CHRISTADELPHIAN TRUTH GLEANER BIBLICAL ~ HISTORICAL ~ CURRENT “Buy the truth and sell it not; Also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.” Proverbs 23:23

VOLUME VII ISSUE NO. 1, 2008

Russian Gog and the Day of the

Volume VII, Issue No. 1 CHRISTADELPHIAN TRUTH GLEANER CONTENTS

• The LORD is My Shepherd (Part 3)……………………………………………..p. 2

• Watchman: Russian Gog and the Day of the Scythians………………..…..…..p. 4

• Fundamental Questions and Answers: Holy Spirit Gifts, A Possession of the Modern Believer?...... p. 24 • Biblical Allegories: Samuel’s Three Signs to Saul…………………...…...…..p. 29

The LORD is My Shepherd (Part 3)

In this installment we continue our consideration of “the shepherd and his sheep”, beginning at verse 3 of the 23rd Psalm.

The Shepherd and His Sheep (Continued) Vs 3. He Restoreth my Soul: Yahweh-Ropheka, “He who will Heal”

To “restore” (Heb. shub) is to “turn back” the power of death in whose shadow we walk daily. Yahweh has healed the breach of Adam’s sin by the atonement in Christ’s blood, making redemption possible but not a foregone conclu- sion. Our ultimate redemption is only achieved in context with the daily renewal of our mind through the Word and the protective care of the good shepherd who leads us on the way. “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Rom. 12:2; also 2 Cor. 4:16).

In Isaiah’s message to Israel he likewise writes of their final restoration, stating, “I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners. I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the LORD; and I will heal him. But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked” (Isa. 57:17-21).

Vs 3. He Leadeth Me in the Paths of Righteousness for his Name’s Sake: Yahweh-Tzidkenu, “He who will Justify” – Jeremiah 23:6

“In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.” We see from Jeremiah’s prophecy that the justification of Saints will complete the purpose of the Yahweh Name. It is through them, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust, that His glory will fill the earth and shine forth from Zion’s holy hill (Hab. 2:14; Matt. 13:43). The word “paths” in Psalm 23 (from the Hebrew magelah) means to track in a circular pattern; in other words, to orbit in a path being held as planets orbiting the Sun. Is our orbit held in track by the Sun of Righteousness? It is only by walking in the light of his countenance that we may see clearly as we traverse the valley of the shadow of death.

Vs 4. Though I Walk Through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod [ensign] and thy staff [protection] they comfort me: Yahweh-Shammah, “He who will be Present” – Ezekiel 48:35

“...It was round about eighteen thousand measures: and the name of the city from that day shall be, The LORD is there.” In Ezekiel’s grand vision of the future temple city in Jerusalem, a region of suburbs is described that is ten

Volume VII, Issue No. 1 2 CHRISTADELPHIAN TRUTH GLEANER miles square, south of Jerusalem, styled Yahweh Shammah, meaning “the LORD thither” or “the LORD is present there”. This of course is the final picture for which we hope. But even now, our Lord is not very far from every one of us through the Word and through the Divine presence of the Elohim. “And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest” (Exod. 33:14; also Deut. 31:6 and Heb. 13:5).

The King and His Guests: Vs 5. Thou Preparest a Table Before Me in the Presence of Mine Enemies: Yahweh-Nissi, “He who will give the victory” – Exodus 17:14-15

“14And the LORD said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. 15And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovahnissi.” The reference to this honor of victory being pronounced in the midst of enemies takes us to Psalm 110, where Messiah is said to “rule thou in the midst of thine enemies” at which time the rod, or ensign of Yahweh’s strength, will be manifested before all nations as it was before Amalek. We also think of faithful Abraham who was promised that he will likewise “possess the gate of his enemies.” In the account of Esther, the honor becomes more personal, as wicked Haman wondered “To whom would the king delight to do honour more than to myself?” (Esther 6:6). But of course, the story reveals that it was Mordecai who was to be honored before all the people, even before those enemies who sought to destroy the Jews. This was a foreshadowing of the day of honor for all the faithful, when the Good Shepherd will come forth and delight to honor his faithful servants, who in turn will prepare a spiritual feast by which the nations will be filled with the Word of Yahweh. “7Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them” (Luke 12:37). “And in this mountain shall the LORD of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined” (Isa. 25:6).

Vs 5. Thou Anointest My Head with Oil, My Cup Runneth Over: Yahweh-M’qaddishim, “He who will sanctify” – Exodus 31:13

“Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you.” Some expositors take note that the anointing found in the 23rd Psalm is not limited to the anointing of a king or a priest, but is a per- fumed oil given as a mark of hospitality by the host to his guests; or in our case, those who have been sanctified in Christ’s name. Yahweh has bid His guests, and His table is set for His son and Christ’s brethren with whom he will have fellowship. The cup is representative of the portion or blessings that have been showered upon the guests by the king. The words “runneth over,” from the Hebrew revayah, indicate to abundantly satisfy, to satiate, and in this case, to be filled with his words of life. The sense of the blessing, therefore, is that our hunger and thirst for righteousness is ever filled, super abundantly, by the Lord of the feast, and that these blessings will eventuate in dwelling in the house of Yahweh, for the Age.

Vs 6. Surely Goodness and Mercy Shall Follow Me all the Days of My Life: Yahweh-Yasha, “He who will be savior” – Isaiah 49:26

“…I the LORD am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob.” In Psalm 23 the word “surely” may also be rendered only, certainly, of a surety. Moreover “goodness” indicates great bounty, and “mercy” indicates favor and loving kindness. We are given comfort in these words if we can see without question that our shepherd and com- ing king has purchased us for a peculiar use, though not ascribable to any merit of our own. We cannot explain these great blessings on our behalf, but we are thankful for them and for the hope they have given. He has, in that sense, saved us from ourselves and from the wickedness and folly of the world that leads only to destruction. In contrast, ...Continued on Page 23

Volume VII, Issue No. 1 3 Watchman, What of The Night? Russian Gog and the Day of the Scythians Bre. Tom Northey and Al Bryan

“For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry” (Hab. 2:3).

Part II: From Scythians to Russians……………………………...... p. 7. Part III: as the Third Rome………………………………..…. p. 10. Part I: Gog in the Bible Part IV: How Does Russia fit her Divine Role?...... p. 14. Part V: The Scythians of the Bible, A Precursor to Gog……….... p. 18. Within the Divine Program there are many struggles, pressures and contentions. We are made more aware of them today, at least the more obvious outward trials and tribulations common to all men, as we read about troubling issues spread far and wide. We are aware of many throughout the Brotherhood who are suffering with illness or who are in need, as well as of those who have fallen asleep leaving large voids that cannot be filled. In addition to this there are the trials and tribulations that uniquely affect us personally as individuals. As we cope and as we pray for strength, clarity and meaning, there is a constant ticking of time that never stops counting down towards a glorious event. Because this event is at times so far removed from our routines, our plans, our own reality, we have an even greater challenge of allowing it to motivate us. That event is, of course, the coming of our Lord and the establishment of the Kingdom of God on the earth. But throughout history and throughout every individual believer’s life, there have been undeniable signposts and markers that the Almighty has provided to prove that He does rule in the kingdoms of men (Dan. 4:17) and that what He has spoken and promised will happen (Hab. 2:3). No word of Yahweh uttered will return unto Him void (Isa. 55:11). No promise given can be broken for it is impossible for Him to lie (Heb. 6:18). The events of history and prophecy fulfilled, and the events yet to happen, beckon us to consider the Word which Yahweh and His prophets have spoken. The complete Word, which resides in each of our Bibles, begs us to stagger not at the promise of God in unbelief, saying, “where is the sign of His coming?”; instead we study and pray that we may be found of Yahweh and imputed with right- eousness as Abraham was: “And being fully persuaded that, what he [Yahweh] had promised, he was able also to perform…But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead” (Rom. 4:21, 24).

We wish to return to a specific aspect of the prophetic Word that when considered is sure to motivate each of us. It is a proph- ecy that is very old, and it goes back to the time of Abraham when his nephew Lot was carried off by an invasion of northern kings. Four hundred and fifty years later the lesson was repeated in the first nation to fight against the children of Israel as they made their Exodus from Egypt. That nation was Amalek. But the prophecy speaks not only to what “Amalek” would do to Israel up until the days of Samuel, but the prophecy epitomizes the latter day Amalek that will again fight against Israel. Before we consider this, however, we first need to turn to Ezekiel 38:17: “Thus saith the Lord GOD; Art thou he of whom I have spoken in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel, which prophesied in those days many years that I would bring thee against them?

In Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39, we have a prophecy regarding a great northern invader styled Gog of the land of Magog. He is the head of a great confederacy driven by an evil thought against the land and people of Israel; a people brought back from the sword (scattered), gathered out of many peoples (lands) and in human terms dwelling as a self-governed, sovereign nation, pros- perous (with cattle and goods), and with self-determination. Critics have said that these two chapters (38 & 39) and this specific prophecy about Gog do not fit in the book of Ezekiel (if even in the Bible). It is sometimes alleged to be a disconnected prophecy about an obscure nation/event (Gog), and, therefore, because it is thought that Gog is not spoken of anywhere else in Scripture, we must disregard this apparent “aberration”. But the critics fail to explain verse 17 which we have quoted above.

Verse 17 tells us that this Gog, this northern aggressor, has been spoken of “by my servants the prophets” of old. In contrast to being an obscure reference to a nation and event that no other prophet ever referenced, here we have the statement of Ezekiel as the representative Son of Man proclaiming the Word of Yahweh saying, “Thus saith the Lord GOD; Art thou he of whom I have

Volume VII, Issue No. 1 4 CHRISTADELPHIAN TRUTH GLEANER spoken in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel, which that the words of Balaam will be at last fulfilled: “His latter prophesied in those days that (after) many years I would bring end shall be that he perish for ever.” It is no coincidence that thee [Gog] against them [Israel]?” Thus we are compelled to Balaam also spoke of the time when “the shout of a king will discover where Gog is spoken of by the prophets of old (notice be among them [Israel]” (Num 23:21), and of this time “his that “prophets” is plural, denoting more than one prophet). [Israel’s] king shall be higher than Agag and his kingdom shall Yes, the prophets of Yahweh have all made reference to this be exalted” (Num 24:7). The original Hebrew word for Agag Gog of the latter days because it is at the very center of the is Gog and is rendered as such in the Septuagint in this passage consummation of Yahweh’s plan and purpose for the earth. as well as in Numbers 24:7 and Esther 3:1. Thus, far from the idea of Ezekiel being the only prophet to speak of the attitude of Gog towards Yahweh’s people, we find What other famous Agagite (or Amalekite) do we have in that they have all spoken of this invasion of Israel and the sub- Scripture? It is Haman (“celebrated”) from the Book of Esther sequent humiliation of the invader. (Est. 3:10). In this miraculous and wonderful account, Esther pleads for her people the Jews, and we read of those incredible As we stated earlier, the first nation to fight against Israel events that resulted from the evil thought of Haman the during her journey from Egypt to the Land of Promise was Agagite, an ancient representative of Gog (suggested reading: Amalek. Of this encounter Balaam was compelled to write, Esther 8:10-11, 13, 16-17; 9:1, 2, 5). The diabolical Haman is “Amalek was the first of the nations [to fight against Israel]; referred to by Jewish historian Josephus as being “by birth an but his latter end shall be that he perish for ever” (Num. Amalekite.”1 The Book of Esther describes Haman as “the son 24:20). Quoting from John Allfree in Ezekiel, Chapters 1-39: of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews’ enemy” or “oppress- sor” (Esther 3:10). Thus Haman, in the spirit of Amalek (Agag “It is clear that there is far more in this expression of being the title of the kings of Amalek much like Pharaoh is the God’s intentions than the annihilation of the Amalekites. title of the kings of Egypt; see 1 Sam. 15), plotted to extermi- To celebrate the victory of Israel over the Amalekites an nate the entire Jewish population in the Medo-Persian Empire altar was to be erected. It was to be named Yahweh Nissi -‘Yahweh my ensign’- and the reason why it was so (ca. 480 B.C.), but was instead hung with his family of ten sons called is explained in Exodus 17:15, 16 (AV), ‘Because on the very gallows he had prepared for Mordecai (Est. 9:10, the hand of Amalek is against the throne of the LORD, 25). This is a symbolic destruction of the ten-toe/ten-horn na- therefore the LORD will have war with Amalek from gen- tions of the Gog-confederated kingdom of men. eration to generation’.” It is also interesting to note that though Haman had been The implication in this is that the war with Amalek would given riches and prominence by the king, yet all of this “does proceed apace when Yahweh revealed Himself as Israel’s en- not satisfy me every time I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the sign. This He did when He sent His son, who lived a life of king’s gate” (Est. 5:13). Thus in his magnification and pride it perfect obedience and was crucified or “lifted up” onto “the was a Jew (Mordecai) foreshadowing the latter day when it pole” (the Hebrew word is nes = the ensign) “as Moses lifted will be a Jewish nation that shall frustrate his [Gog’s] desires. up the serpent in the wilderness” (Num. 21:8, 9; John 3:14). In response, Gog will think an evil thought, or like Haman, a John Allfree continued: “wicked device,” being the “Jews enemy”, and like Haman’s wife of Esther’s day (his wife Zeresh) it will be a “woman rid- “Thus he destroyed in himself the diabolos principle ing the beast” that will suggest that the latter day Agag/Gog which energized the Amalekite nation and which moti- devise Israel’s destruction. We know the end of that story. vates and guides those who prosecute that anti-Semitic, anti-throne of Yahweh war which Amalek began. Being Is it any coincidence, brethren, that when we read of the lat- successful in this [personal] battle against sin, Jesus ter-day Gog’s destruction, that the place of his burial is called became the One appointed to fight against the Amalek principle politically manifested (as a righteous multitude the valley of Hamon-gog, “that is to say the multitude of Gog, against a wicked confederacy). He is the ‘ensign’ to or where the multitude of Gog is buried” (Ezek 39:11)? Most which his future assistants (Saints) in that conflict rally; certainly it is no coincidence at all! Consider that Haman typi- the root of Jesse, which stands for an ensign of the peo- fies the flesh in several manifestations. He represented the seed ples, unto whom the faithful of the Gentiles now seek of the serpent which sought to put Christ to death, but in doing (Isa. 11:10; Rom. 15:12).” so facilitated his own destruction (Acts 2:23-24; Mordecai be- ing a type of Christ in the story of Esther); Haman also repre- (The reader may also wish to consider Law and Grace by sents the flesh yet to be politically manifested in Gog who will W.F. Barling, pg. 175, regarding the ensign principle and the be destroyed after being the primary instrument of the time of fiery serpents of Numbers 21.) Jacob’s trouble (Jer. 30:7, Ezek. 37, Deut. 4:30); and he also

So we see this ensign principle of Jesus conspicuously ex- foreshadows the flesh ecclesiastically manifested in the Man of pressed in this event. Now it is time to connect the dots. The Sin of 2 Thessalonians 2:4 and 8, who is destroyed together Gogian confederacy converging upon the mountains of Israel is with his ten sons at Christ’s coming (Rev 17:12-14). We would the latter-day manifestation of Amalek. It is in his destruction 1. Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews 11.6.5.

