From Brother Johnson Regarding Canticles

E11, page 692: The following are the divisions of this book: 1: 1—2: 7 treats of the Church's experiences during the Jewish Harvest; 2: 8-17 treats of certain Parousia experiences of the Church; 3: 1-11 treats of the Church's experiences during the Dark Ages (1) and then from 1691 to 1914; 4: 1—5: 1 treats of the Parousia experiences of the Church doctrinally and ethically; 5: 2—6: 3 treats of the foolish virgins in the nominal church during the Parousia and Epiphany;  6: 4—8: 14 treats of the Epiphany Church in herself, in her contacts with Jesus and in her contacts with the Great Company and the Youthful Worthies, and incidentally of certain things as to the Great Company and the Youthful Worthies...

E11, pages 714-715: The Church individually declares that she has a fellow class of young consecrators (a little sister, 8), i.e., the Youthful Worthies. When in the Parousia mention was made of these, no Old Testament nor New Testament passages (hath no breasts) were quoted to prove their existence, which was then inferred from the fact that the close of the general call was followed by more consecrators than there were available crowns, and from the attitude of the Divine attributes toward the faith classes. But there came in the Epiphany, at whose start in 1914 the door of entrance into the high calling closed for new aspirants (Luke 13: 24-27), the time when it was due that this class begin to come to the front, be recognized as such and as such be sought for by figurative suitors... 

Bro. Johnson correctly treats the Epiphany Church in her contacts with the Youthful Worthies starting in 1914 when the Epiphany began. Bro. Johnson makes it crystal clear the Youthful Worthies begin to come to the front in 1914 as a separate and distinct class.

When Shiloh Comes, P2 Pages 86-87

"Shiloh having received the scepter and 'all power' at his resurrection, because of his obedience unto death, will indeed bless Israel first, but not fleshly Israel, for they are not all true Israelites who are called such according to the flesh (Rom. 9: 6). Shiloh, the heir, is seeking and finding children of Abraham according to the spirit, such as share the Abrahamic disposition of faith and obedience, both from his natural posterity and from among the Gentiles, to be a people for his name (Acts 15: 14). And after this [after the gathering of his elect Church is accomplished—in the harvest or end of the Gospel age, at the close of the Gentile Times] he will turn again his favor and will build again the ruins of Israel, and finally of all the families of the earth, upon a better basis than has ever entered into the heart of man to conceive. He who now holds the scepter, whose right it is to rule, will at the expiration of the Gentile Times receive the crown also; "and unto him shall the gathering of the people be" (Gen. 49: 10). The scepter, or title to "all power in heaven and in earth," was given unto him at his resurrection, but he awaits the Father's appointed time, the limit of the Gentile Times, before he will take his great power and begin his glorious reign—Rev. 11: 17, 18.

Now bear in mind the date already found for the beginning of these Gentile Times, B.C. 606, while we proceed to examine the evidence proving their length to be 2520 years, ending A.D. 1914."

The Executive Trustee's "present view" overshadows the true work of our Lord during the Parousia and its 40 year harvest from 1874-1914.

Permanent Marker Series: E4, Page 462

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Page 462 is one of the most interesting in E4 when considering the Executive Trustee's "present view" idea. If we don't change the four instances of 1881 to 1878 and modify the "general call" reference, his new 1878-81 Youthful Worthies cannot see the hidden mystery. It doesn't make any sense that they would not have this ability.

How is it possible that Bro. Johnson didn't include them in being able to see spiritual things? Maybe it is because they didn't exist during this time.

Permanent Marker Series: E4, Page 443

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Page 443 is much like some of the other pages we've recently modified. Any reference to 1881 needs to be changed to 1878 if we are to accept the Executive Trustee's belief that the Youthful Worthies began in that year. His Youthful Worthies must be included in this answer because they should be available to fill any future potential vacancies in the Little Flock (see E4, page 420) and therefore their status is unsure.

