NO. 531 ISRAEL IN RETROSPECT

The scientific achievements of this nation continue to evoke our admiration. The Space Shuttles have again performed with great precision. The miles they travel in such short time we would have considered impossible as little as twenty-five years ago; and their entire performance is a great tribute to the scientific ability of the men who operate them.

Some months back a newspaper columnist headed his column article with these words: "Israel an exciting nation with its high technology and modern industry." And here is part of what he wrote: "I will never forget the emotion I felt the afternoon I crossed the Allenby Bridge from Jordan and first set foot in Israel. It was an almost mystical experience, and I'm neither Jewish nor particularly religious. But there is an excitement in the very air, and you can feel the vibrant life and energy all around you. The country literally hums and has an aura.

"Israel’s birthday always is a happy occasion. If you are ever in need of having your faith in miracles restored, hop on a plane and visit Israel where miracles still occur on a daily basis. This is the Israel where there are 50,000 engineers doing innovative research and scoring breakthroughs in everything from telephone systems to solar energy to cancer research to computerized irrigation systems.

It is indeed inspiring to note that Jewish scientific minds have transformed large parts of Palestine from a pile of sand to a flourishing Garden of Eden. For three thousand years the Arabs sat on that sand, and did nothing to improve it; but, now that the Jews have performed many wonders with it, they want it. Thus, the attacks on Israel continue to increase; but little do they realize with whom they are dealing. The Prophetic Page had recorded these events some thousands of years ago; and those statements were read by many devout Christian believers as interesting reading matter, and that was all. Now those writings have become living reality - humanly speaking, by the tremendous surge in scientific process.

IN RELIGION

In this faith controversy, as was true of so many of the reformers, they clearly saw the error in their opponents, but they were much off the truth on their own subject so that their opponents made them look equally ridiculous. St. Paul tells us in the text in Romans 10:17: "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." From this Scripture it should be clear enough that we should have a moving faith before we can offer any acceptable work to God; but without such a faith, it is dead; because the faith of such a person has not become vitalized sufficiently to motivate activity in acceptable works.

AGAIN, WE MENTION ISRAEL

In this connection we have a booklet written by a woman on MODERN ISRAEL - FULFILLMENT OF PROPHECY; and we offer some material from that booklet because we feel it has a direct bearing on much that is going on there:

"Why is it, I used to ask myself, that when prophecy was being fulfilled, people never seemed to recognize it? Today in Israel, however, the evidence of prophetic fulfillment is overwhelming. Events are taking place which confirm the Bible 's prophecies of the return of the Jewish people to their ancient homeland, and of what would happen to the land and the people when they returned.

"In a seemingly spontaneous movement, they have come home to build a new nation on the foundations of the past. After 2,000 years, the Jews in Palestine all learn to speak their ancient Hebrew language for use in the modern world.

"'For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out from all countries, and bring you into your own land, and a new heart will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and do them, and ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people and I will be your God.' (Ezek. 36:24,26,28).

"When a new independent state of Israel was created from a portion of Palestine, Leon Keyserling, economic advisor to President Truman, stated, 'Israel, relative to its size and resources, has rescued more victims of tyranny, sheltered and fed more people, provided more jobs, developed more medical facilities than any other nation in history ancient or modern.’

"Jesus Christ, the Savior of the Christian faith and the greatest teacher that the world has ever known, was a Jew. Asked how the thirteen American colonies were formed into a democratic republic such as had never been before, Thomas Jefferson replied that it was copied from the social organization laid down by Moses in the wilderness. Thus the ancient Jews provided the blueprint for the United States of America.

"Moses issued a decree that when a father died, daughters were to have equal rights of inheritance with sons. This established greater respect for women in Biblical times and through the ages.

"Development of serums to do away with the curse of polio and the blindness of trachoma, are among their recent contributions. Jews are among our greatest scientists, writers, scholars and physicians.

"The Balfour Declaration of 1917 was Britain's recognition of the Jews' right to their homeland in Palestine. In 1923 the League of Nations gave Great Britain the Mandate 'to facilitate in the establishment of a Jewish National Homeland. ' But Great Britain soon decided that she did not want this new progressive movement in Palestine to upset the status quo in which she ruled through the princes of India, the pashas of Egypt and the effendi of the Middle East as they exploited the masses. She partitioned off four­ fifths of the Jewish National Homeland and set up Jordan as an Arab kingdom under Sheikh Abdullah. In the 10,000 square miles west of the Jordan River left for the Jews, she exercised a divide-and-rule policy and continually obstructed Jewish development.

"The final tragedy was brought on by Britain 's 'White Paper,' which in 1939 forbad all further Jewish immigration into Palestine on the basis that there was 'no further economic absorptive capacity for the Jews. ' Thus the British shut and padlocked the doors of Palestine during the dark years of Hitler's extermination policy, cutting off the only place in the world where the Jews could go by right. Those who entered during the 1940s came illegally, spirited into the country by their brethren in the night, and absorbed into the homes of Jewish Palestinians.

"Great Britain decided, however, that her interests lay with the large Middle Eastern Arab countries and their vast oil fields. She repudiated her obligations to the Jews. The British Ambassador to Washington at the time stated, 'There are times when moral obligations must give way to political expediency. ' This 'political expediency' brought down on the British Empire the same curse that befell all other nations who had mistreated the Jews. Britain' s colonies broke away, and we have seen her stripped of her possessions, prestige and riches, and left a small, poor little island struggling with massive problems.

"Britain armed the Arabs and allowed armies of neighboring Arab nations to come in and occupy 70 military fortresses as she vacated them. Meanwhile she had thoroughly disarmed the Jews. They were to be 'driven into the sea' by combined Arab armies. The new nation was to be stillborn. Then the God of Israel took over and miraculously gave the lusty newborn nation stunning victories.

"The Arabs did not accept Israel's existence. In 1956 they again prepared for war, this time with air runways in Sinai which brought in Russian arms and volunteers to assure the total defeat of Israel. But again the God of Israel gave a stunning victory to His people, although President Eisenhower caused a cease-fire just before the Jews reached Suez, forcing them to withdraw. Along with them, however, the Jews brought back about a billion dollars' worth of Russian and Egyptian equipment, and the promised use of the Gulf of Agaba and the Suez Canal.

"Israel's enemies then sold their souls to Russia for equipment for another attempt to defeat Israel. They mortgaged the cotton crops of generations to come and allowed their ports to be taken over by the Russians in return for military supplies. Again the God of Israel tried to show the enemies of Israel that the return of the Jews to their promised homeland was a part of His plan to bring about a better way of life for the masses of exploited farmers of the Middle East through Israeli example and technical assistance. The 1967 six-day war proved to be the most stunning victory of all history, one that will be studied by military experts for years to come.

"The enemies of Israel still refuse to accept Israel's victories and are openly planning her destruction. In reality, they are creating situations which will only bring about more trouble for their own peoples, for they are fighting not only against Israel, but against the God of Israel. Perhaps the outcome of these conflicts was intended to show the enemies of Israel that God is still the Jehovah of Israel and that the return of the Jews to Palestine is part of His plan. If God is for a thing, who can stand against it? Had other nations recognized this fact, there would have been no battles, no Arab refugees, no humiliating defeats and bitter hatreds. Instead, Israel would have spent more energies on land reclamation, on a TVA for the Jordan River and on progress in all fields of endeavor that would have been an example and benefit for all the peoples of the Middle East.

"Israel is the success story of all the emerging nations. She did what no other nation in the history of the world has done - she doubled her population in four years and at the same time reclaimed worn-out lands to increase production, keeping pace with her increasing population. Israel now produces the bulk of her food needs, and she already exports enough agricultural products to pay for the food she imports, such as tea, coffee, hard wheat and some meats. The details of Israel's progress and industry are an inspiration and an example for the world.

"No nation in history has ever treated her defeated enemies as Israel has treated the Arabs. In none of her wars has Israel demonstrated any boasting, gloating, looting or raping after her stunning victories. Rather, the Israelis provided tens of thousands of loaves of bread and cartons of milk for the besieged Arabs in Jerusalem and certain other cities. They cared for Arabs wounded in Israeli hospitals, and immediately implemented vaccination programs for all Arab children against polio and trachoma.

"And what does the Bible say about the neglected and long-eroded mountains? 'But ye, 0 mountains of Israel, ye shall shoot forth your branches, and yield your fruit to my people of Israel; for they are at hand to come. For, behold, I am for you, and ye shall be tilled and sown: and I will multiply men upon you, all the house of Israel, and the cities shall be inhabited, and the wastes all be builded: and I will multiply upon you man and beast; and they shall increase and bring forth fruit; and I will settle you after your old estates, and will do better for you than in your beginnings: and ye shall know that I am, the Lord. Yea, I will cause men to walk upon you, even my people Israel; and they shall possess you, and thou shalt be their inheritance.’ (Ezek. 36:8-12)

"How could the mountains be better than in their beginning, before at least three feet of soil had eroded off all the mountains of Judea and Galilee?  The soil had been devastated for centuries.  Fortunately the hills are of limestone and are shot through with solution pockets which retain the ancient fertile terra rosa, the famed red soil of the Holy Land.  The roots of planted trees seek out these soil pockets and trees grow beautifully today. By 1975 the Jewish National Fund, Israel's official land reclamation agency, reported that the Jews of Israel have planted 140 million trees!  Many of the forests have already transformed the barren hills into green emeralds on the landscape.

"Water formerly sank completely underground in the limestone hills, flowed steeply downhill and emerged far out onto the floor of the Mediterranean Sea. Israeli geologists discovered that by sinking deep wells immediately at the foot of the mountains they could tap this Turonian water aquifer (the permeable material which carried underground water) and pump water to the surface in abundance, Thus the very mountains are productive, with vineyards and orchards on the reconstructed terraces, cities and towns rebuilt and waste lands too rocky for grazing or farming turned into green forests 'shooting forth their branches.' The United States and the Middle East should have an added Eleventh Commandment concerning man 's responsibility to the Holy Earth, something like this: 'Thou shalt inherit the Holy Earth as a faithful steward, conserving its productivity and resources from generation to generation. Thou shalt safeguard thy fields from soil erosion, thy living waters from drying up, thy forests from desolation, and protect the hills from over grazing by thy herds, that thy descendants may have abundance forever. If any shall fail in this good stewardship of the earth, thy fruitful fields shall become sterile, stony ground or wasting gullies, and thy descendants shall decrease and live in poverty, or perish from off the face of the earth.

"The people of Israel took this challenge from the very beginning. The visitor today finds an Israel well on the way to restoring the Holy Land to its ancient fertility. Her people combine this ambition with an ever-constant search for peace. While so doing, they work toward the fulfillment of this Bible prophecy: 'And I will make them a covenant of peace, and I will make them and the places around my hill a blessing. And the tree of the field shall yield her fruit and the earth shall yield her increase, and they shall be safe in their land and shall know that I am the Lord. '"

The above was written some years before 1982; consequently, no mention could be made of the smashing victory the Jews gained in Lebanon in the summer of 1982. However, that victory was incomplete because our President commanded the Jews to refrain from the clean­ up that should have been made at that time. Therefore, we now have the devastating uproar in that country. It is our opinion that our President did not wish to restrain the Jews because of any animosity toward them; it was probably an honest mistake - doubtless prompted by what then seemed to be political expediency. But we rest in the calm assurance that in spite of some colossal blunders, we have "the sure word of prophecy" that Israel shall eventually prevail.

With the outbreak of the Great War of 1914, the Gentile Halo began to fade, and is becoming increasingly obscured with each passing year until these Gentile nations will be completely obliterated, as was true of the Jewish nation in the year A.D. 70 when the Romans broke down the walls of Jerusalem, leveled the Temple to the ground, and dispersed the Jew to all corners of the civilized world. Now, just the reverse is occurring: The Jews are being regathered into the Land from every far-distant point to which they were scattered in the year A.D. 70. Thus, the prophecies herein cited are having a fulfillment, which is plainly visible to all who have an eye for the Truth on the subject. And much more is yet to come!  "Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle." (Zech. 14:3)

Now we offer some Biblical prophecy clearly foretelling this performance: "The heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll" (Isa. 34:4) The heavens in this text refer to our present-day church systems - reconciling their differences for the sake of peace. This union would have been considered impossible a hundred years ago; but the disturbed condition of the world today is causing many to decide that union is the best price of safety. Of course, the clear Bible teaching is opposed to such a thought. Again from the Apostle Paul: "There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all." (Eph. 4:5,6)

Isaiah 34:4 tells us that "the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth from the vine." And Revelations 6:14 says, "The heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain [strong Gentile governments] and island [republican governments, such as the U.S. and Great Britain] were moved out of their places [be dissolved by the anarchistic masses as a millstone cast into the sea (the lawless elements of society)]."

"Then thou shalt remember thy ways, and be ashamed, when thou shalt receive thy sisters [the Gentile nations] … and I will give them unto thee for daughters  [the Gentiles are to be instructed and blessed], but not by thy covenant [by the New Covenant - Jer. 31:31]. And I will establish my covenant with thee; and thou shalt know that I am the Lord." (Ezek. 16:61,62)

The Gentile nations will be blessed through the Jews, as the Kingdom will be Israelitish.  Now one nation out of every four is at war with someone else; but we have the strong assurance that all this will be completely reversed in the approaching Kingdom. "They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more." (Isa. 2:4)

A pamphlet giving much detail about Jerusalem, ends by saying, "This is the Jerusalem of today - the capital of Israel. This will be the Jerusalem of tomorrow."

We add to the above, Jerusalem will be the capital of the world in the Kingdom, when the New Covenant is made with Israel.

(This was written by John J. Hoefle in 1984)

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THE HARVEST WORK

"Were it not that the Lord has favored us with a share in the work of gathering out the Bride and helping to make her ready for the marriage of the Lamb, we would be in Jerusalem and, by the grace of God, would do a part in the great work now due of turning away blindness from Jacob (Rom. 11:25)." (Reprint 1395, column 2, par. 3) See expanded comments on Isaiah 40:2 and Romans 11:25.

That Servant knew that Psalms 50:5 was given to him and he would not forsake that work as long as he lived: "Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice." The Gospel-Age Harvest was the only time the saints were gathered together. All through the Gospel Age they were not together, especially so during the dark ages and on up to the beginning of the Gospel Age Harvest, but were scattered here and there. They were gathered mainly from Babylon, but some who were outside Babylon, were also gathered under That Servant into one unit.

He also gave three ways in which the closing of the door to the High Calling would be indicated in Volume 3, pages 207 and 208: "First, by a definite Bible statement of the exact date [That Servant didn’t know until Bible Chronology gave him the date that the Kingdom was set up September 21, 1914.]; second, 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 . 6:17) would no longer be possible; or third, by such a condition of affairs obtaining in the world that all opportunity for such service would be effectually obstructed, thus leaving no opportunities for candidates to enter into such a work and to develop and prove their love and faithfulness by their activity and endurance.”

The second and third conditions now occurring would surely indicate that the work of gathering the saints is over. And the first is proved by Bible Chronology, Reprint 5632. Of course some Bible students would say the Bible Chronology just gives 1914, and That Servant said in 1916 that the door was still open, which he did, but there was a gleaning that took place before That Servant died October 16, 1916. He was on a Pullman train in Texas, with one of his final statements being "I have done as thou hast commanded me."  (Ezek. 9:11)

Yes, 1914 is particularly marked in Bible Chronology as the end of the Gentile Times. When the stone had been cut out of the mountain September 21, 1914 all saints were sealed in the heart but not in the forehead. As each country became involved in World War One, the Saints of that country were sealed in the forehead - came to an intellectual understanding of the Truth - and all were sealed by 1916.  In reprint 5632, top of page That Servant also tells us that the Smiting was going on in 1915.

In Volume 3, top of page 48 Brother Russell said, "But 1799 was only the beginning of the period known as the Time of the End, within limits of which every vestige of that system [Papacy] shall pass away."

We are still in the Time of the End, and the Time of Trouble will witness the destruction of all systems of error. The Epiphaneia (Epiphany) is the last period of the Gospel Age. During that time "The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again. " (Isa. 24:20) But Israel shall arise and shine (Isa. 60:1,3).

The Time of the End, the Time of Trouble and the Epiphany all end at the same time. When one ends the other two will end.