Volume VII, Issue No. 1 5 CHRISTADELPHIAN TRUTH GLEANER note the attitude of Gog in comparison to wicked Haman (from theme subsequently formed the basis of many a prophetic mes- Exposition of Daniel, pg. 85-86): sage through the accounts of Joshua conquering the land, the book of the Judges, and the books of the Kings through type “The Autocrat then, as chief emperor, will become in and allegory. This should lead us to view with extreme caution the progress of events, ‘Lord of the Ascendant,’ even the those explanations of Ezekiel 38 that relegate it to a different Agag of the East and West; shining forth from his lofty throne as Lucifer, son of the morning, over the nations time than the future prophecies referred to in Scripture such as weakened by the gratification of his insatiable ambition. Joel 2 and 3, Obadiah, Micah 5 and Habakkuk 3 that were If he have not yet said it, the time is coming when he given before Ezekiel’s and to those such as Zechariah 12, 13, ‘will think an evil thought’ (Ezek. 38:10), and say in his and 14 given after Ezekiel’s. All of these are expansions of heart, as it is revealed of him, ‘I will ascend into heaven, those early predictions of Moses and Balaam and as seen in I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit type in the story of Esther. On this point we would commend also upon the Mount of the Congregation (Zion) in the to the reader’s consideration the section in Eureka, Volume sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the One, entitled, “The Apocalypse in the Prophets” for a compre- clouds; I will be like the Most High!’ (Isa. 14:13-14). ‘...His hensive study of the “One Vision” presented by “my servants dominion’s duration must therefore be brief. But while it the prophets of Israel”. lasts he will prove himself to be a ‘proud man, who enlargeth his desire as the grave, and as death, and can- not be satisfied, but gathereth unto himself all nations, When Gog touches Israel, he touches the “apple [that is pu- and heapeth unto him all peoples,…lading himself with pil] of God’s eye” (Zech. 2:8). Consequently, there is a vigor- thick clay’ (Hab. 2:4-6).” ous and violent reaction! “My fury,” says Yahweh, “shall come up in my face” (Ezek. 38:18), and as a consequence there In The Story of the Bible, volume 4, page 388, we again see will be “a great shaking in the land of Israel” (vs. 19). This an illustrious type of Haman as the Jews’ enemy. shaking takes place as a result of God’s presence being re- vealed in the land (vs. 20). In Old Testament times the pres- “All the tragedy of Haman is condensed in the simple ence of Yahweh was revealed through that angel concerning statement that he was ‘the Jews’ enemy’. As such he whom God declared, “My name is in him” (Exod. 23:21). He became the enemy of God, the vain and pompous court- ier, the vulgar and foolish upstart, the cruel and unscru- was called the angel of “God’s presence” (Isa. 63:9). At this pulous prime minister [think -TJN], the vil- future manifestation of Divine power, it will not be lain of the plot, is still detested by the Jews, who see and Gabriel and their heavenly host, but the name-bearer will him in a type of the anti-semites throughout the ages. be the Lord Jesus Christ as commander of the armies of God “…Haman was a complete man of the flesh: vindictive (Rev. 19:11-21). He will come in the name of Yahweh in ful- (Est. 3:6), vain (6:7), crafty (3:8-9), small minded so that fillment of His promise to Israel:“Ye shall not see me hence- little things irritated him (5:13). He was driven by intense forth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of self-interest (5:12) and immoderate ambition (6:7-8). In the Lord” (Matt 23:29). Thus all the latter day prophecies of his intolerant vanity, he could not bear the slightest in- the Old Testament that speak of the LORD (Yahweh) mani- fringement of his rights, so that small matters soon as- festing Himself in power on behalf of Israel (including Habak- sumed mountainous proportions. “…Thus he was servile and cruel, using his power for kuk 3, Psalm 68:17-23, Psalm 83, Deuteronomy 33:2, Zecha- disgraceful purposes. Suddenly and rapidly elevated to riah 6:1, 14:3; Isaiah 66:15, and Joel 3:16, among many others) authority, the world appeared at his feet [again think of are actually foretelling the coming of the Lord Jesus with his Putin & Russia today-TJN] -but it was all short-lived, and immortalized host, ascending the political heavens and casting the greater his elevation, the more calamitous and awful out the present Dragon Power, that old Serpent to the earth. the headlong plunge. Haman’s doom was as sudden as The presence of Adoni Yahweh (He who shall be Lords, from it was ironic. In power he is terrible; in decline he is pa- Ezekiel 38), the chariots of salvation (Zechariah 6), Yahweh’s thetic. One day he vaunts himself; the next day he is im- mighty one’s and Yahweh’s feet (Habakkuk 3 and Revelation paled by his own stake. 10) all denote the emergence into the geo-political world of “…In his bitter animosity towards the Jews, he fore- Christ and his saints whose work will be to “execute upon shadows Gog of the last days… for Gog will represent sin in a political sense, and will be destroyed on the them [Gog and his armies, the enemy of the Jews] the judg- cross of his own making. The downfall of all fleshly ments written” (see Psa. 149:9). It should be carefully noted power will thus be as sudden and as precipitous as that that these prophetic chapters are not speaking of the return of of Haman, and will make the way for the elevation of the Jesus back to the earth with a host of heaven’s angels, but of antitypical Mordecai (Christ), and the universal rule of his active emergence with the saints into the world scene to God (see Esther 10).” contend for the consummation of the Abrahamic and Davidic covenants and the confounding of the nations. Jesus will have Thus in the earliest of “my servants the prophets of Is- returned long before to judge the household at Sinai (in the rael” (Ezek. 38:17), Yahweh spoke of the humiliation of Gog, South) and to organize the saints for the great work before the latter day champion of the Amalekite cause. This great them.

Volume VII, Issue No. 1 6 CHRISTADELPHIAN TRUTH GLEANER Part II: Latter Day Gog, tures by Robert Roberts; Apocalypse Epitomized by H.P. Mansfield, and also his verse-by-verse Exposition of Daniel; from Scythians to Russians Ezekiel 1-39 by John Allfree; and Rome and Jerusalem by Gra- ham Pearce. These works should not only be in every Christa- The history and development of the Gogian power should be delphian library, but they should also be close companions in of great interest to the student of Scripture, as it is through our continuing Bible studies, each clearly identifying the his- Gog’s destruction that Christ and his brethren will be sanctified torical origins and prophetic destiny of Gog. and glorified before the nations (Ezek. 38:23). Indeed, as the battle of Armageddon occurs before the proclamation of the Brother Thomas refers to the ruler of Russia in the last days mid-heaven Gospel, the victory over Gog will be the evidence as the Autocrat, the sovereign, “The Russian Nebuchadnez- of Messiah’s credentials as Sovereign and Lord of all the earth. zar”. Russian Empress Catherine the Great (1729-1796) said As we delve into this consideration, we would like to acknowl- of the ruler of Russia, “The sovereign must be autocratic, for edge the research and footnoted historical citations/references no other form of government but that which concentrates all in section II and the beginning of section IV, and the contribu- power in his person is compatible with the dimensions of a tion of text as well as citations/references in Section III from state as great as ours… Any other form of government would Bro. Bill Yake’s soon to be published book entitled “The be not only harmful, but utterly ruinous for Russia.” Even Scythia-Magog Connection: An Historical Review of the Evi- more audacious and compelling is the written Will of Peter the dence Concerning the Identities of Gog and The Land of Ma- Great (1672-1725) for his successors. We have looked at this gog in Ezekiel 38” (used by permission). This book makes an before, but it is worth repeating. Observe some of the excerpts impressive and persuasive historical and etymological argu- from the Herald of the Kingdom and the Age to Come (1851- ment that Gog and the land of Magog, together with Meschech 1861). The Will begins with the following introduction: and Tubal, are equated with the ancient people known as the “In the name of the most holy and indivisible Trinity, Scythians and the regions formerly known as the , we, , unto all our descendants and suc- encompassing much of modern-day Russia and the surround- cessors to the throne and government of the Russian ing republics in the region of the Black Sea and eastern nation. The All-Powerful, from whom we hold our life and Europe, among others. our throne, after having revealed unto us his wishes and intentions, and after being our support, permits us to “Who then is the latter day Gog?” Let us answer that ques- look upon Russia as called upon to establish rule over tion with this fact: In the mid-nineteenth century historians dis- all Europe… We look upon our invasion of the West and covered cuneiform inscriptions containing the name Gog upon the East as a decree of Divine Providence, which has the cylinder of the Assyrian king Asshurbanipal from the early already once re-generated the Roman empire by an inva- th sion of barbarians… We found Russia a small rivulet, we 7 century B.C. [Cylinder B IV 2]. Historian Zénaïde Ragozin leave it an immense river. Our successors will make it an wrote in 1893 concerning the peoples of the land of Magog, ocean, destined to fertilize the whole of Europe.” The will goes on to state specific instructions for the successive lead- “Their name remained to the region in which they set- tled; it is given on maps of the ancient world as Sa- casene. To the Hebrews of that and later periods it was Peter the Great known as MÂGÔG, and it was not one of the least sur- prises we owe to Assyriology to find that ‘Gôg, King of Mâgôg,’ of Ezekiel (chapters 38 and 39), was originally a real and historical person, no other in fact than the chief of the Scythians in Asshurbanipal's time, probably a warrior sufficiently renowned to have survived as a by- word of terror in the memory of later generations. This name Gôg occurs on one of Asshurbanipal's cylinders under the name of GÂGI.” 2

G-a-a-gi was a chief of the Saki or ancient Scythians. Gaagi, later translated Gog, was the family name of the Scythian kings. Indeed, Scythians are the ancient Russians.

The abundance of literature (both Christadelphian and gen- eral historic literature) on the identification of who Gog is and where he resides is available to every Bible student: Exposition of Daniel, Elpis Israel, and Eureka, by John Thomas; 13 Lec-

2. Zénaïde Ragozin, The Story of Assyria: From the Rise of the Empire to the Fall of Nineveh (The Story of the Nations series; New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1893), p. 383.

Volume VII, Issue No. 1 7 CHRISTADELPHIAN TRUTH GLEANER ers to “meditate” upon. The following represent interesting (today oil and gas) created by the first one?” “…And he quotes taken for emphasis: gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew • “To keep the Russian nation in constant warfare, in tongue Armageddon”. order to always have good soldiers… [think Chechnya as a case in point], Thus peace will advance your pro- But before we look at the character of Russia today and its jects of war, and war those of peace, for obtaining the enlargement and prosperity of Russia.” leader Vladimir Putin (Vladimir means “Master of the world” • “Draw unto you, by all possible means, from the civi- or “possessor of the world” in Russian), it is important to vali- lized nations of Europe, captains during war, and date that this indeed is the nation and peoples befitting of the learned men during peace so that Russia may benefit title of Gog. It speaks to the credibility of the conclusion that by the advantages of other nations” [i.e., steal the Gog is Russia when we first validate what secular writers and West’s technology]. historians have concluded who the peoples of Russia are and • “Take care to mix in the affairs of all Europe, and in specifically their ancestry, that is the Scythae or Scythian peo- particular Germany, which, being the nearest nation ples. After validating this connection historically, we will show to you, deserves your chief attention” [Gog and Ma- why it is that the Scythians (the ancient Russians) are indeed gog-Merkel-Putin-Ratzinger]. the Biblical Gog. We will consider the origins of the name and • Point #6: “Marry Russian princes with German prin- ancestry of Russia as well as the geography of these much cesses; multiply these alliances; unite these inter- feared peoples of the north – the Scythians. ests; and, by increase of our influence, attach Ger- many to our cause” [Gerhard Schroeder-Gazprom]. The Origin of Russia: In his book Foes From the North- • Point #9: “Do all in your power to approach closely ern Frontier, author Edwin Yamauchi (C. 1937), formerly a Constantinople and India. Remember that he who rules over these countries is the real sovereign of the professor of history at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, ar- world. Keep up continued wars with Turkey and Per- gues that: sia. Establish dockyards in the Black Sea. Gradually obtain the command of this sea, as well as the Baltic. “In the narrow sense, the Scythians were the tribes This is necessary for the entire success of our pro- who lived in the area which Herodotus designated as jects. Hasten the fall of Persia. Open for yourselves a Scythia (i.e., the territory north of the Black Sea) and route towards the Persian Gulf [consider the failed inva- who spoke the Scythian language… In the broad sense sion of Afghanistan, also a warm-water port]. Re- the word Scythian can designate some of the many establish, as much as possible, by means of Syria, tribes in the vast steppes of Russia, stretching from the the ancient commerce of Levant [Russian Naval con- in the west to the region of in the east.” 3 struction in the Syrian port of Tartus, troops in Lebanon], and thus advance towards India. Once there, you will This citation is confirmed by all the ancient historians of re- not require English gold.” pute. According to Strabo (11.8.4), the Saki (Scythians) inhab-

There really can’t be any doubt as to the modus operandi of ited the territories surrounding the and Armenia. Russia. Furthermore we see clearly that the domination of The Roman scholar Pliny (A.D. 23-79) speaks of the Scythians Europe is not merely wishful thinking on the part of Christa- in the area of the Black Sea. Herodotus also noted Scythia’s delphians, but it is an imbedded, systemic objective that re- measurements across these northern territories as being a mains fixed in the soul of Russian leadership no matter who is square, each side equaling a journey of 20 days in length at the helm, from Peter the Great, to Catherine the Great, (about 360 miles). In all, it encompasses an area covering the Dniester, Bug, Dnieper and Don Rivers where they flow into Lenin, Stalin, Kruchev, Andropov, Gorbachev, or even Putin. 4 Consider the following quote by noted Russian dissident Vladi- the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. mir Bukovsky from his pamphlet on the EU entitled “EUSSR”: The name of Scythia was first ascribed by the Greeks to this “For anyone even remotely familiar with the Soviet ancient and widely extended people of Europe, who had spread system, its similarity with the developing structures of themselves from the river Tanais, or Don, westward along the the European Union, with its governing philosophy and banks of the Ister, or Danube. The Cambridge Ancient History “democracy deficit,” its endemic corruption and bureau- also pinpointed the Scythians as living in the northern Black cratic ineptitude, is striking for anyone who lived under Sea region: “They [Scythians] were considered to be divided the Soviet tyranny or its equivalents of a Leviathan that into a number of tribes, mainly located between the Dniester we had hoped was dead and buried, a monster that de- and Don rivers, who were at heart nomadic and raided stroyed scores of nations, impoverished millions, and widely.” 5 Thus, Russia was the home of the dreaded Scythians devastated several generations before finally collapsing. Is it inevitable? Is the human race bent on self- whom the Roman poet Horace (65-8 B.C.) referred to as “the destruction, and doomed to repeat the same mistake nomad Scythian,” “the war-loving Scythians,” and “the trou- 6 time and time again until it dies in misery? Or is the EU, blesome Scythian tribe on the river Don” pictured on the indeed, simply a clone of the USSR imposed upon reluc- cover of this magazine in the traditional regalia of their Royal tant nations of Europe by the same political forces Chiefs.

