NO. 352: TAKE MY BRETHREN, THE PROPHETS - PART EIGHT

No. 352

NAHUM – As an introduction to his translation of this book, Doctor Rotherham has this to say: “Out of the full‑orbed perfection of Yahweh comes the Twofold manifestation, designed to alarm his foes and assure his friends. From Nineveh proceedeth a wicked schemer against Yahweh.” Then verse 1: “The oracle of Nineveh – the scroll of the vision of Nahum, the Elkoshite.”

In previous papers we have given sketches of Nineveh – how it was started by Nimrod, “A hero of hunting before the Lord.” (Gen. 10:9) In his work he was aided by the reprehensible Semiramis, one of the vilest women that ever lived. From those two sprang depraved religious rites of their devotees, which tended to fill the land with violence and moral corruption, the orgies of dissipation and debauchery.

However, Nineveh eventually was wiped off the face of the earth – so completely that not a trace of it was left on the surface. This then became a rare object for the smart boys – the higher critics – who contended that the Bible was misleading and untrue, that Nineveh was simply a myth and not to be believed. But during the nineteenth century some archeologists unearthed its buried remains, the king’s palace and other confirmatory items that left no doubt that there was indeed once a Nineveh, which completely silenced the wiseacres.

The three chapters of Nahum are replete with criticism and warnings of the evils of that time, but which are more important in the prophecy of this our time, and foretell the destruction of that great city which is “spiritually called Sodom – where also our Lord was crucified.” (Rev. 11:8) “A mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall Be found no more at all.” (Rev. 18:21) Nineveh was truly a striking forecast of the eventual fate of Babylon!

Here we digress a little to repeat the great defeat of Sennacherib, King of Assyria, who had come to take Jerusalem, but here is the record of what actually happened: “For I will defend this city, to save it, for mine own sake, and for my servant David’s sake. And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the Lord went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand (185,000): and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.” (2 Kings 19:34, 35) This is a graphic picture of what will befall those Arabs now who are plotting to spoil Israel; and it is well for our readers to ponder this record carefully, so they will not become discouraged concerning any success or advantage those Arabs seem to have at this time.

Again we quote Gen. 12:3: “I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee.” At the time of the foregoing Nineveh was the capital of Assyria, and the great defeat occured about 700 years BC. This is emphatic assurance to all who accept the Bible as God’s word, and we quote here Isa. 54:17: “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord.” This was the heritage of God’s servants at the time it was written and it is equally the heritage of God’s servants now. “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering, for he is faithful that promised.’’ (Heb. 10:23)

SOME GENERALITIES

The name Nahum means compassionate. He was born at Elkosh, probably a village in Palestine. His prophecy was directed at Judah (1:15), and not to the ten tribes then in captivity. His writing occurred some 600 years BC. It has been suggested he wrote his book about 623 (?) – after the unsuccessful attack of Cyaxeres upon Nineveh. He was the seventh of the Minor Prophets.

The main theme of the book has to do with Nineveh – typical of Christendom here in the end of the Gospel Age. He repeats the very familiar expression that Jehovah is a “jealous God” – a punisher of adversaries, but a stronghold to all those who trust in Him (vs. 2‑8); and he urges the people to turn a deaf ear to the counsel of those who were speaking of Jehovah’s tardiness and advising the abandonment of His service (vs. 9‑11); and he declares the unalterable purpose of the Lord to deliver His people (vs. 12:14); and exhorts them to unswerving loyalty to their God and the faithful observance of His worship. On the basis of his truth Nahum proceeds to describe the overthrow of the worldly power which was then oppressing the kingdom of God. He pictures the siege of the city (2:1‑10), and takes occasion to taunt the city which has been as a den of lions (2:11‑13). In further comment about the siege, he attributes the judgment which befalls the city to the whoredoms of the rulers (3:1‑4). Then he changes the figure and he describes the punishment as the punishment of a harlot (3:5‑7); he then mentions Nineveh, which had gone into captivity (3:8‑10).

The prophet begins his writing with an address that is poetic in character; but it is not an alphabetic Psalm of the ordinary kind. He teaches the ear to listen for certain sounds and to hear them obediently. His recitation is in two parts: Chapter One describes the majesty of God while Chapters 2 & 3 pronounce judgment upon Nineveh. He enunciates a doctrine of Jehovah God of Israel in the first clause of v. 2, a doctrine that forms the basal truth of his prophecy – that Jehovah, though slow to anger, yet takes vengeance on His adversaries. Then he describes the majesty and might of Jehovah in nature: He is in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of His feet. He rebukes the waters that they dry up, and vegetation languishes; the mountains and the hills tremble before Him: the fierceness of His indignation none can withstand. The truth that has been set forth involves the goodness of Jehovah to His people, and His understanding of them. (“Jesus needed not that any should testify of man, for He knew what was in man” – John 2:25) He overthrows evil. Here the climax of doctrine has been reached.

And a new section of the exalted discourse opens in which Nahum bases prediction on the truth that he had already set forth. He reiterates the impotence of opposition to Jehovah – first in the form of a question (v. 5). Next he repeats the conclusion of the doctrinal section. Then he foretells the destruction of God’s foes. (1:10‑13) Then he predicts the deliverance of God’s people, and in view of the truth that has been presented, he exhorts God’s people to continue steadfast and undismayed in His service and worship.

Nahum concentrates his prophetic statements on Ninevah, and for good reason. Nineveh was the hated oppressor, not only of Judah, but upon all the surrounding nations; and his prophecy that Nineveh’s end was in sight was most welcome news to all of them. In a sense the Hebrews and those heathen had become brothers – afflicted by a common cause, Nineveh. Amos, Hosea and Isaiah had foretold their people that they would be besieged and carried into captivity. In their inscriptions the Assyrian kings had boasted of their sieges, conquests, and cruelties. All the heathen gods are depicted as cruel, very cruel. But Nahum prophesied that retribution would come upon Nineveh, and mark her end. Thus, his statements did not bring upon him the sad treatment accorded to many of the prophets. The date and manner of his death are not known. It is written of him that “as a poet he occupies a high place in the first rank of Hebrew literature. His style is clear and uninvolved, though pregnant and forcible; his diction sonorous and rhythmical.”

HABAKKUK

He is the eighth of the Minor Prophets. The date of his birth, and the date and manner of his death are not definitely known. At the time of his prophecy the Chaldeans were a prominent power in that section of the world. It should be noticed here that Chaldea and Babylon were sometimes rival powers; at other times one was subject to the other. Both of those nations were typical of Great Babylon here in the end of the Age. Isaiah referred to them as Assyrians; but which ever name we use, it is evident that God used them to punish Israel, although those nations themselves were wicked heathen.

Here is a quote from Isa. 10:5,6: “0 Assyrian’ the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation. I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.” Note now the close similarity of Hab. 1:5‑10: “Behold ye among the heathen, and regard. and wonder marvelously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you. For lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwelling‑places that are not theirs. They are terrible and dreadful; their judgment and their dignity shall proceed of themselves. Their horses also are swifter than the leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves; and their horsemen shall spread themselves, and their horsemen shall come from far; for they fly as the eagle that hasteth to eat. They shall come all for violence; their faces shall sup up as the east wind, and they shall gather the captivity as the sand, and they shall scoff at the kings, and the princes shall be a scorn unto them, for they shall deride every stronghold; for they shall heap dust and take it.”

The foregoing is certainly a very vivid portrayal of the present‑day radicals – the Communists, the Socialists, the Nihilists, etc. They see the wealth and prosperity of the capitalist nations, which they do not have the ability to gain; thus they are now minded to steal that wealth.

Following we quote from one writer about their religion; “In the Neo‑Babylonian empire the Chaldeans were the prominent race, and doubtless possessed themselves of all offices of influence. So exclusively did they fill ecclesiastical offices at the capital that at Babylon their name became synonymous with priests of Bel‑marduk. These priests were esteemed as possessors of wisdom and equated with magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and diviners.” (Dan. 1:4; 2:2,4)

And further: “The Chaldeans had been long known to the Hebrews. They attracted renewed attention by their successful revolt of the Assyrians some 600 years B. C.; and they began their great career of subjugation and attained to the leading place among the powers of the world on the fall of Nineveh, and by their victory over the Egyptians at Carchemish. From internal evidence it is supposed that Habakkuk prophesied during the reign of Jehoiakim, but it is difficult to fix the precise period. The subjection of Judah had long been predicted by the Hebrew prophets (Isa. 11:11 39:6, 7; Micah 4:10); and their fierce, warlike character, their habitual cruelty and rapacity in war, and their method of battle were known to all nations. There was thus, even before their victory at Carchemish, full justification for the declaration made in Hab. 1:5‑l0. The prophet lamented the carnival of wickedness which he witnessed in Israel or in the world at large.

Now follows the comment of another writer: “The prophecy consists of three chapters, in the first of which he foreshadows the invasion of Judea by the Chaldeans, and in the second he foretells the doom of the Chaldeans. The whole concludes with the magnificent Psalm in Chapter 3, a composition unrivaled for boldness of conception, sublimity of thought and majesty of diction.”

CHAPTER THREE – In view of the excellent compliment given above, we think our readers will benefit from Chapter 3 with some bracketed comments by us:

“O Lord, revive thy work in the midst of the years (in this Time of Trouble); in wrath remember mercy.... He stood and measured the earth (Society as presently organized); the everlasting mountains (strong autocratic governments, such as Russia, etc.) were scattered (by the radical elements); the perpetual hills (the Democratic governments) did bow (in fear and trembling, as they notice the advancing store). Was the Lord’s wrath against the sea (the restless unlawful masses of humanity)? The mountains saw thee, and they trembled (as they are now doing in all quarters). The sun and moon (the Gospel and the Law Covenant) stood still.. Thou didst search through the land in indignation. Thou wentest forth with thine anointed (the Christ company, the true Christians); thou woundedst the head of the wicked (Satan), by discovering the foundation (the complete overthrow) unto the neck... Thou didst walk through the sea (the great masses not at present under religious restraint) with thine horses (various true doctrinal teachings)... I trembled in myself that I might rest in the day of trouble (in this day only those can rest who are built upon the Rock, rooted and grounded in the great Truths that are due at this time, and living up to their privileges).”

In 3:7 there is this: “I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction:” Rotherham tranalates it this way: “I saw the tents of Ethiopia in affliction.” And this is probably the correct way of stating it. Cushan was probably the land where Cush (the Cushites) dwelt. He was the son of Ham and grandson of Noah. In the separation after the great Deluge Cush went into Africa and became the progenitor of the black race, the Ethiopians. In Numbers 12:1 we have this story: “Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married; for he had married an Ethiopian woman.” In the marginal reading it is said “He had married a Cushite” – a descendant of Cush. Cush means darkness; and Africa is still known as the Dark Continent. Thus, when God saw the tents of Cushan in affliction, it simply means God saw the great darkness of Africa, with its attendant evils. Shakespeare states it a little differently: “O conspiracy, shamest thou to show thy dangerous brow by night (in darkness), when evils are most free?” When Habakkuk wrote his book he probably wrote, “but understood not,” just as Daniel had also written some of his prophecy. (Dan. 12:8)

ZEPHANIAH

He is the ninth of the Minor Prophets. And, while he is classified as a “Minor,” he has left us some very potent writings. First, we offer the meaning of his name “He whom Jehovah has hid.” And when he says in v. 1:4, “I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place”, it seems clearly enough that he lived in Jerusalem. Additionally, he was very familiar with the different localities in the City, and with the various classes inhabiting the City. In vs. 4‑8 he makes reference to a number of them.

In v. 1 he tells us that he was the great‑great‑grandson of Hiskiah. Generally, the other prophets of the Old Testament simply give the name of their father, so there is some reason why Zephaniah goes back four generations – a reason not made clear to us. It would seem that he was of royal descent. Thus, he was in position to condemn the members of the royal house without resorting to hear‑say. The Word of the Lord came to him “in the days of Josiah” (v. 1). He describes the religion and manners of his day, the high‑handed injustice of the ruling officials, and the general corruption of all classes.

The general tenor of his book is “the day of the Lord,” the judgment of God upon the whole earth. Therefore, his expressions have emphatic reference to the time in which we now live, and we may make profitable study of it from that standpoint. He tells us this is a day of darkness and supernatural terrors; and our news media carry plenty of this in every day’s editions. It is also “the day of the trumpet”; and we have been hearing of the Seventh Trumpet now since 1874. It will continue to sound throughout the entire Millennium.

“I will punish all those that leap on (over) the threshold.” (v. 1:9) This fact is given because of the very interesting episode recorded in 1 Sam. 5:1‑7. The Philistines had been overly successful in a war with the Hebrews – so much so that they even captured the golden ark that had been built for the Tabernacle in the wilderness at Sinai. They quickly brought this excellent trophy into “the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon.” But when they arose the next morning “Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark.” They then set Dagon in his place again; but when they came early the next morning, Dagon again “was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the Lord”. This struck fear into them – so much so that “neither the priests, nor any that came into Dagon’s house tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod unto this day.” Instead, they leap over the threshold when entering or leaving Dagon’s house. And it seems that some of the Jews had fallen to this pernicious heathen idol; and the Prophet told them, “I will punish those that leap on (over) the threshold, and will fill their masters’ houses with violence and deceit.”

The Philistines after the second morning saw it, and said, “The ark of the God of Israel shall not abide with us: for his hand is sore upon us, and upon Dagon our God” (I Sam. 5:7). The Lord also smote the Philistines “with emerods” (a kind of tumor or boil that came upon those afflicted with the bubonic plague) v. 6. They then sent the ark to Ekron; and those in Ekron were also smitten with emerods. It should be noticed here that God had threatened the Jews with emerods (Deut. 28:27) if they should commit evil before the Lord.

But the Philistines had had enough of the Emerods, so they decided to send it back to the Jews. They were advised by “the priests and diviners” (1 Sam. 6:4) to send along with it a “trespass offering” of five golden Emerods and five golden mice. And “ye shall give glory to the God of Israel... peradventure he will lighten his hand from off you, and from off your gods, and from off your land.” (6:5)

All of the foregoing has had an impressive antitypical fulfillment, but it is quite intricate, and not specially explanatory of the Prophet Zephaniah, so we close this part of our discussion. However, we observe that the mouse is an unclean animal; therefore, an offering not at all acceptable to the God of Israel.

ANOTHER COMMENT – The name Zephaniah, “Yahweh had hidden” may indicate that the prophet was born during the time of the atrocities perpetrated by Manasseh, who, tradition says, ‘sawed asunder’ the prophet. His book is preeminently concerned with the Day of Yahweh, which had earlier appeared as a factor in the prophecies of Amos.

The religious state of the kingdom of Judah deteriorated markedly following the death of Hezekiah. Manasseh, his son, rebuilt the altars of Baal which Hezekiah had destroyed. Religion was debased to the level of crass externalism. The revival of idolatrous worship, common in the days of Ahaz, was from the prophetic viewpoint a rejection of Israelis covenant with Yahweh. His prophecy begins with a message of gloom. He denounced the idolatry which he saw in Jerusalem, where there had been no spiritual revival since the days of Hezekiah. Zephaniah declared that God’s judgment was imminent both on Judah’s idolatrous neighbors, and on Judah and Jerusalem.

However, he is not a total pessimist. Beyond the impending doom he sees a better day. God must bring his people through the afflicting fires in order to prepare them to be a means of blessing to all mankind.

