CONCISE HISTORY OF THE APOSTOLIC CHURCH
Part 10.

As successor of Apostle Anthing was called the already mentioned Chinese Lim Tjoe Kim who visited the Netherlands in 1887.

The elder people among us can still remember the warm-hearted and pleasing servant. He spoke and wrote very well Dutch.

At his retourjourney the ship on which he was, found itself in great danger. He had not concealed his faith on that vessel and had been rewarded with mockery. In the high distress he knelt down and in the hearing of very many people he prayed to the Lord for help and immediately the storm was hushed. During the further part of the journey he was treated with distinction.

Also Lim Tjoekim did not serve long as Apostle. He passed away in 1890. After his death a lot of discord has arisen of which, however, the correct matter is unknown to me. Afterwards the so-called "New Light" has everything obtained under its influence, and thus the work built up with so much love and sacrifice, perished.

We now approach the year of disaster 1895. On the sixth of December of that year Apostle Schwartz passed away in the old age of 80 years. After his death the work of God was shaken by enormous storms. The basic principles of the Testimony were in imminent danger of being left.

And this movement started from called Apostles.! In Germany it was in particular F, Krebs and in Australia H, Niemeyer who introduced after 1890 a false doctrine in the tribal areas. The foundation of their disabuse is apparently logical and by that they got a large number of followers.

They argued as follows: "The Apostolic parishes submit for the pronunciations of the Holy Scriptures, of which a part has been written by Apostles. What Paul said is determining, ect. so are Apostles, so our word is of equal power. The word of living Apostles has as much value as that of died ones".

So far the reasoning is perfectly correct. But why is it, however, only apparently logical? Because one condition is missing, this one: then the pronunciations of the actual Apostles had to be founded entirely on and to be in accordance with the pronunciations of the Holy Scriptures. Because the Lord Jesus said to His servants that the Holy Spirit would guide them in all truth. We therefore have to accept that Peter and his co-Apostles have communicated us in their letters the truth. The Holy Spirit is actually the third Person in the Holy Trinity, is God, is eternal and is therefore also incapable to change even one title of what He has taught and spoken once. With Other words: the children of God have only that to accept as truth which has been founded on the Bible.

Of course, we can make progress in some matters, we can of course obtain in dark matters new views but of light, ever one pronunciation of the Holy Scriptures can also be nullified or something can be taught which is not founded on the Holy Scriptures or to be in some way or another in contradiction with it. And now Krebs and his followers commit the big error to lose track, and because they had started to go once on this wrong path, they wandered about, as it is always going in such cases, further and further away from the truth.

As they placed themselves above the Scriptures and were of the opinion that their words as the fresh food were better to enjoy for the herd than the word of the Bible, they soon arrived at the consequence that the Bible became inferior, and they placed themselves upon a high pedestal.

Because the testimony of the prophecy bothered them, this was placed on the background. The word of the Lord to His apostles: "Who hears you, hears Me" was misused and even transformed in: "Who you see, sees me,"

And thus little by little came into eing pronunciations as:"Jesus stands here before you in human flesh", and other blasphemous turns of a sentence.

Especially one of the servants of Krebs, Hermann Niehaus, was very inventive on this domain and all kinds of Biblical stories and expressions he was able to distort cleverly and to deform. From him have come the notorious pronunciations that the Bible is withered hay, dead, stinking wellwater and tainted manna. The word of his idol and later his own words were on the other hand fresh green grass, water from the living well and the word of life. Soon they did not want to hear anymore of callings by the word of prophecy.

Why afterall ?.

As their word was yet the Word of God,prophets were not needed nd thus high-handed servants were appointed, who to the opinion of the apostles were capable. Which undignified truckling was the result of this, can be imagined. Who honoured best the apostles, was firstly filled with an office.

The history has learned what kind of people sometimes became ministers. When I for some years spoke with a high minister of them in Hamburg about these disgraceful matters and pointed out that the result learned that his infallible apostle often was mistaken in the choice of his servants, he admitted that there were many undignified priests in Germany, "but" he said: "that is as yet no evidence, because Jesus also sometimes was mistaken, He has called Jude.!!!!"

