NO. 253: THE JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES AND THEIR PREDICTIONS

No. 253

Over the years the Witnesses have attempted to interpret some of the time proph­ecies in the Bible, having been very emphatic about some of them; but with every one of their efforts ending in complete failure – with time itself offering indisputable proof of our statement.

The first of such bunglings was their announcement that the High Calling would close at Passover 1918; but they themselves subsequently changed that statement sev­eral times; and even now they do not have a firm date for that event. However, their first real debacle toward the world (the 1918 date was something discussed among them­selves, and never received general publication) was the “Millions Now Living Will Never Die” – none need die after 1925, they emphasized – which they proclaimed in almost ev­ery meeting to the general public, with a very positive date of 1925 as the exact time for that great event to arrive.

Their main Scripture for this conclusion was 2 Chron. 36:21: “The land had enjoyed her sabbaths.... to fulfill threescore years and ten.” The “sabbaths” mentioned here are the 50-year jubilee-cycle sabbaths, of which there was to be one every fifty years. The first of these occurred in 1575 B.C.; and that would place the last one 3500 years later – in 1925. The installation and method of operation for the 50-year jubilees is given in the 25th Chapter of Leviticus; and we shall not go into detail here, other than to say their 1925 date was based upon a miscalculation of the overall operation of the jubilees – type and antitype. But 1925 came and went without the slightest hint that their predictions had been sound.

The humiliation for their President, J. F. Rutherford, was so overwhelming – and the dissatisfaction among his “dedicated devotees” was so tense – that he had to pro­duce something to offset his colossal failure. So what did he do? He seized upon Rev. 10:6, “There should be time no longer,” and interpreted this as meaning they were no longer to consider time prophecies in their teachings. Of course, that conclusion was self-evident nonsense, because the text in the King James version is a rank mistransla­tion. The Diaglott states it thus: “The time should be no longer delayed”; that is, “the secret of God should be completed” (see v. 7) – “no longer delayed.”

Nevertheless, the large majority of his followers accepted his erroneous conclu­sion on this mistrans­lation, and said almost nothing for some years about the time fea­tures of the great Plan of the Ages as outlined in the Bible. But after JFR’s death in 1943 his successors began again to nibble at time prophecies – all the while emphasizing imminent Armageddon and the subsequent destruction of all those who failed to join in with them. But in these hallucinations they lost one more essential teaching left them by Pastor Russell – they no longer have the truth on the chronology, the chronology they so ably defended against erroneous attacks by some people who had left their Society shortly after Pastor Russell’s death in October 1916.

However, more recently they have come up with the date of 1975 as the time for Armageddon’s occurrence; but that date has now come and gone – and once more they are publicly manifested as “false prophets,” in accordance with the counsel given in Deu. 18:22: “When a prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.”

For the past year or two, seeing that conditions might not produce Armageddon by 1975, they were “suggesting” more than they were being positive; although we are informed that one of their English represent­atives came on the radio in the Spring of 1975 and vehemently and positively declared 1975 as the time for Armageddon – warning that all who did not join up with them would suffer annihilation in the approaching holocaust.

However, at their American’ headquarters, this another total failure on their part has manifestly been causing them to “sweat”; so they have come up in several of their papers with the words of Jesus: “Of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the an­gels of heaven but my Father only.” (Matt. 24:36) This causes us to wonder if they have just now discovered that tent! During the early Parousia – from 1874 to 1914 ­that Scripture was the shibboleth of Babylonian errorists whenever the second coming of Christ was mentioned by the Watch Tower. They had no other answer to the subject; but it satisfied a large segment of their gullible followers. Now the Witnesses are using it as a crutch – just recently; and with them it goes a little deeper than meets the eye. With 1975 now a proven hoax, it leaves the Witnesses without any firm chronology; they are now floating around in space; and it remains to be seen whether their “dedi­cated” devotees will once again swallow this myth as readily as they have their many other revolutionisms against the finely-harmonious system of Truth that Pastor Russell left to them.

Their aberrations of the true chronology are finally making them an open spectacle, and revealing the unsoundness of all their dates. It is now impossible for them to produce any clear-cut compilation of time features, so they tell us that “no man know­eth the day or the hour.” This text does not say that no man ever would know; and we know from clear Scripture that Jesus came to know definitely the day and the hour ­even though He did not know it when He spoke Matt. 24:36. And we know, too, that Pastor Russell pinpointed 1914 as the end of the Gentile Times; and he did that more than 25 years before 1914.

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During the “Millions” uproar in the twenties the Witnesses (then known as The Soci­ety – they did not adopt the Witnesses name until the thirties) did not offer the dire distress that would come upon those that did not accept their teachings. In fact, their intention was then to impress the general public with the appealing message of the ap­proaching Kingdom, which would eliminate all their physical and financial worries. Thus they placed great emphasis upon the comforting words of Rev. 21:14: “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain.” This is the very antithesis of their present mes­sage, in which they are proclaiming the total annihilation of all who do not now accept their errors – and they do this boldly, just as though they have been giving the truth in their publications over the years past. Thus, the words of Solomon concerning the lewd woman well apply to them: “She wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.” (Prov. 30:20)

It is well to recall here that shortly after 1918 (after their leader J. F. Rutherford and seven others were released from Atlanta Penitentiary in 1919) they published the claim that the “Lord came to His temple in 1918”; and there was fulfilled Mal. 3: 1-4, which made them a “clean” organization “as in the days of old.” But, at the same time they were making that claim, they also were starting the proclamation “Millions Now Living Will Never Die,” which time itself proved that message to be one of the most unclean teachings of the entire Gospel Age; there was not one word of truth in it.

All the errors they have concocted in recent years are a direct contradiction to the teachings of Pastor Russell. They are telling us that God’s Kingdom was set up on earth in 1914, but a short review of the parallel dispensations will easily reveal the folly of this contention. The Jewish harvest and subsequent destruction of Jerusalem’s temple and dispersion of the Jews was a small picture of the trouble that was to come upon Christendom since 1914. Note now what Pastor Russell has to say about this in his book “Thy Kingdom Come,” p. 149: “After telling of the burning of the tares (the parallel of the burning of the chaff in 70 A.D.—JJH), the parable further declares ‘Then shall the righteous (the wheat) shine forth as the sun in the Kingdom of their Father.’ What better testimony than this could we have, that the true church is not set up in power, as God’s Kingdom, and that it will not be thus exalted until this harvest is ended? Then shall this sun of righteousness, of which Christ Jesus will always be the central glory, arise with healing in his beams, to bless, to restore, purify and disin­fect from sin and error the whole world of mankind (not just the Jehovah’s Witnesses—­JJH), the incorrigible being destroyed in the second death.

“Let the fact be remembered that in the typical Jewish harvest Israelites indeed and imitation Israelites constituted the Jewish or Fleshly House of Israel; that only the true Israelites were selected and gathered into the gospel garner, and honored with the truths belonging to the Gospel Age; and that all others of that nation, ‘chaff,’ were not physically destroyed, though many lives were lost in their trouble, but were cut off from all Kingdom favors in which previously they trusted and boasted. Then trace the parallel and counterpart of this, in the treatment of the tares, in the present burning time.

“Not only has the Lord shown us what to expect in this harvest, and our share in it, in being separated ourselves and in using as ‘reapers’ the sickle of truth to assist others to liberty in Christ and separation from false human systems and bondages, but in order to render us doubly sure that we are right, and that the separating time of the harvest has arrived, he provided us proofs of the year the harvest work began, its length, and when it will close. These, already examined, show that the close of 1874 marked the beginning, as the close of 1914 will mark the end of the 40 years of harvest; while the minutiae of the order and work of this harvest were portrayed in that of its Jewish Age type.”

This “Kingdom” book then proceeds to give details to substantiate the foregoing; and our readers would be well advised to read them. However, at no time during his life did Pastor Russell arrogate to himself any Kingdom powers, such as the Witnesses are now doing. They now feature headlines such as “Divine Sovereignty Assemblies,” etc. And in their October 1, 1975 Watchtower they say this: “Indeed, it was in 1914 that Jehovah enthroned Christ Jesus in the heavenly kingdom, on heavenly Mount Zion, with possession of the kingdom of the world... From 1919 on, a spiritual paradise under Christ’s head­ship was restored for God’s anointed remnant on earth. (It was about that time that the “Millions” hoax began to be preached with vigor—JJH) And beginning with 1935 a ‘great crowd’ of other humble worshipers came into evidence, joining with the anointed remnant of Jehovah’s Kingdom class in singing Jehovah’s praises throughout the earth. Now more than two million of these servants of God look forward to passing through the fast-­approaching ‘great tribulation’ into a cleansed earth, where a literal paradise will be restored throughout this globe, and for all eternity.”

Be it noted that since 1914 – when the Witnesses’ counterfeit kingdom was estab­lished – there has been more volume of error, more variety of error and more crime and disorder than ever before existed in the history of the human race. The Apostle Paul tells us in 2 Cor. 4:4 that “The god of this world hath blinded the minds of them that believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel should shine unto them.” Apparently, the Witnesses do not even know what this “glorious gospel” is, or they would not be teaching what they do. St. Paul gives us a clear answer to this question in Gal. 3:8: “The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached be­fore the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.” From this statement it should be clear enough to any sound mind that the blessing of the nations could not possibly mean that the great majority of those now living are to be annihi­lated in Armageddon! Had they continued in the sound teachings of Pastor Russell, they would know that at this particular time there would be fewer and fewer people who would be able to “endure (embrace) sound doctrine.” (2 Tim. 4:3)

With the uproar that we see all about us today, the corruption that is being ex­posed in high places, etc., it is clearly evident that the “god of this world” is still doing a real good job of “blinding the minds” of the great majority – and this is just the reverse of what will prevail when the true Kingdom is established. “He laid hold on the devil (the god of this world)... and bound him a thousand years... that he should deceive the nations no more.” (Rev. 20:2,3) If a man is deceived, defrauded, can he justly be held responsible for his actions?

There is no Scriptural evidence that God is now judging the individuals of the world – although we are told that the great systems of error have been judged and marked for destruction. And, while their judgment has already been set, it is evident that their punishment has not yet come to the full. “When thy judgments are in the earth (when the true Kingdom is established), the inhabitants of the world will learn right­eousness.” (Isa. 26:9) When that time arrives, “The earth shall be filled with the knowl­edge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” (Hab. 2:14) At that time, “Will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve Him with one consent.” (Zeph. 3:9) Then we may be sure there will not be any erroneous predictions making the rounds, such as “Millions Now Living Will Never Die” after 1925; no false predictions of Armageddon in 1975, and no false interpretations of God’s Word. The language of the true Kingdom will be a pure language – free from every vestige of error – published by perfect and flawless teachers.

The results of that Kingdom, “There shall be no more curse (the evils that now af­flict the human race)... no night there (no error of any kind)... for the Lord God giveth them light” (Rev. 22:3-5) – He who “balances the clouds... of Him which is per­fect in knowledge.” (Job 37:16) And the “good news” of the Kingdom – “glad tidings of great joy which shall be unto all people” – include the billions living today who fail or refuse to join with the Jehovah’s Witnesses: they will be privileged to receive the blessings of the Kingdom, and will also be privileged to experience the glorious results of that Kingdom if they so choose. Nor does this blessed privilege exclude the Jehovah’s Witnesses – many of them will come to a “knowledge of the Truth” at that time, and they will rejoice to know that their relatives and friends did not suffer annihilation in Armageddon because they refused to join with the Witnesses before Armageddon.

It is certainly sound appraisal that the general public is more confused religious­ly than they have ever been before. We see Babylon (confusion) at almost every street corner, which is Bible proof that we are now in “the evil day” (Eph. 5:16) – that day of which St. Paul wrote in 2 Tim. 3:13, Diaglott: “Evil men and impostors will make prog­ress for the worse, deceiving and being deceived.” Yet the Witnesses are telling these “deceived ones” that they must now “rightly divide the word of truth” – which means, of course, accept their teachings and agree with them and their errors, or be annihilated in Armageddon.

This idea of having a monopoly on God’s favor reaches back for many centuries. God had told the Jews: “You only have I known of all the families of the earth” (Amos 3:2); and, basking in this favor, the centuries eventually confirmed in them the be­lief that all others were “dogs,” without God and without hope in the world. The same attitude was eventually adopted by the Christians, and many of them narrowed it down to their particular sect. The Roman Catholic Church (of which the Witnesses are a small replica) branded all as heretics who would not agree with them; and the histories are replete with crimes that were committed through that false belief.

The Witnesses are now saying substantially the same thing – even though they have eliminated the eternal torment theory from their belief, they consign all who oppose them to Armageddon annihilation: In other words, those who oppose them are “dead men.” Even assuming that all of their claimed two million converts will inherit the Kingdom, that is a mere handful compared to around four billions now living. When we consider the words of the angel in Luke 2:10 – “good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people” – it requires quite a perverted twist of the mind to interpret that as meaning the merest handful of Witnesses now living. These people join well with the sayings of Solomon: “Of making many books there is no end.” (Ecc. 12:12) And the fact that some of their books directly contradict what is found in other of their books doesn’t seem to bother them at all.

Of all the groups that have emanated from the movement established by Pastor Russell the Jehovah’s Witnesses are the only ones who condemn all that do not join with them. The larger groups that have been formed since 1916 are attempting to give a comforting message of Truth to the general public, and for this they are to be commended. Some of them are distributing thousands of copies of The Divine Plan of the Ages; and it is well in order here to cite what the writer of that book said in his Foreword in 1916 – just be­fore his death: “The Author and the publisher desire publicly to acknowledge the favor of God which has permitted them to be identified with the circulation of this volume, and with the results – light, joy, peace, fellowship with God to many hungry, thirsty, bewil­dered souls. The first edition in its present form was issued in 1886. Since then, one edition has followed another in rapid succession and in twenty different languages, until now there are nearly five million copies in the hands of the people all the world over....

“The reader of THE DIVINE PLAN OF THE AGES at each step finds a strengthening of faith and a greater nearness to the Lord, and therefore a confidence that he is in the right way. After seeing the Truth, the errors are more and more seen to be absurd, worthless, injurious, and are gladly abandoned.” We add here that that is the response we personally have received from many thousands of people to whom we have presented this excellent book. The various groups that are now engaged in its distribution are cer­tainly doing a good work; and are attempting to live within the scope of Isa. 52:7: “How beautiful upon the mountains (the present great governments of earth) are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace, that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation (not annihilation in Armageddon—JJH).”

It is well that our readers keep ever in mind that only about ten thousand of the Witnesses two Million adherents are of the elect – the “great salvation” (Heb. 2:3); all the others are destined to receive the “common salvation” (Jude 3), and constitute the “great crowd” that has been garnered since 1935. Yet these heirs of the “common salva­tion” are required to sacrifice time, money, and many modern conveniences to receive this reward; whereas, the Bible tells us that when the true Kingdom is established, the glad call will go forth: “The spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” (Rev. 22:17)

Certainly this text is teaching just the extreme opposite of what the Witnesses are now telling to the general public, and to their own “dedicated” adherents; and we might add here that another so-called Truth movement is also preaching sacrifice and a “narrow way” to present consecrators – although they do not consign to annihilation all others who do not join their ranks. Nevertheless, they also are doing violence to Rev. 22:17 when they urge their newcomers to great sacrifice, although they eventually will receive nothing more than “the common salvation.” The teaching of this second group also finds no lodg­ment in any of the writings of Pastor Russell – just as the Witnesses also can find no support in his writings for their present contentions.