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"U.S. PRESIDENTS SPEAK ON ISRAEL: John F. Kennedy, said that 'in the prophetic spirit of Zionism, all free men today look to a better world, and in the experience of Zionism, we know that it takes dedication and perseverance to achieve it.' Warren G. Harding (1921): 'It is impossible for one who has studied the services of the Hebrew people to avoid the faith that they will one day be restored to their historic national home.' Harry Truman: 'I had faith in Israel before it was established, I have faith in it now.  I believe it has a glorious future not just as another … future nation, but as an embodiment of the great ideals of our civilization.' Herbert Hoover said in  (1928): 'Palestine, desolate for centuries, is now renewing its youth and vitality through enthusiasm, hard work and the self-sacrifice of the Jewish pioneers who toil there in a spirit of peace and social justice.’  Dwight D. Eisenhower called Israel 'A democratic outpost in the Middle East.’ Source:  'You don't have to be Jewish to be a Zionist: a review of 400 years of Christian Zionism' "

(Christian Action for Israel, 1st Quarter Newsletter, March 2001)

"Did you know? The English city of Leicester formally renounces an 800-year-old ban on Jews put in place by Simon de Montfort, widely regarded as the father of the English parliament.  From Financial Mail, 26 January 2001."

"Quotes of Note: 'We have to destroy Israel because there is no alternative.’ From chapter heading in a Palestinian sixth grade textbook.

"U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell described U .S. relations with Israel as  'unbreakable,' and Washington 's commitment to Israeli security as 'rock solid. ' From Intercessors from America, 2001.

"'The world does not know what to do with Jerusalem because it does not know what to do with God. ' By speaker at the 4th Christian Congress on Biblical Zionism."

(Christian Action for Israel, 1st Quarter Newsletter, March 2001)

"PLAN MAPS PATH TO PEACE: Mitchell report calls for cease-fire in Mideast. WASHINGTON - The United States on Monday threw its weight behind a long-awaited report that offers Israel and the Palestinians a road map back to peace negotiations, and it urged both side to halt their escalating bloodshed.

"Minutes after a committee led by former Sen. George Mitchell released its recommendations, Secretary of State Colin Powell publicly endorsed them. The Mitchell plan called for an immediate, unconditional halt to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which has claimed more than 500 lives since September, followed by confidence-building measures - such as a halt in Jewish settlements - that could restore trust and lead to renewed peace talks.

"Powell, edging closer to active mediation, announced that he was tapping a senior aide to talk with the governments of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat about implementing the Mitchell plan. 'The burden, I think, is now on the leaders of the region,' he said.

"But it remains far from clear whether Arafat and Sharon are either willing or able to compromise and end an eight-month spate of violence that escalated sharply last weekend.  The killings have destroyed the good will built up since the 1993 Oslo accords, which established general guidelines for establishing peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

"Violence continued Monday, although most of it took place before Mitchell released his report in New York and Powell spoke at a news conference in Washington.

"Israeli troops shot two Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, located between Israel and Egypt, saying they were on their way to plant a bomb.  Three Palestinian children were hurt in clashes in the West Bank town of Hebron. Four hours of shooting from Beit Jala in the West Bank, located west of the Jordan River, to the Jerusalem suburb of Gilo, left one Israeli injured in the eye. Officials in Sharon’ s government were heartened by Powell's backing of the report's insistence that Palestinians end the violence without preconditions. Sharon has said repeatedly that he will not reward violence with steps sought by the Palestinians, such as a halt in Jewish settlements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

"Powell said he had instructed William Burns, the U.S. ambassador to Jordan who has been nominated to be assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs, to talk with both sides about a timeline for implementing the proposals. "

(From Knight Ridder Newspapers, The Orlando Sentinel, May 22, 2001)

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QUESTION OF GENERAL INTEREST

"QUESTION - I read with great interest that the first human cloning experiment might take place in Israel. Is this procedure permissible according to the Torah?

"ANSWER - "'The nephilim (giants) were on the earth in those days… the sons of G-d consorted with the daughters of man.'…the angels fell from their level of holiness in heaven.  The result of this deviation, according to most popular views, was the 'giants.'

"These giants were unnatural in yet another way. The Torah teaches us: 'Honor your father and your mother.' Thus these nephilim had a mother, but since they were conceived of angels they really had no natural father and this was a deviation from Hashem's way.

"How much more so if we deviate with a totally artificial way of creation via cloning, when the result will be a being created not in conformance with the Heavenly will.  Indeed, in the pasuk that follows the description of the nephilim the Torah explicitly states, 'And G-d saw that the wickedness of man was great upon the earth …' The many destructive ways of the inhabitants of the earth contravened G-d's will and ultimately resulted in the Flood …

"The cloning procedure, which involves the insertion of the cell of a donor into the shell of a host egg, obviates the normal process of an egg being fertilized by a sperm. Cloning is thus totally different from fertility programs or in vitro fertilization procedures, many of which have halachic authorization. The result of cloning is the creation of a donor 'twin ' who is a duplicate of the donor in every manner except in reference to age, who has no biological father or mother. The procedure has given rise to discussions and questions of ethics even in the secular world…

"It is interesting to note that several Israeli scientists and officials have recently declared that there will be no such experiments in Israel since they are not permitted under Israeli law. They must have realized that such experiments are also against G-d's law."

(The Jerusalem Post, March 23, 2001)

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LETTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST

Dear Emily:

Many thanks for your letter of February 8, 2001! In his e-mail of 12 December, 2000 … writes among other things: "From time to time brethren rise up to question or challenge the clear and forthright presentation of the chronology as laid out in volume two of Studies in the Scriptures."

Morton Edgar as well as my father, Hugo Karlen, showed that Russell 's chronology was correct. There is no doubt that Charles T. Russell was That Servant. It is remarkable what he could find in the Scriptures. He was a genius. The Lord must have helped him.

In the beginning of 1942 my father wrote ten studies about the Chronology in the Bible. We have sent numbers 5,9 and 10 to … and numbers 5 and 9 to you. we are now translating numbers 1-4 into English. Birgit Stjernstedt, who learned English at the University in Stockholm, is helping with the translation. I will now send numbers 1,2 and 10 to you. we are still working on the others. You will find that all the studies and the solar eclipse in 763 B.C. prove that Russell was right.

In your letter you write that you will be happy to get … answer. Therefore I am sending a copy of his e-mail of 26 January, 2001.

All the best and many kind regards.                                                         Your friend, Anders Karlen (SWEDEN)

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Dear Emily and all there,

We send our loving greetings from the receding shores of the Sea of Galilee. Thank you for your interesting thoughts sent in February, and the Lev/Hava card in April. Your greetings were a blessing in all ways!

Please forgive that we have not written sooner, but the time seems to fly. Lev was down at the Dead Sea once again from March 22nd to April 20th for his skin treatments. It was very helpful for his head and arms. The areas on his lower legs are still not healed up. So we continue to work on them daily with creams from the Dead Sea minerals. It is so amazing that such healing properties can come from this dead body of water, and that people come from all over the world to be helped by its benefits. God's healing to the nations even begins at this lowest spot on the earth that would seem useless!

Well, while Lev was gone for a month our Bed/Breakfast rooms became busy, so I had a real four to five weeks of running in circles. The guests were mostly local people coming up from Jerusalem/Tel Aviv to get away from the tensions or old friends. This period is usually the busiest tourist time, but there are so few tourists that hotels remain closed, and no work for guides, drivers, etc. It is really a hard time here, and the time ahead does not look, brighter for any increase in tourism! So many of the governments of various nations warn against traveling to Israel including the U.S.A.

We had some good rains and the Spring was so beautiful with green hills. But it was all cut short by hot weeks in mid-March already. Soon the hills were turning brown and those lovely flowers were gone. So we are into Summer, and the dry season without the Sea of Galilee coming up to normal again. The water crisis looms ever nearer not only here, but all over the Middle East. Some say the next war will be over water!

On the other hand some feel we are into a war already, as things get hotter and hotter. Arafat has indeed lost his mask of "statesman/peacemaker" and is back to the true terrorist he has always been at heart. Sadly his desire to achieve all by violence has so much hurt his own people from children on up. We are just so amazed how God hardened Arafat' s heart so he would not accept the far-reaching give-aways that Barak was so willing to give. It shows he wants all or to gain it by violence which he thinks makes him more of a hero to his own people! Indeed God put Sharon in for this hour!

Thankfully we see God's mercy and watch-care over His people day by day even under the present problems! So many times the terrorists attacks could have been worse and it seems God's protection was there to prevent more deaths or injuries. Now Israel intercepted a boat smuggling arms into Gaza, and not little guns, but mortars, etc. This was not the first time they brought boat loads in and this is to a people "not at war with Israel," but making peace via the Oslo Peace Accords I Thankful this thirty tons of Katushas rockets, and other things will not be used against Israelis. There is no "peace process " left!  God' s plans will go forth in His way and His timing!

We do hope you have good health, and all there are doing well as you carry on with your work for the Lord!

Hope you can see Elva before long. She is closer, but I know she is concerned to make a long drive north in all the Florida traffic.

Thanks again for your prayers and letters.

                                                                                                             Love, Lev and Hava Bausch     (ISRAEL)

NO. 530 THE ANTICHRIST

When "the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us" (John 1:14) He provided the foundation for two religions -the Christian and the Antichristian. The first of these set forth the highest of ideals for His followers, to perfect them in every good word and work; the second did pretty much the exact opposite, often arousing the basest of human inclinations toward heinous crime. The ideal of the true Christian is to attain equality in character and vision with their Leader, an ambition which none of the human race has ever achieved. Had any of them ever been able to do this, the ideal would then be largely dissipated -no more hills to climb, no more conquests to accomplish. Thus, throughout the writings of the Apostles the ideal of "Christ and Him crucified" (1 Cor. 2:2) is ever prominent, "Christ" being the ransom price for our justification, and "Him crucified" being the narrow way in which "He set us an example that we should follow in His steps." (1 Peter 2:21) All of this is summarized in perfect love for the Lord, the Truth and the brethren, which, when properly comprehended and practiced, delights in doing good unto all men as we have opportunity, but especially to them which are of the Household of Faith.

Thus, St. Paul counsels "Husbands, love your wives, even as the Anointed One loved the congregation, and delivered Himself up on her behalf." (Eph. 5:25, Dia.) And among the last of the Lord's thoughts on the night before His death was toward those who would cleave to Him in spirit and in truth -"That they all may be one…that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that Thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as Thou hast loved Me." (John 17:21-23)

All who know anything at all about Christianity admit that its fundamental precepts are good; but, they say, no one lives up to it. And, while it is true that the vast majority of those calling themselves Christians deserve such criticism, yet it is equally true that there have been some outstanding "examples of the believers" throughout the Age. Aside from the twelve Apostles, mention may be made of John Wesley, founder of what is now the Methodist Church. The focal point of all his teaching was that disinterested good will toward all men is the ideal for Christians, and there is little doubt that he practiced what he preached. Much the same may be said for George Fox, founder of what is now the Quaker Church. Similar appraisal may be made of Balthasar Hubmaier, founder of the Baptist Church. And the preaching of these three men, along with others throughout the Age, was potent and magnetic enough to cause many of their adherents to exemplify true Christian principles in their daily lives.

But alongside the few throughout the Age there have been great multitudes who did otherwise, many of the latter with such wealth, education and mental brilliance that they have almost completely eclipsed those faithful few who held "the testimony of Jesus, and the spirit of His Prophecy." (Rev. 19:10, Dia.) This deplorable situation was already making its first glimmering appearance in the early Church, so that St. Paul was prompted to write: "The secret of lawlessness is already working … then will be revealed the lawless one… whose coming is according to the energy of the Adversary, with all power, and signs, and wonders of falsehood and with every deception of iniquity to those who are perishing, because they admitted not the love of the Truth [true Christianity] in order that they might be saved." (2 Thes. 2:7-10, Dia.)

Here is an excellent description of the Antichrist that would appear after the Apostles had left this earth; and, while we stated in the first sentence of this treatise that our Lord had laid the foundation for this monstrous apostasy, it should be kept in mind that such was not His design. It was merely that He provided the opportunity for "evil men and seducers" to join a good cause for their own selfish purposes -much the same as the Bible itself has also provided a very convenient conveyance for those to enhance and enthrone themselves who in fact were really motivated by most selfish and unholy ambitions. It is well for us to keep in mind here that Antichrist not only means opponent, but it also means in the place of Christ. St. Paul had warned in 2 Thes. 2:3-5 that Jesus would not come again until "there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exa1teth himself above all that is called God … so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God." The attempts to interpret st. Paul's words here are legion; quite a few would-be interpreters are very emphatic that this refers to an individual. During the 1914-1918 war there was quite some agitation to the effect that St. Paul's words were just another description of the "Beast" of Rev. 13:2-5, Dia.: "The beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet as a bear's, and his mouth as a lion's mouth… and they worshiped the beast, saying, 'Who is like the beast, and who is able to make war with him?' And there was given to him a mouth speaking great and blasphemous things [note the close similarity to St. Paul's words]; and authority was given him to act forty two months." The theory gained quite some followers back then that this was a prophecy of the German Kaiser, which meant that the war would end in forty-two months. But when the war went on for nine months more than the forty-two, and the Kaiser suffered complete defeat and was forced to abdicate and flee to Holland, that theory died as quickly as it had been born. Their mistake, of course, lay in their failure rightly to comprehend one of the basic rules for the understanding of The Revelation; namely, that the numerals in that book are literal, but almost all the common nouns are symbolic. Those months are 30-day months, making a total of 1260 days, as can be readily seen from Rev. 11:2,3: but, applying the principle of "a day for a year" (Num. 14:34; Ezek. 4:6), the period of time then involved would be 1260 literal years.

THE PAPACY

That the foregoing Scriptures could not possibly refer to an individual will we believe, be apparent from certain considerations, one of which is that no individual has ever survived for 1260 years. Also, the Antichrist, the Man of Sin, The Beast, all simply portray different characteristics of the same thing: Antichrist being in the place of Christ -Man of Sin (in the place of "Son of Man" -Mark 2: 10), the degrading disposition and influence -The Beast, the vicious destructive and inhuman qualities. The beast "was like unto a leopard." A leopard is black and white spotted, indicating that in some places the beast would be black as night, but in others appearing lily white in hypo­critical manner -professedly Christian!

This latter has been outstandingly true of the Papacy; e.g., Spain, Mexico, Italy, tolerance has been foreign to their teachings. Not long ago they tried to chase the YMCA out of Italy -revealing the black spots of the leopard. But in America, where they are much in the minority, they are very outspoken for tolerance -for them, that is ­manifesting the white spots of the leopard.

In 2 Thes. 2:1-5 St. Paul states that the Lord would not return to earth again "except there come a falling away first." Certainly, this would not mean just one individual; the very construction of Paul's expression shows he was meaning many individuals -a great apostasy -that would be influenced, deceived, and overawed by "the man of sin" -"the son of perdition [destruction]" -yet professedly Christian. The only entity in Gospel-Age history that properly fits this description is the Papacy; it meets all the requirements perfectly -its own record is enough -we need not go to its opponents or critics for argument to sustain this conclusion. But, in coming to this conclusion we do not wish to convey the impression that every Roman Catholic is included in this opinion -any more than every Protestant should be held accountable for the vagaries of the various protesting systems. There have been, and still are, many noble and magnanimous individuals within Protestant and Catholic churches, who for various reasons have failed to recognize the true situation; but this does not alter the fact that the Lord Himself referred to certain features of the Roman Church as "the abomination of desolation." (Matt. 24:15)

Giant oaks from little acorns grow. So also the Roman Church came to its present prominence from a very small beginning -at first meekly bowing to the powers that be, but gradually, very subtly, telling them what to do, until from 799 to 1799, the Papacy "as God sitteth in the temple of God ["Ve (the true Church) are the temple of God" -1 Cor. 3:16], showing himself that he is God." Pope Innocent III said: "The pope holds the place of the true God." Innocent and Jacobatius state "the pope can do nearly all that God can do -none dare say to him any more than to God, Lord, what doest thou?" We here present a mere fragment of what has been written about this subject -enough, we hope, to establish a firm base for our position.