From the above standpoint he has much in common with our own writings of today. Presently, the Messianic Kingdom is the only hope from the terrible mess we see in all the nations. [in effect, Zephaniah was praying, “Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

JONAH

The name means “dove”; but there is very little known about him except that he was the son of Amittai; he was from Gath‑hepher, a Zebulunite town near Nazareth. His Book contains but four short chapters – less than two pages in the Bible.

However, those four short chapters contain two outstanding incidents, in the first of which he openly disobeyed what God told him to do. He was to go to Nineveh, instead, he went to Joppa where he found a ship going to Tarshish – to go with them “from the presence of the Lord.” The Hebrew prophets generally explicitly obeyed what God told them to do; in fact, many of them did as they were told, although they knew it would bring much trouble to them. An outstanding example is the course of Jesus Himself: “When the time had come for him to be delivered up, he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,” knowing exactly what would befall Him when he reached there.

But Jonah was not to escape his disobedience in light fashion. When the ship to Tarshish was well out to sea the Lord sent a “mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was likely to be broken.” At that time most of the sailors were highly superstitious; and those on that ship were no exception. Each one cried to his god, but to no avail. The shipmaster looked about, and found Jonah fast asleep. The sailors had cast lots to discern which one of them was responsible for their plight. The lot fell upon Jonah, and they asked him his occupation and the name of his god. When he told them, they at once asked why he had done this to them, because he had previously told them he was running away from his God.

Jonah then told them to cast him into the sea, which they did; and the sea immediately ceased its raging. Now the Lord had “prepared a great fish” (Jonah 1:17 – not a whale as commonly believed, but a sea monster) to swallow up Jonah; and he was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. Then Jonah prayed, “I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the Lord. And the Lord spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.” (Jonah 2:9,10) Then the Lord told him again to go to Nineveh. Here it is in order to describe Nineveh at that time. Says the encyclopedia: “It had achieved magnificence as the capital of the Assyrian empire,” Assyria then being the overlord of the earth.

Therefore, we make some allowance for Jonah. He reasoned that if he saved Nineveh, the Assyrians would come and take over Judah as they had already done to the surrounding nations. And he was probably afraid to go there in fear of losing his own life.

But man’s reasoning under stress is often very faulty, and this was true of Jonah, In 3:3 we are told that “Nineveh was an exceeding great city”; but Jonah was much surprised at the reception he received. Instead of killing him, they “proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them.” Even the king “arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes ... And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way, and he repented of the evil that he had said he would do unto them,”

This made Jonah very angry; and the Lord said unto him, “Doest thou well to be angry? ... Should I not spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than six score thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand?” But with all that ignorance Jonah had accomplished the impossible – the conversion of all from the king to the least, something no other prophet had ever done.

Follows now some comment from another writer: “The motive that led Jonah to flee was probably a narrow and mistaken patriotism. He feared that Nineveh would repent and that God in his mercy would spare the city. Jonah wished Nineveh to perish, for it was a powerful foe of Israel and, if it were not destroyed, the doom of Israel was sealed.

“Nineveh repented at the preaching of one prophet; whereas, Israel repented not, although many prophets were sent to it. ‘They made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the Lord of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore, came a great wrath from the Lord of hosts.’ (Zech. 7:12) This seems to be a type, related to and looked forward to a general truth – that the Gentiles yield a readier acquiescence to the doctrines of God than Israel had done, not more readily to the moral law indeed, but to the revelation of God as a whole; for example, to his method of salvation as outlined in Hosea, ch. 14.

“Jonah, an Israelite and God’s servant sent to preach to the Gentiles, is an evidence of God’s will that the people of God’s kingdom shall lead the Gentiles to repentance and to God. Jonah was not the only Israelite to whom this truth was exemplified. Elijah was sent to a woman of Zarephath, Elisha cured Naaman the Syrian, Christ talked to a woman of Samaria about the things of God, and healed the daughter of a Syrophoenician woman.

“Jonah, an Israelite and God’s servant fleeing from duty, is cast into the sea, but is delivered in order that he may fulfill his mission. This incident accordingly received an allegorical interpretation: Jonah symbolizes the nation of Israel. Israel, as a nation, had been chosen to be a witness and upholder of divine truth, but Israel often apostacized and failed to execute its mission. It was in consequence swallowed up in Exile by Babylonia, as was Jonah by the fish. In exile, however, the nation, like Jonah, sought the Lord. There followed a return from the Exile; in other words, the nation was disgorged, as was Jonah. Upon the return from Babylon, many Jews were disappointed that the judgment uttered by the prophets did not at once take effect, just as Jonah was displeased that God spared Nineveh. But God’s purposes will be carried out, and the remnant survived, and the Covenant survived to fulfill Israel’s mission.

“The book may be regarded as a great work on foreign missions. It has been observed that the book nowhere claims to have been written by that prophet. However, it should be borne in mind that the spiritual lessons to be derived from the book are far more important than the question whether a large fish could have swallowed Jonah and whether he could have survived three days and three nights in the belly of the fish.”

That the book should be accepted as a genuine and inspired part of the Bible may be shown from the two stacks of shewbread (six each) on the golden table of the Tabernacle, 66 being the correct number of books that should be there. And may the contemplation of the book prove a blessing to all our readers. “The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knoweth them that trust in him.” (Nahum 1:7)

“So shall My Word be that goeth forth out of My mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” (Isa. 58:11)

Sincerely your brother, John J. Hoefle, Pilgrim. Written January & February 1983

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QUESTION OF GENERAL INTEREST

QUESTION: – Has the plowman overtaken the reaper? (Amos 9:13)

ANSWER: – The following is That Servant’s answer:

“In the text of Scripture which speaks of the plowman overtaking the reaper, we are to remember that the reaper is the Lord, and that the plowman is the great time of trouble. This time of trouble will overtake the reaping work and bring it to a close. But the time of trouble will go on, the plowman will keep on plowing, after all our efforts have ended in respect to the reaping. But meantime, before this dark night fully sets in, we are to go right on with the work which the Lord has put into our hands. The truth is designed, not only to perfect the ‘bride’ of Christ, the chief of the firstborns, but to develop the great company class, and also to be a witness to the whole world. Any carelessness on our part, or any cessation of activity in the service of the truth while opportunity yet remains, would in our estimation be a great mistake. If we are loyal, the Lord will give us far greater opportunities in the future – the blessing of all the nations, all the kindred, all the families of the earth. (Gal. 3:8,16,29)

“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 (emphasis ours) who were accepted of God. The ancient worthies came in, no call being opened to them – the high calling not being yet open, 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.” (Reprints 5761, col. 1, 2)

More from That Servant: “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, (emphasis ours) who were developed before this age began.” (Reprint 4836, col. 1)

We trust that our readers will note, when Brother Russell uses a “similar” class, he means the same class with the Ancient Worthies. So this class could not include the Consecrated Epiphany Campers, as they will not have the resurrection of the just.

The following are poems in Brother Hoefle’s memory:

He Told The Truth

“I am not a preacher,” he often said,

But he faithfully taught the Word, instead.

“I take no collections from you,

So I can tell you the Truth, as due.”

He plainly expounded God’s Word,

So it was understood by all who heard.

He used no gesture of flowery phrase

To put his audience in a daze.

But spoke the Truth in language plain

And repeated it to us again and again.

For over our souls a watch he did mount,

As one that must give an account.

So Lord be with us we do pray,

Comfort us in this our sad day.

We grieve greatly for our loved one

Who from our presence now has gone.

Keep us ever in Thy way,

And never let us go astray,

That our lives may ever be

A testimony to his memory!

In Brother Hoefle’s memory – Delta Clinard.

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JOHN J. HOEFLE ‑ PILGRIM

In Memoriam

He has slipped away to a peaceful rest,

With trust in God’s sure Word.

To awaken later, and to be

Forever with his Lord.

Brother Harold Dart

NO. 351: IN MEMORIAM

No. 351

(Reprint of No. 244, October 1, 1975)

As has been our custom for many years to pay tribute to That Servant at this season, we now offer some comment on the Laodicean Star, the first of whom was Brother Russell, whose death on October 31, 1916 we thus commemorate. We do not do this with the thought of “angel worship” – nor do we wish to magnify his talent and character out of keeping with the facts. But we do emphasize that it is our desire to place him in clear focus for what he actually was – That Faithful and Wise Servant. And in keeping with 1 Sam. 2:30 – “Them that honor Me I will honor” – we follow with some analysis on the 16th Chapter of Revelation:

“A VOICE OUT OF THE TEMPLE”

The caption for this treatise is taken from Rev. 16:1, the real thought of which would be better expressed by “A Voice out of the Tabernacle.” To substantiate this conclusion it became necessary first of all to offer an analysis of Brother Russell’s Stewardship Doctrine, which we believe to be: A correct understanding of the Atonement as portrayed in Leviticus 16, the central teaching of which is RESTITUTION.

It should be noted that those Star Members who received special stewardship doctrines received them early in their ministry; quite often those doctrines were the cause of their leaving the religious group with whom they had been associated; and it was the teaching that provided stimulus throughout their entire ministry. For instance, Martin Luther was motivated by Romans 5:1 to break with the Catholic Church, because this text was a direct contradiction of the Catholic belief in justification by works, as opposed to St. Paul’s clear statement that it is justification by faith that brings “peace with God” in this Gospel Age. Luther’s primary objection, of course, was the sale of indulgences, the elimination of which he believed would at least start a cleansing of the Roman system; but it soon became clear to him – after his expulsion from that Church – that it was simply a surface malady, fed and encouraged by justification by works. Thus, his “justification by faith” almost automatically and very quickly became the antithesis of indulgences and their underlying evils.

While the doctrine of Restitution was not directly responsible for Bro. Russell’s leaving his “orthodox” surroundings, it was indeed indirectly responsible for his doing so. His very vitals rebelled at the teaching of eternal torment for the unsaved world; and this revulsion – much the same as Luther’s experiences with indulgences in turn drove him toward the proper explanation, which he received when the Atonement Day ritual was made clear to him in type and antitype. That the doctrine of Restitution sparked Brother Russell’s entire ministry after receiving this Truth surely none will dispute. It is probable he never delivered a public discourse thereafter in which Restitution did not have a large and prominent place. And those who witnessed the Photo Drama will recall the oft‑repeated expressions: “India needs Restitution; China needs Restitution,” etc., etc. We know, too, that his favorite Scripture was John 3:16,17, the mainspring of which is also Restitution: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” And early in his ministry he urged the Pilgrims and Bethel speakers to stress Restitution in their public discourses, as he himself also did.

To avoid argument, it should be here stated that Brother Russell taught all the stewardship doctrines of the past, in addition to Restitution, although he had to remove many a rough spot from those doctrines – taints, impurities and distortions that had been attached to them by the crown‑lost leaders of the past. When the Harvest arrived, the time also arrived to restore “the faith once delivered to the Saints” (Jude 3), so that the “Harp of God” would once more be attuned to its pristine harmonious melody. This Brother Russell accomplished with all the skill of the master artisan! Without Restitution, the “Plan of the Ages” was an empty and unsatisfactory expression, a fact which was recognized by many great and good men of the past. John Wesley chose to stress the love of God rather than the wrath of God; he also was too delicately formed to accept with good appetite the teaching of eternal torment – although he did admit to his belief in it, even though his sensitive and loving disposition caused him inner revulsion. Rather, he stressed “The spirit and the bride say, Come.” He could not then know he was more than two hundred years ahead of his time in using Rev. 22:17, because there was no bride then in the full sense of that term.

The struggles of these good and fully faithful men to reach a satisfying answer is well set forth by the parable of the lost coin in Luke 15:8‑10; and Brother Russell’s peace of mind at finding the answer is well stated in the words, “Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I had lost.” To make this teaching clear to all; we here itemize what seems to be basic truths, the “ten pieces of silver,” or the ten strings of the Harp of God: (1) the Creation – of Adam and Eve; (2) the Condemnation – the fall into sin; (3) the Law – given to Moses at Sinai: (4) the Ransom – the anti‑lutron by Jesus; (5) the Resurrection – Jesus the first‑born from the dead; (6) the High Calling – “a new and living way” (Heb. 10:20); (7) Justification; (8) Sanctification; (9) Restitution – the sounding of the Jubilee trumpet (Lev. 25:9 – See E‑8, p. 659); (10) the Second Death.

But, just as preceding Star Members had their stewardship teachings perverted by the crown‑lost leaders who followed them, so Azazel (the meaning of which is Perverter) immediately led the crown‑lost leaders to pervert Brother Russell’s stewardship doctrine of Restitution. This began in a mild way at first – not so much perversion in its early features, as it was failure to “wait on the Lord.” That Evil Servant and his henchmen determined to “rush” Restitution with their “Millions‑Now‑Living‑Will-Never‑Die.” When time itself proved that teaching to be an abortion, they then produced a real perversion – No restitution at all for Adam, or any who refuse now to accept their teachings! Just as the “Millions” teaching came early after the Star Member was gone, and was then only a mild perversion, so we are probably now seeing a repetition on a smaller scale in the teaching of the “quasi‑elect consecrated” and Epiphany Campers Consecrated.

REVELATION 16

The foregoing elaboration is presented to prepare the explanation of why the temple in Rev. 16:1 is really the Tabernacle. It is the same temple as described in Rev. 11:19 – “The temple (tabernacle) of God was opened (explained) in heaven (among the brethren in the heavenly places – Phil. 3:20), and there was seen in his temple (tabernacle) the ark of his covenant” – the ark representing in its chest the Christ, head and body, and in its mercy seat and two cherubim the four attributes of God, this latter being the explanation given in Tabernacle Shadows. In conversation with Brother Johnson, he told this writer several times that he had no trouble in understanding the volumes, but had some difficulty in understanding certain features of Tabernacle Shadows. When he mentioned this to Brother Russell, he kept repeating to him: “But those volumes all came out of Tabernacle Shadows.” From this we can readily see why Tabernacle Shadows was basic to the understanding of Parousia Truth – just as “Elijah and Elisha” is basic to Epiphany Truth. Thus, the “voice out of the Tabernacle” was in reality the Seven Volumes of Scripture Studies given to the “seven angels” (God’s true Church in the Harvest time), with the instruction: “Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.” (Rev. 16:1) Therefore, we conclude Bro. Russell’s stewardship doctrine to be as aforementioned, as it occupied a large place – a very large place – in Tabernacle Shadows; and we venture the opinion that, aside from the inspired writings, Tabernacle Shadows is the biggest little book ever published.

It should be noted here that it was not many years after Brother Russell’s death that Tabernacle Shadows was cast aside completely by those who took over his executive offices. And not many years after Brother Johnson’s death those who took over his executive office perverted some of the fundamental teachings of Tabernacle Shadows – mainly by putting Justification in the Camp, outside the linen curtain of Christ’s righteousness, and without the cleansing access to the Laver, so vital to Justification of any kind in this Gospel Age.

And from this great little book, bearing Brother Russell’s stewardship doctrine, came the “seven vials of wrath” – better translated by the Diaglott as “seven bowls of wrath.” We say this is a better translation because it was mainly in their controversial features that the seven volumes “plagued” those whose errors they exposed. Bro. Johnson has ably explained in Epiphany Vol. Eight that the bowls, chargers and spoons of Numbers 7 represent refutative, correctional and ethical teachings; thus, these bowls are the same as the “refuting” of 2 Tim. 3:16. And what is it we refute? We refute error! And it is the refutation of error that always arouses the antagonism of errorists. In these seven “bowls” there was much of corrective and ethical teachings, too; but these did not elicit the same savage reprisals as did the refutations of error. Even the members of antitypical Balaam (those who teach error for profit) agree that professing Christians should behave themselves – outwardly, at least; they endorse the correctional and ethical teachings of the Bible with lip service anyway.