When the Witnesses emphasize that Armageddon will destroy completely “this present evil world,” they are again rejecting the clear Teaching of Pastor Russell an this sub­ject, based upon the Scriptures in 1 Kings 19:11-12 and Jer. 30:7. These Scriptures clearly indicate four great spasms in the destruction of the present order; namely, War, Revolution (Armageddon), Anarchy and Jacob’s Trouble. Or, if we merge Jacob’s Trouble with Anarchy, we still have three upheavals if we accept the prophetic vision of Elijah in the Kings episode. Here is part of the Berean Comment on 1 Kgs. 19:11: “An earth­quake – Symbol of revolution – God’s Kingdom will not follow the epoch of revolution (Armageddon—JJH) which is to follow the great wars.” It is our firm conviction that time itself will also prove the Witnesses wrong on this Scripture, which their founder explained so clearly and logically. Of course, when their present prediction of Arma­geddon is revealed as gross error, they will undoubtedly invent some “new light” (actu­ally mud splashes of error) as a cover-up – just as they did in 1925, after that predic­tion ended in total failure. In this we recognize that the Witnesses are prophets all right – FALSE PROPHETS; but they certainly are not earnest, sincere and reliable stu­dents of prophecy. Their entire course since 1917 (when J. F. Rutherford assumed lead­ership) has been confusion worse confounded, just as Papacy was in its hey-day – one con­tinuous stream of error after error; and their “dedicated” followers continue to cleave with the Witnesses as did the sectarian adherents with Papacy.

It is well to stress here that the Witnesses have long since abandoned The Divine Plan of the Ages – as they also have done with the other five volumes of Scripture Studies that the same author published at various times after 1886. Thus, they have lost the Truth on the real Plan of the Ages, and to that extent it may also be said of them: “blinded by the god of this world.” However, in rejecting these excellent Stud­ies in the Scriptures, they have at the same time produced many volumes of their own make-up, along with their numerous magazine publications; and they forbid their loyal adherents to question any of their writings.

We have been closely associated with quite a few persons who were expelled from their organization because they dared to question what they publish. Thus we would quote some more from p. 145 of Vol. 3 of The Studies in the Scriptures: “While indivi­dual liberty must outwardly be regarded as never before, we see that really there was never a time when the bands were so thoroughly drawn, to bind all wheat and tares into the many bundles. There never was a time when arrangements were so close, and so restrain­ing of all personal liberties, as now. (Written in 1891—JJH) Every spare hour of a zealous sectarian is filled by some of the many meetings or projects, so that no time for untrammeled thought and Bible study can be had. The principle design of these meet­ings, entertainments, etc., is sectarian growth and strength... Some wheat and many tares constitute these bundles, from which it daily becomes more difficult to get free.”

The foregoing is such an exact description of the present-day Witnesses that one might easily conclude that the writer was describing them. However, we would emphasize here that we are discussing the Witnesses as an organization, and not as individuals. It is our firm conviction that there are many – a minority of their two million, of course – conscientious Christians among them, who verily think that they do God service ­and which they do when they avoid the grossly sectarian supervision of their leaders. Sectarianism always warps the judgment of any individuals – whether with the Witnesses, or in other organizations. This same condition prevailed in the various sects of Chris­tendom prior to the beginning of the Harvest in 1874; but the true saints among them took a generous view of things, many of them admitting that there were Christians in other than their own group.

Rabid sectarians always rely upon the spirit of fear as one of their strongest crutches. Thus, the Roman Catholic Church, during the Dark Ages, when they were in their hey-day, threatened eternal torment to all who did not join them. Today, the same spirit motivates the Witnesses, who preach annihilation in Armageddon to all who do not join with them. Note the decided contrast in the statement by St. Paul: “God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2 Tim. 1:7) And with such an armor St. Paul could honestly say, “I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” (Heb. 13:6)

It is a tragic commentary on the morale of the human race that so many of them are actuated by fear; and many of the religious leaders, being good psychologists, have used this weakness to their own advantage. The Roman Catholic Church, even now, makes great boast of their superior numbers; and the same may be said of the Witnesses. They also display their two million “dedicated” followers as their strength; but their ‘founder’ Pastor Russell said of Great Papacy (as we now say of Little Papacy): Their numbers reveal their weakness. Yet, while they have the largest following of any of the groups that have come from them since 1916, they have rejected and revolutionized against more of the Truth given by Pastor Russell than have any of the others.

In their mad scramble to be ‘different,’ they have also ‘made’ their own Bible – ­made it to fit what they are now teaching. As one instance, Rev. 18:4 states in the King James Bible, “Come out of her (Great Babylon), my people.” So the Witnesses have translated this text, “Get out of her.” Here is the way Pastor Russell treats that text:

“The command is Come, not Go; because in coming out of bondage to human tradi­tions, creeds, systems and errors, we are coming directly to our Lord, to be taught and fed by Him, to be strengthened and perfected to do all His pleasure, and to stand, and not fall with Babylon.”

The Torture Stake – Another change the Witnesses have made is the translation of the word ‘cross,’ which they now translate as “torture stake.” Be it noted that all of the ablest Greek scholars use the word cross in their translations of the New Testament; not a one of them ever uses torture stake, instead of cross. Just to mention some of them – Young, Strong, Cruden Concordances, and Wilson’s Emphatic Diaglott translation of the New Testament. And Pastor Russell accepted the work of these eminent intel­lects, never once using the expression torture stake in referring to the manner of Je­sus’ death. (Please see our No. 155 for further elaboration on this subject. Copy free upon request.)

THE LORD’S SUPPER

This year 1976 the Witnesses celebrated this event on the evening of April 14 ­two days from the correct time. In doing this they stress the full moon after the Equinox as the proper date, but in this they show a confusion somewhat after the Jew­ish custom. In no place in the Bible are we told to celebrate the Memorial at the full of the moon. The only influence the moon has on the determination is to establish when Nisan 1 arrives. Once that is done, the Bible clearly and directly tells us it should be on Nisan 14, regardless of the condition of the moon on that date. Here again they set the Bible aside when it seems to suit their convenience.

The New Covenant – On p. 75 of their Feb. 1, 1976 Watchtower they tell us that “the little flock are the ones taken into the new covenant... the eleven faithful apos­tles... the nucleus of those later to be taken into the new covenant on Pentecost day of 33, C.E. (Luke 22:20).” This is what Pastor Russell had to say about that text:

“The New Covenant cannot become operative until the cup of the Lord’s sufferings which are left behind (including all faithful Christians of this Gospel Age—JJH) has been fully drained by the members of His Body.”

It seems that the Witnesses have now gone back to that vicious error that precipi­tated the 1908-11 sifting – the Murmursome-Contradictionism fifth sifting that caused the severest controversy among Truth people of the entire Harvest – from 1874 to 1914.

New Covenant – New Mediator – In Heb. 8:6 we are told, “Jesus is the mediator of a better covenant”; and Heb. 12:24, “Jesus the mediator of the new covenant.” The entire context of Hebrews 12 is describing the overthrow of Satan’s empire and the es­tablishment of the Mediatorial Kingdom. Thus, any one being under that new covenant (the contrast here is with the introduction of the old Law Covenant) would necessarily have to be under the Mediator of that covenant. Now the meaning of mediator is “middle man,” which means a go-between for parties that are at enmity with each other. Thus, to carry the comparison to a logical conclusion, the Witnesses’ “little flock” are now at enmity with God; whereas, St. Paul tells us that God’s true followers in this faith Age have peace with God. (Rom. 5:1,2)

On p. 76 of this same paper they summarize the subject with the following: “It is always a joy to see so many new ones attending the Memorial celebration. After the pro­gram, an occasion for happy fellowship is enjoyed with the new ones and with one another. This joyful fellowship is truly upbuilding and encouraging to everyone. The evening’s program, if it is reflected upon, always give much food for thought with grateful appreciation to Jehovah, reminding us of all that He has done out of love for us through the Ransomer, Jesus Christ our Lord... Upon arriving home after the program a family of Jehovah’s Witnesses may spend time discussing the meaning of this significant occasion.”

The teaching of Pastor Russell is in direct contrast to the foregoing, as the following from p. 478 of his Scripture Studies, Vol. 6 reveals:

“The service being thus ended (after partaking of the bread and the cup—JJH), we advise that the course of the Lord and the Apostles be followed to the end – that a hymn be sung in conclusion, and the congregation thus dismissed – without any concluding prayer. We advise that on this occasion the usual greeting, inquiries for health, etc., be dispensed with, and that each go to his home avoiding as far as pos­sible, anything that might disturb his reflections and communion, and that so far as possible each seek to continue to commune, not only on that night, but during the fol­lowing day, having in memory the Lord’s experiences in Gethsemane, and his need of sym­pathy and help, and the fact that each member of His Body may also have Gethsemane oc­casions, and need the comfort and help of fellow-disciples.”

The above is exactly in keeping with the words of Jesus Himself in Matthew 26:38: “My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death.” Then, if we add to this the pray­er of Jesus, and the things He said to His disciples that last night, as given in the Gospel of John (Chapters 13-17), we find not the slightest hint of the “happy fellow­ship” now recommended by the Witnesses. In fact, this is just one more confirmation that they have lost great quantities of the Truth and the Spirit of the Truth. It is little wonder that their predictions have consistently failed of performance, because we need not expect the Lord to give advancing Truth through such mouthpieces. And it con­firms our conclusion that they have not only lost many important doctrinal truths as given by Pastor Russell, but their conduct has also suffered accordingly – as we should expect.

Thus, they have not only revolutionized against the Truth, but against its arrange­ments also. Therefore, Psalms 107:10,11 pointedly applies to them: “Such as sit in darkness... Because they rebelled against the words of God (revolutionized against the Truth which once made them clean—John 15:3), and contemned the counsel of the most High” (rejected the arrangements given through the Lord’s faithful mouthpiece). Here St. Paul’s appraisal applies directly to them: “Ever learning (one new error after another), and never able to come to a knowledge of the Truth.” (2 Tim. 3:7)

In conclusion, we would advise our own readers to accept the counsel of St. Paul as given in 2 Tim. 3:14, Diaglott: “Do thou continue in the things which thou didst learn (from Pastor Russell, the founder of their organization) and wast convinced of, knowing by whom thou hast been instructed.”

Sincerely your brother,

John J. Hoefle, Pilgrim

NO. 252: CONSECRATION FROM 1881 UNTIL RESTITUTION SETS IN

No. 252

All who are familiar with Harvest Truth know that the general call for entrance into the High Calling ended in 1881 – that thereafter entrance into that select company could occur only as one dropped out. All who accept this great truth agree also that a time would come when the door to the High Calling would eventually be forever shut (Luke 13:25) – that the 144,000 would be fully and fixedly complete. However, there is divergence of views as to when that time would occur; and it is not our wish at this time to discuss when that would be.

But when that time would come – from then until Restitution sets in, as That Ser­vant taught – there would almost certainly be those among the human family who would wish to do God’s will to the extent of their understanding and ability – just as there were those who wished to do God’s will before the High Calling was available. (See He­brews, Chapter 11) Such consecrators – between the Ages – will have to walk a ‘narrow way’ while we are yet in “the evil day” (Eph. 6:13) – and, if faithful, they will bring upon themselves the adversities that all have experienced who have chosen to “follow in His steps.” (1 Pet. 2:21) And to such the attributes of God would prompt bestowal of a reward higher than that which will come to the world in general—something higher than Restitution.

That Servant recognized this fact – that there would be such a class of consecra­tors – even though he gave us no Scripture to prove it. He came to that conclusion pure­ly from his clear and logical intellect. We believe this is another proof that he was made “ruler over all his goods” (Matt. 24:47); and that he could say, with the Apostle Paul, “For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.” (Acts 20:27)

We offer now some quotations from Brother Russell’s writings to substantiate these statements: The first one of these is to be found in Reprints 3418, the year being 1904: “We would be sure that Divine love and care would be over them just as surely, and that failing a place in the elect church through no fault of theirs, these would be given some good portion which would much more than reward and satisfy them.”

In that same year 1904, Reprints 3445, the teaching is presented that the Ancient Worthies would be a higher class than the Great Company, because they were a fully faithful class. He further stated that, being a higher class, they would precede the Great Company in the resurrection – that the Ancient Worthies would be first to be res­urrected after the Little Flock. That this is a wrong conclusion is apparent from the fact that the Great Company class is a part of the Gospel-Age “church of the firstborn” (Heb. 12:23); whereas, the Ancient Worthies are the “church of the firstborn” of the Millennial Age – and Brother Russell eventually came to see the matter in this way.

Coming down to 1911 (Reprints 4836) there is this: “But suppose that some should present themselves after the close of the acceptable time, what would be their status and God’s dealing with them? Since God is unchangeable, we must assume that He would always be pleased to have His creatures devote their lives wholly and unreservedly to the doing of His will, as He was pleased with the faithfulness of the Ancient Worthies to lay down their lives before a covenant of sacrifice was in force. We may reason that as God has promised human perfection to those Ancient Worthies who laid down their lives, He would be willing similarly to reward any who might follow the same course after the completion of the Church – after the ending of the acceptable time of sacri­fice. [God’s character forbids accepting sacrifice from any one without giving suitable reward for such service—JJH]

“Quite likely, therefore, there will be some in the end of this Age who, although faithful unto death, will not have been begotten of the Holy Spirit and not attain the spirit plane of being in the resurrection, but who will come forth members of the same class as the Ancient Worthies, who were developed before this Age began.

“In view of these facts, our advice to all who love the Lord and who desire to be in complete fellowship with Him is the same message that has gone forth throughout this Age – ‘We beseech you, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies living sacrifices’... We can tell them, too, that, to our understanding the Scriptures teach that the Ancient Worthy class (of which they may be a part if they fail to be accepted to the new nature) will be highly honored of God, perfect on the human plane and made ‘princes in all the earth.’ (Psa. 45:16)”

In the Feb. 15, 1913 Tower (Reprints 5182) it is stated that the Ancient Worthies are of the Tribe of Levi, and therefore would have no inheritance in the land (as would the Restitutionists). And, as he has said before, the unbegotten class of consecrators would receive the reward and honor that will be given the Ancient Worthies; which means a higher reward than will come to the Restitutionists. These would be typed by the Ger­shonites, of which more later on. In the Nov. 1, 1913 Tower (Reprints 5344 – top of col. 2) we are told that the eventual glorious reward of the Ancient Worthies – after the Millennium has come to a close – would be on the spirit plane.

Coming now to Sept. 1, 1915 Tower (Reprints 5761) there is the following, under the caption, “The Two Parts of the Harvest Work” – and under the sub–heading, “Those Consecrating Between the Ages”:

“It is our thought that with the closing of the door of this Gospel Age there will be no more begetting of the Holy Spirit to the spirit nature. Any afterward coming to God through consecration, before the inauguration of the restitution work, will be accepted by Him, not to the spirit plane of being, but to the earthly plane. Such would come in under the same conditions as the Ancient Worthies who were accepted of God. The Ancient Worthies came in, no call being opened to them – the High Calling not yet being opened, and the restitution opportunities not open. But they freely gave themselves up to God without knowing what blessings their consecration would bring, except that they had the intimation that they would, in the future life, have a ‘better resurrection’ than would the remainder of the world.

“Our thought is that whoever under such conditions as these will make a full con­secration to the Lord, to leave all to follow in His ways, and will live up faithfully, loyally, to that consecration, may be privileged to be counted as a similar class to those who preceded this Gospel Age. We know of no reason why the Lord would refuse to receive those who make a consecration after the close of the Gospel Age High Calling and before the full opening of the Millennium.”

Inasmuch as the Time of Trouble had broken upon the world in 1914 – as predicted by Brother Russell – there existed the general conviction among Truth people that the Kingdom would be established within a matter of but a few years. “The stone” (Dan. 2:45) had already begun its smiting, and was increasing in severity with each passing month. At that time none of the Truth people had the slightest notion that things would be as they are today – some sixty years later. Had that thought then been enter­tained, we may safely conclude that Brother Russell would have been much more positive and voluble than he was about that class that “would consecrate between the Ages.”

