THE EPIPHANY'S ELECT

AUTHOR'S FOREWORD. 

ALL BIBLE STUDENTS are familiar with the fact that Jesus' Second Advent progresses through three stages, indicated by the Greek words Parousia, Epiphaneia, or Apocalypsis, and Basileia. They are not all aware of the fact that about two years before that Servant's death, we passed out of the Parousia (presence) stage into the Epiphaneia (manifestation) or Apocalypsis (revelation) stage, which henceforth we will call by its English form, Epiphany. To the open-minded, faithful child of God there is available much light to evidence this. As the Parousia brought the Lord's people much light on the Church and the world from the standpoint of God's Word and Plan; so, based upon, harmonized with and elaborated out of such light, the Epiphany is adding a great deal of bright shining to what God's children previously had, and is giving details that for good reasons could not have been seen before, and that are most interesting and soul-satisfying to the meek. 

As far as God's children are concerned, these details un-mistakably refer more to the Great Company than to the Little Flock, though the knowledge of them is naturally more for the Little Flock than for the Great Company; and of course will be received by the former some time sooner than by the latter, who are the first of the Epiphany's elect classes. Then, some of the Epiphany light refers to those unbegotten consecrated ones whom we call "Youthful Worthies," who are the second of the Epiphany's elect classes, and whom God will give an inheritance with the Ancient Worthies after they have been faithful unto death. There is even some light referring to those justified ones who will continue in their faith in the Ransom, in their hatred for iniquity and in their love for righteousness. Some added light on the Second Death class is also now shining. As respects the nominal people of God—political, ecclesiastical and aristocratic—the Epiphany is also adding its light with increasing splendor, as it is on those represented by Hazael and Jehu.1 Kings 19:16, 17. 

Not only do the special activities of these various groups occur in the Epiphany period, and not only do the Epiphany works of The Christ from beyond the veil most 

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clearly expose the nature and quality of their activities, but also by shedding special light on the Scriptural types, symbols and prophecies referring to these classes and their Epiphany activities, the Lord is bringing to the attention of His meek people, especially to the Little Flock, fuller Scriptural meanings of the details of these classes and their activities as regards Epiphany conditions and stations. 

Some of this Epiphany light the Lord has been pleased to make known to us—not by inspiration, nor by any specially great talents, which are disclaimed, but by blessing with illumination the reverent study of the Scriptures and current events in and outside the Church in the light of the Bible, and by bringing us into providential contact with many of these events, especially as they concern the consecrated. Usually this illumination has come after, and seemingly as a reward for, faithfully defending the interests of the Little Flock against the ambitious usurpations and usurpatory attempts of certain leaders in the Truth. We do not think the Lord has given us this knowledge for our exclusive enjoyment, but for the enjoyment of all the Lord's people, as they are able to receive it. Therefore, as the Lord seems to indicate what is meat in due season, and provides us with the necessary financial sinews, we will from time to time in print publish it for the use of God's hungry children. In this book, divided into several topics, a portion of this increasing Epiphany light as it concerns its elect classes, is laid before the Lord's people. Our purpose is only to help, not to injure, to suggest and not to force Scriptural lines of thought, which may the Lord be pleased to bless to all. In order to clearness and thereby to our readers' greater blessing, in some places we have given a summary on certain matters first, and then later given details thereon. We trust that this method will not be considered as tiresome repetition (Phil. 3:1). 

Your Brother and Servant, 

PAUL S. L. JOHNSON. 

Philadelphia, Pa., U. S. A., 

January 14, 1938.

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CONTENTS

CHAPTER I.

THE BIBLE EPIPHANY.

THE MEANING OF THE WORDS, EPIPHAINO, EPIPHANEIA, APOKALYPSIS AND PAROUSIA. FIRST GREAT COMPANY ACTIVITIES, OCT., 16, 17, 1916. PURPOSES OF THE EPIPHANY PERIOD TOWARD THE WORLD. SEPARATION OF THE LITTLE FLOCK AND THE GREAT COMPANY. THE LORD JESUS' MANIFESTING HIMSELF TO THE GREAT COMPANY AS SUCH. TEN PROOFS THAT WE ARE IN TIME EPIPHANY. EXAMINATION OF THE DAWN'S PERTINENT ERRORS AND MISREPRESENTATIONS. DURATION OF THE EPIPHANY. THE DAYS OF LUKE 17:22, 26, ETC. THE EPIPHANY AND THE TIME OF TROUBLE IDENTICAL. BIBLICAL PROOF THEREOF. CORROBORATIVE EXPLANATIONS OF THAT SERVANT. THE CHURCH'S EPIPHANY WORK: TOWARD ITSELF; TOWARD THE YOUTHFUL WORTHIES; TOWARD THE GREAT COMPANY; TOWARD THE WORLD. BEREAN QUESTIONS     7

CHAPTER II.

