NO. 526 THE ANTITYPICAL LAMB

Once more we come to the Memorial, the observance of our Lord’s death as the antitypical Passover Lamb – “the lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” (Rev. 13:8) The date this year arrives on April 6, 2001, at 6:00 p.m. We here at Mount Dora, Florida will observe this great event at 7 p.m. All in this vicinity who are of like mind and wish to meet with us will be welcome.

Christ Our Passover – “Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.” (1 Cor. 5: 7) When St. Paul says Christ is “our Passover,” he is telling us very plainly that the miracle in Egypt 3016 years ago was a type of our Christ.

“When the time was come that he should be received up, he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem.” (Luke 9:51) The determination of Jesus as expressed in this text offers an example in perfection of the grace of patience in its true biblical meaning – cheerful continuance in well doing amid contrary circumstances. His course herein was against all human concept as viewed by the natural man; hence, Peter said to Him, “Be it far from thee, Lord; this shall not be unto thee.”; and Jesus gave him appropriate correction: “Get thee behind me, Adversary: thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.” (Matt. 16:22,23) Jesus knew full well that the “fullness of time” had come – that it was not the time to wait for His enemies to come to Him (which had He done, would have displayed only the passive grace of longsuffering) – that the active aggressive grace of patience should now be perfectly revealed in and by Him. And, “hereunto were you called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps.” (1 Peter 2:21)

Jesus, knowing in the final hours of that awful night that He had “finished the work Thou gave me to do,” (John 17:4) resigned Himself to what was to be. The time for controversy had passed – “this is your hour, and power of darkness”; (Luke 22:53) so He “held his peace.” “No man taketh my life from me; I lay it down of myself.” (John 10: 18) There is in this a lesson for us, too: The day previous and the day following our observance of the Memorial should be a time of calm meditation insofar as lieth in us. If any wish to be contentious at that time, let them go their way for the time being; there will come more suitable occasions to answer such.

Nor should we allow the maddening maze of things as tossed by storm and flood make us bitter or morose or hateful. It is a time at which we should lift our minds to the highest spiritual level possible ­– to repose in the sublime reflections of the past, to “consider him who endured such contradiction of sinners against himself.” (Heb. 12:3) “To be spiritually minded is life and peace.” And again, “The kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness and joy and peace in the holy spirit.” (Rom. 14:17) As we have now come into “the evil day” when “the end of all things is at hand,” let us embrace with full determination the Apostle’s words: “Above all things, have fervent love among yourselves.” (1 Peter 4:7,8) Jesus stated of this time in which we live: “Because iniquity shall abound, the love of many will wax cold” (Matt. 24:12); but “he that endureth unto the end, the same shall be saved.” (Matt. 10:22) “The leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy” (Luke 12:1), abounds in all quarters; but God’s faithful people will accept and do, particularly at this season, what St. Paul admonishes: “Purge out the old leaven.” (1 Cor. 5:7)

In the type the lamb was taken up five days before it was killed; and that was typical of Jesus, the Greater Lamb, presenting Himself to the Jews on Palm Sunday, five days before He was “lifted up.” But there was another compelling reason for the five‑day interval. That most memorable night, when the Angel of death would “pass over” the Jewish firstborn, was not to be approached flippantly or carelessly. As each family took up its own lamb, removed all the leaven from the home, the course of these five days would put them into a proper mental attitude and contrition of heart for that awesome night. And this is well in keeping with St. Paul’s words to all who commemorate the antitype: “Let a man examine himself” (1 Cor. 11:28) – not five minutes before the service, perhaps in public confessionals; not just an hour before the service; but let each do so in “sincerity and in truth” during the days preceding it. The reading of Brother Russell’s treatise of the Passover in Volume 6, and reading of the pertinent writings of the Gospels five days before the Memorial will prove most refreshing and helpful.

The deliverance of typical Israel from Egypt illustrates the deliverance from sin and its bondage of all who desire to be God’s servants and have the promised blessing, as it shall be fulfilled after the plagues (Rev. 16), in the utter destruction of all the systems born of sin and selfishness which would hinder human prosperity and advancement toward God. The overthrow of Pharaoh’s army by the sea corresponds to the fact that many of the present enslaving agencies will be overthrown by anarchy in the great “time of trouble,” now so near at hand. Already the storm is approaching which will eventually overthrow all evildoers; but a way of escape is provided for all who seek God and put their trust in Him, following the course which His wisdom has marked out.

When Jesus was thirty three and a half years old, the “fullness of time” had come for fulfillment of the type that was established in Egypt. He was to be our Passover Lamb. By faith the merit of His sacrifice was to be sprinkled on the doorposts of His people’s hearts; and His flesh, the merit of His earthly human perfection, was to be eaten or appropriated by them in their minds. When we see that it was the pure, spotless nature of our Lord Jesus that was laid down on behalf of sinners, we see what it is that we are privileged to appropriate. The very thing that He laid down for us we are to “eat, if appropriate to ourselves; that is to say, His perfect human life was given to redeem all the race from condemnation to death, to enable them to return to human perfection and everlasting life, if they would; and we are to realize this and accept Him, as our Savoir from death.

Blessed are those whose eyes of faith see that Jesus was indeed “the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29); that the cancellation of the world’s sin is effected by the payment of Adam’s penalty; that as the whole world lost the favor of God and came under the Divine sentence of death, with its concomitants of sorrow and pain, it was necessary before this sentence or curse could be removed that a satisfaction of justice should be made; and that therefore, as the Apostle declares, Christ died for our sins ‑ the just for the unjust, that He might bring us back to God (1 Peter 3:18). Thus He opened up “a new and living way” – a way to life everlasting. (Heb. 10:20)

Jesus, the Lamb of God, the antitypical Passover Lamb, was slain 2000 years ago – on the exact anniversary of the killing of the typical lambs. The sacrifice of Jesus needs not to be repeated, for by faith we all sprinkle this same blood today, and in our hearts feed upon the merit of the same earthly sacrifice.

Our Lord as a Jew was obliged to keep the typical remembrance – eating of the literal lamb, etc., first; but after that had been done, He instituted with bread and the fruit of the vine His substitutionary Memorial of Himself, saying, “Take eat; this is [represents] my body. And He took the cup; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them; and they all drank of it.” And He said... “But I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s Kingdom” (Matt. 26:29) – until His second coming in power and great glory to receive the Church as His elect Bride and joint‑heirs in His Kingdom and to shower blessings richly upon Israel, and through Israel upon the whole world of mankind. The initial preparation for this is now being manifested in the turmoil of the Middle East, and Israel in particular.

After the Master and His disciples, as Jews, had celebrated the Passover Supper and after He had subsequently instituted the Memorial of His death, with the bread and the cup, and after Judas had gone out to betray Him, Jesus and the remaining eleven left the upper room in Jerusalem, crossed the Valley Kidron and ascended the sloping side of the Mount of Olives toward the Garden of Gethsemane.

This was the most memorable night of the Master’s experience. He knew perfectly the meaning of every feature of the Passover. He knew that He was the Lamb of God, antitypically, whose death was to be accomplished on the following day by crucifixion. Yet His thoughts were for His dear disciples. He must give them final words of encouragement and instruction. And so He did. Three chapters of St. John’s Gospel record the incidents of the intervening time between the leaving of the upper room and the arriving at Gethsemane, the place of the oil‑press. “And Judas also, who betrayed him, knew the place, for Jesus oftentimes resorted thither with his disciples.” (John 18:2) In St. John 14 the Master told His disciples about the place He would go to prepare for them, but He would send the Spirit of Truth to be their Comforter, and it would show them things to come. In the fifteenth chapter He gave them the parable of the Vine and Branches, and assured them that no longer should they be servants, but friends, “For all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.” (John 15:15) In the sixteenth chapter He explained to them that persecution must be expected, if they would share His sufferings and be prepared to share His glory.

The Scriptures show us, however, that in order that any of the race of Adam might profit by the sacrifice of Jesus, it was necessary that He should rise from the tomb on the Divine plane of life, that He should ascend to the Father and impute the sacrificial merit of His death deposited in the hands of Justice on our behalf and receive from the Father the position of exercising “all power in Heaven and earth.” As relates to the world, it was necessary also that in the Father’s due time He should come again to earth, a glorious Divine Being, then to be to the whole world a Mediator, Prophet, Priest and King; to assist back to perfection and to harmony with God all who will avail themselves of the wonderful privileges then to be offered to all mankind – dead and living.

A little while and they would not see Him; then again in a little while and they would see Him. The entire period of His absence from the Divine standpoint, as compared to eternity, would be but a little while. Then, by virtue of the resurrection “change,” they would see Him, because made like Him. “In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. These things I have spoken unto you that in me ye might have peace.” (John 16:33) In the seventeenth chapter is recorded His wonderful prayer to the Father on behalf of His followers – not for the Apostles only, but for all those also who would believe on Him through their word.

After reaching the Garden, Jesus went alone deep into the Garden to speak to the Father. If some have inquired why the Master preferred to be alone in prayer so frequently, the answer is, “I have trodden the wine‑press alone, and of the people there is none with me.” (Isa. 63:3) His disciples and followers loved Him dearly. Still He was alone, because He alone had been begotten of the Holy Spirit. His followers could not feel so blessed nor be Spirit‑begotten until after His sacrifice had been finished nor until He would appear in the presence of God for them to apply His merit imputable to them; to permit them to join with Him sacrificially in the sufferings of the Gospel Age, that they might share with Him also in the Glories to follow.

St. Peter referring to our Lord’s experience in the Garden declares that He offered up strong crying and tears unto Him that was able to save Him from death, and was heard in respect to that which He feared. Why did He fear? Do not all humanity face death, and some of them with great courage and some with bravado? Ah, there is a vast difference between the Master’s standpoint and ours as respects death. We were born dying. We never knew perfect life. We have always known that there is no escape from death. It was different with Him. His experiences on the spirit plane before coming into the world were all in association with life, perfection of life. “In him was life” uncontaminated, because He was holy, harmless, undefiled and separate from sinners (Heb. 7:26); His life was not from Adam.

He knew that in His perfection He had a right to life, if He would live in perfect accordance with the Divine requirements. But He knew also that by special Covenant with God, “a covenant of sacrifice,” He had agreed to surrender all His earthly right and to allow His life to be taken from Him. The Father had promised Him a great reward of glory, honor and immortality through resurrection from the dead, but this was dependent upon His absolute obedience in every particular – in word, in thought, in deed. The question was, Had he been absolutely loyal to God in every particular? If not, death would mean to Him an eternal extinction of being, not only the loss of heavenly glory promises as a reward, but the loss of everything. Can we wonder that He was perplexed? The hour seemed so dark, and He said, “My soul is exceeding sorrowful.” (Matt. 26:38) He knew that He was to die. He knew that death was necessary. But here, now, looming up before Him on the morrow was a shameful execution as a blasphemer, as a criminal, as a violator of Divine law. Could it be possible that in anything, even slightly, He had taken to Himself the honor due to the Father? Could it be possible that in any degree He had held back, even in His mind, from full obedience to the Father’s will? Did this crucifixion as a criminal possibly mean the loss of Divine favor? Was it necessary that He should die thus? Might not this cup of ignominy pass? So He prayed in great agony. And although the old Greek manuscripts do not contain the statement that He sweat great drops of blood, medical science tells us that such an experience would not have been at all impossible in a nervous, strained, mental agony. But we note the beautiful simplicity with which His prayer concluded: “Nevertheless, my Father, not my will, but thy will, be done.” (Luke 22:42) How childlike and beautiful the faith and trust, even amidst strenuous agitation!

As Stated above, St. Paul clearly and positively identifies the Passover lamb with our Lord Jesus: “Christ our Passover is slain for us; therefore, let us keep the feast.” (1 Cor. 5:7,8) And as the Jews were to keep their Passover once a year, so it is with the antitype – it is also to be celebrated once a year. It goes without saying that all who come into the Lord’s “house” need the blood of sprinkling, not upon our residences, but upon the tables of our hearts. “The blood of Jesus Christ his son cleanseth us from all sin.” (1 John 1: 7) And, as the Jews ate literal unleavened bread with their lamb that night, so we also partake of our Lamb with the unleavened bread of “sincerity and truth.” (1 Cor. 5:8) Thus, we “put on Christ” as we grow in grace and the knowledge of our Lord Jesus. As the Jews ate the lamb that night with “bitter herbs” (which whetted their appetites for more lamb), so the Christian partakes of his Lamb with symbolic bitter herbs – the punishing trials of life through the sins of ourselves and those of others.

Our Lord Jesus also personally identified Himself with the Jewish Passover lamb at the last Supper before He died. He gathered His disciples together in the upper room, saying, “With desire have I desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.” (Luke 22:15) As Jews, it was necessary that they should celebrate the Passover supper on that night – the saving of the typical first‑born from the typical prince of this world. However, as soon as they had finished eating the lamb with all the pertinencies, Jesus instituted a new Memorial upon the old foundation, saying, “As oft as you do this do it in remembrance of me.” (1 Cor. 11:24,25) Their Jewish neighbors, who did not accept “our lamb,” would go on keeping the typical arrangement each year, as the faithful covenant-keeping Jews still do today. But that was the last typical Passover for the disciples; henceforth they would partake of the bread and wine “in newness of life” each year – with eating of the actual lamb, etc. only a memory of the past with them.

Jesus was emphatic that the disciples should no longer keep the typical celebration, as He took the bread and the wine and told them to use these “in remembrance of me.” His blood would be shed the next morning; and the cup – the wine – would be a fitting reminder of what they had done that night. Of course, the apostles knew very well what their future Passovers would be: the bread and the wine once each year on the typical Passover date.

Christians generally have misconstrued the Lord’s words, “As oft as ye do this,” to mean, Do this as often as you please; whereas the words really signify, You, My disciples [all Jews are accustomed to keeping the Passover once each year], keep this antitypical Memorial once each year on the same day and hour as you have done for the typical Memorial of the Passover in Egypt.

Who then should partake of the Memorial? We answer: all who have consecrated themselves to God and are continuing in the Word. “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples.” (John 8:31) And how should we partake of it? We offer St. Paul’s answer: “Let a man examine himself.” (1 Cor. 11:28) This does not mean we are to examine others; it does not mean we should allow others to examine us. It means exactly what it says ‑ Let a man examine himself.

A substantial part of this self‑examination may well be devoted to an introspection of our Christian courage. From the time of Jesus on down through the Age many have loved right ways, but have lacked the courage to stand for the right. “Among the chief rulers also many believed on Him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue. For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.” (John 12:42,43) One of these was Joseph of Arimathea – “being a disciple of Jesus, but a concealed one through fear of the Jews” (John 19:38, Dia.) – who waited until Jesus was dead before rendering to Him that “cup of cold water” He so sorely craved and needed during those last turbulent days. Then there was the youth (Mark 14:51) standing in the Garden that awful night, clothed in a linen garment, who also fled naked and in terror at the first evidence of trouble for himself. He apparently represented many at that time who lost their tentative justification (represented in his leaving behind the linen covering) by forsaking Him who alone could justify him. And this youth forsaking his linen garment probably pictures a class of Truth people in the end of this Age who also will lose their tentative justification because they forsake those who courageously “witness to the Truth” under present adverse circumstances. “Because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” (Matt. 24:12) Thus for all who attempt an honest self‑examination, these cases just cited may well serve as pertinent examples. And such self‑examination cannot do other than bring us to the table in a condition to “eat and drink worthily.” Therefore, let us keep the festival, not with the old leaven, nor with the leaven of vice and wickedness, but with the unleavened principles of sincerity and Truth (1 Cor. 5:8).

“By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.” (Heb. 13:15)

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MORE ABOUT LAYMEN’S HOME MISSIONARY MOVEMENT

In our January‑February paper Part One we addressed an error in the November‑December 1999 Present Truth on page 86. On this same page, par. 5 it is stated: “In view of the fact that the ‘high calling’ is closed... what difference would this make in respect to consecration? We answer it would make no difference...”

It would make a lot of difference to the consecrator. As said before, there is a “due time” for each elect class to be accepted, and each elect class has a different work to do. The work for the Saints was to “make their calling and election sure” (2 Peter 1:10) and cooperate in the “gathering of the saints.” (Psa. 50:5) The Ancient Worthies work was to be “faithful and obedient,” and to exhort the Jews to repentance. The Youthful Worthies is much the same as the Ancients, except they are to call the world to repentance, help win more Youthful Worthies “between the ages” and “contend for the faith once delivered to the Saints.” (Jude 3)

There is also a difference in the requirements of those whose trial is for “faith and obedience.” The Youthful Worthies are not on trial for life just as the Ancient Worthies were not, but some did sacrifice unto death. The time may come when some of the Youthful Worthies may have to sacrifice a great deal to be “faithful and obedient,” but others may not.