MARTIN LUTHER

In our No. 7 tract we offered quite some detail about Luther's problems and wars with papal error and intrigue -a member of antitypica1 Elijah against antitypical Jezebel; and we now offer some of his statements about Antichrist as taken from the book of Roland H. Bainton, first published in 1955:

"The faith and the Church are at stake, I rejoice to suffer in so noble a cause. I am not worthy of so holy a trial. I feel much freer now that I am certain the pope is Antichrist." (p. 124) "If he is inviting me to my death, then I will come. I hope none but the papists will stain their hands in my blood. Antichrist reigns. The Lord's will be done." (p. 139) "I was wrong. I retract the statement that certain articles of John Huss are evangelical. I say now, 'Not some, but all the articles of John Huss were condemned by Antichrist and his apostles in the synagogue of Satan. I say freely that all the condemned articles of John Huss are evangelical and Christian, and yours are downright impious and diabolical ...' (p. 128) And on page 120 is a print showing "On the left Christ is washing the disciples' feet. On the right Antichrist, the pope, is having his toes kissed by monarchs."

In their efforts now to embrace Martin Luther, to praise his teachings and work, are the Roman Catholics also accepting what he taught about the pope being Antichrist, sitting in the synagogue of Satan? Let us not forget that the very book from which we quote foregoing was banned by Catholics shortly after it appeared just twelve years ago (in 2001 45 years ago), and many stores were intimidated from further sale of it. And those who continue to pay homage and worship at the feet of Antichrist are in truth also "sitting in the synagogue of Satan" so long as they assemble in the same company with Antichrist. No sane human being would logically do this, of course; but the eyes of many are being opened, and they forsake such company. And we have the "sure word of prophecy" that many others will shortly do likewise. Thus, this writing is no indictment of Roman Catholics as individuals; and we urge all our readers to follow St. Paul's counsel: "A servant of the Lord must not be contentious, but be gentle towards all, fit to teach, patient under evil; 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, who have been entrapped by him for his pleasure." (2 Tim. 2:24-26, Dia.)

PSALMS 75:6,7

Psalms 75 carries fitting application to our subject matter -to the true Christ and to Antichrist. Verses 6 and 7: "Promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: He putteth down one, and setteth up another." Here is· veiled reference to Baal, the sun God of the nations round about Israel.

Almost from the beginning of Israel's conquest of Palestine, after their deliverance from Egypt, there was constant conflict between the Lord God of Israel and the false Baal of the Heathen round about. In our paper on The Great Reformer we gave some detail of Elijah's engagement with the Prophets of Baal, who received equal recognition in Israel because of Queen Jezebe1, the wife of Ahab; and Elijah's complete victory over them forecast the complete victory during this Gospel Age of antitypica1 Elijah (the true Church attempting to reform this "present evil world"), over antitypical Jezebe1 (the Roman Church) before this Age comes to a close.

The Heathen Baal was typical of power-graspers in the Christian Church during this Age, and those who "bow the knee to Baal" refers to all who do obeisance to the Antichristian system. Thus, an identical conflict has transpired during this Age to the one that raged in Israel in the centuries preceding the Christian era. And those on the side of Baal have received no "promotion" -no lasting recognition -from the God of Heaven. In fact, in almost every instance when the Pope asks special blessing upon some event or locality or populace, the very reverse occurs: Great calamity is often the result. We instance just one example: We detailed in The Great Reformer (copy free upon request) how King Philip II of Spain is said to have laughed for the first time in his life over the horrible massacre in France on St. Bartholomew's Day. It was this same King Philip who a few years later prepared the Invincible Armada to annihilate Protestant England for rejecting the papal domination. And that Armada received the very special blessing of the Pope for its mission -a mission which culminated in complete failure and the destruction of a major part of the ships and men in that expedition.

Thus, the warning is given in Psa. 75:5: "Lift not up your horn on high; speak not with a stiff neck." The "horn" in the Bible is often used to symbolize power (see Psa. 18:2): "The Lord … the horn [power] of my salvation"; also Micah 4:13, "1 will make thine horn [power] iron." This exhortation is companion to St. Peter's words: "God resisteth the proud" (1 Peter 5:5); and then the Psalmist warns: "for promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west," nor from following the course of Baal and his devotees; but God will exalt whom He will exalt -those who resist the power-grasping system of Baal.

Inasmuch as the Psalmist is here contrasting "the horns [powers] of the wicked" and the "horns [powers] of the righteous" (v. 10), it is certainly no strain on the imagination to conclude the "promotions" of the righteous must come from the north, since they do not come from the east, west or south. This is quite clearly confirmed in Isa. 14:12-14, where the power-grasping course of Lucifer is described -identical twin to the course of the Papacy. Note the very similar language of v. 14: "I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most High," to that of 2 Thes. 2:4: "Who [the Papacy] exa1teth lJ.imse1f above all that is called God… he as God sitteth in the temple [congregation] of God ["ye are the temple of God" -1 Cor. 3: 16,17], showing himself that he is God." And Lucifer would make his attempts "upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north [his abode would rival that of the Most High]."

THE DARKNESS HATETH THE LIGHT

It needs little argument that throughout the Age true Christians have been much in the minority. The Lord had promised, "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the Truth" (John 8: 31, 32); but this promise "to know the Truth" would not apply to the vast majority who did not "continue" to keep it. To such came the "strong delusions" -also promised to those who "received not the love of the Truth." (2 Thes. 2:10) But it is a sad commentary concerning the many that they were not content to lose the truth, they must also persecute those who did faithfully retain it. Thus developed the monstrous crimes, the heinous tortures by the Antichrist against those who "protested" against their errors. Some of this was given in our No. 7 tract, so we need not repeat it here. However, the Antichrist was not the only system that resorted to the persecution of those who retained Present Truth; and we now catalog some of these:

Michael Servetus was one of those true Christians who accepted and defended the truth that there is but one God. This aroused the ire of John Calvin (strong advocate of, and chief organizer of, the Presbyterian Church), so he tricked Servetus into Geneva and had him arrested for "heresy." The trial lasted about two and" one-half months, with Servetus thoroughly defeating Calvin on the Truth that there is but one God. On October 27, 1553, Servetus was taken from the city and made to sit on a block. Instead of using dry wood, green timber was used, placed some distance from him, which subjected him to a slow roasting of over a half hour duration. Also, in mockery -like the crown of thorns that was placed on the brow of Jesus at His crucifixion by the errorists of His day -a chaplet of straw and green twigs, besprinkled with brimstone, was made to encircle his head. This "crown" was ignited first, and produced such a cry of anguish that it struck terror into the hearts of the spectators. That was his only expression of pain.

Perhaps the saddest part of the above recital is that John Calvin himself had strongly denounced the persecuting spirit of Antichrist in France; had addressed a noble publication to the King of France in defense of religious tolerance -tolerance for him, that is. But he readily forgot all about tolerance when he could not meet the Truth that came from Servetus, and blackened his memory with one of the worst examples of cruel intolerance ever to be recorded. This is indeed a sad record against Calvin, who was considered one of the most brilliant religious minds of the entire Gospel Age, and a zealous champion of his idea of Christianity.

"Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake; but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." (Mark 13: 12, 13) And, "Who is sufficient for these things?" (2 Cor. 2: 16) "He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully." (Psa. 24:4)

Coming a little further along in history, there is the case of the pilgrim fathers who left England because of religious persecution; but, hardly had they landed in New England in 1620, than they began to heap much the same abuses upon those who disagreed with them. But let us keep in mind that, while Wesley and his adherents were sorely persecuted in England, he himself and those who fully embraced his teachings, never persecuted, or recommended persecution of those who disagreed with them. The same could be said of George Fox and the Quakers, the same for Balthasar Hubmaier and the Baptist. And this is definitely our own position now.

By the time the Parousia had arrived the physical manhandling of dissenters had pretty much become out of date, but those who embraced the Harvest Truth were subjected to considerable verbal abuse and vilification, with considerable vicious slander heaped upon That Servant. This increased in severity as the 1914 war began, during which time some of the Truth people did incur actual physical violence, with even a few of them dying from that abuse. During that time those in "present truth" were a unit in advocating religious tolerance; and it would seem the lessons of the past, plus their own untoward experiences, should have taught them thoroughly the quality of tolerance. But, sad to say, hardly had That Servant died than quite a few of them took up the very unchristian weapons against their former brethren that had been previously used against them. Were we not personally witness to this, it would be difficult to believe.

And from 1916 on, those brethren who were being defamed by the Society also were loud in their acclaim of tolerance, the Executive Trustee of the LHMM being one of the foremost in denouncing intolerance; and he did an excellent job of declaring the evils of intolerance. It was easy enough for him to do that, too, because he had the Truth as his "shield and buckler": and it was no problem to prove that it was once more error perse­cuting truth.

But scarcely had the Epiphany Messenger left us until the Executive Trustee began to cudgel his opponents with the same weapons that had formerly been used against him and others -with the situation now reversed: The former champion of the Truth on tolerance was now forced to intolerance by the Truth which appeared against his error -just as was true of those intolerant ones in the Society after 1917.. Here is a sad illustration indeed of human frailty -the accumulated experience of the Age, coupled with extreme brilliance of Harvest Truth, availed them little as those who still retained Parousia Truth began to expose their decline into error. The formerly excommunicated became the excommunicators in very pronounced fashion: "Hear the word of the Lord, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name's sake, said, Let the Lord be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed." (Isa. 66:5)

In so many instances the founders of present-day religious organizations -John Wesley, Martin Luther, William Miller, Thomas Cranmer, Robert Brown, George Fox, Balthazar Hubmaier, Michael Servetus, Zwing1i, Charles T. Russell, et al -were mercilessly opposed because of the truth they presented; a number of them were actually burned at the stake. Yet, quite often those who were outraged witnesses to such abuses, adopted the tools of the persecutors when the situation became reversed. However, the underlying cause of such conduct was largely due to the fact that they themselves had departed -in whole or in part -from the teaChings of those they claimed to follow. All during the Age it seems it never took long until the examples of the respective reformers were forgotten, and much of the truth they presented was perverted or lost completely; and, as the truth was lost, so also was lost the spirit of true Christianity which had actuated their leaders. "Strong delusion" (2 Thes. 2: 11) regarding the truth usually inculcates "strong delusion" in conduct also, which in turn develops fanaticism in those who fall prey to it. It is certainly sound appraisal that religious fanaticism is the deepest, wickedest and most conscienceless of hatreds.

THE TOWER OF BABEL

Some years after the deluge, when the population had begun to increase, men said, "Let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven." (Gen. 11:4) They would have insurance against another flood in spite of the promise that another flood would never be (Gen. 9:15) and they would build Bab-el (Gateway to God). As retribution for this affront, the Lord confused their tongues; they could no longer understand each other. Thus, the effort became known as Babyl, meaning confusion, the same being typical of the Roman Church's effort also to build a "Gateway to God." That is, We are the one true church -no salvation outside of us -no other access to God -their popes are now the successors to St. Peter (despite the fact there is no evidence whatever that St. Peter ever once visited Rome). But their shibboleth over the centuries has been, "Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church." (Matt. 16:18)

In further explanation, we quote this text from the Emphatic Diaglott: "I also say to thee, Thou art a rock, and on this rock I will build my Church." Reference to Peter as "a rock" is from the Greek Petros; and "this rock" as the foundation for the Church is from the Greek Petra -the difference in meaning being Petros is a small stone, with Petra as a huge boulder. Once this is clearly understood, it is easily comprehended that Jesus was not referring at all to Peter as the rock upon which He would build His Church, but to the great indisputable Truth that Peter had just spoken: "Thou ljrt the Christ, the son of the living God." Indeed, in the words of the hymn, "My hope is built on nothing less, than Jesus' blood and righteousness." He is truly the Christ; and "other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." (1 Cor. 3:11) He is the Petra, the unmoveab1e rock, upon which the Church has been built. "There is none other name [neither Peter, nor any other] under Heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12) But the Roman interpretation is TRULY ANTICHRIST -"in place of" Christ. And to them also God sent confusion of tongues -a "Baby1"; their teachings today are completely foreign to the truth given us by the Lord through St. Peter.

In identical manner, the Jehovah's Witnesses have made similar pattern; they claim also to be the "Channel for present truth" -no salvation apart from them -they, too, would build "Bab-EL." And to them also has come retribution: a confusion of teachings so far removed from that presented by Pastor Russell, who they claim as their founder, that there is almost no similarity now to their beliefs of fifty years ago. And they also -in true Roman spirit -would suppress the truth presented by us; they have actually seized our papers from the hands of their dedicated deluded devotees and trampled them in the street. Yet they still boast of Pastor Russell, just as the Catholics boast of St. Peter. Was such conduct ever in evidence by the Master, Apostles, or by those true reformers mentioned aforegoing? Indeed, "By their fruits ye shall know them." (Matt. 7:20) The spirit of Antichrist readily reveals itself to all unbiased observers. The following excerpt from Reprint 5172 (Feb. I, 1913) is most appropriate here:

"All down the Gospel Age, those who have been faithful to the truth of God have been put 'out of the synagogue.' The creeds of men have been barriers to keep out those who understood the word of God."

And there is sound logic in explanation: The Truth always brings out the best in the faithful, but it often brings out the worst in the unfaithful or measurably faithful. "We [the faithful] are unto God a sweet savour of Christ in them that are saved, and in them that perish: to the one we are the savour of death unto death [as they go deeper and deeper into error]; and to the other the savour of life unto life [as the Truth perfects them in every good word and work]." (2 Cor. 2: 15,16) "The light [Truth] shineth in darkness [amid error]; and the darkness [error] comprehended it not." (John 1:5) It is an evidence of human frailty that physical force is usually applied when the intellect is not sufficient. Thus, for a thousand years the Antichrist resorted to the rack, boiling oil, hot lead in the ears, etc., against the "heretics" whose truth they could not gainsay or resist. But there is no record of the fully faithful ever using such weapons against Antichrist. St. Paul also had counseled "Resist not evil with evil" (1 Thes. 5: 15) -"the weapons of our warfare are not carnal." (2 Cor. 10: 4) He also wrote in 2 Cor. 3: 17: "Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty [tolerance]." Conversely speaking, we may draw the ready conclusion that without liberty there is none of the Spirit of the Lord. And from such we are advised to turn awayl Woe unto those who fall prey to the spirit of Antichrist!

"For we are not like the many, trafficking the word of God; but really from sincerity, and as from God, in the presence of God, we speak concerning Christ." (2 Cor. 2: 17, Dia.)

(By John J. Hoefle)

ARIKI DON'T FAIL US NOW

Every day there are dozens of shootings, bombings and killings all over Israel -over 3300 since Arafat IItarted his War of Attrition-2000. Every road has become a potential death trap. This fulfills the basic meaning of terror: you are afraid to let your family ride to work, school, or to visit friends, because the terror has occurred everywhere. Slowly the Arabs are closing in and Israeli soldiers are firing rubber bullets. The Arabs have no fear on the roads because they know that the Israeli courts are still conducting the Leftist program of jailing Israeli civilians and soldiers for daring to fire on the attacking mobs.

Arik, you have hired the same pacifists who failed in ·their numerous attempts to appease the Arabs. While you are out to please world opinion, Jews are being massacred. The Arabs fire their AK 47 Kalashnikov rifles (given to them by Rabin, Peres and Beilin) from any position they wish, knowing there will be no effective pursuit.

We already know that the Closet Dove Ehud Barak is no good as a defender -he failed to take action even in his last days as caretaker Prime Minister.

We know that Shimon Peres, as Foreign Minister, will continue to peddle his Peace Now policies, regardless of any instructions you may give him. You can depend upon him only to subvert your policies.

We know that whichever Leftist you put in as Defense Minister will carry with him the virus of acute "pacifism" which will continue to be inj ected into Israel's milltary. We know that the radical Labor Left has always used the Israeli officers' corps as an incubator for Leftist-politicians-to-be.

We all thought (and hoped) that you were going to clean out all the "politically correct" officers and bring back the pride of the military.   

Arik, my dear friend, have you grown old and a little afraid of public opinion? Were you so beaten down with the false accusations of Sabra and Shatila that you fear attacking our dedicated enemies? You saved the nation by ignoring frightened generals when you dashed across the Suez Canal to trap Egypt's Third Army. I remember crossing the Canal where we met and then you took me to see the "killing field."