So disgraceful is thought and spoken about the Lord Jesus.

As a matter of fact, some among us have heard pronunciations from the supporters of this antichristian doctrine about the Christ which are even still much more dreadful.

Later on it appeared to us that Apostle Schwartz in the last years of his life has already fought the in, the bud existing doctrines. He had, however, never spoken about it in order not to bring about commotion. His spiritual superior power over the others, however, made that the new ways of thinking were as yet executed very carefully in Germany alone. His passing away removed these difficulties and immediately after his death the Germans also tried to introduce their doctrine in the Netherlands.

Although Apostle Schwartz had determined that the period of mourning after his passing away would last three months, the German apostles proposed in a meeting with the Dutch priests, out of respect for the deceased, to prolong this period of time till one year and six weeks.

As in the Netherlands there was no faint idea of what was taught in Germany, this proposal was found in general a good idea, because there had been very much respect for the deceased. However, this long period of time have been used well by the foreigners for their purpose.! Like beasts of prey smell their prey, among the servants in the Netherlands there were some who immediately understood what could be reached for them from introduction of the German doctrine, of which very soon some items came forward, of course very careful but the receipt with those few who put own interest above the matter of God, was so encouraging that very soon it came down more freely.

In the summer of 1896, in the notorious year of mourning, the German apostles visited once more the Netherlands and some of the Dutch priests fell very much under the spell of which originated from the new matter that they immediately started to make propaganda for, like they called it, the "New Light! ".

Kofman in Enkhuizen; de Vries in Amsterdam and Hoekstra in Hoorn were the leading men of the new movement. In particular the latter one who spoke the German language very well, was a diligent propangandist.

In the summer of 1896 the real campaign started with a roundtrip by Hoekstra in all the parishes where he preached about the subject "Honour your father and mother". Herewith the punctual obedience was demanded from the children to the parents who remain parents even, "if the father hangs on the allows", and such a punctual obedience had to be manifested to the apostles who received the name of father.

As the majority of the priests, however, remained to take the old standpoint, other paths had to be set about in order to attain the purpose. A good means was the monthly magazine : "The Wachman Sions" with as supplement "The seventh trumpet" which was a translation of the German Magazine "Wachterstimmen aus Ephraim" with supplement "Der Herold".

The first translated issue appeared in the "year of mourning", October 1896.

In this magazine the office of apostle was glorified and for the Bible the words used which we mentioned before.

In Amsterdam, where de Vries had a great influence, the faction came very sharp forward. An effort, used with him by the Pastor of the parish in Enkhuizen, not to introduce in the period of mourning new doctrines, failed. It does not like us to describe the entire struggle in details, but it was sorrowful that the unity of the faith, in which under the guidance of Apostle Schwartz had been lived in the Netherlands, was undermined, because it was taught that over the apostles one of them would reign, although the Lord Jesus so clearly had said to His Apostles: "You are all brethren." In such a way little by little was spoken of "Father" Krebs. With that his superiority over the other apostles had been expressed.

False textual explanations lad to it to compare him with the trunk of the vine Christ, to which the other apostles hat been onnected as branches, so that was spoken of the "tribal apostle" and of the "branch apostle". The "tribal apostle" concentrated in himself the entire control, with which the others had been connected as a unity, and by this originated again the expression: "in the unity of the apostles" and of the "Unity father".

In this "Unity father" the Holy Spirit revealed himself u nlimited, and it was therefore also, self-evident that he and the "sent by him" under the "guidance of the Holy Spirit" understood nothing else than blind obedience to-be so-called "Office spirit".

That the "Unity father" did not need the office of prophet was self-evident. He was of course able to announce the will of God better than such happened through the prophets and the prophesying persons. As such the danger was not imaginary that when the day would come that would be asked a new Apostle for the Netherlands, "Father" Krebs could point out this one than uch a thing would take place by calling through the mouth of the prophet.

In this way great uneasiness arose in the entire Church. Many meetings were held by the priests in which Kofman who had been appointed for the duration of the time of mourning by Krebs to "Tribal overseer"', had the leadership. In these meetimqs the relations adopted continually sharper contrasts so that even the help of Apostle Niehaus was called in who on a very acute way, worthy a better case, tried to introduce the new ideas.

