Letters to the Editor

•

Thanksgiving DayI am writing to tell you how much I

enjoyed your article about ThanksgivingDay. How true! People are forgetting Godand forgetting to thank Him for manygreat blessings. In fact, I think people aretrying to kick God out completely! Moreand more, people don't say: "Have a happyThanksgiving." Now it's: "Have a happyturkey day."

Ralph M.,Bakersfield, Calif.

"Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery"I certainly appreciate your article "Thou

Shalt Not Commit Adultery!" in theDecember issue of Tomorrow's World. Iam a marriage counselor, yet I wouldnever advise, "A little adultery is goodfor your marriage." On the contrary. Ihave frequently said that marriage partnersdo not ordinarily have affairs with otherpeople in a healthy marriage. When eachone is doing his part in building a goodrelationship in marriage, ordinarily thereis no thought of straying away on the partof either.

Jim H.,Santa Ana, Calif.

• Glad you agree, Jim. We hope this articlehas strengthened your stand.

TithingI have finished the article about "The

Man Who Couldn't Afford to Tithe." Itfits me perfectly because my name is thesame as his and with all my debts it seemsalmost impossible.

Ed S.,Gray Summit, Mo.

I have just finished reading your articlesin the November issue concerning tithing.Since I am very sure that God exists andHe says He will bless me for paying tithes,I realize that I am not only doing aninjustice to God, but also to myself. Whata beautiful law! Here's my first tithe.

Michael Y.,Boise, Idaho

About our coverThe late Sir Winston Churchill.Britain's wartime Prime Ministerwas a moving example of theforce of a sincere, dynamic,and powerful PERSONALITY.Read how you can "Build thePersonality of a King!" begin­ning on page 9 of this issue.

8lou, Camera Press

Before I started reading your publica­tions I hardly ever thought of the Bibleseriously, let alone keeping the laws itdescribed. An example is the law of tith­ing. Even after I had read about it, I stillmade excuses for not being able to affordto tithe. However, I now know what Imust do. Kindly accept my small contri­bution to further this great and wonderfulWork.

C. M.,Birmingham, England

Enclosed is my check for my most recenttithe - and I'm happy to add my voiceto the thousands of others who have writ­ten you of their experiences which provethat tithing -pays in so many ways! I neverbefore dreamed that I could get so muchout of what seemed to be such a smallamount of income! How blessed we areif we will but heed our Creator's laws.

Beverly F.,La Mesa, Calif.

ChristmasI really enjoyed your "Ten Reasons Why

I Don't Keep Christmas!" I am 35; myhusband, 41; and we have been broughtup on the Santa Claus-Christmas tradition.This year, we are having no Christmas forthe first time. Our 2- and 3-year-old girlsare bombarded with Santa Claus andChristmas. Admittedly, we have occasionaltwinges that we are denying the little onesall the thrill and excitement we had aschildren. But, we realize that Christmas isnothing with its materialistic, paganistichypocrisy. Our girls may have the chanceto be in the real, not pseudo, "now genera­tion" and be taught by the "King of kingsand Lord of lords."

Bettie S.,Stockton, Calif.

I have a message now, loud and clear,about Christmas. I certainly take my hatoff to your writers who are able to exercisethe family discipline needed to resist thetemptations of this national holiday.

(Continued on back cover)

ContentsPersonal from the Editor

5 The "Tongues" Ouestion

9 Build the Personality of a King!

J3 The Origin of St. Valentine'sDay

15 What Is the Place that JesusIs Preparing?

17 The Story of Man

22 Answers to your Questions

L.C.J.

Associate EditorsRobert L.Kuhn Brian Knowles

William F. DankenbringContributors

D~vidAlbett Dennis G. LukerGary ,Alex~nder Ernest L. MartinDavid L. Antion Leslie L. McCulloughDibar K.Ap~rtian Raymond F. McN~irRonald L.Dart Richard F. PIacheCharles V. Dorothy John RobinsonGunar .Freib¢rgs Paul S. RoyerJ. Orlin Grabbe Richard H. SedliacikCharlesF. Hunting Eugene M. WalterRonald Kelly Clint C. ZimmermanPaul W. Kroll Basil Wolverton

John R. SChroeder. Copy BdltorRonald Taylor. Art Editor

Editorial. Assistants: . Ronald Beideck, Chief;Bronson James. Ronald Nelson. Kathleen Prohs,Jan Schroeder. Mack Taylor.

Albert J. Portune, Business ManagerCircul"tion .M"n"gers: U. S, A,: John H. Wil­son.UiK.': Charles F. Hunting; Canada: DeanWilson; Australia: Gene R. Hughes; Philip­pines: GUY L Ames; South Africa: Gordon R,TerblanchetvLatin ,America: Louis Gutierrez.• Articles beginning on the following pagesprevio\lsly copyrighted by Ambassador Collegeasfndicated: .. P. 5 © 1957. 1970; p. 9 © 1967;p •. 15.©<J958.YOUR SUBSCRIPTION has been paid by others.Bulk. copies for distribution not given or sold.,ADDRESS ALL COMMUNICATIONS to theTomorrow' J World office nearest you:• United States: P. O. Box 111. Pasadena.

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dney, NSW2060. Australia.Ze"l""d; P. O. Box 2709. Auckland 1.Zealand.

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Entered· as Second class mail at Pasadena.California, and at additional mailing offices.BE.StlU TO NOTIFY us IMMEDIATELY of anychange in your address. Please include bothold and new address. IMPORTANT!

Personal from

The 19-Year Time Cycles ­What HAPPENED January 7 ­

What My Commission IS!

SIGNIFICANT THINGS DID happen on January 7th!In this Personal I want to tell you what hap­pened - but also to make PLAIN and CLEAR:1) What our Commission IS, and what it is

NOT!2) What are the criteria for determining through

whom God is carrying out that Commission which isHIS WORK on earth today.

Thousands know that I, personally, have beencalled and chosen for a very definite commission inGod's service. But I have definitely NOT been calledto be a PROPHET - except as that word, Biblicallyused, does sometimes refer to a minister or speaker- one who proclaims the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Emphatically I am NOT a prophet, in the senseof one to whom God speaks specially and directly,revealing personally a future event to happen or newtruth, or new and special instruction direct from God- separate from, and apart from what is containedin the Bible. And I never have claimed to be.

Tbere is no such human prophet living today!

The Bible is the written Word of God - and,for our time now, it is COMPLETE! Never have 1believed or claimed that God reveals to me new truthsnot contained in the Bible - in addition to, or apartfrom the Bible.

In a special group festival held at BelknapSprings, in Oregon, in the autumn of 1951, I wasshocked - and so were those there - to hear HermanL. Hoeh, then recently graduated from Ambassador

College, say with conviction, as if with authority, "Mr.Armstrong IS NOT A PROPHET - but a man called tothe same kind of commission as the original evangelistsand apostles of the first century Church of God - toproclaim the Message - the Announcement - theGood News of the Kingdom of God - the Messagethat Christ brought from God and taught Hisdisciples."

I shook my head in astonishment that he wouldmake that statement. I knew well I was not a prophet.I simply knew I had been called to proclaim Christ'sGospel of the Kingdom of God - to get a job done- but I had no illusions about being an evangelist, oran apostle, or anything more than my own part inproclaiming and publishing this Great NEWS, as awitness, to as many as I could reach. I had no visionthen of a worldwide ministry.

Let's take a look at the Church of God of thefirst century, as we find it revealed in the Book ofActs, beginning from the day of Pentecost, 31 A.D.The Bible was not fully written - only the OldTestament - in 31 A.D. God then was still commu­nicating new truth, instruction and knowledge directlyand personally to prophets. As the Church progressed,it was the function of a prophet to communicate tothe apostles special messages which God had person­ally revealed to them. Others were inspired in thewriting of the books of the New Testament.

So we read, in Acts 11:28 and 21:10-11, of theprophet Agabus. But today we have the COMPLETEWord of God, for our time, in the Bible. There are nosuch prophets - except false ones.

Now a word about what my Commission is NOT.It is not to become an infallible expert on, or to preach,chronology.

I feel at present that the whole question ofchronology is in confusion, and no one can be posi­tively SURE of dates.

As of the present I, and a majority of our histor­ians in Ambassador College, and researchers in theSchool of Theology, feel that it is utterly unsafe totry to SET DATES in regard to future prophesied events,especially the return of the living Christ in supremePower and Glory to rule all nations of the earth.

But we are only human, and it is natural that weshould have been curious to know, as far as possible,how much time we had to GET THE JOB DONE. (Moreabout that later.)

That, however, in fact, is not our main purpose,or Commission - which is to proclaim Christ's An­nouncement of the advance good NEWS of the coming

:z TOMORROW'S WORLD February 1972

Kingdom of God to rule all nations - and the mes­sage commonly called salvation - the fact we maybe born again through Jesus Christ - born into thatKingdom.

Our Commission is to GET THAT JOB DONE!We have been GETTING IT DONE!The question which Christ, the Head of God's

Work, has not revealed in the Bible is, HOWTHOROUGHLY He intends it to be done!

The prophecy of the proclaiming of this Messagein our time, is in Matthew 24: 14. Jesus said: "Andthis Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached [andpublished - Mark 13:1O} in all the world for awitness unto all nations; and then shall the end [ofthis age} come."

Let me say now, that in early July last year(1971), I could not have said that had as yet beendone. But, in the literal Scriptural meaning of thatcommission, as of January 7, 1972, IT HAD BEEN AC­COMPLISHED! Six months before we had not yet gottenthe Message into Japan, nor into the Scandinaviancountries. Now we have!

There may, now, be a very few little countriesvirtually unheard of into which we have not pene­trated. But I was mentioning three or four such tinynations as an example before some of our executivesthe other day, when Mr. Ronald Dart, Vice Presidentin charge of the foreign Work, grinned, on the men­tion of one of them, saying, "We are broadcastingregularly on the leading radio station in that country."

BUT - the unanswered question is - HOWINTENSIVELY does God intend ALL these countries tobe reached? That is the question He has not answered- IN THE BIBLE. (Unless by one implication of whichI will cover later.) But, by what HAPPENED on thatvery day, January 7th, and since, it appears He hasnow given us the answer - He intends the nationsto be reached MORE INTENSIVELY than as of now!

More of that, later!Go back, once again, to the beginning and found­

ing of the Church. First, Jesus called His disciples,whom He taught and trained to START getting this jobdone. Whom did He call? The most highly educated,the leaders of the world? No, Peter and Andrew,brothers, fishermen by trade. Then next He calledJames and John, brothers, also fishermen. He choseMatthew, a publican (tax collector) - and tax col­lectors were held in no high regard in Judea.

After Christ's resurrection, Peter and John werebrought before the high priest and chief rulers. They

were accused of benefitting and healing a man crippledfrom birth. It is recorded (Moffatt), "They wereastonished to notice how outspoken Peter and Johnwere, and to discover that they were uncultured personsand mere outsiders" (Acts 4: 13). These apostles werefrom Galilee - outsiders in Jerusalem. The AVrenders it, "... and perceived that they were unlearnedand ignorant men," but that is misleading; as theGreek implies, not ignorant, and illiterate, in the ordi­nary sense but, as Moffatt renders it, uncultured intechnical learning of Jewish scribes and rulers, and intheir acquired mannerisms.

Again, speaking of true Christians, we read, inI Corinthians 1:26: "For you see your calling, brethren,how that not many wise men after the flesh [intel­lectually}, not many mighty, not many noble, arecalled ...."

The sophisticated churches of the world seekleaders who are intellectual, socially cultured, leadersin the community. But when GOD chooses His humaninstruments, He is more concerned about the sincere.and honest of HEART. He calls imperfect (all men are,anyway) but sincere and dedicated human instruments.THEY ALL MAKE MISTAKES! This fact needs NOAPOLOGY!

When I was first called - autumn 1926 - spring1927 - I first looked for PROOF, one way or the other,as to whether GOD exists. I had had little or no relig­ious interest previously. I did not assume, because ofmy Protestant ancestry and parentage. I wanted toknow - to be SURE - I wanted PROOF one way or theother.

After much careful research, involving study ofevolution - the writings of Darwin, Huxley, Haeckel,the earlier Lamarck, plus Spencer, Vogt, Chamberlainand other modern geologists and evolutionists - aswell as a careful study of Genesis and other parts ofthe Bible - of all the scientific facts bearing on thesubject I could find - I became SURE! I had PROVEDthat God IS!

Next I entered an intensive study to determinewhether the Bible can be PROVED to be the inspiredWord of God - the revelation of knowledge fromthe Creator to mankind. By many infallible proofs,this was PROVED!

After that, I had a SOLID FOUNDATION on whichto start.

I began then to learn God's Truth, but not untilafter surrender to Him, repentance, believing, baptism,and receiving His Holy Spirit. This opened my mind

February 1972 TOMORROW'S WORLD 3

to UNDERSTANDING of the Bible. Never before couldI understand it!

Now I began to learn, a truth, a subject, a teach­ing, or a doctrine at a time. Baptized in 1927 (latespring), I was not ordained to the Ministry until lateMay, or early June 1931. (Pentecost was May 25th).In my study, I did not receive everything perfectly allat once. There were instances where, having felt I hadcome to understand the true Biblical teaching on acertain subject, other Scriptures discovered later put adifferent light on it. I had, on occasion, to confess Ihad been in error, and to correct it.

The Apostle Paul, telling us under God's inspira­tion of how he came to KNOW God's Truth, said:"But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel whichwas preached of me is not after man. For I neitherreceived it of man, neither was I taught it,but by therevelation of Jesus Christ." He received it, as he im­plies, from an appearance of the living Christ, inperson, even after His resurrection and ascension.

I, too, received Christ's Gospel NOT from MAN.I, too, certify that the Gospel I have taught and pro­claimed is not after man. I entered no theologicalseminary, where I would have received a particulardenominational teaching and set of doctrines andpractices. I was not taught by MAN. But I was taught,as was Paul, by the revelation of Jesus Christ - Paulfrom the living Christ in person - who is the Wordof God in person - but I from the written Word ofGod - which is the SAME revelation, now set in print.

I did not get it all perfectly at the beginning. Noone could. Most of God's truths, assuredly, were re­vealed perfectly and in truth from the beginning. But,as an example, even Peter says "... our beloved brotherPaul also according to the wisdom given unto himhath written unto you; as also in all his epistles,speaking in them of these things; in which are somethings hard to be understood, which they that areunlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the otherscriptures unto their own destruction" (II Peter3: 15-16). And sometimes, in the light of other Scrip­tures, I had to confess error and correct it.

There were at least two occasions when I wasaccused by hostile women, bent on discrediting me,of error. On more thorough research, in these twoinstances, I discovered I had unknowingly been in error- and they were correct. Humiliating or not, I openlyand publicly corrected these errors at once.

Even the first century Church at Antioch wasUNSURE about a truth, and when they appealed to the

Headquarters Church at Jerusalem, so were theapostles there - UNTIL THE HOLY SPIRIT correctedthem, and revealed the real truth to them (Acts 15th

chapter) .Let me ask you this question. Do you know of

any large, established, well-recognized professingChristian denomination which has PUBLICLY confessedit had been WRONG in what it had been teaching, andwhich then CORRECTED the error, and turned to the

TRUTH?No, the big established churches and denomina­

tions feel they cannot afford to admit having had anyerror - having ever mis-taught the people.

But are they ALL perfect and correct in what theyteach? If so why do not any two AGREE in all pointsof doctrine? The REASON is simply that they DO teachcertain errors which they are afraid to confess, forfear they would lose members.

THUS THEY HAVE EDUCATED THE PEOPLE TOSUPPOSE THAT IF ANY LEADER, ANY CHURCH, ANDWORK OF GOD CAN BE FOUND TO HAVE BEEN IN ERRORIN ANY POINT, THEY CANNOT BE TRUSTED. To confessand correct error is to be branded a false prophet!

Yet they are all HUMAN. They are ALL subjectto error, and so are YOU - and so am I - and sois this Work of God. Even though it is God's Work,directed, empowered and blessed by Him, He carriesit on through frail, weak HUMANS, and we humansare ALL of us subject to mistakes!

What are God'S CONDITIONS for salvation? 1st,is REPENT. Repent means CONFESS YOUR SINS - yourerrors - your mistakes - where you have beenWRONG! It means CHANGE from the wrong, and TURNTO the right! A church or a group activity, even suchas ours, is made up of HUMANS. Such church or workis merely the individual humans that comprise it,COLLECTIVELY. If no one of the humans is infallible,NEITHER CAN THE ORGANIZED GROUP BE.

If I were looking for God's one true Church, Iwould assuredly look for one that had confessed andcorrected its errors! For all have had them - eventhe early churches (Rev. 2:4, 14, 20).

Any criterion that assumes God's TRUE Workthrough humans is absolutely perfect, unable to bewrong or make mistakes or hold to any error, is afalse measuring stick and will mislead you.

You may ask, do I, then, feel that we in thisWork are full of errors, misleading the people? MOSTEMPHATICALLY NO! We have not had to correct errormany times. But each time we have corrected an error,

4

we have had one fewer error left. If weKNEW of any error still remaining,now, we would CHANGE it! If andwhen we find one in the future, weshall correct it! The one who followsthat principle is THE MOST FREE FROMERROR!

SO, confessing such an error is oneof the SUREST proofs to identify thepeople through whom the living ChristIS WORKING - and whom HE is USING!

If you are looking for a leader whoclaims that he is PERFECT, and you thinkyou have found him, and he is human,HE IS A FALSE LEADER. There is ONLYthe ONE Leader who is perfect today- and He is the LIVING CHRIST! Wefollow HIM - and we trust you, withus, will do the same.

Peter made mistakes. He was openlyrebuked by Paul (Gal. 2:11-14). Allprophets and apostles were IMPERFECT- all made mistakes. All but Christ!

Now I want to tell you the TRUTHabout the two 19-year time cycles, end­ing January 7, 1972, with a frank,straightforward explanation of wherewe were mistaken - and WHERE WEWERE RIGHT!

In a Co-Worker letter dated May22nd, 1953, I wrote the following:

"Listen now to an ASTOUNDING fact!God has set time running in cycles of19 years. Just once in every 19 yearsthe days, divided by the sun; themonths, marked by the new moon; andthe years, divided by the revolution ofthe earth around the sun, all come intoconjunction.

"It took just ONE CoMPLETE CYCLEof 19 years for this Work to grow fromnothing until it carried the very Gospelof Jesus all over the North Americancontinent in mighty power! That 19­year time cycle ended, and the second19-year cycle began, during the firstweek of the present year, 1953!

"The very start of the second 19-yearcycle marked the beginning of pro­claiming this Gospel to ALL EUROPEAND THE BRITISH ISLES! It must stillgo to Asia, Africa, South America, andAustralia."

But MORE ASTOUNDING than I hadnoticed, or written then:

We started on the air on the littlestation in Eugene, Oregon, the firstSunday in January, 1934. That first

TOMORROW'S WORLD

Sunday was January 7. For some timeI talked of starting also on the airin Europe during the first week of1953 - 19 years later - not the firstSunday, but the first Wednesday.

What I did not realize, then, is, thatone year from today - or two, or 19years from today will NOT be the sameday of the week as today!

Let me add here, that I did not haveanything to do with setting the DAYon which we started in Europe. I hadnegotiated to purchase time on thatstation two or three months earlier ­late autumn, 1952. I sent over a tran­scribed or taped program, but for somereason the contents did not completelyconform to technical station require­ments. I re-recorded the program andsent over a second transcription. Be­cause of language barriers, I had notunderstood their technical requirements.Again it was rejected.