Coming out of Babylon

PT. 1971, Pg. 38: (9) In the larger antitype, set forth in par. (7), the highest class of God's people that came out of Babylon is the Royal Priesthood, the Little Flock. All of this class were reaped and gleaned by the Harvest Truth message and came out from 1878 to 1916 (John 9: 4; Rev. 7: 1-4; 6: 9-11; Isa. 66: 7; Amos 9: 13, etc.; E 5, pp. 143-165; C, Appendix, pp. 387-404). Also, many crown-losers came out, though not then known as such individually or as a class (E 4, pp. 215, par. 1, 246, bot., 250, par. 1, 466; E 5, p. 174). In the antitype, in the finished picture the Priests (crown-retainers) alone are represented in the Holy; and as Divine beings they are represented in the Most Holy (in the type, only the priests served in the Holy and Most Holy of the temple). The next class among those to leave Babylon consists of antitypical Levites. (Many antitypical Levites have remained in Babylon and therefore are not noted in this picture.) From 1878 to 1914, the antitypical Levites who left Babylon were unconsecrated tentatively justified ones and also some consecrated ones for whom no openings to be of the Little Flock were available (though not then known as individuals or as a class). In the Epiphany from 1914 to 1954, the antitypical Levites who left Babylon were of (a) the unconsecrated tentatively justified; (b) the subordinate Gospel-Age Spirit-begotten class—the Great Company—who were formerly in the Holy as prospective Priests; (c) the consecrated, Spirit-enlightened elect class for whom no crowns were available, and who therefore were not Spirit-begotten—the Youthful Worthies. But in the post-1954 setting (P '59, pp. 36-38), only classes (b) and (c) are antitypical Levites, in the Court. (In the type, only the Levites—in addition to the priests, whom they specially assisted—served in the court; but the Levites were not permitted to enter the Holy or Most Holy.) The Great Company in its three groups—Kohathites, Merarites and Gershonites—is represented in the inner, or higher, court of the temple, with its three rows of stones; and the Youthful Worthies in their similar three groups are represented in the outer court, with its three rows of stones (1 Kings 7: 12; P '68, p. 71).

From the same year PT. 1971, Pages 76-77 helps clarify the above: We agree that it is through the Truth that God calls to consecration. In fact, everyone who up to 1878 (when the fullness of the Gentiles came in) made a full consecration was by that Truth begotten of the Spirit, as called to the High Calling. But between 1881 and 1914 only certain ones were through the Truth by God, usually quite some time after the Truth induced them to consecrate, begotten unto the High Calling; and the other consecrators, though induced by the Truth to consecrate, were not Spirit-begotten, and hence were not initiated into the High Calling; and since Oct. 1914, the Truth induces many to consecrate but begets none to the High Calling.

Permanent Marker Series: E4, Page 440

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Page 440 is a continuation of the answer started on 439, so we have to be consistent and change both instances of 1881 to 1878. Had we not changed the second instance of 1881 to 1878, then the Executive Trustee's new Youthful Worthies would not have knowledge of the deep things. That cannot be right.

Permanent Marker Series: E4, Page 439

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Page 439 is another one that needs repair in order to match the beliefs of the Executive Trustee. If there were Youthful Worthies from 1878 to 1881, then they should have been included in this answer because they were not begotten of the Spirit. They would be a part of that majority. A more precise change could be:

"While we know that all of those who consecrated between 1878-81 and the majority of those who consecrated between 1881 and 1914 were not begotten of the Spirit . . ."