However, even with the small amount that he did say, the Harvest group generally was so inoculated with the idea, that the Society under J. F. Rutherford came out em­phatically that the High Calling would definitely be closed at Passover 1918 – after which time a new class of consecrators would appear whom they labeled as “Modern Wor­thies” – to emphasize their grouping with the Ancient Worthies. This was maintained for a number of years – until JFR rejected tentative justification. Once that was done, it was impossible to harmonize Modern Worthies without any justification, without which they could have no standing before God. Eventually they invented a class of their own – the Jonadabs – which was later fused with their present “Great Crowd,” of which more later.

Other Truth groups mostly ignored the expressions of Brother Russell as we have quoted them aforegoing; and prior to 1950 the Laymen’s Home Missionary Movement was the only Truth organization – so far as we know – that championed such a class. But failing to do this, these others are now left in a very awkward and vulnerable position. The Society eventually had to re-open the High Calling, changing the dates for its close on several occasions, as the “penny” became too hot for them to hold, and too important to drop. In some of their 1975 editions of the Watchtower they are forced to the con­clusion that the High Calling may not even yet be closed. And other Truth groups are forced to the same conclusion.

But embracing such a view is now making their position ridiculously untenable. So far as we know, all Truth groups accept the position that there can be only 144,000 in the Christ Body. Yet, if we reflect upon the number of persons in all the groups who consider themselves in that select company, there would almost certainly be more than 144,000 that have had that conviction since 1914. And, if there are more than that many since 1914, what shall we say of the entire Gospel Age? Most Truth groups think there was a “Harvest” following 1874. A Harvest of what? Why, of the last members of the 144,000, of course! Manifestly, these various conclusions produce such a bedlam that no one of sound mind can bring himself to believe them all. And, even if they reject some of them, yet “the bed is shorter than that a man can stretch himself on it; and the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself in it.” (Isa. 28:20)

SCRIPTURAL PROOF

As stated aforegoing, Brother Russell offered no Scripture to prove his conclusions – nor did he attempt to give a name to such persons. It was the Society – after his death – that produced the name Modern Worthies. Nor do we now offer too much criticism for their selection of the name. Up to that time no Scripture had been produced which might suggest a Biblical name. It remained for the Epiphany Messenger to offer a name more suited to our place on the stream of time. However, we would emphasize here that the term Ancient Worthy is not in the Bible either; but they are referred to as Ancients a number of times in the Old Testament, and St. Paul tells us in the 11th chapter of He­brews that the world was not “worthy” of them. Consequently, the name Ancient Worthies comes easily enough. We believe the same will apply to the Youthful Worthies, as we now examine some Scriptures to this end.

The clearest of such Scriptures is found in Joel 2:28,29. In Joel 2:29 the ref­erence is to the Little Flock and Great Company: “And also upon the servants [the Little Flock] and upon the handmaids [the Great Company] in those days [the Gospel Age] will I pour out my spirit.” Thus far, Brother Russell saw the truth on the text as expressed here: but the remainder he could not see because it was not the “due time.” (See Berean Comments) Then Joel 2:28: “And it shall come to pass afterward [after the Gospel Age, during which the Lord pours out His spirit for His servants, the Little Flock, and handmaidens, the Great Company – compare Joel 2:28 with 2 Cor. 6:17,18] that I will pour out My Spirit for all flesh; and your [the Christ’s] sons (converted flesh­ly Israel and the persevering, but unconsecrated believers of the Gospel Age] and your daughters [converted Gentiles of the Millennial Age, Isa. 60:4 – all the repentant hea­then] shall prophecy [teach the Truth to those of mankind who then will not know it—­Matt. 25:35, 37, 40]; your old men [Ancient Worthies] shall dream dreams [will be given new and inspired deeper revelations as a part of “another book... of life” – a third “Testament” of the Bible, Rev. 20:12] and your young men [Youthful Worthies] shall see visions” (will be given inspired less deep representations, clarifying and elaborating for themselves and the people the teachings of the Old and New Testaments, as well as producing “another book of life”).

All classes from among mankind savingly associated with the Plan of God are thus treated of in Joel 2:28,29 – six in all. These and the repentant fallen angels will constitute the seven (perfect Divine number) classes of those whom Christ delivers from sin and condemnation unto perfection and everlasting life in His work as Savior. (See E–4:317–322) We would direct attention here to the Hebrew “zaqen,” from which “old men” is translated. This word is translated “ancients” thirteen times in the Old Testa­ment, and once as “ancient men.” We offer just two of these—Psa. 119:100: “I under­stand more than the ancients” [zaqen]. Also, Isa. 24:23: “The Lord of hosts shall reign in Mount Zion [through the Christ Company], and in Jerusalem [through the Worthies], and before His ancients [zaqen] gloriously.” And “your young men” would be better trans­lated “young, choice, unmarried men – youthfuls.” This Joel text is clear enough that there are two classes of men who would be specially inspired for the benefit of the re­mainder of restitutionists – Ancients and Youthfuls – Ancient Worthies and Youthful Wor­thies.

Next we consider 2 Tim. 2:20: “In a great house [the great house of the typical Aaron—Lev. 16:6; Num. 17:2, 3:6-9, 17-20, consisted of his sons and the three typical classes of Levites –the Kohathites, Merarites and the Gershonites; accordingly, in the great House of our Great High Priest there are four classes antitypical of these] there are not only vessels of gold [the Little Flock—Mal. 3:3], and of silver [the Great Com­pany—Mal. 3:3—See Berean Comments on Mal. 3:3 and 2 Tim. 2:20], but also of wood [the Ancient Worthies] and earth [The Youthful Worthies, who with the Ancient Worthies will be, during the Millennium, the human members of antitypical Aaron’s House, as they were or are also human before the Millennium], and [additionally] vessels of honor [the faith­ful Restitutionists] and dishonor [the Goats of the next Age].”

Thirdly, Ps. 72:3: “The mountains shall bring peace to the people; and the little hills by righteousness.” This entire Psalm describes the Millennial reign of Christ, implying that symbolic Jerusalem will be the seat of Government (v. 16). Literal Jeru­salem was built upon two mountains, Zion and Moriah, and upon two hills, Akra and Be­zetha. Zion and Moria represent the heavenly and the earthly phases of the Kingdom re­spectively – i.e., The Christ and the Ancient Worthies as the two higher powers of the Kingdom. (See v. 16, “top of the mountains,” etc.) Akra and Bezetha represent the trib­utary [subordinate] powers of the Kingdom, i.e., the Great Company and the Youthful Wor­thies. (See Berean Comments on the “hills.”)... And as the hill Bezetha was the fourth and last height of Jerusalem to be built by the Israelites, so the Youthful Worthies are the last one of the powers [the other subordinate power] of the Kingdom to be developed.

The world of mankind are symbolized by the valley sections of literal Jerusalem. The thought of this passage seems to be that the two phases of the Kingdom, receiving cooperation from the subordinate powers of the Kingdom [the Great Company and the Youth­ful Worthies], will be used by Jehovah to bless the world of mankind with peace and pros­perity through righteousness during the Millennium.

The fourth text is Isa. 60:13: “The Glory of Lebanon [Lebanon means white, and its evergreen trees, the glory of Lebanon, represent the righteous as antitypical Levites—­Psa. 92:12,13] shall come to thee [the antitypical Levites will he brought to Christ and the Church—Num. 3:6-9), the fir tree [Ancient Worthies], the pine tree [the Great Com­pany] and the box [Youthful Worthies] together [rendering a cooperative service], to beautify the place of my sanctuary.” It was a Levitical work (Num. 3:6-9) to beautify the sanctuary of the Lord.

In this connection, Isa. 35:2 tells us that “the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it.... they shall see the glory of the Lord, and the excellency of our God.” The cedars of Lebanon are tall and stately, the timber was much prized for the construction of palaces and temples; pillars, beams and planks were cut from it, and masts were made for ships. The timber of these trees was aromatic, impervious to rot, decay and infestation by termites. The roof for the Temple of Diana [one of the seven wonders of the ancient world] was made from cedar planks, and continued for 400 years without appar­ent wear from the elements. To this day these trees are reverently described by the Arabs as “the cedars of the Lord.”

ANTITYPICAL ELEAZAR

Much of the foregoing is taken from Epiphany Volume 4, pp. 317-324; thus, it is unfolding Epiphany Truth. Those who are familiar with Parousia Truth, and who hold to the truth that Brother Russell was That Servant, whom “the Lord made ruler over His House­hold” (Matt. 24:45), recognize that the “household” is much the same as the Gospel-Age Tabernacle (the true church). He occupied much the same position here in the end of the Age as did the twelve Apostles at the beginning of the Age. As such, they then, and he here in the end of the Age, antityped Eleazar, son of Aaron, of whom it is recorded: “And to the office of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest pertaineth the oil for the light, and the sweet incense, and the daily meat offering, and the anointing oil, and the oversight of all the tabernacle, and of all that therein is, in the sanctuary, and in the vessels thereof.” (Num. 4:16)

Therefore, it is only logical that he should write Tabernacle Shadows, which book was foundational for the Six Volumes of Parousia Studies in the Scriptures. When writ­ing Tabernacle Shadows in 1879 he set forth the antitypical designation of the Levites: The Amram Levites to the east of the Tabernacle typified the Gospel-Age Royal Priest­hood; the Kohathites to the south the Ancient Worthies; the Merarites to the north the Great Company; and the Gershonites to the west the saved world of mankind. But he was quite emphatic that the Levites were not to have any inheritance in the Land of Canaan; thus, the antitypical Levites would have no inheritance in the Millennial Canaan. This produced the question: If the restitutionists were to have no inheritance in the Mil­lennial Canaan, then they would all eventually become spirit beings – a thing Brother Russell realized just could not be. He wrestled with the question, but could not pro­vide any satisfactory answer because it was not the “due time” for the truth to become known.

ANTITYPICAL ITHAMAR

It remained for the Epiphany Messenger to produce a logical picture here; and this he did by showing that the Gershonites typified the Youthful Worthies, who would share in honor and service and reward with the Ancient Worthies. This picture is well set forth in the Jews crossing Jordan to inherit Canaan. It will be recalled that be­cause the Jews refused to enter Canaan – believing the evil report of the ten spies in­stead of the good report of Caleb and Joshua – that the Lord pronounced this sentence upon them: “Your carcasses shall fall in this wilderness... according to your whole num­ber from twenty years old and upward... ye shall not come into the land... save Caleb... and Joshua.” (Num. 14:29,30)  It is well to note that all the males who entered Ca­naan were young men. Joshua, of the Tribe of Ephraim, could not be a priest [only those of the Tribe of Levi were eligible to be priests], was given the honor of leading the Jews over Jordan and possessing goodly Canaan land. Joshua in that picture typed the Lord Jesus, and Caleb typed the true Church; but they were supported by an entirely new generation that had grown up in the wilderness wanderings; and that group would well represent an unbegotten class here in the end of this Age who are fully loyal to antityp­ical Joshua [Jesus]. Once we see this picture clearly, all obstacles are removed. This gives us four elect classes, with two non-elect classes – as explained aforegoing – and the picture becomes harmonious with all parts of the Bible.

It will be recalled that Aaron had four sons – Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar ­the first two of whom were destroyed in their rebellion. (See Lev. 10–1–7) Eleazar and Ithamar, the third and fourth sons of Aaron, then became eligible for the priest­hood, Eleazar being the one who succeeded his father Aaron to that office, being the oldest son living when his father died at Mount Hor. Thus, he would fittingly typify the twelve Apostles [the Lord’s mouthpieces during the first epoch of the Gospel-Age Church], and That Servant in the seventh epoch of the Gospel-Age Church.

But in the interim the Lord also had prominent mouthpieces – such as Martin Luther, John Wesley, Thomas Cranmer, etc. – 35 in all. These would be well depicted by Ele­azar’s younger brother Ithamar. And after the departure of the Parousia Eleazar [That Servant] we should logically expect to see an antitypical Ithamar; and this we find in the person of Brother Johnson. Num. 4:28 is definitely pertinent: “This is the ser­vice of the families of the sons of Gershon in the tabernacle of the congregation; and their charge shall be under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.” And just as Brother Russell clearly and correctly gave details about the Gospel-Age Little Flock, so Brother Johnson gave similar description of the antitypical Gershonites – the Youthful Worthies. To him came the privilege of interpreting the Scriptures concerning this Class; and the Youthful Worthies occupied a large place in his writings.

It is well to remember here that he did not set aside any of Brother Russell’s teachings about an unbegotten class here in the end of the Age. He simply interpreted the pertinent Scriptures to prove what Brother Russell has taught, but without offer­ing any Scripture to prove his thought. This is what we find in E–4:342:

“If Truth people generally knew that this method was being used [of setting aside the truth on tentative justification—JJH] by at least two of the Tower editors, they would be more on their guard against various errors that JFR and some of his associates have been holding, and are ‘privily’ bringing in among the unsuspecting sheep. If our dear readers will keep in mind that the Tower’s denial of Tentative Justification dur­ing this Age is the foundation of its rejecting the Scriptural doctrine that those faithful consecrators from 1881 until Restitution sets in, for whom there are no crowns available, and hence no spirit-begetting for Gospel-Age purposes, will be the Millen­nial associates of the Ancient Worthies in reward and service, they will be able by Scriptural, reasonable and factual thinking completely to overthrow every argument that the article under review presents to defend its thesis; for through Tentative Justifi­cation alone can God now deal with this class in preparing them for association with the Ancient Worthies.” [And we say the same of others who have perverted Tentative Justification and have set aside the teaching of both Messengers as given above on the faithful consecrators from 1881 until Restitution sets in—JJH]

To reverse himself on his “Modern Worthies,” JFR was logically forced to reject Tentative Justification; and eventually to discard the entire book on Tabernacle Shad­ows, which book had been basic for a large part of the Parousia Truth. This accounts for much of the flood of error that subsequently appeared in the Towers. In the Taber­nacle picture the Levites type the tentatively justified during the Gospel Age, as well as in this last special period of the Gospel Age – the Epiphany. In the type the Le­vites were the teachers of the people (See Ezek. 44:9-14); and eliminating them from the Tabernacle picture makes the book a lopsided and unintelligible presentation. This readily accounts for JFR’s rejection of the book after he had rejected tentative justi­fication.

ANOTHER PERVERSION

Coming now to the Present Truth, R. G. Jolly does not follow precisely in the steps of JFR, but he presents a teaching just about as bad, but in the very opposite direction. He is telling us now that no new consecrators may secure tentative justi­fication in the Court – as has been true during the entire Gospel Age; they must ob­tain it in the Camp. He is telling us also that tentative justification will prevail throughout the Millennium – all of which is directly contradicted by both Brother Russell and Brother Johnson. In the March 15, 1913 Tower (Reprints 5207), col. 2, par. 6, we find this:

“Tentative Justification, then, is for the purpose of giving a standing with God [“being justified by faith, we have peace with God” (Rom. 5:1)—JJH], from which a believer in our Lord’s ransom-sacrifice as his only hope of salvation may ascertain whether he has that spirit of sacrifice which will lead him to full consecration. The believer is at liberty to choose which course he will take. He may offer himself in consecration, or he may decide not to do so. But should he decide to wait for restitu­tion, he thereby proves that he has not appreciated God’s offer.”

