus as the mental giant. All this is simply a statement of fact, and in no sense intended to give him undue praise, in like manner as he wrote about the Parousia Messenger after his death. Thus, we conclude this pres­ent appraisal the same as we did that of the Parousia Messenger – God bless his memory!

We invite all of like mind to join with us in giving honor to whom honor is due, and in honoring those whom the Lord honors. Our Lord Himself said, “If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.” (John 12:26)

Sincerely your brother,

John J. Hoefle, Pilgrim

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QUESTION OF GENERAL INTEREST

QUESTION: – When you tell us you do not require a subscription price for your monthly papers, and that all your literature is free, aren’t you encouraging indolence in the Lord’s people to their responsibilities toward the Truth and its prosperity? What about 1 Cor. 16:2?

ANSWER: – Certainly, it is not our desire to encourage indifference and slothfulness in the Lord’s people, but rather the reverse. We would encourage all the Lord’s people to “seek ye first (chiefly) the Kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matt. 6:23) – “spend and be spent” in doing the Lord’s good and acceptable will. But each one must decide for himself his course in so doing. Of course, this should be done in harmony with the rules and instructions of the Scriptures.

Our lord and the Apostles had no paid ministry, nor did they take up collections of any kind, but this is no reflection upon those who have subscription rates for their magazines – nor do we oppose this course. But we believe our method for the work we are doing is best for us. At the outset of our publications, it was our purpose to reach our brethren in the LHMM to defend the truth that was “once deliv­ered unto the saints,” and to oppose the errors and revolutionisms of the Truth that appeared in that Movement shortly after the demise of its founder. However, it is due to the good cooperation and encouragement of faithful brethren, that we now have a sizable mailing list (many times the size of our first mailing in 1955), which in­cludes many brethren of other groups. The Lord has prospered us in our efforts to bless and encourage His people.

As our Lord has indicated, we will receive criticism no matter what course we pursue: “Whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows, And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented. For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil. The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners.” (Matt. 11:16-18)

When Brother Russell was criticized for using luxurious Pullman trains, hotels, etc., he advised: “But even if you cannot see eye to eye with us, do not stumble yourself, but remember that to his own Master each servant stands or falls. Take all the blessings from our ministry that you can get, and leave the remainder of the matters which you cannot understand to God. In other words, let us more and more realize that God Himself is guiding His own work; and that whatever blessing we may obtain we should be thankful to Him for the same.” We are in full agreement with these sentiments, and would express the same for us and our work.

“Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God has prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.” (I Cor. 16:2) Brother Russell answered a question on this text in the February 1914 Watch Tower, Reprint 5409:

‘We understand that the principle applies to all. This is not a law, however... He taught that all of the Lord’s people are put on their own responsibility as to the use of the things they have sacrificed to the Lord... We think a principle is here involved – a principle of sacrifice; and that if we follow the Apostle’s advice, we would lay by something every week or every month to give to some who are in real need, and thus exercise a spirit of benevolence, like our Heavenly Father, and that we may be able to have at least a small share in the support of the Lord’s work. We believe that to whatever extent we have this thought before our minds we are like­ly to have a special blessing. ‘He that watereth shall be watered also himself.’—Prov. 11:25”

In Reprint 2542 That Servant gives us the following: “A few, but not very many, may need caution lest they should carry the matter of consecration to an extreme. An occasional one out of a thousand might perhaps act too literally upon the instruc­tion that whosoever would be the Lord’s disciple must forsake all to follow Him ­might understand this to literally mean an abandonment of houses, lands, etc. .......... Family, home, beauties of nature, should all be appreciated, but in a secondary sense as compared to the Lord. What would please the Lord must be supreme.”

In the August 1923 Present Truth there is an article entitled “Riches,” from which we quote excerpts as follows:

“From this point of view earthly riches of every kind, opulence of money, of in­fluence, of talent, should not be despised by the Lord’s people, but, on the contrary, should be appreciated – not after the worldly manner of appreciation, for selfish interests and purposes, but because those who possess riches of any kind have that much more than they otherwise would have to offer upon the Lord’s altar as a sacri­fice in His service, to glorify His name, to advance His truth, to bless His people... If they hold and hoard their earthly riches they are burying their talent, their op­portunity, instead of using it; and such will demonstrate to themselves eventually the meaning of our Lord’s words, ‘It is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye (a small gate in the walls of ancient cities, for the convenience of belated trav­elers after sundown, after the main city gates were closed. These needle-eyes were so low that camels could enter them only upon their knees and after being stripped of their burdens) than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom.’ (Luke 18:25) He can­not get into the Kingdom at all except as he strips himself of his riches – sacri­fices them, devotes them to the Lord. ... The Apostle speaks of the deceitfulness of riches; and on every hand we may witness this deceitfulness; we see how often earthly wealth deceives and misleads and corrupts the reasoning powers ... We see the same deception operating powerfully in those who possess a wealth of talent in any di­rection; they feel like keeping all of it for self, and if not all, the larger and choicier parts.

“When we see a noble example, like that of our Lord, who was rich in everything, and who gave all, we rejoice in it, and realize that as His sacrifice was so great His reward also is proportionately great. When we see the noble example of the Apostle Paul, who possessing some considerable wealth of ability, talent and influence, and possibly of financial means also, laid these all, a willing, a glad sacrifice, at the feet of the Lord, laying them all down with joy in God’s service, in the service of the Truth, in the service of the brethren, it causes our hearts to rejoice, and we feel sure that one so rich, and who spent his riches so faithfully, will be one who will shine very brightly in the Kingdom, when it is set up and manifested. ‘Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the Kingdom of their Father.’“

Those who have known us intimately over the years know that we have coveted no man’s silver or gold. Freely we have received of the Lord, and freely we have given of time, strength, talent and this world’s goods. And as of now, we have no regrets for the course we have followed. The strong consolation of Heb. 6:10 is daily with us; and we are daily grateful for the providential circumstances that permit us to carry on as we have. (See Acts 20:33-35)

Some one told That Servant that he had set the standard much too high, to which he answered, The Lord set it there, Brother; I didn’t. But we are to remember that we are stewards over our goods, and not over the goods of others – that, “to his own Master each servant stands or falls.” The Apostle Paul queries: ‘And who is suffi­cient for these things?” And we are persuaded that God’s faithful people will be ‘sufficient’ as they realize – “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God.” (2 Cor. 3:5)