It should be borne in mind that those mainly aroused by these refutations were the members of antitypical Saul and their ledlings; and a moderate analysis of their character will disclose why this was so – and still is so. Brother Russell says Saul “manifested considerable hypocrisy” (see Berean Comments on 1 Sam. 15:13); and his antitype is also not lacking in this “dis”grace. Nor were their prototypes lacking in it, as witness the words of Jesus, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.” It should be noted that all of them are inclined to falsehood, and that another of the root evils of hypocrisy is an overweening approbativeness. Note 1 Sam. 15:17: “When thou wast little in thine own sight... the Lord anointed thee king over Israel”; but, having once reached the head of the crowd, he apparently became power‑drunk with his own importance, and resorted to “rebellion” (Revolutionism). And with such characters, the unforgivable sin that incites their hatred (Isa. 66:5 – “Your brethren that hated you.”) is to parade their errors before the gaze of the mob. Therefore, the “bowls” that came out of Tabernacle Shadows were indeed “the wrath of God” to them. To such, Present Truth has always been a “savor of death unto death” (2 Cor. 2:16); whereas, to the Faithful it has even been a “savor of life unto life.” The observation was appropriate in the Parousia concerning the members of antitypical Saul, as it is still appropriate concerning them: They know that we know that they know they don’t know! Thus, they “receive of her plagues.” (Rev. 18:4)

“And the first went, and poured out his bowl on the earth (organized Society), and there came an evil and malignant ulcer on those men having the mark of the beast, and on those worshiping his image.” Volume One was published in 1886, and truly it proved to be a “malignant ulcer” to antitypical Saul and his henchmen; it was a “hot penny”: they could not hold it, and they were afraid to drop it. The stewardship doctrine of Restitution, with which Volume One is replete, made material for a “plan of the ages,” the likes of which had not been known since the days of the Apostles; and it placed Restitution and eternal torment at opposite ends of the measure. It did indeed “spoil the vines” for many a hell‑fire evangelist! Also, Chapter 14 – The Kingdom of God – made a shambles of the teaching that we now have Christendom – Christ’s Kingdom; and it showed the present order to be a far, far cry from “Thy will be done on earth.” Our Lord’s Return, The Permission of Evil, The Day of Judgment, etc., etc., all combined to make this “bowl” a “malignant ulcer” – “a savor of death unto death” to many members of antitypical Saul.

This is pointedly typified in Ex. 4:9: “The water which thou takest out of the river shall become blood upon the dry land.” “The water” in this text is the Truth as contained in the Bible – so excellently presented in Volume One – The Divine Plan of the Ages. The “dry land” typified the withered and sere condition of society as it existed at the time of the book’s appearance. And the “blood” represented the faulty reasoning of Christendom’s religious leaders, who branded the book as error – bloody, repulsive, abhorrent, death‑dealing – whereas, it actually contained the water of life uplifting, life‑giving, to all who were “of the Truth.” It should be noted that at that time many preachers were describing the animal sacrifices of the Law as bloody and barbaric – because they could not see the grand antitype of the “better sacrifices” (Heb. 9:23) that were offered during this Gospel Age by “the Church which is His Body.” (Eph. 1: 22,23)

The second “bowl,” “The Time is at Hand,” made its appearance in 1889; and the third, “Thy Kingdom Come” in 1891 – “and they became blood.” These “bowls” defined clearly “The Man of Sin” and his counterfeit Millennium as a direct contradiction to Restitution. About this time many of the more “cultured” of antitypical Saul were describing the Jewish sacrifices as blood, blood, blood – barbaric and out of place in Christianity; but these bowls pointed to the “better sacrifices” as fundamental and inseparable to Christianity, that “without shedding of blood there is no remission of sins” (Heb. 9:22), that the consummation of the better sacrifices provided the hope for Restitution, and the only hope for “Thy kingdom come.”

And the time features were indeed a powerful refutation of those who were loudly proclaiming “no man knoweth the day nor the hour” and those who were lustily singing, “When my work on earth is ended, and time shall Be no more.” The second “bowl” demonstrated the correct translation of Rev. 10:6 to be, “The time shall be no longer delayed”; that is, the “time is at hand” for God, through the Christ, to carry out His promise of Restitution – that time had arrived for the Blessing of all the families of the earth. Many of us recall the opposition that came when “The Second Coming of Christ” was preached. As instance, the tale of one Brother, long in the Truth: A Pilgrim was coming to a small town in Ohio to preach on the Second Coming; and the brother was trying to rally his neighbors to the meeting. Said one, “You know the Bible teaches no man knoweth the day nor the hour, and I think we ought to rotten‑egg the fraud out of town when he gets here.” The brother, using considerable tact, said, “Well, come on, and bring your eggs; if he’s a fraud, I’ll help throw a few at him myself.” The Pilgrim gave a very masterful presentation, at the conclusion of which the brother went to the rostrum and said to his neighbor, “Well, Joe, you’ve now heard the man; do you want to start throwing your eggs?” The man had been most impressed, and his only answer was, “I guess not.”

It should be noted, too, that Volume 3 contained a moderate explanation of the Great Pyramid of Giza, showing from the prophetic statement of Isa. 19:19‑22 that the “altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt” was indeed “a sign and a witness” to the great Plan of the Ages as contained in the Bible. Thus the pertinence of v. 7: “I heard another (angel) out of the altar” – in “the midst of the land of Egypt.” This truth, too, has been completely rejected by some, and distorted by others since Brother Russell’s death.

The fourth bowl appeared in 1897; and it certainly affirmed its title, “The Battle of Armageddon,” in that “power was given to scorch men with fire.” It pointed out the prevalent sins among rulers, clergy, aristocracy and labor; and was a true fulfilment of Jesus’ words in John 16‑8‑11: “When the Holy Spirit is come, it will reprove the world of sin (the wrongs they are committing), of righteousness (point out the right way to do), and of judgment” (warn them of the coming judgment, which in this instance was in its initial phase to be the “battle of the great day of God Almighty”). But, “as it was in the days of Noah,” they neither heeded nor wanted to hear that message – “repented not to give God glory."

It should be noted that the “fourth bowl” described events that are happening today as though the book were written this year; whereas, it was written 78 years ago. The forecasts of that book are in part a fulfilment of Dan. 5:25‑29 – the much‑quoted “handwriting on the wall.” It explained that the statement, “The kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians” (v. 28) indicated that Christendom would be divided into two hostile camps: a conservative camp, consisting of church, state and capital, and a radical camp, consisting of trade unionists, socialists, communists, anarchists and nihilists.

At the time the book was written these antagonistic factions had only a faint beginning, which developed to some degree up to 1914; but it was the outbreak of the war in 1914 that caused a clear cleavage between them, as typified by Elijah smiting Jordan (type of Christendom and the curse) – when the waters (peoples) of that river developed into two distinct warring factions. The terse substance of Volume 4 – “The Battle of‑Armageddon” – gave 1914 as the end of “the times of the Gentiles” (Luke 21: 24); Great Babylon’s judgement and downfall; the overthrow of Satan’s empire, to be followed by God’s kingdom on earth. All of these things were set forth in precise detail and accuracy – so much that, when the great events began to transpire in 1914, it directed the world’s attention to Brother Russell as the outstanding interpreter and Bible lecturer of his time, the greatest religious teacher in Christendom. And in the Fall of 1917 the czarist regime in Russia was overthrown, it being one of the strongest and most absolute monarchies that had ever existed in all human history. There the text began to be fulfilled, “the mountains (strong autocratic governments) carried into the midst of the sea (the lawless elements of society).” This feature of prophecy has now been carried to a completion; the last autocracy being Ethiopia, which was toppled in 1974.

In 1899 came the fifth “bowl” – that “poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness (great portions of the beast’s teachings were proven to be error, superstition and tradition – the “precepts of men”); and they gnawed their tongues for pain” (v. 10). It should not cause much argument when we declare that Volume 5 was Brother Russell’s masterpiece. His analysis of the Holy Spirit, of Life Everlasting and Immortality, of the Trinity, the Soul, of Sheol ‑ Hades ‑ Gehenna, left his opponents “speechless.” Of a truth, “they gnawed their tongues for pain.” So clear and convincing were the presentations of the fifth “bowl” that many segments of the secular press gave it unstinted praise; although antitypical Saul and the lesser lights “repented not” (v. 11)

Then came the sixth “bowl” early in this century, which contained much less of controversial writings than the previous five had done. In fact, its title – “The New Creation” – is well in keeping with verse 12 – “that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared”; its purpose was to instruct the true church (kings of the east) in every good word and work. It was the “law,” the better way, to every one who is “of the truth.” And any one who knows and faithfully abides by the teachings of Volume Six can be assured of the best of present possibilities – “a good and honest heart.”

The seventh vial – titled “The Finished Mystery” – did not appear until 1917; and, as Brother Johnson so aptly stated, it appeared in a vile condition. It had been produced by uncleansed Levites – a “rush” production, at the urging of That Evil Servant in this haste to “eat and drink with the drunken” (Levites drunken with error). However, as the seventh “bowl” (its controversial features), there was not too much fault to be found with it, the reason for this being that the “bowl” portions of “The Finished Mystery” were almost completely paraphrase or exact quotation from the Star Member. It was the injection of their own ideas into what should have been a priestly production that brought those uncleansed Levites eventually to Atlanta Federal Penitentiary. They had run ahead of the Lord to publish the seventh vial; had published it in a vile condition; and the Lord rewarded them “according to their works” – by reducing them to durance vile (prison). In fact, the expression in verse 6 regarding Vol. 3 is also emphatically pertinent here: “Thou gavest them also blood to drink (revulsive error); they deserve it.” (Rev. 16:6, Dia.)

It would seem in order here to declare that the “seventh bowl” not only plagued Big Babylon, but is also produced a severe contagion right in the backyard of those who had Published it: ecclesias in many quarters were split right down the middle over the book; it was made a test of fellowship near and far, It was not enough just to keep quiet if you did not believe all of it; you must openly espouse it. At that time we ourselves were ejected from the colporteur work because we did not offer it for sale, although we were offering the other six volumes to the public.

And as evidence of its “vile condition” and nefarious influence among the brethren, it was not more than 10 or 15 years after its appearance in 1917 that “The Finished Mystery” (the name of the seventh bowl) was placed on the list of forbidden things – in direct contrast to the ruling of 1917. Those who didn’t accept the book in 1917 were disfellowshiped – but anyone caught reading and accepting its teaching at the later date was also disfellowshiped. From one extreme violation of Christian principles to a worse violation – all by the same people in the space of a few short years’ Well may the text apply to them: “Instruments of cruelty are in their habitations.” (Gen. 49:5) Note the marginal reading of the text: “Their swords (use of the Scriptures) are weapons of violence.”

It is timely to mention here that in 1969 the Jehovah’s Witnesses produced a new book – “Then Is Finished The Mystery of God” – which deals with Revelation; whereas, the 1917 Finished Mystery contained a verse by verse comment on both Revelation and Ezekiel. However, this 1969 publication is choked with error also, even more than the 1917 book. And the reason for this is readily understood: The Witnesses have gone from bad to worse and have much more error today than they had in 1917. Will they also place this latest “Finished Mystery” on the forbidden list for another “mystery”? This remains to be seen, of course.

That Fit‑Man experience had a salutary effect upon at least one of the eight who went to Atlanta: George Fisher, who wrote the Ezekiel comments of the Seventh Volume (which part Brother Johnson declared to be far superior to the Revelation part by Clayton Woodworth). Brother Fisher eventually saw “the Judge” in his true colors; and before his death he personally wrote to the writer of this article: Any one who does not see JFR as That Evil Servant is just that much out of Present Truth.

It is worthy of note that it was not the “bowl” features of Volume Seven that brought its writers into trouble; it was their own foolish statements about the war then raging, and their diatribe on Patriotism, which remarks were definitely out of order at the time. Therefore, in their incarceration they did not suffer altogether “as a Christian” (1 Pet. 4:16); rather, they paid for their own folly – although it should be noted that any persecution which came to them because of the true and opportune features of the seventh “bowl” would be counted to them for righteousness’ sake.

Although the Bible is high in praise of the Old Testament Prophets and the New Testament saints, it is equally frank in recording some of their failings and misdeeds. This is one of the things that stamps the Bible as the Word of Truth. In like manner, we would say concerning both members of the Laodicean Star that they made some mistakes, as they were not infallible; but we often pause in amazement at the grand system of Truth they gave to us. This is especially true of Brother Russell, who was faced with a mountain of vicious error that had accumulated during the Age, with some of the best minds in Christendom sponsoring those errors. Thus, it is a tribute to his courage and faithfulness, to his sensitive and brilliant mind, that he prevailed against such an array of antagonists. It should be stressed here that he also had the exalted privilege of being held in the Lord’s hand (“he had in His right hand seven stars” – Rev. 1:16), which gave him “Eloquence and wisdom, which all of your opponents will not be able to gainsay, or resist.” (Luke 21:15, Dia.) We believe all those who knew him intimately will agree with this appraisal.

We offer the foregoing as a help and guide to all God’s people who may be inclined to follow blindly the errors and bad judgment of uncleansed Levites; because they do so at their own peril – “God brought down their heart with labor; they fell down, and there was none to help.” (Psa. 107:12)

We also pay tribute to the Epiphany Messenger who faithfully upheld and defended the Truth given to us by That Servant, refuted the errors and exposed the errorists in keeping with 1 Sam. 2:30: “Them that honor Me I will honor.” And with this writing comes the prayer of the writer that it may prove a Blessing to all our brethren and a means of growing in grace and in the knowledge of our Beloved Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, thereby continuing “in the faith once delivered unto the Saints.”

“Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he will give thee the desires of thine heart. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.” (Psa. 37:3,4,6)

Sincerely your brother, John J. Hoefle, Pilgrim

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LETTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST

Dear Emily,

I am sure you have read the July‑August PT about the great progress the pilgrims and “missionaries” of the LHMM are making in their efforts to gain converts for their Campers Consecrated, a non‑existent class. The JW’s are continuing their great strides to gain converts for their non‑existent class. I am reminded of our Lord’s words in Matt. 23:15 regarding the scribes and Pharisees, whom He called hypocrites: The Berean Comments on this text are appropriate for such efforts: “Compass sea and land... With your missionary activities ‑‑‑ To make one proselyte ... One convert to your false and therefore injurious doctrines.”

However, my main purpose in writing this letter is to quote David’s beautiful letter he wrote me:

“Dear Marjorie, Thank you so much for your goodly letter of July 18 and for the enclosure in aid of our work. Ever since I met beloved John here at the UN a few years back I felt a closeness to him and of course, to Emily, as a family member. Even closer – there was a rare spiritual affinity between us, and I thank God that I had been blessed to know him. What a lovely soul!

“The tribute appearing in the Bulletin will be read in the four continents and especially in Israel. I want the world to know what John really represented – a true Pilgrim! As you note, his passing has left a great void in our lives, but his teachings and cherished memory will live on.

“I was delighted to have ‘met’ you via those nice photos Emily sent to me. Again, many thanks. Heartiest best wishes, David”

This letter was heart‑warming to me, and I know it will be to you.