Thus the day of calling, January 17, 1897 approached. On the eve of it a meeting of ministers was held where finally, in spite of all the efforts of the "Newlighters" was decided to held the service like this had been prescribed by Apostle Schwartz in his last will. Krebs and his followers had at that time not yet wandered that far from the truth that they dared to prevent the speaking through the prophets, and thus the deacon of that parish, Van Bemmel, was called as Apostle by the prophet of the parish in Amsterdam, and in the evening of that day consecrated in his office amd taken up in the group of apostles.

Apostle Van Bemmel proved himself immediately a strong maintainer of the old doctrines, and although in the first disappointment and confusion also the opponents had accepted him, which could hardly be else, as also the German apostles had acted in this way, soon appeared already that they were not well-disposed towards him.

De Vries continued to preach his new doctrines; in this way there came into being great confusion which very soon ended with that, that he was suspended in his office, om which he left the church with his followers.

Apostle Krebs wrote on February 28, 1897 a letter to Apostle Van Bemmel that his office had been taken from him! From that time it went with the supporters of the new doctrine and rapidly down hill, and they fell into one mistake after the other. They named themselves "The Reinstated apostolic mission parish in the unity of the apostles", which name was later on still extended with the addition: "in the Netherlands and colonies". The damage which we experience to the about equal name, is to all of us unfortunately very much known.

Owing to the schism the largest part of the parish in Amsterdam was carried along, entire IJmuiden, Hoorn and Den Helder. In the parish of Enkhuizen it came still not so far immediately, because the pastor of that parish still tried considerable time to save her. When, however, the overseer Kofman adopted an almost more hostile attitude, and finally passed him in July 1897, by inviting Hoekstra of Hoorn to conduct services, when Kofman would be travelling, this became motive for the schism also in Enkhuizen which can extensively be read in the brochure: "Half a century of struggle", published after the pastor T. Korff in order to honour his remembrance.

After this destruction in the work of God a brochure was published, in order to still save the aberrated people. "The true cause of the schism", in which an extensive explanation was given of the entire course of this regrettable affair.

A lot of prophecies occur in it in which the Lord already had predicted what would happen, which is then still our consolation, because it is proved by this the Apostolic testimony of the last time is yet work of God who His interferences extend so far in His great love and mercy that He announced by His Spirit exactly the future things so that it was for the sincere of heart people not difficult to distinguish on which side the true could be found.

Certainly on the side were was spoken so disdainful about the gift of the Holy Spirit and the Bible. The brochure had hardly any effect on the aberrated eople, because, although everybody in the whole country the various ministers received it at the same hour, the various ministers let these take away immediately so that nobody of the seduced crowd have read this completely. It was responded with the publication of a counter brochure: "No schism, but apostasy", which was not sent to our people.

After this schism there came for Judah a period of less prosperity. Shortly after the sketched event the prophet Vleck left in Amsterdam the parish with some dissatisfied people. His group had a languishing existence and has now nearly completely dissolved. Still a few persons meet together.

Worse was that the parish of Haarlem separated itself because the minister at that place, Mr. N.J.Verkruisen, started to preach a Christ who can fall. After is death in January 1905, the parish remained under the influence of relatives of the deceased and some deacons. In 1913 a reunion took place, but not on pure foundation so that the germ for new struggle was present.

Till 1920 the situation in Judah remained dull.

In 1915 brother J.W. Verkruisen was called as pastor of the parish in Haarlem, and in 1917 as successor of the pastor T.Korff who passed away on June 27, the deacon-evangelist H. v.d. Beek in Amsterdam.

Somewhere about 1920 the foundations were laid of the parishes in The Hague and Arnhem.

Some prosperity in the work could now be observed. On July 11, 1920 the deacon-evangelist A.J.Korff was called in the parish of Amsterdam as evangelist.

On October 30, 1921 the priesthood was extended by the calling of the deacon-evangelist C.van Dijk as prophet and N.J. Verkruisen as evangelist and deacon Rijnders as pastor of that parish, In such a way the parish of Amsterdam possessed after a long lasting interruption again a complete priestly service.