Certainly the above would now apply to Youthful Worthies – and to no other class ­if we accept our Pastor’s teaching that “those consecrating and proving faithful in the interval between the close of the General Call in 1881 and the inauguration of the earthly phase of the Kingdom [for whom no crowns are available] will become associated in reward and honor with the Ancient Worthies in the Kingdom.” (F 156; Z ‘11,181; Z ‘15, 269; Question Book pp. 151-152. See also E-4:337)

All the foregoing is set aside by RGJ when he declares that those in the Camp can now make an acceptable consecration; but in the ultimate analysis they will be no more than restitutionists, although required now to walk the same narrow way as the Little Flock has done all during the Age. Note now the comment in E-4:332 (26): “It is reasonable and Scriptural to expect for the Youthful Worthies, as well as for the Ancient Worthies, that they will receive ultimately a higher reward than they could have on this earth. As the Ancient, so the Youthful Worthies would be everlastingly degraded instead of be­ing everlastingly rewarded for their Millennial service and suffering for the world, and their post-Millennial service for the faithful of the world, and for their post-­Millennial suffering for righteousness at the hands of the second-death class – if they would remain on the earth forever; for since all human beings found worthy of everlast­ing life will henceforth be equal (Matt. 25:34; Rev. 21:24), it would follow that the Youthful, as well as the Ancient Worthies, from being the Millennial superiors, would be degraded to being the eternal equals of the world of mankind... The Divine Attri­butes do not reward such faithfulness by eternal degradation.”

The above reasoning would apply to all consecrators “between the Ages” who walk a narrow way while sin and evil are in the ascendancy. Why accept such adverse afflic­tion if their eventual reward will be no more than those who have “enjoyed the pleas­ures of sin for a season?”  Furthermore, to concoct such a class now for restitution purposes is simply mixing the two salvations – as the nominal church has done all dur­ing the Age. It is a revolutionism against the Two Salvations – for the elect and for the non-elect – with no support whatever coming from the two Messengers: a pure inven­tion by RGJ.

In the May-June 1972 Present Truth [which is excellent in much of its pages be­cause it is mostly from That Servant and the Epiphany Messenger] RGJ says: “Further­more the history of the Epiphany shows that, generally speaking, the Youthful Worthies have not yet even been recognized as existing as such by the Truth groups under bad leadership.” (p. 43, col. 1, par. 1) That is true, of course; but RGJ is now telling us that there is no longer opportunity to join that class. Can he show a parallel for such a conglomeration for the Ancient Worthies, the Little Flock and the Great Company among the Truth groups?

Up to 1950 the LHMM was the only group – so far as we know – who conscientiously made any effort to win Youthful Worthies. The Witnesses were very dedicated to win­ning worldlings for a worldling work; but almost all the other groups were busily en­gaged in winning others to the High Calling. Let us emphasize that RGJ’s Consecrated Campers do not now have their names inscribed in the Book of Life – this according to his own admission; yet he has them with Tentative Justification! But when they even­tually inscribe their names in the restitution book they will lose their Tentative Justification and come under the Mediator.

But this matter of a Mediator makes transparent nonsense of a justification of any kind – except a gradual works justification, which will only be completed by the end of the Mediatorial reign. Justification during the Gospel Age does not make one right; it merely reckons him right. And when one is reckoned right, this gives him a standing before God, which eliminates the necessity for a Mediator. Thus, those in the 1908-1911 sifting who claimed the Church is under the New Covenant revealed a fool­ish foundation. If they were under the New Covenant, then they would also be under the Mediator – as the restitutionists will be when the Kingdom reign begins. None of the tentatively justified during this Age have needed a mediator; they stood before God in reckoned perfection. During this Epiphany time the Youthful Worthies have been in­scribing their names in the Book of Life – although they have no more than Tentative Jus­tification – and this same fact would be true of Consecrated Campers [if there would be such a Class]. They, too, would be inscribing their names in the Book of Life, be­cause they would have a perfect standing before God.

As we have said on previous occasion, many in the various Truth groups, as well as in Big Babylon, who have conscientiously presented themselves to God during this Epi­phany time will realize that they are Youthful Worthies, although they do not recognize that fact now. Armageddon will probably be the means by which this will be accomplished. That is why the Epiphany Messenger wrote as he did in E–10:672: “Our non-Truth Great Com­pany and Youthful Worthy brethren, and new ones [Youthful Worthies—JJH] not yet conse­crated are to be won for the Truth, some of whom will be won before Babylon is destroyed and others of them afterward.” That is, after Armageddon.

The Epiphany Messenger tells us in the March 1945 Present Truth, p. 48, that the Youthful Worthies will be as numerous as the Ancient Worthies; and according to Hebrews 11:32 the Ancient Worthies are quite numerous. Since Tentative Justification is a Gospel–Age justification, given for the purpose of a standing before God, all consecra­tions made between the Ages “until restitution sets in” are for elective purposes. Restitutionists don’t have a standing before God now, neither will they have in the Kingdom until their works justification is completed – at the end of the Millennium. There will be neither a tentative nor a vitalized justification in the Kingdom, as Bro. Johnson tells us in Epiphany Vol. 15, p. 261.

In view of the faithful teachings of both Messengers as given herein, we reiterate that Youthful Worthiship is available as long as Tentative Justification is available between the Ages – until restitution sets in. And we would qualify this statement by saying there will come a time when sound doctrine will not be endured by any one not already established in Present Truth; and when that time arrives it is doubtful that any one would be able to receive “sound doctrine” sufficiently enough to make an ac­ceptable consecration. However, tentative justification will continue for the faith­ful consecrators. That Servant corroborates this thought: “The question is May not this statement of the Revelator (Rev. 13:17—JJH) mean more than is now experienced? Like the Apostle Paul’s statement, may it not imply a time will come, in the last days, when sound doctrine will not be endured at all?” (Parousia Vol. 2, p. 259, bottom)

If Restitutionists want to consecrate for Restitution purposes now, that is their privilege, just as it was the privilege of Cornelius before his consecration was ac­cepted; and if such consecrators are sincere it will doubtless make them more amenable for the Highway of Holiness when the “way” is opened up for them. Their standing will be before The Christ until their works justification is completed – at the end of the Millennium. Such a Restitution Class walking a ‘narrow way’ in this last special period of the Gospel Age is an absurdity, but “Every absurdity has a champion to defend it, for error is always talkative.”

“For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds... And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.” (Hebrews 12:3, 13,14)

Sincerely your brother,

John J. Hoefle Pilgrim

NO. 251: THE THREE WORLDS - CONDITIONS AND PEOPLES - (PART FOUR)

No. 251

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

(Continued from No. 250 – April 1, 1976)

As explained in previous papers, the first world – “the world that was” – con­sisted of but one Age or Dispensation; the second world – “this present evil world” ­has been comprised of three Ages: (1) the Patriarchal Age, (2) the Jewish Age, and (3) the Gospel or Christian Age. The latter is now rapidly drawing to a close, and will immediately he followed by a new order of affairs “wherein dwelleth righteousness.” (2 Pet. 3:13)

In Eph. 2:7 St. Paul speaks of “the Ages to come”; and the Bible reveals that the first of these will he the Millennial Age. The words Millennial and Millennium at such are not in the Bible, but the idea contained in those words is very clearly taught there­in. Millennium is a Latin word – an adjective meaning thousand–yeared. In Latin it is combined with the noun regnum (kingdom). Therefore, the expression regnum millennium means thousand-yeared kingdom. The Latin adjective millennium has been accepted liter­ally into English, but as a noun instead of an adjective – and refers to that period of time in which Christ and His Church will reign over the earth and mankind – the fulfillment of Jesus’ prayer, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth.”

This thought is clearly demonstrated in many Scriptures, such as 2 Tim. 4:1, Jas. 2:5, Rev. 3:21, 11:15, 20:4-9. In Rev. 20:4 it is expressly stated that “they (the Church) lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.” And Rev. 5:10 states, “We shall reign on the earth”; thus, the earth will have to be here for that thousand years if the Christ Company is to reign on it during that time. And Rev. 11:15 states further, “The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign forever and ever” (throughout the “Ages to come”). The set­ting of this last text clearly shows that the setting up of this “reign” is to be pre­ceded by much turmoil and violent disorder, after which time “He maketh the storm a calm” (Psa. 107:29, Matt. 8:26). This Matthew text is a striking demonstration of how it will be then. That thousand-year reign is also described in the Bible as “the day of the Lord” – “the day of God” – “that day,” etc.; which infer the Millennium, because “One day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years is as one day.” (2 Pet. 3:8; Psa. 90:4)

The Millennial Age immediately follows the last Age (The Gospel Age) of “this present evil world,” and is, therefore, the first Age or Dispensation of the “world to come,” and will be the first thousand years of the third world. It will be followed by the “Ages to come.” How many of such Ages there will be we do not know, because the Bible is silent on the matter; but we do know that the “world to come” will be endless; “Israel shall be saved in the Lord with an everlasting salvation... world without end” (Isa. 45:17) – “He shall reign for the Ages of Ages.” (Rev. 11:15, Dia.) Therefore, apart from the Millennial Age – the first Age of “the world to come” – we know almost nothing about the Third World, except that its many Ages will be completely devoid of evil – with all beings in Heaven and on earth in harmony and peace with each other ­“They shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid.” (Zeph. 3:13)

God’s revealed “Plan of the Ages” (Eph. 3:11, Dia.) covers the period of Creation in “the world that was” to the close of the Millennium (the “world to come”); therefore, it would profit us nothing to attempt to delve into that which has not been revealed. We are told in Rev. 20:12 that “another book was opened,” and it would seem from this that a third division of the Bible will be added to the Old and New Testaments, which will offer some enlightenment on a future that is now very dim to us.

We would be better occupied here to consider some of the workings of the Millennium as they are revealed to us now. Rev. 22:3 says that when the Throne of God is estab­lished in the earth “there shall be no more curse.” However, it is clearly stated in various Scriptures that presently we do experience the effects of the curse – the curse that was pronounced upon Adam as a result of his disobedience. (Gen. 3:16–19; Rom. 5: 12–21; 8:19,20,22; 1 Cor. 15:21,22) This curse affects mankind physically, mentally, morally and religiously. The imperfect conditions that now prevail in the earth have placed a great burden on man physically. As we see things today, the great majority of the human race is engaged in a vicious struggle just to keep alive – to have food, cloth­ing and shelter sufficient for survival. It is axiomatic that man lives in hope, and dies in despair. Heat and cold, myriad of disease germs (it is stated that man is sub­ject to about 2,000 different maladies), major calamities such as earthquakes, violent storms, etc., continually sap man’s vitality. Man’s inhumanity to man, coupled with “the darkness that covers the earth, and gross darkness the people” (Isa. 60:2) hangs over the human race like a black night without stars or moon. Over the centuries the hereditary effects of these evils have tended to make man weaker and shorter of years in life.

The imperfect condition of the earth (including fermentation, extremes of climate and very poor quality of air) has greatly dwarfed man’s mental powers. While there has been great dissemination of general knowledge during the past hundred years, we do not have any minds on earth today that would compare with men such as Moses, Solomon, Euclid, St. Augustine, Shakespeare, etc. The rigors of life have been so severe that man has been so forced to neglect his mental development that ignorance has been widespread; and it still continues so with the great majority – even in the more enlightened countries. Error, too – both secular and religious – has made inroad upon the intellect, so that many openly admit they do not know what to believe. St. Paul was acutely conscious of this: “Henceforth walk ye not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them.” (Eph. 4:17,18)

While the untamed earth has taken heavy toll upon man’s physical, mental and moral powers, it has been even worse on his religious perceptions. Many disregard religion entirely, which has caused atrophy in this the finest of his faculties. As we view the multifarious religious cults today – all of them contradicting each other in major doc­trines in Christendom, and even worse in heathen lands – it would produce in us gross dis­couragement were it not for the grand promise that “In this mountain (His Millennial king­dom) the Lord will destroy the face of the covering cast over all people (the death pro­cess which collects its unrelenting toll from all), and the veil (of ignorance and super­stition) that is spread over all nations.” (Isa. 25:7) This will be the overall grand result of the thousand–year reign just ahead of us.

That there is great need for relief from all of the foregoing all will agree; and many well–intentioned persons and organizations are making great effort to assuage the various evils that afflict mankind; but each century seems to make things worse instead of better, so that St. Paul describes this present time as “the evil day.” (Eph. 6:13) However, man’s effort to rid himself of the evils that afflict the race will continue in failure; his effort is a feeble attempt to lift himself up by his own bootstraps – an impossible thing. This was vividly demonstrated in the Jewish Age through failure to keep the Law; and it has been even more so in the Christian Era, despite the great enlighten­ment and spiritual blessings that Christianity has wrought.

But, what man has been unable to do for himself, the Millennial kingdom will accom­plish when the prediction is realized: “We give thee thanks, 0 Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because Thou hast taken to thee Thy great power, and hast reigned.” (Rev. 11:17) That power will remove the curse from the earth, and will restore Edenic conditions – perfect life in perfect surroundings. All error shall then vanish from the earth, and Truth will prevail in secular and religious matters. Death and the death process will be lifted. “The creature itself shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption.” (Rom. 8:21) “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and 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) “These words are true and faithful.” (Rev. 21:5)

False religions shall disappear under that reign; oppressive governments shall be eliminated; no more back–breaking labor to enrich the few and enslave the many. The Millennial reign will accomplish all of this in the centuries immediately ahead; and bring it to full conclusion by the year 2874. Self–evidently, these good operations will com­pletely overthrow “this present evil world,” whose history since the flood has been filled with gruesome records of blood, cruelty and tears.  “Man’s inhumanity to man makes count­less thousands mourn.” This has been pronouncedly true since “the time of the Gentiles” began in the Fall of 607 BC, and which continued for 2520 years to the Fall of 1914. “Let his heart be changed from man’s, and let a beast’s heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him.” (Dan. 4:16) A “time” is a Jewish year of 360 days; and “seven times” would be 2520 literal days, or 2520 actual years.

Concurrent with the foregoing, Satan has “blinded the minds” of the many, so that “the whole world (Kosmos – present social order) lieth in wickedness.” (1 John 5:19) He has concocted especially six great errors: Divine right of Kings, Divine right of the Clergy, Divine right of the Aristocracy, Consciousness of the Dead, Transformation of the Dead into spirits, and Eternal Torture in the Lake of Fire. Thus, “His kingdom was full of darkness” (Rev. 16:10), which has produced a “night of weeping” (Psa. 30:5); but joy of the Millennial morning will shortly dissipate all this.

RESTITUTION OF ALL THINGS

The Apostle Peter says this Millennium will accomplish “the restitution of all things.” (Acts 3:21) Restitution means a return to an original state, which implies (1) an original state; (2) a leaving or a loss of that original state; and (3) a restora­tion to that original state. If man is to have Restitution, we are forced to three con­clusions: (1) his primeval perfection in the image and likeness of God at his creation; (2) his fall through sin under the curse to his deficiencies as we see them today; and (3) his uplift out of present adverse conditions, and his restoration (Restitution) to his original state.

The Scriptures are very clear in substantiation of the foregoing. “God saw every­thing that He had made, and, behold, it was very good.” (Gen. 1:31) “As for God, His way is perfect.” (Psa. 18:30)   As for man’s sinful condition, the evidence of it is ev­erywhere about us. His relief from the present undone condition is the declared purpose of restitution, which is synonymous with the Millennial kingdom. One of the first steps in this matter will be to eliminate “the father of lies,” that is, the Devil (John 8:44), which in turn will allow free and fluid teaching and understanding of the Truth. “Satan bound for a thousand years (the Millennial kingdom)... that he should deceive the nations no more.” (Rev. 20:2,3)

The means of accomplishing this has already been provided by the sacrifice of Jesus the giving of His life and life rights for Adam and his descendants. Jesus kept the Di­vine Law perfectly, which would have secured for Him the right to perfect existence, per­fect environment (home, food, air, water, fellowship with God and man, with dominion over the earth, its atmosphere and creatures). In sacrificing all of these things through His death on the cross He was able to purchase the race in perfection as Adam had enjoyed these things in Eden. This purchase guarantees restoration – restitution – to all who wish to avail themselves of the opportunity.

