NO. 558 RETROSPECT AND PROSPECT - PART TWO

“SIMON SAYS:  Tomb’s inscription backs up tradition: JERUSALEM - A barely legible clue - the name ‘Simon’ carved in Greek letters - beckoned from high up on the weather-beaten facade of an ancient burial monument.

“Their curiosity piqued, two Jerusalem scholars uncovered six previously invisible lines of inscription: a Gospel verse - Luke 2:25.

“Archaeological finds confirming biblical narrative or referring to figures from the Bible are rare, and this is believed to be the first discovery of a New Testament verse carved onto an ancient Holy Land shrine, said Emile Puech, and inscriptions expert who deciphered the writing.

“A few Old Testament phrases have been found on monuments, and a passage from Paul’s Letter to the Romans (3:13) is laid into a floor mosaic in the ancient Roman city of Caesarea.

“Jim Strange, a New Testament scholar from the University of South Florida, said that the ancients apparently believed that chiseling Scripture into monuments debase sacred words.  The widespread use of Bible verses on shrines began only about 1000 in Europe, said Strange, who was not connected with the discovery.

“The inscription declares that the 60-foot-high monument is the tomb of Simon, a devout Jew who the Bible says cradled the infant Jesus and recognized him as the Messiah.

“It’s unlikely that Simon is buried there; the monument is one of several built for Jerusalem’s aristocracy at the time of Jesus.

“The inscription does back up what until now were scant references to a Byzantine-era belief that three biblical figures - Simon, Zacharias and James, the brother of Jesus - shared the same tomb.

“This year an inscription referring to Zacharias, who was John the Baptist’s father, was found on the same facade.  Puech and Joe Zias, a physical anthropologist, continued to study the monument.  Applying a ‘squeeze’ - a simple 19th century technique of spreading a kind of papier mache over a surface - they uncovered the Simon inscription.  Now, they hope to complete the three by finding writing referring to James.

“The Simon and Zacharias inscriptions were carved about the fourth century, a time when Byzantine Christians were searching the Holy Land for sacred sites linked to the Bible, said Puech.

“The monument is in the Kidron Valley, between Jerusalem’s walled Old City and the Mount of Olives.

“The Bible says that James was thrown off the Jewish Temple, bludgeoned to death in the Kidron Valley below and buried nearby.  The historian Josephus refers to a Temple priest named Zacharias being slain by zealots in the Temple and thrown into the valley.  There is no word on Simon’s death.

“The Zacharias and Simon inscriptions were chiseled into what is known today as Absalom’s Tomb, one of three big funerary monuments built in the Kidron Valley for the city’s rich.”                                                                     (The Associated Press, November 21, 2003)

“ANTI-SEMITIC TEXT BOOKS IN NEW YORK SCHOOLS:  Textbooks used in New York City’s Islamic schools contain ‘passages that are blatantly anti-Semitic’ and repeat ‘old canards’ about Jews, the New York Daily News reports after a three-month-long investigation.

“The report notes that a textbook written for children in grades 3 through 6, entitled What Islam is All About, says that Jews and Christians ‘lead such decadent and immoral lives that lying, alcohol, nudity, pornography, racism, foul language, premarital sex, homosexuality, and everything else are accepted in their society, churches, and synagogues.’

“According to the paper, the book has sold over 40,000 copies and is said to be in use in more than half the city’s Muslim schools.

“Another textbook, Mercy to Mankind, which is used by 5th and 6th graders, states that the Jews ‘killed their own prophets’ and sought to deceive Muslims by altering the text of the Bible, the newspaper says.

“New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg strongly condemned the use of the textbooks, saying, ‘Personally, I find it disgraceful; any textbook that tries to take away other people’s rights or condemn other people because of their beliefs, I think is inappropriate and undemocratic.’

“New York City has 15 private Islamic schools registered with the state, with approximately 3,000 to 4,000 students enrolled.”

(By Michael Freund, The Jerusalem Post, April 3, 2003)

“FIRST ISRAELI U.N. RESOLUTION OFFERED:  For the first time in its history, Israel has introduced a resolution before the United Nations General Assembly.  A main component of the decision to do so is to test whether the body will accept anything originating in Israel.  The resolution calls for the protection of Israeli children victimized by Palestinian terror.  A similar resolution on behalf of Palestinian children had been offered by Egypt, but has not come up for a vote.  According to the Associated Press, which quoted Aryeh Mekel, Israel’s deputy U.N. Ambassador, the test of the U.N.’s willingness to deal fairly with the regional conflict will be whether it passes both resolutions, merges the two, or drops the Israeli version altogether.”

(The Media Line, November 4, 2003)

“AL-QA’IDA WEBSITE TELLS MUSLIMS TO LEAVE D.C., L.A., N.Y.:  The Middle East Research Institute has discovered and translated a warning posted on an Al-Qa’ida website exhorting Muslims to ‘immediately leave Washington, D.C., New York, and Los Angeles.’

“The message continues, ‘We are a serious warning.  The next few days will prove to you the truth of this warning.  To the oppressive rulers of America we say, ‘Expect our terms following the first strike of Allah’s believing solders.’  The latter phrase is a quote from the Qu’ran.”                                                                           (The Media Line, November 5, 2003)

“LAST IRAQI JEWS:  Six elderly Jews from Iraq, among the last remaining Jews in the country, have been brought to Israel on a direct flight from Baghdad in a joint project by Israel’s Jewish Agency and the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society.

“Among the six was a 99-year-old woman and her 70-year-old daughter, a blind 90-year-old former Baghdad resident, and another 70-year-old woman who was the last Jewish resident of the southern Iraqi city of Basra.”                                                    (World Jewry, August 2003)

BOOK REVIEW:  Yasir Arafat: A Political Biography, Barry and Judith Rubin, Oxford Press, 2003, 354 pages.

“For more than four decades, since he founded Fatah in 1959 and then the Palestinian Liberation Organization in 1964, Yasir Arafat has enjoyed the flattering glare of the international spotlight.  Mr. Arafat is one of the inventors of modern terrorism and continues to instigate it to this day.  Despite this, a multitude of admirers and apologists in the West have been taken in by the pose of moderation, at least until recently.  As a result, he has visited nearly every royal palace and presidential residence in Europe and was a guest of honor at the White House several times.  He has even won the Nobel Peace Prize.

“How did this happen?  As [the Rubins] show in their admirable, impressively documented book he is one of the great con men of modern politics.  Even those who know what a slippery character Mr. Arafat is may be surprised to learn from the Rubins account just how deceitful he can be.

“He claims to have been born in Jerusalem, for instance, but was in fact born in Cairo.  He has told of single-handedly stopping an Israeli tank column in the 1948 war, though the evidence places him in Egypt at the time.  Some of his falsehoods have been utterly fantastic such as that there was never a Jewish temple in Jerusalem.  As for political tactics, the Rubins remind us that Mr. Arafat is often astute, positioning himself between competing Islamic, Marxist, and nationalist Palestinian groupings.  Even today, though the Western media talks of a ‘new Palestinian prime minister,’ Chairman Arafat retains control of almost all the key elements of power in Palestinian politics.

“The Rubins, along with documenting his corruption and misrule, make clear how much Palestinians and Israelis alike have suffered from his refusal to entertain a two-state solution.”

(By Tom Gross, Wall Street Journal, August 21, 2003)

“ARAFAT: ROAD MAP IS DEAD:  Yasser Arafat has declared that the Road Map for peace is dead.  He told CNN on September 2 that ‘The Road Map is dead but only because of Israeli military aggression in recent weeks.’  The Palestinian leader complained that because of the attention being paid to Iraq and because of the impending presidential election, the United States has not paid enough attention to the Road Map process.  His remarks came on the same day that Israel Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz said it was a mistake not to have expelled Arafat two years ago.  Mofaz told Army Radio that Arafat ‘needs to disappear from the stage of history.’  Mofaz has come under sharp criticism by the opposition Labor Party for his remarks, and Israel Radio reported on September 3rd that the American Administration has asked for a ‘clarification’ of those remarks.”                                       (The Media Line, September 3, 2003)

“PRAYER FOCUS:  The Road Map cannot succeed.  It will not fail because of the actions of Arafat or Abbas.  It will not fail because of the actions of the Israelis.  It will ultimately fail because it is in opposition to God’s Word.  Pray that God’s plan for the land and peoples of Israel will be fulfilled in its entirety.  God called for the land to be given as an everlasting inheritance to the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  But, He also called for justice and mercy for the foreigner living in the midst of His people, Israel.  Only when the peoples of Israel line up with God’s plan will they know His blessing.”

(Bridges For Peace comment, September 3, 2003)

“LEGAL KILLINGS:  Harvard law professor Alan M. Dershowitz says there is ‘absolutely no doubt’ that Israel’s policy of targeted killings of senior Hamas terrorists is legal under international law.  In an opinion piece in last week’s Toronto Globe and Mail, Dershowitz wrote, ‘Hamas has declared war against Israel.  All of its leaders are combatants, whether they wear military uniforms, suits, or religious garb.’

“‘Under any reasonable standard,’ he concluded, ‘Israeli policy with regard to the targeted assassinations of ‘ticking bomb terrorists’ does not deserve the kind of condemnation it is receiving.

“‘Any democracy facing threats to its civilian population comparable to those faced by Israel would respond in much the same way Israel is now responding to the terrorism being conducted by Hamas and other terrorist groups,’ he said.”

(The Jerusalem Post, October 3, 2003)

“ARAFAT SEIZED U.S. $750 MILLION OF PA BUDGET:  The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said Yasser Arafat has seized U.S. $750 million from the PA budget, much of which is financed by Western donors.  The IMF concluded that Arafat took the U.S. $750 million from the PA budget and placed the funds in a bank account under his sole control.  Arafat was found to have embezzled the funds from 1995 until 2000.

“The assertion came in wake of the first IMF investigation of PA finances and the role of Arafat.  The IMF said Arafat, chairman of the PA, invested most of the missing PA funds in 69 companies that he directly controls.

“IMF officials acknowledged the investigation and its findings regarding Arafat at the summit by the financial institute held in the United Arab Emirates city of Dubai.  The IMF and World Bank summit stressed the need for transparency in government.”

(Bridges For Peace, October 7, 2003)

“THE NOT-SO-NOBLE-NOBEL:  Kaare Kristiansen, a former member of the Nobel Prize Committee, has appealed to his former colleagues to ‘publicly deplore’ their decision in 1994 to grant the Nobel Peace Prize to Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat.

“Kirstiansen, a former Norwegian minister who served as president of his country’s parliament, sent a letter this past weekend to the Norwegian Nobel Committee denouncing the PA leader for undermining any prospects of Middle East peace.  And calling on committee members to distance themselves publicly from the 1994 award.

“‘Arafat is not a peace-loving pacifist but a warmonger and a butcher, an ill-fortune both for his own people and for his neighbors,’ Kristiansen wrote.

Hence, he said ‘out of consideration for political decency and for its own reputation,’ the committee should ‘find a way to distance itself from its award of 1994.’”

(The International Jerusalem Post, September 26, 2003)

“LET JEWS LIVE ON HOMELANDS:  The term Judenrein means an area cleansed of Jews.  In the past, this German [Nazi] concept was applied throughout Europe.  Now we hear American and other liberals saying that Jewish communities on the biblical land of Judea and Samaria, the cradle of the Jewish nation, must be emptied of all their inhabitants, so that even in a Jewish homeland there can be Judenrein areas.  The expulsion of the Jews from Europe, which reached its height during World War II, was a manifestly barbaric and inhumane act.  But there, at least, the Jews were unwelcome guests, having lived in that area for merely a thousand years or so.  However, to drive out the Jewish community of Hebron, where the matriarchs and patriarchs of the Jewish people are buried and King David first ruled 3,000 years ago, is unthinkable.

“The United States is dotted with towns named for biblical cities in Israel: Hebron, Shilo, Bethlehem.  But according to the terminology of many in the U.S. press, the Israeli Shilo, the original one, is a ‘settlement,’ and consequently must be cleansed of Jews.

“If someone decided to expel Jews, from Shiloh, Ohio, Hebron, Nebraska, USA Today might be among the first to come out against what it would likely term racism.  Why then does it support the expulsion of Jews from the original Shilo, the Jewish one?  Why are Jews living in their own homeland considered ‘an obstacle to peace?’

“Why is it the only place in the world where Jews cannot live, according to liberals, the very place where the Jewish faith was born, where it developed monotheism, where the Judeo-Christian civilization took shape; and where the Jewish people returned after 2,000 years of exile?

“It is not the presence of Jews in the settlements that is a provocation to Palestinians; it is the presence of Jews anywhere in Israel on either side of the Green Line, the 1949 armistice line.

“So, if you support the expulsion of Jews from Europe, America or anywhere else, you’re racist.  But if you advocate the expulsion of Jews from the heart of their homeland, you’re a liberal.

“Liberals demand to drive Jews off their own land to create a Judenrein area, in the land of the Jews, of all places, is the height of hypocrisy by those who claim to be fair-minded advocates of justice in the world.”                      (By Israel Harel, Haaretz, September 22, 2003)

“FROM A DISTANCE: Death has no glory:  In the book of Genesis, God tells Abraham: ‘And through you will all the nations of the earth be blessed.’

“I’ve often wondered about that blessing we Jews are supposed to bring the world.  After six months of having the world heap the vilest slander on my people and my country; after going through Holocaust Remembrance Day, and then Remembrance Day for the fallen soldiers, I don’t think, if it was up to me, that heaping blessings on the world, particularly on my Semitic neighbors, would be high on my list of ‘must do’s’ right now.

However, since the Jewish people’s fate isn’t something you get to vote on, I recognize that I, and my fellow Jews, will have little say about this blessing thing either.  And so, willy-nilly; we are going to bring blessings to the world.

“And I’ve finally figured out how.  It was last week, as I was watching the official memorial service at the Western Wall for Israel’s fallen soldiers.  And in that holy place, Israel’s top general, its chief of staff, got up to speak.  What do you think he spoke about, this general and army man?  If he were any other nationality or religion, and this were any country but Israel, we wouldn’t even have to ask: The glory of our fallen heroes.  Their bravery and sacrifice on the battlefield.  The greatness of our victories.

“But not Chief of General Staff Shaul Mofaz.  He spoke about remembering the birth of a child.  The first picture taken in kindergarten.  The first baby tooth that falls.  The bar-mitzvah pictures.  The graduation from high school.  The mother’s kiss on the cheek of the new recruit.  He spoke about the incalculable loss to each fallen soldier’s family, his parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, girlfriend, wife, children.  About the preciousness of life, and the horror of death.