The third time the program wasokayed, as were all programs thereafterfor years. The station put it on at thefirst open date thereafter - which hap­pened (?) to be, the first Wednesdayin January, 1953.

But, incredible as it may sound, whenlater I checked with calendars, thatWednesday was January 7, 1953! 19years to the exact SAME DAY OF THEYEAR. I checked with the Hebrew cal­endar. January 7, 1934 was Sunday,Tebeth 20th. Also January 7th, 1953,was Wednesday, Tebeth 20, by the He­brew calendar! So the door opened inEurope, not only the first week in 1953,but on the exact SAME DATE - 19 yearsTO THE VERY DAY!

That seemed SIGNIFICANT, to say theleast!

Another possibly significant analogy:Jeremiah's caIling as a prophet wasfrom the 13th year of king Josiah (Jer.1 :2) - apparently 626 B.C. It seemsunlikely Jeremiah would have enteredhis ministry without some training.

If he underwent a 3-year training,similar to the training of Christ's disci­ples, his actual ministry would have be­gun approximately 623 - (a date ap­parently not verifiable historically). Thefirst phase of his ministry carried to thebeginning of the siege by Nebuchadnez­zar's forces on Jerusalem, 604 B. C.That was 19 years, assuming the pre-

February 1972

ministry training period. His ministrythen continued until the fall of Jeru­salem, 585 B. C. - a SECOND 19-YEARTIME CYCLE. However, there is amplereason to believe Jeremiah's ministrycontinued into, but probably not com­pletely through, a 3rd 19-year periodwith his escaping f rom Jerusalem and,with one of King Zedekiah's daughters,migrating to northern Ireland, wherethis "King's seed" took root downward,and bore fruit upward.

If you will put yourself in my place- and in the place of my associates inGod's Work - I think you may imag­ine how we felt! This was ASTOUNDING- yet it was FACT!

As God set the earth, the moon andthe sun to mark time here on earth,each 19 years is a definite cycle of time.Granted, there was no prophecy in theBible specifically saying THIS WORKwould be given one 19-year time cycle,at which time God would open the doorfor us to get His Message into Europe.

BUT, we checked the early Church.It started on its mission from the day ofPentecost, 31 A. D. (Acts 2). TheApostle Paul said a DOOR was openedfor him to get the Message into Eu­ROPE (II Cor. 2:12-13 and Acts 16:8-13). This was in .50 A. D. - after19 years. And there is reason to believethat the "Sabbath" mentioned in Acts16: 13 was the annual Sabbath calledthe day of Pentecost - or 19 years tothe day from the time the Gospel wasfirst preached by the Church!

To us these FACTS and probable factswere truly ASTOUNDING!

There IS the definite time cycle, SETBY GOD in the earth, moon and sun, of19 years. That is a FACT!

It was, to the very DAY, precisely 19years from the start of this Work untilthe door was opened to proclaim theMessage to EUROPE! That is not sur­mise, conjecture, or "probably" - thatis FACT! It happened!

It appeared probable that Jeremiahhad been given 19 years for the firstportion of his ministry. It was definitethat he was given another 19 years forthe second phase of his ministry. It isestablished by prophecy that a thirdstage of his ministry carried INTO a third19-year time-cycle - though probably

(Continued on page 30)

The"Tongues"Question

Is IIspeaking in tonguesll the Sible evidence 01 the baptismwith the Holy Spirit? Just what IS the baptism with the HolySpirit? What about IItarry meetingsll? Are there people

IIspeaking in tonguesll today?

by Herbert W. Armstrong

I s "SPEAKING in tongues" theBIBLE evidence of the baptismwith the Holy Spirit?

Is this "baptism" for us today?What is the Biblical teaching about"TARRY MEETINGS"?

The Most Important Businessof This Life

The most important business ofthis life is the receiving of the truebaptism with the Holy Spirit.

But how few, today, understandwhat that baptism really is ! Youreternal salvation depends on it! Letus come very humbly, prayerfully,to a study of this all-importantsubject.

It is one fraught with prejudiceson both sides. Let us remember thatthe Holy Spirit is, first of all, theSpirit of LOVE - of PATIENCE ­of TOLERANCE. SO let us, if possible,come to this study, each admittingthat he may have been wrong, andvery humbly, prayerfully, seekinginstruction from GOD out of HisWord. And let us see this studythrough to the end.

Salvation means, simply, the in­dwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.The Holy Spirit is the very LIFE ofGod. Jesus said: "That which is bornof the flesh is FLESH .... Ye mustbe BORN AGAIN" - born of God'sSpirit!

"But ye are not in the flesh, butin the Spirit, IF so be that the Spiritof God dwell IN YOU. Now if anyman have not the Spirit of Christ,HE IS NONE OF HIS.... But IF theSpirit of him that raised up Jesusfrom the dead dwell in you, he thatraised up Christ from the dead shallALSO quicken your mortal bodies BYHIS SPIRIT THAT DWELLETH IN YOU"(Rom. 8:9, 11).

Unless, then, we have received theHoly Spirit, God's Spirit, God'sLIFE, to dwell within us, we areLOST - utterly without hope ofeternal life! Surely, then, the re­ceiving of the Holy Spirit is themost important business of this life!But what is the difference between"receiving" and being "baptized by"the Holy Spirit?

Is PENTECOST Repeated inThis Day?

Let us, then, look prayerfully andwithout prejudice into God's Word.

Are the accompanying MANIFES­TATIONS that took place on the dayof Pentecost - immediately follow­ing Jesus' ascension to heaven - foryou and me today? Many peopleassume that they are - and that themethod of receiving this experienceor "blessing" is to attend modern"tarry meetings." And that the only"Bible evidence" of the "baptism of

the Holy Spirit" is "speaking intongues." On this assumption manywould stake their lives!

So let us EXAMINE the originalmanifestations of that day, as de­scribed in the Bible, and SEE whetherthey are being repeated today. Per­haps a real surprise awaits us. Let usnot ASSUME - let us PROVE ALLTHINGS as God's Word instructs.

The only record of that tremen­dous occasion is preserved in Acts2:1-13. Let us carefully examineevery incident that occurred that day.

1) "And when the day of Pente­cost was fully come, they were allwith one accord in one place." Arethe "Pentecostal" people of todaywho believe in "speaking in tongues"in harmony and "one accord"? No,they are split up into many fragmentsand segments, over disputes amongthemselves.

2) "And SUDDENLY there came aSOUND from heaven as of a rushingmighty wind." Notice that on THATday there was a SOUND. Not asound made by the people, butthis sound came FROM HEAVEN. Itsounded like a violent windstorm.Have you ever seen THIS part of themanifestations repeated today? Thennotice, too, that this sound - theSpirit which caused them to speakwith tongues - came SUDDENLY. But

6

today we see these people start to"work it up" GRADUALLY. Sometimesthey twist, and jerk, and chatter andmutter, repeating certain phrases overand over, until they work themselvesinto it. But on THAT day, the Spirit thatfilled those disciples came FROMHEAVEN, and SUDDENLY!

3) "And it [the sound} filled all thehouse where they were sitting." Dosounds coming, not from people'sthroats, but from heaven, fill THEWHOLE HOUSE where people are assem­bled today?

4) "And there appeared unto themCLOVEN TONGUES like as of fire, and itSAT UPON EACH OF THEM." Divided,flaming tongues APPEARED - they sawthem! They came and sat upon each ofthe disciples! Has any man living wit­nessed such a manifestation in this day?

5) "And they were ALL filled withthe Holy Spirit." Surely no one has everheard of a modern "Pentecost" meetingwhere ALL were filled, all at once, at thesame time, SUDDENLY, when the Spiritcame with a great SOUND from heaven!

6) "And began to speak with othertongues, as the Spirit gave them utter­ance." Ah! Here, at last, some will besure to say, is a manifestation repeatedtoday! But wait! On this original dayof Pentecost, they began SUDDENLY tospeak in these OTHER languages. Nowwhat kind of tongue-speaking was this?Was it UNKNOWN tongues? Was it thekind that needed an interpreter? Was itlike we see demonstrated today? Let usexamine and see!

Verse 5 tells us there were dwelling .in Jerusalem at that time- devout Jewsout of every nation on earth. Word ofthis momentous experience went likewildfire over the city. A multitude ofthese Jews came rushing to the place.They were amazed. They marvelled.Why? Because that:

7) "EVERY MAN HEARD THEM SPEAKIN HIS OWN LANGUAGE!" These Jews,from all nations, UNDERSTOOD whatwas said! Some were Parthians. SomeMedes, Elarnites, dwellers in Mesopo­tamia, Rome, Arabia, etc. And they

said, "And how hear we every man inour own tongue, wherein we wereborn?"

TOMORROW'S WORLD

Now notice carefully. Every manheard THEM (Acts 2 :6) speak in HISown language! These disciples were allspeaking in tongues - OTHER lan­guages - the languages of EVERYNATION under heaven. And EVERYMAN who came rushing in heard THEM- the disciples - speak in HIS OWNLANGUAGE! The Parthian heard THEM,ALL of them, speak the Parthian lan­guage. But the Mede heard the SAME

Mangum Photo

Pentecostal tongues speakers sup­posedly "under the power of theSpirit." The real question is ­which "spirit"? See I John 4:1-4.

disciples speak the language of theMedes. Those from Greece heard theentire number of THEM - speakingGreek. THEY UNDERSTOOD what wassaid! So the miracle was in the hearingas well as the speaking.

The gift of "tongues" spoken of inthe Bible is the ability to speak of Godin other languages - languages thatare foreign and previously unknown tothe speaker.

February 1972

A Different Kind of Tongues!

Have you ever witnessed an expe­rience like this? Have you ever heardTHIS kind of "tongue-speaking"? Canyou even find a description, in all theBible, where this same kind of manifes­tation occurred at any other time?

True, they spoke with other tongueswhen the Holy Spirit first came uponthe Gentiles at the house of Cornelius

(Acts 10). And in telling the apostlesof it, Peter said, "The Holy Spirit fellon them, as on us at the beginning,"and, "God gave them the like gift as hedid unto us" (Acts 11:15, 17).

But it is not recorded, nor did Petersay, that the Holy Spirit at that timecame SUDDENLY from HEAVEN, like theSOUND of a windstorm, appearing as di­vided tongues of fire, or that men ofdifferent languages each understood allof them in HIS own language. Asidefrom being filled with the Spirit andspeaking in tongues, the nature ofwhich is not here described, there is nosimilarity between these two experiences.

February 1972

It is true, too, that in one otherrecorded case, and one ONLY, menspoke with tongues upon being filledwith the Holy Spirit. That was whenPaul had baptized the Ephesian believ­ers and laid his hands on them (Acts19 :6). But there is nothing to indicatesimilar accompanying manifestations asupon the original day of Pentecost.

So what must we conclude? The Pen­tecostal accompanying manifestationsare not being repeated today?

But if not, WHY not?

Are they not available for us today?No, they surely are not! We have noword of condemnation for these "Pente­costal" people, as they call themselves,because they are unable to repeat thesame accompanying manifestations asdescribed for the day of Pentecost in 31A.D. That will NEVER be repeatedagain! It never occurred before, and itnever will again!

Unique in History

It was an EXPERIENCE unique in allhistory. It was the welcoming manifes­tation of the advent of the Holy Spirit- the "other Comforter" - to earthFROM HEAVEN.

During His ministry, Jesus said, "Hethat believeth on me, as the scripturehath said, out of his belly shall flowrivers of living water. (But this spakehe of the Spirit, which they that believeon him should receive: for THE HOLYSPIRIT WAS NOT YET GIVEN; becausethat Jesus was not yet glorified)" (John7:38, 39).

"The Holy Spirit was not yet given."How could men receive the GIFT beforethe GIFT had been GIVEN? The SPIRITcould not corne until Jesus had beenglorified. Speaking of the corning of theHoly Spirit, Jesus told His disciples, onthe eve of His crucifixion: "If I go notaway, the Comforter WILL NOT COMEunto you; but if I depart, I will sendhim unto you. And WHEN he iscorne ..." (John 16:7, 8).

The Holy Spirit had not yet beengiven! It had not yet corne fromheaven! Unless Jesus went to heaven,and was glorified, it could not corne!

Again, that same memorable night,Jesus said: "He dwelleth WITH you, andshall be IN you" (John 14: 17). He was

TOMORROW'S WORLD

WITH them, in the person of Jesus, butwas, after the day of Pentecost, to be INthem, through the Holy Spirit. And so,today, as the Scriptures say, "Christ INus, the hope of glory."

What happened on the day of Pente­cost was the fulfillment of Joel's proph­ecy (Joel 2:28-29) - the advent of theOTHER Comforter, the Holy Spirit toearth FROM HEAVEN, as Peter clearlyand plainly explained on that very day(Acts 2: 16-21) .

And it was on that day of Pentecost,A.D. 31, eleven days after Jesus had as­cended to heaven to be glorified, thatthe Holy Spirit, the "other Comforter,"came from heaven!

AND THIS ADVENT FROM HEAVENWAS ACCOMPANIED WITH MIGHTYMANIFESTATIONS! The Spirit of Godcarne with a SOUND as of mighty rush­ing wind! It carne with the APPEAR­ANCE of divided tongues of fire! Andon that occasion, it filled all the dis­ciples, and spoke through them insuch manner that every man from everynation on earth HEARD in his own lan­guage! The miracle on that occasionwas in the hearing, as well as thespeaking!

Let us realize the truth, and not try,in our human fleshly power, to COpyand imitate that one tremendous wel­coming manifestation! For truly weshall produce only a counterfeit!

"Praying Down Pentecost"

Today we frequently hear those whodo not understand speak of "prayingdown another Pentecost." They exclaim,"It took Peter and the apostles ten daysto pray down Pentecost," and they urgeus to "tarry," and to "seek," and to begand to agonize, and to plead with Godto send down ANOTHER Pentecost - tosend His Holy Spirit from heavenagain!

But the Holy Spirit CAME FROMHEAVEN to earth on the day of Pente­cost, 31 AD. and - let us understandthis - HAS BEEN HERE EVER SINCE!

All we have to do now is to OPEN UPOUR HEARTS, and to let the blessedHoly Spirit in! Today you need notplead and beg and agonize for God togive you this greatest of all gifts. Godneeds no begging! The Holy Spirit isHERE - and God tells us in His Word

7

He is more WILLING to give us this Giftthan we are to give bread to our hungrychildren (Luke 11 :13) . Today theSpirit of God is HERE - knocking onthe door (Rev. 3:20), and the way toOPEN the door is to REPENT (Rev.3: 19), and it will corne in, and abidewith you forever!

The Great Mistake

Do you know the great mistake somany earnest people have been deceivedinto making? They are pleading withGod to GIVE them something that He ispleading with them to RECEIVE!

This is their mistake:THEY ARE TRYING TO COpy ANn TO

DEMONSTRATE THE PENTECOST MANI­FESTATIONS, INSTEAD OF FOLLOWINGTHE TEACHINGS GIVEN THAT DAY!

The manifestations of that day wereunique in all earth's history. The mani­festations of that day were the welcom­ing manifestations of the advent of the"other Comforter" to this earth fromheaven. But the inspired teaching ofPeter on that day is the teaching for thiswhole church age.

And Peter said, "REPENT, and BEBAPTIZED!" and then, "ye SHALL receivethe gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts2:38). Baptism in water is a demonstra­tion of your repentance and belief. "RE­PENT and BELIEVE," are the twoconditions - and the ONLY conditions,to receiving the great blessing of thebaptism with the Holy Spirit! Paulwent "testifying both to the Jews, andalso to the Greeks, REPENTANCE towardGod, and FAITH toward our Lord JesusChrist." And all who repented, andreceived Christ in faith, being baptized,DID receive the gift of the Spirit! Andso will we, today!

None can receive the precious Spiritof God without corning to that place ofself-abasement, self-mortification, fulland unconditional SURRENDER, entirewillingness to give up ALL for Christ ­to corne ALL the way out of the worldand its ways, customs, beliefs - to bewilling to keep ALL of God's Com­mandments - to have the faith thatwill let the Holy Spirit in!

God gives His Holy Spirit ONLY toTHEM THAT OBEY HIM! (Acts 5:32.)

No, we need not pray down anotherPentecost! But we do need to SURREN-

8

DER, and that is where we fall down.We still want our own way!

This is not to say that no prayer at allis necessary, in order to receive the giftof God's Holy Spirit. On the contrary,MUCH PRAYER is usually necessary. Butit must be the RIGHT KIND of prayer ­not the persistent, nagging, pleading ofa self-willed child to have his own way,but the earnest prayer of a broken andcontrite and repentant heart, that con­fesses its own utter depravity, its ownhelplessness, its own deceit and wicked­ness, and, like David, pleads with Godto "create in me a CLEAN heart, a God;and renew a RIGHT spirit within me"(Psalm 51: 10), confessing that ourheart is not clean, nor our spirit right.

It may take a great deal of prayer ­of earnest supplication and prayer - tobring one to the place where he CANsurrender fully to God - to have re­vealed to him the things he must sur­render, which perhaps, he himself doesnot fully realize - to be made thor­oughly WILLING to give up ALL for theblessed gift of life eternal through theHoly Spirit of God.

The Devil's COUNTERFEIT

Much has been written - thousandsof sermons preached - on the NEEDfor the baptism of the Holy Spirit.Much about "tongues," and "manifesta­tions," and the "signs following."

BUT LITTLE IS EVER SAID ABOUT THEMANNER OR METHOD of receiving thisgift!

That is because people have had theireyes on the MANIFESTATIONS, and noton the TEACHING of the day ofPentecost!

The method, unfortunately, has beentaken for granted by thousands - amodern method that has not been ques­tioned, or checked or proved accordingto the BIBLE teaching.

Is it not a self-evident fact that if weseek it a wrong way, we shall receive awrong thing?

Do you suppose the devil would becontent to deceive men on all otherquestions, and then neglect to deceivethe many thousands of seekers after thebaptism with the Holy Spirit into aclever, false, spurious MANNER andMETHOD of receiving this most preciousgift of all - and therefore into actually

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receiving a COUNTERFEIT instead of thegenuine?

God's Word WARNS you and me thatSatan is going about, today, as a roaringlion, seeking whom he may devour,KNOWING HE HAS BUT A SHORT TIME.Jesus warned us of false doctrines thatwould appear in these last days, andthat would DECEIVE many.

"Oh, but Satan could never deceiveME," you say! Why, are YOU not seek­ing after the deeper SPIRITUAL expe­riences? Perhaps speaking in "tongues"?You think YOU could not be deceived ­it is only those who are not "spiritual"that are deceived.

Can't we see that Satan is a SPIRI­TUAL being? (Eph. 2:2.) He does notcome as a red demon with horns andtail, but as "AN ANGEL OF LIGHT." Heappears as an ANGEL - a SPIRIT, and asbringing LIGHT. Those deceived THINKthey have received marvelous newLIGHT. They THINK they have advancedand been elevated to a HIGHER SPIRI­TUAL PLANE.

And Satan has many MINISTERS. Andthey do not all come preaching modern­ism, or cold spiritless doctrines. They,too, come as SPIRITUAL ministers, andare "transformed as the ministers ofRIGHTEOUSNESS" (II Cor. 11:14, 15).

It is those searching for "deeper SPIR­ITUAL experiences" whom Satan willtempt and try the most, and WHO AREMOST SUSCEPTIBLE to his deceptions!That is, unless we are constantly ONGUARD, and unless we refuse to followany but the TRUE SCRIPTURAL TEST.

You cannot trust your EXPERIENCES,because Satan, a spirit being, can givecounterfeit spiritual experiences, and bythem deceive human beings.