By opportunity we mean faith and obedience to the Divine Law. Restitution will not be forced upon any one; it is a privilege, not a command, to be consummated gradually during the Millennium with all the assistance necessary to acquire it. Imperfect man at that time will be no more able to keep the Divine Law perfectly than he is able to do so now; but he will be aided in all proper ways to enable him to gain perfection. “An high­way shall be there... The way of holiness....... the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein... the ransomed of the Lord shall return... with songs and everlasting  joy up­on their heads.” (Isa. 35:8–10) This is described otherwise as the “New Covenant” – in contrast with the old Law Covenant – “Saith the Lord, I will put My law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts.” (Jer. 31:31-33)

In “this present evil world” the sins of the parents have been visited upon the chil­dren. Thus, many are brought into this world under unbearable handicaps – through no fault of their own; but it will not be so in the Age just ahead. “In those days they shall say no more, The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children’s teeth are set on edge. But every one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eateth the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge.” (Jer. 31:29,30) Divine Truth will come freely to all; it will be “the leaves of the tree for the healing of the nations.” (Rev. 22:2) Thus man­kind will be shown what to believe, what not to believe, what to do, what not to do – in secular and religious matters – “the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” (Isa. 11:9) The cobwebs of error will be swept away, and the people will then desire to render obedience through the inherent reasonableness and inherent strength of the Lord’s Word.

The various Scriptures we have quoted herein witness with harmonious and powerful voice that the Millennium will bring to the living and the dead the privileges and bless­ings of restitution.  “All that are in their graves shall hear His voice, and shall come forth.” (John 5:28,29) The first three chapters of Genesis treat of the original para­dise (“The Lord planted a garden – paradise – eastward in Eden”), man in the image and likeness of God, their possession and loss. The last three chapters of Revelation tell of the image and likeness of God restored, the new paradise in “the world to come.” In between these six chapters the Bible is vocal with the grand message of restitution. The patriarchs spoke of, and hoped for it; the Mosaic Law prefigured it; the Biblical histories typed it; the Jews longed and prayed for it; the Apostles and their followers proclaimed it; Jesus by His death guaranteed it; and Jehovah by His oath unchangeably pledged it. When Jesus told the Apostles to pray “Thy kingdom come” it was not intended as a request for something then uncertain; it was rather a yearning petition for the ar­rival of something that was already irrevocably assured.

The clear truth on the foregoing was completely lost in the deluge of error  that developed after the Apostles fell asleep – overruled by the Lord until the “due time” for its understanding. We have already mentioned that the Apostle Peter spoke of “the times of restitution” (Acts 3:21); and we now quote some from what the Apostle  Paul has recorded about it: “I knew a man in Christ (Paul himself) .... caught up to the  third heaven.” (2 Cor. 12:2) This third heaven is the same one mentioned by the Apostle in 2 Pet. 3:13: “new heavens and a new earth.” Paul then continues in 2 Cor. 12:4: “He was caught up into paradise (“God planted a garden – a paradise – eastward in Eden—Gen. 2:8) and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.” The “paradise” which Paul saw was the restored earth; and, while he says he was not per­mitted to speak fluently about it, he was undoubtedly much illuminated by what he saw in that vision, giving great force, shading and depth to his writings.

TWENTY–ONE EVILS – TWENTY-ONE REMEDIES

It is our understanding that twenty-one evils are revealed in the Bible as afflict­ing the human race, and that God has provided twenty-one remedies – a cure for each of them – through the ministry of Jesus. Some of these cures have been operative since the Christian Age began; all of them will have been operative by the full end of the Millen­nial kingdom. By that time most of them will have accomplished their purposes, and will pass out of existence – although a few of Jesus’ titles will never terminate; they are eter­nal. We  list the twenty-one evils, with brief comment on each of them as follows:

1. Enslavement of the race under the curse unto death. The remedy for this as provided by Jesus is the Ransom.

2. Law-condemned convicts. Jesus acts as Advocate for them.

3. Destitution of righteousness (Isa. 64:6): “We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness as filthy rags... our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” But, “Jesus is made unto us righteousness.” (1 Cor. 1:30)

4. A selfish and worldly life.  Jesus, as Bridegroom, shows us a “more excellent way.” (1 Cor. 12:31)

5. Alienation between God and man. Jesus, as High Priest, forgives and blesses.

6. Ignorance. Jesus  “is made unto us wisdom.” (1 Cor. 1:30)

7. Captives of Satan. Jesus is made unto us deliverance. (1 Cor. 1:30)

8. Enmity of truth, righteousness and holiness. Jesus is “the Captain of our salvation.” (Heb. 2:10)

9. Inability properly to think God’s thoughts, feel His affections and will His will. “The head of every man is Christ.” (1 Cor. 11:3)

10. Distrust between God and man. Christ as Mediator will mediate these differences.

11. Dying and death. Jesus is “the everlasting Father.” (Isa. 9:6)

12. Lack of a perfect law and lawgiver. Jesus is the Perfect Lawgiver. “The law of the Lord is perfect... making wise the simple.” (Psa. 19:7)

13. Worry and strife. Jesus is “The Prince of peace.” (Isa. 9:6)

14. Unruliness. Jesus is King.

15. Without knowledge of Divine Truth. Jesus is a Revealer and Teacher of the Truth. “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go; I will guide thee with mine eye.” (Psa. 32:8)

16. Impracticability as to saving arrangements. Jesus will cure this as God’s Executive.

17. Physical, mental, artistic, moral and religious sickness. Jesus the Physician: “Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; Who healeth all thy diseases.” (Psa. 103:3)

18. Owned and controlled now by Satan. Jesus will be Lord. “At the name of Jesus every knee should bow... in heaven... in earth... Every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.” (Phil. 2:10,11)

19. Not able to stand before the judgment seat unaided. Jesus is our understand­ing and merciful lenient judge. “Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; Who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies.” (Psa. 103:4) “The Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son.” (John 5:22)

20. Impurity.  Jesus the Purifier and Refiner. “And He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver (Truth); and He shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver.” (Mal. 3:3)

21. Impoverishment, Jesus the Provider. “My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:19)

    It will be noted that the foregoing 21 evils are all-inclusive of the afflictions that presently beset the human race; and that Jesus, “Who learned obedience by the things which He suffered” (Heb. 5:8), is well-qualified and empowered to correct and fully cure all of them. And this He will do when He takes to Himself His great power and reigns throughout the Millennial Age – the first Age just ahead in “the world to come.” By the time that reign ends the death that “has passed upon all men” (Rom. 5:12) through Adam’s disobe­dience, and the dying process that has afflicted the human race for more than six thous­and years, will have been fully destroyed and “there shall be no more curse.” (Rev. 22:3) Also, the “goats” in the parable that Jesus spoke in Matt. 25:31-46 will have gone into everlasting destruction – the Second Death, symbolized by the Lake of Fire; “they shall be as though they had not been” (Obad. 16).

    Then “the righteous shall see it and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her mouth” (Psa. 107:42).  Sin shall never rise again. God will be glorified forever and ever by perfect creatures, both in heaven and on earth. “And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the 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 forever and ever.” (Rev. 5:13) May this presentation prove a rich blessing to all our readers!

    Sincerely your brother,

    John J. Hoefle, Pilgrim

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QUESTION OF GENERAL INTEREST

QUESTION: – The Jehovah’s Witnesses are teaching that all who do not now join with them will be forever annihilated in Armageddon. How do they harmonize that with the words of Jesus (John 5:28,29): “All that are in the graves shall hear Jesus’ voice, and shall come forth”?

ANSWER: – They don’t try to harmonize the two; they just ignore the words of Jesus on the subject.  They also ignore the words of Jesus in a couple of other Scriptures, as instance Matt. 24:30: “They shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of Heaven.” This statement was made concerning the Jews, particularly their leaders. Yet the Witnesses are telling us that those people have already experienced annihilation. If they be forever dead, just how will they “see” the Son of Man in any way whatever?

Then another Scripture (Luke 13:28): “Ye shall see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.” Here again, just how will those unbelieving Jews see this Kingdom array if they are never to return?

These people also deny a resurrection for Adam, which in effect is a denial of the Ransom – whether or not they are aware of that fact. In 1 Tim. 2:4-6 St. Paul gives us the inspired statement: “Jesus gave Himself a ransom for all.” And further in 1 Cor. 15:22: “As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” Inasmuch as the word Ransom is an exact equivalent, the only one for whom the perfect man Jesus could provide a ransom was the perfect man Adam. The only way any of Adam’s fallen race could be ransomed would be through Adam – in his loins. So there could be no ransom for the im­perfect human race if there is no ransom for Adam. And, while the record is clear that Adam transgressed in the Garden of Eden, there is no indication whatever in the Bible that Adam resorted to evil after his ejection from the Garden.

Let us consider now St. Paul’s words in Acts 24:15: “There shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust.” How shall we classify these two sets of people? In John 5:28,29 Jesus gives us a pretty good idea: “They that have done good” and “they that have done evil.” This would self-evidently include Adam, the Jews who failed to keep the Law of Moses, all the heathen – and all who will not join the Witnes­ses now, as well as the Witnesses themselves who do not believe these words of Jesus. If we agree with the Apostle Paul, it should need no argument that both the just and the unjust are to have a resurrection; and this was to be a future event – after Paul’s death. The word resurrection in this text is from the Greek ‘anastasis,’ which means not merely a resuscitation, as revival from a fainting spell, or some such, but a raising up to life again from the death state.

“A ransom for all, to be testified in due time” (1 Tim. 2:6): Even the Witnesses would hardly contend that this “due time” was any time in the past; but they are declar­ing the “due time” has now arrived; and they tell us we may take their word for that! They are contending that the Kingdom was established through them in 1914; and shortly there­after they began to preach that the “due time” would arrive in 1925. But when 1925 came and went without anything at all occurring to support them, they lost sight of the “due time” for many years; it is just rather recently that they ‘discovered’ that the “due time” is now with us.

“In those days (when the due time, arrives) they shall say no more, The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children’s teeth are set on edge, but every man shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eateth the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge.” (Jer. 31:29,30) The sins of the fathers are still being visited upon the children in our day; even the Witnesses would probably not deny that. At present many are being brought into the world with loathsome diseases which incapacitate them mental­ly and physically; and many who have no outward physical infirmities are woefully lack ­in mentality. And of those who have average mentality, many of them cannot read or write – all through no fault of their own.

Furthermore, we are told in 2 Thes. 3:2 that “all men have not faith.” And of those who “have not faith,” many have more than average intelligence otherwise. Faith is deter­mined by certain organs of the brain; but its lack does not specially impair the other parts of the brain. So what shall we say of these – who cannot presently believe in a resurrection, etc.? Their present condition is certainly the result of the fallen state of their forebears: “the fathers have eaten a sour grape.”

Jesus is the Great Physician – “Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases.” (Psa. 103:3) This “forgiveness of iniquities” has already been ac­complished for all – even though the vast majority do not know it. But the “healing of all diseases” will not be accomplished for any until He takes unto Himself His great power and reigns in the Mediatorial Kingdom. Diseases in the human race are simply the dying process working in men. “In the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” (Gen. 2:17) The marginal reading says “dying thou shalt die” – indicating a gradual process.     This cannot possibly be stopped until the Great Physician has fully set up His Kingdom, at which time “death and hell will be cast into the lake of fire.” (Rev. 20:14) Hell in this text is from the Greek hades, which means the death state – the tomb; whereas, “death” means the dying process. Casting death and hell into the lake of fire simply means the total extinction of the death state and the dying process which are now everywhere apparent; but there is not the slightest evidence to indicate that this destruction has yet even begun.

There are many evidences of normal parents bringing children into the world who are woefully deficient in mind and body – the same being due to numerous causes of the curse. There may be some such parents who now belong to the Witnesses’ organization, and the Witnesses tell us that such parents will be happily saved, although they are to witness the annihilation of their children in Armageddon because such children didn’t have the men­tal capacity to accept them. We are still in the faith Age; and the Apostle Peter counsels us to add to our faith—2 Pet. 1:5. But just how can any one add to something he doesn’t have? All men do not have faith. For  all such we may apply the words of Jesus: “All that are in their graves shall hear His voice, and shall come forth.” This is the inheritance for all – those that now have faith, and those that don’t have faith ­regardless of whether they are Jehovah’s Witnesses or not.

The Witnesses also are quite vociferous in telling others to “Study the Word of God’ they place great emphasis on this feature. Well, all the texts we have quoted herein are the “Word of God” and in substance exactly as they have them in their own Bible. Therefore, we suggest they study these texts in their own Bible – and correct the errors they are presently circulating. Perchance for some of them, “God will give them repent­ance to the acknowledging of the Truth” (2 Tim. 2:25), thus enabling them to become faith­ful “witnesses” of the true “Gospel (good news) of the Kingdom” – Glad tidings of great joy that shall be unto all people. In their “study” of the Bible, the Witnesses follow the exact technique of Babylon; they study it to fit it into their creed – to make it fit what they believe, as they vehemently condemn other systems who do the same thing. “Their folly shall be manifest unto all men.” (2 Tim. 3:9)

On p. 107 of the February 15, 1976 Watchtower there is the following, which fits very well with the foregoing: “The more we read the Bible, the more the churches ap­peared to be condemned by the very book they professed to follow.” And we would say the same for the Witnesses: “The more we read the Bible, the more the Jehovah’s Witnesses appeared to be condemned by the very book they professed to follow.” “Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee,” says Jesus (Luke 19:22).

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LETTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST

Dear Brother Hoefle: Grace and peace!

Your very welcome letter is received... I surely wish to thank you for all of the good literature you sent me last year. It is sure good for volunteer purposes. They are well written, plain and to the point – and well understood by the readers, which is what we need right now...........

As to Rev. Chas. H. Spurgeon, I have a book of the Life and Works of Spurgeon – a memorial edition which belonged to my Grandmother; was given to her for a Christmas present in 1901... It is a very good book and a lot of good thoughts in it. I see in the nominal church articles that Spurgeon is quite popular now........

Yes, I think Bro. Jolly would better serve the brethren in issuing articles in the Bible Standard more like the one in the February issue, which I see is a reprint of Chapter 6, E Vol. 17 – and also reprint of H.E. 9–15–50.

Wishing you all there the Lord’s richest blessings and the best of Christian love to you all, I remain, Your Brother in Him ------- (MICHIGAN)

...........................................................................

Dear Friends:

Praise be! ‘you-all’ are some better. That’s better than “no change,” which is the frustrating hospital remark. That or – “as well as could be expected.” I often wonder what aches and pains caught up with Methuselah after 900 years! I bet the first 500 were a breeze! Imagine it! We know Moses was spared until the very end at least.

His eye was not dim – (he didn’t know about cataracts and glaucoma) nor his nat­ural force abated – 120 years of virile manhood. What a life!

Have had a very enriching time studying and summarizing E Vol. XI. I might ask your “candid comment” some day. We expect to continue our Sunday study... We’ve almost finished T.S. I could go through it again right now, but am sure I need time to absorb what I’ve read and studied this time through,

Take an extra look at the sunrise on your lake  –  for  me. And  may  we  all  be  able and willing to say, Thy will be done!  Love to all at Mount Dora ------- (FLORIDA)

NO. 250: THE THREE WORLDS - CONDITIONS AND PEOPLES - (PART THREE)

No. 250

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

(Continued from No. 245 ‑ November 1, 1975)

In Part One of this subject we offered synoptic analysis of “The World That Was”; in Part Two we offered comment on “This present Evil World,” with detailed information concerning the origin of the various heathen religions before the Patriarchal Age; then the description of that Age, the Jewish Age and the Gospel Age, which latter we have treated in some detail concerning the erroneous religious beliefs that have arisen. since the beginning of the Christian era. Especially did we stress the elective salvation that has prevailed during the Gospel Age, with the extreme misunderstandings that have arisen concerning it.