You always had the right instincts to defeat the enemy and fight back the generals and politicians too fearful to do what was necessary. Please don't lose your nerve now! The Big Battles are yet to be fought. (Excerpts By Emanuel Winston, The Jewish Press, March 23, 2001)

ISRAEL SHUDDERS IN A TIME OF SIEGE

One by one, people around me are beginning to vanish. So far, the random disappearances haven't claimed anyone in my intimate circle. But the background of my daily life is gradually being depleted. Casual acquaintances, who fill the empty spaces of the day with small pleasantries, now appear on the front pages of Israeli newspapers, smiling for the last time.

In recent weeks, the violence in the West Bank has penetrated my Jerusalem neighborhood of French Hill. A month ago, my neighbor's son was shot in a terrorist ambush on a West Bank road; a few days ago, the janitor of my son's school was killed in a similar attack while driving to work. Now, when my neighbors and I greet each other in the parking lot and ask what's new, what we really mean is, "Has anyone we know disappeared today?" But that increasing sense of Israeli despair seems to have gone largely unnoticed abroad. Our victims tend to disappear from press reports about the intifada's casualties -"most of them Palestinians," as the media formula goes. And when a murder is reported, the victim is often dismissed as a "settler," forfeiting his civilian status and his place in the ledger of mourning.

The implicit assumption in that contempt for Israeli deaths is that our casualties are somehow deserved because we are supposedly the Goliath of this conflict, the occupiers and the aggressors. That assumption ignores the fundamental shift that has occurred in the balance of moral power between Israel and the Palestinians. Beginning with the Oslo process in 1993 and culminating with former Prime Minister Ehud Barak's peace overtures, Israel did what the international community had been demanding of it for decades: empower the Palestine Liberation Organization and agree to redivide Jerusalem and withdraw almost fully to the 1967 lines, offering land within Israel proper for those settlements that would remain intact.

Palestinian rejectionism and Israeli vulnerability have returned the Middle East to 1947. Yasser Ararat's intransigence recalls the Arab world's rejection of the 1947 U.N. partition plan, when the Palestinians also insisted on all or nothing and ended up with nothing. And Israelis' growing fears recall that time just before Israeli statehood when roads became too dangerous to travel without armed escort and entire parts of the country became off-limits to Jews.

Today's state of siege imposed on Israelis extends from the territories to the entire country. A few days ago, mortar shells were fired at Kibbutz Nahal Oz, on the border of Gaza but within pre-1967 Israel. That incident was followed by the murder of a member of Kibbutz Manara, on the Lebanon border. The international media barely noted those stories, which are, after all, local news. But for Israelis, they are the details that define our new reality, reminding us that the conflict isn't about occupied territories after all, -that the Middle East has marked us, individually and collectively, for disappearance.

The other night I drove a friend back to his home in Neve Yaakov, a working-class neighborhood mere minutes from French Hill. Once I would have considered that a routine drive. But in recent weeks, sniper fire has targeted the road between our two neighborhoods, and now I drive there reluctantly, aware that I have become a target.

Having urged us to empower the PLO, some in the international community now seem to believe that we have no right to protect ourselves from the terrorist entity rising on our borders. If it is immoral to respond to the Palestinians' siege of terror against us with a counter-siege of Palestinian towns, how do we prevent those trying to kill us from entering our neighborhoods? Or is that right too now forbidden us? (Excerpts By Yossi Klein Halevi, March 22, 2001)

NO. 529 THE TABERNACLE

In Matthew 5:17, 18 we have these words of Jesus: “Think not that I am come to destroy the Law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the Law, till all be fulfilled.” Complementing this statement is one by St. Paul in Hebrews 10:1: “The Law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices... make the comers thereunto perfect.” Here then are clear Scriptures that tell us in direct words that every feature of the Law was typical; and the Law in the broad sense is the Pentateuch – the first five books of the Bible (Luke 24:44), although the Law in the strict sense does not appear before Exodus. It is thus a sound conclusion that every person, principle and thing mentioned therein are typical, and must have an antitype to be fulfilled.

Of those things given to Moses in Sinai the Tabernacle is the central figure. It became the foundation premise for the entire Jewish religion, and it may be properly concluded that every important feature of the Plan of the Ages is somewhere revealed in the Tabernacle and the rituals pertinent thereto. Therefore, if any one has a good clear grasp of the Tabernacle, as it is presented in Tabernacle Shadows, and retains that truth structure, he is not likely ever to go out of the Truth; whereas, if we see any one losing the Tabernacle truths, we may conclude that something has gone badly wrong with that person, and we should be governed accordingly.

A close analysis of most religions will reveal that they began with a priesthood, then deteriorated to priestcraft, then degraded to priestgraft. This is strikingly true of the Jewish priesthood. When the Tabernacle had been set up, and Aaron was called of God (Heb. 5:4) to officiate, there was then given the Jews a religious system in its pristine purity; every detail was the embodiment of perfection – “The true tabernacle, which the Lord fixed, not man... divine service for a symbol and shadow [typical] of the heavenlies; even as Moses, when about to construct the tabernacle, was divinely admonished; for, See, says He, that thou make all things according to that pattern shown to thee on the Mount.” (Heb. 8:2‑5, Dia.) “And Moses, indeed, was faithful in his whole house, as a servant, for a testimony of the things to be spoken.” (Heb. 3:5, Dia.) And this same Scripture could be applied in like manner to Aaron as Priest. “Like the precious ointment [typical of the Holy Spirit] upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments.” (Psa. 133:2) Tradition has it that Aaron’s beard reached almost to his knees; and his anointing with the holy oil is a fitting picture of the anointing of the true church during this Age with the Holy Spirit, which came first upon the Head Jesus, then continued down to the last members of His Body here in the end of the Age.

However, Aaron’s example soon became a lost art. In the strict sense the Jews had only one high priest ‑Aaron, “called of God” to the office. Others received that office through heredity, the oldest living son aspiring to the office – much the same as the kings in the nations today have come to the throne as successor to their fathers although the Sanhedrin (counsel of the 70) had altered this somewhat before Jesus’ First Advent. Thus, some of the high priests after Aaron made honest effort to continue his performance; some, such as Eli (1 Sam. 3), feebly attempted to give proper service, while some were very much renegades: When we reach the fall of Jerusalem prior to 607 BC, priestcraft was definitely in evidence. “The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and My people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?” (Jer. 5:31)

At the time Jesus arrived the priesthood had degenerated to priestgraft – they had reached the very bottom of the dirty barrel. “Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, and said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.” (Matt. 21:12,13) A little from secular records will emphases this. It had been ordered in the Law that the sacrifices bought to the priest should be “without blemish.” Taking advantage of this, the priests in the temple gave minute scrutiny to any animals brought to them. It is said they had as many as seventy different points on which they would reject a lamb – such as a wart on its belly, and the like. Thus, when a penitent and humble Jew came in from the hills to make himself right with God, it was almost a certainty that the priest who examined his lamb would find something wrong with it, which made it unacceptable for sacrifice. So what was the poor man to do? Must he go all the way back to the hill country for another? Why, no, of course not! The priest had a lamb in the backyard that he could have – if he had the price – so much money, plus the lamb he had brought in. Then the priest took the rejected lamb, put it in the backyard and sold it to the next innocent victim. It is little wonder that Jesus was so outraged that He overturned their tables and uttered the condemnation against them that He did.

And much the same pattern was followed in the Christian Church as we trace it through the years. The Christian Church under the Apostles (also called the chosen of God) offered proper comparison to Aaron and his sons. But when Martin Luther appeared on the scene, the sale of indulgences was in full sway, with the repulsive Tetzel raking in the money – almost an exact duplicate of what Jesus saw in the temple. It is not surprising that Luther referred to the Roman Church at that time as “the synagogue of Satan.” We have the prophecy against the reprobate church today, “I will spue thee out of My mouth.” (Rev. 3:16)

CONSTRUCTION OF THE TABERNACLE

“Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.” (1 Cor. 10:11) The Diaglott puts this much clearer: “These things occurred to them typically, and were written for our admonition, on whom the ends of the Ages have come.” St. Paul thus clearly identifies “these things” as types, and they have to do with the wilderness journey of the Jews on their way to Canaan, during which time the Tabernacle was the focal point of all their religious activity.

It is not our purpose herein to discuss all the intricate details given to Moses in the Mount, but we believe a few of them will prove quite helpful. Exodus 26:15 says, “Thou shalt make boards for the tabernacle of shittim wood [acacia wood] standing up.” Clearly enough, the Jews were not to gather broken‑down logs for construction of the tabernacle, but trees “standing up” – alive and growing. And is this not exactly what the Apostle says in Romans 12:1: “Present your bodies a living sacrifice”? During the building of the Gospel‑Age Tabernacle the Lord did not want a dead sacrifice; He wanted a “living” one. This is confirmed by St. Peter, 1 Peter 2:5, Dia.: “Be you yourselves also built up, as living stones [in the temple, or Gospel‑Age Tabernacle], a spiritual house for a holy priesthood [fully faithful and competent, as was Aaron], to offer sacrifices, well‑pleasing to God through Jesus Christ.”

St. Paul counsels, “Endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ” (2 Tim. 2:3), and this characteristic of the “living stones” is well typified in the shittem wood “standing up.” This timber was plentiful in the wilderness of Sinai, and used in the construction of the Tabernacle, the altars and their staves, the table, the boards, bars and pillars and for the woodwork in the Ark. It was used in Egypt in boat building, and Josephus speaks of its strength and durability. (Antiq. III 5,6) The wood is hard and close‑grained.

Some time back the Jehovah’s Witnesses were attempting to revive the study of the Tabernacle in their Watchtower periodical; but it is readily clear enough that, once having lost the Truth on this important edifice, they would have plenty of error in what they sent forth. As instance, they quote 1 Peter 2:5, and they use the King James version, which says we “offer spiritual sacrifices” during this Age. Just a little reflection should reveal the folly of this. In Rom. 12:1 St. Paul says, “present your bodies” as a sacrifice. We do not sacrifice our spiritual qualities; rather, we develop them in every good word and work, and we do this at the expense of our human bodies. Thus, we are told to “grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus,” even as St. Paul says of himself and his abused physique, “I die daily.” (1 Cor. 15:31) He was “putting on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge [not sacrificed, but built up, invigorated].” (Col. 3:9,10)

Also, in this same Watchtower, Dec. 1, 1972, p. 717, col. 1 bottom, there is this statement: “The temple ‘curtain’ illustrating the fleshly barrier, was now indeed passed for the resurrected Jesus Christ, and so on the fortieth day from his resurrection he could ascend to heaven itself and appear before the person of God with the precious value of his sin‑atoning blood, to present it at God’s propitiatory throne in behalf of all mankind. With that presentation the great antitypical Day of Atonement came to an end.”

The foregoing is a rank perversion of what That Servant wrote about the antitypical Day of Atonement. He taught that it continued throughout the entire Gospel and Millennial Ages, and just a little scrutiny should prove that he was right. The real work of the antitypical Day of Atonement has not yet even begun, which work is to accomplish the “restitution of all things.” (Acts 3:21) Jesus is simply the antitypical bullock of that day’s sacrifice – “first for His own sins [for His Body, the Church, as “He knew no sin.” (2 Cor. 5:21)], and then for the people’s.” (Heb. 7:27)

It was not until the bullock and the Lord’s goat had been placed upon the brazen altar in the Court, their blood sprinkled upon the Mercy Seat in the Most Holy, followed by Azazel’s Goat being delivered to the fit man and led off to the wilderness, that the High Priest (Aaron in the first instance) then appeared in robes of Glory and Beauty and blessed the people. This antitypical blessing – “the times of refreshing, restitution of all things” – has not yet even begun; therefore, it should be quite apparent the antitypical Day of Atonement is not nearly at an end. When we recall the treatment the Watchtower leaders dispensed to their faithful brethren after Brother Russell’s death, we are painfully forced to apply to the them the Scripture – “Because they poured out the blood of saints and of prophets, Thou gavest them also blood [error] to drink; they deserve it.” (Rev. 16:6, Dia.) They would be well advised to follow Tabernacle Shadows if they attempt further treatise of the subject – to prevent further erroneous teachings.

When work was to begin on building the Tabernacle, the people were asked to bring the material necessary for the job, “And they came, both men and women, as many as were willing hearted, and brought bracelets, and earrings, and rings, and tablets, all jewels of gold.” (Ex. 35:22) “And they spake unto Moses, saying, The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work... The stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it, and too much.” (Ex. 36:5‑7) The antitype for these verses is to be found here in the end of the Age, when the general call closed in 1881. From that time on more people came into the Truth than there were crowns available – they were bringing “much more than enough” to complete the Gospel‑Age Tabernacle. Many still do not recognize this great truth, so they continue to bring more than enough, but this can but result in their eventual chagrin.

While some have been overly ambitious in this respect, others have adopted just the opposite course. When the sad and disturbing conflicts appeared shortly after Brother Russell’s death, many concluded they wanted none of that, so they simply withdrew and did nothing after that. Thus, they were no longer antitypical shittim wood “standing up” (“living sacrifices”); they became as it were ordinary spiritual flotsam floating about in time and space, with no definite purpose. They completely forgot that their covenant was with God and not with men. We still see that same attitude among quite a few.

THE TABERNACLE AND THE PEOPLE

Much detailed comment is given in Tabernacle Shadows regarding the general construction of the Tabernacle, and its typical significance, which we shall review very briefly. The Most Holy typified, or represented the Divine presence; the Holy represented those Gospel‑Age believers who were aspiring to the Divine presence (“exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature” – 2 Peter 1:4); the Court represented the tentatively justified of the Gospel Age – those believers who were progressing toward the Holy. The Court was enclosed by a linen curtain, which was held in place by sixty posts. Tabernacle Shadows very properly explains that those posts type justified believers displaying the righteousness of Christ. These would properly represent sixty sections of the Gospel‑Age Levites and their various activities, shown also by the sixty heads of Levite families.

Isaiah 52:11 counsels, “Be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord.” When that was written, the Jews recognized it as advice to the priests and Levites who had to do with the Temple, which had replaced the Tabernacle of the Wilderness. Apart from the censers, there were four sets of vessels belonging to the brazen altar in the Court (Num. 4:14; Ex. 38:3), four sets to the golden table in the Holy (Num. 4:7), four to the golden lampstand (Num. 4:9). This may also have been true of the golden altar in the Holy, this conclusion being drawn from the fact that the brazen altar in the Court had four sets of vessels. These four sets of vessels would properly represent the four groups of Bible teachings that are profitable “[1] for teaching [doctrine], [2] for conviction [refuting], [3] for correction, [4] for that discipline which is in righteousness; so that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly fitted for every good work.” (2 Tim. 3:16,17, Dia.) Self‑evidently, all of these “vessels” would be necessary in the life of those who were holding up the linen curtain of Christ’s righteousness; and especially would this be true of the leaders in the Gospel‑Age Church.

Aside from the brazen altar in the Court, there was also the laver, at which the priests washed, as well as the tentatively justified (the Household of Faith – only for those in the Court). This laver was said to be of copper polished so brightly that it served also as a mirror to those standing in front of it. It would properly represent the entire Bible, the base typing the Old Testament, the upper part containing the water typing the New Testament. “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word.” (Eph. 5:26) – See Berean Comments) During the Gospel Age those progressing from the gate of the Court would pass the brazen altar, then approach and pass the laver on their way to the door of the Holy.

The Tabernacle was situated pretty much in the center of the Jewish Camp. Just outside and around the Court we find the Levites – Aaron and his sons, the priests, Amram’s descendants, to the east of the Tabernacle, the Kohathites to the south, the Gershonites to the west, and the Merarites to the North. All of this has a Millennium significance – Aaron and his sons (no longer Levites in any sense) typing the Gospel‑Age “royal priesthood,” the Kohathites the Ancient Worthies, the Gershonites the Youthful Worthies, and the Merarites the Great Company. These four groups type the four elect classes who will bless and uplift the non‑elect in the Kingdom.

