No. 770
“The righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.” (Psa. 112:6)
It has been our custom for many years to pay tribute at this time of year to Pastor Russell, That Wise and Faithful Servant, to commemorate his death on October 31, 1916. Among other promises that the Lord has given the righteous, is one pledging that they shall be in everlasting remembrance, i.e., that they will be held in sacred, hallowed and loving memory for their faithfulness. While this promise especially pertains to the Ancient Worthies, it is applicable in a general way to all of the righteous.
Certain righteous ones are mentioned by name in the Bible, guaranteeing that they will be everlastingly remembered. As long as the eternal Word lasts, such persons as Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, David, Elijah, John the Baptist, Jesus, Paul, Peter, John, etc., will be held in hallowed, sacred, and loving memory. In addition, certain righteous ones are specified by name in Church history as antitypes of certain figures in the Scriptures, thus guaranteeing that they will be held in everlasting remembrance also. As long as the eternal Word is understood by its pertinent antitypes, such persons as Marsiglio, Wycliffe, Huss, Wessel, and That Servant will be held in hallowed, sacred, and loving memory.
Thus we need not be ashamed to esteem, love, and honor one whom the Almighty has so signally esteemed, loved, and honored. (1 Sam. 2:30) Such honor is proper, because the memory of such persons is worthy of being kept alive. It does those good who keep it alive, and it continues the good influence of such persons. St. Paul had this thought in mind when telling us we should look “unto Jesus.” (Heb. 12:2)
That Servant was faithful in great and small things. He was wise in his words, methods, plans, arrangements and works. He was full of the faith, hope and knowledge that makes one wise. He was an example of the self‑control and patience that makes one strong. He practiced the piety and brotherly love that makes one just. He was a living expression of the charity that makes one loving. He beautifully exemplified humility, meekness, longsuffering, and forbearance. His courage, industry, self-forgetfulness, liberality, amiability, and frugality were most striking. He was as nearly a model Christian as any of Adam’s fallen children are capable of being – a true “example of the believers.” (1 Tim. 4:12) The Lord Himself vouches for the faithfulness and wisdom of That Servant’s character. (Matt. 24:45‑47; Luke 12:42‑44) Holding such a character in remembrance honors God and helps God’s Household.
The office that he held as That Servant made him the Lord’s special representative at a most remarkable time in history. As such, he was Christ’s special eye, mouth, and hand. As the Lord’s special eye, he saw first all that the Lord desired the Church to see. As the Lord’s special mouth, it was his responsibility to declare the Lord’s message to the Church. As Christ’s special hand, it was his duty to superintend and do whatever work the Lord called on him to superintend and do toward the Church, Great Company, Youthful Worthies, Israel, and Christendom.
How can we cooperate with the Lord in furthering the blessed influence of the Pastor’s memory? We can do so by esteeming his office and his work and by helping others to esteem them. Rightly esteeming his work implies that we take God’s view of it. How honorable, effective, faithful, and wise was his work as a teacher, pastor, advisor, lecturer, author, preacher, editor, theologian, and executive! Esteeming him in these capacities implies that we continue to regard him as our helper by faithfully studying and practicing his teachings, spirit, and works and commending them to others for their study and practice. This implies that we cherish and live in harmony with these teachings and practices, defend them against all attacks, and do our part in spreading them as well as encouraging others to do likewise. Our so doing will enable us to co‑operate with God in preaching the “good Word.”
We are sure that all who have prayed to God to bless his memory have received a blessing from their prayers, for they have served to keep fresh in their minds his memory, teachings, and office. Those who have placed little value on his teachings and office have accordingly been open to ignoring and repudiating his teachings.
THAT SERVANT
Even today there is more or less confusion among some Truth people as to who or what is meant by the expression “That Servant.” According to several views, the expression refers to a class, with some claiming that it means the teachers in the Church and others claiming it means the Little Flock. Still others claim that it means the Society’s directors, agents, shareholders or some combination thereof. Our dear Pastor modestly gave the proofs (in Reprint 1946 and Volume 4, page 613) that the expression “That Servant” refers to an individual, i.e., to himself. All well instructed Truth people agreed with this view until the Society leaders, to make their usurped powers more secure, spread the opinion that the Society, a business corporation, is “That Servant.”
The Scriptures clearly refute such claims, teaching that the expression “That Servant” means an individual. (Matt. 24:45‑47; Luke 12:42‑44) In both passages “That Servant” is clearly distinguished from the Church, because he is spoken of as being made “ruler over his [the Lord’s] household.” Hence “That Servant” cannot be the “household” (the Church). Again, the fact that he is spoken of as giving them “meat in due season” distinguishes him from the “household,” the Church. Furthermore, his being called the “steward” proves that all of the servants of the household cannot be meant, for the steward is the special representative of the householder, having under his charge all the householder’s goods and all his other servants. (In our Lord’s time, individuals, not classes, were stewards.)