Now we begin Part Three by stating that much of this misunderstanding is the result of a sad confusion concerning predestination and condemnation which has been applied to this Christian Age – this “good news” Age – with one extreme view by John Calvin, who taught that all not predestinated to salvation in this Age (and this would include the majority in Christian countries, and the entire population in many heathen lands) were predestinated to an eternity of torment in the fires of Hell. By no stretch of the imagination could this be a “good news” Age to those who would inherit eternal torment when this life is finished – nor would it be “good news” to those who are predestinated to know that many of their loved ones will have that fate. While the Bible definitely does teach predestination and condemnation, this does not mean that any individuals were predestinated to salvation or condemnation at birth; the confusion arises from the mistaken belief that the call of this Age is final and determinate a misapplication of the elective and non‑elective salvations.

The elective salvation of this Age is for the very purpose of blessing the non elect in the next Age – in “the world to come” – which we shall discuss later. St. James makes this quite clear in his statement as recorded in Acts 15:14‑17: “God at the first did visit the Gentiles (who had been ignored all during the Jewish Age) to take out of them a people for His name (Christians)... After this (in the Age to come) I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David... that the residue of men (all the non‑elect in Christendom and all the heathen) might seek after the Lord.” This will occur when the Lord’s prayer becomes fact: “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth.” Then the present “blindness of Israel” will be healed; then the “ransom for all men” will be available for all men – if they choose to have it so. Then will apply the words of Rev. 22:17: “The Spirit and the bride say, Come.... And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”

Some sects in Christendom have embraced the foregoing Scriptures, and have carried them to the opposite extreme of eternal torment. They contend every person who has ever lived will experience salvation – that even the Devil and his demon angel cohorts will be saved. Of course, they are forced to keep silent on such texts as Heb. 2:14: “Through death He (Jesus) might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the Devil.” The doctrines of election and free grace have greatly perplexed Christians for centuries – the result of their inability to “rightly divide the Word of Truth.” (2 Tim. 2:15)

All during this Christian (good news) Age the selection of the Church has been taking place – gathered from all nations, but especially from the nations of Christendom. “Thou has redeemed us by thy blood out of every kindred, and nation, and people and tongue.” (Rev. 5:9) But we stress again that this has been a call – not a command; it has applied only to those who would “follow in His steps.” (1 Pet. 2:21) This call has now been substantially completed, and preparation is being made for the introduction of the next Age – “the world to come” – in the very near future. All of this has been progressing in orderly fashion “according to the Plan of the Ages, which God hath formed for the anointed Jesus our Lord.” (Eph. 3:11, Diaglott translation)

The sowing of the glad tidings of this Gospel Age should logically conclude with a reaping, a harvest – just as was true at the end of the Jewish Age. In the 13th Chapter of Matthew Jesus offered the parable of the sower, the wheat and the tares; and in verse 36 the Disciples asked him to explain the parable. In concluding His explanation Jesus said, “The harvest is the end of the world.” The word world in this text is from the Greek aion, and means the Age or Dispensation. In other words, the “harvest” is the end of the Christian or Gospel Age. Jesus also explained to them that the tares would be first gathered into bundles for the burning; and this burning has been proceeding in ever‑increasing severity since the outbreak of the World War in 1914; and will proceed to a completion in the very near future.

This bundling for the burning began first with the nations, then proceeded to various organizations, and will find finality with individuals before this present generation passes away. (“This generation shall not pass away, till all these things be accomplished.” – Matt. 24:34.)

Illustrative of the foregoing, we mention the Triple Alliance, formed in 1882 between Germany, Austria‑Hungary and Italy; and the Triple Entente, formalized in 1893 between Great Britain, France and Russia, and fully in existence in 1907. At the outbreak of the World War in 1914 these six nations were pitted against each other in the greatest conflict in history up to that time. After the completion of the war these bundles fell apart – were fully “burned” – so much so that they are seldom mentioned now; many people who were not yet born in 1914 do not understand what we are talking about if we mention the Triple Alliance or the Triple Entente. And this same situation will eventually prevail with many of our present organizations – after which individual “tares” will be destroyed to a completion.

One of the evidences that the foregoing statement is true is to be found in Dan. 12:1: “There shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time.” The World War, which began in 1914, was up to that time the world’s greatest calamity; and Dan. 12:4 tells us that this would be one of the evidences of “the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.” During this present century the automobile and the airplane have accelerated transportation in a manner not dreamed of one hundred years ago. The average cruising speed of the ordinary commercial plane is now about 600 miles per hour, or ten miles per minute. A hundred years ago it took a real good horse drawing a carriage to make ten miles in one hour; and it was not possible for such a horse to continue that speed for several hours without intermittent rest.

And the increase in knowledge has kept pace with the increase in travel. Prior to the year 1800 there were just two inventions of any consequence – the printing press and gun powder. But after “the time of the end” began in 1799 the steamboat (in 1803) and the railroad train (in 1813) came into being; with a great flood of inventions appearing later, and especially so since 1874. The first hand carpet sweeper appeared in 1869; the first commercial typewriter in 1874; the Bell telephone was patented in 1876. Shortly thereafter came the electric light, considered by some to be the most beneficial invention in all history for the human race. Pages could be written on this subject; but we believe enough has been said to prove that we are in “the time of the end” of this Gospel Age, the end of “this present evil world”; and that we are on the threshold of “the world to come” – that kingdom for which Jesus taught us to pray. We are now in 1976, just 6102 years from the beginning of “the world that was.”

However, hand in hand with the mechanical contrivances has come a tremendous increase in Biblical knowledge, history, and critical translations, most of which have come in the past hundred years. Brilliant Greek and Hebrew scholars have given us vastly improved works, compared with the common King James version of the Bible, which latter is known to have about 20,000 mistakes in it. One of the most enlightening bits of knowledge came in the Fall of 1874, when it became clear that the “Lord is that spirit (2 Cor. 3:17), invisible to the human eye; and, as such, He would establish His kingdom on earth in the near future.

Also along with the great increase in knowledge – secular and biblical – there came “the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world” (Rev. 3:10), which began in 1878 and continued concurrently with the harvest work. This hour produced a great scourge of insidious errors – such as Christian Science, Spiritism, Materialism, Evolution and various faith‑healing counterfeits, along with a surge in Higher Criticism, Rationalism, Agnosticism, Atheism, Deism and Pantheism. During this same time there developed much political radicalism, which had its first great national victory in Russia in the Fall of 1917 – when the Czarist regime was toppled by Kerenski, et al with many similar movements operating since that time. Furthermore, “the heavens (the present religious systems) shall be rolled together as a scroll” (Isa. 34:4; Rev. 6:14), with great effort being made to combine the various systems into one great universal church, largely ignoring loyalty to principle and striving to win great numbers and gain great favor.

But in the face of all this, many sectarians claim that the people are now more ready for the truth than ever before. We would mention especially the Jehovah’s Witnesses, who make this contention, even as they in the same breath admit that Satan is still “The god of this world, who hath blinded the minds of them which believe not.” (2 Cor. 4:4) Especially is this true, they say, since 1914, when they claim Satan was cast out of Heaven; yet they contend those “blinded” ones must join them before Armageddon if they are to experience any salvation. Along with this “strong delusion” they also advertise “A BIBLE YOU CAN UNDERSTAND.”

In the foregoing they are directly contradicted by the Bible itself – in language any one can understand who knows how to read: “In the time of the end .... none of the wicked shall understand.” (Dan. 12:4,10) The Apostle Paul corroborates this in 2 Tim. 4:3,4: “The time will come (in the end of this Age) when they will not endure sound doctrine... And they shall turn away their ears from the truth.”

During this period there arose also great social reform movements, such as prohibition, crusades against vice, denunciation of the drug traffic, uplift from slum, poverty, disease, etc. Many of these cared not that they ignored sound doctrine, made little or no effort to follow the Bible teachings. One outstanding effort in this line is the abolition of capital punishment, which now has the jails in America so overcrowded that many of them are in very dire straits. These various evils have so undermined sound government that it is well‑nigh impossible to succeed in any political campaign without resorting to rash promises which are impossible of fulfilment, which in turn has eroded the respect which the ordinary citizens once had for their rulers.

The treaties between nations are experiencing similar deterioration. Before the czarist regime fell in 1917, when the Czar would ride down a dusty road, the peasants would rush out into the road and kiss the dust over which his carriage had gone. This was not good, of course, but the same class of people have now gone pretty much to the other extreme, and do not extend even common courtesy to those in authority. Along with the harvest of the “wheat” (the Lord’s faithful followers) there has also been fulfilment of Jesus’ words: “In the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into My barn.” (Matt. 13:30) Further confirmation of this thought is to be found in Dan. 7:11: “I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame” – in the trouble that has been steadily increasing since 1914.

The “chaff” of the Jewish Harvest and the “tares” of the Christian harvest bear a relationship – both are sentenced to be burned; but this should not be construed as a literal fire. Fire in the Bible often indicates a destructive influence; and that is its meaning here. John the Baptist had said, “Jesus will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” (Luke 3:16) The “fire” in this prophecy was the terrible destruction by the Roman army in the year 70 AD (“the chaff He will burn with fire unquenchable”); and the burning of the tares has a similar meaning here in the end of “this present evil world.” Literal tares are imitation wheat; and the tares of the parable represent imitation Christians, as note the following by one writer:

“In passing through the country of the ancient Philistines, on the south of Palestine, I asked the guide one day, a native Syrian, if he knew of a plant which was apt to make its appearance among the wheat, and which resembled it so much that it could hardly be distinguished from it. He replied that it was very common, and that he would soon show me a specimen of it. Shortly he pointed out to me some of this grass growing near our path; and afterwards, having once seen it, I found it in almost every field where I searched for it. Except that the stalk was not so high, it appeared otherwise precisely as wheat – just as the ears begin to show themselves, and the kernels are swelling out into shape. I collected some specimens of this deceitful weed, and have found, on showing them to friends, that they have mistaken them quite invariably for some species of grain, such as wheat or barley.”

This bundling of the tares has been quite prominent since 1874. Various human combinations, such as national bundles like me Triple Alliance and the Triple Entente, which were largely responsible for the 1914 war; capitalistic bundles like trusts, etc.; proletarian bundles such as unions; ecclesiastical bundles like federations, etc. The “fire” of the 1914 war unmasked many of these; e.g., Who now rates the Kaiser or Hitler as Christians? This burning of the tares will continue to a completion in the years immediately ahead.

Another item of interest here in “the time of the end” is the prophecy that Israel’s “blindness” will be cured. “It shall come to pass in that day (the end of this Age) that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem..... and they shall look upon Me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn because of it.” (Zech. 12:9, 10) Israel is established as a nation now, and is prominent in world affairs, and world troubles.

In 1878 two events occurred which cast “a shadow before” of the greater things we witness today. In that year Delitzch’s Hebrew translation of the New Testament began its work among the Jews; and in June 1878 the Berlin Congress of Nations (presided over by Disraeli, the first Jew ever to be Prime Minister of England) passed some resolutions that made things much more tolerable for Jews in Palestine. In the years that have followed, the Jews have become measurably reconciled in their age‑old prejudice toward Christ; and many consider Him one of the greatest of Jewish prophets. His sayings are often quoted in Jewish pulpits, seminaries and social circles; and many Jews now accept Him as their Messiah.

In ancient times Palestine was truly a land flowing with milk and honey, a goodly land; and it is becoming once more highly productive under the present ambitious Jewish leadership. The second largest industry is the citrus fruit production. Israel’s prosperity is already exciting the envy of the nations round about; and skillful military techniques have become a vicious irritant to their neighbors. These irritants are certain to increase in the immediate future; and the anarchistic elements of the Gentile nations will ultimately make a desperate attack upon them Ezek. 38:10; 39:29), which will terminate in the second phase of Jacob’s Trouble. (Jer. 30:4‑8) “Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when He fought in the day of battle” (Zech. 14:3) – “the day of battle” here having reference to those times of major triumph under Moses, Joshua, Gideon, David, etc. Thereafter the land that was promised to “the fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,” will be forever theirs.

Thus as a nation in the promised land – having accepted Christ as their Savior they will be the nucleus of the world of mankind waiting to receive the earthly phase of Christ’s Kingdom – to be set up first in their midst. This will be the final purpose of this Christian (Gospel) Age – the greatest of the three Ages of “this present evil world” – to be followed immediately by the Millennial Age of “the world to come,” wherein will be accomplished “the restitution of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets.” (Acts 3:21)

It is well to emphasize here that there have been, broadly speaking, two kinds of Jews. At the time Jesus came, they were described as the “wheat and the chaff,” that being a small picture of the “wheat and the tares” in Christendom at the end of this Age. As said, at that time John the Baptist spoke of them thus: “He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit, and with fire... will gather the wheat into His garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.” (Luke 3:16,17) This was markedly accomplished when the Roman army under Emperor Titus leveled Jerusalem in the year 70 AD. They had said, “His blood be upon us, and on our children” (Matt. 27:25); and God took them at their word. When Titus had finished his work, there was a circle of crosses around Jerusalem, with a dead Jew on every one of them.

But of those that escaped they were scattered hither and yon throughout the earth, and they lost not only God’s favor, but they lost also much of the virility and truth which had been theirs under Moses and Aaron. “Your house is left unto you desolate.” (Matt. 23:38) This desolation was so thoroughly accomplished that the Jews do not now have a High Priest, because that priest must come from the Tribe of Levi; and that Tribe was so thoroughly dissipated during the dispersion that the Jews do not now know which of their number are of that Tribe. Therefore, their Passover and Day of Atonement services are simply exercises in futility because they do not have a High Priest to officiate therein – although the orthodox Jews who are trying to keep the Law Covenant to the best of their ability are to be commended for their sincerity and efforts to keep the Law.

And of the “chaff” of that time St. Paul wrote: “Not that which is external makes the Jew... but the Jew is hidden within, even circumcision of the heart – spiritual, not literal; whose praise comes not from men, but from God.” (Rom. 2:28,29, Dia.) That is, certain facial features sitting in a synagogue are not to be reckoned as the real Jew; but only that which is produced by a proper adherence to the Law and the Prophets is the only real Jew to whom the promises belong. And there are very few of these indeed! The great majority give only token recognition and observance of the true Jewish religion. Their motto over the centuries has been “Get the money”; and at times they have shown a savage ruthlessness in doing that.

Although the Jews played a very prominent role in the Old Testament and in religious lore up to the time of their rejection of the Messiah, and His pronouncement of desolation upon them as a nation, their decline began immediately with Jesus’ death, and judgment was violently meted out to them in the year 70 AD. And, when their nation was thus desolated, so that their national unity was completely dissolved, the Gentile “dogs” (Matt. 15:26,27) took over earth’s authority. This has continued throughout the Age – until the Times of the Gentiles ended in 1914 – since which date the Gentile nations have been declining, and the Jews are once more in the picture of nations; and this condition will prevail unto a completion in the years immediately ahead.

And with this summary we conclude Part III of The Three Worlds; and this series of articles will be completed with Part IV in the near future. It is our hope that the three sections provided thus far have proven enlightening and profitable information to all our readers. “If ye continue in My word... ye shall know the Truth, and the Truth shall make you free.” (John 8:31,32)

Sincerely your brother,  John J. Hoefle; Pilgrim

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QUESTION OF GENERAL INTEREST

QUESTION: – In John 3:16,17 it is stated that “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son... that the world through Him might be saved.” But in 1 John 2:15 we are told, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” Skeptics seize upon these texts as one instance where the Bible contradicts itself. What is the correct thought on these texts?

ANSWER: – The Bible is harmonious with itself. If this were not true – even in a single instance – it could not be regarded as “the Word of Truth.” In both these texts the word “love” is from the Greek agapao; but the word “world” is from the Greek kosmos. Agapao in both texts carries the thought of duty love; but the word kosmos has two different meanings – just as many of our English words have two or three different meanings. In the first text the kosmos means the inhabitants of the earth; whereas, in the second text it carries the thought of the present social order or arrangement.