“The Jewish people indeed have a blessing to bring to the world, especially to our Semitic cousins.  If only they would stop shouting and crying and threatening long enough to listen, how different their lives would be!  And we would give it to them freely, generously - this, our hard-earned knowledge, the knowledge of the Jews.  And it is simply this: that death has no glory.  And life can never be replaced.

“There is no honor, no holiness in bombs and guns and knives and mortars in wounded flesh, and blood-soaked streets.  In dead children and broken-hearted mothers.  And that peace is a value to be cherished above glorious victories.

“If only the BBC, and CNN and Sky News would stop interviewing the mothers and uncles of suicide bombers, who speak of holy martyrdom, and sacred deaths, and holy wars; if only their confused reporters would simply sit and listen to Israel’s keening on Remembrance Day, and broadcast that to the world instead, what a blessing they would bring mankind.  What a lesson.                                                                        (Excerpt by Naomi Ragen, May 3, 2003)

“LIBRARY IN EGYPT WITHDRAWS COPY OF ANTI-SEMITIC TRACT:  CAIRO, EGYPT - The Alexandria Library has withdrawn the first Arabic translation of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion from an exhibit after U.N. cultural officials questioned the display of the 19th century anti-Semitic tract.

“In a statement yesterday, Ismail Serageldin, the director of the library, denied allegations that the book was displayed next to the Jewish holy book, the Torah.

“‘The book was promptly withdrawn from public display.  But its very inclusion showed bad judgment and insensitivity, and a internal hearing is under way to determine whether further action is to be taken’ read the statement.”                         (Associated Press, December 7, 2003)

Comment:  It is very unusual for the U.N. to do anything in Israel’s favor.

 ___________________________________________________________________

SOME COMMENTS ON THE MIDDLE EAST

  The turmoil in the Middle East has engaged our attention very closely because we believe that some prophecy is now being fulfilled there; and we shall yet see much more of it.  As instance, Zechariah 14:1-3: “Behold, the day of the Lord cometh [we have been in the “evil day” (Eph. 6:13) since 1914, with the “evil” steadily becoming worse and worse], and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee.  For I will gather all nations 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 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.”

AS IN THE DAY OF BATTLE:  Some outstanding instances where the Lord fought for Israel in former times are (1) when He gave a great victory to David in the Valley of Rephaim in close-by Baalperazim (2 Sam. 5:17-21); (2) when Gideon commanded 300 men, who were used to inflict a miraculous defeat upon the Midianites and Amalakites, who were “in the valley like grasshoppers for multitude - their camels as the sand by the seaside for multitude” (Judges 7:12-23); and (3) with Joshua in Ajalon, where “the Lord discomfited them.” (Josh. 10:8-14)

AJALON:  Of these citations we shall give detailed analysis on only one, mainly because this one, we believe, may find close kinship in the years immediately ahead of us.  Upon the “death of Moses… the Lord spake unto Joshua, saying… there shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life… I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee… be thou strong and very courageous.” (Josh. 1:1-7)  As we come to the narrative in Ajalon, the various units of Canaan had heard of the prowess of Joshua, of the great defeats he had inflicted upon his enemies in various places.  This struck such terror into their hearts that thirty-one kings combined to fight against Joshua; and the battle was joined in the Valley of Ajalon.

Now those kings were sun and moon worshipers, so the Lord caused a heavy cloud to appear - so dark that it was almost night.  This terrorized the enemy, thinking their gods had turned their backs on them, so they turned and fled, at which the Lord “cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died: they were more which died with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword… And Joshua said… Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon.  And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies.” (Vs. 11-13)

A similar situation exists today in the Middle East: About twenty of those Moslem rulers have banded themselves together to destroy Israel; but the “sure word of prophecy” is there that the Lord will again “fight for them as he did in the day of battle.”  And the promise is sure, “By myself have I sworn saith the Lord… that in blessing I will bless thee [Abraham]… thy seed shall be as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the seashore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies.” (Gen. 22:15-17)

Perhaps a bit of historical humor may be acceptable here: After America gained its independence, Benjamin Franklin was appointed the first American ambassador to France; and the French leader in France, the English ambassador and Franklin were having lunch together, when it was suggested that a toast be offered by each one of them for the nation he represented.  The Englishman:  Here’s to England, whose sun never sets; the Frenchman: Here’s to France, who like the moon controls the tides and the sea; Franklin: Here’s to the United States of America, who, like Joshua in Ajalon, commanded the sun and the moon to stand still - and they stood still!

As we contemplate the great victory of Joshua in Ajalon, we come to a much better appreciation of his final address to the Jewish people: “This day I am going the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all good things which the Lord your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof.” (Josh. 23:14)  And further from Joshua 23:9,10: “No man hath been able to stand before you unto this day.  One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the Lord your God he it is that fighteth for you, as he has promised you.”  And we may accept the statement literally now, that in our day “the Lord will fight against those nations [now combined against Israel], as when he fought in the day of battle.”

BENJAMIN DISRAELI:  We believe emphasis will be added to the foregoing if we consider this Jew, and what one authority says about him: “Statesman and novelist, twice British prime minister (1868; 1874-1880), was one of the most extraordinary figures to reach the pinnacle of British politics.  He was of Italian Jewish descent.  As a result of his father’s quarrel with the synagogue, he was baptized as a Christian, but for which curious accident his career could not have taken the form it did.  After some failures in his pursuit of political opportunity he was returned to Parliament (1837) as a conservative member for Maidstone in Kent.  In 1848 he acquired a claim to the leadership of the opposition in the House of Commons after being elected to Parliament as a member for the County of Buckinghamshire in 1847.  He served as chancellor of exchequer for a period in 1852 and again in 1858.  Disraeli became prime minister in 1868, but when the autumn election was won by Liberals, he resigned.  His second period as prime minister was 1874-1880.  In 1876 he accepted a peerage, taking the title of Earl of Beaconsfield.”

BERLIN CONGRESS OF NATIONS:  The foregoing is given about Disraeli because he was the first Jew ever to become prime minister of England; and he was a prominent figure at the Berlin Congress which was held June 13 - July 13, 1878.  That Congress was attended by all the major European powers, and it replaced the Treaty of San Stefano of March 3, 1878 at the conclusion of the Russo-Turkish war of 1877-78.  At that time England was the greatest empire on earth.  London was the financial center of the world; and English ships controlled the sea.  And Disraeli used that tremendous power to force acceptance of his move to gain favor for the Jews in Palestine.  That was the beginning of various efforts to promote the Jews to where they are today.  At that Berlin meeting Disraeli secured certain rights for aliens in Palestine that were not previously tolerated - the principal benefactors of that decision being the Jews.  It is of interest here to note that the date 1878 is exactly 1845 years after the crucifixion of Jesus, previous to which they had enjoyed great favor from the Lord for 1845 years - from the death of Jacob.  This “double” is mentioned in Isa. 40:1-3; Jer. 16:18; Zech. 9:12; and the word means an exact duplicate, as if we should fold a piece of paper in the middle, the lower half would be exactly the same size as the upper part.

ZECHARIAH 8:23:  At that time in 1878 we believe the following prophecy was fulfilled: “In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men out of all the tongues of the nations shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.”  The “ten men” of the text are the various nations of Europe.  While it is true that there are many more than ten governments in Europe, yet there are only ten-language nations (aside from the Jewish): (1) The Scandinavian (Norway, Sweden, etc.); (2) The Anglo-Saxon (England, Scotland, etc.); (3) The Teutonic (Germany, Austria, etc.); (4) The Gallic (France, Belgium, etc.); (5) The Hispanic (Spain and Portugal); (6) The Latin (Italy); (7) The Greek (Greece); (8) The Turkish (Turkey); (9) The Slavic (Russia, Poland, etc.); and (10) The Magyars (Hungarian).

The words of Disraeli are most pertinent here: “Had it not been for the Jews of Palestine the good tidings of our Lord would have been unknown forever to the northern and western races.  The first preachers of the gospel were Jews, no others; the historians of the Gospel were Jews, no others.  No human being has ever been permitted to write under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit except the Jew.”  Truly, Disraeli was a man of destiny; one among the greatest Jews in all history!

Thus, the situation in the Middle East today is indeed an engaging “prospect.”  We conclude this feature about the Jews with Jeremiah 30:7: “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.” “Jacob’s trouble” will be the climax - the grand finale - of that trouble over there - when those Arab countries make a combined attack upon Israel, and God will then “fight for them as he did in the day of battle.” (Zech. 14:3)  As That Servant has said: “How true the statement that those who have cursed, or injured, Israel have brought injury to themselves!  As we scan the whole field of the world, we find that every nation, which has dealt harshly with Israel, has received chastisement or blight.  On the contrary, Great Britain and the United States, nations which have blessed the Jew, have in turn received great blessings.” (Reprint 5323, October 1, 1913)  

NO. 557 RETROSPECT AND PROSPECT - PART ONE

“The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night: if you will inquire, inquire ye: return come.” (Isaiah 21:12)

We are in the Morning - the Millennial Day - but the night, the Time of Trouble precedes the blessings.  Certainly, no one who has even a little understanding of the Truth, will deny that we are in the Time of Trouble.  And it has escalated greatly during the past year.  We had hoped the war in Iraq would be short and it was in the sense of the basic attack, but the peace and rebuilding is proving very elusive.  Also, crime has increased, as well as suicide bombings in several countries, and protests and riots all over the world.  There is no peace anywhere.  We also have had the elements bombarding different parts of the world with hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, floods, etc., not forgetting the blackouts in the U.S. and Europe and the devastating forest fires in California.  And we do not have to mention the trouble in Israel, how it has become very critical.  Screams of agony echo throughout the Land as terror attack follows terror attack.

We may rejoice that the blessed morning of the Millennial Kingdom is at hand, even though we must weep with the world also in this dark hour of trouble which precedes the sunburst of the Millennial Kingdom.

Our text says “inquire ye: return come.”  We should inquire for more information, for the length of the night is hidden.  But, “Thou shall not be afraid for the terror of night,” (Psa. 91:5)  For we know that the Kingdom is near at hand.

2003 IN REVIEW:

1. The U.S. invades Iraq and captures Saddam Hussein.
2. Space shuttle breaks apart, kills seven astronauts.
3. The outbreak of SARS in Asia kills 800 people worldwide.
4. Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger elected California governor.
5. A summer blackout hits Northeast, Midwest and Canada.
6. Supreme Court strikes down bans on homosexual sex.
7. Terror strikes Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Turkey and Indonesia.
8. Michael Jackson arrested.
9. Consecration of gay bishop divides the Anglican Church.
10.  President Bush’s tax cut.
11. Death toll from earthquake in Iran surpasses 20,000.

“DEAD SEA IS FACING ITS OWN DEATH, STUDY FINDS:  JERUSALEM - The Dead Sea is dying, and only a major engineering effort can save it, according to Israel’s Minister of the Environment.

“The Dead Sea gets its name from its heavy salt content, because no aquatic creatures can live in it.  Now there is a new “death threat” - the Dead Sea is drying up and disappearing.

“An Israeli TV reporter, illustrating the government report issued Monday, stood on a spot where, just 20 years ago, water met land.  Now that point is 2,000 feet of parched ground away, he said, as the sea gradually recedes.

“Because it is landlocked in a hot desert area, evaporation is high, accounting for the dense salt concentration that allows bathers to float on top of the water with no effort.  The area is popular for spas and treatments, with luxury hotels on both sides.

“The Environment Ministry study said that to secure the sea’s future, engineers would have to develop a new infrastructure of bridges and roads leading to its shores.

“For millennia, the balance was maintained by the Dead Sea’s only water source, the Jordan River, pouring in from the north.  In recent years, however, Israel and Jordan have been tapping in to irrigate big swaths of agricultural land along the narrow river that divides the two countries, robbing the Dead Sea of its replacement water.

“A five-year drought has added to the woes of the Dead Sea, which occupies the lowest point on Earth, 1,320 feet below sea level.  The sea is about 38 miles long and about 11 miles wide.

“The Israeli study said that without an intensive engineering effort, the sea’s water level will continue to recede by as much as 3 feet a year, adjacent ground water will disappear, surrounding land will buckle and collapse, and nearby wildlife and vegetation will be lost.

“Environment Minister Yehudit Neot said she would ask the Israeli Cabinet to hold a detailed discussion on the study’s conclusions.

“‘If the conclusions are not implemented, there is a real danger to the future of the Dead Sea as a world-class natural resource,’ Neot said.”

(The Associated Press, November 5, 2003)

Comment:  The Jordan River is the source of the Dead Sea.  The name Jordan means “The Descender,” or “Judged down.”  Therefore it is a type of the downward course of the human race and it reaches the Dead Sea, which represents the ultimate condition of mankind.  It is aptly named for typing the dead world.  

“REVELATION:  A car crash in Chalmette, Louisiana, has revealed that a building thought to house a home improvement business was actually home to the New Christian Crusade Church, and headquarters for the Christian Defense League, both white supremacist organizations.

“Stacks of racist books and pamphlets, including Hitler’s Nazi manifesto, Mein Kampf, were discovered when the car smashed into the brick storefront.  An investigation revealed the building’s owner as James Warner, a founder of the American Nazi Party and associate of former Ku Klux Klan Grand Wizard and one-time Republican gubernatorial candidate David Duke.” 

(World Jewry, August 2003)

“ATTORNEYS FILE BRIEF REJECTING SUIT OVER SIGN:  LEXINGTON, NC - Attorneys for the Davidson County commissioners rejected yesterday a claim that the “In God We Trust” sign on a county building is unconstitutional because of its size and prominent location.

“In a brief filed yesterday in U.S. district Court, the attorneys tried to counter the argument of two Thomasville men who have sued the county commissioners to have the sign taken down.  The men claim that the sign is a government endorsement of religion in violation of the First Amendment, particularly because the sign’s context makes it imposing to anyone doing business in the county’s government building.

“The commissioners’ attorneys agreed yesterday that context is important to the sign’s constitutionality, but they pointed to the motto’s historical context.  It has been the official motto of the United States since 1956 and was on U.S, coins as early as the Civil War.”

(Winston-Salem Journal Staff and Wire Report, October 1, 2003) 

Comment:  An alert citizen wrote in to the Editor thusly: “If God is going to destroy a nation, wouldn’t He first remove his Name completely from that country”?  That motto is also on U.S. paper money, so a lot of erasing would have to be done.

FRANCE:  “The staggering number of deaths in France due to the heat wave is finally drawing the nation’s attention to who died and how.  The government estimates that the heat killed perhaps 5,000 people.  The largest undertaker, General Funeral Services, said Wednesday that the number could be more than twice that.  The victims were generally found inside apartments or houses or hotels.  In virtually every case, there was no air conditioner.”

(International Herald Tribune, August 21, 2003)

“GENERAL STRIKE HITS ITALY:  ROME - Post offices and schools were closed, flights were canceled, buses and trains were killed in Italy Friday as millions of workers stayed home to protest government plans to reform the pension system.

