PBI News

PBI Annual Meeting Notice

The annual meeting of the Pastoral Bible Institute will take place on Friday, July 25, at the Claremont McKenna College, Claremont, California (near the Ontario airport).

The purpose of the annual meeting is to elect directors for the following year and to conduct other business regarding the direction and affairs of the Institute. Anyone having business to propose should contact the Institute chairman, Tim Thomassen. If you plan to attend the meeting, information on the location and arrangements can be obtained from the Institute's Secretary, Michael Nekora, 1425 Lachman Lane, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272 (phone (310) 454-5248; e-mail nekora@aol.com).

Streeter Revelation Books Republished

A year after the death of Brother Russell in 1916, the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society published the seventh volume of Studies in the Scriptures. It provided an interpretation of the books of Revelation and Ezekiel. In 1923 Bro. R. E. Streeter, a member of The Herald's editorial committee, published his comments on the first half of Revelation using extensive quotations from the pastor as well as other Revelation scholars. The second volume followed in 1924. In some respects Bro. Streeter's work was meant as an "answer" to the seventh volume.

Both volumes have long been out of print, but thanks to a generous gift from a friend of the Institute, we have been able to reprint them as a single volume. The words are the same; the appearance of the words is much better. Even if you have the original volumes, you should consider acquiring this new one because it is so much easier to use and read.

The cost is just $10 per book which includes the cost of postage anywhere in the world. Send your request with payment to the Institute at 1425 Lachman Lane, Pac. Palisades, CA 90272.

Letters from Readers

I just finished reading the November–December issue and the article, "Justified by Faith." Concerning the servant/friend relationship to God concerning Abraham, would you consider "friends" and "sons of God" on the same plane? If so, then how would you explain Jesus' comments to the disciples in John 15:15, "Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you." You mention James 2:23 about Abraham being called the "friend" of God, yet say that Abraham is not a "son," hence not to be considered in the body of Christ. You made reference to Romans 12:1, about presenting our bodies "a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God." We know that Paul is talking about a spiritual sacrifice, not our fleshly bodies. Looking back into the Old Testament, the animal was always "without blemish"—our bodies are blemished by sin. We must put the gift of God back on the altar as a living sacrifice. I don't think there is any sacrifice to offer in our physical bodies. Romans 12:1, Luke 7:28, Revelation 13:8, and Hebrews 10–12 require further consideration as to who belongs where. It is solely in God's realm. As Jesus told the mother of Zebedee's sons: "[it] is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father." (Matt. 20:23)

Dan Donnarummo, Ohio

Author's reply:

Jesus' comment in John 15 is an apt illustration of the difference between the relationship one has with God without and with the holy spirit. Under the law, the apostles were considered in the same manner as Abraham (Gal. 4:1–6), as servants. It would be proper to think of them as "ancient worthies" at that time. When the holy spirit came, they would now be adopted into God's family as children, and their relationship—and reward—changed significantly. As to Romans 12:1, we see the term "body" as representing all earthly associations and interests, both past and future, and especially that of earthly will and ambition. There is a constant surrender of our will in a daily offering. Just as Jesus laid down his life daily, we who follow in his footsteps are to do the same. We agree that this can only be acceptable to God through our first taking the merit of Jesus' sacrifice to ourselves so that God can view us as without sin.

Thank you for the interesting and helpful articles in the last two issues. (Sept/Oct and Nov/Dec). The article "The Works that Follow" certainly is interesting, and the forming of any conclusion has to be by correct reading of the "signs." We may not all read them in exactly the same way, nor agree on the timing of them, but every one of us must be deeply interested and be very thankful that our minds are stirred up concerning these things.

W. A. Smith, Australia

Please renew my subscription to the Herald for another year. I am quite alone as to fellowship with others of like precious faith so am so appreciative of The Herald, Dawn and Bible Study Monthly. I read the articles in every issue several times. I will be 93 the last of January. The Herald is a beautiful magazine. I thoroughly appreciate and enjoy every part. May the Heavenly Father and His dear Son bless you as you send out the message of love, truth and encouragement.

Dorothy DeFord, Illinois

My dear wife went home to be with her Lord last year, June 12. Truly the gracious Lord through his blessed Son Jesus Christ was with us. She had her wish, having Altzheimers disease and wanting the Lord to take her home. Her sister died with the same disease. Our love for one another is so deep until one of us is taken home. We would have been married 51 years on June 30. We have been Bible Students all these years, knowing Bro. Paul Thompson and Bro. Read. We learned so much from them. I would appreciate prayer to help me carry on. Thank you for the words in The Herald of Christ's Kingdom.

