No. 797
“Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel.” (Ezek. 38:19)
Given recent events, we find this excerpt from Parousia Volume IV, written in 1897, to be very pertinent. Although we cannot know how future events will unfold, this writing has proven to be remarkably prescient concerning Israel (referred to as Palestine when this was written).
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While the trouble and distress of this day of the Lord will be first and specially upon Christendom, and eventually upon all nations, the final blast, we are informed by the Prophet (Ezek. 38:8-12), will be upon the people of Israel regathered in Palestine. The Prophet seems to indicate a much larger gathering of Israel to Palestine within this harvest period than has yet taken place. He represents them as gathered there out of the nations in great numbers, and, with considerable wealth, inhabiting the formerly desolate places; and all of them dwelling safely at the time when the rest of the world is in its wildest commotion. (Ezek. 38:11-12)
All men are witnesses to the fact that such a gathering of Israel to Palestine is begun, but it is quite manifest that their exodus from other lands will have to receive some great and sudden impulse in order to accomplish this prophecy within the appointed time. Just what that impulse will be remains yet to be seen; but that it will surely come is further indicated by the words of the Prophet Jeremiah. (Jer. 16:14-17, 21)
“Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that it shall no more be said, The Lord liveth, that brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; But, The Lord liveth, that brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north [Russia?], and from all the lands whither he had driven them: and I will bring them again into their land that I gave unto their fathers. Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith the Lord, and they shall fish them; and after will I send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks. For mine eyes are upon all their ways: they are not hid from my face, neither is their iniquity hid from mine eyes . . . Therefore, behold, I will this once cause them to know, I will cause them to know mine hand and my might; and they shall know that my name is The Lord [Jehovah, Yahweh].”
That the Lord is abundantly able to accomplish this we have no doubt. In every nation the question, “What shall be done with the Jew?” is a perplexing one, which, in some crisis of the near future brought about suddenly by the Lord’s overruling providence, will doubtless lead, as indicated by the Prophet, to some concerted action on the part of the nations for promptly conveying them to the land of promise. And, as they went out of Egypt in haste, with their cattle and goods, and aided by the Egyptians who said, “Rise up and get you forth from among my people . . . Also take your flocks and your herds, as ye have said, and be gone.” And as the Lord gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they gave them whatsoever they required, of silver and gold and raiment (Exod. 12:31-36), so in the next exodus, foretold by the Prophets, they will not be sent away empty, but apparently some pressure will suddenly be brought to bear upon the nations which will result thus favorably to Israel, so fulfilling the above prophecy of Ezekiel.
This enterprising race, once re-established in the land of promise, and thus separated, for a time at least, from the distress of nations so prevalent everywhere else, will quickly adapt itself to the new situation, and the hitherto desolate places will again be inhabited.
But yet one more wave of anguish must pass over that chastened people; for, according to the Prophet, the final conflict of the battle of the great day will be in the land of Palestine. The comparative quiet and prosperity of regathered Israel near the end of this day of trouble, as well as their apparent defenseless condition, will by and by stimulate the jealousies of and invite their plunder by other peoples. And when law and order are swept away Israel will finally be besieged by hosts of merciless plunderers, designated by the Prophet as the hosts of Gog and Magog (Ezek. 38), and great will be the distress of defenseless Israel. As the Prophet Jeremiah foretold: “Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.” (Jer. 30:7)
As one man the hosts of Gog and Magog are represented as saying, “I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates, To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land.” (Ezek. 38:11-13) The Prophet foretelling these events as though addressing these hosts, says, “And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts [Europe and Asia are north of Palestine], thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army: And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days [apparently the closing scene of the day of trouble], and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee [set apart, distinguished as thy conqueror], O Gog, before their eyes.” (Ezek. 38:15-16)
In the midst of the trouble God will reveal Himself as Israel’s defender as in ancient times, when His favor was with them nationally. Their extremity will be His opportunity; and there their blindness will be removed. We read, “For I will gather all nations [as represented in the hosts of Gog and Magog] against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.” (Zech. 14:2-3) The Prophet Isaiah, referring to the same thing, instances the Lord’s deliverance of Israel from the Philistines at Perazim, and from the Amorites at Gibeon, saying, “For the Lord shall rise up as in mount Perazim, he shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon.” (Isa. 28:21; see also 2 Sam. 5:19-25; 1 Chron. 14:10-17; Josh. 10:10-15) In those times, God was not dependent upon human skill or generalship, but fought His battles in His own way. So in this great battle God will bring deliverance in His own time and way.