On page 87 a reference is given for Reprint 5761, which implies that this refers to the Consecrated Epiphany Campers. Brother Russell published this September 1, 1915 and it is plainly stated in that citation that an unbegotten class to be associated with the Ancient Worthies is meant, i.e. Youthful Worthies. Brother Russell did not teach Consecration in the Camp, therefore could not have meant Consecrated Epiphany Campers.

Also on page 87 it is stated: “Neither the Youthful Worthies nor the Consecrated Epiphany Campers have an embargo on Christ’s merit. But we do not expect God to apply the merit for the world until the Youthful Worthies have all gone down into death.”

Our answer: If the Youthful Worthies have no embargo on the merit, why would it be necessary that the application of the merit for the world be delayed until they are dead? The fact of the matter is that they do have a tentative embargo on the merit. Their justification is tentative and so there is a tentative embargo. As long as there is tentative justification there will be an embargo on Christ’s merit. Of course, the Ancient Worthies had an embargo. The very Scripture (Rom. 4:1‑3) cited by the LHMM proves that. “Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.” That is Tentative Justification, which places an embargo.

Again on top of page 87: “One thing is certain: to be acceptable to God in consecration, the Consecrated Epiphany Campers must in every case have the spirit that would be faithful unto death (comp. P ‘55, p. 42).” Here the writer refers to past errors to support present errors.

Let us not forget that we are still in the faith age, and there can be no Consecration in the Camp during the faith age. In the Tabernacle picture the antitype is not a place but a condition. If any of the (so‑called) Epiphany Campers have the same faith as Youthful Worthies, then they are in the Court condition and are prospective Youthful Worthies. Youthful Worthies are to be won until resurrection sets in – or between the Ages. This is taught by the founder of the LHMM and by That Servant. “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” (Jude 3) But the LHMM would rather use the faith (?) of a confessed crown‑loser.

In the January 1, 1940 Present Truth, page 13 there is a question and answer on the fourfold Tabernacle picture. The four pictures are of the Gospel Age, the Epiphany, the Millennial Age and the post‑Millennial Age. If it is read carefully it will be noted that in the first two of these pictures there is no suggestion of consecration in the Camp. Those represented in the Camp for the four periods are given as follows: For the Gospel Age: 11 ... the camp represents the condition of the nominal as distinct from the real people of God... 11 For the Epiphany: 11 ... the camp in the finished picture represents formerly faith‑justified ones who hold to the Ransom and practice righteousness, and converted Israel... “For the Millennial Age:”... the camp represents the condition of the world undergoing Restitution...” For the post‑Millennial Age: It “... the camp represents restored humanity and the new orders of perfect beings created in the Ages of Glory...” Here the founder of the LHMM does not teach consecration in the Camp during the faith Age.

On page 30 of the March‑April Present Truth it is stated: Both of these classes of goats, as we shall see, will have a part in the atonement work – in bringing the world into complete harmony with God and his law when this ‘Day of Atonement,’ the Gospel Age is ended.”

The Day of Atonement includes both the Gospel Age and the Millennial Age. See What Pastor Russell Said, page 27 top, line 10: “...because the Day of Atonement not only includes the day of sacrifice, but also the day of using that sacrifice in the work of blessing. In other words, the whole thousand years of Christ’s reign also belong to this atonement work, because the construction of the word means at‑one‑ment.” (See also Note II, page 130 of Tabernacle Shadows.)

On the same page, col. 2, par. 2: “Every believer, every Justified one (Levite) in the ‘court’ who presents himself during the Atonement Day, the Gospel Age, is acceptable as a sacrifice. Now is the acceptable time.”

The Ancient and Youthful Worthies do sacrifice when it is necessary in order to keep their covenant of faith and obedience. But the Saints sacrifices are perfect, because covered by the imputed merit of Christ. The Worthies have a faith justification, also, but it is Tentative and can be lost. But that means that as long as there is Tentative Justification there will be an embargo on Christ’s merit, that is, until the Kingdom is inaugurated and God applies His merit for the world.

In the February 2000 Bible Standard, page 12, col. 2, bottom is this: “There is yet another class, associated with the four – the quasi‑elect, especially the Consecrated Epiphany Campers. They are pictured in the other half tribe of Manasseh that settled west of Jordan. They make up a fifth class, which comprises thousands of Christians in and out of denominational Christianity – all believers in the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior.”

According to Joel 2:28,29 and 2 Timothy 2:20 there are four elect classes and four only, and any attempt to inject a fifth class is adding to the Scriptures, a thing forbidden (Prov. 30:5,6; Rev. 22:18). These along with two non‑elect classes, also shown in these two passages, make up the six saved classes from among mankind. The founder of the LHMM did not teach a fifth elect class for the Gospel Age.

See the Berean comments on Joel 2:28, which in part says: “Your sons ‑ in the receiving of those earthly sons, Israel will be the first. God will pour upon them ‘the spirit of grace and of supplication.’ (Zech. 12:10)” The passage says they, along with the daughters (converted Gentiles), will prophesy “teach under the supervision of the glorified Christ.” (Berean Comments)

The LHMM forgets or ignores the Scriptures stating that the blessings of the Kingdom are to come to the Jew first. “The days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah.” (Jer. 31:31) If God’s Word means anything to us at all, it means that the New Covenant will come through the Jews. The Jews under the Law Covenant were found in the twelve tribes of that nation. Likewise, spiritual Israel of this Gospel Age also is comprised of twelve tribes (Rev. 7:4‑9), although the vast majority of those twelve tribes came into this world as Gentiles; but they were considered spiritual Israelites once they became members of the Body of Christ – the 144,000 mentioned in v. 4.

However, when that Law Covenant was given to fleshly Israel, the only way any Gentile could receive any of its blessings was to become a proselyte Jew – have himself circumcised, adopt the Law and thenceforth live as a Jew. The same rule has applied during the Gospel Age with the spiritual Israelites; and the same rule will apply in the Millennial Age. All restitutionists will have to become proselyte Jews if they are to receive the New Covenant blessings, as the New Covenant is made for the Jews and with the Jews. Are Campers Consecrated Spiritual Israelites, or are they proselyte (natural) Jews, the Jews to whom the promise is made “to the Jew first.” “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” (Rom 1:16 – see also Rom. 2:10; John.4:22)

As for the half tribe of Manasseh, see Epiphany Volume 4, pages 450, 451, question 53. Page 451, top, line 2: “But since they and the Youthful Worthies are the two halves of the class that will obtain the better resurrection and princeship throughout the earth, and since the Youthful Worthies are a part of the Church in the wide sense of that term, they very fittingly would be typed by the half tribe of Manasseh whose inheritance was East of the Jordan; but for the reason given above, we are not to conclude that the other half of Manasseh typed the Ancient Worthies. The other half tribe of Manasseh [those settling west of Jordan and given 10 portions of land – Josh 17:5] and the other nine tribes of Israel, standing for ten tribes, type the entire restitution class [emphasis ours, ten being the number of perfection or completion for natures lower than the Divine. This again shows that the founder of the LHMM did not teach a fifth elect class.

And there is this in E‑10‑209 written by the founder of the LHMM: “The Epiphany Camp in the finished picture is the condition of the truly repentant and believing, but not consecrated Jews and Gentiles.” This definitely shows there is no consecration in the Camp.

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LETTER OF GENERAL INTEREST

Dear Sister Emily,

The holidays are over and I am glad. It is a very lonesome period for me. Glad to get your note and copies of the brother’s letter and your answer. I will be looking forward to hearing what could have happened to one who recently symbolized his consecration. The advice he received to burn the Epiphany papers sounds like the old Nominal Church in Brother Russell’s day.

One of the members of the class here has set up a website about the Truth aiming at Jews who have accepted the Messiah and offering the first volume free. They said they were overwhelmed with the questions and response. I volunteered to help by giving answers to questions which they could transmit and was given one letter. I don’t remember the date but the brother said he had been asked this question and did not have time to look it up. He asked for the answer and the first volume. The question was: “How can Christ have come yet when Jesus clearly shows that he doesn’t even arrive until after the tribulation (Matt. 24:22‑31).”

My answer which I gave to them was: “Matt. 24:29 says ‘Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, etc. The tribulation ‘of those days’ does not refer to the trouble at the close of the Gospel Age, but to the persecutions of the early Church from AD 539 to AD 1799 (1260 years of the Daniel 12 prophecy) which is examined in Volume 3, pp. 61‑94. After that tribulation which Jesus refers to, the sign or evidence, proof, of the Lord’s presence would occur in the darkening of the sun and moon, etc., which are symbolically being fulfilled during the present time. We have found a valuable reference on this question in Chapter 12 of Volume 4 of the ‘Studies in the Scriptures’ by Pastor Russell. Particular attention is called to pages 583‑584. The symbolic fulfillment of Matt. 24:29‑31 is examined from pages 590-602 of the same book.”

I have not received anymore from the class member to answer. Perhaps they thought I did not do a very good job. I would welcome any suggestions you may have. I felt that if the brother did not have a Volume 3 or 4, he should get the set. I did not mention to them that I knew of him through any other source.

Our study last Sunday was on Romans 12:1 and there is such resistance to the thought of tentative justification. I have found Reprint 5422 written in 1914 where Brother Russell writes on this Scripture, and I intend to mention it next Sunday. I think some do see it, but are afraid to go against the majority. It’s hard not to be discouraged. It seems so clear once you understand it.

I shouldn’t have started this sheet since the letter is long enough. Am looking forward to the coming papers. Keep up the good work, Sister. We want to be faithful, until death.

If you need a little encouragement sometime read Reprint 5181 on the general view of the Kingdom. It’s one I keep for reference.

Much Christian love and good wishes for this new year of service.  (CALIFORNIA)

NO. 525 RETROSPECT AND PROSPECT - PART TWO

JEWS

"EHUD BARAK'S RELIGIOUS REVOLUTION: When Prime Minister Ehud Barak got up to speak at the Knesset podium, no one could have predicted what he would say. Many expected him to announce  his  plans  to  resign as prime minister and declare new elections. [On Decamber 9, 2000 Barak said he will resign, triggering an emergency election within 60 days.] Barak, however, had a surprise up his sleeve. He announced the religious revolution he planned to bring about in the State of Israel.       

 "And this is what Barak said:  'Mr. Speaker, distinguished Knesset: Following profound deliberation, consultation with   friends and the team work of my staff, I have decided to come to the Knesset and present my religious revolution.

"'Israel is first and foremost a Jewish state, and this fact should be reflected in our public lives, not only in our religious institutions.  We would like to see studies in all schools begin with a moment of silence.  The religious schools may of course continue their daily morning prayers as before.  It is, however, unthinkable for non­observant children to grow up  without knowing before whom they stand and before whom they must account for their actions.

"'I have no intention of forcing this religious revolution on secular Jews. People of faith must assure the secular public that 'Our faith is compatible with their freedoms and that our revolution is not an expression of a lack of tolerance, but rather an expression of love.

"'There is nothing in the religious revolution that will in any way interfere with the lives of Israeli citizens of other religions,' said Barak.  'But we must tear down the barriers that separate the members of different faiths, so that we can praise the name of God together.'

"Barak punctuated his speech with quotes from the Bible. ‘It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to put one's confidence in man. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes,' and so on and so forth.

"Barak maintained that Israel's secular legal system and the plan to establish a secular constitution is causing Israel to 'lose its moral message.' He added that 'The laws of human freedom and protection of freedom of religion have come to mean freedom from religion, and this should be changed.'

"In his concluding remarks, Barak said, 'I hope that my plan for a religious revolution will make it possible for every Israeli citizen to speak about his or her faith and religion and I hope that it will bolster the feeling that beats so strongly in my Heart - that there must be a place for faith in public life. We will put God back in our public life.'

"Barak's remarks had an explosive effect. Initially the members of Knesset were stunned.  The first to respond was Tommy Lapid, declaring, 'You have again capitulated to Shas 's primitive clericals. '   Yossi Sarid declared that he would vote for any no confidence motion in the government saying, 'He is worse than Netanyahu.'

"The religious parties praised Barak's speech, but stated that they feared that this was merely another election gimmick.

"When Barak was given the floor to respond, he said, 'I don’t know what you want from me.  The words I have just said are an exact quote from Joe Lieberman, the Democratic candidate for vice president of the United States.  He called for the return of God to public life.  If it's good for America, why isn't it good for Israel?"

(From Makor Rishon, September B, 2000)

"PA TO CONFISCATE HOMES OF ARABS WHO REQUEST ISRAELI CITIZENSHIP:  Faisal Husseini, who holds the Palestinian  Authority's (PA)Jerusalem  portfolio, was  quoted in an  interview in the Al Ayyam newspaper stating that Arabs living in Jerusalem who request Israeli citizenship would have their homes confiscated by the PA.

"Husseini stated that residents of the eastern portions of Jerusalem seeking to obtain Israeli citizenship 'would lose their place among the Palestinian people.’

"The PA continues to operate in the capital illegally and in contradiction to the Oslo agreements, while the government turns a blind eye. Husseini, hailed as the PA's Minister of Jerusalem Affairs, continues to run Orient House in eastern Jerusalem, the PA's official embassy, which among other duties oversees PA interests in the capital and hosts visiting foreign dignitaries.

"In a related matter, Israel Police confirm that several Israeli Arab citizens have over the past few weeks been kidnapped by PA security agents, and the government will do everything possible to ensure their safe return home. The latest victim is a  Lod resident who was visiting family near the autonomous city of Ramallah when grabbed by PA security agents." (From Israel Wire Service, September 4, 2000)

QUOTE, UNQUOTE: "'I opened my brother's coffin and saw what they did to him. Only animals could do what they did, they are the sons of Satan, and with the sons of Satan its impossible to make peace ... But don't stoop to their level, don't carry out lynches.' (Michael Norzhich, at the funeral of his brother, Vadim, 33, an army reservist lynched in Ramallah on October 12.)"

"'Show no mercy to the Jews, anywhere. Kill them wherever you can catch them.  And kill those who are like them - the Americans, who stand with them.' (From the Sermon of an imam at a Gaza mosque, broadcast on Israel TV on October 13.)"

"'Arafat sends children to the front line because their deaths in front of the cameras serve his political purposes.   As long as the West supports him, he will continue this.' (Ex-prime  minister Benjamin Netanyahu)"        

(The Jerusalem Report, November 6, 2000)

"'We don't want peace with you. We want to banish you from our lands, the place where you stand. That land belongs to us. That is Palestinian land and not Israeli land. We will continue fighting you until we reach Jerusalem.' A Hizballah man said, speaking to an Israeli reporter across the Lebanese border following the withdrawal.

(The Jerusalem Report, June 19, 2000)

"MINORITY STUDIES: Jerusalem's Hebrew University has established what is believed to be the first Christian study center at an Israeli university.  "Research at the Center for the Study of Christianity - established with a grant from a Belgian Christian family -will emphasize the role of Christianity in the Holy Land and the historic relationship between Christianity and Torah Judaism." (World  Jewrey, May 2000)

"ISRAEL: PIECEMEAL DESTRUCTION: The latest of many upheavals in and bordering on Israel was planned by Yasser Arafat and his friends in the Arab world. That is what Palestinian political analyst Khalil Shikaki told the October 4 Jordan Times as he observed the Palestine Liberation Organization's Fatah participation in the violence.

"How many more examples of intransigence are necessary before apologists in Israel and enablers in Washington understand that the enemies of Israel want nothing less than the destruction of the Jewish state?

"This has been a piecemeal process and not one that will lead to peace. Israel has given up land it seized for its own protection after wars started by its enemies. Still, Arabists in the State Department and leftists in Israel proceed with the fiction that peace can be achieved between peoples whose outlooks are irreconcilable. 

"It was a mistake to give up land without reciprocity.  It was a mistake to release terrorists from Israeli prisons so they could rejoin their armed comrades.  It was a mistake to allow for the creation of a Palestinian 'police force,' which has been turned into an army. The vandalizing of Joseph's Tomb on the eve of Yom Kippur, while the 'police' did nothing, is proof that the 'police' won't control a  mob determined to carry out Arafat's orders. And the abandonment of that tomb can only encourage Israel’s enemies that the Jewish people's strong resolve may be crumbling .

"Rioting for the benefit of world television cameras has long been an Arafat ploy. He has orchestrated terrorism and unrest to force concessions out of Israeli leaders that could not be won through war.  The visit of Ariel Sharon to the Western Wall was merely a convenient excuse for the rioting to begin. It had been preceded with roadside bombs that killed an Israeli soldier guarding a civilian convoy. Later a Palestinian policeman (terrorist?)  killed his Israeli partner in cold blood while they were on a joint patrol. Arafat explained that the Palestinian was 'unstable.'

 "There's more violence coming. Iraq has taken a ferocious stand against Israel, unmatched by any state in the region. Iraqi Foreign Minister Muhammad al-Sahhaf referred to Israel as a 'midget entity, a usurper and a claw of colonialism...Iraq does not, and will not recognize this usurper entity.'