Clayton Marks, North Carolina

Christian love and greetings in our Heavenly Father's name. I am renewing my subscription and a gift for a year to another. My dad used to be an elder in the Polish class in Detroit. He came into the truth while he was young, attending Pastor Russell's speaking the truth in 1911 or 1912. I am so grateful that I've been privileged to understand God's divine plan for the world. I have a February, 1939 Herald which I must reread. I used to attend the class in Detroit and have heard Bro. Hagensick several times. I can see by the world's conditions how close we are to the end of the age. If you have something in a booklet you can send my friend, I've given her some. We discussed the trinity over the phone. I sent her "The Lord our God is One Lord" and she was so happy to get it. She said she never believed what was taught about the trinity.

Helen Sawicki

I would like to express my deep thankfulness to all who work in producing The Herald. I am isolated from brethren of the truth and find The Herald a great blessing. The November/December issue is a joy to read. I have gone through it carefully three times. The only exception being "The Mother of Moses—an Allegory." I don't think we need to make types of Bible characters. Thank you for the help I receive and the encouragement to press on as we come nearer to the Kingdom of Christ.

Gladys Hyorte, England

Around the World

Israel

A war in the Middle East is much more likely today, according to a report from the military. Israel has become the third strongest world power. The Israeli Air Force is seven to eight times stronger than the combined might of the Arab nations. The report suggests that the next few years could produce four possibilities: a limited war between Israel and Syria; an Israeli-Palestinian war with 35,000 to 50,000 armed Palestinians attempting to totally control Judea, Samaria and Gaza; an air strike by Israel against Iran's nuclear missile manufacturing facilities; a general Arab-Israeli war. The report projects that Israel would be able to destroy the Arab armies within 10–15 days.

Jane's Intelligence Review (no date)

Excerpts of an Interview with Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel:

"Israel is making a technological leap ... We're made for high-knowledge, low-discipline industries ... Israel is the Silicon Valley of the Eastern Hemisphere. The only things holding us back are the concentration in the economy and the socialist restraints that have to be discarded ... I expect to see immigration not only from most of the remaining Jewish population of the former Soviet Union, but as income levels rise, Jews from the Western countries will start immigrating to Israel to improve their economic lot ... It's already happening from part of England ... I think you have three economies in the Middle East. The have-nots, who have nothing. Then the haves who have oil, basically a single-crop economy, and Israel, which is increasingly a post-industrial economy ... We don't want war of any kind, and we've made that abundantly clear."

Newsweek, 2/17/97

Prime Minister Netanyahu wants to press ahead toward a goal of bringing free-market ideas to Israel, where government has provided one-third of all jobs. He is inviting Palestinians and Egyptians into a push for a high-tech Middle East. The government will push for selling off stakes in Israel's state-controlled banks. There will also be public offerings of 13 state-controlled companies, including El Al Airlines. Netanyahu wants to raise $1.2 billion from privatization in 1997. Among his ideas are selling off the water-treatment plants and setting up privately managed toll roads. Netanyahu said that if "Jews once immigrated to Israel to escape persecution in Russia, Iraq or Germany, they will eventually arrive from places such as Chicago and London in search of a better standard of living." Last year alone Israel recorded 1,000 high-tech startup companies. Today, one-third of exports are high-tech products such as microchips and software.

Newsweek, "Remaking Israel," 2/17/97

The growing friendship between Israel and Jordan proposes long-term prosperity for the Middle East. Socialism and communism have been critical obstacles to economic development in the Middle East. In 1993, secret meetings between King Hussein and Israel prime minister Peres were held. Of particular interest is the proposed Jordan Rift Valley Project. Billions of dollars of investment in projects are planned, including a canal linking the Red Sea and the Dead Sea. According to Hani Mulki, president of Jordan's Royal Scientific Society, "Once the dividends come, the people will protect the peace."

Wall Street Journal, 1/97

Israel has approved building in a Jerusalem neighborhood claimed by both Palestinians and Israelis. Housing units will be built on Har Homa, a hill in the part of Jerusalem that was captured during the six-day war in 1967. More than 3,000 units would be built for Palestinians. The Palestinians have warned of violence if apartments are built there.

Associated Press, 2/97

Netanyahu blamed the justice minister for selecting an attorney general whose appointment touched off a scandal that could bring down the government. Roni Bar-On was appointed attorney general in January by Aryeh Deri, justice minister. Deri faced criminal charges on corruption and fraud and Bar-On promised to end Deri's corruption trial if he was appointed. Deri in turn was to deliver two badly needed votes for the Cabinet vote to withdraw Israeli troops from Hebron.

Bloomberg News Service, 2/24/97

Historians studying the issue of dormant accounts of Holocaust victims in Switzerland said more research is needed. Historians said little is known about the transfer of gold, gems and art work looted by Nazis from Holocaust victims. Switzerland has been under great pressure for more than a year to provide information on the location of assets given to them for safekeeping before WW II. Union Bank of Switzerland Chief Executive Mathis Cabiallavetta said it is unlikely that there will be vast amounts of assets belonging to Holocaust victims. However, Jewish groups say Swiss banks could hold billions of Swiss francs in dormant accounts. Meanwhile, the Swiss government passed an ordinance that establishes a fund for victims of the Holocaust, effective March 1, 1997. Companies that were important trade partners with Nazi Germany have agreed to contribute to the fund.