It will be noted that Tabernacle Shadows states that the Gershonites typified the world of mankind: but this is not a logical deduction, since none of the Levites had any inheritance in the land. A question was put to Brother Russell – If the Gershonites type the saved world, wouldn’t that indicate that the entire saved world would become spiritual, and that this earth would not be man’s eternal home? After some discussion That Servant dropped the matter, but later taught that the Ancient Worthies would become spiritual during the Little Season. He also taught a class of consecrators “between the ages” who appeared on the scene too late to be of the royal priesthood, but who would rank in honor, reward and service, with the Ancient Worthies. The only difference between the two classes is that the Ancients lived too soon to be of the royal priesthood; whereas, the Youthful Worthies lived too late to be of that select group. Since 1916 many very pertinent Scriptures to substantiate that teaching have been presented, the Epiphany being the “due time” for them to be understood. That Servant confirms the above in the September 1, 1911, Reprint 5761, which we now quote:

“THOSE CONSECRATING BETWEEN THE AGES”

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

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

And continuing from the June 15, 1911, Reprint 4836: “Suppose that some should present themselves after the close of the acceptable time; what would be their status and God’s dealing with them... Quite likely there will be some in the end of this Age who, although faithful unto death, will not have been begotten of the Holy Spirit and not attain the spirit plane of being in the resurrection, but who will come forth members of the same class as the Ancient Worthies, who were developed before this Age began.”

The Jewish Camp encircled the Levites as the Levites encircled the Tabernacle, and the Camp fittingly typed the rebellious nominal people of God in this Gospel Age. Once this picture is fully visualized, much may be deduced from it. Those in the Jewish Camp were not allowed in the Court or the Tabernacle, although those immediately contiguous to the Levites would have a much better view of it than those farther away; and those at the extreme outskirts of the Camp might barely see it at all. Beyond the Camp was the heathen world having no knowledge or interest of any kind in the Tabernacle or its ceremonies.

All this would well represent the condition in Christendom during this Age. The “royal priesthood,” as parts of the antitypical Tabernacle, would have an intimate close-up view of the Gospel call, its privileges and obligations. Next comes those in the Court – the tentatively justified unconsecrated who had accepted Jesus as their Savior and practiced righteousness – who were on more or less friendly and intimate terms with the priesthood, and understanding some features of the priestly call. Beyond this class would come what might be termed noble worldlings – motivated by good principles, and with more or less knowledge of the priestly aims and ambitions. Beyond these would be the antitypical outskirts of the Camp, consisting of those who had little or no interest in Christian teachings; while the heathen world would be those people beyond the realm of Christendom.

VARIOUS PERVERSIONS

Much of what we have given on the Tabernacle, its appurtenances, its relation to the Camp and to the Jewish people has been gleaned more or less directly or indirectly from the writings of Brother Russell. He himself recognized some mistakes in the original Tabernacle Shadows book, most of which he corrected in later Watch Towers; but we are reliably informed that he often stressed the fact that the six volumes of Scripture Studies, which he wrote, were the direct outgrowth of that book, which was first published in 1881. In his Foreword that appeared in subsequent printings he said:

“It was specially intended for the royal priesthood. Many of this class have confessed that as the Lord’s finger it pointed out to them meanings in Old Testament types never before appreciated, leading them to see the true significance of the Scriptural declaration ‑ ‘Present your bodies living sacrifices,’ ‘Fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ,’ etc... The author rejoices that this is true... The understanding of the subjects herein set forth seems to have been heaven directed, ‘taught of God, ‘ at a time when the light was absolutely necessary to the full and clear presentation of the Plan of the Ages... The author has sought to prove every point and every application by the Word of the Lord, and has taught nothing of himself... The careful student will discern that, the applications of the types herein presented being correct, the entire Plan of the Ages is thereby corroborated – justification, sanctification and glorification first for the Church, and subsequently restitution for whoever will, of all the families of the earth.”

With such a forceful endorsement as the foregoing by Brother Russell himself, it would seem that any and all who still hold any respect for him would tread very softy before attempting to tamper with such an important book. However, it is a matter of record that all during this Age those stewardship truths that were emphasized by the Lord’s special mouthpieces were perverted, and often badly distorted. Therefore, we should “think it not strange” if the same class of people should follow in the footsteps of their kinsmen of the past, and pervert the writings of the Lord’s important mouthpiece here in the end of the Age.

And true enough, That Servant was hardly in the tomb before Tabernacle Shadows was attacked by those who succeeded him in administrative office – subtly at first, then openly and boldly – replacing the faithful teachings of this book with “new light” (?). It was just a matter of a few years before J. F. Rutherford declared the book was entirely worthless, and cast it into the ash can. However, their treatment of Tabernacle Shadows has gone unheeded by others.

From Tabernacle Shadows, p. 33: “Concerning the natural seed of Abraham.. ‘they are enemies for your sakes; but as touching the election they are [still] beloved for the father’s sakes...’ They are to be first [emphasis by Brother Russell] blessed by the spiritual or true Seed and may later become associate laborers (Rom. 11:26‑29).”

Christ’s merit, as an imputable thing, is not now available in the Camp, nor will it be available in the Camp in the Kingdom. Actual justification will prevail in the Camp under the benevolent Kingdom arrangements for the sheep, enabling them to walk up the Highway of Holiness. Christ’s merit continues to apply only to the Household of Faith, and will so long as there is any part of this Household with us. That Servant corroborates this Truth in the May 15, 1911, Reprint 4819, as follows:

“He has not applied the merit of that sacrifice as yet to Adam or his children, but merely to those who, in the type, were represented by the underpriests, and to the Levites, the brethren and servants of the priestly family.”

And from the types in Tabernacle Shadows, p. 55: “‘And Aaron shall offer his bullock of the sin‑offering which is for [represents] himself, and make an atonement for himself [the members of his body – the underpriests] and for his house [all believers, the entire ‘Household of Faith’ – the Levites].’ (Lev. 16:6)”

THE MILLENNIAL TABERNACLE

While the Millennial Tabernacle will differ sharply in some respects from the Gospel Age Tabernacle, the typical features established in the arrangement given to Moses at Sinai are clearly in evidence as we consider its structure. The Most Holy will contain the glorified Christ serving Godward for the people; the Holy will represent the condition of the Christ serving peopleward for God; the Court will contain the other three elect classes – the Ancient Worthies, typified by the Kohathite Levites, the Great Multitude by the Merarites, and the Youthful Worthies by the Gershonites. The Camp in that Tabernacle will contain the world undergoing restitution – actually accomplishing what the Jews in their Camp expected to do – to gain life by keeping the Law, but failed because of their inherited weakness. The Sheep in that Camp will eventually gain that perfection that was first in Eden, while those outside the Camp will be either those that have not yet made a start toward restitution, or “the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed.” (Isa. 65:20)

And, when that Tabernacle progresses to the end of that Age, another spiritual class will appear; namely, the Worthies who have been “princes in all the earth” during the Kingdom reign, but who will leave this earth when their work is done, and join those in the spirit realm.

DEATH AND HELL INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE

“Death and hell [Hades] were cast into the lake of fire.” (Rev. 20:14) For mankind in general this brief statement makes comprehensive summation of the typical Tabernacle and its services on the Day of Atonement as given in Leviticus 16. Since the Bible does not use words indiscriminately, we may conclude that “death” and “hell” do not mean the same thing. It is our understanding that hell (Hades) is the Adamic death state – the grave; whereas, death refers to all those things that send man to the grave. This is clearly taught in Tabernacle Shadows, p. 111, respecting the ashes of the Red Heifer:

“The cleansing of defilement through contact with the dead would seem to teach that this cleansing, effected by and through the experiences of the Ancient Worthies, will specially apply to the world of mankind during the Millennial Age, while they are seeking to get rid of all the defilements of Adamic death – seeking to attain human perfection. All the blemishes of the fallen condition are so much of contact with death; all constitutional weaknesses and blemishes through heredity are contacts with death; and from all of these the ashes of the Red Heifer are to be used for the cleansing of all who will become the people of God.”

This is emphasized in the Berean Comment on Rev. 20:14: “Death – including aches, pains, mental and moral imperfection of every sort.” In its totality this will not be accomplished until the end of the Little Season – when the antitypical Atonement Day will have come to its full end. Some have thought that the Epiphany Messenger had produced some new teaching with respect to the Millennial performance – also that we are doing the same by copying what he has said; but the only thing new about it is the name coined by the Epiphany Messenger, when he summed all this up as the Adamic death process. However, this expression simply says in one sweeping phrase what Brother Russell states in detail on page 111 of Tabernacle Shadows, and in the Berean Comment for Revelation 20:14. Our Lord has said of David – and antitypical David – “I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him: with whom my hand shall be established: mine arm also shall strengthen him.” (Psa. 89:20,21) And of those who have disregarded his teachings: “Thou hast made void the covenant of thy servant: thou hast profaned his crown by casting it to the ground. Thou hast broken down all his hedges; thou hast brought his strong holds to ruin.” (Psa. 89:39,40)

“0 how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day. I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me.” (Psa. 119:97,102)

(John J. Hoefle, Reprint No. 409, April 1990)

“DEBATE ON CREATION: The Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), which split from the larger, more liberal Presbyterian Church (USA) in the 1970s, will debate this summer whether pastors must believe the world was created in six, 24‑hour days. At last year’s meeting, delegates approved a statement affirming that a ‘diversity of views on creation days... is acceptable.’ The South Carolina group of churches said that statement goes against the church’s confession of faith.” (Orlando Sentinel, March 3, 2001)

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“YOUR OLD MEN” AND “YOUR YOUNG MEN”

Most Bible Students refer to the faithful ones described in Hebrews, chapter 11 as Ancient Worthies. But they never refer to Youthful Worthies because, as some say, the term Youthful Worthies does not occur in the Bible. But the term Ancient Worthies doesn’t appear in the Bible either. However, verse 2 says, “the elders obtained a good report.” The word “elders” means Ancient and in verse 38 of that chapter it is stated, “of whom the world was not worthy.” So That Servant called them Ancient Worthies, which he considered a better name than “Elder Worthies.”

In Reprint 5721, September 1, 1915, Brother Russell wrote of an unbegotten class to be won before the inauguration of restitution work. Many Bible Student groups never mention this unbegotten class, which was later called Youthful Worthies in contrast with the Ancient Worthies. However, in Joel 2:28 the Ancient Worthies are mentioned as “your old men” and the Youthful Worthies as “your young men.” Also, in 2 Tim. 2:20 the saints are mentioned as Gold; the Great Company as Silver; the Ancient Worthies as Wood and the Youthful Worthies as Earth. Psalms 72 describes the entire Millennial reign of Christ, both the Heavenly and earthly phases. Verse 3 says the “mountains,” which represents the primary ruling powers of the Kingdom, The Christ being the Heavenly and the Ancient Worthies being the Earthly. The “little hills” are the tributary ruling powers, the Great Company of the Heavenly and the Youthful Worthies of the Earthly. In Isaiah 60:13 the glory of Lebanon means white and its evergreen trees represent the righteous antitypical Levites who will be brought to Christ and the Church (Num. 3:6‑9) – the fir tree the Ancient Worthies and the Box the Youthful Worthies, together rendering a cooperative service to beautify the place of the Lord’s sanctuary.

That Servant did not bring out a fourth elect class before he taught the above on the unbegotten class. We believe that upon reading what the Apostle Paul said: “For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God” (Acts 20:27), he realized that the Apostle knew more than was legal for him to tell, even to the other Apostles. So That Servant searched all the Scriptures that Paul had written and found 2 Tim. 2:20 and learned that the Apostle taught four elect classes. This may be speculation but it is only common sense, since he did bring out the four elect classes in Reprint 5721. Surely we can’t assume that his mind wasn’t alert after 1914 and during the printing of the later Watch Towers. Time had increased his knowledge. He corrected his mistake that all things would be completed by 1914, but he was correct about 1914 being the end of Gentile Times, after which all Gentile governments would be removed (Isa. 24:20). His mind was keener than ever, as time had given him more knowledge. He wanted to give the Lord’s people all the counsel of God, as did the Apostle Paul. He knew it was his duty. But we notice that most Bible Students do not quote anything from the Reprints that would not agree with their continuing efforts to “gather” the saints.

However, we believe that most Bible Students are honest in their beliefs, as That Servant did say later than 1914 that there was a gleaning of the Harvest, which was more than the 40 years taught in the six volumes. For this reason there was opportunity for more saints to come into the Truth as late as 1916. This opportunity was the gleaning and would still be a part of the Harvest work.

That Servant knew he was the one referred to in Psalms 50:5. Before the Gospel Age Harvest the saints could not be gathered into one unit. They were scattered here and there. Brother Russell together with his faithful followers, gathered all the saints from all denominations, or anywhere else they may have been.

Was Brother Russell incompetent when he taught four elect classes, including an unbegotten class? No, he was competent even on the train in Texas in his dying moments when he said, “I have done as thou has commanded me” (Ezek. 9:11), which is similar to one of the last statements of Jesus: “I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.” (John 17:4)

NO. 528 LOOSING THE FOUR WINDS OF HEAVEN - PART TWO

As stated in Part One of this subject, it is our intention to use mostly quotations from That Servant, and we now proceed on that basis. Our first offering is from Reprints 5168, column 2 (written January 15, 1913 – just one and one half years before the outbreak of the Great War):

“The fact that so many have been thus accepted since 1878 seems to imply that there has been a considerable vacancy in the list of the elect, and that it is gradually filling up. It is not for us to say how much of a vacancy remains, or when it will be filled. We fully believe, that it will be filled before the close of ‘the Times of the Gentiles,’ which we think will end with October, 1914.

“As for others who have not yet consecrated themselves, we can say with St. Paul, “I beseech you... brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice.’ (Rom. 12:1) Do your best. It may be that there is an opening and you may get in. Consecrate your time, your talents, all that you have, to the service of God. He is a good paymaster; whatever reward He may give you will be a prize.”

KINGDOM WORK THIS SIDE THE VEIL

From Reprint 5631, column 2: “We are not surprised at these conditions; for long ago they were foretold in the Word of God. We were assured that our day would witness the fulfillment of the prophecies along these lines. Wherever we look, we witness the disintegration of the present order, whether we view the conditions from a social, or religious, or a financial standpoint. The lease of power to the Kingdoms of this word has expired. [It expired at the end of the Gentile Times when the day of God’s special wrath came – in the Epiphany, the great Time of Trouble.] It was foretold by the Prophet Daniel that ‘in the days of these kings,’ before their utter overthrow, the God of heaven would set up a kingdom [when the last saint had been selected, the Kingdom was “set up”] which should smite and break in pieces all the kingdoms of men, the beastly kingdoms of Daniel’s dream. When these kingdoms would be given to ‘the people of the saints of the Most High,’ they were to ‘smite them in pieces as a potter’s vessel.’ This intimates that in some sense of the word the Lord will take possession of these before they have been completely overthrown; that some of the kingdoms represented in the Gentile image will be remaining at that time.

“What time, then, is signified by the expression ‘in the days of these kings,’ when the Kingdom of God was to be set up in power? To our understanding the first step in the setting up of this Kingdom was the raising of the sleeping saints of the Gospel Age, which we believe was in the Spring of 1878. Then began the glorification of the Church. The work of setting up the Kingdom has, we understand, been progressing from that date, arid is now merely lacking the last members of the Church class. When these shall have taken their places as members of the Church in glory, the Kingdom will be fully set up.

