Study Results Are In...Knowledge is Less Important

The more you study in depth via multiple sources and with differing viewpoints, the more you realize how little we really know. There is some mystery and faith required in belief in God. This results in humility.

Those who study in depth via a single source with one viewpoint believing they have already determined it is truth, have closed their minds to actual truth. They may believe that the answer to all of their questions is contained somewhere in a set of certain books that explain the Bible correctly. Subconciously, they may fear that looking at something outside of their experience might disprove their views or they have been TAUGHT and CONTROLLED to not go outside of their literature boundary for study. The danger is that they may then believe that they know a lot about doctrines which may result in spiritual pride.

One main Scripture that appeals to study in the Bible is used by the LHMM to justify their focus on study...
2 Tim 2:15 "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
Unfortunately, the word "study" here only appears in the King James Version. Other translations are "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved...", NIV and "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God..." NKJV So "study" isn't even the primary meaning of this text.

Another place in the Bible talks of the Bereans who did study the Scriptures to see if what Paul said was true...but the Paul they were verifying wasn't Paul S.L. Johnson.
Acts 17:11 "Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true."
Paul's message directly related to the Gospel "explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead." (Acts 17:3) He did not preach about types and antitypes and himself other than relating his personal story which was a powerful tool to reach people for Christ.

The LHMM focus is on knowledge. It is the thing that separates them from other Christians. "...Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up." 1 Cor 8:1

Bible Study has it's place in a balanced Christian life, but the focus should not be on STUDY but LOVE. That is the greatest commandment.
"Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them. Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body. Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man." - Ecc 12:12-13
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself." -- Matthew 22:37-39
Some things are just not very complicated. Living for Jesus can be boiled down to two principles: (1) love God with everything I am and have and (2) love others and treat them like I would like to be treated. Not too hard to understand. Living it is the challenge.

Of what PRACTICAL value are the doctrines that you hold so tightly? Is it just about being right? Do you fear studying literature that may disagree with your assumptions?

More on Paul Johnson and LHMM History

It is at times difficult to gain the large perspective within the LHMM due to the minute studying of details. Here we lay out some more information about the LHMM and its history in an effort to sort things out as they occurred. We begin with some of the predictions that Paul S.L. Johnson (PSLJ) made about himself. Among them:
* That God knew ahead of time he would be faithful as the Epiphany Messenger and that he would be recognized as the Epiphany Messenger by the other Bible Student groups (like Joseph was recognized by his brothers). - This did not happen. Many Bible Student groups rejected him.
* That he would be the last of the Little Flock. - There is no way to know this.
* That he would die a violent death in October, 1956. - He died in 1950, instead of 1956....and his death was not violent.
* That he would write 21 volumes. - He did not.
* That he would expound the entire Bible. - He did not.

Here are a few of the other unfulfilled predictions that PSLJ wrote:
* That he would be in rank in the kingdom behind Bro. Russell, and the 12 apostles. - There is no way to know this. Possibly, God would reward false prophets with a high rank.
* That the time of trouble would end in 1956 and the Kingdom would be established with the collapse of society, anarchy, etc. - According to the LHMM, the time of trouble" is still going on.
* Before 1939, he said there would not be another World War. - When there was another World War, he said that it wasn't another war, but a continuation of the first one.
* He said that Germany would win World War Phase II. - They did not.
* That revolution would start in 1934. - When that didn't happen he said that revolution would start in 1949.
* That communism would overthrow the capitalist countries. - Didn't happen.
* That JWs would form a union with the state and grow to be the majority religion in America. - Not true.
* That labor unions would revolt against capitalists (based upon the types Jehu, etc.) Some of these predictions were just continuations of the ones Russell made. - No.
* That the end of Epiphany would be in 1954. - Unverifiable.

None of these statements are true and he was not coerced into making any of the statements. They were just a product of his imagination and wishful thinking. The confusion that resulted from the lack of fulfillment gave rise to differences of opinion about what happened, which caused splits and siftings. The fact that these predictions did not come true made his followers wonder about the other predictions. They said that it was a "trial of faith" and by this they meant it was a trial of their faith is Paul Johnson AS THE EPIPHANY MESSENGER.

Johnson said also that the Great Company would recognize themselves as Levites (those in lower rank than the priests) and they would leave Babylon (other churches). He said that Raymond Jolly was the leader of the Good Levites, and that he should succeed him. Jolly took over as the Executive Trustee, as Bro. Johnson had planned, but he also said that the Little Flock would last until 1956. Some people then said that there were Little Flock members remaining, including themselves, and that Jolly shouldn't be leading them. Jolly was teaching that it was the time for the Great Company members to recognize themselves and cleanse themselves. Some denied that they were in the Great Company and there were classes that split over this issue.