"On October 3, Iraqi TV broadcast remarks by Saddam Hussein: 'An end must be put to Zionism.  If they cannot, then Iraq alone is able to do so. Let them give us a small adjacent piece of land and let them support us from afar only.  They will see how we put an end to Zionism in a short time.'

"What piece of land might he have in mind?  Some analysts say that Hussein has his eye on Jordan.

"Since the signing of the Oslo Accords in 1993, Congress has appropriated $900 million in foreign aid for the PLO. The speaker of the Palestine National Council says the United States has promised $30 billion to help resettle Palestinian 'refugees,' meaning that they'll be settled in Israel from which, as we are seeing, they will be used by Arafat to undermine the Israeli government.

"There is no evidence that Israel’ s enemies wish to live at peace.  Anti-Jewish incitement in PLO school textbooks continues. The PW Teacher's Guides read: 'The student should learn [that] racist superiority is the  heart of Zionism, Fascism and Nazism.’ Among ,the  'important values' that follow is: 'Wrath unto  the  alien  thief [Israel] who dispersed its people.'

"New leadership is needed in Israel, as is a new policy by both Israel and the United States.  The current one is an obvious failure.  If war comes, Israel had better win this one, too, grabbing as much land as it can and never again letting go of it. There will be no peace between Israel and her enemies.  The best she can hope for is to maintain order." (By  Cal  Thomas,  L.A. Times Syndicate,  November  2000)

"MYTHS OF THE MIDDLE EAST: I've been quiet since Israel erupted in fighting spurred by disputes over the Temple Mount. Until now, I haven't even bothered to say, 'See, I told you so.’  But I can't resist any longer. I feel compelled to remind you of the column I wrote just a couple weeks before the latest uprising.

"Yeah, folks, I predicted it.  That's OK.  Hold your applause.  After all, I wish I had been wrong. More than 80 people [350 on December 26, 2000]  have been killed since the current fighting in and around Jerusalem began.  And for what?

"If you believe what you read in most news sources, Palestinians want a homeland and Muslims want control over sites they consider holy.  Simple, right? 

"Well, as an Arab-American journalist who has spent some time in the Middle East dodging more than my share of rocks and mortar shells, I've got to tell you that these are just phony excuses for the rioting, trouble-making and land-grabbing.

"Isn't it interesting that prior to the 1967 Arab-Israeli war, there was no serious movement for a Palestinian homeland?

"'Well, Farah,' you might say, 'that was before the Israelis seized the West Bank, and Old Jerusalem.' That's true. In  the Six-Day War, Israel captured Judea, Samaria and East Jerusalem. But they didn't capture these territories from Yasser Arafat. They captured them from Jordan's King Hussein. I can't help but wonder why all these Palestinians suddenly discovered their national identity after Israel won the war.

"The truth is that Palestine is no more real than Never-Never Land. The first time the name was used was in 70 A.D. when the Romans committed genocide against the Jews,  smashed the Temple and declared the land of Israel would be no more.  From then on, the Romans promised it would be known as Palestine.

"The name was derived from  the  Phillistines, a Goliathian  peop 1e conquered by the Jews centuries earlier.  It was a way for the Romans to add insult to injury.  They also tried to change the name of Jerusalem to Aelia Capitolina, but that had even less staying power.

"Palestine has never existed - before or since - as an autonomous entity, It was ruled alternately by Rome, by Islamic and Christian crusaders, by the Ottoman Empire and, briefly, by the British after World War I. The British agreed to restore at least part of the land to the Jewish people as their homeland.

"There is no language known as Palestinian.  There is no distinct Palestinian culture.   There has never been a land known as Palestine governed by Palestinians.  Palestinians are Arabs, indistinguishable from Jordanians (another recent invention), Syrians, Lebanese, Iraqis, etc.

"Keep in mind that the Arabs control 99.9 percent of Middle East lands, Israel represents one-tenth of 1 percent of the land mass.  But that's too much for the Arabs.  They want it all. And that is ultimately what the fighting in Israel is about today. Greed. Pride. Envy. Covetousness. No matter how many land concessions the Israelis make, it will never be enough.              

"What about Islam's holy sites? There are none in Jerusalem. Shocked?  You should be. I don't expect you will ever hear this brutal truth from anyone else in the international media.  It's just not politically correct.

I know what you're going to say:  'Farah, the Al Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem represent Islam's third most holy sites.' Not true. In fact, the Koran says nothing about Jerusalem. It mentions Mecca hundreds of times. It mentions Medina countless times. It never mentions Jerusalem. With good reason. There is no historical evidence to suggest Mohammad ever visited Jerusalem.

"So how did Jerusalem become the third holiest site of Islam?  Muslims today cite a vague passage in  Koran, the seventeenth Sura, entitled  'The  Night  Journey.'   It  relates   that in a dream or a vision Mohammed was carried by night 'from  the sacred temple to the temple that is most remote, whose precinct we have blessed, that we might show him our signs ...' In the seventh century, some Muslims identified the two temples mentioned in this verse as being in Mecca and Jerusalem.

"And that's as close as Islam's connection with Jerusalem gets - myth, fantasy, wishful thinking.  Meanwhile, Jews can trace their roots in Jerusalem back to the days of Abraham.

"The latest round of violence in Israel erupted when Likud Party leader Ariel Sharon tried to visit the Temple Mount, the foundation of the Temple built by Solomon. It is the holiest site for Jews.  Sharon and his entourage were met with stones and threats. I know what it's like. I've been there. Can you imagine what it is like for Jews to be threatened, stoned and physically kept out of the holiest site in Judaism?

"So what's the solution to the Middle East mayhem? Well, frankly, I don't think there is a man-made solution to the violence. But, if there is one, it needs to begin with truth. Pretending will only lead to more chaos. Treating a 5,000-year-old birthright backed by overwhelming historical and archaeological evidence equally with illegitimate claims, wishes and wants gives diplomacy and peacekeeping a bad name." (By Joseph Farah, World Net Daily, October 21, 2000

"ISRAEL ADRIFT: Even as Arab hordes rioted, threw rocks, desecrated shrines, and murdered and maimed innocents, Israel's legislators met and declared that there is no alternative to the continuation of 'negotiations.'  What mindset insists on attempting anything but a tough and resolute response to rioting by declared, implacable enemies?

"And so the usual suspects - Barak, Clinton and Arafat- met in Egypt on October 16th, 2000, with Egypt the sullen, hostile host. The choice of Egypt in itself was a craven capitulation, given that nation's virulent anti-Israel rhetoric, and its own  history of having violated the Camp David Accords.  (The meeting itself was at Sharm el Sheikh, a reminder to Israel of its earlier futile Camp David experiment in 'territories for peace.') There has been no normalization, no cultural exchange, no economic cooperation, and no cessation of the anti-Semitic, racist incitements against Israel emanating from the government controlled media. Even Judith Miller, an admirer of Egypt, wrote in the  New York Times of October 15th, that Egypt's government, media, and populace have returned to the virulent anti-Israel rhetoric of the Nasser years.

What bizarre thinking can expect to reconstitute 'negotiations' with Arafat?  What is left to discuss?  Is it the timetable for withdrawal from Haifa?  Is it a newly discovered link between Islam and Tel-Aviv? Is Beersheva to be known as the fourth holiest Moslem city? Is  Barak to turn over to Arafat Nazareth and the Galilee? Israel's government reminds one of lifeguards who can't swim but still urge everyone into the water." (Excerpts By Ruth King, Outpost, November 2000)

"ITALIAN TV APOLOGIZES: As Israeli economist Steven Plaut points out, all the foreign news teams have agreements with the PLO not to embarrass it. Italian TV broke the rules when its film crew filmed shots of the Palestinian mob gouging out the eyes, murdering and mutilating the two IDF reservists and then dipping hands in the blood of the murdered men and waving their bloody hands in triumph. The PLO was furious when the film went round the world.

"Richard Cristiano, the representative of Italian state television, accordingly wrote a letter of apology to the Palestinian Authority (his letter was published on October 16 in Al Hayat al Jedida).  He said he worked under the PA's rules for journalists, blames his competitors in the Italian media for broadcasting the pictures and promises never again to film events liable to cast a negative light on the PA. To underscore the point, Italian TV put large ads in all the  West Bank papers apologizing for inadvertently putting the PA in a bad light.

"Israel's government press office temporality suspended  Christiano's card  in  protest.  Given that all the foreign press works under the same PA rules (ever wonder why CNN and BBC coverage is so ludicrously one-sided?), if Israel were serious, it should be suspending all foreign journalistic credentials.  An added twist to the story:  Barak himself, while wanting the foreign press to see the film, did his best to bar it from Israeli TV;  his attempted ban was circumvented when an Israeli TV station simply copied the video from a foreign channel)."  (From the Editor, Outpost, November 2000)

WHEN   THE   U.S. SENATE   SOUGHT   THE   INDICTMENT   OF   ARAFAT   FOR   MURDER: The following letter, published in a recent issue of "Outpost," the official publication of "Americans For Safe Israel," was sent by 47 U.S. Senators, including Al Gore, to the Department of  Justice in 1986, The letter - dated February 12, 1986, and addressed to  then  Attorney General Edwin Meese III - is of special interest to the UN and speaks for itself:

"Dear Attorney General: We understand that the Department of Justice has received information linking PLO leader Yasir Arafat to the brutal 1973 slaying of Ambassador Cleo Noel and Charge d'Affaires C. Curtis Moore in Khartoum, Sudan.

"The material is reported to include various State Department cables that may confirm Arafat's role in the murders.  It is also reported to include an assertion that the U.S. government has a tape recording of an intercepted message in which Arafat allegedly ordered the assassination of Ambassador Noel and Charge d'Affaires Moore, who were taken hostage when Palestinian terrorist seized the Saudi Arabian Embassy in Khartoum on March 2, 1973.

"As you know, press reports indicate that the eight terrorists involved in the incident identified themselves as members of  Black September.  They demanded the release from prison of Sirhan Sirhan, the Baader-Meinhof gang, and a group of Fatah members held in Jordan.

"Press reports indicate that when their demands were not met, the terrorists selected the three Westerners among the hostages - U.S. Ambassador Cleo Noel, Charge d'Affaires C. Curtis Moore, and Belgian diplomat Guy Eid - and machine-gunned them after first allowing them to write farewell notes to their families and then beating them.  A day later, the terrorists surrendered to Sudanese authorities after a lengthy round of trans­ oceanic communications involving, among others, Arafat and the Vice President of Sudan.

"Press reports indicate that Sudanese President Gaafar Mohammed Nimeiri went public at once with evidence showing that the operation had been run out of the Khartoum office of Fatah.  One month after the slayings, the Washington Post reported that according to western intelligence sources, Arafat was in the Black September radio command center in Beirut when the message to execute three Western diplomats was sent out. The Post also reported that Arafat's voice was monitored  and  recorded. Although according  to the Post's sources, it was unclear if Arafat himself or his deputy gave the order to carry out the executions, Arafat reportedly was present in the operations center when the message was sent and personally congratulated the guerrillas after the execution.

"These allegations, if substantiated, leave little doubt that a warrant for Arafat's arrest should be issued, and a criminal indictment filed against him. To allow other factors to enter into this decision is to make a mockery of our laws and our stated commitment to eradicate terrorism.  As President Reagan told an American Bar Association convention this July, 'We will seek the indictment of Yasir Arafat if the evidence so warrants. We would also ask that you  keep  us advised of  the  progress of your investigation. "Sincerely, Signed by 47  U.S. Senators, including Albert Gore, Democrat of Tenn." (By David Horowitz, The Jewish Press, November 10, 2000)

"HARD TIMES, HARD MAN: Ariel Sharon Built a reputation as one of Israel's canniest generals and gutsiest soldiers. Now, an inside look at his latest daring grab for political power. The heavy scents of bougainvillaea and manure mingle in the hot afternoon air at Shikmim Farm. Ariel Sharon pulls down the brim of his black Australian bush hat - a Jewish Crocodile Dundee. On his thick fingers, he is counting off the names his political enemies hurl at him: 'Hardliner. Extremist.  Rightist.  War criminal.'  His 1,500 acres on the edge of the Negev Desert is one of the few private farms in Israel and a refuge from the controversy that has followed him through 55 years in the military and in polities. Sharon, 72, the leader of Israel's right-wing Likud Party, leans his portly frame against a metal pen, and two  dozen startled Awassi sheep suddenly flee across the straw.  Laughing, Sharon says, 'Even the sheep are afraid of me.'

"It is  not  only  the  sheep  who  are  unnerved. In the    eyes  of  many, it was Sharon who touched off  the Holy  Land's latest crisis  when  he  visited  the  Temple  Mount – Arabs  call it Haram al-Sharif - in September, infuriating Palestinians and triggering a new intifadeh. The visit set off speculation: Did Sharon  know what would happen in reaction to the visit? Did he plan the trip as a way to begin a push for power? Does the old cowboy feel any remorse about what happened in the violent weeks after his stroll? If he does, he hasn't been showing it.

"What he has been showing is his famous attraction to center stage. Amid the latest violence, Israel's opposition Shas Party gave Prime Minister Ehud Barak a one-month 'umbrella' of political support, a temporary reprieve from domestic political pressure. But next week that umbrella is set to close, and Barak must figure out how to hold his government together. He has two choices:  cut a deal with the ultra-Orthodox Shas Party or swallow hard and hold hands with Sharon. It will very probably be Sharon's last bid for  power - the final attempt of a legendary general to grab his country's highest office. If  his sheep are scared, they have reason. Sharon has shown a willingness to sacrifice to get what he wants.

"It is worth stopping for a moment to look at Sharon as more than just the one­dimensional stereotype he has become: the hard-line former Defense Minister who led Israel's invasion of Lebanon in 1982 and still refuses to shake Yasser Arafat's hand. For starters, no one calls him Ariel, Hebrew for lion. He is known universally in Israel by his nickname, Arik.  And though he packs a lot of weight on his shortish frame these days, he was once a slightly bearish but, in some circles, sexy military hero.   A photo of him from the 1973 October War shows him standing next to Israel's Defense Minister Moshe Dayan, both with the satisfied grins of men doing what they were made to do.  And something else; Sharon's head is bandaged, a nice counterpoint to Dayan's patched eye and a reminder that here were two men ready to bleed for their young country.  In private, he is a fan of violin music, known as a generous host with a quick wit. But in the end, to most Israelis, Sharon is a hard man, a man for hard times.

"It is that reputation that has shaped how he is operating in the chaos of Israel's current political disequilibrium. In the blink of an eye, Israel has gone from a land pregnant with hope for peace to a place where proponents of the peace process have been all but discredited. Sharon maintains  he  is  in  favor  of peace   talks, but mildly says  his version would continue 'down a different line from all those leftists who never saw the horrors  of real  war  like  I  did. '   In practice, that would  mean      pressing  Arafat  much harder - particularly on  the  issue  of  controlling extremists such as  Hamas - before agreeing to any deal.  But a deal, Sharon insists, would still be part of his plan.

"The  peaceniks don't buy it.  To them, Sharon embodies the old expansionist Israel of  settlements and the Lebanon war. For Palestinians, he's a symbol of  the slaughter that befell them at the hands of Israel's Lebanese Christian militia allies in the Sabra and Shatila refugee area near Beirut. The official government report found that Sharon as Defense Minister had 'indirect responsibility' for the massacres, and that event remains an essential part of the Arab vision of him.  'For  us,' says Ziad Abu Amr, a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council from Gaza, 'he could' never be anything except a murderer and criminal. '

"But though Palestinians on the street scream abuse against Sharon, their leaders know he's not their problem - yet. At a recent meeting with European visitors in Gaza, aides say Arafat mockingly proclaimed himself unfazed by the prospect of Sharon's sitting across the negotiating table; 'Sharon frightens Barak a lot more than he frightens me.' Sharon, Arafat says, could deliver what little he promises, unlike Barak, who in the eyes of many Palestinians seems to overreach at times.

"Barak - a former general himself and commander of Israel's special forces - has been willing to confront Sharon head on.   For two weeks last month, Sharon and Barak haggled over the idea of an emergency coalition between left and right - something Israelis call a national-unity government.  Barak wanted Sharon included to bolster his minority government. But Sharon set out to exact a high price, demanding a  veto over peace-process issues. Barak's team wavered. Two weeks ago, Sharon's chief negotiator, Likud legislator Meir Sheetrit, demanded a decision.  'Let's cut the bulls ----'' he remembers saying.  'I want to do a deal on the veto item. '  Barak wasn't playing.  The next day the Prime Minister moved to cut the ground out from under Sharon, appearing on television to deny that he'd given Sharon a veto.  And in a one-two punch, the Prime Minister blindsided Sharon by striking a deal with Shas.

