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?
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4 comments:
Paul S.L. Johnson held strong opinions, frequently expressed in forceful language, especially when he was convinced that they chimed with a Biblical point of view. This assertive tendency of his led, quite naturally, to clashes with others who, rightly or wrongly, might have preferred a less combative approach. In this, he has, properly, been criticized by foe and friend alike.
However, it's undeniable that he had a brilliant mind, one informed by a consecrated heart and scholarly studies, especially in Church history, and it would be a shame to damn his entire legacy because of his failings as a fallible man (which he was) or as a prophet (which he was not). He did not see the future as clearly as he thought he could, and in the interests of honest debate his deficiencies in this respect need to be confronted squarely. This is the best way to pay tribute to him and to our collective intelligence, which he sought to cultivate.
As to the matter of world war, Johnson insisted that there could be only one, later designating the conflict of 1914-18 as Phase I and the conflict 1939-45, Phase II. The use of this nomenclature in subsequent treatments in the publications of the LHMM made for rather awkward reading.
Interestingly, Johnson predicated his objection to the notion of world war on scale, arguing in print in January 1940 that the number of nations engaged in combat was insufficient to justify the term. (Though even by then the states at war were drawn from three continents in addition to Europe — Australasia, North America, and Asia.) See The Present Truth, Jan. 1, 1940, p. 13, col. 1, Q&A in that column. Compare this reference with the following, in which he declares that prophecy barred the occurrence of more than one world war: ibid., Oct. 1, 1939, p. 164., col. 1, Q&A; and Feb. 1, 1942, p. 31, col. 1, top, Q&A.
His expectations for the unfolding of the 1939-45 war were founded, in part, on his interpretation of the types of the three kings of the Old Testament: Hazael [Syria], Jehoram [of Israel], and Ahaziah [of Judah]. Across his other writings there are variations on this theme, but in sum, Johnson matched up these kings with the Axis powers (Hazael), the Allies (Jehoram) and the U.S. (Ahaziah). In this configuration he later came round to the view that the Axis powers would be defeated.
We should note that in the post-1945 setting this model has, to some degree, vindicated Johnson's expectations. In that unique type of world war, the Cold War, from approximately 1945-1989, Western Europe and the U.S. in alliance (Jehoram and Ahaziah) did trump the Soviet Union (Hazael, the totalitarian of this period). It's worth noting.
As to the Laymen's Home Missionary Movement: the group has consistently set forth the Scriptural view of the Ransom, that most embracing and satisfying doctrine, the very best representation of a just and merciful God. This, and the Movement's traditional view that all believers in Christ are brethren before the Cross, should be sufficient to refute any notion that the LHMM is, at its core, sectarian. The autocratic pronouncements of the current administration of the LHMM and the narrow-mindedness of some of its supporters should not be allowed to obscure this.
I was saddened to read your blog. You seem mainly interested in showing Paul S. L. Johnson's mistakes. He gave many correct and helpful comments in the over 17books which he wrote. They have blessed many Christians who have taken the time to read them. Bible Students who read what he wrote are capable of seeing what is wrong and what is right in his writings. Only the Bible is a perfect book.
I'm sorry the blog has saddened you. It also saddens me to know that anyone has been deceived by the writings of Johnson. He is someone that really should have known better. He was an educated man. Unfortunately, power corrupts.
But, I think you're missing the point of many of the blog posts. If Johnson was open to criticism and being wrong once in a while that might be fine. Unfortunately, he was self-proclaimed as "the Epiphany messenger" for God during the time he lived. This means you can not pick and choose what is right or wrong (correct or incorrect) from his writings. Those that did in the past, paid a severe price by being disfellowshipped, relegated to a lower class, or being marked as those that go into the second death. This was an abuse of power.
Ironically, another Johnson wrote a book about the dangers of this called "The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse".
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/asin/0764201379
Those that pick and choose from Johnson's writings today are being inconsistent because Johnson does not allow for it. Followers of the LHMM are required to believe in Johnson's writings as the final authority. Most disagreements that happen today concern interpretations of Johnson's writings and not interpretations of the Bible.
I have taken the time to read all of his volumes...and I would venture to guess that those that have been blessed most by them have not read all of his writings. In fact, in some of the countries where there are more followers of the LHMM large portions of Johnson's writings have not even been translated into their language. Many of Johnson's writings are of no real RELEVANT value to anyone's life. Most markedly, is E10 "The Epiphany Messenger" which Johnson wrote about himself. It's main purpose is to prove that he was the Epiphany Messenger. This should be unnecessary if all he is doing is writing about truths that can be found in Scripture. Proving his authority was necessary to maintain power and control over his organization at a time when that control was threatened.
After doing indepth study of P. S. L. Johnson's history as found in the various writings of all the "Bible Student" groups (LHMM, ABS, JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES) and studing his many books and magazines, my entire family - some of whom were Bible Students at one time - left this group years ago due to the scriptural confusion, contradictions, false prodictions, etc. etc. etc.
There appear to be many scriptures that give true Christians instruction as to how they should view religious leaders like P.S.L.J. and his associates. For example:
(Titus 3:9-11) "But shun foolish questionings and genealogies and strife and fights over the Law, for they are unprofitable and futile. As for a man that promotes a sect, reject him after a first and a second admonition; knowing that such a man has been turned out of the way and is sinning, he being self-condemned."
(1 Timothy 1:3-7) "Command certain ones not to teach different doctrine, nor to pay attention to false stories and to genealogies, which end up in nothing, but which furnish questions for research rather than a dispensing of anything by God in connection with faith. Really the objective of this mandate is love out of a clean heart and out of a good conscience and out of faith without hypocrisy. By deviating from these things certain ones have been turned aside into idle talk, wanting to be teachers of law, but not perceiving either the things they are saying or the things about which they are making strong assertions."
(1 Timothy 6:3-5) "If any man teaches other doctrine and does not assent to healthful words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, nor to the teaching that accords with godly devotion, he is puffed up with pride, not understanding anything, but being mentally diseased over questionings and debates about words. From these things spring envy, strife, abusive speeches, wicked suspicions, violent disputes about trifles on the part of men corrupted in mind and despoiled of the truth, thinking that godly devotion is a means of gain."
(Romans 16:17, 18) "Now I exhort you, brothers, to keep your eye on those who cause divisions and occasions for stumbling contrary to the teaching that you have learned, and avoid them. For men of that sort are slaves, not of our Lord Christ, but of their own bellies; and by smooth talk and complimentary speech they seduce the hearts of guileless ones."
These statements by the inspired apostle Paul clearly mark out Mr. Johnson and other leaders of that movement - like the rest of the clergy of Christendom. The divisive, fault finding, suspicion arousing spirit that is mirrored in many of its leaders and fostered by this movement in many of its members clearly identifies it as not being of Jehovah and Christ. It reflects the spirit of this world under the god of this world, Satan. - 2 Cor. 4:4.
Thank you for exposing the few examples of the bad predictions and failed prophecy of Mr. Johnson. Many more could be presented which I and my family and friends found. To come out from under that spiritual fog is truly liberating - which is a fruitage of holy spirit. - 2 Cor. 3:16, 17; John 3:19-21; Isaiah 55:1-3; 8:20.
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