“The general strike was called by Italy’s three largest and most powerful unions, which also organized some 100 demonstrations in piazzas across the country.  Big festive crowds gathered in Rome, Bologna and Naples, where rallies were headed by union calls to protest Premier Silvio Berlusconi’s resolve to overhaul Italy’s generous pension system by raising retirement ages and the number of years of work required.

“Hundreds of flights were canceled, most of them by Italy’s flagship airline Atialia, but foreign carriers also scrapped or rescheduled flights because Italian ground personnel were among the strikes.  Among the airlines affected were Air France, Lufthansa, British Airways and KLM.”

(The Lexington, NC Dispatch, October 21, 2003)

“ITALIAN COURT ORDERS CRUCIFIX REMOVED FROM A CLASS ROOM: ROME - An Italian court has ordered a crucifix removed from a classroom - setting off a debate in a secular but culturally Catholic nation that is home to the Vatican and where a law still requires public schools to display a cross.

“The ruling Saturday highlights the country’s awkward relationship with its growing immigrant population, whose migrant population, whose presence belies the notion of Italy as solely a Christian nation.

“Islamic activist Adel Smith, an emigrant from Egypt whose father was Italian, filed suit challenging the legality of the cross in the elementary school attended by his two sons in the small town of Ofena, 90 miles northeast of Rome.  ‘Above all, Italy is a secular country,’ Smith said.

“Judge Mario Montanaro ruled that the cross should be removed because ‘the presence of the crucifix in classrooms communicates an implicit adherence to values that, in reality, are not shared heritage of all citizens.’” 

(The Associated Press, October 27, 2003)

“CORRUPTION AT HIGH LEVEL WORLDWIDE, SURVEY FINDS:  LONDON - Rich countries should end their financial support for corrupt governments and blacklist companies that get caught paying bribes abroad, a watchdog group that monitors corruption in 133 nations said yesterday.

“Half of developing countries suffer from ‘a high level of corruption,’ and some wealthy nations fare little better, according to surveys of business people, academics and risk analysts by Transparency International.

“Bangladesh came in last, at 133, trailed by Nigeria and Haiti as the three most corrupt countries, according to the 2003 Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index.  Rated No. 1, or least corrupt, was Finland, followed by Iceland and in a tie for third, Denmark and New Zealand.  The United States was 18 on the list, tied with Ireland.”

(Winston-Salem Journal wire report, October 8, 2003)

“D.C. CHARITY SUSPECTED OF FUNNELING MILLIONS TO TERRORIST:  The U.S. Department of Homeland Security believes that the SAAR Network/SAFA Group, a net-work of charities and think tanks, has funneled at least U.S. $26 million to terrorist organizations including Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Al-Qaida, according to the Washington Post.  According to the newspaper, most of the money came from Saudia Arabian donors.  An attorney for those named in the DHS affidavit quoted by the Post denied the allegations and said that it was ‘rank speculation.’”

(The Media Line, October 19, 2003)

IN FINANCE

The economy seems to have been better in 2003 than in 2002.  The tax breaks that the President pushed through in 2002 is helping the economy.  Business spending has improved after three years of a timid spending for business.

It is predicted that spending by firms will gain a solid 10% in 2004, up from only 2.5% in 2003, as companies rebuild their inventories and buy new equipment to expand production.  Business has learned how to produce with less people.

Job outlook may be brighter.  Job creation is predicted to reach 1.8 million in 2004, a 12-fold increase over the net gain of 150,000 in 2003.  But the unemployment rate won’t fall much because many previously discouraged jobless will look for work again.  The job gain will buoy consumer spending.  Even so, interest rates will remain low, and maybe prime rate will be up to 5% by midyear.

The threat of terrorism continues to loom, and there is fear of an attack on U.S. soil in the midst of a heated presidential campaign.  The Iraq war has changed things.  President Bush’s economic team said they would hold the line on Government spending in 2003, but the war changed this.  The deficit will get worse in 2004 and again in 2005. This is because few voters care.

The economy is starting to grow, but the worry is Iraq.  More people were killed at the World Trade Center than at Pearl Harbor at the start of World War II.

As a nation in 2002 in the USA, the stock market lost nearly a quarter of its value, as millions of people lost jobs, and as many others lost sleep worrying about terrorism and imminent war.  Americans nonetheless gave a record $241 billion to charitable causes with ordinary American households, rich and poor, giving an average gift of $2,499, or more than 80 percent of the total given.

Gold prices should stay the same.  Export growth will probably double aided by the weaker dollar.

Since we are in the Time of Trouble things change quickly.  “O Lord, be gracious unto us; we have waited for thee: be thou our arm every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble.” (Isa. 33:2)    

“U.N. TREATY OPENS BANKS TO AN INCREASE IN SCRUTINY: MERIDA, MEXICO - The first worldwide and anti-corruption treaty was signed yesterday, a move that may open banks in money havens to more scrutiny and allow some poor countries to recover billions of looted dollars.

“U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft and President Vicente Fox of Mexico were among the U.N. Convention Against Corruption, a pact that requires countries to aid in investigations of and return money to wherever it was stolen or embezzled from.

“The Convention, expected to be signed by more than 100 nations over the next three days, will put rich and poor nations on more equal footing when it comes to tracing and returning scandal-tainted money that often winds up in wealthy banking capitals.

“Corruption ‘is a tax on the poor,’ Ashcroft said in this colonial city, 620 miles east of Mexico City.  ‘It steals from the needy to enrich the wealthy.  Corruption must end.’

“Of most interest to the United States are provisions requiring other countries to open up money-laundering investigations, expedite extraditions and prevent the establishment of phantom banks with little legitimate business.

“Although the pact doesn’t require countries to repeal banking-secrecy laws or the immunity from prosecution granted to some politicians as part of their tenure in office, it does require safeguards so that politicians can be held accountable for their acts and banking records can be examined.

“U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said in a written statement that the pact will ‘provide more transparency and accountability of the international business community.’

“The treaty will take effect once ratified by the congresses of at least 30 signatory countries.”                      

(Associated Press, November 10, 2003)

IN RELIGION

“THREE NETHERLANDS CHURCHES APPROVE MERGER BY BIG MARGIN:  AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS - Three Dutch Protestant churches formally agreed yesterday to put aside their ideological differences and merge, the culmination of a process that began more than 40 years ago.

“The Dutch Reformed Church, the Calvinist Reformist Church and a small Lutheran Church will unite to form the Protestant Church of the Netherlands, together representing about 2.2 million churchgoers - about 24 percent of the population.

“The synods of the three churches approved the merger by large majorities at three separate meetings in the city of Utrecht, 30 miles southeast of Amsterdam, Dutch national television reported.”                

(Wire Report, December 13, 2003) 

“SHOWDOWN IN INDIANAPOLIS:  Members of a neo-Nazi group hope to stir up a Hitler-like frenzy Sunday when they stage a white supremacist rally at the state capitol protesting the rapid influx of Hispanics and Latinos in Indianapolis.

“In response, religious and city government officials have planned a counter-event they hope will shine a light on the new racial diversity the city has experienced in recent years.

“‘This promises to be a wonderful opportunity to show what the city has become,’ said the Rev. Samuel Ruiz, head of the Lutheran Church Latino Outreach in Indianapolis.  ‘We don’t need this hatred, these old ways.’”     

(Orlando Sentinel, August 23, 2003)

“CHINESE SAID TO HAVE CLOSED CHRISTIAN GATHERING PLACES:  BEIJING - Authorities in an east China province have sealed off 125 Christian gathering places since July, cutting off 3,000 believers from their places of worship, a human-rights organization said yesterday.

“The human-rights group, based in London, said that police and state-security officials have subjected inmates to shocks, beatings, whippings and other forms of abuse.”

(Winston-Salem Journal Wire Report, November 21, 2003)

“SCIENTISTS DATE CRUCIFIXION:  Two Romanian astronomers claim to have pin-pointed the exact time and date of the Crucifixion of Jesus, the Internet news service Ananova has reported.

“According to Liviu Mircea and Tiberiu Oproiu of the Astronomic Observatory Institute in Cluj, Romania, Jesus died at 3 p.m. on Friday, April 3, A.D. 33.

“According to their reading of the New Testament data, Jesus was crucified on the day after the first night with a full moon after the vernal equinox.

“If the Crucifixion took place some time between the years 26 and 35, this could mean either Friday, April 7, 30, or Friday, April 3, 33.

“But it was only in the latter year that records show a solar eclipse as having occurred in Jerusalem (‘And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour,’ according to Mark 15:33).

“The two astronomers have also timed the Resurrection as having occurred at 4 a.m. on Sunday, April 5.”                    

(Orlando Sentinel, May 17, 2003)

CATHOLICS:  “VATICAN INTERFAITH EFFORT:  A top Vatican official last Tuesday urged Christians, Jews, and Muslims to forge deeper ties as a way to encourage peace while respecting their own religious identities.

“Cardinal Walter Kasper’s appeal came in a speech to mark the 38th anniversary of a groundbreaking Vatican document, ‘Nostra Aetate,’ which sought to end the church’s official anti-Semitism.

“‘For a future of peace it is necessary that each of us, thoroughly, be oneself; in the deep simplicity of one’s vocation, in the adhesion of that holiness that all of us, Jews, Christians and Muslims, maintain is the most essential response to the gift of God,’ Kasper said.”

(The Jerusalem Post, November 7, 2003)

Comment:  “And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree.” (Isa. 34:4)  It is quite evident that this does not mean the abode of the heavenly Father and other spirit beings.  It refers to the ecclesiastical systems as they exist in the world today.  “For while they be folden together as thorns, and while they are drunken as drunkards, they shall be devoured as stubble fully dry.” (Nahum 1:10)

“CHURCHES’ EFFORTS AT UNITY FACING ‘SERIOUS DIFFICULTIES,’ POPE WARNS: Anglican leader in Rome for talks with officials at Vatican.  VATICAN CITY - Pope John Paul II warned the archbishop of Canterbury yesterday of ‘serious difficulties’ in efforts to unify the Roman Catholic and Anglican churches, pressing the Vatican’s case against the U.S. Episcopal Church’s election of its first openly gay bishop.

“The visit was the first to the Vatican by Archbishop Rowan Williams since his installation in February and came two weeks before an emergency meeting of the Anglican Communion’s 38 primates to discuss the controversial election of the openly gay V. Gene Robinson as bishop of New Hampshire.

“Williams said that the pope’s view about the risks to Catholic-Anglican relations ‘weighs very heavily’ on his church going into the emergency meeting.  ‘I hope none of what has been achieved in all these years will be lost,’ he said.

“The Vatican recently issued a new broad condemnation of homosexuality that urged Catholics and non-Catholics alike to unite to stem a trend toward granting legal recognition to same-sex unions.  The document called homosexuality a ‘troubling moral and social phenomenon’ and repeated the Vatican’s position that homosexual acts were ‘intrinsically disordered.’

“Neither man made direct mention of the issue, but it was clear that the pope was referring to it as the two men exchanged speeches after 15 minutes of private talks.

“‘As we give thanks for the progress that has already been made, we must also recognize that new and serious difficulties have arisen on the path to unity,’ the pope said.

“‘These difficulties are not all of a merely disciplinary nature; some extend to essential matters of faith and morals.’

“With increasing secularism in the world, the pope continued, ‘the church must ensure that the deposit of faith is proclaimed in its integrity and preserved from erroneous and misguided interpretations.’

“The 83-year-old pope, who suffers from Parkinson’s disease, read his speech with difficulty but completed the text.

“Since talks began, both sides have stressed the importance of theological efforts to overcome what John Paul called ‘the sad division’ between the churches.

“The Anglicans split from Rome when King Henry VIII bolted in 1534 over the pope’s refusal to grant him an annulment.  The Episcopal Church is the U.S. branch of the 77 million-member Anglican Communion.”  

(The Associated Press, October 5, 2003)

EPISCOPALIAN:  “TWO EPISCOPAL VOTES INDICATE A WIDENING RIFT:  The conservative dioceses’ measures came after the consecration of a gay bishop in New Hampshire.  PITTSBURGH - Less than a week after the Episcopal Church consecrated its first openly gay bishop; two conservative dioceses approved measures Saturday indicating the split in the church has widened.

“The Diocese of Pittsburgh approved an amendment aimed at allowing the diocese to ignore some of the national church’s policies.

“The amendment says the diocese will prevail ‘in cases where the provisions of the constitution and canons of the Church of the Diocese of Pittsburgh speak to the contrary’ or where resolutions of the Episcopal Church are found ‘to be contrary to the historic faith and order of the one holy catholic and apostolic church.’

“In Texas, Fort Worth-area clergy and lay delegates passed a resolution Saturday repudiating New Hampshire Bishop V. Gene Robinson’s appointment as ‘a schismatic act.’  The resolution passed 160-34.

“Jack Iker, bishop of the Diocese of Fort Worth, said the decision clearly represents a split in the church.

“We made it clear if they went ahead and did this, they’d split the church,’ he said in an interview after the meeting.  ‘The only thing that’s holding us together now is we have the same name.  But there’s been a radical break in our relationship with each other in the Episcopal Church.’  He said he doesn’t know what the next step will be.

“For the Pittsburgh measure, a second vote by clergy and parishioners at the diocese’s annual convention next year is required before the amendment can take effect.

“Church leaders in the Pittsburgh Diocese earlier approved resolutions declaring ‘null and void’ the national church’s decisions this summer both to consecrate Robinson and to approve the blessing of same-sex unions.

“Both that vote and the votes Saturday are part of a national drive among conservative dioceses and clergy seeking to distance themselves from the Episcopal Church for making moves they think go against the worldwide Anglican Communion.

“U.S. conservatives who believe gay sex violates Scripture have said they want Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, the spiritual head of the Anglican Communion, to authorize a separate Anglican province for them in North America.” 

(By Allison Schlesinger, The Associated Press, November 9, 2003)

LUTHERAN:  “REMARKS RATTLE CHURCH:  “‘There is no heavenly God, there is no eternal life, there is no resurrection,’ Thorkild Grosboel, a Lutheran pastor, told The Associated Press in a recent interview.

“The Danish priest was suspended Tuesday for those comments, which have baffled members of Denmark’s state-supported Evangelical Lutheran Church and raised questions over whether a pastor must profess a belief in God to serve the church.

“Despite strong reactions to Grosboel’s words within the church, the final decision over whether he should be defrocked falls to the Danish government’s Ministry of Ecclesiastical Affairs.  Under Denmark’s Constitution, Lutheran priests are employed by the state and cannot be dismissed by bishops.”                                                      

(Orlando Sentinel, June 7, 2003)

“ELCA STANDS FIRM:  The Church wide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has decided to stick with its timeline for considering sexuality matters, meaning the denomination will consider whether to bless same-sex unions at its meeting in 2005.