In the Bible we are told to love our neighbors as ourselves, but nowhere are we told to love the present social order. It was the present social order that crucified our Lord; and it was the present social order that has shed “the blood of the prophets and of saints,” and it has been condemned to destruction “by fire,” the fire being a figurative expression used to denote complete annihilation.

In 2 Pet. 3:10 we are told that “the earth (another expression for the present social order) and the works that are therein (the selfish and depraved acts of men) shall be burned up.” The whole chapter from which we have quoted one small text is written in highly figurative language, but much confusion has resulted by men attempting to accept these figurative statements as literal. If they were literal, it would indeed be a sore and unexplainable contradiction of many other Bible statements – such as “The earth (the planet on which we live) abideth forever.” (Eccl. 1:4) This “burning” began in 1874 in a broad sense; but it actually began in a narrow violent way in 1914 with the outbreak of the World War; and has been steadily progressing since 1914 – so much so that it is now apparent to many persons of sharp discernment. As one outstanding instance, we quote President Woodrow Wilson, who said concerning the great war, “The world is on fire.” Thus it becomes apparent that God has arranged for the salvation of the people living in this present social order, although He has condemned the social order itself to destruction.

It is our thought that the Jehovah’s Witnesses would be well advised to ponder this point in their present proclamations, because they are heralding just the reverse of what the Scriptures teach on the subject – also it is just the reverse of the error which they taught for 1925 – Millions Now Living Will Never Die. These people change their teachings just as easily and just as readily as the chameleon changes his color. They reverse themselves when their predictions fail; and their “dedicated” adherents close their eyes, open their mouths, and swallow any new delirium that they present to them. For the past few years they have been very vociferous in their declaration that the large majority of earth’s inhabitants now living WILL DIE – be annihilated in Armageddon when the present kosmos is overthrown. They now have about two million “saved” persons in their organization; and it is only those who accept them that will survive Armageddon. While the Bible does teach that large numbers of the human family will perish in Armageddon, nowhere does it teach that such death means their eternal annihilation; but the Bible does teach clearly and emphatically the eternal annihilation of the present kosmos – the present social order.

The Witnesses’ present teaching is indeed a far cry from what they were teaching some fifty years ago, at which time they placed great stress upon Zech. 13:8, 9: “It shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: They shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, the Lord is my God.” When they were using this text, they tried to give it a very literal explanation; namely, one‑third of earth’s population would survive Armageddon, which would mean by present reckoning that over one billion living through 1925 would live right on through Armageddon, and into the Kingdom, which is how they arrived at their slogan “Millions Now Living Will Never Die” – after the year 1925. Of course, time itself made them look quite ridiculous, so they were forced to come up with some new hocus‑pocus. Now only their “dedicated” devotees will live on into the Kingdom; all others will be annihilated by that seething cauldron. Thus through fear they have persuaded many to join them – just as did the Roman Catholic Church in the Dark Ages gather numbers to avoid the fate of eternal torment.

When the lawyer asked Jesus which is the great commandment (Matt. 22:37‑40) He answered him in this manner: The first “thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all the heart, soul and mind... and the second, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” From this it is very clear that the requirements of the Law given through Moses are a duty, and many of the Jews tried to keep it, but could not do so because of their fallen condition. And in this connection it should be noted that when “the restitution of all things” (Acts 3:19‑23) is fully established under the Kingdom reign, perfect duty love will be required of all who gain life under that arrangement – a “new heavens and a new earth (a new social arrangement) wherein dwelleth righteousness.” Just the opposite of that condition prevails now, which is the reason for its “burning,” which will proceed to a completion in the very near future.

As stated aforegoing, the word “love” in both texts in the question is from the Greek agapao, which conveys the thought of duty love. There are a number of other texts which contain the word love, but are translated from different Greek words. One of these is the Greek agape, which carries the thought of a sacrificial love, and has been in operation specifically since Pentecost; but it has not been required of the world in general during this Gospel Age, nor will it be required in the next Age when “the restitution of all things” becomes operative. The only ones required to practice sacrificial love during this Age have been those who have accepted Jesus in the full sense determined by His words: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” (Matt. 16:24) But this has been an invitation – and not a command.

Such persons as the foregoing have been a very small minority, and they have not loved the world as it refers to the present social order. This is graphically typified by the acts of the Prophet Elijah in his attempts to reform the Jews – especially so as respects Ahab and Jezebel. He there typed the Gospel‑Age Christians who have attempted to reform the present social order, and have failed badly in their efforts. However, the reformers have shown great love for the people, the inhabitants, of this “present evil world,” and have done much good for them in their ministries.

me Jews under the Law were not required to practice agape love; in fact, they knew little or nothing about it. This is clearly stated by Jesus (Matt. 5:43,44): “Ye have heard that it hath been said, m Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate shine enemy, But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you’“

The foregoing, however, applies only to those who have come into the Christian family; it is not now required of the “world” (the inhabitants of earth), nor will it ever be required of them in the next world. Much confusion has resulted as Christians all during the Age – since shortly after the demise of the Apostles – attempted to apply these words to every one now, which error came about through the loss of the Truth on the two salvations – the “common salvation” (Jude 3), and the “great salvation.” (Heb. 2:3) The “common salvation” is not available during the Gospel Age; and the “great salvation” will not be available in the next Age. Any attempt to mix the two salvations is certain to result in rank confusion.

Love for our enemies was not required under the Law Covenant, such love being sacrificial love – from the Greek agape. Our Lord was the one who brought this agape love into focus – just as He also “brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel.” (2 Tim. 1:10) Had “the ancients” in Old Testament times been instructed in agape love, David and Samson would not have prayed for the death of their enemies.

The inhabitants of this world who will receive restitution in the world just ahead are not now required to practice agape (sacrificial) love in this Age – nor will they be required to do so in the next Age, or at any time in the future. However, we would stress in conclusion that a proper understanding and analysis of love in the two texts is not the real crux of the problem; it is rather the two meanings of the word “world” (kosmos) that make them readily understandable. All who “follow in His steps” also love the world (its inhabitants).

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LETTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST

Dear Brother Hoefle: Grace and peace be multiplied!

Enclosed is a few dollars of the Lord’s money to help in spreading of His Truth. With the demands of the present, it isn’t very much. This seems to be the day when no man can work. May the Lord bless you and yours real good. I appreciate your writings and agree with them. Your brother in Christ, ------- (FLORIDA)

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Dear Brother Hoefle: Grace and peace be multiplied!

Your good letter of the 7th is here, and as always very glad to hear from you. I was quite surprised that Brother Jolly shook hands with you both. I wonder if he is having second thoughts about his Campers Consecrated. Let’s hope so! Of course, he has been warned very thoroughly by you, Brother Hoefle, and if he does not change it will not be because you haven’t tried. But we leave it with the Lord.

Yes, I can imagine you have nice weather all year round. I visualize your lovely place since seeing it last winter. May God grant you good health to carry on His work. Be assured of my prayers and Christian love to you and all the dear ones with you.

Your brother by His Grace, ------- (NEW JERSEY)

NO. 249: SOME THOUGHTS FOR THE MEMORIAL

No. 249

Comes again the Memorial of our Lord’s death, the correct time this year being after 6 p. m. April 12. The date is determined in this fashion: The 1976 Vernal Equinox arrives in Jerusalem at 1:50 p.m. March 20; and the moon following that comes new at 7:08 p.m. March 30, thus establishing Nisan 1 at 6 p.m. March 30. This brings Nisan 14 at 6 p.m. April 12; and any time that evening would be the proper time for what is commonly designated as The Lord’s Supper. We here at Mount Dora shall com­mence the service at 7:30 p.m.; and we extend a cordial invitation to any one who hap­pens to be in this vicinity to join with us who are of one mind on the matter.

THE CORRECT DATE

While the absolute time for observance is not a requirement, we should certainly have the right time if we can determine it. This is in keeping with St. Paul’s coun­sel in 1 Cor. 14:30: “Let all things be done decently and in order.” However, as v. 38 says, “If any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant” – on non-essential teachings. it is an established fact that most of the truest and best of the Household of Faith dur­ing the entire Gospel Age have kept the Memorial on the wrong date; and this was true for some years after 1874 – when the Harvest Truth began to clarify many of the mistakes in teaching and practice that had accumulated after the demise of the Apostles. There­fore, we would emphasize that observance on the wrong date should never be a test of fellowship. “Let every man be persuaded in his own mind.”

However, with those who are guided somewhat by the newing of the moon, once Nisan 1 is properly determined, the Bible is then emphatic that the observance should be an Nisan 14. “Ye shall keep the lamb up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening” – between the two evenings (see margin of Ex. 12:6). The Jews – as well as some Truth groups – usually try to hold the service when the moon comes full; but the moon this year does not come full until 1:49 p. m. April 14, making such participants a day or two late with the service.

Also, some groups use a location other than Jerusalem as their starting time ­some using Greenwich, England, and others Philadelphia, Pa., etc. However, this is simply an arbitrary conclusion. The Bible was all written in Palestine; and the lo­cations just mentioned had not yet been named until hundreds of years later. Therefore, it would be exactly proper to use Jerusalem as the correct place for reckoning the time. The moon may have been at the full on the evening that Jesus and the Apostles ate the Passover together for the last time, because the moon is typical of the Jewish nation; and their polity began immediately to wane after they crucified Jesus, and it passed completely out of existence in the year 70 AD. when the Romans destroyed the temple and either killed or dispersed all Jews from Jerusalem.

It might be well here to explain how the confusion for reckoning this date had its beginning. Innocently enough, the Christians under the Apostles began to assem­ble on the first day of the week to break bread and fellowship together – in memory of the resurrection of Jesus on the first day of the week. This eventually made a dis­tinct cleavage between Jew and Gentile on the Sabbath. Thus, Sunday eventually be­came firmly estab­lished as the Christian Sabbath, and some countries even at this time are very rigid in holding to Sunday, although there is no Biblical support for it other than what we have just mentioned. And, as the early Christians were breaking bread together, they in no sense were attempting to commemorate the death of Jesus (the cup is not mentioned on those Sundays); and it is His death that is the crux of the Memo­rial, and not His resurrection.

Along this line, we might digress somewhat, and state that similar confusion has arisen on the date of Jesus’ birth. Nowhere in the Bible are we told to celebrate His birth, although much ado is made over Christmas in Christian countries. The correct date of His birth is the tenth day of the seventh month (Tishri), which corresponds approx­imately to our October 10 – more than two months before December 25. How came this situation to exist? We answer that as the Papal system grew in numbers and influence and with the “wandering Jew” universally in disrepute – the observance of Christmas on the same date as the Jewish Day of Atonement became decidedly objectionable, so the Papal system produced a cunningly devised fable for December 25 by a reasoning devious and intricate: They began with the premise that the Vernal Equinox is the time for all vegetable life to spring forth – about March 25 – therefore, that must be the time the life in Mary’s womb had its animation. And, counting nine months from March 25 we have December 25. Here again was given a blow to Jewish prestige – although there is just noth­ing in the Bible to support the theory.

It will be readily recognized that great respect would accrue to the Jews if we now celebrated the birth of Jesus on the very day when they sit in sackcloth and ashes, fasting and repentant for the sins of the year on the Day of Atonement. Such action would certainly incite much comment and inquiry to determine this phenomenal coincidence – even as it now goes by unnoticed under present arrangements. On this point also there is no command to make special celebration of Jesus’ birthday; in fact, we are not told even to notice it at all, so we have no particular quarrel with those who choose to do so on December 25. As the Manna says, “Upon this day, so generally celebrated, we may properly enough join with all whose hearts are in the attitude of love and appreciation toward God and toward the Savior.”

How, then, is the date for Good Friday determined? Here again the Papal system produced an arbitrary decision which would always have Good Friday on Friday. Good Friday would be the first Friday after the first full moon after the Spring Equinox ­with Easter the following Sunday. There is also no Bible support for this; and it not only has the effect of having Good Friday on Friday, but it also tends to sever all relationship between Good Friday and the Passover, so that these two dates are some­times separated by almost a full month. Rarely do they occur on the same date. With this arrangement Easter could come as late as April 23; but it would never be possible for the Passover to come as late as that.

The institution of the Passover as given in Exodus 12 emphatically states that the lamb must be killed and eaten on Nisan 14, and that the “memorial throughout your genera­tions” should be kept on the same date – that Nisan should begin when the moon comes new – nearest the Vernal Equinox. This would always make the Passover festival a cere­mony in the Spring, with the Day of Atonement a festival in the Fall. Thus, the Jewish Encyclopedia clearly states that the Passover is a Spring festival.

THE SERVICE

As there was but one Passover in type, so there is but one “Lamb of God” in anti­type. But, just as the Jews were told to keep the Passover each year “as a memorial throughout your generations,” so we are told to observe the feast each year “in remem­brance of Me.” And the service for the occasion is unique; there is no other service like it in Christian ritual throughout the earth. When our Lord gave command that we ob­serve it, He did so in simplicity of speech, and with few words. “He took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is My body which is given for you: THIS DO in remembrance of Me. Likewise, also the cup after supper, saying, this cup is the New Testament in My blood, which is shed for you.” (Luke 22:19,20) Yet, upon these two forthright and uncomplicated sentences great rituals have been erected by the various sects of Christendom – some more, some less, so there are now about 200 different ideas of when, how and why the service should be conducted. Fundamentally, no more would be required of us than our Lord’s statement; although it is certainly in keeping with decorum and orderly procedure that a preparatory foundation be laid for partaking of the bread and the wine by reading and explaining the various elements involved - when more than one person keeps the feast. However, it is equally good decorum and orderly procedure that we avoid the pompous play upon words and “stage” performance, which is to be found in some quarters.

The solemnity of the occasion should be stressed, however, that all be done “de­cently and in order” – not shabbily, nonchalantly, as of some “common thing.” It is commendable that the Christian world overem­phasize the feast with impressive service, and sedate and select speech, rather than by the other extreme of no propriety at all. The Roman Catholic system requires each participant to attend ‘confession’ – usually the previous afternoon or evening – before receiving the emblems; and, until recently, nothing was to be eaten or drunk on the morning of the service. While this in itself stresses the great regard the system attempts to display for the service, it also over-­awes those present in a manner never intended by Jesus when He instituted it.

Here we need not discuss the errors that have been superimposed over the centuries by such nicety of display and demand, as that feature has been well set forth by both Messengers. Blessed are we if we may arrive at that balance of mind and heart that does not overdo or underdo the service – greatness in simplicity, inspiration in solem­nity, uplift and virtue in a “good and honest” participation.

GENERALITIES

They who approach the service as aforementioned are they of whom St. Paul writes – they who judge themselves that they be not judged and chastened of the Lord (1 Cor. 11:31) – the fully faithful in whatever Elect Class they may abide. Such are “more than conquerors” – “buried with Him” – “dead unto sin, but alive toward God.” (Rom. 6:11) To such obedient and watchful, as “little children,” the promise is sure, “I will guide thee with mine eye.” “Thou shalt guide me with Thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.” And to these the promise is sure, “No good thing will He with­hold from them that walk uprightly.” (Psa. 84:11). Strengthened by such assurances, each worthy participant may confidently review the year past and anticipate the year ahead” in newness of life.”