The Fuller Truth on the Consecrated

(10) The fuller truth on the consecrated, Spirit-enlightened but not Spirit-begotten elect class, developed here in the end of the Age after the closing of the door of entrance into the High Calling, was not yet due to be given in Bro. Russell's day. Nevertheless, the Lord did privilege him to point out this class—which we call the Youthful Worthies—as one that would eventually be rewarded with the Ancient Worthies (see, e.g., F 156, 157; Question Book, pp. 151, 152, 154, 156-158; Z 4836; 5761, col. 2 [in par. 2 he refers to them as a class]; comp. E 4, pp. 317-469).
--PT. 1971 Pg. 38

Permanent Marker Series: E4, Page 438

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If the Youthful Worthies were called starting in 1878 and they became a class in 1881, as the Executive Trustee believes, then it seems strange Bro. Johnson wrote that all consecrators before Sept. 16, 1914 were to be accepted as priests. Why were no indications due until then if a separate call was already in effect during the harvest? We don't know, so we chose to point out this oddity on the page to make it fit better with the "present view."

Permanent Marker Series: E4, Page 437

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This page is problematic for the Executive Trustee. It says nothing about Youthful Worthies consecrating between 1878 and 1881. If everyone at the time thought they were running for the high calling, then we need to move the 1881 date back to 1878 so that the Executive Trustee's new consecrators can have the opportunity to learn that they were not Spirit-begotten.

Interestingly, if the Executive Trustee wanted to misread the starting date of another class, he could take the part where Bro. Johnson says, "through which both of these classes," to mean that the Great Company also began as a class in 1881 and that Bro. Johnson somehow had two views on their existence.

PT 1976, Page 21

In all siftings Satan is the real, behind-the-scenes sifter—the one who originates, initiates and carries on persistently the sifting activity (Luke 22: 31; 1 Pet. 5: 8). He uses as his visible agents those who are the most suitable to his purposes and who succumb to his temptations, who are pliable in his hand and do not sufficiently resist him to hinder his use of them in pertinent respects (James 4: 7; Eph. 4: 27).

Ever since Bro. Russell passed beyond the veil, in 1916, Satan has used a variety of methods in his efforts to ensnare God's Parousia-enlightened people. For example, he appealed convincingly to some of these brethren to reject the post-1916 Truth, by claiming that after 1916 there was to be little or no advancing Truth—that the door of entrance into the High Calling was not closed in the Fall of 1914 but remained open, that the Epiphany, or Apocalypse, as a period did not then begin, that no Youthful Worthy class was being developed (including post-1914 consecrators), etc...

A Consistent Message

PT 1984, Pg. 23: The Apostle Paul's words in 1 Cor. 2: 9-16 denying that the non-Spirit-begotten are able to understand "the deep things of God" are limited to the time the general call to the High Calling was open, during which time to be Spirit-begotten and to be consecrated meant the same thing, and so all the consecrated were then Spirit-begotten, which was not the case before the call to the High Calling opened. So after the general call ceased, Paul's pertinent words do not apply universally. But the rule that applies always is that only the consecrated can see the due Truth. Therefore, "Those Consecrating Between the Ages" do have the due Truth on the deep things as a witness of their being friends and servants and prospective sons of God.

Permanent Marker Series: E4, Page 426

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Since the Executive Trustee's new Youthful Worthy call in 1878 begins at the same time as the No-Ransomism sifting during the Gospel-Age Harvest (see references below), we have conflicting statements that need fixing on page 426. Bro. Johnson is clearly showing us that the Youthful Worthies were not referred to in this parable and that none were in existence until after the general call ceased. To help the Executive Trustee out, we've added these new Youthful Worthies to the time period without including them in the parable. It doesn't quite work, but it is the best solution we can offer.

PT May-June 1978, p. 38: "As the 1845-year parallel, in the Spring of 1878, 100 years ago, the No-Ransomism sifting began in the Gospel-Age Harvest, with our Lord driving away the unworthy from His Temple class."

PT Sept-Oct 1989, p.68 under the title No-Ransomism Sifting Begins: "But while we were thus helped to clearer views and brighter hopes and while we diligently endeavored to help others, the Spring of 1878 proved far from a blessing to Mr. Barbour and to many under his influence."