"Beloved, BELIEVE NOT every spirit,but TRY the spirits whether they are ofGOD: because many false prophets aregone out into the world" (I John 4: 1) .

What is TRUTH? Jesus said, "THYWORD is truth!" The BIBLE! So, whenthe Spirit of Truth is come, it merelyguides us into a RIGHT understanding ofthe BIBLE! The -BIBLE, and the BibleALONE, is the test.

"And when they shall say unto you,SEEK unto them that have familiarspirits, and unto wizards that peep, andthat mutter: should not a people seekunto their God? for the living to the

February 1972

dead? To THE LAW AND TO THE TESTI­MONY: if they speak not according toTHIS word, it is because there is no lightin them"! (Isa. 8:19-20.)

The "Law and the Testimony" arethe Old and the New Testaments - theBible. TRY the spirits! By what stan­dard? The BIBLE!

Satan today is misleading, fooling,and cleverly deceiving thousands by giv­ing "impressions," or dreams or"visions," until people say, "The Lordtold me" this or that, and call their im­pressions "leadings of the Spirit." Re­member, Satan is a spirit who can lead,as well as God. We wrestle not againstflesh and blood, but against WICKEDSPIRITS in high places, and consequentlyGod warns us that we need to put onthe WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD that wemay withstand the WILES OF THE DEVIL(Eph. 6:10-18). And that armor in­cludes the shield of FAITH, and thesword of THE WORD OF GOD. Everyspirit is not the HOLY Spirit. There aremany false, seducing, unclean spirits.

What About "TARRYMeetings" ?

Are "tarry meetings" Scriptural? Isthis the BIBLE method?

It must be remembered that there aremany different types of "Pentecostal"people. And so their ways differ.

But perhaps with the majority ofthese people, the method is as follows.The "seeker," as he is called, mustattend a "tarry meeting" along withother "seekers" and with those, wherepossible, who already "have their bap­tism," as it is expressed. The seekers aretold to say such phrases as "Glory!Glory!" over and over. Constantly theyare urged to "say it a little faster."Variations of this phrase are "Hallelu­jah" or "Praise you Jesus!" Constantlythe "seeker" is told to keep it up, fasterand faster, not to become discouraged.Sometimes they are told to lift the armsabove their heads, and hold them there.When they become so tired they areunable to hold them longer in the air,others will come and support theirarms.

In other forms of the "tarry meeting"a group of seekers assemble together,with, where possible, some who already

(Continued on page 24)

BUILDTHEPERSONALITY

OF A KING!

The readers of this magazine should become LEADERS! Do you have thecapacity to inspire - to influence - to lead others for good? Here arevital KEYS to building a powerful and effective personality - and to

making your life more abundant!

by Roderick C. Meredith

SO ME twenty years ago, my bossordered me and a partner to makea long and grueling trip back to

the head office - immediately! We werealready tired and sleepy from the longand difficult road trip we had been mak­ing. But now, just when we hoped toslow down and rest a while, we wereordered to drive over a thousand mileswithin the next thirty-six hours.

An important meeting was to beheld, and we were to be there.

All the way back, I became more con­scious than ever of how tired we reallywere. As we groggily rolled over plainand desert, I began to feel more andmore sorty for myself. Sure, he wantedus back for an important meeting ­and I should have been flattered that hedid - but all I could think about washow tired I felt, and how he had in­sisted that we start back "immediately."

"Doesn't he know how tired weare?" I muttered to myself. "Can't herealize that an extra day or twowouldn't make all that much difference- besides, we're so tired we might getin a wreck and be KILLED!" I thought.

Exhausted, sweaty and with tousledhair and two nights' growth of i beardfrom our long "straight-through" drive,we stalked into the building to check inand to find out when and where themeeting was to be held that afternoon. Iwalked a little stiffly, with set jaw and achip on my shoulder.

They said the boss was coming, so wewaited for a few minutes in the hall­way. Soon we heard him coming aroundthe corner.

The Boss Appears

"Hi, fellows !" the familiar voiceboomed out with resounding warmthand enthusiasm. "Boy! It's good to seeyou guys here!" He gripped my handwarmly and put another friendly handon my shoulder. "I know you're tired,but you look great. This meeting wouldjust not have been the same without youfellows being here. Say, I really appre­ciate your driving straight through thenight to get here in time! I think I'llline up a long weekend recuperationperiod over at a very special resort Iknow about as soon as this meeting is

over. It'll all be on me. How about it?""Oh, that's all right, sir," I found

myself saying, "It wasn't so bad a trip,and we're sure glad to be back here onthe job again."

The warmth in his voice and hissmile, the sincere love and concern inhis eyes and manner - it melted melike butter out under a tropical sun!

"Yes, me," I thought to myself lateras I was alternately puzzled and glad atthe sudden, unforeseen shift in myentire mood upon encountering theboss. For - as a former Golden Glovesboxing champion - I had thought Iwas "tough."

What changed my attitude soVIOLENTLY - so suddenly?

It was simply the force of a sincere,dynamic and powerful PERSONALITY. Itwas the boss's personality. And, as Ihave realized more with each passingyear, that personality is at least one ofthe important reasons why he becamethe "boss" over a large and growingorganization!

Now, what about you? Do youknow the "keys" or the building blocks

10

so that you can build this kind ofpersonality?

What Kind of LEADERAre You?

A new age is coming. And the rightkind of LEADERS are going to beneeded. Those who have proved theWord of God - who know that theBible says what it means, and meanswhat it says - realize that Christiansare now in training to be those leaders.Notice Revelation 2:26-27: "And hethat overcometh, and keepeth my worksunto the end, to him will I give powerover the nations: And he shall RULE

them with a rod of iron...."Again: "To him that overcometh will

I grant to sit with me in my throne.even as I also overcame, and am setdown with my Father in his throne"(Rev. 3:21). And Jesus directly prom­ised the twelve apostles: "I appointunto you a kingdom, as my Father hathappointed unto me; that ye may eat anddrink at my table in my kingdom, andsit on thrones judging [RULING] thetwelve tribes of Israel" (Luke 22:29­30).

But in the World Tomorrow, astoday, you can either lead people, oryou can DRIVE them. You can causethem to want to follow you, or you canMAKE them.

Which is it going to be?When Jesus spoke, the people were

warmed and inspired. The jealous, bick­ering religious leaders of His day werefearful lest the whole nation begin tofollow Him (John 11:48). His teach­ing and His personality had sitch aprofound effect on people that His dis­ciples remarked: "Did not our heartBURN within us, while he talked withus by the way, and while he opened tous the scriptures?" (Luke 24:32.)

Here are those "keys" Jesus had ­five of them - to help build a pow­erful personality - the personality of aKING.

I. Develop an Outgoing Interestand Warmth for Others

What is the thing that strikes youmost about someone who easily winsyour love and respect?

Chances are, it is the sincere warmthand affection he shows. It may be thelight in his eyes or his smile. It will

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often include the pleasant, friendlysound of his voice. For people whopossess a great deal of personal charmreally like their fellow bnman beingsand are genltinely interested in them.

Learning to love and enjoy others ­to GIVE of yourself to them in personalrelations - is certainly the foremostkey to building a radiant personality.Jesus Christ - the greatest personalityof all times - stated this Itniversallyapplicable spiritual principle: "It ismore blessed to GIVE than to receive"(Acts 20:35).

If you can sincerely learn to shareyour warmth, your love, your plans,hopes and dreams with others - togive kindness, encouragement and asense of being loved and appreciated tothem - you will build bonds of friend­ship that wi11 endure many a trial. Andyolt yoursel] will be the one mostblessed in the end.

All of us should learn to SMILE

more ! We should put more warmth andenthusiasm in our voices and in ourhandshakes. We should build a sincerefeeling of empathy or "at-oneness" withour fellowmen - having THEIR welfareand THEIR happiness at heart as muchas our own.

Sincere LOVE Is the Basis

Remember that sincere LOVE is one ofthe rarest of commodities in this fight­ing, squabbling, envious, fiercely com­petitive world of ours. Several years agoReaders Digest magazine ran a mag­nificent article entitled "The AwesomePower of Human Love." It describedcase histories - based on bundreds ofother similar cases - showing that onlya half century ago the MAJORITY of in­fant children admitted to hospitals andchildren's institutions never emergedalive! Gradually, they found that if ayoung child were picked up, amusedand "mothered" several times a day, hischances of survival were dramaticallyincreased.

The article concludes: "Scientists aretoday discovering that to live as if lifeand love were one is an indispensablecondition - because this is the way oflife which the innate nature of mandemands."

Yes, to live is to LOVE! And ­within the guidelines expressed by the

February 1972

Ten Commandments - yolt can nevergive away too much love.

The Proverbs state: "A merry heartdoeth good like a medicine: but a bro­ken spirit drieth the bones" (Prov.17:22). This inspired statement showsthe powerful effect of a happy, positiveframe of mind not only on one's self,but on others as well.

"A man that hath friends must showhimself friendly: and there is a friendthat sticketh closer than a brother"(Prov. 18:24). To inspire love and loy­alty in your friends and associates, GIVE

of these qualities yourself in a spon­taneous, wholehearted and sinceremanner.

This quality of olttgoing interest andwarmth toward others is the BASIS forthe type of personal charm and magne­tism we all desire. It is, of course, basedon sincere LOVE toward God and fel­lowman - the kind of love that cannotbe mimicked or "put on." So don't tryto. But DO exercise the faith andcheerfully express the love you do feel- and go to Almighty God and askHim for more!

Learn to think of love and warmth assomething you GIVE, not get. For, toquote a popular song, love is more real"when yo« GIVE it away."

II. Build Zest and HumorInto Your Life

One of the most endearing qualitiesin a man - especially a leader - is theability to see the humorous side ofthings, even about himself. Mr. Arm­strong has told about one of the greatAmerican bank presidents he knewmany years ago who had a sign hungup on the wall behind his deskproclaiming: "Don't take yourself tooseriously!"

This is excellent advice. For mostmen of ability are, alas, too busy build­ing up and protecting their "image" orgreatness and grandeur to maintain theirchildhood zest for small occasions andtheir ability to laugh at and enjoy manythings in this temporal life - eventhemselves.

A number of this world's outstandingleaders and statesmen have maintainedthe hearty zest and humor of youngerdays - and it has even increased theirstature as leaders.

February 1972

Although many disagreed with hispolitical theories, overwhelming mil­lions of Americans were charmed andinspired by President Franklin D.Roosevelt's personality. When his rich,resonant voice came over the radio, "Myfellow Americans ... ," millions of hisinsecure countrymen were warmed andreassured. His full, vibrant laughter andengaging smile made him a popularcompanion even apart from his politicallife.

One of his close associates and acounselor of many presidents, BernardM. Baruch, describes his feelings afternews came that President Roosevelt haddied. "Now that the President wasdead, I remembered with particularforce his ZEST for living. He used toenjoy the pleasures of the children'shour ... and the convivial conversationof his friends.

"His sense of HUMOUR was alwaysevident. I recalled many of the amusingmessages he had sent me, such as theone I received when I turned severity­

three. 'Keep right at it,' he wired.'Someday you will grow up.' "

Churchill's Example

This flair for humor and occasionaljokes also characterized Sir WinstonChurchill. During the war, he wore avaried and obviously funny assortmentof uniforms, hats and paraphernalia.Alan Moorehead wrote: "There was animmense love for Churchill in Englandthrough these years. The crowds kneweveryone of his uniforms and hats, hissiren suits, the bow tie, the shoes withzip fasteners, the walking stick, thewatch chain. Nothing apparently couldever weary them of the V-sign or thecigar, and the first sound of thegrumpy, reassuring voice on the radiosilenced all conversation in any pub orpublic place."

Once, at the White House, PresidentRoosevelt was wheeled into Churchill'sroom and found him, surprisingly, stilldrying himself after a bath. Rooseveltbegan to apologize and started to leave.But Churchill protested it was quite allright: "The Prime Minister of GreatBritain has nothing to conceal from thePresident of the United States."

So learn to laugh even at yourself ­and at the many funny things that hap-

TOMORROW'S WORLD

pen in life. Of course, always try tolaugh with people, not at them. Learnalso to preserve, or recapture, youryouthful zest for the right kind of up­building fun and games - and for thenew and different things and experi­ences that make life interesting!

III. Learn to Be Patient,Compassionate and Modest

Perhaps the thing that irks othersmost about many so-called "important"people is that they are so impressedwith SELF that they seem bl.ind to theneeds and wishes of others. They arepompous and vain. They are impatientand demanding - cutting other peopleoff in conversation and expecting super­human efforts of their subordinates thateven they themselves would not be ableto accomplish. They utterly lack realcompassion -the ability to share in theplans, hopes, dreams and sufferings ofothers.

Like many a politician, they can puton a grand show in public -"demon­strating" by some pompous act or ges­ture that they care, after all, for the"common man."

But, sooner or later, they get foundout. For, as Abraham Lincoln is reputedto have said: "You can fool some of thepeople some of the time, but you cannotfool all the people all the time."

Indeed, one of the characteristicswhich made Lincoln great was his sin­cere compassion for the slaves anddowntrodden - plus his personal mod­esty and profound humility. Perhapsyou have heard the story of the little oldlady who was impatiently waiting out­side her apartment house or hotel for abuggy to take her to the train station.Although the station was only a fewblocks away, she had a large trunk tooheavy even for an average man to wantto carry for that distance. Finding herin distress - in fact almost at the pointof tears over the prospect of missing hertrain - and with no buggy or help insight, President Lincoln picked up thelarge trunk, placed it across his strongshoulders which had split so many railsback in Illinois, and said: "Followme!"

The little old lady, and her trunk,were personally placed on board thepassenger train by the President of the

11

United States - Abraham Lincoln!For a far greater example yet, it is

very enlightening to read the life storyof the greatest Personality of all times- looking as you read for the word"compassion."

"And Jesus, moved with compassion,put forth his hand ..." (Mark 1 :41).

"And when the Lord saw her, he hadcompassion on her .. ." (Luke 7: 13).

"But when he saw the multitudes, hewas moved with compassion onthem .. ." (Matt. 9:36).

Genuine outgoing concern for others- as Jesus had - will be expressed inhundreds of little ways. Tact, courtesy,consideration - we have many differ­ent names for such small attentions. Yetit is often through these acts ofthoughtful kindness that we demon­strate to people the depth of our con­cern, our friendship and our love.

Again, learn to "give" yourself toothers with sincere love and outgoingconsideration for them. Have empathy- express compassion for them whenthey are suffering, or when they aredown and out. Become more patient andtolerant of the mistakes of others ­realizing your own human frailty. Andbe loyal to your friends and loved ones- not expediently "throwing themaside" when you think you have become"important."

Do all tbis - and you will inspirethe love, confidence and personal devo­tion of others in a manner that will en­rich your life beyond measure.

IV. Be Strong, Confident andCourageous

Strength of will and personality, in­fectious optimism and raw courage arequalities all of us admire. The greatestleaders and personalities of all timehave had, at least in measure, thesequalities.

To be this way, you must, of course,have a purpose in which you ferventlybelieve - and for which you are will­ing to die if necessary.

Again, Churchill - the "Man of theCentury" - is a moving example. InEngland's darkest days of the SecondWorld War, he was constantly encour­aging and uplifting the spirits of theBritish nation and the entire free worldby his resolute conduct and his magnifi-

12

cent speeches. As President Kennedystated: "He mobilized the English lan­guage and sent it into battle."

In the critical period just after Dun­kirk - when invasion by Hitler's le­gions seemed imminent - Churchill'sringing voice proclaimed to Britain andthe world: "We shall not flag nor fail.We shall go on to the end. We shallfight in France, we shall fight in theseas and oceans . . . we shall defend ourisland whatever the cost may be. Weshall fight on the beaches and landinggrounds, we shall fight in the fieldsand in the streets, we shall fight in thehills . . . We shall NEVER surrender."

Courageous? Indeed it was, under thecircumstances. But more, the weight ofsincerity and truth, the infectious op­timism and confident manner, theunbounded determination and WILL towin - all these things lifted and in­spired the British people so that thiswas, indeed, "their finest hour."

Real Courage Involves FAITH

The greatest examples of faith andcourage are found in the Bible. In Acts5:17-42 we read the account of theapostles of God being put in prison andthreatened by the Jewish hierarchy ofthe time. The Jews had almost decidedto kill them until Gamaliel, a wisecounselor, spoke. "And to him theyagreed: and when they had called theapostles, and BEATEN them, they COM­MANDED that they should not speak inthe name of Jesus, and let them go"(verse 40).

After being threatened for their verylives - and their backs raw and bleed­ing from a cat-o'-nine-tails beating ­you would certainly think they would atleast slack off in their preaching, or per­haps go "underground."

Quite the contrary!"And they departed from the pres­

ence of the council, REJOICING that theywere counted worthy to suffer shame forhis name. And DAILY in the temple, andin every house, they CEASED NOT toteach and preach Jesus Christ" (verses41-42).

They had absolute confidence in theLIVING God, and plenty of RAWCOURAGE to go through the terribletrials and sufferings often necessary inHis service.

TOMORROW'S WORLD

The man who has this type ofcourage and confidence, the man who isbold and SURE of his convictions, willinspire the admiration and respect ofhis friends and associates. Any realleader of men must have this boldpower of decision, this sense of"captaincy" in storming the beaches oflife, scaling the mountains and con­quering all obstacles.

Learn to cultivate and build courageand absolute confidence into your life!Practice these qualities when the littletrials and tests come along - then itwill become second nature to exercisethem on the great occasions. Most im­portant of all, surrender your life toyour Creator and to His PURPOSE ­then you can in faith ask Him for Hisstrength, confidence and courage!

V. Enthusiasm, Drive andPURPOSE

No matter what his other faults, aperson or a public speaker will alwayscapture at least our momentary attentionand interest if he has an abundance ofjust one quality - ENTHUSIASM. For ifthe poorest speaker in the world is onfire - completely GIVEN to his message- he is going to speak, gesture andperhaps shout with such ringing con­viction and force as to wake up even thesleepiest audience.

But most people seem only HALFALIVE. They have no goal or purpose.They have lost their youthful zest forliving and doing. They are often dull,boring and uninteresting. But the inter­esting person is lively and enthusiastic- and he usually makes life more inter­esting for others.

Personal Examples

Discussing the colorful personalityand zeal of Sir Winston Churchill, evenin his private life, Bernard Baruch tellsus: "I often wish people could look inon him as he walks through his gardenwith his dog, pausing to admire thebeauty of a rose or to lecture the gold­fish in the pond as he feeds them. Iwish people could read the cables Ihave received from this master ofEnglish prose, cables in which he ex­pressed his ENTHUSIASM over somedevelopment with a brisk '0 boy!' "

The very word "enthusiasm" comes

February 1972

from the Greek en theos, or "God inus." We often speak of one as being"inspired" in his cause if he portraysgreat enthusiasm.

"Eloquence," said the great oratorWilliam Jennings Bryan, "may be de­fined as the speech of one who knowswhat he is talking about, and meanswhat he says - it is thought on fire . . .Knowledge is of little use to thespeaker without earnestness. Persuasivespeech is from HEART to HEART, notfrom mind to mind."

Find the Real Goal

To sincerely be enthusiastic and driv­ing ahead in all your activities, youmust have a goal, or PURPOSE. SO learnto set goals for yourself and cultivateenthusiastic DRIVE and ZEAL in all thatyou do. In your voice, your face andyour actions, show that you are excitedand thrilled about the opportunities andchallenges of life.