“By a vote of 687-278, the assembly meeting in Milwaukee commended the current ELCA Studies on Sexuality effort.  The gathering rejected a request to delay decisions concerning same-sex unions and whether people in such relationships should be pastors in the denomination, the ELCA’s news service reported.

“In a separate vote, the assembly defeated a resolution to suspend the denomination’s full communion relationship with the Episcopal Church until after the decisions concerning sexuality had been made.  The Episcopal Church recently approved its first openly gay bishop and recognized that some of its bishops permit same-sex blessings.”

(Orlando Sentinel, August 23, 2003)   

BAPTIST:  “BAPTISTS ON TERRORISM:  Delegates to the biennial meeting of the American Baptist Churches USA adopted a statement on countering terrorism with pluralistic views.

“The statement responding to terrorism acknowledges that ‘hatred often uses religion as justification for violence’ and asks church members to foster interfaith dialogues and mutual respect.

“In other business, the denomination’s General Board gave final approval to the establishment of the Evergreen Baptist Association, which includes congregations in the northwestern United States that welcome gay and lesbian members.

“American Baptist Churches USA is a 1.4 million-member mainline denomination that embraces both evangelical theology and ecumenical relations.”

(Orlando Sentinel, July 12, 2003)

“MONEY WORRIES FOR BAPTISTS:  The Southern Baptist Convention is facing ‘serious financial challenges’ that could lead to a crisis if giving does not increase, a new report states.

“For example, the Southern Baptist foreign mission agency has deferred missionary appointments and the domestic mission agency ‘has not met income projections four of the last five years,’ according to the report, which cites research from empty tomb inc., a Christian research organization in Illinois.

“‘The alarming fact is not just that the 2.03 percent giving average falls miserably short of the tithe [10 percent], but that the percentage has dropped dramatically in the last 30 years,’ the report reads.” 

(Orlando Sentinel, October 4, 2003)

___________________________________________________________________

Many thanks and much appreciation for the beautiful Christmas cards received, with special thanks for the love and prayers expressed, which we heartily reciprocate.  We wish all our readers a prosperous and Blessed New Year.

Announcement:  The date of our Memorial is April 2, 2004, after six p.m.

___________________________________________________________________

“IN THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW”

J. Douglas Williams, 39, entered into the “sleep in Jesus” on September 21, 2003.  Douglas was the son of Leonard and Marjorie Williams.  Most of our readers know that Marjorie is the main helper at the Bible house.  Leonard is a helper, also, and Elder of the Bible Study class.  Douglas attended the Study class also.  He understood the Truth and had faith.  He was also a worker at the Bible House.  Douglas was a wonderful, cheerful, witty young man, with a pleasing word at all times.  He will be greatly missed by family and friends, for he was a ray of sunshine in a dreary world.

We look forward to the Kingdom when:

“We shall meet to be parted no more

We shall meet on eternity’s shore.”

NO. 556 "THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD"

JOHN 8:12

The Subject for our Christmas study is one of the most beautiful in the whole Bible.  Genesis goes back to the beginning of the things earthly; but this lesson goes back to the beginning of all beginnings, when God was alone.  The very beginning of Divine operation was the Logos - “the Beginning of the creation of God” - “the First-born of every creature.” (Rev. 3:14; Col. 1:15)

“And the Logos was made flesh and dwelt among us.” (John 1:14)  The Logos was made Jesus.  Logos signifies mouthpiece, or special messenger.  Not only was the Logos the beginning, or Alpha, but He was also the last, the Omega, of Divine creation as He himself informs us (Rev. 1:11; 21:6)  The first and only begotten Son of Jehovah was given an exclusive place, so that “all things were made by him, and without him was not anything made that was made.” (John 1:3)  Thus highly did the Father honor Him, as His agent in all the creative work, both as respects angels, cherubim and men (John 1:1-18).

The Greek text is not fully represented in our Common Version.  Accurately translated it reads, “The Logos was with the God and the Logos was a God; the same was in the beginning with the God.”  Here the majesty of our Redeemer in His pre-human condition is fully set forth, and yet He is distinctly shown to be the Son and not the Father - to be a god and not the God.

St. Paul tells us of how He was rich on the spirit plane but for our sakes became poor, leaving the heavenly comforts for the scenes of this world, darkened by sin and death (2 Cor. 8:9).  “The Logos became 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)  St. Paul also corroborates this, declaring that our Lord stooped from His high position, took the bondman’s form and was found in fashion as a man, of the seed of Abraham (Phil. 2:7,8; Heb. 2:16).  But lest we should get the wrong thought, that He had become a sinful man, we are guarded by the assurance that He was “holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners.” (Heb. 7:26)  We are also assured that His body was especially prepared, separate and different from others of our race, all of whom were of Adamic stock and all tainted with sin and the seeds of death (Heb. 10:5-9).

The Logos, the beginning of God’s creation called also by Isaiah the Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, etc. (Isa. 9:6), we find described by Solomon, and described under the name of Wisdom, with all the details that harmonize the record with the account given by John the Evangelist as follows:

“Jehovah possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his ways of old, I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.  When there were no depths I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.  Before the mountains were settled, before the hills, was I brought forth; while as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.  When he prepared the heavens I was there; when he set a compass upon the face of the depth; when he established the clouds above; when he strengthened the fountains of the deep; when he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment; when he appointed the fountains of the earth; then was I by him as one brought up with him; and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him.” (Prov. 8:22-30)

THE LORD AND TWO ANGELS

But on the other hand we are to guard ourselves against the thought that the Logos remained a spirit being and merely materialized, or appeared in human form.  This unscriptural thought is the one held by many, and styled incarnation.  The angels incarnated, or appeared in flesh, when they materialized from time to time, as described in the Old Testament Scriptures.  Our Lord himself incarnated, or appeared in the flesh, to Abraham in company with others; and He talked with Abraham, who knew not that he was entertaining heavenly beings, mistaking them for human travelers.

The three strange men, Abraham afterwards learned, were angels, one of them the special messenger of Jehovah.  We feel confident that this One was the Logos, the Only Begotten One, through whom the Father’s power was exercised, so that by Him all things were made that were made (John 1:3).  We are clearly to distinguish between our Lord’s appearance here as a man and the appearance of His two companions, the angels, as men, and our Lord’s subsequent appearance in the world as the man Christ Jesus.  The two were totally different.  In the first case the spirit nature was retained, and a human body was merely created and used temporarily for a special purpose, just as our Lord after His resurrection as a spirit being appeared in various forms as a man, but was not really a man.  When the due time came for the redemption of Adam and his race it was necessary that our Lord should become a man - perfect, complete as was father Adam in his original creation.  When He thus became a man, or as another Scripture expresses it, “was made flesh” (John 1:14), it meant the complete laying aside of the spirit nature before enjoyed - a change or transmutation to another nature, the human.

This was necessary, because it was a man who had sinned, and because the Divine Law required a man’s life for a man’s life as the ransom price.  But no such transmutation was necessary in the case of His appearance to Abraham.  The Lord and His two angelic companions could have appeared to Abraham as they did to Moses as a flame of fire in a burning bush, or as the bright angel appeared to Daniel, or as an angelic form with less glory and brightness; but God was dealing with Abraham according to faith - He wished him to learn to walk by faith and not by sight.  Hence the angels appeared as strange men and were entertained as such, and Abraham’s hospitality was demonstrated and became a lesson to all the children of God.

THE FIRST ADVENT

While the Scriptures inform us that at the time of the Lord’s presentation “all men were in expectation of Him” (Luke 3:15), of Messiah, nevertheless we are to remember that all were expecting something totally different from what the Lord presented.  They were expecting a personage of high rank, of great influence, of striking and commanding character.

Notice the quiet, unostentatious, meek manner in which our Redeemer began the announcement of His mission.  Quietly He presented himself to John for baptism, and after receiving the anointing of the Holy Spirit, He went into absolute seclusion in the wilderness for more than a month, for forty days studying what the Divine Plan had arranged to be His course.  True, He did not have the Bible, but He had the perfect memory, and for thirty years he had heard the reading of the Law and prophets in the Synagogue and was thoroughly familiar with them.  He had the entire matter before His mind, and under the light of the Holy Spirit He weighed the various declarations of the Law and prophets, noted the course of sacrifice which these meant, His temptation lying in the suggestion that easier, less sacrificing courses seemed to present themselves as feasible.  He triumphed over all the Adversary’s allurements and blandishments - determined not to do Satan’s will, nor even follow His own judgment, but strictly and implicitly follow and obey the outlined program which the Father had laid down in the Word.  He returned to John, seeking companionship with those who were nearest to the Lord and waiting for Divine providence to guide in His affairs.

It was at this time, in the presence of His disciples, that John prophesied of Jesus, saying, “Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29)  Andrew and John were disciples of John the Baptist, and when they thus heard of his testimony respecting Jesus and the declaration that he had a witness from God that Jesus was the Messiah, they sought the Lord’s acquaintance.  They followed after Him overtook Him, and inquired where He was stopping.  Apparently their object was to learn of Him, to ascertain what further blessings the Lord had, and what further service than that which they had engaged in with John the Baptist.  They wanted the best that was to be had.  They had not the partisan spirit to say, “We belong to John the Baptist and must stand for him,” as some of the Lord’s dear people are inclined to in respect to the various denominations or groups of Bible Students.

Many have seen or heard of Jesus, as those who were with John the Baptist heard of Him, but have not learned to know Him as the Messiah - the Christ.  This word Messiah covers a particular thought that today is very generally ignored amongst the Lord’s professed followers.  Remarkably few Christians know Jesus to be the Messiah at all.  The word Messiah signifies the Anointed.  The Jews, under the great promise made to Abraham, had been expecting a Messiah, a King, a Deliverer, who would exalt them as His special people and assistants, and use them in presenting the law of God to all peoples, nations and languages, and as authorized and empowered co-laborers to enforce those laws with rewards and penalties.

The word Messiah, or Anointed, thus signifies the great King who was looked for - the great Prophet, Priest and King - for prophets, priests and kings under the Divine arrangement were anointed to their offices, and thus signified that in due time Christ would combine all three of these qualities in Himself, and associate His Church with himself in the exercise of the various offices as joint-heirs in His Kingdom.  The Scriptures show us that Israel as a nation was found unworthy to enter into all these blessings and privileges, and that, after selecting the “Israelites indeed” from among that nation, the Lord during the Gospel Age, gathered to himself and associated with Him as His Church, as His spiritual Israel, the faithful ones who had ears to hear and hearts to obey the same message from every nation, kindred, people and tongues.

“The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.” (Matt. 4:16)

In the Bible symbols light stands as the representative of God, of Christ, of the Church, of Truth, of influences for righteousness, which by and by as the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in its beams for the cure of all the masses of the earth.  It will scatter the darkness of sin, ignorance and superstition - the works of the Prince of Darkness, who will then be “bound for a thousand years that he may deceive the nations no more until the thousand years are fulfilled.” (Rev. 20:2,3)

Of the Heavenly Father we read, “God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.” (1 John 1:5)  Of Jesus we read, “I am the light of the world.” (John 8:12)  Of the Church in her earthly condition, we read, “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in Heaven.” (Matt. 5:14-16)  Nevertheless, “The darkness hateth the light, neither cometh to the light” (John 3:21), and “the whole world lieth in the wicked one” (1 John 5:19) - in darkness.  Notwithstanding the faithfulness of Jesus and the few light-bearers enlightened with the Holy Spirit, still “darkness covers the earth and gross darkness the people.” (Isa. 60:2)

This same thought pervades the Scriptures from first to last, namely, that for six thousand years, from the time of the entrance of sin to the second coming of Jesus, the world will be subject to a reign of sin and death - it will be under a pall of darkness, ignorance, superstition, sin, etc.  The only ones who will see the path of righteousness distinctly will be those guided by the “lantern” - God’s Word.  They are represented as saying; “thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” (Psa. 119:105)  St. Peter writing from the same standpoint, declares, “We have a more sure Word of prophecy whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place until the day dawn.” (2 Peter 1:19)

The Prince of Darkness has been in command for centuries.  The only lights of the past were the noble Prophets of the Jewish line whose lights affected few in their own nation, and were not discernible at all among the heathen world.  John the Baptist, we are told, was a burning and shining light, and Jesus was a still more brilliant light, and His faithful few during the past nineteen centuries have shined forth, reflecting their Master’s light.  But all of these have had comparatively little influence in the world.  It still lies in the Wicked One - in darkness, seeing not, neither understanding Divine things.  Indeed, “the earnest expectation of the creation longs for the Revelation of the sons of God.” (Rom. 8:19, Dia.)

A BETTER DAY COMING

The above text tells of a better day sure to come.  It is not sure to come because of the operation of the evolutionary law, for the natural law would seem to contradict such a thought.  Darkness leads on to darkness more intense, and while light begets light, darkness begets darkness, and the masses are in the darkness, and in the Prince of Darkness.  Never, then, might we hope for the abolishment of darkness except in the way in which God has foretold it - through the shining forth of the Sun of Righteousness - the Church in glory (Matt. 13:43).

Our text (Matt 4:16) is a quotation from the Old Testament (Isa. 9:2); it had a beginning of its fulfillment in our Savior and in the Apostles.  The people of Israel, long in doubt, uncertainty, etc., saw a great light in Jesus and His teachings.  And throughout the Gospel Age, for more than nineteen centuries, this great Light has been exercising a feeble influence among men.  The Light itself has been pure - the Divine Word and the principles of Divine righteousness.  But, alas! few have been faithful in receiving the light in its purity and in reflecting it forth upon others.

In general the light has been corrupted by human selfishness, by sin.  As a consequence the name Christian today does not stand for all the blessed light and truth and grace and faithfulness to God and to the principles of love which the Master showed forth and inculcated.  Instead the name Christian today, borne by more than nine hundred millions of humanity, many of whom, judged by the Divine standard, or their “fruits,” are children of the Wicked One, children of darkness, who merely use the garment of light, the name Christian, as a heavenly livery whereby to appease their own consciences and to increase their opportunity for selfishness and acquisition quite contrary to the Leader whom they profess to be following, the “true Light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.”  O, the happy day that is coming to our poor, sin cursed earth!  There shall be no more curse, thank God!  Instead of the curse shall be the Divine blessing; and every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth shall be heard saying, “Praise and glory and honor and dominion and might be unto Him that sitteth upon the Throne, and unto the Lamb, forever”! (Jude 25)

After twenty centuries of experience of the light battling with the darkness, and at times being almost quenched thereby, we might well ask, what hope is there that this prophecy will ever be fulfilled - that Jesus, as the Light of the world, will enlighten every man born into the world?  The Bible answers that God will fulfill this very matter in His own time, but that God’s time cannot be hastened.