When 1954 arrived, it was to be the end of the call of the Youthful Worthies, and the LHMM taught that there was a new class forming called the "Consecrated Epiphany Campers", and a new period called the Basileia. The controversies with Krewson and Hoefle and other so-called sifters were over these points and over who the leader should be. They would quote without ceasing PSLJ's own statements and try to make sense of them. PSLJ made predictions that could not be harmonized in light of the events. This was similar to the case of Charles Taze Russell (CTR) dying with some of his predictions not occurring, and causing confusion and division.

By 1956, the kingdom had not come, nor had world revolution or anarchy, nor had the other predictions been fulfilled. The Epiphany was to be the period when the world would recognize that Christ was present, but during the period 1914-1954, the world never recognized this. Even today, the world still does not recognize that Christ is present as taught by the LHMM, and the kingdom has not come, and the timetable has not been realized.

There are further reinterpretations that lead to contradictions such as:
* The Great Company converting Israel - Did not happen.
* Babylon falls, and the Great Company recognize themselves, and give the message that Babylon has fallen - Did not happen.
* The planning stage of the Revolution began in 1949 - Did not happen.
* The lease of the Times of the Gentiles expired in 1914, and the kingdoms of this world are being destroyed. - Many more new countries have been established since then.

There are about 11 books that Johnson wrote that contain his typing, predictions, and controversies with others, disagreeing with their types and predictions. These instances are not isolated and stray points, but something he did constantly. The LHMM is still selling these books AS TRUTH without apology or corrections. PSLJ was likely influenced in his typing, predictions, and personal claims by Russell's typing, predictions, and personal claims. Charles Taze Russell predicted the time of trouble during 1874-1914, and the Kingdom in 1914. This did not occur, and these predictions are false statements, or error. They did not come from God, because God is truth. He was not God's messenger in making these statements, and it is wrong for Christians now to be studying in depth these erroneous statements.

It is apparent now that PSLJ was presumptuous and an unreliable leader. The siftings and controversy and confusion were all unnecessary, and caused by his own foolish statements. Some of the predictions are still "on the books", but others have been reinterpreted like the CEC class, and Basileia, etc. There is a folly in the belief in "God's messengers", of dogmatically predicting the future, of establishing doctrines based on types, and of classes studying at a snail's pace books that teach these things.

As evidenced by the history shown here, the present day troubles within the LHMM and manifesting of certain people as "sifters" is nothing new. It is more of the same. It amounts to spiritual abuse and overstepping bounds in incorrect Biblical interpretation.

The big question is: Can Paul S.L. Johnson and the LHMM be trusted? You must answer and make a choice for yourself what is true. If your conclusion is no, then everything is up for grabs. How do you decide what he wrote was true? In his view, you don't have a choice. You must take it all on faith that he was the Epiphany Messenger. Do you put your faith in man or God?

Invisible Return of Christ

Christ's return was predicted by the Miller movement...a predecessor to the LHMM. He didn't come at that time so they revised their predictions and came up with 1874. After there was still no evidence of Christ returning, they changed their position and realized that he DID return...only invisibly!

See the Wikipedia articles on William Miller and Great Disappointment

"Jonas Wendell, an Adventist preacher, experienced periods of weak faith after 1844. After studying Bible chronology, he came to the conclusion that the Second Coming would be in 1868, and in 1870 he published a booklet concluding it was to be in 1873.
Charles Taze Russell was in turn influenced by Jonas Wendell (as well as by the Millerites in general). One-time Millerite ministers George Storrs, George Stetson, and Nelson H. Barbour were also influential in Russell's doctrinal development. Like Wendell, Barbour had also predicted Christ's return in 1873, and when that failed, he revised the prediction for 1874. Soon after that disappointment, Barbour's group came to believe that Christ had returned in 1874 but invisibly. Russell met Barbour in 1876 and accepted the teaching of an invisible presence of Christ from Barbour. Russell developed an elaborate chronology with 1914 being viewed as the end of a forty year "harvest period." A schism in the movement occurred after Russell's death. In the early 1930s, the leadership changed the date of the Second Coming to 1914. The main branch of that movement came to be known as the Jehovah's Witnesses, while many members refused the change; Bible Students today still hold that the Second Coming was in 1874."

Two points on the Scriptures concerning this point of an invisible return of Christ:
(1) No one knows the time or date of the return of Jesus. If anyone predicts the date, it can't be the right date.
As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”
No-one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. - Matthew 24:, 3,36

(2) "Like a thief in the night" can mean unexpectantly or without notice. It doesn't need to mean quietly or invisibly. In fact, thieves are not invisible...especially if you turn on the light.
1Th 5:2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
2Pe 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.

Date setting diverts people's attention from Jesus to a date. It builds expectations that will be shattered by disappointment. That disappointment will, in turn, produces embarrassment and disillusionment.