Moreover, “That Servant” is expressly distinguished from all the other servants in that he is forbidden “to beat the menservants and maidens,” i.e., all the other servants of the Church. (Luke 12:45) Hence the expression “That Servant” cannot mean the servants of the Church as a class, because in this passage he is clearly distinguished from them. In view of the fact that these two Scriptures distinguish him from the Church as a whole and from all of the other servants of the Truth, we should conclude that he must be an individual.
Furthermore, the facts of the Harvest history prove that an individual, our Pastor, is meant by that expression. The Harvest (understood as the reaping and gleaning period) is past. During that time no class – not the Church, not all servants of the Truth, not the Society – had the entire storehouse of Truth in its charge. No class dispensed the “meat in due season” or ruled over the Harvest work. “That Servant” alone did these things. Hence, he alone fulfilled the prophecy.
It could not have been reasonably done otherwise. The entire Church could not have had the entire storehouse of Truth in its charge, nor could it have given itself the “meat in due season” or ruled over the work. All of the servants of the Truth could not have had these privileges. The division in the Church, caused by various power‑grasping leaders, proves it unreasonable that the Church could be ruled by all the leaders. Moreover, a business corporation could not have ruled the “household,” given the “meat in due season,” and had charge of all the goods. From these considerations we see the absurdity of the teaching of those who claim that the expression “That Servant” means a class.
Truly, our Pastor had charge of all the goods during the reaping and gleaning time, and gave the meat in due season. Practically every feature of the Harvest message was first seen by him, and was then first taught by him to the Church. So, too, every branch of the Harvest work was in its general aspects under his charge.
True to the passages cited, he was appointed to this office after our Lord’s return as a reward for being found faithfully administering the food to the Household when the Lord came. He was both faithful and wise in the work of his office; and therefore he was blessed by the Lord according to these Scriptures with a continuance in his office. In calling him faithful, our Lord prophesied that he would be loyal to the end. Through his very faithfulness he was privileged to fulfill official obligations and privileges that gave him a wider and more fruitful field of service than any other servant of God ever had on this earth, our Lord alone excepted.
Time and sign prophecies prove that our Lord returned in 1874.[1] After His return, He found our Pastor faithfully ministering as much Truth as he had; and after certain tests He honored him with executive charge of the work and soon after made him a special mouthpiece through whom He gave the Parousia Truth. Thus the fulfillment in him of the prophecies of the two above noted passages, and his exercise of the official functions of “That Servant” during the Parousia, proves that he was That Servant.
HIS STEWARDSHIP DOCTRINE
We believe his stewardship doctrine was a correct understanding of the Atonement, the central teaching of which is Restitution. Leviticus, Chapter 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. By the time Brother Russell died in 1916, it was considered by many in Christendom as a reflection upon the intelligence of anyone who still believed in eternal torment as the wages of sin.
Surely no one will dispute that receiving the Truth on the doctrine of Restitution sparked Brother Russell’s entire ministry. It is probable he never delivered a public discourse thereafter in which Restitution did not have a large and prominent place. Restitution was the mainspring of his favorite Scripture quotation: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17)
THE PAROUSIA MESSENGER
Because Pastor Russell made crystal clear the meaning of the Lord’s Parousia in its various stages over the thousand years, he began to be referred to as the “Parousia Messenger.” This title is not directly stated in the Bible, but it is easily conceived by considering that the word “angel” in Scripture means “messenger.” For example: “For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.” (Psa. 91:11-12) The Pastor explained that these “angels” would be human messengers provided for the special oversight and welfare of the Church (see Reprint 3440). Thus, “Parousia Messenger” could also be appropriately stated “Parousia Angel,” but “Messenger” makes the thought a little clearer to the average reader.
While directing the Harvest work, Pastor Russell disseminated Truth on the creation, the fall of man, the Ransom, the High Calling, the Resurrection, the Kingdom of God and other doctrinal topics. He refuted errors on eternal torment, evolution, the trinity and human immortality. He detailed and charted the Plan of the Ages, outlining the Biblical teaching of three worlds (2 Peter 3:6-7, 13) and their ages (1 Cor. 10:11, See Diaglott). His writings on the restoration of Israel have brought him recognition, notably in the book, Pastor Charles Taze Russell An Early American Christian Zionist, by Jewish author David Horowitz.
In his day That Servant never sought to draw attention to himself, nor did he claim any special revelation from God. The “gathering saints” focused not on him but on the spiritual food which they saw as coming forth from the Lord in “due time.” Since his death, the Adversary has done all in his power to distort the Truth in every way possible – by setting it aside for “new light,” by perverting the Truth, by revolutionizing against the Truth. All those who have continued in the Truth “once delivered unto the Saints” (Jude 3) are much saddened to witness such distortions. Some have gone from one group to another, hoping to find the pure faith – and some have come to the conclusion that they would separate themselves from all groups. We believe that is a mistake, because there are yet others of like mind who seek to abide in His Word, and who are keeping up the “good fight,” in upholding and defending the faith. (1 Tim. 6:12) Such a course is the only way we can be faithful to the Lord, the Truth, and the brethren.