Letters of General Interest - From Jamaica

PT. 1980 Pg. 95

Dear Bro. Greetings in Jesus's name!. . . . In a pilgrim visit to Crofts ill, I called on a 93-year-old Brother who until recently was an elder from in Bro. Condell's day. He consecrated in 1906. I said, "You know the last Great Company member is gone? He replied, "Yes." I said, "You don't mind being a Youthful Worthy?" He said, Brother, I would be glad, for I know not everyone who consecrated and accepted the Truth from 1881 to 1914 was begotten of the Spirit." I was very glad to hear that. I close with love for you and all there.

Your brother and servant, N.S., Jamaica

Important Events of 1878 and Onward

The following is from PT. 1978 Pg. 36-40. Notice that the Youthful Worthies as an important event are never associated with 1878 date because they didn't exist. The emphasis of this class is always referred to after 1914 since up to that time, Jehovah's main focus was to complete the Church.

IN OUR Sept.-Oct. 1974 issue (a copy free on request), we called attention to many significant events and marvelous evidences of progress during 1874-1974, the first century of "the thousand years" of Christ's Reign (Rev. 20: 4, see Diaglott)...

...THE PARALLEL 40-YEAR HARVEST REAPING PERIODS ENDED IN 69 and 1914 A.D.

In treating of the Harvest parallels, Bro. Russell stated (B245, par. 2), "Remember that the forty years' Jewish harvest ended October, A.D. 69, and was followed by the complete overthrow of that nation; and that likewise the forty years of the Gospel age harvest will end October, 1914, and that likewise the overthrow of 'Christendom,' so-called, must be expected to immediately follow."

The Scriptures, reason and facts show that the close of the Gospel-Age Harvest reaping was in Oct. 1914 (in harmony with Bro. Russell's statement) and that the close of the gleaning was in 1916. Such passages as Isa. 66: 7; Amos 9: 13; John 9: 4; Rev. 6: 9-11; 7: 1-3, show this. It is corroborated by the end of the floor line measurement of the Grand Gallery of the Great Pyramid, which comes at its juncture with the Grand Gallery's south wall, indicating Sept. 16, 1914 as the end of the Spirit-begetting...

Bro. Russell never gave up 1874 as the date for the Harvest reaping's beginning, though when he saw too many people coming into the Truth in 1916 to constitute a gleaning, he changed his mind as to the close of the Harvest reaping's ending. The Lord for very wise reasons withheld from him the understanding that these people were not prospective Little Flock members, but in almost all cases were antitypical Lot (crown-losers) and his two antitypical daughers (Youthful Worthies and tentatively-justified believers) escaping from antitypical Sodom in America before it here would begin to go into destruction (Luke 17: 28-30; for details on the Z 5950 article, see PT No. 515)...

Like 1874, the year 1878 also marks some very important happenings and the beginnings of other significant events in God's great Plan of the Ages. We will note a number of these here. It is fitting that we consider at this time what the Lord has accomplished during these past 100 years, the marvelous evidences of progress...

CALLING GOD'S PEOPLE OUT OF BABYLON

Conjoined with Jesus as King casting off the nominal Jewish system in 33 A.D. was His call to Israelites indeed to come out of that system, into separateness and closer fellowship with Him, lest they become involved in "the wrath to the uttermost" that would soon come upon it (1 Thes. 2: 16). They were not to expect God to give the seasonal Truth through that system.

In the parallel 1845 years later, in the Spring of 1878, 100 years ago, God's declaring through Jesus that Babylon was fallen was conjoined with the call to God's true people to "Come out of her, my people," into separateness and closer fellowship with Him, lest they would be partakers of her sins and receive of her plagues (Rev. 18: 4, 5; comp. Isa. 52: 11; Jer. 51: 45).