The Prince of Life and His Kingdom will cause the light of the knowledge of the glory of God to fill the whole earth, as the waters cover the great deep (Hab. 2:14), so that none shall need to say to his brother, Know thou the Lord, for all shall know Him, from the least to the greatest (Jer. 31:34).  Thus according to His promise Jesus eventually will be “the true light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” (John 1:9)  Despite the fact that the Word has now been promulgated throughout the world, the great mass of humanity does not understand this true Light, because they received the Word in a mixture of truth and error.  This is true not only of the heathen millions, but also of the masses in civilized lands.

For a thousand years the glorious Sun of righteousness (Christ and the Church, His Bride), will shine out.  The work will be thorough and complete.  Adam and his every child will be fully brought to a knowledge of the Truth, and will enjoy the blessed opportunity of coming back into harmony with God, by the restitution process of which St. Peter tells us in Acts 3:19-23.  This will not mean that the world will ever become members of the Bride class, or ever attain the spirit nature.  It means restitution to the condition first enjoyed by Adam, lost by sin, but redeemed by the sacrifice finished at Calvary.  It means human perfection to all the willing and obedient of Adam’s race through the heavenly Second Adam and the heavenly Second Eve.

The resurrection of the just will be necessary to bring the Church to glory and joint-heirship with her Lord.  But the resurrection of the unjustified (Acts 24:15), which includes practically all humanity, will be for the very purpose of permitting them to see the true Light, which God has provided in His Son and which will be shed abroad during His Millennial Kingdom.

It means a worldwide Paradise, filled with the blessings of the Lord, who has promised that the earth, as His footstool, shall be made glorious.  It means that, with the destruction of the willfully disobedient, this earth will be like heaven.  The Savior’s prayer will reach fulfillment; God’s will shall be done on earth even as it is done in heaven.  This in turn will mean that “every knee will bow and every tongue confess” (Rom. 14:11, both of the things in heaven and of the things on earth, to the glory of God (Phil. 2:10).  And this signifies that there shall be no more sighing, no more crying, no more dying on earth, even as none of these things are in heaven (Rev. 21:4).

“He was the True Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” (John 1:9)  This is a prophetic statement, for our Lord at His first Advent did not even enlighten all of His own nation, and made no attempt whatever to enlighten the world of mankind.  Nevertheless it is God’s purpose that ultimately all shall see, all shall know of His love and wonderful provision.  And our Lord Jesus is that great Light, the great Enlightener, that is yet to enlighten Adam and every member of his race.  When He was among men the glorious Light was not fully revealed, even though what the Jews did see caused them to marvel.  Our Lord himself, according to the Scriptures, “learned obedience by the things which he suffered,” (Heb. 5:8) and was thereby prepared for His exaltation, His glorification, which He received when He had finished the work which the Father gave Him to do - when on the third day thereafter the Father raised Him from the dead by His own power, to glory, honor, immortality, the Divine nature.  Now, in His highly exalted condition He is still the True Light which shineth with a brightness above that of the sun at noonday.  He is to be the great Sun of Righteousness which, during the Millennial Age, shall bless and enlighten every man that cometh into the world; and we are given the blessed assurance that the Church, the Bride class, the Elect, will be with Him in that glorious mission of blessing and enlightenment (Matt. 13:43).

Then our text will have most ample fulfillment - all mankind shall see the great Light which God has provided; even those “in the shadow of death” must come forth, that all may be enlightened by this “true Light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.”  O, the happy day that is coming to our poor, sin cursed earth!  There shall be no more curse, thank God!  Instead of the curse shall be the Divine blessing; “And every creature which is in heaven, and on earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing and honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb, for ever and ever.” (Rev. 5:13; Jude 25)  

(Excerpts from Reprints 4987-4988 and others)

___________________________________________________________________

QUESTION OF GENERAL INTEREST

QUESTION - What is the meaning of “other grain” used in 1 Corinthians 15:37,38:  “And that    which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: but God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.”

ANSWER    - The resurrection of the Church unto spiritual life in its four elect classes, two at     the beginning and two at the end of the Millennium, finds analogies in the constitution and course of nature.  The Apostle Paul in these verses gives us certain analogies in nature to certain features of the resurrection, especially its process, nature and the different bodies of the resurrected classes.  The different classes of the resurrected may be illustrated by various grains: wheat, the Little Flock; barley, the Great Company; rye, the Ancient Worthies; and oats, the Youthful Worthies, while corn may be used as an illustration of the restitution class.  The fixity of these classes, as existing in their condition in the dying processes unto the death state, is well represented in the fixity of each kind of grain bringing forth after its kind and after no other kind.  Corresponding to the preservation of the life-principle and the character of the different kinds of grain is God’s preserving the life-principle and character of each one in his own class.  The sowing of the grain corresponds to the consecration and Spirit-begettal of the elect classes and the sowing of sin and error in the non-elect class.  The dying and death of the different kinds of grain correspond to the dying and death of these elect classes and the non-elect class (1Cor. 15:36).  The life-principle developing out of the farinaceous substance in these different grains in their dying a root that it sends downward and a shoot that it sends upward represents how the new will takes out of the Spirit (energy, power) and Word of God new-creaturely will and spiritual capacities in the four elect classes and how the new will of the restitution class will develop out of the same Spirit and Word of God the start of a new human disposition in those new human qualities.  The growth of the root and shoot represent in the four new-creaturely elect classes and in the restitution class their growth in knowledge and service; and the production of new grains in the ears represent the growth in the fruits of the new-creaturely Spirit in each individual of the four elect classes and the growth in the fruits of the renewed human spirit in each individual of the restitution classes.  The gradualness of the growth processes from root and shoot to the ripe grain illustrates the gradualness of the resurrection process.  The ripe grains represent the perfection of the resurrection process; for we are to remember that resurrection means the perfection of body, heart, mind and will in the resurrected one.  That the resurrected body is not the one laid down in death is illustrated by the fact that that the ripe grain is not the same one that was sown.  The differences in nature of the resurrected ones find analogies in the different kinds of flesh and stars as well as of grains (1 Cor. 15:39-41).  These are some of the analogies that the constitution and course of nature furnish illustrative of various features of the resurrection in its spiritual parts and in its human part.

(By Brother Paul Johnson, Volume 12, pages 493,494)

___________________________________________________________________

RELIGIOUS HATE:  “Swastikas, slogans and physical assaults against Jews in Europe have reached a frequency not seen since the 1930s when Fascism was on the rise.  But in the vast majority of the cases today, the assailants are young Muslims of North African heritage whose parents immigrated to Europe in the 1960s and 1970s.  The greatest number and most violent attacks have come in France, which, with an estimated six million Muslins and 650,000 Jews in the country, has Europe’s largest Jewish and largest Muslim populations.  According to Israeli government figures, 2,556 French Jews immigrated to Israel in 2002, double the number a year earlier and the most since the 1967 Six-Day War.”

(New York Times, March 22, 2003)

  “‘EXCERPTS - RAV DOV BEGON:  G-d shall be at war with Amalek for all generations.’  Not only ‘in the days of Mordechai and Esther’ did the wicked Haman rise up to wipe out every Jew, but in every generation ‘Haman’s’ rise up to destroy Israel.  Today enemies surround (Israel) possessing that same Amalekite longing to carry out Haman’s thoughts, plans and deeds.’  In our own day as well, some of our leadership unfortunately have not opened their eyes to understand that the ‘feud’ and war between us is not just over land but also over our right to live.  Yet we know that at the end of the war, the Jewish People, with G-d’s help, will emerge victorious.

“The Torah states, ‘The hand is on G-d’s throne.  The L-rd shall be at war with Amalek for all generations.’  G-d is swearing that His name will not be complete, nor His throne, until Amalek’s memory is obliterated.”

(Bible Light International, May 2003)

“U.S. UNIVERSITY SPONSORS PRO-PALESTINIAN CONFERENCE: Despite wide-scale protests and request for cancellation, Rutgers University in New Jersey will host a national pro-Palestine student conference in October.

“The National Student Conference of the Palestine Solidarity Movement will include sessions on how to pressure colleges to stop investing in companies that do business with Israel, as well as cultural events and rallies in support of an independent Palestinian state.  Hundreds of pro-Palestinian student activists are expected to attend.

“Organizer Charlotte Kates said that she, as well as the sponsoring organization, the New Jersey Solidarity Movement - an offshoot of International Solidarity - supports Palestinian homicide bombers.  ‘Palestinian resistance in all its forms has been a very powerful tool of justice,’ Kates, a Rutgers law student, told the New York Post.  ‘All forms, from armed struggle to mass protest… Israel is an apartheid, colonial settler state.  I do not believe apartheid, colonial settler states have a right to exist.’

“The Post’s Andres Peyser reports that Rutgers will thus be the nations third college, and the first on the East Coast, to harbor ‘a national anti-Israel hate-fest, featuring tips for destroying the Jewish state and speeches from notable anti-Semites.’  Rutgers officials said the school received nearly 230 letters from Jewish activist across the country urging the university to cancel the forum.  But they said that the event would go on ‘in the name of free speech.’  As a state school, Rutgers bestows public funding to Solidarity.

  “At the two previous conferences - at Berkley, Calif. and the University of Michigan - pro-Palestinian rhetoric ‘crossed into virulent anti-Semitism,’ said Shai Goldstein, director of the New Jersey Anti-Defamation League chapter.”

(Arutz 7, July 10, 2003, reported by Bridges For Peace)

“Pope John Paul II renewed his appeal for the future European constitution to cite the continent’s Christian heritage.  His appeal came after a panel drafting the constitution issued its first drafts of articles on the EU’s values, objectives, and powers and on the fundamental rights of EU nationals.  Absent from the drafts is any mention of God - an issue that has already led to contentious debate whether the EU’s first constitution should mention God by name and define European values as including ‘those who believe in God as the source of truth, justice, good and beauty.’  The question of God and religion is highly contentious in Europe, where nations have very different historical church-state relations.”

(Indianapolis Star, February 17, 2002)

“NEWTON’S PREDICTION:  A collection of letters and other personal writings by Sir Isaac Newton - sold in London in 1930 and later donated to Jerusalem’s Jewish National University Library, but only recently examined - reveals that Newton predicted the world would come to an end in 2060.  His calculations were based on the Bible.”

“Newton who died in 1727, won immortality for formulating the law of gravity, but he was also a theologian who wrote extensively on biblical subjects and was influenced by Hebrew Scripture.”

(World Jewry, March 2003)

NO. 555 THE PARADISE OF GOD

Revelation 21:1-7, 22-27

“He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God and he will be my son.”

Paradise, the garden of God, was applicable as a name to the garden of Eden, in which our first parents resided while they were still in harmony with God, before their disobedience; and the same term is Scripturally applied as a name to the new earth when restitution blessings shall, during our Lord’s second presence (the Millennium), be brought to perfection as the fit abode of those who, under Divine favor, shall then prove worthy of life everlasting.  It was to this paradise that the Apostle Paul was in vision “caught away” when given a glimpse of various features of the Divine Plan, not then due to be understood by the Church in general - “things not lawful to be uttered.” (2 Cor. 12:4)  John the Revelator was similarly caught away in vision, and shows some of these wonders of the paradise epoch; but only in symbols, which he was permitted to report, and which have been comparatively misapprehended until now, in the Lord’s due time, the Holy Spirit guiding His people into the truth on this subject, as well as others, because it is now nigh at hand, and “meat in due season” for the “household.”

Our Lord refers to this paradise in language which identifies it with the first paradise of Eden, saying, “To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life which is in the midst of the paradise of God.” (Rev. 2:7)  It will be remembered that all the trees in Eden were trees of life, but that the one in the midst of the garden was then a forbidden tree, the disobedient eating of which brought death on Adam and his race.  That tree in the midst of paradise was called the tree of knowledge, and our Lord’s promise is that the overcomers of this present Age shall have full liberty to partake of that tree of knowledge, and under most blessed and satisfactory conditions, when the knowledge will be of benefit to them under Divine approval, and not bring a curse.  It is this same paradise of the future on this earth that our Lord referred to when addressing the penitent thief, he said, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee this day, Thou shalt be with me in paradise.”

This paradise, we recall, is elsewhere referred to by the Apostles as “the third heaven” - “a new heavens and a new earth.” (2 Cor. 12:2; 2 Peter 3:13)  They are not referring to new worlds, not to heavens ranged one above another, as many have supposed, but, as already shown, what is termed the first heavens and earth or order of things, passed away at the flood; and that the heavens and earth “which are now,” the present order of things are reserved of God to pass away with a great fire of trouble, revolution, etc, which shall utterly destroy them - the present spiritual powers and the present earthly or social arrangements.  “Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” (2 Peter 3:13)  This will be the third heavens, and third earth, or the new heavens, and new earth, which will differ from the present condition of things in that it will be righteous, whereas the present is unrighteous, imperfect.  The “new heavens” will consist of the new spiritual ruling powers of the future, Christ and the glorified Church, as the present heavens consist of the nominal religious systems, which, claiming Christ for their Head, in a very large degree bow to the Antichrist system, which is the main instrument used by Satan, the god of this world, the prince of this world, “who now worketh in [through] the children of disobedience,” and who is captivating and blinding the whole world with the exception of the few, the eyes of whose understanding have been opened, who are under special blessings and leading, and are taught of God, the “Little Flock,” “heirs of the Kingdom.” (Eph. 2:2; 2 Cor. 4:4, 2 Thes. 2:9)

It is to this new heavens and new earth condition, this paradise, that our lesson introduces us.  As the “new heavens” does not mean a new place of God’s throne, and a new throne of God, but new conditions, and signify the spiritual power and control of Christ and His Church in glory, so the “new earth” does not mean another planet, but a new social order on this planet.  The declaration is that the former heavens and former earth (which are now) will then have passed away and be no more.  All present institutions are to utterly perish in the great Time of Trouble with which this Age is very shortly to end.  “And there shall be no more sea.” (Rev. 21:1)  As we have already seen, the sea is a symbol of the masses of people in a restless and unstable anarchistic condition, just as the land represents the social order, and as the mountains represent the kingdoms of the present time.  As there is no reference to the physical earth and physical heavens being destroyed, so there is no reference to the physical sea being obliterated.  The symbol signifies that under the new arrangement, under the control of the new heavens or spiritual powers, the reconstructed social order will be so satisfactory, so complete, so thorough, that there will be no more sea-class, no more restless people, no more dissatisfaction, no more anarchists; everything will be reduced to law and order; and law and order will under the new regime secure justice to every creature, obliterating the differences of wealth and power as they now exist.