In Ezekiel’s prophecy (Ezek. 38:1-13), the Lord names the chief actors in the struggle in Palestine; but we may not be too positive in our identifications. Magog, Meshech, Tubal, Gomar, Togarmah, Javan and Tarshish were names of children of Noah’s son Japheth – supposed to be the original settlers of Europe. Sheba and Dedan were descendants of Noah’s son Ham – supposed to be the original settlers of northern Africa. Abraham and his posterity (Israel) were descendants of Noah’s son Shem, and are supposed to have settled Armenia – Western Asia. (See Gen. 10:2-7) This would seem to indicate in a general way that the attack will come from Europe – the “north quarters” – with allied mixed peoples.
The overwhelming destruction of these enemies of Israel (bringing the end of the time of trouble and the time for the establishment of God’s Kingdom) is graphically described by the Prophet Ezekiel. (Ezek. 38:18 to 39:20) It can be compared only to the terrible overthrow of Pharaoh and his hosts, when essaying to repossess themselves of Israel, whom God was delivering. Israel’s deliverance will be in like manner: “According to the days of thy coming out of the land of Egypt will I show unto him [regathered Israel] marvellous things.” (Micah 7:15)
The coming of this army from the north quarters against Israel (regathered to Palestine “in the latter days,” having much goods and dwelling peaceably) will be sudden, and “like a cloud to cover the land.” The message to the invaders is, “Thus saith the Lord God; Art thou he of whom I have spoken in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel, which prophesied in those days many years that I would bring thee against them?” (Ezek. 38:1-17) The Lord then declares His purposed destruction of the wicked host; and the description seems to indicate that it will be accomplished by an outbreak of jealousy, revolution and anarchy amongst the various elements composing the great mixed army: a revolution and strife which will involve whatever may still remain of the home governments of the various peoples, and complete the universal insurrection and anarchy – the great earthquake of Revelation. (Ezek. 38:18-23; Rev. 16:18-21)
The testimony of all the Prophets is to the effect that the power of God will be so marvelously manifested in Israel’s deliverance, by His fighting for them (incidentally for all), with weapons which no human power can control – including pestilence and various calamities – poured upon the wicked (Israel’s enemies and God’s opponents) until speedily all the world will know that the Lord has accepted Israel again to His favor, and become their King, as in olden times; and soon they as well as Israel will learn to appreciate God’s Kingdom, which shall speedily become the desire of all nations.
The Prophet Ezekiel, as the Lord’s mouthpiece, tells of the glorious outcome of this victory, and the results to Israel and to all the world, saying:
“And I will set my glory among the heathen [the nations], and all the heathen shall see my judgment that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid upon them. So the house of Israel shall know [acknowledge] that I am the Lord their God from that day and forward. And the heathen shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity [exile] for their iniquity: because they trespassed against me [in rejecting Christ – Rom. 9:29-33], therefore hid I my face from them, and gave them into the hand of their enemies [during the centuries of the Christian dispensation]: so fell they all by the sword. According to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions have I done unto them, and hid my face from them.
“Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Now will I bring again the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel, and will be jealous for my holy name; After that they have borne their shame, and all their trespasses whereby they have trespassed against me, when they dwelt safely in their land, and none made them afraid. When I have brought them again from the people, and gathered them out of their enemies’ lands, and am sanctified in them in the sight of many nations; Then shall they know that I am the Lord their God, which caused them to be led into captivity among the heathen: but I have gathered them unto their own land, and have left none of them any more there. Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord God.” (Ezek. 39:21-29) Now that this punishment is completed, God will have mercy on the “whole house of Israel” – both the living and the dead – the “times of restitution” having come. (Acts 3:19-21)
“So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord [throughout the Gospel Age – at the hands of Spiritual Israel] shall lift up a standard against him. And the Redeemer shall come to Zion [the Church, “the body of Christ”], and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the Lord.” (Isa. 59:19-20; compare Rom. 11:25-32)
“The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.” But: “Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? . . . he will make an utter end [of inquity]: affliction [oppression] shall not rise up the second time.” (Nah. 1:7, 6, 9)
Thus, by the battle of the great day of God Almighty the whole world will be prepared for the new day and its great work of restitution. Though the waking hour be one of clouds and thick darkness, thanks be to God for His blessed assurance that the work of destruction will be “a short work” (Rom. 9:28; Matt. 24:22), and that immediately after it the glorious Sun of Righteousness will begin to shine forth. “The earth [the present social order] shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage.” (Isa. 24:19-20) The way will be cleared for the new building of God, the new heavens and new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness. (2 Pet. 3:13; Isa. 65:17)
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(Excerpt from Studies in the Scriptures, Volume IV, Chapter XI, pages 552-558 with minor editing.)