God says: "Whatsoeyer thy handfindeth to do, do it with thy might; forthere is no work, nor device, nor knowl­edge, nor wisdom, in the grave,whither thou goest" (Eccl. 9:10).

And in the New Testament, theApostle Paul states: "And whatsoeverye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord ..."(Colossians 3: 23) .

So be zealous for those things thatare right and good in this life, and putyour whole BEING into seeking yourCreator and HIS PURPOSE in giving youlife and breath. Then you will REAl.LYhave something to be "ENTHUSIASTIC"about!

As His servant and His begotten son,become more outgoing and warm to allthose about you; build zest and humorinto your life; be patient, com­passionate and modest toward your fel­low human beings; with God's helpbecome strong, confident and coura­geous; and finally, with God's supremePURPOSE in mind, build drive andenthusiasm into all you think, sayand do.

Do these things! - and you willhave a richer and happier life. Youwill extend additional happiness andcourage to others, and you will havemade great progress toward fulfillingthe great purpose of your lovingCreator. 0

The Origin ofSt.Valentine's Day

Decorative hearts, winged cupids, drawing lots, exchang­ing names - what's it all about? Read of the surprising

origin of this day.

13

Any resemblance to the little nude boyson Valentine's Day cards? The cupidsare often used as decorative symbolismin theaters, cards, signs on inns, etc.

Who was this Cupid? In later Romantimes he was only one of many Romangods. The Greeks knew him as Eros.But his history goes farther back thanGreek or Roman times. In Egypt "thisinfant divinity was frequently repre­sented with a heart, or the heart-shapedfruit of the Persea, in one of his hands"(The Two Babylons, Alexander Hislop,p. 189). "Thus the boy-god came to beregarded as the 'god of the heart,' inother words, as Cupid, the god of love"(ibid.) .

by Gerhard O. Marx

W HAT IS the true origin of St.Valentine's Day? What sig­nificance lies behind the date

of February 14th? What purpose isthere in keeping it?

Have you ever wondered why it iscalled SAINT Valentine's Day? Why dopeople become each other's valentinefor this particular day? Why are cardsdecorated with hearts and figurines ofsmall nude boys - cupids?

The Bible - presumably the guide­book of all Christians - is silent aboutkeeping such a day. Then how did webegin celebrating St. Valentine's Day?What is the source of our beliefs andpractices?

The First Valentine's Day

Centuries before the advent of Chris­tianity, the pagan population of Romeobserved a "Valentine's Day" (handeddown from the EAST) beginning on theeve of February 14th - although undera different name. It was a "love feast,"based - not on any Christian principleof true love - but on free sex. TheRomans were well noted for their sex­ual immorality on their festive occa­sions, especially so on this particularnight in February. It was a religiousfestival dedicated to the goddess oflove. The Romans called it theirLupercalia.

The superstitions associated with thisRoman love festival were numerous.The priests, the Luperd, would clothethemselves with strips of skin from sac­rificed goats and run through the streets

in Rome. "They bore whips in theirhand, made of strips of goatskin; withthese they struck women who ran intheir way, desirous to escape from thereproach of barrenness. The thongsbore the name of februa, a word con­nected ... with purificatory ritual" (En­cyclopedia of Religion and Ethics,James Hastings, Vol. XII, p. 812).

Being one's valentine on this day wasindulged in by all. "It was about themiddle of the month that the names ofwilling young ladies were put in a boxand well shaken up, so that each youngblood could draw out one at random;the girl thus won was to remain hiscompanion while the gaieties lasted"(The English Festivals, Whistler, p.90).

This festival was dedicated to thegoddess Venus and the feast was "char­acterized in the later Roman period bywanton raillery and unkindled free­dom ..." (Encyclopedia of Religionand Ethics, James Hastings, Vol. III, p.226). In Roman mythology, this god­dess of sexual immorality had sons,called "Cupids," who attended her onthis festival. They were believed tocause love and also make it cease ..:- asort of love potion (Roman Antiquities,Alexander Adam, p. 279). This wasdone by shooting arrows at the hearts ofthe victims. Cupid was generally repre­sented as a winged boy with bow andarrow, often shooting at a young man'sor a young woman's heart. These cupidswere naked, winged, and blinded,armed with a bow, arrows, and a torch.

First "Christian" Valentine

Seeing that the Roman love feast ofLupercalia was outright pagan, whythen did the Christian-professingchurch accept and keep such a day - ofcourse under a different name? What­ever possessed the leaders of the churchto approve of this heathen fertility feastand keep it as a "Christian" festivalunder the name of St. Valentine's Day?

It all began at the time of Con­stantine the Great in the fourth century.It was this emperor who, it will be reomembered, accepted orthodox Christian­ity. No longer considering himself apagan, Constantine was encouraged tobreak with his pagan past. And one ofseveral heathen feasts that had to gowas the Lupercalia. But this producedproblems.

It was one thing for the Christianizedemperor to forego what the church con­sidered a purely pagan festival, but toget the Roman populace at large tocease observing this love feast wasanother matter. In fact, it proved impos­sible. The Roman populace wouldn'thear of it.

It was hoped by church circles thatthe pagan populace would in due timebe willing to give up this festival, butthis proved to be a false hope.

The Christian-professing church thendecided that the only way this mattercould be resolved was to let the greatmasses of the empire - now membersof the church - keep the Lupercaliafeast, but by another name and foranother purpose.

It was the year A.D. 496 when Pope

14

Gelasius I "Christianized" the festivaland renamed it "St. Valentine's Day."Here is why.

Church's Main Interest

Once the Roman emperors becameChristians, the Orthodox church grewin numbers. Since her main concern wasto convert the pagan populace withinthe empire as quickly as possible, shefelt justified in making it easy on them.Church leaders "clearly perceived that ifChristianity was to conquer the world itcould do so only by relaxing the toorigid principles of its Founder" (Stud­ies in the History of Oriental Religions,James Frazer, Book II, p. 202).

One way of gaining an ever-increas­ing influx of members was to blend andincorporate pagan beliefs and practiceswith Christian ones. "Thus at the firstpromulgation of Christianity to theGentile nations ... they could not bepersuaded to relinquish many of theirsuperstitions, which, rather than foregoaltogether, they chose to blend and in­corporate with the new faith" (PopularAntiquities of Great Britain, JohnBrand, p. xi).

Thus "for almost every pagan cere­mony, some Christian rite was intro­duced" (Clavis Calendaria, John Brady,Vol. I, p. 196).

So, beginning with A.D. 496, theRoman populace could still come totheir love feast, no longer dedicated toVenus, the goddess of love, but to theVirgin Mary. They could still draw lotsfor their valentines, but with the namesof saints written on them. The attentionof the populace on each February 14thwas now to be centered on Christiansaints instead of pagan deities.

St. Valentine Chosen

The church, in deciding to slightlyalter the festival by giving it an accept­able name, went back to the thirdcentury. There she came upon a tradi­tion about a certain presbyter who hadmarried couples secretly against theedict of Emperor Claudius II. He wascaught and beheaded in A.D. 270. Tohonor this bishop, it was decided to callthe February festival of love andpurification after his name - SaintValentine.

Later, the Protestant churches rejected

TOMORROW'S WORLD

the Catholic concept of the Virgin Maryand the saints' association with St. Val­entine's Day. Instead, the people wentback to drawing the names of ordinaryyoung men and women. It became a lessreligious ceremony - but still retainingall the pagan embellishments of theRomans, and then some.

All the pagan trappings were main­tained - Cupid was still there, the dec­orative "hearts" continued to bedisplayed, lots were still drawn aschance directed, and the day was stillthe original Roman day. It was also be­lieved that birds were said to mate onthis day. It was further a widely heldtradition that the first person of the op­posite sex one encountered on the morn­ing of St. Valentine's Day was tobecome the future spouse. And lovepotions were considered to be verypotent on February 14th. People wouldlet themselves go at parties, often dis­regarding the inevitable consequences ofsuch revelry.

Both in England and Scotland, St.Valentine's Day was a welcome diver­sion from the otherwise dull, cold win­ter season. Referring to a traveler tothese areas in the last century, we read,"'On the eve of St. Valentine's Day,'he says 'the young folks in England andScotland, by a very ancient custom, cele­brate a little festival. An equal numberof maids and bachelors get together;each writes their true or some feignedname upon separate billets, which theyroll up and draw by way of lots....Fortune [the name of yet another pagangod!) having thus divided the companyinto so many couples, the valentinesgive balls and treats to their mistresses,wear their billets several days upontheir bosoms or sleeves, and this littlesport often ends in love'" (Book ofDays, Robert Chambers, Vol. I, part 1,p. 255).

No wonder that this "heathen, lewd,superstitious custom of boys drawingthe names of girls, in honour of theirgoddess" (Clavis Calendaria, JohnBrady, p. 277) - as the Romans werewont to do - can easily lead to illicitlove and dire consequences.

Why, then do we allow our childrento keep a festival that is shrouded insuperstition, founded on rank paganideals, and based on a corrupting

February 1972

rather than an uplifting influence?There is certainly a need to keep fes­

tive occasions and religious celebrations.In fact, God Almighty commands Hispeople to observe festivals - His festi­vals.

Notice, however, what God saysabout Christians keeping religious festi­vals which do not emanate from HisWord - the Bible. You read of it inthe book of Deuteronomy.

Here God warns His people Israelnot to use pagan means and ways toworship Him. "When the Lord thy Godshall cut off the nations from beforethee, whither thou goest to possessthem, and thou succeedest them, anddwellest in their land; take heed to thy­self that thou be not snared by follow­ing them, after that they be destroyedfrom before thee; and that thou enquirenot after their gods, saying, HOW didthese nations serve their gods? Even sowill I do likewise. Thou SHALT NOT doso unto the Lord thy God" (Deut.12:29-31).

This warning is reiterated in Jere­miah 10, verses two to three. Here Godcommands, "Learn not the way of theheathen . . . for the customs of thepeople are oain"!

That is why God forbids keepingthese pre-Christian festivals - they arevain, purposeless, and in the long runharmful. They blind us from the realpurpose for mankind's existence. Theyprevent us from seeing God's MasterPlan for His people.

It is not that God has left His peoplewithout meaningful festivals. On thecontrary, instead of the traditional"Christian" festivals, which reveal verylittle if anything of God's Plan, God'speople keep the genuine festival days ofGod. These are full of meaning. Bykeeping them we understand theentirety of God's purpose for us. Oncewe understand them - and keep them- we would not want to retrogress tothe holidays the world offers.

These Holy Days are fully explainedin our FREE booklet Pagan Holidays- or God's Holy Days - Which?After reading about these Biblical HolyDays, days like St. Valentine's Day be­come utterly meaningless. And more im­portant - God tells His people toobserve the festivals He commands. 0

Whal Is Ihe PlaceIhal Jesus Is Preparing7

Here is a thorough, revealing explanation of a greatlymisunderstood text. Did Jesus say Christians go to heaven?

by Herman L. Hoeh

M ANY today believe Jesus told Hisdisciples that Christians willspend eternity in "mansions"

in heaven. They quote His words inJohn 14:1-4.

Did Jesus really say that our rewardis a mansion in heaven? Let's see.

What Is the Father's House?

In His Father's house, Jesus saidplainly, there were many "mansions." Ifit had not been true, He said, He wouldhave told us. The Greek word movetranslated "mansion" means in moremodern English, "a room, a place ofstaying, an abode, a chamber." So inthe Father's house there are a number ofrooms or chambers.

But what is the Father's house?What does the Bible declare theFather's house to be?

When in the Temple, Jesus said tothe Jews who were selling doves andcattle therein: "Make not my FATHER'SHOUSE an house of merchandise" (John2:16) .

Here is a simple Bible definition ofthe Father's house.

The Temple at Jerusalem was anearthly type (Heb. 8:5) of the Father'shouse in heaven. Luke 19:46 and Isaiah56:7 also quote the Lord as saying ofthe Temple: "My house is a house ofprayer...." So the Temple at Jerusalem

. in Christ's day was a type of theFather's house in heaven.

But did the Temple have many"mansions" or rooms and chambers init?

Certainly!In turning to Jeremiah 35 :2, we read

this: "Speak unto them, and bring theminto the house of the Lord, into one ofthe chambers." In the fourth verse ofthe same chapter, we notice that differ­ent chambers were for persons of differ­ent rank. Hanan, a man of God, hadhis chamber or room "by the chamberof the princes ... which was above thechamber of ... the keeper of the door."

The various chambers or "mansions"corresponded to the ranks of the per­sons residing in them. Each room of theTemple - a type of the Father's house- not only designated the residence ofeach official, but also indicated hisposition or office, whether he was adoorkeeper or prince.

It Is NOT Heaven

Nowhere does the Bible call"heaven" the Father's house. TheFather's house is being built IN heaven,but it is not heaven! Heaven is neversaid to have "mansions."

The ancient tabernacle built underMoses had two compartments, theinner, called the Holy of Holies, beingan exact picture of the throne of God- of heaven itself. It had no mansions.Read Hebrews 8: 5 and 9: 1-7 to seeexactly what the pattern of heaven islike.

No, Jesus was not referring toheaven. He is referring to a place beingprepared in heaven.

What Is the Place Prepared?

Now consider the remainder of Jesus'conversation with the disciples.

Jesus said: "I go to prepare a placefor you." We learn from other scrip-

tures that Jesus did go to heaven, to theright hand of the Father, where Henow acts as our "High Priest" (Heb.9:11).

Do you grasp the significance?A part of the function of the office of

High Priest is the preparation of a placefor each of us as Jesus promised the dis­ciples. But notice this very carefully: thepreparation of each place is occurring inheaven, but Jesus did not say that theplaces were a part of heaven. (A wifemay prepare her meals in the kitchen,but the meals are not a part of thekitchen.)

Does the Bible give any texts tellingus what is being prepared ? Yes, it does.

There are two texts in the Biblewhich tell us what is being PREPARED.

The first is in Matthew 25 :34. HereChrist said: "Come, ye blessed of myFather, inherit the kingdom preparedfor you from the foundation of theworld." The other text is in Revelation21 :2, "And I John saw the holy city,new Jerusalem, coming down from GodOUT OF HEAVEN, prepared as a brideadorned for her husband."

The Temple of Jerusalem standing inJesus' day was a type of the Kingdomof God and the city New Jerusalem.

The Bible says the only places thatare prepared are the Kingdom of Godand the New Jerusalem. Since it is theKingdom and the Holy City that arefinally prepared for us all, then whatJesus is preparing for each of us mustbe individual positions in the Kingdomand in the new city, Jerusalem.

Now it's plain why Christ alluded tothe Temple as an example of the King-

again! Notice, it does not say anywherein these verses that we go to heaven.

It says just the opposite. Jesus willcome to earth!

Jesus will return from heaven inclouds. Weare going to meet Him inthe air (I Thes. 4:15-17). At that timeJesus will give us our places orpositions in the Kingdom, according tohow well we have done with what wehave been given.

Having received our responsibilities,we shall descend with Jesus to theMount of Olives that same day. It isthat same day that Christ comes toearth, not returns to heaven (Zechariah14:4). He is coming to set up theKingdom on the earth! Since we inheritthe Kingdom, we, too, will be on thisearth, not heaven.

So Christians are not going to heavenafter all. We are to be with Jesus hereon this earth - "that where I am, thereye may be also." We shall be rulingwith Christ on earth over the nations(Rev. 20:4). And after that, the NewJerusalem comes down out of heaven tothe new earth. Even the Father Himselfwill dwell among us here on the newearth where we shall live and reign for­ever (Rev. 22:3-5).

No wonder Jesus said the meek shallinherit the earth (Matt. 5: 5) . 0

"I Will Come Again"

Although Christ had to go to heaven,He said: "If I go and prepare a placefor you, I WILL COME AGAIN, andreceive you unto myself; that where Iam, there ye may be also." Here isJesus' own promise that He is coming

ij

Ambassadar College Photo

The Mount of Olives - the setting for the most awesome, cataclysmic occur­rence in the history of mankind, the Return of Jesus Christ as King of kingsand Lord of lords. Today a modern hotel stands at its summit. Tomorrowthe Feet of God! (Zechariah 14:4.)

spiritual family or Kingdom of God.Now it is becoming obvious why our

places or positions in God's governmenthad to be prepared in heaven byJesus. We could not receive the HolySpirit, the only means by which we canenter the Kingdom, until Christ as­cended (John 16:7). Christ preparesour places or positions in the Kingdomby being our High Priest, intercedingfor us and by giving us the Spirit ofGod. The places or positions - theresponsibilities of office - are beingprepared by training us to fill those of­fices. Jesus, as our High Priest, has beencalling, justifying and perfecting eachof us for His Kingdom so that whenthe Kingdom of God comes to thisearth (Matt. 6: 10), each position orplace in it will be fully prepared byhaving one of us fill that particular of­fice. If Christ were not High Priest inheaven, the Kingdom would not be pre­pared. It would have none to fill itsoffices.

dom of God and of the New Jerusalem.The Temple had rooms which served asoffices for the various residents holdingdifferent ranks. In the same way, eachof us will have his own personal placeor office in the Holy City, in accordancewith how well we use the talents Godhas given us in this life. The more weovercome in this life, the more honor­able will be our places in the New Jeru­salem and the greater will be our officesof responsibility in the Kingdom.

16

The Father's House Comes toEarth!

Revelation 21:2 plainly proves thatthe Holy City - the Father's house orhome, since He will make it His placeof future residence (Rev. 21:3 and22: 3) - is one of the two things thatJesus is preparing now in heaven. BothGod the Father and His Son have beenfashioning it, since whatever the Fatherdoes, tbe Son does likewise (John 5:19).Since the city comes down out of heavenfully prepared, then it must have beenprepared in heaven, just as Jesus said Hewould do.

Notice, too, that the city comes out ofheaven. It does not say that we go toheaven.

Now let's understand what the Biblesays about the Kingdom which is inpreparation in heaven, and which willcome to earth. Jesus returned to heavento receive the Kingdom (Luke 19:12).He must be preparing it while acting inthe office of High Priest. Since theKingdom is prepared for all of us toinherit, then the particular place Christis preparing for each of us must be ourown position or office in that Kingdom.Place means position, office, rank, aswell as geographical location. Ourplaces or positions in the government ofGod will depend on the office we hold.Christ has first place, as He is King ofkings. We shall all have secondaryplaces, lesser positions under Him.

The Kingdom of God is the govern­ment of God, the members of which areto be born of God. Beipg born of Godmakes the entire Kingdom, then, thefamily of God. "Except a man be bornof water and of the Spirit, he cannotenter into the kingdom of God" (John3: 5). That is why Jesus used the an­cient Temple as a physical type of the

THe STORY OFMANfor children five to one hundred five

Written and Illustrated by Basil Wolverton

ADVISER TO NEBUCHADNEZZAR

CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-FOUR

ANGERED BECAUSE the so-called "wise" menof Babylon failed to guess the content of thedream he had forgotten, King Nebuchadnezzarrashly ordered all of Babylon's magicians, sorcerersand philosophers to be slain.

The king even included the top scholars whohad been rigorously educated over a period of threeyears. That meant that Daniel and his three closefriends, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, were on thelist to be executed, even though they hadn't beenamong those summoned to tell and interpret theking's dream. (Daniel 2:1-13.)

Daniel's Bold Chance

Daniel was naturally quite startled and dis­mayed when he was approached by Arioch, thecaptain of the king's guard, and was told that he andhis three friends were to be taken to prison for exe­cution because no one was wise enough to tell andexplain Nebuchadnezzar's dream.

"This is incredible!" Daniel exclaimed. "Wehad no part in failing the king. If he had called on usto help, we would have given him the answers. If hestill wants to know them and has the patience topostpone the executions he has ordered, I will makethe matter known to him."