We are to “lay down our lives for the brethren.” (1 John 3:16) We cannot do that if we isolate ourselves and refuse to hold up the standard because we do not want to stand the “heat of the day.” The Truth received into good and honest hearts makes us good soldiers; it does not make cowards of us. If we have a cowardly spirit, the Lord did not give it to us: “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear [cowardice]; but of power [courage], and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2 Tim. 1:7) And the Apostle Paul tells us: “Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Spirit which dwelleth in us. This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes [false teachers who arose in the Church of Ephesus].” (2 Tim. 1:13‑16)
We can best keep That Servant’s memory by faithfully using the Truth that he ministered to us, and by loyally copying his holy example. If we do so, his memory will be a continual blessing to us and to others.
(Edited excerpts from writings of John J. Hoefle, principally No. 197, November, 1971, and No. 220, October 1973, with additions.)
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“EVERY IDLE WORD”
“But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” (Matt. 12:36-37)
The term “day of judgment” has been seriously misconstrued. It is generally understood to mean a day of sentencing or a day of doom – “doomsday” – but the proper meaning from the Bible standpoint is a time of trial or testing.
God created our first parents innocent and perfect, and then placed them on trial. Their day of judgment was in Eden. As soon as they disobeyed the divine command, their day of trial or judgment ended, and the sentence, “Dying thou shalt die,” began to take effect. Since all of Adam’s posterity share his imperfections, they are equally unworthy of life, and the death sentence rests upon every member of the race, just as though each individual had been on trial in Eden and had failed the trial along with Father Adam. St. Paul clearly enunciates this matter: “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” (Rom. 5:12)
This being true, why do the Scriptures mention another judgment day? If all mankind are already judged unworthy of eternal life and worthy of everlasting death, why should there be any further judgment? The Bible gives the answer: God provided a Redeemer, Christ Jesus, by whose merit the first penalty against our race through Adam will eventually be set aside, and a second trial or judgment will be opened to every member of the race. The first trial or judgment was of one man (Adam) for all of his race. A second trial or judgment, secured by the Redeemer, will treat Adam and all of his race individually, granting them each an individual or personal trial. This second trial has not yet been provided for our race, except in the sense that it has been prepared for and promised: “Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.” (Acts 17:31) That day will be the thousand year Millennial Day, and it will be the world’s time of individual testing.
Given that God has provided a future opportunity of obtaining eternal life, every intelligent act in the present life will have a bearing on one’s prospect for eternal life in the future. If one uses wisely the opportunities of the present life, he may build up for himself a measure of character, self-control, etc., which will prepare him for a more honorable place during the Millennial Kingdom and make his progress there faster and easier. Conversely, by degrading himself in the present life he may undermine his character and find himself lower on the human scale. He will have much further to advance out of the condition of sin and death into the condition of perfection and everlasting life.
The Church has had her judgment day in the present life, during this Gospel Age. Begotten of the Holy Spirit, they have been on trial as new creatures for everlasting life in Christ Jesus or for everlasting death. (2 Cor. 5:17) For any who have not complied with the conditions of their consecration, but have drawn back to sin, their trial will be in one sense useless and the sentence of utter destruction will rest upon them – the Second Death.
The context of our opening text shows that our Lord was not addressing His disciples, but rather the worldly, the Pharisees. The same principle doubtless applies, however, to all consecrated believers. Every thoughtless or hurtful word of ours has its weight, has its influence with ourselves and with others. Those who are rightly informed respecting the Lord’s will in such matters, the Lord’s consecrated people, have a great responsibility because our words, whether written or spoken, exercise an influence upon the minds and thoughts of others. Words frequently spread from one person to another and an evil word once uttered cannot be recalled. To quote Mark Twain, “A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes.”
Oh, the power of slanderous words, vile insinuations, or even malign gestures! These things are the common practice of the world, and unfortunately, the practice also of many professing Christians! The bitter word of sarcasm or insinuation is shot out often unthinkingly, but the terrible poison goes from heart to heart and roots of bitterness are scattered abroad, which a lifetime of holy living cannot fully counteract. On the other hand, what power words have for good! What speaker or writer has ever done more to help poor humanity than the Prophet David in his inspired Psalms? Truly, as Solomon has said, “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.” (Prov. 25:11)
The Lord has indeed agreed that He will not judge the consecrated entirely according to their words and deeds, but according to their spirit, intention, will, energy, and zeal for Him and His Truth. Nevertheless, He assures us: “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good . . . for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.” (Luke 6:45) If our hearts are right – full of love for God, for the brethren, for mankind, and even for our enemies, we will speak accordingly, manifesting love and kindness in words as well as in deeds. The good heart out of its good treasure will shower words of blessing while the evil heart will send forth bitter injurious words.