Volume VII, Issue No. 1 8 CHRISTADELPHIAN TRUTH GLEANER Brother John Thomas referred to the much re- spected scholar Samuel Bochart, writing in ca. A.D. 1640, who concluded that Ros is the most ancient form under which history makes mention of the name of Russia, and that, “It is credible that from Rhos and Mesech, of whom Ezekiel speaks, de- scended the Russians and Moscovites, nations of the Circa 100 B.C. greatest celebrity in European Scythia.”7 Russian historians themselves contended that, “It is related that the Russians (whom the Greeks called, Ros, and sometimes Rosos) derived their name from Ros, a valiant man, who delivered his nation from the yoke of their tyrants.”8 The noted Russian historian George Vernadsky (1887-1973), professor of Rus- sian history at Yale University, confirms this histori- cal gem:

“There the Russian people are called Rusichi, that is, The research is tedious, but the evidence is overwhelming, 'sons of Rus', and, besides, 'grandsons of Dazhbog', the and we have just scratched the surface. Russian historians, Sun-god… Commenting on the Russian attack on Con- writers and poets identify their origins with the Scythians in the stantinople, usually referred to 907 A.D., the compiler of territories identified as modern day Russia/USSR. Eminent the Byzantine chronicle of the tenth century known as historians such as Sir Edward Gibbon and Samuel Bochart 'Pseudo-Symeon' says that the people of Rhos are so called after a certain Rhos, a mighty man of valour…” 9 (1599-1667), as well as renowned lexicographer Wilhem Ge- senius and biblical scholar Edward B. Elliott (1793-1875), au- Nineteenth century German scholar Dr. C.F. Keil also con- thor of the classic commentary on the book of Revelation Ho- rae Apocalypticae, also claimed that Gog and Magog were cluded that Rosh was Russia. He wrote that, “The Byzantine 16 and Arabic writers frequently mention a people called Ros and none other than the Scythians. Brethren, Gog of the land of Rus, dwelling in the country of Taurus, and reckoned among Magog, the Prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal is Russia. the Scythian tribes.”10 A.R. Fausset, a 19th century biblical/ From the earliest pioneer expositions on the subject, this has historical commentator, also concluded that Rosh was a “tribe thoroughly been shown to be the case. north of the Taurus range and near Rha or Volga [River] 11 We have indeed ample and positive testimony that the Rus- which gives them their name.” Richard Watson also affirmed sian nation was called Ros by the Greeks in the earliest period the same in his Biblical and Theological Dictionary: in which we find it mentioned, as “the Rosh are a Scythian nation bordering on the northern Taurus”, thus we discern the “There appears also to have been in the same neighborhood [as Meshech and Tubal], namely, in Arme- 3. Edwin Yamauchi, Foes From the Northern Frontier: Invading Hordes From the Rus- sian Steppes (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1982), p. 64. nia, a river and country termed Rosh: for so, Bochart 4. Boris Aleksandrovich Rybakov, Gerodotova Skifiia [Herodotus's Scythia] (: says, the river Araxes is called [Rosh] by the Arabs; and Nauka, 1979), p. 19 and passim. that there was a people in the adjoining country called 5. Tadeusz Sulimirski and T. Taylor, AThe Scythians,@ in John Boardman, I.E.S. Rhossi.” 12 Edwards, N.G.L. Hammond and E. Sollberger, eds., The Cambridge Ancient History, 2nd ed. (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1991), Vol. 3, p. 547. 6. Horace, The Odes of Horace. Translated by David Ferry. (New York: Farrar, Straus In 1812, one of the world's foremost Hebraists, Wilhelm Ge- and Giroux, 1997), Ode 1.35, p. 91, Ode 2.11, p. 129, Ode 3.29, p. 251. 7. John Thomas, Elpis Israel: An Exposition of the Kingdom of God, 14th ed., senius, stated that Rosh was “undoubtedly the Russians, who (Birmingham: The Christadelphian, 1958), p. 425. 8. Ibid are mentioned by Byzantine writers of the tenth century, under 9. George Vernadsky, The Origins of Russia (Clarendon: Oxford University Press, the name Ros, dwelling to the north of Taurus...as dwelling in 1959), p. 244. 10. Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Prophecies of the river Rha (Wolga) [Volga the River which winds through Ezekiel (Edinburgh: T. and T. Clark, 1891), Vol. 2, p. 157. the heart of Russia]”.13 Even in the 20th century, the term Russ 11. A.R. Fausset, The Englishman’s Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopaedia 14 (Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott & Company, 1878), p. 612. is used to describe the Russian people. 12. Richard Watson, A Biblical and Theological Dictionary: Explanatory of the History, Manners, and Customs of the Jews, and Neighboring Nations (New York: B. Waugh and T. Mason, 1833), p. 638. Russian historian Dr. Ivar Spector of the University of Wash- 13. H. F. Wilhelm Gesenius, Gesenius’ Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon of the Old Testa- ington noted that while Rosh was frequently translated as chief, ment Scriptures, translated by Samuel Prideaux Tregelles (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1847/1979),p. 752. the Septuagint (the earliest Greek version of the Old Testa- 14. “Russ Accuse Sadat of Giving In to Israel,” Los Angeles Times, November 20, 1977, p. Part 1-17. ment), transliterates Rosh as Ros or Russ. “Judging by extant 15. Ivar Spector, Russia: A New History (Portland, OR: Metropolitan Press, Publishers, material, the Greeks even as late as the tenth century A.D., 1935), p. 6. 16. Edward B. Elliott, Horae Apocalypticae, or A Commentary On The Apocalypse, applied this name [Rosh] to the peoples living in the neighbor- Critical and Historical; Including Also An Examination of The Chief Prophecies of hood of the Black Sea.” 15 Daniel (London: Seeley, Burnside, and Seeley, 1846), Vol. 4, p. 433.

Volume VII, Issue No. 1 9 CHRISTADELPHIAN TRUTH GLEANER modern names of Russia and Moscow in the Bible, names ad- Custine called Moscow the “inland Byzantium” because of the duced by the prophet Ezekiel as the “Prince of Rosh, Meshech remarkable resemblance between Moscow’s architecture and and Tubal”. We strongly suggest that anyone who concludes that of Byzantine Europe or the Eastern Roman Empire. Ivan that Gog is Iraq or Syria or a literal latter-day Assyrian deriv- III (A.D. 1462-1505), also known as “Ivan the Great,” had two ing from the Middle East simply isn’t doing due diligence nor Italian architects, Marco Antonio and Pietro Antonio, help re- examining the mountain of historical and scholarly evidence build the Kremlin between 1485 and 1495. Metropolitan available on this subject. We hope and pray that brethren will Zosimius (the Russian Orthodox Religious Leader) declared in avail themselves of this evidence, and be convinced themselves 1492 that Ivan was the “new Emperor Constantine of the new along with Bible students, historians, scholars and well- Constantinople – Moscow.”18 American investigative author respected brethren who drew similar conclusions from compa- Edward Jay Epstein revealed another nugget about Moscow rable evidence as presented in this article. that is little known to those in the West: “The city of Moscow was built on seven hills, on one of which, surrounded by a great wall constructed by the Czars, is the Kremlin.” 19 PART III: Russia as the “Third Rome” What may not be readily discernable nor understandable to the West is that the rulers of the “Third Rome” (Moscow) have Another important linkage to the correct identity of the latter long coveted possession of the “Second Rome” (Constan- day Gog lies in her animosity toward the Jew from a religious tinople) for religious/historical and geographical reasons. 20 and political perspective. This she has inherited by her ties with the ancient Roman Dragon of the East – the Byzantine In his book Armageddon in Prime Time, George Bailey Empire. For instance, consider Astolphe-Louis-Léonor, Mar- wrote that: quis de Custine (1790-1857), who noted that Peter the Great’s construction of Petersburg was only the scaffolding of a struc- “The Orthodox Church brought with it also the dream ture which when completed would be the “New Byzantium” of empire, of world domination. Particularly after the fall and would fulfill “the deep and secret aspirations of the Rus- of Constantinople, Moscow came to be regarded by 17 sian… to be the future capital of Russia and the world.” many as the New Rome, the seat of a newer, purer ecu-

The Cross over the “Since the adoption of Christi- Crescent, a symbol anity as the state religion of the of Byzantine culture Kievan principality (988), the and destiny dis- influence of Byzantine civili- played throughout zation upon Russia became Russia the determining factor of Russian civilization. The very extant and character of that in- fluence should be understood in the light of three main ele- ments whose combination de- termined the life of Byzantine society: the Roman political tra- dition, the Greek literary heri- tage, and the Orthodox Chris- tian faith. ‘Without all three the Byzantine way of life would have been inconceivable,’ writes G. Ostrogorsky” (Byz- antium and the Rise of Russia, p. 10).

Volume VII, Issue No. 1 10 CHRISTADELPHIAN TRUTH GLEANER of Russia menicity. Indeed, there is a striking parallel between the Prince Basil (1479- transfer of the Holy Roman Empire to the German nation 1533; Basil III), mar- and the transfer of the (the Second 21 ried Princess Zoe Pa- Rome) to the Russian nation.” laeologa, who called herself the “Empress The kingdoms of the Western Roman Empire viewed Byzan- of Byzantium,” also tium as being “Greek” and, indeed, by the seventh century, known as Sophia Pa- Greek had become the of the Eastern Roman laeologus, the niece of Empire – not Latin. Whereas the Western Roman Empire was Constantine XI Pa- the eventual creation of Augustinian theology (i.e., Rome cen- laeologus, the last tered), the Eastern Roman Empire owes its thinking to its Em- Byzantine Emperor. perors Aurelian, Diocletian, and Constantine. Noted Oxford She was commonly University historian Dimitri Obolensky (1918-2001) concluded known as Zoe-Sophia. that “Russia’s parent civilization was the Byzantine culture of Subsequently, Ivan East Rome.” 22 It should be noted that the Byzantines referred referred to himself as to themselves as Romans because they believed their realm samoderzhets or auto- was rightly related to the Roman Empire, and the Byzantine crator, and adopted the symbol of the double-headed of Emperors believed that they were the direct heirs of the emper- Byzantium as the symbol of the Russian monarchy. In 1547, ors of Rome. 23 he formalized the title by making “ of all Russia” (Tsar British historian Edward Freeman (1823-1892) observed vseia Rossii) the title of Russia’s rulers. During the papal reign that “the Roman Empire of the East might be said, speaking of Pope Sixtus IV (1471-1484), Ivan III declared himself to be roughly, to have become a Greek state, and the new kingdom the inheritor of Byzantium and Caesar, declaring that Moscow in the east was ‘only a new phase of Roman history’ or a was the “Third Rome” since “Christian” Constantinople had ‘continuation of the old imperium romanum’.” 24 The Byzan- fallen to the Turks in A.D. 1453. tine civilization was “the successor of the Roman Empire” and, lasting almost 1,200 years, it lasted longer than any other His wife to be, Princess Zoe, was raised under the influence 25 of Pope Pius II (1417-1471) and Vissarion, the titular Patriarch world empire. Indeed, as Freeman adds, “Still the Emperors 31 of Constantinople always called themselves Emperors of the of Constantinople in Rome. In an effort to bring the Russian Romans, and professed to continue the old Roman succession. Orthodox Church under papal guidance, this was a “marriage From this time the Eastern Empire became more strictly he- made in Rome.” By this time, Pope Sixtus IV was sitting on reditary than it had been of old, and the crown remained with the papal throne, and he received many gifts and envoys from very little interruption in the family of Palaiologos, till the Em- Moscow. The hope was that this political marriage would re- pire was finally destroyed by the Ottoman Turks.” 26 sult in the union of the Russian Orthodox Church with the Ro- man Catholic Church. However, upon her marriage, Princess 17. Marquis de Custine, Empire of the Czar: A Journey Through Eternal Russia (New From Byzantium to Moscow: Ivan the Great, who York: Doubleday, 1989), p. 154. reigned over Russia from 1462 to 1505 A.D., was the first to 18. Dennis J. Dunn, The Catholic Church and the Soviet Government, 1939-1949 (Boulder, CO: East European Quarterly/ New York: Columbia University Press, call himself the Czar, a title which had up until that time been 1977), p. 5. 19. Edward Jay Epstein, Dossier: The Secret History of Armand Hammer (New York: used solely of the Byzantine Emperor, who was the head of the Random House, 1996), p. 61. Orthodox religious community, and for the grand Tartar over- 20. Michael Maclagan, The City of Constantinople (London: Thames and Hudson, 27 1968), p. 101. lord. The Czar was quite literally viewed as “God’s Vice- 21. George Bailey, Armageddon In Prime Time (New York: Avon Books, 1984), p. 38. regent on Earth. His lightest decree was considered a divine 22. Dmitri Obolensky, "Russia's Byzantine Heritage," Oxford Slavonic Papers, edited by 28 S. Konovalov (Oxford: At the Clarendon Press, 1950), Vol. 1, p. 45. order.” This posture was assumed from the Byzantine Em- 23. James A. Corrick, The Byzantine Empire (San Diego, CA: Lucent Books, 1997), p. peror and Empire: “the very cornerstone on which the Empire 10. 24. George Ostrogorsky, History of the Byzantine State. Translated by Joan Hussey had been founded – the union of the Roman Empire with the (New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 1957), p. 26. 25. Warren Treadgold, “The Persistence of Byzantium,” Wilson Quarterly, Autumn 1998, Christian faith. This union was, in Byzantine eyes, symbolized p. 68. and personified by the Emperor himself, at once the successor 26. Edward A. Freeman, General Sketch of European History (London: Macmillan and Co., Ltd., 1905), p. 200. of Augustus and God’s Vice-Regent, the Elect of Christ, Equal 27. George Sava, Russia Triumphant: The Story of the Russian People (London: The of the Apostles” and any challenge to this claim was viewed as Travel Book Club, 1943), p. 60. 29 28. George Sava, Russia Triumphant: The Story of the Russian People (London: The both treasonous and blasphemous. Joseph of Volokolamsk Travel Book Club, 1943), p. 61. (1439-1515), an abbot of the Russian Orthodox Church, put 29. John Julius Norwich, Byzantinum: The Apogee (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1992), p. 2. forth the thesis that, “by nature the Tsar is like all other men; 30. Dmitri Obolensky, "Russia's Byzantine Heritage," Oxford Slavonic Papers, edited by 30 S. Konovalov (Oxford: At the Clarendon Press, 1950), Vol. 1, p. 45. but in authority he is like the Highest God.” 31. Jeremiah Curtin, The Mongols In Russia (Boston: Little, Brown, and Company, 1908), pp. 463-464. 32. Ibid In essence, Russia became the “Third Rome” in A.D. 1472 33. George Ostrogorsky, History of the Byzantine State. Translated by Joan Hussey when Ivan III, son of the Russian Orthodox champion Grand (New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 1957), p. 165.

Volume VII, Issue No. 1 11 CHRISTADELPHIAN TRUTH GLEANER Zoe “slammed the door” on that idea by taking the title of “Princess of Csargrad.” Csargrad was the Russian name for Constantinople.32 As Byzantine historian George Ostrogorsky (1902-1976) points out, “To Rome, as to Byzantium, the sole conceivable world order was a hierarchy of states embracing the entire Christian oikoumene and culminating in a single Empire” 33 (That being the Russian - Ed.).

Thirty eight years later a letter written by a Roman Catholic monk named Philotheus to Russian Tsar Vasily III (A.D. 1510) stated that, “The Apostolic Church… stands no longer in Rome or in Constantinople, but in the blessed city of Moscow… Two Romes have fallen but the Third stands and a fourth there will be not.” 34 In his most famous letter, Philotheus wrote Grand Prince Basil III outlining the thinking behind Russia’s “Third Rome” doctrine and why it still, 500 years later, considers her- self the lone, faithful vessel of Christianity and the world’s Vladimir Putin is often seen with Rus- messiah: sian Orthodox Patriarch Alexy II, a sign

“I write to you, the most bright and most highly- of the re-Christianization of Russia and throning Sovereign, Grand Prince, orthodox Christian a prelude to Russia’s designs on the czar and lord of all, rein-holder of the Holy ecumenical and Apostolic Church of God of the Most Holy Virgin… Holy Land. which is shining gloriously instead of the Roman or Constantinopolitan [one]. For the Old Rome fell because characteristic of the Russian people throughout its whole his- of its church’s lack of faith, the Apollinarian heresy; and tory.” 36 The Cambridge Medieval History concurs, declaring, of the second Rome, the city of Constantinople, the pa- “The Tsar of Muscovy certainly saw himself as the Emperor of gans broke down the doors of the churches with their the Third Rome.”37 Russia now viewed itself as the eternal axes… And now there is the Holy synodal Apostolic keeper of the Christian faith. Even as late as 1877, Dostoevsky, church of the reigning third Rome, of your czardom, capturing the essence of Russia’s messianic pretensions, noted: which shines like the sun in its orthodox Christian faith, pious czar, as all the empires [czardoms] of the ortho- dox Christian faith have gathered into your single em- “...the whole Russian people fully confirmed the new pire… you are the only czar for the Christians in the mission of Russia and their Czar in the future destinies whole world.... of the entire Eastern world. Ever since that time the peo- ple have been —and still are— perceiving, firmly and “…Do not break, O czar, the commandments laid by undeviatingly, the beloved title of their Czar in the word your ancestors, the Great Constantine and the blessed “Orthodox,” “Orthodox Czar.” Having thus named their Vladimir, and the God-chosen Iaroslav, and the other Czar, the people, as it were, acknowledged in this appel- blessed saints, of which root you are… Listen and at- lation his designation —the designation of a guardian tend, pious czar, that all Christian empires are gathered and unifier, and when God’s command thunders— also in your single one, that two Romes have fallen, and the the designation of the liberator of Orthodoxy, and Chris- third one stands, and a fourth one there shall not be; tianity in toto professing it, from Mohammedan barba- your empire will not fall to others, according to the great rism and Western heresy.” 38 Evangelist.” 35 Even after the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution, this thinking still Following the fall of Constantinople in 1453, the Russians prevailed in Russia: invoked a translatio imperii — a transfer of the seat of power in Christendom to Moscow from Constantinople. Thereafter “This Russian messianism became the spiritual back- the tsar felt responsible for all Orthodox Christians and ac- bone of the expanding , which perceived claimed protector of the holy places in Palestine. Conse- itself as nothing short of sacred. After the revolution of 1917, however, Soviet Russia assumed the responsibil- quently, a church synod in 1561 appended to its resolutions an ity of spreading the Marxist message. Now, as the epistle from the Patriarch of Constantinople acclaiming Ivan keeper of the Marxist faith, it would emancipate mankind IV as the “emperor and seigneur of Orthodox Christians in the rather than Orthodox Christianity.” 39 entire universe.” Russian philosopher Berdyaev (1874-1948) stated that, “The doctrine of Moscow as the Third Rome be- On July 8, 1948, during the 500th anniversary of its auto- came the basic idea on which the Muscovite state was formed. cephaly, the Russian Orthodox Church reminded the world of The kingdom was consolidated and shaped under the symbol of its connection to the Third Rome as Metropolitan Stephen of a messianic idea. The search for true, ideal kingship was the Sophia, Exarch of Bulgaria, noted in his speech:

Volume VII, Issue No. 1 12 CHRISTADELPHIAN TRUTH GLEANER “In this way the Russian Orthodox Church freed her- lical scholar Matthew Poole (1624-1679) wrote in his time that, self from the subjugation to Constantinople (Czargard). “Most judicious interpreters, by the great red dragon, under- It was not a revolt of subjects against authority; it was stand the Roman emperors that first persecuted the Christian also not a rejection by an adult Daughter of the duty of church, of which Claudius was the first; yet some understand it unconditional obedience to her Mother. It was a majestic of the devil, the old serpent; but the most and best interpreters act of orthodox zeal, a defence of one’s own Orthodoxy against new criminal attacks on it. It was a courageous understand it of the pagan emperors, by whom the devil did step by a great Church which was prepared to defend all this work, called a great dragon, because of the vastness of Universal Orthodoxy, including the Greek one… Moscow that empire; and a red dragon, for their cruelty against the 46 became the Third Rome, having taken the place in the Christians.” confession of Christ’s truth of the First Rome which had departed from the truth, and of the second Rome which The fact that Poole informs us that “the most and best” in- 40 had slipped off the path of faith —Constantinople.” terpreters understand the dragon here to represent Rome, whilst only some understand it of “the devil, the old serpent,” is sig- A Modern Day Constantine: In his mystical, nationalist nificant, confirming that this is a natural reading of Revelation treatise entitled Moscow: The Third Rome, Gennadi Shimanov 12, not merely an invention of Christadelphian expositors. In bestows a religious “anointing” on this envisioned Russian dic- addition, Thomas Brightman (1562-1607), perhaps the fore- tator. Likewise, Russian scholar L. Borodin says that this idea most Protestant prophetical expositor of his age, also agreed of mixing church and state, especially anointing a new czar so that Revelation 12 was a prophetic cameo of the pagan Roman to speak, is “extremely popular among the nationalistically emperors waging war, as depicted by the great red dragon, inclined Russian intelligentsia.”41 The question remains, where against the Church.47 Brightman explicitly declared that, “The and when will this principle resurface within the current Rus- Dragon is the open enemy throughout this whole Booke, who sian leadership? Will Prime Minister Putin, or some other, ef- were the Emperours of Rome, as long as they remained hea- fectively step into the shoes of Constantine the Great and ride thens… The Beast is a more close and crafty enemy, who is the religious fervor of his followers in a bid for world conquest Antichrist that sitteth in the Temple of God as it is Chapter 13. over the infidels – first stop, Jerusalem? He is called a false Prophet now first of all…Wherefore the Beast & the false Prophet is one and the same Antichrist.” 48 It is now not uncommon with Russian leaders to appear in public at the side of the Russian Orthodox Patriarch Alexy II as A New Eastern Dragon: The dragon was a standard Vladimir Putin did in January 2000.42 Just one month after en- bearer on ensigns of both the Romans and the ancient tering office as Russia’s leader, Putin visited Pope John Paul II Scythians. Greek historian Arrian of Nicomedia (A.D. 86-146) in early June 2000 at which time they talked about Russia’s was the earliest writer who mentioned that the Romans used hopes for integration with Europe and security concerns com- mon to Europe and Russia, and how the Papacy could help 34. C. M. Woodhouse, Modern Greece: A Short History (London: Faber and Faber, 43 1984), p. 109. Russia achieve these goals. Putin declared on the Larry King 35. Cited by Lyndon H. LaRouche, Jr., Webster Tarpley, Scott Thompson, Rachel Doug- las, Luba George, and Michele Steinberg, Will Moscow Become The Third And Final Show on September 8, 2000, that he always wears a Rome? How The KGB Controls The Peace Movement (New York: Executive Intelli- “Christian” cross that his mother gave to him, and that he had gence Review, June 1983), p. 107. 36. Nicolas Berdyaev, The Origin of Russian . Translated from Russian by it blessed at the tomb of the Lord Jesus Christ in Jerusalem, R.M. French. (Ann Arbor, MI: Ann Arbor Paperbacks/The University of Michigan Israel. This new-age growth of is an impor- Press, 1960), p. 10. 37. J.M. Hussey, ed., The Cambridge Medieval History (Cambridge: At the University tant step in the re-creation of the latter day “Beast of the Sea,” Press, 1967), Vol. 4, Part II, p. 373. or confederated Gog, standing upon its Greek and Latinized 38. Fyodor M. Dostoievksky, The Diary Of A Writer. Translated and annotated by Boris Brasol. (New York: George Braziller, 1954), p. 629. kingdoms of east and west preparatory to Messiah’s return. In 39. Vladislav Zubok and Constantine Pleshakov, Inside The Kremlin’s Cold War: From Stalin to Khrushchev (Cambridge, MA and London, England: Harvard University December 2002, the Russian city of Penza, a city of more than Press, 1996), p. 2. 1 million (about 400 miles southeast of Moscow), announced 40. Lyndon H. LaRouche, Jr., Webster Tarpley, Scott Thompson, Rachel Douglas, Luba George, and Michele Steinberg, Will Moscow Become The Third And Final Rome? that it was adopting a simple, emerald-green flag with the face How The KGB Controls The Peace Movement (New York: Executive Intelligence of Jesus Christ in its center. Culture Minister Yury Leptev told Review, June 1983), p. 108. 41. Moskovskii Sbornik, No. 1 (London: Keston College Archives), p. 68. the broadcast network NTV that, “The Orthodox Church, the 42. See picture of Putin and Alexy II in David R. Sands, “Battle With Chechnya Might Catholics and the Cossacks support it.”44 During the Orthodox Not Help Putin,” The Washington Times, January 12, 2000, p. A1. 43. Alessandra Stanley, “Putin Travels to Rome to Promote Russian Arms Control Alter- Christmas celebrations in Moscow, Putin declared that, native,” The New York Times, June 6, 2000, p. A1; Alessandra Stanley, “Putin, in Rome, Hints at Progress Toward Papal Visit to Russia,” The New York Times, June “Orthodoxy, which occupies a special place in Russian history, 7, 2000, p. A7. continues to play a paramount role in preserving the moral 44. Jennifer Harper, “Russian City Puts Face of Christ on Its Flag,” The Washington 45 Times, December 24, 2002, pp. A1, A11. pillars of social life” in Russia. It will also play an important 45. “Putin Hails Orthodoxy’s Role,” The Washington Times, January 12, 2002, p. C12. role in formulating Gog’s “evil thought” against the Holy 46. Matthew Poole, A Commentary on the Holy Bible (McLean, VA: MacDonald Publish- ing Company, 1962), Vol. 3, p. 980. Land. 47. Thomas Brightman, A Revelation of the Revelation: That Is, The Revelation of St. John Opened Clearely With a Logicall Resolution and Exposition: Wherein The Sense Is Cleared, Out of the Scripture, The Event Also of Thinges Foretold is Dis- So what is the connection between Russia, the Orthodox cussed Out of the Church-Historyes (Amsterdam, n.p., 1615), pp. 395-426. Church, Rome and the Dragon? It is simple, really. Noted bib- 48. Ibid, pp. 552-553.

Volume VII, Issue No. 1 13 CHRISTADELPHIAN TRUTH GLEANER the dragons as military standards: ensign of a dragon, fitted to the top of a very long lance and spreading out like the slough of a serpent, the tribune of one of “Separated by banners not only Roman, but even the squadrons stopped, and pale and struck with fear rode Scythian ones, they so that the attack becomes back to renew the battle.” 50 more colorful and frightening. The Scythian banners are snakes held aloft on poles [of] proportionate length. Noted biblical scholar John Tillinghast believed that the Stitched together, they are made of dyed cloths. In “Dragon” of the Apocalypse represented the “old Empire” of heads and entire body all the way to the tails, they re- pagan Rome.51 Another noted scholar named George Croly semble snakes. With the horses not trembling [at] these (1780-1860) also believed that the “dragon” was none other contrivances, you would see only multi-colored cloths than “that emblem representing Roman paganism.”52 Sir Isaac hanging down. But with them charging, they swell up, being full of breeze, so that they especially resemble the Newton (1642-1727) noted that,

beasts and even whistle somewhat in a forceful wind 49 “By the earth, the Jews understood the great conti- passing through [them].” nent of all Asia and Africa, to which they had access by land: and by the isles of the sea, they understood the This sleeve/tube hung limp when the rider was at rest, but on places to which they failed by sea, particularly all the move it flew like a serpent and whistled in the wind. The Europe: and hence in this Prophecy, the earth and sea hollow head, in the form of a toothed dragon, was formed from are put for the nations of the Greek and Latin Empires. metal and the wind passing through it would extend the cloth The third and fourth Beasts of Daniel are the same with tube tail attached to the neck of the head. The draco was also the Dragon and ten-horned Beast of John, but with this used by the Dacians (conquered by Rome) and no less than 20 difference: John puts the Dragon for the whole Roman of these are shown on Trajan’s Column. Other sources mention Empire while it continued entire, because it was entire Parthian and Sassanid Persian dracos. Roman historian Am- when that Prophecy was given; and the Beast he consid- mianus Marcellinus (ca. A.D. 325-391) referred to the “purple ers not till the Empire became divided; and then he puts the Dragon for the Empire of the Greeks, and the Beast for the Empire of the Latins.” 53 Follow the 36 degree longitude line from Jerusa- lem and you will find the place where the “King of Simply put, the dragon from an historical and biblical perspective, depicted as far back as the North” now resides: Russia. Egypt’s tyrannical regime of the Pharaohs, represents the pagan, persecuting power over God’s heritage: the Jewish people, the brethren of Messiah, and the land of promise. It was first Roman, then Constantinopolitan, and now is Russian, which in its most ample manifestation will encompass all territories of the former powers standing as Nebuchadnezzar’s Image against the tried Stone that will strike it down and grind to powder all of its Babylonian ele- ments (Dan. 2:34-35).

PART IV: How does Modern Russia fit her Divine Role?

What do we expect from the latter-day Gog or Russia? She is to be a great military power. When she invades the Land she will invade with many people and many ships as it says in Daniel 11:40. She will overflow and pass over the land –all of it– as a cloud. She must be gov- erned by an Autocrat, a sovereign ruler. An au- tocracy is a form of government in which the political power is held by a single person. (Remember the quote from Catherine the Great of Russia.) Consequently, Russia is the latter- day Dragon with the Christianized orb of Char- lemagne in her clutches. Here is an interesting Volume VII, Issue No. 1 14 CHRISTADELPHIAN TRUTH GLEANER fact concerning what happened to the Eastern Byzantine em- The following is an outline of further evidence of the pire in 1453 A.D.: If you look on a map Moscow is directly “turning back” of Russia to fulfill her destiny as the Gog of north of Jerusalem right along the 36 degree longitude line. Ezekiel’s prophecy. From “The Death of Democracy” (The Here are the “north parts” of Ezekiel 38:15 where the Byzan- National Post, David Frum, March 14th, 2007): tine Greeks fled from the Turks. As such, the state religion of this “third Rome” is once again Greek Orthodox (in which • “Putin’s government has extinguished all of Russia’s in- Putin was baptized under), the same eastern orthodox religion dependent broadcast media and severely curbed most that still resides in Constantinople (Istanbul), Turkey. print media.” • Putin has used his administrative powers to “seize some When the “Golden Horde” of the ancient Mongol Empire of Russia’s largest corporations and transfer ownership to held sway over Russia (1240-1480), the Byzantine Empire still his , i.e., Yukos.” effectively governed the people of Russia from afar via the • “Putin has ended elections for local government and cen- Church, eventually es- tralized all power in the Kremlin.” tablishing a “Metro- • “The Russian people support him.” politan” there, or head of the Church over the From The Economist, December 16th, 2006: Russian Holy See. Thus, while Constantin- • “Mr. Putin’s use of energy as a weapon is only ople as a political re- Don’t one instance of a Russian assertiveness that nowa- gime fell to the Turks, Mess days seems to border on gangsterism.” the Church did not, as with • “Mr. Putin’s belief she had already estab- [is] that energy is a lished a vast religious Russia! weapon with which to empire in all the Rus- restore the lost great- sias to which she trans- ness of the Soviet Un- ferred all of her effects. Yet Constantinople (Is- ion.” tanbul) on the Bosphorus is the land of her nativity, • “With the parlia- where her roots remain, and thus Russia’s eyes are ment emasculated, fixed on getting Constantinople back. television under state control, the press muz- On July 3, 1996, the very day of the Russian zled and once autono- presidential elections, Lieutenant General Alexan- mous regions shack- der Lebed skeptically said that, “If we go down the led, the presidency has road of a parliamentary republic [a democracy], acquired enormous nothing will work out for us.” Lebed also said that, clout. It is increasingly “In Russia, we had a czar, and then he was re- the Kremlin that decides who runs Russian business and placed by the general secretary [of the Soviet Communist finance.” Party]. Now we have a president. It is in our tradition, and it is • “Although an election is due in March 2008, Mr. Putin 54 all one and the same.” Do we have evidence of a Russian will practically choose his own successor.” Autocrat today? Let us continue by taking a look at the recent moves of the current Russian ruler, Vladimir Putin, and see if Eighty-nine journalists who have spoken out against Russia he fits this mold. What has he done just this past year? and the government have died violently over the past 10 years. Alexander Litvinenko’s death has been the most spectacular Our first source is Ion Mihai Pacepa, a two-star general and the highest ranking intelligence officer to have defected from 49. Flavius Arrianus, Tactical Handbook; And, The Expedition Against the Alans. Trans- the Soviet block-Romania in 1978. He says of Putin, “Former lated and edited by James G. DeVoto (Chicago, IL: Ares Publishers, 1993), p. 85 (Tactica 35). See also Graham Webster, The Roman Imperial Army of the First and KGB officers are now running Russia’s government, just as Second Centuries A.D. (Totowa, NJ: Barnes & Noble Books, 1969/1985), pp. 134- they did during Andropov’s reign (former KGB head who be- 135. 50. Ammianus Marcellinus 16.12.39 came President of the Soviet Union). In the West, if Andropov 51. John Tillinghast, Knowledge of the Times; or, The Resolution of the Question, How Long It Shall Be Unto the End of Wonders (London: Printed for R.I. and L. Chap- is remembered at all, it is for his brutal suppression of political man, 1654), p. 86. dissidence at home (free speech) and for his role in planning 52. George Croly, The Apocalypse of St. John, or Prophecy of The Rise, Progress, and Fall of the Church of Rome; The Inquisition; The Revolution of France; The Univer- the 1968 invasion of Czechoslovokia…. he was the man who sal War; and The Final Triumph of Christianity (Philadelphia, PA: E. Littell, 1827), p. substituted the KGB for the Communist (political) Party. In 146. 53. Isaac Newton, Observations Upon The Prophecies of Daniel, and the Apocalypse of early 2000, Putin divided Russia into seven ‘super’ districts, St. John (London: Printed by J. Darby and T. Browne, 1733), pp. 276-277. each headed by a ‘presidential representative’ and he gave five 54. Martin Sieff, “Everything Old is New Again in Russia Today,” The Washington Times, July 22, 1996, p. A1. of these seven new posts to former KGB officers.” Volume VII, Issue No. 1 15 CHRISTADELPHIAN TRUTH GLEANER killing or assassination, being poisoned by the highly radioac- tive cancer-causing agent, polo- nium 210. It was Litvinenko, a former KGB official, who publi- cally claimed (after defecting from Russia) that Ayman al- Zawahri was a longtime KGB/ FSB agent. He also claimed that other top leaders in al-Qaeda are also Russian agents. His com- ments were not taken seriously in the West, but they were in Rus- sia. The most recent killing oc- curred in March 2007 when Ivan Safronov, a military affairs writer for the Russian daily Kommer- sant was thrown out of a fifth story window. He was about to write an article on the Russian sale of advanced Iskander mis- siles to Syria. So can we add to The Admiral Kuznetsov, Russia's aircraft carrier leading the the list, Putin the Tyrant? current Russian Battle Group in the Mediterranean Sea.