"Sharon isn't just taking fire from the left. Inside his own party, he is stalked by ex-Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Cleared of corruption charges, Netanyahu is the favorite to unseat Sharon as Likud leader and perhaps to topple Barak. Leading Barak in all the polls, Netanyahu would prefer to see the Prime Minister fall, which would prompt new elections. So Sharon needs to move fast; his ideal play would be to cut a deal with Barak that would lever  him into power and keep Netanyahu out of the picture. Sharon  would stick around  just  long  enough  to  establish  himself firmly as Israel's conservative leader­ in-waiting.  Then he'd pull the plug and seek vindication at the polls.

"In the kitchen of his farmhouse, he pets a bouncy German shepherd named Schwartz and reminisces about his parents.  Samuil and Vera farmed avocados.  When the Zionist movement split in the 1930s, they were ostracized for joining the right wing.  Their resentment still boils within Sharon, as does their determination.  'My parents never surrendered,' he says.  Neither will he.  Barak's chief political negotiator, Communications Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, talked to Sharon each day last week and thinks he can still make a deal. 'I'm very happy with what I heard,' he says. Sharon was just happy to hear the talking at all. It's the music of a man marching closer to power every day.  For the old soldier, halting the march is never an option." (By Matt Rees, Time, November 27, 2000)

SHARON STATES HIS TEMPLE MOUNT CASE TO ALBRIGHT: In a sharp and detailed letter to Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, Arik Sharon made it clear and understandable why, as a Jew and an Israeli, he was justified to tread the sacred Temple Mount of his fore­fathers.

In a recent communication from Robert Barrington, a non-Jewish friend, the full text of Sharon's communication to Albright was enclosed. Entitled "When Will The World Listen To The Truth," it is worth taking note of:  "Dear Secretary Albright: I deeply regret, and I  find  it totally unacceptable, that your spokesman was quick to make a false statement that my visit to The Temple Mount 'may have caused tension,' insinuating that it ignited the riots and disturbances in  Jerusalem that spread to Judea, Samaria and Gaza and later, to the rest of Israel.

"I find it most regrettable and disturbing that your spokesman has been swayed by slanderous propaganda on the part of the Palestinian leaders and  media, intended  to  put pressure on  Israel and the U.S. to  make  additional  concessions  in the negotiations, under threat of violence if their demands are not met.

"I have expressed my concern and regret at the widespread violence and the senseless loss of lives· and injuries on both sides. But it must be clearly understood that it wasn't my visit to The Temple Mount, the holiest site for Jews and  under full Israeli sovereignty - that ignited the current outbreak of violence.

"Israel's Security Establishment has publicly presented its conclusions that the violent riots and armed confrontations are part of a  premeditated and organized campaign initiated by the Palestinian Authority (PA). This campaign began over ten days ago in the Netzarim area in Gaza, starting with stone throwing and escalating to the use of firearms  and explosives  against Israeli  soldiers  and civilians  traveling there.

"These riots have spread out through the deliberate incitement (prior to the visit) by the Tanzim (the armed militia of Chairman Arafat's Fatah organization). Last Friday, Arafat instructed the Tanzim  to  escalate  the riots. Moreover, Palestinian Security Chiefs have been directly involved in inciting the violence and in ordering Palestinian Police to open fire on Israeli soldiers, police and civilians.

"Arab Members of the Knesset have contributed to and joined this violent campaign by repeated incitement, calling Arab Israelis as well as Palestinians to resort to violence prior, during and after my visit to The Temple Mount.

"This is not the first time I'm visiting the Temple Mount. The Inspector General of the police has explained that the large forces which the police deployed to safeguard the  visit, were required due to Palestinian threats prior to the visit to resort to large scale violence in order to take control of the Western Wall area below the Temple Mount.

"I wish  to  emphasize,  Mrs.  Secretary,  that Prime  Minister    Barak has already stated  very clearly that every Israeli citizen, be he Arab or Jew, has a right to visit any place which is under Israeli sovereignty.

"The united city of Jerusalem, which you are all very familiar with, as well as The Temple Mount, are under full Israeli sovereignty. Neither I, nor  any Israeli citizen need to seek permission from the PA or from any foreign entity to visit there or any other site which is sovereign territory of the State of Israel.

"As for  myself", I wish to assure you  that despite the recent violent events, I  remain fully committed to achieving peace with all our Arab neighbors, including the Palestinians.

"I believe we can reach peace, but it must be durable and real peace based first and foremost on complete negation of violence.

"Furthermore, it requires Arab Palestinian recognition and acceptance of the historical inherent rights that Jews have on their land in their undivided capital of Jerusalem, and particularly sovereign rights and free access to our most sacred site on The Temple Mount. This right is granted and  has been safeguarded to every Israeli citizen as well as visitors, regardless of race, creed or religion since Israel united the city in 1967. "Sincerely Yours, Ariel Sharon."

(By David Horowitz, The Jewish Press, November 24, 2000)

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Our heartfelt thanks and appreciation for the many beautiful Christmas cards expressing love and  prayers. Be assured that our warm  Christian love  and  prayers are ever with you. We wish for all our readers that they will grow in Grace and Knowledge of the Lord for a blessed New Year, as "The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth  more and more unto the perfect day." (Prov. 4:18)

ANNOUNCEMENT: The Memorial for 2001 is on Friday, April 6, after six p.m.

NO. 524 RETROSPECT AND PROSPECT - PART ONE

Again it is our pleasure to thank the Lord for His overruling Providence which has kept us faithful to Him; and we also give thanks for all the Lord's faithful people. We are grateful for the many blessings we have received during the past year. "They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Zion, which cannot by removed, but abideth forever. As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about his people from henceforth even forever." (Psalms 125:1, 2) "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from ever­lasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen." (Psalms 41:13)

"UNDERSEA EXPLORER FINDS CLUES OF FLOOD: WASHINGTON -The first evidence that humans lived in an area now covered by the Black Sea -perhaps inundated by the biblical flood -has been found by a team of explorers.

"'Artifacts at the site are clearly well preserved, with carved wooden beams, wooden branches and stone tools,' lead researcher Robert Ballard said.

"'We realize the broad significance the discovery has and we' re going to do our best to learn more,' Ballard said in a telephone interview Tuesday from his ship off the northern coast of Turkey.

"Fredrick Hiebert of the University of Pennsylvania, the team's chief archaeologist, said the discovery 'represents the first concrete evidence for occupation of the Black Sea coast prior to its flooding.

"'This is a major discovery that will begin to rewrite the history of the cultures in this key area between Europe. Asia and the ancient Middle East.' Hiebert said.

"The remnants of human habitation were found in more than 300 feet of water about 12 miles off Turkey. Many ancient Middle Eastern cultures have legends of a great flood, including the Bible story of Noah.

"Columbia University researchers William Ryan and Walter Pittman speculated in their 1997 book 'Noah's Flood' that when the European glaciers melted, about 7.000 years ago. the Mediterranean Sea overflowed into a smaller freshwater lake to create the Black Sea.

"Last year Ballard found indications of an ancient coastline miles out from the current Black Sea coast. The new discovery provides evidence that people lived in that now inundated region.

"Ballard,  a National Geographic Society explorer in residence, said he studied shells found along the ancient coastline and found two types. One group is an extinct type of freshwater shell, while the second is from saltwater shellfish.

"'So we know that there was a sudden and dramatic change from a freshwater lake to a saltwater sea 7.000 years ago.' he said Tuesday.

"'And we know that as a result of that flood a vast amount of land went under water. And we now know that that land was inhabited. What we don't know is who these people are, we don't know how broad their settlements were…  but we're expanding our studies to try to determine that.”.. (By Randolph E. Schmid, Winston-Salem Journal, September 13, 2000)

SPACECRAFT SURVIVES BIG HIT: A NASA spacecraft on a seven-year mission to collect comet dust survived a zap from an enormous solar flare this month. The Stardust spacecraft was blinded after it was hit November 9 by a storm of high-energy particles 100,000 times more intense than usual. according to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The spacecraft was 130 million miles away from the sun when it was hit. The flare interfered with the spacecraft’s star cameras, leaving it unable to use its primary method of orienting itself in space until the system was reset two days later." (Orlando Sentinel, November 25, 2000)

"DISCOVERY: An international team of researchers exploring the bottom of the Dead Sea in a submarine has discovered what it believes are the ruins of the biblical cities of Sodom and Gomorrah -described in the Book of Genesis as evil cities which were destroyed with fire and brimstone as Divine punishment.

"The dives -for which the submarine had to be weighted with lead to counteract the buoyancy of the extremely salty water -nearly sparked an international incident, since the Dead Sea is a military zone along the shared border of Israel and Jordan, and military authorities at 'one point ordered the ship out of Jordanian waters."

(World Jewry, April 2000)

"FOSSILS ADD FUEL TO NEW THEORY OF LIFE: Tiny formations discovered in Australian rock add new weight 'to the theory that life on Earth originated not in a 'warm little pond,' as Darwin thought, but in scalding, volcano-heated ocean depths where sunlight never entered.

"The rocks contain what are thought to be fossils of single-celled organisms 3.2 billion years old.

"The cradle of life may have been a sulfurous, subterranean inferno, not unlike a medieval vision of hell,' said Birger Rasmussen, a paleobiologist at the University of Western Australia who reported the find in today's issue of the journal Nature.

"The fossil-like traces are 600 million years younger than the earliest chemical evidence of life on Earth. But the find pushes back by 2.7 billion years the fossil evidence of microbes living around hot springs at the bottom of the sea.

The formations appear to be threadlike organisms, measuring a thousandth of a millimeter in diameter and a tenth of a millimeter long, that would have gotten their energy from chemicals such as sulfur, rather than sunlight, Rasmussen said.

"'Deep beneath the ocean, hot springs would have been attractive habitats for primitive microbes, protected from the effects of early planetary bombardments, and bathed in a rich brew of metals and nutrients,' Rasmussen said. 'Such environments could have provided a safe setting for life hundreds of millions of years before Earth's surface was habitable. '

The findings do not settle the debate about how life started on Earth. The microbes could have migrated from somewhere else." (Associated Press, June 8, 2000)

"OBJECT HAS TINY CHANCE OF COLLIDING WITH EARTH: LOS ANGELES -Scientists have spotted a small asteroid or a piece of space junk that they say has a 1-in-5000 chance of hitting the Earth in 30 years -far greater odds than any similar object ever discovered.  

"If it is an asteroid and it hits the planet, 'it would be equivalent to a fairly sizable nuclear blast,' said Donald Yeomans. For now, though, that is 'fairly low in terms of concern,' he said.

"The orbit -circular, close to the sun and in about the same plane of Earth's -is unusual for an asteroid, leading to suspicions that it might be a used rocket stage, possibly one jettisoned from an Apollo launch in the 1970s, scientists said.

"Such an object would have far less mass and would pose no danger to Earth because it would burn in the atmosphere." (Excerpts from Associated Press, November 4, 2000)

IN FINANCE

2000! What a year. Everybody was expecting a computer glitch that could have fowled up everything from factories to airlines. Many people stayed home for the New Year.

The presidential election, which at this time is in chaos, looks as if for the first time the presidential election will be decided by the Supreme Court. [This has now occurred.]

The next president will preside over a gradually slowing economy according to The Wall Street Journal. GDP gains will eased from four and a half to three and a half in '01. Unemployment is up and the economy is definitely cooling. The Federal Reserve ordered six interest rate hikes this past year. This past week Greenspan, Federal Reserve Chairman, indicated he may suggest lower interest rates. ­

The Stock Market reacted to this with two of the best days this year. The Stock Market is starting to report about profits by the Dot-Com Companies. They have not produced profits as it was expected. Many will fall by the wayside.

After six years of record profits the Bank Stocks are reporting lower profits on bank loans. One of the largest top five banks is reporting a $100 billion loss. This has brought stocks of most large banks skidding to a record low.

Gold was low in the nineties and is still at an all time low now. Gold was once the standard currency of the world.

Recession is starting to surface in conversations on Wall Street and around Washington. The first time since a mild, brief downturn in 1990-1991 there is growing consumer debt, tightening credit, rising bankruptcies and problem bank loans.

The soft-landing forecast is fragile, vulnerable to surprises such as a deeper stock slump, weakness abroad, all-out war in the Mideast, a worsening credit crunch, broader employee layoffs at high-tech firms, a steep decline in consumer confidence from a rising unemployment rate.

In this Time of Trouble we need to watch for the "times and seasons" of the Lord. "But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you." (1 Thes. 5: 1)

IN RELIGION

JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES: The Witnesses often change their teaching as the chameleon changes its color. Their followers swallow what they are told without examining it, since they believe their organization is teaching the Lord's Word. A few of them are question­ing when they are told not to bother looking up the Scriptures, but just accept what their leaders tell them. Jesus said, "Search the scriptures ..... (John 5:39) And the ancient Bereans "searched the scriptures daily" to see if the things told them were so (Acts 17:11).

Shortly after Brother Russell's death the Witnesses were told that he was still running the Society from heaven. That was so foolish, as it seemed like God was no longer bothering to take care of His people. That error didn't last very long. So they changed their teaching again and have changed it many times since. Last year they changed for a little better and are actually teaching some truth. Some people say "maybe the orga­nization is cleansing itself." But the Lord does not cleanse organizations. He does cleanse individuals of these organizations of the errors they had been taught. "Neither do persons put new wine into old skins; for if they do, the skins burst, and the wine is spilled, and the skins are destroyed; but they put new wine into new skins and both are preserved." (Matt. 9:17, Dia., see also verse 16)

THE LAYMENS HOME MISSIONARY MOVEMENT: It is with regret that we see the Laymen's Home Missionary Movement has published some of its errors in three recent magazines. They have not published their errors so freely for some time, but we understand they have continued to teach them privately.

In the November-December Present Truth on page 86 the question is asked: "Is there any difference between consecrations that are made before and those made after the Highway of Holiness (Isa. 35:8) is opened? Answer: So far as the consecrations themselves are concerned, if they are true consecrations, there is no difference. As is pointed out in P'55, pp. 41,42, where this subject is treated in considerable detail, 'The only kind of consecration that has ever been or ever will be acceptable to God is the unreserved laying down or surrender of one's own will in all things, in the same spirit in which Jesus consecrated Himself (Psa. 40:8; Heb. 10:7).’” Both texts refer to Jesus' consecration.

Our answer: Consecration during the Kingdom does not require anything but faith and obedience the same as was required of Adam. There is nothing said about sacrificing. The LHMM say the consecrations in the Kingdom would be in the same spirit of Jesus, and cites Psalms 40:8 and Hebrews 10:7. Only the saints "die with Christ."

The first elect class is in Hebrews, chapter II, and are Ancient Worthies. The Gospel Age elect are the Saints first then the crown-lost (Great Company), who were spirit begotten, but were remanded to the Great Multitude of Revelation 7:9 and are not numbered. The saints were numbered 144,000 in Revelation 7:4, but the other three elect classes are not numbered.

The saints were gathered from all nations during the Harvest of the Gospel Age and in the Gleaning before Brother Russell died. We believe the text of Psalms 50:5 was given to That Servant: "Gather my saints together [in one unit] unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice." Brother Russell went to many nations to "gather the saints." Of course his faithful followers helped him with this mission of gathering the saints. It was the first time that the saints were gathered in one unit. During the time before the Harvest the saints were in the denominations, or alone most of the time in the Dark Ages.

The Ancient and Youthful Worthies are under the faith covenant, which requires Faith and Obedience. However, they have to sacrifice at times when it is required in order to be obedient (See Heb. 11:33, 36, 37). But quite a few were faithful and obedient and did not sacrifice: Abel, Enoch, the harlot Rahab, et al, as shown in Hebrews 11. The Youthful Worthies don't sacrifice unless to be faithful and obedient they have to sacrifice. However, we are now living in a time that the only persecution we get is from some of the truth friends. Of course, we don't consider the organization of Jehovah's Witnesses as Bible Students.

We are living in such a time that the denominations do not persecute us. Brother Russell gave three ways to know the door is closed, the second way fits the time we are now living in: "By such a reversal of public sentiment with reference to the truth, that fidelity and zeal in its service would no longer meet with opposition, and when suffering with Christ for the truth's sake (Rom. 8:17) would be no longer possible." (Volume 3, page 207)

We will discuss other errors that appeared in the magazines of the LHMM last year in a future paper. We do not have the space in this paper.

"EVOLUTION ISSUE TURNS ELECTION INTO SPECTACLE: Kansas rejects candidates who favor creationism. CHICAGO -Voters in Kansas have repudiated the state school board's removal of human evolution from the state science standards, making it almost certain the decision will be overturned.

"In a Republican primary on Tuesday, voters defeated three conservative candidates who supported the decision, made by the Kansas Board of Education a year ago. In the first board election since then, voters chose three moderate Republicans who pledged to return evolution to the science standards. And those three will run in November against Democrats who also support evolution. The election assures a majority on the board supporting evolution.