The heart that is not full of goodness, kindness, generosity, and love will likely not control the tongue properly. It is not enough that we do not wish our neighbors harm. We must reach the place where we sincerely wish to do them good. Then our good heart, out of its treasure of goodness, will speak words of kindness and love.
“THEY SHALL GIVE AN ACCOUNT”
How will the world be held to account in the Millennium for the words of the present life? Surely the whole world will not be lined up and each individual called upon to give an account of his every evil word and act. The account will instead be a mark left on the individual’s own character. The wrongs done in this life not only injure others, but especially injure the wrong-doer himself and mark his character. The Scriptures assure us that in the resurrection time many will come forth to shame and lasting contempt. (Dan. 12:2) It will be a time when characters will be revealed and how terribly ashamed some will be! Some who now appear honorable and rank highly among men will then be seen in their true colors. Their shame and the contempt in which they will be held by mankind in general will be a part of their punishment for their wrong course. The shame will last until they gradually are able to demonstrate a more noble character. The contempt will continue until they attain the way of the Lord more perfectly as a result of the blessed, uplifting influences of the Millennial Kingdom.
We are not to think that this text implies that anyone’s words will justify him from the Adamic death condemnation, nor are we to think that anyone might come under a second condemnation because of his words, until first freed (through Christ) from the condemnation of original sin. Nothing but the blood of Christ can justify those who come to God by faith in this age, or those who will assure him of their loyalty for righteousness by works, in the next age. Our Lord’s words here do not contradict the general testimony of the Scriptures; they are in harmony with the Apostle’s declaration: “Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.” (Rom. 14:22) In other words, the ungenerous and unkind are very likely to accuse others of transgressions of which they themselves are guilty. The person whose criticism of others is so kind and merciful as to not involve self-condemnation is certainly an exceptional man or woman.
Remember our Lord’s words: “For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.” (Matt. 7:2) If our words are generous, kind, loving, and benevolent, we will receive similarly kind treatment from the Lord. If our language towards others is harsh, cynical, critical, and unkind, we may expect reproofs from the Lord. The person who sees the faults of others and fails to see his own, needs the correcting chastisements of the Lord in order to make progress toward the divine standards of character.
The kind, sympathetic, and forgiving person who is disposed to make allowances for others, shows that he has learned an important lesson already and that his heart is right to a considerable degree. The flaws of such a generous soul are unintentional; they are entrenched in his flesh, but his heart is not in accordance with them. His kindly words respecting others mark him, indicating his character as the kind of which God can approve. If he loves his neighbor as himself, it implies also that he loves God. As the Apostle points out, “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?” (1 John 4:20) One who loves his neighbor, speaks generously of him, and is merciful and compassionate toward him, would undoubtedly greatly respect and love the divine character.
“BLESSED ARE THE MERCIFUL”
Consider another Scripture of similar import: “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.” (Matt. 5:7) God gave natural Israel a code of laws consisting of “Thou shalt not” do this and that. That Law was primarily intended to show Israel and the world that it was impossible for an imperfect man or woman to keep perfectly the divine requirements. The Lord stated the Law from the opposite standpoint – “Thou shalt” instead of “Thou shalt not.” He summed up the Law in a few words: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.” (Luke 10:27)
Mercy is the expression of love, so he who is merciful comes closer than others to the standard of the divine Law, which is love. Thus we see that the divine promise that he who is merciful to his neighbor will receive mercy from the Lord is in harmony with the principles and essence of the divine government. If this principle could be rightly seen by Christian people, it would work an almost instantaneous revolution in the hearts and conduct of all who desire divine approval and favor. Instead of condemning one another to eternal torment, Christians would be seeking to bless one another, to think and feel kindly of one another, and disposed to pray God’s blessing upon those who despitefully use them and persecute them. Instead of slander, misrepresentations, and envious insinuations, the spirit of love, kindness, mercy, and godlikeness would more and more prevail among those who have named the name of Christ.
The world, seeing such an example of love and kindness, would be ready to learn from the followers of Jesus, recognizing them as they did in the days of the Apostles by their love for one another. (John 13:35) It sometimes seems as though some who profess relationship to Christ do even more petty evil-speaking, slandering, and busy-bodying than do the worldly who make no such profession. Those of the world having the quality of mercy in their hearts will evidently be more pleasing to God than those who make much profession, but neglect to cultivate the Master’s spirit of love and mercy.
(Based on What Pastor Russell Wrote for the Overland Monthly, pages 207-211.)
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[1] See our January and February 2021 papers for a detailed discussion.