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CORRESPONDENCE OF GENERAL INTEREST
Dear Brothers,
Could you send me please, by email, a document with your statement of beliefs as an introduction of the Epiphany Bible Students?
Thank you,
Yours in Christ…………UK
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Dear Brother …….,
We teach by Scripture authority that:
(1) Man does not possess an immortal soul, but rather he is a soul and is mortal. “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” (Gen. 2:7) “And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.” (1 Cor. 15:45) (See also 1 Cor. 15:53-54)
(2) The penalty for sin is death, not eternal torment. “For the wages of sin is death.” (Rom. 6:23) “The soul that sinneth, it shall die.” (Ezek. 18:4, 20) (See also; Rom. 5:12; Jas. 1:15)
(3) Death came upon man as the just penalty for the violation of God’s law. “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” (Gen 2:17)
(4) Death means the destruction of the soul – the destruction of man. “And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.” (Acts 3:23) “He spared not their soul from death.” (Psa.78:50); “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matt. 10:28 – the Greek Gehenna is improperly translated as “hell” in this verse. Gehenna was a place of utter destruction and symbolizes the second death.)
(5) God in His goodness offered His Son to be our Redeemer, and by His death and resurrection, Christ Jesus provided and produced the ransom price for man’s deliverance and restoration. “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.” (Heb. 2:9) “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” (1 John 2:2) “Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” (1 Tim. 2:6) (See also Mark 10:45; John 1:29; Rom. 5:6; 1 Cor. 15:22)
(6) God’s beloved Son, Jesus, became a perfect man, grew to manhood’s estate, was put to death as a man, and was raised again from the dead, a spirit being, possessing the divine nature. “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14) “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins . . . being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit.” (1 Pet. 3:18) (See also Phil. 2:8-9; Heb. 7:26; 1 Tim. 6:16; 2 Pet. 1:3)
(7) The ransom price having been paid, every person must be brought to a knowledge of the Truth and have a fair trial for life in God’s due time. “And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.” (Heb. 8:11) “In those days they shall say no more, The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children’s teeth are set on edge. But every one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eateth the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge.” (Jer. 31:29-30) (See also Dan. 12:2-3; Matt. 25:31-46)
(8) To this end, all the dead shall be awakened during the thousand-year reign of Christ. “Marvel not at this: for the hour cometh, in which all that are in the tombs shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of judgment.” (John 5:28-29, ASV) “And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.” (Acts 24:15) “And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” (Dan. 12:2-3) “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.” (1 Thess. 4:14) (See also Acts 23:6; 1 Cor. 15:12-13)
(9) Jesus Christ ascended into heaven and must come the second time. “And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” (Matt. 24:30) “So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin [not to bear sin] unto salvation.” (Heb. 9:28) (See also John 14:2-3; Acts 1:11; 1 Thess. 4:16)
(10) The period of time elapsing between the first and second comings of the Lord is devoted to the election of the members of the Body of Christ, taken from among men. “Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up.” (Acts 15:14-16) “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.” (1 Cor. 12:27) (See also 1 Pet. 2:9)
(11) The requirements for election to that exalted position was full faith in the shed blood of Jesus as the ransom price, a full consecration to do the Father’s will, and a faithful continuance in obedience to the Father’s will even unto death. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” (Rom. 12:1) “Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.” (Rom. 3:25) (See also Col. 1:23; 1 Pet. 1:2, 18-19; Rev. 1:5)
(12) All who are thus consecrated and begotten of the Holy Spirit and are overcomers shall have part in the chief resurrection, and be exalted to positions in the heavenly Kingdom of God and participate with Christ Jesus in His Millennial reign for the blessing of all the families of the earth. “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God . . . This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.” (Rev. 20:4-6) “And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham . . . And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (Gal. 3:8-9, 29) “For the earnest expectation of the creature [the creation] waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.” (Rom. 8:19) “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” (Jas. 4:10) (See also 1 Pet. 5:6, 10)
(13) Under that reign the willfully disobedient shall be everlastingly destroyed, while those obedient to the righteous rule of Christ shall be fully restored to human perfection of body, mind, and character. “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive [retain] until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began . . . And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.” (Acts 3:19-23) “He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” (Rev. 21:7-8) (See also Eph. 1:10)
(14) During this Millennial reign the earth shall be brought to a state of Edenic paradise and made fit as a place of habitation for perfect man. Fully restored to perfection, man will inhabit the earth forever. “The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose . . . And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” (Isa. 35:1, 10) “I will make the place of my feet glorious . . . Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool.” (Isa. 60:13; Isa. 66:1)
We are also attaching two papers, What is the Soul? and Where Are the Dead? We hope you will find this information helpful.