A new phenomenon is gaining traction in Russia today; it’s Russian Ship building in Syria: Russia is enlarging and the idea of re-instating the Tsar monarchy, and it is called deepening the port at Tartus in Syria and upgrading her naval “Project Russia.” A new 380-page book bearing this title is facilities there. This will enable her biggest ships to berth and now being circulated throughout the country. The printers and will accommodate a greater number of Russian ships. From the authors are secret. But dissident journalists (one of which was Kommersant, 2-6-06: “For the first time since the Soviet Un- Anna Politovskaya who was mysteriously shot and killed last ion’s collapse, Russia will create its own military base outside year) have discovered that the source for this book is the FSB former Soviet borders, which will allow Moscow to conduct its (the successor of the KGB). Whether such a step will come to own political game in the Middle East.” From Stratfor, fruition we know not, but we continue to watch with interest as “Russia: A Major Mediterranean Deployment” (December 17, Russia prepares her confederacy of nations. 2007):

“A Russian battle group led by Moscow's sole aircraft Russian re-enters the Middle East: Preparing her carrier is heading for the Mediterranean Sea. The sailing Confederacy: It is interesting to reflect upon history as it represents a significant demonstration, both military and regards Russia and the Middle East. In 1967 Russia played a political, by the Kremlin.” Analysis: “The Admiral central role in fanning the flames of war in Egypt and Syria. In Kuznetsov, Russia's sole aircraft carrier, is leading a the months that preceded the Six Day War, Moscow fed Cairo battle group to the Mediterranean Sea. The move repre- sents a major deployment for Russia's Northern Fleet. and Damascus a steady diet of false intelligence indicating that Though the Russian navy suffers significant disadvan- Israel was planning to invade Syria. In the summer of 1973, the tages in the sea, the deployment could ultimately prove Soviets also encouraged Syria to join Egypt in invading Israel. to be the strongest naval showing in more than a decade In the recent Israeli war in Lebanon, it was discovered that the for the Kremlin. military hardware, armaments, munitions, missiles, and even military intelligence utilized by Hezbollah were all supplied “On Dec. 11, the Kuznetsov reportedly began conduct- through one conduit or another (Syria or Iran) from mother ing flight operations close enough to Norwegian oil plat- Russia. Today Gaza appears to be on the front page. Is it any forms to spook the operators into suspending their own guess as to who is interested in sponsoring the Hamas contin- flights to and from the rigs. Whether this was intended to frighten the Norwegians or was more a symptom of gency in opposition to the U.S. sponsored Fattah? Vladimir Russian inexperience with the basic etiquette of carrier Putin of course. Any avenue where east meets west, any politi- aviation is unclear. Either way, it almost certainly indi- cal front where Iran and radical Islam meet Israel, we should cates how this deployment will play out: This is a battle expect to see a Russian sponsor at the door. This is the present group, the presence of which will be felt. Once it rendez- and historical reality. vous in the Mediterranean, the Russian battle group re-

Volume VII, Issue No. 1 16 CHRISTADELPHIAN TRUTH GLEANER portedly will be made up of four major warships, includ- Part IV Summary: We have discussed numerous events, ing the: considered many facts, and tried to capture an end-time per- spective. What have we learned? In Daniel 11:45 we have a • “Admiral Kuznetsov. The lead ship of its class, the latter day King of the North successfully planting his “palatial Kuznetsov displaces nearly 60,000 tons fully loaded -- tents” or the “military tents of the chief and his making it the largest warship ever constructed by court” (Exposition of Daniel, pg. 342) “between the seas in the Russia. Moscow has claimed significantly larger air- glorious holy mountain.” The seas are the Mediterranean and craft capacity than has been demonstrated. It can ac- the Dead Seas, and the mountain is Zion. Bro. H. P. Mansfield commodate Su-33 Flanker D and Su-25 Frogfoot na- valized fighter aircraft as well as Ka-27/29 Helix heli- writes concerning verse 45:

copters. Bristling with anti-air systems, it also is “Here is the setting of history’s greatest battle: Arma- armed with 10 SS-N-19 ‘Shipwreck’ supersonic anti- geddon (Rev. 16:16)! It was in Jerusalem that Jew and ship missiles. China acquired its sister ship, the Gentile, as the Seed of the Serpent, killed God’s holy Varyag. Son; it will be at Jerusalem that the final chapter will be • “Admiral Levchenko. A ship of the Udaloy (Project written, as the Seed of the Woman crushes the power of 1155) class, a mainstay of the Russian surface fleet, the Serpent. But firstly, Jerusalem will feel the full ef- Levchenko possesses an extensive anti-submarine fects of fleshly dominance. All nations will be repre- warfare suite, including the SS-N-14 "Silex" missile. sented in the initial clash, and it will seem that Russia is • “Admiral Chabanenko. The sole ship of the Udaloy II successful over its enemies, for Jerusalem is sacked (Project 1155.1) class, the Chabanenko is an improve- and her people greatly distressed (Zech. 14:1-2). Britain ment on the Levchenko's class. It incorporates as- and the West are humiliated (Psa. 48:7) and driven back pects of two other late Soviet-era classes. It carries from Jerusalem (Isa. 16:4-7), so that Gog stands su- the SS-N-22 "Sunburn" supersonic anti-ship missile preme. Yet he shall come to his end: He is destroyed, and is one of the most active ships in the Russian not by the Tarshish power, but by the immortalized army Northern Fleet. of Christ, which has moved northwards in answer to the anguished cry of Israel (Ezek. 37:11; Zech. 13:9). Divine • “Moskva. The flagship of the Black Sea Fleet, the vengeance is exacted against Gog (Zech. 14:3), and sav- Moskva is the lead ship of the Slava (Project 1164) iours come to the aid of Zion (Joel 3:16; Obad. 21). The guided missile cruisers. Sixteen large SS-N-12 ‘great fury’ of Gog (Dan. 11:44) is met with the ‘fierce "Sandbox" anti-ship missiles are fitted in rows of two anger’ of Yahweh (Zeph. 3:8), and the ‘fire of his on the port and starboard sides, a distinctive feature. wrath’ (Ezek. 38:18-19), so that the political Seed of the • “A number of support vessels and almost certainly at serpent is crushed.” least one nuclear-powered attack or cruise missile submarine accompany these ships. Despite the nota- ble absence of the Pyotr Velikiv, this grouping of We believe that this understanding is consistent with the ships largely represents the best the Russian surface message of all the prophets. Contrawise, contemporary views navy has to offer. On paper, it brings significant of- that discard well-reasoned exposition will not stand the test of fensive anti-ship capability to bear. For the most part, time and only serve to discourage further study when the sub- however, Russian sailors are more likely to be honing ject is bathed in the light of “controversy”. We would caution rather than flaunting their skills on this deployment.” that to rely upon current events through a “world view” lens rather than the “Biblical perspective” of what Yahweh intends In sync with this new Naval deployment and Syrian port con- to do, or to apply the world’s “scientific method” (observing struction are Air Force and other military preparations on the contemporary and historical developments with a view towards ground. About 10,000 Syrian officers have received top-rate altering our time-tested understanding of Scripture to fit the training at both Soviet and Russian military academies, both present scene) will only result in confusion and error. Unfortu- pilots and air defense specialists. To capitalize on this invest- nately this method was applied by some brethren in the 1930’s ment, Russian Prime Minister Putin has authorized the deploy- and 40’s, who, casting aside sound Scriptural evidence to the ment of 2,000 Russian military advisors to serve in the Syrian contrary, identified Nazi Germany as the King of the North, military after a fashion of Soviet/Egyptian cooperation during and the Gog of the land of Magog. But they were wrong as was the Cold War era. If we view these events through the pro- their perspective. More recently brethren have applied the phetic lens of the Bible, it becomes plain to see that Russia is same line of reasoning and so mis-identified Iraq as the “Latter preparing (or rather, is being prepared by the Elohim) for the Day Assyrian”, etc. Today is no different, when it is suggested time when she shall come “forth with many ships,” “and all that passages such as Zechariah 14:1-2 should be applied to the thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all Israeli War for independence (1948) and the “all nations” ap- sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and plied to Egypt, Syria, Jordan, etc. which then requires that shields, all of them handling swords” against Israel (Dan. “The Day of the Lord” (Armageddon) must have already be- 11:40; Ezek. 38:4). gun.55 Respectfully, we do not believe that this application is correct. Moreover, this sort of “redefinition” of time-tested So what does all this tell us as believers? exposition of the Word is not helpful, and indeed, presents con- Volume VII, Issue No. 1 17 CHRISTADELPHIAN TRUTH GLEANER fusion. The events chronicled in Ezekiel 37 (of which we have “Thus hath the Lord God shewed unto me; and, behold, he seen but a token fulfillment, yet we await to see the “whole informed grasshoppers in the beginning of the shooting up of house of Israel”) and Ezekiel 38-39 are primarily concerned the latter growth; and, lo, it was the latter growth after the with Armageddon – an event still future to our time, and these king's mowings. And it came to pass, that when they had events are written about by all the prophets of Israel. made an end of eating the grass of the land, then I said, ‘O LORD God, forgive, I beseech thee: by whom shall Jacob Our case of evidence will rest in these latter-days with the re- arise? For he is small’ ” (Amos 7:1,2). emergence of Russia. In the late 1980’s and through the early 1990’s, it was difficult to comprehend how Russia would Our English Bible takes its translation from the Masoretic emerge as a latter-day great power, as king of the north to text, a 9th century A.D. source. However, the Septuagint come into the Holy Land and accomplish what Yahweh has set [LXX], a translation of the Old Testament into Greek, embod- out for her, but not today. The evidence that supports Russia’s ies a different rending of Amos 7:1 as follows: divine role is overwhelming, prophetically, in the course of ancient history (Scythians being Russians) and in current his- “Thus the Lord showed me, and behold a swarm of locusts tory. The might and the control that Russia is generating were coming, and behold, one of the young devastating lo- through oil and gas, and the return to a Soviet style totalitarian custs was Gog, the King. And it came to pass when he had government, cries to us from the daily headlines. The strangle- finished devouring the grass of the land, that I said Lord God be merciful; who shall raise up Jacob?” (Amos 7:1, LXX). hold that Russia is beginning to have over Europe is obvious, compelling and beyond dispute. She is back in Syria with the re-location of her major ships to the port of Tartus. She is back Is this identification of Gog as the king of the locusts by in Lebanon with the re-location of her Chechen army general Amos the prophet, just as the Scythians were invading lands in and with so-called “engineers”. Her hand is deep in fostering the north, purely coincidental? We think not. Proverbs 30:27 the anti-West, anti-Israel, Islamic terrorism. Her hand is evi- reveals that “the locusts have no king,” implying that the dent in the behind-the-scenes fostering of the 1967 and 1973 “locusts” of Amos 7 are not intended to be natural locusts, but an idiom for something else; a swarm of people invading and Arab-Israeli wars and the current Palestinian “Pricking Briar”. 57 We need to therefore be cautious in our impatient, reactionary devouring the land before them. Their reputation and ferocity tendencies as to what Yahweh has clearly revealed He is going as warriors became almost mythical and their brutality equal to to do with the nations as a whole. the most savage beast. Many exquisitely crafted artifacts found in their frozen tombs in Russia, Kazyktstan and the Eurasian plains indicate that their warriors were not only lavishly Part V: History Repeated; Ancient adorned, but lethally armed. From the Encyclopedia Britanica: Scythian military movements in the Bible, a precursor to Gog’s latter day invasion “Many Royal Scyths wore bronze helmets and chain- mail jerkins of the Greek type, lined with red felt. Their shields were generally round and made of leather, wood, Historically, the nations mentioned in Genesis 10 and Eze- or iron, and were often decorated with a central gold or- kiel 38 (Magog, Meshech, Tubal, Gomer and Togarmah) were nament in the form of an animal, but other tribesmen all descendants from Japheth and have been regarded collec- carried square or rectangular ones. All used a double- tively by historians as “a barbarous people known as the curved bow, shooting over the horse's left shoulder; ar- Scythians.” The movement of the descendants of Japheth into rows had trefoil-shaped heads made, according to date, northern Asia, and Europe shows that they of bronze, iron, or bone. Arrows and bow were carried in were a nomadic people, and they remained such for several a gorytos (bow case) slung from the left side of the belt. millennia. These were war-like tribesman, traveling hordes with entire families who dominated, pillaged and terrorized “Their swords were generally of the Persian type, with adjacent territories, just as Gog will dominate his “allies”, just an intricately ornamented heart-shaped or triangular as Russia is poised to dominate Europe, march south and pour crosspiece. ...the sheaths were often encased in gold into the Holy Land to take a spoil. worked into embossed designs and offset with paste or ivory inlay and gems. Their knives were of various

One such force appeared on the border of the Cimmerians shapes and lengths, some being curved in the Chinese manner. They wore the dagger attached to the left leg by (Persia/Iran) in the 8th century B.C. pouring through the Cau- straps, and many carried spears or standards sur- casus Mountains (referred to by historians as the “Fortress of mounted by bronze terminals depicting real or imaginary 56 Gog”); hordes of Scythians covered the land like locusts. beasts. They devoured the countryside, consuming crops and live- stock, massacring those in their path and pillaging in their “The Scythian's horses were also outfitted in beautiful wake. The Scythian horsemen put the Cimmerian foot soldiers and ornate costumes, and were seen ridden for the first to flight and scattered them in all directions. Living at this time time among many of the peoples they descended upon.” was the prophet Amos, who records the following in 750 B.C.:

Volume VII, Issue No. 1 18 CHRISTADELPHIAN TRUTH GLEANER than his father or grandfather. It was he who The Scythians burst through the The Scythian first organized the Asiatic armies by divid- (“Fortress of ing them into separate units - spearmen, (Circa. 630 B.C.); Gog”) led by Madyes, the grandson Invasion archers, and cavalry. …The first act of his of Gog (Cmp. Ezek. 38:15; Dan. 11:40) a Precursor to Gog reign was to march against [the Assyrian capital] Nineveh at the head of all his sub- They sweep south passing through ject nations, with the object of destroying Judah to Egypt (Cmp. Ezek. 38:8-9; the town and avenging his father [who had Dan. 11:41-43; Isa. 19:4) been killed during a campaign against the Assyrians]. He fought a successful battle against the Assyrians, but while he was be- sieging the town he was attacked by a large Cauc Scythian army under the command of king asus Mou Madyas, son of Protothyes. [...] A battle was ntain s fought, in which the Medes were defeated and lost their power in Asia, which was taken over in its entirety by the Scythians” [Histories 1.103; tr. Aubrey de Selincourt (From the Cylinder of Asshur- banipal B IV 2)]. They sweep east against the As- syrians and Medes, form a pact, Herodotus further records that the reign of the and occupy the area for a dec- Scythians in Asia was to last twenty-eight Jerusalem ade or more (Cmp. Ezek. 38:5) years, but other sources indicate that having made a pact with the Assyrians, and true to They plunder Ashkelon, returning their nomadic lifestyle, the Scythian horsemen through Judah for spoil; Beth Shean moved on quickly against Egypt and Judah is taken and renamed “Scythopolis” within a single decade. They passed by Judah or “The City of the Scythians” (Cmp. Ezek. 38:11-12; Dan. 11:44) temporarily (as would Alexander the Great cen- turies later) and reached Ashkelon in Philistia, Map reconstructed from a slide presentation prepared by Bro. Roger Lewis entitled, “The Russia Iran Axis” where the Egyptian Pharaoh Psammetichus I (664-610) bribed them to turn back. The Scythians were thus accomplished horsemen, being among the first people to master the art of cavalry, “And I will To refine our Scriptural bearing on the subject, this invasion bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all would have occurred when Josiah was but a youth, being only of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company about 21 years old at the time and still under the tutelage of the with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords” (Ezek. prophet Zephaniah. For years those who had resisted the idola- 38:4). This new art of warfare made their approach in battle try of the kingdom of Judah had been persecuted and killed, seem almost supernatural to their earthbound opponents and and thus the Truth had been compelled to exist underground, gave them the great advantage of surprise attack. “Thou shalt so to speak. That was all about to change, at least externally. ascend and come like a storm” (Ezek. 38:9). Josiah’s reforms would have been in their ninth year, begin- ning with the order to destroy all the profane places of public The Scythian Invasion of Judah: During the lifetime of the sacrifice and idol worship, yet the people were still not re- prophet Zephaniah and just before the prophet Jeremiah was formed in their heart, privately worshipping their “gods” and called (626 B.C.), swarms of Scythian invaders from their capi- “goddesses”. Zephaniah would have seen the coming tumult tal city of Saqqez again struck terror into the nations surround- from the north as a warning against this idolatry engrained into ing the Assyrian empire (already in decline and ripe for the the people by former King Manasseh (II Kings 21:11-17). picking): Syria, Egypt, and Judah. The Greek historian He- rodotus (C. 480-429 BC) in the first book of the Histories gives Being connected with the royal household of Hezekiah a detailed description of this invasion and the bizarre and sav- (Zeph. 1:1), being zealous for true reform (not just the outward age practices of the Scythian warriors. In short, they made the public restraint on sin), and seeing the legacy of evil Manasseh otherwise ruthless Assyrians look twice at anything approach- and Ammon manifested in the gross habits found among the ing from the north. An account occurs in the narrative about people (like the worshiping of idols, sacrifice to Assyrian and the reign of Cyaxares. There he writes that the Median leader 55. Only the kingdom of Jordan had possession of a portion of Jerusalem in 1948, which Phraortes: they had before the war began, and which they lost in 1967. 56. Jeff Rogers, Is the Soviet Union Gog and Magog, The Forerunner Magazine, March 1990 “…Was succeeded by his son Cyaxares, grandson of 57. Roger Lewis, The Developing Russia Iran Axis, Bible Evidence for the Middle East Deioces. This prince had a far greater military reputation Alignment that leads to Armageddon, October 2007 Public Lecture. Volume VII, Issue No. 1 19 CHRISTADELPHIAN TRUTH GLEANER Babylonian gods, the adoption by the priesthood of foreign wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and attire, and the superstition of leaping across the threshold to desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of avoid contact with the spirits of animal sacrifices buried in the clouds and thick darkness, 16A day of the trumpet and alarm foundation to ward off evil; Zeph. 1:5, 8, 9), Zephaniah was against the fenced cities, and against the high towers. 17And I directed by Yahweh to act and forewarn that only by a thor- will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind ough reform of individuals against such evils would Yahweh men, because they have sinned against the LORD: and their spare the land of Judah and its people from destruction. blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as the dung. 18Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to At this time the Assyrians would have ceased to be a threat deliver them in the day of the LORD’S wrath; but the whole to Judah, and while the Babylonians were still on the distant land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall horizon, primarily in the prophet’s view would have been the make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the marauding Scythians from the North; the time would have land” (Zeph. 1:14-18). been ripe for Zephaniah to express his ultimate warning of dis- aster. As we mentioned, when the Scythians reached the Egyp- While Zephaniah’s prediction of calamity was ultimately tian frontiers they were met by an Egyptian emissary who lav- fulfilled with the Babylonian invasion two decades later, the ished them with gifts, entreating them to turn back through route of destruction taken by the Scythians was a Divine act of Philistia. There they plundered the temple at Ashkelon and mercy in order to call out a remnant before the final judgment other cities along the coast and took possession of Beth Shean, was to come against the nation. It is logical as well as scrip- which name, according to the Septuagint translators as well as tural that such eminent danger would affect the greatest the historian Pliny, was later changed to Scythopolis, meaning reform among the people of Israel. This has been the case the “City of the Scythians” as they evidently garrisoned the throughout Israel’s history - to ultimately preserve a remnant to city for some time.58 give glory to Yahweh - and will be so again in the future. In- deed, this embodies the very purpose for why the future Gog “Zephaniah could thus record what the prophet Amos had enters the land at all, and this is why Ezekiel’s prophecy as a previously predicted: whole is central to every latter day prophecy of the Bible;

‘But I will send a fire on the wall of Gaza, which shall devour the palaces thereof: 8And I will cut off the inhabitant from Ashdod, and him that holdeth the sceptre from Ashkelon, and I will turn mine hand against Ekron: and the remnant of the Philistines shall perish, saith the Lord GOD’ (Amos 1:7-8).

“Whilst the prophet Zephaniah declared:

‘For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation: they shall drive out Ashdod at the noon day, and Ekron shall be rooted up. 5Woe unto the inhabitants of the sea coast, the nation of the Cherethites! the word of the LORD is against you; O Canaan, the land of the Philistines, I will even destroy thee, that there shall be no inhabitant’ (Zeph. 2:4-5). Peace, peace; when there is no peace” (Jer. 8:11)

“Zephaniah elaborated upon this description of terror by adding the line of darkness and gloom to a scene depicting warfare and terror Today Israel stands very much related to the times to inhabitants who cannot fight with assurance following Josiah. It is sad to see the “pioneer because they do not have the moral courage spirit” waning; instead of looking to Yahweh, Is- given by adherence to God.”59 rael continues to look for “other lovers” and seeks “14The great day of the LORD is near, it is peace in vain with their enemies as they did in the near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of days subsequent to the Babylonian invasion and the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall captivity. cry there bitterly. 15That day is a day of

Volume VII, Issue No. 1 20 CHRISTADELPHIAN TRUTH GLEANER “Behold, it is come, and it is done, saith the Lord GOD; this nation has waned, and instead of looking to Yahweh they look is the day whereof I have spoken.” (Ezek. 39:8). continually to “other lovers” and seek peace in vain with their enemies as they did in the days subsequent to the Babylonian For example, the prophet Ezekiel and Zechariah both record: invasion and captivity. Once again their wicked rulers are lead-

ing the greater population into abject idolatry and geo-political • INVASION and SUFFERING: “Thou [Gog] shalt ascend crises from which there is no escape. Does this mean that we and come like a storm [all thine army, horses and horse- love Zion any less? Does this mean that because we understand men – vs. 4], thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, the Divine purpose of Yahweh to save a remnant of His people thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee... To and to remove the chaff that we harbor ideals of anti- take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon Semitism? Nothing could be further from the truth. We would the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the note that one of the grand marks of the Divine authorship of people that are gathered out of the nations, which have the Bible is the manner in which its own (Jewish) prophets gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the speak in such harsh terms against the Jewish people and nation land” (Ezek. 38:9,12); “And the heathen shall know that in their slide toward idolatry and wickedness. Yahweh is no the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity: respecter of persons, and He will save a remnant from destruc- because they trespassed against me, therefore hid I my tion, as in the days of old — not for their sakes, but for His face from them, and gave them into the hand of their ene- Holy Name’s sake, which He swore to Abraham that He would mies: so fell they all by the sword. According to their un- perform. Thus, a remnant of natural Israel will form the nu- cleanness and according to their transgressions have I cleus of the kingdom of God on earth, the “first dominion” done unto them, and hid my face from them” (Ezek. over which the twelve apostles were promised to reign (Matt. 39:23,24); “And in that day will I make Jerusalem a bur- 19:28). Yet the fact remains that the rebellious among natural densome stone for all people: all that burden themselves Israel, as those of the Mosaic era, will not enter in (Ezek. with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the 20:38). earth be gathered together against it” (12:3); “And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, Following Zephaniah’s plea, Jeremiah would also prophesy two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third to the nation as the day of judgment for Judah approached. By shall be left therein” (Zech. 13:8); “Behold, the day of the then the looming Babylonian Empire was no longer just a LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst threat but an eminent danger to the nation; however, it was of thee. For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to now too late for national reform. Israel today is also incapable battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, of national reform under the democratic and corrupt leadership and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go of man. As such the words that Jeremiah spoke to Israel 2600 forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not years ago have a direct correlation with the nation and people be cut off from the city” (14:1-2). today – their backsliding cannot be turned again, and the day of judgment by the latter day Scythian and Babylonian horde is at • SUPPLICATION and REFINEMENT: “And I will bring hand. Consider Jeremiah’s words in context with the current the third part through the fire, and will refine them as crises taking shape. silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It “Why then is this people of Jerusalem slidden back by a is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my perpetual backsliding? they hold fast deceit, they refuse to God” (Zech. 13:9); “And it shall come to pass in that day, return. 6I hearkened and heard, but they spake not aright: no saith the LORD of hosts, that I will cut off the names of man repented him of his wickedness, saying, What have I the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be re- done? every one turned to his course, as the horse rusheth membered: and also I will cause the prophets and the un- into the battle. 7Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her ap- clean spirit to pass out of the land” (Zech. 13:2); pointed times; and the turtle and the crane and the swallow “Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Now will I bring observe the time of their coming; but my people know not the again the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy upon the judgment of the LORD. 8How do ye say, We are wise, and the whole house of Israel, and will be jealous for my holy law of the LORD is with us? Lo, certainly in vain made he it; name; 26After that they have borne their shame, and all the pen of the scribes is in vain. 9The wise men are ashamed, their trespasses whereby they have trespassed against me, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the word when they dwelt safely in their land, and none made them of the LORD; and what wisdom is in them? 10Therefore will I afraid. 27When I have brought them again from the peo- give their wives unto others, and their fields to them that ple, and gathered them out of their enemies’ lands, and shall inherit them: for every one from the least even unto the am sanctified in them in the sight of many nations” (Ezek. greatest is given to covetousness, from the prophet even unto 39:25-27). 58. Fred Pearce, From Hosea to Zephaniah – The Minor Prophets Before The Exile, Pages 171- 182 Today Israel stands very much related to the times following 59. “The Judgment Day as Visioned by Zephaniah”, www.livius.org, Livius Articles on Josiah. The “pioneer spirit” that brought them into being as a Ancient History

Volume VII, Issue No. 1 21 CHRISTADELPHIAN TRUTH GLEANER the priest every one dealeth falsely. 11For they have healed As those whose hope is bound up in Israel, we have a deli- the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, cate balance to maintain on this subject. As Christadelphians peace; when there is no peace. 12Were they ashamed when we have a natural tendency to defend Israel in our general atti- they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all tudes against their many enemies. We have perhaps experi- ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore shall they fall enced, on a personal level, the endemic hatred and racism lev- among them that fall: in the time of their visitation they shall eled against the Jews and their nation by those who say that be cast down, saith the LORD. Israel, as a political entity, is “illegitimate”. To say this is really saying that Yahweh’s purpose is illegitimate, a danger- 13I will surely consume them, saith the LORD: there shall ous position indeed. We understand that those who hold such be no grapes on the vine [cp. Isa. 17], nor figs on the fig tree, views are ignorant of both recorded history as well as the Di- and the leaf shall fade; and the things that I have given them vine plan and purpose to partially restore the Jews to the land shall pass away from them. 14Why do we sit still? assemble prior to the advent, and that we are justified in our defense. yourselves, and let us enter into the defenced cities, and let There is nothing wrong with this insofar as we understand that us be silent there: for the LORD our God hath put us to si- in our desire for Yahweh to “restore the kingdom to Israel” lence, and given us water of gall to drink, because we have and to take vengeance on Zion’s enemies, that we do not sup- sinned against the LORD. 15We looked for peace, but no pose that such will occur by a reformation of the political man good came; and for a time of health, and behold trouble! of the flesh. Rather, as was the case with the nation under Saul, 16The snorting of his [Scythian/Babylonian] horses was or Zedekiah, or the Scribes and Pharisees, the existing order heard from Dan: the whole land trembled at the sound of the must be removed, and the sons of Zion and “David” their King neighing of his strong ones; for they are come, and have de- will establish an entirely new and holy order (Ezek. 37:25). voured the land, and all that is in it; the city, and those that dwell therein” (Jer. 8:5-16). Meanwhile the peace mongers and east/west agitations con- tinue to shape the King of the North and his Gogian alliance. There are only a few reformers in the land today who recog- Record breaking prices for oil and natural gas continue to line nize the approaching storm (those Jews who understand that the pockets of the Russian autocrat with gold. Hatred of the the land is Israel’s by promise and who are loathe to give it Jewish nation fostered by multi-national “peace efforts” also away to their enemies); we can only hope that these will be continue to formulate the “evil thought”, while Putin’s Russia among the one third of Zechariah’s prophecy who heed the is being turned back with “hooks in the jaws” from political signs and look for the approaching Messiah to deliver them. and military insignificance to a modern day power house such This is the “Zion” for which we hope, the Zion upon which that Russia will fulfill her Divinely ascribed destiny: “Gog, the Yahweh pours out His Spirit of healing and redemption (Ezek. land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech and 37:14), but shall we be constrained to love the policies of men Tubal” (LXX). in the Knesset whose “blind leaders” and “evil shepherds” know not God, nor do they act in accordance with His will? All of this tells us that we are potentially living on borrowed time, and that the message of Zephaniah and Jeremiah to the These “are still in the drossy state with the curse of Moses Jews calling for reform should be amply applied to each indi- upon them,” for those of Moses’ generation did nothing he vidual believer as well as the Christadelphian household today. commanded them to do; and therefore, disregarding him, their It is not likely that we will be here to witness the Gogian inva- children disregarded Jesus of whom Moses wrote. “Cursed is sion; rather, God willing, we will have been called and judged everyone” said Moses, “that continueth not in all things which acceptable for a place at Messiah’s side (on the way to Jerusa- are written in the book of the law to do them.” According to lem) for the glorious victory that awaits the army of Yahweh this Scripture, Israel lives in ignorance of their perpetual viola- (Rev. 19). May we take heed that the words of the prophets tion of the law. These children of disobedience are still with us that we have considered are sure and cannot be changed. Yah- this day in Israel and scattered throughout the world – “the weh’s work is nearly complete, and our Lord is even at the dross of silver in the midst of the furnace of affliction” who can door. This is the impetus to self examine now and get our only be refined by the refiner’s fire and be purged from the house in order before the Angel’s call to Judgment. dross of sin in the affliction set before them by Isaiah (17); Jeremiah (8); Ezekiel (37-39); Daniel (11); Joel (2,3) Obadiah, “And when these things begin to come to pass, then Micah (5); Zechariah (12:3; 13:9; 14:1-5) and Malachi (3:2-3), among many others.60 The history of Israel as a nation since look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption the exodus from Egypt bears out this necessary principle of draweth nigh” (Luke 21:28). affliction in order to effect a refinement of character, the same principle that Yahweh, via His Son, meets out to every son and daughter of God whom He has called (Heb. 12:5-11; Rev. 3:18-20). This is a first principle truth demonstrated by all the prophets of Israel. 60. Phanerosis, by John Thomas, Pg. 124

Volume VII, Issue No. 1 22 CHRISTADELPHIAN TRUTH GLEANER The LORD is My Shepherd (continued from page 3) what Yahweh has provided for us may lead to an inheritance without price for those who remain in faithful obedience, and He will proclaim Himself Savior in their behalf.

The King and His Guests - Summary: Vs 6. And I will Dwell in the House of the LORD Forever: Yahweh-Gaal, “He who will redeem to himself” – Isaiah 49:7

“Thus saith the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the na- tion abhorreth, to a servant of rulers, Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the LORD that is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose thee.” The Hebrew word gaal, translated “redeemer” in this passage, signifies the right of the near kinsman. Drawing again upon the account of Ruth, we recall that Boaz, the near kinsman, redeemed Ruth and Naomi, representative of natural and spiritual Israel, and that they would dwell with him in his own house. Ruth, or Spiritual Israel, would be his bride, but Naomi also would become a benefactor of this union.

10Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day. 11And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are wit- nesses. The LORD make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Bethlehem: 12And let thy house be like the house of Pharez, whom Tamar bare unto Judah, of the seed which the LORD shall give thee of this young woman” (Ruth 4:10-12).

The Hebrew word yashab, translated “dwell” in the 23rd psalm, also means “to marry”. Again the parable contained in the account of Ruth comes to our mind. Those who have been purchased with the blood of Christ will be redeemed from the power of death and will become the bride of Christ in the fullest sense. They will enjoin with him in a mar- riage covenant of unity in nature, mind and body. They will then be “one flesh”, as it were. They will be honored by him in his own house, the restored Kingdom to Israel in Jerusalem, and they will join him in the marriage supper of the Lamb to eat the flesh of kings and of mighty men, for the zeal of Yahweh of hosts will bring it all to pass.

Conclusion

This is the hope of those who recognize the voice of the Good Shepherd and who are not swayed by the pretenses of fallible man. We have been given a good pasture to work in. The water of life is available to all. If we are patient and study to be quiet, we will be able to hear the voice and respond accordingly. If we seek another pasture, looking among the hedges for a way out of the sheepcote, we may eventually find it. But what awaits may take us beyond the call and reach of the Good Shepherd.

“13And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? 14And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. 16They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. 17For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes” (Rev. 7:13-17).

Editor

Volume VII, Issue No. 1 23 CHRISTADELPHIAN TRUTH GLEANER Fundamental Questions and Answers Holy Spirit Gifts – A Possession of the Modern Believer? An Address by Bro. Scott Huie

Good morning, Brethren in Christ Jesus our Lord. of the Apostle Peter in 2 Peter 2:1-2, “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false Isn’t it good to be here this morning, brethren? As the teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable days march on toward the advent, and the times in which we heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring find ourselves become more uncertain, the saint will cer- upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow tainly find a time of true refreshing in the company of breth- their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth ren on the first day of the week. David, the sweet Psalmist shall be evil spoken of.” I think we are all persuaded that of Israel, wrote, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is this is true, and we have seen it with our eyes, haven’t we, for brethren to dwell together in unity” (Psalm 133:1). This brethren? The Truth is brought into disrepute due to prob- is true, is it not? Is there anything more sweet and pleasing lems in doctrine, resulting in ecclesial turmoil and brethren than to be in the company of brethren with whom we share a departing the Truth. It is also important to realize that times true Hope? The bond of the Truth is seen to be even stronger are very perilous for believers at the end of the age. We than our fleshly family ties. We all realize the Truth is the must not be asleep to this fact. Consider faithful Noah. We reason for the pleasure of the fellowship which we share. It are told that, “By faith Noah, being warned of God of things is the set of doctrines so heartily believed among us that not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the make up the Truth. The Truth has a great power, does it not? saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, It is true that the Bible is simply black and white print on and became heir of the righteousness which is by paper, and to the uninterested mind it has no effect; but to faith” (Hebrews 11:7). What caused Noah to be moved with the good and honest heart, it has tremendous power to trans- fear? The margin says “being wary”. Noah was fearful for form. We all know the verse in Romans chapter 1, “For I his house, or his ecclesial family, that they would be lost to am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power the sin and wickedness that prevailed around them. There- of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew fore he was wary and circumspect, and he “moved with first, and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16). Of course, if fear” to guard against the evil influence. This implies that this truth is tampered with, if its doctrines are somehow there was some action on Noah’s part. Such it was at the end modified, it ceases to become the Truth, and it loses this of the age of the antediluvians. So it also was in the end of power. If the Truth is lost, its power for salvation is lost with the Mosaic age, and in the early days of the ecclesia estab- it, and the fellowship we enjoy is also lost. This fact is de- lished by the work of the apostles. clared by John in his first epistle in verses 6 and 7, “If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, Paul’s letters contain much exhortation and comfort, but we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he they also hold out a warning. In preparing the tender Timo- is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the thy for the work ahead of him, Paul warned him strongly blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” So that in the last days (of the Mosaic age) “perilous times therefore, brethren, our doctrine must always be tried by the would come.” Read 2 Timothy 3:1-8. Sadly these perils light of the Word, for only when we walk in this light can were to come from within the body of Christ, as verse 8 tells we have the true fellowship. us clearly, “…these also resist the truth, reprobate [or cast away – rejected] concerning the faith,” implying they once We all know that is it a sad fact that the Truth we possess stood in the faith. He continues in chapter 4:3, “For the time has a tendency toward decline or apostasy in the hands of will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but af- men, because we who possess it are mortal, weak, and falli- ter their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, ble. Therefore we must be diligent students! This is the only having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears remedy for this problem, for otherwise our tendency would from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables” (2 Timothy be to lean on our own understanding. We must all recognize 4:3-4). Again, here were brethren who at one time had that often the greatest peril to the Truth is from within our “ears” for the Truth, and were turned away to fables. I think body and our own community. This has always been the we are all convinced that the end the Mosaic age was in case, as we know from the Scriptures. Let us hear the word many ways a foreshadowing of our times. Therefore the per- Volume VII, Issue No. 1 24 CHRISTADELPHIAN TRUTH GLEANER ilous times that Timothy was warned of can certainly be an It will not be our purpose in this short address to go over admonition to us. in any detail how it has pleased Yahweh to manifest His power through His Spirit throughout the ages. First, we The Truth is always attacked in a subtle fashion from know fundamentally that Yahweh is Spirit. This is the most within and from behind, preying on the weaker members of profound statement of John 4:24. Yahweh is power essential the body much like Amalek of old. Gradually, these subtle and underived. Even this very simple statement is difficult errors chip away at the foundations until irreparable damage for our mortal frames to begin to comprehend! Consider that is done. By then it is too late. Brethren, it is one such subtle of Him are all things, this fact being revealed in 1 Corin- and recent attack that I would like to bring to your attention thians 8:6. He dwells in light unapproachable from which as regarding the title of our remarks, the Holy Spirit Gifts. this power irradiates and fills the universe. Through His un- As you all know and believe, “That the Scriptures, compos- derived power, the operations of the universe are upheld, ing the book currently known as the Bible, are the only and we, brethren, live and move and have our very being. source now extant of knowledge concerning God and His Job records for us in Job 34:13-15, “Who hath given him a purposes, and that they were given wholly by the unerring charge over the earth? or who hath disposed the whole inspiration of God in the writers, and that such errors as world? If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto him- have since crept in are due to transcription or transla- self his spirit and his breath; All flesh shall perish together, tion” (Neh. 9:30; Luke 1:70; John 10:35; I Cor. 2:13; 14:37; and man shall turn again unto dust.” Yet we know that II Tim. 3:16; Heb. 1:1; II Peter 1:21). As you will recognize, from the natural evidence of Yahweh's Spirit power, seen all this is proposition XXXI from our Christadelphian State- around us in the natural creation, we can learn nothing of ment of Faith. I believe I may safely say that we would all His plan and purpose for the earth and man upon it. rest firmly on this foundation as it is clearly supported by God’s Word. Recently, however, it was intimated on the We read in another place in Job 11:7, “Canst thou by Williamsburg Christadelphian Foundation (WCF) website, searching find out God [Eloah]? canst thou find out the Al- in a rhetorical fashion, that God may still speak to us mighty [Shaddai] unto perfection?” The natural creation is through our dreams. Now it must be noted that these breth- perfectly silent on Yahweh’s plan for the earth and man; this ren do not claim miraculous powers in conjunction with this required further revelation for which Yahweh has used men. communication from God, so at first the idea may seem in- He has moved them by His Spirit to make His purpose nocent enough. But upon closer examination and put against known. In Numbers 12:6 we read “...Hear now my words: If the test of the Word, it will be demonstrated that there is a there be a prophet among you, I YAHWEH will make my- very real and present danger in this teaching, i.e., that any self known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in of those gifts that were evidence of the manifestation of a dream.” Note carefully what we are told in these words. It the Holy Spirit in the first century ecclesia are available is only through Yahweh’s moving of men through His Holy in any form today. Knowingly or not, this subtle error set Spirit that He has made Himself known. This manifestation forth by the WCF supports the possibility of present posses- of Himself comprehends His purpose which is bound up in sion of the Holy Spirit gifts. Yet we can clearly see from the His Name, even Yahweh Elohim. It was through this Scriptures that communications from Yahweh to believers, method, the supernatural impression of Divine ideas upon whether in a dream, through the gift of prophecy, the gift of the minds of men, that Yahweh has brought about the won- tongues, or any other supernatural manifestation of the derful book that we have in our possession, the Bible. Such Spirit gifts, were never seen apart from the obvious manifes- men who spoke for Yahweh were His prophets. To them the tation of Divine power. test of a prophet could be applied as we read in Deuteron- omy 18:22, “When a prophet speaketh in the name of YAH- In every generation since the revival of the Truth by WEH, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the Brother Thomas in these last days, brethren have had to deal thing which YAHWEH hath not spoken, but the prophet hath with the claim from within the Body of the present posses- spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.” sion of the Holy Spirit gifts, miraculous and otherwise. This Therefore a short term fulfillment of their prophesying, and is nothing new. Our own ecclesia was tried with these issues in some instances, accompanied by miraculous manifesta- in the past, which resulted in a sizeable number departing tions of power, would prove their credentials as a true the faith. Brethren, the problem simply stated is this: if one prophet. In all instances, the manifestation of Yahweh’s says that God currently speaks to us through dreams and Spirit through men would be readily evident to those who somehow directs our life in this manner, foretells to us the saw and heard them. future, or directs us to some action, and that this aids us in developing a character pleasing to Him or in our walk of This is a very important point which has a direct bearing probation, then this must lessen our reliance on the Word. on the current error and problem: when Yahweh communi- I believe we will see that this conclusion is unavoidable. cates to men through dreams or visions or any other means Volume VII, Issue No. 1 25 CHRISTADELPHIAN TRUTH GLEANER He chooses, such men or women have been impressed upon Spirit Power) in the millennial, or Kingdom Age, that is, in through an open manifestation of the Holy Spirit, and it will the “last days” (cp. Gen. 49:1; Micah 4:1; Isa. 2:2-4; Hosea always be clearly evident to all that they truly have it. A 3:5; Ezek. 37:14; 39:29). correct understanding of this principle will be revealed if we consider what Scripture teaches concerning the Holy Spirit Note carefully what the Lord had told his disciples con- manifestations through men from Genesis to the Apoca- cerning the Comforter before they had yet received the Holy lypse. The current theorists suggest that Yahweh may still Spirit. The record is clear that the outpouring of the Spirit communicate to us via our dreams and that we could possi- would be after the glorification of Jesus and only upon a bly benefit from giving them more serious consideration. certain class. “He that believeth on me, as the scripture This requires them to separate such dreams from God as be- hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. ing distinct from the Holy Spirit gifts, so as to not appear in (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on outright error. Yet this argument is specious and is mani- him should receive: for the Holy Spirit was not yet given; festly false as will be seen. because that Jesus was not yet glorified)” (John 7:38-39). Men must first believe. The Spirit was not given to enable a In the second chapter of the Acts of the Apostles after the youth to understand nor to convert grown men, but to those ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ, we see the Comforter of faith already. When the Comforter came, its purpose was that was promised to the disciples, even the Spirit of Truth, clear: “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you an- descend upon them while they tarried at Jerusalem as they other Comforter, that he may abide with you to the had been instructed (Luke 24:49). It was an awe inspiring age” (John 14:16). So the power from on High was to be display of power as we read in Acts 2:2-4, “And suddenly operative for a special period of time. The Comforter was there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty the “Spirit of Truth” and was to serve as a remembrancer. wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, whom the Fa- there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and ther will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the said unto you” (John 14:26). It was to be a testifier of Jesus Spirit gave them utterance.” What followed was to the (John 15:26). Through it the apostles were a bold witness amazement of all who were gathered in Jerusalem and who and spoke confidently of the Truth as it is in Jesus. More- saw these men so endowed: “And they were all amazed and over this powerful doctrine spoken and the bold witness by marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these the apostles were attested to by wonders and signs and di- which speak Galilaeans?” (verse 7). We see therefore that vers miracles and gifts. When the people heard the word of the supernatural power poured out upon men by Yahweh’s power and witnessed the wonders and miracles delivered in Spirit was for a very important purpose. It was to declare a this manner, it was the “preaching of the Gospel unto them new and better way to followers of the Law of Moses. This with the Holy Spirit sent down from heaven” (1 Peter 1:12); outpouring of the Spirit was followed by an offer of salva- in another place it is described as “preaching…in the dem- tion. Salvation was now to be through the resurrected Jesus, onstration of the Spirit and of power” (1 Cor. 2:4). And who had been made “both Lord and Christ” (verse 36). powerful it was, so much so that 3,000 of those who heard This power was for the validation of their credentials as true Peter’s discourse on Pentecost were moved to obedience. prophets. In the context of this miraculous outpouring of the Holy Spirit gifts, we read Peter’s words in verses 17 and 18, This was the seed germ of the ecclesia. The “ministration “And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will of the Spirit” was for the purpose of shepherding the ec- pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your clesia through infancy, adolescence, and into adulthood. daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see vi- When the people’s hearts were purified through the Word of sions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my the Truth and they believed, certain among them, but not all, servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those became recipients of the Holy Spirit, termed the “gifts of the days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy.” Spirit”. These gifts were given to the faithful and obedient having certain characteristics, men who were of a mental Peter refers to what had gone before as a partial fulfill- disposition like Timothy, “...nourished up in the words of ment of the prophet Joel’s words. The Scriptures are neither faith and of good doctrine.” Those who received such a gift unclear nor ambiguous here. Peter is forthright in his decla- had a duty to their brethren; they were to “neglect not the ration; dreams were to be part of this first century outpour- gift,” but were expected to use it for the nourishing and ing of the Holy Spirit to confirm the teaching of the Apos- edification of the ecclesia to which they belonged. The tles to all assembled at Jerusalem. Any future manifestation gifts of the Spirit were not to be used for personal advantage of such gifts will not be made until Yahweh once again but for the good of the whole body (1 Corinthians 14:3-5, pours out His Spirit upon men (an open manifestation of 12, 31). Volume VII, Issue No. 1 26 CHRISTADELPHIAN TRUTH GLEANER The “ministration of the Spirit” to these early ecclesias the Divinely appointed hierarchy and its stated purpose in was through a Divinely organized hierarchy that was provi- the epistle to the Ephesians. “And he gave some, apostles; sionally appointed. There were various classes and ranks of and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pas- saints, with various roles. There were “apostles, prophets, tors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the evangelists, pastors and teachers” (Eph. 4:11). These work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: amounted to overseers and servants. There were nine dis- Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowl- tinct gifts named (some of which could be received through edge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the meas- visions or dreams): ure of the stature of the fulness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:11- 13). Note the “perfecting” or the complete furnishing of the “The word of wisdom,” “the word of knowledge,” saints, to achieve the “unity of the faith” and the “know- “faith” for signs and wonders, “gifts of healing,” “the ledge of the Son of God” and attaining unto the “perfect working of miracles,” “prophecy” or speaking to edifica- man.” tion and comfort, “discerning of spirits,” “kinds of tongues,” and “interpretations of tongues.” “Now there Paul declared to the Corinthians, “When I was a child, I are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to which worketh all in all” (1 Corinthians 12:4-6). face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these We see from this passage that there were different gifts three; but the greatest of these is charity” (1 Corinthians and that there would be different individuals through whom 13:11-13). Herein Paul speaks a parable of the spiritual de- they would be manifest (administrations) and that their ef- velopment of the ecclesia. It was to proceed from infancy fective results and outworking (operations) would be differ- (Pentecost), through adolescence (the work of the Apostles), ent. However, in all of these manifestations of the Spirit and finally to attain unto the unity of the faith and unto a gifts, we see the overriding principle of God Manifestation – perfect man (the delivery of the Apocalypse through John). that is, unity in diversity. It was the “same Spirit,” the This “perfect man” was fully furnished and thoroughly “same Lord,” and the “same God which worketh all and in equipped with the Word, and that which was then seen all.” “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every “through a glass darkly” and “known in part” would cease. man to profit withal” (1 Corinthians 12:6). The Diaglott ren- This incipient manifestation of the “perfect man” of the ec- ders the final phrase of this verse “for the benefit of all.” clesia, the mystical Christ body, will be realized ultimately in the glorious immortalized “man of the one” (Daniel 10:1). This is a fundamental principle of the Spirit manifestations which has a bearing on the current error. The Spirit gifts The modern theorist can say he has had a dream from God were given for the benefit of all (of the body of Christ), and without having to demonstrate that he really has. This is not moreover those so gifted could give indisputable evidence unlike the modern evangelical who claims he has the Holy to others that they had these gifts, which modern pretenders Spirit and that it has somehow directed his understanding of to the Holy Spirit and receivers of dreams cannot do. The the Word or that an “inner grace” has been imparted to him “ministration of the Spirit” through the gifts of the Spirit through the Holy Spirit. Thus, the separation of the miracu- was a provisional appointment for the building and es- lous aspect of supposed communications by God (via tablishment of the ecclesia of Christ. The testimony is dreams) from the Spirit gifts is manifestly false and not ac- clear that they were to cease and not to continue for an in- cording to the testimony concerning such gifts. Following definite period. “Charity never faileth: but whether there be the day of Pentecost, the gifts of the Spirit were always as- prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they sociated with power. We would ask these brethren, where is shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish the power associated with your dreams and visions? Is your away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But vision and dream providing edification and comfort to the when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part whole ecclesia, “for the benefit of all”? shall be done away” (1 Corinthians 13:8-10). The testimony of Jesus was that the Comforter would be provided “to the The Word of Yahweh has given us excellent counsel by age.” It was to continue only until perfection, namely the which to “try the spirits”. First we must test the spirits complete revelation from Yahweh, should come – the Bible. against the light of the Word, “To the law and to the testi- mony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because This age was for the formation and establishment of the there is no light in them” (Isaiah 8:20). To this lofty stan- ecclesia as the “pillar and ground of the Truth.” We read of dard must all teachers be unceremoniously subjected. In an-