In 1923 the prophet Van Dijk settled himself in Arnhem, after the evangelist N.J.Verkruisen had established himself in 1922 in The Hague.

In both cities the parishes became in possession, after having held meetings in private rented buildings of own premises, in Arnhem at first in the Bovenbergstraat, thereafter in the Marktstraat Nr.3; The Hague firstly in the licherstraat, then in the Stortebekerstraat, and finally in the Willemstraat nr. 69.

In Enkhuizen the parish had firstly, after the schism, assembled in a hall on the Havendijk. In1900 it obtained a substantial churchhall in the Vijzelstraat, were still up to now is assembled.

On February 26, 1925, entirely unexpected and very suddenly, Apostle Van Bemmel died in the age of 63 years, after a time of service of 28 years.

The priests of the various parishes decided to act as much as possible according to the last will of Apostle Schwartz, although owing to the changed circumstances, (for instance the missing of other Apostles), not entirely could be proceeded after that.

Pastor Rijnders and evangelist Korff had the leadership in Amsterdam during the three months of mourning. On May 21 of the same year was called in the Missionchapel on the Keizersgracht in Amsterdam as Apostle for Judah, the deacon evangelist J.G. Kalwij and the same evening consecrated for his work of service through imposition of hands of all the present priests.

After this calling manifested with some people a spirit of opposition which became in the parish of Amsterdam cause of offence which became by bad conduct of the dissatisfied so big that finally the agitators was prohibited the admittance.

The churchbuilding on the Prinseneiland appeared little by little to be inadequate, especially by the bad condition, improvement of which would bring with it many expenses, but also by the unfavourable location. Now was looked for another accomodation. November 8 1926 the building of the Reformed Church on the Bloemgracht was purchased and, after a thorough renovation under the guidance of the later pastor C. Korff, consecrated on June 27th.

In Flushing a group of believers was brought together by the work of brethren from Haarlem. After the death of Apostle Van Bemmel the small parish was taken care of by the various priests. Also on other localities evangelisation-work was done. From Arnhem, for instance, in Doesburg where a small group has adopted the testimony. From Enkhuizen is worked in some places in the neighbourhood. In the village of Hem even a small building has been set up an the yard of a brother.

Still during the life of Apostle Van Bemmel endeavours were made to bring the testimony in Switzerland. In 1924 the evangelist A.J. Korff, accompanied by the deacon-evangelist E. Eichenberger, was sent there. In the small town Zofingen the first-mentioned held some lectures, without much result. Still some persons have been gathered what travelled to the Netherlands and received the sealing by Apostle Kalwij in 1928 and 1929.

Still before the decease of Apostle Van Bemmel we came into contact with Apostolic people who first had been deviated by the new doctrine from the right path, but wanted to return to the 01d confession. They lived in Australia and in Germany. In 1926 this relationship became more firm.

In the spring of l926 the deacon-evangelist Eichenberger was sent to Brunswick for acquaintance with the German brethren and sisters. Thereafter the evangelist Korff went there in July 1926 amd prepared them for the Sealing which in October of that year was administered by Apostle Kalwij, who accompanied by the deacon-evangelist Eichenberger had gone to Brunswick. The need for office for these people appeared and therefore calling services were organised for foreign countries while also for the Netherlands some brethren were called for the office of priest.

We want to mention the whole list for the sake of completeness.

As Apostle for Australia was called on March 23, 1927 the deacon-evangelist H,R. Bosveld of Haarlem, and consecrated for his service on May 11. He started the journey on September 27of the same year with his wife. His living place was firstly Bundaberg in Queensland. Since 1932 he is active in Brisbane.

On April 6, 1927 the deacon-evangelist E. Eichenberger was called as evangelist for Haarlem and consecrated on April 20 thereafter.

On July 18 1928 the deacon-evangelist F, Sietses in Enkhuizen was called for the office of evangelist for that parish and consecrated a fortnight thereafter.

On August 1, 1928 the deacon of the parish in Amsterdam, J.Ossebaar was called as prophet for the parish in Haarlem and consecrated on August 16.

The day before, on August 15, 1928, had been called in Amsterdam the evangelist A,J, Korff in that place as Apostle for Germany, which country was indicated as Issaschar.-(Australia is the tribe Zebulon)--.