Quite often, immediately before or after doing this “in remembrance,” the Fully Faithful are made specially mindful, through having to drink of His cup, that the bread and the wine carry weighty implications for them. As our Lord “poured out His soul unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors,” so have His faithful followers done during the Age. “I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand” (2 Tim. 4:6), wrote St. Paul to his ‘son’ Timothy; and the Diaglott makes this even more emphatic, “I am already being poured out, and the time of my dissolution has come near.” Thus, this “good soldier” realized with full clarity and calm anticipation that his own life would soon be “poured out” – when the Roman executioner would chop off his head, just as one might pour water from a pitcher – as he drank to the full that “cup” which the Lord had given him. And in this we find not the slightest evidence of whining or reviling of his persecutors – no scheming to escape. “Theirs not to make reply; theirs not to question why; theirs but to do and die.” And having reached that grand pinnacle of victory, he could say with all confidence, “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day.” (2 Tim. 4:8)

“CONSIDER HIM”

In all of this – particularly at this Memorial season – the words of St. Paul are most timely: “Consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye he wearied and faint in your minds... faint not when thou art rebuked of Him.” (Heb. 12:3) In that eloquent and touching discourse which He gave His disciples on the same night in which He instituted the Memorial of His death, He had said among other things, “They hated Me without a cause.” (John 15:25) And let us never forget that “they” who thus hated Him were the so-called ‘good people’ of that day – those who claimed to be longing for the appearance of their Messiah – Him whom they hated ‘with­out a cause’ when “He came to His own,” but His own received Him not. “He (the Jewish High Priest Caiphas) that delivered Me unto thee hath the greater sin.” (John 19:11) And be it remembered that He whose speech was “full of grace and truth,” so that never man spake like this man, said exactly the right thing, in the right place and at the right time; so that there was in truth no cause for any to hate Him. Yet, hate Him they did, as He wept over their undone hypocritical condition.

And in all this “He left us an example that we should follow in His steps,” (1 Pet. 2:21), bearing ever in mind that it is often the Measurably Faithful who add to the af­flictions of the righteous – “your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for My name’s sake.” (Isa. 66:5) Concerning such the Scriptures exhort us: “Let not thine heart envy sinners, but be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long.” Comments on this text are to be found in E-11:655 – “He (the Epiphany Messenger) charges them (the fully faithful) not to be envious of Great Company members, who are violating their cov­enant of sacrifice, however much they may seem to prosper.” And to this we would add the words of Prov. 17:1: “Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.” Therefore, “Let us keep the feast, not with the old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” (1 Cor. 5:8)

THE BREAD – THE CUP

The institution of the ‘Lord’s Supper’ is succinctly stated in Matt. 26:26-28, in Mark 14:22-24, and in Luke 22:19,20, the first of which verses we now quote: “As they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disci­ples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, drink ye all of it; for this is my blood of the new Testa­ment, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”

Over the meaning of no other Biblical words have there been more and sharper con­troversies than over those just quoted above. As on all other Scriptural doctrines, so on this, Satan has produced cunning error – from one extreme to the other. The Ro­man Catholic Church is among the foremost of such perverters in its creation of the Mass, the basis of which is transubstantiation, the performance of which by the offi­ciating priest supposedly actually turns the bread and the wine into the body and blood of Jesus.

Although there are about 200 different views on various features of the Lord’s Sup­per, broadly speaking, there are two general views on the meaning of the words, “This is my body – this is my blood”: (1) that group of views that teach the real presence of the body and blood of Jesus in the Supper; and (2) that group which teach the rep­resentative meaning of the bread and wine. The Roman Catholic Church has had some of the ablest minds of the Age in their organization; and they have presented very inge­nious arguments in their support of the Mass – in transubstantiation.

As most of our readers know, we ourselves do not believe that there is any real presence in the body and blood of Christ; but we regard them as representations of those items. Let us take a brief look at both views: Those who accept the Mass con­tend that the actual presence of Christ is contained in the bread and the wine; in fact, they contend that the emblems are no longer bread and wine at all. The Roman Church concedes however, that the bread and the wine retain what they term “the accidents” ­the appearance, form, taste, color, weight, etc. of bread and wine after the supposed transubstantiation; but, say they, the elements actually lose the essence of bread and wine, and take on the essence of the body and blood of Christ. The body and blood of Christ – so created, the priest proceeds in the Mass to sacrifice afresh for the sins of the living and the dead. Thus we have the basic relation of transubstantiation to the Mass. Against this view we offer the following refutation:

The Romanist view implies a change in the words of Jesus, which means the language should read – if their view is correct – “This has been changed into my body; this has been changed into my blood.” The fact that they must make a change in the wording to make their view acceptable is in itself an admission of error.

Further, the Bible contradicts their view. If they are correct, it would then be wrong – after the consecration of the elements – to speak of partaking of bread and wine, as the Bible does. They should then speak of partaking of the body and blood of Christ. But the Bible five times calls one of the elements bread after its consecration and dur­ing its eating (1 Cor. 10:16,17; 11:26-28); and in all of these passages, except the second, using the familiar figure of the container for the thing contained, it calls the other element “the cup”; and elsewhere defines the contents of the cup – after its con­secration and during its drinking – as the fruit of the vine, i.e., wine (Matt. 26:29; Mark 14:25). Therefore, the Bible, by calling the elements bread and wine after their consecration, and during their appropriation, contradicts the doctrine of transubstanti­ation and proves it to be false.

Again, facts prove that the bread and wine remain bread and wine after the conse­cration of the elements – some of which are as follows: Blood does not make drunk, but wine does. Frequently, priests in their frequent masses must drink so much wine that they become drunk. No amount of blood would do this; therefore, it must be wine they drink. Further, chemical analysis will demonstrate that there are exactly the same amount and same proportion of certain chemical elements in a given amount of bread after consecration as there were before; while the same amount, proportion and kinds of chemical elements will not be found in a human body. The chemical analysis of the wine proves the same thing. Hence these facts prove that there has been no change in the substance of the bread and wine after consecration by the priest.

OTHER ERRORS

Somewhat akin to the transubstantiation error is the one held by some Oriental Christian sects, which hold to the view of consubstantiation – a mingling of the bread and body and the wine and blood. The Lutheran Church and some Episcopalians teach what may be defined as instrumentalization, although they do not use that exact wording. Their idea is that by means of the bread and wine – which they believe remain bread and wine throughout the service – the actual body and blood of Jesus are administered to the communicant. Thus it will be seen that all three of these views have the mutual error of “real presence.” Therefore, the following applies equally against all of them:

The Bible account of the original supper the night before Jesus died proves that He did not give His actual body and blood, because His blood was yet in His veins, so it could not be in the cup which He offered the disciples. The same applies to the bread. When He blessed it and said, “This is My body,” He was not yet dead; His body was intact. He did not go around the table and put Himself into the hand of each dis­ciple; rather, He remained reclining on the couch, with the Apostle John reclining in His bosom. Thus, the disciples did not handle His body and blood, for all of them re­mained in their respective places about the table. Therefore, it is very clear that they did not receive His actual body and blood.

There is not the slightest suggestion in the entire ceremony that night that any of the disciples or Jesus thought there was an actual giving of His body and blood to them. Had they entertained such a thought we may be sure that some of them – especially Peter – would have presented questions to be answered before they could have intelli­gently participated in the service. Hence the conclusion is unavoidable that in the original Lord’s Supper Jesus did not give His actual body and blood to the Apostles to eat and drink. Therefore, it properly follows that this was not done in any of the sub­sequent observations – only what was given them that night did they receive in the years that followed. And to claim that they did receive actual body and blood in later years implies that they are not the same as the original – they are not the Lord’s Supper at all.

These three views of the “real presence” contradict certain Scriptural doctrines ­especially the central doctrine of the Ransom. “The Son of Man came not to be minis­tered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Matt. 20:28; Mark 10:45; 1 Tim. 2:6) The doctrine of the “real presence” would imply that Jesus had taken back His body and blood (His humanity), thus voiding the ransom price. Also, these doctrines of the real presence dispute our Lord’s resurrection as a spirit being (1 Cor. 15:45-49; 2 Cor. 3:17; 1 Pet. 3:18), for they imply He arose a human being. Since the ransom is the hub – the central foundation – of the great Plan of the Ages, that great Plan would be nullified by elimination of the Ransom. Hence the idea of real presence is rank error.

Belief in the real presence contains other unscriptural implications. First, it places Jesus’ body and blood in many places at the same time – every place on earth where the Mass, etc., are performed at the same time of day. Wherever the Lord’s Sup­per would be observed the actual body and blood of Jesus would necessarily have to be present. This is self-evident impossibility. Also, this doctrine implies that Jesus has millions of bodies and rivers of blood; for, according to it, each communicant re­ceives the complete body of Jesus and some of His blood. Thus, billions have received them – millions of them at the same time – implying that Jesus had millions of bodies and rivers of blood. Hence the “real presence” is self-evident absurdity.

The doctrine of the real presence is contrary to facts. Not one fact in connec­tion with the original supper or its subsequent celebrations implies it; but all the facts connected with them contradict it. Also, it is contrary to reason: There is nothing reasonable about it; there is nothing reasonable that favors it; reason must be suspended to believe it. It therefore belongs to the “mystery of iniquity” (2 Thes. 2:7), not to the mystery of God; and is a counterfeit.

Further, it contradicts our five senses – especially in transubstantiation and con­substantiation. And, since these five senses were given us to help us ascertain cer­tain facts (Isa. 1:18; Luke 24:39,40), the “real presence” must be untrue, and should be rejected.

THE UNDERLYING ERROR

All who claim the real presence in the body and the blood base their conclusion ­they say – upon a literal acceptance of Jesus’ words; but they fail to recognize that the word “is” – like many other words – has more than one meaning. The verb “to be” has especially two literal meanings: (1) it is the predicate to express actual exis­tence; (2) it is the predicate to express actual representation; but in both cases the meaning is literal. So, if we should say, A dog is an animal, the word “is” would be literal, designating actual existence. And, if we would say of a photograph, This is my father, that statement also would he literal, but meaning actual representation. In both statements “is” may be taken literally.

Therefore, when Jesus said, “This is my body; this is my blood,” He certainly did not mean actual existence; but He meant those things represented His body and blood. The Scriptures are in full agreement with this conclusion; and, when we understand that the Lord’s Supper is the antitype of the annual Passover, we have Biblical proof of the matter. If we keep in mind that there was only one Passover – the one slain in Egypt – with all subsequent ones being symbolic, we can readily see the beauty and symmetry of the antitype. There was but one antitypical Passover Lamb – “Christ our Passover” (1 Cor. 5:7) – with our partaking of the bread and the wine being simply a re­membrance of that one Passover: “This do in remembrance of Me.” (Luke 22:19) The Jews have never been confused in their observance of the annual Passover; they know it is merely “a memorial... throughout your generations.” (Ex. 12:14)

Another emphatic proof that the above is correct is to be found in the statements of Luke 22:20 and 1 Cor. 11:25: “This cup (the wine) is the new testament in my blood.” In these texts the word “is” cannot mean actual existence; for the New Testament is not a cup at all. Therefore, we are forced to conclude that the cup was merely a rep­resentation: “This cup represents the new testament in my blood.”

In this connection we do well to consider St. Paul’s explanation of the service as given in 1 Cor. 11:26. Immediately after quoting our Lord’s language in explana­tion of the bread and wine, he relates our participation in it with these words: “For as often as (whenever) ye eat this bread and drink this cup, ye do shew forth the Lord’s death.” The Greek word here translated “shew” means to announce, as for ex­ample, to announce the Lord’s word. (Acts 13:5; 15:36; 1 Cor. 9:14, etc.) Announce­ments are made in two ways – in words and in acts. When we partake of the bread and the wine we do not speak at all; therefore the “announcement” must be in the acts them­selves – in pantomime – which we do in the breaking of the bread and the pouring of the wine – a representation of something else. Since the breaking of the bread and the pouring of the wine “shew forth His death,” they must represent His body and blood.

WHO MAY PARTAKE?

There is also much difference of opinion on who may partake. The Roman Catholic Church is most rigid that one must be a member in good standing; must make confession before partaking, and usually a member of that particular church in which the service is being held. At the other extreme, some sects make no exactions at all. Often do we see the sign before some church: The Lord’s Supper – All welcome. Thus the man in the street may come in and partake if he wishes. We do not subscribe to either of these positions. We take rather St. Paul’s words in 1 Cor. 11:27,28: “Whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. Let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.” We believe this is a most commendable and just requirement. We need not pass judgment upon the person sitting next to us. There are only two rea­sons why we should object to any one partaking: They are gross immorality, or gross doctrinal deflection. Either of these – but only these – are grounds for disfellow­shiping any one. In all other things we may accept St. Paul’s statement: “Let a man examine himself.” This places the responsibility squarely where it belongs – on each individual participant.

WHEN

Much confusion also exists on the proper time for observing the Lord’s Supper. Some churches say once a week – on Sunday – which, they say, is the way the early church observed it. Others have once a month, or once every three or four months. The Roman Catholic Church says it should be done when any one of their seven sacra­ments is performed. Thus, when people are married in the church, the Mass is always performed. This means it might be used two, three, perhaps four times in one day. And, since they contend that the Mass contains the actual body and blood of Jesus, the participants are forbidden to masticate the wafer; and they do not partake of the wine at all – lest in passing the cup from one to the other something might occur to spill some of it – now actually the “precious blood” – which would he a major calamity. Therefore, the priest drinks the entire goblet of wine himself, which accounts for many of them becoming intoxicated. In fact, the report is current that about ten per cent of the priests in the United States are pretty much alcoholics.

When we remember that the Lord’s Supper is the antitype of the Jewish Passover, then we have no difficulty at all in seeing that the service should be but once each year. “As often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew forth the Lord’s death till He come.” (1 Cor. 11:26) The Lord’s death occurred on a certain day of the year; and it should be “remembered” by the special service but once each year on that particular day. The Lord left no instructions at all for remembering His birthday; but Christendom generally makes no effort to commemorate His birth more than once a year; therefore, it should logically follow that His death – which we are specifical­ly told to remember – should be observed but once each year; and this is our practice.

THE WINE – There is considerable divergence of thought respecting “the cup” also. In the annual commemoration of the Passover the Jews used intoxicating wine of excel­lent quality, beginning with a cup before any food was taken, continuing with two more cups during the meal; then a fourth cup “after supper” (Luke 22:20). This fourth cup was the one the Lord used to establish the Memorial. Most of the Christian churches today – and especially so the Roman Catholic Church – use intoxicating wine of excel­lent quality; but some, being opposed to alcohol in every way, use simply “the fruit of the vine” without fermentation. Should any resent this latter custom – as contrary to what Jesus and the Apostles did – we would say that a teaspoonful of alcoholic wine could be poured into the cup. This should satisfy every one, as there is no Scriptural law on the amount of alcohol the cup should contain.

What has been written herein is in no sense to be taken as a substitute for “The Passover of the New Creation” (Study Xl) as found in Parousia Volume Six. Rather, we would urge all our readers to give sober reading to that chapter; and we thus wish all the Lord’s rich blessing in the preparation for and participation in this Memorial on the evening of April 12. “The God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting coven­ant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ.” (Heb. 13:20,21)

Sincerely your brother,

John J. Hoefle, Pilgrim

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LETTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST

Dear Brother: Grace and peace!

I have just read #246 and got a new viewpoint on Jesus Christ as prophet, priest, king and “Judge.” Somehow I never included “judge” as one of His offices..... Your article broadens my vision and clinched the idea by quoting 1 Cor. 6:2. Then you clear­ly delineated the difference between outward and inner appearance. At the end all will appear perfect before the Father gives the final test (for graduation). Thank you! I enjoyed the article... Enclosed is a check for the Lord’s work.

With Christian love, ------- (FLORIDA)

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Dear Brother Hoefle: Loving Christian greetings!

First of all, thank you for the greetings and encouragement when I was depressed recently – which did help lift my spirits. God must want me here on earth yet, as I still enjoy life. Bro. and Sr. ------- visited us Sunday. He asked if I read your last letter. He is so pleased the way you explain the articles. He is a wonderful brother. Praying God will continue to watch over you and yours.... Please keep up the good work. ..... Enclosed is a contribution for your work.

Christian love ------- (FLORIDA)