Lovingly, Marjorie ------- (Florida)

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Dear Sister Emily,

It is with deepest sympathy that we learn of the passing of Brother Hoefle. We have received his pamphlets for many years and they have been a blessing to us, and we thank our Heavenly Father for the knowledge we have gained in the study of them. Bless you all in your endeavors. 

From ------- (CANADA)

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Dear Sister Hoefle,

Thank you for sending No. 349 with news of Brother Hoefle’s passing. Although I’ve never met either of you, I do feel a kinship with all the brethren. I should have acknowledged the many issues you have been so kind to mail me. Some I have pursued, others not gotten to. Many things I could concur with – others I would need to study further, as there were new concepts therein, to me at least. And we are admonished to try and to prove those things we are not familiar with. I do thank you both for I can tell of your devotion to our Lord and His service. M. T. ------- (CANADA)

Dear Emily,

I hope this day finds you well and in good cheer. Your biography of John was quite interesting and inspiring and should serve as a fitting memory of him until the Kingdom. I, too, “marveled at his remarkable memory” and deep understanding of the Truth. As my grandmother once said to him following a Mount Dora class, “You made us all look like dummies.”

Much of what was in the biography was new to me, as I knew very little of John’s early life and experiences in his work. I hope to hear more about him since his faith and dedication to the Lord and the Truth was so worthy of imitation.

Not much to report here except that I’m employed by a Toy & Hobby Dealer and am liking it very much. The Lord’s special blessing be on you always, and I hope to see you very soon.      

Love, ------- (NORTH CAROLINA)

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Dear Sister Hoefle: Greetings in the name of our Redeemer!

The burden of sorrow you carry at this time is an exceedingly heavy one. As you bravely carry on it is evident the Lord is answering your prayers, and the prayers of many others for you, that you be given strength and comfort.

For all who have known Bro. Hoefle and found help and guidance in his writings, it is a sad time. The nourishing spiritual food he provided will be sorely missed. I am delighted it is your intention to publish the various articles he had prepared for future publication.

I do have a question: Did Brother Hoefle think that all the LHMM brethren who have stayed in the movement believe in Consecrated Epiphany Campers. (He knew of some who told him personally that they didn’t believe Campers Consecrated – and he has some letters to that effect – EH)

I ask an interest in your prayers as I remember you in mine. With love and sympathy.

Your sister by His Grace ------- (MISSOURI)

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Dear Emily,

Thanks for sending the picture and special thanks for that most interesting biography of Bro. John. That 89th birthday picture is a wonderful picture of him. He sure didn’t look his age!

Much in his biography, of course, we knew, but some of his experiences with the Laymen’s Home Missionary Movement were really hard to understand – especially when we remember Bro. Russell’s warning that the final test would be love.

It is beautiful that our dear Bro. John accepted it all as “but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus.” Our lives have been blessed by knowing you two dears, and we look forward to the next time we are with you.

I echo the thought expressed in the letter from Canada – “John was a gentleman.” What memories we all have who loved him and what happy hours we have spent together! Bro. John’s biography is a beautiful remembrance of him, and I appreciate your sending it out to the brethren.

We love you and hope to see you soon.

Love, ------- (FLORIDA)

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Dear Sister Emily,

Just a note to tell you that I have been thinking of you both since the Manna tells me this is the day Bro. Hoefle left for the Army in 1917 – and such a comforting verse for him on that day! We miss him but he would not want us to mourn – be happy for him. We wonder how you are getting along and know there are many questions regarding his work you would like to consult him on. Our daily prayers are that you will be guided as Brother would want you to be. The three of us seem to have colds on our chests. We took Gertrude to the hospital for chest x-rays – bronchial trouble, and since then Doris and I have the same thing. But it is not getting us down.

God bless you! ------- (OHIO)

NO. 350: MORE CONCERNING CORNELIUS

Reprint Of Excerpts ‑ No. 239, May 1975 Paper

No. 350

On pp. 11‑15 of the Jan.‑Feb. Present Truth there is another strenuous effort by RGJ to uphold his errors concerning Cornelius, the same being copiously marked with his usual diatribe against us. .............

The paper under review makes quite some ado about the sixteen references from Brother Russell that he cited in the July‑August 1974 PT; and he contends that all these references support his error that Cornelius was not “repentant and believing” before Peter visited him. But in every one of these references That Servant corroborates his teaching we presented from Reprint 1922, which RGJ contends is error. We shall subsequently prove our contention is correct when we quote these references, together with others. We contend that all Brother Russell’s articles – written before and after the articles in Reprint 1922 – are in harmony with the Truth that Cornelius was “repentant and believing” before Peter’s visit – and not only was he “repentant and believing,” but also his “consecration was of years’ standing before Peter arrived.”

In E‑10:209 is a statement that the Epiphany Messenger never set aside, or modified in any way, although RGJ now sets this teaching aside: “The Epiphany Camp in the finished picture is the condition of truly repentant and believing, but not consecrated Jews and Gentiles.” This statement is conveniently ignored by RGJ, but this one item alone is sufficient to answer all his contentions.

The real crux of this difference between us is whether or not Cornelius was “repentant and believing” before Peter visited him. While Brother Russell states quite clearly that Cornelius was also consecrated, we do not stress that point – other than to say that we do not know the degree of his consecration, even if we accept Brother Russell’s statement ‑ nor is it necessary that we do. Our readers know from their own experience, and from observing others, that the depth of consecration increases with all the faithful – and especially is this true of the fully faithful leaders in the Church.

Also all crown‑losers violate their consecration vows, even as they do violence to their justification. And this is clearly manifest by RGJ’s gross revolutionism against justification – and now becoming unclear on consecration as related to the “repentant and believing.” As stated in E‑15:517, Their new spiritual wills are undermined, “then it more or less blunted the keen edge of their new minds by dulling the spiritual perceptive, remembering and reasoning powers, which made them susceptible to accept error in place of formerly held Truth, and to add error to the Truth already had and kept.” ....

“Their errors of head certainly partially undermine their faith .... Moreover, they make them more or less bitterly partisan against the faithful for their opposing their wrong course, whereas they should love and appreciate them all the more for their efforts to rescue them from the snares of Satan.” E‑15:521

And to such God sends “an energy of delusion” (2 Thes. 2:11) to their believing the falsehood; and this has been glaringly apparent with RGJ since his abandonment in 1950 “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.” (2 Tim. 3:12, 13) The Berean Comments on v. 13 are to the point: “Seducers – Leaders astray from the Truth; Worse and worse – That rapidly increasing class that will no longer endure sound doctrine.”

The Centurion: It is contended that Cornelius did not know what to do before Peter came to him, which is correct; but we would add here that Peter himself – an inspired Apostle – did not know what to do until the Lord taught him what to do. Would any one contend that Peter was not “repentant and believing” because he was ignorant of the Gospel now going to the Gentiles? (p. 2, par. 4)

The question may be asked, If Cornelius had such “great faith,” why did he not become a proselyte Jew, as Nicolas had done? (Acts 6:5) It is recorded in Luke 7:5 that “he loves our nation, and he built our synagogue.” Thus it is apparent that he was a man of considerable wealth and fine intellect – not just an ordinary man; and he no doubt had embraced Judaism in some considerable degree. Therefore, it may be assumed that he was much disturbed by the contention among the Jews themselves about Jesus; and this probably would cause him to proceed cautiously, seeking guidance from the Lord, as recorded in Acts 10:30. (p. 2, par. 6 and top of p. 3)

Some of our readers will recall that Brother Russell had said he could not remember the time that he was not consecrated to do God’s will. Yet he had more or less abandoned the Bible because of the erroneous creeds, all of whom claimed to secure their teaching from that Book. But it should not require argument that his consecration became much deeper and more compelling after he had come to understand Leviticus Sixteen and the Two Salvations. (p. 3, par. 1)

THOSE SIXTEEN REFERENCES

The first one of these that we now quote is from Reprints 5834, col. 2, par. 5: “In the case of Cornelius, the Roman centurion, which we have cited in this article, we have seen that he was a just man, a good man. But he did not belong to the Jewish nation, to whom God had given His law. The only way in which Cornelius could have come into God’s favor prior to his appointed time – three and a half years after the cross – was to have become a Jewish proselyte. But when it became chronologically due time for the Gospel to go to the Gentiles, this good man was notified, and gladly accepted the conditions and became a son of God, through faith in Christ. He received the begetting and anointing of the Holy Spirit, just as the Jews had previously received them. All this shows us that God has a particular course marked out by which any may become His children. Unless they come in the appropriate way and in the appropriate time, none will be accepted as sons of the highest.” (p. 3, par. 2)

Certainly, there is nothing in the foregoing to indicate Brother Russell thought Cornelius was not “repentant and believing”; rather, it adds support to the fact that he was. For the Gospel Age, “repentant and believing” puts one in a position to enter the antitypical Court condition – which is Tentative Justification. But there has never been any justification for this Faith Age outside that Court; and Cornelius could not enter that condition until the way was opened for him to do it. Therefore, there can be no consecration acceptable to God until a person enters the Court condition. But one can be “repentant and believing” before entering the Court condition. (p. 3, par. 3)

There are two parts to consecration: (1) The offer by the person, and (2) God’s acceptance of that offer. Such offers are never accepted until the “due time.” In the case of the Apostles and the 500 in the upper room, they could not receive the Holy Spirit until the “due time,” although they all were undoubtedly consecrated to the extent they understood the matter; but this understanding was very meager until they were fully enlightened – they understood very little of the great “Plan of the Ages.” (p. 3, par. 4)

RGJ’s reference to Reprints 5833, par. 2, follows: “The angel of the Lord said to Cornelius: ‘Send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter, who shall tell thee words whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.’ (Acts 11:13, 14) Those words were necessary to his saving – to the bringing of him into covenant relationship with God. Cornelius, being obedient (“repentant and believing” – JJH) sent for Simon Peter, who gave him the necessary instruction for drawing nigh unto God through Jesus. And unless we come to the Father through Christ, our prayers would not be received any more than those of Cornelius had been.” We stress once more that Cornelius – no matter how much he believed in Jesus – could not come through “the door” (Christ) until that “door” was opened to the Gentiles – regardless of what a noble character he may have been. Even though he was “repentant and believing,” the “gate” (Christ – “I am the way”) to the Court had not yet opened for the Gentiles. P. 3, par. 6 and top of p. 4)

Then there is this in the next paragraph, same page: “When Cornelius heard the good message, he believed with all his heart; and likewise those who were with him. Doubtless he had heard of Jesus before, but now he understood the matter. He had been in the right condition of heart all along. (There is only one right condition of heart – that is, “repentant and believing.” – JJH) He had been praying and fasting. But even so he could not be accepted of God except through Jesus. He must have Christ as his advocate.” (p. 4, par. 1)

Another citation is from Reprints 5832, last par.: “The Gentiles were altogether without God. They had no privilege of prayer. We come down to the beginning of the Gospel Age and to the case of Cornelius. We read that he was a just man, who gave much alms to the people and prayed always. But his prayers could not be accepted, even after Jesus died. The death of Jesus did not bring Cornelius into covenant relationship with God. But when the seventy symbolic weeks of Jewish favor had been fulfilled, the due time had come for the Gospel to go to the Gentiles. God was then ready to receive him, and He sent an angel to him, who gave him this message from the Lord: ‘Cornelius, thy prayers and thine alms have come up for a memorial before God.’ The prayers and the alms of Cornelius had risen up as an incense before the Lord.”

And likewise it will be the same for those who failed to consecrate in the Court, and those who become “repentant and believing” in the “finished picture” of the Camp – their “prayers and alms” will come up for a memorial before God in their “due time.” All who fail to consecrate while in the Court condition (which is Tentative Justification) will “cease altogether to be of the Household of Faith.” (E‑4:406) However, to such the text applies: “Seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord’s anger.” (Zeph. 2:3) (p. 4, par. 2)

A further reference from Reprints 5200, col. 2, bottom: “Cornelius was a man who sought harmony with God (Would this not make him “repentant and believing?” – JJH). Although he prayed for years and gave much alms, yet his prayers and alms did not come up before God until an appropriate time – not until Jesus had died and ascended up on high, there to appear in the presence of God for us. (Acts 10:1, 2, 4; Heb. 9:24) Three and a half years after the cross, at the end of time of special favor to the Jews, this man’s prayers and alms came up before God as a memorial.” (Would God keep any one’s prayers as a memorial, if that man wasn’t “repentant and believing”?) (p. 4, par. 4)

Here we digress just a little to quote the last paragraph on the same page of Reprint 5101, of this article entitled “TO THE JEW FIRST”: “Nevertheless the Scriptures most clearly declare that the natural seed of Abraham, the Jews, are still heirs of a certain promise of God, which in due time will come to them. To their nation will come the great privilege of being the foremost nation amongst men during Messiah’s glorious reign, when the church glorified, spiritualized, will be with Him in His throne ....... St. Paul thus explains that the full number, to complete the elect kingdom class, must be first found among the Gentiles, and then, .... natural Israel will obtain the great earthly blessings which are still theirs and which were promised to their fathers ..... ‘They shall obtain mercy through your mercy.’ – Rom. 11:25‑34.” (p. 4, par. 6, and top of P. 5)

The above is corroborated in E‑15:550, bottom and p. 551, top: “The Kingdom will, of course, begin to work on the Worthies, and then through them upon the restitutionists who will survive the time of trouble, and that starting with the Jews in Palestine.” (p. 5, par. 1)

But we are persuaded by the sound logic in E‑11:664: “He who corrects a wrongdoing leader will later obtain more consideration that a deceitful flatterer.” “It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.” (Prov. 21:15)

Space will not permit reprinting the whole article of No. 239, as we want to publish

EXCERPTS FROM NO. 241, JULY 1975 PAPER

In our May paper No. 239 we offered extended analysis on Cornelius and his condition before Peter’s visit; but time and space did not allow us the detail that the subject required. Thus, we now offer further comment in refutation of what is presented in the Jan.‑Feb. PT, pp. 11‑15. For the benefit of our readers who no longer read the PT we now quote the opening paragraph on p. 11 of this paper, under the heading of “Tentative Justification & Cornelius’ Standing”.:

“It is saddening to see what length persistent errorist will go to uphold their errors – how with cleverly worded sophistry (such as we quoted from that Servant! – JJH) they will twist, misrepresent and disparage in order to evade the Truth and uphold their errors, how they will misuse and even fight against plain statements of Scriptures in order to do so.”

We have quoted this statement by RGJ because we shall now offer further proof that he was there describing himself. The Truth is that the standing of Cornelius would be no issue with RGJ if it did not impinge against his Campers Consecrated. He is now so enmeshed in this quagmire of error that he is forced to set aside one fundamental doctrine after another – doctrines that dispute his contentions concerning his Campers Consecrated.

ABOUT CORNELIUS

On p. 15, col. 2, par. 4, there is this: “Bro. Russell’s many and oft‑repeated statements to the effect that Cornelius was not yet a believer in Christ as his Savior when Peter came and told him the saving words.” We ask him now to cite just one of those “oft‑repeated statements” by Brother Russell that would set aside the fact that Cornelius was “repentant and believing” before Peter’s visit. We have quoted from Brother Russell that Cornelius was consecrated of years’ standing, and that he was a just and devout man. However, while we are waiting for RGJ to find the one statement from Brother Russell that supports his error, we now offer a quotation from Reprint 2988, col. 2, 1ast paragraph onward, that clearly contradicts what RGJ is trying to have his readers believe:

“Cornelius, the centurion, whose acceptance with God is the subject of this lesson, was evidently converted to God and to righteousness years prior to this incident (Peter’s visit as described in Acts 10:34‑44 – JJH). This is the testimony; he was a worshiper of God, a benevolent alms‑giver, and his love of righteousness and his consistent Life were recognized amongst those with whom he had to do; yet, nevertheless, something was necessary before he could be accepted by God in the proper sense of that word. (He must await his “due time” – JJH.) There is a lesson here for those who imagine reverence of God and morality are all that is necessary to Divine acceptance. As Cornelius had these qualities in large measure before his acceptance, the Lord’s dealing with him may well be a guide for all others who desire to approach Him in covenant relationship.