THE NEW JERUSALEM

In the symbolism of Scripture a city represents a government; as for instance, symbolic Babylon is denominated “that great city [government] which ruleth over the kings of the earth.”  The New Jerusalem, as a symbol, represents the new spiritual government of the Millennial Age.  It is not earthborn, it is not reared by men, but, as here pictured, it descends from God out of heaven - it is spiritual in every sense of the word - of God and not of men.  It is for this kingdom, this government that our Lord taught us to pray, “Thy kingdom come - thy will be done on earth as it is done in heaven.”  The declaration that the city is adorned as a bride for her husband implies its grandeur and beauty and perfection, as a bride’s adornment on such an occasion is particular and elaborate to the last degree.  But additionally to this it reminds us that in the government of the future, the judges of the world are the Saints, selected during the Gospel Age, through faithfulness in trial and tribulation, and that these are frequently called the Bride, the Lamb’s wife and joint-heir in the Kingdom.  The Revelator elsewhere strikingly brings this thought to our attention: the angel calls to him, “Come hither, and I will show thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.  And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God.” (Verses 9-11)

We are not to think of this holy city as being composed of literal stones, coming down through the air; we are to remember, on the contrary, that the Saints of this present time are “living stones,” as the Apostle Peter explains. (1 Peter 2:4-7)  This glorious city will not be visible to the natural eye - neither Christ nor the Saints in glory can be seen of men; only those “changed” from human to spiritual nature see these matters in the full; but the whole world will be quickly made aware of the fact that a new government has been instituted, a government of righteousness, and with all power, and that thereafter whosoever doeth righteousness shall be blessed, and whosoever doeth evil shall be punished.

THE GLORIFIED TEMPLE

The third verse of our lesson associates this city with the other figure of a symbolic Temple, which the Lord is now preparing, of which the Saints will constitute the “living stones” and “pillars,” for it is declared that the tabernacle (dwelling) of God shall be with men in this city (government or kingdom).  God will dwell in this glorious city or government - it will be His Temple, and the world of mankind will approach God in it to receive the Divine blessings, as Israel approached the typical Tabernacle and the Temple in their typical religious services.  Thus God, represented in His Church (the Christ, Head and Body) will dwell with men (the world of mankind during the Millennial Age) and they shall be His people - all mankind will be treated from the standpoint of reconciliation, the propitiation price for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2) having been paid at Calvary, and the due time having then come for the manifestation of Divine favor, all peoples shall be treated as the Lord’s people; none of them shall be treated as aliens, strangers, foreigners from God and His promises and His blessings.

While the Millennial Kingdom will be the Kingdom of God’s dear Son, it will also be the Kingdom of God, because God’s dear Son and His joint-heir, the Church, will be in absolute accord with the Father, and all that shall be done under their control will fully and completely represent the Divine will respecting men.  Nevertheless, it will be a separate Kingdom from that of the remainder of the universe, as the Apostle Paul indicates. (1 Cor. 15:24,25,28)  “He must reign until he hath put all enemies under his feet… And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also be subject to him that put all things under him… Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father,” at the close of the Millennial reign.

Since God is the Author of all the blessings of redemption and restitution, and since every good and every perfect gift cometh down from our Father in heaven, it is with appropriateness that the record declares that “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes” - from the eyes of mankind.  Though it will be Christ and the Church who will be doing it, nevertheless, the heavenly Father will be recognized as the first cause, the fountain of every blessing.  The wiping away of tears implies a gradual work, such as we see will be the process of that glorious time.  Man will not be exempt from every weakness and trial and difficulty at the beginning, but if he will conform to the laws of the Kingdom, all cause for distress will gradually pass away, as restitution blessings will lift him out of death into perfect life.  “They that hear [obey] that prophet [teacher, the Christ, Head and Body] shall live; but it shall come to pass that whosoever will not hear that prophet [not render hearty obedience to His requirements] will be cut off from amongst the people [in the Second Death].” (Acts 3:23)

Other Scriptures show us that the work of the Kingdom will begin with those who remain over at the time of its establishment, and that these, under condemnation of death, will at once be blessed with the knowledge and opportunities provided through the ransom, and if they accept these they will immediately be released from condemnation, that they may at once go on and upward on the way of holiness, toward perfection; and subsequently those who “sleep in the dust of the earth” shall come forth to more or less of shame and lasting contempt, as they begin to realize their mental and physical decrepitude, the results of their depravity.  Nevertheless, these also, under the blessings of the Kingdom, may make progress up to perfection, losing their sin-blights, and simultaneously losing the “shame and contempt,” whose lasting will be only so long as their cause continues.  Thus these may progress in the way of righteousness, so that only those who sin willfully shall die, and then each for his own sins only, and not the father for the son’s sins, nor the son for the father’s sins. (Jer. 31:29,30; Dan. 12:2)

The whole work of the Millennial Age is summed up in few words, and we are brought to its culmination in the declaration, “There shall be no more death; neither sorrow nor crying; neither shall there be any more pain, for the former things are passed away.” (Rev. 21:4)  What a glorious sunburst of blessing is in these words!  What a grand fulfillment will be there of the Apostle’s declaration respecting “times of restitution of all things which God hath spoken by the mouth of all the holy prophets since the world began!” (Acts 3:21)  This declaration, however, applies to the very end of the Millennial Age, and not in full to any previous time in that Age, for other accounts show us unmistakably that there will be imperfections and chastisements and stripes throughout the Age, while mankind is being lifted up; or as our Lord expressed it, the raising up of mankind throughout the Millennial Age, step by step, will be a “resurrection by judgment,” chastisements, disciplines. (John 5:28,29)  And even at the close of that Age we are shown, in another pen-picture of that time, that there will be a severe trial and testing to demonstrate to what extent the enforced obedience of the Age shall have rightly affected the hearts of those who experience its blessings, so that their love will be for righteousness, and that they will hate iniquity. (Rev. 20:7,8)  All who in that final test shall manifest that his heart contains anything aside from full loyalty to the Lord and the principles of righteousness will have his part in the Second Death.

“BEHOLD, I MAKE ALL THINGS NEW”

The fifth verse of our lesson comprehensively grasps the entire Millennial Age; our Lord Jesus, then in the throne of earth’s dominion, declaring, “Behold, I make all things new.”  This expression does not relate merely to rocks and trees, etc., but to the great work which our Lord undertook; viz., the regeneration of humanity - of so many of Adam’s race as would, under favorable conditions of knowledge, experience and assistance, develop characters in full accord with the Divine will.  The end of the Millennial Age will see the work completed; all the wicked destroyed, all who will not hear the voice of that prophet, teacher, governor, cut off from amongst the people in the Second Death, and all the willing and obedient made new, brought to the complete perfection contemplated in the original Divine Plan.

John was to write this matter, because the testimony is true, is faithful, as is the One who has promised.  This asseveration of faithfulness and truthfulness implies what we see to be the case; viz., that present conditions seem so contrary to all this grand restitution outcome that it cannot be fully believed and trusted by any except those who have learned to walk with the Lord, and in their weakness to lean upon His might, to trust to His Power to accomplish all the exceeding great and precious things which He has promised.  To all others these things will appear untrue, and God will appear unfaithful, and the matters which we are here discussing will seem “idle tales,” as fables and golden fancies: but to us who believe these promises are precious, and He from whom we receive them is precious, correspondingly as we know Him and trust Him (1 Peter 2:7).

The One enthroned (the Christ) declares at the conclusion of the Millennial Age, “It is done”; my great contract is accomplished; “I am the Alpha and the Omega [the A and the Z], the beginning and the end.”  It was the Father’s good pleasure that the blessed One, the Only Begotten of the Father, should accomplish the entire program of redemption and restitution; and that incidentally, by His obedience in the things which He suffered that He should prove Himself worthy to be forever the associate and representative of the Father, through whom and by whom all things should continue, as He was the one through whom all things were made that were made.  It is this One who, during the Millennial Age, will extend to all the willing and obedient the water of life, everlasting life - the privilege of perpetual existence.  But they must thirst for it; must desire it; and this desire must be manifest in obedience to the terms, the laws, upon which it will be supplied freely.  Our Lord declared to Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life,” and that anyone believing Him, trusting Him, though he were dead, yet should he live, attain to perfect life, escaping from death conditions, until at the close of the Millennium he shall have life in the full, unrestricted sense.  And he who thus liveth (attains to life) and still believeth, trusteth in the Life-giver, and is obedient to His directions, shall never die.

Our Lord adds, “He that overcometh shall inherit these things, and I will be to him a God, and he shall be to me a son.”  Those addressed are not the Bride Class, selected during the Gospel Age, but the sheep class of Matthew 25, such of mankind as during the Millennial Age become the Lord’s sheep and obey His voice.  To these at the end of the Millennial Age, in harmony with the Father’s plan, He says, “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”  They are not invited to inherit the Kingdom prepared for the Church, in joint-heirship with the Lord, the heavenly Kingdom.  But they shall inherit the earth, the purchased possession - they shall come back into all the good estate of father Adam, which he lost for himself and his children through disobedience, but which Jesus redeemed with His own precious blood, and will restore at the close of the Millennium to all the children of Adam who shall have accepted His gracious favors and been regenerated by Him, and thus become His sons, and He their God - their “Father.” (Isa. 9:6)

THE HEAVENLY CITY RESPLENDENT

Here our lesson turns to a consideration of the City, the glorified Church, the Kingdom Class, who, during the Millennial Age, will be “kings and priests unto God, and reign upon the earth,” “a thousand years.” (Rev. 5:10; 20:4)  This City, Class, the glorified Church, it is declared will have no need of the sun or the moon.  Nothing in this statement indicates that the world will not have and need both sunlight and moonlight during the Millennial Age, and subsequently, “as long as the sun and moon endure.” (Psa. 72:5)  And while it will be true that the Church, as spirit beings, will not have need of literal sunlight and literal moonlight, nevertheless, this is not the thought.   The sun and the moon here are symbolical, as in Revelation 12:1; the sun signifies the light of this Gospel Age; the moon signifies the typically reflected light of the Gospel in the law and the prophets of the previous dispensation.  The glorified Church will have no need of the light which in the present time She so much enjoys through the Word and Spirit, and the law and the prophets.  She will have, instead of these, a much more excellent glory to which the Apostle refers when he says, “Now [with all the light, privileges and opportunities which we enjoy, both as respects the representations of God through the law and the prophets, and through the instructions and leadings of the Spirit in the present] we see through a glass darkly, but then face to face; now we know in part; then we shall know even as we are known.” (1 Cor. 13:12)

The Church, the Temple of God, will be so filled with all the fullness of God, when made like unto the glorious Lord, that nothing could add to their blessing of knowledge and Divine favor; will be so filled with the glory of God that from Her, as from the Sun of Righteousness, shall proceed the light of the glory of God, which shall heal and bless the world during the Millennial Age.  This is the Sun of Righteousness to which our Lord referred in Matthew 13:43, “Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father” - our Lord Jesus, the Head of the Church, of course being included.  The same Sun of Righteousness is mentioned by the Prophet, saying, “The Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in his beams.” (Mal. 4:2)  Nevertheless, while so filled with the Lord’s glory we are not to lose sight of the fact which the Apostle impresses upon us saying that Christ is the Head of the Church, even as the Father is the Head of Christ Jesus.  Hence the Lord Almighty and the Lamb will always be an inner Temple in this great Temple, which God has provided for the world’s blessing during restitution times. (Verse 22)

When this Sun of Righteousness shall shine forth, its blessings of healing, refreshment and life, mental, moral and physical, upon the world of mankind, the nations shall walk in the light of it.  (The words “of them that are saved” are not in old MSS.  Indeed, it is because they are not saved they need this special light during the Millennial Age, in order to their enlightenment, their salvation, their restitution.)  “And the kings of the earth do bring their glory into it.”  (The words, “and honor,” are not found in old MSS.)  The expressions “nations” and “kings” are not to be understood as signifying that the world of mankind during the Millennial Age will be divided into nationalities and kingdoms as at present: the word “nations” here signifies peoples, and is intended to show that all peoples, and not merely the people of Israel, will be thus favored under God’s Kingdom.  The word “kings” represents those princes or chief ones of the earth who, during the Millennial Age, will be the chief representatives of the heavenly, spiritual, invisible Kingdom of Christ.  These princes, as we have already seen, will be Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and all the faithful prophets of the previous dispensation, who, loving God before the call to the Kingdom and to the Bride Class, cannot be of it, but because of their faithfulness will be the princes whom the Lord will establish in all the earth - first making them perfect individuals, and qualifying them for their office, as a reward for their faithfulness to God in the dark times in which they lived - their manifestation of love for righteousness and trust in the Omnipotent One.

The bringing of their glory into the City, the Kingdom, signifies their acknowledgment of the heavenly Kingdom, their rendering of tribute of praise, thanks, worship and obedience to it as God’s agency.  And this rendering of glory to the Kingdom will continue throughout the entire Millennial Age, as the princes throughout the earth will make known to the people that not in their own names or authority do they rule and execute judgment and establish righteousness, but in the name and as the ministers and representatives of the glorified Christ.  The result will be that all the people will ascribe honor and praise and majesty and glory to the Lord’s Anointed, through whom their redemption and restitution was and is being accomplished; and this is indicated in Verse 26.

Then, in consideration of the fact that this book of symbols, while relating to the future, is addressed to God’s consecrated elect Church in the present time, and in view of the fact that this message would be communicated to and more or less understood by those who would seek to make their calling and election sure to a part in the glorious City, the 27th verse is added, declaring that “In nowise shall there enter into it anything common, of he that doeth abomination and falsehood - but only they who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”  The Lamb’s book of life we must understand to include those, and only those, who attain to position of joint-heirship with Christ, whose names are written in heaven during this age, and who are faithful to their covenant.  What a glorious incentive they have here to faithfulness!  What a warning against the slightest sympathy with anything unclean, untrue, or in anywise contrary to the Divine standard of holiness!

(Pastor Russell, Reprints 2832-2834, June 15, 1901)

___________________________________________________________________

QUESTION OF GENERAL INTEREST

QUESTION - In Acts 1:7, Diaglott, Jesus said, “It is not for you to know the times or seasons, which the Father appointed by His own authority,” but in 1 Thessalonians 5:1, Diaglott, St. Paul said,” Concerning the times and the seasons, Brethren, you do not need to be written to; for yourselves know accurately.”  How do we harmonize these seeming contradictions, and what is meant by “the times and seasons”?