Best wishes and Christian love,
Epiphany Bible Students
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The following questions were received in two emails and have been translated from Italian:
(1) When did the Presence of Christ begin (his coming in spirit, parousia) and the saints, the faithful disciples of Christ who died have already been resurrected? And the saints who now die do not remain in death but are instantly transformed and elegant in heaven? While waiting for your contact, I greet you affectionately.
(2) I wish to join your Association of Bible Students. What should I do? I was baptized many years ago by immersion in water at an Evangelical Christian Community. Is this baptism valid? That is, is it scriptural? …………Rome, Italy
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Dear Brother …….,
Thank you for your emails. You asked when the Parousia or second presence of Christ began. You will find the answer to this in Volume II of Studies in the Scriptures, Chapter VI, beginning on page 173. Here it is shown that the Lord’s Parousia began in 1874. You will need to read the entire chapter. You can read this on line by following this link: The Time is at Hand, Chapter VI.
On your second question, the transformation of the Saints is discussed in Volume III of Studies in the Scriptures, Chapter VII, beginning on page 227. Again, you will need to read the whole chapter, which you can find by following this link: Thy Kingdom Come, Chapter VII.
We appreciate your inquiry about joining our Association, but we are not a sect or denomination. We do not have membership rolls and there is no organization to join. We merely invite people to join our list of persons who wish to receive our articles for the purpose of learning about God’s plan of salvation as taught by Pastor Russell. You are on that list, so in that sense you have joined our group.
As to your Baptism being valid, Pastor Russell answered a series of questions concerning Baptism which are compiled in a book called What Pastor Russell Said, also referred to as the Question Book. These questions are on pages 31-36 and here is a link to that section: What Pastor Russell Said About Baptism. Scroll down until you get to the subject of Baptism. We will quote one question and answer:
Question: What are the questions usually put by Brother Russell when receiving candidates for water immersion?
Answer: You will notice that they are on broad lines – questions which any Christian, whatever his confession, should be able to answer in the affirmative without hesitation if he is suitable to be acknowledged as a member of the Church of Christ:
(1) Have you repented of sin with such restitution as you are able, and are you trusting in the merit of Christ’s sacrifice for the forgiveness of your sins and the basis of your justification?
(2) Have you made a full consecration of yourself with all the powers that you possess – talent, money, time, influence – all to the Lord, to be used faithfully in His service, even unto death?
(3) On the basis of these confessions, we acknowledge you as a member of the Household of Faith, and give to you as such the right hand of fellowship, not in the name of any sect or party or creed, but in the name of the Redeemer, our glorified Lord, and His faithful followers.
Based on Pastor Russell’s view of the matter, if you can answer yes to the first two questions, then your Baptism is acceptable regardless of what group you may have associated with at that time.
We hope you find this information helpful.
In our Redeemer’s name,
Epiphany Bible Students
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ANNOUNCEMENT
The date of our Lord’s Memorial is March 22, 2024 after six p.m.
Write to us at: epiphanybiblestudents@gmail.com