Volume VII, Issue No. 1 27 CHRISTADELPHIAN TRUTH GLEANER other place we are told, “Beware of false prophets, which As was stated at the outset, it is through the Truth that we come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are rav- enjoy fellowship. It is a precious thing. Yet we must not be ening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men asleep to the fact that there are some among us who are un- gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every dermining the sanctity of the Truth. This is a hard saying, good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree but we have been instructed, “Wherefore by their fruits ye bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil shall know them” (Matthew 7:20). What can we do, breth- fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. ren? First we must appeal to these brethren to abjure them- Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, selves of their errors in the spirit of hope for their recovery. and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall However, if they persist in unsound methods, the apostolic know them” (Matthew 7:15-20). We do not question the command is to withdraw from those who walk disorderly so motives of brethren who may believe that Yahweh commu- as not to be partakers of their deeds. Moreover, those who nicates to believers through dreams. We may assume them accept false doctrines as being representative of the Truth to be sincere in all respects. However, men may be sincere should not be invited to teach. And when such organize their and yet be sincerely wrong. own functions that would promulgate these errors, we must not take notice of them, support, or otherwise encourage This is the rule of the Spirit – we must discern the works them in any fashion. Rather, we should warn brethren and and claims of men by the fruit they produce. This is the re- counsel those who may be caught unawares to avoid them. sponsibility of every individual believer. And so we must examine the fruits of those who now propose that our These are not pleasant things for us to consider for they dreams may be a communication from God, whilst the same require us to make difficult choices. But the fact remains brethren have previously declared that for believers to be that the Truth will cause divisions, and we, at times, must too concerned about understanding the night visions already choose whether maintaining our association with our breth- revealed in the Bible (such as the dream of Nebuchadnez- ren (due to natural affection) is consistent with the Word, if zar’s Image) is to play the part of a legalistic “Judaizer”. such are not walking in the light of the Truth. I know we Brethren, such thinking is not right and is a danger to the would all rather consider more uplifting and encouraging sanctity of the Truth in our day. It is with much regret and topics when we come together, but at the same time, we concern that we continue to observe many new theories must not be lulled into a state of apathy wherein only emanating from the same source, theories which are eroding “smooth sayings” are to be accepted from the stand. While long standing first principle truths regarding the doctrine of no true brother in Christ seeks the trouble and controversy eternal life, prayer, and the most fundamental, the Kingdom that comes with contending, we must nevertheless stand for of God. What are the results and the fruits of these theories? the Truth and rightly divide the Word by a prayerful exposi- Have these been for the good and the edification of the ec- tion and declaration thereof. In these last days we should clesias? always bear in mind that indeed our probation is a time of testing and trial. Did we not think we would be tested, breth- I think we all are persuaded, brethren, that the results of ren? Indeed we shall be tested. the promulgation of these errors of Christendom have caused turmoil and unrest among brethren. Often we see “For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant these errors set forth in a rhetorical fashion, posed as ques- grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to tions. We must ask ourselves, why is this manner used and the glory of God. For which cause we faint not; but what is intended by this method? Is this speaking the Word though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is faithfully? False ideas introduced in the form of a question renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but can appear less threatening and may deceive the unwary. “If for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, the things which are seen are temporal; but the things knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of which are not seen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:15-18). words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself” (1 Timothy 6:3-5). Are these “doctrines” being set forth according to the “wholesome words…even the words of the Lord Jesus Christ”? We say, unequivo- cally, “No.”

Volume VII, Issue No. 1 28 CHRISTADELPHIAN TRUTH GLEANER Biblical Allegories Samuel’s Three Signs to Saul Alex M. Briley

We who believe the things concerning the Kingdom of fore and understand, that from the going forth of the com- God and the name of Jesus the Christ await the time when mandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Mes- Christ shall become a King in this earth. It should be all of siah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and our hope and desire. The times in which we live are evil, two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even and we may say, like the Word of Yahweh does, that “every in troublous times. And after threescore and two weeks shall man did that which was right in his own eyes”. Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctu- Israel did what was right in their own eyes as well as they ary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the awaited their king. So, we might look to the arrival of their end of the war desolations are determined. And he shall king and see a shadow of the work of Christ. As we view confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the Saul, we often focus only upon that which he did that was midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the obla- wrong, yet he was Yahweh’s anointed! And as such, let us tion to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he look at his beginnings and see if there are any lessons there shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and for us to glean. that determined shall be poured upon the desolate” (Daniel 9:25-27). 1 Samuel 10:1 As our captain, Christ has cared for us, his inheritance. “Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his And in the writings of the apostles, his role as our captain is head” - Thus was Saul anointed to be King of Israel. But connected with his sacrifice. This is fitting. In order to be a why was he anointed with oil? Why are men who are shad- captain, one must recognize that their life is to be sacrificed ows of something greater to come anointed as this? The oil for the good of others. To lead effectively, the welfare of the that was poured upon their heads signified that they would company of people in one’s care must be a key focus. This be blessed with the Spirit and the Word of Yahweh, as the Yahshua the Messiah did. “Him hath God exalted with his following verses indicate: “thou anointest my head with oil; right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repen- my cup runneth over” (Psalm 23:5); “Thou lovest righteous- tance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins” (Acts 5:31). “But ness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fel- for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; lows” (Psalm 45:7; quoted of Christ in Hebrews 1:9); “Oil that he by the grace of God should taste death for every to make his face to shine” (Psalm 104:15); “Thy word is a man. For it became him, for whom are all things, and by lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to 119:105). make the captain of their salvation perfect through suffer- ings” (Hebrews 2:9-10). The captain of our salvation has Saul would be anointed with the Spirit of Yahweh (cp. 1 provided for our redemption through his sacrifice. And this Samuel 10:6), but it was Christ our Lord who was truly is allegorically demonstrated in the first of the three signs anointed with the Word and Spirit of Yahweh (Matthew that Samuel gave unto Saul. 3:16-17). It is also significant that Saul means “desired”, for Christ is the “desired one”. 1 Samuel 10:2 - The First Sign - Sacrifice

“To be captain over his inheritance” – Saul was to be- “Thou shalt find two men” – It may be that the three come the captain of the people. The word used for captain is signs given unto Saul represent three aspects of Christ’s the Hebrew word nagid. It is accurately translated as work before he can take up his throne. In this first sign he is “prince” in Daniel’s prophecy of the Messiah. “Know there- to find those who seek him. Saul’s father had directed his

Volume VII, Issue No. 1 29 CHRISTADELPHIAN TRUTH GLEANER min. These two men waiting at this me- The Plain of Tabor, Israel morial grave typify all those who stand by the memorial of the Son of the right hand, Jesus the Christ.

1 Samuel 10:3 - The Second Sign - Fellowship

“Thou shalt come to the plain of Ta- bor” – The Hebrew word for “plain” is Elon and has been rendered as “Oak” in many versions. It means a “strong, or great tree”. Tabor means “broken”. Saul was to meet three men at the “Strong tree of the Broken”. This action finds its antitype in the fact that Yahshua is our (for we are “broken” ones) tree of strength. Christ is a tree of strength when he is represented as the tree of life (Genesis 2:9), the vine in which we branches abide (John 15), the tender plant (Isaiah 53:2), and the stem, branch, servants to seek for his son. Here we see the work of the and root from Jesse (Isaiah 11:1). gospel. Christ was to seek for those that were, and are, his (Matthew 18:12-13), while those who are his must seek “Three men going up to God to Bethel” – At the tree of him. “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with the strength of the broken ones he would meet three men. so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, Three is the number of covenant resurrection (cp. Genesis and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with 22:4, Jonah 2:9, Exodus 3:18, Acts 10:39-40). These men patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus appear to represent those who are to be resurrected to im- the author [captain] and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews mortality and service in the house of God (Bethel). But why 12:1-2). three? These resurrected ones will come from the three families of the earth, the descendants of Shem, Ham, and That there were two men he should find is noteworthy, for Japheth. They are called “enosh”, or mortal men, because there have been two men whom he has found, the Jewish they have not yet attained unto the resurrection. man and the Gentile man. And he finds them at a place of remembrance. 1 Samuel 10:4

“By Rachel’s sepulchre” – Rachel died as she gave life “They will salute thee” – The margin renders this as “ask to Saul’s people (the tribe of Benjamin). As such Saul of thee peace.” This is an accurate translation as the Hebrew would have to see that his life would be sacrificed for those word Shalom is used for “Salute” here. By coming to the of his people. As king, he would need to set aside his own tree of strength, we find the peace we desire also. “But now interests. Saul did not fulfill this allegory, but Yahshua did. in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made He died that those of his family, his tribe, might have life. nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace” (Ephesians And we memorialize his death every first day of the week. 2:13-14). We abide by that memorial; it lives in us when we thought- fully digest the bread and the wine and make it a part of our- “Give thee two loaves” – The sharing of a meal indicates selves. “That through death he might destroy him that had fellowship. Here we have typified the fellowship we have the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who with Christ through his sacrifice. The partaking of bread through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bond- together at the memorial service demonstrates how a meal is age” (Hebrews 2:14). a sign of fellowship. This fellowship will be shown in full in the Kingdom Age when we partake of the “marriage supper From Rachel’s death came Benjamin, the “Son of the right of the Lamb” (Revelation 19:9). In all there were three hand”. Her grave was in the confines of the tribe of Benja- loaves possessed by the men who met Saul at the tree of

Volume VII, Issue No. 1 30 CHRISTADELPHIAN TRUTH GLEANER strength. They offered two unto Saul, and kept the third for the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over themselves. All in Christ have kept a loaf unto themselves. his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the It is the Body of the Lord that we partake of and digest figu- sea of glass, having the harps of God. And they sing the ratively at the memorial service and in a life of obedience. It song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the is fitting also that the men retained the wine, representing Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord the blood of the Master (cp. 1 Corinthians 11:23-34). But God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of Christ has received two loaves for himself. These two saints” (Revelation 15:1-2). loaves answer to the wave offering of Pentecost, indicative of the Jewish and Gentile believers obtained by the Lord. May we be so blessed as to attain unto so great a salva- tion. 1 Samuel 10:5 - The Third Sign - Victory for the People

“The garrison of the Philistines” – The Hebrew word for “garrison” is netsiyb. It is rendered as a “pillar” in Genesis 19:26. While there is nothing wrong with the trans- lation of “garrison”, it is interesting that this verse before us is a joyous event. Given the circumstances, we find the definition of “pillar” to be noteworthy. This pillar answers to a memorial to the defeated enemy as the prophet Ezekiel speaks of, “And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will give unto Gog a place there of graves [graves is not sheol Publications here, but is the Hebrew word Qeber, meaning a memorial] in Israel, the valley of the passengers on the east of the sea: For back issues of the and it shall stop the noses of the passengers: and there shall Christadelphian Truth Gleaner and for they bury Gog and all his multitude: and they shall call it ordering Study Booklets, please visit: The valley of Hamongog” (Ezekiel 39:11). When the people see this pillar it will remind them of the victory achieved www.truthgleaner.com over the enemies of Israel. or write [email protected] “Thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a Available Booklets: pipe, and a harp” – Saul meets a joyful company when he • The Seven Night Visions of Zechariah - Don Northey, $2.00 arrives at the Hill of God. The songs that sprang from these plus postage (43 pages) instruments should remind us of the great day of singing to • AD 70 Siege of Jerusalem - R. Roberts, $2.00 plus postage (22 come. “Yahweh thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he pages). will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in • The Feasts of the Lord - C. Roth, $1.00 plus postage (34 his love, he will joy over thee with singing” (Zephaniah pages). 3:17); “And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of • The Chronology of the Crucifixion Week - A. Briley, $2.00 plus postage (31 pages). many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I • The Line of Construction - A. Bryan, $2.00 plus postage (31 heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: And pages with map inserts). they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and be- • Observations on the Sure Word of Prophecy - A. Bryan, fore the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn $2.00 plus postage (68 pages). that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, • The Paths We Take - A. Sankey, $3.00 plus postage (67 which were redeemed from the earth” (Revelation 14:2-3). pages). • Daily Bible Readings Workbook for ages 9 and up - $5.00 plus This great time of joyful singing when victory over the postage (96 pages in a small 3 ring binder). enemy is celebrated is shown by John when he writes, • Bible Marking Guide for Ages 10 and Up - $3.00 plus postage. • Circle-a-Word Puzzles for Ages 6 and Up - $1.00 plus postage (28 pages). “And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvel- • Character Studies on Kings of Judah and Israel for Ages 10 lous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in and Up - $3.00 plus postage (76 pages). them is filled up the wrath of God. And I saw as it were a • Most Study booklets are available for FREE by e-mail in Adobe sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten Acrobat (PDF) format.

Volume VII, Issue No. 1 31 CHRISTADELPHIAN TRUTH GLEANER

“Buy the truth and sell it not; Also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.” Proverbs 23:23

Truth Gleaner Publications Committee Bro. Albert B. Bryan, Richmond, VA Forest Hill Christadelphian Ecclesia: Publishing Editor Bro. Alex Briley, Orlando, FL Christadelphian Ecclesia: Biblical Allegories Section Bro. Rodney Dodl, Richmond, VA Forest Hill Christadelphian Ecclesia: Technical / E-mail Distribution Bro. Scott Huie, Little Rock, AR Christadelphian Ecclesia: Secretary / E-mail Subscriptions Bro. Michael T. Jasionowski, Orlando, FL Christadelphian Ecclesia: Treasurer / Hard Copy Subscriptions / Distribution / Publications Ask For The Old Paths Section Bro. Don Northey, Montrose and Morrison, CO Christadelphian Ecclesias: Historical Section Bro. Tom Northey, Morrison, CO Christadelphian Ecclesia: Watchman Section

To subscribe to the hard copy edition, please contact Bro. Mike Jasionowski at the address below.

Truth Gleaner Publications 23240 Brouwertown Rd. Howey-in-the-Hills, FL 34737

E-mail Address: [email protected]

Volume VII, Issue No. 1 32