“This does not signify that there may not be a part of the Kingdom work begun while some of the members of Christ are still in the flesh. Indeed some Scriptures seem to imply that there will be a Kingdom work done this side the veil, while a work of still greater magnitude and authority is progressing on the other side of the veil. We read, ‘Let the saints be joyful in glory; let them sing aloud upon their beds.’ (Psa. 149:5) This seems to imply, as we have mentioned before, that there is a special work to be done while these saints still have beds, while they are in a condition of repose – not ‘tossed to and fro, and carried about by every wind of doctrine’ (Eph. 4:14), but fully at rest in God’s great plan. The Scriptures go on to say that they have a two‑edged sword in their hands – which is the Word of God. They use it as the sword of the Spirit. This would not be true of them on the other side of the veil. They would have no use for a sword there. The Scriptures also declare that the high‑sounding praises of God are upon their lips. This, too, seems to be applicable to those this side the veil.” (Written February 15, 1915)

Then from Reprint 5632: “The final phase, ‘to execute the judgments written,’ would seem to imply that there would be something for the saints on this side of the veil to do in connection with the execution of the judgments upon the nations. As to just what this means, we have not yet fully learned. But we see nothing here to conflict with the thought that the Lord’s Kingdom may be properly understood to have begun operations and that the present smiting of the nations is under Kingdom control. The fact that some of the members of the Kingdom class are still in the flesh does not militate at all against this thought. We see the kingdoms of this world now being dashed to pieces, and we axe expecting to see the process continued until they are completely ground to powder. ‘They shall become as the chaff of the summer threshing‑floor, and the wind shall carry them away. Then shall they be found no more at all.’ (Dan. 2:35) [“And this honor have all the saints.” – Psa. 149:9]

“THE KINGDOM OF GOD SET UP: Because certain ‘important things are to be accomplished, we see that God is permitting what to others might seem to be purely human devilishness. For a wise purpose He permits this reign of lawlessness, this condition which evokes universal odium. Our thought is that we should look for still further evidences day by day that the Gentile Times have ended, and that God’s Kingdom has begun its work. [God’s Kingdom is the Christ Company]... The present step is the war of the nations. The next step will be Socialism – an attempted Socialism – among the people. Then the third step, Anarchy, will gradually come on. When this symbolic fire shall prevail, then the world will realize what we are trying to tell them now; namely, that God’s Kingdom is taking control, and that these various demonstrations are evidences that our Lord is taking His great power. [Armageddon, or world‑wide Revolution, is the final step, according to the Jehovah’s Witnesses.]

“At the sounding of the seventh trumpet Messiah was to take unto Himself His great power and reign. That trumpet is now sounding! ‘And the nations were angry and thy wrath [the great Time of Trouble starting in 1914] is come.’ (Rev. 11:18) Surely the nations are angry now! They act as if they were bereft of common sense. We see readily enough that the spirit of selfishness has prevailed there right along, but that some hindrance or fear heretofore held them back. But finally, when the Lord’s ‘due time’ has come to permit it, they broke through their restraint. The Lord has at this particular time especially to do with the affairs of the nations. And this war was allowed to occur at about the end of the Gentile Times, at the appropriate time when they are to be dashed to pieces with the iron rod of the iron rule (Psa. 2:6‑12). It is our judgment that we shall see more of this iron rule and its breaking influence, not only upon the nations, but upon society at large. Now in this great day of the Lord everything that can be shaken is to be shaken to pieces and shaken out, to the intent that nothing unrighteous or unworthy shall remain. God Himself is doing the shaking (Hag. 2:6,7).

“THE TIME FOR JUDGMENT IS RIPE: We believe that the Times of the Gentiles ended just on time, as shown in Volume 2 of Studies in the Scriptures. The hand of justice is now doing the breaking – the nations shall be broken as a ‘potter’s vessel.’ The whole cataclysm of trouble may be upon the world during the next ten months, or it may be longer deferred. We believe that the time for the setting up of the Kingdom was on September 21, 1914. [Otherwise the “judgment written” (Psa. 149:9) would not have been pronounced; the ejection is now going on.] At that time, when it was due for our Lord to take His great power and reign, the nations were already angry. They were at war over a month in advance of the time, because so angry.

“The due time for the ‘wrath’ was September 21, 1914. We are expecting to see this wrath still more manifest. The nations have been in just this same unloving spirit one toward another for a number of years, but apparently they have been under some forcible restraint. We believe that God’s time had not yet come. We wondered, and many people wondered, how their anger could be restrained much longer; much has been written about it in the newspapers. When the Balkan war came [1912‑1913], it was because the nations were angry; and it very nearly led to this conflagration. Austria tried to precipitate the trouble at that time, but the German Kaiser held back. Now the restraining hand has been removed. The time is ripe.” (Reprint 5632, February 15, 1915)

In 1914‑16 the first smiting of Jordan was taking place, although Brother Russell did not then fully realize it. However, we should keep in mind that the River Jordan in some instances types the human race under the curse; and its rapid fall in a very short space from the clear water of the mountains to the “sea of salt” the Dead Sea graphically portrays the downward course of the human race under the curse of sin and death. As the Jordan empties into the Dead Sea, it ends in the lowest body of water on earth’s surface 1296 feet below sea level.

From a second viewpoint the Jordan types Christendom, which also has experienced a tragic fall from the pristine purity of the early Church under the Apostles to its present depraved position of Babylon. And it is this latter picture that is represented in the first smiting of Jordan. As the war progressed after its commencement in 1914, the people of Christendom became more and more divided into two very distinct classes – the Conservatives and the Radicals. Those of us who had personal experience with that first smiting recall very vividly how pronounced the cleavage became. We had some of the radicals tell us personally, “Just wait till the war is over, and we’ll then show the Uppercrust what this is all about.” And the turmoil everywhere in evidence now offers pronounced testimony to the seriousness of that division.

And of that first smiting we have the clear Scripture – “This honor have all his saints.” (Psa. 149:9) Under this latter heading Brother Russell quotes more from the same Psalm:

“‘Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two‑edged sword in their hand; to execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people; to bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; to execute upon them the judgment written: this honor have all his saints.’ (Psa. 149:5‑9)

“We are frequently asked whether we understand that there is to come a time when the Lord’s people, the saintly ones, while still in the flesh, will have a full understanding of the entire Word of God, including the dark expressions of Ezekiel, Zechariah, Revelation, etc. In reply we usually remind the questioners that eighteen hundred years ago St. Paul wrote, ‘Take unto you the whole armor of God’ (Eph. 6:13,17), including ‘the sword of the spirit, which is the Word of God’; and that we are therefore to understand that St. Paul himself and other Christians of his time had the ‘Sword of the Spirit.’ We are sure, however, that they did not understand certain portions of the Word of God which were not then due to be understood; for instance, that portion of Daniel’s prophecy which the angel said was to be sealed up until ‘the time of the end,’ and many other prophecies which were not then unfolded. This has always been more or less true ever since. Prophecy unfolds gradually. Today more is due to be understood than ever before.” (Reprint 5803, bottom, November 15, 1915)

We are convinced that there were quite a few saints in the various Truth groups after Brother Russell’s demise who disagreed with one another on certain Scriptures; but during the smiting – when That Servant was with us – they were all in harmony on the work then due to be done, and in one group. “Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion.” (Isa. 52:8) And we do know there was complete harmony in the Truth group about the work they were to do then. The “gathering” of the saints was complete after they were sealed in their foreheads with Present Truth. As That Servant has said, prophecy unfolds gradually. Today more is to be understood than ever before. Today we know some things that Jesus Himself did not know when He was on earth. “Of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” (Matt. 24:36) We know that we are in “that day.”

“We are not to understand that the Bible will have no value in the incoming Age, but rather to the contrary of this. Our thought is that the Bible will be used then. not so much as a sole means of communicating God’s will, but as a source of information, much as we now use histories. It will enlighten men respecting God’s laws, etc. There is nothing to indicate that every matter that the Bible treats will be seen clearly by the Church while we are on this side the veil. The Apostle says that ‘now we see through a glass obscurely’; but that beyond the veil we shall see ‘face to face.’ We shall see clearly; for we shall then be like our Lord. Now we know in part, but then ‘we shall know even as we are known.’ (1 Cor. 13:12)” (Bottom of Reprint 5803, and top of 5804)

Indeed, we believe that the Restitutionists – the obedient – will understand more of the Bible than we do now. The faithful Restitutionists will be able to understand all the doctrines of the Bible, we believe – including the two salvations, the “Great” and the “Common.” The only thing that the “natural man” cannot now appreciate is spirit-begettal – “the things of the spirit” – nor will it be necessary for them, as they will not be of the heavenly class. And it is true now of the fully consecrated unbegotten, they understand the doctrines of the Bible – all necessary for the work the Lord gives them to do, and all that is necessary to be of the Worthy Class. In fact, all now in Present Truth understand much more than any of the saints before the Harvest period; and some understand more than some spirit‑begotten. However, it is also true of the spirit-begotten – the Little Flock and the Great Company – that they will understand enough to continue in their class standing. However, the Worthies are different from the Restitutionists in that the faithful will be spirit‑begotten at the end of the Kingdom and receive a heavenly reward. The Restitutionists will not have this opportunity, nor will they have heavenly aspirations. They will be happy with “paradise on earth.”

“THE WORK NOW GOING ON: In speaking of this present time [1915], as we think, the Prophet David says, ‘Let the saints be joyful in glory, let them sing aloud upon their beds.’ The children of God should be joyful at all times – even in tribulation – knowing that these experiences work out for us a development of character and a preparation for the Kingdom glories. The Psalmist here foretells that the saints at this time are at rest upon their beds, while they sing God’s praise. This statement might be meaningless to us until we understand from other Scriptures that these beds represent creed or the sum total of one’s religious belief.

“While some are reclining on a short creed bed, which cramps and fetters them, and the narrow covers of which cannot give them warmth and comfort, the true saints of God have at this time beds of full and proper size, and a cover which is warm and ample. They are shown in this prophetic picture as taking their ease, resting in faith, while others are restless and uncomfortable. But while thus resting in these good beds, representing their mental attitude and heart condition, and while praising the Lord, they are using skillfully the ‘two‑edged sword.’ This sword in their hands is the Bible. The thought is not necessarily that God’s people have absolute knowledge of every feature of God’s Word; but that they have all the knowledge needful to the efficient use of the sword at this time, all the knowledge designed for the saints now, when this prophecy applies.

“‘Let the high‑sounding praises of God be in their mouths’ (Psa. 149:6), urges the Psalmist. We believe that this is more and more becoming true. The saints can praise God more intelligently and fully now than ever before. We can see our Lord’s character better, because much of the ignorance, misconception, mysteries and obscurity have fled away. God’s Word is shining out with more brightness than ever. We cannot see that our Brother John Calvin could have had very much of the ‘high‑sounding praise of God’ in his mouth, for it is surely not a high‑sounding praise to declare that our God would assign thousands of millions of humanity to an eternity of torture. Nor can it be said of people today who teach this same horrible doctrine, that they have the ‘high‑sounding praise of God in their mouths.’

“God’s name is blasphemed, and His glorious character traduced and misrepresented every day. The world is told that God has a devilish plan – that He has made a hell in which to torture a very large part of humanity; and that He has the devils there already doing the torturing, and that this will go on throughout eternity. There are no high‑sounding praises connected with any such beliefs and teachings. But the Lord’s people who keep close to His Word are now able to tell forth the wondrous Story of God’s love. wisdom, justice and power as never before. And the Truth is surely accomplishing a work in the binding and fettering of error. We believe that the words of the Psalmist in this text are being fulfilled at this time. To some extent at least we are already engaging in the great work here depicted.”

(Reprint top of 5804, columns 1 and 2, November 15, 1915)

The Epiphany Messenger has elaborated on the above truths, as well as the 40‑year Harvest and the two and a half years overlapping from the Parousia into the Epiphany period. When he taught that the Epiphany and the Time of Trouble are identical – one and the same period – he was not bringing out any advancing Truth, because That Servant had also taught that the Epiphany and the great Time of Trouble are one and the same.

“To the very best of our ability we have endeavored to make clear that the parousia of our Lord is wholly different from His epiphaneia. Both of these Greek words are translated coming in our common Bible, but in the Greek they have very different significations. The word parousia signifies presence, but does not signify any outward manifestation of that presence. It is used in respect to the first stage of the Second Advent, in which our Lord is said to come ‘as a thief in the night’ to reckon with His own servants and to take the faithful of them with Him to the heavenly mansion or condition prepared for them.

“Our Lord’s parousia and gathering of the elect, we understand, has been in progress since 1874. It will continue until all of the ‘elect’ shall have been gathered and glorified. [The quotations of a later date show where That Servant changed his mind about the glorification of all the saints by 1914.] In one sense our Lord will continue to be present as the world’s King to the conclusion of the Millennial Age; but His parousia in the sense of secrecy of presence, will terminate when, as the Scriptures declare, ‘He shall be revealed in flaming fire [judgments], taking vengeance on all who will not obey the truth, ‘ but enlightening and revivifying all who will hear and, to the extent of their opportunity, obey His message. The parousia is to the Church and for the Church only. The epiphaneia or apokalypsis of the Lord in power and great glory is not to the Church nor for the Church, but to the world and for the world. ‘When he shall thus appear we also shall appear with him in glory,’ the Apostle declares. (Col. 3:4)”

(Reprints 4543, bottom, column 1 and 2, January 1, 1910)

“AN ASTOUNDING STATEMENT: At the epiphaneia, or bright shining, of the Lord’s manifestation, God will have completed His present work of directing the Church, and the world will be informed that they are under a different dispensation. When the world shall have come to understand the matter fully they will know the truth of our Lord’s words in His last prayer with His disciples, that the Father loves the Church as He loves the Lord Jesus Christ. This is a very astounding statement. It shows that there is nothing selfish in our Lord. He did not say, ‘They will always be inferior to me. They will never have the glory that I shall have.’“

(Reprints 5359, top, column 1, par. 2. December 1, 1913)

There is much more by That Servant on the Parousia and Epiphany, but the above will suffice for now. We all know that Brother Johnson’s expectancy for the duration of the Time of Trouble – or Epiphany – did not mature; but the duration of this Epiphany has continued much longer than That Servant also expected. And some of the Lord’s people have stumbled over these miscalculations, which we believe were permitted by the Lord for the testing of His people. However, those very mistakes did energize the Lord’s people to continue with zeal to “preach the Gospel.” At the First Advent the disciples did not realize that the Kingdom was about 2,000 years in the future. Had they known, it would have discouraged many of the believers at that time.

Some of the Lord’s faithful people today, who believe they consecrated when the High Calling was still open, cannot give up their hope of being of the Christ Company. Of those who still entertain that belief we believe they number far more than the 144,000 who will constitute that select group. But we maintain a tender sympathy for such, because of our own experience along the same line. It is probably well to recall here that none in the Truth Movement believed the High Calling was closed until Passover 1918 – almost four years after it had been an accomplished fact: Thus, considerable effort was put forth to win others to that Company – when, in fact, it was an impossibility. However, the many errors that were produced by the Society after 1916 caused us to leave them; although we feel indebted yet for the solid truths we learned before leaving them, which they were teaching at that time. And, while some of our very good friends stayed with the Society, it is our opinion now that they made their calling and election sure.

“Let us reason together, saith the Lord” (Isa. 1:18), if there were enough saints in at 1881, then all who came in after that time would be those who had taken the crown of those who lost their crowns after that date; and those who took those crowns then lost them were also filled by others. Isn’t it reasonable that the vacancy was filled by 1914? Isn’t it reasonable to believe that there could be no more spirit‑begettals after that date? We believe that all the saints had been sealed in the forehead before That Servant’s demise, although those who were begotten by 1914 did not receive the forehead sealing of Present Truth at that time – but all of them did receive the forehead sealing in time to participate in Jordan’s first smiting. (See Psalms 149:9)

The faithful Ancient Worthies would have been eligible candidates for the High Calling, but they lived too soon for that. The glowing words of Jesus concerning John the Baptist eloquently confirm this: “Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven [the 144,000 members of the Christ Company] is greater than he.” (Matt. 11:11) Much the same situation now prevails here in the end of the Age. We believe there are Youthful Worthies today who would have been eligible for the Christ Company, but they were born too late. They make the same consecration as did the saints – to be dead to self and the world and alive to God.

That Servant saw the truth of this condition – and so expressed it – although he did not use the name Youthful Worthies. He simply referred to them as a “class” who would be accounted worthy to share with the Ancient Worthies “in honor and service” in the Kingdom arrangement. Some of the Ancient Worthies probably suffered more than did some of the saints of this Age; and we believe we have already seen some of this same condition as respects the Youthful Worthies, and we may yet see more of this.

That Servant thought he might die a martyr’s death (although we are told he prayed to be delivered from such an experience), and the Epiphany Messenger was fully convinced he would be “violently seized.” However, both of them died in bed. Brother Johnson believed as he did because he expected to see at least the beginning of Anarchy. He has been dead now about 31 years [51 years in 2001], and we have not yet experienced Armageddon. This latter could begin any day now, which is sure to produce many casualties and shedding of blood. Then the prophecy of Ezek. 7:19 will apply: “They shall cast their silver in the streets, and their gold shall be removed: their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the Lord.”