“Although devout, etc., as we have seen, Cornelius was not a Jew; and realized himself to be outside the pale of special Divine favor. (Like Peter, he had to be instructed by the Lord how he, a Gentile, could receive this favor – JJH.) Still he prayed to God .. for enlightenment respecting the Divine character and plan ... Cornelius needed to know of the Lord Jesus from the true standpoint; he must exercise faith in Him as his redeemer, before the memorials of his piety would count for anything with God ..... (Self‑evidently, he was a worshiper of the God of Israel, and no doubt had a great respect for the followers of Jesus, who had accepted Him as their Messiah – JJH)

“Evidently Cornelius was full of faith in the Lord ... He did not wait to see if Peter would come; he knew that he would come; he had faith (belief – JJH) in the Lord’s promise through the angel: Accordingly he gathered together his friends and relatives and household – those upon whom he had been exercising an influence, and who, like himself were pious (“repentant and believing” – JJH) and earnestly desirous of knowing all that they might learn concerning the way of life ... (It seems they were in the proper condition of heart for a full commitment to the Lord sometime before their “due time” for God’s acceptance – but the “way” was not opened for them until the 3 1/2 years of special favor to individual Jews had expired – JJH)

“Meantime, Peter, with all the prejudices belonging to the Jews for centuries, needed to be prepared to receive this first out‑and‑out Gentile brought into the Church. (It would seem that Peter was at least as ignorant of what was to be done as was Cornelius – JJH)

“Peter’s message, ‘words,’ explaining matters, enabled Cornelius and his household to grasp by faith (emphasis by Brother Russell) the great redemption which is in Christ Jesus ... Saved at once from alienation from God and from condemnation, as sinners....

“Having called for an expression from those present – especially from the brethren who accompanied him from Joppa – to know if any objection could be thought of why these dear brethren, who had believed in the Lord, who had given evidence of their consecration and good works, even before they knew of the Lord and His glorious plan, and who had now been accepted of God, and his acceptance manifested – why these should not be admitted to every blessing and arrangement which God had provided for His faithful ones – irrespective of their being Gentiles by birth.”

Cornelius was a worshiper of Israel’s God, so the question might arise, Why didn’t he become a proselyte Jew if he desired to be in covenant relationship with God? Cornelius was well acquainted with the Jewish religion, otherwise he wouldn’t have been worshiping Israel’s God. But there was a dissension among the Jews – a few Israelites indeed accepted Jesus as their Messiah, but the majority didn’t accept Him. Some who didn’t become His followers referred to Him as the Messiah (even Josephus referred to Jesus in his history as the Messiah); but the “due time” had not come for Cornelius to understand this fully. Thus, he was overjoyed when the angel visited him; and, as That Servant has aptly stated, Cornelius had sufficient faith to know that Peter would come – just as the angel had told him. And so it was with Peter – he, too, when properly instructed, had sufficient faith to do what he was told, even tho, hitherto, he was prejudiced the same as other Jews.

Be it noted that the quotation from Reprint 2988 is four years later than Reprint 1922 – the latter being the one that RGJ contends is the only place where That Servant made a mistake about Cornelius. He tells us that anytime before and after the article in Reprint 1922, Brother Russell supports his contention, that Cornelius was not “repentant and believing” before Peter’s visit. but note in the above quotation That Servant tells us that Cornelius had been converted to God and to righteousness years prior to Peter’s visit to him.

It is quite clear from That Servant’s teaching and from the Scriptures, that Cornelius was a righteous and God‑fearing man years prior to Peter’s visit. He had done all that he could – had witnessed a good confession of his faith in the God of Israel to his household and friends, and had influenced them to do likewise. Conversion is a much more comprehensive and potent word than repentance. One cannot be converted until he is repentant. Self‑evidently, therefore, Cornelius had to be repentant if he had been converted; and this illustrates just one more Truth that RGJ has Lost, or never clearly understood. In support of this conclusion we now quote from E‑6:232:

“The word repentance means much more than a change from wrong to right knowledge as to one’s moral state. It means not only a change from a wrong to a correct knowledge as to sin and righteousness, but also a change of disposition from a love of, and pleasure in sin to a sorrow for, and a hatred and abandonment of sin, and also from hatred and avoidance of righteousness to a love and practice of righteousness. Anything short of this is not a Biblical repentance.”

It is indisputable that Cornelius had Biblical repentance as described above by the Epiphany Messenger. And we now quote further from E‑6:233: “Revivalists make conversion consist of ‘repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus.’ Conversion, as the Bible teaches, is the entire process of turning from depravity into the image of God, and is a lifelong work. JFR has not only forsaken the Truth definition of conversion (Berean Comments Acts 3:19), but has fallen into deeper error on the subject than has the nominal Church.”

St. Peter’s statement in Acts 3:19 – “repent and be converted” – is definitely to the point that repentance must first come before any real conversion is accomplished; and, when RGJ sets this clear teaching aside, it is ample evidence that he now has the same teacher as did JFR, and that he is still in the clutches of Azazel – “deceiving and being deceived.” (2 Tim. 3:13)

Let us here stress the reason that RGJ has “turned his ears away from the Truth, and has turned to fables” (2 Tim. 4:4): It is his persistent effort to substantiate his delusion about Campers Consecrated by attempting to see types that support his error. In his letter published in the Nov. 15, 1910 Watch Tower he admits his “besetting sin” in this respect, in which he says: “My faculty for seeing pictures and types became so developed that my eye would skim over a chapter, jumping at a chance picture here and there, and missing nearly all the original meaning and proper application of the text. The Bible I loved was thus becoming quite barren to me in respect to its intended use. ... I was enjoying it more as one would enjoy a picture book of ‘Grimm’s Fairy Tales’ ... Finally I came to the point where it became quite difficult for me to distinguish between truth and error; and I was in danger of losing my appreciation of the truth and devoting myself to the fanciful.”

And it is tragic to note that after all these years he is yet in the same condition: it is quite difficult for him to “distinguish between truth and error”; otherwise he would not have referred to statements of That Servant regarding Cornelius to support his error, when those statements annihilate his position instead of supporting him. He must have been too busy in 1910 with his own imagination to take sober note of the following statement in Parousia Vol. 2, pp. 173, 174:

“But in considering types, we should carefully avoid the error of many well‑meaning people, who, when they begin to see there are significant types in the Scriptures, run to the extreme of treating every Bible character and incident as typical (as does RGJ when he thinks he finds support for his Campers Consecrated – such as the Hill Ophel, his Nethinim, etc. – JJH), and are thus led into error by curiosity and ingenuity.”

In our previous statements we quoted from That Servant that Cornelius’ consecration and conversion were of years’ standing. So in his opinion Cornelius was more than “repentant and believing,” even though God would not deal with him until the “due time.” It is elementary that repentance must precede consecration and conversion – and we observe that Jesus was also consecrated from boyhood, as is shown by his statement at the age of twelve: “Wrist ye not that I must be about My Father’s business,” (Luke 2:49) However, the Father’s business for Him actually began when Jesus had become thirty years of age, and presented Himself at Jordan. Much the same can be said about the Prophet Samuel, who became “judge” in Israel only after he had reached maturity, but he was consecrated from birth; and the same can be said of Brother Russell. RGJ’s teachings clearly reveal him as a “foolish” virgin and “the unprofitable servant” of Matt. 25:30 (see Berean Comment), who has “Built his house upon the sand.” (Matt. 7:26) And the “house built upon the sand” will fall in due time – “and great will be the fall of it.”

The question properly arises: Why all this uproar about Cornelius? The answer is that it is due to RGJ’s errant nonsense concerning his Campers consecrated. After the door to the Court is closed those in the Camp are in the same relevant position as was Cornelius before the 3 1/2 years of special Jewish favor had expired after Jesus’ death. God could not accept the consecration of Cornelius until the “due time”; and it is not now the “due time” for God to accept Restitutionists’ consecration – nor will it be due time for God to accept such consecrations until the end of the Millennium when the Restitutionists wills have become perfect.

Just as in the case of Cornelius, God was mindful of his piety, and kept his prayers in remembrance, the Mediator is also mindful of the piety of the “repentant and believing” in the Camp after the door to the Court is closed, and their prayers will be held in remembrance until their “due time” for acceptance when the New Covenant is inaugurated. And, if Cod will have nothing to do with Restitutionists during the Mediatorial reign, certainly He will have nothing to do with them now! God and Jesus both deal with the elect during the Faith Age; but The Mediator only will deal with the Restitutionists during the Mediatorial reign – although in full accord with God’s will and arrangement. This is elementary – something all the babes learned who came into Present Truth; and is in full harmony with the teaching of both Messengers – the “faith once delivered unto the saints.”

The nominal church teaches only one salvation – a salvation which can be gained only during this “present evil world.” However, the Bible teaches Two Distinct Salvations – one for the elect during the Faith Age (this “present evil world”), and one for the non‑elect during the Works Age (the “world to come”). Apparently RGJ is not clear on this teaching – otherwise he would not be so confused in his statements. He became confused when he produced his non‑existent class of Campers Consecrated, just as JFR became confused when he produced his non‑existent class of Jonadabs (now called the Great Crowd of Rev. 7:9). Of course, such monstrosity has caused both of them to pervert or reject other important Truths in their desperate effort to uphold their errors. That is why he is now presenting such “foolishness” about Cornelius and a “narrow way” in the Camp, which is simply a weird innovation – the invention of RGJ.

Neither Messenger ever hinted at such a situation; none of us ever heard of it until RGJ “discovered” it. The Berean Comment on 2 Tim. 3:13 well applies to him: “Being deceived ... Becoming more firmly entrenched in the snares of their own weaving, so as to make it impossible to extricate them.” God will send to such “an energy of delusion” (2 Thes. 2:11, Dia.); and the Berean Comment on that text: “Great delusions are just before us, and some of these may come closest upon those possessing the most light of Present Truth.” Certainly RGJ had more opportunity than any of the crown‑losers for “possessing the most light of Present Truth”; and when he was under the benevolent influence of the Epiphany Messenger he was very vigorous and effective in combating the very errors he himself is now presenting. He was quite courageous and unafraid of the errorists at that time – because he had the Truth’ “How are the mighty fallen”’ (2 Sam. 1:19) In his present course he is manifesting an excellent antitype of King Saul; but we hope he may yet extricate himself, and not have an ending similar to that of King Saul

“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:31‑32)

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NOTE: The above articles, Nos. 234 and 241, are reproduced to prove that Brother Hoefle’s only contention with RGJ was that Cornelius was “repentant and believing” before the Apostle Peter’s visit to his home. Brother Hoefle quotes That Servant who taught that Cornelius was converted and consecrated.

RGJ could not dispute that Brother Russell taught that Cornelius was converted and consecrated of years’ standing, so he came out with the following statement: “It is obvious, however, that what Brother Russell calls ‘his (Cornelius’) consecration of years’ standing’ was not a full consecration, but instead a consecration in a rather accommodated sense, a kind of consecration in which he was devout, reverenced God, prayed to Him and gave alms to the people (Acts 10:1,2).”

In RGJ’s watered‑down opinion of consecration as Brother Russell stated, he says that Cornelius was devout, reverenced God, prayed to Him. What more could any one do to be “repentant‑and believing”? God would not have held Cornelius’ prayers in remembrance had he not been “repentant and believing.” (See Brother Hoefle’s teaching on consecration – p. 1, par. 2; and p. 2, pars. 3 and 6 of this paper,)

However, Brother Johnson said that when he had a different opinion to Brother Russell’s opinion, he always accepted Brother Russell’s opinion if neither was substantiated by a Scripture. This is a wise course for all the Lord’s people.

It should be noted that God dealt with Cornelius in vision (Acts 10:3,4) before Cornelius saw Peter. It was on the morrow (Acts 10:9) that Peter “saw the heaven opened.” (Acts 10:11) Also, since Cornelius and those with him received the Holy Spirit while Peter was yet speaking (Acts 10:44), this May have caused That Servant to believe that Cornelius was consecrated before that time. Acts 10:2 describes Cornelius as a “devout man, one that feared God with all his house, ... and prayed to God always” no doubt persuaded Brother Russell to believe that he was consecrated of years’ standing. Too, That Servant stated that he believed that the same centurion who came to Jesus beseeching Him to heal his servant (Matt. 8:5‑9) was Cornelius. He couldn’t believe there were two centurions of such faith. Self‑evidently, the centurion had faith in Jesus! Jesus said of him, “Verily, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.” (Matt. 8:10) It seems reasonable that our Lord would have chosen the centurion whose servant He healed to be the first Gentile to receive the Holy Spirit when the door was opened for the Gentiles.

August Gohlke stated in the May‑June 1984 PT, p. 43, col. 1, par. 4: “He (meaning JJH) contended that Cornelius was fully consecrated before the Apostle Peter came to his home (Acts 10).” Brother Hoefle did not contend that Cornelius was fully consecrated, or that he was consecrated in any degree. Brother Hoefle had no reason for contending Cornelius was fully consecrated. His only contention with RGJ was that Cornelius was “repentant and believing,” the same as the condition of the Epiphany Campers – including RGJ’s Campers Consecrated. However, he quoted Brother Russell’s teaching about Cornelius. If Cornelius was consecrated in any degree, he had to be “repentant and believing.

God hates a lying tongue! “These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto Him.” (Prov. 6:16) And v. 17, the second of the seven things that God hates is “a LYING TONGUE.”

It is only reasonable to conclude that Gohlke wrote this article after he was notified that Brother Hoefle had finished his course. So he must have felt free to misrepresent Brother Hoefle, as well as Brothers Russell and Johnson. However, “their works do follow them.” Brother Hoefle being dead yet speaketh.

Even though some of the Campers may be consecrated, God does not accept the consecration of Restitutionists – not now or in the Kingdom. God will no doubt hold such faithful consecrations in remembrance, as He did for Cornelius. “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.” (Prov. 15:3) God will not accept consecrations of Campers until they have become perfect – at the end of the Kingdom. Jesus and the Church will have complete charge of all Restitutionists in the Kingdom, and will accept the consecrations of Restitutionists when the New Covenant is inaugurated.

The Kingdom will be Israelitish, just as That Servant taught, and all who receive the blessings of the New Covenant will have to become Israelites – not Epiphany Camperites! It was the same under the Mosaic Law – any Gentile that wanted to receive the blessings of the Law Covenant had to become proselyte Jews, There are TWO DISTINCT SALVATIONS, which cannot be mixed – the elect salvation for the Gospel Age and the salvation of the Millennial Age for all Restitutionists. There is no way open during the Gospel Age for Restitutionists to consecrate. Their “way” is the Highway of Holiness (Isa. 35:8), which will not be opened until the New Covenant is inaugurated. The Jehovah’s Witnesses “Great Crowd” and RGJ’s Campers Consecrated are non‑existent classes.