Arioch stared at Daniel, thankful that theremight be a reason for Nebuchadnezzar to cancel orat least postpone the executions, which the captain ofthe guard deplored.

"If you can explain the king's dream, I'll takeyou to him," Arioch declared. "Meanwhile, I'll post­pone your friends' arrest as long as I can."

Arioch then hastened to see the king, but soonreturned to Daniel and told him:

"Nebuchadnezzar wants you to carry out your

claim to tell and interpret his dream," Arioch toldDaniel. "He promised that he would hold off theexecutions until he hears what you have to say.Frankly, he doubts your ability. His anger willmount even higher if you fail!"

A little later Daniel stood before Nebuchadnez­zar, who eyed him critically.

"This is the young man of the captives of Judahwho can tell you about your dream," Arioch ner­vously introduced Daniel.

"Then tell me now!" the Babylonian king com­manded, staring at Daniel. "If you fail, many headswill roll before this day is over!"

"But God hasn't yet told me about your dream,"Daniel told the king. "I'll need time to contactHim."

"I'll give you one day," the king promised.(Daniel 2: 14-16.)

Daniel went immediately to his three friends,Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, to tell them whathad happened and asked them to ask God to revealNebuchadnezzar's dream and its meaning so thatthey and all the others would be spared fromexecution.

The four men prayed fervently about the mat­ter. God answered by causing Daniel to dream a veryclear dream revealing the one that Nebuchadnezzarhad forgotten and its meaning. Daniel was so thank­ful that he gave a special prayer of praise for theirdeliverance, though the four young Jews and theBabylonian "wise" men were still subject to death.Then Daniel hurried to Arioch, who was anxious tosee him. Arioch took him directly to Nebuchadnezzar.

"The men you summoned to tell and interpretyour dream were given an impossible task," Danielbegan, noting that the king was visibly irritated bythose first few words. "The task was impossible be­cause they didn't have the help of the God of Israel,who wishes to make known to the king of Babylon

18 TOMORROW'S WORLD February 1972

what will happen in the future. Your dream and itsmeaning haven't come to me through any specialability of my own, but only because my God hasmade these things known to me to pass on to you foryour special benefit." (Daniel 2:17-28.)

Nebuchadnezzar Needs Daniel

"Then if you have this special knowledge fromyour God, disclose it!" Nebuchadnezzar exclaimedimpatiently, leaning forward in expectation.

"You dreamed that there was a colossal humanimage before you," Daniel began. "It was bright andterrible. His head appeared to be made of polishedgold. His chest and arms were like silver, his bellyand thighs of brass, his legs of iron and his feet partof iron and part of clay."

Nebuchadnezzar's glum expression abruptlyturned to one of intense interest.

"That was what I dreamed about!" he inter­rupted, getting to his feet. "Now I remember! Thensomething happened to the image, but I don't recallwhat it was."

"You dreamed that a large stone, symmetrical,yet uncut by human hands, fell from the sky andcrashed with great impact on the feet of the image,"Daniel continued. "It shattered the feet andpulverized the legs of iron. Then the thighs and bellyof brass crumbled under the impact; the chest andarms of silver fell apart and the head of gold top­pled over to smash into tiny fragments. A strongwind came up to blow away the pulverized pieces ofthe fallen image as though they were chaff from athreshing floor. Meanwhile, the stone that struck theimage became larger and larger until it became agigantic mountain that filled the whole earth."(Daniel 2:29-35.)

"That's exactly what I dreamed l" Nebuchad­nezzar exclaimed. "I forgot it, even though it wasclear at the time. It bothered me afterward because Ibelieved it had some special meaning."

"Indeed it does," Daniel agreed. "The God ofIsrael wants you to know that He has given you yourgreat power so that you are above all other rulers inthe world. You have been given power over mostmen and your power extends even to the animals inthe world because man is ruler over them. The headof gold on the image you dreamed about refers toyou and your powerful kingdom. As the most pow­erful king in the world at this time, it is fitting,according to God's wish, that you should know what

the future holds. That was the reason for the dream."The chest and arms of silver mean that another

kingdom, inferior to yours, will rise to power afteryour nation declines in strength. The belly andthighs of brass indicate that a third kingdom willreplace the second kingdom in strength, and it willhave rulership over other nations. The legs of ironmean that a fourth strong kingdom will eventuallyfollow, but because iron and clay can't be fusedtogether for lasting strength, that kingdom won't bewell united.

"During the lifetime of that kingdom, the oneand only true God will set up a kingdom that willreplace all others and last forever. In your dream HisKingdom was the stone that struck the image on thefeet, smashing the whole body, and growing swiftlyinto a mountain that encompassed the entire world.Now you know what will come to pass. This knowl­edge has come to me from my God, who is incapableof any untruth." (Daniel 2: 36-45; Titus 1: 2.)

Nebuchadnezzar was so impressed that he hum­bly prostrated himself before Daniel in a sincere, butawkward, attempt in the worship of God by bowingto a servant of God.

"The best way to worship God is to obey Him,"Daniel pointed out. "Then you will receive the bless­ings and protection that can't possibly come from anyother source."

Nebuchadnezzar's Image

Daniel's strong advice didn't dampen the king'senthusiasm. He loudly declared to all present thatDaniel's God was the God of gods and the Head ofall kings, and he made it known that he wanted thefact published abroad. Furthermore, he heaped giftson Daniel and made him chief of the governors ofthe "wise" men of Babylon, an office of doubtfulimportance in Daniel's estimation.

On the more practical side, Daniel was maderuler of the province of Babylon, the city-state capi­tal of Babylonia, where he would be one of theking's chief officials. Because Daniel's three closeJewish friends had great ability and knowledge andhad helped him with their prayers, Daniel suggestedthat they also be given high positions. Nebuchad­nezzar was pleased to place Shadrach, Meshach andAbed-nego (Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah) inoffices of high rank under Daniel in the province ofBabylon.(Daniel 2:46-49.)

Nebuchadnezzar's recognition of God's great-

February 1972 TOMORROW'S WORLD 19

ness was a step in the right direc­tion, but he still had a long wayto go. The more Nebuchadnezzarthought about his power, themore he thought all the world'sleaders should pay special honorto his kingdom. So he made plansfor building a high statue. It wasbuilt on the Babylonian plain ofDura so that it could be sur­rounded by gre~t throngs of peo­ple. Including the pedestal, theimage towered nearly a hundredfeet above the plain. On a sunnyday its bright and shimmeringgolden surface could be seen frommany miles away.

The king went to great lengthsto inform people about the image.Dedication ceremonies were an­nounced. Important men of Baby­lonia were commanded to be pres­ent. Those included princes, gov­ernors, high army officers and allmen in high positions in the gov­ernment. (Daniel 3: 1-3.)

On the chosen day of the dedi­cation, a vast crowd assembledaround the towering figure. Thecommanded dignitaries includedonly a small fraction of thethrong, made up mostly of thou­sands of average Babylonians andmany people of surrounding satel­lite nations. Some came merelyfrom curiosity. Others felt itnecessary to be present at an un­usual event during which a king'sidol would be dedicated.

There was the usual activityand excitement in a large crowdof those times. Following thethrongs of people were yellingpeddlers with carts or shoulderbags of food. Other hawkers

Nebuchadnezzar's gold image was aglittering, impressive object visiblefor many miles.

20 TOMORROW'S WORLD February 1972

worked slyly to extract money from parents bypromoting cheap merchandise made to appeal espe­cially to small children. It was as good a day forthieves and pickpockets as it was a miserable dayfor mothers, who had no place to take their whim­pering, bawling, needful offspring.

About noon heralds appeared on the base of thegold-plated image. There was much raucous horn­blowing to get the attention of the people. Afterceremonies of a shallow nature, there was anannouncement by a person with an exceptionallypowerful voice.

"Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon and kingover kings everywhere, wants you to know what isrequired of you who hear these words," the heraldbellowed. "When you hear music from the orchestrathat will soon play from the base of this pedestal,everyone of you is to bow before this great image!Any who fail or refuse to do so will be seized by theking's guards and thrown into a large, roaring fur­nace prepared especially for criminals and those whofail to conform to the king's will!"

People hadn't expected to hear anything likethat. Most of them had their favorite idols, forwhich they had varying degrees of loyalty. But be­cause it was the custom to worship more than oneidol - inasmuch as each was believed to give hisspecial benefits - the edict from the herald posed nogreat problem for most of the hearers. And the spe­cial benefit of worshiping Nebuchadnezzar's idolwas very plain. It was the difference between livingor being burned to death!

When the large orchestra by the pedestal brokeout into strains of music in the minor key, the crowdwent to its knees. Many tried to demonstrate specialdeep humility by dropping their foreheads to thesoil, hoping that these extreme actions would some­how win them special favor. (Daniel 3:4-7.)

Acres of bowed human backs shone in the noon­day sun. Some who didn't understand, such as smallchildren, remained standing or simply sat down. (Itmust have been difficult for Nebuchadnezzar'sguards to decide who the disobedient were, especiallysince they, too, had their foreheads pressed to theground.) As for Daniel and his three close friends,they simply waited for the music finally to end andsignal the close of the period of worship.

Nebuchadnezzar was pleased with the way mat­ters turned out. He was even exuberant - until somehigh-ranking Babylonians appeared before him to

flatter him on his efforts to launch a new deity andthen to inform him that there were those in his owngovernment who had deliberately refused to bowdown before his image.

"There must be some mistake," the king smiledindulgently, looking away to show indifference. "Nosane, responsible person in my organization woulddare defy my orders."

"The three foreigners, Shadrach, Meshach andAbed-nego certainly did!" the envious Babyloniansquickly informed him. "Besides refusing to bowwhen they were told to yesterday, we happen toknow that they've never paid any respect to any ofour gods! You have shown respect for their God.Should they not show deference for at least one ofyours?" (Daniel 3:8-12.)

"I'll take care of the matter," the king muttered,irritably waving his informers away.

They triumphantly departed, convinced that ac­tion would be taken against the three Jews. They hadcarefully omitted Daniel from the charges becausethey knew that the king regarded him so highly thatspeaking against him might bring down royal wrathon their heads.

The Punishment

Nebuchadnezzar wasn't used to being dis­obeyed. The mere thought of anyone ignoring hiswishes gave him great displeasure. So he called forHananiah, Mishael and Azariah. By the time theyhad been brought before him, the king had devel­oped his anger into full bloom.

"I have been told that you, Shadrach, Meshachand Abed-nego, failed to bow before my goldenimage," the king declared testily. "I have also beentold that in all the years you have enjoyed the goodthings of my kingdom you have never shown yourappreciation by thanking any of my gods. Are thesethings true?"

"They are," one of them answered. "We arethankful for many things, but we thank and worshiponly the one true God, the God. of Israel."

Previously, Nebuchadnezzar had threatened tohave anyone hacked into pieces who refused to re­gard the God of Israel as God above all gods. Butthe men's answer so infuriated him that he lost allregard he might have had for God.

"You were told that any who refused to bowdown to my golden image would be thrown into ahot furnace!" the king shouted. "That's where you're

February 1972 TOMORROW'S WORLD 21

Heat was so great from theBabylonian furnace that thesoldiers who had thrust thethree Jews into it almostinstantly died before theroaring flames from the fur­nace door.

going from here! Whois the God who is go­ing to step in andsave you from that?"

"Our God is ableto!" they answered."But whether or notHe chooses to save us, we have no intention of wor­shiping other gods or bowing down before thatlifeless image you have set up!" (Daniel 3:13-18.)

"Get men in here at once to bind these three !"Nebuchadnezzar bellowed, his face livid with rage."And go tell the furnace foreman to get the furnaceas hot as he can possibly get it!"

Servants scrambled to obey. Moments later pow­erful soldiers strode into the room to roughly seizeand tie up the three Jews, who were soon prone andhelpless on the floor.

"Now drag these infidels to the furnace andshove them into it when it's at its hottest!" the kingroared.

Strong arms pulled Hananiah, Mishael and Aza­riah across the floor, down stone steps and throughthe courtyard. A little later at the smoke-belchingfurnace, they were propped up so that they couldwatch men feverishly tossing large pieces of pitchywood into the massive metal and stone firebox,

which began to glow dully when the roaring flamesfrom the crackling wood were at their hottest. Greatsurges of painful heat billowed forth, reddening theskin of the suffering stokers.

Nebuchadnezzar was on hand to gloat over theevent, as were the informers who had started it.While the heat was increasing, so was the crowd ofcurious, morbid onlookers. Some ventured so close tothe furnace door that they were scorched by bursts ofheat, and they ran howling for safety.

At a signal from the king, the three victimswere grabbed by the men who had tied them anddragged them as close to the furnace door as theirhandlers could stand to go. They were then tossedthrough the door into the raging flames. (Daniel3:19-23.)

This was the last act of the soldiers. Tongues offlame leaped at them. They collapsed the next instantand fell to the ground. Their clothing and skin brokeinto flames. They burned to death in the torrid gustsof air outside the range of the huge flames. Nonedared risk his life in an attempt to rescue them.

King Nebuchadnezzar quickly turned his glanceback to the bottom of the flaming pit. What he sawshocked him. Never in his life had he seen such athing.

(To be continued next issue)

ANSWERSto your Questions

a "I grew up to believe that• a saint is a special kind ofChristian. Is this true, and if so, howis he special?"

Indeed, the common teaching is thata saint is a very special kind of Chris­tian - one who has usually died. Infact people have come to believe that asaint is an almost superhuman indi­vidual.

But is a saint perfect? Is he totallyrighteous and sinless? Are saints aspecial group of souls in heaven?

Few have ever checked into the Bibleto discover whether they are, can be, orever will be saints.

The word saint in the New Testa­ment is translated exclusively fromthe Greek word hagios, which meanssacred, holy, or consecrated - inother words, someone or something setapart or called out for God's service.It is used numerous times as a simpleadjective modifying such words as: city,prophets, scriptures, temple, and apos­tles.

Paul used the term saints many timesin addressing the Christians in variouscities he had visited. "To all that be inRome, beloved of God, called to besaints ... " (Rom. 1:7). You'll noticethe words "to be" are in italics (slantedletters) in most Bibles. This meansthey were not in the original text buthave been added by the translators. Itshould simply read "called saints" as acheck of the Greek text confirms. Inwriting to the Corinthians he began,"Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by thewill of God, and Timothy our brother,unto the church of God which is atCorinth, with all the saints which are inall Achaia" (II Cor. 1: 1). Similar state­ments addressing Christians as saintsappear in I Cor. 1:2; II Cor. 13:13;Eph. 1:1; Phil. 1:1 and Col. 1 :2.

Writing to the Ephesians, Paul de-

dared, "Now therefore ye are no morestrangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of thehousehold of God" (Eph. 2:19). And,Paul exhorted the Hebrew Christians,"Salute all them that have the rule overyou, and all the saints. They of Italysalute you" (Heb. 13: 24) .

The saints were simply convertedChristians - called-out ones, thosebegotten by God. They are set apart bythe indwelling of God's Holy Spirit(Eph. 1:13, 14; Rom. 8:9). They wereliving people who were called saintswhile they were yet alive.

Paul stated that one of the responsi­bilities of the ministry was the "per­fecting of the saints" (Eph. 4:12).Saints are not perfect - they are humanbeings striving to BECOME perfect.'They are growing constantly to becomemore like their perfect example - JesusChrist. "Till we all come in the unityof the faith ... unto a perfect man, untothe measure of the stature of the ful­ness of Christ" (verse 13).

The saints are those who "earnestlycontend for the faith which was oncedelivered" (Jude 3). They are alsothose who keep God's commandments:"Here is the patience of the saints:here are they that keep the command­ments of God, and the faith of Jesus"(Rev. 14:12).

They are those to whom God isrevealing the mystery of His plan."Even the mystery which hath been hidfrom ages and from generations, butnow is made manifest to his saints"(Col. 1:26). To the saints - trueChristians - God's plan is NOT amystery; they understand very preciselyhow God is working out His overallpurpose.

And they are the very ones who willhave a direct part in carrying out God'swill - they are to rule with Christ overthis earth. Speaking of the second com-

February 1972

ing of Christ, John wrote, "And thenations were angry, and thy wrath iscome, and the time of the dead, thatthey should be judged, and that thoushouldest give reward unto thy ser­vants the prophets, and to the saints,and them that fear thy name, small andgreat" (Rev. 11: 18).

Saints are not dead Christians off inheaven, but the dead and the living inChrist who are yet to receive theirreward.

Some five centuries B. c., Danielwrote, "But the saints of the most Highshall take the kingdom, and possess thekingdom for ever, even for ever andever .... and judgment was given tothe saints of the most High; and thetime came that the saints possessed thekingdom" (Dan. 7 :18, 22).

How clear!Saints are those called out by God ­

those who have repented, have beenconverted, and have become true Chris­tians. The saints, both living and dead,are yet awaiting their reward - to liveand rule with Christ.

a "How does one reconcile• the following verses - II Sam­uel 24: 1 and I Chronicles 21: I? Inone account it says, 'The anger of theLord was kindled against Israel, andhe moved David against them to say,Go, number Israel and Judah.' In theother account (I Chron. 21:1) it says,''¢'nd Satan stood up against Israel,and provoked David to numberIsrael.' "

First of all, God is the supreme rulerof the entire universe. Since He issupreme ruler - NOTHING OCCURS thatHe does not at least allow to happen.

Now let's understand the context ofthe entire occurrence. God was angrywith Israel (II Samuel 24:1). The onlyreason that God is ever angry with anypeople is because they are committingsins that are harming themselves ­bringing on automatic penalties. Todeter the whole of Israel from contin­uing in this law breaking, God decidedto send corrective punishment uponthese people for their own good. Goddid this from time to time in ancientIsrael's history. The book of Judges ­in particular - illustrates this principle.

But how and by what method in this

February 1972

case? By allowing Satan to test or pro­voke David to number Israel and take acensus of his soldiers. Of course, it isNOT wrong to take a census (witnessthe book of Numbers). But David'spurpose for taking the census was to seehow many soldiers he had for reasonsof national security. David - at thisparticular juncture - was relying onnumbers and not on God.

Even a cursory reading of the PsalmsDavid wrote would tell you that themajority of the time David trusted inGod alone for his protection. (Seeespecially Psalm 33.)

But at this time David allowed Satanthe devil to influence him to rely onmere numbers, Of course, he laterrepented and bounced back to trust inGod more than ever.

God allowed Satan to test David andwas ultimately responsible in that sense- though He did NOT force David tochoose unwisely. If David had made theright decision, he could have been usedof God to bring the nation back onto itsspiritual feet, instead of having aplague bring the people to their senses.

a "I enjoy reading Tomor­• row's World; most of the timeI agree with the writers. However, inthe July article 'Why Christ Spoke inParables,' the statement was made'not one single individual was everconverted during the ministry ofChrist.' I read in Luke 19:9 whereJesus said to Zacchaeus that todaysalvation had come to his house.Also, the thief on the cross waspromised eternal life (Luke 23:43).What about this?"

You probably have assumed thatJesus promised the thief that he wouldbe with Him in Paradise that day.Nothing could be further from thetruth. Remember the thief had askedearlier, "Lord, remember me WHEN

thou comest into thy kingdom" (Luke23:42). The plain fact is that Jesus hasNOT yet come into His Kingdom (Luke11:2; 19:11; I Thes. 4:13-17; I Cor.15:23, 49-52). And after all, Christdied that same day and was in the grave- not Paradise - for a total of threedays and three nights (Matt. 12:39­40; I Cor. 15:3,4).

