Bro. August Gohlke Defends Previously Held Truth

In Question Book, p. 152 (comp. p. 153) we have the following question (of 1911) with Bro Russell's answer: "If any consecrated now and failed to be begotten of the Holy Spirit, where would the Lord place them?

"Answer. We would presume that if they were faithful, as the prophets of old were faithful, to the extent of laying down their lives in the service of righteousness and truth, that God would give them a share some way with the ancient worthies. In other words, that if such should pass into the time of trouble to a considerable degree, and there lose their lives because of faithfulness to the Lord, that he would do just the same for them that he will do for the ancient worthies—they will be counted in with the ancient worthy class."

Also, we read this in F 157: "Possibly they may be counted in with the ancient worthies who had the sacrificing disposition that is pleasing to God, prior to the beginning of the `high calling.'"

Thus Bro. Russell taught clearly that those consecrating after Oct. 1881 for whom no crowns were available would if faithful be "a similar class" to the Ancient Worthies and would share with them in similar nature and reward. But Bro. Russell did not give Scriptures to prove the existence of this class of consecrators.

THE YOUTHFUL WORTHY CLASS

The Lord in due time brought forth Scriptures proving the existence of a consecrated, non-Spirit-begotten class here in the end of the Age. It was through Bro. Johnson that He pointed out the Youthful Worthy class, the "young men [literally, youthfuls]" of Joel 2: 28, the earthen vessels of 2 Tim. 2: 20, the Millennial Gershonite Levites, a part of antitypical Elisha, Abed-nego in the fiery furnace, antitypical Ruth, the men of Ephraim of judges 7: 24—8: 3, the "flock" of Hab. 3: 17 (comp. Z 5383), etc. Many other Scriptures could be given—see PT No. 519; a copy free on request...

PT. 1981 Pg. 69 - 75

...We repeat it: When Bro. Russell spoke of the closing of the door of opportunity making it impossible for new ones to enter opportunities of suffering with Christ in preaching the Gospel, he meant the end of opportunities for new ones to do reaping work; for when he discussed that question in C (the Church's witness work to the world being then only incidental to harvesting), reaping was the only way of preaching the Gospel to others not in the Truth of which he then was aware as unfinished work for the Little Flock in the flesh. Hence, according to his view, after the reaping was finished there would be no more opportunity for new ones to enter into suffering with Christ as members of His Body, which implies that the door in sense (a) and means that the door in sense (b) would then be closed. But the reaping being ended in 1914 and the gleaning in 1916, no new aspirants could enter the High Calling, since it was after 1914 impossible for new consecrators to enter into opportunities to suffer with Christ as members of His Body, for this could be done only in connection with a work forever ended in 1914.

By the above we, of course, do not mean that there would be no more proclaiming of the Truth after the reaping was over, nor opportunity for the remaining Little Flock members, fully gathered, to suffer with Christ (though it could no longer be done in reaping); for certainly other service than reaping work was needed by the remaining Little Flock members after 1914, e.g., for building up one another, for dealing with the Great Company and the Youthful Worthies and for doing some work toward the public...

...All of such should consider carefully and soberly also that the losing of crowns by some and others being Spirit-begotten to take their places would not go on indefinitely, but must taper off and cease after a number of years and that if nothing else, just the passage of time—an entire century—should convince all of us that the loss of crowns and their being assigned to others would surely have ceased by now.

Furthermore, all of such should consider carefully and soberly if Bro. Russell was indeed not right in his teaching from the Scriptures, clearly corroborated by the Pyramid, that the Gospel Harvest reaping—and the door of entrance into the High Calling—closed, finally in the Fall of 1914, especially in view of all the evidence from Scripture, reason and facts presented in this article, PT No. 515 and elsewhere, and that therefore all consecrating since the Fall of 1914 have the grand privilege to be, not aspirants to the High Calling, but of "Those Consecrating Between the Ages" (Z 5761), the non-Spirit-begotten consecrated ones, who have the enlightenment, heart-warming and energizing of the holy Spirit, just as the Ancient Worthies did, and who as pre-Millennial consecrated ones will be associated with the Ancient Worthies in the Kingdom.

The Youthful Worthies, the fourth of the elect classes (see PT No. 519—a copy free on request), are as antitypical Levites to share the spirit nature after the Millennium with the Ancient Worthies (Z 5182).

It is high time for all Truth people to be awake and alert to the present situation in the Epiphany, or Apokalypsis, period, the Time of Trouble. We believe that, in view of the above-mentioned considerations from the Scriptures, reason and facts, all the consecrated should in proper humility now recognize their true standing before the Lord, not as prospective Little Flock and Great Company members, but as of "Those Consecrating Between the Ages."

The current Executive Trustee of the BS Ministries still insists on propping up his "present view" while ignoring these words of common sense. You will notice Bro. Gohlke doesn't contradict the Parousia and Epiphany Servants. He agrees with and builds on previous held Truths.