However, our readers may seek solace in the prophecy of Zeph. 2:3: “Seek righteousness, seek humility, peradventure ye shall be concealed, in the day of the anger of Yahweh.” (Rotherham) Present generosity will probably receive some consideration at that time; only the very hardened criminals will abuse those who have befriended them.

It is stated of the Ancient Worthies that “these all obtained a good report through faith.” (Heb. 11:39) Thus, any others who share “in honor and service” with them will also “obtain a good report through faith.” The eleventh Chapter of Hebrews contains a refreshing history of those Ancients, and St. Paul tells us in Heb. 12:1‑3 that their examples should stimulate us to better things. God does all things for the good of all, and He knows what is best for us. “Wherefore... let us run with patience the race that is set before us.” Presently, those of us who will be of that Class have a greater knowledge of God’s Plan of Salvation than did any of those Ancients. Some of them did not even understand what they wrote (Dan. 8:27; 12:8,9) – although we now understand much of what they wrote.

It is our hope and prayer that we have refreshed the minds of the Lord’s people by reproducing some of the salient Truths given to us by the faithful Mouthpieces of God. “Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.” (2 Peter 1:12)

“Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy. Let thy mercy, 0 Lord, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.” (Psa. 33:18,22) (John J. Hoefle, Reprint No. 411, June 1990)

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AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE SPEAKS OUT AGAINST UN ON ISRAEL

Last week, the American Jewish Committee issued a strong statement criticizing the “sad fate” that befell Israel in UN history. In comparison to 188 of the 189 UN members who served in the Security Council and other UN organs, the only exception until very recently was Israel. The AJC revealed the following shocking facts:

“On November 29, 1947, the UN took what the New York Herald‑Tribune described as ‘one of the few great acts of courageous collective statesmanship which our shattered postwar world has been able to achieve.’

“What was it? On that momentous day, the General Assembly voted to divide the bitterly disputed territory of the Palestine mandate between two new states – one Arab and one Jewish.

“For the democracies of the world, this was a major victory. The vote promised, or so it seemed at the time, to open up new possibilities for the UN and for Israel – a country that has much to contribute to the world.

“But, sad to say, that is not what happened! At the UN today, Israel remains what Israel has been for many years – a second‑class citizen.

“How bad is it? Consider this: Of the 189 member nations of the UN, 188 may be elected to serve a term on the powerful Security Council. Libya, for example, may serve on the Council. So may North Korea and Iran. So, in fact, may Saddam Hussein’s Iraq.

“But one country in the world – and one country only – may not sit on the Security Council. That country is the State of Israel. An outrage? Absolutely.

“The American Jewish Committee (has) led the fight to end the demeaning insulting treatment to which Israel has been constantly subjected at the UN.

“Recently we scored a major victory in that fight. Here’s the situation: In order to be eligible to serve on the Security Council, a country must be a member of one of the UN’s five regional groups.

“In geographical terms, Israel is part of the Asian group. But for years, Arab and Islamic countries denied Israel the right to be a member of this grouping.

“Israel stood alone. In all the world, it was the only country that did not have the required affiliation. Literally dozens of times, we met behind closed doors with top-ranking diplomats from around the world. We demanded an end to this injustice in the most public forums. We placed full‑page advertisements in The New York Times. These ads galvanized world attention and forced WEOG nations to act.

“Perhaps most important of all, thousands and thousands of supporters of the American Jewish Committee made their voices heard in postcards to top officials of Western European nations.

“And recently, the Western European and Others Group extended an invitation to Israel to join its caucus on a temporary basis. The New York Times attributed this victory to the American Jewish Committee’s relentless diplomatic and public relations campaign.

“This move marks an important step forward out of Israel’s isolation at the UN. But there’s a catch. Israel’s invitation is only temporary. It was extended on the condition that Israel not seek membership on the Security Council.

“Nor, under the restrictive terms of this invitation, may Israel be present at UN posts in Rome, Vienna, Nairobi or – importantly – Geneva, the meeting place of the UN Human Rights Commission, a perennial bastion of Israel‑bashing.

“In essence, Israel has been told: You may finally join the community of nations, but only if you stay in the back of the room and keep quiet.”

(By David Horowitz, The Jewish Press, February 16, 2001)

PALESTINIANS ELECTED SHARON

Charley Reese’s assertion that “the Israelis have voted for war and against peace” (Feb. 13) contains a tiny kernel of truth. By a landslide margin Israelis did vote against the so‑called peace process.

Why? Not because they oppose peace – the people of Israel desperately desire peace – but because of the growing recognition that the process itself was flawed; that it is simply impossible to achieve peace with those who refuse peace if it requires any concessions on their part.

In reality, it would be just as accurate to say that it was the Palestinians who elected Ariel Sharon. The sobering truth is that Ehud Barak offered the Palestinians almost everything they asked for: He offered them a Palestinian State; he offered them the territory that was roughly equivalent to the return of the 1949 borders; he offered them a capital in Jerusalem; he offered them, amazingly, even shared control of the Temple Mount.

Yet, not only did they turn Barak down, they responded to his incredible offer with personal vilification and the worst display of violence and anti‑Semitic rhetoric seen since the start of the Oslo Accords.

With Ariel Sharon, Yasser Arafat and his henchmen are getting exactly what they deserve – a man who may very well match their own political and ideological rigidity. A man who, just like them, may very well say “no” to proposals thought fair and evenhanded by the United States.

To be sure, in the face of ongoing Arab violence and terrorism, Sharon will not be nearly as flexible and as willing to make compromises as was Barak. It has been the nonstop Palestinian hostility during these past five months that convinced 62 percent of Israelis – including many who had been in the “peace camp” – that Barak’s way would prove disastrous for Israel.

So, sorry, Charley, but let’s be honest: It was the Palestinians who, once again, missed the opportunity.

Still, peace may one day come to the Middle East. But it will come only when Israel finds a genuine partner for peace; it will come when Israeli concessions will be matched by, at least, some concessions on the part of the Palestinians; it will come when those who sit opposite Israel at the peace table will not revert back to bloodshed whenever they cannot get what they want through negotiations.

Until that time, the Palestinians may well have to learn to live with Ariel Sharon, a man who, because of Palestinian intransigence and virulent hatred of Israel, they themselves put into office.

(By Aaron D. Rubinger, rabbi of Congregation Ohev Shalom In Orlando, FL, Orlando Sentinel, February 20, 2001)

NO. 527 LOOSING THE FOUR WINDS OF HEAVEN - PART ONE

The subject for this paper is to be found in Revelation 7:1‑3, which we quote from the Diaglott: “After this I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, restraining the four winds of the earth, so that no wind might blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. And I saw another angel ascending from the sun‑rising, having the seal of the living God; and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to injure the earth and the sea, saying, ‘Injure not the earth, nor the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the bond‑servants of our God on their foreheads.

Companion to the foregoing is Daniel 7:2: “The four winds of heaven strove upon the great sea.” And related to these two is Daniel 3:19: “Then the form of Nebuchadnezzar’s vision was changed against Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego... he commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated.”

It is our understanding that the “four winds of heaven” in these texts refer to the fallen angels – the evil spirits of Jesus’ day, which are counterfeited in the Greek and Roman heathen teachings of the “demigods” ‑ creatures that were assumed to be half God and half man. They are the “giants” (the Nephilim) of Genesis 6:4 and Numbers 13:33 the demons that were formed through the union of “the sons of God and the daughters of men” – “giants [Nephilim] in the earth in those days... mighty men, men of renown.” The ten spies that brought back the evil report said, “There we saw the giants (Nephilim), the sons of Anak... we were in our own sight as grasshoppers.” “And the people wept that night” (Num. 14:1), for they were terrorized at the mere mention of those demigods, which permeated most of the heathen religions of that day.

First, to explain the incident in Daniel 3:19‑25: The golden image represented militarism in the end of this Age, which demanded obeisance from all sections and groups in the various nations. Of course, many of the Truth boys refused to do this; and the treatment accorded many of them was something to contemplate. It is stated that the fiery furnace was heated‑seven times worse than had ever been done before, and those of us who were involved have vivid memory of the truth of that statement. Quite a few of the Truth brethren were put to death in some European countries; and, as we recall, a couple of them were slain here in the United States. But many others here were given most inhumane treatment. When some of the objectors came into that detachment they were so bruised they could not sit down, a few of them having to stand while eating for several days. It is difficult to believe that such abuse went on here in this great United States. But it did!

Names given to the people in the Old Testament often revealed certain characteristics or positions among the Lord’s people, and we believe the names of the three Hebrew youths are some of these. They represent three classes living in the end of this Age – the Little Flock, the Great Company and the Youthful Worthies – all of whom had to cope with Militarism, Sectarianism and religious hatred in the warring nations. Shadrach means “royal,” and offers a strong hint to the “royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9); Meshach means “guest,” with allusion to those who are to be “guests” at the marriage of the Lamb (Rev. 19:9); and Abednego means “servant of the prophet,” referring to the Youthfuls who are in the same class with the Ancients (Moses faithful in all his house as a servant – Heb. 3:5). Much could be said about the treatment accorded to all three classes during the first World War, but that is not the purpose of this article.

However, we would emphasize here that the meaning of the Hebrew names is strongly indicative of the truth of these types here in the end of the Age, because there have been only three such classes in the end of the age, the Ancient Worthies having no part whatever in the events that have taken place, because they were not here. Nevertheless, we have other very strong types that prove four elect classes – The Little Flock, the Great Company, the Ancient and the Youthful Worthies. These types are to be found in the Tabernacle picture; and especially so in Noah’s Ark, which are definitely and clearly pictured there: Noah and his wife ‑ Christ and His Church; Shem and his wife ‑the Ancient Worthy leaders and the lesser lights among them; Japheth and his wife – the Great Company leaders and ledlings; and Ham and his wife ‑ the Youthful Worthy leaders and ledlings.

Also 2 Timothy 2:20 is a very clear picture of the four elect classes: “But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.” The gold, the Little Flock; the silver, the Great Company (see Berean comments on Mal. 3:3 and 2 Tim. 2:20); the wood, the Ancient Worthies; and the earth, the Youthful Worthies. The great house of typical Aaron (Lev. 16:6; Num. 17:2,3; 3:6‑9,17‑20) consisted of his sons and the three typical classes of Levites; accordingly, in the Great House of our Great High Priest, there are four classes antitypical of these, and (additionally) vessels of honor and dishonor – less honor – representing faithful Restitutionists including Jews and Gentiles.

It should be remembered here that That Servant emphasized that the six volumes of Studies in the Scriptures are a direct outgrowth of the Truth to be found in the Tabernacle. Also, that the Ark types Christ and the power in Him which will replenish and reorganize society. The great deluge was a type of the Time of Trouble here in the end of this Age; and, just as Noah and his family began an entirely new Society after the flood, so these four elect classes will also develop an entirely new social order – “which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people.” (Dan. 2:44) The four elect classes mentioned above shall be the benevolent absolute rulers of that Kingdom.

Revelation 7:1‑3 – Much confusing error has been produced by faulty interpretations of this text. As example, The Finished Mystery (JFR, et al) explains “the four angels of the earth” as God’s chosen people; but v. 2 says of these four angels “to whom it was given to hurt the earth [the present social order] and the sea [the restless masses].” At no time under present evil conditions are the Lord’s people ordered, or permitted, to hurt the earth. They are never messengers of wrath; but rather, they are told to “follow peace with all men” (Heb. 12:14); and in Galatians 5:22 we are told that one of the fruits of the spirit is peace.

It is our understanding that these four angels of destruction represent four classes of humanity, the same having been led into destructive error by a false teaching: (1) the Divine right of kings; (2) the Divine right of the clergy; (3) the Divine right of the aristocracy; (4) and the Divine right of labor. Our readers are all probably familiar with the Divine right of kings, and the evils that have resulted from that obsession. Then with the clergy that same evil has produced the BIG I and the Little You. Don’t try to read your Bible; let us do it, and tell you what it means. We ourselves have known some Catholic priests who have gone into quite a flutter when some member of his congregation dared to ask some questions the priest could not answer. Also, in some countries, the aristocrats consider themselves the stewards and almoners of the earth, whose duty and privilege it is to mark out the domestic course of their hirelings. And with Labor, their outstanding fault is their belief that earth’s products belong to their producers.

But these very evils did restrain the “four winds” (the fallen angels) from precipitating the nations into destructive combat before the “due time”; namely, 1914 when the time had come for the glorified Lord to take to Himself His great power and to “rule the nations with an iron sceptre; as the earthen vessels it is breaking them together.” (Rev. 2:27, Dia.)

However, it should be carefully noted that this restraint was to be only “that no wind (the great war] might blow on the earth... till we have sealed the bondservants of our God in their foreheads” (Rev. 1:1‑3) – giving them sufficient knowledge of “Present Truth” to enable them to “come out of her, My people.” (Rev. 18:4) But as each respective nation became involved in the war either directly or devastatingly indirectly – then the words of Jesus became painstakingly obvious: “The night cometh, when no man can work.” (John 9:4) It should not be difficult to understand that when the three Hebrews (God’s Harvest workers) were cast into the fiery furnace, the thought of any more Harvest work was definitely forced from their minds; they had more than enough to “Hold fast that which thou hast.” (Rev. 3:11) The time had indeed arrived “That the plowman [the Time of Trouble] shall overtake the reaper... and the mountains [autocratic governments] shall drop sweet wine, and the hills [liberal democracies] shall melt. (Amos 9:13) And the progress continues with ever‑increasing fury to this day.

THAT SERVANT’S COMMENTS

At the outset it had been our intention to use mainly in this paper quotations from That Servant. The foregoing introduction has been much longer than we anticipated; but we now offer the following from the Watch Tower of May 15, 1911, keeping in mind that the world at that time seemed in such a peaceful condition that only a handful of earnest believers accepted the idea of a world conflagration in 1914, which probably caused the following comments:

“Our recent visit to Europe revealed no more unrest amongst the people than our previous one. Indeed, we were surprised to find so many evidences of prosperity everywhere and so few manifestations of violent discontent. Some residents confirmed this view, while others thought that there is a deep undercurrent of discontent not manifest on the surface. Our readers know that for some years we have been expecting this Age to close with an awful time of trouble, and we expect it to break out with suddenness and force not long after October 1914, which, so far as we can understand the Scriptures, is the date at which the Times of the Gentiles – the lease of earth’s dominions to the Gentiles – will expire; the time, therefore, when Messiah’s Kingdom will be due to begin its exercise of power, which the Scriptures declare will dash the nations in pieces as a potter’s vessel. By that time we think the Scriptures indicate that the Church will be complete and will have passed beyond the second veil into the ‘most holy’ and to perfection of spirit nature by a share in the First Resurrection. Nevertheless, how this is all to come about, as we have heretofore declared, Is not plain to us – how it will be that all the Church class will die before that date, changed in the moment of their dying, ‘in the twinkling of an eye.’

“But while considering these perplexities, and considering also the fact that we have no fault to find with the chronological features of the Bible, our mind is directed to an old Scripture which suddenly seems to have a new importance. We refer to the statement, ‘I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth that the wind [the World War] should not blow on the earth, nor the sea, nor on any tree... Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.’ (Rev. 7:1‑3)”

Here we would inject the thought that the war did not break out in any country until the saints there had been “sealed in their foreheads.” Although the United States did not become officially involved until April 7, 1917, all the plans had been made by the middle of 1916 to become officially involved, and all our industrial resources were engaged in helping our friends to carry on. President Wilson was wholeheartedly on the side of the Allies, but he used the slogan “He kept us out of war” to gain re‑election in November 1916. Then almost immediately after his second inauguration in March 1917 he declared war on the Central Powers.