TOMORROW'S WORLD

Rather, the correct wording of Luke23:43 proves that Christ promised thethief (on the day of His crucifixion ­that day) that the thief would even­tually be ("shall ... be") in His King­dom - Paradise - when it comes tothe earth.

The inspired Greek word order withproper punctuation should read: "Ver­ily I say to thee today, 'With me shaltthou be in paradise.''' Notice thatChrist's use of the word "today" wasstressing the time He made His prom­ise, not the time of the fulfillment ofthe promise. The verse is not correctlypunctuated in most English trans­lations. Punctuation was added cen­turies after the original Greek waswritten.

[Editor's Note: Our article "Did the'Thief on the Cross' Enter Paradise Im­mediately?" completely explains thisscripture. Write for your FREE copy.]

Now, what did Christ mean when Hetold Zacchaeus that "this day is salva­tion come to this house ..."? (Luke19:9.) Christ was the direct Emissary ofthe Kingdom of God. He is the"Captain" of our salvation (Heb,2 :10). The Author and Captain of oursalvation, Jesus Christ, had come to Zac­chaeus' house.

But look further. Christ nowhere saidthat Zacchaeus was given God's Spirit- or converted - that day. Unless aperson has God's Spirit he cannot betruly converted (Rom. 8:9). Zacchaeuswas - by Christ's visit - being of­fered an opportunity to learn about theGospel which leads to salvation. But,being offered an opportunity to hear theANNOUNCEMENT of God's governmentis vastly different than actually beingbegotten and filled with God's Spirit.Recall that Peter repeatedly heard thatSAME ANNOUNCEMENT, but was notconverted during Christ's earthly minis­try (Luke 22:32; John 7:39; 16:7).

There is, of course, little doubt thatZacchaeus was converted AFTER theHoly Spirit was made available in gen­eral to the common people on the dayof Pentecost - 31 A.D. (Acts 2).

The fruits of Jesus' ministry - andthe results of His death and resurrection- have opened the door that will even­tually lead mankind to the knowledgeof, and opportunity for, salvation. But

23

Jesus during His earthly mmistry didnot come to convert the world.

a "Recently in one of your• articles you quoted several versesfrom I and II Kings. When I lookedthem up in my Bible, the wordingand even the context was entirely un­related to your quote. Were thesetypographical errors? I have theDouay Version of the Bible."

The answer lies in the fact that inour publications we generally quotefrom such Bible translations as theKing James Version (KJV), RevisedStandard Version, etc., most of whichbasically use the official HebrewMasoretic Text for the Old Testament.

The Douay Version has been mainlytranslated from the Latin Vulgate Text.This version not only includes the addi­tional books of the Apocrypha, but alsohas certain books of the King JamesVersion with different titles. Forexample, I and II Samuel (KJV) aretitled "I and II Kings" (Douay); I andII Kings are called "III and IV Kings";I and II Chronicles are "I and II Para­lipomenon"; the book of Nehemiah is"II Ezdras"; the Song of Solomon iscalled "Canticle of Canticles."

Anyone using the Douay Version ofthe Bible should note these variations.

For further information on how theBible was compiled and which booksbelong in it, request our FREE article"Do We Have the Complete Bible?"

a "Could you please explain• what is meant in Ecclesiastes4:5? It says 'The fool folds his handsand eats his own flesh.' "

This verse describes a slothful charac­ter and shows the inevitable fruit of hisindolence.

The fool sits back and does little ornothing to enrich the lives of others ­or even to support himself. He lacks anindispensable quality for the full, suc­cessful life; he won't DRIVE himself toproduce - to love productive work! So,in a figurative sense, he "eats his ownflesh."

His slothful ways gnaw at the veryfoundations of his life. He destroys hisown character and slights his family.

God wants us to be diligent - so wecan prosper (Prov. 10:4; III John 2).

24

The"Tongues"Question

(Continued from page 8)

have "received their baptism." Childrenmust be left at home. Only "seekers"are permitted. All pray aloud at once,begging God to give them the "bless­ing." For hours, often lasting until 3 or4 o'clock in the morning, they continueto beg, plead, and agonize.

Occasionally, perhaps after many ofthese "tarry meetings," one or more ofa company will begin to "speak intongues," and are then acknowledgedby aU as having received "their bap­tism." Nothing but "speaking intongues" will be accepted as the evi­dence of "the baptism."

Does the Bible Command the"TARRY Meetings"?

Is this modern "tarry meeting" thetrue scriptural WAY?

Those who defend the "tarry meet­ing" with, perhaps, a great deal of heat,will quote the scripture to the effect thatJesus COMMANDED us to "TARRY UNTILye be endued with power from on high."

This command of Jesus to "tarry" isfound in Luke 24:49. Pentecostalpeople invariably read this text thus:"Tarry UNTIL ye be endued withpower." Then they construe the word"tarry" to mean the kind of meetingdescribed above.

But that is not what this text says atall !

RIGHTLY quoted, Jesus' command toHis disciples was: "Tarry ye IN THECITY OF JERUSALEM, until ye be enduedwith power FROM on high."

Jesus told them to tarry, not in acertain MANNER, but in a definitePLACE - in the CITY OF JERUSALEM.Why do Pentecostal people always omitthe words "YE," expressing TO WHOMthis command was addressed, and thewords "IN THE CITY OF JERUSALEM"telling WHERE they were to "tarry"?And why did Jesus ask them to remainin the city of Jerusalem?

Because the "other Comforter" hadnot yet come FROM HEAVEN - from"on high." And Jesus knew that WHENIT came, it would come first to the cityof Jerusalem. And so Jesus was merely

TOMORROW'S WORLD

instructing His disciples to wait, or re­main, in Jerusalem until the day of Pen­tecost, when, it had been ordained, theHoly Spirit was to come from heaven- "from on high" - to earth.

Now "tarry" is an English word,translated over 300 years ago. It is anold English word, formerly in popularusage, now seldom used. Today manymistake its meaning. What does itmean? It does not mean "pray." It doesnot mean "supplicate." It does notmean beg, or agonize, or repeat wordsover and over. It does not mean aprayer meeting.

The dictionary says "tarry" means "toput off going or coming: linger. To re­main in the same place; abide; stay. Toawait; to delay; sojourn, stay."

The literal Greek, word for word,from the Interlinear Greek text is:"But REMAIN YE IN THE CITY OF JE­RUSALEM, till ye be clothed with powerfrom on high." How can we conceivethe idea of these modern "tarry meet­ings" from the scriptural command:"REMAIN YE IN THE CITY OFJERUSALEM" ?

But, protests the "tarry meeting"defender, it says in Acts 1 :13 and 14 thatthe disciples "went into an upperroom," and "these all continued withone accord in prayer and supplication."The assumption is that the disciples metat a certain house for this purpose ­that they were holding a "tarry meet­ing" - that they begged and pleadedwith God until He finally sent them the"blessing" from on high - and that weshould do the same thing. Often thestatement is made that "it took the dis­ciples ten days to pray down Pentecost!"

The MEANING of "Pentecost"

One difficulty is that few know themeaning of the types of Leviticus 23.There we find instruction regarding theseven annual festivals, occurring at thethree different times of the year.

The first is the Passover, on the 14thof Abib, the first month of the sacredyear. On this day a lamb was alwaysslain. And so the crucifixion occurredon this very day. It was upon the 14thof Abib, 31 A.D., that Christ, the Lambof God, our .Passover, was slain for us!

The second of these set feasts is theFestival of Unleavened Bread, seven

February 1972

days beginning on the 15th of Abib.This pictures obedience to God - corn­mandment keeping - putting sincompletely out of our lives. The firstand seventh of these days are Holy Days- annual Sabbaths of GOD.

The third festival is "the Feast ofFirstfruits," known as the day of Pente­cost. This always had typified the"Firstfruits" of the New TestamentChurch. And, accordingly, when the"other Comforter" came from heaven- from "on high" - to bring forththe FIRSTFRUITS of the New TestamentChurch, this tremendous event, to occurbut once in all eternity, was ordained totake place ON THE VERY DAY OF PEN­TECOST, 31 A.D.!

Jesus well knew the Holy Spiritwould come from heaven on that veryday. So Jesus told His disciples theyshould be "baptized with the HolySpirit not many days hence" (Acts1:5). In the first chapter of Acts wefind the same instruction of Jesus asrecorded in Luke 24:49, this time inwords more plainly to be understood:"And ... commanded them that THEYSHOULD NOT DEPART FROM JERUSA­LEM, but WAIT for the promise of theFather" (Acts 1:4).

So the disciples did not "pray downPentecost." "Pentecost" is a DAY, not anexperience. And since it was ordainedthat the Holy Spirit was to come fromheaven TO JERUSALEM, and on that veryday, do you suppose that, if the dis­ciples had prayed and begged just alittle harder, they could have "prayed itdown" a day or two sooner? Certainlynot! Not even an hour sooner!

"But," argues the tarry-meeting advo­cate, "didn't the disciples all meet in anupper room, and continue there inprayer and supplication?"

Most assuredly. But WHY?Notice the scriptures! "And when

they were come in, they went up into anupper room, WHERE ABODE both Peter,and James, and John, and Andrew,Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, andMatthew, James the son of Alphaeus,and Simon Zelotes, and Judas thebrother of James. These all continuedwith one accord in prayer and supplica­tion" (Acts 1: 13-14), as they naturallywould have done, at so solemn a time.

Is there even a hint, in this text, that

February 1972

they were BEGGING or PLEADING withGod to give them the promised Com­forter? Rather, we know they weremerely WAITING there, as Jesus hadcommanded, in complete FAITH thatGod would keep His promise! Is thereso much as a HINT in this passage thatthey were saying words over and over,like the modern "glory, glory, glory"?

Now notice, WHEN the day of Pente­cost was fully come (and let us remem­ber Pentecost was a DAY, not anexperience), did they have to plead andagonize? No, but rather when this DAYhad arrived, "SUDDENLY there came asound [rom heaven as of a rushingmighty wind," and instantly "they wereall filled with the Holy Spirit."

Once the "other Comforter" hadcome [rom heaven, there was no waiting- they were all filled AT ONCE!

Experience AFTER Pentecost

Now that the Holy Spirit had COMEto earth, did those who honestly re­pented, and believed, have to beg andplead and agonize, and "tarry" before

"For God hath not given usthe spirit of fear; but ofpower, and of love, and ofa sound mind." - II Tim.1:7.

they could receive the full baptism herewith the Holy Spirit?

There are just four other experiencesrecorded, subsequent to the day of Pen­tecost, 31 A.D., of receiving the bap­tism with the Spirit. Let us examineeach. Let us see if there were any TARRYMEETINGS.

The next experience recorded isfound in the 8th chapter of Acts. Philiphad gone to Samaria. When they BE­LIEVED Philip's preaching of the thingsconcerning the Kingdom of God, andthe name of Jesus Christ, they were bap­tized (verse 12). Peter and John cameto Samaria from Jerusalem (verse 14)and prayed for them, that they mightreceive the Holy Spirit (verse 15).Then they laid their hands on themAND THEY RECEIVED THE HOLY SPIRIT(verse 17). There is no evidence of any"tarry meeting" here. No tongue-speak­ing mentioned. The people believed,were baptized, the apostles prayed for

TOMORROW'S WORLD

them, laid their hands on them, andthey received the Spirit.

In the 10th chapter of Acts we findthe experience at the Gentile house ofCornelius. Peter was preaching to them.They already had repented, and merelywanted to be shown the way of God.Was there a "tarry meeting" here? No,while "Peter yet spake these words, theHoly Spirit fell on all them whichheard the word" (Acts 10:44). TheHoly Spirit had come from heaven onthe day of Pentecost, 31 A.D. Corneliusand his house did not have to "praydown another Pentecost." They did nothave to beg or plead or agonize. Theyhad surrendered fully and uncon­ditionally. When Peter came to revealto them the Truth, and the Way, theydid not begin to argue, or try to refuteGod's Word. They accepted it. And so,their hearts being ready and subdued"while Peter yet spake," they receivedthe baptism with the Holy Spirit!

And so can you, just as quickly andsuddenly, IF, and WHEN, you are as sur­rendered as they were. There was surelyno "tarry meeting" here. No repeatingwords over and over. Just real repen­tance and faith, the only TWO CONDI­TIONS.

The next experience is found in Acts19:1-7. Paul came to Ephesus. Hefound a dozen disciples there. Paulasked them if they had received theHoly Spirit. The literal translation isnot "since ye believed," but, "Did yereceive the Holy Spirit WHEN ye be­lieved?" Paul well knew God hadpromised we should receive the SpiritWHEN we have yielded to theconditions.

They knew nothing of the HolySpirit. What was wrong? ,Paul imme­diately determined to find out. Did heask them how long they had "tarried"?Did he tell them the difficulty was thatthey had not "tarried" or agonizedenough? No. Paul began at the veryLAST condition, water baptism, to findout what was wrong. AQ-d there hefound it! They had been baptized onlywith John's baptism. That was baptisminto the FIRST condition, repentance.They had not been baptized INTOCHRIST tor the remission ot sins. Andso Paul at once told them how to bebaptized. When they heard this, they

2'did not argue or rebel. They humblydid as directed, and were baptized.

And WHEN they were baptized, andWHEN Paul had laid his hands uponthem, the Holy Spirit came on them.WHEN the CONDITIONS of God's Wordwere fulfilled, they received God'sSpirit! And in this case, they spokewith tongues, and prophesied. Therewas no tarry meeting here. No agoniz­ing, or meaningless repeating of words.Just yielding to God, and conformingto GOD'S conditions.

One other experience is mentioned ­that of Paul. Read it in Acts 9:1-22.Again there is no hint of anything likea modern "tarry meeting," just completesurrender, self-abasement, a willing,submissive conforming to the CONDI­TIONS. The Bible makes no mention ofspeaking in tongues at this time, al­though later Paul told the Corinthianshe spoke in more languages than any ofthem.

And so there is not one example inHoly Scripture of a modern "tarry meet­ing"! Let us have a BIBLE REASON forall that we do!

One time a "Pentecostal" preacherwas urging someone to attend a seriesof these so-called "tarry meetings,"where words were muttered repeatedlyover and over, and where the peopledeliberately worked up their emotions,shouted, and went through all the usualformula. This person replied he couldfind no Bible teaching or example forsuch a formula or kind of meeting, andhe wanted to do everything the BIBLEWAY.

"You'll never get 'your baptism' anyother way! Brother," he asserted.

"Well," he replied, "whatever youpeople are getting in an unscripturalway contrary to the Bible is not the trueHoly Spirit PROMISED in the Bible, buta counterfeit spirit I don't want."

Hear the warning through Isaiah:"When they shall say unto you, SEEKunto them that have familiar spirits[counterfeit spirits of demons}, andunto wizards that peep, and that MUT­TER.... To THE LAW AND TO THE TES­TIMONY [Old and New Testaments ­the BIBLE}: if they speak not accordingto this word, it is because there is nolight in them"! (Isa. 8:19-20.) Yes, be

26

sure you have a BIBLE reason for all youdo!

What IS the "Baptism Withthe Holy Spirit"?

Just what is this "baptism"? Thevery crux of the whole question - thebasis of the error so many have been ledinto - is a MISUNDERSTANDING ofwhat the true "baptism with the HolySpirit" really is!

The whole error comes from one er­roneous idea which is generally AS­

SUMED - carelessly taken for granted- never so much as QUESTIONED, letalone being PROVED!

It is the general idea that one is firstconverted, through which he receivesthe Holy Spirit - actually has the HolySpirit within. And then, AFTERWARD, asan entirely separate and later special actor blessing from God, if he "seeks" itdiligently enough, he may then receive"the baptism" with the Holy Spirit.

This "baptism" is supposed to be aspecial enduement with POWER. Thispower is supposed to be "power to wit­ness for Jesus." Actually it is regardedin practice as a sort of loosening of thetongue.

The teaching is that one always"speaks in tongues" - that is, un­known languages, at the time this "bap­tism" is received. Often thrills andsensations are felt surging in over­powering waves through the body.From that time all timidity and bashful­ness in "witnessing for Christ" is gone.The tongue is loosened. The recipientnow testifies in open meeting bodily,loudly, often in a jazzy manner andwith a fluency and flippancy of speechnever before possible.

Peter, James, John, and the otherapostles, they believe, all were CON­VERTED, and received the Holy Spirit ei­ther when first called by Jesus, orduring His ministry and before "Pente­cost." Then, having already received"the gift of the Holy Spirit," these dis­ciples, so it is believed, had to "tarry,"and "pray down Pentecost," until,finally on Pentecost, they "got theirbaptism." That's the common belief.

BUT THAT IS NOT THE TRUTH!And this error causes thousands to

SEEK and SEEK and SEEK this supposedADDITIONAL experience called "the bap-

TOMORROW'S WORLD

tism." Worse, it leads people by hun­dreds to become discouraged and todecide there is no hope for them, and togive up even trying to live a Christianlife!

Was Peter Converted Before"Pentecost" ?

Let's not ASSUME this idea. Let's nottake it carelessly for granted. Let's lookinto the Scripture for the TRUTH!

The TRUTH is that neither Peter,James, John, nor any of the disciples ofJesus had ever so much as RECEIVED theHoly Spirit at all until that day ofPentecost!

Under the Old Covenant, God had aCHURCH. Israel was both a nation,called the "Kingdom of Israel," and aCHURCH, called "The Congregation ofIsrael." But that church was a FLESH­born church. It was wholly MATERIAL,fleshly, physical. It was not spiritual­one became a member by FLESH-birth.

Now here is the point so many havenever realized. Under the Old CovenantTHERE WAS NO SALVATION! The peopleof that church were NOT CONVERTED.They did not have the Holy Spirit!That is, none except the prophets spe­cially called of God. David, Elijah, Je­remiah and other prophets had theHoly Spirit. They were called for veryspecial missions.

But the rank-and-file members of theOld Testament Congregation NEVERHAD THE HOLY SPIRIT. You can't findany place where the Holy Spirit waspromised Israel under the OLD COV­ENANT. Or where salvation and eternallife were promised. Their animal sacri­fices did NOT take away their sins. "Forit is not possible that the blood of bullsand of goats should take away SINS"(Heb. 10:4). But rather, as explainedin Hebrews, the animal sacrifices of theOld Covenant were merely a reminderof sins! There was no remission of sins,and therefore no salvation possible,UNTIL the one and only great sacrificewas made by Christ!

During Jesus' ministry He told Hisdisciples: "It is expedient for YOU thatI go away: for if I go not away, theComforter [Holy Spirit] will not comeunto you; but if I depart, I will sendhim unto you" (John 16:7). Notice, itwas expedient for THEM. He was talk-

February 1972

ing to Peter and the other disciples onthe very eve of His crucifixion, at theLAST SUPPER. If Peter and the otherapostles already had the Holy Spirit,Jesus would not have told them, Hisvery last night alive on earth with thembefore being crucified, it was needfulfor them that He depart and go toheaven, in order to send the HolySpirit. And this was only some 50 daysbefore Pentecost!

Again, Jesus said that same night:"But when the Comforter is come,whom I will send unto you from theFather [FROM HEAVEN] ... he shalltestify of me" (John 15: 26). Again thesame night He said: "If ye love me,KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS. And I willpray the Father, and he shall give youanother Comforter, that he may abidewith you for ever; EVEN THE SPIRIT oftruth ... for he [the Holy Spirit whichthe Father would send from heaven]dwelleth WITH you [in the person ofChrist], and SHALL be in you}} (John14:15-17).