Another misleading statement by AG, p. 41, col. 1, pars. 4 and 5, is his heading in big letters, “ERRORIST DENY TENTATIVE JUSTIFICATION,” while in small letters underneath this heading he says, “a bold denial of tentative justification as operative in the Epiphany Camp.”

All God’s faithful people who continue in the Truth as taught by the two Messengers on tentative justification “boldly deny tentative justification as operative in the Epiphany Camp, RGJ taught the Truth on Tentative Justification when under the benevolent influence of the Epiphany Messenger. August Gohlke is teaching error he inherited from a self‑confessed crown‑loser – who was ejected from the Holy and befuddled by Azazel – rather than the Truth “once delivered unto the saints” taught by the two Messengers.

On p. 43, last paragraph and top of p. 44, August Gohlke cites from the Epiphany Messenger in P. 47, p. 52, col. 2, the heading being “SOME OBJECTIONS TO THERE BEING A YOUTHFUL WORTHY CLASS EXAMINED.” This article was solely written to refute a brother in England who refused to accept a Youthful Worthy class. He cites from this article to prove the Epiphany Messenger supports his Consecrated Epiphany Camper’s error: “All the Gospel‑Age consecrated (‘this would include the Consecrated Epiphany Campers,’ August Gohlke inserts) as real law‑fulfillers through Christ’s righteousness (Rom. 10:4) are By God counted Israelites, regardless of whether their flesh is Jewish or Gentile (emphasis by AG), while the unconsecrated are the Gospel‑Age Gentiles (Rev. 2:9; 3:9; 11:2).”

All the Gospel‑Age Gentiles who consecrate are in the Court. Now a quotation from that same article, p. 54, col. 2, par. 2 will prove that Brother Johnson refers to the Saints and Levites as the “Gospel‑Age consecrated”:

“2 Tim. 2:20: ‘In a great house (the house of Jesus as Aaron’s antitype, the latter being the head, first of the tribe of Levi (Num. 17:3), and secondly of all Israel as their high priest) there are not only vessels of gold (Little Flock) and of silver (Great Company), but also of wood (Ancient Worthies) and of earth (Youthful Worthies).’ Thus here Jesus is spoken of not only as the head of the under priests, but also of the three groups of eventual Gospel‑Age and Millennial‑Age Levites. Please note how the word and is used to connect the last part of the verse with the preceding part – and, additionally, to the under priests and the three sets of eventual Levites there will also be in Jesus’ great house two other classes; and some to honor (the faithful Restitutionists), and some to dishonor (the Millennial unfaithful, second‑deathers). By implication Gal. 3:7 teaches that the Youthful Worthies as Abraham’s children are a class; for they are a faith class. Likewise v. 9 implies the Youthful Worthies as Being Abraham’s associates in blessing received and given; for being of (a) faith (class), they are blessed with faithful Abraham. Rom. 2:26‑29 implies them as a class; for they are consecrated. Finally, of New Testament passages Rev. 20:9 refers to the Youthful Worthies as the camp of the saints, and to the Ancient Worthies as the beloved city.”

August Gohlke again misrepresents Brother Johnson’s teaching. It is clear to any one of a “sound mind” that Brother Johnson in this article referred to Priests and Levites when he said “All the Gospel‑Age consecrated.” He makes this very clear in his explanation of the and. The Epiphany Campers are included in the Millennial Age picture of “some to honor.” This would include the JW’s “Great Crowd” as well as the Campers Consecrated – all those who are “repentant and believing,” and seek meekness and righteousness.” (Zeph. 2:3) They will be privileged to share with the Jews in their missionary work as they become Jews. All will have to become Jews if they get the blessings of the New Covenant. However, God’s promises to natural Jews is sure – they will be “first and chief.” Those who teach differently are “deceiving and being deceived.”

Brother Johnson gives a Fourfold Tabernacle picture; (1) the Gospel‑Age picture, including the Epiphany up to the finished picture; (2) the finished picture of the Epiphany; (3) the Millennial‑Age picture; (4) the Post‑Millennial‑Age picture. The Gospel‑Age Camp picture contains the nominal people of God, while the Epiphany Camp finished picture contains the “repentant and believing” Jews and Gentiles, but not consecrated. Does the LHMM teach there are five Tabernacle pictures, If not, which picture do they use for their Consecrated Epiphany Campers – the Gospel‑Age picture or the finished picture of the Epiphany? Either one has no place for Consecrated Epiphany Campers.

August Gohlke’s article is polluted with errors that his predecessor taught him – errors: on the Tabernacle, Tentative Justification, Those Consecrating Between the Ages, To The Jew First, etc. We have articles that will refute all his errors, which will be reproduced, D.v., as occasion demands. For now, however, Brother Hoefle’s paper, No. 212, Feb. 1, 1973, p. 8, pars. 6, 7 and 8, is pertinent to the subjects herein discussed, which we reproduce as follows:

We now quote what the two Messengers taught us about the Jews: “The New Covenant is not to be made with any other than the Jews, for no others were in Covenant relationship with God. The words ‘New Covenant’ seem, therefore, to indicate the repetition of God’s favor to Israel under the better Mediator.” (Question Book, p. 205 – No. 212, p. 8, par. 6)

“Having seen so many features of God’s plan successfully carried out by God’s zeal, he has the full assurance of faith that the unfulfilled parts as due will be zealously carried out by God ... He confidently looks for the zeal of God to establish God’s Kingdom at the hand of His Elect under Christ, on the ruins of Satan’s Empire, to offer the Kingdom blessings, first to the living Jews, then to the Gentiles. (E‑1:302 – No. 212, p. 8, par. 5)

“So the Millennial favors will be to the Jews first, even as by reason of the Covenants, etc., the Gospel favors were offered to them first. And so it shall be finally as Simeon prophesied: ‘This child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel.’ And the time for raising up that nation, so long fallen from favor, is at hand.” (Parousia Vol. 3, p. 256 – No. 212, p. 8, par. 8)

We will now reproduce a Question and Answer from Brother Hoefle’s paper No. 311, May 1981, pp. 7 and 8:

QUESTION: – Would you please give your comments on “A Reply to Attacks on Tabernacle Truth” in the January‑February 1981 PT, pp. 11‑14?

ANSWER: – At first we thought to ignore August Gohlke’s attempt to substantiate his errors on Tentative Justification, Campers Consecrated, etc., since we have ably refuted these errors in our past papers. AG is simply repeating the errors he learned from RGJ. However, since some of our readers would like to have our comments, we will give them as briefly as possible.

On p. 12, col. 1, par. 6, AG says we (JJH) “follow a course similar to JFR.” JFR made a total denial of Tentative Justification, saying it was not taught in the Bible, AG knows that we have defended Tentative Justification and upheld it as taught by That Servant and the Epiphany Messenger, so he makes this statement knowing it to be a false and slanderous accusation. We have repeatedly cited Rom. 4:9‑11 in proof of Tentative Justification, just as did the Epiphany Messenger in refuting JFR’s error. To refresh AG’s memory we are sending him our September 1976 article, No. 255, “Justification in This Age and in the Next Age.” Copy of this issue will be gladly sent free to any who request it.

AG cites E‑10:209 in proof of his contention, just as other errorists have done – cite Scriptures and quotations that refute their errors. And this very citation by AG should be one Epiphany Truth that he should shun, in view of the perversion of Tentative Justification and consecration the LHMM upholds. In E‑10:209 it is stated that “in the finished picture the Epiphany Camp will consist of the repentant and believing unconsecrated Jews and Gentiles.” We accept this Epiphany Truth, “knowing of whom we have learned it.” (2 Tim. 3:14) AG should make it clear whether he teaches we are in the “Finished picture” of the Epiphany or whether we are not Either way he chooses, according to the teaching of the Epiphany Messenger, the LHMM has been teaching gross error since 1954. If we are in the “finished picture,” then the Camp now contains only the “repentant and believing” UNCONSECRATED Jews and Gentiles; and if we are not, then the gate to the‑Court is still open, and Youthful Worthiship is available.

Brother Johnson often stressed that only thee Star Members (God’s special Mouthpieces) could bring forth a new doctrine – that others attempting to do this would bring out error; but that didn’t bother RGJ as he saw new Light (?) and produced a new doctrine – Epiphany Campers Consecrated, which has set aside opportunity for Youthful Worthiship before restitution sets in, as taught by That Servant and the Epiphany Messenger. His Campers Consecrated will be first and chief in the Kingdom, he says, setting aside the teaching of the Apostle Paul, That Servant and the Epiphany Messenger. No Levite, whether cleansed or uncleansed, is permitted to bring forth a new doctrine. However, according to the Epiphany teaching all Great Company members must be fully abandoned to Azazel before they can be cleansed; and to be fully abandoned they must have brotherly fellowship withdrawn from them. (See E‑15, pp. 525, 526) Brother Johnson only withdrew priestly fellowship from RGJ, but never brotherly fellowship. So RGJ was an uncleansed Levite at the death of the Epiphany Messenger.

That Servant and the Epiphany Messenger both taught that restitution would be “to the Jew first” – at the beginning of the Kingdom and its end – that all restitutionists will have to become Jews if they get eternal life. As Brother Russell has repeatedly taught, the Kingdom will be Israelitish. (See Parousia Vol. 1, p. 294, par. 1) Even if we had no clear teaching from the last two Star Members, we have the inspired Scriptures which are crystal clear. The Apostle Paul’s words would be sufficient to refute the JW’s on their “Great Crowd;” and the LHMM on their Campers Consecrated – “to the Jew first.” (Rom. 1:16) The fully faithful Little Flock of this Gospel Age are recorded as Jews (Rev. 7:4‑8) – although the majority of them have been Gentiles. And to this we would add the words of Jesus Himself: “Ye worship ye know not what; we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.” (John 4:22)

Let our readers note carefully that AG makes copious reference to the teaching of RGJ, just as RGJ referred to his past errors to support his present errors. It gives us no pleasure to refute the errors of our erstwhile brethren, with whom we have had sweet fellowship, but “necessity is laid upon me” (1 Cor. 9:16) if we would faithfully “contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 3) – not the “faith that was delivered to the Levites, the Great Company.”

It would encourage AG’s adherents if he would tell them how many Jews have joined up with him, and have become Epiphany Campers Consecrated in order to become “first” in restitution blessings. We have tried to be brief, but we trust not too brief to make our position clear. However, it will be our pleasure to send some of our back papers on the subjects to those who request them.

“The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?” (Jer. 5:31)

“Thou shalt not raise a false report: put not thine hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness. Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment.” (Ex. 23:1,2)

The Berean Comments on Ex. 23:1, 2: “To do evil – Seek one’s own interests regardless of justice and honesty.”

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LETTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST

Dear Emily,

Thanks for your sweet letter and lovable picture sent July 16th. I feel as though I missed meeting a great man in John Hoefle. However, I am delighted that, the Lord willing, I’ll be able to meet you personally and give you the hug I would have given John as well as the one Norma and I have reserved for you. And one day we’ll be together – around the throne in glory sharing victories won by our Lord. Isn’t it amazing how He really does all the work through us yet rewards us as if we did it ourselves? What a wonderful Lord!

Thanks for that special picture of you and John. I’m sure you adored each other and were a loving and lovable couple. By the way, Norma and I are heading for the big one – our silver 25th next June 10th. You’ll love her, Emily. I think John and I would probably both have agreed that we married two of the best. ......

Thanks for loving us as your own kids. Your prayers will mean much. May you be bound up in the bundle of Hebrews 12:24 & 25 and tenderly held in the hollow of His hand.

All my love and prayers, Frank ……. (NEW HAMPSHIRE)

………………………..

Dear Emily,

We have just finished reading John’s Biography and we are deeply moved. What a dear brother he was among us! His example of faithfulness had no break in it ever, at any time, or under any circumstances. I thought to call you immediately but quickly realized I wouldn’t be able to talk and neither would you. The Biography is beautifully done and will take quite a few of us years back in memory. Maude and I went with you and John to that Convention where John gave such an outstanding testimony. It came back very clearly to my mind as I read it. It has to be the best testimony I ever did hear – and it took courage for John to give it under all the pressure and unfriendliness which had built up. Am so glad you included it in the Biography.

Thank you for sending this to us. Thomas specially requested that I tell you how deeply he appreciates this and how thankful he is that he had the privilege to know John. May the dear Lord bless you and give you the strength to go on – though I know it isn’t easy without John. Surely the time is short now!

We both send love to you, and hope we can come up before too long. I am not staying very well, but can’t seem to swing out of it so far. Have to go to the dentist today. Love and prayers, ……. (FLORIDA)

………………………

Dear Sr. Hoefle: May the grace and peace of our Beloved Lord remain with us all!

Only those who have lost loved ones could imagine how it was to Mary and the disciples when Jesus died. The agony of our beloved Brother’s death is a heavy blow unto us all. It came as a shock to me when I opened your letter to read of the tragedy and sorrow now yearning in the Epiphany movement. I was unable to do anything for two days. I dispatched a circular letter to all the Epiphany Ecclesias, followed by a program for the funeral ceremony, which took place on the 27th of May. According to our law and custom a sorrowful vigil night was carried out in the premises of the Headquarters the night of the 26th of May. On Sunday the 27th by 9:30 a.m., all choristers took the lead with the photograph of our dearly beloved Brother John J. Hoefle, followed by the brethren with Song 188, in my language, marching round the meeting hall before entering into the hall, which Bro. Hoefle had used his hand to build – all in honour of him, whose light now shines, and will shine forever. After the service, the congregation was dismissed in silence as though we were conducting a Memorial Supper.

My dear Sister, here the Epiphany brethren in Nigeria have handed over to me messages of condolence to send to you, and with you in the Bible House Ministry, knowing quite well that His grace is sufficient unto him, with the hope of eternal life which God has promised. Dear Sister, you must remember that no one has ever run faster than his/her shadow, that we presently, can never prevent those who are asleep (1 Thes. 4:15), thereby, you take courage, and not you alone, but we here, too. It seems it would have been better for us could he have lived longer so that we could see the candle light better that he lighted for us. I know that God cannot lie, and that as we have missed him I know “God will surely bring forth a rod, out of the stem of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.” (Isa. 11:1‑3)

Sister Emah really sympathizes with you. She bears the same sorrow you are facing, judging from the viewpoint of things as if I myself were to finish my course, leaving her alone. She asked me in tears to console you to bear the loss, believing in eternal life. If it were nearer we would visit you.

And with this comes my brotherly love and heartfelt condolence to you and all with you, in which the Nigerian brethren, Sr. Emah and the family now join. In behalf of the EBSA Congregation – Sincerely your brother, ----------.…… (AFRICA)

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The Mount Dora Ecclesia and co‑workers wish to convey their heartfelt appreciation for the many beautiful cards and letters expressing sympathy, love and prayers. We would not have been able to “carry on” without the loving support of those of “like precious faith.” Blest be the tie that binds! We would like to publish all the letters if space would permit. Our warm Christian love and prayers are ever with you. Thank you’ God Bless you all!