Now more from the Tower quotation: “We have long seen that these symbolic winds represent strife, anarchy, the great Time of Trouble which is held in check by Divine power until the completion of the harvest work ‑ the sealing of the living members of the elect class with Present Truth. We long ago pointed out that these four winds, let loose, coming together, will constitute a whirlwind, which is the symbolical figure used in the Bible to represent the great Time of Trouble approaching. And this whirlwind corresponds to the typical one by which Elijah, the prototype of the Church, was taken away. Winds also represent false doctrines. (Eph. 4:14)

‘THE PRINCE OF THE POWER OF THE AIR’

“Nothing that we see further contradicts any of the foregoing, but rather, corroborating it, throws a light upon it. The additional thought is that these winds or powers of the air, held in restraint, represent the fallen angels, whose prince is Satan, ‘the prince of the power of the air.’ Our thought is that the evil angels would long ago have done injury on the symbolic earth, sea and trees, had it not been for the restraint of Divine power. Symbolically, the earth represents organized society; the sea represents the disorganized masses, and the trees represent the Household of Faith [or prominent ones in organized society]. The letting loose suddenly of the fallen angels will account well for the suddenness of the coming trouble, which everywhere in the Scriptures is one of its particular features – ‘in one hour’; ‘suddenly as travail upon a woman’; ‘as it was in the days of Noah,’ and ‘as it was in the days of Lot.’

“Again there is a resemblance between the days of Noah and days of Lot [the flood burst suddenly upon ‘the world that was’ ‑just as the fire and brimstone fell suddenly upon the Cities of the Plain], not merely in respect to the suddenness of the calamity which came, but also in regard to the violence and licentiousness of those periods. Already human prejudice and passions are manifesting a heat such as never before was known – and this, notwithstanding the much greater provision of army and police regulations for the control of society. If discontent, selfishness, passion, frenzy, can sway mankind under present conditions, what may we expect when the ‘powers of the air, shall be allowed to gain a temporary liberty for the very purpose of manifesting the evil tendencies of the unregenerate heart; for the very purpose of demonstrating that no liberty can bring true happiness, except that which is in full accord with the Divine requirement.” (Reprints 4822,4823, May 15, 1911)

When That Servant emphasizes the suddenness with which the war would come, he did not fully realize just how suddenly it would be. The Archduke of Austria and his wife were driving through the quiet peaceful countryside of Servia, when they were both assassinated. Within two days the armies of Germany, Austria, Russia, England and France were being mobilized. Then Germany gave Russia twenty‑four hours to explain why they were mobilizing; and, receiving no answer, Germany then declared war on Russia, and in a few days England, Austria and France all declared war. The armies of Germany swept through France and Belgium with unbelievable rapidity; the whole European world was precipitated into a holocaust never before seen (“a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation”); the New York Stock Exchange was closed for ninety days; no one could buy or sell regardless of how pressing that necessity might be. And here it might be well to state that the date 1914 clearly pointed the finger to That Servant as the one mentioned in Jeremiah 1:5: “1 ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.”

It should be noted here that “God spared not the angels that sinned, but... delivered them into chains of darkness [the atmosphere about this earth], to be reserved unto judgment (the great day of wrath].” (2 Peter 2:4) Since which time they have been abusing their freedom; will abuse it yet more in Armageddon, and will abuse it yet more in the fire of the great day, when Anarchy will prevail – “no hire for man, nor any hire for beast; neither was there any peace to him that went out or came in because of the affliction.” (Zech. 8: 10) At the end of this tribulation the Devil will be spirited away. “And he seized the dragon, the old serpent, who is an enemy and the Adversary, and bound him a thousand years.” (Rev. 20:2, Dia.) The Epiphany (the Epiphaneia) means bright shining and is manifesting persons, principles and things, which we see happening every day.

MORE FROM THE WATCH TOWER

“Spared In The Day Of Trouble – ‘They shall be mine, saith the Lord of Hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.’ (Mal. 3:17) Like many other prophecies, the words of the Prophet Malachi seem to have a general application throughout the Gospel Age and a particular one at the close of the Age. Eighteen hundred years ago the Lord Jehovah began to make up His jewels. The first of these jewels was our Lord Jesus Christ, who was polished, perfected and taken up on high. Jehovah did not cease His work with the perfection of His Son, our Lord. He has arranged that other jewels be cut and polished after the similitude of His Son, that they may shine with Him in the heavenly glory and Kingdom; as it is written, ‘We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works.’ (Eph. 2:10)

“The Messenger of the Covenant is, primarily, our Lord Jesus, Who came more than eighteen hundred years ago and presented Himself to those who were heirs of the New Covenant ‑ the Jews.

THE PRESENT A WONDERFUL TIME

“The closing scenes of the Gospel Age will be the most remarkable of the world’s history, the Church will then be completed. We are not at liberty to guess when the end of the trouble will be. Whether all of the trouble will come in the next two or three years we do not know. But we think that the most serious part of the trouble will occupy a very short time.

“Let us remember that we are living in most wonderful times. More can be accomplished in one month now than could have been done in years sometime ago ‑ more in one hour than in days formerly. (The cruising speed of our present‑day passenger airplanes is about 625 miles per hour. When Jesus was here the finest of horses could do little more than ten miles per hour, and that they could not continue for more than an hour or two.] We are still in the waiting attitude, so that the Lord can indicate His will in the matter for us. We believe that the year 1915 will be even more wonderful than the present. We fully believe that the year 1914 will see the end of the Gentile Times for we cannot find even one flaw in our Bible chronology. [Because of the great calm that prevailed in 1913, we were told by some brethren that Brother Russell selected some of his leading helpers, and asked them to check the chronology minutely as compiled in Parousia Volume 2; but they could find nothing wrong with it.]

“We do not claim infallibility. To err is human. If, therefore, the Father permits us to blunder in respect to His Word in this matter, nevertheless, He will undoubtedly have a great blessing for us. And if it should be that the year 1914 should not mark the close of the Gentile Times, we would still believe that the time could not be far distant; for the nearer we come to that time, the nearer we see the fulfillment of the things which the Scriptures indicate will then occur.” (Reprints 5119, October 15, 1912)

And in Parousia Volume 2, p. 101, par. 1, there is this: “Be not surprised then when in subsequent chapters we present proofs that the setting up of the Kingdom of God is already begun, and it is pointed out in prophecy as due to begin the exercise of power in AD 1878, and that the battle of the great day of God Almighty’ (Rev. 16:14), will begin in AD 1914, and that it will end in the complete overthrow of earth’s present rulership. The gathering of the armies is plainly visible from the standpoint of God’s Word.”

“Since the Church of Christ, which has been developing during the Gospel Age, is to be associated with her Lord in the great restitution work of the Millennial Age, the first work of Christ at the Second Advent must be the gathering of His elect Church, to which reference is made by the Prophet (Psa. 50:5), saying, ‘Gather my saints together unto me, those who have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.’ This gathering or harvesting time is in the lapping period of the two Ages. As will be shown, it is a period of forty years, which both ends the Gospel Age and introduces the Millennial Age. (Vol. 1, pp. 219‑221; 234‑237; and Chart of the Ages) This harvest period not only accomplishes the separation of wheat from tares in the nominal Gospel Church, and the gathering and glorification of the wheat class, but it is also to accomplish the burning (destruction) of the tares, or imitation wheat, not as individuals (the fire is symbolic as well as the tares), and the gathering and destruction of the corrupt fruitage of the Vine of the Earth (human ambition, greed and selfishness), which has been growing and ripening for centuries in the kingdoms of this world and in the civil and social organizations among men.” (Parousia Volume 2, pp. 104‑105)

Also from Parousia Volume 2, p. 77, par. 5: “Fifthly, that by that date [the end of the Gentile Times], or sooner, Israel’s blindness will begin to be turned away [published in 1889]; because their ‘blindness in part’ was to continue only ‘until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in’ (Rom. 11:25), or, in other words, until the full number from among the Gentiles, who are to be members of the Body or Bride of Christ, would be probationally selected.”

Further from p. 78, par. 1: “Seventhly, it will prove that before that date [emphasis by That Servant] God’s Kingdom, organized in power, will be in the earth and then smite and crush the Gentile image (Dan. 2:34) – and fully consume the power of these kings. Its own power and dominion will be established as fast as by its varied influences and agencies it crushes and scatters the powers that be, civil and ecclesiastical, iron and clay.”

From the above it is clear enough that Brother Russell believed when first publishing Volume 2 in 1889 (25 years before 1914) that all the saints would be selected by the end of the Gentile Times. However, after 1914 he did say the High Calling was still open. He came to that conclusion because so many were then coming into the Truth; but he did not realize that most of those were members of antitypical Lot, who began to flee from that “great City, which spiritually is called Sodom” (Rev. 11:8) when the fire and brimstone began to fall on Christendom with the outbreak of World War One. We are told of quite a few who had been waiting to see if Brother Russell’s 1914 date would prove correct – and they then left Babylon when the happenings did prove the date to be correct.

Here we should keep in mind, however, that not all of such were of antitypical Lot, as some of the saints did not come into the Truth until Passover 1916; but those saints were all sealed in the forehead before their native country was engulfed in the War; but the “night wherein no man could work” arrived when the respective countries became involved, at which time “the plowman [the plowshare of Trouble] overtook the reapers.” (Amos 9:13)

But Brother Russell still taught that the Kingdom began to be set up in the Spring of 1878, and we agree with that conclusion. Most of our readers know that the “stone” is the Little Flock, and Brother Russell says this in Parousia Volume 1, p. 255:

“The stone cut out of the mountain without hands, which smites and scatters the Gentile powers, represents the true Church, the Kingdom of God. During the Gospel Age this ‘stone’ kingdom is being formed, ‘cut out, I carved and shaped for its future position and greatness – not by human hands, but by the power or spirit of the truth, the invisible power of Jehovah. When complete, when entirely cut out, it will smite and destroy the kingdoms of this world. Not the people, but the governments, are symbolized by the image, and these are to be destroyed that the people may be delivered. Our Lord Jesus came not to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. (John 3:17)”

In view of the fact that the kingdoms of this world are being scattered and smitten after the end of the Gentile Times – 1914 after World War One began ‑ we conclude that the reaping part of the Harvest was indeed a forty‑year period ‑ from 1874 to 1914. (To be concluded in Part Two.)

“Therefore, Beloved, seeing ye know these things... Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and for ever.” (2 Peter 3:17,18)

(John J. Hoefle, Reprint No. 410, May 1990)

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QUESTIONS OF GENERAL INTEREST

QUESTION – John 6:44 says “No man can come to me, except the Father... draw him.” By what method does the Father do the drawing?

ANSWER – He draws us by the Truth. “Everyone that is of the Truth heareth my voice.” (John 18:37) During this Gospel Age the Father draws the prospective elect, but during the Millennial Age the Christ will do the drawing for all Restitutionists and that drawing also will be by the Truth. However, during the Faith Age, the rest of this text reveals that He is speaking only of the elect in John 6:44: “And I will raise him up at the last day.” The Berean Comments on this text are also instructive: “Draw him... Draw him to me; Will raise him up... Exalt him; At the last day... Early in the Millennial Day.” It is clear from this text that God is not “drawing” Restitutionists during this Faith Age ‑ nor will He do the drawing in the next Age. Jesus also said, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” (John 12:32) And the Berean Comment on this text is quite clear, too, that the Restitutionists are meant, – also it is the Truth that will draw them.

That Servant tells us in Reprint 2925, col. 2, top: “The special drawing which the Father accomplishes is in connection with what is called ‘the election according to favor, I while the drawing which Christ will accomplish in the next Age will be the operation of free grace, upon all and for‑the benefit of all.”

Also in Reprint 4049, col. 1, par. 1, top: “Similarly our Lord informs us that as a result of His being lifted up at Calvary He shall ultimately exercise a drawing power upon all mankind. Not that He is exercising this drawing power now, however, for He declares respecting those who now come unto Him that they are drawn of the Father.”

Before Jesus can exercise His power to draw Restitutionists, His merit on embargo in the Court must be released. His merit will not be applied to the world of mankind outside the Court until all the elect are in – all who are to be “exalted early in the Millennium.”

To teach that those in the Camp now have the merit of Christ and are on trial now for faith and obedience, is not only mixing the Two Salvations, but also dividing the merit of Christ for the elect and the Restitutionists. The only two groups who are mixing the two Salvations are, so far as we know, the Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Laymen’s Home Missionary Movement.

I have been thinking about 1 Cor. 15:24‑26, but I think 1 Cor. 15:28 tells the tale clearly: “And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.”

During the Little Season Christ and the Church will still be in charge, just the same as they were during the Mediatorial reign – the only exception being that the iron rule will be lifted. But they will deliver and protect the sheep, pronounce the same judgment they had been pronouncing upon the goats who did not outwardly obey during the Kingdom. It was the Father’s Law all the time, but put into the hands of the Christ. God doesn’t individually deliver the sheep – it is the Christ. So it will not be the same as it will be when the Restitutionists are subject to God. When they are Kings of the earth, they will no longer be subject to the Christ, but to God the same as all living creatures, including Christ – only they will have a much higher standing, of course.

“Those who have been teaching error [on Christ’s merit and the Two Salvations] will soon be ashamed (Isaiah 66:5), while the fire of this day will only manifest the truth to all. No power, no tongue, no pen, can successfully contradict the truth, the great Divine Plan of the Ages. It is strong before its enemies and before all who make assaults upon it, and ere long the folly of its foes shall be made known to the whole world. ‘There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’” (Reprint 5916, col. 2. par. 3, June 1, 1916) (By John J. Hoefle)

QUESTION – Does everyone have an opportunity to go to heaven?

ANSWER – No, everyone does not have an opportunity to go to heaven. God had a right, if he chose, to make us merely the creatures of a brief space of time, even if we had never sinned. Thus he has made some of His lower creatures. He might have permitted us to enjoy His blessings for a season, and then, without injustice, might have blotted us all out of existence. In fact, even so brief an existence would be a favor. It is only of His favor that we have an existence at all. How much greater favor is the redemption of the existence once forfeited by sin! Further, it is of God’s favor that we are men and not beasts; it is purely of God’s favor that angels are by nature a little higher than men; and it is also of God’s favor that the Lord Jesus and His bride become partakers of the Divine nature. It becomes all His intelligent creatures, therefore, to receive with gratitude whatever God bestows. Any other spirit justly merits condemnation, and, if indulged, will end in abasement and destruction. A man has no right to aspire to be an angel, never having been invited to that position. Uninvited thereto an angel had no right to aspire to the Divine nature.

It was the aspiration of Satan’s pride which brought his abasement, and will end in his destruction. (Isa. 14:14) “Whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted” (Luke 14:11), but not necessarily to the highest position.

“Thus saith the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, his [man’s] maker: Ask me of things to come. Concerning my children, and concerning the work of my hands, command ye me? I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded.” “Thus saith the Lord that created the heavens, God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the Lord, and there is none else.” (Isa. 45:11,12,18) None have a right to dictate to God. If He established the earth, and if He formed it not in vain, but made it to be inhabited by restored, perfect men, who are we that we should reply against God, and say that it is unjust not to change their nature and make them all partakers of a spiritual nature either like unto the angels, or like unto His own Divine nature? How much more becoming to come humbly to God’s Word and to “ask” concerning things to come, than to “command” or to assert that he must carry out our ideas? Lord, keep back thy servants from presumptuous sins: let then not have dominion over us. None of God’s children, we believe, would knowingly dictate to the Lord; yet how easily and almost unconsciously many fall into this error.

The human race are God’s children by creation ‑ the work of His hands – and His plan with reference to them is clearly revealed in His Word. Paul says that the first man (who was a sample of what the race will be when perfect) was of the earth, earthy; and his posterity, with the exception of the Gospel Church, will in the resurrection still be earthy, human, adapted to the earth (1 Cor. 15:38,44). David declares that man was made only a little lower than the angels, and crowned with glory, honor, dominion, etc. (Psa. 8:4‑8) And Peter, our Lord, and all the prophets since the world began, declare that the human race is to be restored to that glorious perfection, and is again to have dominion over earth, as its representative, Adam, had. (Acts 3:19‑21)

In selecting the Little Flock, God makes a very general call – “many are called.” All are not called. The Call was confined at first, during our Lord’s ministry, to Israel after the flesh; but now, as many as the servants of God meet (Luke 14:23) are to be urged or constrained (not compelled) to come to this special feast of favor. But even of those who hear and come, all are not worthy. Wedding garments (the imputed righteousness of Christ) are provided, but some will not wear them, and must be rejected; and of those who do put on the robes of justification, and who receive the honor of being begotten to a new nature, some fail to make their calling and election sure by faithfulness to their covenant. of those worthy to appear with the Lamb in glory, it is declared, “They are called and chosen and faithful.” (Rev. 14:1; 17:14)

(Excerpts from Volume 1, pages 189,190,195)