Notice it carefully! It wasn't the dis­ciples who prayed down the Holy

Peter did not say "tarry" or"agonize/' but he did say,"Repent, and be baptized/'and " ye shall receive thegift of the Holy Spirit."­Acts 2:38.

Spirit. It was JESUS who prayed, andthe Father sent them the Holy Spiritwhich was to be IN THEM - and theSpirit CAME on the day of PentecostAFTER Jesus had GONE AWAY, toheaven!

Earlier, on the Last Great Day - theday after the Feast of Tabernacles,"Jesus stood and cried, saying, If anyman thirst, let him come unto me anddrink. He that believeth on me, as thescripture hath said, out of his bellyshall flow rivers of living water. (Butthis spake he of the SPIRIT, which theythat believe on him should [in the fu­ture] receive: for the Holy Spirit wasnot yet given; 'because that Jesus wasnot yet glorified)" (John 7:37-39).

Not Yet Given

Study that! The Holy Spirit was notyet given. Why? Jesus had not yet

February 1972

GONE AWAY - ascended to heaven ­BEEN GLORIFIED! It was expedient forthem that He go away. Otherwise theHoly Spirit would not have come!Notice the future tense - out of hisinnermost being shall flow the HolySpirit!

The Holy Spirit had never yet comefrom heaven to enter and dwell WITHINconverted Christians. The Holy Spirithad never been offered to the peopleduring Old Testament times. But theProphet Joel had prophesied: "It shallcome to pass afterward, that I will pourout MY SPIRIT upon all flesh" (Joel2:28).

And Jesus gave them the PROMISE Hewould send the Holy Spirit fromheaven, if and after He went to heaven.And, after His resurrection, on the veryday and hour of His ascending toheaven, Jesus "commanded them thatthey should not depart from Jerusalem,BUT WAIT for the promise of the Father,which, saith he, ye have heard of me"(Acts 1:4) . Yes, the promises quotedabove, that unless He went to heaventhey could not have or be filled with theHoly Spirit. The promise that Hewould pray the Father and the Fatherwould SEND the Holy Spirit.

And then, on the day of Pentecost,THE HOLY SPIRIT CAME!

This was its first coming fromheaven! And on that day, the newly in­spired Peter said, "THIS is that whichwas spoken by the prophet Joel," quot­ing that prophecy. Now, at last, Godhad sent His Spirit, as promised, for allflesh - all who would repent, andaccept Jesus as Saviour, in faithbelieving!

Before receiving the Holy Spirit,Peter was weak. He lacked faith to castout a demon, or walk on the water. Hedenied Jesus three times. He went fish­ing instead of attending to God'sWork. At the Last Supper Jesus toldhim, "WHEN thou art converted,strengthen thy brethren" (Luke 22 :32).

Some believe Peter received the HolySpirit when Jesus breathed on him."And when he had said this, hebreathed on them, and saith unto them,Receive ye the Holy Spirit" (John20:22). But He merely breathed thebreath of air - wind. That's whatbreath is, always, in the Scriptures.

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After breathing on them Jesus did notsay, "You have now received the HolySpirit."

If His breathing on them is whatgave them the Holy Spirit, they wouldalready have had the Holy Spirit inthem when Jesus afterwards said, "RE­CIliVE YE the Holy Spirit" - but theydid not. They were yet to receive theSpirit, as He promised, after He wentaway - after He was glorified (John7:39) - after He went to heaven, andthe FATHER sent the Spirit from heaven.And it was after this that Jesus toldthem to wait in Jerusalem for the Spiritto come.

The personal experiences of somehave led many to accept this erroneousassumption that one first receives theHoly Spirit, and then, AFTERWARD, asan entirely separate experience, receives"the baptism of the Spirit." But expe­rience is a poor guide, and these dearpeople are interpreting the WORD OFGOD by their experience. All such expe­riences should be explained by theScripture, and not vice versa!

BIBLE DEFINITION of Spirit"Baptism"

There is only one text in all the Biblethat actually defines this "baptism."

It is in I Corinthians 12: 13: "For byone Spirit are we all BAPTIZED into onebody" ~ the BODY OF CHRIST, the trueChurch of God.

Let us understand this. What is themeaning of the word "baptize"? It is aGreek word, untranslated, in ourEnglish Bibles. Had the translators ren­dered it into the English language, itwould have read "IMMERSE." For theGreek word baptiso means "to im­merse." To "plunge into." The personbaptized is plunged into the thing he isbaptized in. When baptized in water,the candidate is plunged into, or im­mersed, in water.

Consequently, the baptism with, orby, the Holy Spirit is not our immersioninto the Holy Spirit; for the Scripturestell us it is the entrance of the Spiritinto us.

And in Romans 8:9, Paul tells usplainly that unless the Spirit of Goddwells IN us, we are none of Christ's!We become Christ's, then, when theHoly Spirit comes INTO us! And whenwe are Christ's, we are then in the BODY

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OF CHRIST, the Church. Therefore, it isthe receiving of the Holy Spirit whichplunges us, immerses or puts us into theChurch. And this immersion into theChurch BY the Holy Spirit, the Scrip­tures call "the baptism with, or by, theHoly Spirit."

The term "baptism OF the HolySpirit" as "Pentecostal" people say it, isnot to be found in the BIBLE. It is thebaptism with, or by, the Holy Spirit,INTO the Church.

And so "BY one Spirit are we all bap­tized into one body."

Thus, the RECEIVING of the HolySpirit is the BAPTISM with the Spirit!

"Receiving" the Spirit, and the"Baptism" One and the Same

Let us carefully study this in theWord of God!

Before the day of Pentecost, A.D. 31,Jesus said to His disciples, "Ye shall bebaptized with the Holy Spirit not manydays hence." Therefore we know thatwhat the disciples received the day ofPentecost was the BAPTISM with theHoly Spirit.

Now let us notice the terms used todescribe this baptism.

In Acts 2 :4, we read, "And they wereall filled with the Holy Spirit." And sobeing filled with the Holy Spirit is thebaptism with the Holy Spirit.

The thousands who came running tohear the apostles, pricked in their hearts,asked what they should do to receivethis same baptism with the Holy Spirit.Peter did not say "tarry," or "agonize,"but he said, "Repent, and be baptized,"and "ye shall receive the gift of theHoly Spirit" (Acts 2::)8). And so thereceiving of the gift of the Holy Spiritis the baptism with the Holy Spirit.And three thousand received it thatday! And there is no mention of theirspeaking in "tongues," and certainlythere was no "tarrying"!

And note it! - this was their firstreceiving of the Holy Spirit! TheseJews were not previously converted ­had not previously received the Spirit.This was their conversion.

Ten years later, God, through avision of the sheet and unclean animals,showed Peter he must go to preachChrist to the Gentile house of CORNEL­IUS. These people were Gentiles -

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unconverted. Peter went to preachChrist - to show them the way of sal­vation. Cornelius was a devout man; heand his house feared God; he gave almsand prayed. But he did not know theway of salvation, and was notconverted.

Peter went to his house andPREACHED CHRIST - His message, Hiscrucifixion, resurrection; that "whoso­ever believeth in him shall receive re­mission of sins." At that very point inhis sermon, Cornelius and his house, al­ready repentant and devout, believed ­and "while Peter yet spake these words,the Holy Spirit fell on all them whichheard the word" (Acts 10 :44).

After Peter returned to Jerusalemfrom the house of Cornelius, he wastaken severely to task by the otherapostles for associating with Gentiles.In explaining how God had led him togo, and of what had occurred atCaesarea, Peter explained how an angelhad told Cornelius to send for Peter,"who shall tell thee words, wherebythou and all thy house shall be saved"(Acts 11:14) . After hearing Peter'sreport, the apostles exclaimed, "Thenhath God also to the Gentiles grantedrepentance unto life" (verse 18). Thisconclusively shows that what Corneliusand his household experienced was theiroriginal CONVERSION - their firstreceiving of the Holy Spirit - not asubsequent "baptism" as some specialenduement of power.

In explaining just what these Gen­tiles received, Peter said, "Then remem­bered I the word of the Lord, how thathe said, John indeed baptized withwater, but ye shall be baptized with theHoly Spirit. Forasmuch then as Godgave them the like gift as he did untous ..." (Acts 11:16-17).

Peter plainly says that what the Gen­tiles then received was the baptism withthe Holy Spirit. And this baptism isalso called, in verse 17, "the like GIFT."And so "the gift of the Holy Spirit" isthe baptism with the Holy Spirit.

In verse 15 Peter said, "The HolySpirit fell on them, as on us at thebeginning." So the Holy Spirit "FALL­ING on them" was the baptism with theHoly Spirit - into the Church!

In the 10th chapter, verse 44, wherethis actual experience is described, we

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learn that "the Holy Spirit fell on allthem," and in verse 45 we find that "onthe Gentiles also was poured out thegift of the Holy Spirit"! And in verse47 they "received the Holy Spirit." Sothe receiving of the Holy Spirit is thebaptism with the Holy Spirit.

All these terms are used synony­mously and interchangeably by the HolySpirit to describe the same experience.

So what must we conclude? Thatwhich is born of the flesh is FLESH(John 3:6). When fleshly, sinning,mortal man repents and is baptized as asymbol of his FAITH in Christ, hereceives the Holy Spirit - not as a re­sult of "tarrying," but through FAITH(Gal. 3:14; John 7:37, 39). And thisreceiving of the gift of the Holy Spiritis the baptism with the Spirit INTO theChurch!

He is then a child of God. He hasbeen begotten - though the realrebirth must come at the time of theresurrection. He is begotten from above- begotten of the Spirit. And thus heis baptized BY the Spirit into the bodyof Christ!

"; . . I had rather speak fivewords with my understand­ing, that by my voice I mightteach others also, than tenthousand words in an un­known tongue." - I Cor.14:19.

This baptism is not the end, but onlythe BEGINNING of his Christian expe­rience! He is merely a newborn BABEin Christ! He must now GROW in graceand knowledge. He must live a life ofovercoming. And he that endureth untothe end shall be saved!

Do ALL Speak WithTONGUES?

Is "speaking in tongues" THE Bibleevidence of the "baptism with the HolySpirit" ?

Must ALL speak with tongues at thetime they receive the Spirit, and arebrought into the true Church?

The apostles did not teach it!The EXPERIENCES recorded in the

New Testament, subsequent to Pente­cost, do not indicate it. Of all the expe­riences of conversions recorded in theNew Testament, it is recorded that there

February 1972

was tongue-speaking in only two ofthem! Shall we ASSUME there weretongues in all the other experiences? Letus be careful about ADDING to God'sWord what is not there.

There is' NO STATEMENT IN SCRIP­TURE that you must speak with tongue.rto prove you have received the HolySpirit "baptism."

No SCRIPTURE says "by their TONGUESye shall know them."

But the Scripture does say, "by theirFRUITS ye shall know them"! (Matt.7:20.) The lives we live are the BIBLEEVIDENCE of whether or not we havereceived the Holy Spirit!

Jesus said, "By this shall all menKNOW that ye are my disciples, if yehave LOVE one to another" (John13:35).

But are not the "tongues" at least ANevidence of the baptism with the Spirit?

Read what the Apostle Paul says:"Though I speak with the tonguesof ... ANGELS, and have not charity[LOVE], I am become as soundingbrass" (I Cor. 13: 1). There are fallenangels, demons, and it certainly couldbe that many today are speaking in the"tongues" of these demons. Would yousay the counterfeit tongues of demonsare any evidence at all of the true bap­tism with the Holy Spirit?

All admit "tongues" can be counter­feited by Satan. If one has been carelessabout PROVING all things by the Wordof .God, and has unsuspectingly beenlured into SEEKING what the Biblenowhere tells us to seek - "tongues"and physical sensations and thrillspleasing to the SENSUAL self - thenthat one is caught off guard and be­comes an open channel through whichan evil spirit may enter and possiblytake full possession of the mind.

Yes, Satan can COUNTERFEIT"tongues." And do you suppose for onemoment that the true BIBLE EVIDENCEcould be something that can be cleverlyCOUNTERFEITED? No, NEVER! The"tongues" gibberish as practiced todaydoes not even resemble the gift of lan­guages given on that day of Pentecostin 31 A.D.

But the FRUIT of the Holy Spirit ­LOVE, JOY, PEACE, patience, kindness,gentleness, goodness, meekness (most"tongues" people are not meek, but

February 1972

loudmouthed and bragging), temper­ance, FAITH - these things in one'slife cannot be counterfeited. They arenot natural. No one has sufficient will­power to FORCE himself to show alwaysthese fruits in his life. It requires themiracle of the LOVE of GOD shedabroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit(Rom. 5: 5). Satan has no counterfeitfor that!

That is the BIBLE EVIDENCE!"Tongues" are not even "an evidence."This is the PLAIN teaching of the Bible.

Are There Any GENUINETongues?

They DID speak with "tongues" at thehouse of Cornelius, and at Ephesus,AFTER the day of Pentecost.

While correcting the Corinthianchurch, Paul said, "I would that ye ALLspake with tongues" (I Cor. 14:5), and"forbid not to speak with tongues," inthe church (verse 39).

We should banish all prejudiceagainst the true manifestation oftongues which is the ability to speak inreal languages.

But we should get the "tongues"into the proper SCRIPTURAL place ofimportance.

In the same 14th chapter of ICorinthians, above quoted, Paul said hewould rather speak just five words withunderstanding, that he might teachothers also, than ten thousand words inan unknown tongue. To those Corin­thians, becoming fanatical on "tongues,"he said, "Brethren, BE NOT CHILDRENin understanding" (verse 20) . TheHoly Spirit is the Spirit of a SOUNDMIND (II Tim. 1:7).

We should NOT seek tongues. "Pen­tecostal" people loudly protest they donot do this, but in practice and in fact,they do, and they should not deny it.

One of Satan's Clever Pitfalls

The reason for this caution is foundin the Scripture. "He that speaketh inan unknown tongue EDIFIETH HIMSELF"(I Cor. 14:4). It is seeking for self­for self-blessings - for self-thrills ­and is contrary to fulfilling the law ofGod which is love away from self andtoward God and neighbor! And there­fore it may easily degenerate into a mostdeceptive form of SIN.

TOMORROW'S WORLD

One of the "fruits" of this "tongues"movement is that many seek nothingbut "blessings," as they express it _.which in plain language means sensualFEELINGS and THRILLS that they them­selves ENJOY as a PLEASURE. This oftenincludes an unnatural, perverted, Satan­inspired SEX sensation. Deluded peopleare led to believe this is a spiritualblessing from GOD! It's time peopleknew the TRUTH!

Jesus said, "That which is born ofthe flesh is FLESH" (John 3:6). Wemust be BORN AGAIN - born of theSPIRIT - to inherit eternal life. Nowthe flesh has its FEELINGS, its EMO­TIONS, its five SENSES.

It is but natural that Satan's counter­feits are of the FLESH - even his coun­terfeits of spiritual things. So Satan thedevil gives to people FEELINGS, andEMOTIONS, and THRILLS - and inducesmany zealous seekers after the HolySpirit to accept these pleasing sensationsas "blessings" and "manifestations" ofthe Holy Spirit !

The saddest thing is that Satan hasbeguiled many into continually lustingfor SENSUAL FEELINGS, and forTHRILLS of the FLESH, deceiving theminto believing they are receiving "bless­ings" from God!

Oh, WHY will so many honest soulsbe misled, and fall into this satanicsnare? God's Word warns us to TRY thespirits, WHETHER they be of God! Formany false SPIRITS are gone out into theworld!

This is not to say there is no EXPE­RIENCE, or nothing felt, when Godpours forth His blessed Holy Spirit.There is a definite EXPERIENCE to realgenuine conversion. But what a tragedyto see so many deceived into receivingthe FALSE experience - the FALSE"blessing" - because they have failedto heed God's warning to TRY thespirits - because they fail to have onthe WHOLE ARMOR of God, which isTHE WORD OF GOD!

And the greater pity is that the veryones most deceived are the ones whoRESENT having the Scriptures opened tothem to CORRECT them, to REPROVE,and to set them right! If you feel re­sentment of these words, it is the surestBIBLE EVIDENCE that you are under thedeceptive power of Satan the devil, and

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you should flee the influence he has overyou, and ask God to renew a RIGHT spiritwithin you.

So many in this modern "tongues"movement do not seem to understandthe real PURPOSE of receiving the HolySpirit. They look upon spiritual gifts asornaments to decorate and embellish thePERSON. But the gifts of the Spirit arethe TOOLS placed in our hands to DOTHE WORK OF GOD.

After Jesus had received the FULL­NESS of the Holy Spirit, He said: "TheSpirit of the Lord is upon me, BECAUSEhe hath anointed me to preach the gos­pel to the poor; he hath sent me to healthe brokenhearted, to preach deliveranceto the captives, and recovering of sightto the blind . . ." (Luke 4:18).

The object and purpose of the HolySpirit is not to give FEELINGS andTHRILLS that are of the senses of theflesh, and therefore sensual - not toplease the SELF - but to enable one tocrucify the SELF - to endow withpower to overcome sin, which is trans­gressing of God's Commandments (IJohn 3:4) - to cleanse us of all un­righteousness - to impart to us GOD'Srighteousness, so our light may shineand others may see Christ in us - tounderstand the Word of God, so wemay know how to live by its every word- to give us the FAITH of Jesus, mak­ing possible His righteousness - togive us POWER to be kind, patient,gentle, and of service to others - topreach the Gospel - to heal the sick.

Let Us Receive THIS Power

Jesus did not say, "Ye shall fall help­less UNDER the power." He did not saythe Holy Spirit would ROB us of power,render us powerless. He said, "YE SHALLRECENE POWER"!

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit ofPOWER, and of LOVE, and of a SOUNDMIND (II Tim. 1: 7) . The Spirit ofUNDERSTANDING (John 16:13). Andthat kind of power comes from justtwo things: SURRENDER, and FAITH,along with much earnest PRAYER.

Let us YIELD to God, and His Word.Let us seek more of His Love, more ofHis FAITH, a better UNDERSTANDING,more POWER FOR SERVICE! And let usleave manifestations and feelings toHIM! 0

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Personal(Continued from page 4)

lasting only an indefinite few or severalyears during the 3rd 19 years.

The early Church was given 19 yearsfor the first phase of its ministry, whenthe door was opened to carry the Gos­pel to EUROPE! The same, TO THE PRE­CISE DAY, was true in our case! Andthat is FACT!

Yes, this seemed SIGNIFICANT!It SEEMED we would have a second

19 years to get the Message "in all theworld, as a witness to all nations."

I admit we were somewhat excitedby this realization of FACT. We areHUMAN! Our hearts are IN God's Workto which He has called us. This was, tosome extent, an emotional revelation.Would YOU have the same normal hu­man reaction, had you been in ourplace? I think all but dour, prejudiced,hostile critics, who would like to seeGod's Work destroyed, would havereacted as we did!

I said at the beginning, "Emphati­cally I am NOT a prophet." Later,"Now a word about what my Commis­sion is NOT. It is not to become aninfallible expert on or to preach, chrono­logy." Later again, "But we are onlyhuman, and it is natural that we shouldhave been curious to know, as far aspossible, how much time we had toGET THE JOB DONE. That, however, infact, is not our main purpose, or ourCommission - which is to proclaimChrist's Announcement of the advancegood NEWS. . . . Our Commission isTO GET THAT JOB DONE! We have beenGETTING IT DONE!"

This is the PARAMOUNT FACT ourreaders and Co-Workers need to keepuppermost in mind!

Our human interest, and enthusiasmabout facts and indications pointing tothe probable amount of time we hadleft is of MOST MINOR consequencecompared to the BIG point of the Com­mission - WHICH WE HAVE BEEN GET­TING DONE!