GENERALITIES OF THE GREAT COMPANY

A SUMMARY ON THE GREAT COMPANY'S GENERALITIES. SOME DETAILS ON THE GREAT COMPANY'S GENERALITIES.  PURIFICATION OF THE TRUTH AND ITS SERVANTS (LEV. 12). THE MOTHER OF A SON. THE MOTHER OF A DAUGHTER. SOME LESSONS. JULIAN T. GRAY'S VIEW. HUGO KARLEN'S VIEW. SOME QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON THE GREAT COMPANY. BEREAN QUESTIONS     87

CHAPTER III.

AZAZEL'S GOAT.

GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS. THE HIGH PRIEST'S LAST WORK IN THE FLESH TOWARD HUMANS. CONFESSING THE SINS OVER AZAZEL'S GOAT. LOOSING THE GOAT. LEADING THE GOAT TO THE GATE. MEMBERS OF THE HIGH PRIEST UNTIL MANIFESTED AS LEVITES. WITHDRAWING PRIESTLY FELLOWSHIP AND DELIVERING TO THE FIT MAN. LEADING THE GOAT TO THE WILDERNESS. ABANDONING IT TO AZAZEL. IN AZAZEL'S HANDS. WITHDRAWAL OF PRIESTLY FELLOWSHIP. JUDGING BEFORE AND AFTER THE TIME. MISREPRESENTATIONS. AZAZEL'S GOAT IN THE NOMINAL CHURCH. JOHN'S REBUKE. BEREAN QUESTIONS     153

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CHAPTER IV.

LEPROSY—TYPE AND ANTITYPE.

LEPROSY'S TWO TYPICAL SIGNIFICANCES. BRINGING THE LEPER TO THE PRIEST. SYMPTOMS OF LEPROSY. JUDGING. SIX FORMS OF LEPROSY. FIRST FORM, TYPICAL OF SIN. SECOND FORM, TYPICAL OF SELFISHNESS. THIRD FORM, TYPICAL OF WORLDLINESS. FOURTH FORM, TYPICAL OF ERROR. GENERAL PRINCIPLES APPLICABLE TO ALL FOUR FORMS. FIFTH FORM, TYPICAL OF POWER-GRASPING AND LORDING. SIXTH FORM, TYPICAL OF SECTARIANISM. BEREAN QUESTIONS     243

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CHAPTER V.

THE YOUTHFUL WORTHIES.

GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS. SEVEN LINES OF BIBLICAL PROOF OF THE EXISTENCE OF YOUTHFUL WORTHIES. THEIR PRESENT WORK. THEIR REWARDS, MILLENNIAL AND POST-MILLENNIAL. THE ARTICLE, "WORTHIES—ANCIENT AND MODERN;" REVIEWED. AN ANALYSIS OF THE ARTICLE. POINTS OF AGREEMENT. BASIC ERROR OF THE ARTICLE UNDER REVIEW. HALF-TRUTHS EXPOSED. TENTATIVE JUSTIFICATION SCRIPTURAL. MISLEADING OMISSIONS. SOPHISTRY ON THE TIME AFTER CHRIST'S RESURRECTION REFUTED. A SUMMARY. OTHER HALF-TRUTHS EXPOSED. FOG ON THE COVENANTS DISSIPATED. BEREAN QUESTIONS     317

CHAPTER VI.

RUTH—TYPE AND ANTITYPE.

LEAVING  THE  TRUTH  PEOPLE  FOR  THE  NOMINAL  CHURCH  AND  THE RETURN WITH A NEW CLASS IN GOD'S PLAN. GLEANING FROM 1881 TO  1916. YOUTHFUL  WORTHIES' ACTIVITIES  AND  JESUS' FAVORS TO THEM FROM DECEMBER, 1918, TO JULY, 1919. JESUS SUCCESSFULLY UNDERTAKES FOR THE YOUTHFUL WORTHIES FROM JULY, 1919, TO 1921. BEREAN QUESTIONS     369

CHAPTER VII.

QUESTIONS ON THE YOUTHFUL WORTHIES.

PERTINENT QUESTIONS TAKEN FROM THE PRESENT TRUTH, NO. 26. PERTINENT QUESTIONS TAKEN FROM THE PRESENT TRUTH, NO. 105. PERTINENT QUESTIONS TAKEN FROM MISCELLANEOUS NOS. OF THE PRESENT TRUTH     405