ANSWER   - The statement by Jesus must be read in like manner as His statement in Matthew 24:36, Diaglott: “No one knows concerning that day and hour [when Jesus would return again, and the Kingdom be set up]; no, not the angels of the Heavens, nor the Son, but the Father only.”  At the time Jesus was speaking He truthfully declared that He did not know, but He does not say that He would never know; and subsequent Scripture clearly teaches that Jesus eventually did know, and that His faithful followers would also know.  There is no point at all in giving prophecy if it is never to be understood; and even when it is understood by some, there is no indication that it would be understood by all, “Only the wise shall understand.” (Dan. 12:10)

The word “times” in both texts is from the Greek chronos, and forms the root of our English word chronology, which word means the science of assigning to dates their proper events. The word “seasons” means a season, or due time.  To gain a clear understanding of these expressions it is well to remember That Servant’s teaching that prophecy cannot be understood in detail until it has been fulfilled, or is in course of fulfillment.  That being true, we come to the logical conclusion that God’s people can “know accurately” only those times and seasons that apply to their particular day.  As instance, at the First Advent the Apostles and a very small select group recognized that Jesus was the Christ although the great majority did not.  Therefore, Jesus said of that majority, “Thou didst not know the season [kairos] of thy visitation.” (Luke 19:44, Dia.)  And, while the Apostles and others did then know the “season of visitation,” they did not know clearly the times and seasons of the generations that followed them.  Therefore, St. Paul said the Ransom for all would be “testified in due time.” (1 Tim. 2:6)

In Noah’s day the times and seasons of due Truth predicted the coming flood, but the great majority understood not.  And in the destruction of this “present evil world” Jesus said there would be a similar condition, “They understood not till the deluge came, and swept them all away.” (Matt. 24:39, Dia.)  However, those in the Parousia Truth Movement understood very clearly, many years before 1914, what was coming.  They knew the times and seasons pertinent to their own welfare.  That Servant was acutely aware of this situation, as note his comments in Parousia Volume 3, page 124:

“While each of the time prophecies accomplishes a separate and distinct purpose, the central object of their united and harmonious testimony has been to mark, with definiteness and precision, by either direct or indirect evidence, or corroborative testimony, the date of our Lord’s Second Advent, and of the establishment of His Kingdom in the earth; and also to mark the various stages [the times and seasons] and means of its establishment, during the harvest period.”

Brother Russell also realized that a specific work would be due to be performed at each proper time and season: “The present is the time [written in 1890] for the sealing of the servants of God in their foreheads, before the storm of trouble bursts (Rev. 7:2,3)… before the night cometh and the door of opportunity to labor is shut.” (Volume 3, page 211)

But he also saw “through a glass darkly” a future “time and season.”  “After this (reaping) period the dark night of the world’s great tribulation must find place…Observe that, when this night cometh, when the reapers must cease their labors; it will prove that this final work of the Gospel Age is accomplished.” (Volume 3, page 211)

The Prophet tells us that this period is broadly divided into two periods: “The day of His coming” and “when He appeareth [maketh manifest].”  The day of His coming was the forty-year period from 1874 to 1914, during which time the world in general knew almost nothing at all of what was going on.  At that time “The Messenger” did not “appear” to them.

But the situation changed acutely in 1914, when the great trouble started.  The Messenger not only then proved His presence to the “Watchers,” but He began to be revealed to the world in general in the fires of that day.  In July 1916 That Servant discussed this text, and we quote some of what he said:

“The Scriptures call this day ‘the day of the Lord,’ ‘the day of Jehovah,’ ‘that great and notable day,’ etc… This prophecy of our text is still in process of fulfillment.  Those who have been teaching errors will soon be ashamed, while the fire of this day will only manifest the Truth to all… The Apostle Paul in his writings lays special emphasis upon the fundamental importance of correct doctrinal teaching… This day means the shaking of society in a manner and to an extent never before known [as is now in process], and as thoroughly that another shaking will never be necessary… The hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies [hail, hard cutting truths]… and only God’s truly consecrated Church would be in the light [the Present Truth] and not be taken unawares.”

From this it should be clear enough that the leaders among God’s people should “earnestly contend for the faith [the Truth]” to the full extent of their ability and providential circumstances; and should be fully informed as to “the times and seasons” and to “know accurately” the times and seasons in which we now are.

That That Servant could not foresee the length of this day is not to his disparagement.  He clearly understood the times and seasons of his own lifetime, and spoke in generalities of what has followed since his death; but the details and the length of time he could not see.  However, this does not mean that we who now live cannot see them; in fact, it is our special privilege to see them very clearly.  Yet here again we do well not to attempt to speak too emphatically about the years ahead - when the special times and seasons of future years will speak for themselves - just as clearly as we see present happenings.

There is no dispute at all among the various Truth groups that the basileia (kingdom) is a period of time, though many of them declare that the epiphaneia is not a period of time.  However, by analogous reasoning, if the basileia is a period, it would self-evidently follow that the epiphaneia must also be a period of time; and St. Paul says that in the epiphaneia judgment day the “quick” would be judged.  These “quick” would be the fallen angels, who have never been under the death sentence, plus the New Creatures in Christ - “you hath He quickened.” (Eph. 2:1)

Another feature of the “times and seasons” of this Epiphany period is to be the destruction of the Man of Sin “Whom the Lord Jesus will consume with the breath of His mouth, and annihilate by the appearing [epiphaneia] of His presence [parousia].” (2 Thes. 2:8, Dia.)  So long as the Man of Sin continues to flourish we may be certain that the Epiphany is still with us, because he is to be annihilated during that period; he is to be annihilated by the epiphaneia of His parousia.  This judgment of the destruction of the Man of Sin during these epiphany “times and seasons” seem to attract little notice from many of the Truth groups; and even those who once claimed to be informed on these “times and seasons” have now lost a considerable part of their understanding of them.  Some of them claim the Epiphany is already completely behind us, while others say that it ended in a “restricted sense” in 1954 despite the clear fact that the Man of Sin is still with us, and despite the fact that two, if not three of the major phases of the Time of Trouble are still future.

The emphasized teaching of That Servant is that the epiphany and the apocalypse, as an act and as a period of time, are synonymous; and they are also synonymous with the Time of Trouble.  Thus, to declare that the Epiphany in any sense at all ended in 1954 is a direct contradiction of that teaching, as it forces us to conclude that the Time of Trouble also ended in a “restricted sense” at that time; whereas, “the nations as the vessels of a potter shall be broken to shivers” (Rev. 2:27) is an act still future.  Never before has the Apostle’s counsel been more timely - “rightly dividing the word of Truth.”  But if we follow his advice, then “you yourselves know accurately… When they may say, Peace and Safety, then sudden destruction impends over them… and they shall by no means escape.” (1 Thes. 5:1-3, Dia.)

(By John J. Hoefle, September 1, 1971)

___________________________________________________________________

“An international conference in Paris on intolerance opened with a stern warning that acts of hatred against Jews, particularly in Europe, have reached their highest level since World War II.  ‘A new generation of haters has been brought up and are ready to act,’ said Rabbi Marvin Hier, head of the Simon Wiesenthal Center.  In a statement, the center said it recorded 1,300 anti-Semitic acts in France since 2001 - the highest level since World War II.

(Associated Press, May 13, 2003)

Thanks to the dedicated efforts of Bible Society workers across the globe, the Bible - in full or partial form - is now available in 2,303 languages, an increase of 16 from a year ago.  The complete Bible can now be read in 405 languages worldwide, compared with 392 last year.             

(American Bible Society, Spring 2003 Newsletter)

NO. 554 IN MEMORIAM

(Life of Pastor Russell)

Pastor Charles Taze Russell was born February 16, 1852, and died October 31, 1916, age 64 years 8 months and 15 days.  Thus in years, months and days, we measure the duration of his life; but measuring the duration of a life is not measuring the life.

“We live in deeds not years;

In thoughts, not breaths.”

We can count the number of his years, but many a man has lived longer to whom mankind owes no debt of gratitude.  We can count the number of his days, but the value of a day depends upon what is put into it.  One day may be worth a thousand other days, and how much he accomplished in those 64 years we can only begin to know when we learn the intensity with which he lived them.

In testimony meetings, thousands all over our land and in every land under the sun, bear witness to their gratitude to God that He has raised up a man who has been the instrument in His hand of snatching them from the very brink of doubt and infidelity, placing their feet on the solid rock of Christ’s “ransom for all.”  Some of these men simply could not believe the Bible as interpreted by their religious teachers.  They would not say they believed when they did not.  They did not wish to be infidels, and they bewailed their lack of faith and hope.  You need not tell me that normally constituted men are infidels from choice.  You need not tell me that normally constituted men deliberately choose to believe and are glad to believe that they die as brutes, with no hope of a future life.  Many of these men are infidels not so much from their own fault as from the fault of their religious teachers who gave them an interpretation of the Bible contrary to reason and impossible for them to believe.  Many a man in this attitude has gone to hear Pastor Russell.  They have gone to the service infidels and came back rejoicing Christians.

Their religious teachers kept saying: “Don’t go to hear that man Russell; he preaches dangerous doctrine.”  But, by the Grace of God, they went and received the spiritual food they had been starving for, the spiritual food their religious teachers did not know how to give.  It is no wonder that men would sometimes stand in a crowded aisle and listen to his inspiring words for two hours at a time without moving from their places - no wonder, when those words were bringing hope instead of despair, faith in the place of doubt, peace in the place of agitation and unrest, joy in the place of sadness.

When men with a heart full of gratitude would tell him of the blessings they had received, he would simply say something like this: “Brother, I am glad you received blessings from God’s Word; His truth is very precious.”  He simply ignored his part in the matter.  In proof that this was his attitude, hear his own words, as found on page ten of his celebrated book, The Divine Plan of the Ages.

“Though in this work we shall endeavor, and we trust with success, to set before the interested and unbiased reader the plan of God as it relates to and explains the past, the present and the future of His dealings, in a way more harmonious, beautiful and reasonable than is generally understood, yet that this is the result of extraordinary wisdom or ability on the part of the writer, is positively disclaimed.  It is the light from the Sun of Righteousness in this dawning of the Millennial Day that reveals these things as present truth, etc.”

He believed that the time was due for these truths to be made known, and if he had not written them, God would have found some one else to do so.

One of the great objects of his life was to show that the Bible, when correctly translated and rightly understood, is harmonious throughout, and gives the most exalted and uplifting conception of our Creator and our duties to Him that is possible for a human being to attain.  To show this complete harmony of the Bible, of all its parts, was no easy task.  It meant labor.  At that time there was great indifference on the part of the people.  Most of them did not seem to care whether the various texts of the Bible were in harmony with one another or not.  Each seemed more interested in seeking such texts as prove or seemed to prove his particular creed, and ignored such texts as opposed it.  Even ministers, when texts were brought to their attention that contradicted their creed, would make such remarks as: “Oh, don’t trouble yourself about such matters as that.  There is enough in the fifth chapter of Matthew to save anybody.”

They were merely seeking such knowledge as they thought would save them and their friends, and seemed utterly indifferent as to what truth honors God most.  In 1 Samuel 2:30 the Lord says, “Them that honor me, I will honor.”  This promise is not to those who carry on some great work of charity or make an attempt to convert the world, for these things are often done in such a way as to dishonor God.  Many are engaged in these things; few make it the chief object of their lives to do these things and to preach those doctrines that bring most honor to God’s Name.  Most men seem utterly indifferent on this matter.  [They ignore the Scripture: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” - 2 Tim. 2:15]

At a time when such indifference was widely prevalent, Pastor Russell began his work of showing the harmony of the Bible with itself and with the character of its Divine Author.  He saw that there is no way to bring permanent blessing to the human race except through faith in God and faith in the Bible.  He, therefore, sought to show how worthy the Bible is of all our faith and love.  That was the great motive of his life.  We know that this was his motive, not because he has told us so, but because the motive rings through every article that he wrote and every sermon that he preached.  A motive like that could not live in a narrow life.  It could not find room in a little heart.

Therefore it is natural for us, as thoughtful men and women, to inquire, “What were the events of his life and the various circumstances leading up to such a motive?  What must his childhood, his boyhood and his early manhood have been?”

Charles T. Russell was the second son of Joseph L. and Ann Eliza Russell, and was born in Pittsburgh, Pa.  His father was a well-to-do merchant, and the son, when not engaged in study, spent much of his time helping his father in the store.  By so doing, he rendered himself liable to the awful charge that certain ministers in various parts of the country have brought against him that in his early life he was “a seller of shirts.”  In this work, however, he developed the qualities of industry, perseverance and earnestness of purpose, qualities that have been such prominent characteristics of his mature years.  As the father was a very successful businessman, it was only natural for the son also to begin business as a merchant.  In this work the young man manifested such business acumen that, in a few years, he was the owner of five clothing stores.  In all this work he was so thoroughly honest and his goods so thoroughly reliable that his success was marvelous, so marvelous that some who then knew him believe that if he had continued in the mercantile business he might have rivaled in the accumulation of wealth some of the richest money kings of his day.  But his great desire was not to be rich, but to be useful.  We need not tell you this, you may know it for yourself when you consider the following facts:

At one time in his life, while he was yet a young man, the valuation of his real and personal property is said to have reached over $200,000.  Of this $40,000 were spent in the publication and circulation of his first book, Food for Thinking Christians.  At various times he contributed large amounts to the Society of which he was president.  In fact at the time of his death he had but $200 left of his own private fortune.  Not withstanding this fact, there have been men so ignorant of the facts in this case, or had so little regard for truth and veracity as to say: “Russell has just started this religious movement as a money-making scheme.”  The utter foolishness of such a statement could not be fully manifest to persons unacquainted with the manner in which the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society is operated.  The very idea of a company of men getting rich preaching the gospel without money and without price, while their friends at various appointments advertised the meetings “Seats free; no collection.”  The truth of the matter is that those ministers who have done this talking about “money-making scheme” concerning Pastor Russell have simply been “measuring his corn in their own half-bushel.”  A man whose own life is actuated by low motives cannot appreciate a higher motive in another man.

In all of Pastor Russell’s work, and in all the work of the Society including missionary work, translation of the books into all the important modern languages, exhibition of the Photo Drama of Creation, etc., not one penny was ever solicited and no collection was ever taken.  That, of course, does not mean that money has not been liberally contributed, but every contribution is and must be absolutely voluntary and unsolicited.  Two years ago last summer in the northern part of Pennsylvania, a little girl eight years old came to me after the service and said: “Here is five cents to help other little boys and girls to see the Photo Drama.” [However, there was no admission fee to see the Photo Drama.]  The five cents were forwarded to the Watch Tower office, along with larger contributions, and in the course of a few days the proper officer of the Society sent her a receipt with just the same care that a $50 contribution in a neighboring town was receipted for.