"'I think parents want their kids to have a strong competitive education,' said Sue Gamble, a moderate Republican who defeated the school board chairwoman, Linda Holloway, a conservative.” The message was that that includes a full set of science standards and that includes evolution.'

"While the board vote last August did not prevent schools from teaching evolution, it effectively removed evolution as the sole explanation for the origin of species, as well as the Big Bang theory of the origin of the universe, from state student assessment tests.

"Last year's 6-4 decision was considered one of the most significant victories for those who believe the species were created by God or conservatives who favor an 'intelligent designer.' Proponents of such theories have stepped up their activism, prompting states like Kentucky and Oklahoma to dilute the teaching of evolution. Many other states, wresting with evolution debates, too, had their eyes on Kansas.

"'Kansas has been sort of ground zero,' said Ralph G. Neas, president of People for the American Way, a civil liberties group that supports the teaching of evolution. 'And a lot of states will be taking a look at this very seriously.'

"The issue has transformed a normally obscure election into a lightning rod for the evolution debate.

"Campaigns that normally raised no more than a few hundred dollars got tens of thousands of dollars in contributions, some from out of state. Candidates ran television commercials.

"And Democrats switched parties just to vote in the Republican primary. In the end, only one of the four conservatives running won, Steve Abrams of Arkansas City, a board member who helped write the standards approved last year.

"Holloway, the former chairwoman, said she 'had no idea it would be that much of a defeat.' Holloway, who believes that evolution can be taught alongside creationism or other theories, said, 'There is clearly still a misunderstanding of what we did.'

"'One thing I'm very elated about is I don't believe the discussion about evolution will ever be the same again,' Holloway said. "'People are looking at it with a more critical eye rather than swallowing it hook, line and sinker.'" (By Pam Belluck, N.Y. Times News Service, August 3, 2000)

CATHOLICS: "POPE PIUS XII: Historians pose new questions to Vatican. VATICAN CITY -Roman Catholic and Jewish historians examining Pope Pius XII's actions during the Holocaust have put the Vatican on the spot.  

"After an 11-month study, they concluded that published Vatican material on World War II leaves many important questions unanswered and urged the Vatican to open up its archives.

"There has been no immediate response from the Vatican. Its chief spokesman, Joaquin Navarro-Valls, said it was premature. He noted the commission of three Catholic and three Jewish scholars, issued its 'preliminary report' only last week.

"The report, and remarks by commission members at a news conference, raised explosive questions about what Pius XII and his top aides were doing as reports of the persecution of Jews across Europe reached the Vatican.

"The panel was formed by the Vatican and Jewish groups to examine accusations that Pius did not speak out forcefully enough against the Holocaust. For Jews, the issue took on urgency when the Vatican appeared to have put Pius on a fast track for beatification, the last step before possible sainthood.

"Since the first controversy surrounding Pius' role during the Holocaust arose in the 1960s with Rolf Hochhuth's play 'The Deputy,' the Vatican has consistently defended its wartime pope. It said he worked prudently for peace and was thanked by Jews for his efforts.

"At a Vatican news conference a year ago, two church representatives denied the Vatican ever received concrete evidence of the extent of Hitler's campaign to exterminate the Jews.

"One of them, Cardinal Pio Laghi, said at that time that while modern satellites Can detect 'a cow in the field in Nicaragua,' it is unfair to judge the World War II era by such standards.

"In posing specific queries to the Vatican, the commission appeared to challenge the Vatican's contention that it was unaware of the extent of the tragedy.

"The report cites 'astonishingly detailed accounts of killings' by the chaplain of a hospital train in 1942. It recalls how a Ukrainian Catholic bishop 'described with sharp clarity the atrocities and mass murder' against Jews and the local population that same year.

"'There is evidence that the Holy See was well-informed by mid-1942 of the accelerating mass murder of Jews,' the report said. 'Questions continue to be asked about the reception of this news and what attention was given to it. How thoroughly informed was the Vatican regarding details of Nazi persecution and extermination? What was the Holy See's reaction, and what discussions followed reports that flowed in describing evidence of the Final Solution."

The Rev. Gumpel, a Jesuit who has been documenting the case for Pius' beatification, called the questions leading and loaded.' Gumpel denied that the beatification has been put on hold. as some have suggested, saying he is still putting together material to make the case.

"'It is absolutely open when and if' the beatification would be approved, Gumpel told The Associated Press. 'I personally think it will.'

"The commission examined documents published by the Vatican in 11 volumes between 1965 and 1981. ..” (By Victor L. Simpson, Winston-Salem Journal, November 4, 2000)

"ROME: New documents have turned up in a Roman flea market confirming that Pope Pius XII was briefed about the Holocaust as early as 1941. A local journalist and book collector,  Fabrizio Coisson. recently bought four volumes that turned out to be file copies of secret reports written for the eyes of the pope by the British ambassador to the Vatican, D'Arcy Osborne. Coisson has no idea how they reached the market stall. Osborne, who spent most of the war inside the Vatican, compiled reports of European news which he picked up on short-wave radio from the BBC in London. He passed these on to the pope, at first once a week, then daily. On 21 September, 1940, for example, Osborne writes: 'Experiments have been made on gassing sick or mentally deficient children in Germany.' On 14 March, 1941, he reports: 'However incredible it may seem, there have been reprisals against the Jews in Nazi territories.' He continued to pass on reports of Nazi atrocities against the Jews and others. The new revelations are expected to reinforce Jewish protests at Vatican plans to declare Pius XII a saint." (The Jerusalem Report, June 19, 2000)

"ROME:  Although they lost the battle to block the beatification of Pope Pius IX, Italian Jews vowed to continue against the anti-Semitism and narrow clericalism represented by the 19th century pontiff. Pius IX enacted laws against the Jews in 1849 and authorized the abduction of a Jewish boy, who became a priest. Pope John Paul II announced the beatification. one stage short of sainthood, in St. Peter's Square on September 3. The president of the Union of Italian Jewish Communities Amoz Luzzato, told The Report they would now concentrate on developing and strengthening the ties they forged with 'the best part' of Italian Catholics, as well as with the Protestant and Muslim minorities. 'The problem,' he said, 'was never to interfere with the internal affairs of the Church, but to make people aware that Pius IX was a racist who opposed the development of Italy into a modern state.  We took the lead, drawing criticism from many sides, but it was worth it.” (The Jerusalem Report, September 25, 2000)

"CARDINAL: Vatican still awaiting Jews' conversion. LONDON -Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, a leader of the Vatican's conservative wing has created a storm by declaring that the Catholic Church is waiting for Israel and Jews to embrace Christianity.

"The statement, contained in a new book by one of the closest aides to Pope John Paul II. is likely to affect Catholic-Jewish relations.

"Ratzinger, who heads the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. the guardian of Vatican orthodoxy, is quoted by the German Magazine Focus as writing: 'Catholics do not want to impose Christ on the Jews, but they are waiting for the moment when Israel also says yes to Christ.'

"The comment is expected to ignite a firestorm among Jews in the Diaspora and cause dismay among those convinced that relations with the Vatican had improved.

"Ratzinger's comment came a week after he issued another Vatican document, Declaration Dominus Jesus, which effectively delegitimized non-Catholic churches by characterizing them as 'gravely deficient.'

"Commenting on last week' s declaration, which carried the authority of the pope, British Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks expressed dismay at the 'mixed messages from the Vatican right now.. the personal initiatives of the pope… [and] this very conservative voice... which does seem to belong to an earlier age.· .. (The Jerusalem Post. September 22, 2000)

"LETTER COULD HURT UNITY: VATICAN CITY -One of Pope John Paul II's closest aides has written to bishops worldwide declaring that the Catholic church is the 'mother' of other Christian churches, a move that could hurt Vatican efforts toward unity with other believers.

"The Vatican had no comment on the document yesterday, which was reported Friday by the Italian religious news agency Adista.

"In the document, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger told the bishops that it was incorrect to refer to Christian churches, ranging from Orthodox to Protestant, as 'sister' churches of the Catholic church. (Winston-Salem Journal Wire Service, September 3, 2000)

"ALL RELIGIONS AREN'T EQUAL, VATICAN SAYS IN STATEMENT: Catholic Church is called only source of salvation. VATICAN CITY -In a declaration carrying the full authority of an infallible teaching, the Vatican said this week that the Roman Catholic Church is the only 'instrument for the salvation of all humanity.'

"The 36-page 'Declaration Dominus Jesus’ ('On the Unicity and Sa1vific Universality of Jesus Christ and the Church') expressed 'sincere respect' for other religions but attacked 'religious relativism which leads to the belief that one religion is as good as another. '

"'If it is true that the followers of other religions can receive divine grace, it is also certain that Objectively speaking they are in a gravely deficient situation in comparison with those who, in the church, have the fullness of the means of salvation, ' the Vatican said of non-Christian religions. It called non-Catholic Christian bodies 'defective. '

"Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, issued the document at a Vatican news conference as part of what appeared to be an ongoing effort by the Vatican to reassert traditional Catholic doctrine.

"Ratzinger said in a recent letter to bishops' conferences throughout the world that the Catholic Church is the 'mother' of all Christian churches and told them to stop referring to the Orthodox Anglican and Protestant churches as 'sister' churches.

"AND LAST SUNDAY, Pope John Paul II beatified Pope Pius IX, a conservative 19th century pontiff who proclaimed the doctrines of papal infallibility and the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary but also fought the unification of Italy, restricted religious freedom and locked Rome's Jews into a ghetto.

"The new declaration raised concern among some other churches. In London, Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey, spiritual leader of the worldwide Anglican Communion, called Ratzinger's statements 'unjustified' and said they did 'not reflect the deep comprehension that has been reached (by Catholics and Anglicans) through ecumenical dialogue and cooperation during the past 30 years.'

"In Geneva, the World Council of Churches warned that the growth of ecumenical dialogue could be 'hindered -or even damaged' by what it called 'language which precludes further discussion of the issues.'

But Cardinal William Keeler of Baltimore, a leader in the Catholic Church's dialogue with both the Orthodox churches and the Jews, said that Ratzinger's pronouncement is 'in full accord with what Vatican II has said.'

Keeler, who attended the Vatican news conference, said he did not expect the new declaration to have a negative effect on ecumenical and interfaith dialogue.

"In England, Archbishop Cormac Murphy-O'Connor of Westminster, the chairman of the department of mission and unity of the Catholic bishops' conference of England and Wales, said that the new document 'does not attempt to change the teaching of the Catholic Church regarding ecumenism.'

"He said its main purpose was to warn against a tendency to regard all religions as equivalent and it was written principally for Catholic bishops and theologians.

"'Certainly no slight is intended by its comments regarding other Christian communities,' he said. 'As Christians we share a common baptism, .and the Catholic Church believes this brings us all into a real, if imperfect, communion. This was made clear in the documents of the Second Vatican Council, where it said that other Christians 'with good reason are accepted as our brothers and sisters.· .. (By Peggy Polk, Religion News Service, September 9, 2000)

BAPTIST: "TEXAS BAPTISTS SEND MESSAGE BY HOLDING BACK $5 MILLION: CORPUS CHRISTI, TX -Texas' 2.7 million Baptists dealt a severe blow to the Southern Baptist Convention on Monday, withdrawing $5 million in funding on the grounds that the denomination is becoming too conservative.

"After a brief, civil debate, the 6,000 representatives of the Texas Baptists approved the move by a sizable majority by holding up voting cards. "Earlier this month, former President Carter severed ties to the Southern Baptist Convention because of its 'increasingly rigid' creed.

"In recent years, the Southern Baptists have barred female pastors, declared that wives should 'submit graciously' to their husbands, boycotted Disney, and issued resolutions condemning homosexuality.

"On Monday, the Texans voted to cut the amount of money they give to Southern Baptist seminaries by about 80 percent next year and send the $4 million instead to three moderate campuses in Texas.

"The Texans will still send about $19 million to the denomination, mostly for missionary work in the United States and abroad.

"The Rev. Claude Thomas of Euless, Texas, who chairs the national body's executive committee, said, 'I am distressed emotionally. I am distressed because of the impact this is going to have on the churches of Texas [that] are going to have to make decisions they don't want to make. , .. (Excerpts from Associated Press, October 31, 2000)

LUTHERAN: "LUTHERANS OFFER AMENDS: BERLIN -Germany' s Lutheran church has acknowledged sharing guilt for the Holocaust in the clearest terms yet and called on its 27 million members to make a fresh start in relations with the Jewish community.

"A national convention of Lutheran leaders passed a resolution late Thursday saying that the church was guilty not only of 'silence and failure' during the Nazi era but also that its 'disastrous tradition of alienation and enmity towards the Jews' helped prepare the ground for the Holocaust.

"That tradition has hampered efforts to rebuild relations with the Jewish community since the end of World War II, the resolution said, even though the Lutheran Church in Germany first acknowledged its guilt 50 years ago." (Wire Service, November 11, 2000)

EPISCOPALIAN: "BISHOPS SLATE CHALLENGE: ROSEMONT, PA -Anglican archbishops from overseas who oppose the Episcopal Church USA's liberal views on homosexuality are challenging the denomination's leadership by staging their own confirmation service here. The presiding bishops of Kenya, Uganda, Congo, and Sydney, Australia, are expected to attend or send delegates to Sunday's confirmation by Archbishop Maurice Sinclair of Argentina. They oppose the practice by the Episcopal Church, the U. S. branch of Anglicanism, of ordaining gay men and lesbians and allowing clergy to bless same-sex unions. (Orlando Sentinel, November 25, 2000)

"EPISCOPAL, LUTHERAN CHURCHES CREATE ALLIANCE: DENVER -Episcopal Church leaders approved a historic pact yesterday with the nation's largest Lutheran denomination, voting to create an alliance in which the churches will share clergy, sacraments and strategy.

"The Episcopal Church's House of Deputies, made up of 832 priests and lay people, overwhelmingly approved the agreement, one day after it won approval from the other chamber of the church's legislature, the House of Bishops.

"Leaders of the 5.2 million-member Evangelical Lutheran Church in America approved the alliance last year. "'It enables our two churches to work together in ,a' shared mission to our broken and hurting wor1d,' said the Rev. Donald Brown, a co-chairman of ecumenical relations for the 2.4 million-member Episcopal Church. 'Both our communities will be living into reality Jesus' prayer that all his followers might be one,' said Brown." (Journal Wire Report, July 9, 2000)

NO. 523 GOOD TIDINGS OF GREAT JOY

At this time of the year there are so many people reminded of Jesus our Savior and it is a pleasure to see them rejoice in the Birth of our Savior. We well realize that much of the emphasis placed on this occasion is for commercial purposes, yet the general atmosphere is “Good Will To Men.” It seems to affect those who are not believers – especially those of “good will.” Even though we know it is not the correct date for the birth of our Lord, it is not indicated in the Scriptures that we should celebrate that event; therefore, if the world wishes to honor His birth, we can join with those who from the sincerity of heart appreciate Him as their Redeemer. We now offer the following from That Servant as given in our Daily Manna, with which we are in full agreement:

“Although we cannot agree that this is the proper day for celebrating the birth of our dear Redeemer, but must insist that it was about October first (Studies, Vol. 2), nevertheless, since He did not intimate His desire that we should celebrate His birthday, it is quite immaterial upon what day that event, of so great importance to all, is celebrated. Upon this day, so generally celebrated, we may properly enough join with all whose hearts are in the attitude of love and appreciation toward God and toward the Savior. The habit of giving little remembrances one to another at this time of the year seems to us specially appropriate. God is the Giver of every good and perfect gift. He is continually giving; and we are continually receiving from Him, but amongst all His gifts the One of greatest importance to us is the Gift of His Son to be our Redeemer.”

Although December 25 is generally recognized as the birth date of JESUS, there is not the slightest hint in the Bible or in secular history that this is the correct date. How then has this date been established? Jesus said, “Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” (John 5:39) Among the outstanding types of the Old Testament that “testify” of Him is the one on the Day of Atonement, in which sacrifice of the bullock typified Jesus as the Atonement for our sins. The bullock represented Jesus at the age of thirty years. This service was held on the tenth day of the seventh month – the tenth day of the seventh month is Tishri, or Tizri, which is represented in our calendar by about the tenth of October. And in every institutional type the antitype must appear on the same date as did the type.

The question now comes, Why this gross error? After the “falling away” (2 Thes. 2:3) became more pronounced in the early Church, the question of the same date for the Jewish Day of Atonement and the birth of Jesus propounded some irritating and intricate questions, so the “bright minds” of the time came up with this solution: The Vernal Equinox occurs about March 25, so Jesus would begin generation in Mary about that time; and nine months from March 25 would arrive at December 25, which should be the day of His birth. Truly, “Wisdom is justified of her children”! (Matt. 11:19) And we have here an excellent illustration of that truth. But we agree with That Servant, that we may properly enough join with all those whose hearts are in the attitude of love and appreciation toward God and toward the Savior on December 25, which is generally accepted as the birth date of our Redeemer.

“Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy.” But the Jehovah’s Witnesses bring us “bad tidings of great misery” for all those who do not join with them. According to them, the vast majority now living will be annihilated in Armageddon unless they join with them beforehand. So the majority of this generation will have no opportunity of eternal life in the Kingdom. But the Scriptures clearly teach, “there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust” (Acts 24:15), which will not only include those of past generations, but those of this generation also. There has never been a time when the Adversary has deceived the children of this world more than today so why should we be surprised at those who are unable to accept the Truth? “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” (2 Cor. 4:4) But we are promised that the “eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped” (Isa. 35:5) in that glorious Kingdom.

Jesus did not die for the few who become His footstep followers during this Faith Age, when sin is in the ascendancy, but He died for all mankind – to be “testified in due time.” (1 Tim. 2:1–6) There are Two Salvations – one for the world of mankind who have been “blinded by the god of this world,” – called the “common salvation” (Jude 3); and the “great salvation” (Heb. 2:3), which is the salvation of the Elect during this Faith Age – the footstep followers of our Lord – the “called according to His purpose.” (Rom. 8:28) “Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.” (Acts 17:31)

The story of the “good tidings” of this text (Luke 2:10) is so familiar as to require no special comment – yet in its simple details lies the hope of the whole world. For four thousand years the birth of this child was promised, and during these forty centuries some faithful souls continued to trust in the promises and to look for the salvation to be brought about thru Him. We may surely take it for granted that the humble shepherds to whom the message of the Lord’s Advent first came were men who thus hoped in the promises of God; for to such, and to such only, the Lord discloses His purposes.

These men where quietly tending their flocks by night when suddenly “the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.” (Luke 2:9) But their fear was soon overcome by the message of the angel, which, strange to say, has been partially omitted – leaving out one of the grandest features of the message – that it was to be to all people.

The message reads, “Fear not; for, behold I bring you good tidings, of GREAT JOY, which shall be to ALL PEOPLE.” (v. 10) It will be observed that the blessedness of these tidings is cumulative: first, it is “good tidings”; then, it is “great joy”; and then the crowning feature of it is that it is to “all people” – not only to you shepherds who are this night looking for the hope of Israel, but for your friends and relatives – to all their friends and relatives and neighbors far and near, to both those who now live, and to all those now in death.

Blessed tidings! Hearken to the gladsome sound: “For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” (v. 11) Then He was to be a Savior to all people: so the Scriptures clearly affirm, saying that, by the grace of God, He tasted death for every man, and that He gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time – for all. (Heb. 2:9; 1 Tim. 2:6) The testimony, however, is quite as necessary to the salvation of the sinner as the fact that Christ gave Himself a ransom for all. The favor of salvation will not be forced upon any; but the testimony that it has been provided for every man, on condition of his acceptance of the favor upon God’s terms, is to be given to every man, for his acceptance or rejection. And though millions of the race for whom Christ died have gone down to the grave without such testimony, still the fact remains that the testimony shall be given in due time – which due time, to all such, must be after their awakening from death.

And to this agree the words of the Lord: “The hour is coming in which all that are in their graves shall hear the voice of the Son of Man and shall come forth; they that have done good [who in this present life have come into Judgment and who have passed their trial successfully], unto the resurrection of life [the full reward of the faithful. Such will be the overcoming church]; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of judgment.” (John 5:25-29) That is, the latter class will come forth from the grave to have the truth testified to them for their acceptance or redaction; and their final judgment of worthiness or unworthiness of life will be based upon their course under trial after the truth has been testified to them in the Millennial Age the Age now just ahead of us. Thus the angel of the Lord preached the good tidings of the restitution of all things (Acts 3:19-23) to the shepherds on the plane of Bethlehem.

Verse 12: Then they told where and how they should find this bud of promise, so that when they would see Him they might feel doubly assured that this was He.

Verses 13,14: “Then suddenly there was with the angels a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” This shows how the angels of God are interested in the affairs of men, and how they sympathize with us and rejoice over our prosperity. And this reminds us of other statements to the effect that there is joy in heaven among the angels over one sinner that repenteth (Luke 15:7); and that they are all ministering spirits sent forth to minister to them who shall be heirs of salvation. (1 Peter 1:12; Heb. 1:14) Thus we see them to be creatures of God full of loving benevolence even toward a fallen race, and esteeming it a privilege to serve the heirs of this salvation, although they know, as they studiously look into God’s Plan, that some of this fallen race are by and by to be highly exalted, even above the angels who never sinned.

Thus we see their humble recognition of the right of the Creator to do what He will with His own, and their cheerful and joyful acquiescence in His perfect will, which they know to be determined by His unerring Wisdom and His fathomless Love. Oh, what universal joy will prevail when the whole family of God in heaven and in earth is brought into fullest harmony under Jehovah’s Anointed!

Verses 15,18 show the teachable attitude of the shepherds: they recognized the angels and their message as from the Lord, and, their fears being allayed, their hopes revived and their faith increased, they felt that they must go at once and see this which had come to pass. And when they had so determined, a strange star (evidently a meteor, as it could not have been a fixed star) appeared, moving in the direction which the angel had told them to go; and they followed the star until they reached Bethlehem, when it stood still over the place where the young child was. And when they saw Him, they worshiped Him and presented to Him gold and frankincense and myrrh, recognizing Him as the long–promised Messiah. And being warned of God in a dream, they disregarded the request of Herod to inform him of the whereabouts of the new–born king, and so departed into their own country another way. But as they went they published abroad the good tidings which the angels had brought to them, and how they had actually seen Him of whom the prophets testified.

Verse 19: “But Mary [mother-like] kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart,” doubtless calling to mind also the message of the angel to her. (Luke 1:28-35) Again and again we seem to hear her say, “My soul doth magnify the Lord... for He hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden... He that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is His name.” (Luke 1:46-49)

Verse 20: The shepherds returned to their flocks, fully assured of the wonderful truth that the promised seed of the woman who was to bruise the serpent’s head had really come. (Gen. 3:15) And they rejoiced and glorified God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as they were told unto them.

“NEVER MAN SPAKE LIKE THIS MAN”

(John 7:46)

At this analysis a review is in order. We begin at the Mount of Beatitudes and close with the Mount of Transfiguration, and on the way in the Master’s words and conduct find illustrations of the wonderful teachings of the Sermon on the Mount and how faithful obedience to the instructions there given will mean to us eventually a place in the Kingdom, pictured in the Transfiguration scene. The blessings of the meek, the merciful, the persecuted for righteousness’ sake, etc., all will find their fulfillment when, by the grace of God, we shall eventually be changed, transfigured, by the Redeemer and Lord – “Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the Kingdom of their Father.” (Matt. 13:43)

How wonderful are the Lord’s dealings with us and yet how reasonable. His appeal is, “Come let us reason together: though your sins be as scarlet they shall be white as snow; though they be red like crimson they shall be as wool.” (Isa. 1:18) He shows us how He has prepared for this: that He Himself was provided, the sacrifice for sins; that our Lord has already died the Just for the Unjust that He might bring us to God, and that God can be just when He receives us, just in His dealings with us, because the justice element of His Law has been fully met on our behalf. He gives us a glimpse of the blessings He proposes to bring to the world of mankind, points us to the Lamb of God, whose sacrifice takes away the sin of the world, and invites all those who have love and sympathy and appreciation to come now and accept not only life eternal but favor – joint–heirship with His Son in the glorious Kingdom which is to bless the world in the great uplift of “restitution, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all the holy prophets since the world began.” (Acts 3:19-21)

This message comes to us through the Son of God, of whom our text declares, “Never man spake like this man.” No wonder the apostles said to Him when some were forsaking Him, “Lord, to whom should we go? Thou hast the words [the message] of eternal life.” (John 6:68) Others may indeed think that they have eternal life in themselves – they may persuade themselves that by some inherent, immortal principle they will live forever, and that when they die it will merely be the appearance of dying, and actually they will become in that moment more alive than ever. At best that is a very difficult thought, and few are able to so hypnotize their own judgments as to believe it. We on the contrary, hearkening to the voice that spoke as never man spake, hear His declaration that our hope is in Him as the “resurrection and the life.” (John 11:25) We hear Him telling us that the hour is coming in the which all that are in their graves shall hear His voice and shall come forth. (John 5:28,29) It is reasonable.

We can reason together with God when we take the voice of His Son and reject the voices of the “Dark Ages.” From this standpoint – that a resurrection has been provided through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus – the whole matter of the redemption which is in Christ Jesus – the whole matter of death and eternal life is clarified before our mental view. We see the condemnation through Adam, and how death is justly reigning thruout the whole world of mankind ever since. We see the death of Christ, the Just for the Unjust; that He has bought us with His precious blood, that He has paid our ransom price, and that as a result, in God’s due time, all shall come forth from the power of the tomb. We see the keys of death and of the grave in the hands of the One who has purchased all; we rejoice in the proclamation of the coming blessing to all the families of the earth, through a release from this power of sin and Satan and death.

We hearken still more intently to the voice of Him that speaketh as never man spake, and hear Him assure us that there are two resurrections – one a life resurrection, the other a judgment resurrection. We hear Him tell us that only those who thru faith and obedience attain a standing with God under the cover of the precious sacrifice will be counted the good, the justified, and only they will share in the life resurrection, because only they will have passed their trial and be counted worthy of life. All others will come forth to the judgment resurrection to be disciplined under the Kingdom, to receive stripes in proportion to the willfulness in which they have cooperated in their own downfall into mental, moral and physical degradation, but to be helped by the stripes, to be corrected in righteousness, if they will, and to be brought step by step out of the sin-and-death conditions, up, up, up, by resurrection power of Jesus, to the full perfection, to all that was lost in Adam.

Well may we rejoice in this One who spake as never man spake, in Him who has the words of eternal life. Respecting those words the Apostle Peter says, “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises, that by these we might become partakers of the Divine nature.” (2 Peter 1:4) Yes! Wonderful words of life, tell them over again, think them over again, rejoice in them more and more – let them fill our hearts and be in our mouths a new song of the loving kindness of our God, whose tender mercies are over all His works.

Of these words, which the Master spake as never man spake, the Apostle further declares that He spake of our salvation. He says, “Which salvation began to be spoken by our Lord and was confirmed unto us by them that heard Him.” (Heb. 2:3) Not only was there no eternal life in our race, and no hope for attaining any except thru Jesus, but all of the promises of the past would have been powerless without His work of atonement, and not until He came was it known how our redemption was to be accomplished. True, the Lord had provided various types and shadows in the numerous sacrifices of the past which illustrated the fact that “without the shedding of blood there can be no remission of sin” (Heb. 9:22); but they could not be understood until the antitype had come. Then He brought life to light and immortality to light – life for the world, eternal life to be conferred during the Millennial Age – immortality for His Church, His bride, His Little Flock, His joint-heirs. These were never brought to light before; they were faintly seen and vaguely described, but it remained for the Great Teacher – Jesus – to set forth before us the salvation which God had proffered through Him. Thank God that our hearts have made our lips more and more tell forth the praises of Him who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. Through faith in Him the Little Flock are already reckoned risen to “walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6:4), and through Him by and by the Father will raise them up by His own power, that they shall be like Him and share His glory, honor and immortality.

THE SAVIOR OF ALL MEN

1 Tim. 4:10 shows that God will save all men from the Adamic Condemnation, but not eternally: “We trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men [from the Adamic condemnation, but not eternally; after the sentence is removed from each one, he is given an individual trial for life; and only those who prove worthy in their trial gain everlasting life], especially [He is the Savior to the uttermost only] of those that believe [the faithful elect now and the faithful non-elect in the Millennium].”

A NEW HEAVENS AND EARTH

Another testimony, which incidentally identifies the Judgment Day with the Millennium, is found in 2 Peter 3:6-13: “Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished [not the literal world – the earth – nor the human family perished, but the symbolic world, the order of affairs which then existed, was destroyed by the flood]: but the heavens and the earth, which are now [‘this present evil world’ – Gal. 1:4, the order of affairs now existing: its heavens being its religious systems and teachers and its earth being its organized society], by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire [a symbol of destruction – Mal. 3:2,3; 4:1,3; Matt. 3:11,12; 1 Cor. 3:12-15; Rev. 17:16; all the symbolic earth will be devoured by the fire of God’s jealousy – Zeph. 3 8] against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

“But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing [do not forget], that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day [this identified the day of judgment of v. 7 as a thousand–year day]. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness [God’s time seems slow to the natural man]; but is longsuffering to us–ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord [the thousand–year Judgment Day] will come as a thief in the night [compare 1 Thes. 5:1-3]; in which the heavens [not the literal heavens, but Satan’s false religious systems – compare Heb. 12:26, 27] shall pass away with a great noise [uproar and confusion], and the elements shall melt with fervent heat [the various component elements of the present symbolic heavens and earth will disintegrate], the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up [Satan’s selfish, unjust and corrupt social arrangements shall be destroyed; but the literal earth is to remain, just as it remained after the flood – ‘the earth abideth for ever’ – Eccl. 1:4].

“Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens [Jesus and His faithful followers, the Millennial religious ruling powers] and a new earth [human society organized on the basis of truth, righteousness and love, as against the erroneous, unjust and selfish arrangements of the present evil earth], wherein dwelleth righteousness.”

Thus by then Jesus will have destroyed the devil and all his works. Accordingly, we look for the Millennial Age to witness the destruction of the sentence of death, as well as all the effects of that sentence: sin, error, superstition, sorrow, pain, sighing, crying, sickness, famine, pestilence, drought, extreme heat and cold, scarcity, war, revolution, anarchy, oppression, poverty, ignorance, dying and death. (Rev. 21:1–4; 22:3)

RESULTS OF THE KINGDOM’S REIGN

One of the results of the Kingdom’s reign will be the utter extirpation of all the effects of the curse as the unholy fruits of Satan’s rule, authority and power. Among other passages, 1 Cor. 15:20-26 shows this. We quote it from the Improved Version: “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become a first fruit [Jesus] of them that slept. For since by man [Adam] came death, by [a] man [Jesus] also shall come the resurrection of the dead. For as all in Adam die [Jesus did not die in Adam, for He was not in Adam, and therefore our correction of the translation], even so all in Christ shall be made alive [e.g., the Little Flock is in Christ; they shall be made alive first and primarily]. But every man in his own order: Christ a firstfruit [the Church is here meant]; afterward they that are Christ’s at [during] his presence [those who are shown to be our Lord’s faithful followers during His presence, these shall also be made alive]. Then cometh the end [the end of the Little Season, when He shall have ruled over all the earth and given every man the opportunity to gain eternal life, which His Ransom–sacrifice,–a corresponding price, enables Him to give], when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father [for God will be the final judge over the earth and will exercise His judgment through Christ, the Head, primarily, and secondarily, the Church, His Body, as His Vicegerent]; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and [all] power [every vestige of the governorship and of the pretended might of Satan, all of this will be put down by the almighty hand of Christ, the Head, and the Church, the Body, using God’s power as that almighty power in their hand]. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death [thus we see that not only persons are these enemies, but also things. The Adamic Death in the sense of the dying process is this last great enemy; and, because of His faithfulness, Jesus is the One who will in the Little Season finally destroy it].”

But not all will obtain eternal life. Those who will not even externally reform, but will continue to be rebellious to the Kingdom during the thousand years, will after a hundred years of opportunity be cut off in the Second Death (Isa. 65:20); while those who will reform externally, but without a heart reformation, will live thruout the thousand years and attain human perfection; but by the trial during the “little season” at the Millennium’s close, their unholy heart’s condition (the Adamic process) will become manifest, and they will perish in the Second Death – everlasting destruction (Rev. 20: 7-9, 15; Mal. 4:3; Psa. 37:10, 35, 36, 38; Isa. 1:28; Acts 3:23). Those who during the Millennium will practice truth and righteousness, from the love of these principles, will be lifted up to human perfection not only in their faculties, but also in their characters (Isa. 66:10-14), and will thus be enabled to remain faithful amid the final trial during the Little Season after the Millennium; and these shall inherit the earth forever, as paradise restored (Matt. 25:35-40; Isa. 65:16-25). Such will be the grand results of the reign of Jesus and the Church in the earth (Rev. 21:3-5; 22:1-3).

The sad tragedy of sin will forever have ceased to be enacted. The ages to come will witness the realization of the angels’ song of Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth peace, good will to men (Luke 2:14); and from every part of the Universe the glorious Hallelujah chorus of Jehovah’s numberless choirs, without one discordant note, shall forever and ever celebrate Jehovah and Christ, for their glorious Persons, holy Characters, wonderful Plan and great Works (Rev. 5:13)! Therefore let every lover of God and man, of truth and righteousness, pray, “Thy Kingdom come; Thy will be done in earth, as in Heaven”! As the hymn says, “I love to tell the story”!