NO. 349B: BIOGRAPHY OF BROTHER JOHN J. HOEFLE

No. 349B

Brother Hoefle was recognized by many as a Bible scholar, although he never attended a Theological Seminary. When asked if he had attended any Theological Seminary, he would answer that he had not. He would tell them he was now in the School of Christ, but had not graduated; that the advice the Apostle Paul gave Timothy was: “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of Truth.” (2 Tim. 2:15) The Apostle did not tell Timothy that he should attend some religious school so that he would be better equipped to be “approved unto God.” Neither do we have any record of the Apostles advising their converts to attend a “religious school” in order to be “approved unto God.” Brother Hoefle, of course; gladly accepted help from others who were in the “School of Christ,” and had studied the Word of God, whose instructor was our Lord. He followed the advice of the Apostle Peter: “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason for your hope that is in you with meekness and fear.” (1 Pet. 3:15)

He was an avid student of history, both modern and ancient, had a good understanding of world conditions, and was also well acquainted with business and finance. Many who knew him well marveled at his remarkable memory. However, his main interest was the dissemination of God’s Word to all who had an “ear to hear.” His purpose was to bless the Lord’s people with “Good Tidings of Great Joy,” which he was privileged to do to quite a few. Although the Lord said, “because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matt. 7:14), He also said, “Every one who is of the truth heareth my voice.” (John 18:37) Brother Hoefle knew this has been true during the Gospel Age, but he also knew the “Good Tidings” is to be to all people, which will be fulfilled in the Kingdom when “the earth shall be full of the knowl­edge of the Lord.” (Isa. 11:9) This is certainly not true today. The Good Tidings of Great Joy will then be to all people – especially to those who love righteousness, but were unable to walk a “narrow way” during the Gospel Age when sin and evil were in the ascendancy. A Highway of Holiness (Isa. 35:8) will be opened for all who love righteousness, or will learn to love righteousness – a way of easy access and many will be able to find it. This Highway of Holiness will also lead to eternal life for those who love righteousness and obey the Kingdom rules. (Acts 3:19‑21)

Brother Hoefle’s father was a Catholic and his mother a Lutheran. After the Dayton, Ohio flood in 1913, in which he and his family, as well as many others, suffered much hardship, he became too ill to hold down a full‑time job. He sold sweepers from door to door part of the time, and studied the Bible when not working. He gained very little knowledge, as he did not know how to study it. He did not know that the Bible is a book of texts rather than a text book: “For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line; here a little and there a little.” (Isa. 28:10)

However, he believed the Bible contained God’s inspired Word, even though he could not understand very much of it. He believed there is “no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12) He reverenced God and Christ, and believed that our Creator is a God of Love, Wisdom, Justice and Power. He then joined the Lutheran church, and was a faithful worker in that church, gaining him the love and respect of his associates.

Brother Hoefle later was employed in a plumbing company in Dayton, Ohio, and became friendly with an employee who was associated with the International Bible Students Association. He went with him to some of the meetings. At that time they were using the six volumes of the Studies in the Scriptures written by That Servant. He bought the volumes and readily accepted the Truth they contained. He was happy to find that God had a Plan of Salvation for all mankind as given in the Diaglott translation of Eph. 3:11: “According to a Plan of the Ages, which he formed for the Anointed Jesus our Lord.”

Brother Hoefle entered the Army May 29, 1918, as a Conscientious Objector. He and others in the Camp had some grueling experiences. But when his superior officers were informed that he was an excellent stenographer and office worker, they gave him some office work to do. He faithfully performed all the work assigned him, thereby gaining the respect of his superior officers. God’s promises sustained him – believing “all things” would work out for his good. (Rom. 8:28) So he took the abuse, as well as the kind treatment, as a “good soldier” in the Lord’s Army.

When he came out of the Army, he again attended the IBSA meetings – became a colporteur, and sold the Studies in the Scriptures. However, when the Seventh volume came out he refused to sell it. So they took his territory from him. They began to present errors contrary to what he had learned in the Studies in the Scriptures – errors he could not accept. He discussed this with some of the brethren, and one brother told him he talked like Brother Paul S. L. Johnson, who was writing a monthly paper about such errors. He immediately got in touch with Brother Johnson and asked him to send him all back papers. Shortly thereafter, he went with the Laymen’s Home Missionary Movement where he remained until a few years after Brother Johnson’s demise.

Brother Johnson and Brother Hoefle became close personal friends. Each year Brother Johnson gave Brother Hoefle a special binding of the Present Truths with his inscription, as well as having the Parousia and Epiphany books specially bound for him. In 1943 Brother Hoefle went with Brother Johnson on a month’s pilgrim trip – some of the time eating and sleeping with him. Under such circumstances they came to know each other quite well. Brother Hoefle often remarked what a great privilege it was to take that trip with Brother Johnson. He was a wonderful instructor, and Brother Hoefle learned a lot from him personally. Such information was a great help to Brother Hoefle later when it was his duty and privilege to “contend for the faith once delivered unto the saints.” Brother Johnson told him that he did more for him than he did for others because of his faithfulness to the Truth. Brother Johnson often quoted Prov. 11:25 to Brother Hoefle: “The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.” Brother Johnson had requested that Brother Hoefle conduct his funeral, which he did October 27, 1950. The following is some of what he said at the funeral:

There is a way, and a way

And the high soul climbs the high way

And the low soul gropes the low

And in between, on the misty flats, the rest drift,

to and fro

But to every man there openeth a high way and a low

And every man decideth which way his life shall go.

He also said of Brother Johnson, “Our pastor chose the high way, the narrow way that leadeth unto life; and when the judgments are finally set and open before all, it will then be apparent how wise his choosing had been.

In the 1952 Present Truth the new executive published Brother Johnson’s Seven Helpers. The following is what he said about Brother Hoefle:

“Bro. John J. Hoefle, of Detroit, Mich., was one of Bro. Johnson’s special assistants in a more potent way than most of the brethren realize. Throughout most of the Epiphany, and even to the end of his life, Bro. Johnson leaned on Bro. Hoefle in special ways, finding in him an ever ready and willing helper, often under very exacting conditions that involved much sacrifice and self‑denial. Probably the largest financial contributor to the Lord’s Epiphany work, he came to Bro. Johnson’s relief in times of special need, making possible the purchase of plates and other materials for various books that were published, donating the Bible House property free from debt to the work and additionally donating thousands of dollars, to the exhaustion of his finances, in the spirit of the instruction in Matt. 6:19‑21. He also ably helped Bro. Johnson in legal and general executive matters. E.G., in 1937 he started action in the courts which resulted in the LHMM obtaining income‑tax‑free status, donations made to it by others also being now free from taxation and deductible in individual income‑tax returns. This has resulted in quite an increase in funds for carrying on the work, and served as a precedent in obtaining for the LHMM more favorable positions and decisions, e.g., in connection with various bequests, deeds, U.S. Customs, U.S. Courts and other agencies, employment tax exemptions, tax‑free services, lower rates, etc. In 1947 “at a most inopportune time” he left everything to serve at Bro. Johnson’s bedside, assisting in correspondence work, etc. Bro. Johnson spoke of him as “my real son Timothy” and later wrote him: “I love you because of your personal good qualities, which I appreciate, and because of the great service you have been to the Epiphany Truth.” Bro. Johnson arranged for him to act as executor for himself and Sr. Johnson, and made special request that he serve at his funeral. Indeed, Bro. Hoefle, who also served as a Pilgrim, was one of Bro. Johnson’s seven special helpers.”

However, the Executive Trustee was a self‑confessed crown‑loser, and as Brother Johnson often said, “All crown‑losers are doubleminded.” “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” (James 1:8) This proved to be true. “Now there arose a new king... which knew not Joseph.” (Ex. 1:83) The Executive Trustee began presenting error – only slight at the beginning. Brother Hoefle thought highly of the Executive Trustee because of the good help he was to Brother Johnson. He often said, we should do all we can to help him, because it is a difficult job for any one to step into the shoes of a great man like Brother Johnson. He went to the Executive Trustee privately to point out his errors, but to no avail. Then later there was a whispering campaign conducted, saying among other things, “Brother Hoefle is forsaking the Truth,” or words to that effect. However, by 1954 the Executive Trustee came out with “new light” a new doctrine called the Consecrated Epiphany Campers. He did this despite the teachings and warnings of Brother Johnson: “Nor are they (crown‑losers) to seek to discover ‘new light’ and spread it before the Church, as this would be attempting to go into the Holy, from which they have been excluded, and would result in their offering strange fire. .... Let us rather hope that they will confine their ministry (1) to one another according to the Truth that they have received and will yet receive from the Priests, and (2) to the nominal people of God to whom they have been made God’s mouthpiece through their Possession of the antitypical mantle. ….. Toward these two classes they will have an honorable and Divinely approved service, as they do it in harmony with faith, righteousness and the Truth.” (E‑7:138)

At the 1955 Philadelphia convention, which Brother Hoefle attended, he was aware of a decided coolness in the attitude of a few brethren – although he had not yet been excommunicated. He gave the following testimony:

TESTIMONY ON HOPE

I’m glad to be with you and I hope I’ll be with you for a long time to come. But this element of Hope has loomed large in human affairs: “Man lives in hope and dies in despair.” That certainly is not true of God’s people, because their hope sustains them to the end.

When the Israelites left Egypt, their hopes were high; but those hopes collapsed in one day when they came to Kadesh‑Barnea. When the adverse report of the spies came to them, they lost their hope, which died with them in their flight through the wilderness of Sin, as they fell like deceitful jades. Of all that horde who were over 20 years of age that left Egypt, how many possessed beautiful Canaan land? Only two! Canaan was a goodly land, flowing with milk and honey; and the Lord had said they could possess it. For Gospel‑Age purposes, that land typed the Truth and its Spirit. So the Lord did not use words loosely. Of all the millions that have left Egypt (the world of sin) during the Gospel Age, only 144,000 possessed good Canaan land – the Truth and the Spirit of the Truth.

There’s no reason to think the Youthful Worthies will show any better in “possessing the land” – the Truth and the Spirit of the Truth – than did their predecessors. But of those who have possessed it all things are theirs. Brother Johnson once said to me: “Brother, you are richer than Henry Ford" and the years have taught me the truth of what he said. Mr. Ford – as with all of us – brought nothing into this world; and all he took out with him was what he was (his character) – he took not a nickel of what he had. And so it shall be with us! If we have the Truth and the Spirit of the Truth, we have everything. But I realize it brings some burdens, too. As Solomon said, I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly; and I perceived that in much wisdom is much grief, and he that increaseth knowledge, increaseth sorrow.” But, the same wise man also said, “Sorrow is better than laughter, for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.” And the Lord’s people should welcome anything that makes the “heart” better – for “out of the heart are the issues of life.” So I sincerely hope I do have the Truth and the Spirit of the Truth, because I need then have no fear of what men may think of me, or do to me. I pray daily for my brethren everywhere, and I hope all my brethren do the same for me. But, be that as it may, I know there is but one Lord; and to his own Lord each of us must stand or fall, so

I stay my haste, I make delays

For what avails this eager pace?

I stand amid the eternal ways,

And what is mine shall know my face.

Shortly after this convention Brother and Sister Hoefle were excommunicated from the Laymen’s Home Missionary Movement. This was the first time this had happened to him. He was not disfellowshipped from the Lutheran church and the IBSA, as he left them of his own free will, so quite a few of them continued to be friendly with him. However, he reflected that he no doubt needed some experiences like beloved Brother Johnson received from the Society when he was kicked out. Of course, this left Brother Johnson with nothing else he could do but refute the errorist, which he did. So it was the same with Brother Hoefle, there was nothing left for him to do but expose the errorists, which he did. From 1955 onward he wrote a monthly paper, mainly refutation at the beginning – in order to rescue his brethren in the LHMM from the “snare of the fowler.” (Psa. 91:3) As the mailing list increased to many outsiders, he then wrote papers other than controversial. Although the Epiphany Bible Students Ass’n is a small movement, the papers have been far‑reaching, not only in the United States, but also including many foreign countries. He got surprising requests for his papers from sources and people he had never known. This was largely due to brethren who had shared their articles with others.

He often stated that he was happy that the LHMM still distributed the Studies in the Scriptures and the Epiphany books, even though some of these books refuted the LHMM errors better than he could do himself. So in this refutation of the errors he often quoted from these books and from the writings of the Watch Tower Reprints by That Servant. He continued to go to the LHMM conventions for several years after his excommunication, as some of the brethren continued to fellowship with him, even though the Executive Trustee told them from the platform not to speak to the Hoefles, not to shake hands with them – or have anything to do with them – as it was like shaking hands with the Devil. It hurt Brother Hoefle very much when quite a few heeded his command – although a few of the hardier brethren continued to fellowship with him. The Executive Trustee followed in the path of J. F. Rutherford, whose adherents had treated him similarly when under Bro. Johnson, instead of following in the path of That Servant and the Epiphany Messenger.

However, Brother Hoefle realized that the Truth and its Spirit was more to be desired than the praise of men. Some, of course, “loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.” (John 12:43) There are two groups emanating from That Servant that have brought forth new doctrines not taught by the two Messengers: The Jehovah’s Witnesses with their Great Crowd and the LHMM with their Epiphany Campers Consecrated. Brother Johnson called the Witnesses’ Great Crowd a non‑existent class – and Brother Hoefle called the LHMM’s Consecrated Epiphany Campers a non‑existent class. The leaders of these two groups are displacing God’s promises to the Jews and relegating them to their non‑existent classes. But God’s promises to the Jews are sure: “He is faithful that promised.” (Heb. 10:23) Brother Hoefle has ably refuted these errors not only with the teaching of the two Messengers, but even more importantly, with God’s sure word of prophecy: “Salvation is of the Jews.” (John 4:22)

The Executive Trustee not only called Brother Hoefle a sifter and other vicious names, but also said he had lost his standing in the Household of Faith. However, Brother Hoefle never intimated that the Executive Trustee had lost his standing as a self‑confessed crown‑loser. It was his hope that the Executive Trustee would eventually cleanse himself of his character blemishes, and be among those who “washed their robes.” (Rev. 7:14) These crown‑losers when cleansed are counted “overcomers”, but the crown‑retainers are “more than conquerors.” (Rom. 8:37) Brother Hoefle often remarked that the Executive Trustee was a great help to Brother Johnson, and was still doing a good work toward the world in distributing the six volumes. However, these crown‑lost leaders taught error to the brethren: They were “deceiving and being deceived.” (2 Tim. 3:13)

Even though Brother Hoefle was lenient toward the individuals who opposed him, he was uncompromising in his presentation of the Truth, and in his attack against the errors and errorists. He relied on God’s promises: “For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.” (Luke 21:15) “Behold, I will make a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth; thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and shalt make the hills as chaff.” (Isa. 41:15) As he often remarked, “To his own Lord each of us must stand or fall.”

Just as were the two Messengers, he was a true friend of the Jews. He wrote copiously about God’s promises to the Jews, and often quoted from That Servant’s teaching. “The New Covenant will be made with the Jews.” (Jer. 31:31‑34) The Kingdom will be Israelitish. God’s plan of Salvation for all mankind will come through Spiritual Israel and Natural Israel. They were first in Spiritual Israel – the High Calling ‑ and they will be first in the earthly Kingdom. Brother Hoefle supported the Jewish Cause in every way he was able. He was happy to see the Jews back in Jerusalem and the prophecy being fulfilled just as the Messengers taught. He had faith and confidence that the prophecy would continue to unfold, even though the Jews will experience what is “Jacob’s last trouble,” they will never be fully ejected from Jerusalem. “For I will set mine eyes upon them for good, and I will bring them again to this land: and I will build them, and not pull them down; and I will plant them, and not pluck them up.” (Jer. 24:6)

This is a brief history of Brother Hoefle’s experiences in the Truth – toward and untoward – and some very rugged. He was always appreciative of the Lord’s overruling Providence, and counted the rebuffs and ostracism as “all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord” (Phil. 3:8), as he “earnestly contended for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” (Jude 3) As he said in No. 123, September 1, 1965: “Our only ambition is ‘to be faithful to the Lord, the Truth and the Brethren,’ as we endeavor to ‘quit ourselves like men’ in the ‘good fight’ of faith we are waging.”