God's people were not to expect the seasonal Truth, "the voice of the bridegroom and the bride," to be heard at all in Babylon—through her instrumentality—any more forever (Rev. 18: 23). But whereas the Lord would no longer speak through her instrumentality after 1878, He would speak from outside her to those in her, calling them to come out, to be gathered to Him (Psa. 50: 5; Matt. 24: 31), so that they could feast with Him on the seasonal Truth (Matt. 24: 28; Luke 12: 37; 17: 37; Rev. 3: 20).

This call for Little Flock members to "come out of her" continued until the last member of the Little Flock was sealed in the forehead (April 18, 1916), i.e., was given enough intellectual understanding of the Truth to leave Babylon or wherever they were (Rev. 7: 3).

As already mentioned, the door of entrance to the High Calling closed on Sept. 16, 1914, and since then the voice of the Bridegroom is no more being heard in Babylon inviting any to the High Calling. But He has still been inviting others to be of "those consecrating between the ages" (5761, col. 2, pars. 1, 2; comp. Z 4836, pars. 3-6, 10, 11; F 156, 157; Question Book, pp. 147, 151-158), the Spirit-enlightened, non-Spirit-begotten consecrators; and by the seasonal Truth He has been inviting them to come out of Babylon or wherever they are, into closer fellowship with Him and feasting on the Truth. We rejoice in the many consecrating since 1914 and also many coming out of Babylon into the Truth.

"THE FULNESS OF GENTILES" COMING IN

By "the fullness of the Gentiles" (Rom. 11: 25) we understand the full number of the elect Little Flock who are gathered out from the Gentiles to be meant. Because there were not enough fleshly Israelites in the Jewish Harvest who were "Israelites indeed" to fill up the elect 144,000, God visited the Gentiles to complete the predestinated number (John 1: 11-13; Acts 15: 14; Rom. 11: 5, 7, 11-15, 17-24; Rev. 5: 9, 10; 7: 1-8).

We should not confuse "the fulness of the Gentiles" with "the times of the Gentiles" (Luke 21: 24), which is the period of (7 x 360) 2,520 years from 607 B.C. to 1914, in which God gave a lease of power to the Gentiles. It is also referred to as the "seven times" (Lev. 26: 18, 21, 24, 28; Dan. 4: 10-37).

We understand that "the fulness of the Gentiles" came in probationarily at Passover 1878. In other words, those who from Pentecost onward until then had made their calling and election sure as Little Flock members, plus prospective Little Flock members who were then under the call but had not made their calling and election sure, plus those of them who at that time came under the call, totaled the entire 144,000.

Then, in the Spring of 1878, the John class (the Lord's enlightened consecrated people at the time of the fulfilment) saw the grand vision for the first time of the Lamb standing on Mt. Zion, and with Him the full 144,000. Jehovah in 1878 set His King upon the holy hill of Zion (Psa. 2: 6; Z 5990, par. 2).

The small sifting involving disgruntled Adventists in 1875 and the No-Ransomism sifting beginning at Passover 1878 imply that a large number lost their crowns between 1874 and 1878, which crowns were not only assigned to others, but enough of still other Gentiles came under that call during the Oct. 1874-Apr. 1878 period to fill up the 144,000 probationarily.

After 1881 special calls went forth to fill up the places of those who under test proved unworthy to be of the Little Flock. This continued until Sept. 16, 1914 (as already shown), when the door of entrance into the High Calling closed forever, as Scriptures, reason and facts show, corroborated by the Pyramid.

Now that 100 years have passed since "the fulness of the Gentiles" came in probationarily in 1878, and 64 years since 1914, it is high time that all Truth people should realize that they are not in the High Calling, but rather that all new consecrators since the Fall of 1914 are of "those consecrating between the Ages," the Spirit-enlightened, non-Spirit-begotten pre-Millennial seed of Abraham.

Permanent Marker Series: E4, Page 420

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The answer to the question from page 419 needs the same date change. Without this edit to page 420, the Executive Trustee's new Youthful Worthies from 1878-81 are not put on the reserved list.