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him aloud with heart and voice, –And always in His Son rejoice.

Sincerely your brother, John J. Hoefle, Pilgrim

(Reprint of No. 406, December 1989)

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AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE BLAMES ARAFAT FOR SUMMIT FAILURE

The American Jewish Committee - whose position on Zionism has not always been over­ zealous - has come out with a harsh attack on Yasir Arafat over his negative stand at the recent summit. In a New York Times ad entitled "Another Missed Opportunity for Peace," the Committee makes it clear that Arafat must take the full blame .

Following are the highlights of its charges:

"53 years ago, Palestinians missed an historic opportunity when the Arab world rejected the UN Partition Plan, which would have crafted an independent Palestinian Arab state adjacent to Israel.  The Arab states chose war instead.

"At Camp David last month, Chairman Arafat balked at another opportunity to secure a better future for the Palestinians and formally end their bitter conflict with Israel. "While a bold Israeli leader came ready to make sweeping and painful compromises,

and a determined U.S. President made every effort to facilitate solutions, Chairman Arafat failed to seize the chance for peace .

"Now, Mr. Arafat is busily promoting a dangerous idea, a unilateral declaration of Palestinian statehood, that would scuttle negotiated peace with Israel. He is seeking to rally worldwide support for unacceptable, unworkable demands.

"Instead of joining Israelis in grappling with the most difficult issues that stand in the way of peace, and similarly preparing Palestinians for achievable compromise, Palestinian leaders mouth old slogans and sustain old hatreds. Palestinian Authority summer camps train teenagers for terrorism against Israel. Schoolbooks and the popular media promote contempt for Israel and Jews.

"Palestinian leaders today  are  at a crossroads. They  can abide  by previously signed commitments to forswear  violence and unilateral acts, grasp Israel's outstretched hand, and begin building true peace - a culture of peace - between neighbors. Or they can perpetuate conflict .

"The choice is clear. The opportunity for peace is here . For all in the Middle East, the Palestinians must not let that opportunity slip away again ."

In the light of the vicious hatred openly shown by the Palestinian Arabs and the expressions of anti-semitism in the West and other countries, an often quoted statement on this very subject by the great Mark Twain is worth repeating here . Almost a century ago, when confronted with a question relative to his position on the Jews and anti­semitism, he made clear where he stood and then concluded:

"If the statistics are right, the Jews   constitute but one percent of   the  human race . It suggests a  nebulous dim  puff of stardust lost in the blaze of the Milky Way.            Properly the Jew ought hardly to be heard of, but is heard of, has always been heard of. He is as prominent on the planet as any other people, and his commercial      importance is extravagantly out of proportion to the smallness of his bulk. His contributions to the world' s list of great names in literature, science, art, music, finance, medicine and abstruse learning are also way out of proportion to the weakness of his numbers. He has made a marvelous fight in this world, in all ages, and has done it with his hands tied behind him . He could be vain of himself, and be excused for it.

"The Egyptians, the Babylonians, and the Persians rose, filled the planet with sounds of splendor, then faded to dream stuff and passed away; the Greeks and Romans followed, and made vast noise, and they are gone; other peoples have sprung up and held their torch high for a time but it burned out, and they sit in the twilight now, or have vanished. The Jew saw them all, beat them all, and is now what he always was, exhibiting no decadence, no infirmities of age, no weakening of his parts, no slowing of his energies, no dulling of his alert and aggressive mind. All things are mortal but the Jew; all other forces pass, but he remains.  What is the secret of his immortality?"

(By  David Horowitz, The Jewish Press, August 25, 2000)

LETTERS OF  GENERAL INTEREST

This summer has really been hot, hot in respect to the weather and hot politically:           While the Prime Minister doggedly and obsessively continues to blindly pursue the path of capitulation on issues of basic Jewish and human rights.

While the e  normous media machine continues to try and brainwash the Israeli public that if an agreement is not signed, no one can begin to imagine the violence that will erupt in this region.

While the American president watches the sand run out of his sand clock and sees the Nobel Prize slipping away from his grasp in a desperate attempt to erase the Monica episode from the records of his time in office .

While the Knesset voted for a new president, one who is proud of his Jewish heritage and will hopefully be able to unify the Nation .

While our northern communities are still uncertain of the security of their future and the SLA continues to pay the price of Barak's betrayal.

While all of this goes on, the Yesha Council continues to send out young people to plaster signs all over the country and to hand out stickers, pamphlets and maps. We continue to carry the load for the preservation of our right as a Jewish people to live in security in the heartland of Israel, to protect the sanctity of our eternal capital, Jerusalem, and keep her united. We continue to struggle for the dignity and mutual responsibility of the Jewish people, one to another, a heritage that does not allow the abandonment of Israeli citizens by their brothers to the "protection" of Arafat. Nor does it allow the brutal uprooting of thousands of men, women, and children from their homes and the wanton destruction of a successful settlement enterprise .

Almost four generations are living today in Yesha. But these communities, these historical sites and holy places, do not only belong to us who live there. They belong to each Jew the world over. It is painful and unthinkable that while the Islamic brotherhood fights together for

Jerusalem, world Jewry remains silent. Now is the time for every Jew to join the battle. This is one of the most crucial times for all of us. Now is the time to be counted, to loudly proclaim that we will not allow Jerusalem to be re-divided. We will not allow Jewish citizens of Israel to be torn from their homes and turned into refugees for the first time since the establishment of the State of Israel. We will not allow Jewish lives to be endangered and abandoned by our own government .

I turn to each of you with a personal plea. If in four years from now you could look back   and   know that  you    spared   no  effort, gave both financially and physically to preserve both Jewish lives and our Land, wouldn 't you willingly do so? I beg you to join us in the struggle for all of us and for the future of the Jewish people . We need your help. We need your support . We shall continue to stand firm and live in Yesha, but we can not do this alone . Each of you must live with  your conscience, knowing that you are doing everything that you can, and even more than that . I know that we are.

With the love of Zion and the firm belief that we shall succeed,

(Yesha Report, July-August 2000)

Yehudit Tayar

Dear Emily:

Saturday evening Amos Ziv phoned me from Israel. He is now taking care of Emek ha Shalom . Due to lack of money he has not yet been able to start his project concerning the education centre for  handicapped people at Emek ha Shalom .

He told me that all remaining literature from Herman and Joseph is saved in boxes

and is placed at Emekha Shalom . He told me also that visitors still are coming to Emekha Shalom questioning about the work of Herman and Joseph.   Amos asked me if I was interested in visiting him at E.h.S. later in the autumn, so I plan to go to E.h.S. in the beginning of November.            All the best and many kind regards, Leif Malmkvist

NO. 522 CONCERNING CONTROVERSY

Today it is a proper appraisal to say that Protestantism is almost dead – the spirit of the Reformers, John Wessel, Martin Luther, John Wesley, et al (all confirmed Protesters) has almost vanished from the earth. In this grouping we may also include Brother Russell, because the “protest” that he began in 1874 and continued to 1916 has almost vanished from the Truth movements. While the Jehovah’s Witnesses do continue the attack upon established systems of religious error, they themselves have become such errorists that it is rank travesty to include them with those genuine reformers - protesters – who manifested “the patience and the faith of the saints.” (Rev. 13:10)

But, with the passing of the spirit of the real protesters there has now come a wide surge of Combinationism. Let us forget our differences, they say, and cooperate against the common enemy now attacking the Church; let us defeat the atheistic rabble now so apparent on every hand. And such a combining is just what we should expect. In the 34th Chapter of Isaiah the Prophet says this: “Yaveh hath wrath against all the nations, and indignation against all their host. He hath devoted them to destruction... and the mountains shall melt away from their blood... the Heavens (the present day prominent religious sects) shall roll up as a scroll.” (See Rev. 6:14) On every hand there is loud acclaim for this “rolling together” as “the unstable and the unlearned” blindly follow their blind leaders – to fall into the ditch. (See Matt. 15:14 “Woe to them that are at ease in Zion.” (Amos 6:1)

THE PRINCE OF PEACE MAKES WAR

In Rev. 19:11‑21 there is a description of the action of this day in which we now live, clearly revealing God’s attitude toward the combining forces of this time. We quote parts of it:

“I saw Heaven opened (the Plan of God made very clear), and behold a white horse (clear spotless doctrine – a “pure language”... Zeph. 3:9); and He who sat on him was called Faithful and True (just another name for the Prince of Peace, a name not used here in order not to conflict with the “war” to be waged), and in righteousness (not for greed, territory, revenge or other selfish interests, but according to the supreme Law of Justice) He Judges and makes war... And He was invested with a mantle dipped in blood (indicating the bloody nature of the present conflict); and His name is called, The Word (The Logos, the spokesman) of God... And out of His mouth proceeds a sharp two‑edged broadsword (to cut asunder error – secular and religious – in whichever way it is wielded), so that with it He may smite the nations... on His mantle and on His thigh a name written, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords (the promise to Jesus’ faithful followers is that they shall be Kings and Priests, and the omnipotent Jesus is to be the King over those Kings, and the Lord over those Lords).” (Diaglott)

Much of this Scripture is also revealed in Mal. 4:1, ‘“‘Behold, the day cometh that shall burn as an oven,” with the accompanying promise that “the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings.” This great and dreadful day is to accomplish two things: “He maketh sore, and bindeth up: He woundeth, and His hands make whole.” (Job 5:18) Clearly enough, it is only by considering both sides of the situation that we shall come to a proper appraisal of our own personal privileges and obligations, if we would be “faithful to the Lord, the Truth, and the Brethren.”

It is directly counseled by the Apostle Paul that we should “follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord” (Heb. 12:14; See also Rom. 14:19 and 2 Tim. 2:22); but the Apostle James limits the words of Paul by his statement in Jas. 3:17, “The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable.” And this principle had been emphasized by Jehu hundreds of years before in 2 Kgs. 9:22, “Is it peace, Jehu? And he answered, What peace, so long as the whoredoms (corrupt teachings and practices) of thy mother Jezebel (typical of the Roman Church – see Rev. 2:20) and her witchcrafts (especially deceptive false teachings) are so many?” But some – even some who have supposedly been schooled in Present Truth – ignore these outstanding and vital exceptions, stressing only peace, and quoting 1 Tim. 3:16 to justify their position, “Without controversy great is the mystery of godliness.” That this text has been badly corrupted by the translators is quite clear when we read it from Dr. Rotherham’s translation: “Confessedly great is the sacred secret of godliness – who was made manifest in the flesh.” This “sacred secret” is further mentioned by St. Paul in Eph. 5:32: “This is a great mystery; but I speak concerning Christ and the Church.” It needs no argument that it has been a “great mystery” all during the Age that Christ is not one member, but many (Christ and the Church – the Head and the Body); it needs no argument that this has been indeed a “great mystery.” (See 1 Tim. 3:16 – Diaglott)

Furthermore, the contention “without controversy” is directly contradicted by such statements as “endure hardness as good soldiers” – “fight the good fight,” etc.; and these statements are also supported by certain Scriptures that apply especially here in the end of the Age – e.g., Isa. 28:17: “The hail (hard cutting Truth) shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters (great floods of Truth) shall overflow the hiding place.” Also, Isa. 41:15, 16: “Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument (the Harvest sickle of Present Truth – See Rev. 14:14 & Berean Comment) having teeth: and thou shalt thresh the mountains (great strong kingdoms), and beat them small, and shall make the hills (democracies and lesser governments) as chaff... and the whirlwind (the great Time of Trouble) shall scatter them.” The greatest “refuge of lies” of all time has been the Papacy, which has counterfeited almost every fundamental truth of the Bible – and especially so, and in very profuse manner, the truth concerning the glorious Kingdom reign of Christ and the Church.

It is a very easy matter to reach hasty, but erroneous, conclusion from reading just one Scripture; and such is true of those who conclude that “without controversy” means we should follow peace at any price. Old Testament precedent directly contradicts it, as can be seen from the prophets who “waxed valiant in fight... were tortured... were stoned, they were sawn asunder... slain with the sword.” (Heb. 11:34-38) All of their time – particularly these outrages occurred because the prophets exposed the evils of teaching and practice – particularly, the evils of the religious leaders of their time. Note specifically 2 Chr. 24:19‑21: “God sent prophets to them, they testified against them... the spirit of God came upon Zechariah... Thus saith God, Why transgress ye the commandments of the Lord?... Because ye have forsaken the Lord, He hath also forsaken you. And they conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the King.” Many who were one time in the forefront of the Harvest battle now seem to feel that the laurels gained in the past will suffice to bring them to the Heavenly Canaan; but the entire record decries such an attitude. Of Jeremiah, Isaiah, Zechariah, Jesus, the Apostles, and the multitude of Gospel‑Age martyrs, the sublime report is that they died with their boots on – “faithful unto death.” Those people today who advocate the preaching only of winsome truths – giving no offense to any one – can scarcely be classified as “enduring hardness as good soldiers of Jesus Christ” – nor will they eventually be in the same record book with those who have done so – the fully faithful. We consider it a truthful observation that none can be faithful to Present Truth without contending for that Truth. “Earnestly contend for the faith (the Truth) which was once delivered to the saints.” (Jude 3)

WHO MAY ENDURE THE DAY OF HIS COMING?

Behold Me! sending My Messenger... But who may endure the day of His coming? And who is he that can stand when He appeareth (maketh manifest)? For He is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ alkali; Therefore He will sit as a refiner and purifier (polisher) of silver, and will purify (polish, develop) the sons of Levi (primarily the Little Flock and the Great Company), And shall smelt them as gold and as silver; So shall they belong to Yaveh, offering a gift in righteousness.” (Mal. 3:1‑3, Rotherham) These texts are undoubtedly prophetic of Jesus’ Second Advent; and they itemize some of the things He would accomplish at that time. It is stated that He will be (1) like a refiner’s fire; (2) like fullers’ alkali; (3) sit as a refiner and purifier (polisher) of silver (the Truth); (4) purify (thoroly polish, develop) the sons of Levi, so they may (5) offer a gift in righteousness.

Our concern in this writing will be mainly with No. 3 above: A refiner and polisher of silver. It needs no argument that literal silver is not here meant. Quite clearly it means the Truth. All who are familiar with the facts know only too well that the Lord did refine the Truth since 1874, by separating from it the conglomeration of error that had attached to it during the interim from His First Advent. And not only so, once the error was eliminated, a great polishing work was done with the then refined Truth, giving it a brilliance that made it a thing of real beauty to all who were “of the Truth.” This was true not only of religious Truth, but also applied with great force to secular truth. The “unclean spirits” (teachings) of the Divine Right of Kings, Clergy, Aristocracy and Labor have been mercilessly exposed, so that today in the more enlightened countries very few still cling to the doctrine that “The King can do no wrong,” or that the preachers and priests can consign to eternal torment all who do not “hear” them. “Truth shall spring out of the earth (the organized social order); and righteousness (the Holy Spirit will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment – Jn. 16:8) shall look down from Heaven.” (Psa. 85:11)

But just as human agents waged battle against secular error, so human agents were also used of the Lord as He “looked down from Heaven.” These human beings were that group that wielded the sickle of Harvest Truth, chief of whom was Brother Russell. He not only put the “ink” into the “inkhorn” (Ezek. 9:2) for all to use, but he himself was foremost of the antitypical “three hundred” who waged antitypical Gideon’s battle against the hosts of antltypical Midian (religious errorists – Judges, Chapter 7). Of course, there was much of turmoil and great controversy in all this, with the victory surely coming to those who held to the polished brilliant Truth on the state of the dead, etc. This victory had become so pronounced that toward the end of Brother Russell’s life one secular writer offered this quatrain:

There is a man in our town

Whose name I need not tell;

I am sure you all must know him,

For he put the fires out of Hell!

As was the case with David, Brother Russell was very much a man of war – always in the forefront of some battle somewhere. One brother once said to him, Brother Russell, you are the most loved man on earth. To which Brother Russell replied, Yes and the most hated! But we believe it is a fair appraisal to conclude that those who knew him well, would certainly classify him as a genteel man – a man who would much prefer peace to war. It has indeed been a great Gospel‑Age paradox that the “sons of peace” led by the Son of Peace – have been in almost continuous battle; and many of such have done so contrary to their inherited dispositions. Many of them would have followed a more peaceful path had they been allowed to do the choosing; yet they had forced themselves to be “good soldiers” as duty had appeared to them.

Theirs not to make reply;

Theirs not to question Why;

Theirs but to do and die!

And for many of them, and especially so as respects Brother Russell, we believe the words of the great Shakespeare are most apt:

His life was gentle, and the elements so mixed in him

That Nature might stand up and say to all the world

THIS WAS A MAN!