We hope and trust his experiences will be a strength and comfort to the Lord’s people as they continue to “fight the good fight of faith” as Good Soldiers in the Lord’s Army.

Soldiers of Christ arise,

And put your armor on,

Strong in the strength which God supplies

Through His eternal Son.

Having all things done,

And all your conflicts past,

Ye may o’come, through Christ alone

And stand entire at last.

We may be sure that “the righteous will be in everlasting remembrance.” (Psa. 112: 6) “As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about His people from hence even forever.” (Psa. 125:2) Be assured of our Christian love and prayers for all our brethren.

THE MOUNT DORA ECCLESIA

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LETTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST

Dear Sister Hoefle; Grace and peace!

Your cablegram message was received with sadness. We have awaited your following letter to the brethren, but it has taken 10 days to get here – a somewhat longer time than usual. We have indeed felt that Brother Hoefle was gradually regaining some of his normal health, and would continue in his ministry to the brethren for some time yet. .......

We all have sorrow now, and we sympathize with you, dear Sister, being so closely associated with Brother John, even as we do with all the dear ones with you. ..... Yet we have great comfort and trust in the Lord for all what the future has in store for us.

It is good to know that Brother Hoefle had prepared articles for future publishing. We look forward to these in due course, praying the Lord will bless and give you strength as you endeavor to follow our Brother’s wishes in this respect.

It is almost 30 years since we made his acquaintance – by correspondence of course – and we can say that we have enjoyed his presentation of the Parousia and Epiphany Truths these many years, when so many have been busy – and still are – dismantling or undermining these Truths. Surely we will miss him!

God bless you, Sister, and may your faith fail not. With Christian love to you and all with you.

Yours by His Grace, Brother and Sister ‑‑‑‑‑‑ (ENGLAND)

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Dear Brethren: Grace and peace through our Blessed Savior!

We hereby acknowledge the receipt of your letter of April 30. This came to us as a shock, not knowing his physical health was waning, Words cannot express our sorrow and grief at his sudden passing. Nevertheless, God’s will must be done. Here again once more God has seen fit to test His faithful people. Our experiences in the past should be our guide in our steps in the way of the Lord. Now that we are again at the forks of the road, we should listen to the voice which assures us, This is the way – walk ye in it, and continue in the things which we have learned and been assured of, knowing of whom we have learned them.

Israel’s march and encampment should also serve as a lesson for all of us. God has never left Himself without a witness, and therefore, He will never leave nor forsake us. The Lord is always round about His; people. (Psa. 125:2) Zion stands with hills surrounded – Hymn 333. Though cast down we are not forsaken. Let us ever look to the good Lord. He is faithful that promised.

Brother Hoefle’s writings have attested his faithfulness to the Lord, the Truth and all God’s people up to the time of his death. We can be assured he will be apportioned with the Just.

Dear Brethren of the Mount Dora Ecclesia, be of good courage. As we express our sincere condolence to you, you can also be assured of our continued prayers for the Ecclesia. The Lord bless and keep you, and be gracious unto you as you continue in the faith.

Faithfully yours, CROFTS HILL ECCLESIA – (JAMAICA)­

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My dear Sister Hoefle:

Although we knew of the death and Burial of Brother Hoefle, we were still shocked when we got your letter. We generally have a study of the book Millennium, so when Sister John came she informed us that Brother John had a cable informing of his death. Our meeting was delayed while I telephoned Sister Roach, who informed the others.

Well, Sister, he has finished the work the Lord had for him to do. May God bless his memory! He was a great comfort to us after our separation, so you can be sure we share your sorrow. We are looking forward to receiving the articles he has prepared. We trust you are keeping reasonably well. We are not too bad – only advanced in age and not too strong.

Remember us to the friends your way. We join in sending much Christian love to you and all the others. We always remember you in our prayers.

Sincerely yours, Secretary of TRINIDAD ECCLESIA ... (TRINIDAD)

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Dear Sister Hoefle: Grace and peace through our Beloved savior!

Indeed it was with great grief and sorrow that we received the news of our dearly beloved Brother’s passing. You have so aptly quoted Scripture giving reason “not to sorrow for those that are asleep even as others who have no hope” – and “for the hope of eternal life.” Your thoughtfulness in quoting those Scriptures and others promising that “the Lord will not forsake the faithful,” have been a comfort to me (and I am sure to all the Brethren) in this time of sorrow.

We here join in warm Christian love and the assurance of our continued prayers.

The Lord bless and keep you.

With Christian love, ------- (CALIFORNIA)

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Dear Sr. Emily

I got your cable at 2:30 p.m. today. I didn’t want to frighten Olive with a cable, but I found some one going over tomorrow morning. So she will hear the sad news tomorrow. I will let Bro. & Sr. Smith know. I am devastated! I don’t really know what to say. Your loss and our loss is far‑reaching. We’ll just have to take Jesus’ hand and let Him guide us. Bro. Hoefle deserves his rest, and we are glad for him. But what a hole he has left – and who will be able to fill it? God bless his memory!

........      We all love you and feel for you in your loss. You have my prayers always.

Sincerely your sister in Him, ------- (JAMAICA)

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Beloved Emily – Shalom, yea, peace profound!

The news coming Passover day one saddened Nan and me deeply and we both share with you the innermost feelings of love for the true pilgrim John who served the Creator all his life so gloriously. Thus the Eternal One embraced him and took him to dwell with his fathers unto the day of the great reawakening. I can see John’s smile reposing peacefully.

The Rock of Israel blessed John with so many years of fruitful activity. His cherished memory will live forever with untold thousands who were blessed to know him for the goodness which he gave.

Soon after I spoke to you on the phone, Emily, yesterday, Nan and I entered the living‑room at our NJ cottage and the Menorah standing on the mantle‑piece above the fire‑place amid the many holiday and birthday cards came to life: we kindled a special candle for beloved John.

At this moment, today the 18th, as beloved ones are saying farewell to John, my heart turns to the resting place in deep prayer with David’s Psalms of love and affection and Hallelujahs in memory of a true servant of the Lord.

Nan and I know that you will find the strength in your faith to carry on in his memory. May He Who loves you inspirit you with blessings manifold and with comfort with true brethren and friends at your side.

With deepest love Always, David and Nan (NEW YORK)

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Dear Emily,

Strange! I never met John personally but experienced such a deep love for him. And Norma and I have felt the same about you.

Your precious letter gave us a brief letdown because we felt your sorrow. But there was also a release of joy from my heart because I knew that John had triumphed through Christ. Won’t it be wonderful when we all graduate to glory and are with the Lord and each other forever and ever and ever and ever....

John is safe in the tender care of His Lord. Our concern is you and I want you to know that my prayer is that Jesus would so enfold you in his loving arms that you will feel the reality of your invisible Companion in a more meaningful way than ever before. We love you more than we can say, ache with you in your loss and rejoice with you in John’s gain. (Phillippians 1:21)

Caring and praying, Frank ------- (NEW HAMPSHIRE)

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Dear Emily,

We have received word from Dad and Ethel that John has passed away. Helen and I were shocked and deeply saddened. We admired you and John immensely.

Even while I am writing to you I still find it almost impossible to believe. When we visit Dad and Ethel every winter – one of the events that we always looked forward to was visiting you both. We felt like we were with family, and were received as such. You have had a tremendous loss and condolences obviously do not cover a myriad of feelings. John was a gentleman and the most courteous gentleman I have ever met.

His superior knowledge on many subjects was amazing but never flaunted. He had a sense of humor that was to the point and witty. He was a merry and wise man.

Our prayers are with you – and don’t forget that Dad and Ethel are always near.

God be with you’ Much love, ------- (CANADA)

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Dear Sister Hoefle:

It is with shock when I learned the death of Brother Hoefle, although passing quietly without lingering or suffering, is a blessing.

If there is anything I can possibly do except offer my condolence and concern for you, please let me know. I know it must be difficult adjusting to the many changes in your life that are now necessary.

My prayers will be with you, and if I can assist you in some other way, please feel free to call upon me.

In His Name, ------- (OHIO)

NO. 349A: "IN THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW"

No. 349A

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

John J. Hoefle Died April 16, 1984, Mount Dora, Florida – 89 years old – survived by his wife, Emily – And two sisters: Mrs. Clara Wolff, Dayton, Ohio and Mrs. Laura Schaeffer, Dayton, Ohio.

Funeral was conducted by Brother William V. Vrooman as follows:

“Then they that reverenced the Lord spake often one to another; and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that reverenced the Lord, and thought upon his name.” (Mal. 3:16) “And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.” (Mal. 3:17)

“What shall I render unto the Lord for all His benefits toward me? I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all His people.” (Psa. 116:12‑14)

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27) “For the Father himself loveth you.” (John 16:27) “The Lord knoweth them that are his.” 2 Tim. 2:19)

“I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.” (John 11:25) “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” (1 Cor. 15:55)

(Prayer by Brother Thomas Brooks)

Dear Friends,

As we come apart from the rushing world outside to these peaceful and tranquil surroundings we show our love for the dear one who has left this sin kissed world. Your presence here today is a very real way of expressing your love for him and each other. And it is a way we can help and encourage one another in this time of sorrow, as we share in the loss of our dear one.

He was a devoted husband – kind, considerate, gentle and an example of the believers. He was willing to serve regardless of personal cost, and a light in this dark world.

“Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.” (Matt. 5:4) John’s life was filled with many loving kind deeds to others, and most of his time was taken up with direct participation in the Lord’s work.

Our dear Brother believed the Bible account of man’s creation – that God created him perfect and upright, an earthly image of Himself; but Adam sinned. “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” (Rom. 5:12)

All being sinners the race was unable to help itself, and none could by any means redeem his brother or give a Ransom for him. And God in compassion and love had made provision for this: That accordingly the son of God became a man, and gave man’s Ransom price, and as a reward for this sacrifice and in order to complete the great work of atonement, He was highly exalted, even to the Divine nature, and that in due time he will bring to pass restitution, a restitution of the race to the original perfection lost in Eden. In Acts 3:18‑21 we read: “But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled. Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you; whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.”

The Ransom is the central theme of the Bible – both the Old and the New Testaments. All of Brother John’s hopes were centered in the Ransom. It was the knowledge and understanding of this fundamental doctrine that opened the Scriptures to our dear brother. It was the key that unlocked the treasures of the Bible and made his hope sure and steadfast. His love of his Lord directed every step of his life, and his desire to share the wonderful promises of God with others prompted him to spend many hours in God’s service by faithfully witnessing either directly or indirectly by helping those who were more actively engaged in the witness work.

Brother John’s appreciation of God’s exceeding great and precious promises was a source of comfort and encouragement to him. By faith he looked forward to the time when he would have a share in blessing all the families of the earth. And how exceedingly great are these promises of God!

We read in Isa. 35:8‑10: “And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called the way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there: And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with song and everlasting joy upon their faces; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”

Again in Isa. 65:17‑24 we read: “For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. But be ye glad and rejoice forever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people; and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying. ... And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the Lord, and their offspring with them. And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. ... They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the Lord.”

Our dear Brother John rejoiced in these hopes. ... He sought to be faithful to all of these precepts of God’s word. Relating to his own conduct, his effort was to walk faithfully day by day. All these promises were a great stimulus to him; they encouraged him and they minimized in his life the importance of the transient things of this world and the pleasures and the beauties man has tried to use to camouflage and destroy the beauties of creation and of God’s plan. As a Bible student this dear one cherished the opportunities he had to study and fellowship with others of the Lord’s people who loved the Lord. His fellowship will be greatly missed. Some beautiful thoughts for us to think on and consider are:

Benevolence shall mark each act

And sickness be no more,

No evidence of dread decay

Shall lodge at Mortal’s door

Where health and radiant beauty march

In unsurpassed array

And inward purity shines forth,

As all seek to obey.

And such will be perfection

In a world that’s freed from sin,

With all earth’s tears and sorrows

As though they had not been.

For those we’ve loved and cherished

And laid within the grave,

Shall rise as one great army,

For Christ died all to save.

So lift your heads, take courage

There’ll come an end to sorrow

When Christ as King shall then reign o’er,

The blest world of tomorrow.

These are some of the hopes and promises that sustained and encouraged our brother as he looked forward to the answer to the Lord’s prayer, “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matt. 6:10)

He loved the Bible – “God’s Word.” He firmly believed that it was the Word of God, inspired by His Holy Spirit, and it was his final authority. A “thus saith the Lord” was often his answer. His life was centered around the Bible, and in all his daily activities he displayed his love of God’s Word.

“Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Matt. 5:14‑16)

John was a wonderful example of this Scripture. He spent many long hours working with his dear wife, engaged in doing what they firmly believed was God’s will for them. He faithfully witnessed to what he believed, and was quick and willing to help those who were also engaged in the witness work in any way he could.

What a beautiful tribute to be able to say – He did what he could!!

Many lives have been greatly blessed by his many acts of thoughtfulness, by his love and his willingness to give of himself to others.

To his beloved wife, our dear sister, we would like to leave these words of comfort from our Heavenly Father: “The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee. The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.”

In closing let us consider some encouraging words taken from the beautiful promises given in Revelation 21:4: Close your eyes for a moment to scenes of misery and woe, degradation and sorrow that yet prevail on account of sin, and picture before your mental vision the glory of the perfect earth. Not a stain of sin mars the harmony and peace of a perfect society; not a bitter thought, not an unkind look or word; love welling up from every heart, meets a kindred response in every other heart, and benevolence marks every act. There sickness shall be no more, not an ache nor a pain, nor any evidence of decay – not even the fear of such things. Think of all the pictures of comparative health and beauty of human form and feature that you have ever seen, and know that perfect humanity will be of still surpassing loveliness. The inward purity and mental and moral perfection will stamp and glorify every radiant countenance. Such will earth’s society be: and weeping bereaved ones will have their tears all wiped away, when thus they realize the resurrection work complete.

“And 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)

Prayer

AT THE CEMETERY

John 13:34: “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”

This dear one followed this admonition and we each cherish our own special memories of his love and kindness to us. His whole life was characterized by his willingness to serve – the Lord, the Truth and the Household of Faith.

James tells us “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.” (James 2:17,18)

How beautifully this Scripture from the book of James sums up this dear one’s life’ He did indeed show his faith by his works. Yes, in every aspect of his life he demonstrated his faith by his works.

He frequently expressed his great love for his Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus, and he daily sought to have God’s will performed in his life. In all of life experiences it was clearly shown that his desire to serve and to please his heavenly Father was the motivating influence.

Psalm 67: “God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause His face to shine upon us. That Thy way may be known upon earth, Thy saving health among all nations. Let the people praise Thee, O God; let all the people praise Thee. O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for Thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us. God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall reverence Him.”

And to those of us that are here today, we can take comfort in the words of the Psalmist in the 23rd Psalm: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Shall we pray.

===============

GOD KNOWS BEST

Sometimes in trepidation

I sail life’s stormy sea

But God in love and wisdom

Points out the way for me.

And as my soul speeds onward

In its eternal quest,

I look back on my pathway

And see that God knows best.

John J. Hoefle Born in Alexandria, Ind.,

Finished his course

April 16, 1984 –

Married to Emily Horn

March 27, 1951.