We cannot suppose that the start of the reserved list was delayed for 3 1/2 years for these new consecrators, because Bro. Johnson wrote, "for whom there were no crowns available at the time of their consecration;" (using a semicolon at the end). The semicolon separates this main clause with the one that immediately follows it. While these clauses are closely related to each other, they could stand on their own as sentences. It means that the reserved list was to begin when there were consecrators and no crowns available. By changing the date to 1878, we make that possible for the Executive Trustee.

Regarding a Recent Statement from The British Representative

Many Brethren in America and other countries have the highest esteem for the British representative's ability as a speaker and his understanding of historical events surrounding the Truth movement. However, statements of the kind shown above raise questions as to the proper understanding of the arrangements.

The Epiphany brethren in America do not reject the arrangements pertinent to the office of the Executive Trustee. However, we do reject the error coming from this office. We reject and are opposed to the deviation from the precious Truth given by God's special servants.

Since the representative includes some quotes from the Truth writings, may we suggest a few additional references: "ITS TEACHINGS" in PT 1919, page 103; Bro. H.W. Roberts "The Movement" audio recording; E4 in its entirety including the questions pertinent to the Youthful Worthies and especially page 290, par. 46: "We have already shown that God's 'counsel' or plan consists of the various series of arrangements whereby He brings various classes to eternal life. He who revolutionizes against these arrangements, i.e., set them aside and puts others in their place, condemns, considers negligible, of no importance, the counsel of the Most High."

To be in harmony with the Executive Trustee as stated above means to be in harmony with Clericalism, Sectarianism and in support of error. The real truth on what has really happened in America, based on facts, would surprise many foreign brethren and the British representative.

Permanent Marker Series: E4, Page 419

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Page 419 doesn't require much editing, but it certainly alters the meaning. Without the edit, the Executive Trustee's new Youthful Worthies from 1878-81 are not addressed in this question. Bro. Johnson, examining this question during the Epiphany, is looking back to the 1881-1914 time and showing that those without Spirit-begettal are "now" of the Youthful Worthies. By changing the date to 1878, we lose Bro. Johnson's understanding in order to help the Executive Trustee with his present view. We'll have more edits for the answer on the next page.

Letters of General Interest PT. 1972 Pg. 63

The Editor's Reply to the Above

Dear Sister: Greetings in Jesus' name... Pastor Russell showed that from 1881 onward there would be some consecrated ones for whom no crowns, no places in the Little Flock,... Thus, since 1914 many additional Youthful Worthies have come forth...

...I suppose you have consecrated, or dedicated, yourself to God (Rom 12: 1; Prov. 23:26), giving up your own will self-ward and world-ward and accepting His will as your own... Obviously, however, you did not consecrate before the close of the door in 1914. It is regrettable that some are urging you to run for the High Calling at this late date. In doing so, they are not doing a Divinely approved work.

Bro. Jolly's above explanation tells us many things. 1914 is a significant date and that the door to the High Calling closes. Because the High Calling is complete, individual consecrators from 1881 - 1914 (those who are manifested as specific non Spirit-Begotten Consecrated Ones and not Spirit Begotten) are no longer a superfluity (an excessively large amount), because they flow into and became a part of the Youthful Worthy class. After 1914, the specific call to the Youthful Worthies could begin and they came forth as a separate and distinct class. This is the legacy Truth all previous Executive Trustees supported until the current one took office in 2004.

Permanent Marker Series: E4, Page 405

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We're on the very first page of the chapter that covers questions on the Youthful Worthies and our marker is being put to good use. To make this page work for the Executive Trustee, we have to remove the parallel construction that Bro. Johnson uses to show the development of the Great Company and Youthful Worthies as classes in the Epiphany. The Great Company is now the only Epiphany class because we have to move the development of the Youthful Worthy class back to 1881. What a mess!