Pastor Russell was a man of great faith, and he always had perfect confidence that money would be forthcoming for every work that the Lord wanted done.  On one occasion, after he had spoken to a large audience, he was shaking hands with the people as they passed out, when a man handed him an envelope.  He put it in his pocket and went on shaking hands.  After a few minutes some of the brethren were consulting with him concerning some work that all agreed would be good to have done; “but where was the money to come from?”  Brother Russell said: “If it is a work the Lord wants done, He will see that the money will be provided.”  He opened the envelope.  It contained a check for one thousand dollars, and the work went on.

Men have sometimes come to him and said: “Brother Russell, I have been greatly blessed by your explanation of the Scriptures, and I feel that this is a great work.  How can I get some money into it?”  This may sound strange to men who all their lives have been dunned for money “to pay the preacher,” but “Truth is stranger than fiction.”  “The Lord loveth a cheerful giver.  The cattle on a thousand hills are His,” and He does not need money that must be begged for or raffled for at box socials or church fairs.

His Divine Plan of the Ages has a circulation several times that of any other book ever published in the English language except the Bible.  He is the author of five other principal books [The Studies in the Scripture] and of numerous booklets and tracts.  He is also the Author of the Photo Drama of Creation, which has been seen and heard by over nine millions of people.  His sermons of recent years have appeared regularly every week in over a thousand newspapers, and are read by millions of people.

While Pastor Russell had his friends and admirers he also had his enemies and persecutors.  “All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”  So if any one does not suffer persecution he is not living godly in Christ Jesus.  When you read that a certain man did not have an enemy in the world, you have found a man that never steadfastly and earnestly opposed the wrong.  On the other hand, every man that has done anything earnestly to free the race from wrong and error and superstition has had his opposers and persecutors.  Christ and all His Apostles save one suffered martyrdom for the truth they preached, and from that day to this, every man who stood for unpopular truth and against popular error has had his persecutors.  So Pastor Russell has likewise had his persecutors who tried to minimize his work, burned his books and attempted to destroy his good name.

Yes, they sometimes burned his books, and they did so for the very same reason that they used to burn the Bibles; they were afraid of the truth that was in them.  But the more they burned the books, the more the truth spread.  I had the pleasure a few months ago of speaking in a town where, not long before, some of the religionists had gotten together and agreed to advise the people to burn Pastor Russell’s books.  In a few weeks colporteurs came into the town and sold far more books than had been burned.  The bigots who had burned the books had merely aroused the curiosity of the people.  In the Dark Ages they sometimes sought to terrify the people by burning the Bibles in the streets, and thus compel them to submit to the prescribed forms of religion, the “Orthodox” forms.  There is too much of the spirit of liberty and tolerance in free America for such an indignity to be perpetrated today without arousing a sense of justice in the minds of those who hate tyranny.

It is interesting to note how the books have found their way through the hands of those who did not appreciate them into the hands of those who did.  It often happens that one man buys and does not appreciate them, then loans them to another man who enjoys them with all his heart.  At one of the conventions, a lady tells us that a friend sent her The Divine Plan of the Ages and she burned it.  Another friend sent her a second book of the same kind, and she burned it.  A third friend sent her a third book, and she stopped and thought.  It is sometimes a good thing to stop and think.  “Finally,” says she, “I read this book and it burned me.”  By this, I suppose, she means that it burned away all her prejudice and left her ready for the heart-glow of joy that comes to those who see what beautiful truth God has in store for those who are ready to enjoy it.

The parents of Charles T. Russell were of the “orthodox” faith, and up to the age of fifteen he believed all and only such doctrines as his sectarian ministers took the trouble to teach him.  To fully understand doctrines at that time was very difficult.  The clergy as a rule discouraged questions.  So he simply believed the doctrines of the church he attended, especially the doctrine of the eternal torment of all except the saints.  His favorite teacher was Spurgeon, because, as he said, “he peppered it hot,” his claim being that if one believed a thing he should tell it with all his might.  So at the age of fifteen he used to go about the city of Pittsburg on Saturday evenings with a piece of chalk writing on the fence boards and telling the people not to fail to attend church on Sunday, so that they might escape that terrible hell in which he so firmly believed.  At about this time it seems that Providence had decreed that he should attempt to reclaim an infidel friend to Christianly.  By skillful question that neither layman or minister could answer and hold to the accepted creed, the infidel completely routed young Russell, and he became a skeptic.  He saw, for instance, that with the doctrine of eternal torment in it he could not believe the Bible; though he still held to a belief in God and the hope of a future life.

As he desired to learn the truth in regard to the hereafter, the next few years were devoted to the investigation of the claims of the leading Oriental religious, all of which he found unworthy of credence.  At the age of twenty he was possessed of much knowledge and voluminous data in regard to “religion” as believed and practiced in all parts of the world, but his mind was unsatisfied and unsettled.

At length he decided to search the Scriptures for their own answer on hell-fire and brimstone.  Here was the turning point in his life.  Picture to yourself a young man in the early twenties with large business responsibilities upon him, and with little time for research, and yet longing to know the truth in regard to the great hereafter.  He believed that the Creator of all things must be a loving God, and in harmony with this he read in the Bible, ”God is love.”  He also read, “The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works.”  That too was in harmony with what he believed the character of the Creator must be.  But how could he harmonize this with what his creed taught?  How could God’s tender mercies be over all His works when some of His works, some of His creatures, were to be roasted eternally in an abyss of fire and terrors?  How could there by any “tender mercies” in a course like that?  How could our loving Creator be a God like that?  Then the question came, Does the Bible really teach the eternal torture of the unsaved?

As he searched the Scriptures for the answer, the answer came.  Not one text, merely, but texts by the hundreds showing the foolishness and unreasonableness of the doctrine of eternal torment.  We do not know the order in which these texts came to his mind, but we know they came.  He read, ”The Lord preserveth all them that love him.”  (Yes, He preserveth them, to all eternity - “but all the wicked will be destroyed.”  It does not say “All the wicked will be roasted eternally.”)  Again he reads, “He that converteth the sinner from the error of his ways shall save a soul from death,” not from eternal torment.  Again he reads, “The soul that sinneth it shall die,” not live in torment eternally.  In fact, he saw that all the comparisons and contrasts in the Bible are never between life in happiness and life in misery, but always between life and death, eternal life or eternal death, all the wicked utterly destroyed in what the Scriptures call “the second death,” so completely destroyed that “they shall be as though they had not been,” and even “the remembrance of the wicked shall rot,” utterly pass from the memory of all forever.

Then this young man saw God finally triumphant over all evil, when “at his name every knee shall bow,” when “at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, in heaven, on the earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of the Father.”  So he saw the whole glad universe uniting in one grand hymn of praise to the Creator, no room in that happy universe for men or demons who choose to remain in rebellion against the Creator, but all ready to join in a hymn of praise.

Then this young man saw a loving God looking down upon a sin-cursed earth with an eye of pity and love, and in order to make it possible for us to have eternal life, He must give what was dearest to Him in the whole universe.  “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not die eternally but live eternally.”  When, as a young man, Charles T. Russell saw all this and far more, his great heart was thrilled to its very depths.  He was ready to do anything for the God he had found to be so wise, so loving, so wonderful.  It was then that he gave his heart to the Lord in full consecration, ready to do or say or be whatever the Lord might show him.  Little did he care for wealth, or fame, or worldly pleasure.  He had found a better God than he before had known, and he must tell it, and he did tell it out with a shout, hallelujah!  Praise God’s holy name, that He has found a man strong enough, true enough, brave enough to vindicate His character from the unscriptural and unreasonable doctrine of eternal torment.

To the very ends of the earth he has told the Bible truth that “the wages of sin is death,” and not eternal torment.  Yes, and his words have been heard, heard by many who will not admit that they have heard, believed by many who will not admit they believe.

A few years ago a minister who was then preaching in this country was asked by one of his parishioners if he believed the doctrine of eternal torment.  He admitted that he did not.  “Then why do you preach it?” asked the parishioner.  “Oh, there has to be some kind of whip to bring them in,” was the reply.  A minister who used to preach in Waynesbury made the same admission to one of his parishioners.  “Then why don’t you tell your congregation so?” said the parishioner.  “If I did that, I could not hold this pastorate,” was his reply.  A minister of Washington, Pa., made the same admission.  The young man said to the minister: “Then why don’t you tell your congregation?”  He replied: “Young man, my bread isn’t buttered on that side.”  That is the very class of men that are circulating false reports about Pastor Russell and other men who are opposing their false doctrines.

“Yes, but in regard to Pastor Russell’s character, the people say___.”  Yes, “the people say” and “the people said” are the cudgels with which Satan has destroyed the reputation of many an innocent man.  A few years ago, W. W. Giles, a leading financier of Brown Summit, N.C., made the following offer and published it broadcast wherever the English language is spoken:

“I have deposited $1,000 in the American Exchange National Bank of Greensboro, N.C., and $500 in the First National Bank of Miami, Florida, to be paid to the first person who proves through any court of justice in the United States that Pastor Russell is guilty of immorality such as is the gossip of those ministers who preach ‘for pay.’”  No one ever responded.  The editor of the Evening Journal of Wilmington, Del., about two years ago, published a statement that his columns were open to the publication of anything that might be published against Pastor Russell’s character, provided the whole truth was stated with all the related circumstances and accompanied by the writer’s name.  Why did none of Pastor Russell’s defamers respond to this fair offer?

The people say!  The people said!  Satan’s weapon now; Satan’s weapon always.  The people said that Jesus was a blasphemer.  [They also said He was a wine bibber.]  His friends on one occasion “went out to lay hold on Him, for they said, He is beside Himself.”  The people said that the Apostles were unfit to live, and put them to death.  The people said that the noble John Huss was unfit to live, and when they burned him at the stake, they confined a ball of brass in his mouth, in order, as the historian states, “that the people might not understand his just defense against their unjust condemnation.”  The people said that the brave Savonarola was a heretic and they hanged him and afterwards burned his body in reproach.

The people said that the noble Alexander Campbell was a “heretic.”  “He is not orthodox.  He is little better than an infidel.”  The people said that the brave and true John Wesley was a “falsifier,” “a fomenter of strife,” “a breeder of contention.”  They talked about the jealousy of his wife against Sarah Ryan, the jealousy against him of the husband of Sophia Christiana Williamson and how his wife finally deserted him.  Does what the people say weaken our confidence in the purity of John Wesley’s life?  By no means!  The only difficulty was that he was so pure-minded himself that he forgot to guard himself well against impure minds who were watching to find a charge against him.  John Wesley, Alexander Campbell, Charles T. Russell, three of the bravest, purest men of modern times and the three most severely persecuted and slandered.  Do we believe those slanders?  Not if we are charitable, thoughtful and wise.  Their names will go down in history together as the three greatest and truest reformers of the last two hundred years. 

(By E. D. Stewart, from the postscript of What Pastor Russell Wrote for the Overland Monthly, pages 435-441)

___________________________________________________________________

THE PAROUSIA AND EPIPHANY MESSENGERS

It has been eighty-seven years since the death of That Servant, but his memory is still fragrant with us - especially so with those who have been blessed with the Truth that he gave to us, and who are faithful to that Truth.  “They may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them.” (Rev. 14:13)  His “works” continue to be a blessing to all who receive the Truth.  Thousands of zealous and faithful brethren continue to distribute his Studies in the Scriptures.  God bless his memory!

We can say much the same for the Epiphany Messenger, although we elaborate more on That Servant’s ministry because his work and office in the Lord’s Household was much superior to that of the Epiphany Messenger, which the Epiphany Messenger often said.  Just as there were no successors to the twelve Apostles, there is no successor to That Servant.  Since his death, however, there have been faithful mouthpieces, of which the Epiphany Messenger was the foremost.

___________________________________________________________________

LETTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST

Dear Emily and all there:  Our loving greetings in the Lord from Galilee!

We do hope this finds you well, and rejoicing in the Lord’s strength on a daily basis.  Thank you for remembering my birthday with the nice card.  It was a big one this year as I turned 60 years - a Senior Citizen now!  Also we celebrated our 35th Wedding Anniversary on April 6th with so much to thank the Lord for in His overruling and care in our lives!

Well, God has indeed been merciful to His people Israel in this year so far.  First we had a miracle Winter with so much rain that the Sea of Galilee went from it’s lowest of lows to near maximum from January through April.  God is indeed working in impossibilities as all the experts said it was not predicted or possible.  So this should strengthen our faith that God can do the impossible in our lives as well.

Also God was so merciful during the Iraq War as not one missile was sent our way by Saddam through it all.  So unlike the Gulf War in 1991 when 39 scud missiles landed in the heart of Israel.  So it was with much relief that we could again put away our gas masks just before Passover.  It was like another escape from the enemies of Israel as in the time of the exodus from Egypt.  Again God spared His people!

It was also an extra blessing for us as on March 16th (the day before the war started) Lev’s sister came from Nebraska for a two-week visit.  So without the threats of missiles we could travel easily and have a nice visit!  This was her second visit to Israel having been here first in 1994!

This month Lev is down at the Dead Sea for sun treatments for his psoriasis problem.  He was able to go due to a gift from a friend, and please pray with us that it will be a big help this time (last year he didn’t go).  The psoriasis had gotten quite bad during the Winter and was very painful as well as itching a lot.  So we are thankful to be this close to the Dead Sea, which should be called the Healing Sea as it brings healing to people with so many things by the water, mud, salt and sun at that lowest level on earth!! God’s blessing!

Well, I am here alone, but there are no guests most of this month, so it is a good time for me to read, study and write letters.

Thank you for the May-June issue of Epiphany Newsletter.  It was very good to have the various classes clarified so well. Also the Japanese Perspective on the Palestinians was so good!  We are so glad the Lord took us out of the YMCA when we hear the direction they are going, like the T-shirt! 

Now Israel faces “The Road Map,” but what the world forgets is that God already gave Israel a Road Map called the Bible with no dangerous detours!

Do take care and much love to all.           Shalom and love, Lev and Hava            (ISRAEL)

……………………

Dear Emily and Marjorie,

Your lovely card you sent me for our Passover holiday still waits for a response:  Surely, you understand that nowadays, with the daily horrible events, the ongoing bloodshed, the unrelenting tension wherever you go or turn, the ever increasing grieving for the slain and the injured, even maimed, it is anything but easy to keep up a normal routine and life, including correspondence with dear people, who understand and care.

We are up against primitive, incited, brutal and bloodthirsty people.  How this will end nobody knows.  President Bush is doing what he can and understands.  We here, on our part, find it difficult to understand that America has embarked on all-out war against terror, including leaders like Bin-Laden while when Israel tries to get terror-leaders, it is blamed and condemned.

This last Pentecost I thought of you and your associates!  It is good and reassuring that we both, Christians and Jews, have our faith to hold on to and to sustain us, and that we can lean on our Scriptures for hope!

With every good wish, health and peace!

    Shalom, come what may!                                      Michael Pragai     (JERUSALEM)