To do any task well, there must first of all be the knowledge to do; then the will to do; then the tools wherewith to do; then the capacity to do; and finally the providential circumstances to do (the physical, mental and financial strength). This is very well summed up by St. Paul in 2 Tim. 3:15‑17, Dia.: “From a child thou hast known those Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise for Salvation, thru that faith which is in Jesus Christ. All Scripture, divinely inspired, is indeed profitable for teaching (doctrine – what we should believe), for refuting (error – that which we should not believe), for correction (that which we should not do), for that discipline which is in righteousness (that which we should do); so that the Man of God may be complete thoroly fitted for every good work.” Usually it is by controversy that the clear untainted truth is established; and this has been especially true here in the end of the Age. Thus, the prophecy of Malachi forcefully applies: “He (Jesus) shall sit as a refiner and a polisher (developer) of the Truth.”

And those who clamor for peace without first having purity, those who have faulted Brother Russell and others for engaging in controversy, such have in effect been finding fault with our Lord Himself; because this controversy – this polishing, this developing – of the Truth is specifically one of the outstanding activities of His Second Advent, It is this “polishing” of the Truth that has directly resulted in “polishing, developing” the Sons of Levi. And the reason the Sons of Levi must be so developed is that “they may make an offering in righteousness” unto the Lord. Until all such have come into Present Truth, to appropriate the Truth from the table the Lord has provided for His people at this time, no activity on their part can be acceptable to the Lord regardless of any outward appearance of prosperity they may have. Jesus said one of His primary purposes at His first Advent was “To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the Truth.” (John 18:37) And, Just as the Truth at that time “brought life and immortality to light,” so in His second Advent “the hail (hard cutting Truth) shall sweep away the refuge of lies.” Note the Berean Comment on John 18:37: “It was this ‘good confession before Pilate’ that cost our Lord His life.”

SOME CORROBORATING CITATIONS

The following is something on this subject from Brother Russell: “Having put on the whole armour of God, and boldly withstood error by a clear and fearless presentation and defense of the Truth during this evil day, when giant errors stalk about, the saints are exhorted, ‘Having done all, to stand,’ clad in the full armour, with the sword of the Spirit ever ready for defense, and with watchfulness and perseverance and prayer for all saints.” (Vol. 3, p. 212) “And suffering with Christ, we have seen, is not the ordinary suffering common to all in the fallen state, but only such sufferings as are the results, more or less directly, of the following of Christ’s example, in advocating unpopular truths and exposing popular errors.” (Vol. 3, p. 209)

In the face of such clear statements by Brother Russell, it seems ridiculous in the extreme for any to decry controversy, and yet claim they are fully faithful to the Harvest Truth and That Servant’s teachings. Indeed, he was fully alerted to the fact that one of our Lord’s outstanding Second‑Advent works would be the “polishing developing” of the Truth; and those who do not understand this are Just that much out of Present Truth.

And more from Brother Russell in Vol. 2, pp. 236, 237: “As there (in the Jewish Harvest) the Truth set the father against the son, the daughter against the mother, and the mother‑in‑law against the daughter‑in‑law, so again, a man’s foes are often they of his own household. This cannot be avoided. They who love peace more than the Truth will be tested, and they who love truth supremely will be accepted as the overcomers, as in the Jewish Harvest... As we should expect, we find it here: the blindest are the leaders of the blind, who, like their types, Know not the time of their visitation.” (Luke 19:44)

Now follows something from Reprints 5546, 5547: “Today, as in Jesus’ time, many are influenced by the false teachings of those to whom they have been accustomed to look as their spiritual shepherds. If then the world should come to be in sympathy with us as a people, and should speak well of us, and we should become popular, we should come under the condemnation expressed in the Master’s words, ‘Woe unto you when all men speak well of you; for so did their fathers unto the false prophets’... There are all manner of evil forces and influences surrounding us. These evil influences are of Satan and the fallen angels... As we look back, we can see that all who have walked in the narrow way have received persecution. Whoever has been in accord with God has been out of accord with the course of this world. There were the Baptists, and then the Methodists, who in the early days had persecution because they had had more light than others. The Presbyterians also for a time, because they had had greater light than others, received persecution (from their former brethren, as was the case of our Lord and others – JJH). And we must expect the same today. Persecution will come to those who have the courage of their convictions. The Lord tells us that the anointing that we have received of Him is for the very purpose that we may show forth His praises.”

In 2 Tim. 3:12 we are told, “All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” The only way such persecution may come is by “a good confession” of the Truth. Regardless of how much Truth we may know, if we do not sound forth the “trumpet,” nobody will bother us.

All of the foregoing is quite in harmony with St. Paul’s words in Rom. 12:2: “Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed (changed in disposition, and the like) by the renewing of your mind (with Present Truth), that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Clearly enough, the great Apostle was a “non‑conformist” – “beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.” (Acts 26:24) As Mark Twain has so ably stated, “If we find ourselves on the side of the majority, it’s time to reform.” But in all of this it is well that we retain “the spirit of a sound mind: and, that we consider well the Apostle’s words to his beloved Philippians, 2:3, Dia.: “Do nothing from party‑spirit (Sectarianism) or vainglory... not each one regarding his own interests, but each one also those of others.” This same point was impressed upon the Jews immediately after they were delivered from Egyptian bondage: “Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil (in sectarian blindness, or do‑nothing complacency).” (Ex. 23:2)

To be a “good soldier” one must have courage and combativeness ‑ not a good runner, but a good fighter. And, while “the weapons of our warfare are not carnal,” many of God’s people thruout the Age have willingly answered the call to battle with “the sword of the spirit, which is the Word of God.” (Eph. 6:17, Dia.) The Adversary, ever seeking whom he may devour – and being a shrewd appraiser of human frailty – was quick to discern that many would face lions in the Roman arena, rather than forsake the “good fight.” Consequently, he aroused their combativeness against each other, with both sides on occasion being in error; yet contending so strenuously for their error that they destroyed each other. This mistake we should studiously and determinedly avoid, giving heed to the prophet’s words, “In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength.” (Isa. 30:15) We should ever bear in mind it is not characteristic of the Lord’s true people to wish destruction upon the gainsayers (Luke 9:53‑55); but to recover them if possible from their “path of error.” (Jas. 5:20, Dia.)

2 Tim. 2:25,26 (Dia.) offers excellent complement to the foregoing “In meekness correcting the opposers; perhaps God may give them a change of mind in order to a knowledge of the Truth; and that they may be recovered from the snare of the enemy.” Those of us who were not ‘born in the Truth’ know by experience that at one time we had no ear for it; but Got eventually gave us “a change of mind... to a knowledge of the Truth.” Thus, there may Be some today who occupy our identical position before receiving this “change of mind”; so time and instruction may eventually cause them to receive it. This thought should always be in our mind as we appraise those who do not hear us now; they may hear us next year if we give them courteous and generous treatment.

Early in the 20th Century a few prominent preachers were alerted to the peace‑at-any‑price disposition already then appearing in some. Said one of them: “When Christianity disposes wholly with controversy it will be like a sleeping man – harmless and helpless; it will be a sad spectacle... Controversy was the life of Paul’s works polite controversy, brotherly controversy; but strong in exposing error and building up the Truth. The Epistles were full of controversy. Moreover, many of Christ’s sayings were strictly controversial.” It is plainly evident that many who attend services in the various sects, and claiming to be “in the Truth” do no more about it than attend meetings. They have a nice place to “go to church.”

We now offer one more quotation from Brother Russell, found in Parousia Volume 2, pp. 358, 359: “In 2 Thes. 2:8‑12 the Apostle Paul declares concerning Antichrist: ‘Whom the Lord Jesus will consume with the spirit of His mouth, and annihilate with the bright shining (Epiphaneia) of His presence (Parousia).’ The light of truth is to penetrate every subject. By exposing rights and wrongs it will lead into the great struggle between these principles, and between the human exponents of each, causing the time of trouble and wrath. In this struggle, wrong and evil shall fall, and right and truth shall triumph. Among other evils now to be finally and utterly destroyed is Antichrist, with which nearly every evil, or theory and practice, is more directly connected. And it will be this bright‑shining (Epiphaneia), this sunlight from the Lord’s presence, which will produce the day of trouble, because of and in which Antichrist, with every other evil system, will be destroyed. ‘Whose presence is with (accompanied by or during) an energetic operation of Satan (Satanic energy and action) with all power, and signs, and lying delusions, and with every iniquitous deception for those perishing; because they did not receive the love of the truth that they might be preserved. And for this reason God will send to them a deluding power, that they might believe the error (which is pronouncedly true of those who have had Parousia Truth and now contend for “peace and tranquility” instead of contending for the Truth – a manifest Truth that they received it NOT in the love of it – JJH): so that all not believing the truth, but taking pleasure in iniquity, may be judged unworthy to share the Millennial Kingdom as joint heirs with Christ.

“We understand these words to imply that in the time of the Lord’s presence (since 1874), through this Antichrist system (one of the principal of Satan’s agencies for deceiving and controlling the world), as well as through all his other agencies (including those who are in Azazel’s clutches – JJH), the devil will make a most desperate resistance to the new order of things about to be established. He will take advantage of every little circumstance, and all the inherited weaknesses and selfishness of the human family, to enlist their hearts and hands and pens in this final struggle against liberty and the full elucidation of the truth. Prejudices will be enkindled where, if the truth were clearly seen, none would exist; and passionate zeal will be evoked, and partisan unions formed, which will deceive and mislead many (beginning at the House of the Lord among the Truth groups – JJH)

“And this will be so, not because God has not made the truth clear enough to guide all the fully consecrated, but because those who will be deceived were not sufficiently in earnest in seeking out and using the truth provided as meat in due season. And thus it will be manifested that the class misled received not the truth in the love of it, but rather through custom, formality or fear.” (The revealing is in this Epiphany. The Berean Comment on 2 Thes. 2:11 – “Great delusions are just before us, and some of these may come closest upon those possessing the most Light of Present Truth.” – JJH)

To which the words of St. Paul may be added: “Praying at every season... on my behalf, that eloquence may be given me... to make known the secret of the Glad Tidings... that I may speak boldly concerning it... Peace to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. The favor be with all who sincerely love our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Eph. 6:18‑23, Dia.)

Sincerely your brother, John J. Hoefle, Pilgrim

This is a reprint of No. 359, published in July 1985

QUESTION OF GENERAL INTEREST

QUESTION - Are Consecrated Epiphany Campers represented in any way in Noah 's Ark?

ANSWER - No ! And it would be essential for them to be shown in the Ark in some clear manner if they are a genuine class, because that Ark is a “Type of Christ” and the power in Him which will replenish and reorganize society." (See Gen . 6:19 - Berean Comment) In   other words, the Ark  portrays  the  embodiment  of   God's Plan. (Nor does Noah' s Ark  portray  the Jehovah's Witnesses’ Jonadabs, or  any   of their  earthly "Organization" that will allegedly survive Armageddon .)

In elaborating this statement Brother Johnson gives us this in E-5-62 (59): "It will be noticed that there were four human pairs who went into the Ark, as well as at least one pair of every clean and unclean kind of animals. We know that there are four elective classes who in this life obtain a good report through faith in the Abrahamic Covenant : (1) The Christ, (2) the Ancient Worthies, (3) the Great Company, and (4) the Youthful Worthies. Noah undoubtedly types our Lord, who is the Heir of righteousness which comes to us by faith (Heb. 11:7). These classes we understand to be typed in their respective order by Noah and his wife, Shem and his wife, Japheth and his wife and Ham and his wife, the males apart from Noah representing all the leaders of their respective classes, and the females the rest of these classes . We understand the animals in the Ark to represent the non-elect who will ultimately be saved. We understand the clean animals to represent the Jews, as typically clean, who will be saved, and the Tentatively Justified as tentatively clean, who will be saved.    The unclean animals we understand represent those of the present unclean world who will be saved; while those who perished in the Flood we understand to represent from one viewpoint those who have perished under the Adamic curse, and from another standpoint, the movements and systems of Satan's Empire and the Second Death Class. Just as in the type the clean and the unclean animals occupied altogether different positions in the Ark from those of Noah and his family, so in the antitype, the Jews and the Tentatively Justified on the one hand, and the prospectively saved of the rest of mankind on the other hand, are quite differently related to the   Abrahamic Covenant from antitypical Noah and his family. These animals were placed in the Ark to type that anticipatorily their antitypes would be included in the Abrahamic Covenant ."

 From the foregoing, it is clear enough that the clean animals typed the quasi-elect those "truly repentant and believing, but not consecrated, Jews and Gentiles. "  (See E-10-209) They are those who have "adhered to righteousness " and who accept Christ as their Savior - anticipatorily in the Jewish Age, and actually so during the Gospel Age . Note we have emphasized the words "adhered to righteousness," because this feature of the quasi-elect is definitely portrayed in the clean animals by all of them having the split or divided hoof, such hoofs typifying that their conduct has been acceptable to God and to man - they have practiced righteousness - have made "straight paths for their feet" adhered to the Mosaic law to the extent of their ability (even perhaps more so than the "measurably faithful" Great Company Class, and the "measurably faithful" of the Youthful Worthies - although "adherence to righteousness" does not admit the quasi-elect as one of the fully elect classes) . Thus, it is apparent that the quasi-elect are clearly shown in the Ark; and it is equally apparent that the same Ark is completely silent about a consecrated segment of this class at any time during the Gospel Age in the embodiment of God's Plan. Clearly enough, a consecrated division of the quasi-elect is an Azazelian perversion by un-cleansed Levite leaders - whether they be designated Epiphany Campers Consecrated, Quasi-elect Consecrated or Jonadabs. It is an arbitrary addition to "that which is written," and without Scriptural foundation in the Ark, which reveals the "Whole counsel of God" in its generalized features - emphasizing the same six classes as are found in Joel 2:28,29, but no more .

When the LHMM tells us that their Campers Consecrated are so much like the Youthful Worthies that they can hardly tell the difference, we would present the logical question respecting the type :    Did Noah and family have any difficulty whatever in noting the difference between themselves and the clean animals in the Ark?      (By John J. Hoefle)

LETTER OF GENERAL INTEREST

Dearest Sister Hoefle,           

Shalom through our mighty Prince of Peace, who will vanquish one by one all enemies of His Kingdom of Righteousness!

Whenever I'm down in the dumps, I watch and listen to "Jerusalem Mosaic, Sounds of Zion" the video you sent me. And, it lifts me above my troubles and up to a higher plane. So, you see, Emily, your gift is one that keeps on giving . My sincere thanks I send to you for blessing me in this way!

Do you think our next V.P. will be an orthodox Jew, only a  heartbeat away from the presidency? I guess the anti-Semites are outraged, I'm absolutely delighted that you persuaded Gary Cooperberg to put me on the non­computerized mailing list. My favorite Jewish writer, he possesses a heroic faith like unto that of worthy ones in O.T. times. He loves his God and his country passionately, and he zealously and candidly delivers wise prognostications for his government re its self-destructive  course.

Now, I  want you  to  pretend that there is a modern-day Ezekiel, and that the following message proceed from his mouth in the Hebrew language :

"The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob hath spoken unto me, and these words gave He me to say unto you, Mr . Prime Minister (Barak).

"Because thou hast forsaken the God of thy salvation and hast leaned heavily upon the arm of flesh, and do take counsel with the heathen King of the West, and because thou givest away thine INHERITANCE, as did Essau to Jacob for a bowl of pottage, God's wrath is kindled against thee .

"Because thou rememberest not the covenant He made with thy father, Abraham, concerning the land which He gave unto him and unto his seed as an everlasting possession, and because ye shun the Commandments He gave unto Moses at Sinai, god shall lay waste the plans ye divise for peace.

"And, if ye repent not, thine enemies He will restrain not. They  shall swoop down upon thee as an eagle falls on its prey, and  thou shalt be devoured! The land itself  will lament and mourn its dead, for the bodies of thy kinsmen will be strewn from one end to the other -heaps of carcasses - too many to bury, and not a soul yet living to do the burying thereof. The bones, picked clean by buzzards, shall lie on the desert floor, a lasting testament to thy treasonous acts toward thy God and toward thine own people .

"Give heed to this warning from the Almighty One, and He will spare thee what from His hand befell Rabin. Worship with a contrite heart thy Creator, and ask His forgiveness for thy conceit aftd thy vainglory . Seek the wisdom of the faithful ones in thy land and the will of Him who led the Issraelit.es out of Egyptian bondage . Conform thyself to the Divine plan to make Jerusalem the glorious centerpiece for Messiah•s Kingdom of Righteousness - from which life-giving blessings will flow out to every nation and to every family on earth (Micah 1:1-4)."

How do you like my scenario, Emily?  Is there a  modern-day Ezekiel on today's scene?

No one I spoke to at I.O. could intelligently address this topic . I need your assistance in compiling all Pastor Russell's comments about Youth Worthies.

Christian love, ... (NORTH CAROLINA)