As pastor of the parish in Brunswick was called the same evening brother H, Trolldenier in that place while the evangelist Eichenberger got the order to go working for the time being in Sweden and Norway. Apostle Korff and evangelist Eichenberger were consecrated for their work on November 7 of that year.

As Amsterdam now had lost her evangelist, the same evening the deaconevangelist J, van Bemmel was called as evangelist.

The Apostle for Issachar handed in his resignation on February 1,1929 from his profession with the school in Amsterdam, and thought that he was able to settle himself soon in Germany, but the condition of his wife made this impossible up to now so that he has to restrict himself to regular visits and written teachings of the children of God there. Although the circumstances of time do not promote the extension of faith, there have still already a dozen of people been sealed by him.

On August 7, 1929 the parish of Amsterdam suffered a great loss by the passing away of her faithful pastor H.F. Rijnders who entered into his rest in the age of well over 68 years.

The same month was called aspostle for America-- (tribe Naftali)--, G. Vanderbeek in Crookston, a brother of the pastor of the parish in Enkhuizen, who had brought him to the testimony. He came with his wife and a few other persons to the Netherlands in order to be consecrated for his office.

On December 3,1929 two deacons of the parish in Amsterdam were called for the office of priest namely the brethren H.M. van Bemmel as prophet and C, Korff as pastor as substitute for the deceased brother Rijnders. Thus Amsterdam possesses at present again the complete fourfold priesthood. On December 23 these two and Apostle Vanderbeek were consecrated for their service work in which service the deacon-evangelist S, de Wolf in Amsterdam was called as prophet for the tribe of Naftali. In the beginning of 1930 he was consecrated in his office by Apostle Vanderbeek in the parish of Amsterdam. Immigration problems have prevented his sending out.

In Haarlem was called on November 29, 1930 the deacon-evangelist De Vries as pastor for the parish in Flushing.

The parish in Arnhem obtained by the calling of brother B. Carmiggeld in that place a pastor--(on September 20, 1931, consecrated on October 18 thereafter)--.

In Utrecht was a group of believers who had learned to know already much earlier the Apostolic doctrine, without that it stood in connection with Judah. Now an approach has come off. All of them have been-l sealed by Apostle Kalwij and they are taken care of regularly on Sundays by the various ministers. For the time being meeting in that place is in a rented hall, Pastor Van der Beek in Enkhuizen sent to dispersed living members of the parish weekly written food. From this the weekly brochure: "Peace to You", has grown which in many families is gladly read. Each week about 240 copies are sent. Various priests collaborate to it.

In the last winter a number of public lectures have been given by various ministers in Enkhuizen, The Hague, Haarlem and Utrecht, fruits of this have still to be awaited. As such we may therefore speak of a flourishing in the work, of God. It is a pity that the enemy has succeeded to prejudice by tearing off parts of the parishes in The Hague and in Haarlem. Also flushing has partly gone lost.

On July 6,1933, the deacon of the parish in Amsterdam, Chr. Maalman, was called as pastor of the parish in The Hague.

On December 1, 1934 the parish in Arnhem suffered a great loss by the decease of prophet C. van Dijk. He was a diligent worker in the vineyard of the Lord. He has worked in various places and with blessing. He served as prophet thirteen years.

And as such the work of the Lord continues, able to maintain itself in spite of much struggle. The path is not easy, but that the Holy Scriptures teach us and a lot of revelations of the Holy Spirit have announced further struggle. The children of God find comfort in the glory of the future and they know and the know that without struggle victory cannot be obtained. And they also have the certainty that God will not give up the works of His hands.

The signs of the time point to the forthcoming return of the Lord and we therefore continue to testify: "Maranatha.! Prepare yourself, Jesus comes.!"

We finalise our concise history with the words of the Scriptures: "The Spirit and the bride says Come.! And let him who hears say Come.!

And the heavenly Bridegroom, who hears uttering her inexpressible lamentations, replies: "Yes, I am coming soon. Amen."coming soon. Amen".

Yes come, Lord Jesus

The grace of our Lord Jesus stays with all of you, Amen.