Now let me continue.It has never been our intention to

SET DATES! Time after time, I havesaid - Garner Ted Armstrong has said- our literature has stated - "WE DONOT SET DATES!"

TOMORROW'S WORLD

Yet, in our human zeal and enthu­siasm for getting this greatest missionon earth done, we have a few timescome close to it or appeared to. - andthat we deeply regret.

If we were not human enough to bevirtually carried away with what ap­peared inevitable - in the light offact and probability - we surely wouldnot have been imbued with the energy,vitality, sense of urgency and enthu­siasm to GET the job done!

So let me give you a few actualQUOTES:

In 1959, we issued a booklet, (nowout of print) A True History of theTrue Church, by Herman L. Hoeh.He said: "God ... opened a DOOR tothe apostle Paul at the beginning of thesecond nineteen-year cycle by which theGospel went to Europe (Acts 16:9;II Cor. 2:12-13). So now, just beforethe second coming of Jesus Christ, Godhas given His Church ... just twonineteen-year cycles in which to carrythe Gospel to the world! The first cyclepassed. Then God suddenly opened thedoor for the second cycle in January1953, and the Gospel is now going toall the world!"

My only comment: By the end ofthe second cycle we had gotten it intoall nations - and not even six monthsbefore. We still face the question:How THOROUGHLY must all nations bereached?

An edition of a booklet, 1975 inProphecy, issued 1957 - now for sometime out of print - had the following:

"Feverishly science, technology andindustry are working to produce a fan­tastic, push-button world of leisure by1975."

Let me say here in regard to thisbooklet, the title date, "1975" hadnothing to do with any prophecy, orfulfillment of any prophesied eventwhatsoever. It was a date set by certainscientific and technological sources, foraccomplishing certain materialistic ob­jectives. Scientists set dates for thetimes they HOPE to accomplish certainbreakthroughs. But does anyone dis­credit THEM, if they set the wrong date?Of course not!

Let me give you other examples:Sir Philip Noel Baker (Nobel Prize

winner in 1959) before television cam-

February 1972

eras, radio mikes, newspaper and maga­zine reporters, this dedicated man ofscience, deadly serious, said, " I believethat within ten years we will all bedead and the earth will be an inciner­ated relic." That ten years passed threeyears ago. But no one calls Sir Philipa false prophet. At any time duringthat ten years his statement could havecome true! What he said is even moreof a possibility today than in 1959!There are more ways to destroy man­kind now than then!

This man of science, well informed,trying to get someone to heed the deadlySERIOUSNESS of the world condition,boldly stated that he felt it would bedecided within ten years!

Author Gordon Ratray Taylor putthe threat to the extinction of mankindthis way: "THE THREAT IS TOO SERIOUSTO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY."

John Platt of the University of Michi­gan has stated in Science magazine, "Wemay have even less than a 50-50 chanceof living until 1980!"

The Federation of American Scien­tists in 1960 declared, "It appears un­likely that the world will avoid a nuclearholocaust if another 15 years pass with­out arms control agreement!" HE seta date - 1975!

In 1966 Dr. Binay Sen, Director ofthe United Nations Food and Agricul­ture Organization said, "If the rate offood production cannot be significantlyincreased, we must prepare for the fourhorsemen of the Apocalypse."

We are living in a lost, empty world,hopeless, just about to commit cosmo­cide! Concerned, dedicated, sincere, in­telligent, sober men in government,science and education are sounding aunanimous alarm: Mankind will endbefore this century does!

The point: Because these men adda date to their concerned commentsregarding mankind's future, does itmean that their concern, and all theoverwhelming facts which cause thatconcern, are wrong? NO! When thehouse is on fire no one seems interestedin the exact number of minutes onemight have before he is finally con­sumed! When it gets down to the lastfew straws, no one volunteers to liedown under the loaded camel whoseback is about to be broken.

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Time marches on inexorably, andso do all the prophetic events leadingto the collapse of mankind's experimentin self-government. And better yet, thesure coming of God's Kingdom to saveman from himself is near!

Emphatically, if we - in our dedi­cated enthusiastic ZEAL to get God'sWARNING of the end of mankind'sworld before this sick, sick world - DO,even though we intend not to, appear toset a date, I FEEL I DO NOT NEED TOAPOLOGIZE! No one but the enemies ofALL GOOD will accuse!

Now, continuing the booklet, 1975in Prophecy, on page 3: "MAN doesnot know the WAY to peace and happi­ness and joy. What man is bringing onthe world is the diametric opposite ­such catastrophic and terrifying destruc­tion that human life will be erased fromthe earth in 25 years UNLESS GODALMIGHTY INTERVENES!" That wouldbe by 1982.

On page 10: "While modern scienceand industry strive to prepare for us apush-button, leisure-luxury world by1975, United States Assistant WeatherChief I. R. Tannahill warns us unoffi­cially to really fear 'the big drought of1975.' But the indications of prophecyare that this drought will be even moredevastating than he foresees, and that itwill strike sooner than 1975 - proba­bly between 1965 and 1972!" I said"indications are" and "probably."

On page 20 : "Yes, millions of luke­warm inactive professing Christians willsuffer MARTYRDOM - and that beforethe anticipated push-button leisure-yearof 1975 dawns upon us!" I did not setthat 1975 date .- spokesmen for scienceand industry did. I still say it willoccur before their dream-world ma­terializes !

In The PLAIN TRUTH, October 1965,appeared the following (page 16):"But we know that the time is sooncoming - probably at the end of thesecond 19-year time-cycle of this Work- when our voices shall be stilled ­our printing presses stopped !" Themain statement remains as certain todayas then - only the "PROBABLY" by1972 has proved to be premature.

In a reprint from an issue of ThePLAIN TRUTH during 1963, an article,"There Is a Way of Escape," by Her-

TOMORROW'S WORLD

man L. Hoeh, has this: "The new slo­gan of the neo-Nazi parties is that thewest is 'through by 1972' .... It is timewe recognized that civilization has lessthan 15 years to go." The Nazi slogan,dating 1972, was off - but Dr. Hoehhas six more years to go before his is!

In my "Personal," The PLAIN TRUTHfor February 1967, I said: "I wish ALLOF YOU could realize that this wonder­ful coming world (that Jesus' GOSPELannounced) is REAL - and most of youwill be in it - I hope as one of itschanged IMmortals. It's not only REAL- it is coming SOON. Possibly (I donot set dates) in less than ten years!Yes, very possibly that soon!" I stillsay, it WAS - and still IS - possible;but I specifically said "I do not setdates."

In a Co-Worker letter to those con­tributing financially, dated December29, 1969, I said: "While I EMPHASIZE,we cannot set dates, yet I am preparedto say now, for the first time, the secondcoming of Christ COULD happen duringthis coming decade, which we enterlater this very week. Don't under anycircumstances take this as setting a date- but we are now far closer to theEND OF THIS WORLD - and the begin­ning of the happy and peaceful WORLDTOMORROW than people realize. TIMEIS SHORT!"

That one statement epitomizes whatwe have said all along.

Scores and scores of times we havesaid, "We do not set dates." Yet, inour zeal, we have used "possiblies" and"probablies" and even appeared to setdates we really didn't intend to set.

Scientists have done the same. Otherwriters in other fields have, also.. I'msure all our sincere readers UNDERSTANDOUR INTENT!

Hundreds of times I have said ­Garner Ted Armstrong has said ­our other speakers and writers havesaid - "DON'T believe ME because Isay it - but listen with open mind,without prejudice, search your ownBible, and BELIEVE WHAT GOD SAYS INYOUR BIBLE."

I have never tried to induce leadersto FOLLOW ME - but to followCHRIST, and to follow me only as Ifollow HIM.

Now a final summary:

31

Let me give you now what was ourthinking, based on prophecy (whichdoes foretell certain events to come, butNOT their dates), based also on worldevents and trends, and at the same timebeing influenced to some degree by the19-year time cycle that HAD DEFINITELYOCCURRED, ON THE VERY DAY. I donot mean merely my own thinking, per­sonally. I include the combined think­ing of our top men here at Pasadena inthe Work.

First, in 1945, before the end ofWorld War II, I was saying on theair that the Nazis were organized to goUNDERGROUND, in case of defeat, andto COME BACK. By war's end, later in1945, it seemed history might repeat ­it often does. It had taken Germany 21years from the armistice bringing theend of the first round of world war ­an "armistice" is a RECESS - to beready to start the second round, WorldWar II. The armistice had COME OFAGE - 21 years!

So, we looked then to 1966 as aPOSSIBLE date for the next round - nu­clear World War III. I do not re­member ever having stated this publicly,either on the air or in print. It wasmerely our private thinking of a pos­SIBILITY. But by no means even as aprobability.

By 1952, when my elder son, RichardDavid, and Herman Hoeh spent a sum­mer in Britain, France, and Germany,their glowing reports of German pro­gress in a post-war COMEBACK evenstrengthened our private view of ros­SIBILITIES.

But, after the astounding fact of dis­covering our first broadcast into Europeand Britain had been 19 years - TOTHE VERY DAY by both Hebrew andRoman calendars - we gained furtherinsight into the probable time it wouldrequire to reach all nations. And weknew this had to be accomplished be­fore World War III would break out.It seemed, then, it would requireanother 19 years at least.

Then we did begin to mention thepossibility of God's Work extendinganother 19 years - or at least untilJanuary 7, 1972. In fact, we were sooverwhelmingly impressed - perhapsmore than we should have been - bythe FACT of what happened after 19

32

years, we did, a few times, go furtherthan we should with it - though basi­cally, we continued, time and again, tosay "we do not set dates." But somestatements gave the IMPRESSION that wedid set the date, January 7, 1972. It isdifficult to control sincere, dedicatedenthusiastic ZEAL; and we were human!

However, after June, 1967, and thesix-day war between Israel and theArab nations, just when world eventscould have plunged suddenly by thatimpetus to a climax in a few shortyears, world events, instead, began toslow down. But we could not discernthat for a year or !?lore.

De Gaulle, in France, began to slowdown the Common Market moves to­ward POLITICAL union in Europe, inorder to prevent Germany from domi­nating. He wanted to dominate.

In the Vatican, in Jerusalem, in Ger­many and Europe, in United Stateseconomy, affecting THIS WORK, thepace SLOWED! But we were so im­pressed with what already had happenedin the 19-year time-cycle, that we failedto divorce actual contemporary worldevents, as they were slowing, from ourtime-cycle analogy.

During the past two or three years,the realization came upon us more andmore that events were slowing - thatthe world-crisis would NOT be reachedby January, 1972. All this has happenedSINCE the 1967 edition of the U. S. andBritish Commonwealth in Prophecybook came out: This book con­tained statements that seemed justifiedin 1967-before this slowing down wasnoticeable-such as: "Events of the nextfive years may ..." in the very begin­ning - and, "A staggering turn inworld events is due to erupt in the nextfour to seven years." And again, "thenext five to seven years" on page xi. Youwill notice that, even here, we were notsetting a definite YEAR, but expressing ageneral period in different ways. Onpage xii, the statement, "The eventsprophesied to strike the American andBritish peoples in the next four to sevenyears are SURE!" By this we meant theEVENTS are SURE - not the "four toseven years." Lower on the page, how­ever, the statement was made that theseevents will come "on schedule, BUT NOTUNTIL THE WARNING HAS BEEN MADE

TOMORROW'S WORLD

AVAILABLE" - which certainly quali­fied it.

In the latest edition of that book,ALL THESE STATEMENTS HAVE BEENCORRECTED.

As I have said, Moses made mistakes,Abraham made mistakes, David mademistakes, Elijah made mistakes, Petermade mistakes, and so have ALL MENGod has ever called and used. Makinga mistake is NOT any evidence at all thata man is NOT being used of God. Butthese men CORRECTED their mistakes!AND SO HAVE WE! And I am cor­recting a few in this very "Personal"!

The BIG POINT is - WE HAVE BEENGETTING THE JOB DONE - and no oneelse on earth has!

One point remains. The question,HOW THOROUGHLY does God intendHis Work to reach the nations?

It DID take a second 19 years to getthe message into all nations - but, asof January 7th, 1972, we had reached

February 19172

many of them only superficially - notintensively!

I know of no place in the Biblewhere, in specific plain words, this ques­tion is answered. The one possibleanswer is in Matthew 24:14, the veryprophecy defining our COMMISSION forthis latter day. There we are to preachand publish this Gospel OF THE KING­DOM in all the world for a witness untoall nations. The answer may be tied upin the words "for a witness." One com­mentary, on this phrase, has: "as a wit­ness: God never sends judgment withoutprevious warning." In Amos 3: 7 maybe found a corollary: "Surely the LordEternal will do nothing, but He re­vealeth His secret unto His servants theprophets." (Amos 3: 7). The inferenceis that God's servants warn the people,as Jonah did Nineveh, of God's judg­ment to come.

If that is the meaning intended, thenwe must say that God does intend many

nations to be warned more intensivelythan as of now. We have gotten theMessage into Japan, for example, inthe past six months - but reachingonly a superficial fraction of the people.To say Japan has been warned wouldnot be the truth.

In view of WHAT DID HAPPEN, onJanuary 7th, it seems God has revealedin no uncertain language, BY THE VERYTHINGS THAT HAPPENED on thatday, that we must now reach all nationsMORE INTENSNELY!

1) On that very day, the MOSTPOWERFUL DOOR so far opened to us,swung wide open. We had hoped forit, but not really expected it. We hadno idea when the answer would come.On that day the purchase of advertisingspace in the ENTIRE UNITED STATESedition of Readers Digest opened be­fore us. Total circulation, 17,750,000copies - with a readership of 50 to 70MILLION people - by far the largest ofany magazine. That is from Y4 to morethan Y3 of ALL the people in the U.S.The first two-page ad will appear in onehalf of that circulation in the Aprilnumber, and in the other half of thecirculation in the May number! Foryears we have purchased advertisingspace in overseas editions. Now theentire U. S. is opened to us!

2) On that day we received from ourbankers the signed, sealed and de­livered financing for 80% of the superbnew auditorium, NOW ACTUALLY UNDERCONSTRUCTION on the Pasadena cam­pus. Since, besides being the collegeauditorium, for us it will also serve tohonor GOD at the present Headquartersin Pasadena, it seems God assures usof a few more years at least to go, sinceit will take two years to complete it.The other 20% of the financing wasalready on hand, received and accumu­lated from Co-Workers. So thefinancing is 100% completed! Only westill must - over several years - repaythe 80%.

Since, one of the most powerful radiostations, KOA Denver, has opened timefor The WORLD TOMORROW at 7:30every evening, seven nights a week, andfor the Garner Ted Armstrong T.V.program at noon Sundays.

Since then, the NUMBER ONE inde-

pendent T.V. station in the U. S. ­top rated outside the major networks ­WOR, New York, has opened PRIMETIME - actually in the very center ofprime time for New York - 10 p.m.,Sunday nights, beginning February13th!

Yes, THINGS DID HAPPEN January7th! And now THE MOST POWERFULDOORS ARE OPENING. Next watch formajor openings in Chicago, Philadel­phia, Dallas, and elsewhere.

So where are we, now, in the Work?All systems are "GO!"Welcome aboard! Glad you're GOING

WITH us! You know, I'm reminded ofthe time Jesus was criticized, perse­cuted, misrepresented by His enemies.He asked His disciples, "Will ye alsogo away?"

"Then Simon Peter answered him,Lord, to whom shall we go? THOUhast the words of Eternal Life!"

And we in His Work, today, havethose SAME WORDS OF ETERNAL LIFE!

Yes, all systems are "Go!"With renewed energy, greater than

ever before, WE PLUNGE ON TO FINISHTHE WORK WE HAVE BEEN GNEN TODO! 0

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Letters to the Editor

M.A.U.,Nigeria

(Continued from inside front cover)

They've driven home the point well aboutthe pagan origins of Christmas and aboutthe accidents, suicides, family breakupsand mental depressions that occur atChristmas time.

Earl R.,Sacramento, Calif.

Thank you very' much for December'sarticles "Is Christmas Christian ?" byAlbert Portune and "Ten Reasons WhyI Don't Keep Christmas!" by David JonHill. They came at a very appropriatetime - the day before Christmas. Likeall of your informative articles, theyproved everything they said and reaffirmedmy faith in the Bible.

Frank L.,San Antonio, Texas

I have just read the excellent article byDavid Jon Hill in the December issue ­why he does not keep Christmas. Histhoughts, coincide somuch with mine - Ijust had, to write you about it. For yearsI used to get into debt - so as to do theexpected - and it took me several monthsto get on my feet.

Irene S.,Inglewood, Calif.

One statement in "Is Christmas Chris­tian?" isn't quite accurate. It is: "The plaintruth is - NO ONE knows the exact dateof Jesus' birth." There is no authentic rec­ord of the date of the birth of Jesus, butscholars (Griswell, among others) con­sider it probable that He was born on thetenth day of the Jewish month of Nisan,which in the year of the Nativity has beencalculated to correspond to Saturday,April 5th.

Jay A.,Orem, Utah

• There are abundant indications that Christwas born sometime in the autumn. Detailsare available in our free reprint "When WasChrist Born?"

Personal CounselOur family has been reading your litera­

ture for about two years. We have manyquestions and feel we are ready for a visitfrom your representatives. We live justoutside of Pullman, Washington, whichis about 80 miles south of Spokane.

Ken P.,Pullman, Wash.

Yesterday we had the privilege of avisit from two of the representatives ofthe Worldwide Church of God. I am verygrateful for their help in answering ourquestions about several areas.

Henry H.,Southfield, Mich.

I recently enjoyed the visit of yourrepresentatives and I want to truly thank

you for sending them. They have reallyhelped.

James G.,Livingston, Tenn.

I recently received', a visit from two ofyour personal representatives. I foundthem to be everything' I expected. Theywere well versed in the Scriptures andhad a great deal of knowledge concerningscientific and everyday matters.

Anthony C,Brooklyn, N. Y.

Recently I wrote to you asking that arepresentative of the, Worldwide Churchof God might call en my wife and me.Several days ago two of your representa­tives called on us. It was one of the mostinspiring conversations that I have everhad. I thank you for making this visitpossible.

Loren P.,Abingdon, Ill.

Be Seen and Not 'HeardI have just read your article "Be Seen

and Not Heard." I wish I had seen itthree years ago before I lost all my friendsand had to leave town! At Sunday schoolI learned the same, traditions of myFriends» the long-haired Jesus, "believe(certain doctrines) and you will go toheaven." Then I began studying the Biblewith a certain denomination that sendstheir women and children door to door,preaching (to earn their own salvation).When I learned from my Bible that theearth was made to be inhabited and thatthe saved will live here forever, imme­diately I began talking to everyone insight. You know the *est - I was turnedout". avoided and despised, unwelcome atmy Job and homes of my former friends,because I had dared Ito study my Bibleinstead of taking rhe word of others.People just don't want, to hear about theBible: I hope that many will take youradvice and not make the mistake I made.

. Mrs. Bobbie V.,Warren, Oregon

• Other readers with}.jmilar problems arewelcome to write for" our reprint article"Should You Try to Convert Others?" It'Jfree of charge-like; all of our otherliterature. I,

Reader from Niger~a

I am very happy to let you know that itwas the invaluable pieces of advice, whichI .got from you: puhlication and the HolyBIble that sustained me' during the terrible~igerian. Civil War. I.' happened to liveIn a Biafra-conrrolled area. The experi­ences of the Civil War have taught methat the Bible is the living Word of Godand that all its prophecies must sometimeCOme to pass. 'r.r

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