Bern and Zurich news service, 2/25/97

A government appointed commission in Sweden will investigate what happened to Jewish property that entered the country before WWII. Another probe is investigating whether gold that may have been stolen by the Nazis remains in the bank's reserves in Sweden. Reports from a U.S. Justice Department document from 1949 released in February indicated the Wallenbergs, a family of industrialists and bankers, may have received gold from Nazi Germany that was looted from victims. Sweden, like Switzerland, was neutral during the war and both countries have been under pressure to give a final accounting of Nazi victims' property.

Associated Press, 2/21/97

The World

World population growth is slowing dramatically. The U.S. Census Bureau reports that the world population grew by only 79.6 million in 1996, down seven million from 1994, the highest point of growth. The reason for the decline is that family size is shrinking. The Bureau reports that the fertility rate—the number of children born per women during a lifetime—has declined to 2.9, its lowest level ever. Forty percent of the world's population is producing at a rate less than replacement level. Russia, Germany and Italy produce more deaths than births each year. Despite financial rewards to child-bearing women in Japan and Germany, those countries are experiencing severe declines in population. Additionally, 27 developing countries are averaging fewer than 2.2 children per woman. In many areas, schools are closing for lack of students. Much of Japan's continuing economic difficulties is being attributed to a lack of young people to power the economy. The long-term difficulties of a lack of children will be evident in the next 30 years. There will be too few children to fill the schools and universities, too few young people entering the work force, too few couples buying homes and cars. The imploding markets of Europe and Japan will spread to the rest of the world, bringing negative consequences for most economies.

Population Research Institute, 2/97

United States

A new generation of evangelical leaders is emerging from the under-40 population. The evangelicals include singers such as Rebecca St. James and the Christian rock group DC Talk; athletes such as A.C. Green of the Phoenix Suns and Reggie White of the Green Bay Packers; and personalities such as Ralph Reed, executive director of the Christian Coalition. Observers say this new generation represents a change from current evangelicals such as Pat Robertson, in that they are attempting to work more at a local level than through large national organizations. "Most of these folks are going to try to make changes in local communities," said David Neff, executive editor of Christianity Today.

Washington Post, 11/23/96

Pakistan

Pakistan is protesting the test-firing of a long-range missile in India. The missile can carry a one-ton warhead and has a range of 155 miles, which poses a new threat in southern Asia. Pakistan claimed that the test-firing was specifically designed to target their country and to heighten tensions. Pakistan and India have fought three wars since their split in 1947.

DPA, 2/24/97

Serbia

An Albanian organization in the Serbian province of Kosovo called for an armed uprising of the people. The National Movement for Liberation of Kosovo said that Albanian leaders are not interested in the people but in controlling the political system. Kosovo is populated almost exclusively by ethnic Albanians who have been severely repressed by the Serbs. Continued outbreaks of violence are expected.

Associated Press, 2/21/97

Book Review

Exploding the Doomsday Money Myths, by Sherman S. Smith, Ph.D., 1994, Thomas Nelson Publishing, 244 pages.

Over the years, books that predict coming calamities in the financial markets have been popular, especially amongst Bible students who hold that one of the four winds of Revelation 7 pictures the financial structure of society. Many have looked at the various crises such as the oil embargoes of the 80s as sure signs of the end (this editor among them). An examination of history shows that it is best not to see the end in every crisis.

In 16th century England, a wood shortage produced predictions of world-wide deaths due to freezing, but as the price of wood rose, conservation occurred and coal was discovered as an alternative. In the 1850s, dire predictions were made that the world was running out of whales and hence whale oil, the primary source of artificial lighting. Prices rose, bringing in the search for alternatives. That led to the burning of kerosene for light.

Beginning in 1914 and continuing to our day, periodic scares relating to shortages of oil strike up doomsday scenarios of wars over the control of this precious commodity. In the 1970s, the end-of-the-world predictions came from computer-simulated scenarios about environmental calamity, spurred by an uncontrollable population growth.

While no serious student of the scriptures would deny Biblical prophecy relating to world-wide economic disaster preceding the final stage of Armageddon, it is well for us to use caution in our application based on our limited point of view—to not to be caught up in the current frenzy of predictions about coming economic disaster. When it is God's time to bring about the final economic downfall, there will be no doubt as to its source and significance—and there will be no protection.

Among the "myths" that it is gratifying to see Smith attack is that of a secret society (the Illuminati, the Trilateral Commission, the Council on Foreign Relations) of wealthy individuals who manipulate world events, install kings and presidents at their whim, create depressions and cause revolution and war for their personal gain. This belief, perpetuated by popular movies and television, has grown amongst Bible students since the publication of the John Birch Society analysis, None Dare Call It Conspiracy, in the 1970s. Smith's work is a refreshing look coming from a Christian perspective which says only God has controlling power over world events.